Your are what you do when it counts. #ServiceBeforeSelf instagram.com/reel/DNMa1BysF…

There is no place for violence in our politics. No political disagreement ever justifies threatening someone’s life. Every elected official, their family and their staff deserve to be safe, regardless of party. I appreciate the FBI and the law enforcement officers working to keep our communities and public servants safe. We must settle our differences through debate and at the ballot box. Political violence must be condemned without hesitation or excuses, no matter who is targeted. wfaa.com/article/news/crime/… It is on all of us to set the example for our youth.

Lately, I’ve seen a lot of folks saying they are more Texan than other people. My ancestors go back to the first boats from England, but I’m not over here claiming to be more American than anybody else. If you are a resident of Texas, congratulations. You are a Texan. And if you are an American citizen, you are an American citizen. But make no mistake about it, this administration wants to change that. Roughly one in every 10 eligible voters is a naturalized American citizen. They came here, took the oath and became Americans. Their citizenship should never be treated as second class. But last year, our Department of Homeland Security posted “The stakes have never been higher, and the goal has never been more clear: Remigration now.” People need to understand what that means. In far-right politics, “remigration” means pushing out people deemed not to belong, including legal immigrants and even citizens. The idea has an ugly history. In 1940, Nazi officials developed the Madagascar Plan to forcibly deport Europe’s Jews. That plan never happened. What followed was the “Final Solution”: systematic mass murder. The persecution began long before the gas chambers. Today, far-right movements in the US have been promoting mass expulsion under the banner of “remigration.” And now our own government is promoting that slogan. Even worse, this administration has set quotas for denaturalization referrals. Immigration officials were reportedly directed to refer 100–200 cases EVERY MONTH to the Justice Department for fiscal year 2026. The purpose of these cases is to strip naturalized Americans of their citizenship. And Keith Self has brought denaturalization into his anti-Sharia campaign. While discussing that agenda, Self said “a naturalized citizen can be denaturalized under certain criteria.” He acknowledged those criteria are narrow, then suggested they apply to the discussion. Self cosponsored H.R. 5722, which would require deporting noncitizens whom administration officials determine adhere to Sharia law. That includes people here legally. Here’s the problem: “adhering to Sharia law” means different things to different people. The bill does not require them to have committed a crime or tried to impose their beliefs on anyone. It does not distinguish practicing their faith from trying to replace American law. And it would put those determinations in the hands of political appointees. It even attempts to block courts from reviewing them. Self’s anti-Sharia caucus has drawn dozens of legislators into this effort. Our tax dollars pay their salaries. They should be working to lower our bills, improve healthcare and fix our roads. Instead, they’re spending their time finding ways to marginalize a religious group. If the government can do it to one religious group, it can do it to yours. What happened to “come here legally”? What happened to religious freedom? America is a nation of laws. If someone obtained citizenship through fraud, prove it in court. Religious belief is not evidence of fraud, and citizenship should never become a numbers game to satisfy a political agenda. The Constitution is already the supreme law of the land. That includes its protection of religious freedom. Your birthplace, your last name and your religion do not make you less American. Citizenship is not conditional on whether Donald Trump or Keith Self approves of your faith, your politics, or your country of origin. I served this country for 20 years to defend all Americans. Creating a second class of citizenship is totally un-American. And totally authoritarian. This wave of anti-immigrant hate was never about what was best for this country. It was always about power. #servicebeforeself

In case anybody forgot, Putin’s Russia is not America’s ally. I’ve heard MAGA Republicans say we’ve been “at war” with Iran for 47 years. By that same logic, our beef goes back 79 years with Moscow. The Cold War ended in 1991, but Putin’s Russia invaded Georgia in 2008, seized Crimea in 2014 and launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russia strengthens regimes that threaten the United States and our allies, including Iran and North Korea. Putin is a brutal dictator whose forces have targeted civilians, forcibly taken Ukrainian children and tortured prisoners. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, the UN has verified more than 17,600 civilian deaths in Ukraine through September 2026, with the actual toll likely considerably higher. As of February, roughly 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed on the battlefield. These were people with families, futures and every right to live in peace. Congress knows this. That’s why it passed the bipartisan Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act. It targeted Russian officials, oligarchs, banks, military suppliers and the “shadow fleet” of tankers used to evade sanctions. It included asset freezes, financial restrictions, an additional 500% tariff on Russian goods, and 100% tariffs on goods from qualifying major buyers of Russian oil and gas and leading countries helping Russia evade oil sanctions. Trump signed that law on September 18. Then, on October 16, just before major penalties were due to take effect, he waived them, claiming that doing so served America’s “national interest.” This is another example of executive overreach, and another desperate attempt to score a win before the midterms. Trump knows he needs to lower diesel prices because voters know the spike in price is all his fault. His new diesel deal eased restrictions on Russian fuel exports in exchange for promised shipments totaling more than 1.8 million metric tons over several months. Analysts say those shipments will barely move the needle on diesel prices. Trump sold our souls for that. Meanwhile, Trump’s administration also placed restrictions on satellite support to Ukraine. Reuters reported that an order to limit Ukraine’s military satellite service came from inside the White House. The Telegraph reported that Musk proposed the restrictions and Trump agreed. The restrictions disrupted Ukrainian drone operations, including defenses against Russian attacks. What the heck are we doing? We should remember how we got here. After the Soviet Union collapsed, America helped persuade Ukraine to give up the world’s third-largest nuclear arsenal, inherited on its territory. Our word should mean something. You can support negotiations, demand accountability for American assistance and disagree with Zelensky. None of that requires rewarding Putin. Congress needs to stand up to this president. He obviously has an unhealthy man-crush on Putin, but worse, he’s acting like a compromised Russian asset. And where is Keith Self, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe? He’s rage-tweeting multiple times a day about Sharia-Law. Yesterday, he posted: “Islam is an offense in America.” Where is his outrage over Trump rewarding Putin? Where is his demand for accountability for decisions that strengthen Russia and weaken Ukraine? Instead, he’s attacking a religion practiced by Americans he was elected to represent. Not just a betrayal of Ukraine, but a betrayal of the American principles he swore to defend. #ServiceBeforeSelf

Keith Self sure loves to preach about the deficit and fiscal responsibility. After nearly four years in Congress, where is his plan to address Social Security’s looming funding shortfall and protect the benefits you earned? He and his party keep telling us we can cut our way out of this financial mess, even as their irresponsible and ineffective policies dig us deeper into debt. Too often, the Republican answer is privatizing public resources: from the taxpayer-funded school voucher scam in Texas to proposals to privatize your Social Security. For years, Republican proposals have included raising the retirement age, reducing future benefits, and shifting toward private investment accounts. They tell us working Americans should work longer, accept less, or shoulder more risk. Then they ask us to believe that whatever makes the wealthiest Americans richer must eventually help everyone else. After nearly 50 years of trickle-down promises, haven’t we learned that prosperity needs to bubble up? Give people willing to work a fair shot: good schools, affordable healthcare, job training, and wages they can live on. Those are hand-ups that help people build secure lives. When working families get ahead, their spending supports businesses, creates jobs, and strengthens communities. Social Security is government doing what it should: providing safety, security, and dignity. We contribute throughout our working lives to protect ourselves and our families against retirement insecurity, disability, and the loss of a breadwinner. Private savings should build on that foundation, never replace it. Meanwhile, the retirement and survivors trust fund is projected to exhaust its reserves in late 2032. Without congressional action, incoming revenue would cover only 78% of scheduled benefits—a potential 22% cut. Here’s what a 22% cut could look like in illustrative monthly benefits: * Lower-income worker: $1,543 → $1,204 * Middle-income worker: $2,548 → $1,987 * Middle-income couple: $5,096 → $3,975 * Higher-earning couple: $6,681 → $5,211 Those are groceries, housing payments, and prescriptions. Even families who earned good salaries and saved depend heavily on Social Security. We should be discussing removing the earnings cap to strengthen the program. Pair that with lowering the worker tax rate from 6.2% to 6%, and roughly 94% of covered workers could get a Social Security tax cut. But too many Republicans are afraid to have that conversation with their big-dollar donors. They’ll ask working Americans to sacrifice before asking their wealthiest backers to pay their fair share. Here’s another thing Republicans are afraid to admit: immigration helps shore up Social Security. With low birth rates and an aging population, we need workers contributing payroll taxes. The administration knows this and has admitted it, but it’s too committed to blaming immigrants for all our problems in order to get elected. Regardless of where you were born, if you weren’t born with a trust fund, you understand that a couple of bad breaks can devastate your finances. No amount of hard work makes us immune to illness, job loss, a market crash, or outliving our savings. That is why we pool these risks. This was a lesson of the Great Depression, which helped give rise to Social Security. We shouldn’t have to learn it again. You pay your representatives to defend your interests. That means protecting the retirement benefits you earned and keeping the promises your government made. If Keith Self wins and serves a third term, he will qualify for a congressional pension on top of his military and county retirement benefits. Three taxpayer-supported retirements. Shouldn’t he be fighting for ours? #servicebeforeself

If only this administration went after the folks in the Epstein files as furiously as they’re going after Ilhan Omar. First Trump said Ilhan Omar should be jailed or sent back to Somalia. Now federal agents have raided her home early in the morning, weeks before an election. Without any charges publicly announced. This is the same guy who spent years spreading the lie that Barack Obama wasn’t born in America and encouraging chants of “Lock her up!” against Hillary Clinton. He has a long history of treating political opposition - especially women and immigrants - as something to punish. For years, Trump has singled out Omar. In 2019, he told her and three other congresswomen of color to “go back” to the countries they came from. His rally crowd chanted “Send her back!” More recently, he called her “garbage.” Omar is an American citizen, a former refugee, and an elected member of Congress. Her rights don’t depend on whether Donald Trump likes her. Investigations must follow evidence, not a president’s personal grievances. Republicans who claim to care about government overreach should have the backbone to speak up. Those principles mean nothing if you abandon them whenever Trump targets someone you don’t like. And still, not one raid or arrest in the Epstein files. Only 3.5M of the 6M pages released on a gross international underage trafficking ring, filled with highly connected elites. But we’re raiding Ilhan Omar’s home. Right before an election. What a travesty. #ServiceBeforeSelf

Congressman Keith Self finally got caught lying on live TV about dodging a debate. In case you missed it, here’s a recap. I was interviewed by Markie Martin of NewsNation a couple of hours before Self. In that interview, I said Republicans feel entitled to their seats. Markie asked whether I wanted her to pass along a message. I asked her to ask Self why he hasn’t debated me. I said it was time for him to step into the arena. During his interview, she played that clip. His exasperated response, while squirming in his seat, was: “We were kinda surprised by that too. NO ONE, no legitimate organization has asked us to debate.” Not only is that totally weak-sauce, it’s also a lie. I personally delivered this letter to Keith Self’s office on March 4. This pic was taken right before I spoke with his staffers and respectfully requested a debate. The McKinney Podcast offered to moderate that debate. Additionally, the League of Women Voters, McKinney PTA, EPIC Mosque, and Collin County NAACP have all invited Self to candidate forums where I would be. They are all “legitimate organizations.” When Markie pressed Self on why he wouldn’t arrange a debate for the benefit of his constituents, he said: “This is MY seat. I’m going to win it.” There it is. The entitlement I was talking about. Keith, this seat belongs to the PEOPLE. You work for them. The Founding Fathers understood the value of open debate. To dodge debate is to disregard their legacy. Here’s the simple truth: A representative proud of his record would defend it. A representative in touch with his constituents would answer their questions. A representative confident in his campaign would face his opponent. Maybe we should all ask NewsNation to host a debate? Tag @newsnationnow and let them know you want to see it. We still have a few weeks to get it all out in the open. Let’s go. #servicebeforeself

I believe our nation is on a dark path. History doesn’t always repeat itself, but it sure rhymes. It shows how democracies are dismantled from within, through the same recurring patterns. Freedoms disappear, checks on power weaken, and authority becomes concentrated in one person’s hands. The same warning signs appear over and over again: promise national greatness and tell people their country has been betrayed, insisting only one person can return it to glory. Scapegoat minorities and political opponents. Turn fellow citizens into enemies and treat disagreement as disloyalty. Allow intimidation and brutality, then excuse those responsible when they serve those in power. Use fear to convince people that rights and safeguards must get out of the way. Tear down lawmakers, courts, and independent watchdogs who can say no. Demand personal loyalty from institutions that are supposed to serve everyone. Attack independent sources of information. Discredit elections, intimidate voters, and refuse to accept losing. We know that democracy can erode over years, then collapse with terrifying speed once its safeguards have been weakened. The Constitution our Founders left us is no guarantee if we fail to defend it. It is pure hubris to think it can’t happen here. Previous American administrations have certainly crossed lines, but Trump’s administration matches these patterns far more closely than any other in modern American history. Can anybody really deny it? Violent January 6 offenders have been pardoned. Immigrants and political opponents have been demonized. Judges and journalists have been attacked for challenging the president. Comedians have been cancelled, and news outlets have been excluded from White House access. ICE’s masked enforcement and brutality have spread fear through our communities. Administration officials have resisted accountability and blamed victims. Senior military leaders have been purged while this administration has launched a war overseas without adequate congressional authorization or oversight. Sound overdramatic? These patterns take hold when people excuse them. “He didn’t mean it that way.” “He just says stupid stuff.” “The other side does it too.” Each crossed line makes the next easier to accept. And that’s exactly what’s happened. Here’s the deal: I refuse to make excuses for a president who embraces cruelty, lies over and over again, befriends criminals, admires dictators, surrounds himself with sycophants, and treats half the country like the enemy. We must protect the right to disagree and the nonpartisan institutions that allow us to do so freely. Our courts, elections, military, and law enforcement belong to the American people. They must serve the Constitution and protect everyone’s rights, including those who oppose the president. This November’s election goes beyond culture wars and party loyalty. It’s about defending democracy itself. History is watching. #ServiceBeforeSelf

Today marks three years since the Hamas-led October 7 attacks, when about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage. We remember the victims and the families forever changed. I condemn those atrocities unequivocally. I stand against terrorism in all its forms. This anniversary also demands honesty about what followed and what America continues to condone, fund, and support. As someone who is half Jewish and signed up to serve after 9/11, I’ve defended Israel’s response repeatedly throughout this campaign. But after considerable research and reflection, my position has evolved. That has been difficult for me personally, and it has not happened lightly. An ultimate judicial determination of genocide belongs in a court. But based on what I’ve researched, I believe it has happened. Amnesty International, B’Tselem, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, the UN’s independent Commission of Inquiry, and the International Association of Genocide Scholars have reached that conclusion. Despite a so-called ceasefire, the killing and restrictions on essential aid continue. Roughly half of Gaza’s population are children. They have endured bombardment, displacement, and starvation. Families still struggle to obtain food and medical care. Independent foreign journalists have been denied access. Palestinian doctors and other civilians have endured arbitrary detention and abuse. I won’t defend the indefensible. This is a moral crisis, and it must end. Israel is another country, but we are responsible for our weapons, our tax dollars, and our political cover. I oppose this administration’s continued support for the Netanyahu government’s abuses. Under the Leahy law, U.S. assistance is prohibited to foreign security-force units when the Secretary of State has credible information that they committed gross human rights violations. Those laws must be enforced. Despite attempts to label such criticism as “antisemitic,” “traitorous,” or “sympathetic to terrorism,” I remain a steadfast defender of the Jewish people and of Israel as an ally. If I can call out war crimes committed by our own government, I can certainly call them out when committed by Israel’s government. I want to hold our own government accountable to the standards we demand of others. That means using our influence to hold our allies accountable as well. American power depends on credibility and partnerships. The generation that fought fascism and witnessed the Holocaust helped build NATO, the UN, and a commitment to international law. I want to honor that legacy, not squander it. Honoring the victims of October 7 cannot mean accepting that one people’s suffering justifies another people’s destruction. #servicebeforeself

We are 30 days away from an incredibly important election, and the opportunity for massive upsets in the midterms is real. Analysts are saying traditionally Republican districts with margins of 15 percentage points or less are now toss-ups… districts like ours right here in TX‑03. Trump made this about himself. He is telling voters to pretend he’s on the ballot. He’s so desperate that he told supporters to “cheat like hell.” So much for election integrity and saving America. He even tried to bribe voters with $5,000 checks if Republicans keep control of Congress, which sure sounds like a socialist redistribution of wealth to me. Trump’s approval is less than 37%, with roughly 60% disapproving, putting him about 23 points underwater. He’s lied over and over, but he’s also betrayed voters on the war, the Epstein files, and especially the economy. Americans are struggling with high prices, and only 26% approve of his handling of the economy. Just 17% approve of his handling of the cost of living. None of this will stop Donald Trump and his band of sycophants from being sore losers. When Democrats win in large numbers, be prepared for Trump to challenge and discredit the results. And yes, be prepared for him to lie, bully, bribe, delay, and cheat. Why? He’s done it before. This week, Jack Smith testified under oath that his investigation developed “proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in serious crimes against our nation.” Smith is the former Justice Department special counsel who led the federal cases against Trump over efforts to overturn the 2020 election and the handling of classified documents. He spent more than two years leading those investigations, from November 2022 through his final election report in January 2025. Under immense pressure and threats of retaliation, Smith testified calmly and seriously, holding his ground. He said he would bring the same cases based on the same facts, whether the former president was a Republican or a Democrat. And just in case anybody forgot, Smith’s election case alleged that Trump and his co-conspirators: • Spread election fraud claims they knew were false and pressured state officials to overturn legitimate results. • Organized fraudulent electors to substitute for the electors chosen by voters. • Tried to use the Justice Department to give false fraud allegations official credibility. • Pressured Mike Pence to reject legitimate electoral votes or block their counting. • Exploited the violence and chaos of January 6 to further delay certification and prevent the lawful transfer of power. I’ll say it again: “PROOF BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP ENGAGED IN SERIOUS CRIMES AGAINST OUR NATION.” We cannot normalize attempts to overturn elections. We cannot excuse them because of party loyalty. No President is above the law. #ServiceBeforeSelf

As a husband and father, I want my wife and daughter to be safe in Texas. And I definitely don’t want the government involved in our most personal and painful medical decisions. But medical tragedies are happening to families across this state under Texas’s extreme abortion laws. And you know what’s worse? I think the government knows exactly how damaging these laws are. The state pushed its maternal death report, normally due September 1, until December 1. AFTER the election. Released every two years, the report examines pregnancy-related deaths and recommends ways to prevent more deaths. The delay was publicly reported September 2. A law Republicans passed in 2025 allows the later deadline. Officials say the report is “undergoing internal review.” Texans deserve to review the numbers BEFORE they vote, because numbers don’t lie. And behind those numbers are families like Porsha Ngumezi’s. Porsha was 35, a mother of two. On June 11, 2023, she went to the hospital during a miscarriage, bleeding heavily. She needed an urgent D&C to remove remaining pregnancy tissue. She did not receive it. Hours later, she died. Medical experts who reviewed her records said her treatment fell below the standard of care. Two boys lost their mother. Her husband, Hope, lost his wife. “How the hell did my pregnant wife, Porsha come to the hospital for help with a miscarriage and just a few hours later, leave in a body bag?” Every lawmaker who supported this extreme abortion ban should have to face Hope’s question. Texas’s abortion laws have created fear and uncertainty around procedures also used to treat miscarriages. Doctors have described avoiding standard care because they fear legal consequences. An exception on paper means nothing to a family watching someone bleed to death without the care she needs. And Texas provides NO exceptions for rape or incest. A woman or girl impregnated by her attacker cannot obtain an abortion here simply because she was raped. That is the cruelty these politicians wrote into law. These laws also threaten access to qualified doctors. A 2024 survey of Texas OB-GYNs found that 2% of respondents had already left the state, 21% had considered or planned to leave, and 13% planned to retire early because of the restrictions. Countless people I know tell me they don’t want their children to move back to Texas because they’re afraid of what could happen if they get pregnant. This is the climate of fear Texas Republicans have created. Doctors afraid to provide care. Parents afraid to welcome their children home. Families afraid to start a family here. Victims afraid to speak out. And politicians afraid to reap what they’ve sown. The antidote to fear is action. In honor of families like Porsha’s, it’s time to use your voice and your vote. #ServiceBeforeSelf

About a year and a half ago, Andrew Sneed (AL-05) called me and asked if I’d join him in an effort to bring balance and accountability back to Congress. I said yes. Take BAC Congress was born, and since then it has grown into a national movement of candidates who have the courage to stand up to special interests, big money, party bosses and executive overreach. Candidates who jointly pledge five bold reforms: • 12-year congressional term limits: Six terms in the House and two in the Senate. • Overturn Citizens United: Get unlimited corporate money out of our elections. • Ban congressional stock trading: Public office should never be used for personal profit. • A five-year lobbying ban after leaving Congress: Close the revolving door between public service and special interests. • A binding Supreme Court ethics code: Hold the highest court to enforceable ethical standards. Instead of building an “anti-Sharia law” caucus to push people down, we’ve built a coalition to lift people up. In that common mission, we’ve found friendship and camaraderie. In Texas alone, our “Take BAC Texas” contingent has really represented: • Jason Pearce (TX-04) • Chelsey Hockett (TX-05) • Danny Minton (TX-06) • Claire Reynolds (TX-11) • Heli Rodriguez Prilliman (TX-12) • Mark Nair (TX-13) • Kyle Rable (TX-19) • Kevin Burge (TX-24) • Dione Sims (TX-25) • Steven Shook (TX-26) • Tanya Lloyd (TX-27) • Justin Early (TX-31) • Dan Barrios (TX-32) This coalition has power. When elected, these fighters will form the caucus we need to restore the people’s voice to American politics. #TakeBACCongress #servicebeforeself

The Greatest Generation paid for America’s leadership in service and sacrifice. They defeated fascism and helped build an international order grounded in strong alliances and international law that made us safer, stronger and more prosperous. Trump’s administration is burning through that inheritance for deals with dictators and protection for leaders accused of war crimes. In Europe, America joined Russia in voting AGAINST a UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and demanding its withdrawal. Undermined Zelensky again. Legitimized Putin again. Handed our allies another reason to distrust us. His administration threatened to take Greenland from Denmark, a strong NATO ally whose troops fought and died alongside ours. We now have a Greenland security deal that expands military access and cooperation under a decades-old defense agreement. We did not need to threaten our ally and undermine NATO to secure that cooperation. A deal does not erase the damage. Denmark lost more troops per capita in Afghanistan than any other coalition country. I flew missions supporting Danish troops and other allies under fire. Those partnerships were forged in sacrifice. Treating their sovereignty as optional dishonors their sacrifice and ours. Yes, Trump pushed European allies to spend more on defense. Greater burden-sharing is good. But as they build stronger militaries, especially Germany with its massive military expansion, they will become less dependent on Washington and harder to push around. If we destroy their trust while demanding they stand on their own, we should not expect the same respect we’ve become accustomed to. In North America, destructive trade fights with Canada and Mexico alienate our neighbors and gamble with American livelihoods. In the Asia-Pacific, a $14 billion arms package for Taiwan remains on hold while Trump rolls out the red carpet for Xi Jinping. Treating another democracy’s defense as a bargaining chip signals that its security is available for trade. In the Middle East, after decades of war, this “peace president” has plunged into a conflict with Iran. We had sanctions, deterrence and partnerships to contain Tehran. Now Gulf partners question American protection and global energy costs are spiking, while another war is turning another generation against us. And in Gaza, our government refuses meaningful accountability for mass civilian killing. Amnesty International, Israeli human rights groups B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, the UN’s independent Commission of Inquiry and the International Association of Genocide Scholars have concluded that Israel is committing genocide. Notable Holocaust scholars and survivors have said the same. An overwhelming majority of UN member nations have demanded a ceasefire, the release of hostages and humanitarian access. Yet this administration has repeatedly blocked UN ceasefire demands while continuing to fund and arm Netanyahu’s government. Enough is enough. Defending a country does not justify mass civilian killing or starving children trapped with no escape. I refuse to defend the indefensible. Why? Because American power rests on more than weapons and wealth. It rests on credibility, partnerships and whether our word means anything. Alienating allies and excusing abuses leaves us with fewer partners, less influence and less ability to protect our interests. The generation that fought fascism and survived the Holocaust understood the cost of a world ruled by “might makes right” instead of international law. They left us NATO and the UN. Keith Self sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee AND chairs its Subcommittee on Europe. Defending our alliances is part of his job. But he seems more interested in talking about Sharia law than holding this administration accountable. This isn’t making America great again. It is dismantling the greatness we inherited. And that is unforgivable. #ServiceBeforeSelf

Government failure becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy when leaders sabotage the government they run. Representation should mean service. But when serving us interferes with funneling taxes to big donors, they destroy our trust instead. Cut programs. Cry fraud in all the wrong places. Say every candidate is the same. Excuse awful candidates because opponents would “vote along party lines.” Glorify extreme wealth as virtue. Undermine teachers and VA healthcare workers. Reward bigots, bullies, liars and cheats willing to say anything for power. Stop fixing things. Strip public protections until the country becomes a casino where the house always wins. Then cite the failure you created and sell privatization as the solution. Undermine pensions. Make retirement depend on the stock market. Turn public education, Social Security and healthcare into profit opportunities. Offer temporary tax breaks to pretend you’re serving people. Keep taking a large portion of your paycheck but give you very little in return. Schools and healthcare facilities “consolidate.” Traffic worsens. Infrastructure buckles under growth. Will the grid survive the next storm? People stop expecting service or honesty. They stop believing government can work. Demand government that serves people? You’re a socialist. Journalists ask questions? Fake news. People organize? A threat. Blame neighbors who look different, love different, or worship different. Scapegoat immigrants. Public service becomes private profit, and frustration becomes culture-war fear and prejudice. Make no mistake: this is the road we’re on. Trump’s Treasury Secretary called the investment accounts a “back door for privatizing Social Security.” Republican lawmakers proposed enrolling seniors in private Medicare Advantage plans. Our representatives should be like Justin Beller - available, accountable, open and honest, willing to discuss his record. But if they’re like Keith Self, hiding from debates, dodging town halls, and weakening your trust in government, they don’t deserve more power. They deserve to be replaced.

This unauthorized war in Iran was a foreseeable disaster. We were told it wouldn’t become a war. Americans never asked for it, and Congress never authorized it. After decades of fighting the war on terror, we had Iran contained and heavily sanctioned. Now our troops remain in harm’s way, the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted, and Americans are paying more. We have weakened our position in the region and risk creating another generation that sees America as its enemy. There is no clear objective and no credible exit strategy. This is colossal incompetence. Congress must act to end unauthorized offensive operations from this fraudster “peace-president” and his staff of sycophants. #ServiceBeforeSelf