By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House – Missouri’s 4th District
Here we go again. Cracker Barrel updates its logo, and MAGA Republicans are screaming like it’s the end of civilization. This is the stupidity of politics today—pearl clutching over a brand change instead of focusing on the real struggles facing Americans.
Let’s get something straight. “Woke” is not the dirty word MAGA radicals make it out to be. It simply means being awake to injustice, aware of inequality, and mindful of the struggles of others. That’s it. It’s a call to be decent human beings—not some wild conspiracy about “ruining America.”
But for MAGA Republicans, every minor change becomes a talking point. They manufacture outrage because they have no solutions. They don’t want to fix healthcare, bring down grocery prices, or support Missouri’s farm families. Instead, they waste their breath on empty fights over logos, Bud Light cans, or whether a cartoon character looks too different. It’s nonsense, and it’s insulting to the intelligence of the American people.
Meanwhile, the rest of us are focused on real issues: lowering costs for families, keeping rural hospitals open, supporting our veterans, and making sure Missouri farmers can actually compete in the market. These are the issues that matter—not whether a restaurant chain changes a picture on a sign.
This isn’t about Cracker Barrel. It’s about a political minority that thrives on fake outrage, distraction, and culture wars because they’re out of ideas. The MAGA Republicans would rather yell about “woke” than tell us how they’re going to make healthcare affordable or protect Social Security. They can’t, because they don’t have a plan.
So the next time you see a headline about this kind of nonsense, remember—it’s not news. It’s a distraction. And while they’re busy shouting at logos, I’ll be busy fighting for Missouri’s families, farmers, and future.
By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House – Missouri’s 4th District
Mark “Awful” Alford says he’s listening 👂 but his votes show the opposite. He’s not listening to Missouri farmers, families, or rural hospitals—he’s listening to donors and party bosses in D.C. 💸
Friends, I was born in Waverly and raised right here in the heart of rural Missouri. I’ve pulled calves 🐄, prepped fields 🌽, raised horses 🐎, and done the hard work that real Missourians know all too well. My opponent? He’s a Texan transplant who read a teleprompter in Kansas City suburbs and now pretends to understand us. That’s not Missouri Grown. That’s not Missouri Strong.
While Alford hides behind weekday “photo-op” county visits 📸, I’m gaining support in places that used to be deep red 🔴—because people know me. They know I’m running for them, not for a party.
His record proves the truth:
❌ Voted to cut farm subsidies.
❌ Voted against PBS & NPR.
❌ Voted for bills that are a death sentence for rural healthcare.
He rubber stamps everything the executive branch sends his way. He’s there for himself, not for you.
Our campaign is different. We’re grassroots 🌱. Funded by regular people. No super PAC strings attached.
I’ve already drafted legislation to expand rural urgent care clinics and fund mobile clinics 🚑. And I’ve worked on legislation for Missouri’s farm families—because our farmers feed America and the world 🌎. My proposals would strengthen safety nets for family farms, provide fairer competition rules against corporate ag monopolies, and ensure farmers get the assistance they need when crops fail from droughts or disasters.
Mike “Krooked” Kehoe may call this gerrymander a “redistricting to better reflect Missourians’ values” 🗺️—but if Kansas City is added to this district, it only strengthens our movement to unseat Alford. Because Missourians are ready for real representation, not another rubber stamp.
I am Missouri Born. Missouri Raised. Missouri Strong. 💪 Send me to Washington, and I’ll fight for every single one of you, regardless of party affiliation—because first and foremost, I answer to Missouri, not Washington insiders.
When farms and small towns win, Missouri wins. And on November 3, 2026 🗳️, together we’ll make Missouri prosper again.
⭐ Show-Me Leadership. Show-Me Results.
🗳️ No Rubber Stamps—Real Representation.
By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House – Missouri’s 4th District
Missouri Voters Deserve Fair Maps, Not a MAGA Power Play
In the early hours, President Donald Trump posted that “Missouri is now in.” The meaning is clear enough: top‑down pressure to redraw our congressional map mid‑decade to lock in more safe seats. Missouri deserves better than a back‑room rush job that treats voters like pieces on a chessboard.
Let’s get the facts straight. Today’s talk in Jefferson City isn’t about fixing broken communities or making districts more compact. It’s about raw power. Republican leaders have said they would “start with a map drawn in D.C.” and see how far they can push it. Meanwhile, Governor Mike “Krooked” Kehoe hasn’t formally called a special session—but public reporting shows he’s signaling movement. That’s not Missouri‑first. That’s Washington‑first—just dressed up for the State Capitol.
What the law allows—and what’s right
Under Missouri law, the legislature draws congressional districts by regular statute. That means a mid‑decade redraw is technically possible. But “legal” isn’t the same as “right.” Mid‑course rewrites—without new census data—invite court fights, risk diluting minority votes, and tell citizens their communities can be sliced up anytime it suits those in power. Fair government doesn’t move the goalposts after the game starts.
What fair representation should look like
Here’s my standard: compact lines that keep counties and communities together, with districts that honestly reflect how Missourians live and vote. At a minimum, Missouri should have a balanced map with four Republican‑leaning districts, three Democratic‑leaning districts, and one truly competitive district where candidates have to earn every vote. That competitive seat matters—because it forces real listening and keeps politicians honest.
For years, Missouri has run a 6–2 split. In 2022, insiders tried to force a 7–1 map and couldn’t get it done. Now the same crowd wants a do‑over because the White House said “jump.” That’s not governing; that’s obeying.
Let’s talk about trust
Mike “Krooked” Kehoe built his career selling cars before he moved into politics. Nothing wrong with honest sales work—but everyone knows the difference between a straight‑shooting deal and a high‑pressure pitch. What you’re seeing now is a high‑pressure pitch: sell Missourians on a rush map they didn’t ask for, to solve a political problem they don’t have.
Missourians are practical. We want our farms, towns, and neighborhoods kept intact. We want maps drawn in public, with real hearings and real testimony. We want safeguards against cracking Kansas City or St. Louis voters and against slicing rural communities to pad safe seats. And we want one district on the map where either party can win if they show up, tell the truth, and earn it.
Bottom line: No mid‑decade power grab. No D.C.‑drawn districts. Give Missouri fair, compact lines—and give voters one competitive seat where ideas, not party bosses, carry the day.
Mark “Awful for Missouri” Alford and his GOP colleagues are not serving the people—they’re serving Trump. Time and again, they rubber-stamp whatever crosses their desks, often without even knowing what’s inside, like with the so-called “Big Bill.” That’s not representation. That’s blind obedience.
When I’m elected to Congress, I won’t play that game. I’ll work to reduce the national debt, cut wasteful spending, and demand accountability for every taxpayer dollar. That means ending giveaways like the Qatari airplane “gift” ✈️ — a plane that will cost U.S. taxpayers over $1 billion to retrofit for use — and stopping absurd projects like Trump’s plan to spend $500 million painting the border wall black so it gets hotter 🌡️. Never mind that migrants use ladders, gloves, or simply walk around it. This is politics as theater, not fiscal responsibility.
It’s the same story with the unaccountable portions of the military budget—billions of which vanish into a void with no explanation. Missourians deserve transparency, not blank checks.
The hidden toll: interest on the national debt 💰
In 2024, the U.S. government’s interest payments on the national debt hit $880 billion, up 34% from the previous year—a record high, and representing about 3.1% of GDP.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates $952 billion in net interest costs in 2025—meaning we will officially pass the $1 trillion mark this year.
By mid-fiscal 2025, the U.S. had already spent $841 billion in interest payments through July—far more than the same stretch in 2024. At this pace, the trillion-dollar milestone is unavoidable 🚨.
This rising interest burden is the fastest-growing part of the federal budget, steadily squeezing funding for schools, healthcare, and rural infrastructure.
A billion—how unimaginable? 💸
Most of us struggle to picture a million. A billion? That’s nearly impossible.
If you saved $100,000 a year, it’d take 10 years to reach a million. But to reach $1 billion, you’d need to save (and keep every penny) for 10,000 years ⏳.
Even assuming one number per second, non-stop counting to a billion would take about 31 years and 251 days — and other estimates put it at over 100 years when factoring in realistic pacing.
That’s why for most of us, a billion dollars feels like a myth. A fantasy. Yet, it’s real—for some.
Why fairness matters ⚖️
Here’s the math: If the wealthiest individuals had many billions—those sums that most of us can’t even grasp—shouldn’t they pitch in more in taxes? Just enough to pull back some of that $1 trillion interest burden, or to fund things like education and infrastructure? So it’s not you, your neighbors, or folks working hard to get by, picking up the tab alone?
This isn’t about envy. It’s about balance. If someone has what looks like an impossible fortune, maybe that means they’ve had an easier path—and have room to help others walk a little less burdened.
In plain terms 📝
Mark Alford and GOP cronies are rubber-stamping Trump’s agenda without reading it.
The government is paying over $1 trillion a year in interest on debt.
At $100k/year, 10 years gets you a million; 10,000 years gets you a billion.
Counting to a billion takes decades—even at one number a second.
That’s why the gap between rich and middle class feels so real—and why tax fairness matters.
Call to action 📢
Let’s be honest with ourselves: the debt-interest ship is only going one way—up. We need to ask tough questions: Why are interest payments so high? What can be done to lower them? And if the burden is rising, who can reasonably shoulder more of it?
We don’t need rubber stamps. We need fairness. We need responsibility. And yes—we need to keep talking about money that’s so big most of us can barely imagine it.
Let’s stop pretending “a billion” is beyond our reach—and maybe work toward a world where it isn’t just the wealthiest and the politicians who serve them that hold that kind of power over our future.
The GOP Redraw—and a Blueprint for the Blue Response
On August 20, 2025, the Republican-controlled Texas House passed a Trump-backed congressional map in an 88-52 party-line vote. This mid-decade redistricting—commonly called gerrymandering—is designed to flip as many as five Democratic-held U.S. House seats and lock in Republican control for years to come.
Democrats objected fiercely, accusing the GOP of deliberately diluting minority voting power and ignoring fair representation. Civil rights groups are preparing legal challenges, citing possible violations of the Voting Rights Act.
Blue States—Ready to Return the Favor
This isn’t just about Texas. California lawmakers have already begun drafting their own redistricting plans to flip Republican-held seats. Leaders in states like Illinois and Maryland are also considering similar moves. The message is clear: if Texas Republicans can redraw maps mid-decade, then so can blue states. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
A Broader Crisis of Fair Representation
Texas Democrats currently hold about one-third of the congressional delegation despite earning more than 40% of the statewide vote. Under the new map, their share could shrink even further. That imbalance reflects a national crisis: partisan gerrymandering erodes the principle of equal representation.
Conclusion—A Test of Reciprocity
The GOP’s move in Texas may give them five extra seats, but it also sets off a chain reaction. Blue states now have every reason to redraw their own districts in response. Whether this becomes a political arms race or sparks serious reform, one thing is certain—redistricting battles are about to define the road to 2026.
🚨 Enough with the lies. Quit calling everyone who isn’t a MAGA Republican a “communist” or a “socialist.” That’s nothing but propaganda.
Trump’s cabinet clowns—Vance, Miller, Patel, and the big man himself—are trying to divide this country while running the same playbook Hitler did. They accuse Democrats, independents, and liberals of being communists, when the truth is simple: 🇺🇸 we believe in freedom and democracy.
The ones threatening America with fascism are THEM—the people who want to use the military like a private Gestapo 👮, control how you think 🧠, and crush anyone who won’t bow down. That’s not freedom. That’s tyranny.
So wake up, America. If these fascists succeed in taking over, don’t fool yourself—they’ll come for you too, even if you wear the red hat. 🎩
Definitions (for anyone still confused):
Fascist: A believer in or supporter of a system where a dictator has complete power, opposition is crushed, and extreme nationalism is forced on the people.
Communist: A supporter of a political system where all property and wealth are owned collectively, usually controlled by the state.
Socialist: Someone who believes that major industries and resources should be regulated or owned by the community/government to reduce inequality, while still allowing democracy and private property.
Police State: A government that maintains power through force, surveillance, and fear, where individual freedoms are crushed under constant control.
Mark Alford actually spent 23 years working as a television anchor at WDAF-TV (Fox 4) in Kansas City, Missouri, from 1998 until he resigned in October 2021, Not 35… Trump Lies Matter!
By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House, Missouri’s 4th District
Trump’s Endorsement: More Bust Than Boom
Trump’s “Complete and Total Endorsement” isn’t a badge of honor—it’s a political death blow 🤣. Across cycles, his picks have piled up losses in high-profile races. From 2016 through 2025, Trump-endorsed candidates have repeatedly fallen short in Senate, governor, House, and state-level contests. The pattern is clear: big talk, weak results, and plenty of losing.
Snapshot of Notable Losses, 2016–2025
2016–2017: Kelly Ayotte (NH Senate), Luther Strange (AL special primary), Roy Moore (AL Senate special), Ed Gillespie (VA Governor). 2019: Matt Bevin (KY Governor), Eddie Rispone (LA Governor runoff). 2020: Martha McSally (AZ Senate), Cory Gardner (CO Senate), David Perdue & Kelly Loeffler (GA Senate runoffs), Bryant Messner (NH Senate). 2021: Susan Wright (TX-06 special). 2022: Mehmet Oz (PA Senate), Herschel Walker (GA Senate), Blake Masters (AZ Senate), Adam Laxalt (NV Senate), Kelly Tshibaka (AK Senate), Leora Levy (CT Senate), Doug Mastriano (PA Gov), Darren Bailey (IL Gov), Dan Cox (MD Gov), Geoff Diehl (MA Gov), plus multiple House and statewide defeats (Mark Finchem, Abe Hamadeh, Kristina Karamo, Matthew DePerno, Jim Marchant, etc.). 2023: Daniel Cameron (KY Governor). 2024–2025: Kari Lake (AZ Senate), Sam Brown (NV Senate), Hung Cao (VA Senate), Mike Sapraicone (NY Senate), Mike Rogers (MI Senate), Eric Hovde (WI Senate), and WI Justice Brad Schimel, among others.
In short: a long, public trail of defeats.
Mark Alford Votes Against Missouri Every Chance He Gets
Cut PBS & NPR funding. Voted Yea on the Rescissions Act of 2025 (H.R. 4), slashing $1.1 billion from public broadcasting—gutting rural news and classroom lifelines.
Voted against Ukraine aid. Nay on the Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 (H.R. 8035), undercutting allies and Missouri’s global ag markets.
Voted against privacy protections. Nay on the Privacy Enhancing Technology Research Act (H.R. 4755), denying families and businesses needed data protections.
Voted against wildfire forecasting. Nay on the Fire Weather Development Act of 2024 (H.R. 4866), ignoring critical tools for farmers, ranchers, and firefighters.
Voted against layoff protections. Turned his back on Missouri federal workers, leaving families vulnerable.
Bottom line: That’s his record. That’s the damage. And now he’s bragging about Trump’s endorsement—the same endorsement brand that keeps losing across America. 👉 Trump’s endorsement is the kiss of death, and Alford’s voting record proves he’s already working against Missouri.
The Cost to Rural Missouri
Public broadcasting cuts mean fewer local reporters and fewer educational resources. Blocking Ukraine aid risks unstable commodity prices. Opposing privacy and wildfire forecasting ignores basic protections for families and responders. None of this helps a single family in Sedalia, Lebanon, Warrensburg, or any other city in Missouri’s District-4 —it just makes life harder.
What We’ll Do Instead
We’ll protect rural news, back allies who stabilize markets, support privacy innovation, and give first responders the forecasting they need. That’s how you serve Missouri’s 4th—with results, not slogans.
When you step into political life, you stop being treated like a person. Candidates and public servants give up huge parts of their private lives, miss time with family, and spend months on the road. For the few of us who truly want to serve the people—not special interests—those sacrifices come with endless attacks. And more often than not, the attacks aren’t based on truth. They’re rooted in mistruths, conspiracy theories, and lies without proof.
I want to make something clear: if I say something, you can rest assured I’ve researched it. I rely on facts, logic, and pragmatism—not on what I think people want to hear. I’m not here to hand out sweet-sounding promises for a vote. I’m here to tell the truth, and I hope voters are wise enough to respect that and make their decisions accordingly.
Every claim I make, I can back up—with voting records, reputable newspapers, national news outlets, and public data. That’s how accountability works. If you don’t know how your congressman votes, 🗳️ that’s where the real problem lies. Why? Because it means no one is holding them accountable when they vote against your best interests.
This isn’t about political party. The same rules apply to everyone. If a Democrat, Republican, or Independent votes against you, against your family, against your future, then it’s on us as citizens to call them out. If we don’t, we’re the ones allowing it to continue.
Politics doesn’t have to be about tearing people down. It should be about honesty, accountability, and service. That’s what I stand for, and that’s how I’ll represent Missouri’s 4th District.
(📍Marshall, MO): Tomorrow, Mark “Awful for Missouri” Alford sneaks into Fitzgibbon Hospital for an unpublicized photo op. He didn’t announce it, didn’t invite the community, and didn’t put it on his schedule.
This is part of a bigger pattern. Alford has a pattern of keeping real constituent events off the record while only promoting the staged ones that suit him.
While he hides behind cameras, rural Missourians are left without answers. Fitzgibbon and other hospitals are struggling because of the votes he took in Washington — votes that cut healthcare access and put rural clinics at risk.
When I’m elected as your congressman, I won’t hide from the people I represent. I’ll show up in every county, answer questions directly, and work on solutions that actually help rural Missouri.
Sources:
Mark Alford’s official news & events page: https://alford.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27
Missouri Independent – GOP food aid cuts impact: https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/23/cuts-to-food-aid-endorsed-by-congressional-gop-could-cost-missouri-400-million/
Fitzgibbon Hospital official site: https://fitzgibbon.org/
On August 18, 2025, Donald Trump said he wants to end mail‑in voting before the 2026 midterm elections. He called mail‑in ballots “corrupt” and said he would sign an executive order to ban them. He also attacked voting machines, calling them inaccurate and expensive. This isn’t about making elections safer. It’s about copying Vladimir Putin’s talking points and telling Americans not to trust their own votes.
Trump claims Putin told him that you “can’t have an honest election with mail‑in voting.” That alone should set off alarm bells. Russia wants Americans to doubt our democracy. When a U.S. president repeats those lines, it gives our enemies exactly what they want: chaos and distrust. That’s playing straight out of Putin’s playbook.
Facts You Deserve to Know
Mail‑in voting is used around the world. Many countries allow some form of voting by mail, including allies like Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Germany. The idea that America is the “only country” doing this is false.
Mail‑in voting has safeguards. States verify ballots through steps like signature checks, ID numbers, witness requirements, and secure tracking. Bipartisan officials process these ballots under strict rules. The system is designed to catch problems and protect every legal vote.
There’s no credible evidence of widespread fraud. After 2020, courts across the country and election experts found no proof of mass fraud from mail‑in ballots. That’s the truth, no matter how many times politicians repeat a rumor.
States run our elections. The U.S. Constitution gives states—not the president—the power to set election procedures. A White House executive order cannot erase state election laws. Any attempt to ban mail‑in voting nationally will face immediate legal challenges.
Why This Matters in Missouri’s 4th District
Rural voters, military families, seniors, and people with disabilities rely on vote‑by‑mail to be heard. In our district, some folks live far from a polling place, work long shifts, or have health limits. Vote‑by‑mail makes sure their voice counts just like anyone else’s. Taking that away doesn’t “fix” elections—it silences people who already face barriers.
My Commitment to You
When I’m elected as your congressman, I will fight attempts to ban mail‑in ballots or shut down secure voting machines without real evidence. I will back state‑level safeguards, stiff penalties for anyone who cheats, and full funding so local election workers have the tools they need. We can protect both access and security at the same time—Missouri common sense says we must.
We should strengthen trust, not tear it down. Leaders should stand up for American institutions, not repeat lines from foreign strongmen. Our right to vote is not a plaything for politics. It is the backbone of this country, and I will defend it.
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