Friends,

As we close out the year, it’s impossible to ignore the symptoms all around us: rising polarization, shrinking trust, and a political culture that feels more reactive than resilient. But at Majority in the Middle, we’ve learned something important — extremism isn’t inevitable. It’s preventable. And prevention starts with people who choose collaboration over combat, and bridge-building over point-scoring.

In other words, what we’re building together is a kind of civic immunization.

Every time someone shows up for a conversation across difference, attends an event, insists on being nonpartisan in a local office, takes the Civic Pledge, welcomes a bipartisan co-sponsor on a bill, or simply models grace in a heated moment, they strengthen our shared immune system. They make it harder for extremism to spread. They help create a culture where neighbors can disagree without dehumanizing each other, and where bipartisan solutions have a fighting chance.

(Yes, there are already those who've been infected. We'd love to nurse them back to health, and at the moment our focus remains on containing the spread.)

But just like any public health effort, this only works when enough people participate. Herd immunity isn’t a metaphor I use lightly — it’s a reminder that the health of our civic life depends on all of us. The more people who engage with Majority in the Middle’s work, the more resilient our communities become.

And the more money we have, the more people we can reach.

That’s why we’re asking for your help as the year comes to a close.

Your donation — whether it’s $10 or $1,000 — directly fuels the conversations, events, tools, and partnerships that keep Minnesota’s civic culture strong. We run lean by design, so every dollar goes straight into the work: building bridges, elevating good leadership, and creating spaces where Minnesotans can show up as their full, complicated selves.

If you believe in a healthier political future, one where extremism can’t take root so easily, we invite you to invest in it.

Let’s strengthen our civic immune system together.

Do brave things,

Shannon

Shannon Watson

Founder & Executive Director

Tis the Season...to ask for Money!

The above graphic was one of my favorite things we came up with this year. I get a lot of "what do you DO?" questions, and this is one answer. HOW we do these things is a different question, and it depends.

It mostly depends on how much money we have. And we could use more! If you're looking for a way to make a positive impact and would like to support our work in 2026, now is an excellent time to make a contribution!

More money we have = more good we can do

You can use any of these platforms for giving year-round:

Anedot - our baseline donor platform (same thing you'll find on our website)

GiveMN - not just for

Give to the Max day!

Benevity - does your company use this? See if they'll match your gift!

Majority in the Middle is a 501(c)3, so all donations are tax deductible!

Majority in the Middle has three rules for our newsletter:

1. We never sell or share our list.
2. We only send communications 2-3 times per month at the most.
3. We will never send fundraising solicitations with a made-up deadline!

If you received this email from someone else and would like to subscribe you can do that HERE.