Senate
Taxpayer Funded Rituals: Senate Testimony Derails Over California’s Multi-Million Dollar Medi-Cal Expansions
Capitol Hill erupted into viral political fireworks this week during a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on Department of Justice funding. What was supposed to be a standard review of federal law enforcement budgets quickly transformed into a fierce interrogation over government oversight, systemic state fraud, and allegations that federal Medicaid dollars are being used to fund “exorcisms” and spiritual rituals in California. At The Modern Memo, we analyze the sharp confrontation between Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, the controversial expansion of California’s Medi-Cal system, and why critics argue that progressive health initiatives are operating as a massive taxpayer slush fund. The Senate Clash: ‘What the Hell Are We Doing About It?’ The fiery exchange began when Senator Kennedy shifted the panel’s focus away from standard appropriations to target the staggering scale of financial waste and unchecked theft within state-level Medicaid programs, specifically pointing to America’s most populous state. The Interrogation: Brandishing a list of unorthodox state health claims, Kennedy pressed Blanche on reports that California’s Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal, has processed reimbursements for faith-based healings, spiritual cleansings, and rituals he characterized as exorcisms. The Slush Fund Accusation: “We have people in California using federal taxpayer dollars to pay for exorcisms,” Kennedy railed, his voice rising. “This isn’t health care. It’s a slush fund. Billions of taxpayer dollars have been stolen over the years under the guise of medical treatment, and what the hell are we doing about it?” The DOJ Defense: Blanche pushed back, defending the Justice Department’s response by pointing to the recent creation of a specialized financial fraud division explicitly tasked with prosecuting the abuse of federal funding. However, he conceded that under current guidelines, certain non-traditional programs are technically permitted under rules expanded by individual states. The Context: Medi-Cal’s 2024 Tribal Expansion While the Senate testimony grabbed headlines for its dramatic rhetoric, the root of the controversy stems from a historic policy change implemented by Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration in late 2024. The CMS Approval: In October 2024, the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved a first-of-its-kind request from California, alongside Arizona, New Mexico, and Oregon, to expand Medicaid coverage to include “Traditional Healer and Natural Helper Services.” The Covered Rituals: Designed in partnership with tribal health advocates, the program allows Indian Health Care Providers to request taxpayer reimbursement for culturally based substance use disorder (SUD) treatments. Covered interventions include music therapy (drumming and traditional songs), natural helpers for trauma support, and spiritual interventions encompassing native ceremonies, rituals, and herbal remedies. The Bureaucratic Loophole: While state health officials designed the policy to honor ancient traditions and combat the devastating opioid crisis within Native communities, critics argue the loosely defined categories of “spiritual interventions” and “rituals” have opened a massive loophole prone to bureaucratic exploitation and fraudulent billing. The Accountability Crisis The confrontation on Capitol Hill reflects a deepening nationwide exhaustion with the perceived lack of oversight governing progressive state spending. Outright Theft: During his testimony, Blanche acknowledged that while some alternative therapies are structurally authorized, federal investigators have uncovered instances of outright theft where bad actors use alternative medicine codes to mask fraudulent billing. The Oversight Battle: GOP lawmakers are leveraging the hearing to demand stricter federal auditing guidelines for CMS approvals. They argue that universal taxpayer funds should not be dispatched to bankroll spiritual practices that lack standard, peer-reviewed clinical benchmarks. Final Word The Senate showdown over California’s medical billing is the definitive proof that Washington’s patience with progressive spending experiments has officially expired. When you look past the theatrical noise of “exorcism” headlines and focus on the data—the billions of dollars lost to Medicaid fraud and the unprecedented expansion of taxpayer-funded spiritual rituals—you gain a clearer picture of a system suffering from a severe deficit of accountability. Quality information replaces the narrative of “health equity” with the reality of an open-ended billing apparatus that invites financial abuse. It allows you to see that while California health officials frame these policies as cultural preservation, the American taxpayers funding them are asking a much simpler question: what the hell are we doing about it?
Texas Primary Shakeup: Runoffs Dominate as Political Landscape Shifts
The dust has settled on the March 2026 Texas primaries, and the results have left both parties grappling with a new, intensely competitive reality. From blockbuster Senate battles to unexpected upsets in statewide offices, this primary cycle—already the most expensive in state history—has set the stage for a bruising eight months leading up to the November general election. At The Modern Memo, we break down the winners, the looming runoffs, and what these results say about the shifting tides within the Texas GOP and Democratic parties. The Senate Standoff: A “Knife Fight” for the GOP The marquee matchup of the night—the Republican U.S. Senate primary—ended in a stalemate that promises to define the next 12 weeks of Texas politics. The Runoff: Neither incumbent Sen. John Cornyn nor Attorney General Ken Paxton was able to clear the 50% threshold, forcing a May 26 runoff. The Stakes: This contest has been a massive drain on party resources, with nearly $100 million in ad spending already recorded. Cornyn, seeking a fifth term, finished narrowly ahead, but Paxton’s base of committed conservative activists poses a formidable threat in a low-turnout runoff environment. The Democratic Nominee: On the other side of the aisle, state Rep. James Talarico scored a decisive victory over U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, avoiding a runoff and allowing him to focus his resources entirely on the general election while Republicans remain locked in their intraparty brawl. Statewide Results: Incumbents, Upsets, and New Faces While the Senate race captured the national spotlight, the results down-ballot signal significant volatility in Texas leadership. Governor’s Race Set: Incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott easily defeated his Republican challengers and will face Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa in November. Hinojosa, having emerged from a crowded field, is now the standard-bearer for a party looking to break a 30-year Republican winning streak in the Governor’s Mansion. Agriculture Commissioner Upset: In a shock to the GOP establishment, Collin County businessman Nate Sheets successfully unseated three-term incumbent Sid Miller, signaling a potential appetite for change even among seasoned incumbents. Attorney General Vacancy: With Ken Paxton running for Senate, the race to replace him remains unsettled. State Sen. Mayes Middleton and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy are now headed to a GOP runoff to determine who will take on the Democratic nominee in the fall. The Big Picture: What the Turnout Tells Us Beyond the individual winners and losers, the turnout and dynamics of this primary cycle reveal deeper truths about the Texas electorate. Cost of Entry: This cycle will go down as the most expensive in Texas history. Money clearly moved the needle, but as seen in the unseating of incumbents, it was not a guarantee of survival. Intra-Party Divisions: The primary highlighted deep fissures within the Texas GOP. Dueling wings of the party—often influenced by competing endorsements from President Trump and Governor Abbott—saw mixed results, suggesting that the “MAGA” brand in Texas is not a monolith and remains subject to local political realities. The Runoff Season: Texas law requires a runoff when no candidate reaches a majority, meaning the “primary” season is far from over. Voters will head back to the polls on May 26, ensuring that the intense, high-dollar political ads will continue to dominate the Texas airwaves for another three months. Final Word The 2026 Texas primaries were not just a selection process; they were a stress test for the state’s political machinery. When you look past the candidate slogans and focus on the data of the runoffs and the unseating of long-term incumbents, you gain a clearer picture of an electorate that is engaged, divided, and highly reactive to both local and national pressures. Quality information replaces the noise of partisan speculation with the clarity of vote tallies and procedural deadlines. It allows you to see these results as the opening act of a much longer, more intense political drama that will culminate in November. By choosing to follow the verified results of these primary races, you align your perspective with the realities of Texas’ evolving political landscape and support a more informed, resilient citizenry. Where Facts, Context, and Perspective Matter At The Modern Memo, our goal is simple: to provide clear, well-researched reporting in a media landscape that often feels overwhelming. We focus on substance over sensationalism, and context over commentary. 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Democrat Teasing Possible Run For Office Thinks Fourth Time May Be The Charm
by Hudson Crozier for the Daily Caller News Foundation A thrice-failed Democratic political candidate is considering taking on a Republican Senate seat in a consistently right-leaning state if voters want him to. Former Texas Democratic Rep. Beto O’Rourke said at a town hall in Denton, Texas, on Saturday that he would be open to launching a new Senate campaign for the 2026 midterm elections. Republican Sen. John Cornyn is running to hold onto his Senate seat against state Attorney General Ken Paxton, while no Democrats have entered the race so far. “If it comes to pass that this is what the people of Texas want, that it’s the highest and best use of what I can give to you, then yes, I will,” O’Rourke said when asked about a potential Senate run. “We’ll see what the future holds, but I’m going to do whatever is the greatest good for the greatest number in this state,” O’Rourke later told local news outlet WFAA. He said he is focused on running the liberal PAC Powered By People he founded in 2019. O’Rourke served as a House member from Texas between 2013 and 2019. The former representative ran unsuccessfully for Senate in 2018, dropped out of a presidential race in 2019 and lost a race for Texas governor in 2022 but took to the stage to stoke enthusiasm for the Democratic Party. He lost the 2018 election to Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas by 2.6 percentage points and the 2022 election to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott by 11. O’Rourke did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation. (MORE NEWS: Tracy Beanz Reveals MAHA’s Mission & What Comes Next In Fascinating Interview) The former candidate also spent the town hall criticizing President Donald Trump, specifically accusing him of persecuting transgender people in response to a question from a trans-identifying town hall attendee. “The way that these tinpot dictators, these wannabe tyrants, these authoritarians work is they try to pick the most vulnerable among us, the people that they hope you do not want to be associated with,” O’Rourke said. He then pivoted to Trump should respect “the rule of law” and “due process” before deporting alleged gang members to El Salvador prisons. “What you do to the least of us unchecked will happen to the rest of us pretty soon,” O’Rourke said. O’Rourke brought the transgender attendee up on stage and declared support, saying, “We’re going to stand with one another” as the crowd gave a standing ovation. Get News. Take Action. You’re probably already thinking of a million ways to take action with this story. We suggest signing up to Million Voices for three simple reasons: If Beto does run, they will create a comprehensive Voter Guide so you know exactly what platform he is running on You can join national campaigns for advocacy, often leading to major cultural shifts on other issues you care about Make the world a more Biblical place