The people of Cuba have been pushed to the brink of collapse amidst an illegal U.S. oil embargo that has caused mass suffering — energy blackouts, food shortages, and water scarcity. The humanitarian crisis stands to get even worse as Trump warns that “Cuba is next.” His threats to “take” Cuba and push its president out of power echo the violent, regime-change campaigns we’ve seen his administration carry out in Venezuela and Iran this year. And reports are emerging that he’s ordered the Pentagon to draw up war plans for the island nation. This illegal campaign of collective punishment against the population of Cuba is only hurting the people that Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio claim to help, and any act of war will only deepen the suffering. It’s not too late to stop this crisis and prevent more war. Congress can pass a war powers resolution to block strikes before they begin, AND usher in a new era of diplomacy by ending U.S. embargos on Cuba, turning the page on six decades of a failed strategy that has delivered nothing but pain and suffering to the Cuban people. A different path is possible, but only if we advocate for it, which is why we need you to speak out today.

Shocking reporting suggests Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth tried to invest MILLIONS in weapons stocks during the buildup to the war with Iran — which he’s helped facilitate. If true, it means the Defense Secretary attempted to personally profit off an illegal, horrific war that has killed thousands, including hundreds of children. This is more than just disturbing; it’s outright disqualifying. The longer Hegseth stays, the longer the list of his offenses: Purging Black and women officers at the Pentagon, failing to keep critical information secure, calling for U.S. troops to commit potential war crimes, and ordering multiple instances of unauthorized use of force from Iran to the Pacific. And these reckless, dangerous actions are merely the tip of the iceberg. Fortunately, Rep. Yassamin Ansari just introduced seven articles of impeachment against Hegseth, providing us a path to push him out and clear the way for new leadership at the Pentagon. We’ve just seen how public pressure can drive accountability, with Pam Bondi and Kristi Noem recently forced from their posts. Now, let’s ramp up the pressure to make sure SecDef Hegseth is next.

THE HIDDEN RISKS OF HB5511 (The “Safety Paradox”) Lawmakers are presenting HB5511 as a way to protect children from the harmful parts of the internet. But by moving age verification into your phone’s software and app stores, this bill creates a dangerous paradox: The “safety” system itself may put your family at risk. 1. Why this is a major change for your family Right now, you access the internet directly. Under HB5511, your phone or computer becomes a digital checkpoint. Companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft become the gatekeepers. Access to apps and some websites would increasingly depend on your device confirming your age. If the system fails, or if a website can’t support it, access may be restricted or blocked. 2. Your identity becomes a target This system depends on tying age verification to your device or account. That could involve sharing sensitive information such as government ID, financial data, or other personal details. That creates new risks: ● Identity Theft Concentrating sensitive data across large platforms increases the potential impact of breaches and leaks. ● Sophisticated Scams As identity checks become more common, it becomes easier for criminals to imitate them and trick people into handing over personal information. 3. How this could put children at risk This system is meant to protect children, but it may also expose them to new risks. ● More data about children Children may need accounts tied to their age, creating larger digital footprints earlier in life. ● Connected systems When devices, accounts, and users are linked, it creates the potential to connect activity across home devices, school-issued laptops, and shared computers. ● Not fully effective At the same time, experience shows that age checks are often bypassed—meaning more data is collected without fully solving the problem. 4. The shift away from an open internet The internet today is open by default. Under this model, access increasingly depends on verification through corporate-controlled systems. That is a fundamental shift. From open access → to permission-based access. And once built into devices and law, it becomes very difficult to reverse. ⚠️ URGENCY: WHY THIS MATTERS NOW Current Status: HB5511 has passed the Illinois House and is now moving to the Illinois Senate for consideration. This is the moment when changes can still be made. Once systems like this are written into law and built into technology, they are extremely difficult to undo. If the device-level requirements are not addressed now, they may become permanent.

The Southern Poverty Law Center has existed for more than 50 years, founded as a legal advocacy organization in Alabama during the Civil Rights Movement. They have been organizing against the Klan and white supremacist groups and working to advance the liberation of Black and Brown people ever since.  Their work has literally saved lives. But the SPLC came under fire by right-wing conservatives and the Trump administration after Charlie Kirk’s assassination due to their criticism of his organization, Turning Point USA, and its inclusion in their report “The Year in Hate and Extremism 2024.” The report detailed the organization's role in electing Trump and far-right candidates, informing Project 2025, and culturally shaping the authoritarian landscape that currently exists. Shortly after, in response to far-right backlash, the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced it was ending its relationship with the SPLC, which previously worked with the government on hate crimes and domestic extremism research and reporting.  Civil rights groups like the SPLC are at the forefront of ensuring that everyone in our country can live, love, vote, and exist free from discrimination. The people involved in these organizations train poll workers, run mutual aid networks, call out discrimination, and defend our right to protest. The Trump administration is trying to silence and erase voices doing this critical work because they are a threat to their authoritarian agenda. SPLC used their platform to expose hate—and we will do the same. Add your name to the petition to show solidarity with the SPLC and make it clear that Americans will not stand by quietly as the Trump administration silences free speech, punishes civil rights groups, and tries to intimidate everyday people from exercising their fundamental rights.

Polymarket is turning human suffering into speculation: Six anonymous accounts, most of them created on February 27, made over $1.2 MILLION on Polymarket by betting that the bombs would fall the next day. Just days ago, in the minutes before the U.S.–Iran ceasefire was announced, at least 50 brand-new accounts placed tens of thousands of dollars worth of highly specific bets that the violence would pause. These trades have a similar profile; the accounts were created just moments before a critical world event. The bets were the only bets those accounts ever made. And each left their anonymous owners hundreds of thousands of dollars richer. It all paints a deeply troubling picture that Polymarket is where powerful people can use their access to privileged information to turn a profit on matters of war and violence. But we have a plan to stop these dangerous bets. Corporations respond when their reputations — and their bottom lines — are on the line. That’s why we’re partnering with 20 groups to sound the alarm and send a message directly to Shayne Coplan, Polymarket's CEO, to remind him that these bets come with a cost too high to bear. Because if enough of us speak out, we can create enough public pressure to force Polymarket to ban these corrupt markets.

  This is not a call for unregulated action.   It is a call for alignment between what is legal and what is life-giving.    We believe that contributing to the function of the natural world is not only a responsibility, but a right.    A system that permits degradation while prohibiting regeneration is out of balance.    We stand for a future where people are not separated from the living world but are recognized as participants within it.

When the Senate voted on a joint resolution of disapproval (JRD) to halt the sale of armored bulldozers to the Israeli government in April, a record 40 senators voted to block the sale. Here’s why that’s such a big deal: In early 2024, just 11 senators voted to request a simple human rights report on the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza. Only 15 senators voted to halt a similar weapons transfer to the Israeli government a year later. That number grew to 27 in the summer of 2025 when, for the first time, a majority of Senate Democrats voted to block U.S.-made bombs and rifles to the Israeli government. Now, the dam has broken. 85% of the Senate’s Democratic caucus voted to end U.S. complicity in the Israeli government’s horrific violence — in genocide in Gaza, in illegal annexations in the West Bank, and in an invasion into southern Lebanon. Turning the tide on the Senate’s blank check approach to the Israeli government was the first step. Now, we have to win these votes to block U.S. weapons from reaching the Israeli military. To secure the majority needed to achieve those victories, letting this group of 40 senators know that we see and appreciate their votes is a crucial start. When senators know groups like ours and people like you have their backs, it creates the political space for more lawmakers to join them in rejecting the status quo and ending U.S. complicity in the Israeli government’s violence.

Since its sudden removal, a lot of players (including myself) have felt that something is missing, and while new updates are fully appreciated, they don’t fully capture the same charm that Campus 4.2 offered. 

Please join me in fighting to keep the Post office in Michaels Hallmark open.

While sales continue, Caltrans is still able to proceed with suspicious pricing, aggressive contract negotiations, and a myriad of building code and health and safety code violations. Without intervention, these serious problems will be inherited by disadvantaged home buyers, and the costs and risks ultimately transferred to the cities and districts in which these homes are located.  Caltrans tenants feel that they are under duress. There is widespread confusion about the manner in which the law and the regulations are being applied by Caltrans and their real estate contractor, Veterans Realty Group. There is a lack of uniform, accurate information, and an immediate need for advocacy and legal aid. 

Trump's presidency is coming to an end sooner or later. The real questions are: how much more damage will he do beforehand – and who will stand by and let it happen? Calling for the annihilation of Iran – an entire civilization of 90 million human beings just like you or me – isn’t normal. Trying to turn this country into a dictatorship – where one man rules by his word alone, where government becomes a weapon against its own people, and free and fair elections are just another inconvenience – is not normal. Losing track of basic facts and being unable to speak coherently on a single topic for more than a few sentences is not normal. At this point, it’s undeniable: Donald Trump is unfit to serve as President of the United States. That’s not a matter of speculation, it’s a matter of public record – his incoherent statements and erratic behavior put our country at risk every day they’re allowed to continue. Common Cause is officially calling for Trump’s removal from office – there is a firm constitutional basis for the Cabinet and Vice President to invoke the 25th Amendment, and for Congress to impeach if they refuse to act. Will you join us?

Overpopulation and rising costs in Florida are pushing long-time residents out, not just from housing, but from the natural spaces that define life in this state. Parks that were once easily accessible are now overcrowded and require advance reservations that many Florida natives are unable to secure due to overwhelming demand. As more people move to Florida and tourism continues to grow, the ability for long-time residents to enjoy their own state’s land is being diminished. Without action, Florida natives risk losing access to the very environments they grew up with. Prioritizing long-term residents helps restore balance and ensures that those who have called Florida home for years are not left behind.