Latest news with #Midterm
CNBC
13-05-2025
- Politics
- CNBC
Maria Ressa: Philippines move from Duterte to Marcos is a shift 'from hell to purgatory'
Maria Ressa, Nobel Peace Prize winner and CEO of Rappler discusses the role technology plays in disseminating misinformation in the Philippines Midterm elections, and compares the acts of violence under the two most recent administrations, Marcos and Dutertes.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Benefits Over Billionaires' town hall: Democrats continue jabs at Republicans over potential healthcare cuts
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Already gearing up for the 2026 Midterm election, Democrats across the nation, state and in Bakersfield continue criticizing Republicans over potential cuts to federal assistance programs. We've seen multiple rallies and town halls protesting potential cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, but Sunday's 'Benefits Over Billionaires,' town hall led by Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna attracted hundreds of people. At the Martin Luther King Community Center, there was a big line outside and an even bigger crowd inside, as community leaders, political activists and Santa Clara Congressman Ro Khanna took to the stage. The message was loud and clear — Central Valley residents cannot afford to lose federal assistance like Medicare, Medicaid and social security. 'This is the most obvious place, because this place is going to be devastated if there are cuts on Medicaid,' said Rep. Ro Khanna. Kern County has two congressmen — Republicans David Valadao and Vince Fong. Both voted for House Republicans' budget proposal in February — a blueprint that has sparked concerns resources like Medicare and Medicaid could be cut, as part of efforts to reduce federal spending. Kern County law firm creates petition for stricter DUI penalties Valadao especially has been in the hot seat, as reports show around 67% of his constituents are enrolled in Medicaid — which provides insurance for disabled and low-income people. 'My interest is in him changing his vote to avoid these cuts,' said Rep. Khanna. 'I'm not here to try to defeat him. I'm here to try to convince him that these cuts are going to hurt his own constituents and that he should be more loyal to his constituents than Donald Trump.' To which Valadao responded: 'The fact that [Democrats] are trying to turn this into a healthcare bill…we're focused on what we're actually doing and not pipe dreams of what they're expecting and what they're accusing us of. I'm sorry, wasting my time on political rhetoric is just not what I'm going to do for the next year.' Bakersfield Card Expo shows off the hobby — and business — of card collecting Congressman Khanna explained he planned town halls in red districts when House Speaker Mike Johnson encouraged lawmakers to skip such events protesting federal spending cuts. 'I said that's absurd. That's not American democracy,' Khanna said. For Democrats, healthcare has become a chance to mobilize voters well ahead of 2026. Khanna himself is rumored to be eyeing higher political offices. And Dr. Randy Villegas has been named a likely Democratic opponent of Valadao come the Midterm election. 'I'm here to fight for you, I'm here to fight with you,' he said during the town hall. And Democrat Rudy Salas — who's lost to Valadao two elections in a row — has declared an intention to run for a third time. Democrats are eyeing vulnerable, competitive congressional seats like Valadao's to flip in 2026 and secure a House majority. Valadao has repeatedly stated if cuts did come to such assistance programs in a final budget bill, he will vote against it. 'Is he going to be loyal to Donald Trump, in which case he'll lose his seat, or people in his district, in which case, he could probably still win…' said Rep. Khanna, adding that he would take the concerns of Bakersfield back to Capitol Hill. 'And he isn't showing up. And so, I thought I would show up,' the Santa Clara congressman said. Though Rep. Valadao sits in a sticky situation — with constituents, as well as from a political point — Congressman Vince Fong — who represents a majority Republican district — has not been exempt to critique. In a statement to 17 News, Fong said, 'I'm working every day with my constituents and community leaders tackling the serious challenges facing our region. I hope that Congressman Khanna will now support our efforts to increase domestic energy production, build water storage infrastructure, invest in our military, revitalize our economy by lowering tax and regulatory burdens on local small businesses, and end the failed high speed rail nightmare. I am committed to strengthening and preserving vital programs, such as Medicaid and Medicare, so they can continue to serve our most vulnerable residents. While I am working to ensure the solvency of our health care systems, some of my Democratic colleagues want to hide their own actions that will lead to the insolvency like pushing for an unsustainable single payer system or providing health care to undocumented individuals. The Central Valley is my home, and I hope that my Democratic colleagues will work with me instead of demonizing those they disagree with. I always welcome input from my friends and neighbors throughout our district.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Gearing up for the 2026 Midterm election: Battle over healthcare cuts becomes partisan
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Democratics and Republicans alike are already gearing up for the 2026 Midterm election. At a townhall at Bakersfield's IBEW Local 428 union hall Thursday night, Democratics discussed possible pathways to future victory, following major local and national losses in 2024. Kern County Republicans face their own troubles — especially Congressman David Valadao. Two days in a row, constituents rallied outside his Bakersfield district office to protest potential cuts to programs like Medicare and Medicaid. KCSO lieutenant caused 2 crashes on Sunday, allegedly driving under the influence 'Show me what America looks like, this is what America looks like,' protesters chanted Wednesday evening. And on Thursday morning, nurses with Bakersfield's Memorial Hospital chanted, 'When our healthcare is under attack, stand up and fight back.' '[We're here] to demand that he votes no on the current federal budget in the House of Representatives. And votes no to any cuts to Medicaid…' said Noe Garcia, policy coordinator with the Dolores Huerta Foundation. These concerns stem from House Republicans' budget blueprint approved in February, for which Valadao voted. In this blueprint, Republicans say they want to cut $880 billion from programs managed by Congress' Energy and Commerce Committee. But the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has said such a massive cut likely cannot happen without cutting Medicaid, Medicare and other programs. These cuts are up in the air. Nothing is finalized, and Congress and President Trump just passed a temporary spending bill to keep the government open and funded through the end of September. But again, voters are concerned that in the future when budget conversations pick up again, there is an opportunity for those entitlement cuts. 'We need people to be able to get their insulin, to take care of their chronic illnesses and see their doctors on a regular basis,' said Sandy Reding, a nurse at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital. Reding added, 'It's oftentimes the working poor, the disabled, the children [that are affected].' 'Valadao, you represent the largest number of people in California that are on Medicaid, food stamps, disability programs, education programs,' said local activist Dolores Huerta. Medicare provides health care to seniors. Medicaid assists low-income and disabled people. Valadao has declined all interview requests since early this month but said in a statement: 'I know how important Medicaid is to Central Valley families, and I remain committed to ensuring they have access to affordable healthcare,' said Congressman Valadao. 'There has been a lot of political rhetoric about cuts to Medicaid, but the reality is no such cuts have been made. As Congress continues to work through the budget process, I have been clear with House Leadership that I will only support a final package that protects critical programs like Medicaid and meets the needs of our community. My priority remains standing up for Central Valley families and making sure they can get the care they need.' Huerta added, 'Republicans, independent voters, Democrats, people that don't vote, everybody's going to be impacted by these tax cuts.' So, what are political implications as the 2026 Midterm — and yet another reelection bid for Valadao — fast approaches? 'He's in a tough spot. He's always in a tough spot, though,' said Central Valley political analyst Tracy Leach. 'Throughout his tenure, he is a Republican in a very Democrat district.' 17 News also spoke to Central Valley political strategist Tal Eslick. 17 News' Jenny Huh: 'Do you think that can actually threaten his reelection bid? Tal Eslick: 'So, when voters ultimately make the decision as to whether or not they're going to reward an elected official with reelection, it's usually not one specific thing. Maybe it's a couple of things [that impact their vote]… Valadao is probably the only Republican that can consistently win in this particular seat.' The five-term congressman has walked a fine line as a moderate Republican, winning in the majority Latino, largely Democratic district, beating Latino candidates like former California Assemblyman Rudy Salas. Never miss a story: Make your homepage His 22nd Congressional District is a competitive purple district — Democrats and Republicans have a fair shot. 'But healthcare is an Achilles for him,' Leach noted. 'In the past, it was healthcare, arguably, that was his undoing in 2018 to repeal and replace Obamacare. He voted for that.' That was the one year thus far Valadao lost his reelection bid. Constituents encouraged Valadao if wants reelection in 2026.'Under those pressures of Washington D.C. and the current Administration, stand firm, stand strong,' stated Grace Huerta, co-director of Kern Exceptional Family Center. 'Valadao's district, two thirds of the people are on Medicaid, the residents,' Leach remarked. 'That is a huge number. So, he has to somehow navigate that with his party in D.C. but not let down his own constituents here in the Central Valley.' Strategist Eslick noted, 'The specificity of these cuts does not exist yet, right? So, everything that we're talking about so far is mostly rhetoric… Congressional Democrats are using this as a bludgeon against anyone in a competitive seat.' All eyes are on Valadao — whether it be his constituents, or his party, with the potential President Trump can put up a Republican primary opponent against the congressman. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
