Trump’s words — “beat the hell out of them” — are not leadership. They are dangerous threats. America deserves better than violence. We need unity, respect, and solutions.
By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House – Missouri’s 4th (or 5th if gerrymandered) District
Donald Trump recently told his crowd: “We have to be brave” and “We have radical left lunatics out there and we just have to beat the hell out of them.”
This is not leadership. This is violent rhetoric, plain and simple. When a former president stands on stage and encourages violence, it doesn’t just stay at the rally. It spreads into communities, fuels division, and makes it harder for families in Missouri to feel safe.
It’s not the left stirring up hate—it’s the MAGA cult. Every time Trump opens his mouth with this garbage, he puts Americans at risk. He needs to shut up and stop acting like a moron for his morons.
Missouri and all of the United States deserve better. 🇺🇸 We need leaders who will bring unity, solutions, and respect for democracy—not threats and fearmongering. Our families, farms, and communities are stronger when we work together, not when we’re pushed apart by reckless words from a wannabe strongman who should know better.
By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House – Missouri’s 4th District
Citizens United – Democracy Is Not For Sale
Since January 2010 (Citizens United v. FEC), billionaire and corporate money has flooded our elections. That’s not democracy — that’s an auction.
What Citizens United Did
🔎The ruling treated corporate spending as protected “speech,” unleashing unlimited independent expenditures by super PACs and dark-money groups that can drown out the voices of everyday Missourians.
Why It’s Bad for Missouri
Arms race of dollars instead of a contest of ideas.
Mega-donor megaphones while working families get sidelined.
Dark-money ad blitzes with little transparency about who is behind them.
Trust erosion: people question whether their vote matters when a few wealthy actors buy more influence than entire neighborhoods.
My Values: People Over Corporate Cash
Let me be clear: Citizens United was a disaster for our democracy. I refuse to let Missouri families be sold off to the highest bidder. Elections should be decided by people, not by piles of corporate cash.
Why I’m Fighting
I grew up here in Missouri — around farm families and small businesses. They don’t have a fleet of lobbyists or a billionaire checkbook. They have a voice and a vote. Citizens United tried to drown that out. I won’t stand for it. I’ll never take lobbyist gifts, I’ll never sell my vote, and I’ll never let a corporation write Missouri’s future.
Real Fixes I’ll Push
Overturn Citizens United — support constitutional and legislative paths to restore common-sense limits.
End dark money — comprehensive disclosure so voters know who is speaking and why.
Power small donors — explore matching systems that lift grassroots voices.
Ban lobbyist gifts and tighten conflict-of-interest rules.
Be Part of the Solution
✅Missourians can take our democracy back. When we organize, we win — even against unlimited money.
Bottom line:Democracy is not for sale. It belongs to the people who live in our towns, work our fields, and build our communities — not to corporate balance sheets.
By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House – Missouri’s 4th District
Missouri gerrymandering took center stage this week as Republican leaders opened a special session to redraw congressional districts mid-decade and to weaken Missouri’s citizen-led ballot initiative process. Both moves are about locking in political power and reversing the will of the voters who have repeatedly used direct democracy to improve our state.
Mid-decade map rigging
The new plan would split communities—especially in and around Kansas City—so that partisan mapmakers can tilt outcomes before a single vote is cast. Redistricting is supposed to follow the census once each decade. A mid-cycle do-over is a clear effort to predetermine results. This is Missouri gerrymandering, plain and simple, and it threatens fair representation for families, farmers, and workers across our region.
Attacking the initiative petition process
Legislators are also pushing changes that would require constitutional amendments to win not only statewide, but also in each congressional district. That means a minority of districts could override the statewide majority. Missourians have used initiatives to expand Medicaid, raise wages, and protect personal freedoms. Undermining this process does nothing but silence voters. If these rules had been in place before, many successful reforms likely would have been blocked despite winning statewide support.
Why Missourians should care
Maps decide whether communities have a real voice in Washington. When politicians slice and dice neighborhoods to engineer outcomes, accountability disappears. That hurts all of us—rural and urban alike—because the issues that matter here in mid-Missouri and western Missouri—health care access, farm policy, rural broadband, good schools, safe roads—require representatives who actually answer to voters. Ending Missouri gerrymandering restores trust and ensures every Missourian’s vote counts equally.
My commitment
When I’m elected as your congressman, I will work with the ACLU and other nonpartisan allies to restore fair representation. That includes supporting independent, community-respecting maps; defending the right of citizens to place measures on the ballot; and promoting federal safeguards that protect voting rights for every Missourian. Voters should choose their politicians—not the other way around.
We’ve seen the pattern: when Missourians get a direct say, we choose practical solutions. That’s why some politicians are trying to change the rules. I’m running to put power back where it belongs—with the people. If you share that goal, stay engaged, speak up at hearings, and help us organize across every county in our district.
Gerrymandering happens when those in power manipulate district lines to help their own party or protect incumbents. Instead of voters picking their representatives, representatives try to pick their voters. Missouri gerrymandering is the current attempt to redraw maps mid-decade to predetermine outcomes.
Why does changing the initiative petition process matter?
Citizen initiatives are how Missourians pass statewide reforms when politicians won’t act. Requiring a win both statewide and in every congressional district would let a minority block the majority. That undermines direct democracy and weakens voter power.
How would this affect everyday Missourians?
Unfair maps and higher hurdles for initiatives mean fewer competitive elections and less accountability. That makes it harder to deliver on the issues folks care about—like rural health care, farm and small-business growth, infrastructure, and strong schools. Fair maps create fair fights and better representation.
What will Ricky Dana do?
I will partner with the ACLU and other allies to defend voting rights, protect the initiative process, and promote fair, community-centered maps. The goal is simple: every Missourian’s vote should carry equal weight, and communities should not be carved up for partisan gain.
The Trump voter ID executive order is a direct attack on the Constitution, and Congress must act now. On August 31, 2025, President Trump announced he plans to issue an executive order demanding voter ID for every vote—and banning mail-in ballots except for the very ill and military personnel. That is not leadership. That is overreach. It’s a direct swipe at the U.S. Constitution, and Congress has no excuse to sit on its hands any longer.
Why the Trump Voter ID Executive Order Is Unconstitutional
The U.S. Constitution is clear about elections. States hold the power to run them, and Congress has the authority to pass federal laws when needed. Nowhere does the Constitution give the president the right to unilaterally dictate how every American votes. By trying to issue sweeping voter ID requirements through executive order, Trump is once again showing that he thinks he is above the law. That cannot stand in a country built on checks and balances.
This isn’t Trump’s first attempt at playing king with our election rules. Earlier this year, he tried to force proof-of-citizenship requirements on voters nationwide. Federal judges struck that down because it was unconstitutional and would have blocked countless eligible voters from participating. He came back in June with another version, and the courts said no again. Now, he’s trying the same tactic with the Trump voter ID executive order, ignoring both the courts and the Constitution. (Source)
Here’s the truth: voter ID laws already exist in 36 states. Many people already have to show ID in some form. But the harsh restrictions Trump is proposing would go much further. They would prevent millions of Americans from voting, especially seniors, low-income workers, students, and people in rural areas who don’t always have easy access to ID offices. These aren’t “fraudsters.” These are our neighbors, veterans, church members, and hardworking families. And the data is clear—voter fraud is so rare it barely registers, while voter suppression is very real. (Source)
So why is Trump doing this? The answer is simple: power. He knows the midterms are coming. He knows Republican allies in Congress are vulnerable. By making it harder for everyday Americans to vote, he’s stacking the deck to protect himself and his party. The Trump voter ID executive order is not about security—it’s about control. (Source)
Enough is enough. Congress cannot sit back while the president treats the Constitution like a napkin. Trump has already tested the limits of executive power again and again. Each time, the courts step in, but it shouldn’t always fall to the judges. Congress has the duty—and the power—to stop a president who refuses to follow the law. That’s why impeachment exists. It is not about politics. It is about protecting the balance of power and the survival of democracy.
Let’s also be clear about the stakes. If this type of overreach goes unchecked, future presidents—Republican or Democrat—will feel free to ignore the Constitution whenever it suits them. Today it’s voter ID. Tomorrow it could be silencing journalists, targeting political opponents, or restricting freedoms we take for granted. If Congress refuses to hold Trump accountable, it sends a dangerous message: that the president is above the law. That’s not democracy—that’s dictatorship.
It’s high time we reign in these DC clowns and sycophants who enable this circus. Too many members of Congress seem more interested in keeping their party bosses happy than standing up for the people they represent. That is cowardice, plain and simple. Americans don’t elect members of Congress to be cheerleaders for the White House. We elect them to be a check on the White House.
The Trump voter ID executive order is a test for Congress. Will they defend the Constitution, or will they roll over and let one man write the rules for American elections? If they choose the latter, then they are unfit for the offices they hold. Every member of Congress swears an oath to defend the Constitution against enemies both foreign and domestic. That oath means something—or at least it should.
So Congress—what are you waiting for? Open impeachment hearings. Investigate this executive order. Send a clear message that no president, not even Donald Trump, is above the law. The longer you wait, the weaker our democracy becomes.
This isn’t about red versus blue. This is about right versus wrong. It’s about defending the foundation of our republic and proving that America is still a nation of laws. If Trump wants to govern like a king, then it’s Congress’s duty to remind him that this country doesn’t have kings. We have a Constitution. And it’s time they start acting like they believe in it.
Call on your representatives today. Congress must either do its job—or admit it won’t. Our democracy cannot afford more excuses.
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.
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.
by Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House – Missouri’s 4th District
In Texas, a judge has just expanded a restraining order against Beto O’Rourke and his group, Powered by People, forbidding them from sending money or property out of the state to support Democratic lawmakers. These lawmakers left Texas to stop a Republican redistricting scheme that would strip communities of their fair representation.
Think about that. A political group is being legally barred from supporting elected officials who are standing up for democracy. This isn’t a simple court order—it’s a chilling sign of how Republicans are willing to weaponize the legal system to silence opposition. This is how authoritarianism creeps in: not with one big bang, but with a series of smaller steps that normalize suppression.
Republicans claim to be defending the law. But let’s be clear: they are making up rules when it suits them and ignoring those same rules when they get in the way. They demand Democrats face punishment for leaving the state, yet they themselves routinely bend and break democratic norms when drawing maps, blocking debate, or catering to special interests. They cry about “following the rules,” but only when it helps them hold onto power.
Here’s the truth: using restraining orders and threats of jail against political opponents isn’t democracy—it mirrors fascism. It’s the same strategy authoritarians use around the world: criminalize dissent, silence the opposition, and stack the courts to rubber-stamp it all. That’s not the America we’re supposed to be living in.
As your next congressman, I won’t sit back while Republicans abuse the system to crush opposition voices. I’ll fight to protect the right of every American to organize, speak out, and hold the powerful accountable. Our country is built on debate, disagreement, and the freedom to challenge those in charge—not on fear of jail or financial ruin for daring to oppose the ruling party.
If it can happen in Texas, it can happen anywhere. Missouri deserves better. America deserves better. And I’m ready to stand up in Congress to make sure it never happens here.
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.
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.
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.
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