🌅 Good Morning, Progressives! ☀️

Rise and shine for justice, equality, and progress! Here’s what’s happening in our fight for a better world.

💡 Daily Affirmation

“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. [Stanford King Institute, Historical Quote]

🚨 Breaking Political Developments

POLITICS

ACLU Calls James Comey Indictment ‘Grotesque Abuse of Presidential Power’

Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted on criminal charges, marking a significant escalation in President Trump’s campaign against political opponents [The Guardian, September 25, 2025]. The American Civil Liberties Union condemned the indictment as “a grotesque abuse of presidential power,” stating that “Trump has yet again proven his disdain for the principles that have actually made America great” [The Guardian Live Updates, September 26, 2025].

Comey faces charges of making false statements and obstruction of justice in connection with 2020 testimony [NPR, September 25, 2025]. Former Special Counsel Jack Smith warned that the rule of law is “under attack,” expressing sadness and anger about the dismissals of career public servants and the loss of DOJ credibility [NPR, September 25, 2025].

Why This Matters: This represents an unprecedented weaponization of the justice system against political opponents, threatening the foundations of democratic governance and the rule of law [The Guardian, September 25, 2025].

HUMAN RIGHTS

ICE Detention Death Toll Reaches 16 Amid ‘Horrendous’ Conditions

The death toll in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities has reached 16 people, raising serious concerns about conditions in these facilities [The Guardian, September 26, 2025]. Advocates describe the conditions as “horrendous” as the Trump administration continues its aggressive deportation campaign.

Meanwhile, immigrants with no criminal record now represent the largest group in ICE detention, contradicting administration claims about targeting dangerous criminals [The Guardian, September 26, 2025]. Community members and immigrant rights organizations have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging a pattern of illegal immigration arrests [Common Dreams, September 25, 2025].

Why This Matters: These deaths and illegal arrests represent a humanitarian crisis that demands immediate attention and accountability from progressive leaders and advocates.

EDUCATION

Trump Budget Proposals Threaten Vulnerable Students and Schools

Education researchers are warning that budget proposals from the White House and House Republicans would impose steep cuts on some of the nation’s most vulnerable students and disadvantaged school communities [NPR, September 26, 2025]. These cuts would disproportionately impact low-income students and communities of color who rely on federal education funding.

Why This Matters: Education funding cuts perpetuate inequality and limit opportunities for the most vulnerable students, undermining progressive values of equal opportunity and social mobility.

CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY

Trump’s TikTok Deal Criticized as ‘Shakedown Scheme’

Experts are calling President Trump’s TikTok deal a “shakedown scheme” and “extortion” as the U.S. government will collect a multibillion-dollar fee from American investors taking over TikTok [NPR, September 26, 2025]. The deal raises serious questions about government overreach and corporate favoritism.

Why This Matters: This deal represents crony capitalism at its worst, with the government extracting fees from private transactions while potentially compromising user privacy and free speech rights.

WORKER RIGHTS

Federal Employee Firings Ruled Illegal, But Government Continues Anyway

A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration’s firing of thousands of federal employees was illegal, but stopped short of ordering their reinstatement, predicting the Supreme Court would overturn such an order [NPR, September 25, 2025]. The mass purge of probationary employees has devastated federal agencies and eliminated crucial expertise.

Why This Matters: These illegal firings represent an assault on the professional civil service and undermine the government’s ability to serve the public effectively.

🌱 Take Action Today

1. Contact Your Representatives

Call your senators and representatives to demand accountability for illegal ICE arrests and federal employee firings. Find contact info at Congress.gov.

2. Support Immigrant Rights

Donate to organizations like ACLU, CASA, and local immigrant rights groups fighting illegal arrests and detention conditions.

3. Defend Education Funding

Join advocacy efforts to protect federal education funding for vulnerable students and disadvantaged communities.

🌟 Progressive Wins to Celebrate

DNC Chair Ken Martin reports that Democrats are overperforming in recent special elections, showing the party is on the right track for 2026 [NPR, September 25, 2025]. Even when Democrats don’t win outright, they’re significantly outperforming expectations, building momentum for future victories.

🌅 Onward & Upward

Every sunrise brings new opportunities to fight for justice, equality, and progress. Together, we rise stronger.

#MorningProgress #ProgressivePower #ForwardTogether

Tomorrow’s preview: Watch for updates on climate policy developments and social justice initiatives as we continue building the progressive movement.

Transparency Note: All information in this briefing is sourced from credible news organizations with direct links provided for verification. Morning Progress is committed to factual reporting and complete transparency in our progressive news coverage.

Morning Progress – September 26, 2025 ☀️