Chop Wood, Carry Water 5/12
Together we can win!
Hi, all, and happy Monday!
Lots going on today, so I’ll keep this opening short.
Republican’s Medicaid cut proposals were released this morning. I’m still gathering information on them—I’ve been in meetings about them literally all morning—but the gist is clear: they’re terrible. True, we avoided some of the worst proposals—like per capita cuts— but there are still some really bad provisions in there.
Among other things, Republicans want to impose work requirements (which never, ever work); they declined to extend the ACA premium subsidies, they will impose a $1 million home equity limit for Medicaid long term care—this will be brutal on anyone living in high-cost states like mine. They also repeatedly go after undocumented childrens’ healthcare; they want to reduce the federal contributions for the Medicaid expansion population from 90% to 80% if they cover undocumented folks, for example. That may not sound like much, but it’s a devastating hit to state budgets.
In general it would be a massive blow to the American healthcare system. To quote Bobby Kogan, the Senior Director of Federal Budget Policy for the Center for American Progress:
The Republican plan would cut more than $700 billion from health coverage and kick more than 8 million people off their insurance. Around $600 billion of that comes from Medicaid. This would be the largest medicaid cuts ever, by many hundreds of billions of dollars.
If you count the ACA premium tax credits not being renewed, by the way, that 8M number goes up to 13.5M. Thirteen and a half MILLION people losing their healthcare so rich people can keep paying virtually no taxes. Yikes.
Kogan’s whole Bluesky thread about these cuts is great, by the way. He’s read the whole plan and breaks down all the main provisions in it.
If you don’t feel like reading a thread you can also hear his brilliant colleague from CAP, Andrea Ducas, talk about the Medicaid cuts with me tomorrow on a Substack Live! Andrea is VP of Health Policy at Center for American Progress so she’s an encyclopedia of knowledge about Medicaid and what these cuts will actually mean. I’ll let you know as soon as I have a time for it, but I’m assuming it will be sometime shortly after noon PT.
OK. I know there’s so much going on, my friends. We’re living in chaotic times. Let’s remember to breathe, to eat, and to take time out to be with friends and family. But let’s also remember to FIGHT. Because truly, when we fight we win.
And we have to win.
So let’s get to work one more time.
P.S. — I’ll be doing my regular Substack Live today at 4PM PT, and I should be able to give you a solid breakdown of what’s in the GOP’s “billionaire bill” by then.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲 and Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m calling about a few things today because there’s a lot going on. Please bear with me as I get my whole comment out.
First, I’m outraged by what’s happening with ICE. They arrested Newark’s Mayor on Friday and they’re threatening to arrest members of Congress who had every right to be at—and inspect—an ICE facility. That alone is horrifying. But they’re also violently arresting teenagers, wearing masks so they can’t be identified, and sometimes refusing to show ID. It’s all outrageous, and much of it is likely illegal. We need investigations into these abuses; Tom Homan and Kristi Noem need to answer for them. And ICE needs to be reined in—NOW. Also, Stephen Miller’s threats to suspend Habeus Corpus are unacceptable and I expect the Senator/Congressmember to say so in no uncertain terms.
Second, under no circumstances can Donald Trump accept a 400 million dollar plane from Qatar. This is blatant corruption and a clear violation of the emoluments clause of the Constitution. It’s disgusting. Congress needs to do its job and make sure it doesn’t happen. Thanks.
[If GOP add:]
Finally, Republicans’ proposed Medicaid cuts are unacceptable. Cutting over $700 billion in health coverage means at least 8 million people—and likely many more— will lose their health insurance. Some of these people will die because they can’t afford care. The fact that Republicans are willing to literally let Americans die so that rich people can get tax cuts is just nauseating. Vote no. Thanks. [H/T]
Extra Credit ✅
Wondering how to understand and keep up with Trump’s erratic and ever-changing tariff policies? The awesome Unrig Our Economy has you covered! They’re a campaign working to expose how powerful elites have rigged the rules to favor billionaires and giant corporations at the expense of everyday Americans. They also fight to hold politicians accountable for choices that make life harder for working families — like, ahem, supporting tariffs that raise prices on essentials while handing out tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy.
They’ve created a new website that's part of that mission: to show how tariffs are another way the system has been tilted against ordinary people. They’ll keep it updated with Trump’s current tariff policies, AND there’s a place for you to share your story about how these tariffs are hurting you. They’ll then amplify those stories so that we can ratchet up pressure on Congress to push back.
Get Smart! 📚
On Friday, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested in handcuffs after attempting to visit a recently re-opened ICE detention facility. ICE shoved members of the Congressional delegation which included Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rep. Rob Menendez Jr. and Rep. LaMonica McIver who are currently under threat of arrest.
This is a shocking act of intimidation, even by Trump standards—one that is straight from the authoritarian playbook.
Join the Working Families Party, Representative Rob Menendez Jr., Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman, Representative LaMonica Iver and Mayor Ras Baraka for an emergency call TODAY (5/12) from 5-6PM ET to push back against Trump's authoritarian power grab. And hear ways to take action.
You can also just watch live on the Working Families Party's YouTube page.
Messaging! Messaging! Messaging! 📣
Fair Share America just came out with a great messaging document for this phase of the reconciliation process. I recommend the whole thing, but the toplines are:
Topline Talking Points
Gutting federal programs that help working families isn't a necessity, it’s a choice that Republican lawmakers are making in order to fund more tax breaks for billionaires.
Any cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, Head Start or other vital programs could be avoided by allowing tax cuts for the rich to expire at the end of the year.
These cuts have nothing to do with efficiency, they are cuts to benefits plain and simple.
At least 13 million Americans will lose their coverage due to cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.
Health care costs will skyrocket for 20 million Americans – by an average of $700 per year – by failing to extend ACA tax credits.
While Ag text isn’t officially out at this moment, estimates show that 1.2 million veterans, 4.8 million seniors, and 14.6 million children could go hungry due to cuts to food assistance / SNAP
These cuts aren’t about fiscal responsibility, this budget would still increase the deficit.
Republicans are still looking to hand the very rich and corporations at least $4.5 trillion in tax giveaways.
All cuts could be avoided by simply asking the wealthiest to pay their fair share, just like everyday Americans do. It comes down to priorities.
Meet a Great Candidate!
May 13, 2025 at 7 pm ET – Sister District Fireside Chat: A Conversation with Mallory McMorrow
Join Sister District for a conversation with Michigan Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow about her new book Hate Won’t Win: Find Your Power and Leave this place Better Than you Found It.
In this urgent expansion of her viral speech, Michigan Senator Mallory McMorrow details her unlikely journey into politics with a front-row seat to democracy at its breaking point—then outlines the tangible, proven steps that anyone can take to build community, fight for what’s right, and create real, lasting change. Hate Won’t Win is a step-by-step guide for anyone who’s fed up with the divisiveness in American politics, and anyone who wants to make a real difference but has no idea where to start—a blueprint for creating the communities and country we want to see.
The conversation will be moderated by Sarah Curmi, Executive Director of Sister District. There will be ample time for audience Q&A.
Give Thanks—and/or Money? 🙏🏼
Newark Mayor Ras Bakara got arrested for essentially accompanying Democratic lawmakers to an inspection of a new ICE detention facility in his town. He’s been fighting the opening of this facility for months, doing the right thing at great personal risk. It would be nice to see him rewarded for it.
Please consider either making a donation to his gubernatorial campaign here or sending him a note of thanks here. Or both! [H/T
]Win Races! 🗳
Postcards to Voters has launched new quick-turnaround campaigns for elections happening in Pennsylvania: a Lehighton School Board slate and candidate Todd Pousley. The elections for both are on May 20th. You can request addresses using the instructions found here. Please help if you can!
Hit the Streets! 🪧
Remember to invite 5 friends to your local June 14 “No Kings” event! (www.NoKings.org )
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: all 3 reps] [H/T Coleman Rogers] [Text SIGN PMHAXV to 50409, or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram]
Masked ICE agents breaking into a home without warrants. A Fulbright scholar kidnapped by ICE for writing an editorial. ICE snatching a mother from her breastfeeding infant. ICE slamming a 16 year old's face into the pavement while snatching the parent. And now: The MAYOR of Newark has been arrested "for trespassing" OUTSIDE the gates of a building in his City-- a building illegally housing people in a dangerous structure with no Certificate of Occupancy?
Suddenly every day we hear of ICE violating the law and committing acts of cruelty and violence that are most like the injustices that lead people to seek asylum here. When will this stop? Will you wait till the Trump regime sends ICE against a member of Congress?
It's time to STOP illegal kidnappings and detentions. Rein in ICE. Cut its funding. Speak out for due process. It's time to make this stop. You can do something. History will remember you in disgrace and ignominy if you do not.
OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
Thank you so much for the very hard work that you are doing!! Without your research and assistance I would not have the comfort level I do in contacting my elected Republican members of Congress. Living in Iowa, that's all I got! Your encouragement and examples make is so much easier!! Bless you!!!!
Tears, Hatred, and Forgivenss --------------I am a 6′2″, 260-lb. carpenter and ex-college football player whose typical attire involves jeans and work boots. Using current stereotypes, you might have a vision of a tough and maybe even macho guy. If you assumed that, I have to dispel that image. The reality is I am a bit of a girly man. I plant bulbs every fall with my grandkids. I don’t hunt, and I can’t watch movies about war, killing, or blowing up things. Bubbles are cool. I pick daffodils in the spring and hand them out to friends. But maybe the best example of my being a girly man is that I watch and enjoy Hallmark movies.
There, I admitted it. I like Hallmark movies. I also often tear up in the last ten minutes of these movies. They are sappy, predictable, shallow, and corny. These movies do not require a great deal of deep thought to follow, which is part of the attraction. The tears are tears of joy created by warm and fuzzy movie endings. Some might argue these movies are unrealistic, and life is not that good. Some might argue further that in life, happy endings aren’t always guaranteed. After more than sixty-five years, I understand that fact. Yet, I have been blessed with many tears of joy thanks to my wife, kids, grandkids, and friends. The older I get, the more hungry I get for those Hallmark tears.
I didn’t always have active tear ducts. I spent most of my life as what I thought was a tough guy
who rarely cried. Only three movies ever brought me to tears in my first fifty years: Old Yeller, Brian’s Song, and It’s a Wonderful Life. Hallmark has changed that, but sadly, that is not the only source of my tears in the last few years.
In recent years, I also often shed tears of sorrow and pain, mostly because of hate in our country and hate in our world. I cried when planes took down the World Trade Center buildings. I cried when hate took lives at Columbine, Virginia Tech, Parkland, and Sandy Hook Elementary School. Most recently, I cried because of the deaths and hate at Tree of Life Synagogue. And I want to cry as I write this because this is just a partial list of the horrendous acts of hate we witnessed in our country in the past few years.
I am tired of crying tears created by acts of hate. There will always be hate in the world, but we are in a bad place when those in power achieved that power by preaching fear, hatred and division. There are no winners when the path to an outcome is based on hate. I am tired of hearing fear and hate propagated from our White House. All who believe hate and divisiveness are not American values must demand the hateful rhetoric ends.
I need to mention another time I cried. I cried when a man entered the West Nickel Mines School in Bart Township, Pennsylvania, and killed five young Amish girls. Because the Amish people so reject hate, the people in Bart Township forgave the man who killed five of their children. When money and gifts poured in, they shared it with the man’s widow and children. They got past this horrible event because hate was not an option. If we intend to get back to being leaders in the world, it is a lesson the President needs to learn. I leave you with an Amish proverb that says it loud and clear.
“Do unto others as if you were the other.”