š¢ Protect Democracy News ā January 11, 2026
š½ News & Actions ā January 11, 2026 . Our democracy is on the line. Stay informed and take action to hold leaders accountable.
š Power belongs to the peopleānot billionaires or corrupt politicians. Subscribe to Defend & Protect Democracy for free or go monthly to fuel grassroots, people-powered change.
Every action counts in the fight to protect our rights and freedoms. Today in Protect Democracy weāre featuring January 11, 2026 news and critical calls-to-action. Freedom is a daily act of advocacy and holding our leaders accountable to the will of the people.
Together, we can realize a democracy that represents, reflects, and responds to all of us.
š³ļø For years, the voices of everyday Americansāespecially in Black and Brown communitiesāhave been sidelined by billionaire influence, special interests, and coordinated voter suppression.
Now the threat is unmistakable. An extremist agenda is working to hollow out our democratic institutions, weaken the rule of law, and erase the rights that ensure every voice matters and every vote is counted.
This is not a moment for silence or delay. Itās time to stand upādefend our freedoms, protect the right to vote, and reclaim democracy for the people. Join us to hold leaders accountable, push back against authoritarianism, and mobilize voters to safeguard our shared future.
Protect Democracy - News Briefs
ā ICE and Border Patrol shootings spark hundreds of weekend vigils and protests
A fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis and a Border Patrol shooting in Portland have triggered a wave of nationwide demonstrations and vigils under the banner āICE Out For Good.ā More than 580 events were quickly organized to protest law enforcement violence amid broader immigration enforcement operations. Community groups emphasize communal mourning and demand accountability from federal authorities. Organizers and advocates argue the protests reflect growing public friction over hardline enforcement policies and deadly encounters. ā Axios
š©ŗ Senate GOP Urged to Extend Affordable Care Act Subsidies After House Vote
Following the House vote, advocacy groups and health experts are urging Senate Republicans to extend enhanced ACA subsidies. They warn that failure to act would cause millions to lose affordable coverage and destabilize insurance markets. āThe Senate must vote on it ASAP to lower costs for tens of millions of Americans,ā said Sen. Amy Klobuchar. The outcome could define access to care heading into the next election cycle. ā Truthout
š GOP could gain nearly 200 statehouse seats if SCOTUS guts Voting Rights Act
Projections suggest that if the Supreme Court severely weakens the Voting Rights Act, Republicans stand to win nearly 200 additional state legislative seats in upcoming elections. Analysts warn this shift could reshape political power and policy priorities at the state level. ā āWhat that is doing is providing a fatal blow to Black representation in the South,ā Fair Fight Action CEO Lauren Groh-Wargo.ā Voting rights advocates argue such a decision would diminish protections for historically marginalized voters. ā Truthout
š Republicans Who Backed Afghan Visas Are Mum as Trump Halts Them
What happens when political games put lives on the line? After the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, Republicans strongly pushed to expand special visas for Afghans who had assisted American forces, arguing the U.S. had a moral obligation to protect them. That stance shifted after an Afghan evacuee, who was not admitted through the special visa program, was charged with a deadly shooting of National Guard members in Washington, D.C. In response, President Trump called for a sweeping review of Afghan entrants and halted the Special Immigrant Visa program, effectively closing the last legal pathway for Afghans seeking entry to the United States. Advocates warn that delays leave former allies exposed to retaliation and violence. The standoff highlights deep divisions over immigration, responsibility, and Americaās obligations after withdrawal. ā The New York Times
šŗ Stop Defending Bari Weiss
Why does some misinformation get treated as brave truth-telling? Jonathan Chait in a piece for the Atlantic critiques how Bari Weiss was framed on 60 Minutes as a fearless independent voice while avoiding scrutiny of her ideological positioning. The piece argues that elite media platforms increasingly reward contrarianism over accountability. The result blurs the line between dissent and distortion. ā The Atlantic
šŖ Out of Spite, Trump Used Veto Power to Punish Florida Tribe That Opposed āAlligator Alcatrazā
House Republicans failed to override President Trumpās first two vetoes, including one blocking a pipeline to deliver safe drinking water to rural Colorado and another stopping the return of land to the Miccosukee Tribe in Florida. The Miccosukee land bill, which had bipartisan support, would have allowed environmental restoration and protection of ancestral land in the Everglades, but Trump vetoed it after citing the tribeās opposition to his immigration policies. Legal experts say vetoing legislation for reasons unrelated to its substance is highly unusual and signals political retaliation rather than policy disagreement. ā Mother Jones
āļø DNC warns states on Trump DOJ voter roll request
The Democratic National Committee has warned officials in 10 states to reject a Justice Department request for unredacted voter files, arguing the proposed agreement violates federal election law and threatens eligible voters. The DNC says the plan would give the federal government improper control over state-run elections and expose sensitive personal data, while a 45-day voter removal demand could lead to widespread errors and wrongful purges. Democrats say the effort fits a broader pattern of attempts by the Trump administration to restrict voter access and have pledged to fight back to protect votersā rights. ā Axios
š„ Urgent Calls to Action to Protect Democracy:
Click here to tell Congress: Pass the War Powers Resolution to Stop Trumpās Warmongering
Click here to Stand with Sen. Kelly Against Pete Hegsethās Attacks
Click here for Power to the People, Not the War Machine call to actions
Click here to Investigate Trumpās Christmas Day Bombing of Nigeria
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For nearly 250 years, democracy has been the lifeblood of this nationānot handed down by kings or bought by billionaires, but built and sustained by everyday people. It lives in our families and neighborhoods, in classrooms and clinics, on job sites and in voting lines. Itās the teacher guiding the next generation, the nurse caring for their community, the worker keeping society moving, and the voter who refuses to be silenced.
Power has always belonged to the people. Thatās why protecting democracy is not optionalāitās our shared responsibility. When we defend it, we defend one another, our freedoms, and the future we are shaping for generations yet to come.
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How do we fight Fascism?
Hope
Hope is a powerful weapon against fascism, serving as both a shield and a rallying cry in the face of fear and oppression. While fascism thrives on division, despair, and apathy, hope inspires unity, action, and resilience. Hope empowers us to envision a society built on equality, justice, and freedom, motivating us to take meaningful steps to protect these values.
Respect
Respect is a formidable weapon against fascism, countering its foundation of hatred and dehumanization with dignity and inclusivity. By leading with respect, we create a society where collaboration and compassion overpower fear and division, rendering fascism powerless in the face of unity.
Unity
Unity is one of the most powerful weapons against fascism, as it dismantles the divide-and-conquer tactics that authoritarian regimes rely on to maintain power.
š½The strength of a nation is not its ability to fight wars, but rather by its ability to prevent them. - Gene Roddenberry
Together, we can protect and empower those we love, champion our rights, freedoms, and democracy, hold our leaders accountable to the peopleās will, and inspire voters to make a meaningful difference.
Laurie Woodward Garcia (paid with hugs and kisses, not bought by special interests), People Power United
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