Lisa Murkowski learns voting matters as Trump hurts the people he promised to help

It was a make-or-break moment for Senator Lisa Murkowski as the Senate wrestled with Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a title so obnoxiously on-brand it practically screams “do not read the fine print.”

From the start, Murkowski tried to play the adult in the room, fighting to shield Alaska’s fragile healthcare and food assistance lifelines. Roughly one-third of her state relies on Medicaid, and SNAP (food stamps) isn’t a luxury in a place where groceries cost as much as a car payment.

GOP leadership dangled a few carrots—more Medicaid cash and exemptions from harsh new SNAP rules—to get her on board. But surprise! The Senate parliamentarian, ever the buzzkill with a rulebook, tossed out the “goodies” as budget reconciliation violations. Whoops.

But that left Murkowski in a political pickle: support a bill that stomps on her constituents or break with her party—again.

She tried threading the needle during frantic last-minute negotiations, managing to salvage a narrow exemption for Alaska and Hawaii from some of the SNAP pain. The states where food prices rival Manhattan rents get to dodge the worst of Trump’s “make-the-states-pay” plan…for now.

It was a partial win—emphasis on partial—but enough to coax Murkowski into a yes vote. It’s not the first time she’s bucked her party, but this time, her resistance came with some caveats.

Trump’s bill sticks it to the states he promised to help

Trump campaigned on helping the “forgotten” Americans in red, rural states. Alaska heard that message loud and clear. But the bill he just passed does the opposite.

While it showers billionaires and corporations with goodies, it shreds over $1 trillion from Medicaid over the next decade, meaning states like Alaska, which need federal help, get hosed.

Murkowski didn’t exactly stay quiet about the bait-and-switch. She flagged the contradiction, but ultimately couldn’t stop it. Now her state stares down cuts to healthcare and food programs that keep many Alaskans afloat, while Wall Street investors toast another victory. Cheers.

The “vote-a-rama” bad reality show finale

After a dramatic “vote-a-rama” that could double as a bad reality show finale, the bill passed 51-50. Vice President J.D. Vance swooped in with the tie-breaking vote, because, of course, he did. Rand Paul gave his usual “no” (probably for libertarian reasons), and even Thom Tillis joined the rebellion.

Murkowski, despite her earlier gripes, voted yes—thanks to some sweeteners tossed in during the final stretch, like modest clean energy tax credits and those narrowly tailored SNAP exemptions. The bill now heads back to the House. Even though Republicans currently control the chamber, it’s not a guaranteed slam-dunk:

Was it worth it? Time will tell. But one thing is certain: Murkowski’s political calculus just became Alaska’s real-world consequences. Red states like hers voted for Trump, expecting help. Instead, they got a bill that prioritizes corporate tax breaks and leaves Medicaid-dependent communities twisting in the wind.

So, as the dust settles, Murkowski heads home with a mixed bag of compromises and questions. Meanwhile, Alaska braces for the fallout of a bill that sounds like a real estate brochure and governs like a demolition crew.