Depraved Republicans may actually be plotting to destroy themselves
Grassley’s decision to have Jack Smith testify is one of the events Richmond argues could hurt Republicans in the midterms.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYRaw Story is an established digital news publisher, but this page is a clearly opinionated column rather than original straight reporting. The named author and references to CMS and the Congressional Budget Office provide some transparency, while the piece offers little independent verification or opposing perspective.
- Source type — An established digital news publisher, though the page is commentary rather than a reported news article.
- Author attribution — The column names its author and provides a brief biographical note.
- Editorial standards — The piece makes factual claims but gives limited sourcing beyond references to CMS and the Congressional Budget Office.
The column identifies a committee action, CMS’s stated rationale, and a Congressional Budget Office projection, but it relies on strongly partisan interpretation and provides no meaningful counterarguments or independent examination of the claims.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article is an openly one-sided opinion column. It briefly reports CMS’s stated justification for enrollment cancellations but does not present a developed defense of the actions or competing perspectives.
- Loaded language — The column repeatedly uses insults and emotionally charged descriptions.
- Counterarguments presented — CMS’s stated rationale is mentioned, but no opposing viewpoints are developed.
- Source diversity — The argument relies principally on the author’s commentary, with limited references to official claims and projections.
The column uses openly hostile language about Republicans and Trump and frames the cited actions as cruel, incompetent and politically self-destructive. Its framing and wording are strongly left-leaning rather than neutral reporting.
- Language tone — Uses insults and condemnatory descriptions of Republicans and Trump.
- Framing — Presents the events as evidence of Republican cruelty and self-sabotage.
- Source selection — Offers no substantive opposing perspective or response from Republicans beyond the administration’s stated rationale.
Ray Richmond argues that Senator Chuck Grassley’s decision to have Jack Smith testify and the administration’s cancellation of ACA enrollments could damage Republicans’ midterm prospects. He also cites projected coverage losses from the Big Beautiful Bill as a politically consequential issue.
Richmond criticizes Grassley’s decision to have Smith testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee, arguing that the hearing draws attention to January 6 and Trump’s pardons of people who attacked police. He also mocks Senator Eric Schmitt over an apparent mix-up involving the Hawks and Hawkeyes.
The column says the Trump administration announced the cancellation of roughly 315,000 ACA Marketplace enrollments covering more than three-quarters of a million people, while CMS said the action would save about $2.2 billion in subsidies. Richmond also cites a Congressional Budget Office projection that the Big Beautiful Bill will increase the number of uninsured Americans by about 10 million, including 7.5 million people on Medicaid, and argues these developments could hurt Republicans in the midterms.
Community verdict
7 VOTESPeople in this story
SWIPE →Senate Judiciary Committee chairman who arranged for Jack Smith to testify
President and central figure in the column’s criticism of Republican conduct
Trump's version of this story ↗Senator questioned Jack Smith during the hearing
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