THE FUSE

A Few Things: Vol. 100

A Substack columnist from "Letters From An American" confirmed the "unanimous" name change of the former Kennedy Center For The Arts to the Trump Kennedy Center For The Arts was not so unanimous. Ohio Congresswoman and former leader of the Congressional Black Caucus and Kennedy Center member Joyce Beatty confirmed to a media source and on one of her social media accounts that during the vote to make this name change, she was muted by one of the administrators preventing her from voicing objections, asking questions or even casting her "no" vote during the voting process. It appears the current White House will go to any length to ensure their message is uninterrupted and unchallenged. Will you go unheard when it counts if voter suppression tactics are initiated in your state?

The Hateful Eight

I must admit I was personally disappointed in the eight senators (7 Democratic, 1 Independent) who voted with Republicans to not only open the government without negotiating the continuation of ACA healthcare subsidies set to expire December 31 2025, but made no effort to ensure the removal of permissions for 7 Republican Senators to sue the Federal government for five hundred thousand dollars each time their telephone meta data was subpoenaed and reviewed by former U.S. Prosecutor Jack Smith in relation to an ongoing investigation (now dropped). The purpose of the review was part of the investigation Smith conducted to determine the participants and the extent of involvement in the conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election on January 6, 2021. Once Trump was elected again in 2024, Smith tendered his resignation. The DOJ closed the investigation once Republicans began leading the White House Januuary 2025. Yup. 7 senators can increase their wealth by suing the government because the DOJ included them in an investigation (without informing them) that may have led to coordinated acts of sedition against their own country. The senators who get this extra benefit while other government workers just get thir salaries restored are Sens Hawley (Mo), Johnson (Wi), Lumis (Wy), Sullivan (AK), Tuberville (Al), Graham (SC),

Haggerty and Blackburn (both Tn). The Democratic Senators who supported these issues and anything else included in this poorly negotiated bill were either planning retirement in or (conveniently) not up for reelection in 2026. They are as follows: Sens Kaine (Va), Shaheen (NH),, Durbin (Il.), Fetterman (Pa.), Hassan (NH), Cortes Masto and Rosen (both of Nv.). The 8th senator was Independent Angus King (Me). During a time when the Democratic base wanted to see toughness, these folks accommodated a party that would see Americans starve (and eventually die) before they agreed or negotiated with them. So what was the gain? There was a (pinky swear) promise to have a vote on the ACA subsidies. No guarantees, no commitments, just a promise. As of Friday, December 19, no vote had occurred, and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La) released his part of government for holiday vacation. Maybe there will be a vote when they return to work in 2026. Great work guys! You really have the GOP on the ropes! Everyone who qualified for that subsidy has already been informed of their 2026 premium for the year. Yup. The Democrats that called themselves saving the day fought hard enough to prevent nothing. As federal employees returned to work as disappointed as they were when the shutdown began (I spoke so some), the body of politicians deemed the most deliberative ignored expectations, offered nothing, and then argued with critics of their non-negotiation. Rumor has it Senate Minority Leader Schumer was behind the surrender. Guess we won’t know until one of the Senators includes the truth in their book when it is released.

Do you let your elected officials know your thoughts concerning how they vote on specific bills?

You do realize they are supposed to work on your behalf, right?

Virginia vs Maryland. Who Do You Believe?

In a related story, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine sent me a very long "strongly worded" (a la Schumer) email because I expressed my disappointment to him writing. He wanted me to know how many times he voted against Republican bills to open the government, and he voted with a bipartisan group after he "extracted a significant concession" around firing returning employees. He claims he saved 4,000 federal workers and ,"tens of thousands of contractors" from termination. He literally had to think I was asleep when DOGE fired millions of federal workers in January, and he was silent. Now, he’s a savior. Really, now? There was more but I came to the conclusion this response was offered in Kaine’s name by one of his staffers as it describe so many "wins" orchestrated by the author I never hear the senator ever articulate. As I responded back challenging his assertions, I received a message that the mailbox I sent my reply to does not accept incoming messages. Really, Senator?

Just this week I heard two interviews with Maryland Governor Wes Moore and learned how comfortable he was responding to Republican rage and oppressive efforts to "traumatically affect beauracrats", a direct quote from millionaire Russell Vought White House OMB Director.

Moore established a transition process offering many of the Federal workers including the more than 300,000 African American women laid off since the beginning of the year teaching opportunities to fill the teacher gap in the state as well as partnering with Maryland Senator Angela Alsobrook to create other opportunities for laid-off and terminated federal workers. Moore also informed his audience that his state employs the highest number of federal workers in the country. I then reflected on the Virginia senator’s lengthy email and the Maryland Junior senator’s work and realized both Maryland senators as well as Virginia senator Mark Warner held fast with the Democratic House members on ACA negotiation demands. Maryland is also a "giver" state, giving more in federal tax revenue than they recieve in appropriations from the federal government. According to data from USAFacts.org, in 2024, Virginia received eighty-nine billion dollars more than they sent in tax money, while Marlyand sent twenty-five billion dollars more than they received from the government. Things that make you go hmmmm.............

Start Collecting Data On Politicians Today

Somehow we have become a country where we would prefer to "like" our political leaders rather than consider their results in their efforts to serve the people they represent. Here are five areas you should be collecting data on right now to avoid being uninformed, misinformed, voting aginst your own interest or the interests of those you love:

Get Michael Canty’s stories in your inbox

Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.

1. Are My Elected Officials Accessible?

The closer you are to your elected representatives, the easier it is to know where they stand. I challenge you to take 20 minutes out of your day, email, call, or write any of your elected officials expressing your personal concerns, desires, or goals. Ask them how they can assist you and then let them. Regardless of party affiliation, this will reveal their approach toward their constituents. Remember, anyone representing them is just that THEIR representative and will reveal the effectiveness of their leader.

2. Talk to People In Your Community.

Ask about their actual experience with elected officials-not what they read, heard, or saw on cable tv or streaming. Unfortunately, many media operaives have their own agenda and no longer serve the people. It is the responsibility of the people we elect to engage the community.

3. Attend Public Meetings

It is important you hear the views of your elected representatives. Even if they're talking to someone else.

It is their job to keep you informed of their activity and action. Now some politicians want you disengaged. Some don't want you to vote so they can focus on doing the bidding of big corporations. Do let them get away without addressing you and every other voter.

4. Include Actual Books In Your Research.

Although we are in a AI forward society, the greatest sources of mis and disinformation are digital. Fake accounts are created on every platform with AI users creating lifelike images and audio. Anyone who takes time to research, write and publish on any subject offers a depth of knowledge one YouTube video cannot duplicate. Even going down digital rabbit holes can mislead in the worst ways. There no AI in literary work. Now there are bad actors posing as writers but your chances of diverse, yet informed thought are greater from the pages.

5. Trust But Verify

I know some will never step foot in a library ever again. Some may never open a book. It is in your best interest to run your "facts" against three reliable sources. If you heard it on Twitter, search Google, YouTube, and a magazine or newspaper for confirming reports. Make sure they don’t say exactly what you read initially but offer some variation to further enlighten you. If you read the same fact verbatim, it was copied from a single originating source unless new facts are offered. Media has gotten lazy, and everyone online with a microphone thinks they’re a journalist.

Last But Definitely Not Least

I ran across an Instagram report about moves by a (unnamed) wealthy Trump supporter buying a voting machine company. More detail to come. Ensuring your vote counts has become more critical than ever. Wins will need to be massive to go undisputed. Remember, if your vote wasn’t powerful, state legislators wouldn’t create obstacles to prevent easy registration and access to the polls. It matters. You matter.

Signing off until Vol 101