As we approach Thanksgiving, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on what has been an incredibly difficult time for our country.

Last week brought yet another regrettable chapter, with long-lasting consequences that we must not accept as business as usual. What we saw was corruption, greed, and gluttony on full display in the White House.

Trump welcomed the oligarch class — along with Saudi Prince MBS — into the People’s House, and the champagne and caviar were flowing.

Our White House has morphed into a dystopian palace. Gone are the days of diplomacy and statesmen discussing serious matters. Instead, it’s a who’s-who of names mentioned on the Epstein list.

I was in D.C. last week attending a conference, and normally after my workday ends I take a walk by the White House or the Washington Monument. This time, I didn’t. Our nation’s capital feels different. I can’t fully describe it, but when I think about what’s happening, my stomach turns and a kind of depression sets in.

All I can think is: How did we get here? How did we allow this man to rule over us like this?

Those questions have been debated endlessly, and they will continue to be. But the truth is, it doesn’t matter — this is where we are. And I do want to give credit to Senator Chris Murphy, who has spoken out every single time Trump abuses his office or betrays the public. Murphy calls it out plainly, and consistently.

In the spirit of the holidays, though, I don’t want to dwell only on the bad. I actually have some positive news to share. While I was in D.C., I met people from all over the country doing incredible work, and I want to highlight what’s happening in New Mexico.

New Mexico is a state that doesn’t get a lot of national attention, but it’s a multicultural focal point of the Southwest — and one of the bluest states in the country.

What makes New Mexico special is that they didn’t just campaign on progressive values and policy; they implemented them. Right now, New Mexico is offering universal free child-care programs to its residents.

This is a game changer. I cannot stress this enough. As a parent of young children myself, I know just how heavy the burden of child care is on families.

And New Mexico’s progressive policies don’t stop there. The state extended SNAP benefits to 460,000 people, set a plan for a full carbon-free energy transition by 2045, strengthened LGBTQ rights, and improved education. This is what we can accomplish when Republican leadership becomes a statewide minority.

New Mexico is part of the United States — if they can build these programs, so can the rest of the country. That’s the message I want us to carry into the midterms. We don’t have to accept the status quo that has been shoved down our throats by the establishment. We are allowed to dream. We are allowed to demand more from our government. After all, it is our country, and it is our tax dollars keeping the lights on.

In ’26, the message is simple: less money for bombs, and more money for us.