19Jul, 2025
    Why PBS Needs Stephen Colbert Now

    In today’s media landscape, public trust is crumbling. Traditional fundraising models are falling short. Meanwhile, PBS continues to rely heavily on pledge drives and telethons to stay afloat. But what if there were a better way—one that merges entertainment, civic engagement, and fundraising power?

    It’s time to make the case for Stephen Colbert on PBS.

    Colbert Nation: A Loyal Audience That Gives

    Stephen Colbert has built something few entertainers ever achieve—a deeply loyal and action-ready fanbase. Known as Colbert Nation, this audience doesn’t just watch passively. They donate. They show up. They care.

    Back in 2010, Colbert raised over $773,000 for public school classrooms through DonorsChoose.org. Around the same time, when the U.S. Speedskating Team couldn’t afford to attend the Olympics, Colbert stepped in. His fundraising efforts helped send American athletes to the world stage.

    Additionally, let’s not forget the brilliance of his satirical Super PAC, Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow. Incredibly, it raised over $1 million, all while educating the public on how campaign finance really works. Colbert didn’t just entertain—he educated, activated, and transformed viewers into donors and doers.

    Through it all, Colbert proved that comedy can be more than entertainment—it can be fuel for civic action.

    PBS Fundraising Could Be Transformed

    PBS is respected for its integrity, mission, and educational value. Yet year after year, it must rely on pledge drives to stay funded. Telethons are nostalgic but increasingly outdated. The audience is aging, and younger generations are tuning out.

    This is where Stephen Colbert could make all the difference.

    He’s not just a household name. He’s a trusted voice with a track record of mobilizing action. By bringing him to PBS, fundraising would no longer rely solely on nostalgia or repeated pleas for donations. Instead, the platform could evolve—modernize—while staying true to its public mission.

    To highlight that transition, it’s worth remembering how we got here.

    A Nod to Jerry Lewis — and a Way Forward

    Before digital fundraisers and online platforms, telethons were the gold standard. Jerry Lewis, in particular, set that bar. His decades-long commitment to the Muscular Dystrophy Association raised over $2 billion. More importantly, his marathon broadcasts became a cultural staple and showed America the power of performance-driven generosity.

    However, times have changed.

    What Jerry Lewis achieved through hours of emotional appeal, Stephen Colbert can now accomplish in minutes—using satire, sharp commentary, and digital reach. His presence on PBS could revive the spirit of those iconic moments, but with a voice and tone that resonate today.

    This isn’t a replacement for history. It’s a continuation—reimagined for the times.

    Bringing Colbert to PBS would breathe life into fundraising. He’s not just a celebrity—he’s a proven fundraiser, civic advocate, and national treasure. With his voice leading campaigns, telethons could shrink. Donations could rise. Younger viewers might tune in again, and a new generation could be introduced to the power of public media.

    A Chance to Say What Corporate Media Won’t

    Recently, CBS—like many corporations—buckled under political pressure. As a result, Colbert’s platform vanished. But he didn’t. He never backed down. He called out falsehoods, challenged propaganda, and stayed true to his values.

    PBS doesn’t need to follow in corporate footsteps. It has the power to elevate a truth-teller where others tried to quiet him.

    Colbert represents the very values PBS claims to champion: public service, education, humor, and integrity. This is more than a ratings boost. It’s a signal that PBS stands for something.

    His exact mix of intellect, humor, and moral clarity embodies the best of public broadcasting. Inviting him in isn’t just smart—it’s a statement of purpose.

    The Final Word

    Stephen Colbert has already proven his impact. Colbert inspires people to care. Amazingly, he raises millions for good causes. He teaches through comedy and moves audiences to act.

    Two birds, one stone.

    So, if you’re not ready to welcome him to PBS?
    Fine.

    Let’s just nominate him for President and see how quickly that rattles the fragile ego currently occupying the White House.

    Sources

    13Jul, 2025
    Our First Q&A – Trump’s Legacy

    Recently, someone asked me on my personal Bluesky account: What do I believe are the long-term consequences of President Trump’s time in office for our country’s political integrity?

    Let’s quickly define the word “integrity”:

    Trump’s legacy will shape American politics for decades. He didn’t invent division, but he pushed it into the mainstream. By breaking norms, he proved that misinformation and anger can win elections. His legacy will test our democracy in three big ways.

    First, extremism is now mainstream. Trump’s legacy gave far-right ideas a bigger stage. As a result, more candidates reject election results and use lies as strategy. Polarized primaries will keep fueling this. (Source: Pew Research Center, 2021)

    Second, our institutions are weaker. He attacked courts, elections, and the press. That playbook stays in politics. Future leaders may bend rules if no one stops them. (Source: Brookings Institution, 2022)

    Third, the public holds the line. Trump’s legacy makes clear: democracy only works if we defend it. Voters must demand truth, protect elections, and hold leaders accountable. (Source: Brennan Center for Justice, 2023)

    Trump’s legacy shows how fragile democracy is. Whether we let it crack further — or rebuild trust — is up to us.

    Thanks for asking me something other than if I am single or other personal questions that shouldn’t be asked right off the bat on a first message to someone. It is appreciated.

    If you wish to ask a question, feel free to tag me in a bluesky post or email me directly at: judy@rescueourdemocracy.com!

    Rescue our democracy, TOGETHER!

    Judy T.

    4Jul, 2025
    Independence Day: A Celebration That No Longer Feels Like Freedom

    I used to love Independence Day. It was my favorite holiday outside my Christian observances — Maundy Thursday and Easter anchor my soul, but the Fourth of July always lifted my spirit.

    I remember waking early to prep the yard. Lugging coolers packed with sodas and salads across dew-wet grass. The pop and hiss of the grill firing up. Kids darting through sprinklers while grown-ups lounged on folding chairs, sunburnt and smiling. At dusk, we’d pass out sparklers and gather on blankets to watch the night sky crackle with reds, whites, and blues.

    One year, I even got married on July 3rd — so our wedding night could end with fireworks. I wanted my own piece of that freedom, my own celebration of hope under a bursting sky.

    This Year, The Fireworks Feel Empty

    But this year, Independence Day feels empty. It feels stolen. The country those fireworks once represented doesn’t exist for millions of us anymore.

    How do you wave a flag for liberty when people can’t decide what happens to their own bodies? When our highest court rips away privacy and bodily autonomy while pretending they’re protecting freedom?

    How do you cheer for freedom when libraries face book bans, truth is scrubbed from history classes, and entire communities are told they can’t exist as they are? From drag bans to bathroom bills to hateful rhetoric, our LGBTQ+ neighbors are under siege — again — by people who claim to stand for “family values.”

    Well look at that! Our red, white, and blue being marred by orange…

    Hatred Has Found a New Home

    We used to call America a “melting pot.” We took pride in it — even as we tried to forget that this country was built on stolen land, on the backs of enslaved people, on broken treaties with Indigenous nations. We boasted that we welcomed “the tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

    Now, hatred has found a home here again — loud and unashamed. People of color, immigrants, LGBTQ+ families, the unhoused, the poor, the sick, the veterans who served — all branded expendable by a regime that would rather import wealthy South Africans to replace the very people America once promised to lift up.

    That’s the plan: swap out the dreamers for the donors. Trade community for cruelty. Strip away the melting pot and serve up a gated community for the powerful few.

    Independence Day For Whom?

    So today, I sit here — alone, like so many others — wondering: who is Independence Day really for now? Who gets to claim freedom? Who’s invited to the backyard cookout?

    It’s not me. It’s not the single mom choosing between rent and groceries. It’s not the kid too scared to come out at school. It’s not the immigrant who crossed oceans for hope only to find a locked door. It’s not the veteran sleeping in a tent while billionaires buy up farmland for profit. It’s not the seniors who are being threatened to lose everything, that they already paid for.

    France’s 2025 gift for our Independence Day…This is what people voted for…the world to see us ashamed.

    I Am Ashamed, But I Am Not Done

    I am ashamed of this America. Ashamed that hatred is now policy. Ashamed that we are watching rights crumble while we clap for fireworks. Ashamed that our leaders lie to our faces and dare call it freedom.

    But I am not done with her. Not yet.

    Independence was never given to us. It was fought for. It was defended. It was demanded — and it must be demanded again. So I won’t light a sparkler tonight. I will light something bigger in my heart: the will to stand up, to speak out, to remind us all that freedom is not a promise — it’s a fight.

    So if you feel alone tonight, know you are not. If you feel ashamed of this America, know you are not alone in that either. The dream isn’t dead. But it is up to us to resurrect it.

    Happy Independence Day — if you can find it. If not, help me build it back.

    -Judy T.

    P.S. Please comment below, sharing your favorite 4th of July memory!

    References

    22Jun, 2025
    🕰️ Was War with Iran Planned Since February?

    A Timeline from Map to Missiles

    A theory…

    When Prime Minister Netanyahu met with Donald Trump in February 2025 and reportedly showed him a map of Iranian nuclear sites, it raised eyebrows. Now, with missiles flying and American forces engaged, it looks more like the first move in a long game. Here’s a step-by-step timeline of how this conflict may have been coordinated from the start:

    📆 Timeline: From “Intel Briefing” to U.S. War Entry

    📍 February 4, 2025 – Netanyahu Shows Trump the Map

    • Netanyahu meets Trump at the White House.
    • He presents intelligence visuals and satellite maps of Iranian nuclear development.
    • Sources later confirm he urged Trump to act before Iran became untouchable.

    🤝 April 2025 – Diplomacy or Delay?

    • The U.S. opens a 60-day negotiation window with Iran.
    • Publicly, Trump pushes for a “peaceful deal.”
    • Privately, Israeli forces prepare for military options, possibly with U.S. coordination.

    ❌ June 9, 2025 – Iran Rejects the Deal

    • Trump announces Iran’s refusal of the multinational offer to limit uranium enrichment.
    • The diplomatic window closes. Pressure builds.

    🚨 June 11–12, 2025 – Red Alert Mobilization

    • The U.S. pulls embassy and civilian staff from key embassies in the Middle East.
    • Israel receives quiet approval to move forward.
    • Operation Rising Lion enters final prep.

    💣 June 13, 2025 – Israel Strikes

    • Israel hits nuclear and military sites in Iran.
    • Trump calls it “a sovereign decision,” neither endorsing nor condemning.

    🟥 June 17–18, 2025 – Trump Greenlights Further Israeli Strikes

    • Trump reportedly tells Netanyahu: “Keep going.”
    • U.S. surveillance and logistics quietly support Israel.

    🔥 June 20, 2025 – U.S. Directly Enters the War

    • Trump orders U.S. air support and drone strikes to “protect regional allies.”
    • American aircraft strike Iranian radar and anti-aircraft positions.
    • This marks the U.S. official entrance into the war.

    🧠 What This Timeline Tells Us

    This wasn’t spontaneous. This was planned, paced, and politically packaged. The map Netanyahu handed Trump may have been the opening move in a playbook months in the making.

    While the public was distracted by political theater, the machinery of war was turning.

    🚨 Now What?

    We’re in a war we didn’t debate. We’re in a war that wasn’t transparent. We’re in a war that may have been pre-approved months ago.

    If we don’t speak out, we’ll get dragged deeper.

    🎙️ Use Your Voice — Submit to Rescue Our Democracy

    At RescueOurDemocracy.com, we provide a platform for:

    • ✍️ Writing & op-eds
    • 🎨 Political art & protest graphics
    • 🎧 Podcasts & recorded commentary

    đź“Ą We are always accepting submissions. Use your voice before they silence ours.

    đź“Ś Sources:

    17Jun, 2025
    Killing Off the Poor to Replace Them with Controllable Pawns

    (This post has been redone, it was filled with to much anger and emotion and not enough facts)

    Killing off the poor to replace them with controllable pawns is not an exaggeration. It is a direct result of policies designed to dismantle our survival systems. These include cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and SSI, the criminalization of homelessness, abortion bans like Texas’ SB 8, and the broader authoritarian vision behind Project 2025. Each move is calculated. Each one pushes us further toward a society where only the obedient are allowed to live with dignity.

    This is not a war on poverty. It is a war on the poor.

    The Strategy: Remove Support, Create Desperation

    This campaign doesn’t use bullets or bombs. Instead, it uses budgets, bureaucracy, and law to erase autonomy.

    When Medicaid is cut, millions lose access to life-saving care. Without medication, treatment, or therapy, illness becomes a death sentence for those already living on the edge.

    When SNAP benefits are slashed, hunger increases. Children go to school without breakfast. Elders skip meals. Parents juggle rent and groceries, forced into impossible choices.

    When SSI is weakened, people with disabilities are left without income, housing, or safety. They are made invisible—until their crisis becomes a criminal offense.

    When homelessness is criminalized, people are fined or jailed for sleeping outside—even when no shelter is available. Instead of offering homes, cities offer handcuffs.

    These actions are not accidental. They are intentional, interconnected methods to make the poor suffer until they submit—or die.

    The Parallel: Gilead Didn’t Begin With Violence

    Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale shows how dystopia starts quietly. Gilead did not seize power overnight. First, it eliminated women’s access to money. Then it dismantled healthcare. Eventually, it stripped individuals of their identity, autonomy, and choices.

    Gilead created strict social roles:

    • Handmaids were forced to bear children for the ruling class.
    • Marthas did domestic labor, kept obedient through fear.
    • Aunts enforced the rules, punishing dissent from within.

    What do these roles have in common? They depended on removing freedom. No one chose to be a Handmaid. They were given that title after everything else—income, rights, bodily control—was taken away.

    Today, policies like those in Project 2025 serve the same function. They do not declare war openly. Instead, they destroy the tools of independence—one policy at a time.

    Enforcing Control: Through Fear, Punishment, and Surveillance

    Control is easier when people are desperate. That’s why the systems replacing social safety nets are built on punishment.

    Consider Texas SB 8. It bans abortion after six weeks, and encourages citizens to report anyone helping someone get care. This isn’t just an anti-abortion law. It’s a surveillance strategy. It turns neighbors into informants. It erodes trust, isolates people, and makes them fearful to seek help.

    Meanwhile, trans and queer people are targeted across the country. Access to gender-affirming care is under attack. Medicaid bans trans-specific services. Children are denied life-saving medical treatment. LGBTQ+ people are criminalized, censored, and pushed out of public life.

    These attacks are not isolated. They are part of a larger agenda: one that seeks to make survival conditional. If you conform, you might be allowed to eat. If you obey, you might get medication. If you hide who you are, maybe they’ll let you live.

    Criminalizing Existence: Homelessness, Poverty, and Identity

    In 2024, the Supreme Court ruled in Grants Pass v. Johnson that cities may fine or jail unhoused individuals for sleeping in public—even if no shelters are available. This ruling gives legal cover to criminalize the simple act of being poor and alive.

    Over 150 cities already have “sit-lie” or camping bans. Police sweep encampments, destroy personal belongings, and arrest people for asking for help. These policies don’t solve homelessness. They hide it, punish it, and use it as a warning.

    At the same time, anti-trans laws, anti-drag bans, and book censorship spread through legislatures. These laws say: conform, disappear, or be punished.

    What begins as budget cuts ends as a caste system. Those who have less are treated as less. Their needs are not just unmet—they are criminalized.

    The Endgame: Project 2025 and the Authoritarian Vision

    Project 2025, a comprehensive far-right playbook, outlines the future these forces want. It includes:

    • Purging government agencies of dissenting voices,
    • Defunding public health, housing, and social programs,
    • Replacing career civil servants with ideologically loyal actors,
    • Centralizing power in the Executive Branch.

    This plan would formalize the dismantling already underway. It’s not just about cutting services. It’s about replacing democracy with obedience.

    When people are hungry, sick, and surveilled, they are easier to control.

    When services are stripped away, people have fewer choices—and fewer chances to resist.

    We Still Have a Choice — But Time Is Short

    The strategy to kill off the poor and replace them with controllable pawns is working. It is not just policy—it is social engineering. Every Medicaid cut, every SSI reduction, every abortion ban, every criminalization of unhoused life is a brick in the wall they are building.

    But we still have a choice. We can speak. We can resist. We can build solidarity and expose the lies that mask this agenda as reform or morality.

    Now is the time to act. Not when the system becomes Gilead—but now, while the architecture is still being assembled.

    References

    1. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Medicaid Enrollment and Access Data, 2024.
    2. USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Report, 2023.
    3. Social Security Administration, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Program Data, 2024.
    4. City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, 603 U.S. 520 (2024).
    5. National Homelessness Law Center, “Housing Not Handcuffs,” 2023.
    6. Texas Senate Bill 8 (SB 8), 2021; analyzed by the Center for Reproductive Rights and Harvard Law.
    7. Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale, 1985.
    8. The Heritage Foundation, “Mandate for Leadership: Project 2025,” 2023.
    9. Human Rights Campaign, 2024 State Legislation Tracker.
    10. National Low Income Housing Coalition, Criminalization of Homelessness, 2023.
    17Jun, 2025
    Responses from Senators

    Not all that long ago, I posted an open letter to our Senators, Grassley and Ernst.

    You can read it below.

    Open Letter to Senators Grassley and Ernst: Medicaid

    I would like to share with you, my responses.

    Let me tell you…they were both surprises.

    Joni Endst, really surprised me, because at the time, I thought maybe we could still get through to her.

    My thoughts are important? REEEAAAALLY, now? Perhaps she will really read the letter fully and give an actual response. But for now, I feel brushed off…as most Iowans do.

    HOLY IOWA COWS!

    Now here’s my huge surprise. My response from Chuck Grassley (Yes, I used his real name here and not my nickname for him, because he (or his team) was respectful here.)

    I feel that this wasn’t a blanket response. I feel that my letter was actually read. Perhaps because it’s displayed publicly on a site.

    Thank you Senator Chuck Grassley, for your response. I admit, I have been particularly hard on you and your grandson in the past because of frustrations with policies.

    I’d prefer calling you by your real name and not my nickname for you, please keep the rest of us in mind, before taking an ax to our healthcare and other needs. Otherwise, I will be honest with you, I will call you “Assley” again.

    Please note: He added links to help. I may differ with him A LOT. I have for many years. But I truly appreciate this olive branch he sent.

    Mistaken?

    I realize some people are going to give me grief for my appreciation that my letter was read and given answers and help listed.

    I wasn’t a Democrat until Trump’s first term. I had been Independent since I was 18 and got my first voter registration card.

    I don’t choose based on party…NORMALLY.

    But these aren’t normal times.

    Yes, I am pushing for Dems in the upcoming elections in 2026. We need to stop the damage and begin healing. This cannot be achieved with Drumpf sycophants in line to stomp on it.

    I may end up being Dem for life after this, who knows.

    But I will always acknowledge when a politician responds in a proper way and I will certainly amplify ten-fold if they acknowledge in a poor way.

    So here is my ask.

    From this time on, let’s refer to Joni, who wishes all the lower income brackets dead, without realizing that she won’t have the money or the poor people to prop herself on and take money from…

    I propose we ONLY refer to her as…

    JONI ENDST

    Pass it on.

    -Judy T.

    13Jun, 2025
    Steps towards Martial Law

    We’re Standing One Step Away from Martial Law

    I’m not going to sugarcoat this. We’re already standing on the last rung of the ladder. The only thing left is for this administration to say the words. Martial law doesn’t arrive with fireworks or an official parade—it slips in while people are distracted, while the narrative shifts just enough to justify “extraordinary measures.”

    Let’s be real: every warning sign has lit up. The unrest has been labeled “insurrection,” the National Guard has been primed, the military is showing up where the people are, not where the danger is. Civil liberties? Hanging by a thread. We’ve watched curfews tighten, speech be criminalized, and protest painted as terror. The pattern is not subtle – it’s historical, it’s procedural, and it’s happening now.

    You don’t need to wonder anymore if “we’re heading toward” martial law. We’re here. All that’s left is the formal declaration – and it doesn’t need to come with fanfare to be real. If you wait for it to be announced on TV, you’re already too late.

    The steps and the actions that lead up to martial law:

    đź”» 1. Heightened Social Unrest or Crisis âś…

    • Widespread protests, civil disobedience, riots, or unrest âś…
    • Mass strikes or organized resistance movements âś…
    • Racial, ideological, or class tensions escalating âś…
    Oops. Sorry, we don’t have any graphics to show it better than this one. 🙂

    đź”» 2. Breakdown of Civil Order or Public Safety âś…

    • Law enforcement becomes overwhelmed or ineffective 🔲
    • Curfews or states of emergency declared âś…
    • Violence spreads or becomes uncontrollable 🔲

    đź”» 3. Government Justification for ‘Extraordinary Measures’ âś…

    • Officials claim that normal institutions can’t contain the crisis 🔲
    • National security threats are cited (e.g., terrorism, sabotage, or “insurrection”) âś…
    • Fear messaging increases: public is told their safety depends on stronger control âś…

    đź”» 4. Mobilization of the Military or National Guard âś…

    • Troops deployed for “public safety” support âś…
    • Civilian authorities begin deferring to military leaders 🔲
    • Military units appear at protests, checkpoints, or government buildings âś…

    đź”» 5. Suspension of Civil Liberties (Usually Under State of Emergency) âś…

    • Curfews strictly enforced âś…
    • Free speech restricted (especially dissent) âś…
    • Assembly, press, and movement limited âś…
    • Habeas corpus (right to challenge detention) suspended âś…

    đź”» 6. Control of Information âś…

    • Censorship of social media or news âś…
    • Arrests or threats against journalists or organizers âś…
    • Use of propaganda to justify expanded control âś…

    🔻 7. Formal Declaration of Martial Law 🔲

    • Executive order or official decree announces martial law🔲
    • Constitution may be suspended or overridden âś…
    • Military assumes control over civilian institutions (elections, courts, police) 🔲

    ⚠️ Historical or Thematic Warning Signs

    • Demonization of political opponents or protest movements
    • Framing of opposition as “terrorists,” “traitors,” or “domestic enemies”
    • Push for “law and order” without addressing root causes
    • Pardons or legal shields for military/police violence
    • Dissolution or undermining of legislative/judicial checks

    U.S. Context

    In the United States, martial law is not clearly defined federally, but it has been declared in isolated cases (e.g., Hawaii after Pearl Harbor, Arkansas during desegregation). However:

    • It cannot override the Constitution indefinitely
    • Courts have generally held that martial law is illegal if civil courts are still operational

    Where We Go from Here Is Up to Us

    This isn’t paranoia – it’s pattern recognition. And we’re out of time for willful optimism. If we don’t act with clarity, solidarity, and courage right now, the moment will pass us by, and we’ll wake up in a country where the rules changed overnight – and we let it happen.

    So here’s the ask: show up informed, stay linked, and stay loud. Let your people know where we’re at. This isn’t about panic – it’s about preparation. Speak plainly. Act boldly. Because once martial law is declared, the choices narrow fast. And the time to resist shrinks even faster.

    The last light is blinking. Don’t ignore it.

    20May, 2025
    Open Letter to Senators Grassley and Ernst: Medicaid

    Dear Senators Grassley and Ernst,

    I am writing to you not only as a constituent of Iowa but as a survivor of decades of struggle—struggles that many in our state quietly endure every day. I am also sharing this letter publicly because too many voices like mine go unheard in the legislative halls where our lives are debated and often dismissed.

    I moved to Iowa when I was 19. At the time, access to health insurance without employment was nearly impossible unless you were a parent or pregnant. I had none of those qualifications—just a mounting storm of mental health conditions, including PTSD, PMDD, manic depression, and EID. Diagnoses I would only come to understand much later, because there was no path to care.

    For years, I was adrift. I lived in shelters, cars, warehouses, and on couches. Not by choice, but because I couldn’t hold a job long enough to qualify for stability. I spent 20 years without a place to call home, punished over and over by a system that made no room for people like me.

    It wasn’t until the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) passed that I was finally able to access the healthcare I desperately needed. With Medicaid coverage, I was properly diagnosed, treated, and able to apply for SSI—support I should have had since I was 19, but wasn’t able to reach until I was 40. I am 50 now. That means I spent over half my life suffering without help.

    Today, I live in a tiny tiny home on a patch of land, still battling stigma, housing insecurity, and a system that too often devalues women and the mentally ill. And now I live in fear again—because this administration’s policies threaten to take away my Medicaid.

    If I lose Medicaid, I lose my SSI. I lose access to my medication. And I lose the safety net that keeps me alive.

    And I am not alone.

    According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, over 149,000 Iowans have already been disenrolled from Medicaid as of May 2024 due to the unwinding of pandemic-era protections. Many are being kicked off for paperwork issues—not because they’re ineligible. These are people—children, the elderly, the disabled, the working poor—who now face a terrifying choice between suffering or survival.

    This is not an abstract policy issue. Research shows that Medicaid expansion under the ACA prevented approximately 1,818 suicides from 2014 to 2017. Suicide rates dropped significantly in states that expanded access to care. The data is clear: people die when they lose health coverage. Suicide, mental health crises, untreated trauma, and violence are not theoretical—they are the predictable outcomes of denying people care.

    You may not see the direct consequences today. But they are coming. Suicides will rise. People with mental illness who lose care will be pushed into crisis. They will break down in public. And when someone in the crowd doesn’t understand what’s happening, they might react with violence. Innocent people will be harmed. Blood will be on someone’s hands. Please don’t let it be yours.

    This is not partisan. This is about life and death. Healthcare access is not a handout—it is a human right. You have the power to help ensure that people like me do not fall through the cracks again.

    Please do not support cuts to Medicaid. Please stand up for the Iowans whose lives depend on it.

    Show us we are not invisible to you. We exist. We matter. We vote.

    Sincerely,
    Judy T.
    Head Guerilla
    judy@rescueourdemocracy.com

    Sources and Supporting Research:

    1. Medicaid Expansion Associated with Reduced Suicide Rates (Health Affairs, 2020)
      https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.00413
    2. Global Economic Crisis and Suicide Trends (The Lancet Psychiatry, 2015)
      https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(14)00118-7/fulltext
    3. Mental Health Care Matters (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
      https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Treatment/Mental-Health-Care-Matters
    4. Medicaid Enrollment and Unwinding Tracker – Iowa (Kaiser Family Foundation)
      https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/medicaid-enrollment-and-unwinding-tracker/

    20May, 2025
    Trump’s Administration and Project 2025

    Understanding the Urgency

    Understand Project2025 before reading please

    Progress tracker for Trump’s Project2025 agenda implementation

    Donald Trump’s current administration isn’t just pushing policy; it’s advancing Project 2025—a plan to radically reshape government institutions with authoritarian overreach. According to The Washington Post, “Project 2025 seeks to consolidate power in the executive branch and reduce federal oversight” (https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/03/01/project-2025-trump-heritage-foundation/). This is a threat not only from Trump himself but also from the entire line of succession aligned with this agenda.

    Breaking Down the Impeachable Offenses

    1. Obstruction of Justice: Trump’s interference in investigations and attempts to influence judicial processes have been widely reported. The New York Times reported, “Multiple investigations reveal attempts to obstruct justice, a clear impeachable offense” (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/15/us/politics/trump-obstruction-justice.html).
    2. Abuse of Power: The use of government resources for personal profit, including taxpayer-funded trips to Trump-owned properties, exemplifies abuse. CNN reported, “Taxpayers have footed millions for Trump’s personal benefits, violating the emoluments clause” (https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/10/politics/trump-emoluments-violation/index.html).
    3. Incitement of Insurrection: Following the January 6 attack, numerous reports and court filings indicate Trump’s role in encouraging violence against democratic institutions. The Guardian states, “Evidence shows Trump’s rhetoric fueled the Capitol attack, fitting impeachment criteria” (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/06/jan-6-insurrection-trump-role).
    4. Violation of the Constitution: By undermining court independence and threatening non-compliant officials, Trump is attacking constitutional checks and balances. Politico writes, “The weaponization of courts and intimidation tactics undermine the rule of law” (https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/20/trump-weaponizing-courts-constitution-000800).

    How Impeachment Works — In Simple Terms

    First, the House of Representatives investigates and votes on articles of impeachment. This requires a simple majority. If approved, the Senate holds a trial requiring a two-thirds majority to convict and remove. This process is designed to protect democracy by holding leaders accountable.

    ROD – Understanding ImpeachmentDownload

    Find this and more PDFs about Voter Education here! (Coming Soon!)

    The Line of Succession That Must Be Addressed

    Removing Trump alone won’t stop this. The first 18 people in line to the presidency include Vice President J.D. Vance, Speaker Mike Johnson, and key cabinet members like Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of State Marco Rubio—all vocal supporters or appointees tied to Project 2025. The Associated Press notes, “These figures form a network poised to continue Trump’s policies if they assume power” (https://apnews.com/article/project-2025-line-of-succession-2025-0b7c7ef9dcd5cfd).

    Ignoring this means the agenda persists unchecked.

    Why Removing the Entire Succession Line Is Critical

    The entire succession line—Vice President, Speaker, Senate Pro Tempore, and 15 cabinet members—are handpicked or aligned with Trump’s agenda. The Atlantic warns, “Without addressing the succession, removing Trump alone won’t stop Project 2025 from taking hold” (https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/04/trump-succession-project-2025/).

    Removing them prevents the agenda’s continuation and protects democratic institutions.

    America the Avoided: How the World Now Sees Us

    The damage from this administration isn’t limited to our borders. Other countries have begun warning their citizens not to travel to the United States at all. According to Reuters, “Several nations have issued travel advisories for the U.S., citing gun violence, civil unrest, and political instability” (https://www.reuters.com/world/us/several-countries-issue-travel-warnings-us-amid-political-violence-2024-07-15/). This isn’t fear-mongering—it’s being echoed even in mainstream international press. The Guardian reported, “The image of America as a stable democracy has crumbled. Allies are distancing themselves economically and politically” (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/dec/12/america-global-standing-trump-election). As this administration continues to spiral, not only are tourists being told to stay away, but products labeled “Made in the USA” are facing rejection abroad. Al Jazeera recently quoted a European trade minister saying, “American instability makes their exports a risk to rely on” (https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025/03/08/europe-warns-against-us-products-over-political-instability).

    So we have to ask—will they ignore us when we start dying too?

    Conclusion: What Must Be Done Now

    Failing to act allows authoritarian control to grow, costing taxpayers, eroding democracy, and threatening civil liberties. It’s time for all citizens to demand accountability. Contact your representatives. Support independent media. Vote for leaders committed to safeguarding our Constitution.

    As The New Yorker urges, “Only through comprehensive removal can we halt the corrosive effects of Project 2025” (https://www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/why-removal-is-essential-trump-project-2025).

    17May, 2025
    Trump Is the Threat He Warns You About

    Trump Isn’t Draining the Swamp—He Became the Swamp

    Donald Trump claims to fight corruption, weaponization, and elitism—but he embodies all of it. He is not a victim of the system. He is the system’s most abusive participant. Everything he warns his followers about, he does with a vengeance.

    From threatening prosecutors to undermining court rulings, Trump is actively weaponizing the justice system against political opponents and critics. He’s not “rooting out” a deep state—he’s installing one of his own.

    A Taxpayer Burden, Not a Public Servant

    Trump didn’t “sacrifice” a lavish life to serve the people. He shifted the cost of that lavish life onto the public.

    During his presidency, he visited his own properties over 500 times, funneling public funds directly into his own businesses. The Secret Service alone spent over $1.6 million at Trump properties (https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/taxpayer-cost-trump-travel-mar-a-lago/). Taxpayers paid millions for trips to Mar-a-Lago, which he owns, profiting every time.

    He golfed more in four years than Obama did in eight—at his own clubs—while claiming to work for free.

    Two Americas: One of Excess, One of Struggle

    Trump parades wealth like a badge of honor. Remember the “30 dolls” remark? That was a glimpse into a mindset totally detached from the real world. Many children don’t even have three dolls, let alone thirty. But in Trump’s America, opulence is the norm—for the few.

    He and his allies live in a bubble built on narcissism and greed. They’ve never struggled to pay rent, missed a meal, or worked three jobs just to survive. They don’t know our pain, and they don’t care.

    They rule from gated communities while calling themselves victims. They are not victims. They are rulers crying foul while manipulating every lever of government.

    The Real Snowflakes Are in Power

    Trump has made a career of bullying, threatening, and fear-mongering. His reality show tagline—”You’re fired!”—was never entertainment. It was a warning. Threats are his love language. He governs like a cult leader, chasing down nonprofit organizations, pressuring lawyers to bend, and labeling truth-tellers as enemies of the state.

    This is not patriotism. This is authoritarianism.

    And the people he targets—activists, journalists, nonprofit leaders—are not dissidents. They are defenders of democracy.

    Wake Up. Resist.

    The courts aren’t safe. The Constitution is under siege. Our democracy is being sold off to the highest bidder while a corrupt billionaire shouts about injustice.

    Trump is the threat he warns you about.

    Head Guerilla

    #TrumpIsTheThreat #TrumpCrimes #TaxpayerFraud #StopTheGrift #AccountabilityNow #RuleOfLaw #WeaponizingTheCourts #ProtectDemocracy #DefendTheConstitution #JusticeMatters #WeThePeople #EconomicJustice #ClassDivide #NotForThePeople #TruePatriotsResist #RiseAgainstHate #StopTheAuthoritarian #PowerToThePeople #WakeUpAmerica #TruthToPower #HeIsTheSwamp #NoMoreLies #RealNews

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