DFA’s BFD – Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders had three HUGE accomplishments last week: Democracy for America, one of the largest progressive organizations with over 1 million members, has endorsed the Senator from Vermont. Communications Workers of America, one of the largest unions in the country, has also thrown their endorsement behind the Senator’s campaign. In addition to these important endorsements, Bernie Sanders has broken a new record with over 2 million individual campaign contributions, a first for any presidential candidate in history at this point in the electoral process. Read what the Agenda Project’s President, Erik Altieri, had to say about these huge successes and what they mean for progressives HERE.

CHUCK TALKS @ TED TALKS – Patriotic Millionaire Chuck Collins gave a TEDx Talk last week that discussed the need for the wealthiest one percent of our nation to “come home” and invest in our country. The informative conversation came right after the Institute for Policy Studies published a report he co-authored on economic inequality. You can watch the TEDx Talk HERE and read his report on income inequality HERE.

BLACK LIVES MATTER MAKING HISTORY – The National Museum of African American History and Culture has assembled their staff to start a new project: documenting the Black Lives Matter movement. Recognizing the historical and cultural significance of the movement surrounding the fight against police brutality and racial injustice, the museum has collected over 40,000 artifacts from the movement.You can learn how the museum plans on telling stories through these artifacts HERE.

BACK TO THE FÜHRER – The Agenda Project Action Fund has released a new web ad against the fascist and racist rhetoric being utilized by the Republican Party, particularly that coming from the party’s front-runner Donald Trump. This video is the first in a yearlong campaign from the organization aimed at exposing this type of language as that of fear mongering, bigoted fascists that America should fear… if we have learned anything from 1930’s Germany. Watch the ad, Back to the FÜhrer, HERE.

OUR MOMENT – PolicyLink, the public policy organization focusing on restoring equity, recently wrapped up their Equity Summit for 2015. They produced an awesome music video for the summit that is sure to give you chills up and down your spine. Watch their music video, which serves as a rallying cry of hope, HERE.

WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO? – American Women has released their new star-studded ad about paid family leave. The ad seeks to answer one question: what do we have to do to finally get paid family leave in this country? Join the fight for this important progressive cause and watch the ad HERE.

VOTING RIGHTS BEING CHALLENGED – After thorough field investigations and extensive research on North Carolina’s failure to uphold its federal voter registration obligations, Demos has filed a federal court complaint. The complaint would protect the freedom to vote for all North Carolinians by providing registration services through public agencies and the Department of Motor Vehicles. Read the full language of the federal court complaint HERE.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG – Democracy Spring, the campaign organized by 99Rise and Avaaz, has collected over 1,300 pledges from those willing to risk arrest and participate in a mass protest. The campaign is asking for people to join them in a demonstrate this spring in Washington, DC that will demand that Congress takes immediate action to end the corruptive influence of big money on our political process. You can take the pledge and learn more about the planned action HERE.

YEAR IN REVIEW – As 2016 approaches, America Votes invites you to check out their “year in review.” The progressive voting rights organization has been working tirelessly towards having a sustainable long-term impact on the voter registration process. An overview of their projects from this year can be found HERE.

SEATTLE PAVING THE WAY – Seattle has become the first city to let drivers for ride-hailing companies, such as Uber and Lyft, unionize. The proposal was approved by a unanimous vote of the Seattle City Council. This victory was made possible by the advocacy work of Teamsters Local Union 117. You can read more about the expansion of workers’ rights HERE.

… From the Wonk Wire…

Australia’s Tipping Point: ‘No One Was Taking Our Guns, We Were Giving Them Up’ – Talitha Fraser, blogger and advocate at Sojourners, talks about Australia’s efforts to ban guns and to advocate peace through faith. Read about her personal experience with the Anglican Church and Churches of Christ and their movement to ban firearms HERE.

15 Years after Bush v. Gore, How Far Have We Come? – Election Protection, the coalition organized by Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, analyzes the improvement of voting rights and voter access since the Bush v. Gore decision and gives proposals to break down barriers to the ballot box. You can read about the progress we have made and the work still left to do in their op-ed HERE.

*P.S -Happy Holidays from Practical Progress! Practical Progress will be off next week, but we will be back in the new year with some exciting changes and updates. See you on the other side!*

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AGENDA PROJECT’S NEW PRESIDENT – The Agenda Project is proud to announce that Erik Altieri, their director of communications and a former pro-marijuana movement leader, will assume the position of the organization’s president, effective immediately. Erik combines a powerful acumen for technology and social media with an astute understanding of the legislative and political process. We are thrilled to share this news with our subscribers! Find out more information on Erik’s background in social justice and his new role HERE in a letter from the Agenda Project’s founder Erica Payne.

WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS – In response to the surge of violent attacks and the increasingly dangerous and divisive rhetoric that has been emerging in our country, progressive leaders from NARAL, MoveOn, SEIU, The Agenda Project, Color of Change, United we Dream,  NAACP, Ms. Foundation for Women, Demos, Arab-American Association of New York, MPower Change, Dream Corps, and many others have come together to create a rapid-response ad campaign and associated pledge of solidarity to push back against the politics of hatred and fear-mongering. The #WeAreBetterThanThis campaign seeks to call upon our politicians, civic leaders, and the media to stop the spread of hatred and division, as well as to pledge to stand in solidarity with any community that is targeted by hateful rhetoric and violence. The campaign was featured as a full page ad in Thursday’s New York Times. You can find out more about the campaign and take the pledge yourself HERE.

CALLS FOR RESIGNATION – After controversial videos of the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Ronald Johnson III by a Chicago police officer surfaced, alongside the possibility of a cover up by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, two Illinois Representatives are seeking to amend state law to allow for a recall election. Read more about the scandal and amendment to ensure justice HERE.

RESCUE OPERATION – The international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders / Medecins Sans Frontieres is partnering with Greenpeace to operate a joint mission to rescue people risking their lives on the dangerous Aegean Sea between Turkey and Greece. Since this announcement a week ago, the two organizations have assisted in saving hundreds of people. Read more about this brave and selfless expedition HERE

INVESTIGATE THE SHOOTING AT PP – NARAL Pro- Choice America, CREDO Action, UltraViolet and the Courage Campaign are circulating a petition demanding that the Department of Justice investigate the recent Planned Parenthood shooting at the organization’s Colorado Springs clinic. Sign your name to demand action HERE.

ENVIRONMENTAL VICTORY – Thanks to the attorneys at Earthjustice, a California appeals court moved to terminate the state’s light brown apple moth pesticide program on the grounds that it violates state environmental laws. The spraying of such pesticide has been found to be harmful to human health and wildlife. Read more about this victory for the environment HERE.

WOMEN STRUGGLING WITH STUDENT DEBT – The Women’s Policy Research Institute has produced a new study that was published by AARP which reveals that women are struggling more than men to pay off their student debt by an overwhelming margin. You can read study and view related infographics HERE.

…from the Wonk Wire…

Donald Trump’s Anti-Christian Campaign – Christopher Hale, the Executive Director at Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, calls Donald Trump’s ban on Muslims a total affront to the gospel of Christianity in a newly published. Read Christopher’s call to stand up to Trump’s bigotry HERE.

Rising Temperatures Threaten Our Health, Environment – A member of Physicians for Social Responsibility, professor of neurology, and a University at Buffalo senior scientist, Alan H. Lockwood, M.D, writes about the intensive impact rising temperatures have on both our environment and our health in a recent op-ed. You can read the full article HERE.

PS: We rely on donations from supporters like yourself to keep our our projects, including Practical Progress running. Please consider clicking HERE to make a contribution today to help us continue our work. .

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FEATURE STORY: BILLIONAIRE BONANZA - Patriotic Millionaires board member Chuck Collins and Josh Hoxie of the Institute for Policy Studies have released a new report outlining the absurd level of wealth inequality in America and recommended policy prescriptions to heal the deep divide. You can read the startling report HERE.

INSURING LIFE, ENSURING EQUALITY – To honor of World AIDS Day this past Tuesday, Prudential Insurance has become the first major American insurer to allow HIV-positive people to buy traditional life insurance policies. You can read more about this exciting development that was announced on World AIDS Day HERE.

IN REMEMBRANCE – This past week our friends at Common Cause lost their former President, David Cohen. In remembrance of his legacy, the organization has gathered tributes praising the lifelong advocate. You can read the beautiful tributes that highlight his passion for working for the common good HERE.

DEMAND CLIMATE ACTION – In light of the COP21 UN Climate Change Conference happening in Paris this week, the Natural Resource Defense Council is circulating a petition to demand global climate action, alongside an ad featuring actor and director Robert Redford. You can watch the ad and sign the petition HERE.

REMEMBERING ROSA PARKS – Saluting the 60th anniversary of Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her bus seat to a white man, the Dallas Area Rapid Transit in Texas has reserved the front seat for her on more than 500 buses. Read more about this display of honor for the civil rights legend HERE.

IMAGE AWARDS HOST – The NAACP has confirmed that comedian Anthony Anderson will be hosting the 47th and 48th Image Awards. The Image Awards are used to honor outstanding people of color in film, tv, music and literature. Read about Anthony Anderson’s excitement regarding hosting the award show HERE.

PERSON OF THE YEAR – PETA has named Pope Francis as the PETA Person of the Year after his call to 1.2 billion Catholics around the world to respect the environment and treat animals with kindness. Read more about why Pope Francis was chosen HERE.

30 YEARS, $80 BILLION – CREDO Mobile is celebrating 30 years of success and giving $80 billion in total donations to social change organizations. With over 3.9 million members, CREDO Mobile has been able to donate $200,000 a month to organizations making lasting social change. Read about the organizations they have supported HERE.

WEEKLY $1000 WINNER – The Democracy for All video challenge has revealed its weekly winner! This weeks winner is comedian Lee Camp for his video “It’s Viral” HERE.

INTELLIGENCE^2 DEBATES – Roger Clegg, President of the Center for Equal Opportunity, and Stuart Taylor, Fellow at the Brookings Institute will be arguing in favor of the equal protection clause forbidding racial preferences in state university admissions in an upcoming debate in New York City. You can watch the debate, which airs live Thursday, December 3rd at 6:45pm Eastern, HERE.

UNIONS IN JEOPARDY – The November issue brief for the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy, was released earlier this week. The issue brief titled Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association: The American Labor Relations System in Jeopardy can be read HERE.

…from the Wonk Wire…

Don’t Let Wall Street Get Away With Dodd- Frank Reform Rollbacks – Dennis Kelleher, CEO and President of Better Markets Inc., discusses how Wall Street essentially holds national priorities like health care, the environment and education hostage until members of Congress agree to put the industry’s narrow special interests before the interests of the American people. Read the op-ed HERE.

You Can’t Understand American Politics Without Reading this Study – Editor and publisher of Talking Points Memo, John Marshall, writes about the connection between an epidemiological study of mortality in white Americans ages 45-54 and American politics. Read the study and John’s connections HERE.

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FEATURE STORY: FAST FOR $15 – On Monday, November 15th, OUR Walmart will be launching a “Fast for $15 and Full Time,” fifteen days of action led by Walmart workers fasting at Walton homes, Board of Directors homes and Walmart stores and offices culminating in another national day of action this Black Friday. To learn more and join the protest click HERE.

NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION – November 10th marked the national day of action for the fight for $15 movement. In celebration of this day, the Alliance to Reclaim our Schools has produced a new video to remind the public of how critical economic security is to education. Watch the powerful video HERE.

MRS. HONEST GIL FULBRIGHT – The satirical ads produced by Represent.Us have been making big money and special interests a laughing matter, honest presidential candidate Gil Fulbright has launched a new ad, Mrs. Fulbright. Watch the hilarious ad for the Honest Gil Fulbright campaign HERE.

TPP: IT KIND OF MAKES YOU SICK – Last week, the Agenda Project Action Fund released a new, multi-part ad campaign to raise public awareness of the dangerous implications of approving the TPP. The ad that is highlighting the important issue of food safety was released shortly after the official text was made public. Watch the ad and read about the sickening implications of this deal HERE.

#THNXBIRTHCONTROL – Bedsider, the online birth control support network, was joined by millions of men and women who support access to birth control in their annual campaign of saying “Thanks, Birth Control.” You can check out the campaign and buy some punny merchandise praising contraception HERE.

PATRIOTIC MILLIONAIRES TAKE ON D.C - The Patriotic Millionaires are traveling to Washington next Wednesday for their lobby day and release of their first eBook, “Renegotiating Power and Money.” The group will be working to secure support for increasing the minimum wage and eliminating the carried interest tax loophole among other issues. You can watch their video messages on minimum wage HERE and on carried interest HERE.

ADVOCACY IN ACTION – The Center for Effective Government has launched their first ever video contest. The contest calls for students to create a short video that explores the safety of their community from harmful chemicals. You can read more about the details and the prizes HERE.

CAP CONTROVERSY – The Center for American Progress has been in hot water this week for sponsoring an address by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on November 10th. Progressive leaders from across broad spectrums came together to sign a letter showing their dismay of the group hosting such an enemy to the progressive movement they fight for. You can read the letter circulated by progressive leaders HERE.

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, ANYTHING  BUT –  After the head of the Urban League in Portland exposed the Oregon Department of Justice for racially profiling those who expressed interest in Black Lives Matter on social media. Several civil rights and labor leaders wrote a letter to Attorney General Rosenblum demanding an investigation into the DOJ’s use of software to conduct “threat assessments”. You can read the letter and the shocking response from Attorney General Rosenblum’s HERE.

MORAL CRISIS – Brave New Films has released their latest short video in support of the Graham – Leahy bill by reminding Americans of our moral obligation to help war refugees. Watch the video that goes beyond partisan divide HERE.

…from the Wonk Wire…

GOP DEBATE: Candidates Missed a Big Opportunity – Felicia Wong, CEO of the Roosevelt Institute, discusses the missed opportunity of debating sound economic policies in the third debate. The article includes polling results of what the public wanted to hear from this week’s GOP debate. Read the article and see if the fourth debate answered the public’s needs HERE.

Child Care Workers Aren’t Paid Enough to Make Ends Meets – Senior Economist at the Economic Policy Institute, Elise Gold released a publication this week exposing the truth behind the wages for child care workers in the United States. Read the detailed study HERE.

****P.S – Practical Progress will be taking next week off as we will be participating in the Patriotic Millionaires’ Lobby Day. For more information about the lobby day or to find out how you can help, email Justin Strekal at jstrekal@patrioticmillionaires.org. You’ll be sure to hear from Practical Progress the following week. Thanks for being a great Progressive!****

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CLEAN ELECTIONS FOR MAINE! – In an amazing effort to restore democracy, the people of Maine passed Question 1, a statewide initiative to reform Maine’s taxpayer funded clean elections system and curtail special interests and dark money from state elections. This is a huge victory both for democracy and Mainers for Accountable Elections. Other organizations such as the Patriotic Millionaires and Every Voice are also rejoicing in this victory as they also advocated for Question 1. Read more about the Clean Elections reform HERE.

TIGHTER LOBBYING RESTRICTIONS IN San Fran! – Thanks to Represent San Francisco and Friends of Ethics, San Francisco has passed a city-wide initiative that tightens rules on lobbying. Read more about the proposition that won with 75% of the vote HERE.

DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS IN SEATTLE! – Seattle passed I-122, to partially finance city level campaigns with democracy vouchers for clean elections, all thanks to Honest Elections Seattle. Read more about how the new campaign finance system will work HERE.

MINIMUM WAGE HIKE IN TACOMA! – Thanks to the outstanding efforts of 15 Now Tacoma, Tacoma, Washington has voted and passed a $12 minimum wage. Read about the amazing victory for all hard working Tacomans and the phasing increase of the wage starting February 1st HERE.

FACES OF GUN VIOLENCE – A Brooklyn-based photographer named Joe Quint has started a new project titled It Takes Us, where he has been meeting and photographing victims of gun violence in order to show the unseen realities in the daily life of people who have fallen victim to shooting-inflicted trauma. The chilling project that shows the faces behind the violence and the humanity behind the headlines can be found HERE.

BANNING THE BOX – Thanks to the efforts and petitions of organizations like ColorofChange.org, DEMOS, and PICO Network, President Obama has outlined a reform for ex-prisoners who are re-entering society, which includes banning the box asking for criminal records on job applications. Read more about the President’s plan HERE.

FOX NEWS vs. THE AGENDA PROJECT – Last week, the Agenda Project Action Fund had launched a renewed ad campaign against Speaker Paul Ryan. The following day on Fox News, Republican Congressman Jason Chaffetz and Fox anchor Gretta Van Susteren degraded the ad and the work of the non-profit. Read the Agenda Project Action Fund’s defense and message to Fox “News” HERE.

#DONTLOOKAWAY – The Opportunity Agenda has partnered with Sankofa.org in support of Usher’s new interactive music video experience that sheds light on racial injustice and violence. Watch and participate in the interactive video HERE and prepare to shed some tears.

CHALKIN’ IT UP WITH CHALK ART – Last week Greenpeace partnered with artists from Chalk Riot, a chalk artist group, to send a message to President Obama. The artists spent two days creating a massive 3D chalk mural at the President’s doorstep urging him to close secret money loopholes. See the powerful mural and sign their petition to end corruption to democracy HERE.

WEEKLY $1,000 WINNER – Democracy for All has announced their weekly winner for their video challenge! Watch “Money in Politics is Out of Control” by Matt Dundas HERE.

CLOSE GITMO – Human Rights First has launched a new campaign and petition urging President Obama to veto the Defense Authorization Bill and to close down Guantanamo. Watch their new ad and sign their petition to close the dangerous detention camp HERE.

KEYSTONE PIPELINE APPLICATION WITHDRAWN – Thanks to the advocacy of environmental groups like the Sierra Club, the League of Conservation Voters and the Natural Resource Defense Council, TransCanada has asked the Obama administration this week to suspend its permit for the project. Read more about this incredible victory for the environment HERE.

30TH STATE TO EXPAND MEDICAID – After a very long battle, the Healthy Montana Campaign is celebrating a victory as Montana’s Republican legislature has approved Medicaid expansion. Read about what this victory means for the people in Montana HERE.

…FROM THE WONK WIRE …

Intelligence Report - From the Margins to the Mainstream – Southern Poverty Law Center’s Mark Potok and Dan Terry have released their latest intelligence report revealing 10 key conspiracy theories organized by right wing extremist that have made their way from margins of our society to a shocking level of acceptance. Read the intelligence report HERE.

Unfriendly Fire – Suzanne Gorden, journalist with the American Prospect and author of Beyond the Checklist: What Else Healthcare Can Learn from Aviation Teamwork and Safety, writes about the ins and outs of the Veteran’s health system and exposes the realities of the system’s model being better than the credit it is given. Read the article HERE.

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FEATURE STORY: WILL OUR SENIORS SURVIVE SPEAKER PAUL RYAN? – In advance of Paul Ryan’s presumed ascension to Speaker of the House, the Agenda Project Action Fund released a new version of their infamous “Granny Off the Cliff” ad which has dogged the congressman since the release of his first budget proposal to slash Medicare funding. Watch the powerful new ad that poses the question: “Will our seniors survive speaker Paul Ryan?” HERE.

BUDDHIST CONTRIBUTION – A number of Buddhist and Interfaith climate groups have come together to create the Global Buddhist Climate Change Collective in an effort to facilitate a Buddhist contribution to the 21st Conference of the Parties UN Climate Change Conference in December. Explore the new coalition fighting the injustices of climate change HERE.

MILLIONAIRES IN MAINE – The Patriotic Millionaires will release a new ad this week to encourage the residents of Maine to raise the minimum wage in their state, as the Maine People’s Alliance is currently collecting signatures for a statewide ballot initiative to raise the wage in 2016. Watch the ad which starts airing today HERE.

TPP TEXT – This week, AFL-CIO has launched a new petition demanding that the Obama Administration release the text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership to the voters of America. Sign the petition HERE.

LOVE WINS! – After the ongoing American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit against Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis for denying the same sex couple a marriage license, April Miller and Karen Roberts were married Saturday night. Read about the beautiful story and their fight to exchange the words “I do” HERE.

PAID FAMILY LEAVE PAYS OFF – The Department of Labor has released their findings regarding the impact of paid family leave in California since its passing into law with the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act. The results show that paid family leave is surprisingly good for business. Read the decade worth of research HERE.

UNITED AUTO WORKERS, UNITED INDEED – A deal reached Sunday night with United Auto Workers and General Motors has ensured the elimination of an unjust two-tier wage system which left new workers making significantly less than longtime workers, and with little to no growth opportunity. Read about the groundbreaking deals between autoworkers unions and automakers HERE.

LEGAL DEFENSE IN A DIGITAL WORLD – This week the Electronic Frontier Foundation is rejoicing as they have won their petition to inspect and modify car software. The Library of Congress has granted their petition to expand legal protections for security researchers to inspect and modify software in vehicles in wake of the Volkswagen smog scandal. Read more about this victory HERE.

PhD’s IN POVERTY - Brave New Films, in alliance with the New Faculty Majority, have released a new short film shedding light on the experience of being an adjunct professor. The short film discusses the alarming realities of being a college professor and earning poverty wages. Watch the video HERE.

WEEKLY $1,000 WINNER – The Democracy for All Weekly Winner is out! Watch the video from Cheeboi Productions, “The War on Democracy” HERE.

… From the Wonk Wire…

Paul Ryan Wants to Shut Down the Government Permanently – Dean Baker, Co-Director of the Center for Economic Policy Research, author of “The End of Loser Liberalism: Making Markets Progressive” and Top Wonk, talks about the catastrophic effects of soon-to-be Speaker Paul Ryan as his budget priorities are in no one’s best interest. Read the piece HERE.

Time Off That Really Works – Top Wonk and Senior Economist Eileen Appelbaum critics the Washington Post’s recent piece discussing paid family leave. Read her contribution to the conversation HERE.

PS: We rely on donations from supporters like yourself to keep our our projects, including Practical Progress running. Please consider clicking HERE to make a contribution today to help us continue our work.

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FEATURE STORY – DEBATES IN DEMAND: Thanks to the efforts of advocates demanding for more Democratic debates, MoveOn.org will be hosting a Democratic Forum where questions will come directly from MoveOn members. Senator Bernie Sanders has already confirmed his attendance and looks forward to your questions. Read coverage of the victory in Time Magazine HERE while we await more information regarding forum details.

PROGRESSIVE MERGER - Wellstone Action has announced that they will be absorbing the New Organizing Institute, the innovative group known for their digital and data training programs for organizers and advocates. Read more about the two progressive groups and merger HERE.

#MYHUNGERGAMES –  The AFL-CIO has launched their newest campaign, Odds in Our Favor. The campaign seeks to take back the narrative surrounding the daily realities of income inequality. Learn how you can ‘Join the Resistance’HERE.

LET IT GO, GOP - American Family Voices has released a hilarious parody of “Let It Go” from the movie Frozen, poking fun at the GOP for their involvement with the Benghazi Special Committee after members came forward and debunked the committee’s credibility. Watch the music video HERE.

TAX HAVENS - The Agenda Project has teamed up with 16 other major leaders from the progressive movement to call on Congress to make big corporations pay their fair share of taxes on profits they have stored in offshore tax havens. Thousands of you have already signed, but for those who haven’t, sign the petition HERE.

END CAMPUS RAPE – This week Ultraviolet, the community mobilizing to fight sexism and expand women’s rights, launched their new campaign, EndCampusRape.com. Watch the emotionally powerful video that will undoubtedly make you raise your voice against rape culture HERE.

WOMEN’S RIGHTS, NO LAUGHING MATTER - American Civil Liberties Union has announced their new Celebrity Ambassador for Women’s Rights, SNL comedian Sasheer Zamata. Watch Sasheer find a way to take on the important topic of gender inequality with a sense of humor HERE.

BLM v. DNC - Black Lives Matter has partnered with ColorofChange.Org to circulate a petition demanding an official BlackLivesMatter Presidential Debate framed with policy recommendations and substance, rather than rhetoric. This petition came right before the DNC had lended their support for a presidential town hall to the organization, but refused to add a formal debate. Sign the petition HERE and read more about the DNC’s negligence HERE.

DEAN’S LIST – The Natural Resource Defence Council has produced a short video that explains the recent EPA publication, outlining the final rules in the comprehensive Clean Power Plan. Count the ways the Clean Power Plan will cut carbon pollution with the video HERE.

WHISTLEBLOWERS CALL IN – At this year’s ‘Computers, Freedom and Privacy Conference,’ co-chaired by Free Press, whistleblower Edward Snowden called into an interview with fellow whistleblower Mike German to discuss the future of U.S surveillance policy. Read about the chilling and eye opening conversation HERE.

ANTI-IMMIGRATION BILL FAILS – The nation’s premier civil and human rights coalition, the Leadership Conference, is celebrating this week as the Senate has rejected a bill seeking to end sanctuary cities. Read about the victory in rejecting the dangerous bill HERE.

ENDING JIM CROW – The Restaurant Opportunity Center, widely known for their mission to improve wages and working conditions for the nation’s restaurant workforce, has released a report studying how restaurant workers are effectively separated by race and gender through a divide between livable wage and poverty wage positions. Read the attention-grabbing report HERE.

WEEKLY $1000 WINNER - Democracy for All has announced their weekly winner for their video challenge! Watch “Greedy Ballot Box” by Tomas GasparHERE.

K-12 LIFE - The Advancement Project has initiated an important conversation about the school-to-prison pipeline through an educational game titled the Game of K-12 Life. Watch the game being used as an educational tool to discuss the pipeline HERE.

… From the Wonk Wire…

401(k)s are a Negligible Source of Income for Seniors - In this week’s Economic Snapshot, Dr. Monique Morrissey, retirement security expert at the Economic Policy Institute, discusses how 401(k)s are not a sufficient source of income for seniors. Read the snapshot HERE.

Supporting the Department of Labor’s “Best Interest Rule” Is Good for All Business - Leo Hindrey, ‘Patriotic Millionaire’ and Co-Chair of the Task Force on Jobs Creation, analyzes the “Best Interest Rule” and how major corporations need to put people before profits. Read his article and suggestions HERE.

Corporate Vultures Circling the Dead for Profit, Seeking to Change Unclaimed Property Laws - Karl Frish, Director of Allied Progress, talks about life insurance companies profiting off of the unclaimed properties of deceased. Read his analysis of the flaws in the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act HERE.

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FEATURE STORY: TAX HAVENS – The Agenda Project has teamed up with 16 other major leaders from the progressive movement to call on Congress to make big corporations pay their fair share of taxes on money they have stored in offshore tax havens. See who’s involved and sign the petition HERE.

VOTER REGISTRATION WIN – Thanks to the outstanding efforts of organizations like iVote, the Brennan Center for Justice and the Democracy Alliance, Gov. Jerry Brown of California has signed a bill that makes voter registration automatic at DMVs when applying for licenses or state IDs. Read about this huge success and effects of the bill HERE.

BAN THE BOX – ColorofChange.org, an online organization that strengthens Black America’s political voice, has launched a new campaign asking President Obama to take executive action on banning the box on job applications that asks if the applicant had any prior convictions. Sign the petition to provide fair chances at employment for formerly incarcerated job seekers HERE.

HONEST GIL IN THE LEAD – Represent.Us recently launched their campaign for Honest Gil Fulbright, the satirical and honest presidential candidate. The campaign has had so much success that the fake candidate beat Jeb Bush and 4 other candidates in a New Hampshire straw poll. Watch the campaign ad for Honest Gil Fulbright HERE and read the hilarious results of the straw poll HERE.

REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE – Thanks to NARAL Pro- Choice California’s undercover investigation of Crisis Pregnancy Centers last year, California is now the first state to order Crisis Pregnancy Centers to offer pregnant women information about state programs that provide reproductive health-care services, including abortion. Read about this huge step forward for reproductive rights HERE.

A NEW FACE FOR GUN SAFETY – Actress, Oscar-winner, and mother Julianne Moore has joined Everytown for Gun Safety to launch the Everytown Creative Council – a group of celebrity artists who are issuing a call to action on common sense gun policy. See which artists have joined this council and what steps they are taking to combat gun violence HERE.

“PHARMA BRO” INVESTIGATION – New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has answered the Human Rights Campaign’s call to investigate Turing Pharmaceuticals after they recently imposed a 5000% price hike on the life saving drug, Daraprim. Read about the investigation into possible violations of antitrust laws HERE.

DARE TO IMAGINE – The U.S Department of Arts and Culture, a non-profit dedicated to promoting social justice through creativity, launched #DareToImagine last week. Learn more about the USDAC and the project HERE.

KEEPING THE CANYON GRAND – Environmental and wildlife preservation organizations like the Sierra Club are rejoicing this week as Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva announced a new bill that would ban uranium mining near the Grand Canyon. Read about the bill that is attempting protect the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River HERE.

REVERSE MASS INCARCERATION – The Brennan Center for Justice has released their latest report urging Congress to pass legislation that would reverse the 1994 “Crime Bill” that used federal funds toward building new prisons and instead use federal dollars to reward states that successfully reduce both crime and incarceration. Read the report HERE.

WEEKLY $1000 WINNER – The Democracy for All video challenge has chosen this week’s winner! Watch the video “End Corruption, Restore Democracy” by Kyle Marie HERE.

… From the Wonk Wire…

Testimony of Caroline Fredrickson – Top Wonk and President of the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy, Caroline Fredrickson was called on to testify on behalf of Planned Parenthood in front of the House Judiciary Committee. Read her incredible testimony defending women’s rights and access to healthcare HERE.

Raising the Overtime Salary Threshold Is an Important Improvement in Working Families’ Labor Standards – Ross Eisenbrey, Vice President of the Economic Policy Institute, discusses the first steps in improving labor standards for families in his testimony before the House of Representatives Committee on Small Businesses Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversights and Regulations. Read his detailed report HERE.

Bernie Sanders is About as Radical as Harry Truman – Robert Kuttner, co-founder of The American Prospect and a Top Wonk, debunks the criticism that presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ ideas are radical. Read his article HERE.

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FEATURE STORY: EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT THE NEW MCCARTHYISM – The Agenda Project Action Fund released their latest campaign titled “Welcome to the New McCarthyism.” The campaign has been causing quite a conversation as it calls for a House Ethics Committee investigation into House Leader Kevin McCarthy and the witch-hunt known as the Select Committee on Benghazi. The video racked up over 200,000 views in the first 2 days! In response to the widespread public reaction to this campaign, Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) filed an ethics complaint against the chief architects of the committee, Representatives Kevin McCarthy and Trey Gowdy. Watch the Agenda Project’s ad HERE and sign the petition supporting an ethics investigation into the Select Committee on Benghazi HERE.

PUBLIC HEALTH VICTORY- Thanks to the tireless work being done by activists like Compassion & Choices, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a death with dignity bill into law this week. Read more about the bill that permits doctors to prescribe lethal drugs to their dying patients and the efforts of statewide advocates that got it passed HERE.

PRESENTE.org PRESENTS – The nation’s largest online latino organizing group, Presente.org has announced new leadership for their organization with the hiring of two co-directors, Oscar Chacon and Favianna Rodriguez. Read about the new leadership’s previous accomplishments and learn about what the future holds with them taking the helm at Presente.org HERE.

ESSEX COUNTY’S FIGHT FOR $15 - Fight for $15 is celebrating a victory this week as Essex County became the first county in New Jersey to pass a resolution to call on state legislators to support a $15 an hour minimum wage bill. Read more about the advocacy of New Jerseyans on the minimum wage hike HERE.

#CUT50 CAMPAIGN - The Drug Policy Alliance has launched their latest campaign, #Cut50, with the aim of reducing the prison population and reforming our broken criminal justice system. The campaign teams up with 100 A-list celebrities to reduce the U.S incarcerated population by 50% over the next ten years. See what celebrities have joined the movement and how you can get involved HERE.

MAD MEN – The Bridge Project has released their latest report “Mad Mad Mad Mad Men: The U.S Chamber of Commerce” this week. The report takes a look at the largest lobbying group in the United States how they are not just neglecting, but actively working to destroy working families and small businesses. Read the report HERE.

COMBATING RACIAL PROFILING – ACLU of California is celebrating a victory this week as Gov. Jerry Brown signed AB 953 into law. This measure requires law enforcement agencies to collect basic information on police stops in response to growing concerns about racial profiling and misconduct. Read the new law’s purpose HERE.

WEEKLY $1,000 WINNER – Democracy for All has announced their weekly winner! Watch this week’s prize winner Mara Ditchfield in his video “An American Mailman’s Flight for Freedom“ HERE.

NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION - The U.S Climate Action Network is putting on numerous events nationwide for the People’s Climate Movement National Day of Action on October 14, 2015. You can sign up to show your support and find an event to participate in near you HERE.

GO PURPLE – Pledge to go purple with GLADD on #SpiritDay2015. Wearing purple on this day, October 15th, shows LGBTQ youth that they are not alone in standing up against bullying. Take the pledge to stop bullying HERE.

ENDING THE IVORY TRADE - The Humane Society is celebrating their success in passing a bill that bans the sale of ivory in California. Read about the state’s fight to preserve wildlife HERE.

LANDMARK BILL FOR PAID FAMILY LEAVE – With the help of NARAL Pro-Choice America, members of the D.C City Council have introduced legislation to provide all district residents with access to paid family leave. Read the press release regarding the landmark bill HERE.

FAIR SHARE – National People’s Action and IIRON have teamed up to advocate for a new bill in Cook County, IL that holds corporations who pay poverty wages accountable for things like child care, housing and healthcare for their workers. Sign their petition to hold these corporations accountable HERE.

… From the Wonk Wire …

Trump Tax Plan Proves Billionaire Populist Really Just a Billionaire – Patriotic Millionaires Chair and Top Wonk Morris Pearl analyzes Republican frontrunner Donald Trump’s tax plan on The Hill. Read his analysis and suggestions for fair economic distribution HERE.

Sachs Says UN Development Goals Should Inspire Technologists –  Top Wonk Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute and UN Advisor, talks about technology’s impact on universal access to quality education in developing countries. Read the article reflecting on his advice HERE.

Voter ID: What Oregon Gets Right and Alabama Gets Wrong – Justin Levitt, Professor at Loyola Law School and Top Wonk, is featured on Alabama.com for his comphrenseive study done on 14 years of voter fraud cases in the United States. Read the article and the study’s major findings HERE.

Study: Climate Strategy Focused on Local Impacts is Most Effective with Americans – Top Wonk and Harvard Professor Stephen Ansolabehere was featured this week in an article alongside the co-author of his 2014 award winning book for their study on global warming conversations. Read the article and the book’s summary HERE.

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CLEAR THE ICE –  Thanks to the efforts of a number of environmental organizations such as the Sierra Club, the Natural Resource Defense Council, and 350.org, Royal Dutch Shell has suspended their Arctic drilling indefinitely. Read about this huge victory for the environmental movement HERE.

SAFETY NETS - The Economic Policy Institute released this week’s Economic Snapshot taking a closer look at the direct effect cutting government safety net programs have on poverty. Read this week’s snapshot HERE.

LIQUID WATER - NASA had a huge breakthrough this week as they unveiled new evidence which confirmed that there is liquid water on Mars. Read about this groundbreaking moment for space and NASA’s research program HERE.

WEEKLY DEMOCRACY WINNER – The Democracy for All Video Challenge $1,000 winner this week is James Parker for his video titled “Citizens United PSA”. Watch the winning video HERE.

NEW YORK, NEW POLLS - Fight for $15 is rejoicing as the most recent New York poll reveal that a majority of New Yorkers are in favor of raising the minimum wage to $15 in the next few years. Read the poll results HERE.

THE 1,2,3s OF NVRD - The Bus Project celebrated National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday, September 22nd by registering 1,230 Oregonians to vote! Read the demographics behind this spectacular number HERE.

CARRIED AWAY WITH CARRIED INTEREST - The Patriotic Millionaires released their newest video about carried interest loopholes for hedge fund managers. The video features numerous “Patriotic Millionaires” discussing the carried interest loophole and the importance of closing it to ensure economic justice. Watch the video HERE.

PINK OUT - Planned Parenthood was shown an overwhelming amount of support as their President Cecile Richards testified in front of Congress by the millions of advocates who participated in National Pink Out Day. Read what Ms. Richards had to say in her call to action for advocates to fight back HERE.

THE CHOSEN ONE - The Agenda Project has released its latest ad in the support of Planned Parenthood given the recent investigation and possible funding cuts for the women’s health provider. Watch the ad that’s stirring a conversation about the importance of a woman’s right to chose HERE.

… From the Wonk Wire …

Saving Capitalism: For the Many, Not the Few - Robert Reich, Economic Policy Institute Co-Founder and Top Wonk, has finished and released his latest book addressing the reshaping of capitalism to benefit the masses. Read a broader description of the book HERE.

EPA Must Enact Strong Water Pollution Standards - The Director of the Sierra Club, Mary Anne Hitt, talks about the massive pollution of toxic metals into U.S waterways. Read her suggestion on how the EPA should handle this epidemic HERE.

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