As Republicans amp up their closing argument of fear and nonsense ahead of the 2018 midterms—“violence,” “socialism,” “undefended open borders”— the real threat is what happens if Republicans continue to have unified, unchecked control of the federal government.
And there’s no need to speculate or create fictions about what they’ll do. They have already told us.
In a new op-ed, Jesse Lee, vice president for Communications at the Center for American Progress Action Fund, lays out the top 5 things we can expect if the next Congress is under total Republican control:
- Massive cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security (to pay for the $2 trillion tax bill).
- ACA repeal, including protections for pre-existing conditions (because, duh).
- Continued corruption and attacks on the rule of law.
- Inhumane, cruel treatment of immigrant children under the grotesque guise of deterrence.
- Doing everything they can to rig the 2020 election (remember Trump’s voter fraud commission?).
This just about sums it up:
“Progressives have spent the last year turning out, running for office and winning special elections on a positive message. Candidates have become causes by embracing an aspirational vision of a government that looks out for all of us.
“That’s how it should be. But if anybody needs another motivation, there is also plenty to fear — not just more of the same, but much more and much worse. Now is the chance to take a stand.”
HEALTH CARE IS PERSONAL: SARA’S STORY
“I think what motivates Republicans in Congress right now is basically just money. The bottom line is not money—it’s human lives.”
Medicare and the Affordable Care Act saved Sara Kissling’s family. Her Republican representative, Rod Blum, voted against health care for Iowans like her.
Sara is one of many Americans sharing their health care experiences this Fall. Watch her story here.
THINKING CAP: THE ILLIBERAL INTERNATIONAL
In a timely episode, Michael McFaul, the former U.S. ambassador to Russia under President Obama, is this week’s Thinking CAP guest. The alleged assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul has rattled the world, and attention has turned to how the U.S. government will respond. McFaul breaks down what an American diplomatic response should be to this atrocious alleged crime. He also discusses Russia’s new ideological war with the West and retells the story of when President Donald Trump almost allowed Russian President Vladimir Putin to interrogate him. Listen to the episode here.