Policy Soup stir the pot ALPHA

People of all backgrounds need to see a government working for them, not against them. That means tackling the affordability crisis and taking on corruption. I’m proud to be in that fight alongside talented AANHPI leaders. 2/2

It was great to be in conversation with @menendez.house.gov at the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies’ (APAICS) End of Year briefing earlier this week. 1/2

Trump is working harder to protect literal Nazis than he is to lower your costs.

The Washington Post

@washingtonpost.com

Exclusive: The U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify the swastika, nooses and the Confederate flag as hate symbols. The military service drafted a new policy that classifies them as “potentially divisive.”

Regardless of how one feels about the message conveyed by these members of Congress, the President (the Commander in Chief) should never support calls for violence against them. 2/2

For all who condemned political violence in the past, this is one of those moments that clearly crossed the line of acceptability. 1/2

MeidasTouch

@meidastouch.com

Trump is calling for the six Democratic lawmakers who urged the military not to follow any illegal orders to be arrested, and he’s reposting replies saying they should be hanged and calling them terrorists.

This week, I met with members of IBEW Locals 33 and 400 from NJ to discuss the impact of Trump's Big Disastrous Bill, which took away member jobs and opportunities. We must support projects that put people to work, not give tax breaks to Elon Musk and his billionaire friends.

Live Updates: Jobs Report Shows Gains in September, but Unemployment Rate Rose

With unemployment on the rise, it’s clear Trump’s economy is not working for working families. The American people want jobs and opportunity, not more layoffs and higher costs. We’ve had enough of governing for Trump’s and billionaires’ interests.

We have a moral imperative to end the hunger crisis in this country. Shame on us if we lose sight of our responsibility to help people in need.

Today, I joined @hungerfreeamerica.bsky.social to help them release their annual hunger report. In short: we're not doing nearly enough to help those who need it most. In the richest, most powerful country in the world, no one should be struggling to figure out where their next meal is coming from.

Trump Administration Announces Steps to Dismantle Education Department

The continued dismantling of the Dept of Ed is extremely concerning to me, especially as a father of two kids in elementary school. We should be doing everything we can to support our kids and provide them opportunities—not dismantling every structure that exists to do so.

SNAP is back, but millions of Americans could lose benefits due to new restrictions

It's incredibly hard to fight hunger when you have a President that's actively taking food away from kids, seniors, and working families. This is what cruelty looks like.

Just as SNAP benefits were reinstated for millions of Americans following the reopening of the federal government, many are now set to permanently lose them.

Today, I met with Heidi Murkoff, Founder of the What to Expect Project, to talk about how we can better improve maternal health outcomes and support expecting parents. All moms—and dads—deserve to be supported and set up for success when it comes to starting a family.

Leader Thune should bring this legislation to the Senate Floor and it should be passed immediately. We should protect children, not abusers and their corruption. Transparency is the only path forward to expose the extent of the crimes committed and give survivors justice.

The New York Times

@nytimes.com

Breaking News: The House overwhelmingly voted to demand that the Justice Department release all files related to its investigation into the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

When the G.O.P. Medicaid Cuts Arrive, These Hospitals Will Be Hit Hardest

For Newark’s University Hospital, GOP Medicaid cuts will spread already tight budgets even thinner. This will strain hospital staff. It will close support programs. Your care will suffer. All to keep billionaires from paying their fair share of taxes.

It's clear that Trump's cuts to the NIH are taking us backward. He’s cut over 100 grants for cancer research and many more for infectious diseases. It’s clear he doesn’t care about your health or our ability to solve big problems.

The Washington Post

@washingtonpost.com

A new study found the Trump administration’s cuts to NIH grants disrupted more than 380 clinical trials, affecting over 74,000 participants. The cuts disproportionately impacted trials on infectious diseases and minority communities.

China Escalates Japan Feud With Island Patrols and Warnings to Citizens

The Gateway Tunnel Project brings great economic opportunity to New Jersey, yet Trump has used the fate of its funding as a tool for political retribution. New Jerseyans don’t care about political games, they just care about their communities.

Senator Andy Kim@kim.senate.govNov 17(source)

I deeply value the United States’ alliance with Japan, which is a cornerstone for regional peace and security. We must all condemn Beijing's attempts to bully our Japanese ally, and continue to stand with Japan and our treaty commitments.

Senator Andy Kim@kim.senate.govNov 17(source)

This cannot be overstated – we need an experienced and Senate-confirmed FEMA Administrator who is prepared and able to protect millions of lives. Enough with this dangerous, non-committal governing. Trump needs to send a qualified nominee to the Senate ASAP.

The Washington Post

@washingtonpost.com