iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

109 years ago today, the National Park Service was created to “preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System…” I am proud to have been a WICA Park Ranger. I’m running for the US Senate to stand up for our parks & their stewards.

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Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

Social Security was establishing on 14 Aug 1935. On this anniversary, remember that it isn't just a safety net, but a promise. Millions of Americans depend on it as the primary defense against life in poverty. Protecting it means protecting our future. #ProtectThePromise

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Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

Today is Agent Orange Awareness Day, highlighting its lifetime health impacts to Vietnam veterans. The 2022 PACT Act expands benefits for vets suffering from Agent Orange & other toxins. Mike Rounds voted no, only switching when public support was too much to ignore.

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Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

Healthcare monopolies are great at cheating sick, poor, or elderly Americans out of coverage. The price of monopoly is paid from working folks’ pockets to CEOs. As a Senator, I would fight to make healthcare more accessible and affordable.

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Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

South Dakotans want a Senator who will actually work for them. As an Independent whose only bosses would be S Dakotans, I am ready to fight for them. Mike Rounds only listens to party bosses and Big Money donors. #FollowTheMoney

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Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

I'm running for Senate as an Independent because I do my own thinking. I care more about achieving real change for working folks in SD than toeing a party line. I can only be a legitimate challenger to Sen. Mike Rounds in '26 by acting outside party politics.

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Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

Mike Rounds is saying NOTHING while Congress hands over its tax (tariff) authority to the President, violating separation of powers with an arbitrary tax on the American people. That is Taxation without Representation.

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Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

The core of democracy, voter choice in a fair system, is being ignored in a Hatfield-McCoy feud. The President wants to use gerrymandering to disenfranchise his opposition, while his minions put parties over people and step aside. I support the Fair Representation Act.

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Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 04/08/2025

Our founders considered tariffs (duties) a tax on Americans under sole authority of Congress. US CONST, Art I, Sec 8: “The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises...." Why doesn’t Mike Rounds care about us or separation of powers?

Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

The purpose of taxation is to fund gov't operations & programs that benefit the people. Trump funneled taxpayers' money to himself with a Scotland golfing vacation at his OWN resort. South Dakota's Senators are standing aside while their people get ripped off.

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Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

The richest of the rich (top 0.1%) in the USA hold almost 14% of America's $160.35T total wealth. Instead of making them pay their fair share, Mike Rounds voted to cut their taxes. You'll never guess who Big Money Mike gets 87% of campaign contributions from. #FollowTheMoney

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Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

Democracy only functions when voters are able to make a real choice for themselves. No district should be taken for granted by ANY party because of how "safe" it is. Mike Rounds takes South Dakota for granted, but this state deserves better. Let's give S Dakotans a real choice.

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Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

I was quoted in a POLITICO piece on red-state independents: "If you have a handful of independents that actually want some structural reform, that deprive either party of a majority, you can actually accomplish some significant business" Politics shouldn't be two-team game.

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Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 25/07/2025

Poor S Dakotans are either in a food bank or a grocery store if they have SNAP benefits. USDA funding cuts created a $2.5M budget shortfall for Feeding South Dakota, our largest hunger-relief org. Mike Rounds' vote to cut $186B in SNAP funding will leave many S Dakotans hungry.

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Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

The president is touring the Federal Reserve today. I echo 1950s Republicans in advocating monetary policies where the "Federal Reserve System exercis[es] its functions in the money and credit system without pressure for political purposes from the Treasury or the White House.”

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Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Mike Rounds has been a politician for 35 years. What has he done to make your life better? Playing to national party politics instead of serving South Dakotans is how Big Money Mike gets 87% of his donations from a set of 200 rich donors. SD deserves better. #FollowTheMoney

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Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

New cuts to public broadcasting orgs add to a long list of betrayals against rural Americans in the past month. Mike Rounds has voted to gut Medicaid, rural hospitals, and now public radio. Mike Rounds serves Big Money and a party line, not the people of SD. #FollowTheMoney

Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

I said it before & I'll say it again: RELEASE. THE. FILES. This administration is suppressing the evidence to protect the guilty & attacking anyone who wants the truth revealed. S Dakotans see Mike Rounds is still silent. Why? Who does he want to protect? #FollowTheMoney

Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

Our tax system is rigged in favor of the ultra rich because of how easily they can buy politicians. The system needs a change-up so the 1% pays their fair share, giving the middle class a break. Big Money donates to Mike Rounds. I'm backed by regular folks. #FollowTheMoney

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Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

With 3,300 unique donors & an average donation of just $21, our campaign has more contributors than both of our opponents combined. 99% of Mike Rounds' contributions came from investments, Big Money donors, and corporate PACs, compared to our 0%. #FollowTheMoney

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Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

SD is the #2 state for wind power production with capacity for more. SD produces less oil in a year than ND does in a DAY. Senator Rounds just voted for oil company tax breaks & penalties for future wind power. Does he know he's from South Dakota? #FollowTheMoney www.keloland.com/keloland-com...

keloland.com

Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

NPR reported that DOGE was given control over USDA funds to the tune of BILLIONS of dollars. We shouldn’t bite the hands that feed us, and we certainly shouldn’t give external meddlers the power to strangle the millions of farmers & ranchers who grow our food. #FollowTheMoney

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Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

The cuts in the "Big Beautiful Bill" disproportionately impact kids & the elderly on Medicaid, creating healthcare deserts for thousands of South Dakotans. Senator Rounds praised the BBB’s “generational benefits” & spun his vote for the BBB as “pro-family.” #FollowTheMoney

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Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

Mike Rounds’ true priorities showed with his vote for the “Big Ugly Bill.” He chose to close rural hospitals & cut healthcare coverage so billionaires/corporations can hoard MORE money. Meanwhile, the rest of us are scratching for a “minimal quality of life.” #FollowTheMoney

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Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

Since 2002, over 1000 minors have been exploited and victimized by Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking operation. Even as Trump backs down from his campaign promises to release the files, we owe it to the victims and every parent in America to have the truth released. Release. The. Files.

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Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 13/07/2025

The Big “Beautiful" Bill extends tax cuts that overwhelmingly benefit the ultra-wealthy. Almost 80% of the tax benefits go to the top 1%, while regular folks will lose Medicaid and SNAP support.

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Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Cutting the VA is a fundamental betrayal of our veterans and their families. Culling 30,000 VA employees imposes an unnecessary extra burden for all vets who rely on VA services. Not to mention all the other safety nets already severed by this administration. #FollowTheMoney

rollingstone.com

Trump Is Cutting Tens of Thousands of Veterans Affairs Workers

Trump’s Department of Veterans Affairs has already lost 17,000 employees. By the end of September, 12,000 more will be gone.

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Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

If health insurance comes with a job why do >8% of S Dakotans lack health insurance despite an unemployment rate of <2%? Mike Rounds chose to make it harder to enroll & retain Affordable Care Act coverage. Plus premiums are likely to rise by 75% next year. #FollowTheMoney

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Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

Previewing what's to come for SD, NE's small town Curtis Medical Center is closing after 30+ years due to financial challenges. When your local clinic closes remember that Mike Rounds thought the sacrifice was necessary for billionaires to pay less & national debt to increase.

nebraskapublicmedia.org

Southwest Nebraska medical center announces plans to close, blames uncertainty over funding

Community Hospital in McCook announced Wednesday that it will close Curtis Medical Center in Curtis, winding down its services over the next several months.

Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

I believe that main street small businesses should pay a lower tax rate than large corporations. Is that radical?

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Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

Partisan politicians have put party ahead of people for way too long. I pledge to always put South Dakotans ahead of partisanship.

Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

Americans are working harder and still struggling to get by. Over the past 25 years, there were 4 multi-trillion dollar tax cuts for the billionaires. It’s past time regular folks got real tax cuts.

Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

This is absurd. We need to ban Congressional stock trading.

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Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 04/07/2025

Congress works well for the donor class, but not for the voters who sent them to DC in the first place.

Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

Our tax system is rigged in favor of the ultra rich because the middle class can't afford to buy politicians.

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Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Your tax dollars are now at risk of being routed to billionaire yachts instead of your local critical‑access hospital. Thanks to the BBB—and Senator Rounds’ yes vote.

Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

This is such blatant corruption.

Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

We need term limits to end the practice of career politicians. I pledge to serve no more than two terms if elected.

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Brian Bengs @bengsforsd.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Mike Rounds voted to gut $900 billion in Medicaid funding. This will take away health care from 163,000 South Dakotans and 17 million Americans. He did this not to reduce the debt, but to pay for another tax cut for the ultra rich.

I just gave to Brian Bengs!

Tonight marks our very first end-of-quarter deadline — and I’m incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received so far. Over 3,300 people have chipped in, with an average donation of just $20.24. This is a people powered campaign. If you could chip in, I’d really appreciate it.

secure.actblue.com

Show your support with a contribution.

As rural hospitals lose funding from the Big Beautiful Bill, patients in towns like Pierre or Huron might have to drive hours for basic care—if they can afford it—while billionaires get an even smaller tax bill.

Senate opens debate on Trump’s bill estimated to add $3.3tn to US debt

They call it fiscal responsibility—but it’s just a shell game. The Senate GOP’s bill adds $3.3 trillion to the national debt, and guess who’s left holding the bag? Regular working folks. They rig the rules, reject the math, and still expect us to pay the price. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

theguardian.com

Democrats required clerks to read aloud the 940-page bill focused on tax cuts, immigration policy and healthcare