Author | Lightnews

Reposted by Ben Whalen

Governor Tim Walz @governorwalz.mn.gov · 6d

The USDA has funding set aside to keep food assistance programs running during emergencies.

Trump just won’t release it.

440,000 Minnesotans - and millions more Americans - will pay the price.

110 1.6K 4.8K

Ben Whalen @whenbalen.bsky.social · 11d

Proud to organize with Dottie to protect food assistance benefits in MN, no matter what the federal government does!

Faith in MN @faithinmn.org · 11d

While Minnesotans are doing everything they can to get by, MAGA politicians are cutting food assistance — even before the shutdown. 😡

Dottie is one of 440,000 Minnesotans who count on #SNAP. Minnesota can and must be a #FullPlateState, where everyone eats & no one is left behind. 🍽️

1 3

Reposted by Ben Whalen

Alejandro Alvarez @aletakesphotos.bsky.social · 15d

Giant copy of the Constitution being carried down Pennsylvania Avenue.

210 4.8K 18K

Reposted by Ben Whalen

ISAIAH @isaiahmn.org · 18d

🧵✨ Pause your doomscroll — Minnesota leaders are making big moves! 📣

In the past few days alone, 1,750+ ISAIAH and @faithinmn.org leaders came together across the state to shape our statewide agenda. ✊

Infographic with ISAIAH and Faith in Minnesota logos at top. Picture depicts Black ISAIAH leaders raising hands up. Text reads: When times are hard, Minnesotans don’t give up. We organize. In the last few days alone, over 1,750 ISAIAH & Faith in Minnesota members came together to build hope across our state.

Infographic with ISAIAH and Faith in Minnesota logos at top. Picture depicts small town residents meeting. Text reads: 75 small town residents launch one big vision. At the Small Town Summit, leaders from Red Wing, Albert Lea, Northfield, and Faribault solidified a plan to protect our communities.

Infographic with ISAIAH and Faith in Minnesota logos at top. Picture depicts Muslim Coalition leaders meeting. Text reads: Nearly 600 Muslim leaders gather to build power. The Muslim Coalition came together to land a shared agenda that will improve the lives of Muslim Minnesotans statewide

Infographic with ISAIAH and Faith in Minnesota logos at top. Picture suburban residents sitting in church pews. Text reads: Over 150 suburban leaders take local action. At our Suburban Summit, leaders spoke out against cuts to programs we rely on while organizing for the positive future we deserve.

1 6 11

Reposted by Ben Whalen

ISAIAH @isaiahmn.org · Sep 25

🧵 Today at the MN State Capitol, U.S. Senator Tina Smith stood with 110 clergy leaders from across faith, race, and place to demand a federal budget that protects healthcare — not one that cuts Medicaid, the ACA, and SNAP just to fund tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy.

Photo depicts Senator Tina Smith at the podium, surrounded by multiracial, multifaith faith leaders.

2 4 7

Ben Whalen @whenbalen.bsky.social · Sep 25

Joining 100 Minnesotan clergy leaders with @isaiahmn.org and our very own US Senator @smith.senate.gov this morning urging all our congresspeople to fight for our healthcare, our food assistance, our kids' education in federal budget negotiations!

Senator Tina Smith speaks at a podium with 100 clergy of various traditions behind her holding signs that say Fight for Us, Fight for Food Assistance, Fight for Our Schools, Fight for Our Healthcare

1 2

Reposted by Ben Whalen

Joshua Erlich @joshuaerlich.bsky.social · Apr 2

hard to believe an elon musk product fell apart and exploded at the finish line

27 1.3K 8.3K

Ben Whalen @whenbalen.bsky.social · Mar 29

Thank you Senator @lindseyportmn.bsky.social and Sen. Jim Carlson for joining @isaiahmn.org and #YesToHomes in Inver Grove Heights this morning! Dakota County residents are asking #mnleg to pass bills that allow more homes in more places and put an end to exclusionary zoning laws.

Senator Lindsey Port stands with a microphone in front of a room full of people listening

2 3

Reposted by Ben Whalen

We Make MN @wemakemn.bsky.social · Mar 5

They'd like to think taxes exist in a vacuum, that our shared taxes disappear into the sky rather than funding the essential services that we need. We loved this moment from @athenahollins.bsky.social - setting the record straight.

5 13

Reposted by Ben Whalen

ISAIAH @isaiahmn.org · Mar 24

🏡🎶🔊 “We wanna live in a home we can afford, a home we can afford, a home we can afford!” #mnleg

💯 Yes, yes we do. Contact your legislators and encourage them to say #YesToHomes today: bit.ly/4ieO6O

1 5 5

Reposted by Ben Whalen

ISAIAH @isaiahmn.org · Mar 24

📺 Watch @fox9mn.bsky.social cover one of our recent #YesToHomes events! “The market is so vastly different than what I could afford,” said Hopkins resident Darcy Gabriel. #mnleg www.fox9.com/video/1613015

West metro leaders looking to tackle housing crisis

Minnesota lawmakers and community leaders are looking to make housing more affordable in the west Twin Cities metro. FOX 9's Babs Santos has the latest.

www.fox9.com

1 2 6

Reposted by Ben Whalen

ISAIAH @isaiahmn.org · Mar 24

We were honored to be joined by State Reps Esther Agbaje, @cedrickfrazier.bsky.social, @repfreiberg.bsky.social, @mikehowardmn.bsky.social, @katiejonesmpls.bsky.social, @larrykraft.bsky.social, various local electeds, and partner orgs like @moreneighbors.org. #mnleg

Leaders sit and look toward speaker at front of room

1 4 8

Reposted by Ben Whalen

ISAIAH @isaiahmn.org · Mar 24

🧵🏘️ West Metro ISAIAH leaders have been hosting powerful events to champion the #YesToHomes legislative agenda! Across Minnetonka, Minneapolis, New Hope, and Edina, hundreds of Minnesotans showed up to build a state where everyone — regardless of race or zip code — has affordable housing. #mnleg

Leaders March and hold signs about the need for affordable housing.

1 8 12

Ben Whalen @whenbalen.bsky.social · Mar 24

And here's the #YesToHomes crew from Edina, Hopkins, and St Louis Park, joined by the leadership of Rep @larrykraft.bsky.social: www.fox9.com/video/1613015. People all over the region this weekend speaking up in favor of more homes!

West metro leaders looking to tackle housing crisis

Minnesota lawmakers and community leaders are looking to make housing more affordable in the west Twin Cities metro. FOX 9's Babs Santos has the latest.

www.fox9.com

3 9

Ben Whalen @whenbalen.bsky.social · Mar 23

And the march! Lots of folks joined in to "honk for homes" as we marched!

People walk along the street holding signs "Yes to Home" and "Home Safe Home"

2

Reposted by Ben Whalen

Neighbors for More Neighbors (N4MN) @moreneighbors.org · Mar 19

75% of Minnsotans support reducing public meetings for homes that meet building code and other standards and allowing city staff to simply approve homes. #YesToHomes agenda includes this is provision in most/all of the bills bc we know city staff are capable and trust their judgement. #MNleg

Do Minnesota voters support or oppose the following proposal: Allow city staff to approve new housing permits that comply with all existing rules without additional process

1 7 9

Reposted by Ben Whalen

Neighbors for More Neighbors (N4MN) @moreneighbors.org · Mar 19

Minnesota voters strongly support the policies proposed by the #YesToHomes coalition this session. We know this because we've conducted new polling between February 28 and March 6, 2025, which is available here: moreneighbors.org/2025/03/18/p...
See this thread for toplines! #MNleg

1 5 9

Ben Whalen @whenbalen.bsky.social · Mar 23

And many thanks to Robbinsdale School Board Director Helen Bassett, Near Food Shelf, and PRISM! Too many supporters to fit into one post

1 1

Ben Whalen @whenbalen.bsky.social · Mar 23

Back at it today - 80+ people gather in New Hope to say #YesToHomes with @isaiahmn.org and elected leaders Mayor Harmon of Golden Valley and MN Reps. @repfreiberg.bsky.social and @cedrickfrazier.bsky.social. We're calling on the whole #mnleg to allow more homes in more places this year!

Room full of people listens to a speaker sharing about the need for more homes across the state

1 6 13

Reposted by Ben Whalen

Julie Abrahamson @jkca58.bsky.social · Mar 23

We had a FULL house for our @ISAIAHmn.org “Raising our Voices for Raising More Roofs” at Our Saviour’s Lutheran. We heard stories about how the housing issue affects so many people. Reps K Jones, M Howard, & E Agbaje were excited to see so many people in a movement to say #YEStoHomes. 🏠. 👏 #mnleg

4 6

Ben Whalen @whenbalen.bsky.social · Mar 22

Powerful afternoon with @isaiahmn.org, @moreneighbors.org, Rep. @katiejonesmpls.bsky.social, Rep. Michael Howard, and Rep. Esther Agbaje as a packed house said #YesToHomes for MN this year. Let's pass laws that allow more types of homes in more places across Minnesota!

A large room full of people listen to a speaker at the podium. Projector screen reads "Raising Our Voices to Raise More Roofs: Zeroing In On Zoning"

6 12

Ben Whalen @whenbalen.bsky.social · Mar 17

This is my main campaign for this year and could not have said it better than Senator Rasmusson last week. I'm calling on all of #mnleg to say #YestoHomes this year!

ISAIAH @isaiahmn.org · Mar 17

🏘️ “I think the aspiration ought to be that we allow Minnesotans to pick which communities they live in, not let communities pick which Minnesotans get to live there.” Well said Senator Rasmusson! 💯 #mnleg #YesToHomes

2 3

Reposted by Ben Whalen

Lars Negstad @larsn.bsky.social · Jan 14

Coup. It's called a coup.

Chris Ingraham @cingraham.bsky.social · Jan 14

Constitutional crisis in Minnesota: Democratic lawmakers walk out, Secretary of State declares no quorum and adjourns, Republicans ignore it and hold a floor session anyway. minnesotareformer.com/2025/01/14/c...

Constitutional crisis: House Republicans elect speaker after Simon adjourns session • Minnesota Reformer

Who would enforce Simon’s ruling?

minnesotareformer.com

6 19

Reposted by Ben Whalen

mikehowardmn.bsky.social @mikehowardmn.bsky.social · Jan 14

Just as Trump attempted to overthrow an election he lost, so too are the Republicans in the Minnesota House. And just as Donald Trump failed with his coup attempt, so too will they. While Republicans “play House” Democrats are standing with the people and will prevent this abuse of power.

5 15

Reposted by Ben Whalen

Rep. Andy Smith @andysmithmn.bsky.social · Jan 14

This is the MN Secretary of State dispensing his constitutional duty to determine quorum on the first day of session.

He determined there was no quorum and thus the House could not conduct any other business.

Anything that happened after this is an unconstitutional coup.

1 13 47