Three to Get Ready for January 19, 2026

Bad News First

The news can be overwhelming, but it can also inform, inspire, and focus our engagement. Let’s gird our loins and take a quick peek.

1. The president’s insistence that the United States should “own” Greenland has triggered an extraordinary meeting of European leaders and cheers from Russian pundits.
2. The Department of Justice has not yet complied with the December 19, 2025 statutory deadline to release records related to the Epstein investigation.
3. The Pentagon has ordered 1500 active duty U.S. soldiers to prepare for possible deployment to Minnesota.

But Here’s the Good News

Encouraging developments don’t always make the headlines, but good news can provide us with hope and momentum, so let's take heart!

1. A federal district court judge has ordered federal agents and officers in Minnesota to stop retaliating against lawful observers and dispersing peaceful protestors who are not forcibly obstructing agents.
2. One federal judge ordered the Department of Energy to restore nearly $28 million in environmental grants to states Donald Trump lost in the 2024 presidential election and another struck down an executive order halting wind farms on federal lands and waters.
3. A federal judge found that Trump administration officials engaged in an unconstitutional conspiracy by targeting international students who spoke out in support of Palestinians, in violation of the students’ First Amendment rights.

And Here’s What You Can Do

Even small efforts have the potential to ripple out in ways we don’t expect. Plus, doing good is good for you. Give it a try and see.

1. Take a look at these “45 Acts of Non-Compliance for Ordinary People” and see if one works for you.
2. Counteract recent efforts to erase Black history by spending some time on History.com.
3. Watch a ten-minute version of Timothy Snyder’s short book, On Tyranny, read by John Lithgow.