Barack Obama: “There's a direct link between the energy problems that we're experiencing here at home and a lack of a coordinated…”

The full weight of the federal government is being brought down on a law-abiding elected official because she has dared to criticize the president.

Because if this becomes the new normal, there’s no reason to believe it will stop with her — or that future presidents, in either party, won’t do the same.

And I will fight for that, even if I don’t always think it’s going to win.

People need to “rediscover what’s the story we tell about how we’re going to live together, and see each other, and recognise each other, and disagree, and yet, still care for each other”.