Press Releases

Miami, Fla.— On Wednesday, March 26, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) held a tele-town hall with national experts to discuss the White House’s executive orders, recent Republican actions, and the resulting concerns across the nation. Don Lemon, host of “The Don Lemon Show,” served as moderator. Panelists included  Arne Duncan, Former Secretary of Education; Marc Elias, Founder of Democracy Docket and Firm Chair of Elias Law Group; Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Former Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; Nancy Altman, President of Social Security Works; and Sui Chung, Executive Director of Americans for Immigrant Justice.

Congresswoman Frederica Wilson said, “Republicans have gone after Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, public education, our immigrant community, and so much more. People are afraid and want answers. We must meet this moment. Democrats are fighting back, and unity is our strength right now. We need folks to let Republicans know how furious they are. Only by keeping the pressure high, that’s how we will protect our democracy.”

Over 60,000 people tuned in to the event via their phones, the Congresswoman’s Facebook page, YouTube, and Website.

Don Lemon, host of The Don Lemon Show, said “I believe that we are at a constitutional crisis. I believe we are rapidly heading towards dictatorship, autocracy, and we don’t want to go there.”

Former Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, said, “This is not an R versus D issue. This is not left versus right. This is unprecedented in our nation’s history. Dismantling the Department of Education, attacking public education, starting to attack institutions of higher educations, our colleges and universities, is an entirely new phenomenon we have never seen.”

A listener asked Secretary Duncan what would happen to the student loan system and Secretary Duncan responded, “When I led the Department of Education, my biggest concern every night going home was the operational risk around grants and loans—literally trillions of dollars for millions of students. And what they have done is they have gutted that department—the Department of Federal Student Aid—and, with them moving that over to SBA, it has no knowledge or expertise on this. The chance for a catastrophic operational failure as we go back to college in the fall is extraordinarily high.”

Marc Elias, founder of Democracy Docket and Firm Chair of Elias Law Group, said,

“Congress has the right to pass laws. Donald Trump does not have the right and ability to change them. And we will litigate against him every step of the way.”

The Elias Law Group is litigating multiple cases against President Trump and Republicans.

Elias added, “Most recently, he has started targeting law firms: Basically, law firms and individual lawyers who have stood up to him. He has named me in several of his executive orders and in memoranda hoping to intimidate me and others from continuing to litigate him against him in court. The reason he’s doing that is because he is losing those court cases.” 

Former Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Chiquita Brooks-LaSure,  said,  “We now have over 100 million people covered by Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act tax credits. And what are the first couple of things this new administration has talked about doing? Cutting healthcare programs by $880 billion dollars to pay for a tax cut.” “Medicaid supports so many people: children who have high needs; it supports so many middle-class families who can’t afford long-term care or care  for their elderly parents or relatives. Medicaid is  the one program providing that coverage in this country. Taking away $880 billion will hurt families, the economy, workers, and hospitals.”

She added, “Florida specifically is extremely dependent on Medicaid. Republican governors from states across the country have signaled that they too, are  concerned about cutting the Medicaid program. There is no way to come up with that level of cuts without going after healthcare.”

Nancy Altman, President of Social Security Works  said, “It is not exaggeration to say that in the last few weeks, the Social Security Administration has lost nearly a thousand years of institutional knowledge.”

One listener asked whether they will be able to receive their Social Security benefits in two years. Ms. Altman’s response: “Before January 20, I would have said 100 percent. Absolutely. I guarantee it. It’s never missed a payment in those 90 years. The problem now is that they’ve gutted the agency. Although there’s a certain amount of automation to those benefits if you’re already receiving them, it is a legacy system and it has to be maintained. Just in the last week or so, the system’s crashed several times and that’s what the real danger is.”

She urged the public to take actions, noting that close to 73 million Americans rely on Social Security. “Everyone needs to stay alert, raise their voices, and demand accountability,” she said. “Tell your members of Congress to do their jobs and protect Social Security. Even MAGA voters don’t want to see these benefits cuts.”

“We should all be proud of our immigrant history, whether you’re U.S.-born or not,” Sui Chung, Executive Director of Americans for Immigrant Justice, said. “The concept of prosecutorial discretion has really been undone by the current administration. If  you are encountered by ICE, even if you have no criminal record, you will be an enforcement priority if you cannot demonstrate that you have current status at this time.”

Multiple immigration organizations, including Americans for Immigrant Justice have formed a coalition called RAISE, a rapid response hotline for immigrants at risk of detention or deportation.

If any communities are facing an ICE raid and need assistance, please call RAISE’s hotline at 1-888-600-5762 or visit their website for immigration resources at www.Raise.is.

The event opened with  remarks from Congresswoman Wilson, followed by remarks from Don Lemon and the  experts panel, each of whom discussed different aspects of the administration’s executive actions and Congressional Republicans’ actions. The remainder of the event was dedicated to audience questions for Congresswoman Wilson and the panelists.

Congresswoman Frederica Wilson also urged listeners to call Republican members of Congress, Republican Senators, and the White House.

For the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate Switchboard, call (202) 224-3121.

For the White House Comment Line, call 202-456-1111.

Follow the tele-town hall special guest on social media at @DonLemonOfficial, @ArneDuncan, @AmericansForImmigrantJustice, @MarcEElias, @DemocracyDocket, @SocialSecurityWorks, @Century_Foundation, and @TCFdotorg.

“The Don Lemon Show” is also available live Monday through Friday at 10 AM and 5 PM EST on YouTube and other podcast streaming services @TheDonLemonShow.

For the full video link to the tele-town hall, click here.