Three to Get Ready for March 16, 2026

Bad News First

The news can be overwhelming, but it can also be enraging. Let’s take a look anyway.

1. An analysis by the group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) finds that, since 2023, White House cabinet members have directed $30 million to the president in the form of political contributions, property visits, stock holdings, and donations. (P.S. Jared Kushner is trying to raise $5 billion for his private equity firm while working as an envoy in the Middle East.)
2. FCC chair Brendan Carr threatened to revoke broadcast licenses from stations that run coverage critical of the war with Iran (a move so unconstitutional that a Republican senator criticized it.)
3. Six American crew members on a refueling jet supporting operations in Iran have died. Meanwhile, the president’s political action committee sent a fundraising email featuring an image of the president saluting the casket of a fallen soldier.

But Here’s the Good News

Encouraging developments don’t always make the headlines. But good things are happening. All is not lost!

1. In a scathing order, a federal judge quashed subpoenas directed at Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, finding that the purpose of the subpoenas was to pressure Powell to resign, not to investigate a crime. This is not normal!
2. A federal appeals court upheld a lower court’s stay on the administration’s attempt to remove temporary protected status for Haitians living in the U.S., while a federal district court has paused the termination of temporary protected status for Somali immigrants.
3. A record number of Republican incumbents (35!) are leaving the House of Representatives in the next election cycle.

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 is always better than doing nothing, right?

1. Protect your vote against shenanigans by checking on your registration status. Vote 411 can help.
2. Support transparency and ethics in government by making a donation to CREW.
3. Attend a Red, Wine & Blue webinar on women changemakers, identifying misinformation, and talking about politics, all on the schedule this month.