"We are all going to die" (so who cares if Medicaid gets cut and some die sooner......)

 

May 31, 2025 (131/1461)

Just when you think the R’s can’t go lower…..Joni Ernst sank a new bar. Possibly below sea level. She was holding a town hall with people in Iowa (my fair home state) and had the audacity to respond to someone exclaiming that without Medicaid, people will die with…

“People are not ... well, we all are going to die,” Ernst said, drawing groans. “So, for heaven’s sakes. For heaven’s sakes, folks.” Um. Yah. FOR HEAVEN’S SAKES, folks! And for everyone else’s sake as well. This is her answer?? I hope they all remember this statement at the mid terms. And I hope they start calling her Marie Antoinette. Eat cake, indeed.

“Facing several constituents concerned about cuts to Medicaid, she defended the $700 billion in reduced spending, saying it would keep immigrants in the U.S. illegally and those who have access to insurance through their employers off the rolls. A preliminary estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the proposals would reduce the number of people with health care by 8.6 million over the decade.” And just what pray tell does she think those 9 million people are going to do when they inevitably get sick? For the love of all that is sane and ethical, listen to yourself! I can’t think of a better example of the queen on her throne unconcerned about the peasants. Wait until the peasants riot.

The visa war is still plowing ahead hot and heavy. Popular Mexican band, Grupo Firme announced they will cancel all of their US shows. Not because they can’t fill the venues. TOM has suspended their visas. “Grupo Firme, which has soared to international fame playing Mexican regional music, said in a statement posted on its Instagram account that the visas of them and their team are currently under "administrative review by the U.S. Embassy" and that it would make it "impossible" for them to perform in the La Onda Fest to be held in the city of Napa Valley, California on June 1.” How is this any different from hip hop and rap artists talking about living in violence-riddled parts of US cities? It is the experience of young people today. It is writing about what they know and live. Every day. And because TOM finds it distasteful, we are going to sweep it under the rug and bury it?

And the Wheel of Fortune for tariffs has now landed on…..STEEL again. Feeling a need to boost his ego with people who will say he’s doing the best job ever, TOM once again spun his tariff wheel and came up with 50% on steel. Like throwing darts, this guy. And the worst part is, the poor saps in Pittsburgh believe him. They think he is actually going to go to bat for them and “save” the steel industry in the US. Because of his oh-so-good track record on sticking to the tariffs he spouts off? TACO trade, people. TACO trade. "We are going to be imposing a 25% increase. We're going to bring it from 25% to 50% the tariffs on steel into the United States of America, which will even further secure the steel industry in the United States," he said. Mr. Trump later noted on his Truth Social platform that the increase would also be applied to aluminum, and would take effect on June 4.”

“Mr. Trump's announcement last week was the latest twist in Nippon's yearslong effort to acquire U.S. Steel. Its nearly $15 billion bid to buy U.S. Steel was blocked by former President Joe Biden in January on national security grounds. 

Mr. Trump, who opposed the acquisition during the 2024 campaign, has since warmed to a deal between the steel producers, touting a $14 billion investment that the president said would "create and save over 100,000 American jobs." 

"You're going to be very happy," Mr. Trump said Friday. "There's a lot of money coming your way." 

Mr. Trump said the deal includes "vital protections to ensure that all steel workers will keep their jobs and all facilities in the United States will remain open and thriving." He added that U.S. Steel would also keep all of its blast furnace facilities at full capacity for at least the next decade and vowed that there would be "no layoffs and no outsourcing whatsoever." Every worker at U.S. Steel would soon be receiving a $5,000 bonus as well, he said. “

Now TOM really is taking a little line out of It Can’t Happen Here.”  The main platform that the fascist candidate (soon president) runs on is “$5000 for every citizen!” Spoiler alert…..it never happens. I’d like to see TOM face those same steel workers when this deal doesn’t pan out and when they get laid off and when NO ONE gets $5000.