The Morning Action for March 20, 2025

Republicans Once Championed Free Speech on Campus 📚

President Trump and Republicans push laws to crack down on political expression at universities. 

Undermine academic freedom and free speech? Take action: Write a letter or share articles. 💬

DOGE Deletes More Than 100 Government Leases 🏢

The Trump administration's cost-cutting group reduces claimed savings from eliminating federal office space.

Take action: Research government agencies, contact them for transparency, and advocate on social media #TrumpAdministrationFailures 👊

Bernie Sanders Suggests Running as an Independent 🗳️

Senator Bernie Sanders proposes progressives run as independents to challenge President Trump's influence.

Take action: Attend one of Senator Sanders' town halls or rallies using #Bernie2024. 🎤

1 Person Injured in Shooting at Michigan Hospital 🚑

A hospital employee was shot by another colleague; take action: Write a letter to your local elected official about gun safety measures and stricter background checks. #GunSafetyMatters 💔

Trump Consolidates Power Over Courts, Congress, and More 👊

Critics say President Trump's efforts to reshape institutions are unprecedented and alarming.

Take action: Contact your local representatives, attend town halls or rallies using #ChecksOnExecutiveAuthority. 📰

Trump Battles Colleges Could Change American Culture for a Generation 🎓

Universities face financial cuts, hiring freezes, and restrictions on curriculums and admissions.

Take action: Attend a local university town hall or rally supporting academic freedom and research using #AcademicFreedomMatters. 💡

NASA Astronauts Don’t Receive Overtime Pay for Space Mission 🚀

Astronauts receive only $1,430 for extended stay due to a spacecraft malfunction; take action: Write a letter to your local representative about fair compensation for federal employees using #FairPayForNASA. 💸

Personal Information in Kennedy Files Was Released Publicly 🤫

The Trump administration released redacted documents without blacked-out sections, exposing personal details.

Take action: Contact your local representative and express opposition to releasing sensitive information on national security grounds using #ProtectPersonalData. 🔒

Transcript

Welcome to the Daily Beacon. We are here each day to provide daily updates, ideas and actions for you to engage in protecting and promoting democracy and community in positive ways.

Republicans Once Championed Free Speech on Campus. Now, Not So Much.

President Trump and Republican lawmakers are pushing new laws and policies to crack down on political expression at universities, citing concerns about "indoctrination" and protecting students from "harmful" content, but critics say these efforts undermine academic freedom and free speech.

Take action: Write a letter to your local university president or state representative expressing your support for free speech on campus. Share articles and personal stories of how censorship affects you or someone you know.

On Its Website, DOGE Deletes More Than 100 Government Leases It Said Were Canceled

The Trump administration's cost-cutting group has significantly reduced its claimed savings from eliminating federal office space after losing some battles with government agencies and lawmakers who pushed back on lease terminations. The group had previously claimed to have terminated over 700 leases and saved $460 million, but now only claims to have terminated around 560 leases, saving $320 million.

Take action: Research the government agencies responsible for managing federal office space and contact them to advocate for transparency and accountability. Share articles highlighting the Trump administration's cost-cutting efforts on social media using #TrumpAdministrationFailures

Bernie Sanders Has an Idea for the Left: Don’t Run as Democrats

Senator Bernie Sanders suggested that more progressives join him in running as independents, rather than remaining part of the Democratic Party, as he embarks on a three-day tour with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to rally against President Trump and billionaire influence. This message comes at a time when the Democratic Party is facing criticism from its own members and the public over its leadership and direction.

Take action: Attend one of Senator Sanders' town halls or rallies to show your support for his message. Share his statements on social media using #Bernie2024

1 Person Injured in Shooting in Michigan Hospital Parking Lot

A shooting incident occurred at Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital in Troy, Michigan, where one employee was shot twice in the arm by another hospital employee who was subsequently taken into custody. The victim, a 25-year-old man, remains in stable condition and was being treated in the emergency department.

Take action: Write a letter to your local elected official expressing support for gun safety measures and stricter background checks. Share articles highlighting the importance of workplace violence prevention on social media using #GunSafetyMatters

How Trump Is Trying to Consolidate Power Over Courts, Congress and More

President Trump's expansive interpretation of presidential power has become a defining characteristic of his second term, with him attempting to consolidate control over the courts, Congress, and even American society and culture. Critics say his efforts to reshape institutions in his image, including targeting judges and independent agencies, are unprecedented and alarming.

Take action: Contact your local representatives and express opposition to Trump's policies on consolidation of power. Attend town halls or rallies to show support for checks on executive authority.

Trump’s Battles With Colleges Could Change American Culture for a Generation

The Trump administration's efforts to reshape American higher education are threatening the country's leadership in research and science, with universities facing financial cuts, hiring freezes, and restrictions on curriculums and admissions. If successful, these changes could undermine the fundamental mission of universities, which have long been a cornerstone of American innovation and progress.

Take action: Attend a local university town hall or rally to express your support for academic freedom and research. Share articles highlighting the importance of diversity in higher education on social media using #AcademicFreedomMatters

NASA Astronauts Don’t Receive Overtime Pay for Space Mission But Get $5 a Day

NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who spent 278 extra days on the International Space Station due to a spacecraft malfunction, received only $1,430 for their extended stay, including a daily "incidentals" allowance of just $5. According to NASA rules, astronauts receive no overtime pay, holiday or weekend compensation.

Take action: Write a letter to your local representative expressing support for fair compensation for federal employees, including NASA astronauts. Share articles highlighting the issue on social media using #FairPayForNASA

In Rush to Release Kennedy Files, Personal Information Went Public, Too

The Trump administration released 64,000 pages of previously redacted documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy without any blacked-out sections, exposing personal details such as Social Security numbers and personnel files for hundreds of individuals.

Take action: Contact your local representative and express opposition to the release of sensitive information on national security grounds. Share articles highlighting the risks of identity theft on social media using #ProtectPersonalData

The University of California Will Stop Requiring Diversity Statements in Hiring

The University of California system has announced it will stop requiring diversity statements in hiring, a move that comes as the Trump administration escalates attacks on higher education over diversity programming. The decision was made after the university's Board of Regents received criticism from conservatives and amid federal pressure to curb funding.

Take action: Attend one of the University of California's upcoming town halls or rallies to express your support for diversity statements in hiring. Share articles highlighting the importance of promoting diversity in academia on social media using #DiversityMatters

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