ICYMI: The Guardian: “Republicans take aim at subsidies that help tens of millions of women” Arrow

In their rush to strip funding for critical programs that help with health care, food, and housing for women, children, seniors, and working families - Republicans are once again making it clear that their priorities lie solely with themselves and special interests, not the American people. Instead of uplifting policies that would better the economic prospects for ALL Americans - MAGA Republicans plan to force through tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations while placing critical safety net programs on the chopping block. By cutting programs like Medicaid and SNAP, Trump and his far-right allies in Congress would cast uncertainty on the lives of tens of millions of Americans and threaten the historic economic progress achieved under the Biden-Harris administration.

The Guardian: Republicans take aim at subsidies that help tens of millions of women

By: Maggie Fox

• As they prepare to take control of the White House and Congress next month, conservatives are eyeing cutbacks to federal programs that help tens of millions of women pay for healthcare, food, housing and transportation.

• Slashing or overhauling social support programs, long a goal of Republican lawmakers, could be catastrophic for women experiencing poverty.

• While conservatives frame cuts as making government more efficient and even restoring freedom, advocates for and experts on families with little or no income say reducing these programs will throw more people - especially women and children - further into poverty.

• Trump repeatedly tried to slash Snap during his last tenure in office: his 2021 budget proposal would have cut the program by more than $180bn - nearly 30% - over 10 years.

• Conservatives in Congress have continued these efforts and, with majorities in the House and Senate, they may be able to get them through next year.

• Perhaps Medicaid is the most tempting target for conservatives because they can use it to undermine the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The GOP has been gunning for the ACA since it was signed into law without a single Republican vote in 2010.

• "Facing such drastic reductions in federal Medicaid funding, states will have no choice but to institute truly draconian cuts to eligibility, benefits and provider reimbursement rates," Edwin Park, research professor at Georgetown University, wrote in an analysis.

• That would mean women, children, older adults and people with disabilities would lose coverage as facilities closed and providers stopped seeing patients.