10/23/2026
The Soul of the Nation
In my election day countdown today my message is about our votes being a referendum on the soul of America. To me, it's very simple - who we vote for shows who we are as people, and who we are as a nation.
Why now?
- Because of the video that circulated Monday of Dr. Amy Acton's mother attacking her as lying about the sexual abuse Acton suffered through as a child. Acton is the Democrat running against Republican Vivek Ramaswamey to become Ohio's next governor. Now Ramaswamey has chosen to buy air time and run this video as a campaign ad. I've seen it and it's disgusting. But these attacks against Acton have forced her and her brother to issue a public statements about the pain they endured as children at the hands of their stepfather.
- Because of the ongoing attacks by Trump and people like Tommy Teepel against Abdul El-Sayed simply because of his faith. And because those attacks have now compelled El-Sayed's grandparents to do a video supporting and defending their grandson.
- Because of the ongoing attacks against Ilhan Omar, again because of her heritage and faith.
- Because of the attacks against James Talarico and Jon Ossoff questioning if either might be gay.
- Because Republicans in Texas were stupid enough to choose Ken Paxton, a man indicted for fraud, impeached by his own party, and who shows up in very odd places partying with very odd people (criminals) and women who are not his wife.
- Because Senator Roger Marshall had some of his patients put in jail when they couldn't pay their bills, even having at least one arrested when she was pregnant and in front of her children.
- Because in 2024 the American voters chose a 34-time convicted felon, fraudster, conman, and adjudicated ra**st as the person to lead this country.
- Because of the overt hatred, racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia, and Christian nationalism that may have simmered beneath the surface for many years but which Trump and the GOP certainly unleashed.
- Because children are going hungry in this country.
- Because women are dying without necessary reproductive care.
- Because people can't get the healthcare they need without being crushed by medical debt.
- Because of the concentration camps and the despicable way we are treating immigrants.
- Because, because, because... there are so many reasons that reveal who we are as a country and desperately need to be changed.
In 2024 many Trump voters said they voted for him because of the economy. As Alex Wagner said in a conversation with Chris Hayes and Nikki McCann Ramirez on MS NOW last night, the economy is in the tank so this time people who vote for the worst candidates don't have the economy as an excuse for their choice.
In less than two weeks polls close and we'll be seeing the results of our elections, showing ourselves - and the rest of the world - exactly who and what we are.
(This is a link to today's essay from Adam Kinzinger about the courage of Amy Acton's brother and Abdul El-Sayed's grandparents in standing up to defend their families. It's well worth reading.)
https://www.facebook.com/share/1MCbmHBAMy/
