"In this century, a new phrase has entered the language to describe the accommodation of a new and undesirable order, that phrase being 'the new normal' – that we must never adjust to the present coarseness of our national dialogue with the tone set up at the top," Flake told his colleagues. "We must never regard as normal the regular and casual undermining of our democratic norms and ideals. We must never meekly accept the daily sundering of our country – the personal attacks, the threats against principles, freedoms and institutions, the flagrant disregard for truth and decency."