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Progressive Maryland Weekly Memo for Monday, July 28, 2025

It’s been a weekend full of celebration and mobilization for our movement.

On Saturday, we came together for the Environmental Justice Task Force victory party, celebrating our success in ending green energy subsidies for trash incineration. It was a powerful moment of joy, reflection, and community. EJTF leaders shared moving stories from the frontlines of the fight, legislative allies spoke to the significance of the win, and everyone there could feel the impact of our years-long advocacy work on this issue. Grassroots organizing is changing policy, and this victory belongs to all of us. Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate with us.

That same day, we were proud to participate in the Families First National Day of Action. While hundreds rallied on the National Mall in DC, others canvassed right here in Maryland, gathering signatures to hold Rep. Andy Harris accountable for voting in favor of a devastating federal budget. These rallies were a clear show of people power and a reminder that Marylanders won’t sit quietly while programs like SNAP, Medicaid, and education get gutted. Check out the Healthcare section of the memo for more on how to get involved in this critical fight.

We also recently celebrated a major milestone — the graduation of the 2025 Cohort of the Maryland People’s Leadership Institute. We're beyond proud of this dynamic group of leaders, who completed our political leadership training and are now equipped to run for office, manage campaigns, and champion progressive change across the state. Congratulations to the 2025 Cohort!

And the celebrations continue — because this Wednesday, July 30, marks the 60th birthday of Medicaid and Medicare. These life-saving programs have helped generations of families access care, stay healthy, and age with dignity. This week, we’ll be joining a national livestream event to mark the occasion and recommit to the fight. You’ll find the details on how to join us later in this memo.

Read on for important updates, upcoming events, and critical state and national news.

In solidarity,

The Progressive Maryland Team

Here’s what’s in today’s memo:

  • PM Events
  • Campaign Updates
  • Local Chapter Updates
  • Ally Events
  • PM Careers
  • State & National News

PM EVENTS: Join us for a powerful livestream this Wednesday

The Big Betrayal: How We Fight Forward
Wednesday, July 30 at 8 PM ET | Livestream

Medicaid and Medicare are under attack, and we won’t stay silent. Join Progressive Maryland and our national affiliate, People’s Action, as we break down the devastating federal budget passed by the GOP and chart our next steps forward.

We’ll dig into what’s at stake, lift up stories from the front lines, and honor the 60th anniversary of Medicaid and Medicare with a clear call to action. This is a critical moment to come together and build our power.

RSVP now to join the livestream

Task Forces & Issue Campaigns Updates: 

Healthcare Task Force: 

Happy 60th Anniversary, Medicare and Medicaid!! July 30th 🎂

These two enduring and life-sustaining programs have been there for Americans for 6 decades! We have and always will support Medicare and Medicaid! Currently, these programs cover the healthcare of more than 140 million people of all ages in our country.

The massive federal budget funding cuts to both, totalling more than $1 trillion, will result in millions losing health care, and hospitals and nursing homes cutting back on services or closing. We’re fighting back against the budget and fighting forward for a better healthcare system. In a recent letter to the Baltimore Sun, one of our leaders explains why passing Medicare For All legislation is the best way to solve the problems we face in our fractured and corporate-captured healthcare system.

Budget Accountability Campaign Update!

Members of Congress who voted to support the healthcare cuts and changes in the bill need to face their constituents. Our focus is on Rep. Andy Harris in Congressional District 1 in Maryland. We're calling on him to hold in-person town hall meetings in August.

  • If you live in his district, please sign the petition and share with other CD-01 residents: pgmd.us/HCpetitionCD-1
  • We’re also calling voters who live in CD-01 to let them know about what’s in the bill and how to express their concerns. Please join our phone bank tomorrow and throughout August. Click here to sign up.

We had a great canvass outside the Bel Air Farmers Market on Saturday morning. 15 Progressive Maryland and Progressive Harford County volunteers had conversations with about 150 folks and we collected more than 100 signatures on our petition to Rep. Harris!  Many thanks to all of you for your time and amazing work! And thank you Yvette for taking the photo!

Also on Saturday, in Washington D.C. hundreds of people gathered to raise their voices in opposition to the budget. Folks who will be impacted by the cuts and changes to programs like Medicaid shared their stories, including one of our members, Danny Manny. We want to thank Danny and his family for being such a key part of this powerful gathering. 

Local Chapter Updates:

Harford County 

We had a successful community canvass outside the Bel Air Farmers Market on Saturday. We are looking to have more community events and a petition delivery to Rep. Harris’ office in the near future. To get involved, contact Zack .

EVENTS FROM ALLIES:

Renters United Maryland Housing Justice Summit – Aug 10

Join Renters United Maryland on Sunday, August 10, in Baltimore for the annual Housing Justice Summit — a statewide gathering of tenants, organizers, and advocates to build power, shape the 2026 agenda, and strengthen the movement for renters' rights. Hybrid option available.  Register here.

News You Can Use: ICEmen cometh, flood damage gets no relief; Moore is No. 2 Guv

TrumpWorld has more and more ways of poking at our sore spots in pursuit of retribution for his imagined insults and injustices: refusal to provide disaster aid to flooded Western MD communities; grasping attacks from public and private right-wing minions on states' lists of registered voters; hyper-aggressive ICE tactics right here in Maryland; two years and out for the housing-threatened; cuts in workplace safety and wage theft enforcement. Whew! And the EPA is working on a plan to pretend carbon dioxide does not affect our climate (ask flood victims in Westernport). Plus, as you will see, everyday people in working families are pushing back. The beat goes on, and so does the weekly News You Can Use...

PM Careers

Community Organizer