In this Newsletter
|
Friends,
There are less than 100 days left till the U.S. midterm elections in November and a day of reckoning is coming. Americans and the world are watching.
After a year a half of rampant corruption, abuse of power, assaults on the rule of law and on the international order, Americans are fed up with President Donald Trump and his lackeys. Two-thirds of Americans disapprove of the job he’s doing.
At this year’s midterms – the most important midterms in more than a century – the Democrats are favored to retake the House of Representatives and possibly even eke out a narrow majority in the Senate. If so, the balance of power in Washington will shift dramatically.
It will then be up to the Democrats to prove their mettle. Two issues will likely dominate: affordability and accountability. It will be the first step in what promises to be a multi-year effort at restoring the American Republic.
But for that to happen, Democratic voters need to turn out in record numbers. Voters will need to convincingly repudiate the Trump Administration. And, because everyone expects Trump to meddle in the elections, it is vital that the results be overwhelming, broad-based, and decisive.
We at Democrats Abroad Greece have been working towards that goal. There’s a new energy among us, our membership is growing, our members are becoming more engaged. Since the start of the year, we have been focused on getting out the vote through more than a dozen initiatives.
Because this year’s vote counts more than ever, we will soon be reaching out to volunteers to help us spread the word. And we are urging every member individually to be our ambassador: by word-of-mouth, through social media, through personal networks, tell every American you know overseas that they can register to vote and request their ballot at www.votefromabroad.org or www.fvap.gov.
This year will be pivotal in American history. We need your help. America needs your help.
Alkman Granitsas
Chair, Democrats Abroad Greece
Sunday, AUG 9 - 21:00 EET
DA Townhall - Pre-DNC Summer Meeting
If you’ve ever wondered what they do at those Democratic National Committee (DNC) meetings … or thought maybe you should care … now’s your chance to dip a toe in the water. This one will be hosted by Sue Alksnis, one of our eight DA DNC members, and DA’s Executive Director Karen Frankenstein. Sue’s based in DA Canada and this call will be geared at Americas and EMEA time zones. RSVP for the link.
Tuesday, AUG 11 - 19:30 to 22:00 EET
Happy Hour in Athens
Athens Happy Hour meets again at its fav retreat, En Aithria in Monastiraki. We start at 6, so those working downtown can stop by before heading home. Stop in and see what's shaping up for the months ahead. And don't hesitate to bring a friend. Details on DAGR Events Page.
Tuesday, AUG 18 - 19:30 EET
DAGR ExCom Meeting
The Dems Abroad Greece board, aka ExCom, meets every month. Members are welcome to sit in and come up to speed on the many things your board has to handle. Get a leg up on upcoming events in planning, and much more. Reply on this email for the WebEx link.
And that’s not all …
See what other country committees and global caucuses are doing, on the DA website Events page.
DNC Vice Chair Jane Kleeb on Blue Vote Cafe
After a brief chuckle over Ottawa’s delayed detonation of its Canada Day fireworks, hosts David and Rachel get down to DNC business with Vice Chair Kleeb. This hour covers what’s really going on in the DNC, how we’re organizing, what we do, and what we still need to do. Plus ideas for how that can translate down to DA activities. It’s not a ‘stump speech.’ Kleeb talks nuts and bolts. Energizing! One hour of power!
American Federation of Teachers: State of Union
Firebrand union president Randi Weingarten speaks to the AFT annual convention in July. If you want to know what just this one national union has accomplished to forward “the power of the people,” tune in for this one. Beyond pay raises, AFT has gone to the mat for free speech and critical thinking, jobs under threat of AI, federal funding for education and health care. And … voting rights. 53-min video.
Rep. Kweisi MFume, D-MD, July 21, 2026
Speaking on the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the African-American Museum at the Smithsonian. A short 2-min video, broadcast by PBS News Hour. Clears the ears and raises the determination!
Wanna Bet? Don’t Use a ‘Prediction Market’!
More Perfect Union digs into the hype behind ‘prediction’ betting sites like Kalshi or Polymarket. And it don’t look good, hon! Senator Chris Murphy is interviewed in this one and weighs in on the side of protecting the public from bogus Internet get-rich-quick schemes. They’re particularly pernicious in a time of high inflation and citizen despair over making ends meet.
Traditional picnics marked DAGR celebration of Independence Day
Hope you saw coverage of our July 4th events in Greece, as published in Greek and English by Euronews.
Democrats Abroad are now on Substack, too. Check DA global news here!
DAGR Phone Crew Wants YOU … in September!
After the summer holiday, DAGR will run its second phone campaign to make sure all of our members are registered and ready to receive their ballots. We could really use 8 or 10 more callers to shore up our team! Many phones make fast work!
If you think you might be able to help or just want a little more info about what that entails, go to our GOTV Event page, and click the non-binding RSVP button. We’ll be in touch as soon as we get back from the beach.
In the meantime, if you or a friend haven’t requested your ballot, do it at VoteFromAbroad.org to guarantee your right to vote in the federal races. And ask for the ballot to be sent to you by EMAIL, to avoid Trump’s mail delays.
Not a Phone Person, But Love Social Media?
If phone banking isn’t your thing, but you’re on Facebook or Instagram fairly often, you can help. At the very least, FOLLOW us and LIKE our DAGR posts. If you have a little more to say, drop in a comment. Either way, it helps boost our ratings and gets our posts seen by more people.
Data Centers Bring Us Together
Across the US, local opponents, municipalities and even a few states have put the kibosh on the rapid build-out of data centers. The opposition spans the urban-rural divide, income and social groupings, and political parties. Read the headline link here for an overview of the issues. And this one for a Michigan candidate’s proposal of exactly how we can get positive benefits.
Blue Dunes: Interview with the Author
More often than you might guess, one of our own DAGRs gets published, and it’s happening again. Karine Ancellin sets post-colonial dislocation and uprising in a novel that promises a good read as well as a history lesson! Learn more on the DAGR web pages.
The Countdown Begins
Thessaloniki Chapter Chair Irem Tunc calls out to each of us to get the paperwork done and poise to send that ballot back! She hits on the sore spot a lot of us have been feeling, turning ‘what’s the use?’ into ‘what’s there to lose?’ We have a real chance to stop the bleeding, heal the wounds and rebuild the U.S. into something even better than we’ve almost lost.
REPORT: Assaulting ICE Officers? Cases Crumbling!
The New York Times conducted a deep-dive study of cases brought by ICE against ‘protesters’ and ‘obstructers’ (18 USC 111). Half have been thrown out or withdrawn. Those ICE won were mainly guilty pleas. And the evidence, when not destroyed, shows most ‘assaults’ were, in fact, self-defense. Names are named where known. This looks like the big tip of a bigger iceberg. Gift Link.
EU Bans Disposal of Unsold Clothing
Effective now for mega-firms, and coming into effect in 2030 for medium sized, this rule is refreshingly rational. Destroying perfectly good clothing because it didn’t sell is a waste. There are bargain-seekers, folks with low incomes, and others in dire need for whom this rather huge stock of usable items can be a real god-send. Kudos. Hope the ‘how’ is as sensible as the rule.
What Congress Gets Wrong About Childcare Fraud
It’s important to safeguard federal programs against fraud, but there’s a growing disconnect between the challenges lawmakers are focused on and the realities families face every day. UnidosUS sets the record straight with this recent blog post. Meanwhile, Trump withholds designated child care funding from states he dislikes.
What Do Chatbots Really Know About You?
If you use AI helpers, you may inadvertently be sharing a lot of information with them. This article from the NY Times explains how, and also how you can limit their memory. Shortly after its publication, reader comments indicated the AI bots might have already begun adjusting. Fast learners! Gift link here.
Calm Down. We’re Doing the Work!
The Contrarian wrote on July 13 that voters obviously have a better sense of politics than the punditocracy, which was pearl clutching over recent changes in Democrats’ candidates. They provide a long list of Republican thuggery and devotion to intimidation and rule-breaking, plus an even longer list of Dem candidates elected in special elections over the past year.
Did Putin Kill Graham?
Pundits, Democrats and non, alike, flooded the ether with speculation, conspiracy, funny memes and personal takes on the death of Senator Lindsay Graham. This analysis covered the 1) ability, 2) the motivation, and 3) the proof. The conclusion was that, while the first two items were possibly ‘yes,’ the forensic evidence was 'not yet in.' Perhaps by this printing, it is. But even if not, the article demonstrates the reasonable approach.
Trump and Cronies: Top 10 Corruption Scandals
Well, somebody finally got his number. And it adds up to a 30% approval rating. And still falling. While surrounding h8imself with incompetent sycophants and plowing ahead with brain-dead policies that leave us scratching our heads – Is this for real? – his getting caught for the major grift that’s almost become normalized is an invitation to the giggle fest.
......................................................................................
That’s it for August. We’ll say it again:
Rest up. Relax a little. Stay connected. And get ready for the coming election.
 |
 |
 |
 |