Three Wins Today: Nov 17, 2025
You do not remember how bad it was.
I have recently gotten into YouTubers. Like new content from some old school humor creators. And so I’ve poked around their old videos and it was a huge reminder of how far we’ve come.
Remember r*pe jokes? I honestly didn’t. I had clearly suppressed it deep deep down.
How about the frequent, socially acceptable use of r*tarded?
And yes, sure, Republicans still do these things, absolutely. I’m not implying otherwise at all, but we don’t.
The troll face meme and these kind of shock factor punchlines did not discriminate in terms of where you stood politically. And if you didn’t think they were funny you were ridiculed for it by everyone.
We’ve come a long way from that “random humor.”
There’s this notion that on the left we are moving backwards, but that’s where we were. We’re not there.
We are in a world where anyone younger than 20 probably barely remembers a country without legal gay marriage (no not marriage equality, disabled people need to not lose their benefits when they married for that.)
We are in a country where there are two pro forced birth Dems left in Congress. And once they’re gone, that’s it, probably for good.
A party where in 2019 the campaign arm of the Dem Attorneys General announced they will not endorse anyone who is not pro choice. That is a red line in the sand.
Change is slow. I say that all the time. And I get constant push back, but it’s true, it’s not an opinion, or something that can be made better, it’s just a fact. Change is slow.
Which means, when it’s happening, you don’t see it. The boiling water was turned down so slowly you’re still burned, and don’t realize it’s easier to move now.
To move forward, to keep making these changes, we have to acknowledge the fact that we are not moving more to the right as a party, the movement further left is just slow. Changing minds, convincing people their views are toxic, is a long process.
But it comes to a complete halt when instead of fighting at the pace resistance goes, people would rather just complain that it’s not going faster. Or get so impatient that they try for something that couldn’t happen today and convince a large swath of people that if it’s not happening RIGHT NOW it shouldn’t happen at all.
Not being where you want us to be does not meant we’re getting worse. Celebrating our progress is crucial for moving forward.
And if you’re too young to remember where we were, look up California Prop 8. It feels like another lifetime, but it was a turning point in the cultural conversation in a way that’s hard to explain after Obergefell.
And hopefully one day soon, our party will be able to draw new lines in the sand and no one will remember a time before those lines were drawn. But first, we have to fight like hell to get there and not get sidetracked by snapping our fingers and saying a magic word and expecting everything to change in a day.
Washington County, Ohio
Wed, Nov 12 - The Buckeye Environmental Network is suing the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and its Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management over two injection well approvals. Before going any further I should probably explain what an injection well is. Unfortunately, this isn’t going to be a fun explanation.
Basically, from the 1930s until 2012, there was an assumption that if you sent toxins deep enough back into the earth, they couldn’t hurt us. This was done through injection wells. Unfortunately, even though we now know the risks, and that it probably affects our ground water, they’re still being used.
Washington County has 17 active injection wells, and two more were recently approved. These wells account for disposing of 1/5 of Ohio’s toxic waste. BEN’s argument is that these approvals bypassed the new regulations put in place in 2022 and they’re trying to get these new approvals reversed.
It’s a win because us fighting is a win. And hopefully it will become an even bigger win and they will at least get a temporary injunction while the case works it’s way through the courts. I’ll keep you posted!
Maryland
Fri, Nov 14 - If you’ve heard of State Senate President, Bill Ferguson recently, it probably wasn’t in the best light. He’s what stands between Maryland redistricting and not. But, he did do something worth celebrating about ICE. He’s very late to the party, though.
Eight counties in Maryland have agreements with ICE. They are called 287(g) agreements and basically give ICE the ability to use local law enforcement to help with their abductions.
Back at the end of session in April, they almost passed a ban on these agreements, but changed their mind at the very last second, and given the fact that the Maryland Senate has a Dem supermajority, I blame Senate President Ferguson.
He’s FINALLY come around and says that ending these agreements will be first priority when they come back in January.
Now is the time to prohibit 287(g) agreements between ICE and law enforcement agencies in Maryland. Recent months demonstrate that ICE and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security are operating with impunity, violating constitutional rights of American citizens and immigrants alike. For our law enforcement agencies to maintain the public trust, they cannot aid and abet that lawlessness. I look forward to working with Senator Karen Lewis Young, Judicial Proceedings Committee Chair Will Smith, and House Judiciary Committee Chair Luke Clippinger to champion that legislation in the next legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly.
It’s a win because it’s happening, not because he took this long to make it happen.
Also today’s reminder that voting matters and if you’re in his district, maybe it’s time to vote him out.
Charlotte, North Carolina
Sat, Nov 15 - Compare Food Charlotte, a local grocery store, is changing their policies to make shopping safer for the Charlotte immigrant community. On Saturday, they announced, in a Spanish social media post that they will wave pickup and delivery fees through the end of the year.
At Compare Foods Charlotte , we remain committed to supporting our community. Starting today and through December 31st, all delivery and pick up fees on online orders will be FREE when you order at compareclt.com using the code NOFEE2025. Our goal is to help you receive the items you need from the comfort of your home, with the same freshness, quality, and care you expect from us.You can also order through Uber Eats or DoorDash Groceries (app fees apply). And if you prefer visiting our stores, ask about our Uber rides program, available with qualifying purchases.
We continue to work for you, strengthening our commitment to the community that has trusted us for so many years. We’re here for you, with respect, empathy, and genuine care.
I assume, if the raids continue past Jan 1, this will be extended. This is what all businesses should be doing when ICE is in their area. I hope others will take note.
So those are some today’s wins. I hope they helped inspire you to escape your doomerism.
Our voices are our superpower, but only when we use them!
I admire that local grocery store stepping up for their customers
Great perspective on change, Ariella. Keep up the good work!