Our nation’s veterans are being disproportionately impacted by the Trump administration’s assault on government agencies, from cuts to the VA, to job and funding reductions across the board. Not only have Republicans turned their backs on those who  have dedicated themselves to serving our country, they are  also doing damage to a constituency that was already underserved. Stacey is joined by Jason Kander, an Afghanistan Veteran and former Secretary of State of Missouri to talk through the needs of veterans on everything from healthcare to housing. Then Stacey speaks to Laila Ireland, a transgender Army veteran and member of SPARTA Pride, about how Trump’s dehumanizing attacks on LGBTQIA+ service members degrade the effectiveness of our military and erode our core values. 

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

Learn & Do More: 

1. Check out or support organizations like Veterans Community Project, which builds tiny houses for veterans in need, and visit SPARTA pride which provides essential resources for transgender people who currently serve or have previously served in the military.
2. If you’re a veteran or know a veteran who has recently been fired due to mass layoffs, check out The Public Service Alliance for support in fighting back or finding new employment.
3. Keep up to date by reading trusted sources like the Associated Press, the New York Times, and visiting CNN’s handy resource to track cuts to the federal workforce.