For the week of January 5, 2026

🎙️Jan 5, 2026 Weekly Actions Audio – available for when you’re on the go

🔷 Happy New Year! Community is the antidote to despair! Our first Indivisible Eastside meeting to kick off 2026 will be on Zoom, on Sat Jan 17, 3-4:30 pm (new members please join at 2:30). You can also join with others Thur Jan 22, 10:30-12:30 in Redmond at a social gathering to make Valentines for care home residents. Register to join using the access code ‘valentine’.

🔷 Join a massive, peaceful, and non-violent protest of ICE deportation flights at King County International Airport (Boeing Field) hosted by La Resistencia on Thur Jan 15, 9:30-11:30 am. Sign up HERE. You can also support local Rapid Response and Community Support organizations by attending a Happy Hour at Woodblock, 16175 Cleveland Street, Suite 109, Redmond, also on Thur Jan 15, 3-5 pm.

🔷 The Trump administration ordered military strikes on Venezuela and kidnapped President Maduro and his wife to charge them in the US for drug trafficking. There is no congressional approval for this military action. Congress must return from recess immediately to rein in these aggressive and illegal acts of war. 5 Calls makes it easy to call your representative.

Weekly Actions

✊ Action 1 – Protect Trans Youth Healthcare

From Human Rights Campaign and 5 Calls

The House has passed two bills that threaten health care that supports transgender youth:

H.R. 498 “Do No Harm in Medicaid Act” blocks Medicaid funding for gender-affirming care for transgender youth; and
H.R. 3492 “Protect Innocent Children Act” makes the provision of gender-affirming care for minors a Federal crime.

Since 2016, both Medicaid and ACA insurers have been prohibited from categorically excluding gender affirming surgery or hormone therapy from their coverage. Trump, lawmakers, and HHS are attempting to reverse these protections. (For information about actions taken by HHS, see “Extra credit” below. )

The research is clear: gender-affirming care saves lives. Please contact your Senators and urge them to vote NO on these two bills.

🔷 Sen. Patty Murray: DC 202-224-2621 | Seattle 206-553-5545 | EMAIL

🔷 Sen. Maria Cantwell: DC 202-224-3441 | Seattle 206-220-6400 | EMAIL

☎ Sample Script:

Hello, my name is [NAME], and I am a constituent from [CITY], WA. I am calling to strongly oppose efforts to block access to essential, medically necessary care for transgender youth.

Studies have consistently found that transgender youth who are able to receive gender-affirming care like access to hormonal treatments report positive outcomes, including increased well-being and decreased depression.

Medical professionals, not federal agencies, should be the people advising parents and their children about what kind of care is appropriate.

I urge you to vote NO on the “Do No Harm in Medicaid Act” and the “Protect Innocent Children Act” if they come up for a vote. Thank you.

[NAME]

[IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied]

Extra credit—comment on proposed HHS rules affecting transgender youth: On top of the bills in Congress, rules have been proposed by Health and Human Services (HHS) to block hospitals and doctors from providing gender-affirming care to youth across the country. The rules would also take away public funding like Medicaid and CHIP from kids who rely on that coverage to access best practice, medically necessary care. The comment period for these rules runs until February 17, 2026. To add your comments:

Here is some background, plus sample text written by the Human Rights Campaign.
For the rule affecting hospitals, submit a public comment here.
For the rule affecting Medicaid and CHIP funding, submit a public comment here.

https://www.takeaction.network/xactions/ie/26-1-5-A1

✊ Action 2 – Tell the Forest Service to back off from logging proposed in Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

From Sierra Club

The US Forest Service is proposing a massive forestwide “thinning” project in Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest that threatens recreation, wildlife, local economies, and clean air and water, while increasing the likelihood of forest fires. It would impact 36,000 acres over 30 years and stretch from the Canadian border to Mt Rainier National Park.

We have a little time before the deadline of January 12, 2026 to comment. Note that even if our voices don’t cause the Forest Service to immediately reconsider this project, the public record we create by submitting comments can help bolster the fight in the future.

Action: submit a formal comment to the Forest Service telling them to stop this project until a thorough Environmental Impact Statement is produced. Deadline: January 12. Steps:

Use the Individualized Sample Text below to develop the first paragraph of your message. Individualized text increases the impact!
Copy the detailed text developed by Sierra Club and add it after your first paragraph. This adds depth and detail to strengthen your message.
Go to the U.S. Forest Service’s webpage on this project (scroll down to the form).
Fill out your personal information.
Copy and paste your message into the “Letter Text” part of the form.
Click the “I’m not a robot” button, and then click “Submit.”

☎ Individualized Sample Text (for first paragraph of comment)

I live in Washington state, and I love our forests for_______ { examples: their beautiful hiking trails … their spectacular beauty … the way they clean our air and water and keep our streams flowing … the way they sequester carbon while supporting the health of wildlife, fish, and people … the way they support our rural communities }. The Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is of central importance in the forests of our state.

⛅ Bright Spots

50 States, 50 Fixes highlights local and state level environmental action that is going on right now, regardless of actions at the Federal level. The article was published by the New York Times to celebrate the new year.
Renee Hardman didn’t just win Iowa Senate District 16—she crushed it with 71.5% of the vote. By flipping this seat, she officially shattered the GOP supermajority and became the first Black woman ever elected to the Iowa Senate.
Zahid Chaudry, a disabled, Pakistani born US Army Veteran was finally released after over 3 months in ICE detention.

Upcoming Events

Sun Jan 11 – 10-12 pm – Coffee & Conversation with Rep. Salahuddin. Qamari Yemeni Coffee Co., 17585 Northeast 67th Court, Suite 100, Redmond.
Mon Jan 12 – State legislature Regular Session begins.
Thur Jan 15 – 9:30-11:30 am – Protest ICE Deportation Flights – Boeing Field, 7277 Perimeter Rd S, Seattle.
Thur Jan 15 – 3-5 pm, Happy Hour to support local Rapid Response and Community Support organizations. Woodblock, 16175 Cleveland Street, Suite 109, Redmond.
Sat Jan 17 – 3-4:30 pm (new members please join at 2:30) – Indivisible Eastside Group Meeting (Zoom).
Thu Jan 22 – 10:30-12:30 pm – IE Valentine Making Social in Redmond. Register to attend using access code ‘valentine’.
Fri Jan 23 – 8:30 am-5 pm – Democracy Lobby Day – United Churches of Olympia. In Olympia; register to attend.
Thur Feb 5 – 8:30 am-5 pm – Advocacy Day – Washington for Peace and Justice and Jewish Voice for Peace-Seattle. Capitol Building, Olympia. Register to attend.

Indivisible Eastside

Actions

WAISN’s Bystander & Observer Guidelines for documenting immigrant detainment

For the week of January 5, 2026

🎙️Jan 5, 2026 Weekly Actions Audio – available for when you’re on the go

Weekly Actions

✊ Action 1 – Protect Trans Youth Healthcare

✊ Action 2 – Tell the Forest Service to back off from logging proposed in Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

⛅ Bright Spots

Upcoming Events

📣 Everyday Actions

See Eastside and Seattle Protests 2025

See Ways to Help our Immigrant Neighbors

See Postcarding & Letter Writing resources on our website

Additional resources for your activism