Welcome to the final Kitchen Table Action for our December focus: Defending Healthcare & ACA Subsidies.
Over the past few weeks, you’ve taken action to:
This week, we turn inward because movements don’t succeed without accountability, even (especially) when it’s uncomfortable.
📝 This Week’s Kitchen Table Action: Demand Accountability
Your goal:
Hold Democratic leadership accountable for surrendering leverage on ACA subsidies during budget negotiations.
Specifically, this action targets leaders who accepted a “future promise” of a subsidy vote; a promise that provided no enforcement mechanism while millions of people face premium hikes and coverage loss.
You don’t need to attack anyone personally.
You do need to demand explanations and better strategy going forward.
🎯 Choose Your Target (One Is Enough)
Pick one of the following:
Chuck Schumer (Senate Democratic leadership)
John Fetterman
Dick Durbin
Or another of the eight Democratic Senators involved in ending the shutdown without securing ACA protections
You only need to contact one office for this action to count.
📞 Option 1: The Accountability Call (3 Minutes)
Call the Senator’s office and use this script:
Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a constituent from ZIP code [____].
I’m calling to ask why Senator [____] agreed to end the shutdown without securing an extension of the enhanced ACA premium subsidies. You gave up our hard-earned leverage and now it looks like premiums will spike.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that letting these subsidies expire will raise premiums by 75% and cause 4.2 million people to lose coverage. Accepting a future “promise” of a vote gave up maximum leverage with no real protections for patients.
I’d like the Senator to explain:
Why that decision was made
And how they plan to prevent further concessions on healthcare cuts going forward
I’m watching this issue closely and expect stronger leadership on protecting healthcare access.
Thank you.
📍 Find Phone Numbers
💬 Option 2: Public Accountability (Social Media Response)
If calling isn’t your thing, you can apply pressure publicly by responding to a recent post from the Senator on X/Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
Public accountability matters because:
It signals visible dissent
It invites media and staff attention
It discourages repeat concessions
📝 Sample Public Reply
Here’s a customizable reply you can use on social media:
Senator [____], why did you agree to end the shutdown without securing an extension of ACA premium subsidies? You gave up all negotiating leverage and now it looks like Republicans will let healthcare premiums skyrocket in January.
The CBO estimates premiums will rise 75% and 4.2 million people will lose coverage if these subsidies expire. Accepting a future “promise” of a vote surrendered leverage when millions of people needed protection.
Healthcare access shouldn’t be a bargaining chip.
Tips for Visibility:
Tag the Senator directly
Keep it factual, not insulting
Post once (no pile-ons required)
Why This Works
Most advocacy focuses only on Republicans. But real change also requires in-movement discipline. We need to hold our own party accountable too.
When leaders learn that surrendering leverage leads to:
constituent calls
public questions
ongoing scrutiny
…they become less willing to do it again.
Silence signals permission. Accountability creates boundaries.
Small Moves, Steady Reps, Clear Values
This is what mature activism looks like:
Not blind loyalty
Not constant outrage
But clear expectations and consequences
You’ve now completed four Kitchen Table Actions this month, each one small on its own, but powerful in combination.
Next month, we’ll tackle a new issue, starting again with a clear explainer and four practical actions you can take without burning out or tuning out.
Until then, thank you for showing up. This is how change actually happens!
Happy New Year,
Brandon