Friend,
This email is longer than usual – but it has to be. The truth is sobering: Donald Trump is consolidating power in ways the United States has never seen before. And unless we act now, these authoritarian abuses will only expand.
Trump has been systematically weaponizing government to serve himself. Just look at the pattern:
- Firing the CDC director for clashing over vaccine policy. After less than a month on the job, CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen was abruptly dismissed following disputes with HHS Secretary Kennedy over COVID and vaccine guidance. Her ouster triggered the resignation of four top deputies, leaving the agency destabilized just as the country braces for a fall COVID surge. Public health experts warn this chaos will jeopardize access not only to the COVID vaccine but to the full range of lifesaving vaccines millions of Americans rely on.[1]
- Firing independent officials who told the truth. On August 1, Trump fired BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer hours after the agency released jobs data he didn’t like, then moved to install loyalist E.J. Antoni in her place.[2]
- Forcing once independent agencies under White House control. Executive Order 14215 gave Trump and his Attorney General the final word over regulatory agencies like the FCC and SEC.[3]
- Signing legislation to defund public media. Trump championed and signed a law stripping NPR and PBS of $1.1 billion in federal funding, yet another attack on independent reporters who might hold him accountable.[4]
- Eliminating diversity and inclusion programs. Executive Order 14151 erased DEI programs across every federal agency, from museums to NASA, and his regime has threatened to withhold federal funding from recipients unless they are willing to do the same.[5]
- Taking control of D.C.’s police and deploying the National Guard. Trump announced federal control of the Metropolitan Police Department and activated the Guard to terrorize the residents of DC and threatens to bring federal military forces to even more cities.[6]
- Pardoning January 6 rioters. Trump freed violent insurrectionists who attacked the Capitol, signaling that political violence in defense of his power will go unpunished.[7]
- Turning federal agencies against political opponents. He has weaponized the Justice Department and other agencies to investigate, harass, and punish critics and opponents – part of a promised program of “retribution” that experts warn consolidates power and chills dissent.[8]
Taken together, these are not isolated incidents – they are a coordinated effort to centralize power, erase dissent, and undermine democracy.
But here’s the crucial piece: the American people are not buying it.
Pew Research found that 61% of Americans oppose Trump’s tariffs and that support for his so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” is under water. His approval rating has sunk to just 38%. That tells us something powerful: when voters see the truth about his agenda, they reject it.[9]
That’s why the fight for Congress matters so much. The only way to start reversing Trump’s authoritarianism is by flipping the House and Senate. With a new majority, we can investigate his abuses, block his harmful policies, and rebuild real checks and balances.
And here’s what cannot be overstated: even flipping just one chamber – whether the House or the Senate – would change everything. It would immediately end the MAGA stranglehold on Congress. It would open the door to real investigations into the Trump regime’s abuses of power. It would allow us to block extremist legislation dead in its tracks. And it would give the American people the accountability they deserve.
That means we don’t need to win everywhere – we need to win strategically. Just a handful of seats could flip a chamber, and with it, the balance of power. That’s how close we are to stopping this.
But Trump and his allies are already raising millions from corporate PACs and billionaire donors. If we don’t start investing in the midterms right now, it may soon be too late to catch up.
That’s where you come in. Your donation today will help support strong candidates, fund voter outreach in swing districts, and make sure every American understands how unpopular – and dangerous – Trump’s agenda really is.
Donate $25 now to help flip Congress >>
Donate $50 to power voter outreach in key districts >>
Donate $100 or more to build the firewall against Trump’s abuses >>
Make a monthly gift to sustain this fight every step of the way through Election Day and beyond >>
Trump’s abuses are dangerous. They are deeply unpopular. And with your help, they can be stopped. Please, make your midterm investment today.
With urgency,
Zach VanHouten
People For the American Way
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Sources:
[1] "US CDC chief fired after weeks in role, challenges ouster as four top officials resign" Reuters, 8/28/25
[2] "Trump fires labor statistics chief after large revision to jobs report" The Washington Post, 8/1/25
[3] "White House: President Donald J. Trump Reins in Independent Agencies to Restore a Government that Answers to the American People" The White House, 2/18/25
[4] "Trump signs bill to cancel $9 billion in foreign aid, public broadcasting funding" AP News, 7/24/25
[5] "Executive Order 14151" The White House, 1/20/25
[6] "Trump says he’s placing Washington police under federal control and activating the National Guard" AP News, 8/11/25
[7] "Trump grants sweeping pardon of Jan. 6 defendants, including rioters who violently attacked police" Reuters, 1/21/25
[8] "Trump ran on a promise of revenge. He’s making good on it" AP News, 8/23/25
[9] "Trump’s Tariffs and ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Face More Opposition Than Support as His Job Rating Slips" Pew Research Center, 8/14/25
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