吃瓜大本营

The holidays often bring together people who care about one another, but don鈥檛 see the world the same way. In a year marked by deep political turmoil, real threats to constitutional rights, and widespread confusion about what鈥檚 actually happening, it can feel daunting to navigate conversations at dinner tables, happy hours, work holiday parties and more.

The ACLU鈥檚 Holiday Conversation Guide is designed to help you approach these moments with clarity, empathy, and confidence. We created this resource because the issues shaping our country 鈥� from free speech and policing to immigration and trans justice 鈥� are too important to ignore, especially when misinformation and fear can easily fill the void.

For those who choose to engage with difficult topics this holiday season, our guide offers a grounded, values-based way to discuss what鈥檚 at stake and why it matters.

We鈥檙e not here to tell you what to think or feel, or how to express yourself. Instead, our guide is for those who are seeking someplace to start. It鈥檚 for anyone who finds themselves facing tough questions, misinformation, or silence around issues that deeply affect people鈥檚 rights and lives. It鈥檚 for those who want to correct misconceptions without escalating tension, who want to connect with loved ones who are tuned out or unsure what to believe, and who want to ensure conversations reflect dignity, facts, and shared values.

These efforts, while meaningful, can be daunting. Our guide is meant to help you feel less alone in this work. Whether you鈥檙e the person everyone turns to for explanations, the one quietly absorbing comments at the table, or someone simply trying to keep the peace while staying true to your principles , our guide is meant to support you.

We offer key information, talking points and resources on four major issue areas that are likely to come up this year:

• Free Speech & Abuse of Power: We break down why this moment represents one of the most significant assaults on First Amendment protections in recent memory, including attacks on student protesters, pressure on journalists, and retaliation against scholars and activists. Our guide helps you understand that peaceful protest remains protected, accountability still matters, and defending free expression is essential to a healthy democracy.
• Federal Law Enforcement & Military Deployments: Militarized responses in civilian communities 鈥� from tear-gassing observers to disrupting neighborhoods and intimidating families 鈥� threaten public safety and constitutional rights. Our guide outlines why relying on troops or heavily armed federal agents undermines trust, burdens taxpayers, and harms the very people these tactics claim to protect.
• Immigrants鈥� Rights: With increased raids, expanded detention efforts, threats to birthright citizenship, and fear permeating immigrant communities, our guide helps you make the case that immigrants have fundamental rights. It explains the human toll of harsh immigration enforcement practices, and offers ways to push back against the spread of misinformation and dehumanizing rhetoric.
• Trans Justice: As transgender, nonbinary, and intersex people face discriminatory government actions 鈥� from restrictions on gender-affirming care to limits in schools and barriers to passports 鈥� our guide helps you discuss why dignity, autonomy, and access to care are essential. It provides language that centers humanity over politics and counters the harmful myths driving these policies.

Whether you choose to take action using the resources shared here, or in other ways 鈥� like donating to causes you care about, expressing yourself creatively, seeking out wellness resources, or coming together with loved ones 鈥� there is no right or wrong way to fight for our rights, our communities and our nation.

Because every conversation is different, our guide offers approaches tailored to the people you might encounter:

• For those who may be unaware, skeptical, or simply tuned out, begin with shared values 鈥� fairness, dignity, safety 鈥� to explain why these issues matter to everyone.
• When misinformation or fear is shaping someone鈥檚 perspective, grounding the discussion in facts and humanity is essential: most protests are peaceful; immigrants have constitutional rights; militarized policing harms communities; and trans people deserve dignity and appropriate medical care.
• For people who feel overwhelmed or powerless in the face of so much national turmoil, our guide includes a practical toolkit: resources for learning more, avenues for civic action such as contacting lawmakers or supporting legal defense funds, and even conversation-starting gifts like 鈥淜now Your Rights鈥� materials. Across all of these strategies, the goal remains constant: encourage empathy, education, and respectful dialogue.

Importantly, our guide is not about winning debates or shaming perspectives鈥� it鈥檚 about creating conversations rooted in shared values and credible information. Whether you're talking with someone who鈥檚 misinformed, someone who feels overwhelmed by the news, or someone who hasn鈥檛 been able to pay attention, we offer approaches to meet people where they are. Each section includes clear framing, real-world examples, and practical steps you can share 鈥� from 鈥淜now Your Rights鈥� resources to ways to contact lawmakers or support impacted communities. Our goal is to help you move difficult holiday conversations toward understanding, solidarity, and a deeper commitment to protecting everyone鈥檚 freedoms.

Read the full guide here.

For more information about how to take action aclu.org/action