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The Kansas City Star: Woody Guthrie’s Family to Josh Hawley: Stop using his lyrics, ‘insurrectionist’

March 15, 2023

Woody Guthrie may be one of the most influential American folk musicians. He also was a socialist and anti-fascist. Guthrie is most well known for the song “This Land Is Your Land,” which originally critiqued the ownership of private property and called out wealth inequality in the United States. After Josh Hawley invoked some famous […]

We’re Halfway Through Session – Here’s What Jeff City Politicians Have Done (And What They Have Not)

March 13, 2023 | Progress MO

On Thursday, the Missouri legislature adjourned for their week-long spring break, marking the halfway point of 2023’s legislative session. What do we have to show for it? Well, not much. After 37 days of back-and-forth, the legislature has fought a lot over issues that Missourians just don’t care about, and passed just one bill. Yeah […]

It’s International Women’s Day: What Are Missouri Politicians Doing For Women?

March 8, 2023 | Progress MO

March 8 marks International Women’s Day, a global day to celebrate women’s achievements in their drive for gender equality, and a time to call on our electeds to do their part to keep women’s rights moving forward. Unfortunately, in Missouri, so far this year extremists in the legislature have done the exact opposite of what’s […]

Senate Republicans Won’t Address Why Missouri Moms Are Dying

March 2, 2023 | Progress MO

Almost three years ago, Missourians banded together and went to the ballot box to expand access to healthcare for working families and save lives by expanding Medicaid. Back then, our Republican legislature tried to defy the will of the people by dragging their feet and not funding life saving healthcare— they even dawdled after the […]

Abortion Bans Were Never Enough: Missouri Senate Moves To Restrict Birth Control Access

February 23, 2023 | Progress MO

Missouri’s most famous achievements in reproductive health include being the first state to ban abortion completely. If that’s not enough to make you scream — it gets worse. In June 2022 after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, reproductive rights advocates argued that Missouri Republicans would only dial up their efforts to take […]

Behind The National Right-Wing Conspiracy To Bully Missouri’s Trans Kids

February 17, 2023 | Progress MO

Last week, Jamie Reed, a former employee of the Washington University Transgender Center released an article alleging the center had committed wrongdoing against patients. But the timing and the key players surrounding the accusations, in addition to blatant political motivations, reveal she is part of a larger machine at work to attack LGBTQ+ people across […]

Powerful Quotes From Missourians Who Testified Against ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill

February 8, 2023 | Progress MO

In case you missed it, this week the MO Leg is taking aim at LGBTQ kids and teachers, introducing a “Don’t Say Gay” bill that goes even further than the Florida bill that made national headlines last year. Missourians from around the state came out in droves to testify against the legislation, which would prohibit […]

Virginia Man Forgets Where Missouri Is

January 30, 2023 | Progress MO

In case you missed it, last night, Virginia’s third Senator Josh Hawley made a bet against J.D. Vance: “his” Chiefs or Vance’s Bengals, loser buys BBQ. The problem? Hawley picked a Kansas BBQ joint… as Missouri’s Senator. Obviously Missourians took to Twitter to point out Hawley’s ignorance. Here’s some of our favorite reactions. Missourians cringed […]

“When we send a message to the legislature, we mean it” | MO Leg Elections Committee Holds Hearing On Limiting Your Power

January 25, 2023 | Progress MO

This afternoon, the Missouri General Assembly Committee on Elections and Elected Officials held a public hearing on five bills proposing new restrictions on ballot initiatives. Missourians Want Their Voices To Be Heard Rep. Peggy McGaugh, chair of the committee, remarked that “quite a bit more” witnesses appeared to testify against the five bills than in […]

Nearly 50% of MO Employees May Qualify For Assistance – Why Parson’s 8.7% Increase Isn’t A Solution

January 20, 2023 | Progress MO

In his State of the State speech this past Wednesday, Governor Parson called on the legislature to pass an 8.7% cost-of-living pay increase for state employees. The line received applause from both sides of the aisle. But how much will that fill the gap? An investigation by Progress MO which analyzed publicly available employee pay […]