Some Weekend Content

It's been a week! Just sharing some links ...

Author

Sandy Allen
January 17, 2026

Welcome to What’s Helping Today, a newsletter about the everyday work of staying alive on earth — written by author and journalist Sandy Ernest Allen.

Hey folks,

It’s been a week! My own day-to-day remains, overall, super sad and stressful; I appreciate what calm moments I do get. This situation could go on for who knows how long. I’m sensing it may be a marathon not a sprint …

So I am trying to focus on what I can control — not on what I can’t. For me, this includes trying to stay committed to self-care. This includes logging out and all my other best advice for the worst times. This includes leaning into the net I’ve built to support me for when life becomes overwhelming.

Speaking of, I thought this was beautiful …

Here are some links for your weekend perusal … Mostly focused on what’s happening in Minnesota …

For anyone who’s not seen …

This is what ICE descending on Minneapolis looks like

Photos show the terror and resistance taking over Minnesota's largest city.

www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/01/ice-descends-on-minneapolis

I’ve read amazing stories about the ways Minnesotans are stepping up …

Minneapolis church has delivered more than 12,000 boxes of groceries to families in hiding

DHH church has hundreds of volunteers packing and delivering groceries to families who have been too scared to leave their homes during the immigration operation.

www.mprnews.org/episode/2026/01/15/minneapolis-church-has-delivered-more-than-12000-boxes-of-groceries-to-families-in-hiding

MPR and some other outlets have been doing excellent local coverage …

A friendly reminder that Minneapolis's own worker-owned @racketmn.com is doing good work, worth reading always but especially for voicey stuff about what is going on there, and right now has at least one semi-not-horrific story (below). Support them!!! racketmn.com/meet-the-min...

— J Escobedo Shepherd (@jawnita.bsky.social)2026-01-17T15:19:33.095Z

I wanted to share this reflection …

Seeing Good

On visibility, grief, and action

www.reasonsforliving.co/p/seeing-good?utm_campaign=email-half-post&r=kznk&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

And this analysis …

Opinion | I'm a Minneapolis sociologist who studies violence. Here's how ICE observers are helping.

Research into how violence occurs shows that disapproval from the people around you can help reduce it.

www.ms.now/opinion/minneapolis-ice-watch-protesters-violence-research

Also, this comic …

better training

— mattie lubchansky (@mattielubchansky.com)2026-01-16T15:01:10.944Z

Here’s a story about a bakery owner in Massachusetts who’s selling cookies that say “Fuck ICE,” featuring this 10/10 quote: “imagine sending me death threats, threatening my family AND CHILDREN, and calling ME deranged… while I’m just over here baking cookies.”

Massachusetts bakery receiving praise, death threats, over ICE cookies

A Massachusetts bakery is receiving praise and trouble after a recent social media post received quite the response. On Sunday, The Sweet Boutique in East Longmeadow took to social media and you can see why it received polarizing responses from the public. The post left some cheering the bakery on while others saying that they […]

fallriverreporter.com/massachusetts-bakery-receiving-praise-death-threats-over-ice-cookies

The cookies:

This shit’s so scary …

Tear Gas Is Way More Dangerous Than Police Let On — Especially During the Coronavirus Pandemic

In the middle of a respiratory pandemic, law enforcement agencies have used tear gas in especially dangerous ways. The chemical agent also seeps into homes, contaminates food, furniture, skin and surfaces, and can cause long-term lung damage.

www.propublica.org/article/tear-gas-is-way-more-dangerous-than-police-let-on-especially-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic?

This is the way …

Michigan U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar Introduces Bill to Abolish ICE

Detroit area Congressman Shri Thanedar has introduced legislation in Congress that would abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The proposal, called the ‘Abolish ICE Act’, would dismantle the agency and end its current enforcement authority. “Since ICE’s establishment in 2003, they’ve prioritized aggressive enforcement and violence rather than due process. Americans are being terrorized. Last year, I introduced legislation to end qualified immunity for ICE agents, ensuring they are held accountable when they break the law. But the killing of Renee Nicole Good proved that ICE is out of control and beyond reform. We must fundamentally change the way we approach immigration: it’s time to abolish ICE,” Thanedar said. According to the bill text, federal funding for ICE would stop once the law takes effect. Any remaining unobligated funds would be rescinded, and ICE assets and liabilities would be transferred to the Secretary of Homeland Security. The legislation states that…

themetrodetroitnews.com/michigan-u-s-rep-shri-thanedar-introduces-bill-to-abolish-ice

Alright folks. Take care of yourselves. If you do protest, be smart about it; stay safe.

Not all heroes wear capes …

frozen pickle yells at ice FOX News screenshot

Watch this vid, if you haven’t already …

This dude is intense and correct

— Street Sharks Explained 🇨🇺🇵🇸 (@gaykwon.bsky.social)2026-01-15T09:05:35.969Z

Sending love,
Sandy

p.s. Just repeating myself: To my monthly Buy Me a Coffee contributors, here’s this survey for you all again (thanks to those who’ve replied!!). If you didn’t see it already, please check out this recent post with an update from me …

p.p.s. I appreciate you all! Thanks especially to those who’ve written me and said nice things. You are kind.

Thanks for reading What’s Helping Today, a newsletter by author and journalist Sandy Ernest Allen. If you were forwarded this message, WHT is free; you can subscribe here. If you can, please consider supporting me via my Buy Me a Coffee. Thanks!