- Details
- By Marlon WhiteEagle
Native Vote 2024. MILWAUKEE, Wisc. — On Wednesday, July 17, Biden-Harris campaign held a press conference outside the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with speeches highlighting the stark differences between Republicans and Democrats views on women’s reproductive rights.
[Editor’s Note: Marlon WhiteEagle was in Milwaukee to cover the Republican National Convention. The press conference referenced in this article was held last Wednesday before President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race. The campaign’s name is the Harris for President.]
Speakers included Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX), and reproductive rights advocate Amanda Zurawski. Zurawskis nearly died during her pregnancy in 2022 in a trauma she says could have been avoided if it weren’t for the near total abortion ban in her state made possible during Trump’s presidency.
Prior to the start of day three of the RNC, the featured Democrats were joined by Biden-Harris deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks, who spoke of the Trump campaign’s lack of solutions.
“You did not hear about a plan to secure the border from the Republicans,” Fulks said. “You did not hear about a plan to reduce crime. You didn't hear about getting guns out of the hands of criminals because Donald Trump and Republicans aren't here to lead.”
On day one of the RNC, Trump named Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate on the Republican presidential ticket. Vance, a conservative, was elected to the US Senate on November 8, 2022, and was sworn in on January 3, 2023.
Both Trump and Vance support a nationwide ban on abortion, abortion medication, and birth control, while Biden and Harris support a woman’s right to choose and reproductive freedoms.
“We know why Donald Trump picked J.D. Vance,” Fulks said. “Trump picked J.D. Vance because he would bend over backwards, and enable Trump to do whatever he wants with his MAGA agenda, no matter the harm to the American people.”
At the podium Gov. Walz got right into it, highlighting each party’s differing views on abortion bans and women’s reproductive rights.
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher