The realities of the U.S. political landscape remained unchanged before and after a Tuesday town hall meeting, hosted by U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN 9th Dist.). Which is to say: MAGA Republicans control pretty much everything, and Democrats don’t have the votes to slow down the Trump agenda.
Yet the common thought hung in the air among the hundreds who attended: “There has to be something we can do…”
For about 90 minutes, Cohen and associates spoke candidly about the current state of America, President Donald Trump 2.0, the fight for Social Security and more. Cohen provided updates on a range of projects including the new I-55 bridge.
But make no mistake: Many attendees wanted to know how Cohen and the Democrats were going to stand up to Trump and Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). They weren’t just seeking answers; they were looking to get active. In fact, it was the very first question Cohen received from the audience.
“What can WE do, as citizens?”
Moments after his opening remarks, a long line formed to pose questions to the congressman. After commending the congressman for “having the courage” to talk with his constituents, one voter simply wanted to know: “What can we do?”
Cohen pointed out the key “battlegrounds” where the fight against MAGA policies are happening: Federal courts, where many of Trump and DOGE’s initial acts are being challenged. Cohen also said he and his Democratic colleagues continue to submit legislation even though the majority GOP won’t bring them to the floor.
“We’re putting in legislation to try to fight back, but the Republicans aren’t going to let our bills through,” Cohen said. “It’s not like in the state Senate, where every bill gets a hearing. In Congress, the ruling party decides what gets to the floor, and they’re not going to put any significant Democratic bills up for a vote.”
Beyond that, Cohen encouraged Americans to be vocal, to show up and show out.
“People can mobilize in groups to fight this, and your voices will make a difference,” he said. “This is going to go on, and it’s going to get worse. But getting involved, writing letters, getting on social media, raising a fuss — those things matter.
“It’s important to have demonstrations — and maybe civil disobedience before it’s over,” he said.
Cohen on Schumer’s Choice: ‘History will be the judge’
Some voters wanted Cohen’s take on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) decision to support a budget deal that kept the government open but also contained provisions unpopular with progressives.
In response, Cohen acknowledged the political trade-offs at play, noting that while the deal wasn’t ideal, the alternative — a government shutdown — would have been far worse for everyday Americans.
“In the House, I voted no. The Democrats all voted no, except one,” Cohen said. “But if there was a shutdown, people wouldn’t have gotten their benefits. And in Memphis, we have a lot of poor people who rely on SNAP, Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. They need every dollar — they’re living check to check.”
Cohen also pointed out that Republicans could have used a shutdown to their advantage.
“They would have said, ‘Look, the Democrats shut down the government — they don’t care about keeping it open.’ And they would have used that to justify dismantling the government even further,” he said.
While Cohen didn’t criticize Schumer outright, he suggested that only time would tell whether the decision was the right one for the country.
“History will be the judge of whether Schumer made the right choice or not,” Cohen said. “But I suspect he might have (made the right choice).”
“Why are Democrats still playing by the rules?”
Some voters wanted to know what the Democratic leadership’s strategy is to counter Trump. As Cohen referred to what could be done within the law, some in the audience grumbled: “THEY (MAGA Republicans) ain’t paying attention to the law . . .”
Cohen predictably pointed to the 2026 midterm election as the next chance to make change.
“We’re working to stay focused on the issues that matter, looking ahead to 2026. That’s our focus,” he said. “We’re trying to do what we can to keep the focus on the issues and to keep the pressure on Trump. We have leaders speaking out. We have to keep putting the pressure on and getting the message out.”
Social Security: ‘They Want to Undermine Your Confidence in It’
Another recurring concern among attendees was the future of Social Security, an issue that has drawn renewed attention amid Republican proposals to restructure or privatize the program.
Max Richtman, president of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, joined Cohen on the dais and reminded the audience that past Republican efforts to privatize Social Security have been stopped before and could be stopped again.
“The first thing (President George W. Bush) said after he was reelected was, ‘I have a mandate, and I’m going to use that mandate to privatize Social Security,’” Richtman recalled. “And that’s what he wanted to do. But we defeated that. Our group, other senior groups across the country, people who care about Social Security — we stopped it.”
But he warned that today’s efforts to dismantle Social Security are far more deceptive.
“At least Bush was honest about his plan,” Richtman said. “What we’re looking at now is much more devious. It’s a plan to undermine the program — to take away that support, that confidence that people have in Social Security. And that’s how they plan to destroy it.”
Richtman dismissed claims that Social Security is running out of money, calling it a deliberate scare tactic. He scoffed at Musk’s claim that Social Security is a “Ponzi scheme.”
“Social Security is about to celebrate its 90th birthday,” Richtman said. “Ponzi schemes don’t last 90 years.”
Actually, Social Security has been paying out more funds than it takes in since 2020 and is projected to run short of money by 2035 (www.britannica.com/procon/Social-Security-debate). Republicans and Democrats have never been able to agree on a plan to keep the program solvent.
A Stark Contrast in Political Engagement
Beyond the policy debates, Cohen’s decision to hold a public town hall at all stood in stark contrast to Republican leadership, which has reportedly advised its members to avoid such forums during this congressional recess.
Instead of shying away, Cohen faced his constituents directly, even volunteering to stay after the program concluded to speak to constituents who still had concerns. He was fielding difficult questions and urging them to stay engaged — a move that was not lost on those in attendance.
“First off, I just want to thank you, Congressman, for even having the courage to come here and talk to us,” one commenter said. “A lot of politicians won’t do that.”
Later, another attendee expressed appreciation, saying: “Whether we agree on everything or not, I respect that you’re here, answering questions and giving us a chance to be heard. That matters.
