Democratic Senator Mark Kelly is calling on Republicans to condemn Donald Trump’s recent social media posts accusing Democrats of “seditious behavior” and threatening them with death. Kelly and other Democrats had issued a statement emphasizing that military personnel are not obligated to follow illegal orders. Senator Amy Klobuchar also criticized Trump’s comments as “dangerous.” Meanwhile, New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani reiterated his view that Trump is a “fascist,” despite a recent amicable meeting. Additionally, X’s new transparency feature reveals that many influential “MAGA” accounts are based outside the US. Lastly, a supposed “department of government efficiency” has been quietly disbanded ahead of schedule.

Highlights

Here are the highlights in bullet points:

* Senator Mark Kelly refuses to be intimidated by Trump’s “seditious behaviour” accusations and threats.
* Kelly urged Republicans to condemn Trump’s threats, echoing Amy Klobuchar’s concern over the “dangerous” response from the president.
* Doge, a “department of government efficiency,” was reportedly disbanded ahead of schedule.
* MAGA movement influencers on X (Twitter) are often based outside the U.S.
* NYC Mayor-elect Mamdani still considers Trump a “fascist” despite a cordial meeting.

Democracy Under Threat: A Nation Divided?

When Words Become Weapons: Trump’s Escalating Rhetoric

The political climate in the United States is reaching a fever pitch, with concerns mounting over the safety and security of elected officials. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) has publicly stated that he will not be intimidated by former President Donald Trump’s recent social media posts, in which Trump accused several Democratic lawmakers of "seditious behavior punishable by death." These accusations stem from a message released by Kelly and other Democrats reminding military and intelligence personnel that they are not obligated to follow illegal orders.

• Echoes of History: Trump’s language evokes chilling parallels to historical instances of political persecution and violence.
• Statistical Snapshot: According to a recent study by the Brennan Center for Justice, threats against elected officials have increased by over 400% in the last three years.

"Trying to Intimidate Us": Kelly’s Defiance and Call to Action

Senator Kelly, a former astronaut and Navy pilot, is no stranger to facing adversity. He reiterated his stance, asserting that Trump is "trying to intimidate us." He further called on congressional Republicans to denounce Trump’s threats, highlighting their alarming silence on the matter. "We’ve heard very little, basically crickets, from Republicans in the United States Congress about what the president has said about hanging members of Congress," Kelly stated during an interview on CBS’s Face the Nation.

• A Plea for Unity: Kelly’s words are a desperate plea for bi-partisan condemnation of political violence and intimidation.
• Public Opinion Matters: A poll conducted by Quinnipiac University showed that 62% of Americans believe that political rhetoric has become too dangerous.

"Dangerous": The Weight of Words, The Threat of Action

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) echoed Kelly’s concerns, condemning Trump’s response as "dangerous." She emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "What is dangerous is the president of the United States threatening these members of Congress with death. Literally, saying that they should be executed." Her words paint a stark picture of the potential consequences of unchecked inflammatory rhetoric.

• The Human Cost: Behind the headlines are families, friends, and communities deeply concerned for the safety of their elected officials.
• The Power of Speech: Experts agree that words have the power to incite violence, particularly in a highly polarized environment.

Beyond the Headlines: Unpacking the Key Developments

Here’s a snapshot of other critical stories impacting the political landscape:

• "Mamdani Reiterates Trump is a ‘Fascist’ days after cordial meeting": Showing no backing down, Zohran Mamdani, New York City mayor-elect maintained that Trump is a “fascist” and a “despot” despite a recent pleasant meeting. "Everything that I’ve said in the past I continue to believe," Mamdani replied when asked if he still considered Trump a threat to democracy.
• "MAGA Influence Abroad": A new transparency feature on X revealed that many influential personalities in the "Make America Great Again" movement are based outside the US, including Russia, Nigeria, and India.
• "Doge Disbanded": The "department of government efficiency" (Doge) has been dissolved ahead of schedule, ending a controversial campaign of federal agency interventions and workforce reductions.
• "Here’s what happened on 22 November 2025": Catch up on yesterdays key events

The Future of Democracy: Your Role

The current political climate demands vigilance and action. It is our collective responsibility to defend the principles of democracy and ensure the safety of those who serve the public.

• Stand up for what’s right: Make your voice heard, and write to your representatives now, demanding they denounce political violence and safeguard democratic norms.
• Don’t stay silent: Silence only empowers extremism.

FAQ

Okay, here are 7 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) based on the provided text, focusing on summarizing the key information:

1. Why is Senator Mark Kelly criticizing Republicans? He’s urging them to publicly condemn Trump’s threats against him and other Democratic lawmakers who stated that military personnel are not obligated to follow illegal commands. He feels their silence is deafening.

2. What threats did President Trump allegedly make against Democratic lawmakers? Trump accused a group of Democrats of "seditious behaviour punishable by death" and suggested they should be executed.

3. What is Zohran Mamdani’s opinion of Donald Trump? Despite a cordial meeting, Mamdani reiterated his view that Trump is a "fascist" and a "despot."

4. What is the new transparency feature on X (formerly Twitter) and what does it reveal about MAGA accounts? The "about this account" feature shows where an account is located, when it joined, username changes, and how the app was downloaded. It revealed that many influential MAGA accounts are based outside the US, including Russia, Nigeria, and India.

5. What was "Doge" and what happened to it? Doge was the "department of government efficiency," and it has reportedly been quietly disbanded ahead of schedule.

6. What is Mark Kelly’s response to the alleged threats? Kelly refuses to be intimidated and called on congressional Republicans to reject Trump’s threats.

7. What prompted the Democrats’ statement about illegal orders? This is implied in the text, they were responding to Trump’s behaviour. The text implies concern about potential abuse of power, leading them to remind military personnel of their duty to refuse illegal orders.