Maryville Huddle Political Updates

Politically, we’ve had more good news this past week but unfortunately, COVID-19 continues to ravage the country. Tennessee is now the worldwide epicenter of per capita infections. Accordingly, our action this week focuses on the performance of our Governor Lee in dealing with the pandemic.

As the Biden transition team attempts to bring sanity back to governing, and Congress works towards providing COVID relief, Outgoing Pres. Donald Trump and his minions are talking about declaring martial law and naming Sidney Powell (the lawyer he fired 2 weeks ago) as special counsel to investigate voter fraud. We are hopeful none of this nonsense will occur and his minions will finally come up with an exit strategy that 45 can accept and look forward to.

If the next 2 weeks remain quiet, don’t expect a weekly email next Sunday. Instead, please enjoy the holiday you celebrate, take some time to relish the joy of being alive, and the hopefulness engendered by the release of the COVID vaccines and the changes proposed by the new administration.

Happy Holiday Everyone! Stay safe!

If you’ve not seen it yet, scroll down to reach the link to Trevor Noah’s Holiday Yule log video.

Actions for Week of December 20, 2020

1. Rate the Governor – Gov. Lee will address the folks of TN tonight at 7 PM CST. As you know, in TN coronavirus infection rates are very high, hospitals are under stress, and the failure to dispense the first received COVID-19 vaccines has been criticized. Fortunately, public pressure has forced some of the withheld vaccines to be released in Nashville. Meanwhile, Tennessee’s first lady is infected and the governor is back in quarantine
2. It also came to light this past week that millions have been wasted on a no-bid contract for COVID testing.
3. You can grade the governor’s performance on the handling of the pandemic here. Following tonight’s address, you can also offer feedback by calling (615-741-2001) or emailing his office: https://www.tn.gov/governor/contact-us.html

2. Good News!
   1. It is 31 days until the inauguration.
   2. The 45 campaign has 59 losses against one win in their post-election law suits.
   3. The RNC has now shifted its focus to filing suits in Georgia to prevent folks from voting. They’ve lost 2 of 4 suits so far. Yesterday a judge ruled their effort to prevent new registrants (who might have moved into the state since November 3^rd and possibly voted for a Senator in another state on that date) from voting was ludicrous.
   4. Voter turnout in GA has been high so far, almost as high as for the Nov. 3^rd general election.  Watch this stirring rendition of GA on Your Mind encouraging folks to vote.
   5. New York has passed al law banning the sale or display of the confederate flag on state property.
   6. Rep. Deb Haaland has been nominated to serve as Secretary of the Interior. A member of the Pueblo of Laguna, she will be the first Native American to hold the post. Michael Regan has been nominated to run the EPA and Brenda Mallory will lead the White House Council on Environmental Quality.  Filling these positions with POC is a step forward.
   7. The Moderna vaccine was approved late Friday night and is being shipped out today.
   8. SCOTUS punted the administration’s attempt to not count undocumented residents in the 2020 Census. Let’s hope the administration is so disorganized in the next 30 days that they are unable to get the requested data before the court prior to inaguaration.
   9. SCOTUS refused to hear a voter Kansa restriction appeal that required people to prove their citizenship when registering.
   10. SCOTUS also refused to roll back same-sex marriage equality.
   11. If Biden halts building of the border all, it will save $2.6 billion.
   12. The inauguration committee is encouraging everyone to stay home and watch the inauguration remotely. Although this is good news with respect to the pandemic, it is disappointing everyone with pink pussy hats will not be there to cheer! Maybe we can plan to party in January 2022 once we’re all vaccinated!

3. Educate Yourself
   1. Read about the status of COVID in children and the effects of the pandemic on families.
   2. Did you know that black children are 6 times more likely to be killed by police than their white counterparts?
   3. Learn about the 80 million people who did NOT vote on Nov 3, 2020.
   4. Utah Sen. Mike Lee blocked an effort to create a National Latino museum.

Upcoming Events
Dec 23^rd, Wed. Electoral Votes must arrive in Washington DC.

Dec 23^rd, Wed 7 PM: Meaningful Conversations. Join Zoom meeting: here . Meeting ID: 821 5825 8719, Passcode: 198507. Call in via 312-626-6799 or 646-557-8656. Contact ramaloha@hotmail.com for the topic to be discussed.

Dec 30^th, Wed 7 PM: Meaningful Conversations. Join Zoom meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82158258719?pwd=am8xTEJscldvZlJHaFViVDE0dWJpQT09 . Meeting ID: 821 5825 8719, Passcode: 198507. Call in via 312-626-6799 or 646-557-8656. Contact ramaloha@hotmail.com for the topic to be discussed.

Jan 3, 2021, Sun: New Congress is sworn in at noon.

Jan 6^th, Wed: Electoral Votes are counted. Read about the process here. At least one member of House of Representatives plans to challenge the vote.

Jan 6^th, Wed 7 PM: Meaningful Conversations. Join Zoom meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82158258719?pwd=am8xTEJscldvZlJHaFViVDE0dWJpQT09 . Meeting ID: 821 5825 8719, Passcode: 198507. Call in via 312-626-6799 or 646-557-8656. Contact ramaloha@hotmail.com for the topic to be discussed.

Jan 13^th, Wed 4:30 PM: Environment Working Group Meeting. Please contact bcgreenhuddle@gmail.com for Zoom meeting details.

Jan 13^h, Wed 7 PM: Meaningful Conversations. Join Zoom meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82158258719?pwd=am8xTEJscldvZlJHaFViVDE0dWJpQT09 . Meeting ID: 821 5825 8719, Passcode: 198507. Call in via 312-626-6799 or 646-557-8656. Contact ramaloha@hotmail.com for the topic to be discussed.

Jan 16^th, Sat 10 AM: MLK Jr Celebration: The Beloved Community Facing History Forum. Keynote Speaker:  Dr. Erika Henderson, Associate Program Director for New Communities for Facing History Memphis office.  She holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration from Union University. Zoom meeting details tba.

Jan 20^th, Wed: Inauguration Day. The 46^th President takes oath of office at noon.

Jan 20^th, Wed 7 PM: Meaningful Conversations. Join Zoom meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82158258719?pwd=am8xTEJscldvZlJHaFViVDE0dWJpQT09 . Meeting ID: 821 5825 8719, Passcode: 198507. Call in via 312-626-6799 or 646-557-8656. Contact ramaloha@hotmail.com for the topic to be discussed.

Jan 26^th, Tues 11:30AM-1PM: BCEAC Luncheon Meeting. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82720389885?pwd=ZEpSQ2h1Rk9XR3NrYkI4YjBsbnBhUT09 . Meeting ID: 827 2038 9885. Passcode: 331230. Call in 301-715-8592 or 312-626-6799. Dues are $20 per year. RSVP to bcecumenicalactioncouncil@gmail.com .

Jan 27^th, Wed 7 PM: Meaningful Conversations. Join Zoom meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82158258719?pwd=am8xTEJscldvZlJHaFViVDE0dWJpQT09 . Meeting ID: 821 5825 8719, Passcode: 198507. Call in via 312-626-6799 or 646-557-8656. Contact ramaloha@hotmail.com for the topic to be discussed.

Jan 28^th, Thur 7-9PM: Maryville Huddle Strategic Planning Meeting – Where do we go from here? Bring your ideas and a list of priorities as we position ourselves to meet the challenges facing the new federal administration and the actions of elected officials here in TN.

Future Huddle Meeting Dates: We will continue to meet via Zoom on the last Thursday of the month. No meetings in November & December. 2021 Meeting Dates: Jan 28^th (Strategic Planning – Where do we go from here?), February 25^th (tentative: General Assembly legislators), March 25^th (Racism), April 29^th, May 27^th, etc.

Thanks for all that all of you are doing! Stay well and enjoy this Yule Log Video from Trevor Noah