We welcome back panelist Rebecca Lynch to the show and dive into a discussion of Trump’s assassination of a top Iranian general and his failure to establish any imminent threat. We review a new Kaiser Family Foundation report that finds the Affordable Care Act is remaining stable despite Trump’s many efforts to sabotage it. The panel talks about new developments in the Republican voter purge effort and reviews the latest Democratic presidential primary news. We welcome new Citizen Action Movement Politics Director, JoAnna Bauch, to discuss her exciting new plan to recruit, develop, and elect a new generation of leaders throughout Wisconsin who will champion progressive reform.
Citizen Action Weekly: Friday, January 10th
Friday, January 10th
Supreme Court Candidates Interview with Citizen Action members and Board leader across the state this week.
This Thursday, Citizen Action members and leaders gathered in Milwaukee to interview the two challengers for state supreme court, the state’s high court. The event was also LIVE streamed via Zoom video web conference to nearly 20 separate house parties and individuals across the state, including Viroqua, Eau Claire, Wausau, and Green Bay.
Jill Karofsky and Ed Fallone both spoke and answered questions from the audience for 50 minutes. The candidate interviews and opinions of co-op members will be considered by Citizen Action’s Board to decide if the organization should endorse a candidate.
Please complete a member survey on which Supreme Court candidate you prefer and if Citizen Action should endorse. Please complete survey by Friday, January 18th. Member survey results will be reviewed by the Board before any endorsement is made.
The primary election will be Tuesday, February 18th, 2020. The General Election will be Tuesday, April 7th, 2020.
City of Milwaukee Mayor and Milwaukee County Executive Interviews, Saturday, January 11th, 8:45 – 1pm
All Citizen Action co-op members are welcome to attend our candidate interview at Citizen Action’s Office, 221 S. 2nd St. #300, Milwaukee. Interviews will start promptly at 9am. Each interview will be about 25 minutes. Candidates include: Tom Barett, Lena Taylor, Tony Zeilinski, David Crowley, Bryan Kennedy, Chris Larson, Theo Lipscomb, and Jim Sullivan.
RSVP and more information
Rice Lake Coffee With Your Co-Op, January 15th, 10am
Coffee and Conversation with Breana Stanley, the Northwestern WI Co-op Organizer for Citizen Action WI. Come talk about what’s concerning you in our region, statewide, and nationally. What you want to work on, and anything else that you believe if necessary for Breana to know!
Wednesday, January 15th, 10am
Badger Brew Coffee Loft
3 W Eau Claire St, Rice Lake
RSVP via facebook
Coffee with your co-op meetings in the Driftless region, Saturday January 18th, Noon in Viroqua
Citizen Action of Wisconsin will be hosting monthly, informal coffee get-togethers throughout the year. These “Coffee with your Co-op” events will be a great chance to get to know fellow activists, talk about issues that matter, talk strategy for the year and grab coffee with amazing, passionate activists!
We will be hosting events in both La Crosse and Viroqua. Members are invited to both meetings. Please feel free to invite any family or friends that are interested in creating a better Wisconsin!
RSVP and join us next Saturday January 18th 12:00 PM, Viroqua Food Co-op 609 N Main St., Viroqua
“Dark Money” movie showing and discussion in Viroqua
Citizen Action of Wisconsin will be sponsoring a viewing and group discussion about the movie “Dark Money” at the Commons (401 E Jefferson st) in Viroqua on January 15th at 6:30 PM. Dark Money is a political thriller that examines the greatest threat to American democracy; the influence of untraceable corporate money on our elections. “Dark Money” uncovers the shocking truth of how American elections are bought and sold. This Sundance award-winning documentary is directed and produced by Kimerly Redd.
Citizen Action Presents: A forum on Milwaukee’s Green New Deal
Climate is not just “another” issue. It’s life or death for our children and grandchildren. Milwaukee City and County are getting serious about reducing our emissions. Join us on January 16 for the next forum in Citizen Action’s Green New Deal series.
Thursday, 1/16/20, 6-8 pm
Wauwatosa Public Library
7635 W North Ave, Firefly Room
Bus Routes: 21 67 76
Panelists: Erick Shambarger, Environmental Sustainability Director, Environmental Collaboration Office (ECO) City of Milwaukee & Kathleen Ellis, Energy Manager, Milwaukee Area Technical College.
Canvass for Milwaukee Public Schools Referendum, Saturday, January 11th
Vote Yes for MPS coalition, which includes Citizen Action of Wisconsin, is kicking off our canvassing in support of the April referendum this Saturday, Jan 11th, 10am – 1pm & Noon – 3pm from the MTEA office, 5130 W. Vliet. Please join educators, students, parents, and community supporters as we talk to Milwaukee voters about Voting Yes for MPS on April 7th.
Vote Yes for MPS will continue to canvass from the MTEA office every Saturday until we win on April 7th!. The Vote Yes for MPS coalition will add additional locations in the coming weeks and we will notify you in future Citizen Action Weeklys of volunteer opportunities with our coalition partners in the future.
Save the Dates in North Central Organizing Co-op
January 11th: A 7th CD Fair Maps planning meeting is scheduled for 11:00 am on Saturday, January 11 at the Rusk County Community Library (418 Corbett Ave W, Ladysmith, WI 54848). Lunch will be provided. RSVP to Carlene Bechen, she.her.hers, Fair Maps Organizer, Cell: 608-513-7655, [email protected]
If you’re from the Wausau or Merrill area and would like to carpool, call Co-op Organizer Joel Lewis at 715-551-2525
January 18th: What are progressive and environmental groups in the Northwoods planning on doing in 2020? What possibilities are there? How can they support each other?
We invite you and the members of your group to pursue these questions at the “Northwoods Alliance Summit: Working Together in 2020.” The summit will take place on Saturday, Jan 18, 11:00-12:30 at the Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (nuuf.com/directions) and will include a potluck lunch. Here is the Facebook event page.
All members of progressive and environmental groups in Oneida, Vilas, and surrounding counties are invited. We will discuss any plans groups have for this critical year for activism, consider other possibilities, and how we can collaborate with each other in this critical year. We also will propose a few specific actions that groups may want to participate in.
Following the summit is the Women’s March in Minocqua (1:00, Veterans Park) and a round table discussion “How to Fix Our Broken Healthcare Payment System (2:00, 714 Elm St, Hwy 51, Woodruff).
Please RSVP to [email protected] or on the Facebook event page.
January 18th – 20th: People For the Power of Love is inviting members of the community to join them for a celebration inspired by the work of Martin Luther King Jr.
This annual celebration symbolizes the principles of-freedom and unity celebrating the diversity that highlights the life of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Linking many cultures together for one dream beyond the words: A call to action
Saturday– A symposium dedicated to acknowledging and addressing segregation and inequality. Challenge yourself to learn and grow with your community and find out how you can be part of the solution.
Sunday– We are inviting the community to interact with people of faith on Sunday afternoon to reflect on Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy and will discern possible courses of action in response to racial injustice and inequity prevalent in society today. Rev. Joe Ellwanger will speak on the topic “Call to Action: Lessons from Birmingham.”
Monday-After a weekend of learning and growing together with the Into The Deep symposium and Sunday’s Clergy meeting you are invited to join us for a relaxing but also invigorating social happy hour, free of charge to those who received a button at either Saturday or Sunday’s event. Serving complimentary Jamaican themed hors d‘oeuvres a cash bar as well as coffee bar is available. Musical performances by David Deon and The Soul Inspirations, an award ceremony as well as keynote speaker Brandi Grayson founder and CEO of Madison WI.’s Urban Triage INC
Any questions please feel free to email [email protected]
January 29th: Join members of the NC Organizing Co-op, partner organizations, allies and the general public for a People’s Forum. Members representing various groups will be asking questions based on the Citizen Action of WI Progressive Platform. There will also be an opportunity for other attendees to ask questions. Tricia Zunker will have from 6 to 7 pm, then she will leave, and Lawrence Dale will have from 7 to 8.
February 5th: The AAUW (American Association of University Women) and the Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund are co-hosting a Mayoral Forum with Katie Rosenberg and incumbent Robert Mielke, at the UWSP Extension in Wausau. Stay tuned for more details
Upcoming Citizen Action Northwestern Wisconsin Co-op Meetings
January 13th at 4:00pm, Education Issue Team Meeting
January 15th at 10:00am, Healthcare Issue Team Meeting
Facebook post of the week