Truth and Action Roundup 10.24.25

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, the University of Virginia settled with the Trump administration to end an investigation begun by the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, which was launched on a clear pretext. This comes shortly after the deadline given to nine universities to accept an offer called the “Compact for Excellence in Higher Education,” in exchange for additional funding, which most declined openly. These efforts to impose top-down control over who attends or teaches at elite universities and to monitor their speech and actions are a key part of the attempt to shape civic society and culture into their preferred form.   Academia, journalism, and religion are essential pillars in society. The Trump administration’s actions clearly seek to shift all three from their original purposes toward promoting a specific type of white Christian nationalism. While Trump’s use of the National Guard aims to signal an escalation of military presence in our communities, and the deployment of ICE is meant to define who belongs through intimidation and state violence, using the DOJ to target universities is an effort to control what we can write, debate, and think. This must also be recognized as a potentially harmful attack on the church. One of the most crucial roles of seminaries is preparing individuals to serve in diverse communities. Currently, seminarians are exposed to various theological perspectives during their education. Policies from the Trump administration threaten the honest pursuit of truth and religious freedom. These fundamental pillars of society are all interconnected. We must remain vigilant against threats to our rights and freedoms, always ready to speak out in defense of our unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, which include our right to worship freely. - Rev. Moya Harris and Chad Stanton, Sojourners In the News The Trump Administration and its supporters continue their onslaught on civic life: A text conversation was leaked, exposing bigoted messages sent by Paul Ingrassia, a Trump nominee chosen to lead the Office of the Special Counsel. These messages, sent in a group chat with other Republicans, included claims that Martin Luther King Jr. Day should be “tossed into the seventh circle of hell,” and an admission that he had “a Nazi streak.” The revelation has led to a loss of support from some Republican Senators for his nomination. Demolition of the East Wing of the White House has begun, and it is estimated that Trump’s desire to build a ballroom in its place will cost $300 million, $100 million more than initially expected. The legality of this move to destroy a historical landmark is still in question. The Justice Department continues its attacks on higher education by weaponizing federal funding, as investigations into universities continue nationwide. This week, the University of Virginia announced that it would cooperate in ending practices that Trump has deemed discriminatory within admissions, staff hiring, and financial aid. Ongoing genocides and fragile cease-fires continue in Gaza and Sudan: On October 10, the U.S.-brokered cease-fire between Hamas and Israel took effect. The fragile ceasefire led to the release of prisoners and hostages with the hope of an end to the two-year war. Nearly 330 Palestinians have been killed or wounded by Israel in military operations since the beginning of the ceasefire. Israel continues its conflict with Lebanon with recent Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, killing one person, injuring seven, and cutting highway infrastructure into Beirut. In Sudan, the ongoing genocide has killed over 40,000 people and displaced 12 million. The World Food Programme estimates that 24.6 million people suffer from acute hunger due to the conflict, making it the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. U.S. courts issue major rulings on the National Guard, the U.S. government continues its assault on due process, and local agencies use confidential informants against protesters. The 9th Circuit Court overturned a temporary restraining order on the National Guard’s deployment in Portland, and the Portland Police Department has stated that they have used confidential informants in protests in Portland to build criminal cases against protesters. A U.S. District Court judge has extended an order blocking the deployment of troops to Chicago while awaiting the Supreme Court's ruling. More than 170 American citizens, including 20 children, have been detained by ICE since January; many have been held without due process. The state of Florida deleted records regarding the detainment of 21 U.S. citizens arrested by ICE. A protest erupted in New York after ICE arrested 14 people in a raid on Canal Street. Meanwhile, local Idaho agencies scrambled to support families after 200 ICE members raided an event in Wilder, Idaho–detaining 105 people, zip-tying children, and separating families. Take Action Join us on October 27 for two webinars. "La Iglesia Que Acompaña al Migrante" will be held at 3:00 PM, and a “Live Conversation on Justice and Incarceration” with Dr. Harold Dean Trulear will be held at 7:00 PM. You can sign up to attend both here. Please join the SojoAction Faith and Practice Forum on Mighty Networks as we continue to build community and power. The National Day Labor Organizing Network is hosting a “Disappeared In America” action the weekend of November 1st. Here’s a toolkit with three action options. What We’re Reading “A Christian Plan to Help Billionaires” | “Accumulating obscene amounts of resources is bad for you. It is poisonous to your soul, your mind, and your relationships.” (By Tyler Huckabee) “As A Palestinian Pastor, I Can’t Call This Peace Plan Justice” | “Even as politicians congratulate themselves on achieving ‘peace,’ the machinery of occupation continues its cruel rhythm.” (By Munther Isaac) Deep Breaths  Now What? We just witnessed the largest non-violent protest in U.S. history. Millions united across the country. There were all kinds of signs—some humorous, others serious—showing the wide range of emotions we carry. The rush of dopamine from protesting is real. Standing shoulder to shoulder with thousands who share your convictions, you feel powerful. You feel hopeful. You think maybe, just maybe, the world could change after hearing our collective voices. But then comes the question: Now what? Did it matter? Was it enough? History reminds us that struggle is nothing new. This country was built on stolen land and the backs of stolen people. Freedom has always required more than marching — it demands sustained sacrifice. Difficult times still lie ahead. This administration’s cruelty knows no limits. The unnecessary shutdown of the federal government causes even more harm to everything else. For some of us, the news is exhausting—we have the privilege of turning it off. Others don’t have that luxury. Every day feels like an existential crisis: “Will I get arrested by ICE today?” “Can I afford groceries this week?” “When will this shutdown end so I can pay my mortgage?” The prolonged government closure isn’t just about parks and museums. It’s about people working without pay. It's about 25 states preparing to cut SNAP benefits. It’s about children going to school hungry. It’s about air traffic controllers receiving food donations just to get by. And all the while, the White House East Wing is being renovated. For those of us with privilege, it's easy to intellectualize suffering—keeping it at an arm’s length. But genuine change requires real sacrifice. Beyond protests, the sacrifice of non-violent non-cooperation will be essential. It’s another tool similar to the spiritual discipline of fasting. Some may not have the option to sacrifice, but we do. So let us train now. Let us decide what we can do without today so we can be stronger tomorrow. May our protests have purpose. May our solidarity turn into lasting action. Because when things get tough, we’ll need more than signs—we’ll need endurance. Rev. Moya Harris, Senior Director of Programs, 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