Netizen Watch: “Point of Focus” – Matters for the Midterms

Hello Fellow Docnetizens,

I hope you’ve all been doing well and staying healthy amid our current, ever-changing landscape of wars, price hikes, and political shenanigans. I wish I had more time to write about all the significant changes happening in the last few months, but medical school sadly gets in the way. That said, I’m sure you’re already inundated with updates from every major news outlet on your phones and televisions.

Given all that, I’ve decided to focus this article on two core issues heading into this year’s midterm elections – what they are, why I (and you) should care, and what we can do as responsible citizens.

On with the show, friends!

Item 1: Everything is SO DAMN EXPENSIVE

Prices have never been higher, and that is no secret. Since the start of the current Trump administration’s war with Iran earlier this year, inflation has risen significantly and has been felt by millions of Americans in their everyday expenses.

In my local town of Alexandria, not far from our nation’s capital, gas prices have surged above four dollars and currently stand at around $4.30 per gallon (as of May 2026). Gas prices trickle down to the basic home goods we buy, making them all more expensive, especially those that require constant transport, like vegetables, grains, and other perishable food items.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is especially devastating for farmers growing these foods, considering that over a third of the globe’s fertilizer traded by sea passes through the strait, and many Western farmers depend on these products from the Middle East.

I see all of this in my local stores. Just a few days ago, while shopping for groceries, I had to check the prices twice to confirm what I was seeing: one small cabbage was over seven dollars, and grapes had gone up by more than two dollars. While some of you may be fortunate enough financially to read that and think, ‘That’s not so bad,’ don’t forget that yours truly is fully dependent on student loans.

Remember this: every cent counts when you live dollar to dollar, dear reader.

Item 2: Your healthcare just got a lot worse…

Not only are your gas and grocery bills going up, but the quality of your healthcare has worsened as well. Ever since Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was confirmed by Republicans as Secretary of United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), our medical system has taken a nosedive in the wrong direction. What has he accomplished since taking on the position? Here is a list of some of his ‘contributions’ to keeping you and your loved ones safe and healthy:

1. He has allowed measles cases to rise to levels we have not seen in decades. Last year alone, there were 2,255 reported cases in the United States. RFK Jr.’s skepticism of vaccines is well known, and his performance in promoting the MMR vaccine to prevent the spread of measles has been dubious at best.
2. He changed our nation’s dietary guidelines (click here to read them yourself), introducing the infamous ‘upside-down pyramid,’ which places an emphasis on increased meat consumption while lowering the recommended intake of sugars and fats. While this has been generally supported by parts of the medical community, such as the American Medical Association, these new guidelines fail to address one of the core issues of poor nutrition: lack of access. According to one article examining food deserts, “[m]ore than 53 million, or 17% of Americans, were considered low-income and had little to no access to supermarkets or similar large food stores, …[based on] 2019 data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).” Flipping a pyramid and making recommendations on paper is not going to change the reality for millions of Americans who live paycheck to paycheck and must make difficult choices about what groceries or food items they can afford for their families.
3. He has made significant changes to HHS staffing, including cutting thousands of positions deemed ‘wasteful.’ However, the scale and breadth of the reorganization have raised concerns about whether HHS can function properly in its role to ensure public safety.

Not only do we have to reckon with the consequences of HHS under RFK Jr., but also with problems that originate on Capitol Hill. I know we’ve had numerous government shutdowns over the past year, but do you remember the one caused by Democrats and Republicans arguing over renewing Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) subsidies?

Well, Congress ultimately failed to extend them, at the behest of the Republican majority, and we are seeing the data on what has happened since then. Initial sign-ups for the ACA have dropped by 1.2 million people, and at least one major insurance company has decided to withdraw its services, leaving thousands without coverage.

This matters for everyone, not just those who use Obamacare, because if more people decide to forgo health insurance due to rising costs, fewer (typically healthier) individuals are paying into the system designed to collectively cover medical expenses (which are often higher for sicker patients). This shrinking risk pool forces insurance companies to raise premiums for everyone, regardless of whether you receive insurance through your employer, and perpetuates a cycle of unaffordable healthcare.

Depressing, huh?

What You Can Do

I can’t repeat myself enough, but Docnetizen encourages all Netizens to remain proactive throughout the next four years of the Trump Administration. As from the previous articles I have written, remember that you have the power and ability to do the following:

Talk about these issues with friends and family – While you may assume that everyone is aware of what has happened, they may not all interpret it the same way. Constructive and thought-provoking discussions foster a healthy environment for debate, whereas fighting or ignoring those who disagree with you does not.

Contact your local representative – If you live in a swing state or district, your voice as a constituent carries weight. Visit this link to find your representatives so you can send a letter or call their offices. As someone with experience on Capitol Hill, I can assure you, fellow Netizens, that your opinion matters to staffers who rely on voter input to better inform their Congressperson of your needs and concerns.

Engage in the civic process – If you are eligible and the time comes, go vote! Having elected officials who support your values can make a huge difference in which policies pass through the federal government. If you feel strongly and want to protest, exercise your constitutional right safely and effectively. This WIRED article offers a comprehensive guide on how to protest, and I highly recommend reading it if you are considering this route. Another great resource is this American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) article, which provides information about your rights as an American citizen regarding protest laws.

Given how things are right now in my life, I want to be honest with you fellow readers, so I won’t make any promises about when the next article will come out. However, I hope you all stay well, and I wish you the best as you navigate all the craziness going on in the world right now.

Until next time, fellow Netizens!

Featured Photo: Photo by Brady Wilson: https://www.pexels.com/photo/waving-american-flag-15527062/

Disclaimer: This article reflects the author’s own opinions and statements. They do not reflect the opinions or stances of any organization affiliated with the author