Episode 82: Organizing Da Region
Guest: Tracie Martin - Organizer, NWI Takes Action
Full show notes at https://hoosleft.us/
Find NWI Takes Action at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1026552845580072
Welcome to the HoosLeft Podcast, a show about Indiana politics, history, and culture from an unapologetically leftist perspective. My name is Scott Aaron Rogers, and I’m recording from Bloomington - where I’ve lived for more than 25 years - but when I say “back home,” I’m talking about Northwest Indiana.
“The Region,” as many call it, is a sort-of political no-man’s land. Culturally, the 219 is distinctly a part of the greater Chicagoland area. Growing up, we watched Chicago TV, we listened to Chicago radio, we ate Chicago food - ketchup does not go on hot dogs. We cheered for Da Bears, rode the train into the city, and were far more likely to know what kind of corruption charges were being leveled against the latest Governor of Illinois than to have any clue what was going on in our own state capital.
It can often feel like you’re not part of Indiana at all. Until our MAGA-captured state government strips away fundamental rights you’d still have if you lived a few miles west on the other side of an imaginary line. Republican reality reminds one quickly you’re still a Hoosier, even if you don’t feel like one.
For organizers, who often trade in the currency of visibility, it is an uphill battle to garner attention from the big city media. My guest today is a Northwest Indiana political organizer, and in the interview, we’ll talk about that difficulty - plus a whole lot more.
Tracie Martin is a founder with NWI Takes Action, and in the following conversation, we’ll discuss her inspiration for getting involved, the logistics and strategy of a protest movement, and the importance of avoiding burnout. We’ll talk about some of the obstacles to effective organizing , the struggle of coordinating with other groups, and maintaining empathy for our political opponents.
But first, won’t you please consider supporting HoosLeft with a paid subscription? This is an independent media project; I don’t paywall content; and I don’t rely on advertising. Only individuals like you keep this thing going. Maybe I could make more money doing things that way, but it doesn’t feel right. So please, if you find value in this work, go to HoosLeft.us and subscribe at the paid level - it’s only $5 a month, or $50 a year, to help me write more, research more, and organize more - I haven’t raised my prices with inflation. Still, not ready for long-term commitment? You can make a one-time contribution on Cash App or Venmo. Links are in the show notes. Me, and my old body, would like to spend less time on construction, and more time constructing a better future for Indiana, but I need your financial support to do so.
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Now, here is my interview with Tracie Martin.
Things We Talked About:
“The Region” Debate: https://www.reddit.com/r/nwi/comments/1bxl95h/what_region_is_the_region_a_region_of/
Schoop’s Hamburgers: https://www.schoophamburgers.com/
Miner Dunn Hamburgers: https://www.minerdunnhamburgers.com/
Munster Donut: https://www.munsterdonut.com/
NWI Loves Pierogies: https://www.pierogifest.net/
Chicagoland/NWI Air Quality: https://www.wbez.org/environment-public-health/2023/03/20/chicago-and-northwest-indiana-are-air-pollution-hotspots
Northwest Indiana Symphony: https://nisorchestra.org/
Indiana vs. Illinois Cost of Living: https://www.mylifeelsewhere.com/cost-of-living/illinois-usa/indiana-usa
Uproar Over Potential CVPA Sale: https://thelansingjournal.com/2024/03/20/locals-flock-to-munster-town-council-to-preserve-the-center-for-visual-and-performing-arts/
Indiana’s First (and only) Harris-Walz Field Office: https://gary.capitalbnews.org/gary-harris-walz-campaign-office-opening-election2024/
A Brief History of Organized Labor in Indiana: https://prospect.org/labor/indiana-goes-goes-nation/
Union Members Trending Republican: https://apnews.com/article/trump-chavezderemer-labor-secretary-unions-republicans-1bff41e4caef610dbf38ead24d292e67
The 50501 Movement: https://www.fiftyfifty.one/
Tesla Takedown Movement: https://takedowntesla.com/
DOGE Cuts Gutting VA: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/23/veterans-affairs-doge-musk
Repay Elected Lake County Democratic Party Chair: https://www.yahoo.com/news/repay-bullish-lake-county-dems-212200687.html
5 Calls, and Why Calling Works: https://5calls.org/why-calling-works/
Constituents Overwhelm DC Switchboard: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/senate-offices-receive-unusually-high-volume-of-calls-in-trumps-first-weeks
About Mobilize: https://join.mobilize.us/about/
RFK Jr. and Autism: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/rfk-jr-is-completely-wrong-about-autism-say-scientists-and-parents/
Fascism Thrives on Binary Thinking: https://www.hivegeist.us/2024/10/28/the-parasitic-nature-of-fascism/
Braun to Have Total Control Over IU Trustees: https://www.idsnews.com/article/2025/04/mike-braun-total-control-over-iu-board-of-trustees-selection-appointments
IU Closes DEI Offices: https://fox59.com/indiana-news/indiana-university-closes-dei-offices-effective-immediately/
Michigan Also Shutters DEI Program: https://record.umich.edu/articles/u-m-announces-important-changes-to-dei-programs/
Harvard Continuing Standoff with Trump Admin: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c05768jmm11o
Big Ten Schools Form ‘Mutual Defense Compact’ https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2025/04/26/half-of-big-ten-faculty-senates-have-voted-for-a-mutual-defense-compact/
‘No Kings’ Nationwide Protests 6/14: https://indivisible.org/statements/indivisible-and-partners-announce-no-kings-nationwide-day-defiance-flag-day-during
Northwest Indiana ‘No Kings’ Protest: https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/788068/
Braun at Munster Chamber Event: https://www.facebook.com/GovernorBraun/posts/thank-you-to-the-munster-chamber-of-commerce-for-inviting-me-to-a-fireside-chat-/1240512744105718/
Hobart Empty Chair Town Hall: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=677923338332616
Indiana Youth Group: https://www.iyg.org/about-us/
New IYG NWI Site: https://www.iyg.org/locations/#northwest-indiana
NWI Pride Lake Station 2025: https://indianayouthgroup.networkforgood.com/events/82839-nwi-pride-2025-bigger-louder-prouder
Once again, that was Tracie Martin of NWI Takes Action. If you’re up in Lake County, check out their group on Facebook and get involved. I’ll have my own thoughts on the unique political situations of places like the Calumet Region, Kentuckiana, and the Cincinnati tri-state area in my essay later this week. Look for that on Friday.
Then this weekend, I’ll be back with an all new panel of guests on HoosLeft This Week. That airs live every Sunday morning at 10:30am ET on the Project Next Media network - YouTube, FaceBook Live, and Twitch - links in the show notes. It’s a lot of fun if you haven’t had a chance to check us out yet. I bring together panelists from the democratic socialist left to never-Trump conservatives and we look at the week’s headlines from around Indiana and beyond. We’ll also dive into one big topic and throw in a few jokes for good measure. Hope to see you there in the comments, but feel free to reach out before then - my email is scott@hoosleft.us.
Thanks again to our guest Tracie Martin - you can find her at NWI Takes Action on Facebook. You can find me on Facebook too, as well as on Bluesky, YouTube and TikTok at HoosLeft or on most other social media sites at ScottRog78. Hit me up with your feedback, tips, ideas, and concerns. And finally, one last request for your paid subscription at HoosLeft.US, where you’ll find every episode and article we’ve ever published. Please forward the show to a friend and have them pass it on. Let’s keep building this project - and a truly democratic state - one conversation at a time. Until the next one, this has been the HoosLeft podcast. I’m Scott Aaron Rogers. Love each other, Indiana.
NWI Takes Action: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1026552845580072
NWI Activists: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576386592968
Indivisible NWI: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095364423787
Nasty Women of Porter County: https://www.facebook.com/NastywomanPorterCounty
HoosLeft on Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/hoosleft
https://www.youtube.com/@hoosleft
https://www.tiktok.com/@hoosleft
https://www.instagram.com/scottrog78/
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