Latest news with #MedicaidCuts
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Joni Ernst doubles down on bleak ‘We are all going to die' comments in sarcastic non-apology
Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst doubled down on her bleak comments in response to potential Republican Medicaid cuts by posting a sarcastic apology video on social media. The senator went viral after she said, 'We all are going to die,' when responding to a question about the proposed cuts in President Donald Trump's tax legislation during a town hall in Parkersburg on Friday. As Ernst began to answer the question, a person in the audience shouted, 'People will die!' "People are not — well, we all are going to die. For heaven's sakes, folks,' she said in response. The comment received national media attention and was widely criticized by Democrats who have slammed the possible ramifications of the proposed cuts to Medicaid. Ernst shared a video on her Instagram story on Saturday where she spoke directly to the camera, seemingly from a cemetery. "Hello everyone. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize for a statement that I made yesterday at my town hall," said before going on to describe what happened. "I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that yes, we are all going to perish from this Earth," she added. "So I apologize. And I'm really, really glad that I did not have to bring up the subject of the tooth fairy as well.' "But for those that would like to see eternal and everlasting life, I encourage you to embrace my lord and savior, Jesus Christ," said Ernst. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the Republican tax bill will cut Medicaid spending by $723 billion over the next 10 years. The number of uninsured people could rise by as much as 7.6 million. During the town hall event in Parkersburg, Ernst argued that the goal of the legislation is to ensure that those not eligible for Medicaid don't get the benefits. "What you don't want to do is listen to me when I say that we are going to focus on those that are most vulnerable," she said. "Those that meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid, we will protect. We will protect them. Medicaid is extremely important here in the state of Iowa. If you don't want to listen, that's fine." She subsequently went on to blame the "hysteria that's out there coming from the left" for the criticism of her initial statement. Former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger responded to Ernst's Instagram story on X, writing: 'Whelp. No sense of goodness left in her now.' 'I'm sorry… is she walking through a cemetery as she makes this?' Democratic strategist Tim Hogan added.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Joni Ernst Issues Non-Apology for Joke About People Dying Due to GOP Medicaid Cuts
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) doubled down on Saturday on her flippant remarks about people dying due to Medicaid cuts in a new Instagram video that appeared to be recorded in a cemetery. During a town hall on Friday, Ernst was pressed about President Donald Trump's tax bill, which would slash Medicaid in order to help fund a new round of tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations. The legislation is expected to force 10 million people off Medicaid, the government health insurance program for low-income and disabled Americans. When an audience member shouted, 'People are going to die,' Ernst responded: 'Well, we all are going to die.' Her unfunny joke drew headlines around the country, and was featured prominently on the front page of The Des Moines Register on Saturday. In a video posted on her Instagram story on Saturday, Ernst, who is up for reelection next year, decided it was wise to mock her constituents who do not wish to die due to a lack of health insurance. 'Hello, everyone. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize for a statement that I made yesterday at my town hall,' she says in the clip, which features gravestones in the distance behind her. 'See, I was in the process of answering a question that had been asked by an audience member, when a woman who was extremely distraught, screamed out from the back corner of the auditorium, 'People are going to die.' And I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that, yes, we are all going to perish from this Earth.' 'So I apologize,' Ernst concludes, 'and I'm really, really glad that I did not have to bring up the subject of the Tooth Fairy as well. But for those that would like to see eternal and everlasting life, I encourage you to embrace my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.' Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin said in a statement Saturday, 'Thoughts and prayers have a new meaning for the Republican Party with Joni Ernst doubling down on her cruel words. It is immoral and un-Christian to do nothing to prevent people from dying but unfortunately, Trump, Ernst, and the Republican Party are hellbent on putting their own constituents at risk.' Ernst had tried to defend the Medicaid cuts on Friday as necessary to ensure that undocumented immigrants are not on Medicaid. It's a favorite Republican talking point, but this is a blatant lie: Undocumented immigrants are ineligible for Medicaid. Of the 10 million Americans who are expected to lose Medicaid under the Republican tax bill, none of them are undocumented immigrants. The Trump tax bill would force millions off Medicaid by imposing work requirements on so-called 'able-bodied' adults, demanding they work or volunteer at least 80 hours a month. One problem with this idea is that many Medicaid recipients cannot work but have not been approved for disability benefits, which is an onerous process. Those beneficiaries will lose their insurance. The Medicaid program also contains strict income caps that require beneficiaries to earn exceedingly little money. Taken together, Republicans are effectively demanding that Medicaid recipients work low-income jobs in order to maintain their health insurance, and the added bureaucracy will certainly result in many eligible beneficiaries losing coverage. Ernst pledged Friday that the Republicans are 'going to focus on those that are most vulnerable,' adding that 'Medicaid is extremely important here in the state of Iowa.' Ernst made a post on X thanking people for coming to her town hall. 'I always enjoy hearing from constituents and sharing my work to cut government red tape for you,' she wrote. The post has 270 likes and 2,000 comments. More from Rolling Stone Trump Could Get Fox News-Style Intel Briefings Because He 'Doesn't Read': Report The Seven Ugliest Provisions in Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' Trump Says He's Fired Director of National Portrait Gallery ... Over 'DEI' Best of Rolling Stone The Useful Idiots New Guide to the Most Stoned Moments of the 2020 Presidential Campaign Anatomy of a Fake News Scandal The Radical Crusade of Mike Pence
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
GOP Senator Doubles Down On 'We All Are Going To Die' Comment In Wild Non-Apology
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) has doubled down on her dismissive response to worries about GOP legislation that includes huge Medicaid and food assistance cuts. On Friday, Ernst faced angry constituents at a town hall in Parkersburg, Iowa, with one woman in the crowd yelling, 'People will die.' Ernst replied, 'People are not ― well, we all are going to die. So, for heaven's sakes, folks.' The retort was met with backlash and mockery. On Saturday afternoon, Ernst addressed the controversy with what may have initially appeared to some to be a genuine apology. 'Hello everyone, I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize for a statement that I made yesterday at my town hall,' Ernst said in a video posted to her Instagram Story. Ernst's tone began to shift as the video continued. 'See, I was in the process of answering a question that had been asked by an audience member when a woman who was extremely distraught screamed out, from the back corner of the auditorium, 'People are going to die!'' It soon became crystal clear that Ernst had no intention of delivering a real apology. 'And I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that yes, we are all going to perish from this earth,' Ernst said. 'So I apologize. And I'm really, really glad that I did not have to bring up the subject of the tooth fairy as well.' In a second video, she followed up with a pitch for Christianity. 'But for those that would like to see eternal and everlasting life, I encourage you to embrace my lord and savior, Jesus Christ.' Eagle-eyed observers may also notice both videos were filmed in a cemetery. The non-apology went viral, with one X user noting that 'Against all odds, Joni Ernst has made it worse.' The Republican legislation that sparked the town hall exchange on Friday includes $1 trillion in cuts to federal health and food programs and would result in an estimated 8 million fewer Americans having access to health insurance. The massive cuts offset the bill's nearly $4 million in tax cuts, which mostly benefit higher earning people. GOP Senator Pooh-Poohs Fears On Medicaid Cuts: 'Well, We All Are Going To Die' GOP Senator Ignores Insane Town Hall Gaffe — And Social Media Goes Off House Passes Trump's Tax And Spending Cuts
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
GOP Senator Doubles Down On 'We All Are Going To Die' Comment In Wild Non-Apology
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) has doubled down on her dismissive response to worries about GOP legislation that includes huge Medicaid and food assistance cuts. On Friday, Ernst faced angry constituents at a town hall in Parkersburg, Iowa, with one woman in the crowd yelling, 'People will die.' Ernst replied, 'People are not ― well, we all are going to die. So, for heaven's sakes, folks.' The retort was met with backlash and mockery. On Saturday afternoon, Ernst addressed the controversy with what may have initially appeared to some to be a genuine apology. 'Hello everyone, I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize for a statement that I made yesterday at my town hall,' Ernst said in a video posted to her Instagram Story. Ernst's tone began to shift as the video continued. 'See, I was in the process of answering a question that had been asked by an audience member when a woman who was extremely distraught screamed out, from the back corner of the auditorium, 'People are going to die!'' It soon became crystal clear that Ernst had no intention of delivering a real apology. 'And I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that yes, we are all going to perish from this earth,' Ernst said. 'So I apologize. And I'm really, really glad that I did not have to bring up the subject of the tooth fairy as well.' In a second video, she followed up with a pitch for Christianity. 'But for those that would like to see eternal and everlasting life, I encourage you to embrace my lord and savior, Jesus Christ.' Eagle-eyed observers may also notice both videos were filmed in a cemetery. The non-apology went viral, with one X user noting that 'Against all odds, Joni Ernst has made it worse. Against all odds, Joni Ernst has made it worse — Keith Edwards (@keithedwards) May 31, 2025 The Republican legislation that sparked the town hall exchange on Friday includes $1 trillion in cuts to federal health and food programs and would result in an estimated 8 million fewer Americans having access to health insurance. The massive cuts offset the bill's nearly $4 million in tax cuts, which mostly benefit higher earning people. GOP Senator Pooh-Poohs Fears On Medicaid Cuts: 'Well, We All Are Going To Die' GOP Senator Ignores Insane Town Hall Gaffe — And Social Media Goes Off House Passes Trump's Tax And Spending Cuts
CNN
a day ago
- Business
- CNN
Joni Ernst's ‘Well, we all are going to die,' and the GOP's flippant defenses of Trump's agenda
One of the reasons politicians don't often engage in massive overhauls of the American economy is that it's very difficult to defend a massive overhaul of the American economy. However good any given plan is, it often produces losers and – even in the best of cases – some short-term pain. And repeatedly now as President Donald Trump has launched multiple massive overhauls, prominent Republicans have learned that the hard way. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa is the most recent. Appearing at a town hall on Friday, Ernst was pressed on cuts to Medicaid – the health care program for low-income Americans – in House Republicans' budget plan. One audience member shouted that 'people will die.' The usual politician thing would have been to take issue with that premise – or to, as other Republicans have strained to do, cast the Medicaid cuts as merely cutting waste and abuse. (That's not the full story, of course; the Congressional Budget Office recently projected that House Republicans' changes to Medicaid, including work requirements for some recipients, would leave 7.6 million Americans uninsured by 2034.) But Ernst decided to go in a different direction. 'Well, we all are going to die,' said Ernst, who's facing reelection in 2026. When hostile portions of the crowd balked at the response, she said: 'For heaven's sakes, folks.' The senator and her office argued Friday that Republicans are in fact trying to 'strengthen' Medicaid. A spokesman said: 'There's only two certainties in life: death and taxes, and she's working to ease the burden of both by fighting to keep more of Iowans' hard-earned tax dollars in their own pockets and ensuring their benefits are protected from waste, fraud, and abuse.' Ernst in her remarks went on to accuse her critics of not wanting to 'listen to me when I say that we are going to focus on those that are most vulnerable. Those that meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid, we will protect … them.' As a contrast, she cited an oft-invoked GOP claim that 1.4 million undocumented immigrants are receiving Medicaid benefits. But that's not actually what the CBO estimate says – nor does it account for the other millions of people the CBO says would lose insurance. In other words, however bad Ernst's answer was, it might just be that there's not a good answer to be given. Republicans needed to cut spending to pay for Trump's tax cuts, and it's hard to cut enough unless you cut entitlements. It's a political minefield that even some Trump allies like Steve Bannon have warned their party about. And indeed, Democrats quickly leapt to highlight Ernst as the epitome of an uncaring, Medicaid-busting Republican. But Ernst is not the first to wander into this kind of territory. Repeatedly in recent weeks, prominent Republicans who have been asked to account for the pains caused by Trump's bold plans have stumbled into similar territory. Trump himself has repeatedly talked about how the price increases created by his tariffs might mean people have to buy fewer dolls for little girls. 'You know, someone said, 'Oh, the shelves, they're going to be open,'' Trump said. 'Well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, and maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally.' Trump said on the campaign trail that foreign countries would pay the extra cost of the tariffs, not consumers. Conservative Daily Wire founder Ben Shapiro called Trump's comments 'a tremendous commercial for Democrats' and urged Trump to avoid language that minimized the impacts of inflation. Back in March, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick addressed the administration's chaotic changes to the Social Security system by claiming that only 'fraudsters' would complain about missing a Social Security check. He pointed to his own mother-in-law. (The administration has pursued a series of sometimes halting changes to the Social Security system, including limiting claims to in-person rather than over the phone – something it later walked back – and cutting staff.) 'Let's say Social Security didn't send out their checks this month. My mother-in-law, who's 94 – she wouldn't call and complain,' Lutnick said. He added: 'She just wouldn't. She'd think something got messed up, and she'll get it next month. A fraudster always makes the loudest noise – screaming, yelling and complaining.' It's logical to assume that Lutnick's mother-in-law wouldn't complain, given her son-in-law is a billionaire. But according to the Social Security Administration, more than 1 in 10 seniors rely on the program for at least 90% of their income. Are any of these game-changing gaffes? Not necessarily. But they are certainly fodder for Democrats to argue that Trump is pursuing a rather haphazard and callous overhaul of the American economy. It's the kind of thing Bannon warns about in cautioning Republicans against Medicaid cuts. There just aren't many good ways to defend millions of poor people being projected to lose their health insurance. And if the early evidence is any indication, it's going to result in plenty of awkward defenses in the future.
