From reader Marilyn K. : “an impromptu demonstration against ICE today on Key West, Florida. About 30 people, sometimes in the rain…”
Hi, all, and happy Monday.
First of all, it was great seeing and/or meeting some of you at the ICE OUT protest in Downtown Los Angeles this weekend. Wasn’t it wonderful to be there? I know many of you were at anti-ICE events over the weekend—I hope you were at least a bit replenished by being in community with so many likeminded folks. I know I was.
We’re heading into a big week, with votes possible on the ACA premium tax credit extensions in the Senate—although Trump is threatening to veto them if they do pass—a possible War Powers Resolution in the House, and lots of budget stuff moving as Congress works to avoid a government shutdown on January 30. We’ll do our best to stay on top of all of it while also continuing to express our concerns about ICE’s massive abuses, the DOJ’s failure to produce the Epstein files as required by law, Trump’s threats to take over Greenland, the increasing weaponization of the DOJ—most recently against Jerome Powell!—and so much more.
There’s a firehose of awfulness coming our way, in short, but we are more united than ever, more nimble, and more determined. Reasons for hope may seem fugitive, but in reality they abound. We saw them in the protests this weekend, we’re seeing them in Republicans’ timid but real steps towards breaking with Trump—at least on some issues—and we’re seeing them in our ever growing numbers.
We’re still in a brutal battle, and that’s a misery, but no army has ever had better, fiercer, or more determined fighters. I am confident that we’ll get through this, even more confident that we’ll prevail, and absolutely certain that someday YOU will become the heroes of this story.
In fact, you already are.
Let’s get to work.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
First, Congress needs to pause negotiations on the 2026 DHS appropriations bill pending investigations of the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent. Good was murdered and her killer needs to be charged. On that note, ICE is completely out of control—they’re terrorizing neighborhoods and behaving in a lawless, dangerous, and outrageous manner. I don’t want them to receive a single additional dollar from Congress—in fact I want them abolished. And Kristi Noem needs to be impeached and removed. [H/T]
Second, I want the Senator to support Democrats’ 3-year ACA premium tax credit extension bill and pressure Leader Thune to bring it to a vote immediately. Millions of lives are at stake.
Finally, Donald Trump needs to be impeached and removed. He is a clear and present danger to our Constitution, the American people, and the rule of law. Thank you.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
First, Congress needs to pause negotiations on the 2026 DHS appropriations bill pending investigations of the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent. Good was murdered and her killer needs to be charged. On that note, ICE is completely out of control—they’re terrorizing neighborhoods and behaving in a lawless, dangerous, and outrageous manner. I don’t want ICE to receive a single additional dollar—in fact I want them abolished. And Kristi Noem needs to be impeached and removed. [H/T]
Second, I want the Congressmember to support a War Powers Resolution right away. We don’t want our tax dollars going to occupying Venezuela, or taking over Greenland, or invading Mexico. We want healthcare, affordable housing, and lower prices. Trump’s priorities are all wrong—he must be stopped!
Finally, Donald Trump needs to be impeached and removed. He is a clear and present danger to our Constitution, the American people, and the rule of law. Thank you.
Extra Credit ✅
The below is from Rochelle Davis of Murmur, a great messaging newsletter. (Her whole post about RFK Jr’s new vaccine schedule is really worth reading.)
Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a physician and chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, supported RFK Jr.’s confirmation after receiving explicit assurances that he would not alter the U.S. vaccine schedule or undermine CDC vaccine messaging. Cassidy has since acknowledged that those assurances were violated.
Cassidy has also publicly described the changes to the Schedule as lacking scientific input and as undermining public confidence in vaccines. That matters because Cassidy is not a bystander. As chair of the HELP Committee, he is uniquely positioned to demand accountability.
While Cassidy represents Louisiana, his role as HELP Committee chair gives him national responsibility over public health policy. You do not need to live in Louisiana to contact his office.
Call Senator Cassidy’s Office: (202) 224-5824
When you call, leave a brief message with a staff member or voicemail. Keep it short, respectful, and focused on accountability.
Sample message:
Hello, my name is _____. I’m calling to urge Senator Cassidy, in his role as chair of the HELP Committee, to hold formal oversight hearings on the recent changes to the CDC’s childhood immunization schedule. Senator Cassidy has said these changes lack scientific input and violate assurances made during Secretary Kennedy’s confirmation. I’m asking the Senator to use his authority to demand transparency, documentation, and accountability to restore public trust in vaccine policy. Thank you.
Get Smart! 📚
Moms for Good: Joining Together to Stop ICE with Red, Wine, and Blue.
Monday, January 12, 7:00 PM ET
Renee Nicole Good was killed by an ICE agent after dropping her child off at school. Just like other moms from Raleigh to Portland to Chicago, Renee was simply looking out for her neighbors. This tragedy is devastating and frightening, and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed.
But fear is also being used to silence us and disinformation is being spread to intimidate people from speaking out. We will not let fear win. As moms, neighbors, and friends, we have to stay in the fight. We will remain committed to the values that have brought women across the country together.
Join Red Wine & Blue and other mom and caregiver groups as we come together to process what’s happening, support one another, and take concrete steps to protect our communities, stay safe, and demand accountability. We will fight together. All welcome!
Spread the Word! 📣
Almost five years ago reporter John Carlos Frey (now host of the Raid podcast) helped to produce a documentary for HBO about the corruption within the ranks of US Border Patrol and cover up of a murder. It’s called “Critical Incident: Death at the Border.”
HBO released the film on Dec. 29 of this year without fanfare or any PR. It does not appear on their ‘new releases’ cue and is not even listed under documentaries. The content is explosive, exposes high ranking DHS members of the current administration and reveals Border Patrol impunity and cover ups.
The LA Times just did a piece on HBO burying the documentary, likely because they have a pending massive merger deal with Netflix. Shameful!
Let’s help spread the word about this important film. Please watch it if you’re a subscriber and tell your friends and family about it as well.
Give 💰!
As you may know, Minnesota is getting absolutely hammered by ICE right now. It’s apparently worse than Chicago, worse than LA, worse than anywhere we’ve yet seen.
From my friends at Movement Voter Project:
In Minnesota, Unidos MN leads Monarca, an immigrant-defense, rapid-response network that has trained over 14,000 volunteer responders. Monarca runs a 24/7 hotline now fielding about 150 calls a day, and then dispatches responders to gather in large crowds, witness, document, and, where possible, protect people from being detained.
To support this work, you can give directly to Unidos here.
Get in the Streets! 🪧
White Supremacists are holding a rally in Minneapolis on Saturday and pro-immigrant, pro-democracy activists there are organizing a peaceful counterprotest. Details below. Please spread the word.
Win Races! 🗳
Postcards to Voters is jumping into an urgent and meaningful special election in Georgia that has consequences far beyond one district. It’s soon, but there are a few more days to write postcards for it!On January 20, voters will choose a new State Senator for Georgia Senate District 18. This seat just opened up when the Republican incumbent, the architect of Georgia’s gerrymandered legislative maps, vacated the office. For the first time in years, this district is truly up for grabs. What happens here will shape the balance of power and the future of fair representation across Georgia.
If you’ve written with PTV before you can request addresses by
Getting addresses should be easy - and fast! Try one of the 3 self-service options or, if you have questions, email our amazing volunteer team!
Web: Abby.PostcardsToVoters.org
Slack: bit.ly/SlackAbby
EMail Bot: Request@AbbyAddresses.org
E-mail Human: Postcards@TonyTheDemocrat.org
If you’re new please email join@tonythedemocrat.org and ask to get started!
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: all 3 reps] [H/T ] [Text SIGN PQLTBV to 50409, or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram]
(Note that for the most effective RESISTBOT it’s best to personalize this text. More about how to do this here. But if you’re short on time just send it as is using the above code.)
A government that cannot protect the lives and rights of people within its borders—citizens and non-citizens alike—has lost its claim to legitimacy. That is the reality Americans are confronting after the killing of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis by an ICE agent, and after years of mounting evidence that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has become an unaccountable, aggressive, and poorly supervised force operating far beyond its original mandate.Renee Good was an American citizen, a mother, and a legal observer. Her death is tragic, but it is not isolated. In 2025 alone, dozens of people died while in ICE custody or during ICE operations. Many had asked for medical help. Some were elderly. Some were ill. Others died violently. These are not the hallmarks of a professional law-enforcement agency operating with discipline and restraint. They are warning signs of systemic failure.This is not a question of being “pro-immigration” or “anti-immigration.” It is a question of whether the federal government is bound by the Constitution it claims to defend. Due process is not optional. Oversight is not optional. Accountability is not optional. An agency that routinely denies medical care, obstructs congressional oversight, escalates encounters, and responds to public scrutiny with secrecy and propaganda is an agency that cannot be trusted with expanded power.ICE did not exist before 2003. The United States enforced immigration law for generations without it. Congress created ICE, and Congress has the authority—and responsibility—to dismantle it when it becomes dangerous. Reorganizing or abolishing a failed bureaucracy is not radical; it is conservative governance at its best.Many Americans who believe in law and order also believe that law enforcement must be disciplined, professional, and subject to civilian control. A force that relies on fear, intimidation, and overwhelming presence undermines respect for the law rather than strengthening it. Flooding cities with heavily armed federal agents, while restricting congressional oversight and expanding recruitment through “wartime” rhetoric, is not strength. It is instability.I urge you to take the following actions:• Introduce and support legislation to dismantle ICE and redistribute any necessary functions under agencies with clear limits, transparent rules, and real oversight.• Freeze funding for ICE expansion and mass recruitment until Congress completes a full investigation into use-of-force policies, medical care failures, and detainee deaths.• Hold public hearings to restore congressional authority and reaffirm that no federal agency operates above the law.• Reassert that constitutional protections apply to all people on U.S. soil, because once rights become conditional, no one’s rights are safe.Strong nations are not built by unaccountable force. They are built by law, restraint, and respect for human dignity. Congress must act now—before more lives are lost.
OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess
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