As you negotiate the federal budget, I urge you to make three non-negotiable demands. First, protect the health and financial stability of millions of Americans by extending the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies. If these expire, families across the country will face devastating premium hikes, higher copays, and impossible deductibles. Healthcare should not be a political bargaining chip — it is a lifeline for hard-working Americans who play by the rules.
Second, Congress must insist on transparency and justice by releasing the full, unredacted Epstein files. For too long, powerful people have been shielded from scrutiny while ordinary citizens are held accountable. The American people — left, right, and center — are tired of double standards that protect elites. The victims of Epstein’s crimes deserve justice, and the nation deserves the truth.
Third, Congress must address President Trump’s ongoing violation of the Constitution. For every day of his second term, he has impounded funds that Congress lawfully appropriated — refusing to spend money as required under Article II’s command to “faithfully execute the laws.” This is not politics; it is a breach of constitutional duty that alone warrants impeachment. Passing any budget without confronting this lawlessness only rewards defiance of the Framers’ design.
We cannot allow the media’s “blame game” to obscure the real stakes. This shutdown is not simply about political points — it is about whether families can afford healthcare, whether victims of abuse get justice, whether Congress will defend its constitutional role, and whether federal workers can keep food on their tables. These are bread-and-butter issues for millions of Americans who don’t care about spin, only results.
Finally, the president’s decision to post a racist AI-generated deepfake video mocking Schumer and Jeffries is beneath the dignity of the office. It was not just an attack on two lawmakers; it was an insult to the American people, especially Latino and Black Americans. Our leaders must not tolerate this toxic distraction from the urgent work of governing.
Congress has a simple choice: side with American families and the Constitution, or side with secrecy, corruption, and billionaire donors. A budget that ignores healthcare, truth, and constitutional duty fails the nation. No budget should pass without these commitments.
First sent on September 30 by Coleman
