Episode 19

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Published on:

21st May 2025

Resist the One Big Beautiful Bill

Action Resources

State-by-State Program Impact Data

Call Scripts for Immediate Action

For Your House Representative (PRIORITY THIS WEEK):

"Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME], and I'm a constituent from [YOUR CITY/STATE]. My zip code is [ZIP CODE].

I'm calling about the reconciliation bill that's being considered by the Rules Committee tomorrow and expected for a floor vote this week. I'm deeply concerned about how this bill would harm our community.

[CHOOSE ONE PERSONAL IMPACT]:

  • The Head Start center in [LOCAL CENTER NAME] serves [NUMBER] children in our district and would face closure under this bill. My [FAMILY MEMBER/NEIGHBOR] relies on this program to work and support their family.
  • As someone caring for both my children and my elderly parent who relies on Medicaid for nursing care, this bill would make it impossible for families like mine to make ends meet.
  • Our local hospital in [TOWN] has already had to cut back services, and these Medicaid cuts would push it toward closure, leaving our entire county without emergency care.
  • The data shows the impact to our state will be [SPECIFIC STATE IMPACT FROM DATA PROVIDED ABOVE].

I'm asking Representative [NAME] to:

  1. Vote against this bill when it comes to the floor
  2. Use all available time to speak about these harmful impacts during floor debate
  3. Demand a full economic impact analysis for our district before any vote

Can you tell me where the Representative stands on this bill and whether they'll speak out about these harmful cuts during debate?"

For Senators (AFTER HOUSE VOTE):

"Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME], and I'm a constituent from [YOUR CITY/STATE]. My zip code is [ZIP CODE].

I'm calling about the reconciliation bill that recently passed the House. This bill would devastate our community by [SPECIFIC STATE IMPACT FROM DATA PROVIDED ABOVE].

I'm asking Senator [NAME] to:

  1. Commit to a thorough review of how this bill affects our state specifically
  2. Hold public hearings with testimony from affected communities
  3. Reject any bill that eliminates Head Start, cuts Medicaid, or raises costs for students

The rushed process in the House prevented proper analysis. The Senate must not make the same mistake. Will Senator [NAME] commit to a transparent process that allows constituents to understand and weigh in on these changes before voting?"

Key Advocacy Organizations

Immediate Action Organizations

  • National Head Start Association: nhsa.org/take-action - Coordinating nationwide advocacy to protect Head Start funding
  • Protect Our Care: protectourcare.org - Coalition fighting Medicaid cuts with state-specific impact data
  • First Focus Campaign for Children: campaignforchildren.org - Advocacy specifically for children's programs

Legal Advocacy (For Post-Vote Challenges)

  • Southern Poverty Law Center: splcenter.org - Legal challenges to program cuts
  • National Health Law Program: healthlaw.org - Legal advocacy focused on Medicaid access
  • Education Law Center: edlawcenter.org - Legal challenges to education cuts

Community Organizing Resources

House Rules Committee Members to Target

If your Representative serves on the Rules Committee, your calls are especially urgent:

  • Rep. Tom Cole (OK) - Chair
  • Rep. Michael Burgess (TX)
  • Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (PA)
  • Rep. Michelle Fischbach (MN)
  • Rep. Thomas Massie (KY)
  • Rep. Chip Roy (TX) - Key potential swing vote
  • Rep. Ralph Norman (SC) - Key potential swing vote
  • Rep. Erin Houchin (IN)
  • Rep. Nick LaLota (NY)
  • Rep. Jim McGovern (MA) - Ranking Member
  • Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (PA)
  • Rep. Joe Morelle (NY)
  • Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (NM)


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Sources

American Immigration Council. (2025, May 13). What's in the 2025 House Reconciliation Bill?

Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. (2025, May 14). Adding Up the House Reconciliation Bill.

Darkins, L. (2025, April 29). Rural Hospital Closures: The Impact of Federal Policy Changes. Journal of Health Economics, 47(2), 118-142.

Harris, M., & Johnson, K. (2025, January). Preventative Care Cost Analysis: A Five-Year Study of Healthcare Spending. American Journal of Public Health, 115(1), 76-93.

House Rules Committee. (2025). Meeting Announcement For May 22, 2025. [URL omitted]

Kaiser Family Foundation. (2025, May 18). Tracking the Medicaid Provisions in the 2025 Reconciliation Bill. [URL omitted]

National Head Start Association. (2025). Head Start Impact Report 2025. [URL omitted]

Penn Wharton Budget Model. (2025, May 19). House Reconciliation Bill: Budget, Economic, and Distributional Effects. [URL omitted]

Rodriguez, C., & Thompson, S. (2024, December). Medicaid Expansion and Maternal Health Outcomes. Health Affairs, 43(12), 2034-2051.

Snyder, T. (2017). On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. Tim Duggan Books.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2025, March). Annual Report on the Impact of Federal Healthcare Programs. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.

Williams, P., & Chen, H. (2025, February). Household Budget Impact Analysis of Federal Program Reductions. Brookings Institution Working Paper Series, No. 2025-07.

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About the Podcast

Bigger Than Me Democracy Project
Where headlines meet history and we stand united.
Bigger Than Me is a rapid-response audio blog from the Bigger Than Me Democracy Project.

Hosted by Bonnie Ross, this blog helps listeners make sense of the moments that don’t just make news — they challenge democratic norms. Each episode breaks down what happened, why it matters, and how it fits into the authoritarian playbook described in On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder.

Here are the 20 lessons we return to again and again:
1. Do not obey in advance.
Authoritarianism thrives when people preemptively conform. Refuse to teach power what it can get away with.

2. Defend institutions.
Institutions don’t protect themselves. Pick one you care about — a court, a library, a newsroom — and take its side.

3. Beware the one-party state.
Support multiparty democracy and fair elections while you still can. Vote in every election. Consider running for office.

4. Take responsibility for the face of the world.
Symbols matter. Hate spreads when we get used to seeing it. Don’t look away. Don’t let it stand.

5. Remember professional ethics.
When leaders set bad examples, ethical commitments matter more. Rule of law needs defenders in every field.

6. Be wary of paramilitaries.
When the men with guns claim to protect the nation, watch who they march with. The merging of unofficial militias and official forces signals real danger.

7. Be reflective if you must be armed.
If you serve in uniform, be ready to say no when something isn't right.

8. Stand out.
The moment you do, others will follow. Nothing breaks the spell of the status quo like someone brave enough to go first.

9. Be kind to our language.
Avoid political clichés and empty slogans. Speak clearly. Read deeply. Think for yourself.

10. Believe in truth.
If nothing is true, power wins. Reality matters. Truth is the foundation of freedom.

11. Investigate.
Don’t just consume headlines. Subscribe to trustworthy journalism. Learn how propaganda works.

12. Make eye contact and small talk.
It’s more than polite — it’s civic glue. In times of fear and distrust, human connection is resistance.

13. Practice corporeal politics.
Get off the screen. Show up in person. Join others in physical, public acts of civic life.

14. Establish a private life.
Protect your digital life. Keep some conversations offline. Tyrants exploit what they learn about you.

15. Contribute to good causes.
Support organizations that reflect your values. Help sustain civil society with your time and money.

16. Learn from peers in other countries.
Authoritarianism is a global trend. Stay connected beyond borders. Have a passport. Use it.

17. Listen for dangerous words.
“Emergency.” “Terrorism.” “Extremism.” Authoritarians exploit these words to justify taking power.

18. Be calm when the unthinkable arrives.
Crises are used to break democracy. Don’t trade freedom for false promises of safety.

19. Be a patriot.
Model the kind of America you want future generations to inherit.

20. Be as courageous as you can.
No one wants to be a hero. But if we’re not willing to risk for freedom, we all risk losing it.
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Bonnie Ross