đ˘ Power to the People News | Dec 23, 2025
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đş 60 Minutes segment on Trump deportations pulled by CBS chief Bari Weiss
What happens when a major investigative story is shelved at the last minute? A planned 60 Minutes report on the Trump administrationâs deportation policy â focusing on Venezuelan migrants sent to El Salvadorâs notorious CECOT prison â was abruptly pulled just hours before it was set to air. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi and others accused CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss of political interference, saying the vetted story was snatched from the lineup despite passing legal and editorial reviews. Weiss defended the decision as an editorial judgment that the piece âwasnât ready,â sparking widespread debate about journalistic independence at one of broadcast newsâs most iconic programs. â The New York Times
â ď¸ Indiana Lt. Gov: Trump Threatened To Withhold Funding If We Didnât Redistrict
What happens when election officials refuse to fall in line? Indianaâs lieutenant governor says Donald Trump personally threatened Indiana lawmakers stance on election integrity. He describes pressure tactics aimed at enforcing loyalty rather than respecting democratic norms. âIn a now-deleted post, Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith said Thursday the Trump administration very explicitly threatened to withhold federal funds from the state if it didnât bow to pressure and help him rig the House by drawing a new congressional map. âThe Trump admin was VERY clear about this,â Beckwith, a MAGA Republican who supported the unprecedented redistricting plan, said on social media.â The account adds to mounting evidence of intimidation faced by officials who resist election subversion. â Yahoo News
đŹ Democracy Forward Demands Transparency After Kennedy Center Was Unlawfully and Abruptly Renamed
Democracy Forward submitted a federal information request following the Kennedy Centerâs refusal to release records related to the âunlawful renaming of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Kennedy Center) without public notice or explanation.â Advocates argue that public access to such records is critical for accountability and transparency in how taxpayer dollars are used by federally supported institutions. âThe Kennedy Center â long recognized for its excellence and committed to sharing the performing arts with the public â and the American people who benefit from it have been traumatized and embarrassed under the Trump-Vance administration, which has upended tradition, fired trustees, and changed programming to fit its political agenda. Attendance is down and artists are boycotting appearances. Now, the Board is attempting to continue to aid and abet the Presidentâs vanity exercise by violating federal law. How this treasured landmark is governed and how decisions are being reached â especially ones as consequential and abrupt as decimating its purpose and legacy â must be transparent, accountable, and open to public scrutinyâ said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. â Democracy Forward
âď¸ Attorney General Charity Clark: Iâve Been Battling the Trump Administration for 11 Months. Hereâs Why.
What does standing up to federal power actually look like? Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark details her ongoing legal battles with the Trump administration, citing federal overreach and harm to state residents. âHaving sued the Trump Administration 36 times in 11 months, I am reflecting on the wild ride of 2025 â and preparing for whatâs next.â She frames the fight as a defense of constitutional checks and balances. Clark argues that when federal authority is abused, states have a duty to push back. â Caledonian Record
đľď¸We need to stand up against government surveillance
How much privacy are we willing to give up for security? In a piece for the Summit Daily, Sam Fogleman, warns that expanding government surveillance threatens civil liberties and chills free expression. âFlock is investing in remote-operated drones, now has a partnership with Amazon Ring cameras, and has a documented track record of national searches with âICEâ as the reason for access (1,400 in Denver alone). This company has already shown itself, through these searches, to be complicit and an accomplice in a national kidnapping ring run by our federal government and would likely cooperate with any federal search warrant of customer data.â He argues that unchecked monitoring erodes democratic accountability and urges all to demand stronger oversight, transparency, and limits on government power. â Summit Daily
đ The US used to lead. It doesnât anymore.
Mark Ward in an opinion piece for Politico writes that âAmerica was always there before. No matter who was in the Oval Office, no matter which party held the majority in Congress, you could count on us. Not anymoreâŚ.In 2004, then-President George W. Bush saw the strategic importance of providing as much help as we could to a region critical to U.S. foreign policy. He directed USAID to pull out all the stops. He asked his father, former President George H.W. Bush, and former President Bill Clinton to shelve their political differences and collaborate to help raise awareness and private fundsâŚ.Now, our foreign policy [under the Trump administration] seems to be purely transactional. It asks, whatâs in it for us?â â Politico Europe
đ¸ Democratic senators investigate data centersâ effects on electricity prices
Why are your utility bills rising? Rapid data-center expansion is driving electricity demand and pushing consumer prices higher. âElizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut wrote that they were alarmed by reports that these data centers caused residential electricity bills to âskyrocketâ. Regions with significant data center activity have already endured price increases by as much as 267% over the past five years, the three lawmakers wrote. According to the Energy Information Administration, a federal agency, the average cost of a US familyâs electricity bill had risen 7% year-over-year as of September.â Experts say households are subsidizing infrastructure built for tech giants. The findings raise urgent questions about regulation and fairness. â The Guardian
đ´ď¸ 6 jarring quotes from Trumpâs chief of staff in Vanity Fair
Who really holds power behind the scenes? Reporting details Susie Wilesâ growing influence within Trump and JD Vanceâs political operation. âWiles discussed Trumpâs âalcoholicâs personality,â Elon Muskâs drug use and USAID chaos, Vanceâs âsort of politicalâ conversion, the Epstein files debacle, boat strikes targeting Maduro, and whether Trump will defy the 22nd Amendment.â The piece reveals how informal networks shape national politics. â Axios
đĄ FCC chair suggests agency isnât independent, word cut from mission statement
Can regulators stay independent under political pressure? The Federal Communications Commission also known as the FCC regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. âFCC Chairman Brendan Carr said in his Wednesday Senate testimony that the agency he governs âis not an independent agency, formally speaking.â During his testimony, the word âindependentâ was removed from the FCCâs mission statement on its website.â The testimony underscored high-stakes debates over democracy and free expression. âDemocratic lawmakers on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee said Carrâs remarks reinforced broader concerns that he is using the agency to intimidate journalists and media organizations critical of President Trump.â â Axios NPR
đ§ď¸ Federal Judge Blocks FEMA From Canceling Climate Resiliency Grants
A federal judge halted an effort to cancel climate resilience grants that fund disaster preparedness projects nationwide. The âruling said the Trump administration cannot eliminate the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program without Congress.â The ruling found that the cancellation would cause immediate harm to communities already facing climate-driven risks. State and local governments argued the funding is critical for flood control, wildfire mitigation, and infrastructure protection. â The New York Times
đ˘ď¸ Top Democrats call for investigation into share-buying spree by Trump allies
Allegations have emerged concerning close ties between former President Trumpâs allies and the fossil fuel industry, suggesting potential conflicts of interest and influence on energy policy decisions. Investigators are scrutinizing whether policy shifts under Trump benefitted specific energy companies or executives with political connections. âRobert Pender and Michael Sabel, the founders and co-chairs of Venture Global, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) company headquartered in Virginia, bought more than a million shares worth almost $12m each in March. The trades took place just days after a meeting with senior White House officials, who then issued a key regulatory permit that helped expand the companyâs business in Europe.â Critics argue that such influence could undermine environmental and climate goals while deepening industry control over regulatory processes. â The Guardian
đą More than 200 environmental groups demand halt to new US datacenters
More than 230 environmental organizations have urged Congress to impose a national moratorium on the construction of new data centers due to their high energy and water usage and associated environmental impacts. These groups argue that unregulated expansion â driven by AI and tech industry growth â is worsening electricity bills, straining resources, and contributing to climate change. Their open letter calls for stronger federal regulations before additional facilities are approved. The movement reflects growing public backlash against data center impacts on local communities and ecosystems. â The Guardian
đťââď¸ Polar bears are rewiring their own genetics to survive a warming climate
Researchers report that polar bears are changing their behavior and diets in response to rapidly warming Arctic conditions. Some bears are spending more time on land, hunting alternative food sources as sea ice continues to shrink. Scientists caution that while these adaptations show resilience, they may not be enough to offset long-term habitat loss. The findings highlight the accelerating impacts of climate change on Arctic ecosystems. â NBC News
đĽ Calls to Action:
Click here to Demand Congress Reject âTrump-Kennedy Centerâ Rename
Click here to Ban Members of Congress from Trading Stock While in Office
Click here to Tell Your Governor: Reject the Federal School Voucher Program
Click here to Tell Congress: An Oath to the Constitution Requires Saying No to Illegal Orders
Click here to Tell Apple & Google CEOs: End your contracts with ICE NOW.
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Power belongs to usânot billionaires or corrupt politicians. Subscribe to Power to the People News for free to stay informed â or go paid to help build grassroots change and fuel people-powered resistance.