The People’s Watchdog Newsletter - January 17

[Common Cause]

This week’s Common Cause newsletter is just a 5 minute read at 720 words.

Saturday, January 17, 2026 👋 Hi Jody! Happy Saturday. In the Watchdog Newsletter, we share what you need to know to hold power accountable from the nonpartisan source you can trust. This week’s Common Cause newsletter is just a 5 minute read at 720 words. 🚫 ICE Out of Our Neighborhoods Since June, ICE has steadily increased its presence across the nation, infiltrating our communities and terrorizing our neighbors at the behest of President Trump’s aggressive anti-immigrant agenda. Last week, the administration escalated its dangerous tactics once again. In Minneapolis, an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, a mother of three, poet, and American citizen. One day later, ICE agents shot and injured two more people in Portland, and another this week in Minneapolis. This reign of terror must end. Our government is meant to keep us safe, not kill its citizens. Full transparency and accountability are the bare minimum for preventable tragedies like this. That’s why we demanded immediate action — Congress has the power and responsibility to investigate ICE’s use of deadly force and hold this administration accountable. Join us: tell President Trump to end his war on Minnesota, call your representative demanding Congress hold ICE accountable, and thank the civil servants who are standing up and fighting for justice for Renee Good. 🛡️ ️Protecting Voter Privacy in 14 States (and Counting) The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is spearheading an unprecedented, nationwide movement to collect highly sensitive voter data from states. These demands include asking for voters’ full names, birthdays, addresses, driver’s license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers — information that’s protected by state and federal law. The states refusing to break the law by sharing their data now face lawsuits from the DOJ. The Trump Administration’s demands raise urgent questions about data privacy, federal overreach, and the future of election administration ahead of the 2026 midterms. We’re standing up to protect voters, because we all deserve to have fair elections and our right to privacy protected. So far, Common Cause filed lawsuits in 13 states: Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Pennsylvania,  Rhode Island, and Wisconsin — plus Washington DC. Our action will help protect sensitive, personal data; the creation of an unauthorized national voter database; and any efforts enabling voter purges — something that would mean many voters lose their chance to weigh in on future elections. 💪🏽 No Pardon for Election Denier Tina Peters Remember Tina Peters? Peters is the former County Clerk of Mesa County, Colorado, who was convicted — by a jury of her peers — for leading one of the nation’s most serious election security breaks back in 2020 to help Trump try to steal the election. In Trump’s ongoing effort to pardon and reward the criminals who aided his failed power grab, he’s now applying pressure to Colorado’s Governor to grant Tina Peters clemency. Since Peters was convicted on state charges (by a Republican district attorney), the only way for her to be pardoned is through the state. Colorado Governor Jared Polis recently shared he was considering Trump’s request. We won’t stand for that. That’s why Common Cause led a group of 18 voting and civil rights organizations in taking action, urging Governor Polis to decline Peters clemency, and 472 Colorado Common Cause members wrote letters to say the same. The people of Colorado held power to account. We’re making sure it stays that way. 📱 Our Favorite Post 👀 ICYMI We're working so hard to protect our democracy, we could write you a novel instead of a newsletter. Instead, here are the top headlines you don't want to miss: California 🐻: As the state’s leading ethics and transparency watchdog, we weighed in on how loopholes in campaign finance laws damage public trust in our elected representatives. Read more here. Colorado ⛷️: We’re still advocating for transparency and accountability for the state lawmakers who accepted a luxury retreat from an undisclosed dark money group. Read the newest updates to our ethics complaints here. North Carolina 🛩: We are pushing for more days to vote and more access to the ballot during elections in the Tar Heel State. Read about our advocacy and progress here. Rhode Island ⚓: This year, we’re going to pass new state voting rights laws, close loopholes in campaign finance law, increase transparency, and revoke calls for an Article V convention. Learn more about our legislative work here. 📊 By the Numbers 🗞️ Kicker Quote 👕 Wear Your Values If you're not following Common Cause, you’re not getting the truth. If you were forwarded this newsletter and want to sign up too, click here. For updates, follow us on X [Twitter], Instagram, Threads, Facebook, and TikTok. Common Cause is a leader in fights that matter at the local and state level. Your support helps us fight special interests, hold elected officials accountable, and build a better democracy for all Coloradans. DONATE Interested in volunteering with our Action Team? Sign up here. 1410 Grant Street, Suite A202 Denver, CO 80203 303.292.2163 https://commoncause.org Common Cause’s work to defend and strengthen our democracy is powered by members like you. You can use this link to unsubscribe or let us know you'd like to receive fewer emails from us. Sent via ActionNetwork.org. 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