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Three to Get Ready for
February 23, 2026

Three things you should know about the U.S. government.
Three reasons to believe things can get better.
Three things you can do to help.
Three times a week.
Let’s go!
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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. In the wake of a ProPublica report on the conditions under which children are being detained at the immigrant family detention center in Dilley Texas, troubling accounts continue to emerge from Dilley and other shelters.

  2. An executive order granted limited immunity for companies making the herbicide glyphosate and EPA weakened limits on mercury and other toxic emissions from coal-fired power plants.

  3. Senior warrant officers in the U.S. Army must bid against one another in an auction for retention bonuses. Officers who seek higher bonuses will receive none at all. Hmm.

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 judge in West Virginia has ruled that immigration arrests by unidentified masked officials in unmarked cars without a warrant or stated legal justification are unreasonable seizures, violating the U.S. Constitution. “It is an assault on the constitutional order. It is what the Fourth Amendment was written to prevent. It is what the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment forbids.” 

  2. Cases against ICE protestors for impeding Homeland Security operations are falling apart because officers’ accounts lack credibility. (Note also the bad news of a previously unreported 2025 death of a U.S. citizen at the hands of Homeland Security, which the Department of Homeland Security characterizes as resulting from “defensive shots” after the victim “intentionally ran over” an agent. Sound familiar?)

  3. Pope Leo declined the president’s invitation to join the “Board of Peace,” as well as the vice president’s invitation to celebrate America’s July 4 celebrations, choosing to spend the day with migrants instead. Bonus rock star good news: Bruce is undertaking a tour “in celebration and in defense of America” and U2 released a new six-song album inspired by people fighting for freedom, including a song dedicated to Renee Good.

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. Join Stand Up for Science to send letters to your federal representatives to halt the destruction of materials in the Goddard Space Flight Center Library.

  2. Why not send some postcards to women or rural voters in Virginia?

  3. Activate America is organizing phone banking and postcards to impact key races. Take a look!

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Past Issues

At least February is a short month? And there's still time for you to do a little something to save the world.
The state of the union is ... not great. But we're seeing some wins and can do some good ourselves!
We can't all be pontiffs or rock stars, but we can all do something. Can you do a good deed for democracy before the month is out?
Some supremely good news today, so let's not let the scary and confusing stuff stop us from doing our part. TGIF!
Welcome to the upside-down, where Republicans seem unconcerned with the deficit, a U.S. cabinet secretary takes off his shirt to drink milk with Kid Rock, and Team USA has become the voice of reason.
A win for historical truth at the President's House on President's Day. Yes!

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