Vermont’s two senators and sole representative presented a united front during a telephone town hall meeting that drew more than 34,000 participants.

During a telephone town hall meeting on Wednesday night, Vermont’s small but vocal federal delegation vowed to keep fighting President Donald Trump’s agenda. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) office said afterward that 34,000 people participated.

Sanders joined Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) to field questions from Vermonters. They sought to reassure callers that they are doing everything they can to protect residents from threats to democracy and cuts to federal programs.

As Sanders did on his trip to the Midwest last weekend, the senator warned that Trump is pushing the country toward authoritarianism and oligarchy as billionaires seize control of the government.

“We are living in an unprecedented moment in American history and a very, very dangerous moment,” Sanders said.

He warned that a budget being pushed by Republicans would result in a massive tax cut for the richest Americans, funded by deep cuts to programs such as Medicaid that working families rely upon.

He also argued that the U.S. under Trump was rapidly losing its leadership status in the world as it backs away from support for Ukraine. He noted that the the U.S. sided this week with Russia and North Korea against a

resolution in the United Nations General Assembly condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“What Trump is doing is turning his back on 250 years of American history where we led the world, we were an example to the world, of what democracy was about,” Sanders said.

Sen. Welch said it was becoming clearer by the day that Trump was on a “lawless rampage” to usurp Congress’ power and defy the courts as he seeks to execute Project 2025, the right-wing wish list for his second term.

“Being here is absolutely shocking,” Welch said. “Every day we get calls and letters from people in utter dismay about what is happening to our democracy.”

Rep. Balint urged people to take care of one another and stay engaged even if they feel overwhelmed.

“This is the moment when we need people to check back in and really do what you can, when you can,” she said.

Vermonters should take heart knowing their delegation is standing up for them, regardless of what party they support, by executing a strategy of “legislation, litigation and agitation,” she said.

“We represent so many of our colleagues who see this as we do — a critical moment where democracy is on the line,” Balint said. “They are going to have to get through us to tear this down.”

The trio condemned the close vote in the House of Representatives on Tuesday night in which Republicans rammed through a bill that sets a budget framework potentially resulting in $2 trillion in cuts to social programs such as food assistance and Medicaid.

To keep up the pressure, Sanders said, he intends to take his “Fight Oligarchy” message, which he delivered forcefully in Omaha, Neb., and Iowa City, Iowa, over the weekend, to crowds in Michigan and Wisconsin in coming days.

Callers asked the trio about the impacts of possible cuts to Medicaid and the Veterans Administration and threats to gender-affirming care for trans people.

Only one caller indicated support for a Trump initiative. The Richford resident asked how the Congress members could be against the Department Of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, and its effort to root out “waste and corruption.”

Sanders said all three of them support making government more efficient. But he said it should be done as a thoughtful plan, not a “meat-ax type of approach” that billionaire Elon Musk is using.

“You don’t do that by just arbitrarily firing all kinds of people and dismembering organizations that are responding to the needs of the poorest people in this country,” he said.

Story Written by Kevin McCallum, Seven Days

Story Link: https://www.sevendaysvt.com/news/vermonts-congressional-delegation-vows-to-fight-on-against-trump-42966966