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Today is Friday, Jan. 3, 17 days before Inauguration Day. Happy New Year to you and yours! In today’s Truth and Action Roundup, we report on President-elect Donald Trump’s dangerous and misleading anti-immigrant rhetoric in the wake of the deadly truck attack in New Orleans, provide an update on the incoming Congress, and cover some encouraging news on prescription drug costs for seniors. We share an invitation to join an upcoming organizing call with faith leaders focused on tools for demanding that senators properly scrutinize Trump’s cabinet nominees, as well as one last reminder about the vigil for democracy this Sunday. Finally, we offer our “Deep Breaths” spiritual resources to equip you for the days ahead.

— the Truth and Action Roundup production team

In the News

Here’s what we know at the time of writing:

1) After 15 people were killed and at least 30 injured in the early hours of New Year’s Day when a man drove a truck into a crowd in New Orleans, La., Trump made false claims that the attack was linked to migrant people and security at the U.S.-Mexico border. These falsehoods, which Trump broadcasted on social media following a later-retracted Fox News report, continue his longstanding practice of creating and amplifying hateful and false rhetoric about migrant people — often attempting to make them scapegoats for a wide range of societal problems. Trump later posted on his Truth Social platform in the third person, proclaiming: “TRUMP WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING!”

2) The new Congress will be sworn in today, with Republicans holding an extraordinarily slim 220-215 majority in the House of Representatives and 53 seats in the Senate. The first item on the House’s agenda is electing a speaker, which must be done before members are even sworn in. Allies of the current speaker Mike Johnson are trying to convince Republicans to put aside their differences and vote for him so as not to delay the official certification of Trump’s victory scheduled for January 6. Meanwhile, House Democrats have decried a proposed change to House rules that would allow only members of the majority party to force a vote on removing the speaker.

3) Starting this month, Medicare beneficiaries will for the first time ever have a $2,000 annual cap on out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs obtained at a pharmacy or via mail order, due to a provision in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. AARP estimates that 3 to 4 million Medicare enrollees will benefit from this provision, with 40% of those beneficiaries saving $1,000 or more annually.

Take Action

Don’t Obey in Advance: Faith-Based Call to Action to Save Democracy. On Jan. 6, the fourth anniversary of the attack on the U.S. Capitol, join faith leaders at 8 p.m. EST for an organizing call on how faith communities can ensure that all cabinet nominees are highly qualified to perform their duties and are committed to upholding the Constitution. The call will also feature spiritual grounding as we prepare for activism in the years ahead. Sojourners is one of several organizations co-sponsoring this call.
Final reminder! Join us at the fourth annual “Faith in Democracy” Interfaith Prayer Vigil streaming and in person on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Sunday Jan. 5 at 3:30 p.m. Co-sponsored by Sojourners, the Franciscan Action Network, and Faith in Peace Concerts, this vigil will feature faith leaders sharing why their faith compels them to pursue democracy, peace, and justice at this critical time in our nation. For more information, to register to attend, or to watch the stream for this event, click here.

Deep Breaths

A Reflection on Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa, celebrated from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, is a unique and beautiful holiday that honors African American and Pan-African culture, heritage, and history. Created in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, it is rooted in the Nguzo Saba — seven principles that offer timeless lessons for building stronger, more compassionate, and equitable communities. Importantly, Kwanzaa does not replace religious or faith traditions but is instead a cultural celebration that invites us to reflect on shared values and collective progress.

These principles — Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith — remind us of the power of community, the importance of honoring our past, and the responsibility to work together for a better future. Kwanzaa invites us all, no matter our background, to celebrate resilience, creativity, and hope.

As we reflect on these principles, consider how you can embody them in your own life. Whether it’s supporting a local Black-owned business (Ujamaa), fostering unity in your community (Umoja), or using your creativity to uplift others (Kuumba), each of us has the power to make a difference. Let the spirit of Kwanzaa inspire you to take a step toward building a more just, united, and purposeful world.

— Rev. Moya Harris, Director of Racial Justice, Sojourners

The Truth and Action Roundup is compiled by Sojourners staff:
President: Rev. Adam Russell Taylor
Director of Racial Justice: Rev. Moya Harris
Senior Research Associate: J.K. Granberg-Michaelson
Senior Adviser and Director to the President’s Office: Elizabeth Denlinger Reaves
Senior Director of Campaigns and Mobilizing: Sandy Ovalle Martínez
Director of Congregational Outreach & Education: Rev. Andrea Saccoccio
Digital Communications Associate: Lexi Schnaser
Senior Director of Marketing: Sandra Sims

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