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LISTENING: to some guns n' roses
FEELING: a mix of messy feelings
SEEING: a messy desk that needs some organizing

I live in New York, where I buy my health insurance from the state. My annual income could be better, so the state gives me a $452 tax credit every month. That helps cover a majority of my health insurance bill — though I still pay nearly $300 a month for shitty health care.

Social benefits like that tax credit are determined by our federal and state budgets (and the tax dollars that fund them). President Donald Trump's proposed budget bill threatens exactly this type of assistance for people across the country. The House just passed it.

According to THE CITY, the bill would drastically reduce New York's Essential Plan, my mom's health insurance. These days, she's been limping around due to a new arthritis diagnosis in her leg. Insurance won't alleviate her pain, but it helps with the logistics of trying to find a remedy. It allows us to go to doctor visits without stress. It covers her medicine. It gives us some peace of mind.

We will all need more of that as the climate crisis continues to unfold. On Wednesday, a new study from Harvard researchers published in the Epidemiology journal found that wildfire smoke exposure can continue to cause health effects three months later. The authors examined hospital records for 15 states from 2006 to 2016 and found an increased risk for cardiorespiratory issues such as hypertension, pneumonia, and asthma.

"As wildfires become more frequent and intense, and their burden on human health becomes clearer, addressing the health impacts is a critical public health priority," said Rosalind Wright, chair of Mount Sinai's Department of Public Health, whose team of scientists also worked on the study. "Findings from this study underscore the need to continue such preventive measures for a prolonged period after the fires have ended. Collaborative efforts across federal, state, and local levels are essential to safeguard the health of communities nationwide."

Unfortunately, communities need affordable health care to stay safe and prevent the worst outcomes. That means reliable health insurance. Trump and his GOP goons are attempting to eliminate that option for too many Americans. New Yorkers aren't the only ones who will feel the blow.

The bill heads to the Senate next, where it's likely to pass after some concessions. Will more lawmakers stand up for the people's health? For the Latino children who are set to lose health coverage? For the millions who depend on Medicaid? For the trans people whose health services are on the chopping block?

All this, to provide tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy. Wildfire air quality alerts won't affect them in their mansions decked out with air purifiers. They won't be the ones outside working when the skies are orange. The people who will, however, will no longer have the help they need to stay healthy and live the long life they deserve.

That's what the "big, beautiful bill" will do. It will attack the most vulnerable. It will probably end their lives prematurely and kill people who, with affordable health care, could have lived. Already, some 68,000 people die a year due to a lack of health insurance. That number will only go up.

Oh, the American tragedy. The country is full of wealth, but the people running it like to hoard our tax dollars and keep us poor. It never ends, does it? 🌀

>> Friends, I'll be increasing the subscription costs to make this more sustainable. I hope you will all stick around, but please reach out if you have any concerns. I outlined my proposal in an earlier edition here.

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