He and Mark Alford are singing from the same hymn book.
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To be clear, the officers on scene were polite and professional. They go where they are assigned. It just felt like a lot for a civic conversation.
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There were probably two dozen police officers here this evening. Seems like possibly overkill for a group of folks chanting about saving PBS.
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Alford is claiming that military recruitment fell because of DEI and is having a historic rebound because of eliminating DEI regulations. Hm, those servic members in segregated units might have disagreed.
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Alford is neatly dodging the historic realities of racism, sexism and other systemic barriers to progress for folks who aren’t white men from middle to upper middle class backgrounds.
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Question: you have been outspoken about DEI. What would you say to constituents who have been harmed by systems?
Alford: I believe in equality, not equity. We deserve equal opportunities, not equal outcomes.
—yup, he said that.
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Question: approval for the president seems to be slipping. How long will you stay on Trump’s party line?
Alford: questions the validity of polling.
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Question: should the president have to follow court orders?
Alford: district courts should not be able to impact the president.
—interesting, since he told us earlier that the courts will keep us safe from executive overreach.
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Question: why hasn’t Secretary Hegseth been called to account for the Signal event?
Alford: he should not have done that, and it should not happen again.
—congressman seems shocked that it happened again.
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Question—what do you say to veterans and active duty service members who are worried about cuts to the VA?
Alford—there are problems in the VA. It’s hard to navigate that organization.
—maybe because their staff has been cut??
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I am very grateful to the KCUR for their work in keeping this on track, but I’d love some tougher follow-up questions.
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Kraske—a term and a half into your congressional service, what do you think of the institution?
Alford—it’s pretty jacked up. There is more infighting than effort to serve.
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Alford is asked if he agrees that all Democrats are sick and wrong.
Alford: I try to meet a new Democratic representative every day.
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Alford-school shootings are terrible, but you have to look at how those shooters get their guns.
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Alford—I am in favor of abolishing firearms regulation and ending the ATF. That is government overreach. Teach firearm safety early.
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As a mental health provider, I am super frustrated that Alford gets to claim support for mental health while slashing Medicaid funding—a major source of mental health care.
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Kraske—in the #bigbeautifulbill, anyone call buy or 3D print suppressors for guns without permits or regulations.
Alford: we don’t have a gun control issue, we have a self-control issue. As a member of the appropriations committee, I am dedicated to mental health funding.
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Why is is okay for ICE to dress in masks?
Alford: ICE agents are at risk. You didn’t have a problem with a COVID mask. What is the problem with an ICE mask?
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Alford seems to be advocating for children to watch vintage Sesame Street on their phones (because staring at phones is good for kids) so that they can watch shows that “taught the ABCs, not DEI.”
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Kraske pushes back on capitalist justification of cutting public media funding because rural residents will be hurt the most and public media is supposed to be free.
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Question about the irony of cutting funding for public broadcasting while using a public radio forum.
Alford—my kids grew up with Arnie (Ernie??), but it is time for Big Bird to leave the nest.
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Question: why should politicians govern children’s bodies?
Alford: I am pro-life. We need to support women. I would support a national abortion ban.
(Note room full of men clapping)
—no accountability for cutting services that support women.
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Question—should president Trump be able to profit from businesses in office?
Alford: we have the Emoluments Clause, and any improper behavior will be adjudicated.
—interesting that he has not acknowledged that Congress is also supposed to be a check on power.
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Kraske pushes back on Alford by asking a more pointed question about the growing wealth gap.
Alford says that capitalism works and there will always be richer folks and we need more people in the work force.
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Audience question: if we are running our government like a business, why not maximize profit by taxing rich?
Alford-wealthy already pay the most.
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Audience question: budget bill includes a provision setting a moratorium on AI regulation.
Alford-that provision shouldn’t have been in the budget bill. The Senate will fix it.
—maybe we shouldn’t be passing bills that we have to rely on other folks to fix?
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Audience question: explain the vote to shutter USAID, a decision that has hurt farmers in your district.
Alford: I’m trying to save two USAID programs, but lots of them were crazy.
—is crazy code for supporting brown folks??
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Audience question about impact on small business of Chinese tariffs.
Alford says that businesses need to reduce dependence on China.
No acknowledgement that many products just aren’t manufactured here. Guess those folks are out of luck.
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Alford asked about cuts to Medicaid for thousands of 4th district residents. He says all able-bodied single adults should be working and don’t need SNAP.
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Alford: I predict that we will have the best economy of my lifetime in six months.
#bigbeautifulbill
#billionairewelfare
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