They're really helping fund detention centers, huh? And other stories.

We're NOT Doomed: July 9, 2026

The midterms WILL happen.

I can’t believe I still have to say that, but I do.

So let me say it again.

There WILL be midterms.

And Democrats are working around the clock to make sure they are as fair and free as they possibly can be — given that Republicans are trying to make it harder and harder to vote every single day, and they weren’t exactly fair or free with the voter suppression and disenfranchisement already in place.

But your expertise is probably not in election law, and you’re probably not in the room when our incredible Dems, on elections task forces across various offices, are running their drills.

That’s okay. They have that part handled, we have different jobs.

And one of the most important one is becoming a poll worker.

Poll workers who care about fair and free elections are how we keep our democracy intact.

Trump and Republicans know this, which is why they keep attacking these civilian volunteers.

Poll workers are your neighbors, your colleagues, and hopefully you.

You can become a poll worker to help keep this election season safe and it is the absolute best way for a regular American, who isn’t a government official, to do so.

Poll workers are needed for early voting, on Election Day and for tabulation.

You get a small stipend, so it’s great for anyone who is out of work or working part time. And it is the most hands on way to protect democracy.

Most poll workers are older women, so the younger you are, the better. We need to show that democracy includes everyone. In Georgia and Idaho, you can become a poll worker at 16. And most states have youth programs.

But no matter where you are, if your state uses volunteers, you can be a poll worker as soon as you register to vote.

Signing up is really easy, just go to Power To The Polls.

Republicans are trying to recruit their own poll workers who don’t want to make elections fair or free, so we gotta take this seriously.

And if you can’t sign up, send this to someone who can.

We all keep talking about protecting democracy, but this is a tangible action many of us can take.

Remember, your voice is your superpower, and becoming a poll worker is absolutely using that voice.

South Carolina

Thu, June 11 - Trump cannot get rid of any grant he wants, as much as he’s gonna keep trying. He loses cases over and over again.

This one is about the environment.

Obama appointee, Judge Richard Gergel ruled that the EPA must restore the Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grant Program.

The grant was created as part of the Inflation Reduction Act and awards funding to community organizations and groups working to mitigate the climate crisis, and protect their community from its effects. You can see why Trump would hate that.

In his ruling, Judge Gergel said:

To reiterate, the President and federal agencies may not ignore statutory mandates or prohibitions merely because of policy disagreement with Congress.

Even though it feels like Biden’s legacy is being destroyed, it’s nice to see that, at least for now, this part isn’t.

As Southern Environmental Law Center said in their press release:

The ruling sends a clear message: no administration is above the law, and the White House’s political agenda cannot be used to deny communities the resources they were promised and sorely need.

And THAT gives me hope.

St Johns County, Florida

Mon, June 15 - Shepard Sclaf was just starting his first year of teaching in St Johns County School District when he was fired for being intersex.

The school had their hands tied and had to let him go based on a decision from the district, who never even told him why he was fired. He only learned after the fact that it was because a parent accused him of being trans. He was assigned female at birth, and it was on his employment papers but now identifies as male and the school had easily respected that. But the district didn’t care. One parent’s complaint was enough.

Now ACLU and ACLU Florida have filed a charges of discrimination against the school district to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission demanding he get his job back.

They said that the school’s “actions were deliberate and discriminatory based on its perception that Mr. Scalf is transgender” and is “a direct violation of his rights under Title VII”

Obviously, given that this is going to the US anything, I’m a bit skeptical Scalf and the ACLU will win, but I’m sure if they don’t, this will go straight to court.

And remember, half the battle is just making sure we keep fighting even when it doesn’t feel very likely we will succeed.

Every single time we choose fight should give you hope, regardless of the outcome.

Cleveland, Ohio

Thu, June 25 - “Not With Our Money” is a massive boycott around the country to withdraw all funds from Citizens Bank because they fund GEO Group and CoreCivic.

In early June, Jersey City, New Jersey became the first city to stop working with them.

In late June the Greater Cleveland Congregation, a group of 37 communities of worship around Cleveland, Ohio pledged to withdraw $1.3m from the bank.

In their press release, the group said:

Our message to Citizens Bank was clear: stop financing CoreCivic and GEO Group, the private companies running ICE detention centers across the country — including one holding 500 people right now in Youngstown. 

This is how change happens. When a bunch of groups are very loud and say no, change happens.

I have confidence Citizens Bank will soon realize that they cannot keep operating if they continue to finance ICE detention centers. If they do, they will just keep losing customers.

I hope to have an update saying as such soon!

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So those are today’s stories. I hope they brought you some inspiration.

If these made you wanna fight harder, comment 🏧 (ATM) cause hopefully, soon, no one will be using Citizens Bank’s.

Our voices are our superpower, but only when we use them!