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Category Archives: Posts, Blogs, and Links
News and Opinion
How Can Politicians Connect with Their Base?
What makes a candidate popular? Here is an interesting point of view. In a recent interview with David Remnick, published by The New Yorker, Ezra Klein argues, “one of my most strongly held views about politics is that the most important question for voters is not whether they like the politician but whether the politician likes them.” Klein believes that the worst part of Hillary Clinton’s infamous “deplorables” speech, from 2016, was her use of the word “irredeemable” to describe Trump voters. “When you begin to talk like that, it’s a severing of political community,” Klein said. Instead, he believes that Barack Obama modelled the ideal type of politics, by offering a “very open-palmed approach.”
What do you think?
Educated. We Stand
I have recently become aware of this organization spearheaded by Jennifer Jenkins. They position themselves as opponents of Moms For Liberty in the fight to control school boards. Check out their website: Educated. We Stand and see what you think.
A Shadow Cabinet. What Is It?
Have you come across recent suggestions online for the creation of a shadow cabinet in the United States?
The concept of a shadow cabinet originated in Europe. In May 2021, a British think tank, the Institute for Government, wrote, “The shadow cabinet [in the UK] is made up of senior members of the main opposition party in Westminster who act as spokespeople for the opposition in specific policy areas. Shadow ministers are appointed by the leader of the opposition and generally take roles that mirror the current government. Their job is to scrutinize those they ‘shadow’ in government, and develop policies for their party.”
It is also possible that the shadow cabinet leader might create a shadow post not currently existing in government but which the opposition feels represents important policy.
Immediately after Donald Trump’s second election last November, Democratic politicians, including Representative Wiley Nickel, North Carolina (D), spoke about the need for a Democratic shadow cabinet. Inspired by the UK version, Nickel pointed out that a Democratic shadow cabinet would communicate what political policies the party supported.
In May, Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan proposed that ranking members of congressional committees could also be such a shadow cabinet.
Reporting this story, Politico expressed the concern that ranking members “are not the fresh faces who can give the Democratic Party a sleek new look.” Instead, Politico recommended, “Tap accomplished people with the ability to speak plainly and the credibility to puncture the Trump Administration’s often Orwellian narratives. Don’t limit members to professional politicians. Pitch a big tent. Don’t draw rigid ideological lines.”
Wiley Nickel, writing in The Washington Post, recommended choosing from the Democratic members of Congress but not necessarily the well-known ones.
Timothy Snyder, an American professor of Soviet history now teaching at the University of Toronto, argued that a shadow cabinet could help counteract the influence of oligarchy and authoritarianism, reminding citizens that a better government is possible. Such a cabinet can not only critique the government in power but also change the political landscape by proposing new ideas and solutions.
Sources
“Shadow Cabinet” https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/shadow-cabinet
“Representative Wiley Nickel” https://youtu.be/OoJi4d3rBBs
Politico https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/05/27/democrats-shadow-cabinet-brand-00353690
The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/11/11/shadow-cabinet-democrats-opposition-trump/
Timothy Snyder, Thinking about…, “Shadow Cabinet, A Positive Form of Opposition,” https://snyder.substack.com/p/shadow-cabinet
Autistic Spectrum Pride Flag
A rainbow nautilus, used to represent the autism spectrum, set on a background that takes the Disability Pride flag and moves the stripes to the side. Creative Commons Zero, Public Domain Dedication
Can Tylenol During Pregnancy Really Cause Autism? Really?
“Don’t take Tylenol,” President Trump said, repeatedly emphasizing that pregnant people with fever should “tough it out” as much as they can, despite evidence that uncontrolled fever and infections during pregnancy can themselves increase risk of autism. (increase risk of autism)
In reality, 50 years of autism research shows that the condition arises from a complex mix of genetic and environmental factors. Hundreds of genes may be involved, and the presence or absence of any of them does not confirm that a person will have autism. There are also genetic mutations that have been attributed to the development of autism. If environmental factors play a role (e.g., taking Tylenol during pregnancy), their impact is not at all consistent, but without the genetic foundation, no individual will be negatively impacted by Tylenol or any other environmental factor. There are so many potential environmental factors that a person with a genetic predisposition is unlikely to be able to avoid them. The role of the environment is likely to trigger autistic symptoms or to increase their appearance in an individual. Therefore, it is basically accurate to say that the condition is primarily genetic.
What Is Autism?
Autism symptoms are often described as being on a spectrum. Dozens if not hundreds of behavioral symptoms can be listed for autism. Any combination of symptoms can present themselves. Similarly, the severity of the symptoms can vary greatly. Every autistic person is different. Moreover, autistic children often become naturally skilled at “masking” as they grow into adulthood. Masking means that autistic persons learn through experience and observation to restrain certain of their behaviors that negatively interfere with social, work, and family relations. Being diagnosed and learning about autism makes masking more effective and prevalent. Observers may think that the autistic person has become “better,” but that is not true. They have, however, become more skilled at controlling their behavior temporarily.
Autism, like ADHD–both described as neurodivergent behaviors–has been perceived to be on the rise in recent decades. This is an illusion. What has certainly increased is our scientific ability to define and detect the nuances of autism. (When I was young, autistic children were simply naughty children whose parents were lazy or not doing a good job of child rearing.) There may also be an environmental role played by the exponentially increasing technological stresses of our society. If we really wanted to remove potential environmental factors and stressors, we’d have to start by removing cell phones, the internet, and AI from our lives. Shall we go there?
I used the word neurodivergent. It describes a brain that functions differently in patterns and biochemical connections as compared to the neurotypical brain. Some of the divergencies are inefficient, but others are surprisingly creative and innovative. As science learns more, many diagnosed autistic persons come to understand that their condition is not a negative one, to be labeled a “disorder,” but an alternative mental adaptation that can sometimes make life better. Donald Trump and RFK, Jr. don’t have a clue.
Additional Sources
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/autism-has-no-single-cause-research-shows/
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/heres-what-we-know-about-the-causes-of-autism
https://www.autismspeaks.org/science-news/autism-research-2024
https://autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Understanding-Autism-Research-PDF-Final-Design.pdf
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-common-is-autism
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/adhd-vs-autism
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/for-females-with-autism-differences-matter
“Meidas Health Emergency Episode: Combating Trump’s Deadly Autism Lies,” Brett Meidas (9/23/25).
Greetings, DFL Friends–
Our plans for an upbeat lead were blown away by the terrible shooting in
Minneapolis. One more example of the awful effects of having 400 million+
guns in the US, and no political will to put basic common sense limits on
them. Our hearts go out to those killed and injured, and their families and
communities. We all do better when kids and politicians alike do not have to
fear for their lives. We all must do better. Thoughts and prayers are
important, but not anywhere nearly enough.
But there was some exciting news this week, and it is related: A state
senate seat in Iowa was flipped by Democrat Catelin Drey, who campaigned
against gun violence and for reproductive rights. She won in a district that
voted for Trump by double digits— and this broke the GOP supermajority in
the Iowa State Senate! …
| Update– Missing Links! Not everyone got the bid-sheet for the Silent Auction, or for the essay posts of Heather Cox Richardson Here are the links to click: Bid Sheet for SD31 DFL at North Metro Picnic –Tuesday, August 12 https://mcusercontent.com/5800b7244684e27db110292fa/images/43ff65d2-3bb5-6648-b179-9cd931a4f520.jpg Heather Cox Richardson Posts https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/ The website states that Subscription is free; access to comments requires a payment. Thank you, and keep up the good work. Let your voice be heard! SD31 DFL Communications sd31dfl@gmail.com |
Get to Know Dr. Abbey
Abbey Payeur, Mom of three, brings experience and expertise to the role of school board member. Running in District 4 of Anoka-Hennepin, Abbey is in it to win. She is busy meeting community members and speaking about the importance of making school boards use evidence-based decision-making. Board members must use their positions to make good decisions for the wellbeing of the kids and to strengthen our community. Abbey had a booth at the Ham Lake Freedom Festival on Saturday, June 28th and also attended the Andover Family Fun Fest on July 11th and 12th. A Town Hall (TBA) is coming soon.
Future events will be posted here and on Abbey’s website.
Related: Jodi has contributed an excellent article on The Importance of School Board Elections at our sister website, DFL Neighborhood Network.
- THE BILL OF RIGHTS– US CONSTITUTION
- First Amendment: Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, Petition for Grievances
- Second Amendment: Right to Well-Regulated Militia
- Third Amendment: Right to not allow forcing troops to be quartered in homes
- Fourth Amendment: Right against unreasonable Search and Seizure
- Fifth Amendment: Right to Due Process, a Grand Jury, Against Double Jeopardy and Self-Incrimination
- Sixth Amendment: Rights of those accused of crimes: to a speedy public trial, to a lawyer, to an impartial jury, to know and confront accusers
- Seventh Amendment: Right to a jury in federal civil cases
- Eighth Amendment: Right to not have cruel and unusual punishment, excessive fines and bail
- Ninth Amendment: People retain other rights beyond those listed here (“Non-enumerated rights.”)
- Tenth Amendment: Other powers not given to the US in the Constitution