The Goal for 2026
Our primary goal for 2026 is to take back the House and Senate in the 2026 midterm elections. Let’s do all we can to make this happen.
ICE Out For Good Standout
A huge thank you to all who came out to our standout on Saturday.
We acknowledge your courage in protesting. We have to weigh the risk of protesting against the risk of not protesting. Not protesting will further empower this regime that expressed no remorse after an ICE agent murdered a citizen in broad daylight in front of a crowd. Courage is contagious. We must bear witness in these times.
Action of the Week: Demand that Our Reps Publicly Condemn ICE
Last summer, seventy-five Democrats voted with MAGA Republicans to “express gratitude to ICE.” These Democrats called for greater collaboration between state and local governments and ICE.
Massachusetts representatives who empowered ICE include Auchincloss, Keating, Lynch, Moulton, and Neal. Call your member of Congress and demand that they (a) publicly condemn ICE; (b) legally restrain DHS; and (c) reduce DHS funding.
Take a look at the ICE out for Good script (Google Doc). Let’s get ICE out for Good. Visit the Find Your Members (Congress.gov) page to find your Representative or Senator’s contact information.
All-Member Procrastinators Holiday Party on January 25, 2026
Let’s party! Make plans to join our All-Member Procrastinators Holiday Party on Sunday, January 25, 2026, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at FUUSN Parish Hall, First Unitarian Universalist Society of Newton, 1326 Washington Street, West Newton. Coffee and holiday treats will be served (made at the last minute, of course…). Bring your favorite baked goods (optional), and we will play games (also optional). Please send any suggestions to info@Newton-Indivisible.org.
No Fear Street Theatre
Speechifying, Shakespeare, and Sea Shanties! On Burlington Mall Road, every Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., we stand out to show support for our immigrant neighbors, express our outrage with ICE, and build community in opposition to the cruel and unconstitutional actions of the Trump Administration. We are there to tell the world that there is a concentration camp just two blocks away. This is a creative, participatory protest. Learn more about this event here. More people are attending every week, providing social proof of our concerns.
Elections Action Team
Prepare yourself to help flip the House in 2026 with these learning opportunities:
- Monday 1/19/2026, 5:00 – 5:30 p.m. on Zoom: Learn about Swing Blue Alliance, the largest all-volunteer, Democratic grassroots organization headquartered in Massachusetts. In partnership with organizations in swing states, they develop evidence-based programs to protect our democracy, work on competitive local and national elections, and strengthen the Democratic Party at the grassroots level. Register to attend.
- Tuesdays, 8:00 – 8:30 p.m. on Zoom: Learn about Ground Truth, Swing Left’s innovative, people-powered program that’s helping Democrats win back power by reimagining how we talk with voters. In this 30-minute orientation, you’ll learn how to make an impact from anywhere, no matter your schedule or preferred type of action – whether you plan to knock doors, call voters, help recruit volunteers, or more. Register to attend.
- The 2026 Battle for Control of Congress (1/7/2026 episode of The Daily, New York Times, paywalled). Hear about what’s at stake for each party in the 2026 midterm elections.
- Protect the Ballot in Georgia session on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom hosted by the Indivisible Action Coalition Protect the Ballot Project, Register Here and Learn More Here
Bridge Brigade Action Team
Newton Bridge Brigade will be out on Thursday, January 15th, from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on the Kendrick St. Bridge over Rt 128/95.
Swing Left JP will be out on Friday, January 16th, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Lewis Terrace in Newtonville (as long as the weather and wind chill are reasonable).
Highlanders Visibility Brigade will be out again in West Newton on Highland St. over the MA Pike, Wednesday, 8:00 to 9:30 a.m.
For more information on these and other visibility actions around Boston, visit the Local Visibilities page.
Rallies Action Team
Every Saturday Standout in Newton Centre: Join us for our 44th standout in Newton Centre on Saturday, January 17th at the intersection of Beacon and Center Streets from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m.
Saturday RESIST Standouts will continue in Newton Centre throughout the winter unless the City of Newton declares a snow emergency. However, some of our stalwart participants may not be able to stand out in the cold. If you are young and healthy, please consider joining us on any Saturday you are available during the winter months. Bring your own signs; visit The Big List of Protest Signs for ideas.
Upcoming: Protest at Citizens Bank office in Newton Centre on Saturday, January 24 at 11:00 a.m. Through subsidiaries including Citizens Bank, Citizens Financial Group (CFG) has been a major lender to private prison and detention operators for years, despite a mountain of allegations against them, including abuse, fraud, hazardous working conditions, sexual harassment, medical neglect, and forced labor.
Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of “Common Sense” by Thomas Paine
Thomas Paine’s brilliant pamphlet accelerated colonial acceptance of ideas held by revolutionaries in Massachusetts. According to Paine, the “union of three powers, reciprocally checking each other, is farcical ….” But don’t go by someone else’s summary or excerpts. Read Paine’s short pamphlet here. Paine has been used by folks across the political spectrum, each cherry-picking from his writings; for a historian’s perspective, see Who’s Afraid of Thomas Paine? Almost everyone, it turns out (Tad Storermer, YouTube).
Postal Tip
Under new rules that became effective on Christmas Day, 2025, the USPS will not necessarily postmark mail on the day that it is deposited. This could be important, for example, for taxes or electoral ballots. If you want your mail to be postmarked on the day of its deposit, ask a postal worker at the post office to mark your mail with today’s date and then look at your mail to confirm that it has been marked with the correct date.
More Opportunities to Take Action
Please visit the Opportunities to Take Action page on our website for a listing of important ongoing initiatives. The list is updated weekly along with our newsletter.
Newsletter Contributions
To submit items for inclusion in our Newsletter or Opportunities to Take Action page on our website, please send them to newsletter@newton-indivisible.org and include an image if possible. Submissions will be edited for brevity and clarity.
Brought to you by the Newton Indivisible Executive Committee: Kia, Rachael, Larry, Pat, Erica, Karen, and David. To send a message to the leadership team, use our Contact Form or email info@newton-indivisible.org.