Joan is joined by Alex Lawson, executive director of Social Security Works, who discussed the just-passed House budget resolution that instructs committees to cut $880 billion from Medicaid, potentially affecting millions of Americans. Despite one Republican's opposition to the resolution -- due to what he considered insufficient spending cuts -- all other House Republicans voted in favor. Lawson highlighted the political cowardice of representatives who won their 2024 House races by narrow margins and now risk losing their seats due to the votes they cast on the resolution; Iowa Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks is one of those Republicans. 

"You can bet your bottom dollar that Social Security Works, my organization, and our partners on the ground in Iowa are going to be making a ruckus," Lawson said about plans to exert pressure on Miller-Meeks. "We've got a billboard truck that we're sending imminently to her district. We're going to go to every single Social Security office, nursing home in her district to let people know that she's voting to steal 66,000 people's health care in her district; she's voting to close the 15 nursing homes in her district. And we feel like we can pressure her and make sure that she's hearing more from her constituents than from Donald Trump and Elon Musk."

Lawson emphasized the need for solidarity and direct action to protect vital programs like Medicaid and Social Security.

Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).

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