Fellow Conservative,

Washington could soon be embroiled in another shutdown fight, Antifa is back on the domestic terrorist list, and Texas is leading the way on conservative policy. Here’s everything you need to know!

This week Democrats will have a choice: to try to obstruct the Trump agenda, or to put the interests of Americans first. On September 19th, the House passed a continuing resolution to extend government funding through November 21st, but Senate Democrats blocked it.

Heritage Action has obtained leaked, never-seen-before footage of these ongoing negotiations:

The reason Senate Democrats are considering forcing a shutdown isn’t because they disagree with the bill, but because they are scared of their own base. Remember, back in March, Senate Democrats faced primary threats after voting to keep the government open. That bill was no different than this one.

So… what’s next?

It’s expected that there will be additional votes on the CR ahead of the deadline. Democrats reportedly see forcing a shutdown as “politically advantageous,” so they will likely continue making their absurd demands – codifying COVID-era Obamacare spending and expanding taxpayer funded healthcare for illegals – to try and pin the blame on Republicans. These demands are non-starters, and they know it.

Simply put, if the government does shut down, it will be because of Democrats’ obstructionism. Conservatives must be ready to remind the American people who is blocking funding for immigration enforcement, safer streets, and dismantling the deep state.

The radical left continues to dismiss the threat of political violence against conservatives, despite target attacks against churches, ICE agents, and Americans exercising their First Amendment rights. That’s why last week, President Trump officially designated Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization. A domestic terrorist designation does not change the charges a federal prosecutor can bring. However, it will prioritize attention and federal resources on Antifa, encourage better coordination among law enforcement authorities, and provide tools for stopping any illicit funding Antifa groups receive.

Politicians on the left have long argued that Antifa is merely an idea, and Antifa members themselves claim it’s not an organization that members can “join.” Both narratives are untrue. Antifa has a logo, trains activists, communicates with its adherents, directs activity at specific times and locations, receives funding, and provides material resources like signs, vehicles, gear, and projectiles. These excuses are just like the ones Mafia members made for decades.

After years of witnessing Antifa members incite and commit violence, attack law enforcement officials, torch federal and private property, and more, President Trump is right to label the radical group as domestic terrorists. The Department of Justice should take appropriate steps to identify Antifa members and determine whether they have violated federal law.

In addition to the Antifa designation, The Heritage Foundation and The Oversight Project have urged the FBI to designate Transgender Ideology-Inspired Violence and Extremism (TIVE) as domestic terrorism, following a string of attacks by trans or trans-supporting criminals. For far too long, corrupt judges and prosecutors have turned a blind eye to leftist lawbreaking. Radical agitators who commit crimes in the name of transgenderism should be apprehended and charged accordingly if they violate the law. The American people deserve to know how much violence is inspired by gender ideology.

Taxes can be confusing. That’s why The Heritage Foundation released a new report to help folks understand the positive impacts the Working Families Tax Cut will have for American families come tax season.

Here’s the gist:

  • It prevents a $4 trillion tax hike that would have affected almost all individuals and families, especially middle-class Americans.

  • It saves Americans an average of $2,314 per year in federal income taxes between 2026 and 2034, not including indirect savings from business tax cuts.

  • It simplifies taxes for Americans by preserving and increasing the standard deduction to $15,750 for individuals (+$750) and $31,500 for married couples (+ $1,500).

  • It helps families by raising the child tax credit to $2,200 from $2,000 (it would have fallen to $1,000 in 2026) and adds an annual cost-of-living adjustment.

  • It ensures no tax on tips and overtime, so working-class Americans keep more of what they earn by creating a deduction for up to $25,000 for tipped income and $12,500 for overtime pay.

For more specifics of how the Working Families Tax Cut helps Americans, check out The Heritage Foundation’s breakdown of how big of a tax cut is coming to your state.

Good news from the state of Texas – Governor Abbot has just signed SB 8 into law! This bill requires private spaces owned or controlled by political subdivisions or state agencies to be based on a person’s biological sex.

Unfortunately for fans of the 0-3 Houston Texans, SB 8 won’t keep opposing defenders out of their backfield (try signing some stronger offensive linemen), but what it will do is far more important. SB 8 helps keep men out of women’s sex-restricted spaces such as locker rooms and bathrooms. Crucially, it also legally defines male and female along biological lines.

Across the country, gender ideology has led to policies allowing men into women’s spaces – bathrooms, locker rooms, shelters, and other sex-segregated areas – this violates their privacy and endangers the safety of women and girls where they are at their most vulnerable. Every state should follow Texas’s lead and implement similar legislation.

Lastly, we wanted to give a special shoutout to a couple of our own Heritage Action Sentinels, Kermit Bell and Rachel Moyer (and her son!), who attended the Pennsylvania March for Life earlier this week! Heritage Action is grateful for all the work Sentinels do to make America a better place.

Sentinel Nation is designed to equip grassroots activists with cutting edge analysis and strategies for effectively engaging with lawmakers. If you are interested in becoming a Sentinel, please use this link. Additionally, if you have any questions, you can send an email to [email protected]!

- The Heritage Action Team

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