Eight Little Turncoats and the Bad Deal Blues
Eight Democratic senators crossed party lines to help advance a weak shutdown deal that sells out healthcare. The House is being dragged back into session, Adelita Grijalva is about to get sworn in, and SCOTUS just refused to mess with marriage equality. Let’s make some noise.
Political Shit Show Summary
Well, kittens — the Senate has officially coughed up a hairball. An important procedural vote passed 60-40 and now the Senate will advance the vote to open the government in a very bad deal. Eight Democrats decided bipartisanship sounded cuter than protecting your healthcare. The bill does not secure the ACA premium tax credits millions rely on — it only promises a future vote. Translation: you’re supposed to trust the same people who tanked it in the first place.
Meanwhile, Speaker Mike Johnson is calling the House back once the vote is complete, meaning he’ll finally have to swear in Adelita Grijalva — the Democrat he’s been blocking to stop the Epstein-files vote. The Arizona Attorney General already sued him for obstruction, and it looks like the clock’s run out.
And for one glorious second of good news: the Supreme Court just announced it won’t touch Obergefell v. Hodges, leaving marriage equality intact for now. Let’s celebrate love — and then claw our way back to healthcare justice.
Key Political Wins/Losses
- Loss: Eight Democratic senators sided with Republicans to advance the shutdown bill — without locking in ACA premium tax credits. Healthcare security still hangs by a thread.
- Win: Speaker Johnson’s plan backfires — by calling the House back, he has to swear in Adelita Grijalva, restoring Arizona’s representation and setting up the Epstein-files vote.
- Win: SCOTUS declines to revisit marriage equality. For now, love still wins — but we’re watching those shadow dockets like hawks with claws.
Recommended Articles
- Dems Reward the Hostage-Taker
- What Happens If We Gut the ACA: A Healthcare Crisis in the Making
- How Crossfire Hurricane Became a Political Litmus Test
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Today’s To-Do List
1. Email the Defecting Senators
Subject: I’m your constituent — I’m disappointed in your vote
Dear Senator [Last Name],
My name is [Your Name], and I live in [City, State]. I’m writing because I’m deeply disappointed you voted yes on the stop-gap funding deal that fails to guarantee ACA premium tax credits. This vote prioritised political theater over real people’s healthcare. Please commit to supporting only a final bill that locks in those credits — and explain publicly why you broke ranks.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[City, State]
2. Email Your House Representative
Subject: Reject this flawed funding bill — protect healthcare now
Dear Representative [Last Name],
I urge you to oppose the current funding bill unless it includes guaranteed ACA premium tax credits. Vote no on any measure that sacrifices healthcare protections. Americans deserve better than promises and deferrals.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[City, State]
3. Pressure the House
Demand the immediate swearing-in of Adelita Grijalva so the Epstein-files vote can finally proceed. Call, email, tag, and keep receipts.
4. Mobilize Online
Share this list of defectors everywhere. Accountability is a group project.
- Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada)
- Dick Durbin (D-Illinois)
- John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania)
- Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire)
- Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire)
- Tim Kaine (D-Virginia)
- Angus King (I-Maine)
- Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada)
5. Boycott Alert
Skip any corporate-sponsored events tied to these eight until they recommit to protecting healthcare. Your dollars deserve better moral hygiene.
- UnitedHealthcare: https://www.uhc.com/individuals-families/aca-marketplace
- Cigna Healthcare: https://www.cigna.com/individuals-families/
- Centene Corporation (via its “Ambetter” brand): https://www.ambetterhealth.com/
- Oscar Health: https://www.hioscar.com/individuals
- Aetna (a subsidiary of CVS Health): https://www.aetna.com/individuals-families.html
All Healthcare providers need to and together and refuse to take private insurance any further.
6. Celebrate Love, Defend Rights
Take a moment for joy — marriage equality survives another day. Then organize to make sure it stays that way.
Boycott of the Day
Boycott any fundraiser hosted by health insurance lobbyists or PACs supporting the eight defecting senators. Support local mutual aid or clinics instead — where healthcare is a right, not a revenue stream.
Featured Petitions
- Tell Congress: Investigate the DOJ’s January 6 cover-up
- Tell the DOJ: Drop bogus charges against Kat Abughazaleh
- Tell Congress: Restore PBS and NPR Funding
Resistance Events
- Virtual Town Hall on ACA Protections – 8:00 PM EST, hosted by Healthcare for All Coalition (Join here)
- Protest for Representation – Phoenix, AZ, 12:00 PM MST at the State Capitol, demanding Grijalva’s swearing-in
Final Rallying Words from Resistance Kitty
They think they can purr their way past us with half-promises and bad bills. Think again. We don’t roll over for corporate donors, and we sure as hell don’t nap through betrayal. Healthcare is a right, not a bargaining chip. Hold the defectors accountable, keep pressure on the House, and protect the wins we’ve clawed for.
Stay loud, stay clawed, and remember — Revolution2025.INFO has the tools, and ResistanceDirectory.com has the allies. Let’s go raise some democratic hell.
Sources
- AP News – Senate takes first step toward ending the shutdown
- Al Jazeera – U.S. senators advance bill to end record shutdown
- The Guardian – Mike Johnson delays swearing-in over Epstein vote
- Time – Why Grijalva’s seat matters for the Epstein-files vote
- Newsweek – SCOTUS declines to revisit marriage equality