Today marks the 25 years since 9/11.

I was in ranger school when the Twin Towers fell. I was in the mountains of Dahlonega, Georgia when word of the attack reached us. My unit and I assumed that the news was part of a training exercise to test our resolve under stress. Only later did we learn that we were at war. Like all infantry soldiers in those days, I eventually deployed to the Middle East and dutifully served my country in Iraq and throughout diplomatic posts across the world. Rachel was living in Jerusalem on the day of the attack - as an American abroad she was appreciative of the support and warmth her new neighbors showed her. She managed to see the last years of normalcy before Israel and the Middle East were changed forever.

As Americans, we always imagined ourselves as invulnerable. We were separated from the world by two gigantic oceans, our geopolitical adversary had unraveled with the end of the Cold War, and wars were always found “somewhere else,” but 9/11 shattered that sense of invulnerability.

A quarter-century is a significant amount of time. There are many young people in this country working, voting, serving in our armed forces, and soon running for public office who were born after September 11th. For myself and countless Americans that day forever changed this country and the world as we knew it - but a growing amount of Americans have only known life in the wake of 9/11. We owe it to them to share our stories.

Today we remember the 2,977 victims of the attack on the World Trade Center and remind ourselves that freedom isn’t free.

”…It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us,that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion, that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth”

Abraham Lincoln, The Gettysburg Address

This past weekend, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner (who negotiates on behalf of the US with no official government role) traveled to Russia and Ukraine to restart peace negotiations for Europe’s largest war. According to reporting, proposals floated by Russian negotiators were focused on the “root causes” of the conflict and included the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from parts of Donetsk and Ukraine’s abandonment of future NATO membership, In total, the proposal differs little from those advanced a year ago.

We’ve seen this all before: representatives of the second Trump administration visit Russia in search of a potential peace process, Putin delivers a maximalist vision as a starting point to his American audience, and Trump’s emissaries take this at face value and report this ploy for conquest and subjugation as a breakthrough in the peace process. When Ukraine questions the proposal and tries to rationalize compromises, Zelenskyy will be framed as a spoiler. Rinse and repeat. See you six months from now.

At least this time Kushner and Witkoff managed to visit both Moscow and Kyiv, rather than just focusing on Russia and Putin’s circle of advisers. Nevertheless, Trump’s envoys still managed to carry Putin’s water, pushing a deal that makes less sense today than it did even a year ago when Russia’s military prospects seemed brighter. Kushner, once again showing both naivete and willful ignorance, referenced a potential “win-win” resolution to the war. Trump and his representatives are still approaching this war like a transaction and a real-estate deal without any comprehension of the geopolitical stakes embodied in this clash between democracies and authoritarian regimes. The bizarre reference to all the “incredible memories” the American side would have from their negotiations with Putin further underscores that Kushner and Witkoff are completely out of their depth.

There is nothing we will learn from this round of diplomacy that we didn’t already know, and the failure of this round of talks was prescribed before the envoys left the United States. That being said, there are two elements that observers should focus on when viewing this exchange in the context of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the parade of Trump’s foreign policy failures.

The first is that, under Trump, the United States’ aura of indispensability has been absolutely shattered. The Russians know it. The Chinese know it. The Iranians know it. And America’s allies know it. Trump has rendered the U.S. irrelevant and much of the world view this moment an era to be suffered through. Trump’s closest allies can be played like a fiddle, and by this point the Ukrainians have no expectations for any serious American-led efforts to end the war. In 2022 and 2023 our decisions shaped the direction and outcome of the conflict. Now, we’re a sideshow that can be safely ignored by Kyiv and Moscow, as well as by other great and middle powers.

The second crucial element of this visit that observers should consider is how this display of doomed diplomacy fits in with the recent visit by CIA Director Ratcliffe to Moscow. Not only does the presence of Witkoff and Kushner soften the impact of whatever warning Ratcliffe delivered to Putin’s inner circle, but it also shows that the American government is divided in its own objectives and strategic vision for approaching Russia. Voices like Ratcliffe and Rubio, who have historically been hawkish on Russia, must now contend with the short-sighted diplomatic initiatives of Trump’s son-in-law and a real estate investor. The Washington Post reported that Ratcliffe warned Russian officials that continuing the war could backfire and that Russia’s position would deteriorate further.

This isn’t a strategy for peace. It’s a recipe for chaos.

German police with a bomb-disposal robot near a Ukrainian aircraft at Leipzig airport

Explosions at an Italian shell factory. Jammed signals around the Baltic Sea. Drones and munitions found at a German airport. Disruptions in transportation, trade, and commerce.

With diminishing gains on the battlefield of an increasingly unpopular war, Moscow has turned its attention towards soft targets in Europe. With the diminishing returns of strikes on military and civilian targets in Ukraine, the Russian military and security services are leveraging the openness of European democracies to attack civilian and military targets through sabotage operations. Leveraging a large network of spies and criminal network accomplices, Russia is deploying saboteurs to disrupt the infrastructure and production centers critical to Ukraine’s war effort as well as unrelated civilian infrastructure in an effort to raise the cost of supporting Ukraine. Putin’s theory is that these attacks will erode support for Ukraine and position Russia for better prospects in the war or future peace negotiations.

This isn’t a new trend. The practice called “active measures” dates back to the heights of the Cold War and has revived and grown since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. Now with Russia’s military prospects on the decline, Russian active measures have surged. European law enforcement bodies and counter-intelligence agencies have been uncovering and dismantling networks of Russian agents for the last four and a half years - however, the scale of activities in the last six months has triggered major concerns over potential escalation. These activities were likely the cause behind CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s recent trip to Moscow.

Who are these agents of chaos and destruction? Sometimes these individuals are FSB and GRU officers, oftentimes operating with deep-cover and false identities (these operatives are colloquially known as the “illegals”). These agents have been activated after living years of living a double life in countries like Slovenia. These assets serve Moscow’s interest by attempting to infiltrate western organizations like the ICC or by committing overt acts of sabotage, like attempting to smuggle explosives into commercial airliners. Operations are sometimes executed using less-sophisticated actors: disposable “single use” agents are contacted and coordinated by Russian intelligence through platforms like Telegram (essentially functioning as gig-economy workers for sabotage operations). The primary goal of these operations is to disrupt western support for the Ukrainian military by delaying deliveries and physically destroying assets. The secondary goal is to erode public support for Ukraine across Europe by presenting acts of chaos and destruction as being an unavoidable associated cost of western support for Kyiv.

My assessment is that the Russian military is acutely aware of its own limitations and is turning towards sabotage operations to compensate for a lack of progress in the military campaign in Ukraine. At this point in the war, Ukraine’s advances in drone technology and domestic defense-tech have turned what was initially a David-and-Goliath struggle into a conflict between near-peer militaries. Despite an advantage in manpower, a larger supply of munitions and equipment, and a massive military-industrial base, Russia has shown itself to be incapable of decisive military operations and has become increasingly hesitant to commit to the same high-attrition battles and prolonged urban campaigns that defined the first years of Russia’s ongoing invasion. A sudden spike in casualties and the necessary mass mobilization required to maintain military operations could break the illusion of a successful war that Putin is trying to preserve. The flight of 113,000 Russians in response to rumors of a coming mobilization suggests that much of the Russian public would not be aligned with a full pivot to war-footing. Hence, Russia is willing to engage in active measures and direct attacks on Europe to undercut Ukraine’s war effort and pressure Europe to press Ukraine for peace. Unfortunately for Putin, he has once again miscalculated Ukraine’s and Europe’s resolve to deliver a Russian defeat and end an era of Russian aggression.

The recent incident at Leipzig airport marks a turning point in Europe’s approach towards Russian sabotage operations. According to German authorities, a UAV containing explosives failed to detonate and was found near a Ukrainian cargo plane. Later, a second UAV collided with a civilian Boeing 757 during a landing attempt. A third UAV was recovered on the grounds of the airport days later. Germany’s willingness to directly attribute this attack to the Russian government is a sign that Berlin has reached the limits of its patience. We can expect a combination of political and diplomatic responses from Berlin and Europe in response to Russia’s sabotage campaign, ranging from standard-fare expulsion of diplomatic staff to a concentrated effort by Europe’s security apparatus to detect and prevent active measures.

The more interesting developments will happen away from the public view as hybrid wars require hybrid solutions. Germany and other large western European countries may join the central and eastern European members of NATO and the EU in providing intelligence resources and enabling active measures against the Russian war machine. In lieu of a risk-averse policy of deescalation and appeasement, we could see the start of a tit-for-tat campaign by the Europeans against Russian assets. European security structures will heighten detection and interdiction of Russian assets and intelligence agencies may target the web of critical industries and pipelines around the world to disrupt Russia’s war machine. Just as Moscow frames chaos and destruction in Europe as the cost of supporting Ukraine, Europe may present increased sanctions and further exclusion from the world economy as a cost of allying with Russia.

As we transition into the winter months, we can expect a decrease in the tempo and scale of operations along the line of contact in Eastern Ukraine. Sabotage and disruption will be the focus of Russia’s strategy towards Europe and allies of Ukraine. An increasingly desperate Russia may turn its focus away from supply chains and logistics and instead orchestrate mass-casualty events near the winter holidays - time will show if Europe and the United States will meet this challenge.

A candid shot of Alex (blue shirt) at the rail, taken by Rachel

Last night Ellie was cheering at her high school football game and I found myself standing at the rail so I could get a better view. Rachel took this picture without me knowing. I love this photo for a lot of reasons, including that spectacular Florida sky - we really do love living here.

Many things can be true at the same time. Of course I wish I had won the primary. I loved campaigning and I loved traveling around Florida, meeting people, hearing their stories, and talking about what I believe we can do for this state and this country. Losing was disappointing and I am not going to pretend otherwise. But one of the things I’ve always tried very hard to be is a present father, and I’m happy to have a lot more time to simply be Dad.

My own father loved my brothers and me enormously. I never doubted that, but he came to the United States in his late 40s, an immigrant starting over in a new country with three young sons (and eventually a fourth stepson) to support. He worked a union job and took every hour of overtime he could get. He wasn’t always able to be there because providing for us was how he took care of us.

That job gave our family a foothold in America. His union wages and benefits helped provide the stability that allowed four immigrant kids to grow up believing there was no limit to what they might become. It was our family’s entrance into the American Dream.

Obviously that’s also on my mind this weekend as we celebrate Labor Day. My father’s work gave me opportunities he never had. One of the ways I’ve tried to honor his sacrifice is by making sure that, when I can be there, I am.

My Army career meant I missed things, too. Deployments, training, long days, and time away are part of military life. I can’t get any of those days back. So these days, I am not going to take the ordinary ones for granted.

A high school football game, a spectacular Florida sunset, and my daughter cheering on the sidelines. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.

Read more

Friends,

I wanted to be writing something different after my primary. Of course I’m disappointed by the outcome, but elections don’t always go the way we plan or hope. You take stock, learn what you can, and figure out what comes next.

But before I say anything about what comes next, I want to say thank you.

Since January, we have traveled across Florida and met tens of thousands of people who welcomed us into their communities, donated, volunteered, offered advice, told me what I was getting right and also what I was getting wrong (perhaps I should have listened to those people more!). They trusted me with their stories and their concerns about their families, their communities, and the country. I’m grateful for all of it, and I will carry it with me always.

Now I need to start over, and that’s something I’ve had to do before.

In my book Here, Right Matters, I included some of the lessons I had learned over the course of my life. One was: Start Over—and Keep Starting Over.

At the time, I was writing about leaving the Army. I didn’t want to start over. I loved the Army and had spent more than two decades building a career there. But circumstances changed, and eventually I had to accept that the future I had imagined for myself wasn’t going to happen.

Well, here I am again and it seems to me our nation is in a similar place.

America is at an inflection point. We’ve been approaching it for years, but I think the elections of 2016 and 2024 made it impossible to deny. The status quo isn’t working for a lot of people, and our politicians have been too slow to understand the depth of people’s dissatisfaction.

I heard it daily while traveling around Florida.

People are working hard and still falling behind. Housing, healthcare, groceries, and childcare all cost too much. Young people wonder if they’ll ever be able to afford a home. Parents worry whether their children will have fewer opportunities than they did. This reality exists across the political spectrum.

Meeting a crowd of supporters at The Villages, a community that has historically been a stronghold for the GOP in Florida yet is increasingly contested during the second Trump presidency

They look at Washington and see a government that largely seems incapable of, or uninterested in, meaningfully addressing any of it. They see business as usual while many are living in crisis. It’s no secret that wealthy people and corporations have political access and influence in a way that most Americans could never imagine having. People like you and I read about members of Congress trading stocks while writing the laws. The public sees billions of dollars spent on campaigns that nevertheless leave them feeling unrepresented in Washington.

People are angry and increasingly willing to reject anything that resembles the establishment. I didn’t fully understand the depth of that frustration during my own campaign, and I didn’t connect with enough voters who were looking for something different. I missed the mark. There’s no point in asking Democrats to learn from this moment if I’m not willing to do the same.

The frustration is real, and it’s warranted.

In 2020, I thought Trump’s defeat meant the country had rejected what he represented. In fact, in Here, Right Matters, I wrote about “moving together out of” the Trump presidency.

Then he came back. Whatever we thought we had settled in 2020, we hadn’t. Democrats need to be much more curious about why.

It isn’t enough to tell people Donald Trump is dangerous, as I know he is. I put my military career on the line and lost it all because I believed his conduct was a threat to our national security and our democracy. I’m hardly going to change my mind about that now.

Yet opposing Trump cannot be our entire answer to the moment we’re in. Too many Americans believe our economic and political systems are not working for them, and they want someone willing to fight to change them. In this environment, voters may be more drawn to someone who looks like a fighter than someone who promises to be a problem solver. Democrats need to understand that without giving up our responsibility to actually solve problems.

We can defend democracy and capitalism while understanding that we need to make changes.

The appeal of democratic socialism, particularly among younger Americans, is another indication that people are looking for something drastically different. It would be foolish to ignore the dissatisfaction driving it.

Another lesson I wrote about in Here, Right Matters was Don’t Self-Deter.

I was writing primarily from my experience studying U.S.-Russia relations. One of Russia’s advantages has been its ability to convince adversaries that responding to its aggression carries so much risk that they scare themselves out of acting. Individuals self-deter, too, as do political parties.

Democrats shouldn’t self-deter from demanding significant economic reforms because Republicans might call them socialist. They’re going to call us socialists anyway. We need an economic agenda that delivers for working people, strengthens the social safety net, and puts meaningful guardrails on concentrated wealth and corporate power.

But we also shouldn’t self-deter from having difficult conversations within our own coalition, including about antisemitism and other forms of bigotry. We should be able to condemn them clearly and consistently, whether they come from the right or the left.

These are complicated subjects, and I intend to write more about both of them here. For now, they are among the principles that will guide where I put our campaign’s remaining resources.

What matters to me is what we’re trying to accomplish.

I want an economy that works better for people who work for a living. I want a government competent enough to solve problems and accountable enough to earn people’s trust. I want a democracy in which ordinary citizens have more influence and money has less. And I want Democrats willing to reform institutions that aren’t working while defending the democratic principles that make reform possible.

I want us to win elections.

Politics isn’t just an exercise in being right. If you can’t persuade people, build coalitions, win elections, and turn ideas into policy, you don’t improve anyone’s life.

Which brings me to one thing I do know about what comes next.

Our campaign has substantial resources remaining, and I’m going to put them to work. We have already put nearly $1 million to work and plan to invest substantially more.

We’ll focus on competitive races in Florida, veterans running for office around the country, and Democrats with a realistic opportunity to win Senate seats. This is a project that will endure beyond the 2026 election cycle.

I’m going to be selective. I want to help candidates who understand the moment we’re in: people willing to address the cost of living and an economy that isn’t working well enough for working people; take on corruption and the influence of money in politics; strengthen our democracy; reject antisemitism and other forms of bigotry regardless of where they come from; and work with people they don’t agree with on everything.

As for my own next role, I don’t know exactly what I want to do, but I do intend to continue to serve and have an impact in my community and my country. I cannot imagine not serving in some capacity.

One thing life has taught me is that your role isn’t always the one you planned for. I didn’t plan to become an impeachment witness or a public figure, and a few years ago I wouldn’t have predicted I would run for the United States Senate.

I’ve had to change course before, and I’ve learned that changing course isn’t the same thing as abandoning the mission.

For now, part of my role will be here with the Why It Matters Substack.

The path back to the White House and a lasting victory begins with the work we do now. If you believe in this mission and want to support my efforts to help veterans get elected and rebuild the Democratic party in Florida, I need you to pitch in and become a paid subscriber.

I’ll continue writing about politics, national security, foreign policy, veterans and military affairs, and the other subjects where my experience gives me something useful to contribute. I have missed discussing these ideas with you, but I also want to use this space to think through some of the questions this campaign left me with.

Why have so many Americans lost faith in our institutions? What does a Democratic economic agenda look like if we start with people’s lived experience rather than political labels? How do we build a coalition broad enough to defeat MAGA without being afraid to disagree with one another? How do we make government work well enough that people have reason to trust it again?

I have thoughts about all of those things. I don’t have all the answers.

Running for office has a way of reminding you of that.

I don’t know exactly what comes next. But I’ve had to change course before, and wishing the terrain were different doesn’t change the terrain in front of you.

So I’m going to take some advice I gave myself years ago.

Start over. And keep starting over.

Republicans like Ashley Moody want you to believe everything is under control. Floridians know that’s false.

We are paying more for everything and getting less in return. People are working harder and yet still falling behind.

I traveled from Miami to Tallahassee with dozens of stops in between on my “Cut Costs and Crush Corruption” Tour. I hosted round tables in Hispanic communities, shared meals with labor leaders, honored veterans, answered questions at town halls, and welcomed hundreds of new volunteers into this fight.

What mattered most is that I listened, and the things I heard will stay with me. There is a lot of pain out there right now. People are struggling. One issue came up again and again in a way that was raw and deeply personal. Costs are absolutely crushing people.

A mother told me she has to choose between health insurance for her 11-year-old daughter and putting food on the table. No parent should ever have to make that choice, yet this is happening right here in Florida in 2026.

A community leader, struggling to get the words out, described a woman working three or four jobs and still losing her apartment. Working constantly and still falling behind is system failure.

Young people are wondering if they will spend decades buried in debt before they ever get a chance to get ahead.

Homeowners are seeing their insurance premiums rise year after year while their confidence in their coverage diminishes. Renters are also paying for this insurance crisis as landlords pass these costs onto consumers.

There are countless families who did not have one dramatic story, but are exhausted from the daily grind of stretching every dollar, doing everything right, and still struggling.

No one is asking for handouts, but they are asking for a fair shot.

People want the chance to work hard and get ahead. They want the basic promise that if you do your part you can build a life, support your family, and have something to pass on.

That is what the American Dream is supposed to be — but too many people feel it slipping out of reach right now.

Yet inside that pain, I saw something else uniquely American. A belief that change is possible through the voices and hard work of We, the People.

All over Florida, from deep blue to ruby red communities, people are awake, organized, and ready to act. I left every stop more fired up than when I arrived.

Anyone claiming that Floridians are defeated has not been where I have been and seen what I have seen. There was momentum in every room, every conversation, and every handshake.

There was also hope. Not passive hope, active hope. The kind that shows up and gets to work.

Floridians are done with the way things are being done.

They are done with their concerns being brushed aside.

They are done being talked at instead of listened to.

They are done being told by career politicians like Ashley Moody that everything is fine when they know it is not.

The pain is real. The energy is real. The demand for change is real.

Florida is ready.

Ready to restore the basic promise that if you work hard, you can get ahead. Ready to rebuild an economy that works for working people, not just those at the top.

That promise has been broken.

I have stood up to powerful interests before and I will not back down now. I will stand up and fight for you.

We are going to fix this. Together.

I am ready to cut costs and crush corruption in the United States Senate, but I can only get there with your help. If you’re able, will you consider making a contribution to my campaign today?

DONATE

Hello, this is Dr. Mary Trump — reaching out on behalf of Alex Vindman with an urgent message: American democracy and the rule of law is under threat.

Please know I don’t say this lightly. My uncle, Donald Trump, is using his powers to unleash a reign of terror and revenge against all of us. He is peddling dangerous conspiracy theories and threatening to nationalize our elections.

Florida Senator Ashley Moody is pouring gasoline on that fire. Ashley was put in the Senate to be an automatic rubber-stamp for my uncle’s agenda.

While thug militias attack citizens and tariffs push prices sky-high, Ashley has pushed the same dangerous conspiracy theories and helped rip healthcare away from millions of Americans.

This is unacceptable. We cannot sit on the sidelines while Republicans like Ashley Moody try to undermine our democracy. That’s why I am supporting Alex Vindman for Senate. Alex has stood up to my uncle before, and he’s ready to do it again in the United States Senate.

DONATE

I know we are facing some difficult times, but we cannot lose hope. I want you to imagine something.

Imagine waking up the morning of November 4th, 2026 — just a few months from now. You make your morning coffee and turn on the news:

“Patriot Alex Vindman defeats Trump-endorsed Ashley Moody for Florida’s Senate election.”

This headline would be an absolute nightmare at Trump HQ. Alex winning in Florida — in Donald Trump’s backyard — would be the ultimate rebuke of Trumpism and send a message that Americans are ready for change. Doesn’t that sound amazing?

We have the chance to make it happen. Alex recently launched his campaign for Florida’s Senate seat, and the momentum is stunning. He’s putting Florida on the map, and with enough support, he has a real opportunity to defeat one of Donald Trump’s most loyal supporters in the Senate.

That’s why it shouldn’t surprise us that the same special interests who support my uncle will spend millions to pummel Alex Vindman in attack ads. Alex is not taking a dime from corporate PACs, so the only way he can overcome that massive MAGA spending is with your support.

I am personally asking you to make a donation to Alex’s Senate campaign before his first FEC deadline. Alex has risked everything to defend our democracy, and I know he will do the same when we send him to the United States Senate.

DONATE

Thank you for your support,

Dr. Mary Trump

It’s only been about one month since I joined the race for Florida’s Senate seat, and the attacks are escalating. Take a look at this most recent one:

The Florida Republican Party just launched a new TV ad calling me “Vindictive Alexander Vindman” and saying I belong in prison. I’ll include the clip here if you’d like to watch.

Republicans are saying that I am vindictive because I chose to put our country’s national security above partisan politics.

Yes, really.

It’s quite rich. If Republicans want to see vindictive, all they have to do is look in the mirror.

Vindictive is President Trump holding aid for a foreign ally hostage, until they agreed to investigate a political opponent.

Vindictive is the president firing me for reporting his illegal phone call.

Vindictive is the president saying Democratic lawmakers — who all served in the military or intelligence community — should be punished “by death” after they released a video urging service members not to obey illegal orders.

Vindictive is Trump launching a retribution campaign against my brother — all because he demanded truth and accountability.

As you can see, our president has a pattern of vindictive behavior. Unfortunately, they chose the wrong person to mess with. I’m ready and eager to fight for what’s right.

While Trump was crying bone spurs to dodge the draft, I put my life on the line for the country. I served 21 years in the U.S. Army — and was wounded in Iraq — before Trump pressured me to end my service.

I’m not taking my cues from a guy that called our fallen soldiers “suckers” and “losers.”

***

Here’s something that Trump and his allies won’t tell you: They are scared.

Ever since I announced my campaign, we’ve put Florida’s Senate seat back on the map. Ashley Moody’s donors know that we have a real shot to win this race, which is why the attacks are already escalating.

But I’m not scared. I refuse to back down, but I need you with me in this fight.

My February end-of-month deadline is this Saturday, and we are slightly behind where we need to be in our fundraising. If you have a few dollars to spare, it would mean the world to have you on our list of grassroots supporters. You can donate here:

DONATE

Thanks for your support.

Alex Vindman

DONATE

P.S. One last thing on this ad…unfortunately, National Republicans can’t even do basic fact-checking right. In their first version, they put my twin brother Eugene in one of the clips instead. Yikes.

P.P.S. They make me look like a maverick and fighter ready to take anyone on to fight for what’s right! 🤣

Last week, a Democratic veteran won a stunning special election in a Texas Senate district that Donald Trump carried by 17 points. Democrat Taylor Rehmet was outspent 10-to-1 and still managed to upset the Trump-endorsed candidate in a ruby red district.

This is setting off massive panic alarms in the White House. Now, even Ron DeSantis is admitting how vulnerable Republicans are ahead of the November midterms.

Since Donald Trump retook office, his administration has worked to rip healthcare away from millions of Americans and raise costs through tariffs — all in an effort to enrich their billionaire friends.

Ashley Moody and Republicans have cheered this on every step of the way. They knew these policies were deeply unpopular, and they did it anyway.

Now, their actions are coming back to bite them. Now, accountability is coming for them. Who would’ve thought?

Republicans are already trying to paint this loss as a fluke, but this is just the latest example of what’s to come. Just last year, Florida Democrats massively overperformed in a pair of special elections, even flipping a county that voted for Trump by 19 points.

Republicans can ignore it all they want, but the signs are clear: Voters are angry, and every race is on the table. That leads us to Florida.

My Senate race in Florida is especially competitive. The attention and energy around this race has been amazing. And, our data shows that if I perform on the same level as these special elections, we have a clear path to defeating Ashley Moody and flipping Florida’s Senate seat. Many of you have followed me. You know I will work harder and fight harder to make sure we end the chaos, crush corruption, and cut costs.

Election experts agree: Within 48 hours of announcing my candidacy for U.S. Senate, Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball upgraded our chances of winning in Florida.

But it won’t be easy. MAGA knows that a loss here — in Donald Trump’s backyard — would be so devastating that they will spend whatever it takes to stop us. Ashley Moody will have access to Trump’s network of high-dollar donors to drown us out.

If we want to cut through the noise and get our message in front of Florida voters, then we need to build the largest grassroots fundraising program that Florida has ever seen. That’s why I am asking:

If you’re able, I am asking you to donate to my Senate campaign in Florida. I am not taking corporate PAC money, so I’m counting on a surge in grassroots donations to reach our fundraising goals.

DONATE

Thank you for reading this message, and for staying engaged.

Alex Vindman

👋 A timely message for our Substack readers: 🇺🇸

As Alex runs for the United States Senate, we wanted to take a moment and say thank you. We are so grateful to be in this fight with you to defend our democracy and end the chaos and corruption.

We know how critical your support is, which is why we try to keep these posts as substantive as possible. But today, we need to ask for your support.

If everyone reading this right now gave $5, and set up a monthly recurring contribution to the campaign, we would hit our quarterly fundraising goal. If you agree that it’s time for a new generation of leadership in the United States Senate, we are asking you to donate to Alex’s campaign today. Thank you.

MAKE A ONE TIME DONATION

Alexander Vindman is a former member of the United States Army. Use of his military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Army, the Department of Defense or any branch of the U.S. government.

This came after I testified for the House’s impeachment inquiry into Trump’s not-so-perfect phone call with Ukraine. The president of the United States tried to demand a foreign government investigate a United States citizen and political opponent.

I thought it was improper, so I reported it. We all know how the story played out.

The House of Representatives went on to impeach Donald Trump — only the third time in our nation’s history — for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

We watched the impeachment trial play out in the Senate. After two weeks, the upper chamber acquitted Trump from both charges.

The day after, Trump packed the East Room with his allies and delivered an hour-long speech patting himself on the back for being exonerated. I’ll spare you the transcript of the speech — including when he called FBI officials “top scum” and “sleazebag” — but I think this part sums it up pretty well:

“It was evil. It was corrupt. It was dirty cops. It was leakers and liars. And this should never, ever happen to another President ever.”

— Donald Trump

Then, in his first act of revenge, Donald Trump fired me and reassigned my twin brother.

I risked everything by reporting that call. Six years later, I stand by that decision.

I knew the potential consequences of speaking out against the most powerful person in the world. But without hesitation, I still knew it was my duty to tell the truth and report the corruption.

When I joined the Army, I took an oath to defend our nation and its values. I served 21 years and was wounded in Iraq. I served at the Pentagon under presidents from both parties, putting our nation’s safety before politics.

The decision to report that call wasn’t for political gain. It was to protect our democracy. I believe I served my nation by helping expose corruption by the chief executive.

Donald Trump and his allies may try to attack me, but I’m not backing down from the fight against chaos and corruption.

That fight isn’t over. I’m ready to stand up for Floridians who are sick and tired of a rigged system and costs going up while DC politicians like Donald Trump get rich. That’s why I am running for the United States Senate.

If you are as fired up as I am to send a message to MAGA in Donald Trump’s backyard, then click here to make a donation to my Senate campaign. The election experts just upgraded our chance to flip Florida, and your donations will help us get the resources we need to win this race.

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Thank you,

Alex Vindman

Alexander Vindman is a former member of the United States Army. Use of his military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Army, the Department of Defense or any branch of the U.S. government.

According to CNN, the Department of Justice is ramping up their efforts to probe and target officials who investigated Donald Trump.

This comes just weeks after the president himself pressured officials to investigate his adversaries. Already, the president’s administration has attacked leaders like Senator Adam Schiff, Captain Mark Kelly, and Letitia James.

These attacks are disturbing and must be called for what they are: Blatant attempts to silence his opposition. This cannot be tolerated in a democracy. Unfortunately, this pressure campaign led by the president is not new.

In 2019, I witnessed it personally when he tried to extort our ally, Ukraine, into investigating his political rival. I reported that call — leading to Trump’s first impeachment and him ending my military service.

I’ve risked everything because I refuse to bow down to a wannabe tyrant. And as difficult as things may seem at the moment, we are not powerless.

It’s why I am running for the United States Senate, even when I know the president will do whatever it takes to defeat me. I still believe that democracy and the rule of law mean something in America. We need more people willing to stand up and fight for what’s right.

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I want to leave you with this quote from Jerome Powell. Powell serves as the Chairman of the Federal Reserve — an independent institution that handles our nation’s monetary policy.

The Department of Justice is currently pursuing a criminal investigation into Chairman Powell after he refused to obey the president’s demands. In a new statement, Powell spoke out about Trump’s attacks:

On Friday, the Department of Justice served the Federal Reserve with grand jury subpoenas, threatening a criminal indictment related to my testimony before the Senate Banking Committee last June. That testimony concerned in part a multi-year project to renovate historic Federal Reserve office buildings.

I have deep respect for the rule of law and for accountability in our democracy. No one—certainly not the chair of the Federal Reserve—is above the law. But this unprecedented action should be seen in the broader context of the administration’s threats and ongoing pressure….

The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the President.

This is about whether the Fed will be able to continue to set interest rates based on evidence and economic conditions—or whether instead monetary policy will be directed by political pressure or intimidation.

I have served at the Federal Reserve under four administrations, Republicans and Democrats alike. In every case, I have carried out my duties without political fear or favor, focused solely on our mandate of price stability and maximum employment. Public service sometimes requires standing firm in the face of threats. I will continue to do the job the Senate confirmed me to do, with integrity and a commitment to serving the American people.

It’s on each and every one of us to take up the fight.

Thank you for joining me in this fight. Together.

Alex

Alexander Vindman is a former member of the United States Army. Use of his military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Army, the Department of Defense or any branch of the U.S. government.

☀️ Hello, before you click away... 🌴

Lt. Colonel Alex Vindman (Ret.) just announced his campaign to flip Florida’s Senate seat blue. Alex is ready to take the fight straight to Donald Trump’s backyard…but he needs your help to win.

If everyone reading this post chipped in just $3, we could mobilize persuadable Florida voters and put a check on Trump’s tyranny. If that sounds worth it to you, please chip in $3 today. Thank you.

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Thank you all for joining Rachel and I for my first Substack Live since the launch of my Senate campaign. Our conversation covered the call to service during times of crisis and uncertainty, Rachel’s recent post describing her initial response to my candidacy, and my campaign’s vision for the great state of Florida.

My message? End the Chaos, Crush Corruption, Cut Costs!

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Tonight at 6:00pm ET I will be going live on Substack and speaking on the past week of campaigning and the election ahead of us. I’ll also be highlighting my vision for the people of Florida and how I will be addressing the concerns of the voters of this great state. Be sure to tune in via the Substack app or in your desktop browser.

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I look forward to speaking with you all tonight,

It’s Rachel Vindman. This week my husband, LTC (Retired) Alexander Vindman, launched his campaign for U.S. Senate.

When he first talked to me about running, I said no. Actually, I said a lot of words I will not repeat here and then a loud and emphatic no. I said no for many months.

I said no because I knew what it would mean for our family, for our daughter, and for the life we have built brick by brick since Alex testified in 2019 and was fired from the White House the day after Trump’s first impeachment trial ended.

I know this will put us back on Trump’s radar, and I am all too familiar with how that works. I know what’s coming: the attacks, the lies, the death threats, the flood of comments about my appearance and weight. Super fun stuff. I know it will be exhausting and overwhelming. I know they will come after us personally. I know it will be awful, and I also know it will somehow still be worse than I am imagining.

But, knowing all of this, let me tell you why I said yes… And why I am asking for you to donate to Alex’s Senate campaign today.

Donate to the campaign here

Alex running for office was never part of our plan. But neither was living in a country where an immoral president openly puts himself, his family, and his wealthy friends ahead of everyone else. Neither was watching an appointed senator rubber-stamp policies that hurt the very community we love, without pushing back, without standing up, without asking hard questions.

Yet ***looks around in disbelief*** here we are.

During the impeachment, when everything felt heavy and uncertain, our rabbi reminded us of the words of Rabbi Hillel: “If not me, then who? And if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?”

Those words have stayed with me. Especially the uncomfortable question that asks: If you have the ability to act, but you choose not to, what does that say about you?

Florida is our home. It is the only place in our entire marriage where we consciously chose to live, and we did that with intention. We came here to build a life, and it has been wonderful! Our daughter is thriving! We have strengthened old friendships, built new ones, and become part of a culturally rich and diverse community. I have truly never been happier, and I did not want to lose that. But loving a place also means being willing to fight for it when it is not being served well.

For Alex and me, this is not about ambition or power. This is about not wanting to look back and think we could have done more when it mattered. It is about choosing to stand up for what is right, right now.

I did not say yes because I suddenly felt brave or because my fears disappeared. I said yes because this moment demands more from all of us.

And somewhere along the way, I realized I had been asking myself the wrong question.

Instead of “Do I want my husband to run for Senate?” I finally asked myself something harder and more honest: If now is not the time to step up, when would be?

In life there will never be a perfect moment. There will always be a reason to wait. There will always be a reason to tell yourself that someone else will do it, or that the timing is not right. And if we keep waiting for a moment that feels safe or convenient, we will be waiting forever…and eventually it will be too late.

So I said yes, not because it was easy and not because I wanted this life, but because I could not look at the moment we are in and pretend it was not asking something of us.

And I hope more people start asking themselves the same question. Running for office isn’t something everyone needs to do, but we all need to show up in whatever way we can. Speak up. Get involved. Refuse to sit out this moment.

That’s why I said yes and I hope you will also.

That can look like a lot of things. It can mean donating what you are able. Signing up to volunteer. Making sure everyone you love is registered to vote and signed up to vote by mail. It can mean having the uncomfortable conversation, canvassing, driving someone to the polls, or simply refusing to be quiet when something is not right.

ARE YOU READY? LET’S DO THIS!

Donate to the campaign here!

I had the pleasure of joining Lawrence O’Donnell on MS NOW for the launch of my U.S. Senate campaign. I wanted to share a clip that really stuck with me.

I saw firsthand Donald Trump trying to undermine U.S. security for his own gain. We cannot allow chaos and corruption to define America’s role in the world or betray our allies who fight for their freedom.

In a moment as important as ours, we cannot afford to be silent. I want Americans — Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike — to make their voices heard.

Thank you for watching, and please take action.

Alexander S. Vindman

Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army (Retired)

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Alexander Vindman is a former member of the United States Army. Use of his military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Army, the Department of Defense or any branch of the U.S. government.

Yesterday, I launched our campaign for the United States Senate in Florida. I had no doubt in my mind that folks were fired up to take the fight straight to MAGA in Donald Trump’s own backyard.

…But to be quite honest, the support we’ve gotten in these first 36 hours has left me stunned.

Our campaign just set the record for the best Day One amount raised for a Senate candidate in Florida. More than 30,000 supporters have joined this team by chipping in a donation, with 99% of our online contributions being $100 or less.

That is incredible, and it shows the clear contrast in this race: While Ashley Moody relies on billionaire donors to rescue her campaign, we are building a movement that’s powered by the people.

It looks like the opposition is taking note too. Just look at what Ashley Moody sent to her supporters:

It’s only Day One, and they’re already trying to fearmonger their base against me. “Partisan witch hunt,” “impeachment hoax” — you name it.

Even Laura Loomer, one of Donald Trump’s most loyal attack dogs, spent her day attacking me on Twitter. It’s only a matter of time until the president himself comes after our campaign, just like he’s done against me before.

The Senate majority hinges on Florida and in a single day, we’ve already put Florida back on the map for Democrats. But now is when the real work begins. Republicans know that a win here would be a devastating blow to Donald Trump, so they are going to throw everything including the kitchen sink at me.

This will be a very tough fight, but I refuse to give in. I am ready to fight like hell for the soul of this country, which is why I’m asking for your support.

I know my campaign has sent you quite a few emails already — so before anything else, I want to thank you. Florida is an expensive state to campaign in, and the only way we will be able to match the money coming from Ashley Moody’s backers is with your support.

So while you probably didn’t wake up thinking you would make a donation to my campaign, that is the ask I have of you today. Your early donations will help us reach the voters we need to win in Florida and put a check on authoritarianism.

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Together, we will end the chaos, crush corruption, and cut costs for our families.

Thank you again for your support. More soon.

Alex Vindman

Alexander Vindman is a former member of the United States Army. Use of his military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Army, the Department of Defense or any branch of the U.S. government.

That’s what I said to Congress at an impeachment hearing against the President of the United States.

I never intended to be in the national spotlight. I joined the Army and served for 21 years because I wanted to fight and defend the country I love. I could have never expected that it would lead me to testify against the President of the United States.

That is, until I heard the president try to extort a foreign country into investigating a political rival — a quid pro quo.

I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. It was my duty to report the corruption.

I knew that I was assuming a lot of risk by challenging the most powerful person in the world. There was no doubt that he was going to use everything in his power to retaliate, just as he’d done to his opponents in the past.

But I had confidence that I could tell the truth. I knew that this is America — and here, right matters.

A lot has happened since that day in 2019. President Trump exacted his revenge by firing me and calling me “human scum.” He tried to incite an insurrection to hold onto power after losing a fair election. Now, he is using his powers in office to inflict violence on American citizens.

Amidst all of this I still believe that right matters.

Our country has lived through challenging periods in the past but we’ve overcome, persevered, and moved towards a more perfect union.

We are in the middle of another fight for our country right now. I still have faith that good can prevail over evil and that we can overcome these hard times. What is right still matters here…but only if we make it matter.

That’s why I have decided to run for the United States Senate in Florida. We are taking the fight straight to Donald Trump in his own backyard. A win here will deliver Democrats control of the Senate.

We just launched our campaign this morning and I couldn’t be more grateful for the outpouring of support across Florida and the country. It’s through your support that we can build a winning campaign.

If you are fired up to win back the Senate majority and finally hold an out-of-control president accountable, then it would be an honor to have your support as a Founding Donor.

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I came to the United States as a child when my family fled tyranny. I know how fragile democracy is and I’m ready to continue the fight in the Senate.

For our families, for our community, and for our country. Thank you.

- Alex

Alexander Vindman is a former member of the United States Army. Use of his military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Army, the Department of Defense or any branch of the U.S. government.

In 2019 I found myself at the heart of a constitutional crisis. I listened as the president of the United States tried to extort Ukraine into investigating a political rival for his own personal benefit.

I honored my oath by blowing the whistle on the Trump-Ukraine phone call, an act that led to the president’s first impeachment and ultimately ended my military career.

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People told me to keep my head down, but as the son of a family that arrived in America to escape tyranny, I sure as hell wasn’t going to bow down to a wannabe tyrant.

I testified before Congress to stand up for our democracy and the Constitution that I swore to protect. This led to the president unleashing a reign of terror and retribution not just against my family and I, but against all of us.

Today, our country is in chaos. We are entering a dark chapter of American history, one that echoes early stages of authoritarian power consolidation seen elsewhere.

Thug militias are attacking citizens. Needless tariffs are pushing prices sky-high. Healthcare premiums are through the roof.

Meanwhile, my opponent is hand-picked by MAGA and their billionaire allies to be a rubber stamp for their radical agenda. Ashley Moody screwed Florida homeowners by caving to the big insurance companies, supported this administration that gutted disaster help for communities trying to rebuild, and had over a million dollars in her corporate stock traded last year while she had access to insider information only Congress gets.

She’s not Florida’s senator. She’s theirs.

Trump may have ended my military service, but he will never shake my commitment to this country.

That is why I have chosen to run for the United States Senate in Florida. We need a Senator who isn’t afraid to defend our democracy, put a check on an outlaw president, and ensure that every American has a fair chance at prosperity.

As we get this campaign started I hope you will consider becoming a Founding Donor today or becoming a member of this team. Let’s send a message that we are ready for a new generation of leadership in Washington by flipping Florida’s U.S. Senate seat and delivering Democrats the Senate majority.

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I stepped up when our country needed a soldier. I stood up when someone had to say no one’s above the law. I am asking you to stand with me now.

Florida will be one of the most important Senate races in the coming midterm elections. The billionaires and special interests will throw everything they’ve got to try and stop us. But in the infantry, we never backed down from a fight — we went towards it.

Join me.

- Alex Vindman

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Alexander Vindman is a former member of the United States Army. Use of his military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Army, the Department of Defense or any branch of the U.S. government.

The glovebox of Renee Good’s car following her death

Legitimacy and accountability are inseparable. In a democracy, law enforcement derives its authority not from weapons or uniforms, but from adherence to the law, internal discipline, and the confidence of the public it serves. When accountability disappears, legitimacy collapses—and what remains is not law enforcement, but coercive force directed at a civilian population.

That is the context in which Americans must understand the killing of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 7, 2025.

ICE agents initiated an armed confrontation with a driver during what appears to have been a chaotic and poorly controlled encounter. The publicly released footage does not capture the moments leading up to the stop, but the seconds before the shooting show armed agents aggressively surrounding a visibly anxious driver while issuing conflicting commands. When the driver attempted to leave the scene, apparently maneuvering away from the agents rather than toward them, an ICE agent fired into the vehicle, killing her.

Renee Good was a mother. She was the only person injured in the incident.

After the shooting, one ICE agent fled the scene. Other agents reportedly prevented a bystander—who identified himself as a physician—from rendering medical assistance. These actions alone raise grave questions about training, discipline, and adherence to basic law-enforcement protocols.

Under normal circumstances, such an incident would trigger the immediate suspension of the involved officers, removal from active duty, and a full, independent investigation.

That is not what happened here.

President Trump and senior administration officials moved with remarkable speed to exonerate the shooter. Trump publicly characterized Good as a “professional agitator” who had “violently, willfully, and viciously” attacked an officer, framing the killing as self-defense. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem echoed that conclusion.

This rapid political exoneration occurred despite contradictory facts. Local authorities confirmed that Renee Good was the only person harmed. Her family has stated that she was not participating in any protest or anti-ICE demonstration, but had just returned from dropping off her six-year-old daughter at school. The available evidence has not been subjected to an independent review, yet the administration declared the matter closed, casting a shadow over the prospect of a fair federal investigation before one could even begin.

This response is not an aberration. Across the country, ICE agents have increasingly engaged in provocative, escalation-driven encounters rather than de-escalation. The pattern bears the hallmarks of top-down encouragement to act aggressively. Training in use-of-force discipline and crisis management appears inadequate. Most dangerously, agents operate with the confidence that political leadership and right-wing media will shield them from consequences, regardless of the outcome. That sense of impunity is corrosive and deadly.

When a federal law-enforcement agency exempts itself from its own rules, disregards established investigative procedures, treats lethal force as presumptively justified, and flouts the law, it forfeits its legitimacy. At that point, reform is no longer optional; it becomes a public-safety imperative.

The consequences of this killing extend far beyond Minneapolis. By closing ranks and absolving the shooter, the administration has sent a clear signal: escalation will be rewarded, not punished. Deadly force against civilians will be excused if it serves political objectives.

Rather than calling for restraint, unity, or a fair investigation, Vice President J.D. Vance took directly to social media to reassure ICE agents that the administration is there for them. This was an unmistakable signal that accountability will not come from within the White House or federal government. Justice may only come, if at all, from State authorities. Vance followed this with an additional post calling Renee Good a “deranged leftist” and repeating the demonstrably false claim that she attempted to ram ICE agents with her vehicle.

Vance is the deranged provocateur.

Vance, who has shown throughout his political career a willingness to subordinate principle to power, stooped lower still: maligning a dead woman, amplifying disinformation, and serving as a megaphone for division, hatred, and violence.

This moment matters because it fits a broader and deeply alarming pattern. President Trump has repeatedly demonstrated a preference for personal loyalty over institutional restraint. ICE, increasingly militarized and insulated from oversight, is becoming something closer to a personal force than a civilian law-enforcement agency. Its activities now extend well beyond immigration enforcement, appearing increasingly focused on inflaming protests and intimidating communities. The prospect of ICE interference at polling locations or in future democratic processes is no longer theoretical.

The predictable response from communities across the country has been public protest against federal law-enforcement abuses. ICE, in turn, has responded not with restraint but with escalation—normalizing the use of force against protesters and accelerating confrontations rather than defusing them. This pattern is dangerous by design: repeated clashes create the very conditions that can be cited to justify deploying the military domestically.

We are entering a dark chapter of American history, one that echoes early stages of authoritarian power consolidation seen elsewhere. The militarization and expansion of ICE bears troubling resemblance to developments in Putin’s Russia, where security forces were fused into the “Rosgvardia” paramilitary force and placed under direct presidential control. That force has since been used to crush dissent at home and terrorize civilians in occupied territories abroad. Just as Rosgvardia answers to Putin, ICE increasingly operates beyond meaningful restraint, formally housed within DHS, but functionally responsive to presidential vendettas.

An America in which the powerful can wield lethal force against the public without consequence is not a democracy. It is not the rule of law, but rule by law enforcement. It is a country governed by fear.

This killing cannot be buried by executive fiat. Minnesota authorities must conduct a full, independent investigation and pursue accountability under state law. Justice must be served. Failure to do so would place not only Minneapolis, but communities across the country, at greater risk.

I call on all Americans of conscience to demand accountability. Citizens cannot be killed and those killings shielded by the badge of law enforcement. Justice for Renee Nicole Good is not only about one family’s loss. It is about whether the rule of law still applies to those who carry a weapon in the name of the state and whether democratic accountability can still restrain power when it turns lethal.