1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

The stopgap spending bill before Congress is a sham that enables Elon Musk's destruction of democratic norms and institutions while setting the stage for Republican budget cuts decimating healthcare and the social safety net for massive tax giveaways to the wealthy. Democrats must stand firm against this poison pill CR during the next 48 hours by voting no, refusing to back down, and wielding all their leverage to force real negotiations protecting vital programs and reining in Musk's abuses. Polite protests are not enough - a full-throated rejection of this unacceptable legislation enabling further democratic erosion is imperative to uphold the mandate of being a check on radical overreach until sanity prevails. The American people's basic rights, liberties and quality of life hang in the balance.