It’s been 256 days since Trump took office, and nothing short of a firestorm of chaos and mock monarchy. The president thinks his rule is absolute. But in America, we don’t have kings, and we won’t stand by silently as toxic policies that undermine democracy are passed and doors to opportunity are closed.

What’s happening? In his latest power-grab, Trump and Republicans in Congress have shut down the government because Democrats refuse to defund your health insurance. In fact, instead of negotiating with Democrats to fix our growing health care crisis and protect life-saving programs, Republicans—who control the U.S. House, the U.S. Senate, and the Oval Office—are shutting the government down.

This is a big deal. When Republicans cut $1 trillion from health care earlier this year, they ripped coverage from over 15 million people and increased health care costs for millions more Americans. [1] Now, an additional 24 million people who buy health coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace are at risk of seeing their health premiums soar when the enhanced tax credits expire at the end of 2025 if Republicans keep standing in the way. [2]

Make no mistake, this is a Republican-manufactured, totally preventable health care crisis that will hurt our families, workers (especially military and government workers), veterans, children, and our economy as a whole. Yet Trump and Republicans have only doubled-down, refusing to compromise, even shutting down the government to protect health care cuts and fund tax breaks for billionaires.

A government shutdown is not a negotiating tactic—it’s a real threat to the livelihoods and well-being of millions of people, to our communities, and to our economy. It will disrupt the jobs of millions of workers, individuals, and businesses. Essential government services may be stopped altogether.

This isn’t the first proposal that Trump and his enablers have put forward to break down democracy, grab power for themselves, take away our healthcare, and make their rich friends richer. Trump and Republicans in Congress have made extreme cuts to Medicaid to pay for separating families, human rights abuses, and terrifying hardworking immigrants—people essential to our care workforce, our economy and our future. Our nation needs a safe and orderly immigration process that balances compassion and security, NOT cuts to healthcare and NOT cruelty.

That’s not all: The Trump administration is also threatening to overtake elections. Gutting healthcare, environmental protections, and education. Rigging maps to silence voters. Ignoring mass shootings at our schools and in our communities.

The policies of the Trump administration and Republican leaders in Congress are leaving hard working families like yours and mine struggling with rising grocery prices, increases in the cost of health care, child care, and more. Vegetable prices are up 40%, coffee is up 33%, even washing machines are up 12%, and healthcare costs for many are about to sky rocket because Republicans in Congress just made massive cuts—and they are now poised to do even more cuts. [3]

This past June, MILLIONS of Americans came together in local communities to say “NO KINGS!” on the same day that Trump threw himself the most un-American birthday party, complete with a lackluster military parade and spotty attendance. In stark contrast, we the people stood up for democracy by the millions in cities and towns across the country. Incredibly, on that same day, more than 1,400 events to help protect democracy took place across the country in direct response to Trump’s authoritarian overreach and the billionaire-backed agenda defying our courts, advancing human rights abuses, gutting our federal resources, and threatening our livelihoods.

Because YOU showed up, we helped his would-be coronation collapse. While historians are telling us that we may be on the fast track to an authoritarian regime, history also tells us that the power of people who support democracy is our greatest tool. The more of us that peacefully show up on Saturday, October 18th, the more momentum and pressure we build in support of democracy. Together, we can build a brighter future for all of us.

And if you’re able to attend and plan to post any photos to social media, be sure to tag us @MomsRising #NoKings so we can show the strength of our people power!

This is an all-hands-on-deck moment to stand in strong opposition to Trump and his enablers’ power grabs and overreach. Enough with the illegal power grabs that tear apart our communities and further enrich the already ultra-wealthy. Enough with the king cosplay. Together we are united. And in America, we have NO KINGS.

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