Political Ideas, Politics and Policy, Posts & News, Posts, Blogs, and Links

A Shadow Cabinet. What Is It?

Posted on by D Jeanne

Shadow Cabinet. Members of the opposition frontbench and shadow cabinet of Sir Keir Starmer, Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party, at Prime Minister's Questions, 7 February 2024.
Shadow Cabinet. Members of the opposition frontbench and shadow cabinet of Sir Keir Starmer, Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party, at Prime Minister’s Questions, 7 February 2024. © UK Parliament / Maria Unger. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license. 

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

Political Ideas, Posts & News, Posts, Blogs, and Links

Can Tylenol During Pregnancy Really Cause Autism? Really?

Posted on by D Jeanne
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

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).


Posts & News, Your Representatives

Governor Walz Issues Executive Order to Safeguard Vaccine Access in Minnesota

Posted on by D Jeanne

Governor Walz Issues Executive Order to Safeguard Vaccine Access in Minnesota

On Monday, Governor Tim Walz issued an executive order directing the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to expand its efforts to safeguard vaccine access in Minnesota in response to federal actions restricting vaccine availability at the federal level. The executive order also directs the state epidemiologist to issue a standing order for the COVID-19 vaccine, which would provide greater flexibility for health care providers and pharmacists to provide the vaccine. 

“Vaccines are one of the greatest public health achievements in modern medicine,” said Governor Walz. “While the Trump Administration attempts to limit Americans’ access to preventative care, Minnesota will be guided by science and medical expertise, prioritizing the health and safety of our people.”

Political Ideas, Posts & News

A Shadow Cabinet. What Is It?

Posted on by D Jeanne
Current Prime Minister Keir Starmer's shadow cabinet in 2022. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.
Current Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s shadow cabinet in 2022. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.

Have you come across recent recommendations online for a shadow cabinet in the United States? The concept of a shadow cabinet originated in Europe. In May 2021, the a British think tank, the Institute for Government, wrote about the shadow cabinet in the UK. “The shadow cabinet 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 Caroline, D), began talking about the need for a Democratic shadow cabinet. He points out that the shadow cabinet communicates what the Democratic party is for in every respect of political policy. In May, Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan proposed that ranking members of congressional committees could be this shadow cabinet. Reporting this story, Politico observed that ranking members “are not the fresh faces who can give the Democratic Party a sleek new look.” Instead, Politico recommends, “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 a Washington Post opinion, recommended choosing from the Democratic members of Congress but often not the well-known ones. Timothy Snyder, the American professor of Soviet history now teaching at the University of Toronto, argues 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.

“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 https://snyder.substack.com/p/shadow-cabinet

External Organizations, Posts & News, Public Schools

Educated. We Stand

Posted on by D Jeanne

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 (https://www.educatedwestand.com/about-us) and see what you think.

Posts & News, Your Representatives

Zack Stephenson, SD 35, Chosen New DFL Leader

Posted on by D Jeanne

map of SD 35 A and B

The Minnesota House DFL on Sept. 9 elected Rep. Zack Stephenson, District 35A, which includes Anoka and the majority of Coon Rapids, to serve as caucus leader during an organizational caucus. The House DFL currently has 66 members, pending a special election in District 34B on Sept. 16 with Xp Lee, DFL, facing Ruth Bittner, GOP.

https://www.hometownsource.com/press_and_news/free/stephenson-chosen-to-lead-house-dfl/article_288dc5a8-a199-468c-b927-d679e1b44131.html

 

 

Newsletters, Posts & News, Update, Updates

News: September 2025 UPDATE 1: Ramsey Happy Days Sept 6! And Monthly Meeting Sept 9

Posted on by Peter

SD31 DFL NEWS
September 2025
UPDATE 1: Ramsey Happy Days Sept 6! And Monthly Meeting Sept 9
VoteBlueMN.org
sd31dfl@gmail.com

DFL Friends–
We hope these last days of summer, and the first days of fall, are going well for you. We covered most of the events and news for September in our last newsletter, but did not have the details about the events for Ramsey this coming weekend— so here they are! Also we attach one more item from Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny for your consideration, and a reminder of our upcoming monthly meeting on Tuesday Sept 9.

Download to read
Posts & News, Your Representatives

GET TO KNOW YOUR REPRESENTATIVES

Posted on by D Jeanne

Rep. Tom Emmer, MN 6th District, US House

On Sunday, August 31, Rep. Tom Emmer, GOP Majority Whip, spoke to Martha Raddatz on ABC This Week. On the the subject of the recent mass shooting at the Annunciation Catholic Church involving students from the primary school, Emmer attacked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) for “not giving schools enough resources to prevent a shooting that killed two children in Minneapolis last week.”

“It’s going to be very important that the schools have the resources,” he said.

Martha Raddatz noted, however, “After mass shootings in Buffalo and in Uvalde, Texas, Congress passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. It provided hundreds of millions of dollars for schools to expand mental health services, enhance safety measures. You did not vote for that bill. Why?”

“I don’t remember the reasons that I didn’t vote for that bill,” Emmer replied. He had nothing further to say about how he had decided that vote.

That was not the only time Tom Emmer refused to support gun safety measures. Here is his voting record on a number of bills responding to the many mass shootings in recent years. More content available at the votesmart.org link.

07/29/2022
Assault Weapons Ban of 2022
No

07/13/2022
Active Shooter Alert Act of 2022
No

06/24/2022
Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
No

06/09/2022
Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2021
No

06/08/2022
Protecting Our Kids Act
No

03/17/2021
Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021
No

03/11/2021
Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021
No

03/11/2021
Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021
No

02/28/2019
Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2019
No

02/27/2019
Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019
No