Back in July, we were told this bill would fix everything. This administration repeatedly said it is focused on reducing the cost of health care for Americans. Yet, it has delivered the largest cut to essential health programs, including Medicare, in US history. Critics warned us, but most people didn’t have 1,000+ pages of free time to comb through what was actually in it. I have been revisiting it because, as we moved into 2026, provisions are starting to kick in and parts of the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” are no longer theoretical.

At its core, I believe rural America is a diverse and often misunderstood region. Rural Americans have become marginalized by systemic economic neglect, corporate consolidation, and a widening political divide. And we must work to move past these stereotypes and reinvest in these communities through direct support. 

Congressional Republicans claim this bill is about election integrity, but the reality is much darker. The SAVE Act is a dangerous attack on a fundamental right, the right to vote, that will create major barriers to voter registration and threaten more than 20 million eligible voters in 2026. The SAVE Act is not just another voter ID bill. It is about voter registration and, at its core, would require every American to prove their U.S. citizenship with inflexible requirements and specific documentation, such as a passport or birth certificate, to register to vote. 

I support the Second Amendment. It is your right to bear arms. And as we all know, with great power comes great responsibility. We all have an obligation to be responsible gun owners. As a responsible gun owner, the rising rate of gun violence and mass shootings should concern you. In fact, the U.S. Surgeon General declared gun violence a public health crisis.

Here’s a simple truth—things haven’t felt “normal” for a while. Life under this administration is fear, chaos, uncertainty, and distrust. This beautiful Democracy is being tested. We are breaking treaties, kidnapping a foreign leader, and having two government shutdowns in four months. Our elected leaders refuse to work across the aisle. ICE is out of control. Thousands of people are implicated in the Epstein Files. The media is dividing people and distracting them from the scandals rather than reporting on them. The political climate is heated. And Americans are growing tired of watching the news.

The billions of dollars allocated to ICE does not improve the quality of life for Americans. Instead, it funds a targeted agenda designed to purge anyone who does not fit a narrow, gate kept image of the country. This broken system treats the United States like an exclusive social club where the administration dictates who’s in and who’s out. The current administration and the Republican members of Congress are transforming the American Dream into something unattainable through terror and fear. This is not America First. 

"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command."

George Orwell's 1984

Throughout this series, we have explored my proposals to strengthen and expand the Small Business Administration—to secure the American Dream of ownership and opportunity. In Part I, we focused on the Hometown Economy, the microbusinesses with fewer than 20 employees that serve as the lifeblood of our communities and create jobs. We addressed the capital gap that starves these businesses of funding and proposed doubling the microloan cap to $100,000 alongside a new Main Street Direct Lending authority.

A healthy economy supports businesses at every stage. Last week, we addressed the needs of microbusinesses—of mom and pop shops. This week, we will explore the middle-market. The first challenge for middle-market companies is a legal and financial “no-man’s land.” They are often too large for traditional micro-lending and community banks, but too small to access public capital markets. 

I believe in the American Dream—ownership, independence, and opportunity. I want to empower more Americans to start a small business and rebuild Main Street because small businesses create the jobs our communities rely on. Because I want to rebuild Main Street, I support expanding the Small Business Administration, promoting entrepreneurship, and encouraging more Americans to own their future. And I will show you why and how in a three-part series. 

Today marks five years since an attempted insurrection, the moment Democracy began to unravel. But Donald Trump invoked his power to pardon criminals and pardoned the January Sixth Insurrectionists. Pardons are one of the most important powers presidents have, a great responsibility, and Donald Trump is using them to pardon allies, sycophants, insurrectionists, and fraudsters.

The primary is fast approaching, and now is our moment. Let’s channel our New Year's energy into real action. This is our year to step up, push harder, and show what we’re made of. Think: New Year. New You. New Congress.

Have you or someone you know ever been denied a medical procedure or course of treatment by your insurance company? If you answered yes, you are not alone.

Here’s what I know to be true. I pay less at the gas pump, and I am grateful for that—truly. I also pay more for groceries. A lot more. We thrift 95% of our clothes and buy used/refurbished to save money. I pay more for homeowner’s insurance, and for my property taxes. I pay more for most things I buy. I have out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. And I am not alone—most Americans can agree that affordability is one of the single most pressing issues in society today.

Today, GEO Group and CoreCivic, two of the largest private prison companies, control half of the private prisons in the U.S. and generate billions in annual revenue. These companies profit from housing those convicted of crimes—people’s uncles, fathers, mothers, and daughters. These companies benefit from imprisoning American citizens. And it comes at a steep cost. Privately run prisons cut corners.