IN THE KNOW

July 2025

 

Navigating this newsletter is pretty simple. Most of the images/photos/logos can be clicked on to go to the source. Also, many links are highlighted in blue and underlined and will also lead you directly to the source for more information, registering for an event or to watch a video. Click away!

Announcement

There will be no First Friday event in July (because the 4th falls on Friday). See below for a special Hot Topics event on July 9th.

First Fridays will return in August.

SPECIAL EVENT!

*** Please understand that this is OUR event, the Talbot County Democratic Forum's event. We are doing this to benefit the community and Forum members by presenting information that is vital to Talbot County and the Mid-Shore. We asked ShoreRivers and the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy if they would let us use their space on Washington Street and if they'd make a joint presentation to Forum members.

This is it! ***

RSVP here

to give us an idea of headcount, space is limited to 55 people. While you don't have to RSVP to attend, it would be nice if you would so that we may plan accordingly. Thanks!

 

“We were excited to see so many Talbot County residents exercising their right to peaceful protest in opposition to the daily chaos of the Trump administration’s assault on the rule of law, his nonstop attack on people of color and the degradation of essential programs and services that so many Americans rely upon. There is not only a lack of humanity in the actions of this administration, but they also seem to be enjoying the pain and suffering they’re causing. They are not representing the will of most Americans, and there was certainly no election mandate to spread fear and hatred to further divide this country.” - Michele Dappert, President Talbot County Democratic Forum

Click here to read the Star DEM coverage of NO KINGS EASTON!

Our fight to protect America is not limited to Talbot County! Grab your signs and head to Dorchester County to Stand Up for Rural America, click here for information.

The Talbot County Democratic Forum is doing good work and we must all spread the word. Click here to "Follow" our Facebook page, visit often and SHARE posts with your sphere of influence.

Members of the Talbot County Democratic Forum's Communications Committee have been delivering vital content via Letters to the Editor and Op-ed submissions in The Talbot Spy, the Star Democrat and more.



Click here to read their great work.


Voice of America, PBS and NPR are Endangered: WHY?
by Larry Pifer, published in the Star Democrat on June 21, 2025 
The Voice of America, or VOA, was initiated in 1942 to speak out against Nazi misinformation and propaganda. The Voice provided people under Nazi domination a way to hear the truth about World War II. The Voice provided the first real notification of D Day, the invasion of Nazi controlled Europe and, thereby, triggered partisan uprisings all over Europe. After World War II and during the Cold War the Voice of America expanded its efforts to fight communism and played a role in the decline of Communism in several countries. Today the Voice of America provides digital and radio content in 48 languages for affiliate stations around the world. The target and primary audience for the broadcasts is non-Americans living outside the United States borders, especially those without a free press or independent journalism. It is the voice of freedom for them. 
National Public Radio, or NPR, is an American public broadcasting organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of more than a thousand public radio stations in the United States. NPR caters to local stories and news, local foods, local history, local culture and local dance. Classical and Jazz music is played on NPR stations around the country. Programs like “Kids, screen time and mental health” might be a topic. 
The Public Broadcasting Service, or PBS, is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educational programs to public television stations in the United States.  Some of the programs we have all enjoyed include NOVA, Frontline, Masterpiece Theater, Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, Barney and Friends, American Experience and the most popular, Downton Abby. 
These well-known and in most cases revered broadcast organizations are and have been a part of our lives for many decades. They have given all of us good things to entertain us, good things to think about, and unbiased information. In the case of Voice of America, it has been our only way to reach places like Russia with the truth about world events like the war in Ukraine (Mr. Putin is no doubt breaking out the vodka to celebrate this gift from Trump).
All these well-known and revered broadcast organizations are under fire from Mr. Trump to be cut off from any support that has come from the federal government. WHY is this being done?? VOA, NPR, and PBS all support us, the make our lives a little better, they give us a voice to reach other people. 
I urge all of you reading this article to support VOA, NPR, and PBS by letting our elected representatives know that you do not agree with ending this contribution to our lives!! 
Larry Pifer is a resident of Easton and a member of the Talbot County Democratic Forum 

Be IN THE KNOW to protect yourself and to be a resource for others negatively impacted by the craziness now infecting Washington.

Click here for details information.

Get to know Michael Davis, Talbot County Democratic Forum member and part of the Communications Team

I was born and raised in Washington, DC, in a neighborhood called

Congress Heights. In economic, social, and political terms, Congress

Heights is on the wrong side of the Anacostia River. The Capitol, and all

things Washington, were across the river and a world away.


I graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a degree

in Philosophy. From there, I went to the University of Nebraska for

graduate work and teaching Philosophy. As college teaching positions

were scarce, I returned to the Washington, D.C. area and worked in

retail for a year. My next job search led me to the Navy. The Navy hired

me as the official in the personnel office had a background in philosophy

and took a liking to me. The Navy took a risk on me that I could be

educated with on-the-job training.


In my 40 years working for the Navy, I spent most of my time in two

areas. For 25 years I was the Business and Financial Manager for three

submarine programs: Ohio Class (a.k.a.,Trident), Los Angeles Class and

the Virginia Class.


From that, the navy recruited me to become a facilities manager, a

fascinating career. I worked in that area for 15 years managing a million

square feet of office space in Washington, DC. Post retirement, I worked

for Dell managing implementation of an enterprise-wide business

management program.


My wife and I moved to Easton in 2020 from Alexandria, VA. She wanted

to be closer to family. I enjoyed the Eastern Shore after sailing on the

Chesapeake for over 35 years. I have two daughters who live with their

husbands and our grandson in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Here's your chance to take direct action!


There are several vacancies on Talbot County Advisory Boards and Committees, from the Agricultural Land Preservation Advisory Board to the Commission on Aging, the Property Tax Assessment Appeals Board, Bike & Pedestrian Advisory Committee and more. Talbot County needs committed and informed Democrats like YOU in these positions. Go for it.


Click here for more info and a full list.

Your Talbot County Democratic Forum

The Talbot County Democratic Forum survives on active participation by committed citizens like YOU. It also takes money, of course, to fund First Friday events and the Annual Meeting, rent, office supplies and everything else. Together we're making a difference, and the more resources (human and financial) that we have... the more we can do. 

Click for membership info, levels and to donate.


Click here for information on the Talbot County Democratic Central Committee.