The Bill is Coming Due: This Is Why We Do The Work
When the Cuts Come Home
On the 4th, Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" was signed into law. We’ve all seen the headlines:
Federal programs gutted. Grants frozen. "Waste" trimmed away.
But we all know what those words really mean.
The cuts aren't abstract. They're here, and they're hurting us now.
On Friday, Oak Ridge Schools announced the immediate suspension of two after-school programs at Glenwood and Willow Brook Elementary. These programs, funded entirely through 21st Century Community Learning Center grants, are now casualties of that bill.
The school district’s official statement described it gently: "This program provided valuable academic enrichment opportunities before and after school, and the loss will be felt by our families, students, and staff."
But we understand what that really translates to. It means parents scrambling to arrange child care. Kids losing essential academic support, enrichment, robotics, tutoring, and a safe environment after the school day ends.
Oak Ridge isn't alone. McNairy County is losing its after-school programs too. Knox County just laid off nearly 30 English Language Arts staff. Every funding freeze in Washington inevitably forces local districts to make impossible choices about what—and who—to cut.
This is the reality behind giving billionaires tax breaks and labeling it fiscal responsibility.
They signed this bill in Washington.
We're paying the price right here in Anderson County.
What the Work Really Means
Over the weekend, we traveled to Nashville for the Tennessee Democratic Party’s Three Star Dinner. Once a year, Democrats across Tennessee gather to remind ourselves why we keep showing up - despite the setbacks, despite the odds - during the largest yearly fundraiser for the state party.
We proudly joined our friends from the Roane County Democratic Party. Because this moment demands neighbors standing alongside neighbors, counties united, showing strength in community.
We left that evening knowing we're on the right track.
During his keynote, DNC Chair Ken Martin said something that resonated deeply: "I don't care about winning elections."
Not because elections don’t matter, but because treating politics like a scoreboard misses the real goal. Politics is about trust. It's about showing up when no one else is watching, about creating something that endures beyond election cycles.
That night, Knox County Democrats - with their half-million residents - were honored with the "One to Watch" award. As their accomplishments were recounted, folks at our table exchanged knowing glances. Anderson County, with just 80,000 residents, had done many of the same things, quietly and persistently.
We've opened a permanent headquarters. We fielded five strong local candidates, securing three victories, and even in the races we didn't win, our candidates energized voters and gave them something meaningful to believe in and show up for. We're present (rain or shine) at fairs, forums, and conversations that truly move the needle.
And people are noticing.
Our Chair, Chase Lindsey, received the Rising Star award - not just a recognition of his dedication, but a testament to the grassroots organizing reshaping possibilities in smaller counties like ours. Organizing rooted in authentic relationships, anchored by our community, and built to withstand time.
This award wasn't about one person. It was about all of us. It was about deciding we're done waiting for permission.
We aren’t just doing the work.
We’re redefining what it looks like - even when we're standing shoulder-to-shoulder with counties six times our size.
We’re Not Waiting for Permission
The morning after the Three Star Dinner, as most folks drove home from Nashville, we were already back in Clinton. In the pouring rain, hauling signs and supplies, setting up our booth at the Anderson County Fair.
Because this is what the work looks like.
One evening, we're listening to the DNC Chair emphasize how local victories build national strength. The next morning, we're ankle-deep in puddles, proving to our community that we're here, and we're staying.
We’re operating with fewer people, fewer dollars, and no safety net. But we've got something powerful: momentum and commitment.
Teachers, organizers, retired engineers, first-time voters, teenagers, and parents - every one of them is showing up, not because it's easy, but because it matters.
If you're reading this, we think you agree that it matters. And hopefully, you also agree that all this effort doesn’t come without a cost.
Despite our volunteers and a budget stretched to the limits of frugality, we still need funds to operate. Funds that keep our HQ open. Funds that buy canvassing supplies. Funds that print the materials that remind voters they have a choice.
We ask no one for more than they can give. Our goal is to grow the number of donors willing to contribute a small amount each month. Just $20 a month keeps the lights on. More important than the amount is the consistency. Knowing what’s coming in allows us to plan with care and make every cent count.
Remember: our work is powered by unpaid volunteers. But like any operation, we have monthly costs. And we’re also trying to build the war chest we’ll need for the battles ahead.
Recurring donations aren’t just about money. They’re about commitment. Yours and ours. We have the plan. We have the people. What we need is the fuel to keep this movement moving forward.
So if you believe this work matters. If you believe in the power of showing up, consider making a donation to the Anderson County Democrats a part of your monthly commitment.
We’re not waiting for permission. We never have.
We're already doing the work, and we're inviting you to join us.