Drug and alcohol addictions kills thousands of people every year.  

I am writing to urge you to take immediate action to close a critical gap in our justice system: the failure to include protection order violations in standard criminal background checks. This oversight allows individuals with a history of violating protective orders to secure jobs, housing, and even custody or visitation rights without accountability, putting survivors and their children at risk. Protection orders exist to shield survivors of domestic violence, stalking, and harassment from further harm. However, because these violations are typically classified as civil matters rather than criminal convictions, they often do not appear in background checks conducted by employers, landlords, and family courts. This omission not only endangers survivors but also allows repeat offenders to continue their abusive behavior without consequence. The Urgent Need to Protect Children Children are among the most vulnerable when protection order violations go unreported or unrecognized. Parents who have repeatedly violated protective orders can still gain custody or unsupervised visitation, placing children in harm’s way. Without these violations being made visible in legal and background checks, courts may unknowingly grant access to individuals who pose a threat to their child’s safety and well-being. By implementing these changes, we can provide greater protection for survivors and children, increase public safety, and hold repeat offenders accountable. I urge you to introduce and support legislation that ensures these violations are visible, enforceable, and taken seriously in legal and protective proceedings. Please let me know your stance on this issue and what steps you will take to address it. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this further. Thank you for your time and commitment to public safety.

Senator Cory Booker was not doing a filibuster—a tactic generally used to block the passage of a bill or vote. Instead, he was using the Senate rules that allow a senator who has been recognized by the presiding officer to speak for as long as they wish. All to draw attention to the Trump administration’s attacks on everyday people. He was not allowed to sit down, and he had to speak continuously—breaking only when asked questions by fellow senators. He even had his chair removed to eliminate the temptation to sit.  Senator Booker kept the focus during his time on the disastrous Republican agenda, focusing on the tariffs, foreign policy, and the economy, as well as Trump’s attacks on Social Security, Medicaid, and education. And he included the voices of his own constituents and public comments from world leaders. "In just 71 days, the president has inflicted harm after harm on Americans' safety, financial stability, the foundations of our democracy, and any sense of common decency. These are not normal times in our nation. And they should not be treated as such in the United States Senate." Senator Booker said he would go as long as he could. And he did. Let him know that the general public was watching, supporting, and cheering him on! 

The RMP combats food insecurity. Guam is not immune to the challenges of hunger. Implementing the RMP ensures equitable access to nutrition for individuals who may not have the means or facilities to cook their own meals. The RMP empowers local businesses. The program provides an economic boost to participating restaurants, creating new opportunities for growth and community engagement. The RMP supports vulnerable populations. The elderly, individuals with disabilities, and those experiencing homelessness often face unique challenges in accessing food. The RMP offers dignity and choice in meeting their nutritional needs. We believe that passing Bill No. 78-38 (COR) is not only a compassionate and inclusive decision but also a pragmatic step toward fostering a healthier and more equitable Guam. We urge I Liheslaturan Guåhan to take immediate action and make the Restaurant Meals Program a reality on our island.

This is not a drill. Trump is weaponizing ICE and Homeland Security to arrest and disappear people, including students, fathers, academics, among other everyday people, in yet another power grab demonstrating his complete disregard for our rights and freedoms. Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was accidentally deported due to "administrative error,” remains stuck in legal limbo in an El Salvador prison, forcibly separated by thousands of miles from his wife and 5-year-old child, who is autistic and intellectually disabled. Marco Rubio’s State Department recently revoked the visa of Óscar Arias Sánchez, the former leader of Costa Rica and a Nobel laureate, for no reason other than being a vocal critic of Trump and his administration. Andry José Hernández Romero, a makeup artist from Venezuela, was deported to a prison in El Salvador after being accused of being a gang member because of his tattoos. He was deported before his lawyers could present evidence against the administration’s accusations. Student activists are also having their rights and legal protections being stripped. Mahmoud Khalil, Yunseo Chung, and Momodou Taal are just some of the many students who have had their legal status ripped away for speaking out for Palestinian rights on campus.  These civil rights violations are a dangerous and slippery slope. It’s terrifying to think that everyday people could be seized without due process, disappeared by the Trump administration under the false guise of safety.  Trump’s revoking legal status, threatening deportation, and weaponizing federal agencies against protesters and those who disagree with him is a dictatorial move. This is a coordinated effort to intimidate, punish, and silence Trump’s critics. This won’t stop with immigrants, and this isn’t just about our right to dissent. This is about whether we allow one man to turn the power of government against the people it’s supposed to serve. Add your name now to protect our communities and our right to protest without persecution!  Photo source: USA Today

This decision to close its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion offices and discontinue the DEI 2.0 Strategic Plan should concern not just University of Michigan students, faculty, and alumni, but anyone who values higher education, diversity, and academic freedom. Here’s why:  1. It Sets a Dangerous Precedent – If a leading public university like Michigan backs down under federal pressure, other institutions may follow, leading to a nationwide rollback of DEI initiatives. This weakens higher education's ability to support historically marginalized groups. 2. It Empowers Authoritarian Tactics – By complying with political intimidation, Michigan signals that academic institutions can be bullied into abandoning their core values. This emboldens those who want to dismantle equity efforts, making it easier for future attacks on universities, faculty, and students. 3. It Hurts Students and Faculty – DEI programs provide crucial resources, mentorship, and protections for underrepresented students and faculty. Removing them makes campuses less inclusive and more hostile for many communities. 4. It Undermines Academic Freedom – Universities should be spaces for critical thought, debate, and progress. Allowing government overreach to dictate educational policy threatens the independence of institutions dedicated to truth and scholarship. 5. It Echoes Historical Patterns of Suppression – Historically, authoritarian regimes have targeted universities first, recognizing their role in shaping society and challenging oppressive ideologies. This decision mirrors past moments where institutions either resisted or enabled such takeovers. People should be paying attention because what happens at Michigan could happen elsewhere—and the consequences extend far beyond one campus.

The removal of these protections isn’t just a major setback for the civil rights enshrined into law by Lyndon B. Johnson—it’s also a fundamental attack on our democracy. While the Civil Rights Act of 1964 still prohibits segregation, this rollback signals the government’s disinterest in ensuring that workplaces are free from discrimination. This escalation could lead to the erosion of workplace standards nationwide and could embolden employers to ignore laws intended to protect workers from discrimination.  We can’t backslide on segregation. Add your voice to demand that the Trump administration reverse this dangerous decision and protect the rights of all workers, regardless of race. 

E is not "waste, fraud, and abuse."  E is a talented woman, hoping to begin a new job and a new life, as a mother.   She is not a statistic. We need to share stories of the impact of DOGE cuts to counter the "efficiency" blather.  

This is an important cause because every person deserves a chance to go to college if they want to. Going to college allows people to get a higher education which can be very helpful to develop critical thinking skills, a deeper understanding of the world, and just overall being more informed. It also allows for better job opportunities, better earning potentials, and greater career success. Almost half of college students have to get jobs while in college which can add stress to these students because they have to juggle school and work. Over half of college students have to take out student loans and end up having debt after they graduate because they can't afford college on their own. With rising costs many people won't be able to afford a higher education if they want to but expanding Federal Pell Grants to account for inflation can help more students be able to afford college. This can potentially allow students to take out less student loans and students might not have to get jobs during college for them to afford to attend. It can potentially help students be less stressed and less worried about where they are going to find the money to afford college. Overall, expanding Federal Pell Grants to account for inflation can allow lower income students to attend college and get a higher education.

The right to access abortion is under attack—and without the Trump administration’s commitment to protecting access to medication abortion, state governments must step in.  By stockpiling mifepristone, states can help ensure that if access is threatened, patients can continue to access this safe and effective medication, which accounts for the majority of all abortions in the United States. This is a practical and necessary step to protect abortion—and we need other states to follow suit, now. Sign the petition urging all governors to start stockpiling mifepristone. 

Most people will at some point find use of accessibility tools and architecture.    If you sign this petition, you will be helping us in our demand for an acknowledgement of the campus' student, staff, and faculty with disabilities, in the form of at least one page in the plan dedicated to an accessible and environment. This petition will encourage the University Administration to dedicate time and energy to honoring their commitments to their students in the Centennial Plan!

It's not only dangerous to the American public that this happened, but the fact that a reporter was inadvertently given access to these current plans in real time shows that Pete Hegseth and the rest of this crew are astoundingly incompetent at the roles they've been chosen for.  Pete Hegseth was just a Fox News host, with nowhere near the same sort of tactical experience that past defense secretaries had when Trump nominated him for his Cabinet. The risk of having Hegseth and other officials leak information like this raises concerns about the potential mishandling of classified information and sensitive details regarding U.S. war plans in the future.  When President Donald Trump was asked about the report on Monday afternoon, he said, “I don’t know anything about it,” then added, “I’m not a big fan of The Atlantic.” If Trump won't take actual matters of national security seriously, we will. Sign the petition if you agree there must be a congressional hearing or investigation to hold Hegseth and officials in Trump's administration accountable.  Image Source: Andrew Harnik / Getty