1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

President Trump's address to Congress was an unprecedented spectacle that stretched the boundaries of democratic norms and displayed a concerning disregard for honesty, decency, and constitutional principles. His inflammatory rhetoric denigrating Senator Warren with a racist slur, promoting unqualified and controversial cabinet appointments, and peddling outrageous falsehoods about domestic and foreign policies betray a disturbing trend of authoritarianism that cannot be treated as politics as usual. America faces an existential threat to its democratic institutions and values that demands a forceful and principled opposition willing to firmly denounce such abuses of power. Responding with equivocating half-measures or mere partisan bickering fails to convey the gravity of this crisis and the urgency required to uphold the rule of law. We cannot afford to be passive observers or enable further erosion of civic norms through willful normalization. The nation's wellbeing hinges on leaders from all parties putting aside political calculations to courageously defend the constitution, human rights, and integrity of elections. Appeasing demagoguery for the sake of centrism is a dereliction of patriotic duty in this dire moment. Robust condemnation and non-cooperation with undemocratic acts is the only acceptable stance when American democracy itself is imperiled by a president unrestrained by guardrails. Civic engagement extending beyond social media posturing towards tangible collective action to hold power accountable is desperately needed.