Dear John,

Along with millions of other Americans, I’ve watched with horror this week as cranes and excavators have descended on the White House and demolished the East Wing to make room for Trump’s massive ballroom. A number of times over three Democratic administrations, I’ve had the honor of attending meetings with presidents and top administration officials, as well as ceremonies awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Presidential Citizen’s Medal honors to Gloria Steinem and Ellie Smeal, often passing through the East Wing. 

The images of the demolition are shocking—and as others have observed, the destruction of the 120 year old historical structure is a metaphor for the widespread damage the Trump Administration has inflicted on our democratic institutions. Legal experts are questioning whether the tens of millions being contributed by tech companies and others to cover the escalating costs of the ballroom’s construction constitute bribes—you can be sure that we will be on the lookout for regulatory and other benefits these corporations receive. 

The spectacle at the White House has unfolded as the government shutdown continues, and more Americans begin to feel its effects. Twenty-five states have now warned that November SNAP benefits—which enable about 42 million low-income people, mostly women and their children, to afford groceries each month—may not be distributed if the shutdown continues. 

The cuts to SNAP included in the Republicans’ “Big Beautiful Bill,” which passed earlier this summer, will already result in 2-3 million people no longer receiving benefits over the next nine years, according to an analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

As the shutdown officially became the second longest in U.S. history this week, polling shows that that Americans have consistently blamed Trump and the Republicans, and believe that they should negotiate with Democrats in order to end it. The issue? The ACA tax credits that make health insurance more affordable for millions, and the funding gutted from Medicaid in the Republicans’ budget bill this summer.

No wonder when it comes to the issues at play in the shutdown, across party lines Americans are most concerned about health care, with even 60 percent of Republicans indicating that they are concerned about health care costs rising and losing health care coverage if Congress does nothing to prevent it, per polling from Navigator. They’re right to be concerned: in the short term, many Americans would see their insurance premiums more than double if the ACA enhanced premium tax credits expire, according to health research organization KFF. (Read more of KFF’s analysis in Ms. below.) 

Finally, we hope you made it out to last weekend’s No Kings protests—check out some of our favorite signs we saw below. Standing together is a balm we all desperately need, in times like these. 

For Equality,

Kathy Spillar

Executive Editor

Tune in for a new episode of Ms. magazine's podcast, On the Issues with Michele Goodwin on

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This last Supreme Court term was harrowing—from momentous merits decisions about the First Amendment, parental rights, trans rights and more, to the stream of shocking “shadow docket” decisions and its enabling of many of the Trump administration’s executive actions. What does the 2025-2026 term have in store for our nation? What do we think will advance through the Court? What do we think will come up, when it comes to the shadow docket? And perhaps most importantly, how will the Court choose to mediate the Trump administration’s continued onslaught of executive actions?

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U.S. democracy is at a dangerous inflection point—from the demise of abortion rights, to a lack of pay equity and parental leave, to skyrocketing maternal mortality, and attacks on trans health. Left unchecked, these crises will lead to wider gaps in political participation and representation. For over 50 years, Ms. has been forging feminist journalism—reporting, rebelling and truth-telling from the front-lines, championing the Equal Rights Amendment, and centering the stories of those most impacted. With all that’s at stake for equality, we are redoubling our commitment for the next 50 years. In turn, we need your help, Support Ms. today with a donation—any amount that is meaningful to you. We are grateful for your loyalty and ferocity.

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