This Week in the World

Each year, FCNL’s Annual Meeting provides us with an opportunity to come together and strategize for the work ahead. That opportunity was particularly rejuvenating for us during this painful moment for our country.

It can be difficult to continue to engage with the political process when each day brings more injustice. How can we sustain ourselves to keep going?

We wanted to highlight a few of the moving reflections that we heard on hope, resilience, and persistence.

Itzel Hernandez, immigrant rights advocate, AFSC:

After 43 days, President Trump signed legislation on Wednesday officially ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. Our country’s broader moral reckoning continues.

The reopening of the government is good news, bringing much needed relief to those impacted.

Yet, we are dismayed that the legislation fails to address two crucial issues: Surging healthcare prices for millions and President Trump’s authoritarian efforts to usurp Congress’s constitutional spending power.

Last night, the Senate narrowly failed to pass a War Powers Resolution to block President Trump from launching an unauthorized war against Venezuela.

Starting tomorrow, November 1, more than 40 million Americans may lose food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). At the same time, healthcare costs for millions will skyrocket.

That means that children across the country would go to bed hungry and families will be thrown off their healthcare plans — for no reason at all.

Funding for SNAP is set to expire tomorrow.

Today, the world celebrates 80 years since the creation of the United Nations.

In the aftermath of World War II, the U.N. offered a promise of a more just and peaceful world where the human rights of all are protected, and conflicts between states are settled with diplomacy, not war.

Today, we celebrate that vision, and the progress we’ve made towards a world free of war and threat of war, with equity and justice for all.

Today, Senators Tim Kaine (VA), Adam Schiff (CA), and Rand Paul (KY) introduced a bipartisan War Powers Resolution to prevent President Donald Trump from launching unauthorized military strikes on Venezuela.

The new resolution comes as the Trump administration continued its lawless killings in the Caribbean Sea this week while escalating tensions and threatening war with Venezuela.

New U.S. Strikes in the Caribbean Sea

As the new Gaza ceasefire takes effect today, Israeli forces have begun pulling back, and thousands of Palestinians have begun trekking back to whatever remains of their homes.

After two horrific and painful years, the ceasefire agreement announced this week provides hope for a reprieve from the genocide in Gaza and the return of all hostages.

According to President Donald Trump, the United States is at war, both abroad and at home.

Trump notified Congress this week that he has “determined” that the U.S. is at war with drug cartels in Latin America. The U.S. killed another four people in another strike in the Caribbean on Friday.

This week, Congress is negotiating a stopgap measure for federal spending for Fiscal Year 2026 which begins October 1. Lawmakers must reach a resolution or discretionary spending halts and the government will shut down.

As the deadline approaches, Congress must pass legislation that:

1. Keeps the government open.

Government shutdowns halt vital programs and services and harm people across the country.

This Sunday, September 21, the world celebrates the International Day of Peace.

This year, the United Nations is observing the day with a timely call to action: Act Now for a Peaceful World.

As the U.N. theme reflects, this is a crucial time to raise our voices – not just against war and militarism, but for peace and our work to build it.