News Articles
Recent news articles about Republicans and MAGA voters who have spoken out about feeling betrayed by elected officials.
Republicans Betray the People, Side with Big Banks, Big Tech, and Elon Musk
How is greenlighting exorbitant bank fees good for Americans?
Washington, D.C. — The House majority today chose to give Wall Street banks free reign to charge outrageous overdraft junk fees and to abandon oversight of payment apps run by Big Tech and Elon Musk. Along partisan lines, the House voted to roll back two popular safeguards created by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), part of the broader Republican attempt to dismantle the CFPB, slash its funding, and eliminate critical consumer safeguards that protect everyday people. The CFPB plan would have slashed overdraft charges from an average of $35 to $5, which would have saved people $5 billion each year, or $225 per household. Its plan for payment apps would have created protections against financial fraud and privacy violations on apps such as Venmo, CashApp, PayPal, Apple Wallet, Google Pay, and would have eventually applied to Elon Musk’s newly launched X-Money app. “Today, House Republicans confirmed their allegiance to Wall Street Banks and Big Tech and turned their backs on the everyday people who need the CFPB’s common-sense protections,” said Christine Chen Zinner, consumer policy counsel at Americans for Financial Reform. “Their votes made no sense except as a payoff to big banks and Big Tech billionaires that want to get richer by ripping the rest of us off.” The final vote on the CRA resolution to overturn the overdraft rule was 217-211 (including one Republican voting no) and the final vote on the CRA resolution to overturn the Big Tech payment app oversight rule was 219-211. These measures were already passed by the Senate, allowing Trump to sign them into law. Hundreds of community, consumer, labor, civil rights, and other organizations sent letters opposing the efforts to repeal the overdraft rule (nearly 300 groups) and payment app rule (nearly 200 groups) ahead of the votes urging House members to oppose rolling back the CFPB protections. The CFPB and particularly these two measures are very popular, with broad bipartisan support among voters.
Nancy Mace Throws Fit Over 'Evil' People Wanting A Town Hall
UPDATE: She recently held a telephone town hall, but the notifications were only on social media, not from her office. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CndOg82JUg
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) apparently thinks people who have been calling her district office to criticize President Donald Trump and his policies are ... evil. On Monday, the congresswoman sharedtwo videos on X, formerly Twitter, to air out her grievances with these callers, calling them “evil,” “ugly” and “hateful.” She claimed that her office had returned calls to hundreds of people who’ve requested that she host a town hall — people she referred to as “fake town hallers.” Mace was evidently offended that so many of the callers took the opportunity to condemn Trump and his billionaire adviser Elon Musk. “Their only complaint is they hate Donald Trump and they want to see Elon Musk dead,” she scoffed in one video. “Those are the types of people that want this town hall. They don’t have any needs with our office or any federal agency, they don’t need any help from a constituency standpoint.” “They’re just full of it. They hate Donald Trump. They hate Elon Musk. Too bad,” she continued. “Because I love some Donald Trump. And I love some Elon Musk. All the way — MAGA baby.” In another video, Mace said that the callers sharing their concerns about Trump were taking away time from “real constituents” who need assistance with federal agencies, like, getting appointments with a Veteran Affairs department. But constituents from the 1st Congressional District Mace represents have expressed concerns about those very issues at a town hall event she turned down last month. During the town hall, which was held on March 28 in the Mount Pleasant town in South Carolina’s Lowcountry region, attendees expressed concerns about possible cuts to Medicaid, the Department of Veteran Affairs and the Department of Education, local Charleston NBC affiliate WCBD News 2 reported. “We’ve elected Nancy Mace to represent the Lowcountry — where is she?” one town hall attendee said about Mace’s absence during an interview with local ABC News 4. [Read more at the link below]
McConnell on vote to undo Trump tariffs against Canada: ‘We need to reinforce our allies’
Now THIS is how you defend your state's export industry.
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said the United States needs to “reinforce our allies” when asked why he voted to undo President Trump’s tariffs against Canada. Four GOP senators, including McConnell, voted with Democrats on Wednesday for a resolution to undo Trump’s 25 percent tariff on Canadian imports. McConnell, the former Senate Republican leader, said he’s long warned that tariffs are a bad idea. “At a time when Americans are tightening their belts, we would do well to avoid policies that heap on the pain,” McConnell said in a statement Wednesday after the vote. “We ought to strengthen our friendships abroad, and reinforce our allies as pillars of American prosperity and security.” McConnell was joined by Republican Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.), Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) in voting for the resolution, allowing it to pass. It dealt an embarrassing blow to Trump on another tariff announcement day, which he dubbed “Liberation Day.” “With so much at stake globally, the last thing we need is to pick fights with the very friend with whom we should be working with to protect against China’s predatory and unfair trade practices,” McConnell’s statement said. “That includes what we do on trade.” The group of senators voted against Trump just hours after he announced he’d impose a 10 percent tariff on all imports. In a post before the vote, Trump slammed McConnell and the other three senators, saying they “hopefully” will join the GOP and fight Democrats’ “wild and flagrant push” not to penalize Canada. The Trump administration has sought to frame the tariffs on the country’s northern neighbor as a way to crack down on the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. McConnell has already noted the impact his state has felt from the Canadian tariffs, as companies have pulled Kentucky-distilled bourbon from Canadian shelves. “In Kentucky, broad-based tariffs could even have long-term consequences right in our backyard,” his Wednesday statement said. “Consider our state’s 69,000 family farms that sell their crops around the globe, or the hardworking Kentuckians who craft 95 percent of the world’s bourbon, or our automotive and manufacturing industries that rely on global supply chains.” “Make no mistake: goods made in America will be more expensive to manufacture and, ultimately, for consumers to purchase, with higher broad-based tariffs,” McConnell continued.
"We made a mistake": GOP Rep. Bacon suggests limiting Trump's presidential tariff powers
Don Bacon finally stands up! Hopefully he's just the first.
President Donald Trump’s metastasizing tariffs are forcing some Republicans to fall out of line. With broad tariffs on Canada and Mexico set to kick in next week and a recently announced duty on most imported vehicles, Republicans in Congress worry massive price increases on everyday goods may trigger a backlash against the party. Some GOP lawmakers are even ready to rein in the president's power to implement tariffs, citing the economic uncertainty that spooked investors earlier this month. Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Thursday that the “power of the purse” had to return to the legislative branch amid tariff proposals that could sour voters. "Tariffs should be a Congressional-initiated action," Bacon said. “I think we made a mistake. In the past, we passed legislation that gave the president some temporary tariff authority. And I think we should look back and maybe restore the power back to Congress." Another GOP Rep., Ralph Norman of North Carolina, said the auto tariffs would be “painful” for Americans but kept hope that Trump’s plan would work, per CNN. Norman told the network he would “leave that up to [Trump]” when asked if the president should reconsider the 25% tax on all foreign-made cars. Phill Swagel, the Republican chief of the Congressional Budget Office, also said the tariff plan would hurt American consumers in the short term. “It reduces the efficiency of the economy. It boosts the price level. We don't think it leads to sustained inflation, but there's a period of inflation that has a negative effect on families and on businesses, and on business investment,” he said on CNBC Thursday. Still, not all GOPers are doom-and-gloom over the White House’s tax-raising scheme. Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., says the leverage gained from the tariffs will help American consumers in the long run. “There’s some uncertainty,” Stutzman said in an interview with NewsNation. “But my hope is that these other countries will realize that they need us as a partner… We knew it was going to be a little rocky.”
‘Do your job’: Republican Representative Victoria Spartz booed at Indiana town hall
That weekend she also asserted "you violated the law, you do not get due process." The Constitution makes no such distinction: "…no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law."
WESTFIELD, Ind. (CN) — A raucous crowd booed U.S. Representative Victoria Spartz throughout a two-hour town hall meeting in an Indiana suburb on Friday as the Republican congresswoman defended the sweeping funding cuts made by the Trump administration. “If you just came here to scream, then we will be unable to have a conversation right,” Spartz said. “I want you to hear, you might not like what I have to say but I thought you would like it, I thought you would like it.” For much of the meeting, Spartz fielded questions ranging from the Russian invasion of Ukraine to the governmental cuts enacted by the White House's Department of Government Efficiency, which she said had found “true fraud, waste and abuse.” But she was interrupted by the crowd repeatedly booing mentions of DOGE — the Elon Musk-headed organization that has spearheaded funding cuts for government agencies, to much pushback — sparking Spartz to say, “I can obviously tell you don’t like DOGE here.” “This used to be a very bipartisan issue," she added. Protestors outside the meeting held at the IMMI Conference Center chanted “Do your job" — a refrain that attendees inside the venue later echoed after a question about what Republicans are doing in the face of Trump's barrage of executive orders. In the later portion of the meeting, an attendee staged a walk out, though many stayed to continue jeering the lawmaker. Josh Lowry, Chair of the Hamilton County Democrats, stood with protestors outside the venue and had strong words for Spartz regarding DOGE’s actions. “Look, for the Hamilton County voters, some of us did not vote for Victoria Spartz, but those that did expect her to represent us, and not to bow down and let Elon Musk get rid of every VA benefit, Medicare, Medicaid, public education,” said Lowry. “Everything she’s supposed to be protecting for Hoosiers that Elon Musk is just chopping. We expect her to stand up for us and not just Republicans.” The Ukrainian-born congresswoman also voiced support for NATO after being asked a question about the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. “I’ve always been a supporter of NATO. It’s an important institution, for the security of Europe,” Spartz said. “We need to make sure Europeans do better too.” She also expressed that she would not support a blank check to anyone, and that, “we need to know where the money are spent.” Spartz represents Indiana’s Fifth Congressional District and won re-election in 2024 with 56.6% of the vote defeating Democrat Deborah Pickett. Initially, she announced that she would not seek re-election, but later changing her mind to go for a third term. Friday’s event is not the only planned stop for Spartz, who plans to host another town hall meeting at Muncie City Hall from 11 a.m. to 1.p.m., on Saturday, March 29. Spartz's town halls may now be something of a rarity among her party — House Speaker Mike Johnson has instructed Republican leaders to not to hold in-person town halls in the face of strong public backlash from even their own voters. Following the move, some prominent national Democrats have begun holding town halls and rallies in these Republican-held districts.
Crowd jeers Hageman at tense Laramie town hall. She calls them ‘hysterical.’
LARAMIE—Wyoming’s U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman provided no new details regarding the Trump administration’s mass layoffs of federal workers during a Wednesday night town hall. Her constituents, however, made one thing clear — they want answers. And many of them are angry. More than 500 people squeezed into the auditorium of the historic Laramie Plains Civic Center. With each seat filled, including the balcony, residents crowded in the back and lined the outer aisles. Dozens brought signs. One carried a blue, pink and white flag. Some wore red baseball hats and brandished Hageman for Congress campaign signs. Originally slated for a room a fraction of the size in another corner of the building, the event had been advertised as a “recap of the latest developments in Congress” with an audience Q&A to follow. But before Hageman even reached the spotlit podium, she was greeted with a roaring “boo” as she walked across the stage. Supporters stood and clapped despite being heavily outnumbered. “What an incredible turnout. It’s very exciting to be back in Laramie, Wyoming, where I went to school. What I would like you to do is, I see a lot of signs around, and I understand what you’re trying to say. I get it. I can read them,” Hageman said before she was interrupted. “Fuck you! That’s what we’re saying,” someone in the crowd hollered. From there, the room remained at a rolling boil. At several points, the crowd broke out into chants, including “tax the rich” and “do your job.” Some attendees argued amongst themselves, while the heavy law enforcement presence maintained a hands-off approach. No one was asked to leave or escorted out, a Laramie police officer confirmed to WyoFile after the event. (Anna Rader/WyoFile) About half of the Q&A was conducted without a microphone, making it difficult to hear. A couple of local Democratic Party organizers, including Linda Devine and Mike Selmer, asked attendees to curtail the yelling and cursing in order to have a “dialogue.” Those calls were mostly ignored. Hageman’s supporters, most of whom sat in the front rows, were vastly outnumbered. A few, including former Colorado congressman Doug Lamborn, used the Q&A as an opportunity to thank and praise her. Others, like Kathy Russell, who lives in Cheyenne and works as executive director of the Wyoming Republican Party, scowled and used her phone to record those who objected to Hageman. The congresswoman, meanwhile, returned fire with her constituents. “It’s so bizarre to me how obsessed you are with the federal government,” Hageman said when asked about the fate of Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks. “You guys are going to have a heart attack if you don’t calm down,” Hageman said. “I’m sorry, you’re hysterical.” [Read more in the article link below]
Voters boo Nebraska Republican over Musk, Ukraine, Trump tariffs during raucous town hall
Rep. Mike Flood’s (R-Neb.) town hall turned raucous Tuesday night as he fielded questions from voters about Elon Musk, President Trump’s tariffs, the White House’s posture toward Ukraine and more, with attendees booing and yelling at the congressman throughout the event. Flood — who represents Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District — held the town hall in Columbus, Neb., despite House GOP leaders advising their members to avoid in-person town halls and instead host call-in and livestreamed versions. The guidance came after several GOP lawmaker town halls went viral for protests and complaints about the Trump administration, which Republicans have blamed on Democratic activists. Flood’s town hall — which ran for more than an hour — was tense from the start, with the crowd booing parts of the congressman’s responses, yelling back at his remarks and cheering when a voter raised a complaint. At one point, an attendee held a sign that read “LIAR.” In one of the rowdiest moments, an attendee criticized Flood for calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s conduct “disrespectful” after his tense meeting with Trump last month. “First of all, I do want to say shame,” the attendee said. “I want to say shame for your comment, your quote that you said, ‘President Zelensky’s approach today was disrespectful to President Trump and undermines the goal of bringing peace’ and that. So shame on that.” The comments came after Flood, in response to a previous question, said he supported Ukraine, voted for previous aid packages and believes Kyiv should not have to give up any land to Russia, prompting claps in the crowd. At another point, Flood was accused of doing little to help constituent concerns. “Congressman Flood, I just heard you in the last few minutes say that you support NATO, that you will not allow cuts to Social Security, that you support Ukraine, but talk is cheap,” the individual said. “Our president, our vice president … and Elon Musk have caused damage, they’ve humiliated the United States, because we’ve failed them.” “We are failing to support democracy. We have a president that openly supports Putin instead, and I have called your office over and over and I have received answers from you, and they do nothing about any of those things,” he continued, referring to Trump’s relationship with Russia President Vladimir Putin. “You have done nothing. When are you going to do something?” The room erupted in applause. Flood responded, telling the man, “Unfortunately, sir, you are wrong,” noting his previous support for Ukraine. Flood sought to keep the town hall civil, at one point telling the crowd, “Let’s remain calm,” when shouting broke out during his response to a question about cutting Medicare. “Let’s remain calm, let’s remain calm, let’s remain calm, and let me remind you, if you’re gonna ask me a question, let me answer the question,” he said. “If you’re gonna ask me a question, you have to let me answer the question.” [Read more in the link below]
Georgia's 8th district rallies for town hall, citing complaints about Rep. Austin Scott
"…his last town hall was August of 2015, and that was for veterans only, so it really wasn't a constituent's town hall."
WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Protesters gathered outside U.S. Rep. Austin Scott's Warner Robins office Monday, setting up an empty chair to represent the congressman they claim hasn't held a town hall in over a decade. According to organizers, nearly 100 constituents from across Georgia's 8th congressional district attended the demonstration, some traveling as far as Valdosta and Tifton to voice concerns about federal job cuts and changes to Social Security. "As far as we can tell, his last town hall was August of 2015, and that was for veterans only, so it really wasn't a constituent's town hall," said Lynn Snyder, one of the event's organizers from Macon. The protesters took turns addressing the empty chair, reading prepared questions about issues ranging from veteran services to retirement security. Many attendees expressed concerns about recent changes to federal departments, particularly the Social Security Administration. "I've paid into Social Security all my working life, more than 50 years. This is our retirement money," said Lindsay Holliday, a dentist from Macon who ran against Scott in 2020. Demonstrators criticized the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) involvement in government departments, referring to Elon Musk's role in the administration. "This is a lawless and unconstitutional administration. I do not appreciate as a taxpayer that he is gaining access to our personal information through the Social Security administration," Anita Barkin said. Several protesters mentioned receiving only form responses when contacting Scott's office about their concerns. "When I contact his office, I get a boilerplate response. And that's unacceptable. He is in his position to represent me," Barkin added. The demonstration attracted at least one political hopeful. Vince Watkins, who identified himself as a Republican with young-onset Parkinson's disease, announced his intention to run against Scott in the next election. "I'm planning to run against Austin Scott. I feel like the people of Georgia's 8th need somebody that's gonna actually have a town hall that they attend," Watkins said. Watkins described himself as a "party of Lincoln Republican" rather than a "party of Trump Republican," expressing concerns about the current direction of the party. [Read more with the link below]
Constituents say Rep. Van Orden refuses to listen to their concerns about safety net cuts
“He’s our elected official, and guys like me can’t even get near him,” Paul Wuensch, a lifelong resident of the district, a military veteran, and a nonpartisan elected member of the La Crosse County Board of Supervisors, told the Wisconsin Independent in a phone interview. “It’s not fair to the district.”
Voters in Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District are speaking out against President Donald Trump’s cuts to safety net programs. Their U.S. representative, Republican Derrick Van Orden, is making headlines for refusing to listen to their concerns. The House of Representatives held a district work period, when members return to their districts to meet with constituents, the week of Feb. 24-28. Lawmakers across the country and in Wisconsin held town hall meetings. Many heard from voters who were upset about Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency making unilateral moves to slash federal agencies without the permission of Congress and about the just-passed House GOP budget resolution, which would require major cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. Van Orden avoided hearing from Trump critics. “He’s our elected official, and guys like me can’t even get near him,” Paul Wuensch, a lifelong resident of the district, a military veteran, and a nonpartisan elected member of the La Crosse County Board of Supervisors, told the Wisconsin Independent in a phone interview. “It’s not fair to the district.” Wuensch was part of a group that had planned to hold signs in a peaceful protest outside of a Van Orden community meeting at a La Crosse brewery on Feb. 28. Constituents signed up to attend the event, hoping to participate, according to a WXOW report. Van Orden’s staff moved the event at the last minute and emailed some who had signed up to attend to say their tickets had been rescinded. A day earlier, his office canceled a planned meeting for constituents in Eau Claire with Van Orden staff members, according to WQOW. The office said the event organizers, Chippewa Valley Indivisible, “took it upon themselves to distribute the meeting details to the public, without authorization from our office, to ambush the congressman’s staff.”. [Click below to read the full article]
As U.S. Senator hosts private forum, protesters demand Mike Crapo hold public town halls
“He's not doing the work of his constituents. I mean, just the mere example today is that he's having a closed door meeting without constituents,” she said. “It's a pay to play situation"
Hundreds of people lined up on Chinden Boulevard in Garden City Monday to protest U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo as he held a private forum inside the Riverside Hotel. Protesters held signs calling out South African billionaire Elon Musk’s role in the federal government and asked the senator to “do his job.” “I am dramatically worried about the increasing presence of oligarchy in our nation,” said protester Matt Bruender. “Basically, the billionaires club running the show, calling the shots and not listening to what the people want.” Walking down the street, Rebeka Magana said she wanted Crapo to hold public town halls. “He's not doing the work of his constituents. I mean, just the mere example today is that he's having a closed door meeting without constituents,” she said. “It's a pay to play situation, shutting out all of our voices. This is not what a democracy is. Our government is in a definite constitutional crisis right now. “ Crapo’s last public meeting took place in Sandpoint, Idaho in August 2022. As the Trump administration overhauls the federal government, protesters demanded the senator's opinion about the impact of the new president’s policies in Idaho. Another roughly 200 people attended the luncheon organized by the Boise Metro Chamber. Recording was not allowed during the closed door event. Crapo said the layoffs happening at the federal level were a “work in progress” and reiterated his support for nuclear energy. He also said he has met with President Donald Trump who told him he would not cut Medicaid benefits.
They Voted for trump. Here's Why They Feel Betrayed
Two-thirds of people in California’s 22nd Congressional district rely on Medicaid. But the majority of the district also voted to elect President Trump in 2024. We went to talk to residents to see what they think about Trump’s proposed cuts to Medicaid. One Trump voter told us: “I feel like they're stabbing us in the back, you know?”
Protests held outside West Virginia offices of U.S. Congress members
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WV News) — A protest of about 50 people was held Monday in front of the offices of U.S. Rep. Riley Moore and U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito. Protesters aimed to urge political leaders to recognize the importance of government-funded health programs that many West Virginians rely on. “If you go anywhere in West Virginia, if you go to the grocery store or to your son’s football game and look to your left and to your right, the statistics are: One of you is on Medicaid. It’s 1 in 3,” Klein said. “We really need to protect this because this is an issue for a lot of people, especially for an aging population that needs it and might have medical issues. It’s an incredibly important issue, and it’s something that West Virginia is already in a deficit for.” “It’s just going to negatively affect our state,” said Anthony Pritt, a registered nurse who attended the protest. “We obviously have a large population that is dependent on it, and we’re already not in the best shape we could be.”
North Carolina GOP town hall turns heated as self-described veteran escorted out by security
A North Carolina Republican Congressman’s town hall event grew heated after a man who identified himself as a veteran stood up and started shouting at him, yelling "you don't give a fuck about me!" before being escorted away by police. The outburst unfolded Thursday night at a college auditorium in Asheville during a gathering hosted by Rep. Chuck Edwards, who serves the state’s 11th District. "In my view, the debt crisis has been largely ignored far too long and the time is now to fix how Washington works. To that end, I was proud to vote recently for the House budget resolution which provides the framework," Edwards was heard telling the audience before being interrupted by boos and jeers. He then said, "And you wonder why folks don’t want to do these town halls." Moments later, a man in the audience started shouting at Edwards, saying "You have nothing to say but lies. You’re lying. I’m a veteran, and you don’t give a f--- about me!" You don’t get to take away our rights" the man continued to shout. "You don’t get to do this to us!" The audience in the room applauded as the man was removed from the room by law enforcement. "You f------ touch me again and I’ll lay you the f--- out!" the man said before exiting the area. Edwards later said on X that he had a "lively town hall with my constituents in Asheville." Around 300 people attended the 1.5-hour long event, where Edwards answered questions on topics such as cuts orchestrated by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, according to the Associated Press. "Do you support the annexation of Canada and/or Greenland? And this is a yes or no question, I don’t want you to wander off into the woods, I don’t want to hear about your latest week in your office," Edwards was asked by one audience member, to which he replied "the short answer to that is no." "We may not agree on every issue, but hearing the concerns of Western North Carolinians and answering your questions will continue to be a priority of mine," Edwards said.
‘That’s not the kind of leadership we need': Colorado residents raise concerns about a state congressman’s townhall meeting
Dozens reached out to 11 News about the meeting saying they could not submit questions, their questions were not chosen to be answered, or that the meeting seemed pre-recorded.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) -After Representative Jeff Crank held a town hall meeting last night, dozens reached out saying they were unable to submit questions. “I went on half an hour early to submit a list of questions. You had to submit one at a time. Shortly after the recorded meeting started playing I got a message that said questions had been disabled,” said Sarah Magraff, am meeting attendee. Dozens reached out to 11 News about the meeting saying they could not submit questions, their questions were not chosen to be answered, or that the meeting seemed pre-recorded. There were two ways to join the meeting, by calling in using a phone and via Rep. Crank’s website. Magraff said, “I called the office on Monday and asked for the phone number to call them and I was told you don’t need to call in, it’s going to be live stream. You can enter your questions there. Even know the phone number that was reported to be available was active.” Some who reached out told us they believe only certain questions were picked and that the meeting did not feel very interactive. We reached out to Rep. Crank’s office with concerns brought to us, they said: “Last night I hosted my first live telephone townhall,” said Rep. Crank. “We received hundreds of questions, ranging from Medicaid and Social Security to keeping Space Command in Colorado’s Fifth Congressional District. Thank you to all the thousands of constituents who tuned in and asked questions!”
Senator Roger Marshall abruptly leaves contentious town hall
Senator Roger Marshall left his town hall early in Oakley, Kansas after a larger-than-expected crowd pressed him about DOGE cuts including jobs held by veterans. Colin McRoberts, who recorded the town hall, spoke to CNN about the Republican senator’s abrupt exit. After indicating he could confirm that attendees at his contentious town hall were paid to be there, U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall is walking back that claim. The Kansas Republican said he doesn't have evidence to back up the allegation, which was a rumor he heard about his town hall in Oakley over the weekend.
California Rep. Tom McClintock cancels some office hours in wake of Trump policy protests
EL DORADO HILLS — California Representative Tom McClintock's office on Monday confirmed that he has suspended some events in response to recent protests of President Trump's policies he called "heated." McClintock, a Republican, represents California's 5th District, which encompasses Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne and Mariposa counties as well as parts of Stanislaus, El Dorado, Fresno and Madera. The congressman canceled district office hours events in Modesto, Oakdale, Riverbank and Mariposa. "In recent weeks, they have been disrupted by people wanting to protest Trump's policies," McClintock said in a statement. "When some of those encounters became heated, I agreed with our staff to suspend them until tempers cooled." A staff member said there is no plan to reschedule the hours in the immediate future. The decision comes after protesters also descended on McClintock's El Dorado Hills office in February.
Rep. Van Orden's staff canceled Eau Claire meeting, constituents still showed up
It was supposed to be for like 24 people but Chippewa Valley Indivisible caused a bunch of protesters to RSVP so they canceled it. Hopeful people showed up anyway
Constituents Jeer And Heckle Keith Self At Town Hall, Chant 'Vote You Out!'
Representative Keith Self, a Texas Republican, faced a wave of jeers, heckling, and fierce verbal opposition during a tense town hall event as frustrated constituents repeatedly interrupted him with chants of "vote you out!" Self was frequently interrupted by boos from the crowd of more than 300 people, many of whom gave thumbs-down gestures as he referenced cuts made by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This has led to job losses, which have impacted Americans up and down the country. Around two dozen protesters gathered outside the Collin College Conference Center in Wylie to greet Self as he arrived for a town hall meeting. The congressman opened the March 1 town hall by discussing the budget resolution that narrowly passed the U.S. House. During the town hall, the GOP lawmaker mentioned DOGE and was met with a wave of backlash from furious constituents who appeared to be upset with the cuts. Collin County GOP has claimed in an X, formerly Twitter, post that the audience members jeering were Democrats who "showed up only to cause disruptions."