Truth and Action Roundup 10.31.25

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. Tomorrow, many people across the country will lose access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which could make it harder for them to get food. Food banks and churches are already overwhelmed by increased demand, and layoffs, along with the ongoing federal shutdown, are stretching people’s ability to care for themselves. As we take on a bigger role as a community in the absence of federal support, we must remember that SNAP and other federal programs were designed to offer more substantial help than what charitable aid can provide.  While we acknowledge we cannot fulfill all the needs of the hungry, we must loudly call for the return of mandated federal funding for SNAP, and we renew our commitment to feeding as many people as possible, using every resource available, as our faith requires. We have already seen a dangerous erosion of this commitment through the elimination of the agency responsible for distributing worldwide aid without Congress' approval. Since aid is now being used as a political weapon at home and statutorily required funding is being denied, the apathy toward the well-being of others must be overcome.  As we emphasize mutual aid and neighborly protection, we must continue to speak openly and honestly about what we are expected to do together as a nation through our government. Although it is easy to lose hope in institutions that have so far failed to address our struggles, we must remain strong in demanding they fulfill their responsibilities ensuring the safety and well-being of those they are meant to serve.  - Rev. Moya Harris and Chad Stanton, Sojourners In the News As the House remains out of session and the federal shutdown continues, we’ve observed the executive branch continue to act without any checks: While negotiations to reopen the federal government continue, the Trump Administration is still firing federal officials in regulatory and oversight roles. Affordable Care Act price increases are expected to be reflected in healthcare prices this weekend, while dental care in Alabama has become increasingly unavailable. In his third politically charged speech to military personnel, Trump threatened to send in “more than the National Guard” to cities across the country. This comes as killings in the Caribbean continue, with military leaders being forced to sign nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) for their involvement, and reports of killings in the Pacific emerge. This unchecked conduct continues to be reflected in the mass deportation efforts of the Trump administration: The Trump Administration plans to install new regional leadership from the Border Patrol to target people for deportation aggressively. As a result, a federal judge has ordered Gregory Bovino, the head of the Border Patrol, to submit daily reports on the Border Patrol's activities in Chicago. This follows incidents like these, where an elderly man had six ribs broken by Border Patrol agents in front of costumed children who were trick-or-treating. We’re also seeing ICE use tactics like jail sweeps in cities such as Austin, where they’re reportedly visiting jails twice a day to find people for detention and deportation. The Department of Homeland Security is also using racist rhetoric and imagery in its public-facing messaging in response to the reaction to mass deportation policies. The Trump Administration also ended the automatic renewal of work permits for people legally working in the United States. There have been differing responses from communities in Springfield, Ohio, that have been targeted for operations involving Haitians seeking safety after becoming an essential part of the community. In Los Angeles, we’re seeing people fight back by documenting officers and holding them accountable. We’re also continuing to see the concerning intersection of surveillance and intimidation in disturbing ways: ICE has purchased technology to track people’s license plates, their irises, and their social media activity, raising grave concerns about the privacy of the communities they’re targeting. They are scanning people’s faces and say their app is more reliable than documents like birth certificates. This comes as we’ve seen the abuse of tools like license plate readers by local police in Denver suburbs, who made false allegations using footage from Flock Safety cameras to craft a false narrative. Along with these disturbing patterns in surveillance, we’re also seeing local law enforcement disproportionately target Black people in their enforcement and failing to document their conduct. The consequences of such conduct are evident in the experiences of those targeted and in the ongoing erosion of rights at both the state and federal levels. Take Action The National Day Labor Organizing Network is hosting a “Disappeared In America” action this weekend, on November 1st. Here’s a map with actions happening near you. Here is a resource page for the people of Jamaica as they contend with the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. We’re continuing to provide opportunities to orient and act in the current moment on our events page. What We’re Reading “The Chicago Pastor Who Confronted ICE In A Viral Photo” | “I quoted Jesus. I said, “Repent and believe the good news, the kingdom of God is at hand.” I invited them to an altar call.” (By Josina Guess) “Hope Is Not Optimism; Hope Is Defiance” | “What if, in this moment, the thing that people need most is to be invited to hope?” (By Marion Sarkisian Ramón Pareja) Deep Breaths  Re-membering We are at the intersection of seasons, memories, and rituals—living echoes of those who have transitioned from this life. Though modern society often avoids or fears death, many cultures still hold sacred space for remembrance. This is the heart of re-membering: not just recalling the dead, but reassembling the spiritual, emotional, and cultural threads that keep them near. During this season of  Allhallowtide—All Hallows’ Eve, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day—and celebrations like Día de los Muertos, we find rituals that name death not as an end but as a transformation. In Día de los Muertos, families create ofrendas—altars filled with photos, candles, marigolds, food, and favorite items of the departed. It’s not mourning—it’s celebration. It says: They are still with us. Their stories, laughter, and love remain. In the Africana tradition, this re-membering is ancestral. Across the African continent and the diaspora—from pouring libation to calling names during Black funerals—honoring the ancestors is not just a ritual, it is a responsibility. In many West African cultures, the dead are believed to live among us, guiding and protecting. In African American traditions, especially through spirituals, storytelling, and homegoing services, we pass down memories as a legacy. This year, I am grieving the loss of my father. Nothing prepared me for this depth of pain. But in these traditions, I have found language for both grief and grace. Scripture says, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). So I ask: what if death is not disappearance, but transition? What if legacy is a form of eternal presence? This season, I choose to re-member my father with joy and reverence—through story, song, and sacred pause. Because love, like spirit, never dies. 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