Team —

No one asked for this, but veterans are smack dab in the middle of a big partisan fight right now. It involves the debt ceiling and discretionary budgets and late-night legislative votes, so before your eyes glaze all the way over, let me sum up what’s going down:

First, House Republicans passed a bill in the middle of the night last week. It’s part of an attempt to put pressure on the White House over the debt ceiling. They want big budget cuts, and so the legislation does just that — capping discretionary spending at 2022 levels.

Then, veterans service organization spoke out against this bill. They pointed out — accurately — that the House GOP’s bill would slash veterans health care and benefits, while cutting the VA’s budget big time. (And they were backed up by the Office of Management and Budget and the VA itself, saying it would have to shed 81,000 jobs if the Republicans’ bill became law.)

Now, those same Republicans are crying crocodile tears. They think it’s so unfair that people are pointing out that their bill would cut real budgets and hurt real programs that millions of people rely on.

These House Republicans are lying to our faces. And here’s the thing: They think they can get away with it — just like Trump has for years.

When I say I’m fighting for democracy, it’s not just about voting rights and the integrity of our institutions. It’s about the existence of truth. It’s about elected officials who govern not to win partisan squabbles, but to actually do things that make people’s lives better.

I know not everyone cares about the inner workings of the debt ceiling debate. But I’m asking you to fight back today against the MAGA playbook no matter where or when it rears its ugly head. That has to start here and now — if you can, chip in to fund our campaign to protect our democracy at all costs.

Thank you,

Amy