Defending Democracy: The Clear and Present Danger of Trump’s Authoritarianism

Trump isn’t just a candidate—he’s a convicted felon building a regime that shreds the Constitution, targets vulnerable Americans, and consolidates power for life.

1. Weaponizing Government Against Citizens

• Deployed U.S. Marines against protesters in Los Angeles, violating the Posse Comitatus Act and firing tear gas/rubber bullets into crowds.

• Threatened elected officials like Gov. Newsom with arrest for protecting immigrants.

• Counterargument: "He’s restoring law and order!"
  ✅ REALITY: Using military force against peaceful protests is unconstitutional. True leaders de-escalate—they don’t wage war on citizens.

2. Stripping Rights from LGBTQ+ & Marginalized Groups

• Banned transgender-inclusive aid globally, risking 70,000+ maternal deaths by defunding healthcare programs

• Pushed 478+ state bills criminalizing gender-affirming care and forcing schools to "out" LGBTQ+ youth.

• Counterargument: "He’s fighting woke overreach!"
  ✅ REALITY: These policies increase suicide rates and violate medical ethics. DEI programs boost economic output—gut them, and you gut American competitiveness.

3. Economic Sabotage & Corporate Handouts

• Counterargument: "Tariffs protect jobs!"
  ✅ REALITY: Tariffs caused 300,000 U.S. job losses. In Greeley, manufacturing plants faced layoffs due to metal price hikes.

4. Installing Unaccountable Loyalists

• Let Elon Musk run a "shadow government" (DOGE) with no Senate confirmation, firing federal workers and spying on citizens via IRS data.

• Empowered Kash Patel to target Trump’s "enemies list" at the FBI—ignoring bipartisan warnings about his incompetence.

• Counterargument: "He’s draining the swamp!"
  ✅ REALITY: Swapping experts for drug-using billionaires is the swamp. Unchecked power corrupts—especially when handed to those who call critics "vermin."

5. Rigging the Courts & Defying the Law

• Packed courts with 234 far-right judges who rubber-stamp his abuses.

• Openly defied rulings against his tariffs and detention camps.

• Pardoned Jan. 6 insurrectionists who attacked police.

• Counterargument: "Courts will stop him!"
  ✅ REALITY: His judges approved 93% of his unconstitutional policies. When courts rule against him, he ignores them—precisely what dictators do.

The Unprecedented Corruption Rap Sheet

The MAGA Playbook: Distract, Divide, Dictate

• SCAPEGOATING: Blames immigrants/LGBTQ+ and Biden for crises he created.

• PROJECTION: Calls opponents, "vermin", while pardoning violent supporters.

• AUTOCRATIC ALLIANCES: Partners with Putin, Orbán, and Musk to undermine elections.

This Is Colorado’s Fight

In CO-6, Trump’s policies mean:

• Higher costs from tariffs hitting farmers and manufacturers.

• Less freedom for LGBTQ+ youth in schools.

• Weaker checks on corporate polluters like oil/gas giants.

How I’ll Stop This in Congress

1. SUBPOENA POWER: Investigate Musk’s DOGE and Patel’s FBI abuses.

2. DEFEND RIGHTS: Codify LGBTQ+/DEI protections into federal law.

3. BLOCK AUTOCRACY: Pass laws banning domestic military deployments.

4. PROTECT COURTS: Expand judicial ethics rules and subpoena Trump’s dealings.

Our democracy isn’t partisan—it’s personal.
Stand with me to defend it.

SOURCES: Reuters, ACLU, McKinsey, U.S. Courts, Jan. 6 Committee Reports

"They are not coming after me—they are coming after you. I’m just standing in the way."

—Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), January 6th Committee Vice Chair