A few wks ago, @akjohnson1922 and @zack_wittman headed to FL to report on and photograph The Villages.
What they found was a lively community of retirees drinking, dancing + grappling w/ a stake in the Medicare debate. (Don’t worry, the alligator is fake)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EF-9VDIXkBURAh2.jpg)
How mainstream?
In 2016, 8 out of 10 Republicans in The Villages’ three counties voted for Trump.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EF-9cfMWsAA8QgG.jpg)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EF-9koMW4AE_G2f.jpg)
Some studies found the average annual costs were about the same between the two programs, while others have said Medicare Advantage is actually more expensive.
Trump followed that up w/ an inaccurate (and xenophobic) comment: that “open borders” are “draining your health care.”
It’s not outside of the mainstream at The Villages. More than one person told @akjohnson1922 something similar last month.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EF--KqxW4AEgNOA.jpg)
Dems champion universal health care and “Medicare-for-all” — while Republicans, like these, are questioning if healthcare is even a human right.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EF--k1bXkAQwERe.jpg)
propublica.org/article/the-vi…
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