By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House – Missouri’s 4th District
President Donald Trump is running out of “look over there” tricks—and Americans are starting to notice.
His latest stunt? Accusing former President Obama of trying to “destroy the country,” without a shred of evidence. It’s classic Trump: throw out wild claims, stir up MAGA rage, and hope the headlines move away from his own dirty laundry. But it’s not working like it used to. Because people are finally asking real questions again—especially about his long friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
President Trump can yell about Biden, Obama, immigrants, and windmills all he wants. But the walls are closing in. Epstein may be dead, but the trail of powerful men linked to him is not. The documents are surfacing. The survivor testimony is clear. And Donald Trump’s name is in the mix—again and again.
We all saw the footage. We’ve read the court records. And we’ve watched Trump’s tone change from smug denial to outright panic. The truth is, he knows what’s coming. And he’s terrified that America will finally see the full picture—one that can’t be redacted, buried, or blamed on someone else.
I believe the full truth will come out. I just hope it happens while he’s still alive to face the consequences of what he’s done—or what he allowed to happen on his watch. No man is above the law. Not even the sitting President of the United States.
We deserve better leadership. We deserve honest answers. And when I’m elected as your congressman, I’ll fight like hell to make sure predators and their protectors don’t get to hide behind power ever again.
Missouri Republicans are quietly circulating new redistricting maps—months after the last election, and right in the middle of the decade. One of those maps was leaked to me by an anonymous source who’s familiar with internal discussions happening behind closed doors.
Let’s be clear: redrawing congressional districts midterm is not only unusual, it’s likely unconstitutional. Article III, Section 45 of the Missouri Constitution says that redistricting happens after the decennial census—not whenever one party wants to give itself an advantage.
This map would shake up representation across Missouri. It slices up communities—especially rural ones—just to protect Republican incumbents and eliminate competitive races. It’s designed for power, not fairness.
Missourians deserve better than this. We deserve fair maps drawn through a lawful and transparent process—not gerrymandered districts created in backrooms with no public input.
I’m sounding the alarm because if they succeed with this power grab, they’ll do it again and again. We’ve got to stop it before it even starts.
When I’m elected as your congressman, I’ll fight to end partisan gerrymandering and protect your vote—every time, not just when it benefits the party in power.
— Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House, Missouri-4
If they try this midterm map stunt, it’ll be an easy win for me. So go for it, buddies.
If you keep voting for the same people, you’re going to keep getting the same betrayal.
Now they’re pushing a midterm redistricting plan—illegal under Missouri’s Constitution—because they can’t win fair and square. This is about power, not the people.
Mark “Awful” Alford is no different. Most of his campaign cash comes from out-of-state PACs. That’s who he listens to. That’s who he works for. And his voting record proves it—he’s stood against Missouri’s best interests time and time again.
You deserve a representative who actually lives like you do, works like you do, and votes like you would. I was born and raised right here in rural Missouri, and when I’m elected as your congressman, I will never sell my vote to the highest bidder. I’ll fight for our farm families, our towns, and our future.
If you’re tired of getting sold out, stop voting for the ones doing the selling.
By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House – Missouri District 4
Republicans in Jefferson City are pushing for a special session to redraw Missouri’s congressional map. The goal? To force a mid-decade redistricting that flips another House seat their way. Let’s call it what it is—an unconstitutional power grab.
Missouri’s Constitution is clear. Congressional maps are to be drawn after the U.S. Census, not every time one political party wants to stack the deck. Article III, Section 45 of the Missouri Constitution states that districts must be drawn by the General Assembly after census certification and must be “contiguous,” “as compact as may be,” and “as nearly equal in population as may be.” There is no language allowing redistricting between censuses simply for partisan gain.
There is no lawsuit triggering this. No court order demanding a fix. No population shifts so extreme they require immediate correction. This effort is not about fairness or legality. It’s about politics—plain and simple.
And that’s exactly why the Missouri Supreme Court should step in and shut this down before it starts. If allowed to move forward, this sets a dangerous precedent: that any supermajority can call a special session whenever it feels like rigging the map to its own benefit. That’s not representative government. That’s rigged government.
Let me be clear: If Republicans in this state can’t win unless they redraw the map mid-cycle, that says more about their ideas than it does about our voters. If your policies can’t win fair and square, maybe they don’t deserve to win at all.
The integrity of our elections and the voice of every Missouri voter is on the line. I urge the Missouri Supreme Court to take immediate action and block this unconstitutional scheme before the damage is done.
When you send me to Washington in the 2026 elections, I’ll never vote against Missouri or our communities—and especially not our Constitution.
By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, Missouri-4
When the Texas GOP tried to ram through another gerrymandered redistricting map—backed by Donald Trump himself—Democratic lawmakers did something bold: they walked out.
That’s right. They left the state to block a vote and protect the very heart of our democracy—your right to a fair vote. This wasn’t some political stunt. It was a last resort to stop a blatantly rigged map designed to give MAGA Republicans an unfair advantage in future elections.
Texans, you should be proud. Your Democratic lawmakers stood up and said: “Not on our watch.” While MAGA Republicans try to redraw the lines to silence your voice, these Democrats are fighting for you.
This isn’t just about Texas. This is about every state where MAGA extremists are using gerrymandering to claw their way back into power. If they can’t win fair, they’ll cheat. And if you think they won’t come for your district next, you haven’t been paying attention.
Redistricting should be fair. Voters should pick their politicians—not the other way around. This Trump-backed power grab would reshape the House map to favor Republicans by surgically packing Democratic voters into as few districts as possible. That means fewer choices, less representation, and more power for an unpopular movement that can’t win on its own merits.
This is what election interference looks like. Not with voting machines or foreign actors—but with a pen and a district map. It’s legal manipulation designed to rig the game before it even starts.
We should all be angry. No matter your party. Because if they can silence one voice, they can silence yours too.
When I’m elected as your congressman, I’ll fight to end partisan gerrymandering once and for all. I’ll back national standards that protect every American’s right to a fair vote—whether you live in Texas, Missouri, or anywhere else in this country.
Stand with the lawmakers who are standing for you. The Texas Democrats are the real patriots here—not the ones kissing Trump’s ring while carving up democracy behind closed doors.
This post is meant to inform, not divide. It is meant to make sure folks know what’s actually going on—because too many people aren’t paying attention, and the stakes are too high to stay silent.
By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, Missouri-4
What’s happening
The U.S. Supreme Court is preparing to review whether Louisiana’s new congressional map—drawing two majority‑Black districts—counts as unconstitutional racial gerrymandering under the Equal Protection Clause.
A group of non‑Black voters argues the map over‑emphasizes race and breaks the Constitution. The court asked for more briefs and seems ready to challenge longstanding Voting Rights Act protections. A decision is expected in the Court’s term beginning October 2025, likely around mid‑2026.
This mirrors a broader trend in which the Court has sided with Republicans in similar cases. For example, the 2024 ruling in Alexander v. SC NAACP cleared a GOP‑drawn South Carolina map, even though a lower court had found it diluted Black voting power. The Court said there wasn’t enough direct evidence of racial intent and made it harder to bring future claims.
Why this sets a dangerous and racist precedent
Under Shaw v. Reno (1993) and later cases like Miller v. Johnson (1995) and Cooper v. Harris (2017), the Court ruled that race cannot be the predominant factor in drawing districts—unless there is a compelling reason and narrowly tailored justification.
But the new standard appears to say: racial effects alone are not enough to prove unconstitutional intent. Courts must find direct, explicit intention—or else partisan goals justify race‑based manipulation. That makes it far easier for legislatures to gerrymander communities of color and makes legal challenges almost impossible. That’s deeply worrying.
MAGA Republicans cheat because they can’t win fair
Let’s be blunt: Republican lawmakers repeatedly draw maps that split Black communities, dilute urban Democratic votes, and shore up GOP power. These tactics work only because they lock in unfair advantages that wouldn’t exist in a level playing field.
What’s happening now is no different—it’s just another power grab. If the Court allows the Louisiana challenge, it’s enabling the same old strategies: legislative maps that favor one party regardless of voter fairness. That’s cheating. And yes, if you can’t see it, you’re likely too far gone into radicalized thinking to recognize it.
Fact‑checked reality checks
— The Alabama 2023 case (Allen v. Milligan) reaffirmed that states must draw enough majority‑Black districts when required by the Voting Rights Act. That was a narrow 5‑4 win protecting minority voters.
— But the forthcoming Louisiana case may reverse that—even though the map followed the court’s orders and created two majority‑Black districts.
— Earlier cases like Cooper v. Harris in North Carolina and Shaw v. Reno explicitly prohibited race‑predominant districts unless justified—but those principles are being eroded.
What this means
— Courts will make it nearly impossible to challenge maps that dilute minority representation.
— GOP state legislatures will be emboldened to redraw maps for political advantage.
— Communities of color lose political voice, while minority Republicans gain even more power unchecked.
This update is here to inform—not divide. Americans deserve to know what decisions are being made in their name.
🎯 Trump Fired the Head of Labor Statistics
President Trump dismissed Erika McEntarfer, the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, just after a revised jobs report showed weaker numbers. He claimed—without evidence—that she was “working against him.” Economists and policy experts are alarmed, saying this undermines public trust in nonpartisan government data.
After the Federal Reserve declined to cut interest rates, Trump lashed out publicly and continued to call for immediate cuts. This kind of political pressure puts the independence of the Fed at risk and increases market instability, especially in places like Missouri where loans and farm equipment financing depend on predictable interest rates.
🎯 Trump Ordered U.S. Submarines to Move After a Tweet
Following provocative comments from Russian official Dmitry Medvedev, Trump ordered a redeployment of U.S. nuclear submarines. Military leaders say this action had no strategic benefit and only increased global tension unnecessarily. It’s another example of foreign policy via ego—not planning.
The Trump administration confirmed that harsh tariffs on countries like Canada, Brazil, India, and Switzerland will remain in place indefinitely. These tariffs drive up costs for American consumers, hurt U.S. exporters—especially Missouri’s farmers—and damage relations with longtime allies.
These actions hurt everyone—rural and urban. We rely on accurate jobs data to plan our lives and policy. We depend on steady interest rates for agriculture and housing. And when our leaders play games with trade or security, it’s our towns and families that pay the price.
By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House – Missouri’s 4th District
President Trump had another outburst—this time telling Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to “go to hell.”
That’s not how you lead a country. That’s how you behave when you’ve lost control and can’t get your way.
Negotiations in the Senate over confirming key executive nominees were close to a deal. Democrats asked for funding compromises, Republicans were discussing it, and it looked like they might find a path forward.
Then Trump blew it all up with a late-night post, attacking Democrats, calling the deal unfair, and demanding Republicans walk away. He didn’t just reject compromise—he told one of the top leaders in the Senate to “go to hell.”
That kind of language is unpresidential. It’s childish. And it’s a slap in the face to every American who’s tired of gridlock and dysfunction in Washington.
Instead of working with Congress to get qualified people confirmed, Trump once again used temper and spectacle to stall progress. He’s repeated this pattern over and over: when things don’t go his way, he attacks, blames, and walks out.
Let’s be real: no boss in the real world could keep their job with behavior like this. Why should a president?
Here’s the cost: stalled nominations, unfinished budgets, and yet another delay in addressing real issues facing our communities.
When you send me to Washington in 2026, I won’t throw tantrums. I’ll work across the aisle, negotiate in good faith, and fight like hell for Missouri’s rural families.
I’m your congressman, and I’ll never vote against Missouri or our farmers who feed America and the world.
After lawfully investigating Donald Trump’s classified documents case and his effort to overturn the 2020 election, former Special Counsel Jack Smith is now being targeted—not by the courts, but by Trump’s political allies.
On August 2, 2025, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) confirmed it has opened a Hatch Act investigation into Jack Smith. This follows a partisan referral from Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who accused Smith of trying to damage Trump politically before the 2024 election.
The facts don’t back that up. Smith and former Attorney General Merrick Garland made it clear that the investigations were driven by evidence—not politics. And when Trump retook office in 2025, the DOJ was required by policy to drop the charges, because it cannot prosecute a sitting president.
That’s not corruption. That’s process. Jack Smith followed the rules. He made no political statements. He didn’t hold press conferences to sway voters. He didn’t leak documents. He conducted investigations, secured indictments, and stepped back when DOJ policy demanded it.
But now he’s being punished for it.
This Is Not What the Hatch Act Was Meant For
The Hatch Act prohibits government employees from using their official roles for political activity. That means no campaigning from the office. No making policy to benefit a party. It does not ban legal investigations into public officials.
To say that Smith violated the Hatch Act just for investigating Trump sets a dangerous precedent: it implies that no prosecutor can touch a political figure during campaign season. That’s not law. That’s cowardice.
Tom Cotton’s Outrage Is a Joke—And a Double Standard
Let’s talk about hypocrisy.
Senator Tom Cotton isn’t bound by the Hatch Act—because it applies to executive branch employees. But there’s a Senate equivalent: the Senate Ethics Committee, which exists to stop lawmakers from misusing their office for political payback.
And that’s exactly what Tom Cotton is doing. He didn’t cite any actual misconduct. He didn’t uncover any political bias. He just didn’t like that Jack Smith built a case against Trump—so he used his office to go after a public servant who did his job.
This isn’t accountability. It’s political retaliation.
If you flipped the party labels, Republicans would be screaming about “weaponizing government.” But when it’s one of their own? They cheer it on.
Tom Cotton’s stunt is the same kind of targeted abuse the Hatch Act is supposed to stop—he just found a loophole. If there were a Hatch Act for Senators, Cotton would already be under investigation.
Trump Is Weaponizing the Government to Silence His Enemies
This Hatch Act probe isn’t about justice. It’s about revenge. Just like:
Trump’s executive order targeting the law firm that represented Jack Smith
The DOJ’s new “Weaponization Working Group” run by Trump allies to investigate former prosecutors
Efforts to criminalize those who stood up to Trump’s abuses of power
This is how authoritarian governments operate: they bend the law to crush dissent. They punish the people who dare to challenge the powerful. And they create a climate where truth becomes dangerous.
I grew up in rural Missouri. I know right from wrong. Jack Smith followed the law. Trump just got caught.
When I’m your congressman, I’ll never vote against Missouri or our communities—especially not the folks who feed America and defend our democracy.
“When you send me to DC in the 2026 election, I’ll stand up to political retaliation—no matter who’s in power.”
Young people in rural Missouri are being forced to choose between staying close to family or chasing opportunity somewhere else. And too often, opportunity wins—because there just aren’t enough good-paying, fulfilling jobs close to home. It doesn’t have to be this way.
We can create a future where rural Missouri families stay together, and young adults have the chance to thrive without leaving the communities that raised them. To do that, we need serious investment in technical training, apprenticeships, and real job creation right here in our region.
Not Everyone Wants—or Needs—a Four-Year Degree
The idea that a four-year degree is the only path to success is outdated and unfair. Not everyone wants to go to college. Not everyone should have to. And not everyone can afford it.
Instead of pushing student debt, we should be offering choices. Technical schools and community colleges like State Fair Community College in Sedalia already provide two-year nursing programs that lead directly to good-paying careers. These programs need more state and federal support so that every Missourian who wants a career in the trades or health care can afford to pursue it—without going into debt.
We should also fund and expand local apprenticeships and on-the-job training programs. Missouri’s Apprenticeship Missouri program is a good start, but we need more rural employers, unions, and technical centers involved to truly make an impact. This could include construction, welding, HVAC, agriculture technology, broadband installation, and even advanced manufacturing. These are skilled careers that pay well—and they shouldn’t require moving to the city.
Free Community College—If You’re Willing to Work
One of the best investments we can make in Missouri’s future is providing free community college to anyone who is ready to put in the work. Tennessee led the way with its Tennessee Promise, offering eligible high school graduates tuition‑free access to community or technical colleges—using a “last‑dollar” scholarship after federal and state aid. This resulted in a 30 % increase in first‑year enrollment and helped many young people earn associate degrees without debt. Missouri should follow that model and offer the same opportunity—so a high school graduate here can get a two‑year degree or technical certification at no cost if they commit to working in their field at home for a few years.
We can also use federal workforce grants and infrastructure funds to create new regional learning hubs that serve multiple counties. These centers could offer everything from diesel mechanic training to fiber optic tech certifications—exactly the kinds of jobs our rural communities need to grow and compete in the 21st century.
Work Hard, Play Hard—Recreation Matters Too
Strong communities need more than jobs—they need quality of life. Recreation and public spaces give people a reason to stay, raise families, and build lasting roots. That means more investments in local parks, trails, sports leagues, summer camps, and even after-school programs.
We can tap into existing federal support like the Land and Water Conservation Fund, as well as USDA rural development grants, to build recreational facilities that keep young people active, engaged, and proud to call Missouri home. These kinds of projects are shovel-ready and community-backed—we just need the leadership to fight for them.
“When you send me to D.C. in the 2026 election, I’ll never vote against Missouri or our farmers, workers, and families. We’ll build opportunity from the ground up—and keep our communities together.”
It’s time to help, not hinder. With targeted programs, local investment, and the political will to put our people first, we can build a rural Missouri where no one is forced to leave just to live a good life.
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