Murphy warns of risk to democracy: ‘Red-alert mode’

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) warned that there’s an ongoing risk to democracy, saying it’s time for a “red-alert mode.”

Murphy joined CNN on Wednesday to discuss his criticisms and concern over the Trump administration and the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) recent actions impacting the federal government.

“I just think there’s a tipping point at which you can’t get your democracy back. And I see all of these very purposeful lines of effort that the Trump administration, Elon Musk, are taking, and I think we just have to be, right now at this moment, on red-alert mode,” Murphy said.

The Trump administration's initial actions have sparked widespread shock and concern among Democrats.

The administration has moved to shutter the U.S. Agency for International Development, and DOGE officials have gained access to the Treasury Department’s federal payment system, which controls $6 trillion annually and includes Americans’ tax records.

Murphy has been an outspoken critic of the recent moves, appearing at a protest outside the Treasury building this week and calling out Musk as an unelected billionaire skirting congressional power.

The Connecticut Democrat sounded the alarm earlier this week that Americans’ tax records have been “potentially compromised” by Musk officials.

Murphy disagreed with DOGE officials who say they are sorting through government spending to make sure it aligns with the Trump administration’s agenda.

As Democrats grapple with the impact of their election losses under GOP congressional control and a second Trump administration, many are questioning who will step up to unite the party.

“I just think if we don’t stop this very soon, it is going to be hard to mount a credible political opposition in the not so distant future,” Murphy said. “So, this is the moment to me.”

Topics

Bank of England warns of risks in relaxing mortgage limits

Andrew Bailey welcomes ‘open public debate’, but cautions that easing rules could lead to more repossessions
Financial Times - Jan. 29
Murphy accuses Trump of 'blitzkrieg' to 'collapse our democracy'

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) likened President Trump’s onslaught of executive action to a “blitzkrieg” whose ultimate goal is to “collapse our democracy.” “The freezing of federal grants, the firing ...
The Hill - Jan. 28
Los Angeles under dangerous red flag warnings for extreme fire risk again this week

Santa Ana winds will hit the Los Angeles area yet again this week, bringing extreme risk of rapid fire spread as the region continues to tamp out deadly wildfires that ignited under similar ...
NBC News - Jan. 20
Defending Michigan’s Auto Industry, Whitmer Warns of Tariff Risks

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer addressed the Detroit Auto Show, saying that tariffs should not be used “to punish our closest trading partners,” like Canada.
The New York Times - Jan. 15
A timeline of alerts and warnings for the Los Angeles area wildfires

Here's a look at the timeline of events for the weather alerts and warnings leading up to, and after, the deadly and devastating wildfires broke out in Southern California.
CBS News - Jan. 11
U.N. Raises Global Growth Forecast, but Warns of Potential Inflation Risks

An increase in trade barriers would likely reignite price pressures, the organization says ahead of Trump’s plan to impose new tariffs.
The Wall Street Journal - Jan. 9
US warns of risk from most of world’s online pharmacies

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative warned there’s a risk of ineffective or dangerous drugs from online pharmacies that are being illegally run. In a report released Wednesday, the office ...
The Hill - Jan. 9
USTR warns of risks from online pharmacies in its 'notorious markets' report

An annual U.S. government report on “notorious markets” known for counterfeiting and other violations of intellectual property says that nearly all 35,000 online pharmacies around the world are ...
ABC News - Jan. 9