TAKE ACTION: Stop the U.S. Bombing Campaign in Yemen

The United States recently launched airstrikes into Houthi-held territory in Yemen, killing at least 5 people and wounding at least 6. And the Houthis have vowed a “fierce retaliation.” While the ongoing Houthi disruption of commercial shipping in the Red Sea is concerning, this is precisely a situation that demands congressional deliberation, as escalating attacks on Houthi targets in Yemen could fuel this regional conflict even further. Demand Progress invites us to sign a petition to President Biden to resist a wider war in the Middle East. TAKE ACTION

How Gaza’s Hospitals Became Battlegrounds

Relentless bombardment, power outages, and shortages have pushed nearly every hospital in the beleaguered northern Gaza Strip out of service, with evidence of repeated attacks on and in the vicinity of medical facilities despite the presence of doctors, patients, and civilians inside. At least 20 out of 22 hospitals in northern Gaza were damaged or destroyed in the first two months of Israel's war against Hamas. MORE

Why Israeli Army Refusers Are Crucial to Ending the Cycle of Violence

Since the war in Gaza began in October, the world has been witness to horrific imagery in the news on a daily basis — with the Israeli Defense Forces, or IDF, increasingly facing accusations of war crimes. Within Israel, criticism has been muted, as most media there is defending the IDF’s actions. Recently, 18-year-old Tal Mitnick became the first person jailed for refusing to serve in the IDF since the start of the war. Such refusal is not new in Israel — with thousands joining the movement of conscientious objectors over the last couple of decades. MORE

Congress Endorses New Nuclear Weapon

Congress authorized $260 million for a new nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile (SLCM) for fiscal year 2024, despite the Biden administration’s clear desire not to pursue the weapon’s development. The administration did not request any funding for the nuclear SLCM because it assessed that the weapon has only “marginal utility.” But for the second consecutive year, Congress overrode the Pentagon’s decision due to a majority of lawmakers viewing the SLCM as critical in the current nuclear environment. MORE

What You Can Do to Turn Back the Hands of the Doomsday Clock

Every January in recent decades, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has set the hands of the Doomsday Clock—a graphic illustration of how close the planet is to the civilization-ending disaster symbolized by midnight. The announcement gives rise to the question: “But what can I do to turn back the hands of the Clock?” Consequently, this issue of the Bulletin’s magazine—published just before this year’s Doomsday Clock announcement—is devoted to providing at least some answers to that question. MORE

How to Manage the Border Without Sacrificing Human Rights

Congress and the Biden administration are currently considering restrictive immigration policies in an effort to significantly reduce, if not eliminate, the number of migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border seeking protection and safe haven. Those who are fleeing violence at home do not always consider what faces them at the end of the journey. The Center for Migration Studies of New York explores humane alternatives that would prove more effective over the long term. MORE

New Report Documents the Mental and Physical Harm Experienced by Children in Immigration Detention

Nearly 88% of children placed in immigration detention stay there for over 20 days. An alarming new report reveals the harm of this prolonged detention on children’s mental and physical health, in part due to limited access to healthcare. Regardless of immigration status, children deserve fundamental protections and the right to a safe, caring environment. MORE

Can the U.S. Handle More Immigration? History and the Census Suggest the Answer Is Yes.

In 1910, the size of the foreign-born population as a percentage of the total reached 14.7% – a historical peak that was followed by a nativist frenzy and sharp restrictions on immigration. The U.S. is nearing that high water mark again. But if it weren't for immigration, the population of the United States would be shrinking because of low birth rates and rising deaths due to an aging population. Population growth rates in the 2020s are the lowest of any decade in the history of the U.S., which experts say is bad for the economy. MORE

TAKE ACTION: Stop This Proposed Methane Gas Export Project

A massive liquified “natural” gas (LNG) export facility could soon get the green light to be built on the Gulf Coast of Louisiana. If approved, the Calcasieu Pass 2 (CP2) facility could pollute up to 20 times the annual carbon emissions of the Willow drilling project in Alaska — equivalent to emissions from more than 42 million gas-powered cars or more than 50 coal-fired power plants. EarthJustice invites us to tell the federal government to put people over polluters and reject the CP2 project. TAKE ACTION

Researchers Develop Biodegradable Film to Aid a Plastic-Free Future

North Carolina State University researchers have developed biodegradable materials that could aid efforts to reduce plastic film, like the ones used in grocery bags. The material looks like plastic, but it's made using large molecules called biopolymers from natural materials. One polymer is called agarose, which comes from seaweed, and the other is called chitosan, which makes crab shells hard. The resulting film is strong and could help replace petroleum-based plastics used in items like food packaging. MORE

A Minnesota Utility Is Swapping Coal for Solar. It’s Like Taking 780,000 Cars Off the Road

One of the largest coal plants in the country will soon be replaced by the nation’s biggest solar farm. On New Year’s Eve, the largest coal-fired power plant in Minnesota shut down the first of three power-generating units to be replaced with a 710-megawatt solar farm. Retiring just one of the plant’s generation units will prevent about 3.6 million metric tons of carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere each year. That’s equivalent to removing more than 780,000 cars off the road, according to EPA calculations. MORE

The Hidden Links Between Human Trafficking and the Insurance Sector

The insurance industry faces an unexpected and unwilling role in human trafficking operations, with a 42% surge in suspicious activity reports filed by financial institutions between 2021 and 2022. The diversity of the insurance industry and the many types of policies that often involve large sums of money and sudden transactions can make it harder for law enforcement to spot unusual activity related to human trafficking. MORE

Human Trafficking Prevention Needs a Public Health Approach

Healthcare professionals (HCPs) play a critical role in responding to the injuries and intersectional trauma experienced by human trafficking and exploitation. Because frontline HCPs may be the only public servants to meet trafficked individuals while they are trafficked, healthcare systems have a responsibility AND an opportunity to promote and protect the health and safety of survivors. MORE

U.S. Agency Seeks Car Location Tracking Details Over Domestic Abuse Concerns

Many modern cars are internet-connected and have apps that allow an owner to see a car’s location, turn it on remotely, honk its horn, and even adjust the temperature. These apps for car control and tracking are designed for convenience, but they have also been weaponized in abusive relationships, allowing for unwanted stalking and harassment. As a result, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission is calling on large automakers about their policies involving internet-connected car technology and domestic abuse. MORE

For Domestic Violence Survivors, Calling for Help Can Be Deadly. Or Cost Them Their Home.

Several states have “crime-free” ordinances, which can discourage domestic violence victims from calling emergency services. Once a person calls the police a certain number of times, they may be considered a nuisance and vulnerable to eviction, even if they are a domestic violence victim. This means that in a crisis, a domestic violence victim is caught in a cruel quandary of needing emergency assistance but weighing whether their safety matters more than their housing. MORE

TAKE ACTION: Urge Congress to Prioritize Addressing Hunger and Climate Change

Hunger and climate change are pushing millions of people into poverty. Global hunger is increasing at an alarming rate as families struggle to meet their food needs due to conflict, climate change, and rising costs. Extreme weather is undermining livelihoods and devastating homes and communities, leading to increased hunger, displacement, and conflict. Catholic Relief Services urges us to tell Congress to address the impacts of hunger and climate change on vulnerable communities around the world.  TAKE ACTION

Congress Announces Major Tax Deal to Expand Child Tax Credit and Revive Breaks for Businesses

Senior lawmakers in Congress announced a bipartisan deal this week to expand the child tax credit and provide a series of tax breaks for businesses. The $78 billion tax agreement caps months of negotiating and pursuing common ground in the divided Congress.  The deal would enhance refundable child tax credits in an attempt to provide relief to families that are struggling financially and those with multiple children. It would also lift the tax credit's $1,600 refundable cap and adjust it for inflation. MORE

Iowa School Resources at Risk with Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Plan to Change AEA Funding

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds last week outlined a plan to reform funding for programs for students with disabilities. Currently, Area Education Agencies (AEAs) provide specialized support as outlined in students with disabilities’ Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) such as speech pathology or physical therapy.   The governor’s plan would eliminate media support, crisis response, and critical mental health support services and funding.  AEA administrators say if this legislation is passed, all of the support AEAs currently provide will be terminated. MORE

Kenneth Smith is scheduled to be executed on January 25 by the state of Alabama for the murder of Elizabeth Sennett. Please hold Kenneth, Elizabeth, their families, and the people of Alabama in prayer. TAKE ACTION

Ivan Cantu is scheduled to be executed on February 28 by the state of Texas for the murders of James Mosqueda and Amy Kitchen. Please hold Ivan, James, Amy, their families, and the people of Texas in prayer. TAKE ACTION