Thank you Eric! I’m trying and right now I’m taking in a great deal of information about how to make a difference in 2025 and heard something today that makes a lot of sense. As organizers, we have to build community instead of just getting people out to vote. 

I talked about pulling several different organizations together and like-minded people to make sure we’re taking steps to be safe and help people on the fringes at most risk. Today I learned that what organizers hope is that after we are out doing things to help and to interact with all of these groups/people that when election time comes around next time they will be more inclined to listen to what we have to say about voting and who to vote for. JUST mobilizing-talking to people & asking them to vote-isn’t enough because we have not assisted them with what they need. They aren’t as inclined to listen to us when their basic needs aren’t being met. Makes sense to me if you think of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. 

As far as Schumer and the judges, I don’t remember the exact story but I think Dems didn’t have the votes actually to confirm them and Schumer and McConnell made a deal and exchanged those judges for something else. Lots of blanks in the story, I know.  I don’t have the whole story but I’m sure it can be looked up-just didn’t want to take time now. I was livid when I first heard about Schumer and the judges but then it made sense when I found out about the reason a deal was made. 

I said the same thing about a black woman winning but then I saw the response and truly believed she could win. Originally the thought was black men might not vote for her and then support was seen. I still think it’s the misogynoir from many white men and women who might even realize they’re engaging in this.