LAWRENCE — Laura Mead has called Kansas U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran’s office every day since confirmation hearings on President Donald Trump’s appointees began — initially requesting a statement on his votes for confirmation, then urging him to host a town hall to address Kansans’ concerns about Washington.

Mead, an artist in Dover, is primarily concerned with Elon Musk, the world’s richest person and leader of the new Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE. She worries that Moran is failing his obligation of providing checks and balances by allowing Trump and Musk to dismantle agencies that Americans have relied on for decades.

Starting Feb. 11, she began urging Moran to hold a town hall. She took to Facebook, prompting other Kansans to join her in calling Moran’s offices. She said his office never responded.

“If he refuses to respond to us, what do we do?” Mead said.

Her answer: Host a virtual town hall with a symbolic empty seat for Moran on Feb. 22.

About 1,200 people tuned in during the live, 2.5-hour event, which featured 32 speakers — farmers, veterans, health care workers, cancer patients, special-needs parents — who voiced concerns over Trump and Musk.

Dot Nary, a disability activist and wheelchair user, pointed to Musk calling people who rely on federal programs — like Medicaid — a “parasite class.” Musk has said he believes Medicare payment systems are where “the big money fraud is happening,” leaving Nary concerned for the future of Medicare and the Department for Health and Human Services.

“Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security permit people to have the basics to live with dignity, and to have the standard of living that Americans expect and deserve,” Nary said.

“Senator Moran, as my elected representative, I am relying on you,” she added. “Will you vote against efforts to cut funding for these Health and Human Services programs — both from the Department of Government Efficiency and in upcoming budget negotiations? Your constituents expect you to advocate for programs that allow us to live full lives in our communities.”

Musk facilitated the layoffs of about 1,000 Department of Veterans Affairs employees earlier this month. George Downing, a Korean War Navy veteran, said he is “ashamed” that Congress would allow this to happen — especially Moran, who ran a campaign focused on farmers and veterans.

He wasn’t the only veteran to voice concerns.

“My grandchildren will be given the awful debt accumulated by this administration, and by Republicans who now want to cut government without any thought to what will save money,” said Olen Pryor, a Vietnam War veteran.

Nick Levendofsky, executive director of the Kansas Farmers Union, said it is normal for a new administration to review spending. He said the harm arises when they cut off aid Americans were relying on.

Levendofsky said the federal spending freeze has thrown off farmers’ existing plans. He said a farmer in northeast Kansas, who took out a $55,000 loan under the Rural Energy for America Program Renewable Energy Systems, expected reimbursement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but because of the spending freeze will not be repaid.

“When farmers and rural businesses face instability, mainstream businesses from equipment dealers to grocery stores also feel the impact, Levendofsky said. “When the food system is disrupted, everyone pays the price. Delays in farm programs could lead to reduced production, supply chain disruptions and ultimately higher food costs for consumers.”

Kansas farmers’ products have been used to supply food for international humanitarian aid through the U.S. Agency for International Development, another agency under scrutiny from Musk. Moran is leading an effort to transfer the food supply portion of the program to USDA, preserving diplomatic ties and benefits for Kansas farmers.

Diane Journot, a Republican from Parsons who voted for Moran, says she sees Republicans “throwing up their hands” and allowing Trump and Musk to take “absolute control.”

Mead, who moderated the town hall, decided to target only Moran for the town hall and did not invite any other members of the Kansas congressional delegation.

“Of all the people I was seeing that could make the quickest impact, Senator Moran would be the one,” Mead said.

Mead said only a few Republicans need to “stand up against Trump,” and she sees Moran as “empathetic, thoughtful, and willing to listen to people who don’t agree with his views.”

Moran’s office did not respond to requests to comment for this story.

Kansas Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kansas Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Sherman Smith for questions: info@kansasreflector.com.

Trigger warning: This story references rape. Help is available.

LEAWOOD — Amber Dickinson took a personal and vulnerable stand for reproductive freedom as she talked publicly for the first time about being raped.

Before her speech Thursday in Leawood at a rally of “Kansas Women for Kamala Harris,” only a handful of people knew she is a survivor. Through tears, she explained that she was worried she would stand in front of strangers and cry, when she was supposed to be strong.

“But whose definition of strong are we obligated to adhere to? It is time that women create their own definition of strength,” Dickinson said. “Because strength is not sexually abusing women like Donald Trump. Strength is not belittling women like J.D. Vance.”

Dickinson, a political science professor at Washburn University who has written opinion columns for Kansas Reflector, joined speakers who highlighted the ways Harris’ and former President Donald Trump’s policies affect Kansans. The rally was a counter-protest to Vance’s nearby fundraiser, where Republicans claimed he raised $1.5 million.

Dickinson spoke on reproductive rights, highlighting experiences of women in Oklahoma, a neighboring state with a total abortion ban. She spoke of a fetus found in an Oklahoma college residence hall bathroom. She said this is what the future looks like “if you allow wicked men like J.D. Vance and Donald Trump get what they want from us.”

After Dickinson spoke on reproductive rights, other women spoke on gun safety and funding in public schools.

Kristen Blackton, a former middle school teacher and part of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, said she witnessed the rise of mass shootings in schools, resulting in her students asking her: “Can you protect us?”

“In our state, in Kansas, the rate of gun deaths has increased 48% from 2013 to 2022 and gun violence also disproportionately affects communities of color, with Black people in Kansas being over two times more likely to die by guns than white people in Kansas,” Blackton said. “This is not normal.”

She talked about legislation introduced by Rep. Linda Featherston, D-Overland Park, that would make safe storage of firearms a requirement. Blackton and other Moms from the group pushed for the bill, which failed to advance.

“Do you know why? We currently have a Republican supermajority in Topeka,” Blackton said. “This means that Republican lawmakers often act like they have no need to listen to their constituents and work across the aisle to improve the lives of Kansans.”

Rep. Mari-Lynn Poskin, D-Leawood, spoke about Moms for Liberty, a group that is known for challenging books in public schools.

Poskin praised Ruby Bridges, the first Black child to attend formerly a whites-only school after Brown v. Board, as a Civil Rights icon. Poskin said she donated copies of “Ruby Bridges’ Walk to School,” a children’s book written by Bridges, to local elementary schools.

“Moms for Liberty attempted to ban this sweet book from the second and third grade curriculums in the state of Tennessee,” Poskin said. “And if you don’t think it’s coming here, you’re wrong.”

Ten miles away from the Democratic women rally, at Indian Hills Country Club in Mission Hills, Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance dined with donors who paid $5,000 to $50,000 to attend. Former U.S Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Kansas U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall and Oklahoma U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin also were part of the fundraiser.

Mike Brown, chairman for the Kansas Republican Party, called the dinner a “huge success” in the party’s weekly newsletter Friday. Brown said more than 300 people attended, and raised $1.5 million.

On Tuesday, Marshall told KWCH, a radio station in Wichita, that he has heard from Kansans whose top concerns are inflation, border security, and government overregulation.

Kansas Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kansas Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Sherman Smith for questions: info@kansasreflector.com. Follow Kansas Reflector on Facebook and X.