Viva La Resistance
Boycotts, Immigrant, Congressional Updates and More
“The first 100 days of President Trump’s second term have done more damage to American democracy than anything else since the demise of Reconstruction.” –New York Times, May 1, 2025
May Boycotts
Home Depot. Founder Bernie Marcus has historically been a major donor to Republican politicians supporting conservative values and causes. Since 2020, has donated heavily to election deniers, MAGA and right-leaning politicians.
Wal-Mart. Has historically been a Republican leaning donor. As an employer, Wal-Mart has historically had poor labor practices, including low wages and weak benefits. Since 2020, has donated to election deniers. In 2025, ended diversity programs.
Target. Has a historically balanced track record of political donations to Democrats and Republicans. Has also historically supported diversity, including expanding support of Black-owned brands and businesses after George Floyd protests in 2020. Greatly disappointed customers in 2025 when it cancelled diversity programs and promotions.
Immigrants’ Rights Updates
Selected highlights below. See more stories
MAY 4. Trump describes undocumented immigrants as ‘mental patients’
In his interview with Kresten Welker on Meet the Press, Trump said foreign governments are releasing undocumented immigrants to destabilize the US; waived off due process and humane treatment saying, “these are not people that deserve lawyers.”
➜See interview [NBC Meet the Press]
➜Attend Advocacy Days [Refugee Council USA (RCUSA)] Focusing on refugee, asylum, and humanitarian protection. For questions, email RCUSA's team at advocacydays@rcusa.org
➜Donate to VCIR [Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights]
MAY 2. Termination of legal status for international students in US is reversed.
Following legal backlash, the Trump administration reversed its mass termination of student visa registrations that had targeted thousands of foreign students for minor infractions. Related: Visa revocations can lead to legal status terminations, according to internal memo.
➜Read more [MSN] ➜Read more here [NBC News]
➜Attend Advocacy Days [Refugee Council USA (RCUSA)] Focusing on refugee, asylum, and humanitarian protection. For questions, email RCUSA's team at advocacydays@rcusa.org
➜Donate to VCIR [Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights]
Deporting US citizen children alongside their undocumented parents
On NBC’s Meet the Press, Marco Rubio downplayed the deportation of sick children, including a cancer patient, and chalked it up to “misleading headlines.” He ignored the serious ethical and legal questions raised by such actions.
If you have a Democratic Attorney General, tell them we need them to fight ICE overreach. Period.
➜Make the call ➜Send the email ➜Learn more [Indivisible] ➜Learn more [NBC]
Congressional Update
The US House and Senate are back in session.
Combined 2025 Calendar [pdf]
THE HOUSE
The House is busy getting all its authorizing committees to report out their specific cuts to get to vote on a combined Omnibus reconciliation bill by Memorial Day, some target July 4. Here is what has made it out of House committees fleshing out the budget so far. 2025 Reconciliation Tracker-2025-05-02
Energy & Commerce. Still fighting over the depth of Medicaid cuts. Target $880 billion.
Agriculture. Seeking to cut $230 billion from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (WIC, food stamps) while also adding billions of dollars in crop reference prices and other farm bill assistance.
Ways and Means faces Republicans from blue states that want to raise $10k cap on state local tax (SALT) deductions. They also have moderate Rs, pushing to keep some of the clean energy tax credits.(Transportation committee adopted an annual registration fee of $250 for electric and $100 for hybrid vehicles to eventually replace the gas tax beginning 2030. They dropped the $20 registration fee for all other cars that they originally proposed).
This is still FY25 spending, White House released so-called "skinny budget" to start FY26 process with $163 billion non-Defense cuts
.➜TAKE ACTION. Find Reps’ phone numbers
Make calls to save Medicaid (hospitals, nursing homes close, thousands could lose health care); save SNAP and WIC programs, and save green tax credits before final votes next week).
NEW Protect PBS Funding
Federal funding for Public Media is at risk. Your PBS experience could disappear. Now’s the time to act. ➜Email your lawmakers [Protect My Public Media]
Tell the US House to vote YES on Bipartisan Protect America’s Workforce Act.
Defend federal workers’ rights.
➜Send an email to your member of congress [CHN Action]
➜Send emails to congress [AFGE]
➜Read more [NY Times]
Protect lifesaving aid to children overseas!
The State Department has taken over what’s left of USAID’s programs–lifesaving aid that @secrubio promised not to cut.
BUT that aid’s not getting to people, and kids and babies are starving to death.
➜Call U.S. Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 [Use friendsofusaid script]
Network NOVA's BADASS Blasts & the Virginia Grassroots thrive with your support. Please join as a paid subscriber today!