When Is Enough, Enough? Asking for America

The GOP Has to Rein In Its Mad Emperor

To be an American in 2026 is to often be equal parts terrified and embarrassed. Yesterday was no exception.

I was putting the finishing touches on an article/pep talk about grassroots power when I saw a letter Trump purportedly sent to Norway.

It was so ridiculous that at first I thought it was a joke, likely written by The Onion.

Sadly, it was real.

“Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America. Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a “right of ownership” anyway? There are no written documents, it’s only a boat that landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. I have done more for NATO than any person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT”

That’s the message that was written by the President of the United States, sent to Norway, and forwarded to other European Union ambassadors.

It’s the musing of a madman – demanding “Complete and Total Control of Greenland” because he’s mad he didn’t get a Nobel Prize.

That would be bad enough, all on its own.

But it gets worse.

Because yesterday we also learned that Trump has invited Vladimir Putin to join a so-called “Board of Peace” that he is creating to help decide what happens in Gaza, among other places.

Yes, you read that correctly.

The President of the United States is inviting Vladimir Putin – the man who invaded Ukraine, who has bombed hospitals and schools, who has committed documented war crimes – to help determine the fate of the Middle East.

That’s not just Trump acting out of incompetence or corruption. It’s a fundamental betrayal of American interests and values. He’s handing one of our primary adversaries a seat at the table to shape global policy in a region where American lives and credibility are on the line.

So yesterday I sat, stunned, absorbing the news on both fronts. One abandoning our allies; one embracing our adversaries. It’s not the first time it’s happened, and clearly it won’t be the last.

And the same question kept coming to me.

Where in the hell are the Republicans?

Where are the rock-ribbed national security hawks of my childhood? Where are the pro-democracy champions? Where are the brave men and women that before starting a stint in Congress served in uniform and understand that when European allies start moving troops to respond to our president’s social media screeds we have lost the plot.

Because make no mistake – there are Republicans in Congress who understand what’s happening and have actual power to check this president and put a stop to the insanity.

So where are they, and where is the red line? Or, more to the point, is there one?

There have been many potential red lines. From ICE’s violent occupation of Minneapolis to January 6th to the Access Hollywood tape, Republicans have been given ample opportunity to jump ship. Every time, I’d think surely this is too far. Surely this crosses a line even they won’t accept.

But every time, they proved there was no line – at least not one that’s based in principle or morality. There does seem to be a line based on a raw political calculation as to whether opposing Trump costs a Republican their seat. They’ve spent a lot of time calculating how and whether Trump is good for them personally – and not a lot of energy on how Trump is good for the country, and the world.

Because it’s pretty clear that Trump is not good for America. He isn’t governing like an American president. He’s governing like an authoritarian in the process of creating his own empire – demanding allies’ territory, cozying up to dictators, and using American foreign policy as a vehicle for his personal grievances and to line his own pockets.

He’s a sick, addled, angry man with imperial designs, access to the nuclear codes, and an axe to grind.

And the people who could stop him – who have the constitutional authority and obligation to provide a check on executive power – are, so far, silent.

I truly hope Republicans find their spines on their own, but we can’t just sit around waiting for their epiphany. We can’t count on them to suddenly discover principles they’ve spent years proving they don’t have.

But we can at least make the cost of their complicity visible. We can document every failure to act. Every Trumpian threat met with silence. We can organize in every district where a Republican member of Congress is enabling this madness. (Yes, that means organizing and fielding and funding nominees in Red Districts and Red States.) We can make sure their constituents know exactly what they’re voting for when they vote to keep these people in power.

And we can call them out for their toxic, anti-American choices every single time.

Because when your Republican senator stays silent while Trump invites a murderous dictator like Putin to a “peace board,” that’s a choice. When your Republican representative makes excuses for a letter demanding control of Greenland, that’s a choice. When they fail to use oversight power, and subpoena power, and the power of the purse to rein Trump in, those are choices.

And we can make sure everyone knows about them.

This isn’t about bipartisanship or finding common ground anymore. This is about national security and the bedrock foundation of democracy. This is about whether we’re going to let one man’s pathological need for validation dictate American foreign policy. This is about whether we’re a nation of laws or a nation of one increasingly unstable man’s whims.

Republicans in Congress need to wake the hell up.

And if they won’t, we need to wake up their constituents and make sure they understand what’s at stake and how their representatives are falling down on the job.

Document everything. Because when this is over – and it will be over eventually – there needs to be a record of who stood up and who looked away.

We’re one year in, friends. We can’t afford to normalize this for three more years.

Let’s get to work.

Actions for the Week of January 20, 2026

Friend, things may be heavy – but you can lighten that load by doing something small – a “small deed” – to bring about the world that you want to see. I call it Action Therapy.

That’s why in each Tuesday post I share a few “small things” – usually a Small Thing to Read, a Small Event to Attend, and a Small Call to Make or Action to Take. My intention here is to give you actions you can tuck into your week with ease – and know that you’re doing something today to make tomorrow better.

Join me in doing so. It matters.

Small Call to Make: Call Your GOP Members of Congress

Trump’s behavior is unhinged, and we need the GOP to stand up. It looks like we will need to give them the steel backbones they need to have. So get out your phones! Call their offices. Email them. Demand they explain why they’re comfortable with a president threatening allies and demanding territory, while inviting our adversaries (Putin) to a “peace board” that will influence Middle East policy.

Call the DC switchboard if you don’t have the number saved to your phone. That switchboard is 202-224-3121. They’ll connect you with the proper office.

Script: Hi, my name is (your name) and I’m calling from (zip code or address, whatever the office requires). I’m calling because I’m very concerned with Trump’s behavior – he’s being antagonistic toward our allies while also inviting Putin to a new Board of Peace. He’s treating our adversaries better than our friends! We’re losing our allies and our status in the world because of his behavior – and we’re less safe today because of it. We need the Congress(wo)man/Senator to take action and help put an end to this madness.

Small Event to Attend: Today’s Walkout!

Well this is an easy one! At 2pm local time today people across the country will be participating in Free America walkouts to mourn the one-year anniversary of Trump’s inauguration and celebrate our continued resistance. If you haven’t yet found an event near you, check out this list here.

Small Thing to Read: Unfit for Office

Back in 2019, George Conway, who was then still a Republican (to be honest, I think he’ll always be a Republican) and may even still have been married to KellyAnne Conway, wrote an incredibly long and detailed piece in The Atlantic about just how unfit Trump was. He’s only gotten worse with time, as happens with malignant narcissists.

This is a long piece, but if you haven’t read it in some time I encourage you to read it now. Here’s a gift link.

Thanks for reading, friend – I’m glad to see you here! You’re making a difference, I promise.

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Photo by Jørgen Håland on Unsplash