đ˘ Power to the People News â December 8, 2025 | Updates and Actions You Can Take Today
Stay informed with Power to the People News â December 8, 2025. Get the latest updates & actions you can take today to defend democracy & demand accountability. Power belongs to usânot billionaires.
We break stories, uncover the truth, and power the movement for justice and change. If you believe the future should be shaped by the peopleânot the wealthy, powerful, or privilegedâthis is your news home for progress, action, and accountability.
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đ Lawsuit Challenges a Nonprofitâs Scholarships for Hispanic Students
A new lawsuit alleges that the Hispanic Scholarship Fund âdiscriminates against people of other races and ethnicities.â Plaintiffs argue that the groupâs screening process âviolates the Civil Rights Act by restricting eligibility for its marquee scholars program to those who âidentify as being Hispanic.â The case raises broader questions about identity-based scholarships and how organizations define eligibility. A larger question is whether organizations that offer scholarships to support specific racial or ethnic groups should be required to stop doing so. â The New York Times
đď¸ Trump Renames Institute of Peace for Himself
The Trump administration is pushing to reshape the institution by rebranding it in alignment with the presidentâs foreign-policy ideology, sparking concern among diplomats and peace-building experts. âGeorge Foote, a former lawyer for the institute who is now part of the lawsuit against the administration, said in a statement on Wednesday that ârenaming the U.S.I.P. building adds insult to injury.â Critics say the move threatens the instituteâs long-standing bipartisan mission and could politicize its global conflict-resolution work. â The New York Times
𧏠Opinion | The CDCâs next anti-vaccine clown show is coming. Take your seats.
The editorial board of the Washington Post argues that universal vaccination against hepatitis B is overdue given rising infection rates and the availability of safe, effective vaccines. âThe vaccine, first approved in the 1980s and recommended universally at birth in 1991, has been credited with reducing infections in children and teens by 99 percent.â Despite strong scientific evidence, proposed recommendations have faced political resistance and misinformation under the leadership of Robert F Kennedy Jr as the Health and Human Services Secretary. The board calls on federal advisory groups to act decisively to protect public health and acknowledge fact based scientific methods. â The Washington Post
đŞ Trump Pardons Developer Prosecuted by His Administration
The Trump administrationâs decision to pardon a wealthy executive, Timothy J. Leiweke, has triggered fierce criticism from legal experts who say the move bypasses the Justice Departmentâs review process. Critics argue the pardon reinforces perceptions that the system favors the well-connected while leaving ordinary petitioners waiting years for consideration. The incident has renewed calls for structural reforms to curb political influence and expand fairness in clemency decisions. â The New York Times
đ Illinois can set its own vaccine guidelines, bypassing Trump administration
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has signed into law new guidelines outlining when and how people should receive vaccines, as well as which immunizations insurance companies must cover â regardless of federal recommendations. In response to the misinformation coming from the Trump administration and its dismissal of public health experts, state officials across the country are taking steps to keep their residents safe and healthy. â The Washington Post
đŤ College Student Is Deported During Trip Home for Thanksgiving
A college student who grew up in the U.S. was deported to a country she barely knows. âAny Lucia LĂłpez Belloza, 19, was detained by immigration agents at the Boston airport before a flight to surprise her family in Texas for Thanksgiving. She is now in Honduras.â Her removal during the Thanksgiving holiday drew outrage from classmates, educators, and immigrant-rights groups. The case highlights the precariousness of mixed-status families and long-term residents who lack formal legal protections. â The New York Times
đ Detainees at âAlligator Alcatrazâ facing âharrowing human right violationsâ, new report alleges
An in-depth investigation by Amnesty International reveals pervasive abuse at a Florida immigration detention facility known as âAlligator Alcatraz,â where migrants report being denied medical care, subjected to filthy living conditions, and placed in prolonged isolation. Interviews with detainees and former staff describe patterns of retaliation, including threats against those who file grievances. The findings indicate systemic violations of federal standards and growing concerns about the treatment of vulnerable people inside U.S. detention centers. â The Guardian
â ď¸ New findings reveal human rights violations at Floridaâs Alligator Alcatraz and Krome Detention Centers
A new report by Amnesty International uncovers extensive human-rights abuses at two major ICE detention centers in Florida, including medical neglect, inadequate mental-health care, extreme use of solitary confinement, and retaliation against detainees who raise concerns. Investigators also documented unsanitary conditions, overcrowding, and a lack of basic protections for people in custody. Advocates say the findings demand urgent federal intervention and raise questions about widespread failures across the detention system. â Amnesty International USA
đĄ Representative Adelita Grijalva says she was sprayed in the face during ICE confrontation
A member of Congress reported being sprayed in the face with chemical irritant while confronting immigration agents at a protest, alleging excessive force and intimidation tactics by ICE. She says the incident occurred when agents attempted to detain a member of the public, and that her reaction was deliberate retaliation for asking for clarification as a member of Congress. The episode has sparked renewed calls for oversight and investigation into enforcement conduct during public demonstrations. â MSN
đ Most Immigrants Arrested in City Crackdowns Have No Criminal Record
A comprehensive analysis of thousands of arrest files by the New York Times shows that the majority of people detained by immigration authorities had no criminal convictions, contradicting claims by the Trump administration that there is an onslaught of criminals crossing the border. â NY Times
đĽ Calls to Action:
Click here to Stop Skyrocketing Costs and Chaos â Pass Medicare for All
Click here to Tell the Senate: Save Our Health Care
Click here to Restore Roe v. Wade Protections Now
Click here to Tell Congress: Invest In Climate Resilience and Clean Energy
Click here to Stop Congress from banning AI regulation nationwide
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