NEWSLETTER
NEWSLETTER
Embedded Files
NEXT EVENTS ➢ Postcards + Civics + Craftivism Gatherings
July 2026
July 2026
Mission Statement
We are dedicated to strengthening democracy through civic and voter education, constitutional literacy, and informed, inclusive civic participation. We believe in peaceful action, equal rights, the rule of law, and democracy that works for everyone.
Spotlights
Spotlights
Good News Update
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Birthright Citizenship Protected. In Trump v. Barbara, the Court struck down the Executive Order ending birthright citizenship.
Ballot Processing After Election Day Confirmed. In Watson v. RNC, SCOTUS voted to confirm states set ballot receipt rules, specifically this ruling allows states to accept ballots after Election Day as long as they are postmarked by Election Day.
The NAACP plans to spend $20 million on a Get Out The Vote campaign. The NAACP's campaign, conducted in partnership with GSSA, will recruit 20,000 volunteers and mobilize 6.5 million Black voters across 14 states and 33 congressional districts.
DOJ is now 0-11 in district court voter roll cases, 0-1 in appeals court and has yet to win a single court order requiring a state to turn over unredacted statewide voter data. Their latest request was to process 3 pending cases on an emergency basis, which the court declined.
March Executive Order / Federal Voter Roles / USPS: On June 25, a federal court barred federal agencies from interfering with how plaintiff states maintain their voter roles or conduct mail in voting. The court’s ruling also blocked the US Postal Service from withholding mail ballots from voters not on an approved list in the plaintiff states.
Urgent Calls to Action
Urgent Calls to Action
Civics in Action Series Adopt-a-Bill: Learn How to Follow & Influence Legislation
Join Indivisible Turning the Tables for this popular event on Thurs, July 23 - 7pm. This has been updated to be a VIRTUAL call.
This session will cover:
How a bill becomes law
How to find and track legislation
How to understand what a bill actually does
Simple ways to take action (email, call, show up, share)
Review of LIS (Legislative Information Session)
Honor the Legacy of John Lewis.
Attend a 'Good Trouble Lives On' Event Near You!
Across America, let’s make good trouble. We are facing the most brazen rollback of civil rights in generations.
The same spirit that fueled Selma, Montgomery, and the March on Washington lives on in our unified action.
Select local events:
Voting Rights Town Hall, Fri,July 17, 5pm-7pm, Reston (Register here.)
Bridge Brigade Over 495, Fri,July 17, 7:30am-9am, Audrey Moore Rec Center (Register here.)
Voting Rights Visibility Event, Sat, July 18, 11am-12noon, Tysons (Register here.)
Sidewalk Brigade, Sat, July 18, 9am-11am, Kings Park Shopping Center(Register here.)
Chantilly Voting Rights Teach In, Sat, July 18, 12:30pm-2:30pm, Chantilly (Register here.)
Search for more events on GoodTroubleLivesOn or on Mobilize.
Indivisible Immigrant Justice Summer Training Series
When ICE surges in your community, do you know what to do? Join Indivisible for the Immigrant Justice Summer Training Series, where you learn how to build a concrete three-step blueprint for mounting a safe, hyper-local, immigrant-aligned response.
Each call is one hour, on Thursday evenings from 8-9pm EST.
Calls will be recorded in case you miss one.
Call # 1: Your 3 Steps to Organizing when ICE Comes to Your Community (Register here for July 9 event. )
Call #2: How to Connect with Immigrant Justice Orgs in Your Community (Register here for July 23 event. )
Call #3: Show Up With a Plan — Roles and Rapid Response Strategies (Register here for August 8 event.)
Call #4: Grow the Circle — How to Build a Link Tree to Channel Support to Immigrant Justice Organizing in Your Community (Register here for August 20 event.)
Call #5: How to Use Signal for Immigrant Justice Rapid Response in Your Community (Register here for August 27 event.)
Do you wonder about how Indivisible is set up?
Do you wonder about how Indivisible is set up?
Indivisible is a national organization that is creating a movement of millions of people working to stop the rise of authoritarianism in the US and to demand a real democracy. Read more about Indivisible National here.
On a state level, there is loose coordination amongst the various local chapters in the state. Recently virginiaindivisibles.org was launched. You can see all the Virginia chapters here. They have also introduced the VISN Newsletter showing activities across the state.
Anyone can create a local chapter, like Turning the Tables, under Indivisible. This allows us affiliation with the national organization, and allows our team to utilize the Indivisible suite of tools and organize under the Indivisible umbrella.
Individuals are free to join any number of local chapters. While many activities overlap, some teams do focus on certain topics. Feel free to participate wherever your interests and time allows!
Elections & Voter Engagement
Elections & Voter Engagement
The August 4th Virginia Primary
The August 4th Virginia Primary
☑️ Know before you go!
☑️ Know before you go!
Know which races are relevant for your precinct. In November, all Virginians will vote for the 1 US Senate contest and 1 US House contest, but in August voting for these contests depends on:
which party you align with
which congressional district you are in
if there is a primary for that contest and for that party
Use the steps below to get ready!
Find your congressional district here: VA Elections Citizen Portal / Check Registration Status
Review this summary to determine what is on the ballot for your congressional district. In Northern Virginia:
US House District 8 has a Democratic Primary only. Don Beyer (D) is the incumbent.
US House District 10 has a Republican Primary only. Suhas Subramanyam (D) is the incumbent.
US House District 11 does not have any Primary contests. James Walkinshaw (D) is the incumbent.
Review the early voting schedule for Fairfax County and Fairfax City here. If you are in another jurisdiction please check with your registrar’s office.
Use the 'Check Registration Status' option to:
Update your address.
Find your Congressional, State Senate, House of Delegates and Election Districts.
Apply to Vote Absentee by Mail.
Join the permanent absentee list.
Find your polling place.
Check your voting history.
YOUR Right to Vote
YOUR Right to Vote
The attempts to restrict access to voting continue, as does rampant misinformation designed to create fear and distrust in the voting process. We are 4 months away from the mid-terms and any change that does get through will no doubt introduce chaos in the November election.
The SAVE Act has been dead on arrival in the Senate, but House Republicans are trying again to pass it (again) by including it in other bills. (Democracy Docket 7/6/26)
Voter intimidation threats continue. It’s no secret that the Trump administration wants to discourage people from voting. This includes threats of deploying ICE at polling places, which is a federal crime.
Please be sure to amplify “your polling place is protected by law” into voter outreach!
Report any verified incidents of voter intimidation to your registrar and the Virginia Department of Elections, (800) 552-9745.
Voting Rights Lab: This website provides comprehensive legislative research and analysis for lawmakers, partners, and journalists through our Election Policy Tracker and publications. It includes a state/county level heat map and election policy tracker, which is a comprehensive database of current election law and proposed legislation covering all 50 states and D.C.
Fortunately Fairfax County scores the lowest possible ranking of 1.
Mid-Term Reminder: VA Constitutional Amendments On the 11/3 Ballot
Mid-Term Reminder: VA Constitutional Amendments On the 11/3 Ballot
As we engage with others on the importance of voting this November, please remember to remind everyone we have 3 VA Constitutional Amendments on the ballot.
The COVACoalition has a great summary, including ballot language for these amendments.
☑️ VOTE YES for Marriage Equality – Free to Love!
☑️ VOTE YES for Reproduction Rights – Free to Choose!
☑️ VOTE YES for Voting Rights Restoration – Free to Participate!
Postcard Status, 7/8/26
Postcard Status, 7/8/26
We are just over half way to our goal of mailing 20k postcards by the end of October.
Our next Postcard Party is on July 21. Please join us! You can also pick up postcards to work on at home and return later.
If you are not a postcard writer - you can still help! Here’s how:
Help us stamp the postcards!
Donate stamps or $s for stamps if you are able. Note: Postcard Stamps currently cost $0.61, but the price is going up to $0.65 on July 12.
Shop our store to help with supplies.
If you like working on all things related to elections join our Elections Working Group.
If you love canvassing or just want to try canvassing with our experienced people, please join our Canvassing Working Group.
Civics Education & Public Information
Civics Education & Public Information
From Adopt-a-Bill to Action: Legislative Lookout Begins
From Adopt-a-Bill to Action: Legislative Lookout Begins
We held our first Legislative Lookout session, and it was a great success!
We held our first Legislative Lookout session, and it was a great success!
Legislative Lookout is the next step after our Adopt-a-Bill workshops. It gives participants a place to continue tracking the state bills they selected, discuss what they are learning, and decide on meaningful next civic action steps.
You do not need to have attended Adopt-a-Bill to participate. This ongoing group is open to anyone who wants to learn more about the Virginia legislative process, follow issues that matter to our community, and help prepare for the 2027 General Assembly session.
Why We’re Focusing on State Bills
Why We’re Focusing on State Bills
For both Adopt-a-Bill and Legislative Lookout, we will be focusing primarily on bills before the Virginia General Assembly.
State legislation has a direct impact on our daily lives, including issues like education, transportation, housing, public safety, voting rights, healthcare, the environment, and local government authority. It is also one of the most accessible places for everyday people to learn how the legislative process works and take meaningful action.
By focusing on Virginia state bills, participants can follow legislation from start to finish, understand how committees and votes shape outcomes, and learn when and how constituent input can make a difference. This shared focus also helps our group stay organized, track bills together, and prepare for coordinated action during the 2027 General Assembly session.
While federal and local issues are important too, Adopt-a-Bill and Legislative Lookout are designed to help us build practical advocacy skills through a clear, focused, and manageable process.
Over the coming months, we will continue tracking bills, identifying key issues, and planning ways to act together.
We are also preparing to host a community listening town hall discussion where community members can share concerns, priorities, and issues they want addressed before the next legislative session. The information gathered will help shape a follow-up town hall with local delegates, where we will present the community’s top concerns, ask which bills and issues they are looking at, and discuss how residents can be constructively involved.
In addition, we are planning Civic Tabling sessions at local libraries to provide voter registration information, civics education materials, and simple ways for community members to get involved.
Save the Date for Delegate Irene Shin’s
Build Your Own Bill (BYOB) Workshop
Save the Date for Delegate Irene Shin’s
Build Your Own Bill (BYOB) Workshop
BYOB Part 1: Monday, August 31st - 6:30pm-8:30pm
BYOB Part 2: Tuesday, October 13th - 6:30pm-8:30pm
This two-part workshop series will guide you through the legislative process, from the nitty-gritty details of drafting bills to the intricacies of getting them signed into law.
Here's what you need to know:
This is a progressive series, where the second workshop will build directly on the foundation of the first workshop, so we very strongly encourage attendance at both events.
Come with a bill idea you’d like to see come to life, or a curiosity about the issues our neighbors care about. All are welcome, but especially those who are interested in getting more civically involved.
By the end of the series, you will have had experience working on a real legislative proposal from its inception.
Are you interested in this space?
Are you interested in this space?
Want to learn more about how bills become laws and how residents can influence legislation? Interested in exploring the U.S. Constitution, the structure of government, or ways to help teach others about civics?
Join us as we continue building a community of informed, engaged residents who are ready to learn, participate, and take meaningful action.
No prior experience is needed — just curiosity, a willingness to learn, and a desire to help others become more informed and involved.
If any of these topics interest you, please join our Civics & Public Outreach Working Group.
Immigration & Civil Rights
Immigration & Civil Rights
The Immigration group focuses on being informed with what’s happening to immigrants nationally and in our local Northern Virginia community, educating and making our representatives and community members aware of it and formulating positions and taking actions to stop or mitigate the injustices. We help those in distress now while also working to fix a broken immigration system.
The Current Immigration Landscape
Federal Immigration Updates (2)
Even MORE Money For ICE & CBP: On June 9, another $70 billion for Homeland Security (for use by ICE & CBP) was narrowly approved (214 to 212) in the House. This is in addition to the $75 billion received in 2025. Note prior to 2025 the annual budget for ICE was less than $10 billion. (NPR 6/10/26 and NPR 1/21/26)
Community Arrests Surging: ICE has dropped the fanfare but upped the arrests. At the end of June, ICE arrested 10,000 in 5 days, effectively doubling the previous daily arrest rate. The detained population in ICE custody is over 63,000. (MSN 7/1/26)
SCOTUS Decisions (3)
Birthright Citizenship Protected: In Trump v. Barbara, the Court struck down the Executive Order ending birthright citizenship. (SCOTUS BLOG, 6/26/26)
Asylum Seekers Blocked: In Mullin v. Al Otro Lado, the Court upheld the federal government’s policy of systematically turning back asylum seekers before they can reach the U.S.-Mexico border. (SCOTUS BLOG, 6/25/26 and American Immigration Council, 6/25/26)
Temporary Protected Status Ruling: In Mullin v. Doe, the Court ruled that the federal law creating the TPS program generally bars courts from reviewing the determinations by Homeland Security to end the TPS designations for Haiti and Syria. (SCOTUS BLOG, 6/25/26) This could impact up to 350,000 people and lead to one of the biggest mass deportations in history. (National TPS Alliance)
Virginia Specific Updates (3)
Food and Nutrition: The OBBB removed SNAP benefits from people who are a refugee, asylee, or humanitarian parolee even though they are lawfully present aliens. Delegate Tran and Senator Salim requested budget amendments (HB30; 328/#6h and SB30; 329/#2s) to fund a food assistance program that supported immigrants in Virginia, but the program was not included in the approved budget due to lack of funding.
Medicaid for Pregnant Women: There was a proposal to eliminate the Family Access to Medical Insurance Security (FAMIS), through which Virginia offered prenatal coverage based on eligibility criteria, regardless of immigration status. In response, Senator Favola requested an amendment (SB30/290#1s) “that includes care of all children who upon birth will be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or qualified aliens”. The amendment was approved and is included in the approved budget.
Virginia Mask Ban Blocked by Federal Judge: A Federal District Judge ruled in favor of the Department of Justice that Virginia can not enforce its newly passed law (HB 1482/SB 352) which “prohibits any law-enforcement officer, defined in the bill, from wearing a facial covering“. The block will remain in place until the court’s final ruling. (Courthouse News, 6/26/26)
The ‘State-Level Frontline’
A deep divide has emerged between federal mandates and state-level resistance. While federal policies push to compel local police to act as immigration agents, states are actively constructing firewalls. Legislation that prohibits state and local law enforcement from using public resources to assist federal immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant has become a critical battleground. Read more about this issue here.
Refugee Council USA’s Advocacy Days
Refugee Council USA’s Advocacy Days
Members of the Immigration Working Group participated in Refugee Council USA’s Advocacy Days June 9 and 10 on Capitol Hill as part of the Virginia Delegation.
Read more about this group, advocacy days, and how YOU can help here.
2027 Virginia Comprehensive Immigration Plan
2027 Virginia Comprehensive Immigration Plan
Our core vision is to build a proactive, comprehensive legislative plan for the 2027 Virginia General Assembly. Instead of simply reacting to policies as they arise, this effort is dedicated to constructing a broader framework and narrative that ensures immigrant communities across the Commonwealth are protected, valued, and integrated.
The planning for this effort is still in progress. Our immediate goals are to
1) find dedicated advocates to build a robust coalition of community partners and
2) secure legislative champions ready to lead on critical bills in Richmond.
Read more about this effort here. If you’d be interested in helping out with the 2027 Virginia Comprehensive Immigration plan email us at: indt3immigration@gmail.com.
What Can You Do To Help?
What Can You Do To Help?
Attend an Upcoming Event
Attend an Upcoming Event
Thurs, July 9 - 7-8pm:
Join our next in-person immigration group meeting at Chantilly library, 4000 Stringfellow Rd, Chantilly, VAWed, July 22 - 10:30am-12pm:
ICE Out For Good Fairfax, VA at Fairfax County Circuit Court, 4110 Chain Bridge Rd, Fairfax, VASun, July 26 - 4-5pm:
Freedom Vigil, Chantilly ICE Processing Center, 14797 Murdock St, Chantilly, VA
Participate / Advocate / Stay Informed
Participate / Advocate / Stay Informed
Elections Matter: Elect federal, state, and local leaders committed to humane immigration policies and dismantling draconian enforcement frameworks.
Push for Congressional Oversight: Let your representatives know that you want to see oversight, accountability and reform on immigration practices - especially when the next Congress takes office.
Advocate for Supreme Court Reform: The current right-leaning Court is turning over long established precedents. The Court needs reform to rebalance the mix and confirm the role of the Court in our three branches system. Read the Brennan Center’s Six Solutions to Fix the Supreme Court for more information.
Stop State/Local Officers from Supporting ICE Operations: Track legislation and lobby for bills that keep our state/local officers from supporting ICE during the upcoming Virginia General Assembly session. Read about 287g and what’s next for Virginia here.
Support Grassroots Infrastructure: Invest in or volunteer with local legal aid organizations that provide direct defense, mutual aid, and "Know Your Rights" training to vulnerable neighbors. You can see the full list of organizations where you can help here.
Educate and Organize: Keep sharing verified data and community stories to push back against disinformation and change the narrative surrounding immigration. Start by reviewing Immigration Facts and Myths.
Join Us
Join Us
There is so much going on right now, and this is truly the time to step up and help. Whether you are ready to dig into policy or just want to listen and learn, there is a place for you. Use your passion for immigration justice and change and join us so together we can make an impact. Join our Immigration Working Group by signing up here: join our Immigration Working Group.
Craftivism Circle
Craftivism Circle
Show Off Your Pride
Show Off Your Pride
On June 14, we gathered to make pins, jewelry, and friendship bracelets in honor of Pride Month.
June 28 was a day for zines! For the uninitiated, zines are DIY pamphlets used to share information and ideas and to create and reinforce community. They originated in analog form, often printed on copier paper to be shared in person. These days, you can find lots of digital zines as well, either meant for digital sharing, or for downloading and printing. There are lots of resources available online, and we encourage you to search for them! Here’s one place to get started.
We shared examples of zines, and most of us pitched in to help fold some of the zines that ITTT has been handing out at various events. We also had art materials available, and we did have an original zine created on that day!
Makers Roundtable Roundup
Makers Roundtable Roundup
The Makers Roundtable is a monthly virtual event. We will often have speakers scheduled to talk about art, craft, and activism. It’s a great time to join with like-minded folks, spend some time learning and discussing topics of interest, and get a little crafting done at the same time!
At the next session on July 9th, we are excited to be joined by artist and art teacher Ksenya Litvak, who will speak from her decades of experience using art, craft, and puppetry to support children and other vulnerable people living in difficult or even dire situations, including war conditions in Ukraine. Ksenya will take questions, and we plan to spend the rest of the session devoted to an open circle for general community discussion and support. Sign up here.
Check out:
Kadish (Ksenya's short film on children and the Holocaust),
Ksenya's art studio for children and adults
Then, pencil into your calendar the 2nd Thursday of the month for future Makers Roundtables. Feel free to craft, sip, and snack while we gather! Can’t stay the whole time? That’s ok! Come late or leave early as you need.
Upcoming Gatherings
Upcoming Gatherings
July 12th, Street Theater (Puppets!) Brainstorming & Diamond Art
Groups around the country have made dramatic and poignant impacts with collective, creative displays at public rallies. How can we show off our creativity? A street puppet? Liberty torches? A garden of growth? Help bring the best ideas to the table at this Sunday's Craftivism Circle!July 26th, details to come.
And let us know what ideas you have for this and future Craftivism events!Aug 13th, Makers Roundtable
Professor, historian, and museum curator Gabi Tayac (Piscataway), will share on the topic of "We Are the Land: Indigenous Creativity in Place."
Keep an eye out for all upcoming Craftivism events by bookmarking this link. You can also join the Craftivism Circle to get updates directly to your in-box by signing-up for the Craftivism Working Group.
Gather 'Round the Table!
Gather 'Round the Table!
Take Action
Take Action
New to us or want to step up your volunteering with Turning the Tables? We invite you to attend our Virtual Meet & Greet on Monday, July 20 at 7pm. During this session we will tailor the conversation to the folks who join us. So, if you want to learn more, have questions about our working groups, or want to offer your skills to support the efforts but aren't sure where to plug in, we'd love to chat with you during this virtual session!
Otherwise, be sure to check out our Events Calendar for a full lineup of not only our events, but also in-person and online opportunities from other organizations we think you’ll find informative, energizing, and worth your time. This list is updated frequently so check back often.
Community Support
Community Support
Thurs. July 9, 7pm - 8:15pm - Virtual Community Support Circle for Activists and Allies (Virtual)
Join this monthly session for a timely and important opportunity to receive support through your grief and loss, toward healing and strength in community with one another.
Tues. Aug 11, 7pm - 8:15pm - Virtual Community Support Circle for Activists and Allies (Virtual)
Join this monthly session for a timely and important opportunity to receive support through your grief and loss, toward healing and strength in community with one another.
Volunteer Thank You!
Volunteer Thank You!
With deepest THANKS, we shout out to:
Becca, our dedicated Craftivism member, who has baked special yummy treats to share at our Sunday gatherings.
Laura H, who designed the great ‘Blue Wave’ postcard below which we had printed and will be using for the Midterm postcard campaigns!
Working together is how progress is made! Thank you!
Fundraising
Fundraising
We need your help!
Indivisible Turning the Tables is continually working towards our mission, and your financial support makes this work possible. Every dollar you give strengthens our ability to reach more neighbors, advocate for democracy, and cover the essential operations that keep our grassroots movement thriving.
Please consider making a donation today—together, we can continue building a stronger, more inclusive democracy.
Constitutional Corner
Constitutional Corner
What’s that about the Emoluments Clause?
What’s that about the Emoluments Clause?
The U.S. Constitution does not contain a single "conflict of interest" clause, but it features several foundational anti-corruption safeguards. Most notably, the Emoluments Clauses ban federal officials from accepting foreign gifts or extra state payments to prevent divided loyalties.
A number of President Trump’s recent actions (cryptocurrency, real estate, stock trading transactions, as well as many gifts from foreign and domestic sources) have raised legal questions related to Emoluments Clauses, specifically in relation to how to enforce them. Trump is not the only official to have accepted gifts or earn extra income during his term in office, but he has by far benefited the most of any president - making more than $2.2 billion in 2025, his first year back in the White House, according to federal financial disclosures. This represented a vast expansion of his wealth, with over half of his earnings originating from cryptocurrency ventures and "meme" coins.
Read more from the Brennan Center article from May 28 2025 on the Emoluments Clause and what Congress may be able to do to enforce it.
To learn more about how much Trump made in 2025 read the Guardian article from July 1, 2026.
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