Truth and Action Roundup 9.19.25

View this email in your browser Welcome to the Truth and Action Roundup, your reliable weekly source of information, inspiration, and opportunities for action during the second Trump administration.  Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up here to continue receiving it. This week, we’ve seen an escalating and concerning use of lies and threats aimed at the Trump administration’s perceived enemies, with its allies, who have largely supported him, in lockstep. The most high-profile instance has been the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night television talk show. It's a chilling example of intimidation at work right now. The FCC chairman hinted at taking away station licenses, which was a key factor in ending the show. This shows how preemptive compliance is spreading through our civic institutions, including many churches. This follows the firing and suspension of professors, teachers, journalists, and other workers who have been seen as insufficiently mournful in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s murder.  While Kirk’s murder was a shocking act, which I’m sure is fueling part of this response, we also know the targets being named in the current threats from the Trump Administration and allies have long been the subject of such discourse. During a July 16 House Oversight Committee hearing, they accused faith-based organizations, which have long partnered with the federal government to help asylum seekers and migrants, of being “human traffickers” simply by existing and following their mission, which they have chosen as an outgrowth of their faith.  During this hearing, we heard many of the same lurid threats being shared again. We can recognize and must clearly state that this current effort is not only a continuation of the demonization that’s been aimed partly at Christians practicing their faith, but also a shameful opportunism in the wake of a tragedy. We must seize this moment to defend those who are under attack and insist that we will not allow our communities and churches to be undermined by falsehoods. We must also remain steadfast in our commitment to carrying out the work our faith demands, such as the mutual aid and protest actions we will continue to share and support, and refusing to bend in the face of empire.  — Rev. Moya Harris and Chad Stanton, Sojourners  In the News Here’s a look at what happened this week: 1) We continue to witness repression and crackdowns from the government and the broader society on several fronts: In the wake of last week’s assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, several prominent voices have lost jobs or suffered other personal and professional consequences for their comments about Kirk’s death. Trump has signaled his intention to use the assassination to investigate his political opponents on what he calls “the radical left.” The Trump administration faced a legal setback when an appeals court ruled that Lisa Cook can remain on the Federal Reserve Board for now, despite Trump’s attempt to fire her. Trump officials are pressuring federal prosecutors to bring charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James for mortgage fraud despite a lack of evidence found by investigators. James previously led prosecutions against Trump. 2) Trump’s immigration enforcement continues to violate human rights: A father who was shot and killed by ICE agents in Chicago had no criminal record, according to his attorney. The circumstances of the killing are disputed, with ICE and Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez's loved ones giving starkly differing accounts of what occurred. A federal judge expressed concern that a group of African nationals recently deported to Ghana may be rerouted by the government of Ghana to countries where they may face torture and imprisonment. A new lawsuit has accused DHS of using Ghana in this manner in the case of a bisexual man who feared torture if sent back to The Gambia, among other examples. 3) Israel has launched a new ground offensive into Gaza City despite new international condemnation of its actions in Gaza: Israel has cut communications to the city, where hundreds of thousands of people are estimated to remain. An independent U.N. commission released a report concluding that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Israel’s former military chief said that more than 10% of Gaza’s population has been killed or injured since the war began. 4) Two men were found dead, hanging in Mississippi within hours of each other, raising concerns of racial violence given the state’s legacy of lynching and racial terror. Autopsies are pending in both deaths. 5) There were significant developments in the ongoing controversies over child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and his connections to prominent people. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie is leading efforts “to force a floor vote to compel the Justice Department to release further materials in the Epstein case,” according to POLITICO. FBI Director Kash Patel claimed that there is no credible information that Epstein trafficked women to anyone other than himself, despite the fact that alleged Epstein victims have detailed allegations against at least 20 other men. Images of Trump and Epstein were projected onto Windsor Castle during Trump’s visit to the United Kingdom, leading to arrests. Take Action We’re partnering with the Harriet Tubman Women’s Shelter for their Community Kickback tomorrow, on September 20th. Please support their efforts here. Free DC is planning to have a Congressional lobby day on September 29th, where they’ll be urging lawmakers to vote against bills attacking home rule in the district. What We’re Reading “Palestinian Christians Have A Warning For The American Church” | One thing was clear at the inaugural Church at the Crossroads conference: The American Church has reached a crossroads in Gaza. (By Josiah R. Daniels) Deep Breaths  This current news cycle is wreaking havoc on my body, mind, and spirit. My body is letting me know that things are not okay. Muscle spasms in places I forgot I had are telling me to slow down and get a hold of myself. All of this is too damn much. It makes me, in the words of Marvin Gaye, wanna holler and throw up both of my hands. Now is a good time to center down to the simple but essential deep breath. One slow inhale—holding it at the top—and one slow exhale at a time. Returning to the breath, that signal that we are yet alive to see each other’s face. This time around, I am going to go a bit deeper. Beyond just breathing, there's the process of respiration: the exchange of gases–taking in oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide. Again and again, it keeps us alive. At a cellular level, oxygen helps break down the food we consume, releasing the energy our bodies need while removing the waste we don’t. Isn’t that what we also need spiritually? To breathe in the Spirit of God, gaining the power and clarity that the Holy provides. Then, to exhale the burdens that weigh us down—the toxins of despair and fear—the hindrances to our growth. There is too much in this world we cannot control, yet we let it take root in our minds and wear on our bodies. And there is so much we can do, but we often lack the energy because our breathing—both physical and spiritual—has been shallow. We try to do the work without the breath of God sustaining us. Beloved, we must return to the breath. We can't do this work while holding our breath and ignoring God’s Spirit. We need to engage in spiritual respiration—breathing in God’s power and breathing out what harms us—to strengthen ourselves for the work ahead. And we must breathe deeply, releasing what holds us back so we can move together toward life, justice, and flourishing. Breathe in… breathe out… I am inviting you on a sonic journey rooted in Black wisdom, Christian spirituality, and sacred sound. This was created to help us breathe, lament, ground, and rise again. There is no distinction between sacred and secular—only breath and spirit. Please join me. Playlist: Spiritual Respirations — Rev. Moya Harris, Senior Programs Director, Sojourners The Truth and Action Roundup is compiled by Sojourners staff: President: Rev. Adam Russell Taylor Senior Research Associate: J.K. Granberg-Michaelson Digital Content and Community Specialist: Kassandra Tapia Chief Program and Impact Officer: Bryan Epps Political Director: Chad V. Stanton Senior Program Director: Rev. Moya Harris Digital Education and Outreach Specialist: Cortnie Brooks Policy and Action Assistant: Trinity Williams Senior Director of Marketing: Sandra Sims Donate Subscribe Copyright © 2025 Sojourners. All rights reserved. Email: sojourners@sojo.net | Tel.: 202.328.8842