City councils make critical decisions about housing, parks, roads, police and fire services, libraries, water, transportation, and many other issues that impact our daily lives. Even small decisions like these make a material difference to our lives in a way that lofty federal laws sometimes do not. And in a world where power is increasingly concentrated in the hands of corporations and wealthy interests, a city council meeting is a rare place where an ordinary citizen can walk into a room and exercise real power.

The Hatch Act, enacted in 1939, is designed to ensure that government employees serve the public — not a political party. It places clear restrictions on political activity for federal employees while they’re on duty or using government resources.

Over the course of 2025, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has quietly changed how and when it delivers aid. Counties with clear destruction, residents with urgent need, and states following procedure are being turned down fast.