It's time for a reckoning

Today, it's been exactly one year since Donald Trump's inauguration. For someone who, on almost all fronts, seems to prefer behaving as a political talk-show host to being the actual President, we shouldn't be surprised (though it is disappointing) that we're marking this anniversary with the government shut down. Take away the spin and the pundits, and the reality in Washington, D.C. is this: The GOP controls the federal government. Donald Trump and congressional Republicans had a chance to negotiate a bipartisan deal to keep the government open. They refused. This shutdown comes at the end of what has been an almost unthinkably bad first year in office for Donald Trump. Each day seems to bring a new controversy or outrage, and it all follows this basic structure: 1. Trump says or does something bad (likely on Twitter). 2. Americans are disgusted and angry. 3. Americans speak up. 4. Americans are forced to move on because Trump has done the next outrageous thing. And so the cycle continues, and each outrage blurs with the one before until everyone can feel too exhausted to even move. But anniversaries are a time for reflection, so today we're looking back at the "greatest hits" of each month of Trump's presidency to remind ourselves what we're fighting against when we roll up our sleeves to elect (or re-elect) progressive leaders in Congress. This is a long email, but it's time for a reckoning, so read on if you're ready for one: January 2017: Trump signs his first travel ban, effectively blocking people from Muslim countries, including Syrian refugees, from entering the United States. February 2017: Trump reverses guidelines put in place by the Obama Administration that allow transgender students in public schools to choose which bathroom to use. March 2017: It's reported that the FBI has information suggesting possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia in 2016, prompting one of Trump's all-too-frequent "fake news" tweets. April 2017: Trump takes some time away from his busy schedule watching cable news to have dinner *in the White House* with pals Sarah Palin, Kid Rock, and Ted Nugent (whose past comments about Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, among others, are so offensive we can't even type them here). May 2017: Trump fires FBI Director James Comey, telling Lester Holt it was because of "this Russia thing." Soon after, Robert Mueller is appointed as special counsel to investigate Russian meddling in the election. June 2017: Trump announces his plans to withdraw from the Paris climate deal. July 2017: With urging from Trump, congressional Republicans come dangerously close to repealing the Affordable Care Act. The repeal is prevented by just one vote in the Senate. August 2017: After white supremacists descend on Charlottesville with hatred and violence, Trump reacts to the tragic events by noting that there were "very fine people on both sides" of the issue. September 2017: Trump directly attacks NFL players who chose to peacefully protest racial violence, calling for them to be fired. October 2017: Republicans Bob Corker and Jeff Flake, fed up with a lack of responsible governing, voice their frustrations with Trump. Neither plans to return to the Senate after their terms end. November 2017: Trump defends Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore despite multiple credible accusations of sexual abuse of underage girls. December 2017: Trump signs a deficit-busting 1.5 trillion dollar tax cut into law benefitting corporations and the wealthiest in the country, and leaving the middle class and working people holding the bag. January 2018: Feeling defensive -- and as he taunts North Korea over the prospect of a nuclear strike -- Trump tweets out a reminder to his 46 million followers that he is a "stable genius." Well, there you have it. One year in office. And this, of course, doesn't even come close to covering all that's happened. The cruel reversal of DACA. Ending protections for workers. Rolling back Wall Street reform. Appointing the anti-public education Betsy DeVos and anti-civil rights Jeff Sessions to his cabinet. Countless insults and untruths. If you made it this far down, you're probably feeling a little frustrated and dispirited. We get it. But here's the thing: There may be three more years in Trump's term, but we have a chance this fall to earn a Democratic majority in the Senate, which would give us a progressive brick wall against the dangerous and divisive agenda being pushed by this administration. It would create a real check to this presidency that we so desperately need. Ready? Add your name if you're mad that this is our reality. Add your name if you're ready to fight for change. Add your name if you're ready for Democrats to win big in 2018. Thank you for all you do. It's not easy, and we're with you every step of the way. In solidarity, Team Kaine

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