July Hot Takes
Let’s rip off the Band-Aid: the Big, Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Bill was passed and signed. I know this isn’t breaking news, but many of us have had to check out, alternating between rage and grief. Same here. It’s a mood killer.
Rather than reiterate every detail of what’s in the bill and why it’s awful, let’s shift focus to what we can do. First, consider the timing of the cuts in the bill—something the MAGA strategy depends on. Medicaid work rules, food aid restrictions, clean energy credit eliminations, student loan changes, affordable housing cuts, and rural hospital funding declines are all set to phase in around late 2026. And what major national event happens right before the cuts drop? Midterm elections.
There’s your answer.
MAGA politicians, and the Republicans who backed this, know how harmful these cuts will be, especially for their own voter base. Many of them are already anxious about how it will impact their reelection chances. They’re counting on us to be overwhelmed, divided, scared, and tuned out.
But here’s the good news: we now have a clear strategy. We must focus our time, energy, and resources on flipping the House and Senate. We’ll also be electing a new governor, secretary of state, and attorney general. After hearing AG Dana Nessel speak, we’ve seen how critical that role is in defending democracy. We’ll have an open U.S. Senate seat and a chance to vote out Rep. Bill Huizenga.
We must also be ready for the GOP’s next move: the revival of some version of the S.A.V.E. Act, under the guise of protecting elections from non-citizen voters. But the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, found only 23 instances of non-citizen voting from 2003 to 2022. It’s a made-up crisis.
The real motive? The Republican Party is hemorrhaging women voter, and Gen Z women want no part of them. So, they’re trying to create more paperwork, financial hurdles, and legal barriers to voting. They’re hoping to keep young and marginalized voters home in 2026. We can’t let that happen.
So, what can you do? Inform friends and family. Tell them what to look for. Apply pressure on your representatives. Pay attention and push back.
And now, a little light in the dark: Elon Musk, after yet another fallout with Trump, is launching and funding the “America First Party.” Why is this good news? Enter the Ross Perot Factor. In 1992, Perot siphoned off conservative votes, helping Bill Clinton win. Musk’s party could split the GOP even more dramatically, peeling away disillusioned MAGA voters and dividing the right.
Trump's base is showing cracks. Many MAGA voices are angry, questioning leadership, and even agreeing with unlikely figures like Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders. They’re furious about U.S. involvement in new wars and the mysterious vanishing of the Epstein client list. Musk is tapping into that anger.
Yes, there’s a lot to worry about. When you’re thinking about the Baldwin ICE facility—call your representatives. When you see how these program cuts will hit your family--tell your story and call again. As Dana Nessel reminded us, public pressure works.
But changing the direction of our country means we can’t just vote--we need to show up. Yes, even if that means stepping out of our comfort zones and door-knocking. Staying comfortable is how we got here.
Feeling powerless and confused is part of their strategy. So grieve, get angry, and then get moving. Talk with your friends and neighbors. Help them put a human face to what these policies really mean. And prepare to get involved in the midterm campaigns. This is a long game--and it starts now.
Most importantly, remember: you are not alone. Look around you. Remember the large protests across our county. We will work through this together. I truly believe we can change the course of our country for the better, in ways we can’t even imagine yet, because we’re just getting started.
So don’t let them grind you down. We’ve got a country to save.