119th Congress, 2nd Session | September 15th, 2026 Last week, we recognized one year since Charlie Kirk’s horrific assassination and the 25th anniversary of the September 11th, 2001 Islamic terrorist attacks. Coming off the heels of these dark yet powerful days of remembrance, I’ve been struck by the normalization of un-American behavior. Whether it’s media outlets cowardly refusing to use the word terrorism or vandals smearing red paint across a newly unveiled statue of Charlie Kirk, we’ve become numb to headlines of hatred, division, and revisionist history. In recent years, vile rhetoric and violent acts have become widely accepted — and even celebrated — in American society. Due to the radical indoctrination in school systems throughout the country and the outrage culture on social media, this is especially true among young Americans. What’s more, as we discussed last week, Democrat politicians and elected officials are increasingly embracing radical policies and personalities. Beyond the growing rise of support for socialism and communism, the Democrat Party is also struggling to reject some of the most evil, un-American individuals. Of course, a prime example is Hasan Piker, who infamously claimed the U.S. “deserved 9/11.” Unfortunately but unsurprisingly, the normalization of un-American rhetoric, ideologies, and figures is certainly impacting some Americans’ views of what it means to be an American. Over the summer — as we celebrated 250 years of American independence, a new Gallup poll revealed American pride reached a record low. Just 53% of U.S. adults said they are “extremely” (33%) or “very” (20%) proud to be an American. The same poll from last year shows clear partisan and generational differences, with Democrats and Generation Z driving the drop in patriotism. Despite these un-American trends, I remain optimistic about our nation and our future. After all, as a Navy combat veteran, I’ve been to more than 50 countries across the globe. NONE compare to the United States of America! Like my fellow Northeast Georgians, I’m proud to be an American. I’m proud of our precious freedoms and the generations of patriots who defend them. I’m proud of our citizenry, heritage, and culture. I’m proud of our Founding Fathers, founding documents, and founding principles.  As we witness political pundits and social media algorithms glorify un-American people and points of view, I encourage you to remain patriotic, proud, and hopeful. We are, and always will be, an imperfect nation. Yet we are the best and most free nation — for as long as we defend her. May God continue to bless, guide, and protect the USA.