MOTHER JONES DAILY: The Trump Administration Is Already Ignoring the Supreme Court, "Well, we’re all going to die," says Joni Ernst in defense of Medicaid cuts, The worrying backstory of Trump’s proposed “Office of Remigration”, Toxic pesticide levels found in tampons 40 times higher than legal limit for water, Forget Dobbs—the personhood movement wants much more, When it comes to Trump's brain drain, “the damage is already done” 30MAI25

 

May 30, 2025 Death comes for us all. But should our elected officials have a say in the details? The question emerges after Sen. Joni Ernst defended the Republican Party's desire to impose the largest Medicaid cuts in US history, a plan that will sever critical health care services for the most vulnerable Americans. As the crowd expressed alarm with the plan, Ernst, wearing a smirk, told her constituents: "Well, we all are going to die." As I wrote in a quick piece today, it is true: Every one of us will indeed perish. But implicit in Ernst’s cavalier response on Friday is that the inevitability of death neutralizes how death comes for us: The reality is that so much of the death that American society tolerates—our gun epidemic, a lack of universal health care, etc.—is a choice enshrined in our shitty politics. Just take a look at the staggering rise in babies born HIV positive right now, thanks to a similar casual cruelty of Elon Musk. Ernst’s point is an accidental bedrock of GOP politics. Death does not matter, for certain people, if it means a supposed economic boost to the few. —Inae Oh P.S. Thanks to all the newsletter readers who’ve responded so enthusiastically to our appeals for support during our spring membership drive. The campaign ends tomorrow, and we’re getting oh so close to our $150k goal. This is my last chance to ask for your help before the deadline, so I hope you’ll chip in to support our work.

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The Trump Administration Is Already Ignoring the Supreme Court It's not a big moment of defiance—but death to the rule of law by a thousand cuts. BY PEMA LEVY

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"Well, we’re all going to die," says Joni Ernst in defense of Medicaid cuts BY INAE OH The worrying backstory of Trump’s proposed “Office of Remigration” BY ISABELA DIAS Toxic pesticide levels found in tampons 40 times higher than legal limit for water BY HELENA HORTON Forget Dobbs—the personhood movement wants much more BY NINA MARTIN

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When it comes to Trump's brain drain, “the damage is already done” How the DOGE-triggered attack on government research left America in the dark. BY ANNA MERLAN

MOTHER JONES MEMBERSHIP UPDATE IT’S LAST CHANCE TIME. WILL YOU HELP? It takes a lot of money to produce fearless, kickass, truth-telling journalism. That’s a message we’ve been hammering all month during this first membership drive of the Trump 2.0 era. Thousands of readers have stepped up to do their part, but with the deadline just around the corner, we’re still short of our $150k goal.   Please support the kind of independent media that can counter the forces of authoritarianism and oligarchy, and make a donation right now. Readers like you are what makes our work possible. Donate Now

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