January 17, 2025

Jan 17, 2025

”COMPASSION NOT HATE” WEEKEND OF SERVICE FOR MLK DAY
Monday will be a hard day - and maybe a very long one. But rather than sink into pre-Inauguration Day depression, Indivisible has urged us to plan community service actions this weekend, especially to support groups that will be targeted by the Trump Administration. We can find a “Compassion Not Hate” weekend of service event near us on Mobilize here. If we can’t make it to one, let’s make a point of donating to folks who will have work ahead, and make sure we’re clear on our own plans for how we are going to resist in the months to come.

STOP A MASSIVE EXPANSION OF IMMIGRANT DETENTION
There is still time to contact your MoCs and ask them to vote no on S.5, which is likely to see a final vote today. This horrendous bill, which exploits the tragic murder of Laken Riley, would allow state attorneys general to sue the federal government to change policy on immigration enforcement and also require undocumented residents to be detained without bail over petty offenses before their guilt or innocence was determined. The Detention Watch Network is circulating an easy template where we can write to our MoCs about this bill. If our Senators were among the nine who voted against letting it come to the floor, let’s make sure to write to them anyway, thank them for their opposition, and urge them to persuade their colleagues to vote against the final bill. And let’s tell the rest of our Senators to vote against passing this bill into law.

WE MUST NOT ABANDON UKRAINE
The Trump team has now admitted that Trump’s vaunted dealmaking won’t end the war on Ukraine in one day, and with the fight set to continue we need to show up for our allies. While Trump has indicated he thinks President Zelensky should surrender territory to appease Putin and pushed a pro-Ukraine congressman out of a key committee chairmanship, there are still many voices among elected Republicans who have stood with Ukraine and may do so again. Let’s not concede defeat and remind our elected officials that plenty of Americans still care about the freedom and safety of our friends. Let’s contact our members of Congress and urge them to vote for and insist on continued aid to Ukraine. We can also consider extending our personal support by contributing to Come Back Alive, which helps meet the needs of Ukrainians on the frontlines of the war.

HELP TEENS DETECT AND DISSECT DISINFORMATION
Disinformation is a major threat and now a fact of life, and dealing with it will be an ever-more necessary skill for the next four years. As our young people come to grips with a barrage of questionable information, online and elsewhere, we need to ensure they’re equipped with the skills to deal with it. To that end, MediaWise and YouTube have partnered to launch a teen-focused media literacy curriculum aimed at combating misinformation and promoting digital well-being. The program gives educators tools to teach students aged 13-17 how to evaluate sources, identify emotional language, and understand AI. Launched during Media Literacy Week last October, the curriculum builds on YouTube's successful Hit Pause video series and includes lessons, slide decks, videos, and instructor guides. The initiative also involves international partners like MediaSmarts (Canada) and Mythos Labs (India) to adapt content for global audiences. Free and accessible at www.hitpausewithmediawise.com, the program emphasizes empowering teens to navigate digital environments responsibly. We can check out this Media Literacy course, then recommend it to teens and educators.

ADVANCING DEMOCRACY
The Brookings Institute has published its research-based commitments for advancing democracy: in other words, what they see as key areas to focus on to maintain and strengthen US democracy. While this article (and the longer report that can be downloaded) are specifically for attendees of their annual summit, it’s enlightening for the rest of us as well. Let’s give it a read.

STATE-SPECIFIC ACTIONS

CA – MAKE THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY PAY FOR WILDFIRE RELIEF
The fires in Los Angeles have cost at least 25 lives, and by the time they’re over may do over $200 billion in damage. Someone is going to have to pay. Last year, a group of Democratic state senators led by Caroline Menjivar and Henry Stern proposed legislation that would make sure it’s the folks who are responsible. The Polluters Pay Climate Cost Recovery Act would require the state’s largest carbon polluters to pay into a fund that would be used for disaster prevention and cleanup, taking the burden off of regular Californians and putting it on those who have profited from the climate crisis. Analysis suggested this bill would generate tens of billions of dollars to cover the costs ahead. The industry rallied hard against it, and with a two-thirds vote required it never made it to the floor. Advocates are looking to try again, especially in light of the wildfires and New York passing a similar law. Let’s reach out to our assembly members, state senators and Governor Newsom and tell them to prioritize passing Polluters Pay so we aren’t forced to.

KEEPING AN EYE ON…

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