Although Friday is the final scheduled day for this Congress, the Senate still has much to accomplish for the American people before MAGA Republicans take over.

President Biden’s broad clemency power must be used to right historical wrongs by making whole the thousands whose lives have been derailed by our unjust, racially biased criminal justice system—those on death row, the elderly and chronically ill, the battered women who killed their abusers, and those victimized by unjustified sentencing disparities or unjustly convicted, such as Leonard Peltier, the 80-year-old, ill Native American revered elder and activist imprisoned almost 50 years for crimes he may not have committed.

While penned to dismantle pro-Palestinian rights organizations, S.1436, the Senate version of HR.9495, would give the Treasury Secretary unilateral power to strip a nonprofit’s tax exempt status merely by declaring it “a terrorist supporting organization”--with no proof, no burden of evidence, and no due process. We must hold Majority Leader Schumer to his commitment not to allow a Senate vote on S.1436 during the lame duck session.

To prevent Trump from even greater control over the federal courts, especially the appellate ones, the “deal” Majority Leader Schumer brokered, sacrificing critical confirmations with the potential to protect 4 circuits from a seismic right-wing shift for the fleeting political optics of confirming a handful of district court judges is catastrophic and must be rescinded. The Senate must stay in session until all district and appeals court nominees are confirmed. 

Among the incompetent, unqualified, and dangerous sycophants nominated by Trump for senior administrative positions, there is a notable and deeply disturbing pattern of tapping sexual predators. Taking advantage of their present control, Senate Democrats must immediately order FBI background checks on these and all his other nominees and hold hearings on their fitness to hold office.

Although Trump won’t be sworn in until January 20, he’s already begun nominating incompetent, unqualified, and dangerous sycophants for senior administration positions who will carry out his threats to destroy federal agencies, deport many millions, subvert climate change initiatives, and go after his enemies. Since the incoming Senate is unlikely to buck Trump, Senate Democrats must take advantage of their present control by immediately holding hearings on these nominees’ fitness to hold office to demonstrate to us all how dangerous they’ll be to our health and wellbeing and to our democracy’s survival.

Our democracy is under threat. But we will not yield to fascism. We will stand together and we'll fight back in defense of our rights, our communities, and our values. We can take impactful action right now: we can strengthen our court system for the battles ahead. We’re calling on our Senators to confirm every judicial vacancy before the Republicans take control.

We have worked hard fighting the MAGA agenda to protect our freedom, defend our democracy, and enshrine unity, dignity, and opportunity. We stand united against hatred, division, racism, misogyny, court corruption, and burgeoning fascism. Let us keep calm through the inevitable GOP mischief to come and await a glorious celebration together on Inauguration Day.

The Supreme Court is on the ballot in this election, as is the future of our democracy. To prevent MAGA Republicans from controlling SCOTUS for the next 40 years and Trump from using Project 2025 to turn America into a fascist country and to ensure the peaceful transfer of power, voters must elect Kamala Harris and give Democrats majorities in Congress. Our members of Congress must push this message repeatedly between now and November 5.

Hurricanes Helene and Milton have devastated six states leaving the lives of hundreds of thousands upended. While Trump’s tried to spread hateful lies about the federal response, the Biden-Harris administration’s allocated $2+ billion and dispatched 8500+ federal workers  to help affected residents, Congress cannot wait until mid-November to provide necessary funding.

Given the unpopularity of MAGA Republican policies, their only way to win in November is by making voting difficult, or even impossible, for people they believe will vote Democratic. To prevent last minute voter purges from succeeding, voters need to be alerted to check their registration status immediately, so they can reregister in time to vote in this most important election of our lifetime. 

With emergency crews only just beginning to address the astronomical damage caused by tropical storm Helene, the next devastating storm is already on the way. And the worst storm to come? Trump’s Project 2025 in November unless we defeat it together.

Our Postal Service will never be safe as long as Louis DeJoy, Trump’s mega-donor choice, remains Postmaster General. To ensure that mail voting remains a secure, reliable option for millions of voters and to protect the integrity of this election, the Senate must immediately confirm Marty Welch and Val Demings to the Postal Service Board of Governors so DeJoy can be fired and his disastrous policies reversed.

Trump and his Heritage Foundation cronies have laid out a comprehensive plan to dismantle the foundation of our immigration system and deport millions of immigrants living and working here. We must reject it.