I went to the Senate floor to lay out for my colleagues the stunning story of brazen, open corruption during the first 6 weeks of the Trump presidency.
I think it's a story everyone needs to know.
1/ So a🧵with the highlights from the speech.
2/ The Trump crypto coin scam - maybe the biggest corruption story of them all.
3/ Trump changes the rules to allow his MAGA loyalists to get paid by foreign governments to lobby him in secret.
Over the last 24 hours, MAGA has been ceaselessly spreading the claim that Democrats - from Susan Rice to Tony Blinken to me - pushed Zelensky to reject the minerals deal.
Total lie. Made up out of thin air. Zero sources.
1/ A short lesson how these lies spread in MAGA world.
2/ Not entirely clear where it started, but the source looks like it might be from a totally random MAGA user who says she is “speculating” that Blinken, Rice, Nuland and Vindman has a “conference call” with Zelensky.
Just a MAGA troll making up shit in their basement.
3/ Another source seems to be this @nypost columnist who WILDLY twists my post about Zelensky’s well known opposition to a bad cease fire deal into a claim that “Democrats advised him to reject the mineral deal”.
2/ You cannot erase the context. Trump has been calling Zelensky a corrupt dictator and spreading Russian propaganda that Russia didn't invade Ukraine.
All these lies are Trump's pretext to sign a deal with Russia that hands Ukraine to Putin. Zelensky knows this.
3/ Zelensky - who's been cut out of the talks - knows what Trump and Putin are scheming. A "ceasefire" without any guarantee for Ukraine's future security is a trap. Trump's deal will require Ukrainian forces to withdraw, and when they do, Putin will pounce. It's a set up.
2/ Back in January, Trump ordered a 90-day pause on all foreign aid. It was a lie. He was always planning to eliminate USAID.
But that's illegal and a court reversed it. Because Congress is in charge of spending, not the President - a foundational feature of our democracy.
3/ Why is Congress in charge? Because if a unitary executive decides who gets money, then he can use it to reward friends and punish enemies. That's what despots do. So our founders VERY INTENTIONALLY put a politically diverse Congress in charge of spending.
2/ First, they pardoned all the Jan 6th rioters. This was done to protect violence when it's used to target Trump critics (remember, the rioters were there to kill Pence and Democrats).
Today I will be holding a citizen meeting in West Hartford to talk about what I'm doing and what people can do to fight back against Trump's seizure of government for the billionaire class.
1/ Unfortunately, we've maxed out the space, so here's a 🧵 on what you can do.
2/ First, I know that I have a unique responsibility, as your Senator, to lead this fight. That's why I'm using every tool I have. I'm not supporting any Trump nominees until this crisis ends. I'm helping support the legal fight. I'm working behind the scenes to move Republicans to action. I'm speaking out publicly - on TV, social media, at rallies - every day to try to rally opposition to this power seizure. I'm working 24/7 to lead this effort.
3/ And listen, I know it's a scary time. But remember, their tactics of shock, awe and constant chaos are DESIGNED to get you to check out. They want you to feel overwhelmed, despondent, and powerless.
But you aren't. Like @aoc says, we have more people than they do.