Resist & Rising Together Weekly: Good News and Progress from the Resistance
Wins for Democracy
Judge blocks Trump’s new mail-voting restrictions through the midterms — A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction stopping the Postal Service from enforcing sweeping new requirements on states sending mail ballots for the November election, finding the rule unconstitutional and unsupported by federal law. This is a huge win for democracy because millions of Americans should not have their ability to vote put at risk by last-minute federal rules that states cannot realistically implement before Election Day. Democracy Docket
Supreme Court refuses to force Michigan proof-of-citizenship measure onto the ballot — The U.S. Supreme Court rejected an attempt to force a proposed constitutional amendment requiring additional proof of citizenship onto Michigan’s November ballot after supporters failed to meet the state’s signature-validation requirements. This is a win for voting rights because powerful groups should have to follow the same ballot-access rules as everyone else, and eligible voters should not face unnecessary new barriers based on unsupported claims about noncitizen voting. Democracy Docket
Missouri Supreme Court throws out Republican-drawn congressional map — Missouri’s highest court unanimously ruled that the state cannot use a newly drawn congressional map this fall and cleared the way for voters to decide the map’s future through a referendum. This is a win for democracy because politicians should not be able to redraw political power for themselves while shutting voters out of the process. The Washington Post
Reproductive Freedom for All
Lawsuit seeking to revoke access to mifepristone is put on hold — A federal judge paused a lawsuit brought by Texas and Florida seeking to revoke federal approval of mifepristone until at least December 1 or completion of an ongoing federal review. This is a win, even if temporary, because medication abortion remains available while yet another attempt to dramatically restrict access works its way through the courts. The Boston Pilot / OSV News
Wins for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
Federal court dismisses Trump DOJ lawsuit challenging New Jersey’s limits on ICE activity — A federal court dismissed the Trump administration’s lawsuit seeking to overturn New Jersey restrictions on federal immigration officers’ use of nonpublic state property and resources for civil immigration enforcement. This is a win for immigrant communities because states can set lawful limits on how their own property and resources are used, and the court rejected the federal government’s claim that New Jersey’s policy unlawfully discriminated against federal authorities. Gothamist
Judge blocks Trump’s newest attempt to restrict birthright citizenship — A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction against Trump’s latest executive order seeking to deny citizenship to additional children born in the United States, saying the Supreme Court had already established that children covered by the lawsuit are citizens at birth. This is a major win for immigrant families and the 14th Amendment because constitutional citizenship cannot simply be rewritten by presidential decree. Reuters
Wins for Protecting Our Planet
Appeals court keeps lifesaving protections in place for endangered sea turtles — A unanimous federal appeals court upheld requirements that certain shrimp trawlers use turtle-excluder devices that allow captured sea turtles to escape fishing nets. This is a win for our oceans because the protections are expected to save hundreds of endangered and threatened sea turtles every year while proving that commonsense safeguards can allow wildlife and fisheries to coexist. Center for Biological Diversity
America added 17.1 gigawatts of clean power in just three months — Solar, wind, and battery-storage projects added 17.1 gigawatts of new U.S. capacity during the second quarter of 2026, including the strongest second quarter ever for land-based wind, while the clean-power development pipeline reached a record 205 gigawatts. This is a win for our planet because despite political roadblocks, America’s transition toward renewable energy and storage continues to move forward at enormous scale. Windtech International
Wins for Labor Rights
Baltimore community-college faculty win their first union contract — Faculty members at Baltimore City Community College ratified their first-ever collective bargaining agreement after more than 19 months of organizing and negotiations, with reported gains including salary increases, improved promotion pathways, and stronger job security. This is a win for labor rights because collective bargaining gives educators a real voice over the conditions under which they teach and work. AFL-CIO
💥Your Power in Action: What You Can Do Today
The movement for freedom over fascism, progress, and power to the people starts here.
🕊️ Take Action» Tell Congress to stop Pentagon funding for Trump’s unauthorized war with Iran
🚨 Take Action» Tell Congress to stop Trump and Hegseth from depleting our weapons and leaving troops exposed
🪖 Take Action» Demand accountability for Pete Hegseth
⚖️ Take Action» Tell Congress to impeach and convict Trump for launching an illegal war with Iran
🎭 Take Action» Keep Trump’s name off the Kennedy Center
📢 TAKE ACTION» Tell your attorney general to investigate local law enforcement’s abuse of Flock surveillance cameras
Go Further
Volunteer to Help Protect Democracy
Support efforts to elect leaders who believe in safe, secure elections and who are committed to protecting democracy.Support Organizations Doing the Work
These groups are helping defend rights, freedoms, and democracy in communities across the country:
Why the Grassroots Resistance Can’t Wait
People Power United members believe change is possible because we have seen ordinary people rise, organize, and be a force for progress. Real change does not come from waiting politely, staying quiet, or hoping those in power suddenly grow a conscience. It comes when people speak out, show up, and demand action—because our communities and families cannot wait, and every moment we delay gives injustice more room to tighten its grip on our communities.
Thanks for taking action!
For years, we’ve used this GIF to say thank you for taking action and will continue to do so. Dolly reminded us what it looks like to lead with kindness, generosity, courage, and love. She used both her voice and her actions to make the world a little better for the people around her. May we honor that example by opening our hearts, showing up for one another, and choosing every day to leave this world better than we found it.
🗽 America at 250: Liberty, Justice, and Building Power to the People
People power does not build itself. It grows when people choose to stand together.
Every person who joins, stays connected, shares this work, and helps carry it forward makes this movement stronger. This belongs to all of us.
Whether you subscribe for free, become a paid supporter, or gift a subscription to someone else, you help People Power United keep informing people, organizing action, speaking truth to power, and holding those in power accountable to the people they serve.
Stay connected. Bring someone with you. Help us grow this people-powered movement.
At 250, America’s promise is still ours to defend, strengthen, and fulfill. Power to the people.
Power to the People
Today, we celebrate something powerful: ordinary people refusing to give up on one another.
Across America, neighbors are organizing, workers are standing together, communities are defending their rights, and everyday people are proving that courage spreads.
Every week, Resist & Rising Together Weekly by People Power United shares what people power looks like in action: voters protected, workers winning dignity, communities defending clean air and water, immigrant families finding solidarity, reproductive freedom being protected, and ordinary people turning outrage into action.
Those who rule through fear want us isolated, exhausted, and convinced nothing we do matters. But people are proving otherwise.
We are organizing. Showing up. Protecting our neighbors. Defending democracy. Building something stronger than fear.
America belongs to the people. Not kings. Not billionaires. Not extremists. Not authoritarians.
Resistance is not only what we stand against. It is what we stand for: democracy, dignity, justice, freedom, and a future worth building together.
This is how we rise. Together.
Together, we can defend our rights, protect our freedoms, uphold the rule of law, strengthen democracy, and hold those in power accountable to the people they serve. We can inform, organize, inspire, and help more people recognize the power they have to shape what comes next.
People Power United stands for freedom over fascism, progress over fear, and power to the people. We believe change is possible because people make it possible.
Join us. Stay connected. Take action. Build people power.
Laurie Woodward Garcia
(paid with hugs and kisses, not bought by special interests)
Leader, People Power United
🗽 America at 250: Liberty, Justice, and Building Power to the People
This moment belongs to all of us, and I’m asking you directly: stay connected, stand with us, and help carry this work forward.
People Power United has no corporate backers, no wealthy special interests, and no paid staff. We are powered by people. By readers who share our work, take action, contact lawmakers, invite others in, and refuse to look away when our rights, freedoms, and democracy are under threat.
Every form of support matters. Subscribe for free. Become a paid supporter. Gift a subscription. Share our work. Take action in your community. Each choice helps keep independent, people-powered news and action moving forward.
Because when people stay informed, connected, and organized, those in power have a much harder time ignoring us.
Power does not belong to kings, billionaires, or special interests. Power belongs to the people.