Melissa KP

general counsel @senatebudget; not me, us

[Cory Booker @CoryBooker]

Today, many leaders will rightly condemn President Donald Trump’s unlawful and unjust actions in Venezuela, and I join them.

But just as glaring, and far more damning, is Congress’ ongoing abdication of its constitutional duty. For almost a year now, the legislative branch has failed to check a president who repeatedly violates his oath, disregards the law, and endangers American interests at home and abroad.

Time and again, Congress, now led by Republicans, has chosen spineless complicity over its sworn responsibilities. From the reckless leaking of classified information that put American troops at risk, to the illegal use of military force destroying vessels and killing people in the Caribbean and the Pacific without congressional authorization, there has been a stunning absence of accountability.

No hearings.
No serious investigations.
No enforcement of checks and balances.
No accountability.

Again and again, the president has exceeded his authority, defied congressional intent, trampled the separation of powers, and broken the law - while Congress looked away in cowardice and submission.

Republicans in Congress own this corrosive collapse of our constitutional order. With only a handful of honorable exceptions, they have bent themselves to the will of Donald Trump, afraid to state in public the feelings they often communicate privately. That submission, this abandonment of independent judgment and constitutional courage, now stands as one of the greatest dangers to our nation and to the global order America claims to defend.

Nicolás Maduro is a brutal dictator who has committed grave abuses. The United States military remains the most capable fighting force on Earth, and our praiseworthy service members carry out their orders with professionalism and excellence.

But none of that suspends the Constitution.

The Constitution is unambiguous: Congress has the power and responsibility to authorize the use of military force and declare war. Congress has a duty of oversight. Congress must serve as a check, not a rubber stamp, to the President. On this count, Congress has failed.

We face an authoritarian-minded president who acts with dangerous growing impunity. He has shown a willingness to defy court orders, violate the law, ignore congressional intent, and shred basic norms of decency and democracy. This pattern will continue unless the Article I branch of government, especially Republican congressional leadership, finds the courage to act.

They must stop behaving as partisan puppets and start acting as patriotic constitutional stewards.

What happened today is wrong. Congressional Republicans would say so immediately if a Democratic president had done the same. Their silence is surrender. And in that surrender lie the seeds of our democratic unraveling.

There are still three years left in this administration. From the pardoning of individuals who violently attacked police officers while attempting to overturn our election to this latest extrajudicial assault on another nation’s sovereignty, the damage will continue unless it is confronted.

Enough is enough.

[Senate Budget Democrats @SenateBudget]

The aim of the Republican budget resolution is simple: Families lose, Billionaires win.

Watch as @SenJeffMerkley breaks down the reconciliation process: https://t.co/SkhqVfMdAd

[Sen. Bernie Sanders @SenSanders]

While Trump “floods the zone,” we must stay focused. 

NO to oligarchy, tax breaks for the rich and cuts to working class programs. NO to authoritarianism and unlimited power for one man.

YES to growing the union movement and raising wages. YES to health care as a human right.

[Senator Jeff Merkley @SenJeffMerkley]

I have a message for Musk and Trump about their authoritarian takeover: HELL NO.

I’m going to keep pressing for transparency for the American people, leading the charge against Russell Vought and fighting with all I have against this illegal takeover.

[Sen. Bernie Sanders @SenSanders]

The Trump Administration’s action to suspend all federal grants & loans will have a devastating impact on the health and well-being of millions of children, seniors on fixed incomes, and the most vulnerable people in our country.

It is a dangerous move towards authoritarianism.

[Katherine Clark @WhipKClark]

Just hours after taking the oath of office, Donald Trump took down https://t.co/mM8VKA42q2 — a website to help women find health care and understand their rights.

They’re wasting no time assaulting freedom.

[Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse]

“Now let us begin. Now let us re-dedicate ourselves to the long and bitter, but beautiful, struggle for a new world.”—Dr. King

[Bernie Sanders @BernieSanders]

The US Congress this week came to an agreement to fund our government.

Elon Musk, who became $200 BILLION richer since Trump was elected, objected.

Are Republicans beholden to the American people? Or President Musk?

This is oligarchy at work.

[Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse]

This election result has changed the job description I was expecting. We know Trump’s character, so the next Congress will be less about pursuing progress than about containing the inevitable corruption of a second Trump administration.

[Nina Turner @ninaturner]

I’m still willing to fight for someone I do not know.

[Ben Rhodes @brhodes]

It would be nice to return to a politics where Americans can agree on some fundamental things, like there is no place for anyone who expresses admiration for Hitler.

[Barack Obama @BarackObama]

It doesn’t have to be this way.

[Jeff Stein @jstein_sun]

Tim Walz line in 2018: The economy is a garden, not a jungle

[Taylor Popielarz @TaylorPopielarz]

New this morning:

Here is the first video of Vice President @KamalaHarris’ presidential campaign, featuring Beyonce’s song, “Freedom,” that Harris has walked out to at her first few events.

[tré easton @treeaston]

This position wins 400+ Electoral Votes.

[Headquarters @HQNewsNow]

Vice President Harris: As a former Attorney General and courtroom prosecutor, I took on perpetrators of all kinds. Predators who abused women, fraudsters who ripped off consumers, and cheaters who broke the rules. So hear me when I say, I know Donald Trump's type

[David Hogg 🟧 @davidhogg111]

Fucking crazy they didn’t bring up Guns at ALL

[Center for American Progress @amprog]

"Other countries have safety nets. The United States has women."

As @SenTinaSmith said, we need economic and social policy that supports women.
https://t.co/av4yAr4Ort

[Bernie Sanders @BernieSanders]

Let me thank the people of Vermont, from the bottom of my heart, for giving me the opportunity to serve them in the United States Senate. It has been the honor of my life.

Today, I am announcing my intention to seek another term. Here is why:

[Ro Khanna @RoKhanna]

Here is some hope at a time of division. This conversation with Jewish and Arab students at @UWMadison left me inspired. We need to have nuanced and honest conversations like this in every community and college across the country.