Finally, I'd just note that part of this disconnect is that many of us don't realize just how much incredibly vital stuff the federal govt does every day. Even small cuts (and the OBBB cuts are not small) to these have dire consequences for human welfare. 11

The parade is big and in-your-face and infuriating, while the OBBB is a boring piece of reconciliation legislation slowly worming its way through Congress. But the OBBB is much more important – folks should focus more attention and advocacy on stopping it. 10

Note that ALL of these things absolutely are happening in the OBB - it's not the "this or that" implied in comparisons of the parade's cost to other social priorities. 9

The OBBB also cuts key investments that would help spur the needed transition to a cleaner energy economy. These cuts could be as high as $460 billion, or almost 3 parades every single day for the next decade. 8

The OBBB is also cutting assistance to purchase health insurance on the ACA exchanges by $30 billion per year. That’s just about 2 parades every single day for the next decade. 7

SPLC noted that the parade cost could provide nutritional assistance to 14 million students. That would be a better use for that money! But the OBBB is cutting food stamps by more than $20 billion per year. That’s a parade every single day for the next decade. 6

The SPLC noted that $45 million could cover 6,000 people with Medicaid for a year. It would be a better use for that money! But the OBBB is cutting Medicaid by $70 billion + per year every year. That’s more than 4 parades every single day for the next decade. 5 www.splcenter.org/resources/ho...

But since people have gotten intrigued by the waste of money in the parade, here’s a comparison between that cost and what it means for other social priorities, and what the OBBB does for those. Sorry if folks have done this already and I missed it. 4

I get that we’re all overwhelmed with how much bad and stupid stuff is happening. But the scale of bad and stupid of the OBBB is, I’m afraid, being neglected. It is a catastrophic bill for tens of millions of people and makes us a much worse country. 3 www.epi.org/blog/house-b...

$45 million for something stupid is obviously too much. But, again, I’m surprised at how much angst there is about this price tag and what it means for other should-be priorities of the US as compared to discussions about the OBBB winding its way through Congress. 2 www.nytimes.com/2025/06/09/o...

And what the GOP budget ideas mean for all of these flows will inevitably cause pain. There's no legislative dishonesty that can avoid this. 3 www.epi.org/publication/...

It calls for huge tax cuts, mostly for the richest households, but pretends these can be hidden with budget gimmicks. But markets don't care about whether or not something is called "current policy" or "current law", they care about taxes, spending, deficits, and debt. 2 www.cbpp.org/press/statem...

The Trump economic agenda is intense short-run pain to bring us to a long-run equilibrium where we're noticeably poorer than we'd otherwise be. All forms of income - including profits - will grow more slowly going forward and the market's not wrong here. 2