You did it. You made the calls, you showed up at the town halls. You marched. You resisted. You defeated Trumpcare.
Each version of Congressional majority leaders’ health care plan was worse than the last. Every bill would have left family, friends, and neighbors without care; sent premiums through the roof; and restricted women’s access to care.
Senate Majority leaders tried every trick in the book to try to force the bill through in the dead of night. But they failed. The quest to repeal the Affordable Care Act may never die, but the American people have sent a message loud and clear: Obamacare is the law of the land.
ACTION OF THE DAY
Our Lives. Last night proved, once again, that resistance works. Congress’s attempts to strip health care from millions of people may be dead for now, but they have voted more than 60 times in the last seven years to repeal the Affordable Care Act. They won’t give up now, and we can’t either. Join us tomorrow for an event to send the message that our lives are on the line. Find an event near you.
WHAT’S TRENDING
Policy (not tweets). Despite what Trump may think, or at least hope, many tweets does not a real policy make. Yesterday, all the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff told the military that Trump’s ban on transgender military members will not go into effect until they receive more details and official guidance from the president. Here’s how the ban could undermine American security if it does go into effect.
Russia. Yesterday afternoon, the Senate put aside its partisan differences—and its bruising health care fight—to debate and pass a bill that puts new sanctions on Russia in response to the country’s meddling in the 2016 election. The 98-2 passage of the bill means it goes to Trump’s desk, where he’ll be forced to side with his Congress or Russia. New White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci (who needs a new communications director himself) suggested that Trump might veto the bill. Stay tuned.
Hot in here. Feel like the summers are hotter than they used to be? It’s not just you.
Recess. After a dramatic end to the health care debate, Congress will head home for August recess. The House will be home starting tomorrow and the Senate will head home after next week. Both chambers will resume business after Labor Day. The health care debate may be over for now, but from immigration to climate to Russia there are many fights ahead and we must continue to hold our elected officials accountable. Find recess events here.
UNDER THE RADAR
“Carnage.” In his Inaugural address, Trump promised to end “American carnage,” referring to “the crime and gangs and drugs that have stolen too many lives.” But new analysis finds that the carnage has only gotten worse: gun deaths are up 12 percent in the first 200 days of 2017.
GOOD NEWS
Resistance works.