I was briefed today by President Zelensky’s office about Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb drone attack on Russian aircraft and it really hits home how this operation will be studied for years to come as an example of a new era of warfare. Here’s what stood out: first, their motto. “SHOOT THE ARCHER, NOT THE ARROW.” THREAD The motto of “Shoot the Archer, Not the Arrow” immediately conveys an advancement in their defensive tactics. Not just trying to defend against the artillery, but to hinder Russia’s ability to deliver that artillery in the first place and do substantial damage to its military capabilities. 2/12

I worked at the National Security Council for 2 yrs and want to explain why yesterday’s decision to cut nearly everyone is dangerous. This purge will sacrifice our nation’s security so a handful of people can exert more political control. Here’s who wins and who loses. THREAD WHY IT MATTERS: NSC doesn’t have armies/embassies; its power comes from controlling the Situation Room, meaning it’s the only entity that can force others to coordinate/debate. 2/13

Stephen Miller said White House was “actively looking at” options to suspend Habeas Corpus/due process in times of invasion/rebellion. Just hours later Miller posts these lies…but look at how he’s lying - saying that Members of Congress “riotously stormed and invaded.” MORE 1/9 First, the Members of Congress were at the facility conducting an oversight inspection. They are permitted by law to do so (DHS Appropriations Act, 2020, Sec. 532)

Here is ICE guidance that acknowledges that Members can visit for oversight. Unannounced visits happen regularly. 2/9

This is the most telling photo I’ve seen — Trump/Vance berating a wartime leader fighting against invasion directly in front of a bust of Churchill. It looks like Churchill is seated in the back, watching Trump kill the very US-Europe alliance that Churchill helped forge. THREAD Why was the Oval Office exchange so humiliating to watch? It’s because every American alive today was born after the Greatest Generation led America’s rise to global leadership. What we saw yesterday was a surrender that could very well lead to American decline. 2/10

As Trump and Musk gut USAID today, I think back to my first day ever working for the US gov, showing up at the Reagan Building to start at USAID. Shame on them for demonizing Americans who are serving our nation, often in difficult and dangerous places. THREAD We can have a policy debate about how much to spend internationally or what programs to fund, but their hate and paranoia towards other Americans go much deeper. I’m proud I worked at USAID. 2/8

I just talked to the family of Officer Brian Sicknick, who was killed on Jan 6. He grew up in NJ, served his nation, but was assaulted and killed. His assailants sentenced to prison until pardoned by Trump. Let us lift up Sicknick’s name and memory: THREAD Officer Sicknick’s family’s pain today was so deep. That Trump used his first hours in office pardoning so many involved in that attack on the Capitol including the two of the assailants that attacked Officer Sicknick. It was a betrayal. 2/7

I’ve been asked what it means to be 1st Korean American Senator. On this Korean American day, I want to share a photo of the home where my mom grew up during Korean War. America opened its doors and helped her become a nurse. Last week she stood with me as I was sworn in. THREAD And it isn’t just my mom’s story. Over 120 yrs since the first Koreans came to America. Now there are 2 million Korean Americans. 24 million Asian Americans. Asian Americans are not monolithic. 

I of course do not speak for all, nor is my story and experience reflective of all. 2/10

I’m walking through the Capitol this morning and took some photos in the same spots as what we saw 4 years ago

Many in north/central NJ are worried about odor/taste of water coming out of the tap. As a father of two boys, I absolutely understand your worries. I talked with heads of NJ Dept of Environmental Protection and American Water.

Here are 4 key questions I asked: THREAD IS THE WATER SAFE? 

DEP/American Water report that water is well within NJ standards, which are some of the strictest in nation. They test for 100s of kinds of metals/ chemical compounds. Results are either non-detection or very low and far below levels of health concerns. 2/10

I’ve had 3 briefings with White House, FBI and DHS on drones this week, and multiple calls with law enforcement across NJ. I’m hearing from everyone that detection resources are heightened, reported sightings are down, no confirmed threat/concern. Let me go into detail. THREAD DHS detailed to me the array of tools they have in NJ for drone detection including thermal sensors, drone-specific radar, radio frequency kits, and visual monitors. There have been no drone detections using any of these tools since tools have been active earlier this month. 2/20

After going out with police to observe reports of possible drones, I was with the help of civilian pilots and others able to do deeper analysis and concluded that most of the possible drone sightings that were pointed out to me were almost certainly planes. Let me explain: THREAD While not receiving any feedback/info from federal officials, I reached out to civilian aviators/others for analysis. I used public flight tracking tools to recreate the conditions of my time out. For instance I was at Round Valley Reservoir at 9:20pm and shot this video. 2/9

Last night I went out with local police to spot drone flying over New Jersey, here’s what I saw. We drove to Round Valley Reservoir and the officer pointed to lights moving low over the tree line. Sometimes they were solid white light, others flashed of red and green.THREAD We oriented ourselves with a flight tracker app to help us distinguish from airplanes. We often saw about 5-7 lights at a time that were low and not associated with aircraft we could see on the tracker app. Some hovered while others moved across the horizon. 2/11

Today was my final vote in the House. As I walk out of the chamber for last time, I wanted to share something almost no one notices. The center aisle, the one the President walks down for SOTU, the aisle that divides the R and D sides, ends at an inscription of “Tolerance.”THREAD It caught my eye the very first time I stepped into the House chamber when first elected. There is a desk in front of it so you can’t see it on TV. I thought it was a curious choice for such a central location. I’ve thought about it for a long time. Why “tolerance?” 2/11

If we’re only having comfortable conversations in politics, it means we aren’t talking to all the people we need to be talking to. What comes next will be hard but needed. Here are my lessons learned for having effective “uncomfortable conversations” in district Trump won. THREAD THE POWER OF RESPECT:
One of most profound moments of my time in politics happened after finishing a town hall in a deep Trump area. An older man waited 45 min to talk to me. He said “I want you to know I didn’t vote for you…and was very hesitant to come to this town hall.” 2/12

In 2020 I was one of 7 dems that won a district that Trump won, so I held a series of listening sessions with people who voted for Trump and voted for me to understand their actions. I reread the transcripts yesterday and much of it felt like it could have been said today. THREAD Across the board the conversations began with expressions of what I can only describe as deep disgust in politics. Severe distrust in politicians and the status quo. And this wasn’t about the specifics of the moment, but instead deep seated long-term dissatisfaction. 2/12

Last night a Republican delegate from NJ accused me of wearing a North Korea flag on my tie and questioned my allegiance to America. This is a disgusting attack and I urge NJ Republican leaders including @BobHugin and @CurtisBashaw to condemn this xenophobia. THREAD When I first ran for Congress, mailers sent out with my name in Chinese take out font. TV ads with the phrase “Andy Kim He’s Not One of Us.” I tried to ignore it but I realized that I should have done more to stand up. Unfortunately we see hate growing in our country… 2/12

I heard about vandalism of the United Synagogue of Hoboken and it pains me to see the way some people are acting on their deep disagreements and prejudices in ways that intentionally seek to intimidate and strike fear in others…THREAD I walked past the defaced statues at Union Station yesterday as the park service power washed the disgusting “Hamas is Coming” threat from the marble. No matter how deeply one disagrees, that is no justification for threats or antisemitism. 2/

When Lincoln was shot he wore a coat embroidered with “One Country, One Destiny.” I’ve turned to those 4 words to help me process this moment. This assassination attempt was one of the worst events I’ve seen in our democracy. It feels like we are a country unmoored…THREAD I’ve never experienced a time more unpredictable yet with such generational consequence. So what does this particular moment mean? I remembered a passage in a book I read. “Power and violence are opposites; where the one rules absolutely, the other is absent.”  2/10

This month is 20 yrs since I started serving the country, first as an intern and now today I’m on the ballot to be the Dem nominee for Senate. I’ve been blessed to serve, working my way up from a desk in the photocopy room. But I always remembered my 1st lesson in service. THREAD 20 yrs ago, arriving at Union Station, I realized I didn’t know anyone else in the entire city of DC. I didn’t come from a political family or had any previous experience in DC except for a family trip or two. I was nervous. I felt out of place. I felt like I didn’t belong. 2/11

I first met @YaelBromberg, @bmpugach and Flavio Komuves just 5 months ago. While we talked, the gravity of what we were considering hit me. I asked them point blank, what’s our chance of winning a lawsuit against the political machine? Is this a Hail Mary or do we have a shot?🧵

https://twitter.com/danadifilippo/status/1784910412149825546

The three of them didn’t flinch. They each took turns telling me why this was real. They embodied confidence yet humility. They were pragmatic and tactical while maintaining the hopefulness and courage one needs to take on NJ politics. 2/6

Politics in NJ is facing a real crossroads right now between elite control and power of people. The same leaders who gain political control through the county line on ballots are flexing to ram through a bill gutting OPRA and transparency. These problems are interconnected THREAD Of all the things to fast track...leaders are spending time and capital reducing transparency. We have affordability, environmental, infrastructure challenges. It's a real prioritization problem to have a politics more interested in preserving/expanding their own control. 2/10