Resistance is in the news

US bishops warn ICE mega-detention plan is 'moral inflection point' for America

Federal judge rules DOJ can ‘no longer’ be trusted in voter roll crusade - Democracy Docket

Canada and France open Greenland consulates in show of Denmark support

Broadway - ‘The People’s Filibuster’ turns the Public Theater into a civic stage

California ScholarShare 529 Plan Strengthens Performance and Reduces Fossil Fuel Exposure with New Vanguard Fund Selection

West Virginians Protest Across State; Six Arrested In Morgantown - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Holy No: Rabbis Take a Stand Against Conversion Therapy | Instinct Magazine

Court Rules Trump-Vance Administration Cannot Block Members of Congress From Conducting Oversight at Federal Immigration Detention Facilities

Climate Cabinet - creating real change at the local level

Whitney Bauck at The Guardian has a great feature on Climate Cabinet:

... an organization focused on supporting pro-climate candidates in under-the-radar races at the state or city level. Climate Cabinet uses data science to comb through the more than 500,000 public offices that US citizens have the opportunity to vote on every cycle, identifies candidates who could make a real impact on the climate, and offers them financial and policy support.

Climate Cabinet has had extraordinary impact by getting climate-aware candidates elected at local levels where they can make a huge difference:

“There has been so much focus on national politics in the last decade that people are missing really monumental decisions that are happening at the local level. The nine members of the Naperville city council have a major impact on one of the 10 largest greenhouse gas generators in the country,” said Holzhauer. “We’ve had two elections the last four years, and both of those elections were decided by under 60 votes.”

Bauck makes an important point about how this approach isn't limited to climate issues:

Though Climate Cabinet’s approach is focused specifically on climate, its focus on using local offices to advance action offers a blueprint for anyone looking for ways to make progress in a challenging political moment. Holzhauer, the city council member from Naperville, said he saw local government as a “lab” where leaders can try out policies that can sometimes go on to influence broader policy, citing two separate bans Naperville passed on assault weapons and puppy mills – both of which Illinois eventually decided to implement statewide.

It's a great article, well worth a read. It reminds me how much change can happen all over the country, even when the federal government is dismissing the needs of the people.

Whistleblower Shares Evidence That Federal Prison Camp Warden is Pampering Ghislaine Maxwell, Maxwell Also Filing a “Commutation Application” With Trump Administration

Hundreds protest outside ICE building in Durango after 2 children, father detained

Magalloway Conservation Initiative Aims to Protect 78,000 Acres in Western Maine

1000 people at Charlottesville town hall - but Rep. John McGuire is absent

Virginia news station 29 News reports on a town hall in Charlottesville, VA, sponsored by Indivisible:

Roughly 1,000 people from the area filled up Charlottesville High School’s Performing Arts Center, with attendees including Democrat State Representatives from the area, Charlottesville City Councilors, and Albemarle County Supervisors.

Those participating took turns asking “questions” to McGuire, who was not there. In his place, a full-sized cardboard cut-out of the Congressman.

Some of the most common concerns shared included cuts to federal funding, with many calling for McGuire to take a stronger stance against President Trump’s actions.

Most of all, the people there wanted to be able to voice concerns to their Congressman.

 

People in Republican districts are angry about cuts to federal funding, and they're asking questions and making their voices heard.

Things you can do:

• Call your reps and ask them to hold a town hall.
• If your rep has recently held a town hall, contact their office and thank them.
• Look for organizations in your town or state to discuss requesting a meeting with your representative.

Millions protest across the US, around the world

On April 19, large protests took place in cities across the USA - Washington, New York, Chicago - and states like Rhode Island, Maryland, Wisconsin, Tennessee, South Carolina, Ohio, Kentucky, California, and Pennsylvania. Americans abroad also signaled their opposition to the Trump agenda in Dublin and other cities.

Sen Van Hollen succeeds in meeting with Ábrego García

Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen was able to meet with Kilmar Ábrego García, who was sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador despite a government order that he could not be sent there. Authorities in El Salvador originally refused to allow the meeting, but Sen. Van Hollen persisted.

Court orders ICE to return student to Vermont, proceed with trial

The U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont ruled that Rümeysa Öztürk’s challenge to her unconstitutional detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should continue in Vermont and that the government should transfer her back to a facility in Vermont no later than May 1.

Judge issues injunction protecting trans persons in passport case

A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction after finding that an executive order by President Trump and a State Department policy prohibiting updates to sex designations on passports is likely unconstitutional and in violation of the law. The preliminary injunction requires the State Department to allow six transgender and nonbinary people to obtain passports with sex designations consistent with their gender identity while the lawsuit proceeds. Though the court order applies only to six of the plaintiffs in the case, the plaintiffs plan to quickly file a motion asking the court to certify a class of people affected by the State Department policy and to extend the preliminary injunction to that entire class.

Harvard refuses illegal demands, stands up for guaranteed rights

Harvard University responded to a slew of illegal demands to "audit" the viewpoints of Harvard students, faculty, and staff by refusing to comply and defending the students' and faculty's right to free speech and free thought, despite the administration's threat to illegally withhold Congressionally-mandated funds.

Harvard faculty sue over threats to withhold $9 billion in funding

Harvard University professors are suing to block the Trump administration’s review of nearly $9bn in federal contracts and grants. The Harvard faculty chapter of the American Association of University Professors and the national arm of the academic organization said in a lawsuit filed on Friday in a Boston federal court that the administration was trying to unlawfully undermine academic freedom and free speech on the school’s campus.

Susan Crawford wins WI special election with massive turnout

The Democratic-backed candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court defeated a challenger endorsed by President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk on Tuesday, touting her victory as a win against powerful interests and cementing a liberal majority for at least three more years.

Sen. Cory Booker delivers 25-hour defense of democracy in the Senate

Sen. Booker began speaking at 6:59 pm on Monday evening with the "intention of disrupting the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able" in order to protest the actions of President Donald Trump and his administration. His perseverance and passion inspired millions.

National Park Service reinstates 1,000 probationary staff.

Amazing news: The National Park Service is now authorized to reinstate all 1,000 probationary park staff who were terminated on February 14. They were originally authorized to reinstate only 400 previously terminated probationary employees, while placing the remaining previously terminated staff on administrative leave.

Wired drops paywall for public records-based articles.

Wired, one of the best tech outlets covering DOGE, dropped its paywall for all articles based on public records.

Judge denies DOJ bid to apply Trump pardon to Jan. 6 defendant.

A federal judge has denied the DOJ’s attempt to apply Trump’s blanket pardon for members of the Jan. 6 mob at the Capitol to one defendant’s conviction for possessing illegal guns hundreds of miles away, at his Kentucky home.

400+ Olympic athletes urge IOC to prioritize climate action for sports’ sake.

More than 400 Olympic athletes have urged the next president of the International Olympic Committee to prioritize tackling climate change, describing it as a “current and growing harm to the sports we love”.

Judge expands order blocking Trump admin’s use of Alien Enemies Act.

A federal judge broadened the scope of a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration from removing immigrants from the US using the Alien Enemies Act. The ruling extended the order to everyone in danger of removal under the act and granted class certification.

Judge bars Musk’s team from accessing Social Security data.

A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order barring Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency team from getting access to personally identifiable information from the Social Security Administration.

30K+ attended Bernie & AOC’s Denver rally; huge crowds nationwide.

Somewhere between 30,000 and 36,000 people (depending on who you ask) showed up to Bernie Sanders’ and AOC’s rally in Denver on Friday. And they’ve had massive crowds elsewhere all week! The projected crowd size was about 2,000 for the Bernie/AOC rally in Tempe. 15,000 people showed up. Then almost 24,000 showed up in Tucson on a projected size of 3,000.

Tesla trade-ins hit a record high in March.

The number of Tesla owners trading in their cars surged to a record high in March.

GOP lawmakers faced angry town halls in Utah, Iowa, NC & more.

Two members of Utah’s all-Republican congressional delegation fielded boos and calls to “Do your job!” at a town hall on the University of Utah campus. There were also angry town halls in Iowa, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Wyoming. Even Alabama Republican voters are getting upset!

VOA journalists sue Kari Lake & Trump admin over shutdown.

A group of Voice of America journalists have sued Kari Lake and the Trump admin — alleging their shut down of the network was unlawful and unconstitutional.

MN Supreme Court dismisses GOP recall effort against 29 DFL reps.

In Minnesota, a Republican-led effort to recall 29 DFL state representatives failed after the Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court dismissed the recall petitions “for failure to allege specific facts that, if proven, would constitute grounds for recall.”

PA constituents used a stuffed chicken to mock absent Sen. McCormick.

In Pennsylvania, constituents from around the region asked a stuffed chicken questions about major social issues outside U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick's Scranton office, since he won’t schedule a Town Hall. There was a similar empty-seat Town Hall for Scott Perry in PA.

Harvard to offer free tuition for families earning ≤$200K.

Harvard announced that tuition will be free for students from families with annual incomes of $200,000 or less starting in the 2025-26 academic year.

Vermont Senate unanimously backs trans & nonbinary rights.

The Vermont senate unanimously voted to protect the rights of its transgender and nonbinary citizens.

Judge: Musk’s role in Trump-USAID takeover likely unconstitutional.

A federal judge in Maryland determined that Musk overseeing the Trump administration’s attempted takeover of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) “likely violated the United States Constitution in multiple ways.”

Judge blocks Trump's on transgender military members.

A judge blocked Trump’s attack on transgender military members.

South Africa sets no-fishing zones to protect endangered African penguins.

Conservationists and fishing industry groups in South Africa just agreed to implement no-fishing zones around six major breeding colonies of critically endangered African penguins.

DNC invests in Florida Special Elections.

The DNC is investing in Florida’s Special Elections in CD-1 and CD-6.

CA, IL, ME & MN sue EPA & Citibank for withholding green bank funds.

Attorneys general from California, Illinois, Maine, and Minnesota filed a lawsuit against the U.S. EPA and Citibank, accusing them of illegally withholding funds from state green bank programs.

Rep. Andy Harris skipped a town hall, but Rep. Raskin filled the room.

In Maryland’s District 1, GOP Rep. Andy Harris, chair of the House “Freedom” Caucus, was invited to speak at a town hall just down the road from his home in Cambridge, MD. But, like most of his Republican colleagues, “AWOL Andy” didn’t show up. Rep. Jamie Raskin did, however, and it was standing room only. Nice work Cambridge Indivisible!

Trump admin working to rehire 25K workers after court rulings.

Trump’s administration said in court filings that it is working to rehire nearly 25,000 fired federal workers at 18 different agencies after federal judges in California and Maryland ruled their terminations were illegal.

Tesla stock is down almost 25%.

Tesla stock is down nearly 25% this month alone.

Used Teslas are losing value 3x faster than other brands.

Used Teslas are depreciating at three times the rate of other automakers.

Judge blocks Trump admin from using Alien Enemies Act for deportations.

After Democracy Forward sued, a federal judge granted a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration from removing some immigrants from the United States using the Alien Enemies Act.

Chinese firm unveils EV charger as fast as refueling a gas car.

A Chinese company has unveiled a new fast-charging system that could make charging an EV as fast as filling up a gas tank, alleviating one of the key barriers to EV adoption.

Texas ERCOT grid sets records for wind, solar, and battery output.

In the first week of March alone, Texas’ ERCOT power grid, which supplies nearly the entire state, set three records: most wind production, most solar production, and greatest battery discharge.

DNC raised a record $9M in February under new chair Ken Martin.

In Chair Ken Martin’s first month leading the DNC, they had their largest February grassroots fundraising haul on record: over $9 million.

California launches first statewide heat pump deployment plan.

The California Heat Pump Partnership announced the nation’s first statewide blueprint to achieve the state’s ambitious goals for deploying heat pumps, a critical tech for decarbonizing buildings and improving public health.

Court upholds Florida’s ban on gun sales to those under 21 as constitutional.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit upheld Florida’s law prohibiting individuals under 21 from buying firearms, affirming that age restrictions on firearm purchases are constitutional. A big deal!