Trump's tax cuts for the rich will save the top 1% of income earners more than $1 trillion in the next 10 years, more than $75,000 annually for the richest households.  To offset this give away, the Republicans slashed an estimated $700 billion in funding for Medicaid over the next decade.  They also cut $186 billion for SNAP  (food stamps) benefits.  And they have allowed insurance premium tax credits relied upon by some 22 million Americans to expire in the Republicans late

Trump's Economy is Not for Us - Layoffs Reach a 22 Year High

Here I come again with those pesky facts. I have been looking at the President’s deployment of National Guard troops in LA, Washington, DC and (soon) Chicago.

Quick quiz: How much of the US budget do you think was going to USAID? Find out Now.

One of the most confusing topics of these turbulent times is tariffs.

New Medicaid rules are coming — but not until after the 2026 midterms . That timing is no accident. Here’s what you need to know about the changes quietly passed by the GOP in Congress — with full support from Chuck Edwards  — and what they could mean for hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians. 🔹 1. Delayed Accountability The changes passed in the so-called “one big beautiful bill” won’t take effect until 2027 , long after the 2026 mid-term elections . That delay conveni

Attending Henderson County Board of Commissioners’ meetings can often be sleep-inducing. At other times, the normally somber proceedings are punctuated with tiny bomblets of “what did they just say?” moments. The sound system in the Historic Courthouse is not always up to the task, and the Commissioners sometimes use its inadequacy to render their comments inaudible to much of the audience. Auditory challenges aside, the July 23rd meeting was notable for a challenge by the tw

"Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost." – Thomas Jefferson, 1786 Chuck Edwards recently ranted in an irony-filled opinion piece published by the Citizen-Times (link here). He claimed that mainstream media is biased and accused Americans of only consuming media that supports their existing biases. Edwards called for “fair and unbiased news coverage” – something we can all support. In that spirit, would he be open to all

As the Henderson County Public Schools (HCPS) near the end of the ’24-’25 school year, they are working with the Henderson County...

We’ve had several successful rallies recently in Hendersonville—focused on the Big Orange Cheeto and the boy band known as Elon and the...

NC House Bill 127, currently in committee, is yet another thinly veiled attempt at voter suppression. This bill places unnecessary restrictions on how North Carolinians can register to vote. Many trusted organizations — like the League of Women Voters and even the Henderson County Democrats — regularly host nonpartisan voter registration drives. In fact, I registered to vote at one of these events in downtown Hendersonville two years ago. These drives make registration access

At the next monthly School Board meeting, I’ll be taking a close look at the rapid expansion of state funding supporting private (mostly religious) schools through vouchers. Since public comment at the School Board meeting is limited to just 3 minutes, I’ll use the substance of my remarks as the basis for this Weekend Joe offering. The Start An early voucher program in North Carolina began in 2013 — known as the Opportunity Scholarships Program — with two pathways: one for st

We all have favorite songs and least-favorite songs. As I was waiting for an oil change at the dealership the other day, one of my least favorite songs came on — John Mayer’s “Waiting on the World to Change.” Despite its catchy tune and Mayer’s sultry voice, there’s something that has always bothered me about this song. Why should we wait for the world to change? If we want the world to change, we need to actively work to make the world change. Look what’s happening in these

I think it may be time to consider where we Democrats are after the election and at the 60-day point of the second Trump presidency. I suspect most (if not all) of us went through a period of mourning after last November 5th. At first glance, it can certainly feel like we Democrats should hunker down and wait for 2028. In his first 60 days in office, Trump has unleashed his Hounds from Hell—Elon and the Oligarchs—who act as if the checks and balances built into our Constituti

I received an invitation to Chuck Edwards’ townhall only two days before the event. With such short notice, imagine my surprise—and delight—when I found that more than 2,000 people had mobilized and showed up last Thursday. Hoping to Get In AB Tech’s Ferguson Auditorium holds fewer than 400 people. The line stretched past the building, around the parking lot, and back down the other side. We waited patiently, chatting with strangers and applauding whenever someone walked past

Question: Is Trump really serious about improving the U.S. relationship with Putin and Russia? Observations: Let’s first review his...

Late Tuesday evening (2/25/25), the U.S. House passed President Musk’s (oops, President Trump’s) requested budget on a party-line vote. So, our Representative, Chuck Edwards, threw us under the bus again. Many constituents in NC District 11—except for the many billionaires who live among us—will take a hit to the pocketbook. One Republican, Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky, said, “Here’s the deal: We are cutting taxes, and we’re not going to cut spending to match it, so

lon and the Oligarchs.  No, it’s not the name of a new boy band. It’s my name for the billionaires intent on destroying democracy to further enrich themselves . Let’s Put Elon and the Oligarchs in Context: There are around 800 billionaires  in the U.S. 13 of them  are (or soon will be) in Trump’s cabinet. The net worth  of the billionaires in the Trump administration is $382 billion . The net worth  of Trump’s cabinet alone is $11.8 billion  (separate from his wealthier advis

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act , currently in Congress, could cost you your right to vote—especially if you changed your name when you got married. This disturbing Project 2025-related  effort claims to prevent non-citizens from voting. It was introduced last year but did not come to a vote. Now, it’s back on the docket for 2025. A Solution in Search of a Problem Despite claims from the president and many Republicans that non-citizens are voting in high n

The news from Washington has been coming at an unprecedented clip over the past week. At first, it might seem somewhat disjointed, but there is actually quite a measure of connectedness. FBI and CIA Trump has been salivating at the prospect of wreaking vengeance on the FBI. In Trump World, any attempts by the FBI to hold him accountable for his extensive crime spree during his first term are seen as “deep state” persecution. Trump and Musk’s Narcissistic Personality Disorders