January 23, 2025
Unconstitutional means unconstitutional, some bills definitely not about the price of eggs, saying thank you to those who stand up, and more
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THE FIGHT FOR BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP
Birthright citizenship, the constitutional guarantee that any person born on U.S. soil becomes a U.S. citizen at birth, is very explicitly guaranteed in the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, has been upheld by the Supreme Court, and as the historian Martha Jones argues is at the heart of the American concept of liberty and democracy. As was long promised, it is under brazen attack. Trump has issued an executive order in direct contravention of the Constitution, ordering federal agencies to no longer issue citizenship documentation to babies born in the United States with parents who are undocumented or even here legally on temporary visas. 22 states, the District of Columbia and the City of San Francisco almost immediately sued, as did the ACLU. Even under this Supreme Court, they are likely to win and put a halt to Trump’s plans – a federal judge will hold a hearing to consider a temporary restraining order against the Trump administration enforcing this effort today. Let’s check to see if our state is on the list of those suing – and if not, let’s contact our state attorney general and ask why. We should also recognize that the paperwork necessary to enforce this order is currently done at the state and local level. Let’s make sure our governors and state legislators know we expect our state to follow the Constitution. We can use language and this tool from Indivisible.
LASER-FOCUSED ON HIGH PRICES?
After a campaign that claimed to focus on inflation, Republicans have admitted they won’t be able to lower prices and are focusing their efforts on anything but the soaring cost of eggs. The House just gave final approval yesterday to H.R. 29/S.5, legislation that exploits the tragic murder of Laken Riley to massively expand detention camps, gut due process, and put Dreamers and innocent people at risk of deportation, sending it to Trump’s desk. They’re also set to consider H.R. 21/S.6, a bill inspired by the myth of “post-birth abortions” that requires doctors to perform futile, painful medical procedures on fatally-ill newborns instead of allowing their parents to peacefully say goodbye. Senate Democrats hung together to block this same forced birther legislation from further consideration with a party line vote on the other side of Capitol Hill yesterday. Let’s check out where our members voted in all three rounds on the expansion of the deportation machine, and then reach out to them to let them know we want them to stop demonizing immigrants and being cruel to families going through some of the worst moments of their lives and actually address real problems for Americans.
TRUMP IS TARGETING TRANS PEOPLE
Trump made a top priority on his first day in office of trying to erase trans people from legal existence – issuing an executive order that claimed to make the gender binary official government policy, which would affect the issuance of passports and Social Security cards, along with require housing trans women with men in federal prisons and shelters; directing federal agencies to exclude trans people from being protected by sex discrimination laws; and preventing trans people from serving in the military. His orders are likely to face immense court challenges, and either way: trans people are not going anywhere, and we all will fight this bigotry with all that we have. Here’s some ways we can start:
Let’s reach out to our members of Congress to give them our feedback on their votes on H.R. 28, thanking the noes and telling the yays to work on real problems for all Americans instead of empowering child predators and bullying trans kids out of school sports. We can also call our senators to urge them to oppose and filibuster this legislation. We can use this sample language from Advocates for Trans Equality.
Let’s check out ’s legislative tracker and see what anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been filed in our states, and let our legislators know we want to see them blocked.
Let’s consider a donation to Lambda Legal, who will be leading the fight to strike these measures down.
Let’s check out and share the Transgender Law Center’s guide to laws and policies affecting trans folks locally and statewide.
If we’re attorneys, let’s consider joining the Transgender Law Center’s Attorney Solidarity network here.
If we’re able, let’s consider donating to DistributeAid.org’s Harm Reduction Toolkits (HRT), which provide one year of medical supplies needed for trans folks to take injection-based hormone replacement therapy.
If we want to get even further engaged, here’s a list of local-level groups fighting for LGBTQ+ justice and survival in all 50 states we can reach out to get more involved with.
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD AGAINST KASH PATEL
The confirmation hearings are rolling on, with Veterans Affairs nominee Doug Collins insisting he’s never read Project 2025 and UN Ambassador designee Elise Stefanik denying Elon Musk did a Nazi salute on live television. Still waiting for his is one of Trump’s most controversial and dangerous nominees: Kash Patel, his pick for FBI director and one of his most loyal henchmen. Patel has vowed to purge any FBI employee who does not support the Trump agenda and weaponize the bureau to “come after” those who criticized Trump and stood against his coup attempt in 2020 – including the media, who he would like to make it easier to sue. This pledge seems all the more dangerous after Trump’s executive order to the Justice Department and the Director of National Intelligence to investigate the Biden Administration. Patel is also a conspiracy theorist who has embraced the QAnon cult; fed false information about Ukraine to Trump and false information about military operations to the Pentagon, endangering U.S. troops; attempted to cover for Trump’s mishandling of classified documents; and has publicly endorsed supplements to “reverse” the effects of the COVID vaccine. Innocent people are going to get hurt and silenced if Patel is allowed to sneak through. Let’s use this tool to write a letter to the editor to our local paper urging our senators to vote no on Patel’s nomination. And let’s also reach out to our senators directly with the same message, using this script from Indivisible, especially if they’re among the few Republicans who dared to criticize Trump’s mass pardon of violent insurrectionists.
THANKING THE RIGHT REVEREND MARIANN EDGAR BUDDE
On Tuesday at the inaugural prayer service at the National Cathedral in Washington DC, the Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde, Episcopal bishop of Washington, made a direct appeal to President Trump and asked him to have mercy on LGBTQ+ people and undocumented migrant workers. This clip shows her speaking as well as the reactions of some of the attendees. After the fact, Trump called her “nasty” and Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) called for her to be deported. Let’s take a moment to send her a postcard of thanks for her bravery and conviction: 1) Washington National Cathedral, P.O. Box 98283, Washington, DC 20090-8283. We can also express our gratitude by phone at (202) 537-6200 or via email at info@cathedral.org. We can watch her sermon here and share it on social media to get it wider reach, and consider buying her book, How We Learn To Be Brave.
STATE-SPECIFIC ACTIONS
MN – A FIREWALL FOR FREEDOM
With the oppressive, nativist right-wing agenda in full control in Washington, it is incumbent on states with Democratic governors to show leadership and build what the ACLU has deemed “a firewall for freedom.” With divided results on the legislative level putting the state capitol in chaos, we need to clearly communicate that good, voting people in Minnesota want to see courage and not compromise. North Star Policy Action has produced a toolkit with petitions, an email tool, call scripts and sample social media posts to make sure Tim Walz knows we want to see stronger immigrant protections now. Let’s check it out here and put it to work!
KEEPING AN EYE ON…
Minnesota special election delayed, oral arguments on GOP power grab before state high court next week… the Wisconsin state supreme court election April 1st… North Carolina supreme court seat steal will go to trial… Oregon health care workers on strike… Costco workers contract expires January 31st… aid for Los Angeles…
I called my (D) senators and politely expresses concerns as a registered Independent (have never voted R- I grew up with Nixon) about federal public health agencies being ordered not to communicate with the public. I also spoke with my new Rep Hurd's office about the same thing and had to explain it to them amidst the firehose of crap from trump/ musk. I always identify myself as a Ret. RN, MPH, and US Army Reserves medical officer, and that I am glad to have Hurd and no longer the execrable Boebert Here I am, in CD3.
Can't express how grateful I am to have your digest of manageable, IMPORTANT actions to take. It helps my mental health a lot. Thank you for all your time and effort.