Featured Stories
'It's About Time': ALG Praises House Passage Of Sunshine Protection Act, Urges Senate Passage
FAIRFAX, Virginia, Aug. 30 [Category: Government/Public Administration] -- Americans for Limited Government posted the following news release:
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'It's About Time': ALG Praises House Passage Of Sunshine Protection Act, Urges Senate Passage
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July 15, 2026, Fairfax, Va.-Americans for Limited Government Executive Director Robert Romano today issued the following statement praising the House for passing the Sunshine Protection Act and urged the Senate to do the same:
"The House has finally passed legislation that will end standard time once and for all. No more sunsets in the middle of the
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FAIRFAX, Virginia, Aug. 30 [Category: Government/Public Administration] -- Americans for Limited Government posted the following news release:
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'It's About Time': ALG Praises House Passage Of Sunshine Protection Act, Urges Senate Passage
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July 15, 2026, Fairfax, Va.-Americans for Limited Government Executive Director Robert Romano today issued the following statement praising the House for passing the Sunshine Protection Act and urged the Senate to do the same:
"The House has finally passed legislation that will end standard time once and for all. No more sunsets in the middle of theafternoon. It's about time. Nobody likes the constant clock changes. The fact is that under current law, there was never a way to opt out of standard time whereas states were permitted to opt out of daylight savings time if they really wanted to, as Arizona and Hawaii do. School districts can always have starting bells later to compensate if there is concern about later sunrises during the winter months, although it's worth noting almost all districts are already on Christmas vacation during the shortest days. Clearly, based on the House vote, and unanimous passage of practically identical legislation by the Senate in 2022, and the President's support, daylight savings time is far more popular. But really, it's just let's pick a time and stick with it. Compromise if needs be: shave a half hour off standard time. Anything's better than the clock changes, and the early sunsets in the winter are frankly depressing. But the bill's fine the way it is. It is time for the Senate to immediately take up this common sense, bipartisan legislation, stop switching the clocks and let the sun shine into the evening for good."
For media availability contact Americans for Limited Government at media@limitgov.org.
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Original text here: https://getliberty.org/2026/07/its-about-time-alg-praises-house-passage-of-sunshine-protection-act-urges-senate-passage/
Voting Rights Organizations Seek to Enforce Injunction Against Mail Voting Executive Order
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Aug. 25 -- The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts issued the following news release:
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Voting Rights Organizations Seek to Enforce Injunction Against Mail Voting Executive Order
Plaintiffs in League of Women Voters of Massachusetts v. Trump filed a motion to enforce a federal court order in response to the U.S. Postal Service's (USPS) issuance of a final rule to implement Section 3 of the President's March 2026 executive order on mail voting. The rule was effective on August 21, 2026, and makes clear that it will be implemented "immediately" for the November elections
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BOSTON, Massachusetts, Aug. 25 -- The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts issued the following news release:
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Voting Rights Organizations Seek to Enforce Injunction Against Mail Voting Executive Order
Plaintiffs in League of Women Voters of Massachusetts v. Trump filed a motion to enforce a federal court order in response to the U.S. Postal Service's (USPS) issuance of a final rule to implement Section 3 of the President's March 2026 executive order on mail voting. The rule was effective on August 21, 2026, and makes clear that it will be implemented "immediately" for the November electionsif injunctive orders against Section 3 are lifted. As Plaintiffs explain in their legal papers, this USPS rule defies a federal court order blocking the agency from "implementing" that section of the executive order and "completing rulemaking" for the November 3, 2026, election or earlier elections.
The final rule is the latest development in President Trump's broader campaign to seize sensitive voter data and exert federal control over how states administer elections. Through the Department of Justice, the administration has attacked mail voting and sought access to states' voter files, including sensitive personal information. Through this executive order, the president is attempting to weaponize USPS to force states to violate voters' privacy and interfere with how states administer mail voting. These actions risk the disenfranchisement of millions of eligible voters the Plaintiff organizations serve, including their members.
On August 11, a federal judge in Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction blocking USPS from implementing Section 3 of the executive order for the November 2026 elections, finding that provision was likely unconstitutional. The court's order remains in effect, and no party has sought to stay it. USPS acknowledged that injunction in its newly finalized rule, stating that unless that injunction is lifted, "it will not take actions to implement the rule specifically for the 2026 elections." But the rule also explained that it was effective immediately precisely to ensure that it could be implemented in time for the 2026 general elections. This threat of last-minute changes to mail voting before the November elections risks widespread confusion and chaos.
The lawsuit was brought by several nonpartisan voting rights groups: the League of Women Voters, the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, Association of Americans Resident Overseas (AARO), US Vote Foundation, OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates (OCA), and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. They are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), ACLU of Massachusetts, Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law, Legal Defense Fund (LDF), Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Advancing Justice-AAJC), and LatinoJustice PRLDEF. Plaintiffs and counsel released the following statement:
"A federal district court issued a preliminary injunction less than two weeks ago to stem the chaos caused by this executive order. By issuing this final rule, the Trump administration has flouted the court's injunction. The final rule threatens further chaos for voters, civic organizations, and election officials by seeking to impose last-minute changes to mail voting rules. Enforcement of the court's preliminary injunction is necessary to hold this administration accountable for its unlawful action and make clear that voters can confidently cast their mail ballot free from federal interference this November."
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View motion here: https://www.lwv.org/sites/default/files/2026-08/190-Mem.-ISO-Pls.-Emergency-Mot.-to-Enforce-PI-Expedited-Briefing-Aug.-22-2026.pdf
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Original text here: https://www.lwv.org/newsroom/press-releases/voting-rights-organizations-seek-enforce-injunction-against-mail-voting
[Category: Political]
Voting Rights Groups React to Supreme Court Order in Trump vs. California
WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 -- The League of Women Voters Massachusetts posted the following statement:
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Voting Rights Groups React to Supreme Court Order in Trump v. California
The following statement can be attributed to counsel and Plaintiffs in League of Women Voters Massachusetts v. Trump:
"We're disappointed by this interim ruling by the Supreme Court in the separate but related case brought by certain states. However, the district court's order in our case blocking USPS from proceeding with the Rule remains in place, and we will fight to keep it that way or to secure new relief. It is important
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 -- The League of Women Voters Massachusetts posted the following statement:
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Voting Rights Groups React to Supreme Court Order in Trump v. California
The following statement can be attributed to counsel and Plaintiffs in League of Women Voters Massachusetts v. Trump:
"We're disappointed by this interim ruling by the Supreme Court in the separate but related case brought by certain states. However, the district court's order in our case blocking USPS from proceeding with the Rule remains in place, and we will fight to keep it that way or to secure new relief. It is importantto note that today's ruling only addresses the timing of the state plaintiffs' challenge.
"It does not affect any voters' ability to cast a mail ballot. The Supreme Court did not rule on the merits of the executive order, and made clear: 'If the Postal Service's final rule harms the States, they may challenge that rule.'
"Voting rights organizations like the plaintiffs in this case have experienced first-hand the significant confusion that President Trump's executive order is causing right now. With the November election right around the corner, nonpartisan voting rights groups should be fully engaged in the vital work of educating all eligible voters to prepare to cast their ballots.
"Instead, plaintiffs and similar organizations are scrambling to understand how the rules may change while fielding inquiries from voters who rely on mail ballots and who are confused and fearful about how they will exercise their right to vote.
"President Trump's attempt to seize control of election rules from the states and Congress is clearly unconstitutional and unlawful, and with today's ruling, we will continue to vigorously pursue all available avenues to challenge this executive order. We are committed to protecting the right to vote, including full access to mail ballots for the millions of eligible voters who rely on them."
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Original text here: https://www.lwv.org/newsroom/press-releases/voting-rights-groups-react-supreme-court-order-trump-v-california
[Category: Political]
Pro-Voter Coalition Sues South Dakota Over Confusing Administration of Documentation Law
SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota, Aug. 25 -- The League of Women Voters of South Dakota issued the following news release on Aug. 24, 2026:
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Pro-Voter Coalition Sues South Dakota Over Confusing Administration of Documentation Law
Today, the League of Women Voters of South Dakota (LWVSD) and an individual plaintiff, represented by Campaign Legal Center (CLC), the American Civil Liberties Union Voting Rights Project (ACLU VRP), the American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota (ACLU SD) and Heidepriem Purtell Siegel Hinrichs, LLP, filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District
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SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota, Aug. 25 -- The League of Women Voters of South Dakota issued the following news release on Aug. 24, 2026:
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Pro-Voter Coalition Sues South Dakota Over Confusing Administration of Documentation Law
Today, the League of Women Voters of South Dakota (LWVSD) and an individual plaintiff, represented by Campaign Legal Center (CLC), the American Civil Liberties Union Voting Rights Project (ACLU VRP), the American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota (ACLU SD) and Heidepriem Purtell Siegel Hinrichs, LLP, filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Districtof South Dakota seeking to ensure South Dakota's administration of a new voter registration requirement complies with federal law.
Senate Bill 175, enacted in March 2026, requires new voters to provide unnecessary documentation of their US citizenship when registering to vote or otherwise lose the opportunity to vote in state and local elections. For the most common and accessible forms of this documentation -- driver's licenses, Tribal IDs and non-driver state IDs -- voters must provide original copies in person. And if there is an issue with the voter's documentation, the state sends a notice letter containing inaccurate information about why their registration was denied.
Notably, this law makes voting particularly difficult in a rural state like South Dakota, where thousands of voters register by mail or voter registration drives and round-trip distances to county election offices can exceed 100 miles.
The implementation of this law has not only caused confusion and created unnecessary barriers to registering to vote for South Dakotans, but it also violates federal law.
"Eligible voters should not be blocked from participating in state and local elections because of unnecessary barriers in the registration process," said Marcia Johnson, chief of activation and justice for the League of Women Voters. "When voters face confusing requirements or receive inaccurate information about their registration, the result is fewer voices being heard in our democracy. This lawsuit seeks to ensure that South Dakotans can exercise the full voting rights afforded to them under federal law."
"The administration of SB175 has not only effectively shut down our League's ability to register new voters, but it has pointlessly caused voter confusion and made voting harder," said Kathryn Johnson, president of the League of Women Voters of South Dakota. "The League will fight to continue our work to ensure that all South Dakotans can make their voices heard."
"Federal law is clear: South Dakota must inform voters about documentation requirements before taking away their right to cast a ballot in state and local elections," said Mel Neal, legal counsel for voting rights at Campaign Legal Center. "Nor can South Dakota impose immaterial requirements that make it harder for Americans to register to vote. We are asking the court to ensure that South Dakota's new registration law is implemented in a way that complies with crucial, pro-voter provisions of federal law, so all South Dakotans can make their voices heard in this upcoming election, and all elections in the future."
"South Dakota has turned a basic step in the voting process into a massive headache," said Jake Van Leer, staff attorney with the ACLU's Voting Rights Project. "Voters should not have to navigate confusing instructions, track down documents, and take time out of their busy schedules just to register to vote. The state is creating unnecessary obstacles instead of making voting easier for eligible folks, and federal law requires the state to do better."
"There is no proof of widespread voter fraud or evidence of non-citizens voting that justifies a law that imposes burdensome show-your-papers requirements for eligible voters to cast their ballots and makes it impossible for organizations like the League of Women Voters to register people to vote," said Andrew Malone, senior staff attorney with the ACLU of South Dakota. "A robust democracy relies on fair and equal ballot access for the entire electorate. Our lawsuit aims to guarantee that South Dakota enforces its new voter registration law in compliance with federal mandates so that no one is disenfranchised from participating in our elections."
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Original text here: https://www.lwv.org/newsroom/press-releases/pro-voter-coalition-sues-south-dakota-over-confusing-administration
[Category: Political]
Food and Water Watch: State Senator Kristen Gonzalez Kicks Off NY Fights AI Data Centers Tour in Buffalo and Niagara Falls
WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 -- The Food and Water Watch posted the following news release:
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State Senator Kristen Gonzalez Kicks Off NY Fights AI Data Centers Tour in Buffalo and Niagara Falls
The event is one of 12 sites with hyperscale data centers or pending proposals being highlighted on the 'Stop Data Centers' tour happening throughout the month.
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Buffalo, NY - On August 22, local activists and community leaders held a rally outside of Tesla Buffalo, where Elon Musk has expressed interest in building the "Dojo supercomputer" to support Tesla's automated vehicle technology. Local activists
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 -- The Food and Water Watch posted the following news release:
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State Senator Kristen Gonzalez Kicks Off NY Fights AI Data Centers Tour in Buffalo and Niagara Falls
The event is one of 12 sites with hyperscale data centers or pending proposals being highlighted on the 'Stop Data Centers' tour happening throughout the month.
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Buffalo, NY - On August 22, local activists and community leaders held a rally outside of Tesla Buffalo, where Elon Musk has expressed interest in building the "Dojo supercomputer" to support Tesla's automated vehicle technology. Local activistsled the fight, highlighting overwhelming resistance to unfettered data center development and calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign a strong data center moratorium bill, the Responsible Data Center Development Act. The event is part of the statewide 'Stop Data Centers' tour being led by bill sponsor State Senator Gonzalez and the environmental group Food & Water Watch.
The rally featured a panel of Niagara Falls and Niagara County residents talking about their site fights, with an open audience Q&A. They were joined by members of the Clean Air Coalition of Western New York, PUSH Buffalo, Buffalo DSA, and Food & Water Watch.
The rally was followed by a Buffalo Town Hall at Trinity Church, and the tour at 1pm, which included stops in Buffalo, the Town of Tonawanda, North Tonawanda, and Niagara Falls.
The event is one of 12 sites with hyperscale data centers or pending proposals being highlighted on the 'Stop Data Centers' tour happening throughout the month. Today, there are over 30 large data center proposals pending in New York State; if these data centers were to come online, they would need more than 11,900 MW of new electricity demand--nearly double the energy demand of all of New York households.
"Who is profiting from data centers and supercomputers? In the case of Tesla and X AI, the profit flows to Elon Musk, the world's richest man and one of the most destructive. Experts on racism and anti-semitism have noted that Musk has been amping up his support for white supremacy over the last year. Here in Buffalo, we are all too aware of the damage this kind of hateful ideology does," said Sam Magavern a Senior Policy Fellow at Partnership for the Public Good.
"Hyperscale data centers are invasive and resource extraction monsters that make too much noise, raise our utility bills and consume and contaminate our water. Water is life," said Eve Wackett, Clean Air Coalition member and NYS Certified Wildlife Rehabber.
"Considering the well-being of our Mother Earth and all that draw life from her sacred gifts must be at the core of all deliberations related to having highly extractive and harmful hyperscale data server warehouses in our communities. We must consider the impact on the coming 7 generations, as we've been instructed. The empty promises (and impactful threats) are mind changers, no less distorting our thinking than alcohol/drugs, anger, jealousy, and wanting power over others (rather than sharing power, uplifting and empowering each other)," said Valerie Statts, Clean Air Coalition member, Mohawk Turtle Clan woman, a retired NYS and national addiction professional and trainer
"Data centers are the latest technological mirage. They pretend to offer an amazing future where robots and machines do the grunt work while we all profit and relax, but really they're energy sucking vampires that pollute, evaporate water and hum 24/7, while stealing our creativity and jobs, and handing the rich even more money." said Ted Kusio, Clean Air member who recently participated in Governor Hochul's Tonawanda roundtable.
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Original text here: https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2026/08/24/state-senator-kristen-gonzalez-kicks-off-ny-fights-ai-data-centers-tour-in-buffalo-and-niagara-falls/
[Category: Science]
Council on American-Islamic Relations Issue Letter to Artesia, Bloomfield, and Carmenita Unified School District Board of Education
WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (TNSletter) -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations issued the following letter to Board of Education of the Artesia, Bloomfield, and Carmenita Unified School District:
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August 10, 2026
Board of Education
Artesia, Bloomfield, and Carmenita Unified School Districts
16700 Norwalk Boulevard
Cerritos, CA 90703
RE: Formal Complaint Regarding Hateful Public Comment at the August 4, 2026, Board Meeting and the Board's Failure To Respond
Dear Members of the ABC Unified School District Board of Education,
I am writing to express my deep concern and outrage regarding
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (TNSletter) -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations issued the following letter to Board of Education of the Artesia, Bloomfield, and Carmenita Unified School District:
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August 10, 2026
Board of Education
Artesia, Bloomfield, and Carmenita Unified School Districts
16700 Norwalk Boulevard
Cerritos, CA 90703
RE: Formal Complaint Regarding Hateful Public Comment at the August 4, 2026, Board Meeting and the Board's Failure To Respond
Dear Members of the ABC Unified School District Board of Education,
I am writing to express my deep concern and outrage regardingan incident that occurred during the Artesia, Bloomfield, and Carmenita Unified School District (ABCUSD) meeting on August 4, 2026. A member of the public, who identified himself as Rudy Krause, was permitted to deliver remarks that were xenophobic, Islamophobic, and hateful in nature. The content of his harmful comments had no discernible connection to the business or jurisdiction of the ABCUSD. This letter demands accountability and a clear commitment from the ABCUSD Board that it condemns and stands against anti-Muslim hate.
Prior to the public comment portion of the meeting, Board Clerk and Area 1 Trustee Leticia Mendoza stated, "Adverse remarks about a person's race, ancestry, ethnic group identification, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, mental or physical disability, or age may not be made." Mr. Krause was the first to make public comment after those instructions and allowed to speak for the full three minutes, during which he made hateful antiMuslim comments specifically targeting the American Muslim community including, "Diversity is our greatest strength, that's what you guy teach, that's a lie...Look at Europe, all of Europe has been taken over by Islam, Muslims. It's a culture of rape and pedophilia. Do you think rape and pedophilia is our greatest strength?" and "You cannot allow the 'Muslimification' of the United States ... I want all the women here ... put your burkas on and don't make any comments. Otherwise, you're going to be stoned to death in the town square."
It is well established that the board holds the authority to regulate its meetings to ensure that public comments are limited to agenda items or non-agenda items within the board's subject matter jurisdiction; Mr. Krause's comments did not fall under either of these categories. As his remarks veered clearly off-topic and descended into hateful vitriol targeting Muslim communities, the board had both the authority and the obligation to intervene. Instead, board members sat silently, allowing hate speech to continue unchallenged from the dais of a public institution dedicated to the education and well-being of all students.
Equally troubling was the absence of any response from the Board President or other board members following the speaker's comments. At the bare minimum, the Board President owed the audience (and the broader community) a clear, unequivocal statement condemning the hate speech that had just been delivered at a public meeting of a school district. ABCUSD is home to a significant number of Muslim students; the silence following such hateful comments sends a profoundly damaging message to every Muslim student, every immigrant family, and every community member who looks to this board for leadership.
The ABCUSD serves one of the most diverse student populations in the State of California. Its Board of Education must reflect the values of inclusion, equity, and dignity that the District espouses. Allowing hate speech to go unchecked and then failing to publicly condemn it undermines those values and erodes the trust of the very communities the board is charged to represent.
I am therefore calling upon the board to immediately and publicly condemn the hateful and Islamophobic remarks made during the August 4, 2026, meeting, and affirm
the District's commitment to the safety and dignity of all students and community members.
The students and families of Artesia, Bloomfield and Carmenita deserve a Board of Education that leads with courage, consistency, and integrity. I urge the board to meet this moment and demonstrate, through decisive action, that hate has no place in the ABCUSD. Please provide us with a response to this letter by August 14, 2026.
Respectfully,
Hussam Ayloush, M.B.A.
Executive Director
Council on American-Islamic Relations, California
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View the letter here: https://ca.cair.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/ABCUSD_Letter_08_10_2026.pdf
[Category: Sociological]
Catholic League Issues Commentary: The Politics of 'Islamophobia'
NEW YORK, Aug. 25 -- The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, an organization that defends the right of Catholics to participate in American public life without defamation or discrimination, issued the following commentary on Aug. 24, 2026, by President Bill Donohue:
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THE POLITICS OF "ISLAMOPHOBIA"
A phobia is an "irrational fear," and there is nothing irrational about fearing radical Muslims, or Islamists, either in the U.S. or abroad. Their vile rhetoric and violent behavior is well documented. On the other hand, fearing the average Muslim, who is not a radical, smacks of bigotry.
The
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NEW YORK, Aug. 25 -- The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, an organization that defends the right of Catholics to participate in American public life without defamation or discrimination, issued the following commentary on Aug. 24, 2026, by President Bill Donohue:
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THE POLITICS OF "ISLAMOPHOBIA"
A phobia is an "irrational fear," and there is nothing irrational about fearing radical Muslims, or Islamists, either in the U.S. or abroad. Their vile rhetoric and violent behavior is well documented. On the other hand, fearing the average Muslim, who is not a radical, smacks of bigotry.
Themedia, for the most part, do not make these key distinctions, which is why their constant harping on "Islamophobia" is disingenuous: it devalues real incidents.
When the actor Michael Rapaport criticized then New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani for eating at pricey restaurants while living in a rent-stabilized apartment, he was accused of "Islamophobia." Wrong. All he did was call attention to his hypocrisy. This is hardly an isolated incident--false charges are commonplace. But they serve a purpose--they are designed to shut down debate.
It is sickening to note that many of those who continue to find "Islamophobia" in places where there is none, had no problem condemning all Catholic priests after the clergy sexual abuse scandal unfolded in 2002. The way priests were collectively spoken about--on radio, TV, newspapers and the internet--was outrageous. This is especially true when we consider that between 1950 and 2002, a mere 149 priests accounted for more than a quarter of all the allegations.
On the Catholic League website, we have archived hundreds of the most vicious cartoons that smeared all priests as predators. Late night TV talk-show hosts, and the ladies on "The View," were non-stop in putting every priest in the same category as the offenders. Whenever one generalizes from the individual to the collective, injustice is done, and this surely happened to Catholic priests.
In the first decade of this century, priests from all over the nation called us to discuss the way they were being treated in public. Many shed their collar or traditional vestments when going out to dinner for fear of being shunned, or worse. None of the guilty were held accountable, and there were no cries of a phobia.
It is important to note that even in those instances where a priest may have complained publicly about being treated this way, he sure didn't make light of offending priests. Yet how many times have we seen people like Mamdani express more outrage about "Islamophobia" than the barbaric events of 9/11? That anyone could actually be more exercised about being shunned in public than the mass slaughter of innocent Americans is as startling as it is offensive.
As we approach the 25th anniversary of the Islamist attacks on America--we need to call it for what it was--let's hope and pray that those who traffic in promoting "Islamophobia" finally condemn, without equivocation, the monstrous events of September 11, 2001.
The killers were not suffering from a mental illness: they were dutifully following the tenets of their fanatical ideological predilections. It's time we called a spade a spade.
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Original text here: https://www.catholicleague.org/the-politics-of-islamophobia/
[Category: Sociological]
