Some encouraging news, but not about ICE

 Last night caucuses were held in Minnesota.  I hadn't attended a caucus for quite a while because the last caucus I attended was so poorly run and it was just chaos.  Not last night. Last night was very different--well organized, efficient, and a much more pleasant experience.  But what was also different? The turnout.  The number of people attending.  What was especially great was the number of younger people.  This was not just a bunch of old folks.  Not this time.  And there was diversity in my room as well.  Turnout was amazing and the reports from the DFL are as follows:

"Minnesota DFL

• Early reports from DFL officials indicate at least 30,000 people gathered across the state for in-person caucuses.
• We saw rooms filled well beyond capacity, standing room only in classrooms and gymnasiums, cars around the block, and lines stretching out the door.
• In Eagan, one site reported more than 75% first-time caucus-goers.
• In Lyon County, organizers reported record attendance for a non-presidential year, and in Fillmore County, a precinct ran out of chairs as crowds kept coming.
• Longtime organizers across Minnesota said they’d never seen turnout like this — even in presidential years.

That’s what happens when our communities refuse to be divided. That’s what our state looks like when we show up together."

When I arrived in talking to the conveners, they expected everyone would be a delegate who wanted to be a delegate, but then people just kept coming. They had never seen a turnout like last night. And I remember how crowded it was at the last caucus I went to - it was the Democratic Presidential election with Obama vs. Clinton. So, this is definitely a sign. People are ready to fight for democracy, fight for our rights, fight for the rights of immigrants, and more.

And I got to meet some neighbors I hadn't known before, but will get to know better because we are all delegates going to the next stage. It was a good night. And it not only gave me joy, it gave me hope.

Last night and today's decision by the Supreme Court to allow new California Congressional Districts to stand.

We needed some good news.