Nebraska’s Mike Flood Faces Fiery Crowd at Town Hall Over Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’
Lincoln, NE — When Rep. Mike Flood stepped onto the stage Monday night at Kimball Hall in Lincoln, he knew he was walking into a tough crowd. But what unfolded was a heated showdown that quickly turned into a showdown of boos, chants, and sharp questions about the sweeping Trump administration policy bill Flood had recently backed.
With roughly 750 people packed inside the hall, the atmosphere was electric — and not in a good way for the congressman. Within minutes of kicking off the town hall, the crowd erupted, heckling and shouting down Flood as he tried to lay out the details of the massive tax and health care legislation signed into law just last July.
“I Know This Won’t Be Easy” — But Flood Wanted to Speak
The congressman didn’t shy away from the hostile vibes and began by acknowledging the resistance he expected. “I know this is probably going to be met with some resistance,” Flood said to the crowd, trying to set the tone. “But I want the opportunity to tell you and talk to you about health care in the bill we just passed.”
His opening salvo was met with a chorus of loud boos. Despite the tension, Flood attempted to clarify what he said was a lot of misinformation about the bill, focusing heavily on health care provisions. “I want to go right into this bill because I know this is something a lot of people have questions about,” he said, voice sometimes drowned out by the raucous audience.
Medicaid Cuts and the Boiling Point
One of the flashpoints was Medicaid, a topic that ignited strong emotions in the crowd. Flood defended the bill’s impact on Medicaid, insisting that no one disabled, pregnant, elderly, or vulnerable would lose benefits. Instead, he framed the bill as targeting able-bodied, working-age adults who refuse employment.
Flood posed a pointed question: “Do you think people who are 28 years old, who can work but refuse to work, should get free health care?” The response was icy. The crowd’s reaction was quick and unfriendly — a clear indication that many rejected his framing.
“I don’t think a majority of Nebraskans agree with you,” Flood said in response to the backlash. But many in the audience were not convinced, questioning how the congressman could justify changes they felt were taking health care away from everyday Nebraskans.
The Tough Questions Keep Coming
When a concerned audience member challenged Flood, asking how he could justify what seemed like cuts to local health care, the congressman doubled down. “We have a state where our infrastructure is going to be supported, funded, and available for people who need it,” he explained.
Flood reiterated a key point: “If you are able to work, and you’re 28 years old and choose not to work, you don’t get free health care in America.” He also drew a hard line on immigration, adding, “If you are in this country illegally, you do not get free health care in America.”
This blunt approach only fueled the crowd’s anger, sparking chants of “Tax the rich! Tax the rich!” as the discussion shifted to the bill’s tax provisions.
Tax Cuts or Tax Breaks for the Wealthy? The Debate Rages
Flood tried to defend the bill’s tax policies, highlighting perks like no taxes on tips or overtime pay. But the crowd remained skeptical, loudly demanding increased taxes on wealthy individuals.
He fired back, “If we adopted the Democrats’ plan to tax the rich, it would only generate $50 billion — not nearly enough to solve the problems. Plus, it would cut job creation, business investment, and hurt employers.”
At one point, Flood claimed, “This bill is a middle-class tax cut,” a statement that drew sharp boos and disbelief from the audience. His attempt to convince the crowd of the bill’s benefits seemed to only fuel their frustration.
Pressed repeatedly by constituents to explain his support, Flood admitted, “Is every bill perfect? No. But I read the bill and I supported it.”
A Fractured Crowd, A Fractured Town Hall
Flood took questions on a wide range of topics — from health care to taxes, to immigration and economic policy. But no matter the subject, the crowd showed no signs of relenting. Shouts of “Vote him out!” echoed as the hour-and-a-half session wrapped up.
What Does This Mean for Flood’s Future?
This tense town hall revealed a deep divide between the congressman’s views and those of many constituents. Flood’s strong defense of President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” didn’t sit well with a significant portion of the Nebraska audience — many of whom left the event visibly frustrated.
The event highlights a broader national debate raging across town halls and political forums nationwide: balancing tax reform and health care policy in a way that satisfies voters from all walks of life is no easy task.
For Mike Flood, navigating this tightrope with a crowd ready to shout him down was a clear challenge. The question now is whether he can win back support or if the calls for him to be voted out will only grow louder.
Quick Takeaways from the Town Hall:
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Audience size: Around 750 attendees packed into Kimball Hall.
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Key topic: Health care provisions and Medicaid changes in the new law.
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Audience mood: Hostile, with frequent booing and heckling.
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Flood’s stance: Defended bill as protecting vulnerable populations and cutting benefits only from those able to work but refusing.
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Crowd response: Rejected the framing, demanded richer individuals be taxed more.
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Tax debate: Flood defended tax cuts, calling them middle-class relief; audience strongly disagreed.
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Event end: Audience chanted “Vote him out!” as the session closed.
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