It’s time to take the fight to the Trumpists. We’re gearing up to beat them this November.

Friend,

Thursday’s hearings were historic. And one thing was clear from the first televised primetime hearings of the January 6th committee: it is obvious Donald Trump remains the single largest threat to American democracy. He was the central figure in the plot to overthrow the lawful results of the election. Trump and his self-serving flatterers must be held accountable for the damage they have caused in undermining our democratic institutions. 

You’ve heard me say sometimes we lack the imagination to see how far Trump and Trumpists will go. After Thursday, there should be no doubt that they would do anything.

Thursday painted the picture of a man alone on an island, lashing out to anyone who would listen. It’s clear now that even Trump’s family and top staff were all running away from his attempts to overturn the election. Attorney General Bill Barr thought the effort was “bullshit” and was so appalled that he left office. Ivanka and Jared claimed they “checked out” in an attempt to avoid culpability for one of the most dangerous moments in American history. But of course, he had an army of Proud Boys and Oath Keepers hanging on his every word. Did you see the insurrectionist with the megaphone reading Trump’s tweets to the crowd as they broke into the Capitol?

The choice has never been more clear. Thursday did a brilliant job crystallizing what we are up against. It really is us – the pro-democracy coalition – vs. them – the autocratic mob.

I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say January 6th was the most serious attempt to split our nation in half since the Civil War. The battle for the soul of our democracy could not be clearer.

But if you ask their media mouthpieces, it’s like nothing happened.

FOX News was so afraid to show anything about the hearings that they ran Tucker commercial free because they didn't want anyone changing the channel to the hearing. They are desperately trying to keep a lid on this and create their alternate universe. At one point, the committee aired a video with several insurrectionists saying, verbatim, “I’m here because Trump told me to be here.”

If you listen to how Liz Cheney laid out what the committee is going to do over the next five hearings, you’re going to hear the phrases “Trump illegally” and “Trump unconstitutionally” a lot. These are measured words from someone who chooses them carefully. If you read between the lines, it’s clear the Congresswoman from Wyoming (and the Committee) have the goods. The phrases she used are not idle. You can bet Trump noticed them too.

Now, as the committee narrows its focus and makes its case concisely and in plain terms to the American people, the focus shifts to the deluge of wannabes and enablers who are desperately clinging to power in the MAGA-verse. Will the McCarthys and Cruzes and Hawleys hang on? Or will a candidate like Mehmet Oz look at sinking numbers and a potentially indicted Trump and wonder if it’s all worth it?

If we’ve seen anything from these ultra-MAGA candidates, we know the answer. The nation is at one of the most dangerous moments in its history. These revelations will only make the true MAGA believers double and triple down on the Big Lie - making them more dangerous and perhaps more violent. 

Every single American needs to decide if they are on the side of the seditionists who tried to tear down a free and fair election – or if they support our Republic and its democratic principles.

We, too, are doubling down. We are intensifying our work to make sure that the American people do not forget the stakes for our democracy. We will continue to try to pop the FOX right wing media bubble. And we will defeat Trumpists at every level. Are you with us?

Thank you for keeping us in this fight.

-Stuart

@stuartpstevens on Twitter