February 14, 2026
Dear Friends,
Over the past few months, Donald Trump and his administration have launched an all-out assault on families and communities across the nation. While thousands of the President’s masked agents snatch our neighbors off the street, tear families apart, and kill innocent citizens, Trump and his Republican allies in Congress are stripping away earned benefits, ending lifesaving environmental protections, and attacking the very foundations of our democracy.
These actions aren’t just morally abhorrent — they’re also deeply unpopular. A nationwide poll released this week shows more than 60% of Americans disapproving of President Trump’s job performance, and 65% believing the country is on the wrong track. But instead of listening to the will of the people, Trump and his allies are doubling down on their turn toward authoritarianism — with potentially disastrous consequences for our democracy.
As their approval ratings fall, Republicans know their only hope of clinging to power is rigging the system for themselves. That’s why this week, they tried to advance the so-called “SAVE America Act,” a dangerous bill that would give the federal government unprecedented control over our elections and impose new rules that could make it impossible for millions of married women and LGBTQ Americans to register to vote. This legislation would require prospective voters to present a passport, birth certificate, or other federally issued ID to prove their citizenship — potentially disenfranchising millions of legally registered voters who lack passports, as well as the estimated 69 million American women and 4 million American men whose birth certificates do not match their current names.
Even more alarmingly, this bill would empower the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to seize control of state and local voter rolls, opening the door to countless avenues for voter intimidation and electoral manipulation. Placing our elections in the hands of Kristi Noem’s DHS — an agency that has spent more than a year openly flouting the rule of law — would be an existential threat to our democracy. Free and fair elections require public trust, and this administration has done nothing to earn it. That’s why I voted no on this bill, and it’s why I’ll keep fighting against this blatant voter suppression.
Not satisfied with undermining our democracy and terrorizing our communities, Trump and his administration are also dismantling common-sense environmental protections that keep families safe and healthy. This week, Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) abandoned its long-standing “endangerment finding” — the scientifically proven determination that greenhouse gas pollution warms the planet and harms public health. This is a giant step backward in our fight to secure a livable planet for future generations — upending vital pollution safeguards that save lives.
As Americans endure worsening pollution, extreme weather, wildfires, and other climate disasters, Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin are putting polluter profits over our communities. Earlier this week, I joined my Democratic colleagues and advocates from the Climate Action Campaign to condemn this outrageous attempt to make climate denial the official policy of the United States. This latest action shows nothing but contempt for Americans facing the consequences of climate change — enriching corporate polluters while working families pay the price.
After a year of abusing their authority to spread chaos and fear, Donald Trump and his administration are now trying to cement their power. By attempting to seize control of our elections while gutting protections against pollution and climate change, Trump and his Republican allies are pushing us away from representative democracy and toward a corrupt system designed to keep them in power and reward their corporate backers.
In Washington and here in our Capital Region, I will keep doing everything I can to fight this authoritarian crackdown — and I urge all of you to do the same. We must stand together and remind Donald Trump and his cronies that they answer to the American people — not the other way around.
As always, thank you for reading.
Your friend,
DID YOU KNOW?
My office and I are working to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates, announcements, and recommendations from governments and agencies. With that in mind, here is some information that may be of interest to you:
- As Donald Trump sends masked agents to terrorize our communities while he and his GOP allies fail to address the affordability crisis, I want to hear directly from you about how these actions are impacting you and your family — and help give you the tools to fight back.
- That’s why I’m inviting you and your loved ones to join me for a Town Hall event on Wednesday, February 18th at Ballston Spa High School, located at 220 Ballston Avenue, Ballston Spa, NY 12020.
- Doors will open at 4:30 PM and the event will begin at 6:00 PM.
- Pre-registration is required for all attendees to enter the venue. Spaces are limited, so please click this link to reserve your spot today.
- If you are unable to attend the event in person, you can view the event in full with real-time closed captions via the live stream on my YouTube channel.
- If you have any questions or need assistance with any federal agencies, policies, or services, please don’t hesitate to contact my office.
