1. I dunno, you guys, I’m running on fumes.
2. But we’re gonna give this a shot anyway.
3. Happy Friday. Mostly.
4. There is some class one bullshit happening in the nation’s capital right now.
5. The “One Big Beautiful Bill” central to the GOP agenda hit its stride this week.
6. The House launched debate before midnight Wednesday and pulled an overnight session.
7. By dawn Thursday the vote was called and the bill passed the House 215-214.
8. What are some things of note in this 1,000+ page document?
9. Let’s take things one at a time.
10. Parents and older Americans face expanded work requirements for food assistance.
11. Currently some parents are exempt from work requirements until their children are 18; that would change so only parents caring for a dependent child under the age of 7 are exempt.
12. A focal point is the $700 billion in reduced spending in the Medicaid program.
13. Republicans are looking to generate savings with new work requirements for Medicaid recipients.
14. Notably, “A preliminary estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the proposals would reduce the number of people with health care by 8.6 million over the decade.”
15. Republicans are eliminating a $200 tax on gun silencers.
16. The NRA gives that two thumbs up.
17. They want to prohibit Medicaid funds from going to Planned Parenthood.
18. The bill provides $46.5 billion to bring back Trump’s wall building efforts along the southern border as well as more money for the deportation agenda.
19. $4 billion goes toward hiring 3,000 new Border Patrol agents as well as 5,000 new customs officers.
20. There’s $2.1 billion for signing and retention bonuses along with funds for 10,000 more Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and investigators.
21. Overall the plan is to remove 1 million immigrants annually and house 100,000 people in detention centers.
22. And this just barely scratches the surface.
23. I’m linking the PBS article for those of you who’d appreciate a detailed read on the matter.
24. So what now?
25. Well, I guess that depends on where you fall.
26. Read through the article, read through the bill itself, and decide how you feel about where our money goes.
27. Now is the time to share your thoughts with the people in charge.
28. 5 Calls helps constituents contact their legislators about issues important to them. This is the website; you can also get it as an app on your phone.
29. But let’s not forget:
30. Listen to Bill. If you don’t like what you’re seeing in the 2025 Big Beautiful Bill contact your Senators.
31. Now is the time to push back while changes are made during discussion in the Senate.
32. Alrighty then.
33. HOW’S THAT FOR A LIGHTHEARTED FRIDAY MORNING, HUH??
34. What’s some good news we can share with the class?
35. Well, if you’re gluten free (or love someone who is) then you need to know about JP’s Pastry.
36. I can confirm that these biscuits are 1000% worth it. Jalapeno cheese? Yes please.
37. They just opened a location about an hour away from me.
38. Field trip!
39. I feel like we could rally up a crowd some Saturday morning.
40. Here’s hoping you and yours find a quiet space to enjoy your weekend.
Source:
Freking, K., & Mascaro, L. (2025, May 22). House Republicans narrowly passed Trump’s ‘big, beautiful’ bill. Here’s what’s in it. PBS News. Retrieved May 22, 2025, from https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/house-republicans-narrowly-passed-trumps-big-beautiful-bill-heres-what-in-it
Riddle from the Middle 
Carers have such a hard life, beyond the realms of billionaires. Carers should be hugged and praised, not penalised. ❤️
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It feels soulless. Who looks at adults who are full time caregivers and thinks *that’s* where we cut back money??
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I have vague memories of an old saying – something like “by the people, for the people” – it sticks in my mind as something that used to not only be said, but abided by. So, we have this “big beautiful bill” to benefit those “important” people – the wealthy – by taking away from those of us who fall into the class of “little people” – you know, those of us who are old and (apparently) infirm and useless, and those who are young and not able to vote or support the MAGA movement – those of us who feel “entitled” (to something we’ve contributed to for all of our working lives) and are a “burden” on society. Yeah, I’m pretty sure that this is what those “red” states voted for. Is this the GOP system for “draining the swamp”? I think I need to dig a deeper hole in the sand into which I can bury my head, and pretend the world is something other than what it has become.
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This is so deeply true, Carol. I cannot for the life of me understand how so many people are still standing by this mess. The majority of MAGA are not the uber wealthy, they’re regular people who must be starting to feel the pain of this or know people who are suffering under it. I don’t know if we’ll ever reach the point where there’s an uprising by *all* of us to push back.
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One big bullsh$$ billionaire bill! Now has to go to senate where even one change, which is sure to happen, will kick it back to house , where it has to pass again, where it goes back to senate, where they can filibuster, where people have more time to publicize it , where Trump has more time to pressurize them, where we have more time to pressurize them, and the insane games continue….
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You know, beth, I woke up pretty rage-y this morning. Country going to hell, blah blah blah, US reps driving us straight off a cliff, blah blah blah. Somehow I forgot the whole kick it back to the house part and oddly enough that gives me a small sense of peace. Stress too, but I’ll take it.
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piece by piece…
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