John,

Eleven days ago — just before we learned that President Donald Trump’s entire national security team texted detailed attack plans over an unsecured commercial app with a journalist inadvertently added to the group chat — Pete Hegseth stood next to Trump and, in his best Fox and Friends anchor voice said: “Under the previous administration we looked like fools. Not anymore.”

Throughout his career Trump has projected a level of confidence that has successfully persuaded persuadable people that he is in charge, in command and in control. His success has depended on people believing that his bullying, domineering behavior will bend his enemies into submission, cow his political allies into abject fealty and create successful outcomes for the country, especially for those who’ve been alienated by political elites from both parties.

But there are signs that he’s losing this confidence game. His reckless, chaotic, bizarre and anti-American behavior — and that of the toadies in his court — is hurting the country. Americans are both seeing it play out in the news and now feeling it in their lives. One or two mistakes might be forgivable by the average American, a few more could be understood by rank and file Republicans. But beyond that, what happens? Just look at this list, barely three months into his administration:

    ⁃    He pardoned every one of the thugs who beat police officers on January 6, 2021

    ⁃    He switched sides in Ukraine, from defending democracy to supporting tyranny

    ⁃    His National Security team’s unlawful sharing of detailed attack plans put U.S. service members’ lives at risk

    ⁃    His tariffs are producing higher prices, fewer jobs and panic throughout the economy

    ⁃    He’s now admitted that he’ll likely send America into recession as stocks continue to plunge

    ⁃    His HHS secretary is telling Texas kids with measles to just toughen up — after the first child to die of measles in 20 years

    ⁃    He’s firing 83,000 Americans - most of them veterans - from the agency that serves those who’ve served our country in uniform

    ⁃    And he’s defying the courts, the constitution and the rule of law over and over again

And that’s just for starters.

There are clear signs that his failures are shaking America’s confidence in his presidency and in the prospects for Republicans no matter where they’re running.

Last Tuesday, Democrats won a special election for a state senate seat in a Pennsylvania district that Trump won in November with 57% of the vote. And Trump last week had to withdraw Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s nomination for ambassador to the United Nations out of concern that a Democrat might win her vacant seat. Trump won her district by 21 points. Add to that, there’s an outside chance a Democrat could pick up another Congressional seat in a “safe” Republican district in Florida (more on this below).

Trump might just lose this confidence game. Our job is to make sure he does.

Three things we can do this week:

1. If you want to make phone calls to ensure we’re doing everything we can to help Democrat Josh Weil win a big upset for Congress in a special election taking place today, please sign up here: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/769353
2. There is another special election taking place today — this one will decide the majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Elon Musk is pouring millions of dollars into the race, the question for us is: can people power defeat oligarchy? You can make phone calls to Wisconsin voters today here: https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/549753
3. Join HANDS OFF! this Saturday (4/5/25). This is a national day of action with more than 700 events planned across the country. Join one near you, or host one if no one else has already done it: https://handsoff2025.com

Lastly, thanks to everyone who joined us at the Congressional town hall in Fort Bend county last Thursday with Tim Walz! More than 2,000 people joined us, many of whom signed up to do the work that we need to save our country. Thanks to the Powered by People volunteers who put it on, staffed it, and made it a success.

Thank you,

Beto