Battle Born Progress (BBP) is a Nevada-based left-of-center lobbying organization that works to advance progressive policies. “We fight the right” headlines the center’s website, and its campaigns include individuals and ideas consistent with anti-conservative measures. The center also provides scoring for Nevada legislators based on their voting records. In 2019, BBP gave perfect scores to nearly half of the Nevada Legislature for supporting progressive approaches to gun control, education, voting rights, and other agenda. Each legislator given a perfect score was a Democrat.[1]
BBP was lauded by Nevada Democratic senator, Catherine Cortez Masto, for their advocacy in progressive matters. [2] BBP has publicly expressed their position on defunding the police and critical race theory. In 2020, the organization tweeted that “Police officers in schools helps foster the school-to-prison pipeline,” and advocated for cutting police spending to save money. [3] BBP has also been an outspoken supporter of Critical Race Theory (CRT) being taught in public schools, and in July 2020 BBP executive director Annette Magnus reportedly stated that Nevada schools “should be teaching” Critical Race Theory. [4]
In 2021. BBP released its annual score card for Nevada lawmakers. All legislators who scored 100 were Democratic, and the highest score a Republican legislator received was a 54. [5]
Battle Born Progressive Summit
The Battle Born Progressive Summit is the center’s prominent annual event. The summit hosts progressive influencers from across the country to speak and train attendees in areas of voting, grassroots lobbying, prison reform, immigration, union organization, and other areas of public advocacy. Past speakers at the summit have included former Democratic presidential candidates Pete Buttigieg and Jay Inslee, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), U.S. Representative Susie Lee (D-NV), and many Nevada state representatives.[6]
Leadership
Sam Lieberman was a member of the board of directors until he died on April 4, 2020. Lieberman held positions in Nevada politics including chair of the Nevada Democratic Party from 2008 to 2011, and representative of Regent District 5. Lieberman’s passing prompted condolences from former U.S. Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) and Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak (D), who ordered all state and U.S. flags to be flown half-mast on public properties.[7]
Annette Magnus is the executive director of BBP. Prior to joining BBP Magnus worked for Planned Parenthood of Southern Nevada as the public affairs manager.[8] She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Nevada Las Vegas and is a registered lobbyist.[9] [10] Magnus is the primary spokesperson for the center and has publicly advocated progressive positions on the topics of abortion, minimum wage, and immigration.[11] [12]
Maria Teresa Liebermann is the deputy director for BBP and is the primary author of the center’s press releases. Prior to joining BBP, in 2015 Liebermann worked in education advocacy and as a field director for the Obama for America campaign. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Nevada Las Vegas in 2008. Liebermann is a staunch supporter of abortion and has worked to overturn state laws that restrict abortion access.[13]
Will Pregman is the communications director for BBP and has been on staff since January 2018. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Nevada Las Vegas in 2015 and is a registered lobbyist.[14]
Political Leanings
BBP routinely comments on political matters via staff’s independent social media platforms as well as the center’s official platform. The center released a statement in response to the March 2020 Supreme Court case June Medical Services vs. Russo, which centered on a Louisiana abortion law. The statement, which was released after the oral arguments of the case, suggested that the outcome of the case could “severely restrict abortion access in Louisiana and set a dangerous precedent for abortion access across the country…We are lucky our leaders in Nevada like Governor Steve Sisolak and Senator Yvanna Cancela had the foresight and courage to protect abortion access in our state this past legislative session.”[15]
During the confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh, Battle Born Progress released a statement saying that Kavanaugh demonstrated an unfitness to serve on the high court by refusing to reveal how he would rule on the issue of abortion, among other issues.[16]
The center has been critical of President Donald Trump and the policies of his administration. Following the 2020 State of the Union Address, BBP released a statement describing Trump’s speech as hateful and divisive.[17]
On the topic of immigration, BBP has expressed opposition towards both Republican and Democratic politicians, citing bad policy or inconsistency in voting their positions. BBP posted a video to its website with edited clips of Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) which indicated, through edited delivery, that Rubio’s reputation as a moderate on immigration is false.[18] BBP executive director Annette Magnus suggested that since former presidential candidate Senator Amy Klobuchar’s (D-MN) past immigration record is not consistently progressive-expansionist, the chances of a victory in Nevada would be reduced.[19]
In its 2018 filings with the Internal Revenue Services, BBP reported contributions of $100,700 to a PAC called Nevada Values. [20] That same year Nevada Values launched an advertising campaign against lieutenant governor candidate and Republican state Senate Leader Michael Roberson. Annette Magnus, the agent of the PAC, and also the executive director of BBP, stated that they would also run ads supporting Roberson’s opponent, Kate Marshall. That same year, the PAC registered a new president, former senator, Patricia Farley. Farley had been elected to the state Senate as a Republican in 2014 but had switched her party affiliation to independent. [21] The transition to independent had been done mostly in part because of Farley’s problems with Roberson’s leadership. [22]
Finances
Battle Born Progress’s IRS Form 990 filings can be read here: