Whether it’s allegations of sexual assault, concerns about heavy drinking, lack of experience, extremist ties, or past suggestions that the troops should be deployed against protestors and political opponents, one thing is crystal clear: Hegseth is unfit for the role. The Secretary of Defense oversees the largest and most powerful military in the world – and the bloated, too-powerful Pentagon bureaucracy that comes with it. This role demands, at the very least, a leader who prioritizes people’s well-being, has a willingness to root out corruption, understands the military should be a tool of last resort, and approaches our common security with seriousness and responsibility. We knew that would be a tall order for the incoming president, but Hegseth’s record not only falls embarrassingly short, it makes him a potential threat to the safety and security of millions of people, here at home and around the globe. The good news? Multiple outlets are reporting that Hegseth’s nomination is on the rocks. One senator told Politico, the prospects for his confirmation are "bad and getting worse.”[1] When you speak out to your senators today, your voice can tip the scales to derail his appointment before it even begins.  We cannot allow extremist rhetoric, scandal, and unqualified leadership to take root in the Department of Defense. Urge your Senators to reject Pete Hegseth’s nomination.

Donald Trump’s reelection as president by the narrowest margin of victory since the 19th century means that nearly all of his criminal cases have either been dismissed or put on hold for now.  And despite what Trump and his supporters claim, his reelection as president must not mean that he gets to skirt accountability in the history books and public record.  It’s not hyperbole to believe that this is likely our last chance to read for ourselves the full lengths Trump went to in order to overturn democracy a few years ago before he and his Cabinet of loyalists take office again. In fact, Trump has already made clear his intention to go after those who once investigated him.  Attorney General Garland must move swiftly to release the full report before it’s too late. Photo Credit: Getty Images

Elon Musk’s access to information poses a dangerous and unprecedented threat to national security. One expert said it all: ““It’s bad enough that Musk could be careless with classified data or expose himself to blackmail; it’s even more unsettling to imagine him undermining American security because of poor judgment, political grudges, and unwise foreign associations. Remember, this is a man who had to pay a $20 million fine for blabbing about taking Tesla private and had to agree to have some of his social-media posts overseen by a Tesla lawyer — and that’s not even close to classified information.”” Right now, Musk has incredible influence in the Trump transition, weighing in on its hiring decisions and even being offered a role in determining policy after years of using his platforms to spread misinformation and his immense wealth to help secure Trump's victory — and he’s doing it all while regularly chatting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and bragging about his “‘top-secret’ security clearance.” Federal guidelines outline several major disqualifying factors for security clearance, including three red flags prominently featured in Elon Musk's recent history: illegal drug use, questionable foreign ties, and financial problems. It’s a no brainer that his clearance should be reviewed and revoked immediately. By taking action now to revoke Musk's clearance, the Biden administration can create an immediate and crucial firewall against potential abuse of classified information today. But that’s not all: Once revoked, security clearances become significantly harder to reinstate — meaning we’ll make it harder for him to do his worst from either inside or outside the Trump administration next year. So sign now and tell the president to protect national security immediately by revoking Elon Musk's security clearance!

We ask for Cook County Community Members to sign this to petition Honorable Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans to take action now and reassign Judge Thomas E. Nowinski. We must stand together for the protection of our communities. 

The House of Representatives just passed a dangerous bill that would give President-elect Trump – and any future president – a blank check to take revenge on political enemies.  That’s right, H.R. 9495 would allow the president to SHUT DOWN any nonprofit organization whose First Amendment-protected speech he deems a threat to the country.   And you know as well as I do how that power would be abused – painting a target on organizations that are peacefully resisting or dissenting from the White House’s policies.   But here’s the good news: thanks to over 7,000 letters and calls from Common Cause members like you, we helped build unprecedented opposition to this legislation – convincing 39 representatives to flip their vote and oppose this bill.  With your action, I’m confident that we can convince enough Senators to BLOCK this legislation and stop it from becoming law. Add your name to tell the Senate to REJECT this dystopian attack on our right to dissent.

Matt Gaetz has dropped out as President-elect Trump’s nominee for Attorney General. This is a major victory that wouldn’t have been possible without you. Together, we gathered 82,777 signatures opposing Gaetz’s nomination – building public pressure and making it clear that his extreme, anti-democracy record has no place in the Department of Justice. But our action can’t stop now.   The House Ethics Committee is still sitting on the results of their investigation into Gaetz’s alleged offenses – including misuse of campaign funds, illicit drug use, and sexual misconduct – and we can’t let them cover up the truth. We demand transparency and accountability. Add your name to urge the House to release the full results of its investigation into Matt Gaetz.

Time and time again, the far-right majority of the Supreme Court has put special interests and politics ahead of people and above delivering justice under the law. But we cannot and will not be silent. Student debt fuels economic, gender, and racial inequality. Our persistent racial wealth gap means that students of color, especially those who are Black and brown, are more likely to have student debt, borrow in higher quantities, and face more struggles in repayment. A higher education should be the key to a better future, instead of a lifetime debt sentence that limits borrowers’ ability to buy homes, start small businesses, and save for retirement, cutting into opportunities for wealth-building over their lifetimes. This is why student loan cancellation is so important. Trump's agenda includes dismantling the Department of Education (DOE), which would have devastating impacts on our communities. The DOE oversees the Pell Grant and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which gives aid to college students who need financial aid. The DOE also enforces the civil rights of students, and supports school programs that support students with disabilities. But Trump, Republicans, and Republican-appointed Supreme Court justices cannot have the last word. We won’t let them win. We have to push back and be in solidarity with each other. Together, we can keep getting loud to show the President Biden that he has the power to to give millions of Americans the student loan relief they need and deserve. President Biden must cancel student debt via executive order before Trump and Republicans gain control over all three branches of our federal government. Will you sign the petition?

Why the increased permitting fees are essential: • A properly funded Air Program could mean more effective health protections from dangerous air pollution. Without the increased permitting fees, the Air Program could be weakened, further harming Allegheny County residents who already suffer from asthma and other health problems.  • Increased permitting fees would be paid by plant operators and applicants – NOT taxpayers. • This is especially important as the County is facing a large budget deficit.  • The fee increases are monies that would supplement the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) Air Program budget at no cost to taxpayers. • Approving the fee increase shifts the burden of covering these costs to, in most cases, million - and billion dollar industries that can easily afford to pay it.  • The fee increase essentially makes these companies cover the costs of obeying the law. • An adequately funded ACHD is critical to protecting the health of Allegheny County residents. Currently, the staff working to protect our air quality is under-resourced and overworked. https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2025/01/26/iulia-vann-allegheny-county-health-department/stories/202501190046 • The Clean Air Act requires ACHD to charge Title V facilities fees that are sufficient to cover the cost of administering the program.  • This critical fee upgrade is long overdue and is something the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) recommended in their 2018 audit of the ACHD Title V Air Program • The large companies that profit from polluting Allegheny County’s air increase the burden on ACHD and make ACHD’s work more vital. Increased fees would help ACHD hold them accountable. Who is against the fee increases? • U.S. Steel is lobbying hard against the increased fees, a company that can easily afford to pay these increased permit fees: • U.S. Steel disingenuously claims that the fee increases would have a detrimental impact.  • Under ACHD’s proposed fee increases, U.S. Steel’s annual total Title V fees for its Allegheny County facilities would be just 0.009% ($165,000) of U.S. Steel reported earnings of $2.14 billion in 2023.  • Compared to such monumental earnings, any claim that the significantly smaller Title V renewal permit fee, required only once every five years, would impact U.S. Steel’s coffers further strains credulity.  • The Clairton facility alone released 1.1 million pounds of toxic emissions into the air in 2021.  • Despite all evidence to the contrary, U.S. Steel also argues that its “steelmaking process is done in the safest and most environmentally responsible manner.” Yet in just the first quarter of 2023, ACHD found more than 1,500 instances of non-compliance at U.S. Steel's Clairton Plant alone.  • U.S. Steel’s egregious level of noncompliance required significant ACHD resources to identify and rein in, including for inspections and enforcement actions.  • Yet U.S. Steel's three Mon Valley facilities each currently pay an annual fee of $8,000 for the facility’s Title V permit - an inadequate amount. • This imbalance between ACHD’s time and effort necessary to ensure compliance and the current fee structure exemplifies that raising the fees is needed and warranted.  • Additionally, for smaller facilities that emit less than 50 tons per year, the current fee of $8,000 will increase to only $15,000.  • The fee schedule thereby ensures that the largest facilities that most burden the community and ACHD are the focal point of these fee increases.

The latest reports estimate this year’s Pentagon budget topline will be close to one TRILLION dollars. About half of that astronomical amount is slated to go straight to contractors, just like it has in years past. It’s meant BILLIONS for companies owned by Elon Musk — and there are BILLIONS yet to be made. Right now, U.S. tax dollars help fund the SpaceX’s Starlink and Starshield satellites Musk created — and he’s turned those profits into the kind of enormous political and social power that include a role in the Trump administration. We all pay a steep price: In just the past year alone Elon Musk has used Starlink to disrupt Ukraine's military communications, leveraged Twitter to undermine democratic discourse across the globe, and created the America Pac, a political action committee where he and his cronies plowed unlimited amounts of money toward Donald Trump and MAGA Republican candidates. Next, Musk may very well be “regulating” the very governmental agencies who award lucrative government contracts to his companies It reeks of corruption — but we’ll need a groundswell of grassroots activism to break this feedback loop in its tracks. The Pentagon is accountable to Congress and the public. That’s why we’re working to send Defense Secretary Austin a message tens of thousands of people strong. Join us.

What significance does Thrive House Shelter hold for both me and others? The Thrive House Shelter provides a supportive shelter serving as a vital safe haven for countless black and brown trans women who are survivors of violence.  This shelter is a crucial step in addressing the unique challenges faced by transgender individuals, particularly Black and Brown trans women who often encounter homelessness and violence. The Thrive House was founded by Sarah Pope and Maxine Tory aims to provide a safe, trauma-informed environment who have experienced homelessness as Sarah herself, emphasizes the need for a dedicated space where trans individuals can access temporary housing, meals, healthcare, and emergency support services. The shelter is designed to be a sanctuary where individuals can find not only physical safety but also the resources necessary for long-term stability and well-being. Sarah Pope's vision for Thrive House Safety is rooted in her personal experiences and a deep commitment to making a tangible difference. She explains, “So many people have talked about building a safe space and the lack of housing for black and Bbown trans women, but nobody has actually tried to make an effort to change this. I didn’t want to keep talking about it. Let’s actually do something about it.” “This place allows me to truly be myself without any constraints.” “This space holds a deep sense of sacredness for me and my sisters, allowing us to strengthen our bond and inspire one another. ” “This is a place I can always rely on. It’s a welcoming space where black and brown trans femmes can find solace, nourishment, and camaraderie. ” “Thrive House is the sanctuary where I truly thrive. ” “Thrive House opened their doors when I was homeless ” “There is no other shelter safe for trans women this is why Thrive House is so important ” .

Over the next four years, roughly 250 circuit and district court judges are, or will become, eligible for senior status. On top of the current and known future vacancies in states with two Republican senators, there is a very real chance that Trump will get to appoint another 200+ lower-court judges. Not to mention the fact that, depending on retirements at the highest level of our judicial system, he will also likely get to appoint at least two more Supreme Court justices.  The effects of this cannot be overstated. We’ve already seen the damage the current Trump justices and judges have unleashed on our civil rights. For instance:  • All three Trump Supreme Court justices were part of the majority in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade. • Judge James Ho (5th Cir.) was part of the Fifth Circuit’s opinion that would have sharply curtailed access to mifepristone, the abortion pill. He also wrote a dissent in the case, where he would have gone even further than the majority opinion in some respects. • Trump’s circuit court judges have repeatedly authored or joined anti-worker opinions, including cases which made it harder to file discrimination claims.   There is a very real possibility in four years' time that a majority of the justices and roughly half of all active lower-court judges will be Trump appointees. This is our last chance to act to confirm judges who will help protect our fundamental rights and serve as the last line of defense to uphold our nation’s laws and the Constitution.

Senate Republicans have chosen Senator John Thune to lead them next Congress. And much like his predecessor, Senator Mitch McConnell, one main “qualification” for the job comes at all of our expense: raking in millions of dollars in Big Money donations. That’s right: the incoming Senate Majority Leader built his candidacy around raising $31 million for the GOP this cycle and setting a new record for the largest transfer of money from his personal campaign to other Senate Republicans.  But Thune hardly stands out – in order to be serious contenders, Thune and the other Senators running had to prove they could keep the campaign cash flowing from the fossil fuel industry, big banks, private health insurers, and other special interests. • A primary selling point for Senator John Cornyn was raising over $400 million for the GOP in his career, including $33 million this cycle.  • And Senator Rick Scott, who’s also independently rich after co-founding the nation's largest for-profit healthcare company, is a leading advocate for essentially ending Medicare and the Affordable Care Act – hardly a coincidence.  • They have big shoes to fill, as Senator Mitch McConnell raised over $1 billion for the GOP during his time as Senate Majority Leader and Minority Leader.  The unfortunate truth is that no matter who got selected, Big Money is the real winner – which means the rest of us lose. Wealthy special interests shouldn’t have this big of a say in our democracy; that power belongs to the people. Common Cause knows this status quo must end – which is why we’re fighting to overturn Citizens United and pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the DISCLOSE Act.   These critical measures would help shine a light on secret political spending, get Big Money out of politics, and establish small-dollar citizen funded elections – giving ordinary Americans a stronger say in our democracy. Join us in calling on Congress to END the Citizens United era and pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the DISCLOSE Act!