Hi friend, 

I don’t usually write to you about television hosts – but this one’s different.

Over the weekend, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth – a former morning show host and Trump loyalist – told a crowd at a far-right conference that he sees himself as a future “Secretary of Offense” and said he wants to “punish” anyone who disagrees with him.

He said, “We're going to go on offense, not just on defense. Maximum lethality, not tepid legality. Violent effect, not politically correct.”

Scary.

And here’s what’s worse: within days, the Pentagon cut press access to military briefings, with One America News – an unapologetically MAGA-aligned network – as the only network granted full access. A known propagandist calls for war on his political enemies… and then gets a front-row seat in our nation’s defense infrastructure?

This is authoritarian creep, plain and simple. We cannot afford to stay quiet.

That’s why I’m asking you to stand with me now:

Add your name: Tell Congress to reject extremist influence at the Pentagon and protect freedom of the press.

Add Your Name >> [link removed]

Look – I served as our local meteorologist for decades. I know what it means to show up and serve my neighbors every single day, without a political agenda. I ran for Congress to bring that same commitment to truth, science, and democracy.

What’s happening here is dangerous. It’s not about news, and it’s not about national security. They’re building a pipeline of power between far-right media and authoritarian politics.

And we need to call it out.

Add your name today, and let’s make it clear:

Add Your Name >> [link removed]

Talking heads don’t run our military. The people do.

With gratitude,

-Eric
    
Eric Sorensen is a meteorologist born and raised in Rockford, IL representing IL-17 in Congress. He’s seen firsthand the importance of establishing trust with the community, and he’s determined to use his expertise as a climate communicator to fight for Illinoisans on environmental justice and more in Washington. To support Eric consider making a grasssroots contribution here: [link removed]

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Eric Sorensen for Illinois
P.O. Box 1172
Moline, IL 61265
United States