The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights sent a letter to sixty higher education institutions on Monday warning them of “potential enforcement actions” if they don’t comply with actions under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The Civil Rights Act of 1963 prohibits any institution receiving federal funds from discriminating based on race, […]
Decline in Civil Liberties Gets U.S. Added to Global Watchlist
CIVICUS, an international non-profit organization focused on civil rights and citizen action, added the United States to its Monitor Watchlist on March 9 in response to the Trump Administration’s threats to civic freedoms. This indicates that the non-profit has detected a rapid decline in liberties such as the freedom to assemble, freedom to associate, and […]
Late-Term Pregnancy Loss Surges in the South Amid Medicaid Cut Proposals
The maternal health crisis in the United States is only getting worse—especially in the South. Despite advances in prenatal care, the region continues to face disproportionately high rates of fetal mortality, poor maternal health outcomes, and dwindling access to care. Now, as Congress debates deep cuts to Medicaid, a new analysis of the Center for […]
Fact vs. Fiction: Breaking Down the Truth About Trans Women in Sports
In a March 6 episode of his podcast, “This Is Gavin Newsom,” California Governor Gavin Newsom commented that the participation of transgender women in women’s sports is “unfair.” Despite his history of allyship with the LGBTQ+ community, he appears to be aligning himself with more socially conservative Americans on this issue, potentially in the hopes […]
Arrest and Detention of Palestinian Activist Threatens American Democracy
On March 8, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Syrian-born immigrant of Palestinian descent, due to his organizing efforts at Columbia University against the war in Gaza. The Trump Administration equated his actions with support for Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, which the U.S. considers a terrorist organization. He is currently […]
NWLC Policy Briefing Outlines Budget Impact on Women and Families
On March 4, the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) hosted a webinar to discuss the potential harm for women and families of the House budget resolution that passed on Feb. 25. After opening remarks from NWLC President and CEO Fatima Goss Graves, the Income Security and Child Care team elaborated on the Center’s efforts to […]
PEN America is Defending Free Speech and DEI on Campus Amid Growing Opposition
In light of the increasing attacks on higher education, PEN America—an organization dedicated to defending free speech and human rights—hosted a Zoom meeting this Monday as part of its campus and higher education initiatives. The event connected campus activists and organizers nationwide who are actively working to protect free expression on their campuses. Following the […]
American University Hosts Pertinent Discussion on The Fourteenth Amendment and Its Impact on Education
On Feb. 28, American University Washington College of Law hosted a panel about the Fourteenth Amendment, which discussed the amendment’s impact on education culture and policy today. The panel was part of a larger conference titled, “The Constitution And Its Culture Wars,” covering First and Fourteenth Amendment issues in education, as well as discussions about […]
Teachers Union Sues Trump Administration Over DEI crackdown
In a significant legal challenge, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the American Sociological Association have filed a federal lawsuit in Maryland against the Trump administration’s recent directive mandating the elimination of “race-based” practices in educational institutions. The directive, issued by the Department of Education on February 14, 2025, threatens to withhold federal funding […]
Mexico’s Response to Mass Deportations: ‘Mexico Embraces You’
As President Trump’s deportation plans for undocumented immigrants made headlines across the nation, a less publicized response is underway. Mexico’s plan for receiving repatriated citizens, called “Mexico Embraces You” or “Mexico te abraza,” was announced in late January. Government officials began developing the program after then-presidential nominee Trump’s Sep. 13 campaign promise to carry out […]
Rep. Pettersen Forced to Vote In Person Just Weeks After Giving Birth
On Feb. 25, Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-C.O.) flew cross-country from Colorado to Washington, D.C., with her four-week-old infant, to vote against the House spending plan. At the beginning of her statement on the House floor, Rep. Pettersen said, “I wasn’t going to let [being denied the opportunity to vote virtually] stop me from being here […]
Harsh Abortion Restrictions Have Deadly Repercussions in Texas
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, abortion restrictions have spread across the country with devastating consequences. Nowhere is this crisis more apparent than in Texas, where one of the nation’s most extreme abortion bans has turned pregnancy into a life-threatening condition for many. New data from ProPublica […]
Five Reasons for Hope: Activism and Resistance in 2025
Since the presidential election on November 6, 2024, many have felt uncertainty and concern about the policy changes implemented by the new administration. Issues such as immigration, reproductive rights, and gender equality have faced new challenges, making it easy to feel overwhelmed. However, staying engaged and motivated is essential for advocating for a better future. […]
Trump’s National Park Agenda: Firing Rangers and Fast-Tracking Oil Drilling
Trump’s administration is ramping up efforts to open national parks and public lands to oil and gas drilling while simultaneously firing probationary park rangers. In recent weeks, the National Park Service (NPS) has dismissed employees still within their probationary period, a decision that some see as part of a broader restructuring designed to weaken internal […]
Allies Feeling “Betrayed” and “Disappointed” by the Closure of the Afghan Resettlement Program
The order the State Department has received to close the Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) by April 2025 has left many Afghans and military veterans shocked and upset at this decision. The program has not officially closed yet, but all signs point to its permanent shutdown. The decision to close CARE means […]
Michelle West Granted Clemency After 31 Years in Prison
Michelle West is finally free after serving 31 years of an unjust double life sentence plus 50 years for a nonviolent drug conspiracy charge. Her clemency is a hard-won victory, led by The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls, and a testament to the power of relentless advocacy and collective action. […]
U.S. Catholic Bishops Sue Trump Administration Over Refugee Resettlement Funding Freeze
U.S. Catholic bishops have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its sudden halt to refugee resettlement. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has long provided care for thousands of refugees assigned to them after being granted legal status. In the lawsuit, they claim they have been wrongfully targeted as part of Trump’s […]
Plan to Shut Down Afghan Resettlement Office Leaves Thousands of Afghan Allies in Limbo
The U.S. State Department has ordered the Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) to prepare for closure by April 2025, a decision that has raised significant concern among advocates and Afghans awaiting resettlement. The decision affects some 200,000 individuals, including family members of Afghan-American U.S. military personnel, minors awaiting reunification with their […]
Russel Vought, Project 2025 Co-Author, Confirmed as Federal Budget Chief
On February 6, the Senate confirmed Russell Vought as the director of the Office of Management and Budget. Vought’s nomination was heavily contested, primarily due to his history as the co-author of Project 2025, an extreme conservative agenda listing Trump’s priorities for his second term. Project 2025, created by the Heritage Foundation, a prominent right-wing […]
RFK Jr.’s Confirmation as HHS Secretary: A Dangerous Setback for Public Health
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been confirmed as the next Secretary of Health and Human Services, a move that has alarmed public health experts, medical professionals, and advocates for evidence-based policy. With a 52-48 vote, Kennedy, who has a long history of promoting vaccine skepticism and conspiracy theories, will now oversee the nation’s largest public […]
