For progressive activists, Rob Quist's loss in Montana's special congressional election is particularly troubling, in Hal Ginsberg's analysis. Quist followed the script that we on the left edge of the Democratic Party have been writing. He held rallies with Bernie Sanders. He supports Medicare-for-all. The Tax Reform section of his website touches all the economic populist bases. ... Democrats can only return to power, we insist, when they propose credible solutions to the privation caused by globalism and income and wealth stratification. Quist’s loss suggests that, in much of the country at least, this strategy may not bear immediate fruit.

As Maryland health care activist Dr. Margaret Flowers points out, "Polls have consistently shown that super-majorities of Democratic Party voters want single payer, but Democratic Party candidates keep telling them that they can’t have it." Centrist-dominated regular Democrats are going to have to change their stance if they are going to get needed traction for success in the 2018 election.

Progressive Cheverly issues statement in response to the U.S. pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement: "It is a strike against every American, against every person on this planet, against the future of human life as we know it."

Several important events happening TONIGHT (June 5) below; a meeting and action participation in Anne Arundel County and a County Council hearing and vote on Fair Elections Howard County, the public financing program voted in by the county’s voters.

ots more progressive things to do all over the state in our growing array of county chapters from Frederick to Easton; events from our allies; and the past week's blogs.

Trump's announced exit from the Paris climate accord has sparked a huge pushback from important sectors in addition to progressive organizations. States, cities and institutions like universities -- and some big corporations -- are saying they will continue to meet the carbon-reduction standards and, collectively, seek to represent the US in the Paris Accord after Trumplandia's abdication.

Poverty in Maryland, and ways to remedy it, are closely associated with a top-down, undemocratic energy system that often perpetuates inequality. The CEO of a local alternative energy effort outlines the depth of the problem, and some solutions that increase the public's role in its own empowerment.

A discouraging week because of Hogan's veto of the Healthy Working Families Act, but quite encouraging when we consider the healthy pushback against his slippery veto-plus. Follow the week in our linked blog posts, below, plus news and events for our growing chapters around the state.

Those we honor on Memorial Day struggled to save their comrades. Nations who choose to settle conflicts with war have a ways to catch up where honor is concerned.

Larry Hogan's slippery veto of the paid sick leave bill illustrates the broad front on which progressive strategy needs to operate for 2018 and beyond.

Larry Hogan has signaled he won't sign HB1, the Healthy Working Families Act, in his last batch of signings this week. His choice is a veto he already knows will be overridden next January, or letting paid sick leave become law without a signature now. He should do the latter; let him know that. Call 410-974-3901.