John,

I spent the weekend at the No Kings Day rally, standing with neighbors who came out because we care about something bigger than headlines: We care about our democracy, and we're standing up against Donald Trump's authoritarianism.

Here's the simple truth I keep hearing on the ground — and the truth I want to explain clearly.

A healthy democracy depends on checks, norms, and accountability. It depends on leaders who answer to voters, not to power. Lately, Republicans have stopped asking questions and started mouthing Trump's talking points. They're quick to fall in line, eager to amplify whatever comes from the top, and ready to sacrifice democratic norms for political power.

It shows up in votes and policies that prioritize spectacle over the everyday needs of families, like we're seeing in the government shutdown. It shows up when elected officials refuse to challenge dangerous bills or rhetoric because they're afraid to displease Donald Trump. And it shows up when institutions that are supposed to protect the public good get sidelined in favor of loyalty tests.

At the No Kings Rally, Wisconsinites were there because we know what's at stake. We worry about the rule of law, about free and fair elections, and about a future where one person's whims override institutions meant to protect all of us. We're tired of politicians who swallow talking points whole and forget whose job it is to serve the public.

Wisconsin deserves better than Donald Trump's authoritarianism. We deserve leaders who ask hard questions, put people before power, and protect the democratic guardrails that keep our communities thriving. That's the case I'm making every day on the trail.

More soon,

Sarah