Independence for Whom?

Reflecting on Independence Day

The Declaration of Independence signifies the inception of a nation built on the foundation of equality, freedom, and liberty that swore to protect its people from tyranny.

Each year, we celebrate this notion with barbecues, fireworks, and loud kids running around our backyards. And though America is home to communities who mark their own independence days, the 4th of July has often served as a moment of connection, tradition, and hope across our differences.

But this year feels different.

It no longer feels like a time for celebration, when the actions taken by the Trump administration are counter to what the founding fathers intended for America. Rather than uplifting our diverse origins, this administration exploits fear, consolidates power, and pushes policies that protect the privileged.

The Supreme Court’s retreat from its role as a check on executive power makes them complicit in the denigration of our constitutional republic. Time and time again, the conservative majority fails to protect us from restrictive abortion laws, rampant shootings, and kidnappings by ICE, all to serve the agenda of a man who only seeks to better himself. 

Last week’s Trump v. Casa injunction ruling is just the latest example. By limiting the scope of legal relief to only those named in the lawsuit, rather than applying it universally, the ruling makes it harder to challenge abuses of executive power, bringing us one step closer to authoritarian rule.

While these words were never perfect, they were a vision antithetical to the direction America is going. Today, that vision is being manipulated to serve the few at the disadvantage of those who need it the most.

But the promise isn’t lost. We still have the power to make it real.

Next week, we’ll be sharing reflections from our Gen Z interns—stories of how they’re feeling, where they believe established Democrats are falling short, and the kind of future they’re fighting for.

The Big Bad Bill Passes House and Senate Vote

Today, Republicans’ “Big Beautiful Bill” has officially passed. After a 51-50 Senate vote on Tuesday, with JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote, the House approved the bill in a narrow 218–214 vote. Only two Republicans, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) opposed it.

The bill seeks to increase funding to ICE, strip money away from Medicaid and SNAP, and ultimately disenfranchise millions of hard-working Americans for generations. 

Now, it’s on its way to Trump’s desk to be signed into law.

With Senator Ossoff up for reelection in 2026, holding onto his seat will be critical to stopping additional extremist policies by Republicans.

Healthcare

The bill includes $930 billion in cuts over the decade to key healthcare programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act. The consequences would be catastrophic:

• Rural hospitals and clinics may shut down or drastically reduce services, leaving entire communities without access to care.

• Tighter and more frequent eligibility checks will cause millions to lose health insurance coverage, including an estimated 650,000 Georgians.

• Out-of-pocket costs will rise, forcing people into medical debt for basic treatment.

• Widespread job loss in healthcare as funding dries up.

• Medicaid restrictions on abortion providers will effectively defund Planned Parenthood and others offering reproductive care.

In a healthcare system already ranked last among developed nations, these cuts will fall hardest on low-income families, disabled individuals, and people of color, pushing them even further into the margins.

SNAP Benefits

In 1939, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly the Food Stamp Program, was launched to address farm surpluses and widespread hunger. The solution was for the government to purchase the excess goods from farmers and distribute them to low-income families, supporting both agriculture and those in need.

Unbeknownst to most, Georgia helped shape SNAP's modern form through the 1977 Food and Agriculture Act, introduced by Senator Herman Talmadge and backed by President Jimmy Carter, which simplified eligibility requirements and directed funding to Land-Grant institutions to lead agricultural research.

Over time, SNAP has become a critical economic stabilizer prone to attacks by conservatives. With the “Big Bad Bill” threat looming to dismantle it, low-income families and farmers stand to lose out. Despite the myths, most SNAP recipients who can work already do. Those who don’t are often actively job-hunting, caregiving, or navigating severe hardship.

The broader economic consequences of gutting SNAP include:

• Rising grocery prices, driven by inflation and tariffs, make basic food unaffordable for low-income families.

• Reduced consumer demand leads to lost revenue for businesses.

• Economic recovery stalls, deepening instability across the economy.

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