1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

Our historic wins for democracy were never a permission slip for Chuck Schumer or Hakeem Jeffries to lead us without accountability. We want—we demand—leaders who will hold the Trump administration accountable. We demand a Democratic Party that confronts corruption and abuses of power so that we never again find ourselves at the hands of a wannabe dictator. Shame on Hakeem Jeffries for suggesting that the American people want affordability over accountability. A leader should know better than to brush this madness under the rug. We cannot brush aside the deaths of American citizens and immigrants at the hands of ICE. We cannot brush aside the detention camps on American soil. We cannot brush aside the billions of dollars the Trump family has reportedly made through its association with the presidency. We cannot brush aside the survivors and victims whose experiences are documented in the Epstein files, or the extensive references to Donald Trump within those files. We cannot brush aside the strikes on fishermen, the legality of which demands scrutiny. We cannot brush aside the decision to enter a war without proper legal authority. We cannot brush aside the damage caused by tariffs. And we cannot brush aside the pattern of political favoritism toward wealthy technology companies and corporate interests. We did not take to the streets for the last two years to simply shrug our shoulders and say, "Okay, it's all fine now." Absolutely hell no. We demand leaders of action, integrity, and courage. Leaders who answer to the American people, not corporate interests, wealthy donors, or powerful lobbying organizations like AIPAC. We need leaders who are not beholden to AIPAC or any special-interest group, and who put the interests and voices of their constituents first. This is an opportunity—and an obligation—to stand up for democracy and against authoritarianism. We cannot afford to waste it. Don't blow it.