Daily Dems Doing the Work, Making Noise and Fighting Back Day 232

If I'm feel this I can't imagine how you're feeling.

It’s one of those days where it seems near impossible to see the good in the world. I just scroll my feed and it’s one awful thing after another (Though, I will say, Rachel Maddow’s “so-called strong man” segment helped a lot.)

So breathe, cause if I’m only seeing bad, I can’t imagine how it is for all of you.

Doomerella is feeling it too, so you can breathe with her at the bottom of the page.

Repping the Rep: James Walkinshaw (VA-11)

Gave a speech on the House floor when he was sworn in, and while a bit of it was about hoping there’s a chance to work together and taking down the temperature, that was a small part at the end, most of it was this:

With that gratitude, Mr. Speaker, comes responsibility to speak honestly about the challenges my community faces. In VA, we are on the leading edge of President Trump’s economy. In my district, everyone knows someone who has lost their job, due to the agenda coming from the White House, and too often, from this chamber. If we do not change course, what is true in Northern Virginia today will soon be true in every district in this nation.

You might ask, is that normally the tone for a floor speech like that? This is the first time I have paid attention to the floor speech of a new rep sworn in mid-session, but I’m going out on a limb and saying no, that’s not normal.

And that’s further suggested by the fact that the Republican half of the chamber started booing at the end of this section. The Dems started cheering to drown them out though.

I love how, within seconds of being sworn in, he’s already calling out the other side for harming his district.

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Rep Linda Sanchez (CA-38)

Visited the La Mirada WIC (Women, Infants and Children) who help provide fresh nutritious food to, well, women, infants and children. But because of the big ugly bill that’s going to become a lot harder:

Kids who used to recieve $26 a month for fruits and vegetables are now just getting $10 a month. Moms who recieved up to $52 a month are now down to receiving just $13 a month and if you think about the cost of food and how it keeps increasing, those levels are not enough to keep these mothers and children in good nutrition

$52 down to $13???? That’s just cruel.

I’m so glad Rep Sanchez posted about this because I keep thinking of SNAP as one thing, but there are so many different organizations doing so much incredible work that are impacted by SNAP cuts, and most of them, the vast majority of us have never heard of, I certainly hadn’t heard of this one. Sometimes just bringing attention to something is the most important work of all.

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Rep Herb Conaway (NJ-03)

Went to a Planned Parenthood clinic in his district and spoke with NJ clinic director, Alexandra Cruz Bandoy.

She spoke about why patients are coming from other states:

Not only to access your basic reproductive rights, such as abortion, but even just birth control, just because, in their particular states, a lot of those resources are very limited or just very hard to access.

That’s chilling. There is no where in this country that birth control is illegal or limited, but I guess, in certain Republican controlled states it doesn’t matter.

Then Conaway added:

I as a man, we as men (he was talking to the other man in the room, who’s name I didn’t catch, anything that we would like to do with respect to our healthcare, we can do that. Women today, in many parts of the country, cannot say the same thing, and that means that in many parts of the country, women are not equal.

There’s power in a member of congress saying that out loud, a male member of congress especially.

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Representative Rob Menendez (NJ-08) and Sen Cory Booker (NJ)

Got to celebrate a win today that was a long time in the making. Back in 2024, they secured $3.6m in federal funding for Hoboken water infastructure, and it will now be available for use.

They’re gonna be able to update water infastructure, replace water meters, this is going to conserve water and also help residents in lowering their prices.

It’s a reminder that government takes a long time to do it’s thing, and the federal government, even longer. There are going to be wins coming from Biden’s time for many years to come, and Trump doesn’t even give a shit about the majority of them so some things will still be improving, even as we live in this trash heap.

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Rep Sara Jacobs (CA-51)

Is yet another Dem to bring up the ACA premium tax credits, here’s her explanation:

If this credit expires, millions of hard working Americans are gonna see their premiums skyrocket, and they’re gonna struggle to afford healthcare or even have to chose between paying for healthcare or paying for food. This includes people who have chronic disease like cancer, who are possibly gonna lose their coverage all together.

But she didn’t stop there, she also gave a call to action, actually it’s three, but they are all connected.

1. If you get the tax credits, look at how much you’re currently paying. Then add 75%, that’s likely how much you will be paying after January if Republicans let the credits lapse.

2. Comment on Rep Jacobs’ post with those numbers and how it will affect your lives and your family’s lives.

3. Tell the same thing to your Senators and Rep.

It seems simple, but we know it really could work. Our letters have had a whole lot of power this year. They have helped our Democrats fight harder and better and pushed a few Republicans who we didn’t entirely expect on a handful of issues too.

It might not work, but this is the best shot we have, so we have to try, and I’m so glad Rep Jacobs is saying that loud and clear.

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And finally…

Rep Jim Himes (CT-04)

Was interviewed by Katie Tur, and he did not mince words when it came to how Republicans are handling CK’s assasination:

You know what we should do? we should shut the hell up and be solemn and dignified in the face of a tragedy

He’s referring to politicians, like himself.

But he goes on to talk to us, the constituents:

Look at your Senator, look at your Governor, look at your Member of Congress, and if they didn’t say: “deep breath, calm down. In this country, we don’t have enemies, we have people who disagree with us, and that’s the strength of this country,” if they didn’t take that tack, fire them, fire them now.

I don’t expect that kind of language from Rep Himes, he’s not exactly known for strong messaging, so I’m very pleasantly surprised.

repjimhimes

A post shared by @repjimhimes

If you really want to, you can watch the full interview below, but, it’s not nearly as good at this part.

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So I hope this gives you a glimpse into the strength and resistance in our fighters. I know it’s not what you’re looking for, but for what you’re looking for, we need the majority and we just don’t have it. With what they have to work with, this is, without a doubt, fighting back.

If you made it to the end of this post, comment 🥛(milk) because I’m not sure $13 would even pay for that anymore.

And if you watched or read any of these stories, comment 💧(water droplet) because it’s important to remember that Biden wins are still coming. And will be for quite some time.

Our voices are our superpower, but only when we use them!