Tonight, legal scholar John Pfaff wrote: “Every race. It’s basically been every race. Governors. Mayors. Long-held [Republican] dog-catchers. School boards. Water boards. Flipped a dungeon master in a rural Iowa D&D club. State senators. State reps. A janitor in Duluth. State justices. Three [Republican] Uber drivers. Just everything.”

Trump posted on social media: “‘TRUMP WASN’T ON THE BALLOT, AND SHUTDOWN, WERE THE TWO REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST ELECTIONS TONIGHT,’ according to Pollsters.”

But in fact, today voters resoundingly rejected Trump and Trumpism, and tomorrow, politics will be a whole different game.

Stand Up For Democracy Fundraiser

We have limited seating left at our fundraiser on Saturday evening at Tsali Notch. Proceeds will go toward supporting candidates in 2026. 

Dinner will be provided by Brown Bag in Knoxville, with Special Guest Speaker Representative Gloria Johnson. There will be entertainment and 2 glasses of wine also provided.   

Tickets: $100 per person
Doors open at 6 pm, dinner at 6:30 pm

If you would like to purchase a ticket, you can pay via Venmo (@MCDP-McMinn) or email [email protected] to reserve your spot and pay at the door. 

The Athens Area Council for the Arts (AACA) has announced registration for a new series of fall art classes, offering creative opportunities for all ages and experience levels. Participants are asked to register at least three days before the class begins. Classes include:

Loom Weaving with Nancy Kyzer — Saturday, Nov. 8, 1–4 p.m. Open to all ages, this workshop introduces loom techniques to create personalized woven wall art, perfect for holiday gifts. Cost: $25, materials included. Registration deadline: Nov. 7 at 5 p.m. 

Watercolor Studio with Sandy Brown — Thursdays, Nov. 6 & 13, 4:30–6:30 p.m. Designed for intermediate to advanced painters, this two-session course focuses on technique, composition, and critique. Cost: $40, supplies not included.

Instructor information and registration links are available at: athensartscouncil.org/classes. Students may also register by phone at 423-745-8781 or in person at The Arts Center to avoid online fees. Beginning September 2025, past and current AACA pottery students may sign up for studio hours at $20 per month, available by phone or in-person registration during office hours.

In the group I meet with, (Southern Progressives) we had an independent conservative that wondered what the Democrats stood for and Marybeth in our group felt she wanted to explain to the independent where she stood as a Democrat, I wanted to share it here because it was so well written, and down to earth. With all the winning in elections yesterday it seemed like the perfect time to present this:

Why I’m a Democrat

1. I believe I am my brother’s keeper. Democrats are more favorable to social programs that help others less fortunate than I am. This goes for foreign aid as well as domestic. I believe in an open hand extended to help.

2. I believe it’s none of my business who somebody loves, whether or not they see abortion as murder, or if they believe they’re trapped in the wrong body. I certainly don’t think how these behaviors affects whether or not God will judge and treat the nation. The judgement of the nations is pretty clear in Matthew 25, and none of those are even mentioned. Religion has no business in politics or public entities.

3. I believe we need a fairer income tax and social security tax. The upper tax bracket should be paying their fair share. Trickle down economics has been proven not to work. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

4. I believe we are part of the world, not just the United States. Being appreciative of the country and not worship of it. Being born here doesn’t make me better than anyone else – just luckier. I want to share this good fortune, so I am pro-immigration and think it should be much easier and less expensive to come into this county.

5. I believe in free health care and free education. Privatizing education leads to indoctrination by those who have a financial stake in the school.

6. I believe in climate control. Taking care of this planet is a spiritual thing with me. Humans have done so much damage. A lot of what we have done is because of ignorance, but as we learn how we have helped destroy our environment, we need to adjust and stop harmful practices. I want to protect our natural resources, not exploit them.

7. I believe in gun control. Nobody needs an assault rifle or an arsenal.

8. I believe Democratic presidents have done a better job reducing the national debt.

9. I believe in having a leader who is intelligent and feels their role is to serve all citizens. Democratic presidents have exhibited these traits more so than Republican presidents. Voting for a movie actor and a television personality have proved disastrous for this country.

10. I believe in Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity. The Democratic Party stands behind this. We are all equal in God’s sight. Discrimination is wrong.

11. I believe in the separation of power as laid out in the Constitution. When a member of Congress does not allow a sitting president to chose a member of the Supreme Court in order to stack the deck, I am not going to look on his party as upholding the Constitution, and will look to the other party for fair leadership.

12. I believe in freedom of speech and the right to criticize leaders when they are not doing their job or threatening to silence dissenters.

     

13. I believe in science. I have faith in men and women who have devoted their lives to finding cures, preventing illnesses, protecting our planet, and making our lives better through their research.

14. Because I believe in science, I am in favor of government regulation. I want my food inspected, my water and air quality controlled by strict enforcement, drugs approved, and the infrastructure closely monitored.