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Diane Matza's avatar

This was excellent.

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ArcticStones's avatar

I was lucky enough to catch this interview live. Truly excellent! I encourage all to watch it, and to read Gaba’s article. Charles Gaba really knows his stuff. Simon links to it above.

https://acasignups.net/25/07/08/heads-over-half-maga-murder-bills-healthcare-carnage-will-kick-midterms

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Barbara Moschner's avatar

Excellent interview! Unfortunately, the ACA will be weakened with higher premiums and loss of some subsidies.

Please listen to the interview. We need to hear more from Charles Gaba in the future.

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Liz Bohlke's avatar

This was great got to watch it live. Thanks Simon

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Learn about beads's avatar

Yes! what's the new meme (health care impact before midterms....)? The clip we can share on our social media? The call for people to report their health care cuts, hospital closures -- where can we go to see that documented? Juxtaposed with the positives that were put in place by the Dems. Who are the key actors we can support?

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David Margil's avatar

Imo, we should stop trying to come up with clever puns on the "big beautiful bill" and just call it what it is: the Republican death bill.

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BeeBeeinNYC's avatar

In my communications with my elected officials (all Dems), I called it the Death Warrant. Exactly what it is: slow death (by 1001 papercuts/bureaucratic harassment) and quick death (shortage of providers paid to serve/intervene/diminished institutional services). Leads to the same place.

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Madam Geoffrin's avatar

I am seething. Greed is so short sighted, self defeating and evil.

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BeeBeeinNYC's avatar

Esp after hearing about this latest Supreme Court ruling about not stopping mass firings, I'm having one of those weeks where I just can't find a suitable place to put my anger.

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BeeBeeinNYC's avatar

Of course, my anger is nowhere near that of those who lost loved ones in Texas. Once their grief morphs into something more manageable, I hope, when the time comes, they experience a rage so huge, there's no choice but to use it to throw out every Repub in the state.

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Sue's avatar

Just a quick note from an Aussie subscriber.

I heard on our news this morning that the orange man is going to put a 200% tarrif on Australian pharmaceuticals. I have yet to confirm this but worry that this will put more pain on American people taking medicines as well as the terrible savage cuts already beginning.

Standing with you all in solidarity

Sue E

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Deborah Potter's avatar

Yes, those awful plans are being covered by The Guardian, Forbes and others. It is not just Australia that is affected -- all "foreign pharmaceuticals." Imports are highest from Ireland, Switzerland, Germany, Singapore and India. However, pharmaceuticals are one of Australia's biggest exports to the United States. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jul/09/australian-government-urgently-seeking-more-detail-after-trump-flags-200-tariffs-on-foreign-pharmaceuticals

https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2025/07/08/trump-floats-200-tariffs-on-pharmaceuticals/

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Ruth Joachim's avatar

I’m interested to know what you think about the MAGA backlash to the Epstein files. How can we connect/position the undermining of our rights in a way that resonates with that base?

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Janet HB's avatar

It amazes me what doesn’t phase them in the least, but which other things, sometimes seeming relatively obscure, will get their attention. They’re totally unphased by masked, unidentified armed men ripping mothers from their children, yet are all in a tizzy about the Epstein files. We already know 47 is in them.

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Ellie Kona's avatar

Rather than putting time and energy into MAGA, it’s more productive for us to attend to what resonates with that terribly huge voting block of the “Did Not Vote” Party.

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Linda's avatar

Millions of people dying is the point. The survivors will be uneducated and strong and will be put into physical labor. AI will do all the brain work.

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Deborah Potter's avatar

Weakening the ACA will hurt cancer patients and their families!

On February 20, 2017, I was invited to speak with U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico about how the Affordable Care Act helps cancer patients. This was a very raw topic for me. It was a roundtable discussion with about 5 other people addressing aspects of the ACA. Local news media would be there, so I invited medical doctors who treated my late husband for brain cancer to help with any questions that might arise. (He was a senior scientist at the UNM Cancer Center research lab.)

My concern was that the ACA specifically covers clinical trials as well as cancer screening and prevention, and that was under attack. I talked about how there can be many out-of-pocket expenses associated with participating in a clinical trial. Since Glioblastoma Multiforme is almost always fatal to adults in a short period of time (weeks to months), the best hope for such cancer patients is that clinical trials will lead to longer, better-quality lives now or in the future. Inadequate insurance coverage for clinical trials is also a barrier to cancer research, since people who are eligible for a trial will forgo treatment due to costs. Without the necessary research, too many others will die of cancer. https://www.cancer.gov/research/participate/clinical-trials/paying

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Marijane Mercer's avatar

I love your tenacity, Simon...I apologize for taking time off from the news and politics and all things tRump....for my mental health. I want to know that I totally support progressive media .

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Annie Bear's avatar

Don’t apologize. You have to stay strong.

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Millie Polli Haskell's avatar

Millie Polli Haskell...

This was a very Informative and excellent discussion from Charles Gaba. Thank you. This has also been a very emotional and Stressful week. The Trajedy that happened in Texas was was Horrific! The People will now know what has to be done in that State, besides getting Rid of Gov.Abbot, he is Slime! I just received a message from Arnold Parnas. He said he got info. about the Horrific conditions at Alligator Alcatraz, so he's looking into it. More calming and Relaxing was that I read "Thee Declaration of Independence" Twice. Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address" Twice and "FDR',S Four Freedom's which I have never read, and so happy that I did. It was Beautiful and Meaningful. I really enjoyed all of it. MSNBCis my go to Station when I want Intelligent discussions as well. Nicolle Wallace has great guests always from 4 to 6pm. Today, I was very happy and surprised when She introduced Anne Applebaum. The discussion was about

Putting ignoring Trump and what UKRAINE is hoping to get from the US? I think I will be back talking and making calls to Sott and Luna by the weekend.

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Chris Lyke's avatar

Self report: I attended an in person meeting of my local Indivisible group tonight for the first time!

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BARRY's avatar

Simon and everybody on the Substack Network. I keep getting asked by fellow Democrats how can get persuadable Democrats or Democrats who chose to sit things out last time to get past the name "Democratic Party" and rebrand ourselves without really changing our name. Just a little adjustment, which in this adjusted restates our purpose and mission in this catastrophic time. I therefore put before you for your consideration "THE PRO-DEMOCRACY DEMOCRATS. Simon, you use this phase "PRO DEMOCRACY" quite often. Let's put the words together It's honest it resonates it's fresh and new and still somewhat the same as FDRs party "THE PRO-DEMOCRACY DEMOCRATS" And let's say it everyday. Thank you for your consideration. /

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