Civics 01/06

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

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A View From the Ground

News and information about politics, government, civic participation and engagement from URL Media's network of Black and Brown publishers.

This week, let’s talk about Trump’s action in Venezuela, ICE raids and job losses and more. And as always, we’re bringing you the latest updates at url-media.com.

Credit: Pexels / Aboodi

Trump's Venezuela move stretches the Constitution

TANTV News is sounding the alarm about the most recent constitutional crisis sparked by President Trump, who launched military operations against Venezuela on January 3rd without Congressional approval.

The core issue? The Constitution explicitly gives Congress the power to declare war, not the president. But Trump has gone further than previous presidents, openly claiming the U.S. has a "right" to "run Venezuela." The timing is especially suspicious given Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves. Meanwhile, Americans are struggling with healthcare costs, housing affordability, and living paycheck to paycheck.

The solution being pushed is a War Powers Resolution to force an end to the military operation. The argument goes beyond partisan politics. It's about whether we're a country that follows the Constitution or one where the president can wage war whenever they want. And there's a global stakes angle too about what message this sends to Russia and China about invading their neighbors.

Keep reading at TANTV News.

Investing in Housing: Unlocking Economic Mobility for Black Families & All Americans

What if housing wasn't just a roof over our heads — but a launching pad for opportunity, dignity and growth? The report from the McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility shows that quality, affordable housing is still out of reach for millions—and for Black families, the burden is even heavier. McKinsey & CompanyBut the upside is enormous: closing the housing shortfall could generate nearly $2 trillion in GDP, create almost 2 million jobs, and free up hundreds of thousands of households—especially Black households—from cost-burdened living. McKinsey & CompanyFrom unlocking under-used land… to scaling modular home construction… to better shaping public-private partnerships—this is about bold, inclusive change. McKinsey & CompanyIf we’re serious about economic mobility, about justice, about tapping potential—not just resources—we must invest in housing as a fundamental lever.

Ready to dive deeper? Read the full report here and let’s explore how purposeful housing investment can reshape communities and futures.

Source: AsAm News / Department of Homeland Security / Flickr Creative Commons

Immigration raids and jobs, Mamdani keeps expectations high, the coin designs scrapped by the government and more stories from the URL Media network

Immigration raids kill 259k California jobs: A UC Merced study found that immigration raids are tanking California's job market in a major way. Between May and September, the state lost over 259,000 jobs while the rest of the country stayed stable. The research director compared the economic damage to the Great Recession and early COVID pandemic. Private sector employment dropped nearly 3% during enforcement waves. Both citizens and noncitizens are losing jobs, but citizens actually take the bigger numerical hit since they make up more of the workforce. With raids showing no signs of slowing down, researchers expect the job losses to keep climbing. Keep reading at AsAm News.

St. Paul gets first woman and Hmong mayor: St. Paul just made history by swearing in Kaohly Vang Her as its first female and Hmong mayor. At 52, she's facing major challenges from Trump administration policies to sky-high property taxes. Her plans to protect immigrants by working with the City Council on ordinances that limit ICE access to public spaces like parks. She's also focused on economic growth and rebuilding public assets. The inauguration drew hundreds who packed the auditorium as she pledged that while she may be first to break these barriers, she won't be the last. Keep reading at Sahan Journal.

Mamdani refuses to lower expectations: Thousands packed seven blocks of Broadway in freezing weather to watch Zohran Mamdani become NYC's first Muslim, South Asian, and African-born mayor. AOC opened the ceremony while Bernie Sanders administered the oath. Mamdani refused to lower expectations, promising to tackle housing costs, transportation, and childcare. He was sworn in on a Quran and celebrated the city's diversity, name-checking communities from Brighton Beach to Bay Ridge. The Democratic Socialist mayor pledged his win would create momentum for change built on citywide solidarity, not just serving the wealthy and powerful. Keep reading at Epicenter NYC.

A Douglass descendant reveals the government’s historic erasure: A Frederick Douglass descendant spent over a year working with the US Mint on coins honoring abolitionists, suffragists, and Ruby Bridges for America's 250th anniversary. The designs were scrapped by the Trump administration in favor of Pilgrims and colonial imagery. What would've been the first African American on everyday currency got replaced with proposals that included a Trump dollar coin. Treasury officials called it moving away from DEI, but the author argues it's erasing the people who actually made America's founding ideals real for everyone, not just white men. Keep reading at Black Voice News.