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Last Tuesday, Donald TrumpDonald TrumpCongress, the clock is running out on small business tax reform Barbra Streisand tweets: Trump has made me gain weight Conservative radio host: 'Evidence is overwhelming' of Obama spying MORE was invited to address a joint session of Congress to share his vision for the country. Instead, he delivered what he knows best: a good show.

In the wake of that speech, while Beltway insiders applauded Trump for exceeding expectations that could not have been set any lower, those of us who listened more closely heard the same failed routine weve come to know from conservatives: a grab bag of giveaways for corporations and the wealthiest 1 percent, continued promises to take health care away from the most vulnerable, and divisive rhetoric that shamelessly and recklessly scapegoats immigrant communities.

Progressives have a very different view of the world, and throughout this past week in states across the country we showed what real leadership looks like. Not with empty words, like weve seen from Trump and other conservatives, but through powerful action.

As part of a coordinated week of action, hundreds of state lawmakers joined together with dozens of grassroots organizations and advocacy groups to advance a progressive economic agenda one that levels the playing field for working families through policies like paid sick days, paid family and medical leave, equal pay, raising the minimum wage and expanding overtime pay. We saw results.

Take Vermont, for example. Legislators and progressive advocates there have been working hard to pass legislation that would establish a statewide paid family and medical leave insurance program, so that all working Vermonters not just the wealthy few can spend time with newborns or care for loved ones who are seriously ill.

In Michigan, lawmakers held a press conference to announce the introduction of a paid sick leave bill, while Maryland legislators passed their paid sick days bill in the House and cleared a key Senate committee where it died last year. In Oklahoma, despite conservative lawmakers blocking their efforts, progressives fought hard to advance legislation that would support working families and ensure that women can earn equal pay for doing the same work as men.

Altogether, through this nationwide effort, legislators and allied groups in more than 30 states worked to advance over 130 progressive bills aimed at building an economy that works for everyone not just those at the top.

Why? Because we know the stakes; Trump and his conservative allies want to keep delaying and derailing policies that would give Americas working families a clear path to the middle class. Progressives are refusing to let that happen. Were pushing back at the state level to stand up for all families.

The fight for progressive change and the values that define us as Americans is no longer centered in Washington, D.C. Its happening in our own backyards, in partnership with the elected leaders in our communities who are fighting for our families each and every day.

We have our work cut out for us, with progressives still facing anemic levels of control of state legislatures, governorships, and state attorneys general. But if we commit ourselves to investing more resources in state legislative races and policy battles throughout the country, this is a fight we can win.

Our work cannot and will not stop with this week of action. Were just getting started, and we will use our momentum to keep countering Trumps failed agenda with a progressive, proactive vision that ensures opportunity for all Americans no exceptions.

Nick Rathod is the executive director of SiX Action, an independent strategy and advocacy organization that seeks to aid in the development and advancement of a progressive agenda in the states. He is the former special assistant to the president and deputy director for intergovernmental affairs in the Obama White House.

The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the views of The Hill.

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While Trump talks, progressives take action nationwide | TheHill - The Hill (blog)

Progressives wants to silence foes Bradenton Herald Perhaps readers will notice that world-citizen progressives avoid addressing the economy, existing unenforced laws, patriotism, borders, security, debt control and time-honored ethics, etc. What do they really have in mind, not even their lemmings know?

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Progressives wants to silence foes - Bradenton Herald

The San Luis Obispo Tribune

SLO Progressives gather to learn political strategy at 'Activism 101' event The San Luis Obispo Tribune Bill McCarthy had a single question for a near-capacity crowd that gathered Saturday to kick off a SLO Progressives' strategy session dubbed Activism 101. Has anyone seen anything in Washington (D.C.) that they'd like to change? he asked, and the ...

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SLO Progressives gather to learn political strategy at 'Activism 101' event - The San Luis Obispo Tribune

The electoral map for Senate Democrats looks dark, indeed. But a flashing beacon emanates from right here in Nevada.

During the 2018 cycle, Democrats must defend 25 of the 33 Senate seats in play, including two held by independents who vote with the minority party. Of those, 10 are in states West Virginia, Missouri, North Dakota, Montana that Donald Trump won easily.

While politics in the social media age has become increasingly volatile and unpredictable, its not beyond the realm of possibility that Republicans could build upon their current 52-48 edge and find themselves in 2019 with a filibuster-proof majority in the upper chamber.

Nevada, however, offers Democrats a ray of sunshine. The party dominated the 2016 balloting in the Silver State, regaining control of the Legislature and flipping two congressional seats. As a result, Dean Heller is considered perhaps the most endangered Republican in the Senate.

This perceived vulnerability has generated an avalanche of ginned up progressive email blasts, social media posts and press releases attacking Sen. Heller for all manner of supposed transgressions and infractions, most involving his refusal to label Mr. Trump as the anti-Christ. In addition, the hey, hey, ho, ho crowd accuses Sen. Heller of ducking the voters by avoiding town-hall meetings and the like.

This is highly ironic, given that as The Associated Press reported last week liberal protesters are also threatening to eat their own. Many Senate Democrats have been laying low, the wire service revealed, for fear of taking heat from agitators on their port flank looking to push the party even further to the left.

At any rate, we wont presume to tell Sen. Heller how to conduct constituent outreach. Over the past 26 years, hes served in the Legislature, as secretary of state, in the U.S. House and now the Senate. Nevada voters have supported him in nine elections. He must be doing something right.

No doubt, Sen. Heller in the coming months will hold forums, meetings and other public events that Nevadans will be free to attend. Those seeking to protest his presence have a right to be heard and the senator should make a good-faith effort to explain his positions on the issues to those who harbor different views.

But Sen. Heller is under no obligation to endure the abusive, petulant, infantile and violent behavior that has become the militant progressives preferred approach to discourse in the Age of Trump. Recent town-hall meetings in many jurisdictions have presented an excuse for leftist agitators to threaten, disrupt and destroy property.

If those goading Sen. Heller are truly interested in a dialogue instead of a shouting match pre-packaged for the cameras and YouTube, theyll no doubt have plenty of opportunities to speak their piece.

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EDITORIAL: Progressives put the bull's-eye on Dean Heller's back - Las Vegas Review-Journal

DURHAM -- More than 60 progressive organizations filled the pavilion at Durham Central Park Saturday afternoon to share their works and engage the populace.

Organized by the Peoples Alliance, the Resistance Rodeo event featured live music, crafts and face painting for children, food trucks and a beer tent from Fullsteam Brewery.

We found after the (2016 presidential) election, that a lot of people were reaching out to us to find out ways to get involved, said Magan Thigpen, PA co-president. A lot of people were wanting to take action and step up the level of engagement they had around issues and politics. And we knew that there were lots of other great organizations besides just PA that are doing great work in Durham and we wanted to raise the awareness of all the groups that are doing amazing work and bring together all of our friends friends who we are doing work with. And to provide a space for people across the community to come out and find out about the great progressive works that they can plug into and support.

Support can vary from donating time and talents to financially giving back, she said. PA also wants people to know that while attention on the federal government and its actions are warranted, there are things that people can do to make a positive impact in Durham to make it a model progressive city.

Loan Tran, director of the Triangle-based Youth Organizing Institute and whose preferred pronouns are they/them, said YOI wanted to participate in the event to support young people interested in social change.

YOI is out here today because we are seeing a very clear new political moment emerge, they said. There are literally hundreds of thousands of people who want to get involved who are getting newly politicized or have been demoralized for so long that the new political climate is tipping them over the edge. YOI specifically works with high school students and we felt it was important to be part of the Peoples Alliances Resistance Rodeo today to reach out to the young folks, the high school students, the middle school students, who are seeing all of the issues on the news right in their schools.

Bethany Geib-Rosch was at the event with her family because it was a family-friendly event to talk about social justice.

(We wanted to) connect with other people are interested in equality and being treated equally, she said.

Another family, Glenn, Virginia and Ava Lozuke, attended the event because they were tired of feeling discouraged and hopeless. They wanted to connect with others and capitalize on the great energy.

Its just another chance to create a deeper awareness on current issues, and not necessarily take one side or the other, but offer support for our local community, Glenn said.

The Peoples Alliance asked attendees to share stories about why the Affordable Care Act, commonly called Obamacare, matters to them through writing or video to share with members of Congress and to share testimonials about why affordable housing in Durham matters to them that will be shared with the Durham City Council. Attendees were also to voice their opposition to checkpoints and to ask Durham Sheriff Mike Andrews to end all collaboration between local law enforcement and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Helena Cragg, board chair of the LGBTQ Center of Durham, said the organization wanted to participate in the event to support the movement and showcase its Trans and GNC Closet, a place where trans and gender nonconforming individuals are able to receive clothes.

Follow Anna Johnson on Twitter at @anna_m_johnson.

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Progressives rally at People's Alliance 'Resistance Rodeo' at Durham Central Park - Durham Herald Sun