Eight days after the Fighting Oligarchy tour came to Folsom Lake College, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-California) came to Folsom Town Hall to connect with 600 attendees on April 22.

Shortly after thanking the audience for attending, Swalwell started off his speech by criticising Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-California).

“You’re all here, where the hell is Kevin Kiley?” Swalwell said. “The only Kevin who has gone missing more is the Kevin from ‘Home Alone’.”

Kiley, who received backlash from Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) during their FLC visit, did not catch a break from Swalwell. All three politicians hammered Kiley for his lack of Town Hall visits and connections with constituents, with Swalwell saying he’s following Republican directive.

“If they’re not going to hold town halls, to hell with them. I’ll show up, and I’ll talk to you,” Swalwell said.

Before Swalwell came out, attendees were given the option to enter a raffle if they wanted to ask the Congressman a question. While the questions varied from being curious about the next steps to just wondering what is going on with the government, what they all had in common was their connection to President Donald Trump.

Swalwell has been an outspoken opponent of Trump, and he wore his stance proudly in front of the audience at the Folsom event center.

After accusing Trump for having a lack of regard for due process and free speech, Swalwell targeted Trump’s involvement with the Jan. 6 riot and his mercy on those involved.

“Trump not only encouraged a coup that injured 150 police officers, he let 1,600 people involved in that coup out of jail,” Swalwell said. “He doesn’t back the blue, he backs the coup.”

Swalwell highlighted his history of working to punish those involved in the Jan. 6 insurrection, including the President, illustrating his appreciation for law enforcement.

“I was an impeachment manager in the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump. The second. I just want to clarify which one it was,” Swalwell said, putting emphasis on the fact that the President has gone through two impeachment trials.

Swalwell went into detail about the impeachment by telling the audience of brutal videos shown during the trial. He said they took a break after the videos, and he went to a bathroom the senators use.

“Next to me, washing his hands, was Ted Cruz,” Swalwell said.

Swalwell said Cruz looked over, put his fist out for a bump and introduced himself.

“I looked at him like he had three heads,” Swalwell said.

According to Swalwell, the night before the trial, Cruz had gone after him and Sen. Adam Schieff (D-California) by name on Fox News.

“The next thing that he said to me completely floored me. God’s honest truth, he said ‘I want you to know, you’re doing a really good job out there. I really mean it,’” Swalwell said. “And it occurred to me, to so many of these folks, it’s professional wrestling.”

Swalwell said there’s personas for when they’re in the “ring,” and there’s who they really are when the cameras are off and the mics are cold.

“It’s actually, frankly to me, more upsetting than Marjorie Taylor-Greene, who would take a swing at me if we were next to each other in any closed space,” Swalwell said. “And I’m actually okay with that because she believes in her crazy.”

Swalwell said this experience made him give up on saying there’s good and bad Republicans.

“We just have to beat them,” Swalwell said.

Swalwell also denounced Pete Hegseth, United States secretary of defense, by saying articles of impeachment need to be filed against him.

“We made everyone RSVP to learn the location of tonight’s event, and then I learned that Pete Hegseth had just disclosed it publicly anyway,” Swalwell joked, playing on Hegseth’s sharing of attack plans.

Concerns about security didn’t stop at Hegseth. Elon Musk, an unelected government official who was brought into power with the support of Trump, was another hot topic of the night.

Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, has been facing criticism for compromising social security. For the audience, this was a major concern as members referenced being of a “certain vintage.” 

“If I had been paying my own money for 30 to 40 years into social security, and some orange idiot came into office and put it at risk, I’d show up at my community center on a Tuesday night too,” Swalwell said. “So, I’m with you.”

Swalwell said the audience should look at the wins the government has had, such as DOGE facing cuts.

“Take a victory lap because there was a DOGE layoff today that we can all support,” said Swalwell. “Elon Musk DOGE’d himself out of a job.”

Aside from dishing out quick-witted comments throughout the night, Swalwell made several calls to action. One of them being to reform the Supreme Court to ensure the president stays in line.

“Put term limits on them, give them a code of ethics, and never have two corrupt justices like we do right now,” Swalwell said.

Swalwell also said there should be no interest loans for anyone who goes to college in America, calling student loan debt quicksand for people coming out of school.

“We have to be, not just the party of innovation, but also the party of educating the innovators,” Swalwell said. “We have to stand up for education, but not just for rich kids, for everyone.”

His disapproval of the Trump administration hit home with the audience and their reasoning behind attending recent democratic events.

“You see a groundswell of support right now against Trump,” said Steven Yeager, who attended American River College in 1976 to 1978.

Yeager has attended several protests, including a Hands Off protests in Roseville and the Fighting Oligarchy, a joint rally headlined by Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez at FLC, and he says the buildup of opposition is what’s going to make a difference.

“This is what’s going to stop Trump and Republicans in Congress,” Yeager said. “They know that the constituents are pissed off.”

Other attendees, like high school sophomore Tegan Smith Jones, also attended Fighting Oligarchy and believe in speaking against Trump.

“I came here today because more youth need to stand up against far-right fascist movements,” Smith Jones said. “We need more people in government who aren’t afraid of people like Trump.”

Swalwell expressed the same beliefs as Smith Jones, saying politicians who are scared of Trump should get another job.

“I think we are at a really pivotal moment in history where our government is catering towards full blown dictatorship,” Tony Ezerskis said. “The Democratic party has a lot of work ahead.”

Swalwell made it clear throughout the night that he was there to put in the work.

“This is not the last time you’re going to see me,” Swalwell said. “I’m winning this district.”

When asked if he had anything to say to ARC students about the threats to LGBTQ+ members, immigrants, and the economy, Swalwell said these problems are human and civil rights issues.

“If any of us think that this issue doesn’t affect you, this guy will get to you and whatever you care about,” Swalwell said. “Caving and shrinking only allows him to divide and conquer.”

To contact Swalwell, visit his site here.