Jen Rubin and Congressman Joe Neguse discuss threats to Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and Musk’s potential influence in government budget decisions.
I can't imagine how frustrating it must be during this deliberately chaotic time for the congress men and women who are trying to fulfill their oath of office and do what they were elected to do. As my dad used to say, I hope they "keep their noses to the grindstone and their eye on the prize" while the support builds to turn this thing around. Same goes for every one of us who needs to do our part. A destroyer this size doesn't change direction easily. It needs us all. Thank you to all those holding the line.
If Medicaid is cut or discontinued then all of our hospitals will close or they will start charging people with private or employer based insurance much more. From 40-45% of child births in our Alabama hospitals are funded by Medicaid. Hope we’re not going there.
Well if it does happen maybe Alabamians will think before the likes of MTG and any GOP Congressional members who have sat back and allowed President Musk and the Felon do what they want.
Our country is now in a bloodless insurrection replacing our democracy with an autocratic Fascist regime. There seems to be no one ready to step up for democracy.
Thank you Jen for this presentation. So many seniors covered by MediCal& Medicare found themselves out of funds to cover health related issues through to no fault of their own. They never wanted to have to resort to MediCal & ironically the stress & the amount of paperwork needed in order to secure MediCal ads to their health issues. The issue goes deeper into the medical/pharmaceutical industrial complex but I digress. Finally, the thought of cutting MediCal in order to provide more tax breaks for the super wealthy is cruel.
I researched this yesterday with ChatGPT 4.0, the best $20 a month gift to myself. I use it often. The results alleviated my fears & gave me links to Reuters & Market Watch. In summary, while inefficiencies within the system are being discussed, any substantial changes to benefits would need legislative approval, of Congress. Trump & Musk can bloviate as much as they want about the issue, but to no avail, except to scare people. Congress in this case would be the decider.
Considering, though, how Congress is allowing Trump/Musk to destroy agencies that Congress should not be allowing, I cannot trust in how things should be done.
It's good advice from Jen to go to these town halls and make our voices heard. In fact, a lot of Republican voters are already doing that to great effect. ABC News reports on Republican congresspeople already feeling the heat (and hearing the boos) from their constituents:
Joe held a great telephone town hall this week with over 5000 constituents. Everyone was respectful and polite; Joe was, as usual, a great listener, and he answered questions honestly and directly, with detail, and showed empathy for all. He is beloved. We are so fortunate to have him as our representative.
Hi Jen. Love The Contrarian. I hope the right people are reading your editorials. The poorest, reddest states are in the south. Most of the people in those states depend on assistance of any kind. What are the chances of red becoming blue in 2026 and beyond? He is hurting the people that put him in office.
Putin has broken any conception of a Middle Class in Russia. Russia has become, like North Korea a country of very poor and very rich. Trump has just fired several senior military staff. Trump is banking on three things:
a weak GOP Congress never pushing back, afraid of losing their power;
a military who will follow orders in lieu of following their oath to the Constitution (Trump already has his biggest sycophant in Christian Nationalist Pete Hegseth;
a public who becomes so tired of "politics" (this is not politics, it's an attempt to make America and authoritarian theocracy) and so concerned about whether they'll have enough to live on to care about democracy, they ignore what is happening.
Trump already has the six Christian Nationalists on the Supreme Court behind him, the American oligarchs have decided their profits are far more important than democracy, and MSM like the Washington Post, NY Times and LA Times have decided clicks and profits are far more important than clicks and profits. So when Americans wake up to an authoritarian theocracy, they can't blame anyone but themselves.
Wish we had you instead of Rep. Harris, MD. He is just appalling, a true Nazi like his father was. We live in the Alabama of MD where Trump-is king and the rest of
I worked as a medical auditor in the Medicaid system. The fraud we uncovered was perpetrated by big medical and dental companies, not elderly and disabled people.
I wanted to comment on the firings by Hegseth of some of the Joint Chiefs. The level of arrogance, contempt, and disrespect he displayed towards career military persons who have served this country is truly staggering and, I'm sure, knows no bounds. I have never seen a group of individuals in an administration show such insecurity, and low self-esteem; and who cannot recognize or tolerate the good works of gov 't employees.
I can't imagine how frustrating it must be during this deliberately chaotic time for the congress men and women who are trying to fulfill their oath of office and do what they were elected to do. As my dad used to say, I hope they "keep their noses to the grindstone and their eye on the prize" while the support builds to turn this thing around. Same goes for every one of us who needs to do our part. A destroyer this size doesn't change direction easily. It needs us all. Thank you to all those holding the line.
If Medicaid is cut or discontinued then all of our hospitals will close or they will start charging people with private or employer based insurance much more. From 40-45% of child births in our Alabama hospitals are funded by Medicaid. Hope we’re not going there.
Well if it does happen maybe Alabamians will think before the likes of MTG and any GOP Congressional members who have sat back and allowed President Musk and the Felon do what they want.
Our country is now in a bloodless insurrection replacing our democracy with an autocratic Fascist regime. There seems to be no one ready to step up for democracy.
Thank you Jen for this presentation. So many seniors covered by MediCal& Medicare found themselves out of funds to cover health related issues through to no fault of their own. They never wanted to have to resort to MediCal & ironically the stress & the amount of paperwork needed in order to secure MediCal ads to their health issues. The issue goes deeper into the medical/pharmaceutical industrial complex but I digress. Finally, the thought of cutting MediCal in order to provide more tax breaks for the super wealthy is cruel.
The great privatization is on...we have to say NO
Let's ALSO talk about their plans to gut Social Security and Medicare.
I researched this yesterday with ChatGPT 4.0, the best $20 a month gift to myself. I use it often. The results alleviated my fears & gave me links to Reuters & Market Watch. In summary, while inefficiencies within the system are being discussed, any substantial changes to benefits would need legislative approval, of Congress. Trump & Musk can bloviate as much as they want about the issue, but to no avail, except to scare people. Congress in this case would be the decider.
Considering, though, how Congress is allowing Trump/Musk to destroy agencies that Congress should not be allowing, I cannot trust in how things should be done.
It's good advice from Jen to go to these town halls and make our voices heard. In fact, a lot of Republican voters are already doing that to great effect. ABC News reports on Republican congresspeople already feeling the heat (and hearing the boos) from their constituents:
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/republicans-hammered-home-doge-ukraine/story?id=119050651
Joe held a great telephone town hall this week with over 5000 constituents. Everyone was respectful and polite; Joe was, as usual, a great listener, and he answered questions honestly and directly, with detail, and showed empathy for all. He is beloved. We are so fortunate to have him as our representative.
So proud to be represented by Cong Neguse
Are they Democrats willing to let this Republican majority shut it down -- we all will back you up
Hi Jen. Love The Contrarian. I hope the right people are reading your editorials. The poorest, reddest states are in the south. Most of the people in those states depend on assistance of any kind. What are the chances of red becoming blue in 2026 and beyond? He is hurting the people that put him in office.
Putin has broken any conception of a Middle Class in Russia. Russia has become, like North Korea a country of very poor and very rich. Trump has just fired several senior military staff. Trump is banking on three things:
a weak GOP Congress never pushing back, afraid of losing their power;
a military who will follow orders in lieu of following their oath to the Constitution (Trump already has his biggest sycophant in Christian Nationalist Pete Hegseth;
a public who becomes so tired of "politics" (this is not politics, it's an attempt to make America and authoritarian theocracy) and so concerned about whether they'll have enough to live on to care about democracy, they ignore what is happening.
Trump already has the six Christian Nationalists on the Supreme Court behind him, the American oligarchs have decided their profits are far more important than democracy, and MSM like the Washington Post, NY Times and LA Times have decided clicks and profits are far more important than clicks and profits. So when Americans wake up to an authoritarian theocracy, they can't blame anyone but themselves.
Wish we had you instead of Rep. Harris, MD. He is just appalling, a true Nazi like his father was. We live in the Alabama of MD where Trump-is king and the rest of
us are ready to cause major protests!
Another stellar example of bullies punching down.
I worked as a medical auditor in the Medicaid system. The fraud we uncovered was perpetrated by big medical and dental companies, not elderly and disabled people.
Go. Joe. !!!!!! I am behind you! Stay brave!!!!
I wanted to comment on the firings by Hegseth of some of the Joint Chiefs. The level of arrogance, contempt, and disrespect he displayed towards career military persons who have served this country is truly staggering and, I'm sure, knows no bounds. I have never seen a group of individuals in an administration show such insecurity, and low self-esteem; and who cannot recognize or tolerate the good works of gov 't employees.
I wrote this poem this morning about all the agencies being sliced and diced:
Acronym Bisque
1. Slice and dice the freshest DOD, DOE, and USAID
2. Add them to a witch's cauldron with a gallon of musk oil
3. Sautee on high heat for four weeks until seared
4. Stir until the plot thickens
5. Fold in CPSB, FTC, IRS
6. Add in enough water to dilute attention
7. Sprinkle in 666 tablespoons of
curried favor
sugar-coated nuts and
salty DOGEs
8. Simmer outrage until it starts to boil over
9. Skim residue of resistance into a locked container
10. Let stand for five minutes before serving
Enjoy this explosion of favors!