| Commentary Addressing the Perils of a Weakened Administrative State It is now true that our political system is quite broken in many unsettling ways. Getting to unbroken from our present condition is a complex matter. Paradoxically, to the actions of the current administration, we won’t get far without a competent, strong administrative state, i.e., Federal agencies. The seeds of our current discord are rooted in the earliest days of our democracy, beginning with the Decision of 1789, where Congress laid out a plan for the executive branch based upon Article II of the Constitution. This established the president as the chief of the executive branch while envisioning an administrative state to perform much of the functions of the government. From the time of the founding of the republic, there have been two contending philosophies of executive branch structure. Hamilton, who advocated for a centralized executive branch, versus the philosophy of Jefferson, who advocated for a decentralized system that pushed more of the power of decision making to local jurisdictions. Initially, Hamilton’s view predominated, but shortly, it transitioned to the Jeffersonian philosophy with the election of Andrew Jackson. From thereon, these two philosophies have continued to ebb and flow with reforms throughout the 19th, 20th, and into the 21st century. With the coming of Trump’s second administration’s revolution, it appears he brought about a shift to a kind of neo-Hamiltonian administrative state while ostensibly governing as a Jacksonian populist. In this vein, Trump is incorporating Hamiltonian Federalism, i.e., a limited executive branch, with aspects of a centralized system, pushing Hamiltonian principles to the extreme. This has brought in its wake chaos, further weakening the administrative state. Trump believes he has the power to be the boss over the entire executive branch, relying on ‘unitary theory’ to legitimize actions taken and not yet taken; cutting programs, dissolving agencies, subverting the laws of congress, hiring and firing public officials and employees at will, including employees who work for the regulatory and independent agencies, such as the Federal Reserve board, FCC, EPA, etc. Many constitutional scholars feel that unitary executive theory is not on solid ground. Testing the validity of the theory is an essential consideration still to be decided by the judiciary, likely the Supreme Court. Stay tuned. Now enter DOGE. [Continue Reading] |
| |
|
 | Ken Mitchell Kenneth Mitchell is a volunteer with the Democracy Action Team at UUSJ. He has been a professor of political science, teaching courses in public policy and public administration. He was also a management consultant to numerous federal agencies for projects on strategy and policy implementation. He is a member of First Unitarian in Baltimore, Maryland. |
| | |
|
| | | Moral Witness Wednesdays with Repairers
Hosted by Repairers of the Breach Wednesday, April 2, 2025
11:00 a.m. ET • 10:00 a.m. CT • 9:00 a.m. MT • 5:00 a.m. PT
U.S. Supreme Court Steps
RSVP with ROTB Join Rev. William J. Barber II, Repairers of the Breach (ROTB), at the United States Supreme Court to lift a prophetic voice against injustice, corruption, and oppression. To understand the stakes, see the recent High Moral Stakes Report. Through prayer and moral resistance, on Witness Wednesdays, we will declare that we will not be silent anymore. This April event launches: - Moral Witness Wednesdays – On the first Wednesday of every month in DC, April through September, coinciding with budget deliberations in Congress.
- Justice-Focused Weekends – On the first weekend of every month, when faith communities dedicate worship, teaching, and outreach to justice and liberation
- “One Moral Vision, 1000 Voices” initiative – Launching a monthly toolkit to support justice weekends and community engagement.
|
|
|
| Investigating and Tackling Labor and Employment Abuses in the Aftermath of a Raid
Hosted by the National Immigration Law Center Wednesday, April 2
2:00 p.m. ET • 1:00 p.m. CT • 12 noon MT • 11:00 a.m. PT
RSVP Zoom This session will focus on worker rights advocacy and litigation after a worksite immigration raid, including screening for labor violations, intake strategies, collaborating with state and federal labor agencies, and deciding when to litigate. Panelists will discuss their experiences utilizing strategies to support a powerful collaboration between workers, organizers, lawyers, and unions seeking justice for affected workers. Speakers: Julia Solórzano, Centro de los Derechos del Migrante; Sarai King, Service Employees International Union; Audrey Richardson, Greater Boston Legal Services; and, Spring Miller, Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition. |
|
|
| In support of the lawsuit, the UUA joined!
Sensitive Locations, Sacred Spaces Prayer Vigil
Hosted by the Center on Faith and Justice, Georgetown University Thursday, April 3
6:30 p.m. ET • 5:30 p.m. CT • 4:30 p.m. MT • 3:30 p.m. PT
National City Christian Church
5 Thomas Circle NW WDC 20005
RSVP to attend in-person or online -- invite others to join! Join an interfaith prayer vigil on the eve of the first hearing of the historic lawsuit the UUA joined against the Department of Homeland Security's rescission of the sensitive locations memo. Review the legal filing here. Together, we will gather in solidarity, lifting prayers for justice, compassion, and the protection of immigrant communities. All are welcome in this moment of faith and resolve. |
|
|
| Defend Democracy and Protect Freedom
Endorsed by UUSJ and many other non-governmental organizations Thursday, April 3
8:00 p.m. ET • 7:00 p.m. CT • 6:00 p.m. MT • 5:00 p.m. PT 2 hours of training RSVP for this session and those upcoming In this new, challenging environment it's our faith, our funds, our families, and our futures on the line. Learn how to mobilize effectively so we can Rise for Freedom. - Thu. April 3 • How did we get here? (Creeping autocracy.)
- Thu. April 10 • Building to a critical mass locally (outreach)
- Thu. April 17 • How to talk to people you disagree with
|
|
|
| Hands Off Mobilization, DC and Nationwide
Endorsed by UUSJ and many other non-governmental organizations Saturday, April 5
RSVP-DC and get UU meet-up details
Find a local event near you Everyone deserves good jobs, reliable services, and a fair economy—but Trump, Musk, and their billionaire buddies are destroying livelihoods, gutting public resources, and driving up costs just to pad their own pockets. Together, we have the power to stop the Oligarchic, Autocratic takeover. |
|
|
| Defend Trans Lives: A Webinar for People of Faith
Offered by the Transforming Hearts Collective Tuesday, April 8 8:30 p.m. ET • 7:30 p.m. CT • 6:30 p.m. MT • 5:30 p.m. PT RSVP Online This webinar, promoted by UUPLIFT, is geared toward pro-LGBTQ Christians (but is open to all people of faith) and is presented in partnership with Enfleshed and Soulforce. Before the webinar, registrants will receive essential background info from trans faith leaders and national trans advocates from the Transgender Law Center, the National LGBTQ Task Force, the Human Rights Campaign, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, and more. Learn more here. |
|
|
| Tax Justice Advocacy: DC Fly-In
Organized by Fair Share America April 9-10
RSVP & More information In a democracy, everyone should have the freedom and opportunity to thrive. That starts with tax justice. Join tax justice advocates and constituents from across the country in Washington, D.C., April 9th through 10th, to tell your members of Congress to oppose taking away what millions of working people need—health care, education, food assistance, child care, and so much more—in order to pay for more tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations. Momentum is growing all over the country as Trump, Musk, and congressional leadership try to ram through tax breaks for the rich—now it’s time we take this fight to the steps of the Capitol. Attend the Fair Share Rally to Say NO to Tax Breaks for Billionaires & Corporations, April 10th, noon at the Upper Senate Park, next to the U.S. Capitol Building. UUSJ is a participating organization in Fair Share America! |
|
|
| Anxiety & Aspiration: Refocusing America’s Tax Debate Research Briefing
Offered by EWDi and Wonder: Strategies for Good Thursday, April 10 12:30 p.m. ET • 11:30 a.m. CT • 10:30 a.m. MT • 9:30 a.m. PT RSVP Online Join this briefing about the high-level findings on the mindsets of persuadable audiences. Review some of the tested, most effective recommendations for narrative interventions for persuadable audiences, and more. This briefing summarizes a 10-month, in-depth qualitative research initiative to understand the mindsets of persuadable audiences on their views on billionaires and progressive tax policies. The research looks to identify common communication strategies that can move those audiences toward support. |
|
|
| UU Lunch With CASA
Hosted by Cedar Lane UU Congregation Saturday, April 12 12:00 noon ET ( 2 hour lunch program) Bethesda, Maryland RSVP in person event With more than 173,000 members across 46 states, CASA is an Immigrants rights organization that does everything from teaching English to filing litigation. As a member-led nonprofit, they blend human services, organizing, legal work, and advocacy to serve the needs and dreams of our communities. CASA has decades of experience successfully defending immigrant rights and they’re determined to use all the tools at their disposal to oppose new threats or abuses of power. Come hear more about CASA, what they fight for, and how you can help! |
|
|
| Earth Day Worship Celebration
UU Ministry for Earth Tuesday, April 22
8:00 p.m. ET • 7:00 p.m. CT • 6:00 p.m. MT • 5:00 p.m. PT
RSVP Online As Unitarian Universalists, we are positioned to be faith leaders at this critical time in our country’s history. But it can feel overwhelming. We risk acting quickly without listening to each other and the communities most impacted by climate disruption. This Earth Day, UU Ministry for Earth will help us deepen practices that put Love at the center of our climate justice work. Not to avoid acting, but to prepare us for action. We will hold the service online and can also provide written worship materials for your congregation or group. We ask for a donation for those materials. Register for the online service and/or the written materials here. |
|
|
| Democracy Leaders Event
Hosted by UUSJ’s Democracy Action Team Wednesday, April 23
7:30 p.m. ET • 6:30 p.m. CT • 5:30 p.m. MT • 4:30 p.m. PT
RSVP Online Beginning in April, this meeting series will be held every fourth Wednesday of each month, with few exceptions. |
|
|
|
|
| | | | | UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt Spoke We supported our UUA President, Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt, when she spoke as part of Faithful Witness Wednesday on March 26th. Review the recording by Sojourners. Join the next Faithful Witness Wednesday on April 9th, details forthcoming next week. |
|  |
|
| | IRS Direct File Calculate Your Eligibility Simply WorkMoney, a partner in the Free Tax Filing Coalition, in which UUSJ participates, shares a tax calculator tool that lets users answer four basic questions and then tells you if you may be eligible for three major tax credits (EITC, CTC, CDCTC) plus free/affordable ways to file in your state. If you live in one of the 25 Direct File states, they send you to the IRS website. Or, you can go straight to the Direct File portal HERE. |
| |
|
| Immigration Justice
Steve Eckstrand & Terry Grogan, Immigration Action Team Conveners (Immigration@uusj.org) |
| | The Local Potency of Anti-Immigrant Executive Activity Reports signal the administration is holding true to its pledge “FEMA is reviewing the funding to determine whether it helps migrants in violation of a Feb. 6 executive order by President Donald Trump to ‘stop funding NGOs that undermine the national interest.’ The review is part of Trump’s broader crackdown on immigration and other programs that focus on climate change or diversity,” says E&E News in Memos: FEMA blocked $10B in disaster aid. The City of San Antonio, Texas can confirm the practice, with reports that the executive branch is withholding reimbursement of FEMA funds used by the city for migrant resources. |
|
|
| ICE in Your Neighborhood They’re coming for immigrants first, “And the Trump administration is signaling that no one else might be safe, either,” says Philip Bump in his recent column for the Washington Post, offering his take on recent Trump lawless activities and MAGA reactions. Also, see Local law enforcement to notify ICE of migrants with administrative warrants, FOX SA Puro.
Afghans Left Adrift See recent coverage of how the Trump Administration’s policies are impacting Afghan allies: Hope for Ukrainian Guests The war in Ukraine has displaced millions of people in the Europe's biggest conflict since World War II. Since 2022, the United States has welcomed Ukrainians fleeing the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine through a lawful pathway called the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program. Ukrainians in the U.S. on parole now face an uncertain future as the Administration has paused new arrivals under U4U and is evaluating all parole programs, including U4U. Action: Urge your Senators to Co-Sponsor S.696, the Protecting our Guests During Hostilities in Ukraine Act with Global Refugee. |
|
|
| Heartbreak for Unaccompanied Children On March 21, the administration issued, with immediate effect, a near-total termination of the Unaccompanied Children Program, which provides legal representation to thousands of unaccompanied immigrant children, including infants. Take Action with Our IIC Allies, CWS! Email your senators and representative to urge them to protect innocent children. Let’s increase the pressure to ensure those kids are not sent back to the dangers they were fleeing.
News Clippings and Resources: |
|
|
|
|
| Defending Our Democracy
Fred Van Deusen, Democracy Action Team Convener (Democracy@uusj.org) |
| | Ready to Fight Back? Fighting Back: A Citizen’s Guide to Resistance: Ordinary people have more power than they know. TNR “Because Trump isn’t careful about whose interests he acts against, Resistance 2.0 has potential to evolve into a bipartisan movement.” To help fight back, review a list of current democracy Actions and Events, here.
Are You Part of the 3.5%? See The '3.5% rule': How a small minority can change the world, BBC which highlights the research of by Erica Chenoweth, a political scientist at Harvard University, and Maria Stephan, a researcher at the the International Center of Nonviolent Conflict (ICNC). Although the exact dynamics change according to the particular social and political circumstances, Erica and Maria have demonstrated a stong case that it takes only about 3.5% of a given population actively participating in protests to ensure serious political change. Jonathan Pinckney, Assistant Professor of Political Science in the School of Economic, Political, and Policy Sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas builds off this body of research and focuses on Democracies in Breaking Down Pillars of Support for Democratic Backsliding. |
|
|
| Chickens Come a Roosting In his Public Notice post, David R. Lurie opines, "John Roberts created a monster. It's about to eat him. The Supreme Court faces an existential dilemma of its own creation." He points to the idea that "the cost of the Supreme Court continuing to do Trump’s bidding may be to undermine the judicial power and authority that Republicans devoted so much effort to obtain." This post is worth a read. Get on Signal Now, for Privacy in an Era of Creeping Autocracy Surveillance Self-Defense, a resource offered through the Rise for Freedom training series gives the step by step basics for setting up and using Signal for the first time. If you’re already use Signal and are looking for ways to enhance your privacy see their Additional Security Settings section. |
|
|
| An Endorsement for Action UUSJ has been saying for a while that “action is the antidote to despair” and “fellowship is the cure for apathy.” I received an email on March 24 that I found relevant and inspiring! It started this way: Michael, As we face the growing threat of autocracy in our country, it's more crucial than ever that we come together to build a stronger, more united movement for freedom and democracy. Without going into headache-inducing detail, I am convinced that we need to combat despair and fear over the direction of our democracy by organizing and showing up. Here are two things you can do now. UUSJ is an endorsing partner, along with Public Citizen, League of Women Voters US, People for the American Way, and other nonprofit, nonpartisan organizations, of a series of training events for people who want to learn how to organize where they live. 400 people attended the orientation session. You can learn more by clicking Rise for Freedom Training Series. If you can show up, protests are planned in hundreds of locations throughout the country on Saturday, April 5. The “Hands Off!” movement is the product of a large coalition. You can find actions near you by clicking this link. I hope, like me, you found this message a good reminder about what we need to do to achieve a healthy democracy for most Americans. -– Michael Thoryn |
|
|
| SAVE Act Update We are winning the fight to raise awareness about the harm the SAVE Act would do. But we need to keep the pressure up. Take our updated action that now includes your Senators. Recently two things happen that signal our collective advocacy and public education is having an effect on legislators and the administration. - First, the SAVE Act was identified for return to the committee of jurisdiction for further mark-up. Probably to accept amendments, but certainly because vote counters were not fully confident of passage. Return to committee usually happens when a bill’s support is eroding.
- Second, almost simultaneously, the administration released a new Executive Order instituting many of the Act’s features and more. This “end run” around Congress and is viewed as evidence that the executive branch is worried it might not get all it wants to restrict access to the ballot box from Congress. See ACLU Responds to Trump’s Anti-Voter Executive Order.
The US voting system should be easy for citizens to participate in, but the SAVE Act will complicate and obstruct access. Most Americans see voting as a civic duty and a moral obligation. Any measure restricting access to this right goes against everything we cherish as Americans. And, because the SAVE Act’s requirements would disenfranchise millions of eligible voters, it goes against UU values. For more information see: |
|
|
|
|
| Environmental and Climate Justice
To connect with UUSJ about our activities (info@uusj.org) |
| | Lawsuit Goes Against Greenpeace in First Round In a case that has major implications for both business actors and civil-society activists, the jury has reached a verdict in Energy Transfer’s lawsuit against Greenpeace. The North Dakota jury found that Greenpeace entities are liable for their claims, resulting in over $660 million in damages. Greenpeace has vowed they “will not be silenced, and our movement will endure.” They plan to appeal and fight toward victory. (UUSJ could not find statements by Energy Transfer). Other Coverage: - Greenpeace Vows to Appeal After Losing in Oil-Pipeline Lawsuit, WSJ
- Greenpeace Lawsuit Pays Off, Maybe, Pipeline & Gas Journal
- Senator Cramer Statement on Greenpeace DAPL Trial Ruling, Senator Cramer (R-ND)
- Criminalizing Dissent: Greenpeace Ordered to Pay $667M to Dakota Access Pipeline Firm over Protests, Democracy Now
- How the Greenpeace defamation verdict could stifle public protest, E&E News
- Greenpeace must pay over $660M in case over Dakota Access protests, jury finds, AP
- Greenpeace Ordered to Pay $660m Over Oil Pipeline Protests, Sustainability Magazine
- Greenpeace must pay at least $660m over Dakota pipeline protests, says jury, Guardian
- Jury says Greenpeace owes hundreds of millions for Dakota pipeline protest, NPR
- What the Greenpeace Dakota Access Pipeline Fine Means For Activism, Time
|
|
|
| EPA now means “Every Polluter's Agency” The Trump administration is aiming to undo the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandate by challenging the EPA’s bedrock recognition that climate change is real, happening now, and a threat to Americans. The policy name is the endangerment finding; most of us know it’s just common sense. Calling it “the holy grail of the climate change religion” Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin are going after the heart of the United States’ action on climate change: carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare, and thus are pollutants to be regulated under the Clean Air Act of 1970. See Want a Clean Air Act exemption? Just email EPA, E&E News. Take action: Join our friends within the People Versus Fossil Fuels, Climate Hawks Vote, to say: Trump and Zeldin can't ignore the climate endangerment finding. |
|
|
| Environment and Climate Coverage - Trump is tackling every ‘emergency’ except the important one — climate change, The Hill
- 2024 was the hottest year on record, breaching a critical climate goal and capping 10 years of unprecedented heat, CNN
- A Chicago church won’t be planting fruit trees this spring as climate funds remain frozen, WBEZ Chicago
- How Religion Can Inspire Climate Action, The Herald
- World’s First Carbon Removal Plant Powered Directly by Wind Planned, Sci Am
- Electricity from renewable sources reached 47% in 2024, eurostat
- Thrifty shoppers are helping the planet, Bloomberg
- Switching from gas to electric? Here are 3 appliances that are easy to install, NPR
- Humpty Dumpty Has Fallen Off The Wal,l Good Faith Media
- Study says climate change will even make Earth's orbit a mess, Independent
- Faith in Place: Joins lawsuit against the Trump Administration for freezing IRA grant funds, WIS Politics
- 52 Faces: Sandra Soria grounds her faith with sustainability work, Forth Worth Repor
- US solar power boomed in 2024 despite Trump’s threats, Marketplace
- Climate coalition launches lawsuit against Trump freeze, Politico
- Mapped: The fastest-warming U.S regions during spring, Axios
- Half of the World’s CO2 Emissions come from 36 Fossil Fuel Firms, The Guardian
- EPA Reinstates Environmental Justice Staff Amid Workforce Turmoil, Inside Climate News
- Forget about your carbon footprint. Try ‘climatemaxxing’, Grist
- Utilities may soon pay you to help support a greener grid, Grist
|
| |
|
|
|
| Economic Justice
To connect with UUSJ about our activities (info@uusj.org) |
| | Folks are Getting Feisty A video clip of a Town Hall with Rep. Mike Flood, R-NE, has gone viral. The Nebraska crowd – presumed to be mostly Republicans – booed him and chanted with authority, "Tax the rich!" in reply to a question by Congressman Flood View Clip. Take action with our ATF (Americans for Tax Fairness) allies, the Coalition on Human Needs (CHN)! Demand Congress save SNAP from extreme budget cuts |
| |
|
| A Faithful Letter on Health and Hunger See the letter to Congress UUSJ joined. The letter opposes the cuts proposed to Medicaid and SNAP. We’ve heard it was received as a thoughtful and powerful letter–a faithful statement.
The Big Tax Switcharoo “As Congress continues to discuss a compromise budget resolution between the House and Senate, setting the stage for reconciliation, the choice of baseline for the eventual reconciliation bill is one of the most significant decisions,” says the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a cross-party think tank focusing on federal fiscal policy and the budget deficit. They assert, “As we’ve described in our recent analysis, switching to a current policy baseline to ignore the cost of extending the [Tax Cuts and Jobs Act] would be a clear gimmick that could explode the debt.” Also, see the Yale Budget Lab analysis:
Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Alone Can't Do the Job |
| |
|
| IRS Layoffs Do Not Facilitate Efficiency CBPP’s Chuck Marr says in his post for Bloomberg Law, the Trump administration’s IRS firings and attempts to cut funding should prompt Congress to step in on the agency’s behalf. See, Targeting the IRS Shows DOGE's Stated Purpose Is Just a Pretext Tariffs Alone Are a Wrecking Ball in the Economy Public Citizen offers A Progressive Explainer on Tariffs, arguing, “tariffs alone do not build new production capacity or ensure Americans have reliable access to goods.” They also offer a short explainer (Tariffs 101). Also see, How Trump’s tariffs could brake EVs but accelerate Tesla, E&E News.
Budget and Tax Content and Clippings - State of Working American Data resource, EPI
- In a Shift, More Republicans Want Government Investment in Children, NYT
- How Potential Federal Cuts to Medicaid and SNAP Could Trigger the Loss of a Million-Plus Jobs, Reduced Economic Activity, and Less State Revenue, Commonwealth Fund
- Infographic: It’s A Cut To Medicaid No Matter What You Call It, CLASP
- Putting $880 Billion in Potential Federal Medicaid Cuts in Context of State Budgets and Coverage, KFF
- Republicans in Congress Considering Harsh Medicaid Cuts That Would Shift Costs to States, Leave People Uninsured, CBPP
- Medicaid Cuts Would Rip Away Health Coverage from Millions of Americans, Disproportionately Harming People of Color, UnidosUS
- Trump Administration, DOGE Activities Risk SSA Operations and Security of Personal Data, CBPP
- Long waits, waves of calls, web crashes: Social Security is breaking down, WaPo
- Protecting ITIN Taxpayer Privacy and the Integrity of Our Tax System, UnidosUS
- Five Misunderstandings About the Congressional Bill to Protect the District’s Budget, DC Fiscal Policy Institute
- SSBG provides all or most of the funding for Adult Protective Services in many states, NAPSA
- Cuts to SSBG, TANF Would Eliminate Child Care for 40K Children, Disrupt Care for Millions More, CLASP
|
| |
|
|
|
| UUSJ is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law. |
| |
|
| |
|
|
