MARCH 2026 NEWSLETTER
Carnaval Nice
“Journalism is so important that it is protected in the First Amendment — not the 17th or the 27th…Seeking the truth should not be confused with anger…Asking tough, probing questions is not an act of hostility, and providing a check on government power should not be characterized as emotional or self-important. These are core functions of a free press in a -democratic society.”--Les Rose, professor of broadcast and digital journalism at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School
Pentagon taking over Stars and Stripes to eliminate ‘woke distractions’
JD Vance Unleashed His Latest Attack On Journalists — And It's Concerning
“When Vance suggests that journalists are too serious, he might seem to be
making a lighthearted comment, but implicitly, he’s revealing his disinterest in journalism’s watchdog function. That, of course, is just one symptom of our current political crisis: Our democracy is not healthy.” –Heather Hendershot, historian and professor of communications studies and journalism at Northwestern University
Breaking News:
Congress divides over vote to authorize Trump military strikes on Iran
“The Trump administration must explain itself to the American people and Congress immediately, provide an ironclad justification for this act of war, clearly define the national security objective and articulate a plan to avoid another costly, prolonged military quagmire in the Middle East.” – Hakeem Jeffries
Fasching Montag Mainz
Ramstein Air Force Band/ Fasching Montag Float
Greetings!
Starting off with a Stars and Stripes headline: Airman’s 2-woman sled captures Olympic bronze–the victory of Jasmine Jones who became the first airman from the Air Force’s World Class Athlete program to win a Winter Olympic medal!
We were encouraged to hear that a Judge says Pentagon 'trampled' on Sen. Mark Kelly's rights, blocks effort to demote him over 'illegal orders'
Do you have contacts on a U.S. military base with the military or the DoD civilian community? The DAG-VMF Caucus needs your assistance to help U.S. citizens in Germany request their UOCAVA absentee ballots. Please join our DAG VMF Voter Outreach Team so we can spread out all over Germany. Contact us for more information at [email protected] . Take the free Voter Assistance Training - Democrats Abroad. Complete the training and let us know! You can also take the FVAP VAO training. Help us increase overseas voter participation!
The people’s voices-more than 18,500-made a difference! Amid outcry, VA abruptly stops enforcing new disability rating rule! And now after DHS declared they were stopping pre-check at airports because of the partial government shutdown, the outcry has made them backtrack. So let’s get organized and take care of getting the Senate to banish the Save America Act along with all attempts to deprive Americans of their right to vote. This would be the patriotic path for them to follow instead of wasting time and energy on the unpatriotic subculture that is working to destroy democracy.
We need to keep contacting our Senators about the efforts to deprive overseas U.S. citizens of their right to vote. Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard: +1 (202) 224-3121 The SAVE America Act unfortunately passed in the House and one Democratic Rep even supported it. There are already voting verification systems. This bill, if passed, will directly infringe upon overseas U.S. citizens’ right to vote because it will become very cumbersome, if not impossible, for many to register to vote because registration would have to be done in person-this would mean everyone would have to return to the U.S. on an annual basis and include a visit to the city hall voting office to register to vote. You would have to bring an ID that clearly states you were born in the USA! And don't forget you will have to include that proof when you return your ballot as well. N.B. They want to eliminate returning ballots by mail. Time’s up for these inconsiderate people, who are following the 2025 Plan that the current White House occupant pretends he had never heard of. Stop trying to deprive our fellow citizens of their right to vote!
Robert De Niro Warns There’s ‘No Way’ Trump Ends 2nd Term in 2028 Without a Fight: ‘It’s Up to the People’ | Exclusive Video The Academy Award winner unpacks the president’s approach to the upcoming midterms on “The Best People with Nicolle Wallace”
Civility needs to be a prerequisite for being in Congress and in any White House position as well as a requirement to work on behalf of all citizens to ensure everyone’s rights. The U.S. is not a dictatorship. Why are certain people allowed to directly profit from their elected positions and also allow their families to enrich themselves from government contacts in foreign countries? These activities are forbidden!
As we celebrate 250 years of freedom, let us look at where our government stands. Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s Democratic response to the State of the Union message sums it up: “...Every minute spent sowing fear is a minute not spent investigating murders, crimes against children, or the criminals defrauding seniors of their life savings…Our president told us tonight that we are safer because these agents arrest mothers and detain children. Think about that…Is the president working to make life more affordable for you and your family? Is the president working to keep Americans safe, both at home and abroad? Is the president working for you?...This is not what our founders envisioned. Not by a long shot. So I’ll ask again: Is the president working for you? We all know the answer is no.” WAKE UP AMERICA! Help us help everyone vote!
Two military retiree communities–Ramstein 86 AW and the KMC Retiree Council– are combining forces to offer improved services to all Veterans and military connected retirees in the KMC. They now have a combined office at Kapaun that is handicapped accessible. Erik Thompsen, the USAG Rhineland-Pfalz Casualty Manager and Post-Retirement Services Officer, continues his incredible outreach from Kleber with Thursday office hours in Baumholder. Check out the retiree council near you! Besides the KMC, there are the Darmstadt and South Hessen Retiree Group, Tri-City Military Retirees Heidelberg-Mannheim-Karlsruhe, as well as the Retired Soldiers Council in Ansbach and groups in Grafenwöhr and Wiesbaden.
KMC Community Retirees: Three upcoming events–April 21,1000-1130
5th Annual Retiree Survivor Workshop, LRMC Heaton Auditorium
April 22, 1030-1400, FBU Workshop-Kapaun AB 86AW offices/conference room building 2787 Email [email protected] or call 06111 435411 021
April 30, 1330-1500, Legal Estate Workshop, Clock Tower Café, Kleber Kaserne
Resist with Democrats Abroad! Phonebanking volunteers needed! Take the free
Voter Assistance Training - Democrats Abroad. Complete the training and let us know!
Join our DAG VMF Voter Outreach Team. Contact us:[email protected] We are waiting to hear from you!
In Unity,
Robert Scott and Terese Sarno
DAG VMF Caucus Co-Chairs DA Germany
What would you like to organize? Contact us at [email protected]
Ready to join our caucus? Be part of the conversation and make your voice heard!
House Democrat on Kennedy Center renovation: Trump ‘acted with a total disregard for Congress’ Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio)...(Feb. 1) condemned the decision to close the Kennedy Center for renovation this summer, citing concern for employees and contracted artists… remodeling the premises will not restore the Kennedy Center to what it was. A return to artistic independence will.
The DA Riviera Carnaval GOTV Fundraiser Event in Nice was a great success and plans for 2027 are already underway! Next DA international event is in Amsterdam in August and then Octoberfest in Munich–plan ahead so you can join the fun while supporting these GOTV fundraisers.
UPCOMING ELECTIONS!
March 3ʳᵈ: Arkansas (S), North Carolina (S), Texas (S)
March 10ᵗʰ: Georgia CD 14 (Special General), Mississippi (S)
March 17ᵗʰ: Illinois (S)
March 31ˢᵗ: Arkansas (R)
April 7ᵗʰ: Georgia CD 14 (Special Runoff), Mississippi (R), Wisconsin Supreme Court
April 16ᵗʰ: New Jersey CD 11 (Special General)
April 18ᵗʰ: Louisiana (S)
April 21ᵗʰ - Virginia State Special election to allow redistricting
State voters will decide whether to allow a redistricting plan that could net up to 4 new Democratic seats in the U.S. House.This is a state election and a special election, so the rules are more complicated: Registration by mail or email,or fax: deadline April 21.
Ballot request Received by April 10, 2026 at 5:00 PM.
Ballot return by mail Postmarked by Apr 21, 2026 at 7:00 PM
and received by April 24, 2026, at 12:00pm Virginia time.
Eligible voters are: Military and family, Intend to return voters, and those Return uncertain voters who provide the name of any employer for themselves, their spouse, or their parent (if a dependent). Not eligible to vote in this election: Voters who've never lived in the U.S., and with return uncertain who don't provide employer info.
May 5ᵗʰ: Indiana (S), Ohio (S)
May 12ᵗʰ: Nebraska (S), North Carolina (R), West Virginia (S)
May 19ᵗʰ: Alabama (S), Georgia, Idaho (S), Kentucky (S), Oregon (S), Pennsylvania (S)
May 26ᵗʰ: Texas (R)
May 30ᵗʰ: Louisiana (R)
Voting Is Resistance
Even if you think you will always get a ballot from your local election office without having to do anything, you need to make sure your UOCAVA (Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act) rights are protected.
Using Votefromabroad.org to register to vote and request a ballot does that -- as a UOCAVA voter, you cannot be denied a ballot for which you are otherwise eligible.
TAKE ACTION UPDATE
Although Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins announced that he would not enforce a rule mandating that disability ratings be based on improvements with medication, rather than on the severity of the condition or injury, this does not mean that his position will not change. Veterans flood government website with concerns about disability benefits rule The rule, which had already gone into effect, led to an outcry from major veterans groups. The Public Comment period will continue through April 20 and it is very important that you express your concerns so that public opposition is recorded. Go to https://www.regulations.gov/ to comment.
The interim final rule that amends 38 CFR 4.10 in the VASRD was published in the Federal Register February 17, Vol. 91 No. 31, and affects how the VA rates a veteran’s disability for new claims and when reevaluating disabilities through clinical exams.
TAKE ACTION! Call your Senators! Demand that they block DHS funding unless ICE is fully defunded. Join in our call to action or share your story for the congressional record. Call the Capitol Switchboard: +1 (202) 224-3121.
MARCH EVENTS
MARCH is National Ethics Awareness Month
Workplace ethics —not to be confused with work ethic, referring to someone’s dedication to hard work —refers to the application of moral values to every aspect of a business. Members of Congress and cabinet secretaries need to be aware that they represent the will of all U.S. citizens not the will of one ruler.
March 3 – Navy Reserve Birthday
March 4 – National Hug a G.I. Day
March 5 – Seabee Birthday
March 7 – National Slam The Scam Day
March 8 – International Women’s Day
March 8 – U.S. Daylight Saving Time Begins
March 13 – National K9 Veterans Day
March 15-17 – The American Legion 107th Birthday
March 15 – Ides of March
March 18 – National Supreme Sacrifice Day
March 20 – Spring Equinox
March 21 – Rosie The Riveter Day
March 25 – National Medal of Honor Day
March 28 – Earth Hour 2026 8:30 p.m. “Give an Hour for Earth”
March 29 – National Vietnam War Veterans Day
April 3 – Online Registration deadline for 45th National Veterans Wheelchair Games Detroit July 9-14, 2026
Upcoming DA Activities May 30-31, 2026, DPCA Annual Meeting, Nairobi, Kenya
April 21, 2026, 10:00-11:30 5th KMC Annual Retiree Survivor Workshop at LRMC
April 22, 2026 10:30-14:00 by appointment
‘A DAY WITH THE FBU’ Kapaun AB 86AW Offices.Conference Room. Bldg. 2787
September 10, 2026 KMC Retiree Appreciation Day
June 28 - July 4, 2024 Overseas Citizens Voters Week
August 3-10: Military Spouse Voters Week
September 28-October 4: Absentee Voters Week
NEWS YOU CAN USE
Welcome to Veterans’ Employment and Training Service
Understanding Your VA Burial Benefits
Pentagon may bar tuition aid for top universities in Hegseth’s crackdown…
Meet the military athletes competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics
US Army World Class Athlete Program… 2026 Winter Olympics
Airman’s two-woman sled captures Olympic bronze
Jasmine Jones Overcomes Adversity to Represent Team USA
Two Airmen Qualify for Winter Olympics
Title IX responsible for so many women's Olympic medals for Team USA
The Racist Beginnings of School Vouchers
Appeals courts axes injunction on Trump’s collective bargaining rollback
SUPPORT DA GERMANY’s GOTV EFFORTS!
Your monetary donations to Democrats Abroad Germany are used to get out the vote among U.S. citizens in Germany. The UOCAVA (Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act). Federal law enacted in 1986, ensures U.S. citizens can vote absentee in federal elections, including active members of the Armed Forces, Merchant Marine, Public Health Service, and NOAA; their eligible family members; and U.S. citizens living abroad. It established our right to request and receive absentee ballots and outlines states’ obligations to facilitate this voting.