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Today is Wednesday, Jan. 8, 12 days before Inauguration Day. In today’s Truth and Action Roundup, we discuss Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement that Facebook and Instagram will discontinue third-party fact-checking, analyze President-elect Donald Trump’s reasons for setting his sights on Greenland, and report on the Biden administration’s ban on including medical debt in credit reports. We also provide opportunities for action on Trump administration nominees and protecting women and girls’ rights. Finally, we offer our “Deep Breaths” spiritual resources to equip you for the days ahead.

— Rev. Adam Taylor, Sojourners

In the News

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

1) Meta CEO Zuckerberg announced yesterday that Facebook and Instagram would make changes to content moderation policies, eliminating third-party fact-checking and replacing it with user-written community notes. Many view this move as Zuckerberg seeking to gain favor with Trump in advance of the president-elect’s return to the White House later this month. Zuckerberg claimed that “fact checkers have just been too politically biased,” echoing conservative talking points that Meta’s content moderation policies amount to censorship. He also specifically pointed to Trump’s election in November as a “cultural tipping point towards once again prioritizing speech.” Zuckerberg’s move comes in the wake of statements from Trump accusing Zuckerberg of election interference and saying he should face life in prison. The move also comes as an antitrust case brought by the Federal Trade Commission and attorneys general from 48 states and territories is set to go to trial in April.

2) In a press conference yesterday, Trump reiterated his desire for the U.S. to acquire Greenland, even going so far as refusing to rule out military force to achieve that goal. While this and similar expansionist statements about the Panama Canal and Canada aren’t new, some of the reasons why Trump may be fixated on Greenland deserve a closer look. Both national security analysts and Trump advisors have pointed to Greenland’s strategic importance in the Arctic, saying it would be valuable to the U.S. as a counter to Russian and Chinese influence in the region, particularly as global warming opens new arctic shipping lanes. The U.S. has maintained a military base there since a 1951 defense treaty, which is equipped with a missile warning system. Greenland is also rich in rare earth minerals used to manufacture batteries and high-tech devices. Greenland is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, which ruled the island as a colony until 1953. Greenland’s prime minister, Múte Egede, told Trump last month that the island is “not for sale,” and Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, said yesterday that Greenland’s future would be decided by Greenland. Aaja Chemnitz, a Greenlandic member of Danish parliament, pointed out that among many natives of Greenland, Trump’s offer to buy the island is both unpopular and insulting, especially “the fact that [he’s] saying you can buy another country.”

3) The Biden administration’s Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued new regulations yesterday that ban medical debts from appearing on American credit reports. The rules also bar credit agencies from considering medical information when they assess borrowers. The new rules were initially proposed in June, and finalizing them before Trump takes office reduces the chances that his administration will reverse them. Medical debt affects an estimated 100 million Americans — and the threat of credit reporting is the most common tactic used by hospitals to collect from patients.

Take Action

Tell the Senate: Take vetting Trump’s nominees seriously. Sign the petition urging the Senate to fulfill their responsibility to thoroughly vet Trump’s cabinet nominees now! Sojourners is one of several organizations co-sponsoring this letter.
Tell President Joe Biden to protect women and girls’ rights. Sign the petition to push Biden to take the step to make the Equal Rights Amendment officially part of the Constitution before he leaves office.

Deep Breaths

Our prayers go out to Rev. Moya, the usual author of Deep Breaths, as she spends the next few weeks with family.

Today’s spiritual nourishment comes from the January 1993 issue of Sojourners magazine. Though we celebrated Epiphany on Monday, we continue to walk in the light of hope that Jesus is here among us.

“As the winter yellow grass holds up gray-black branches, silently testifying to the annual season of death, we make our way with the flickering light of Epiphany. We still hold one arm around unconsolable Rachel, whose arms are empty and whose tear-filled eyes are looking back over her shoulder. Another arm is wrapped around Mary, whose arms are filled with the fragile promise of new life, and whose hopeful eyes are looking ahead. This journey into Epiphany is made slowly, for neither Sister Grief nor Sister Promise can walk quickly.

“Christmas proclaimed the presence of the light. Epiphany calls us to spread the light on the journey. Epiphany means ‘manifestation.’ We see the light of Christ as it is manifest from the crib of Jesus in Bethlehem to all the nations. ‘A light for revelation to the Gentiles’ (Luke 2:32) is the Bible’s shorthand way of saying that Christ’s mission is to the whole world. Epiphany stories reach out to the world through the coming of the Magi, Jesus’ baptism by John, the call of the first disciples, and the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.

“The welcome mat is set out. The front porch light is left on to welcome foreigners, local fishermen, city priests, Roman soldiers, and Greek tourists. There are no limits placed on this love born at Christmas.” — Nancy Hastings Sehested

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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