💊Poison Pills - Action Alert, November 17, 2025

beachesactivistmov
2 days ago
4 min read

Next Up: Vote on ACA Subsidies & Poison Pills

Betrayal or inevitable? Cave-in or smart strategy? Naive or cunning? Regardless of how you feel about last week's decision by a handful of Democratic U.S. Senators to support a GOP

plan reopening the government, another battle over a promised vote on extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies is looming. The subsidy vote, expected in mid-December, is one of a modicum of concessions extracted by the lawmakers in exchange for their support of the compromise budget measure, which funds the government through January, ends furloughs and layoffs of government workers, and reinstates funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through next September.

But the GOP already has a strategy for torpedoing any effort to make health care more affordable for more than 20 million Americans --- a poison pill enacting a nationwide abortion ban among other unacceptable provisions. If you get the impression that the GOP negotiated the budget compromise with their fingers crossed behind their backs, you are not wrong. Regardless, we need to let Florida Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody know that we are on to them. Floridians will be among the hardest hit when ACA subsidies expire in January. About 4.7 million Florida residents are covered through Obamacare plans, representing 27% of the state's under-65 population, compared to the national average of 8.8%. Of those on marketplace plans, 98% receive a subsidy at some level.

➡️Contact Scott and Moody (Capitol Switchboard: 202.224.3121) and demand they immediately pass a permanent extension of the ACA premium tax credits, and block any additional abortion restrictions or other attempts to sabotage the ACA. Demand they act now to protect affordable health care before costs skyrocket and financially devastate millions of their constituents. Double your impact and send a follow-up email by clicking on their names above.

Pressure Builds on Epstein File Release

After a hiatus of more than eight weeks, the House was forced to return to DC last week to vote on the Senate budget measure, setting off a cascade of activity related to the release of the Epstein files. The issue is one of the few that has divided the MAGA base and threatened Trump's seeming invincibility. It's worth a call to Rep. John Rutherford to urge him to vote yes this week on HR 4405, the Epstein Files Transparency Act -- 5 Calls.org has an easy-to-use script.

Volunteers Needed for Food Distribution Effort on Friday, November 21st

We need volunteers! BAM has committed to helping the Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition with a food distribution event by Farm Share next Friday, November 21st at Pearl Plaza (5300 N. Pearl Street). Volunteers are needed to unload a truck with food items, pack and distribute bags, and assist with traffic flow at the drive-through event. More than 300 families will benefit from the food distribution project. Despite the reopening of the government, families participating in SNAP and other anti-hunger programs are still facing delays in receiving benefits. Truck unloading begins at 8 am followed by bag assembly. The event opens to families at 10 am. Email us ASAP if you can help!

Indivisible, Partners Organize Black Friday Boycott

Indivisible is partnering with Black Voters Matter and Until Freedom for We Ain't Buying It, a nationwide economic pressure campaign against corporations that have colluded with the Trump administration. Ahead of the holiday shopping season starting on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, We Ain’t Buying It urges consumers to avoid shopping at Target, Amazon, and Home Depot until these major retailers cease collaborating with and enabling this administration’s harmful policies. "In the face of rising authoritarianism, fascism, and Trump’s anti-American agenda, fear has been weaponized to make people feel powerless. The truth is, we have power as consumers, citizens, and voters. This holiday shopping season, consumers are closing their wallets to make change." Click here for more information and here to sign the pledge and receive campaign updates.

A reminder that the last day to turn in your donation for the BEAM Thanksgiving Basket program is Wednesday, November 19th! Find information and sign up now to donate. Donations will be collected from November 17th to 19th. BEAM is facing increased demand for services because of the GOP's refusal to fund anti-hunger programs during the federal government shutdown. Please join BAM in supporting this effort!

BAM in Action!

Legislative Delegation Meeting

BAM members Dr. Nancy Staats and Carol Brady participated in the recent pre-session hearing of the Duval Legislative Delegation, opposing the elimination of vaccine mandates proposed by the state surgeon general, and efforts to further gerrymander the state through mid-decade redistricting. View their remarks and learn more about these issues here. The 2026 Florida Legislative session opens January 13th.

November Membership Meeting: Resisting Authoritarianism

What's happening to this country? What can we --- individually and collectively --- do to push back? How do we leverage mass protests like No Kings to move people to take

action? We discussed those questions and more at the recent BAM membership meeting facilitated by a panel of academic experts. We received inspiration from the writings of Vaclav Havel, heard about efforts to fight censorship, and learned how the impact of Trump's illegal, cruel and chaotic actions is likely to take decades to undo. What is the most effective action we can take? Be truth-tellers. Recognize most people are still not paying attention. Talk to friends, family and neighbors. Fight vote suppression. Stay engaged! Thanks to our panelists and everyone who attended (and donated so generously to feed local families). It was a terrific and timely discussion!

More To Do This Week

The Alliance for Justice will host a ZOOM meeting on Tuesday, November 18th, at 3:30 pm, focusing on the unprecedented role played by the courts during the record-breaking government shutdown. RSVP here for more info and the ZOOM link. Speaking of the courts, learn more about the "legacy" of John Roberts in this definitive Harvard Magazine article. Thanks to BAM member Jane Kosut for passing it along!
Learn about our rights while protesting from ACLU staff attorney Nick Warren at the Beaches Democratic Club meeting on Tuesday, November 18th, at 6:30 pm at the Adele Grage Cultural Center, 716 Ocean Blvd, Atlantic Beach. Bring a non-perishable food item to donate to BEAM.