1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

congress We watch in horror as the Ukrainian people wage a courageous fight for their democracy against Russian aggression. Meanwhile, you remain silent or offer only meager criticism of President Trump, who openly praises strongmen and threatens to abandon Ukraine to fend for itself. This refusal to confront his dangerous flirtations with authoritarianism not only emboldens Vladimir Putin, but also undermines the very ideals on which our country was founded. Once upon a time, Congress acted as a coequal branch, checking executive overreach. Now, too many among you cower at the prospect of a vengeful tweet or political retaliation. Your reluctance to defend Ukraine, or even to speak out forcefully, sends an alarming message to our allies: the United States is willing to let tyranny flourish rather than risk political backlash. Ukrainians fight on their soil every day, protecting the democratic values we claim to cherish. You have the power—and the responsibility—to provide financial and moral support to those defending freedom. If you remain passive, you are complicit in the demise of a sovereign nation and the erosion of democracy itself. Edmund Burke warned, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” So stand up. Show the world that democracy still matters in America.