> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # 11/3/26 - The politics of the possible? - URL: https://disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io/11-3-26-the-politics-of-the-possible/ - Published: 2026-11-03T19:30:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-03T19:29:59.000Z - Author: Andrew Pulrang ## **Good afternoon!** It's Election Day here in the U.S. In a way, it's disabled Americans' moment of greatest potential power. It also tends to be a time when we are most powerfully confronted by limits of our influence. Anyway, my votes are cast, and I look forward to a bit of a rest from soul-crushing political ads and disappointing behavior from candidates. ![Fall leaves illustration divider](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/51/9951e709-0bb8-4ee3-8557-6b5a3d3af05b/content/images/2026/09/Autumn-Trim.png) ![Tuesday Links](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/51/9951e709-0bb8-4ee3-8557-6b5a3d3af05b/content/images/2026/09/Tuesday-2.png) ## [**Josh Turek ad on transgender issues draws bipartisan criticism**](https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2026/10/26/josh-turek-ad-on-transgender-issues-draws-bipartisan-criticism/?ref=disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io) Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch - October 26, 2026 > "'As a kid in a wheelchair, I faced my share of bullying,' Turek said in the ad. 'That’s why I believe that no Iowan should face discrimination. As a Paralympian, I also know it’s important to have rules. It’s why I oppose males competing in female sports, something that is already illegal in Iowa. I’m against taxpayers paying for sex changes too. Anyone tells you any different is lying' ... Turek said, 'it’s time to stop the nonsense from both extremes and start to focus on lowering costs for Iowans.'" ## [**Disability Victory Condemns Transphobic Campaign Ad Released by Iowa Candidate Josh Turek**](https://www.disabilityvictory.org/news/disability-victory-condemns-transphobic-campaign-ad-released-by-iowa-candidate-josh-turek?ref=disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io) Neal Carter, Disability Victory - October 29, 2026 > "Disability Victory strongly rejects the weaponization of disability identity to justify discrimination against another marginalized group. Living with a disability and navigating systemic ableism does not grant anyone permission to "punch down" on transgender people or compromise their rights for short-term electoral strategy." Unfortunately, this will probably weigh in Turek's favor in the election. How much it may help him is anyone's guess. We will soon find out whether it's enough to help Turek win a Senate seat. Trans rights issues have become almost completely wrecked by politically motivated fearmongering that has exploited some real but previously insignificant doubts among voters. In large portions of the U.S., it may be impossible for a politician to take a position forthrightly in support of trans people's rights without being portrayed as either beholden to sinister "wokeism," or else detached from traditional conceptions of gender "reality." So it shouldn't *surprise* anyone that a relatively moderate Democrat like Josh Turek, running in a tight Senate race in conservative Iowa, has come out with an anti-trans statement. It's amazing to me that it didn't happen sooner. Still, there should be a way for candidates to support trans rights fully, while at the same time at least *trying* to point out that these issues are only so relevant because they have been whipped up to scare and disgust Republican voters – especially those who might be considering voting for a Democrat because their Republican candidate choices are so awful lately. Surely there has to be a choice between throwing trans people under the bus and defining your whole political identity on a cultural, civil rights issue a lot of people are still confused about. For what it's worth, here's something I added to a Facebook post over the weekend: > "I would only add that people with disabilities often do, or at least SHOULD have a very particular sort of empathy for trans people. We all live with intense scrutiny and judgement from others of our bodies and minds – often leading to legal restrictions and interference." As a Democrat myself, I'll take the Senate majority if Turek helps secure it, and be glad of it. And I'm done being shocked and angry that we can't count on Democrats to understand disability issues and care about what we think about them. It was probably always naive to expect more. But this could be a signal that we all need to do a better job of building more complex relationships specifically with disabled candidates and elected officials. We need to figure out how to be allies and cheerleaders for political representation one day, and harsh, truthful critics the next without suffering political whiplash every time. ## [**Community Advocacy Update: Positive Development In Medicaid Work Requirements**](https://mailchi.mp/aapd/community-advocacy-update-positive-development-in-medicaid-work-requirements?e=00adff17a6&ref=disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io) American Association of People with Disabilities - October 29, 2026 > "As a result of the ruling, effective immediately nationwide, the “medical frailty” exemption for Medicaid work requirements goes back to its original definition as Congress wrote it. Today’s ruling does not end work requirements entirely. It eliminates some harmful aspects of how work requirements are administered." This is the sort of partial victory that does some real good, but makes many disability activists roll their eyes in frustration. Thanks to hard-working advocacy, a terrible change is now going to be slightly less terrible than it used to be. The sarcasm is intentional. At the same time, we can read the line straight, no snark, and mean it. Progress is progress. A win is a win. And small wins can spur is to strive for much more. ![Fall leaves illustration divider](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/51/9951e709-0bb8-4ee3-8557-6b5a3d3af05b/content/images/2026/09/Autumn-Trim.png) ![Take Action](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/51/9951e709-0bb8-4ee3-8557-6b5a3d3af05b/content/images/2025/05/Action-1.png) [![Take Action to Support the Bipartisan House Resolution Reaffirming the Right of Disabled People to Live in Their Communities with the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/51/9951e709-0bb8-4ee3-8557-6b5a3d3af05b/content/images/2026/10/Copy-of-Action-Alert-Panel.png)](https://dredf.org/take-action-res-1586/?ref=disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io) [![Tell Congress to Stop the Dismantling of the Department of Education and Protect Students with Disabilities - American Association of People with Disabilities](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/51/9951e709-0bb8-4ee3-8557-6b5a3d3af05b/content/images/2026/06/Action-Alert-Panel-1.png)](https://aapd.quorum.us/campaign/148277/?ref=disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io) [![Tell Congress to Pass the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act with the American Association of People with Disabilities](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/51/9951e709-0bb8-4ee3-8557-6b5a3d3af05b/content/images/2026/06/Action-Alert-Panel-5.png)](https://aapd.quorum.us/campaign/160329/?ref=disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io) ![Fall leaves illustration divider](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/51/9951e709-0bb8-4ee3-8557-6b5a3d3af05b/content/images/2026/09/Autumn-Trim.png) ![Share, Comment & Subscribe](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/51/9951e709-0bb8-4ee3-8557-6b5a3d3af05b/content/images/2025/09/Like--Comment--Support.png) [***Disability Thinking Weekday***](https://disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io/) is a Monday-Friday newsletter with links and commentary on disability-related articles and other content. 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