Accountability & Affordability: The Dual Mandate for 2027
Stop Negotiating, Start Dismantling: How to Reclaim the House and Senate
The mainstream political conversation often treats “government reform” and “the cost of living” as separate issues. They aren’t.
As we look toward the 2026 midterms and the legislative session of 2027, the path to a Democratic majority isn’t just about promising lower prices, it’s about dismantling the structures that keep them high and the agencies that operate without consequence.
Earlier in January, Senate Dems began a push to concentrate on affordability issues as the main agenda for the 2026 midterms.
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said during an event at the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning think tank, that if Democrats regain control of the House and Senate they would pass legislation to expand rental assistance, reduce barriers to home ownership, build more housing and address predatory practices.
Schumer listed several statistics he finds concerning, including that the median price of a home has gone up by 55% since the coronavirus pandemic, that rent has risen by one-third and that the average age for a first-time home buyer is 40.
“That’s a record high,” he said. “That’s a devastating statistic that should shake up everyone in a position of power at the federal, state or local levels.”
Democratic leadership is right to focus on the “kitchen table” issues. From skyrocketing utility bills to the cost of groceries and housing, Americans are being squeezed. But “affordability” can’t just be a slogan; it needs to be an active, aggressive policy.
A commitment to after the corporate consolidation and price-gouging that have kept costs artificially high, along with Trump’s tarrifs that are raking Americans over the coals.
The Tax Foundation says the extra costs “amount to an average tax increase per US household of $1,000 in 2025 and $1,300 in 2026.”
Under the tariffs imposed and scheduled as of January 23, 2026, the weighted average applied tariff rate on all imports rises to 14.0 percent, and the average effective tariff rate, reflecting behavioral responses, rises to 10.1 percent—the highest average rate since 1946.
The Trump tariffs are the largest US tax increase as a percent of GDP (0.55 percent for 2026) since 1993.
The Democratic platform must prioritize direct action to lower the everyday expenses such as electricity, rent, and childcare that have become unbearable for the working class.
But affordability cannot be the only issue Democrats run on.
You cannot claim to be the party of “affordability” while simultaneously funding a $170 billion-plus bureaucracy like the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that has lost its way.
The DHS is a relic of post-9/11 overreach. Today, it has become a bloated, redundant machine. Dismantling it isn’t just about civil liberties; it’s about reallocating massive amounts of taxpayer wealth toward things that actually improve lives.
Federal agents have been captured on camera committing dozens of crimes from murder and assault to grand theft auto and child endangerment. They’ve trafficked people across the country and across the world to put them in dangerous situations, and many have died.
The Guardian reported 32 deaths of people while in ICE custody during 2025. Agents have teargassed schools, flashbanged children, and of course outright murdered Renee Good, Alex Pretti, and Keith Porter Jr.
Voters are ready for bold, structural change. Moving the essential functions of DHS to more accountable agencies and cutting the rest is the ultimate fiscal reform, but more must be done.
The rule of law and the fabric of our Democracy demands accountability. We cannot talk about the rule of law while federal agents commit crimes with impunity. As I’ve documented on my social media, there is ample evidence of misconduct ranging from civil rights violations to criminal negligence.
Senate Democrats must grow a backbone. No more negotiations, no more “Big Bullshit Bills,” and no more funding doled out until we see federal agents held criminally accountable. If the law doesn’t apply to the people enforcing it, the law doesn’t exist.
The massive spending packages passed under the current administration inthe “Big Bullshit Bill” have funneled billions into agencies like ICE and away from programs that help the average family.
We must demand the rescission of this funding as Allison Gill said on Bluesky:
That money belongs in the pockets of Americans through tax relief for the working class or through direct investments in lowering the costs of healthcare, education, and energy.
Every Congressional Democrat ought to get on board with this. We don’t have to choose between fixing the economy and fixing the government. By Abolishing the DHS, demanding Criminal Accountability, and Bringing Prices Down, we create a platform that is both morally grounded and economically sound.
This is more than a policy list. It’s a winning strategy to retake the House and Senate and transform the country in 2027.
Really strong framing linking affordabilty to accountability. I hadn't thought about DHS funding in terms of opportunity cost like that before, but the $170B number puts it in perspective. The point about "Big Bullshit Bills" funneling money away from things that actually help families is something more people need to hear - its not just about cutting spending, its about where those resources go instead.