As Iowa Senator Joni Ernst attempted to defend major cuts to assistance programs relied upon by millions of vulnerable Americans, one of her constituents shouted a simple truth: “People will die!”. Ernst’s off-the-cuff response was incredibly telling: “We all are going to die”.

There’s a dark humor in a basketball coach using that fact to explain the way he deals with pressure. By contrast, it’s horrifying for a politician to respond to people’s very real fears so flippantly.

In a more civilized time, Ernst might have apologized. In 2025, she doubled down with a disgusting fake apology filmed in a cemetery. Ernst then went on to pitch Christianity, urging people to “embrace my lord and savior, Jesus Christ”.

I think it would be really great if Joni Ernst brushed up a bit on some of Christ’s teachings. I seem to recall he had some things to say about helping the poor.