The MAGA Default Crisis: A Grassroots Messaging Guide

What is the MAGA Default Crisis and why Does it Matter?

MAGA Republicans in Congress are refusing to pay debts they incurred unless they're allowed to take away our freedoms and block what our families need. They think they can get away with this reckless plot because the legislative mechanism they’re using is called “the debt ceiling,” which they’re hoping nobody takes the time to understand. But Indivisible is calling this what it is - an explicit threat to force the United States to default on the debt for the first time in history. This is the MAGA Default Crisis.

Republican Members of Congress are threatening an immediate recession, and disruptions or cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and 401(k)s. If they force a default, retirement funds would be stripped from millions of Americans who have worked hard and rely on those savings. Working families would face higher interest rates that would make car loans, mortgages, and credit cards unmanageable. MAGA Republicans would destroy six million jobs, doubling the unemployment rate. Of course the middle class, retired folks, and working families would suffer the most from the GOP’s irresponsible behavior - the ultra-wealthy and big corporations would be insulated from the economic turmoil.

What is it that MAGA extremists care so deeply about trying to jam through Congress that they’re willing to risk an economic meltdown like that? We know their agenda because they wrote it down and voted for it: 

• Slashing Medicaid, jeopardizing health care for 21 million people who count on it, especially children with disabilities and seniors in nursing homes. 
• Devastating cuts to education and schools, eliminating 108,000 teachers’ jobs and impacting over 32 million kids. 

We can’t let this happen.

How We Win

To build the power we need to prevent The MAGA Default Crisis, our movement must call out these dangerous policies through compelling language that avoids the empty, both-sides rhetoric and confusing jargon often seen in the media. We also need to speak to “persuadables,” meaning folks we can bring to our side with compelling messaging. We’re not trying to convince the hardcore MAGA devotees. But we’re also not trying to convince folks like Indivisibles who already pay attention to this stuff and are on board with stopping MAGA.  

This resource will equip you with the shared vocabulary you need to motivate Congress to take action and avoid a GOP default without sacrificing critical programs like our health care and our schools.

The guidance below is based on research from pollsters and messaging experts across the movement. If you want to dive into the weeds, you can also see our explainer for more of the nitty gritty policy details here. There are of course a whole host of reasons why the GOP’s plan is harmful, and you’ll notice we’re only focusing on a few. This is intentional! It’s not because other issues aren’t important, but because we don’t want Republican MoCs to skate by because they have this entire kitchen sink of awful policies, but none of them break through into the public consciousness. 

That’s where Indivisibles come in. By being really disciplined, and focusing on the most potent messages - according to the experts - we can effectively toxify the GOP’s position. There may also be cases where we are speaking directly to an audience that cares deeply about one of the other issues at stake, in which case we should absolutely communicate about that topic to them. The goal of this guide is to help you use your best judgment when crafting your message.

Talking Points

Republican MoCs

These top two messaging points should be used by everyone. Data shows these are our most persuasive messages in toxifying the GOP policy agenda. 

• MAGA Congressional Republicans want to slash Medicaid, jeopardizing health care for 21 million people who count on it, especially children with disabilities and seniors in nursing homes.
• Republicans in Congress want devastating cuts to education and schools, eliminating 108,000 teachers’ jobs and impacting over 32 million kids.

These points are also effective, and can be paired with the top two above depending on what’s most important in your community or for the audience you’re communicating with.

• MAGA Republicans in Congress want to take away our freedom to thrive, earn a good living, and retire with dignity while refusing to make wealthy corporations pay what they owe in taxes.
• The bill the House GOP passed attacks nutrition services, taking food off the table for 400,000 people who count on those meals.
• Republicans proposed cutting energy assistance programs, meaning seniors and families could pay 20% more for their heating bills next winter.
• Republicans in Congress are risking our Social Security and Medicaid to hand kickbacks to Wall St billionaires. Programs that Americans rely on would be at risk of collapse if the GOP causes a recession. 
• The Republican plan to default on our debt will hit working families the hardest. It will increase costs by driving up interest rates on items like credit cards, car loans, and mortgage rates at the same time as families are struggling with the costs of inflation.
• Republicans must back off their plan to take our lives and livelihoods hostage or working families will pay the price.

Democratic MoCs

• Democrats must protect families and communities from the MAGA plan to cause a default crisis and stick regular people with the bill. While Kevin McCarthy and other MAGA House Republicans try to outdo each other in taking away our freedom to thrive, Democrats must stand with and for the people in the face of these dangerous tactics.
• Democrats must protect our health care and our schools. Millions of families rely on these programs to make ends meet and care for ourselves and our loved ones. Cutting these programs is wildly unpopular and would devastate seniors, kids, and our communities. 
• Democrats passed legislation to lower costs for families, and they can’t let MAGA Congressional Republicans take away what people need. MAGA Congressional Republicans want to repeal laws enacted by Democrats that have made prescription drugs more affordable, created clean energy jobs, and asked the wealthy to pay what they owe in taxes. Democrats need to take us forward.
• Democrats need to stand with President Biden and refuse to let Republicans get out of paying their bills. The GOP offer to “negotiate” is simply a trap - we know their agenda is devastating cuts to critical programs our communities and families rely on. 

Create a Contrast 

Whenever possible, use the descriptions of MAGA Congressional Republicans and Democrats to show a clear contrast in their legislative priorities. That’s how we can create enough pressure to prevent the MAGA Default Crisis. 

The Consequences of a MAGA Default Crisis

If Republicans force a default crisis, here’s just a sampling of the harms it would cause:

• MAGA Congressional Republicans will destroy our jobs and ability to provide for our families, throwing millions out of work and reversing our historic job growth during the Biden presidency.
• Savings would be ripped away from hard working people looking to retire with dignity.
• Medicare payments will be delayed for seniors who rely on it for life-sustaining health care.
• Prices for everything from groceries to gas would rise.
• Credit card rates would rise, sending millions of families into financial stress.
• Mortgages could become more than $100,000 more expensive over their 30 year term.
• Seniors could lose social security checks.

Messaging Frames and Dos & Don’ts

For all you messaging gurus out there who really want to take your game to the next level, here’s some additional guidelines to have in mind as you’re crafting a message for an event or for brainstorming slogans for yard signs!

Connect the Crisis to People’s Daily Lives

DO combine a potent narrative of the crisis with a consequence that a default would have on everyday Americans:

“Republicans in Congress want to default on the debt and force American taxpayers to foot the bill. Failing to pay the bills will increase the interest on the loan for your mortgage, car, and credit cards at a time when working families are just getting control of their finances.”

• Narrative: Financial uncertainty/lack-of-control for working class families
• Consequence: Increased interest rates

DON’T provide a narrative spin on the default crisis without tying it to the consequences for everyday people:

“Republicans in Congress want to default on the debt and force American taxpayers to foot the bill. Don’t let them make you pay the cost of their irresponsibility.”

• Narrative: Shifting the cost to everyday people
• Consequence: Missing!

Make it Personal

DO make it personal and focus on consequences that have an immediate impact on everyday people:

• Lead to cuts or delays in Social Security and Medicare. This polls particularly well. 52% of Americans are at least somewhat concerned about missed payments to social security and medicare because of a national default.
• Increase interest rates on common loans, such as credit cards, mortgages, or cars, while working people are struggling with inflation.
• Risk long-term retirement accounts like 401K’s, both for working people who are counting on that money in the future and retirees who live off that money now.
• Raise the cost of groceries and food items.
• Risk reversing our historic low unemployment rate, potentially putting millions out of work.

DON’T reference consequences that might be important to the country as a whole, but aren’t relevant to the daily lives of voters:

• The full faith & credit of the United States.
• The Constitutional legality of defaulting on the debt.
• Payments to military members, federal employees, etc.
• Damage to the stock market or “the economy” as a whole.

Name the Villain

DO name the villain and their agenda:

• Draw attention to the significant amount of the national debt incurred by kickbacks for corporations and the wealthy passed by Republicans.
• MAGA Congressional Republicans are threatening our country's well being so they can grab power, destroy our freedoms / take away the programs our families need / give kickbacks to the super rich/wealthy corporations.

DO create contrast between Republicans and Democrats in their legislative actions:

• Defaulting on the national debt by Republicans in Congress would take away the hard-earned financial control that working and retired Americans have regained after the pandemic. Democrats strongly believe in protecting the progress American families have made towards financial stability.

Build Urgency

DO use frames that highlight the irresponsible and short-sighted nature of defaulting on the national debt:

• Emphasize that we must meet our current obligations and avoid a default before we start to experiences the consequences 
• Focus on the fact that the economic fallout of a national default will be felt by regular people, not the super wealthy or big corporations.

DON’T focus on consequences far into the future:

• We need to show people that defaulting on the national debt would have immediate consequences to them.

Focus on Outcomes not Process

DO describe the crisis in ways that are relatable to most people:

• “Republicans in Congress want to default on the national debt…”
• “Republicans in Congress refuse to pay the bills…”

DON’T use the phrase “debt ceiling”, which is remote to most people

• “Republicans in Congress refuse to raise the debt ceiling…”
• "51% of Americans support raising the debt-ceiling, whereas 65% of Americans believe that defaulting on the national debt would be worse than raising the debt ceiling (source)."