As this terrible, horrible, no-good, very-bad year winds to a close, I’m looking forward to a clean slate and a fresh outlook in 2026.

Here are a few things I’m hanging my "optimist" hat on in the coming year:

1. Truth is Beating Spin

Early this year, this president and his minions believed they were unstoppable. They committed crimes with impunity. They shredded the federal government. Approval ratings showed a majority of Americans behind them.

They failed to realize spin, scapegoating, propaganda, diversion tactics, LIES, only go so far. How inconvenient.

Economic data. Job reports. Price tags. Health care premiums. Epstein files. Truth.

I pride myself on being a voice for truth in Washington, even when the truth ain’t pretty. One of my goals in the new year is to continue injecting cold, hard facts into the national conversation. Will you pitch in $10 to help my team and I deliver the essential facts voters NEED and DESERVE to know?

2. Trump’s Long National Honeymoon is Over

Ten years. Ten years of Trump’s honeymoon with the GOP and the voting public. But even the longest, most delightful honeymoon must come to an end, and it seems that day is here.

This year, Democrats picked up 25 seats in special and off-year elections nationwide. Republicans — ZERO. Trump’s approval rating has tanked to 37%, an all-time low for him. He’s lost a die-hard supporter in Marjorie Taylor Greene, and more Republican defectors are sure to follow.

Listen, I’m not going to make any big predictions about what’s next, but as any history buff knows, authoritarians don't fall until their own believers start to see the light. Watch this space. 

3. We’ve Actually Had Some Wins

This year, two of my bills — the Mental Health in Aviation Act and the Developing and Empowering our Aspiring Leaders (DEAL) Act — passed the House. While they still need to hit the Senate for a vote before they reach the Resolute Desk, getting anything passed through this gridlocked traffic jam of a Congress is an accomplishment.

The fact that we’ve done it twice is a testament to just how much we'll achieve for Americans when we win back our House majority.

Before my mid-month fundraising deadline tomorrow night, will you chip in $10 or $25 to help us Democrats prepare for the challenges ahead, and make 2026 the year we take America back?

Thanks for reading, and an even bigger thanks for your support. I wouldn’t be here without you.

– Sean Casten