It’s easy to watch the news and feel overwhelmed or even helpless at everything going on. I need you to fight that feeling.

I’m an optimist. You have to be when you strap yourself to a rocket for a living. But there’s real reason to be hopeful this year and l’ll tell you why. President Trump is scared. He’s scared because he knows, just like all of us do, that his free rein to do whatever he wants could end this year.

Trump has been president for more than 100 days now.

When we look at what he’s “accomplished” in that time, it almost feels like what you’d do if you intentionally tried to make America poorer and less safe. 🧵 Trump has been destroying our relationships with our allies on every level — militarily, diplomatically, and economically. Our adversaries have dreamed of weakening us like this for decades, and he’s done it all by himself in three months.

Cindy McCain runs the World Food Program. I spoke to her this past week and she shared some of the alarming consequences of the funding cuts imposed by the Trump administration. 🧵 58 million people are at imminent risk of being cut from their feeding programs. This will cause insecurity, destabilization, and migration. That will have ripple effects across the world and will only make it and our country less safe.

A lot of people are wondering what they can do right now.

Nothing will solve our problems overnight. But here are just few ways we can all DO SOMETHING to fight back against the Trump Administration as they upend lives, threaten health care, and break the law. 🧵 Voting is #1. Participate in EVERY election. Many places have elections throughout the year, but too many folks sit them out. Look at Wisconsin and Florida today. There’s no offseason. Read up on elections in your area and check your voter registration at .IWillVote.com

I just got back from 36 hours in Ukraine with my brother Scott. Wanted to share a story from while we were there. At a hospital, we talked with a wounded Ukrainian soldier.

I asked him what he thought about the change in US policy. His response in English was, “What the fuck.” His name is Anton. He was wounded by a drone attack in Donetsk. He is now blind and is a triple amputee. He lost one arm, the other hand, and one leg. He couldn’t believe what the Trump administration has been doing and saying.

It’s been 6 weeks since Donald Trump returned to the White House.

It’s almost been too much to keep up with the sheer number of bad decisions he’s made that will make life worse for Americans.

I know it's hard to keep track, but we can't let any of this go unnoticed. 🧵 He fired thousands of Americans without cause, many of them veterans. He let an unelected billionaire slash funding for medical research, disaster relief, public health, public safety, veterans care and many programs you rely on. All with no analysis, no discussion, and no plan.

Today, I’m excited to announce my support for 19 candidates for the Arizona legislature. These candidates can make the difference and give Governor Hobbs a legislature that will work together to move our state forward on everything from education to abortion rights. The families living in LD2 deserve representatives who will defend our democracy, protect abortion rights, and strengthen our schools. @SimacekforAZ and @JudyForAZ are running to do just that.

Tomorrow, I have the honor of being inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame.

So, I thought I’d take a look back on how I got where I am today.

There are several paths to becoming an astronaut. This was mine. 🧵 After high school, I went to the US Merchant Marine Academy where I studied marine engineering and nautical science.

Then came flight school. I still remember driving through the gates at the Naval Air Station for the first time with “Danger Zone” playing on the tape deck.

I want to share a few moments that got me to where I am today.

Growing up and watching my mom become the first female cop in our community, I learned that through hard work, I could do anything I set my mind to. 🧵 When I was 23, I became a United States Naval aviator. I deployed twice on the U.S.S. Midway and flew 39 combat missions in Operation Desert Storm.

10 years ago today, a man tried to assassinate my wife, @GabbyGiffords, and in the process killed 6 people and injured 12 others. This anniversary is always difficult for our family, but today's feels different after the violence on Capitol Hill this week. This time, it was Gabby who received the call that I might be the one in danger, and the experience sent both of us back to January 8, 2011 — the day Gabby was shot and forced to fight for her life. At a time when many would have given up, Gabby pushed forward and persevered.

I realize there are some who may not know what today means to me and my family — what it means to our community in Tucson and across Arizona. Nine years ago today, a gunman opened fire at a Congress on Your Corner held by my wife, and then Congresswoman, @GabbyGiffords. We lost six people to a senseless act of violence. 13 more were injured, including my wife. The aftermath left our community shaken, but Tucson came together and supported each other through it all.