“It’ll never make it through Congress,” were my initial thoughts upon hearing of Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill not long ago. I spoke too soon. I’m sure I wasn’t alone in this naive way of thinking, but now I hope I’m not alone in this reality check!
I was naive enough to think that this Big Beautiful Bill wouldn’t stand a chance in Congress. I mean, I understand Trump has surrounded himself with his loyal MAGA cultists, but still, I didn’t believe a bill of such atrocities would make it through even with some of the most extreme right-wing congresspeople. Until just a few hours ago. When it did.
When I saw the headline, “Big Beautiful Bill passed…set to be signed by the President tomorrow afternoon,” it was an instant reality check. This is not a warning of a fascist regime, it’s the start. Trump and his MAGA followers are displaying behaviors only comparable to that of the Nazis: Mass deportations, attempts to end birthright citizenship, a revival of Christian Nationalism, slashing medical assistance to those in need, attacking minority groups (ex: defunding the LGBTQ+ suicide hotline), and more (I could do a whole separate post just drawing comparisons between MAGA and Nazis!).
If you’re unaware, a few key points of Trump’s bill include cutting $1 trillion in Medicaid funding, which will kick an estimated 11.8 million Americans off their health insurance, cutbacks on SNAP that will result in 2 million losing their benefits, and $300 billion to fund ICE’s mass deportations, which makes ICE’s budget larger than the military’s. So, what’s in it for Trump and his supporters? Tax cuts for the rich!
Trump’s victory on the political stage was due in large part to his access to big-dollar donors, aka the same people he is giving tax cuts to. For MAGA’s regime to continue thriving, they need to maintain good standing with their cash cows. The bill’s federal aid cuts only make the poor poorer and the rich richer—exactly what Trump needs.
Not only are these tax cuts significantly harming lower-income Americans, but they’re also extremely unethical—and Americans have said so before. Andrew Jackson, one of the earliest presidents of the United States, was notoriously known for his use of the “Spoils System,” a system in which political loyalty was rewarded with government jobs (cough, cough, Elon Musk!). Trump’s Spoils System is slightly more refined: He rewards his Top 1% big-donor-buddies who are fueling his MAGA regime with even more money (which comes back to who? Donald J. Trump.), all at the expense of millions of American lives!
Families are being swiped from their homes and shipped off to detention camps, the sick and in-need are being denied healthcare, the reigning political party is publicly endorsed by Christian Nationalist and Neo-Nazi groups, educational programs such as PBS are victim of media censorship and defunding…this is our reality. This is—dare I say—the American Holocaust.
So, what can we do? We can:
1. Focus on electing Democratic and anti-Trump leaders in local elections (gubernatorial, school board, delegates, county boards, etc.). While these roles may seem small, there is strength in numbers, and electing grassroots candidates is what we need now more than ever to form a strong community of those opposed to MAGA and, eventually, get more seats at the table in DC.
2. Call/text/email/meet with your representatives, especially those who are supporting Trump. Tell your story! How does the Big Beautiful Bill affect you specifically? What does losing SNAP benefits mean for your loved ones? Our representatives work for US!
3. Protest, protest, protest! And TAKE PICTURES/VIDEOS! Public displays of unrest have worked time and time again, from Women’s Suffrage to the Civil Rights Movement, protesting has been an instrument of change. Also, I understand there are security concerns when it comes to videoing/photographing protests, but I urge you to document your experiences as the media is being censored and our protests are being suppressed. The world needs to see what’s really happening.
The American Holocaust began the moment Trump stepped into office. Now, just a few months later, this Big Beautiful Bill highlights his motives and serves as a harsh reality check for millions: Trump’s MAGA agenda is Hitler all over again, plus a little extra cash from his loyalist-billionaire-buddies.
As always, don’t wait for change, be the changemaker!
-Lyn Jones
“They call it the ‘big beautiful bill,’” says Colorado Activist Bre Kennedy, “But for me, it’s the bullshit bill. This bill will strip millions of people of healthcare, devastating SNAP benefits, and backdoor abortion ban by defunding planned parenthood. It slashes funding for student loans, sends billions to ICE, and continues to feed a system that already makes money off punishment and control. It’s a massive transfer of wealth from working families to the rich. This bill will devastate communities. This bill is brutal and there is not one single thing beautiful about it. I may be only 15 years old, but I know injustice when I see it and this bill is built on it. We’re not fooled. We will not be silent.”
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