At a recent town hall in Butler County, Iowa, constituents—many of whom rely on Medicaid—showed up to voice their concerns about massive cuts proposed under Trump’s latest legislative monstrosity: the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill. But instead of compassion or understanding, they were met with smirks and sarcasm. When one attendee, overwhelmed by the stakes, shouted that “people are going to die,” Ernst’s flippant response was: “Well, we all are going to die.”

Let’s be real: that’s not leadership—it’s cruelty wrapped in cynicism.

This wasn’t a tense closed-door moment or a joke among friends. This was a public servant addressing voters—real people with real fears about losing access to life-saving healthcare. Instead of showing care, Ernst delivered a smarmy one-liner, complete with a patronizing smile.

And if that weren’t enough, she later posted a video filmed in a cemetery—yes, a cemetery—mock-apologizing for the remark and ending with a religious pitch for eternal salvation: “For those that would like to see eternal and everlasting life, I encourage you to embrace my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Let me talk to you the way I would talk to my closest friend:

Joni, if something happened to you, you’d get the best care—no red tape, no waitlists, no stress about premiums or deductibles. You’ve got access, privilege, and political power. Most of us? We’re crossing our fingers that the system doesn’t fail us the next time we get sick.

You’re absolutely right that we all die eventually. But that doesn’t mean we give up fighting for the quality of life in the time we have. It doesn’t mean we accept the idea that some people—especially the most vulnerable—just don’t deserve care. We’re not asking for luxury. We’re asking for the same baseline level of dignity that you take for granted.

You don’t have to be poor to care about poor people.
You don’t have to be sick to care about the sick.
You just have to be human.

This isn’t just about Medicaid. It’s about your complete disregard for the pain of the people you’re supposed to represent. This whole Big Beautiful Disgrace is a legislative Trojan horse—billions in tax breaks for the rich, while stripping away basic support for those struggling just to live. And then you dare to mock us with Jesus? Weaponizing religion as if salvation is a substitute for policy?

Time and place, Joni. Time and place.

If you’ve lost the ability to serve with humility, humanity, and a shred of decency, then maybe it’s time to make room for someone who still can.

We may all die, sure. But we’d like to live first.