Ricky, Author at Ricky Dana for US House - MO4

Standing With Workers: Democrats Defend Unions, MAGA Republicans Try to Break Them

STANDING WITH WORKERS” graphic showing a diverse, determined worker holding a “UNION STRONG” sign, with hard-hat workers in the background; clean, high-contrast 16:9 composition supporting a pro-union message.

By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House – Missouri’s 4th District

Unions built America’s middle class. They trained skilled workers, raised wages, won safer job sites, and made it possible to raise a family on honest work. I come from a working-class family right here in Missouri, and I know firsthand how important a fair wage and safe workplace are. I’m also a common-sense Democrat—someone who believes in protecting our core values while finding practical solutions that bring people together. That’s why I will stand with unions every time—because when workers have a fair voice on the job, Missouri families do better.

Today there is a clear divide. The Democratic Party continues to back workers’ rights and fair organizing rules. The other side—especially the MAGA wing of the Republican Party—is pushing policies that weaken, cancel, or block union protections. You can see it in actions, not slogans.

First, look at what the public understands: Americans say Democrats are the party that better represents union members. That is not spin; it reflects a long record of backing collective bargaining and workplace fairness, and it matches what families feel in their paychecks and safety on the job.

Second, look at the rules on the ground. Under Democratic leadership, federal labor authorities moved to speed up and protect fair union elections and recognition, so workers are not stalled or silenced by delay tactics. Those changes help level the playing field and make sure organizing is a real right, not just a talking point.

Third, look at wages. “Right-to-work” laws—pushed most often by Republican legislatures—do not raise pay. Research shows wages and benefits are lower in right-to-work states. Those laws make it harder for workers to stick together, and the result is weaker bargaining and thinner paychecks for union and non-union workers alike. That hurts small towns and local businesses up and down Missouri’s 4th District.

Finally, look at what MAGA Republicans are doing with federal workers right now. Agencies have been canceling union contracts and stripping protections for hundreds of thousands of employees, from the Department of Veterans Affairs to the Environmental Protection Agency and FEMA. These moves come under executive orders that claim “national security” while tearing up agreements that help frontline staff do their jobs safely and speak up when something’s wrong. That is not how you build a strong workforce or serve veterans and taxpayers—it’s how you silence people who know where systems are breaking.

Here’s the bottom line: Democrats are working to protect your right to organize and bargain; MAGA Republicans are trying to unwind it. If they can weaken unions in Washington, they will try to export those attacks to states like Missouri. We cannot let that happen.

When I’m elected as your congressman, I will fight for working people, not party bosses or big donors. I will support legislation that protects collective bargaining, oppose efforts to cancel or sidestep union contracts, and resist any push to pass nationwide “right-to-work.” I will back fair rules at the National Labor Relations Board, defend whistleblowers and safety committees, and make sure taxpayer-funded contractors follow the law—no union busting on the public’s dime. Most of all, I will listen to the workers who keep our farms, factories, hospitals, and schools running in Missouri’s 4th District.

Strong unions mean strong communities. That’s the choice in front of us—and I’m on the side of Missouri’s working families.

Sources:

Gallup: Democratic Party Seen as Better for Union Members (Sept. 9, 2024)

NLRB: New framework for union representation (Cemex decision, Aug. 25, 2023)

Economic Policy Institute: Research on right-to-work laws and wages

EPI: Right-to-work states have lower wages (overview)

POLITICO: EPA cancels contracts with unions (Aug. 8, 2025)

Axios: VA terminates union contracts (Aug. 7, 2025)

August 13, 2025

Leaked Memo: Trump Wants the Military to Police America

By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House – Missouri’s 4th District

Donald Trump is once again showing us exactly who he is—an opportunist willing to bend or break the rules to consolidate power. A newly leaked Department of Homeland Security–Pentagon memo, obtained by The New Republic, details plans to expand the use of U.S. military forces for long-term immigration enforcement and domestic deployments. This isn’t just about border security—it’s about turning our neighborhoods into staging grounds for political control.

The memo envisions a future where military units, including the National Guard and even active-duty troops, could be stationed in American cities for years. They would not be responding to hurricanes, floods, or national emergencies—they would be enforcing immigration laws and taking on crowd control duties that belong to civilian law enforcement. This is a dangerous shift that risks eroding the very freedoms our Constitution guarantees.

Trump’s plan includes creating a “Domestic Civil Disturbance Quick Reaction Force,” a 600-troop unit based in Alabama and Arizona, ready to deploy to any U.S. city at a moment’s notice. According to The Guardian and The Washington Post, this force could be used for protests, immigration raids, or any situation Trump deems a “disturbance.” That is far too much unchecked power in the hands of one person.

We have laws to prevent this very thing. The Posse Comitatus Act—in place since 1878—was designed to keep the military out of civilian policing. It came after a dark period when federal troops were used to control citizens during Reconstruction. History has shown that military involvement in domestic affairs often leads to abuses of power, intimidation of communities, and suppression of dissent. Weakening that safeguard threatens the balance of power our founders built into our system.

And yet, Trump has already begun testing these limits. He sent 800 National Guard troops into Washington, D.C., claiming a “crime wave” that data shows does not exist. Violent crime is at its lowest in three decades. This was never about safety—it was about political theater and flexing power. In California, courts are weighing whether Trump’s deployment of the Guard during Los Angeles immigration raids violated the Posse Comitatus Act. If found unconstitutional, it could be one of the most blatant violations of this law in modern times.

Former military leaders, veterans, and civil rights advocates are warning us: using troops for civilian law enforcement undermines the trust between the military and the people, and risks politicizing our armed forces. Civil liberties groups point out that such deployments can chill free speech, discourage lawful protest, and disproportionately target immigrant communities already living in fear.

Meanwhile, our current congressman, Mark “Awful for Missouri” Alford is silent. He is letting Trump rewrite the rules, ignoring both the Constitution and the will of the people. Silence in the face of this kind of overreach is complicity—and it’s a betrayal of the oath every member of Congress swears to uphold.

When I’m elected as your congressman, I will stop this abuse of power. I will:

• Demand full congressional oversight for any domestic military deployments.
• Strengthen the Posse Comitatus Act to protect against political misuse of our military.
• Support governors who refuse to deploy their National Guard units for political purposes.
• Defend your right to protest and speak freely without intimidation from armed troops.

This is not a partisan issue—it is a constitutional one. America is not a battlefield, and our streets are not combat zones. If Donald Trump gets his way, that line will blur until it disappears entirely. I will not let that happen. The people of Missouri’s 4th District deserve a representative who will defend their freedoms, stand up to authoritarian overreach, and keep the military where it belongs—defending our nation, not policing our neighborhoods.

Sources:

The New Republic – Trump’s Domestic Use of Military Set to Get Worse, Leaked Memo Shows

The Guardian – Trump’s plan for domestic troop deployment raises alarm

The Washington Post – Inside the plan for a Domestic Civil Disturbance Quick Reaction Force

TIME – Trump’s D.C. troop deployment faces criticism

POLITICO – California court considers legality of Trump’s Guard deployment

Wikipedia – Posse Comitatus Act

August 12, 2025

Don’t Let Troops Turn Our Neighborhoods Into War Zones

By Ricky Dana, Candidate for US House, Missouri-4

Quick Take: The government shouldn’t be using our troops as street cops. It’s a dangerous power grab, and Congress needs to stop it now.

We cannot stand by while our government threatens to turn our neighborhoods into war zones. Troops belong in disaster relief—not patrolling our streets or detaining civilians.

There’s a push underway to use the National Guard as law enforcement and even involve the military in immigration enforcement. This not only violates constitutional principles—it threatens our democracy and undermines public trust in our communities.

We must demand: No troops on our streets. No military role in immigration enforcement. The National Guard should remain focused on protecting citizens from floods, fires, and disasters—not being weaponized for political agendas.

Take action today: Sign and share the petition urging Congress to protect our communities and uphold democratic values.

Sign the petition

Sources:

ACLU – Tell Congress: No Troops On Our Streets

August 12, 2025

Gov. Trump? Rep. Trump? Sen. Trump? Can one man dictate our entire government?

Satirical caricature showing several exaggerated, eager-looking politicians resembling Missouri’s congressional delegation gathered around a figure resembling Donald Trump, who sits in a chair with a stern expression, pointing his finger as if giving orders.

by Janice Ellis, Missouri Independent
August 11, 2025

Carefully assess the actions of Missouri’s governor, Republican members of the state legislature and our Congressional delegation. Then ask yourself: Whose priorities, interests and concerns have they supported, fought for and voted for?

Certainly not those of most Missourians.

Missourians voted for candidates in various elective offices to represent and fight for their interests in Jefferson City and Washington, D.C.

Instead, many of the Republican elected officials seem to have forgotten and folded to the pressure of supporting and carrying out the agenda of the Trump administration, whether it is in the best interest and well-being of Missouri citizens or not.

Look at the behavior of Missouri senators and representatives in Congress. While some bothered to proclaim that Medicaid should not be cut, at the end of the posturing they all went along with approving the Trump administration’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”

Essentially voting for the cuts in Medicaid funding that will deny tens of thousands of Missourians life-saving services. How many rural hospitals will be affected or forced to close in the coming months and years because of these cuts?

Their actions, or failures to act, are disturbing and disconcerting.

How is it that members of the Missouri congressional delegation can get away with the abdication of carrying out their governance and oversight responsibilities?

When it comes to allowing the Trump administration to usurp Congress’s power and arbitrarily disrupt, disband and defund departments that will negatively impact Missourians. First it was the department of education that was the target, cutting needed funding for school districts.

The most recent is the proposal to decentralize the department of agriculture. Will these changes hurt Missouri farmers, causing them to lose necessary funding and programmatic support? What are the positions of members of the Missouri Congressional delegation?

Our representatives in Congress have been silent and given tacit support to other actions of the Trump administration.

When it comes to the impact of increased tariffs on farmers being able to export their soybeans and other produce, and the higher cost of consumer goods across the board for families already struggling to make ends meet.

When it comes to immigration tactics that disrupt business operations, the workforce in agricultural industries and the lives of innocent family members.

When it comes to the short and long-term effects of taxation policies and the national debt, the burden of which Missourians like all Americans must bear.

When there is no oversight, no checks and balanced guardrails, how can we be confident that the policies and decisions being made will be in our best interest?

The actions of our Republican governor, Republican-controlled state legislature and other government offices are in lock-step with the Trump administration as well.

An executive order adopted and ensured the implementation of dismantling DEI programs throughout governmental departments and agencies, colleges and universities, and wherever the state had authority to issue a mandate. Businesses have been sued by the state attorney general for apparent noncompliance.

What measures are being implemented to ensure that all Missourians are treated equal and have equal access and equal opportunity? A state with a diverse population base, who is helped or hurt?

Republican state legislators in the Senate and House wrote letters urging the Missouri U.S. Senators to pass the “Big Beautiful Bill” irrespective of the negative impacts on their constituents.

The latest influence of President Trump on what goes on in Missouri is his request for the legislature to draw a new map to eliminate one of the two Democratic congressional districts to help ensure that the Republicans maintain the majority in the House after the 2026 midterm elections.

Such a move, if successful, would eliminate the congressional district that represents Kansas City and some adjacent counties, thereby diminishing or negating the impact the representation and vote of a large number of constituents, including large minority groups.

The Republican governor and Republican-dominated legislature are seriously considering calling a special legislative session to make President Trump’s wishes happen.

Congressional districts are usually revisited or redrawn following the U.S. Census taken every 10 years that tracks population shifts and other changes. Redrawing districts mid-cycle or in an off year is solely to provide a political advantage for one party or the other.

Missouri has six Republican and two Democratic Congressional districts.

Every Missourians should think about the meaning of the political move to change that to 7 to 1.

Fundamentally, elected officials, irrespective of their party affiliations, should represent all constituents living within their electoral boundaries despite the racial and ethnic make-up or how they may have voted.

Likewise, representative government means just that. It should represent, as best as possible, all the people it governs.

As there is growing disapproval of President Trump and many of his policies by most recent polls, why are Republican state leaders continuing to bow to the pressure of jumping on an increasingly unpopular Trump agenda?

It behooves each of us to ask a critical question.

Who, among our state Republican elected officials, is standing steadfast to promote, protect and put the priorities of Missourians first amid this national political morass?

Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: [email protected].

August 11, 2025

Graves’s “Rails to Trails” Bill Hands Out Vetoes and Sticks Rural Taxpayers With the Bill

By Ricky Dana, Candidate for US House, Missouri-4

Graves’s “Rails to Trails” bill: a solution in search of a problem

On August 11, 2025, KTTN reported that Rep. Sam Graves introduced the “Rails to Trails Landowner Rights Act,” pitched as protection against federal “seizures.” Missouri Representatives Ann Wagner and Mark “Awful” Alford signed on, along with Bob Onder and others. Here’s the problem: the premise is wrong, and the fix makes things worse for rural communities like ours.

What the bill actually does

The bill rewrites the federal rails-to-trails program to require signed approval from each affected landowner within 30 days. It also forces any trail sponsor—often a small town or nonprofit—to promise fair-market-value payments for impacts and to take on perpetual maintenance. On top of that, it adds a new 90-day federal comment process and a mandated cost-benefit study that the local sponsor must pay for before anything moves. In plain English: one neighbor can veto the entire project, and counties get handed the bill.

What current law already guarantees

Under the National Trails System Act, unused rail corridors can be “railbanked” for interim trail use so the corridor isn’t lost forever. The U.S. Supreme Court has already upheld this framework as constitutional and made clear that if a taking occurs, landowners have a direct path to just compensation through the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. That’s been the law for decades. Federal courts have repeatedly recognized that when the Surface Transportation Board issues a Notice of Interim Trail Use (NITU), a compensable taking often occurs—and the remedy is payment, not shutting down the corridor.

So the real question isn’t whether landowners get paid—they do. It’s whether Washington should give any single person a veto that blocks everyone else’s use, stalls corridor preservation, and forces local taxpayers to shoulder new costs that federal law doesn’t require today.

Why Graves’s approach hurts rural Missouri

First, a “one-neighbor veto” means miles of rail corridor can be wasted because one signature is missing. That’s not how we get public works done. We don’t build roads, water lines, or power lines by unanimous consent of every parcel along the route. We follow a lawful process and pay fair compensation.

Second, the bill shifts costs from the federal government to small towns, counties, and volunteer groups. Requiring pre-arranged, fair-market payments and perpetual maintenance guarantees will scare off community sponsors and bury rural budgets in legal paperwork.

Third, it undermines corridor preservation. Railbanked rights-of-way aren’t just for walkers and cyclists. They keep a continuous corridor intact for future rail service and can host utilities and broadband later. Once a corridor is chopped up, it’s gone—for trains, for emergency access, for fiber, for the next generation.

About that “federal seizure” claim

Calling railbanking a federal “seizure” is political spin. The Supreme Court has already said the program stands on firm constitutional ground, and when property rights are burdened, the remedy is just compensation. That balance—public use with payment when required—is exactly how America has built infrastructure for a century.

Who pushed it

Missouri’s Mark “Awful” Alford jumped to co-sponsor, with Ann Wagner and Bob Onder joining the list. That tells you who this bill serves: not the everyday taxpaying landowner who already has compensation rights, but a political agenda that makes projects impossible and hands local governments unfunded mandates.

My commitment

When I’m elected as your congressman, I’ll defend both property rights and local taxpayers. I’ll keep the current compensation pathway intact, cut the red tape that chokes small towns, and protect rail corridors so our communities can use them—for rail, trails, utilities, and broadband—without a one-neighbor veto.

Sources:

KTTN: Graves introduces bill to protect landowners from federal seizures (Aug. 11, 2025)

Congress.gov: H.R. 9604 (118th) – Rails to Trails Landowner Rights Act (bill text)

Congress.gov: H.R. 9604 overview and status

Preseault v. ICC, 494 U.S. 1 (1990) – Supreme Court (constitutionality; compensation via Tucker Act)

Marvin M. Brandt Revocable Trust v. United States, 572 U.S. 93 (2014) – Supreme Court (1875 Act easements and reversion)

Federal Register: STB rule on Trails Act procedures (49 C.F.R. § 1152.29)

U.S. Court of Federal Claims (2023): NITU can cause a taking requiring compensation

August 11, 2025

Stand Up for Fair Maps and Honest Government—From Texas to Missouri

By Ricky Dana, Candidate for US House, Missouri-4

What’s happening in Texas is a warning for the whole country. A major Texas newspaper blasted Governor Greg Abbott for putting partisan map-drawing ahead of basic governance. That’s not leadership. Civil disobedience has long been part of our democratic tradition when those in power try to rig the rules. I will always stand with citizens who demand fairness and accountability—peacefully and lawfully.

Here in Missouri, I will fight for fair maps and honest government. Our congressional districts are drawn by the legislature as a regular statute. Any attempt to change maps mid-decade would still have to meet state and federal constitutional standards and would face court review. If politicians try to tilt the field before an election, I’ll push back—loudly and within the law—so Missourians keep the right to choose their leaders, not the other way around.

Reports of a possible special session to redraw Missouri’s congressional map mirror the power-grabs we’re seeing in Texas. I’m a Missouri-grown centrist who will work with anyone—Republican, Democrat, or Independent—when it helps our families, farms, and small towns. Cheating the map breaks trust and weakens government. We will not fix America by gaming districts.

Some politicians, like my opponent Mark “Awful” Alford, serve big donors and special interests first. You can see it in the money and the votes. Public records show who funds their campaigns and how they vote when it counts. That’s why I support stronger transparency, an end to partisan gerrymandering, and tighter rules on big-money influence. Missourians deserve representatives who answer to them—not to super PACs or out-of-state benefactors.

I believe in checks and balances. No governor, president, or member of Congress is above the Constitution. When leaders try to change the rules midstream, voters lose faith and problems go unsolved. The fix is simple: fair rules, fair maps, and fair elections. I’ll defend those principles in Congress every single day.

If you’re tired of division and political theater, you have a choice. Send me to Washington and I will defend fair, legal maps; work across the aisle on real solutions for broadband, rural clinics, flood recovery, farm input costs, and small business growth; strengthen transparency and anti-corruption reforms; and put principle over party and Missourians over special interests.

Missouri is strongest when the rules are honest and everyone plays by them. That’s how we lower costs, create jobs, and restore respect for our state and our country. I’ll never sell out Missourians for campaign cash. I’ll listen, be straight with you, and do the work.

This isn’t just about Texas. It’s about protecting American freedom—right here at home.

Sources:

Houston Chronicle Editorial Board: Abbott prioritized redistricting over flood recovery (Aug. 2025)

Washington Post (Opinion): Texas ignited a gerrymandering fight (Aug. 5, 2025)

CBS News: Texas redistricting push to add GOP House seats before 2026 (Aug. 8, 2025)

Missouri Independent: Special session ‘likely’ to redraw Missouri’s congressional map (Aug. 2, 2025)

Loyola Law School—All About Redistricting: Missouri overview—legislature draws congressional maps as statute

U.S. House: Rep. Mark Alford—official vote record

OpenSecrets: Rep. Mark Alford—campaign finance summary

August 10, 2025

Exposing Big Money’s Grip and How We’ll End the Oligarchy

By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House – Missouri’s 4th District | August 10, 2025

When big money buys our politics, we lose our voice—and our democracy fractures. Citizens United unleashed this corporate cash flood, fueling divisive Super PACs and shadow spending that drown out regular Americans.

How Money Has Rigged Our Democracy

On January 21, 2010, the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision allowed corporations and unions to spend unlimited money on elections—striking down decades-old campaign finance limits. Today, outside spending has swelled from about $574 million in 2008 to approximately $3.3 billion in 2020, and $4.5 billion by 2024. (The Guardian, Brennan Center)

This gave birth to Super PACs and dark-money groups that funnel vast sums into politics—with little transparency.

The Cost: Division, Distrust, Policy For Sale

Big money rigged the rules, and the voters paid the price.

Citizens don’t trust government: Just 16 % of Americans say they trust Washington to do the right thing “always” or “most of the time.” (Builders Movement)
Policy favors the wealthy: Studies show economic elites and business interests drive policy, while average citizens have nearly zero influence when their views conflict. (Builders Movement)
Dark money fuels negativity: Outside groups hiding donors run more negative ads on social media and elsewhere, undermining accountability. (arXiv)

How I’ll Fight Back

I’m committed to restoring democracy—not handing it over to an oligarchy of billionaires.

1. A Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United. We need a new amendment—like the proposed “Saving American Democracy” or “We the People” amendments—that states only natural persons have constitutional rights and lets Congress and the states set reasonable campaign limits. (Wikipedia)

2. Strong Transparency Laws. I’ll back laws like the DISCLOSE Act to shed light on super PACs, 501(c) groups, and shadow spending—forcing disclosure of donors above certain thresholds. (Wikipedia)

3. Returning Political Power to the People. Campaign finance policy belongs with voters and legislators—not unelected judges. We’ll push for a “For Our Freedom Amendment” to ensure decisions on spending limits rest with the people. (Washington Post)

Conclusion

Money should never define our democracy—but unless we act, it will. I’m ready to take on Citizens United, expose dark money, and ensure that government answers to people, not millionaires. Join me—we’ll rebuild a democracy that works for all.

Sources:

Citizens United decision details

Statistics on public trust and elite policy influence

Research on negativity from dark-money ads

Proposed constitutional amendments

DISCLOSE Act details

Editorial on returning campaign finance rules to voters

August 10, 2025

Bringing Real Action to Rural Agriculture – Not Just Election-Year Optics

Bringing Real Action to Rural Agriculture — Not Just Election-Year Optics

By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House — Missouri’s 4th District

On August 8, 2025, Congressman Mark Alford’s office promoted the Growing Opportunities in Agriculture (GO Ag) Act. It sounds new, but it isn’t. The bill was introduced on March 19, 2024 — and it’s still sitting in committee with no movement.

So why the big splash now? Because it’s campaign season. Dusting off an old, stalled bill makes for headlines, not help. Our farmers deserve more than a press release. They deserve results.

If a bill truly matters, you work it. You build a coalition, get hearings, and move it to a vote. You don’t put your name on it, let it stall, and bring it back when you need attention. That’s not leadership. That’s optics.

What I’ll Do Differently

When I’m elected as your congressman, I’ll push to actually pass the GO Ag Act — and then go further. Here’s how:

Farmer Apprenticeship Grants: Create federal grants so experienced farmers can train young Missourians on real farms. This keeps skills local and keeps farms locally owned.
Stronger Rural Workforce Pathways: Link high schools, community colleges, and ag programs to hands-on jobs in crops, livestock, mechanics, and ag tech.
Infrastructure and Broadband: Fix farm-to-market roads and finish rural broadband so students can learn and businesses can flourish.
Veterans & Transitioning Service Members: Provide pathways from service to ag apprenticeships and farm ownership.

Why This Matters

Family farms are the backbone of Missouri. They feed our communities, strengthen our towns, and preserve values of hard work and fairness. Big money and D.C. insiders may not understand that—but I do. My vision is for the next generation of farmers to inherit both land and opportunity.

Our rural communities can’t afford more political showboating. They need a representative who fights for progress, protects Missouri’s agricultural heritage, and prioritizes people over special interests.

Sources:

Congress.gov – H.R. 7731, Growing Opportunities in Agriculture Act (Introduced March 19, 2024)

Thompson Media Release — “Thompson, Alford, Cuellar, Panetta Lead Effort to Bolster Agriculture Education” (August 8, 2025)

Northwest PA News — “Bipartisan group introduces GO Ag Act aiming at boosting high school agriculture education” (posted August 8, 2025)

August 9, 2025

Mark “Awful” Alford’s Epstein Transparency Act: All Talk, No Walk

By Ricky Dana, Candidate for US House, Missouri-4

Mark “Awful” Alford’s latest public statement paints him as a crusader for truth and transparency in the Jeffrey Epstein case. He claims to stand for victims, for exposing corruption, and for shining light on the darkest corners of this scandal. But when you look at his actual record, the reality doesn’t match the rhetoric.

Alford says he supports releasing Epstein-related grand jury testimony and DOJ files. What he leaves out is that these materials—especially from the Manhattan proceedings—are unlikely to reveal much more than brief summaries from law enforcement, not explosive new evidence. Legal experts have warned that the way Trump’s Department of Justice is pushing these releases looks more like political theater than genuine pursuit of justice.

In fact, the public record shows Alford has voted against or ignored measures that would strengthen transparency across the board, not just in headline-grabbing cases. His brand of “truth-telling” seems to apply only when it aligns with Donald Trump’s agenda and benefits his own political image.

And make no mistake—this is about politics. Trump’s sudden interest in Epstein’s files comes years after being photographed and associated socially with Epstein, raising questions he has never fully addressed. Alford’s full-throated support for Trump’s directive isn’t about justice for victims—it’s about staying in Trump’s good graces and energizing a political base, even when that base is led by a convicted felon with a history of troubling associations.

Meanwhile, survivors of Epstein’s abuse have voiced concerns that this political tug-of-war is re-traumatizing them. They want real accountability and privacy protections, not grandstanding from politicians who selectively care about transparency when it suits their talking points.

When you strip away the soundbites, what’s left is a congressman who consistently sides with big donors, special interests, and a president whose record on ethics and law is deeply questionable. Missouri’s 4th District deserves a representative who fights for truth all the time—not just when it makes for a good press release.

I believe in full accountability for everyone involved in Epstein’s network, no matter their political connections or bank account size. But justice isn’t served by selective outrage. It’s served by consistent, principled action—and that’s what I’ll deliver when I’m elected as your congressman.

Sources:

Victims feeling exhausted and anxious about wrangling over Epstein files

Epstein’s ex, Ghislaine Maxwell, doesn’t want grand jury transcripts released

Judge overseeing DOJ Epstein grand jury records request

DOJ asks court to unseal Epstein grand jury transcripts

Trump and the Epstein files investigation

August 9, 2025

Bridging the Divide: A Missouri Voice for All Missourians

By Ricky Dana, Candidate for US House, Missouri-4

Let’s be honest—right now, Democrats aren’t winning many popularity contests, especially here in rural America. And there’s a reason for that. Too many in my party have moved too far from the center, focusing on issues that don’t reflect the day-to-day concerns of folks who work the land, raise their families, and keep small towns running. They’ve forgotten what it’s like to live where neighbors know your name, where common sense still matters, and where people expect their leaders to listen instead of lecture.

But this isn’t just a Democratic problem. Republicans have done the same thing—diving deeper into division, choosing political fights over practical solutions. Both major parties have gotten caught up in the noise instead of doing the job they were sent to do: serving the American people.

I’m a Democrat, but I’m also a proud Missourian with rural roots. I understand the values of hard work, responsibility, fairness, and community. That’s why I call myself a common-sense Democrat—because I believe in standing for what’s right, even if it means disagreeing with my own party. I don’t believe in pushing an agenda that ignores the needs of rural families, farmers, and small business owners.

America has been great before, and it can be great again. We’re in a slump—not because the American people have failed, but because too many in Washington have stopped working together. The solution isn’t more division—it’s more cooperation. It’s finding the middle ground where we can pass legislation that benefits everyone, not just one side’s base.

When I’m elected as your congressman, I will work with both Democrats and Republicans to create bipartisan legislation that strengthens our economy, supports rural communities, and protects the freedoms we all value. That means prioritizing agriculture, infrastructure, job creation, healthcare access, and veterans’ services—issues that matter here at home.

Our nation’s greatness doesn’t come from political victories. It comes from the hard work and determination of the American people. It comes from building bridges instead of walls between neighbors. It comes from leaders who are willing to listen, compromise, and put country over party.

I’m running for Congress because I believe Missouri’s 4th District deserves a representative who reflects our values, understands our way of life, and refuses to play the partisan games that have held our country back. It’s time to move forward together, with respect, common sense, and a commitment to making the United States stronger than ever.

The future is ours to shape—if we choose leaders who are willing to work together, find solutions, and put the American people first. That’s the kind of leadership I’ll bring to Washington.

Sources:

Pew Research Center – Americans’ Views of Politics and Politicians

Brookings – Why Bipartisanship Matters

NPR – How Americans Feel About Political Polarization

August 8, 2025

Author: Ricky

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Graves’s “Rails to Trails” bill: a solution in search of a problem

What the bill actually does

What current law already guarantees

Why Graves’s approach hurts rural Missouri

About that “federal seizure” claim

Who pushed it

My commitment

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How Money Has Rigged Our Democracy

The Cost: Division, Distrust, Policy For Sale

How I’ll Fight Back

Conclusion

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Bringing Real Action to Rural Agriculture — Not Just Election-Year Optics

What I’ll Do Differently

Why This Matters

Sources:

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