SEPTEMBER 09, 2025

DM PRESIDENT’S WELCOME
Welcome everyone – interns, members, friends and supporters! At DM, we dream of and fight for a real democracy  – where every vote is counted, every voice is heard, and all our rights are protected and strengthened.  
With the attacks and threats emanating from Washington, it is all the more important to organize and stand our ground.  I’m so proud to be working with all of you. 
QUOTES OF THE MONTH

“I have the right to do anything I want to do. I’m the president of the United States.”  Donald Trump, August  26, 2025

“Health Secretary Robert Kennedy is launching a full-blown war on science, public health and on truth itself.” Senator Bernie Sanders, August 30, 2025

CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE
Trump’s far-reaching “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA), was passed by Congressin July, 2025. It cut many programs while expanding others. 

  • Cut  - $1.1 Billion from public broadcasting, abolishing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

  • Cut - student loan borrowing and reduces their payback options.

  • Cut - $1 Trillion from Medicaid and $278 Million from emergency food programs

    But at the same time

  • Increase - gaveICE an additional $75 Billion, with another $45 Billion for new immigration detention centers.

  • Increase - gavetax breaks to the richest Americans (5 percent of taxpayers to receive $1.5 Trillion).

  • Increase - increased theU.S. deficit by more than $4 Trillion. 

FACTS YOU CAN USE‍ ‍- Undermining Our Elections
Two weeks ago, Donald Trump announced his plan to sign an executive order to bar states from using mail ballots and also, potentially, some voting machines. 
This plan expands on his Executive Order last March, rescinding all previous certifications of voting equipment, and mandating a passport or similar document proving citizenship in order to register to vote.
The Brennan Center for Justice, writing that Trump “is setting the stage for election subversion,” reports that their research indicates more than 21 million Americans may be disenfranchised by a passport requirement.
The Center furthermore warns that Trump’s de-certification and questioning of voting machines provide pretexts for election deniers to discredit elections now and in the future.