California State Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson (D-San Diego) says the federal government’s decision to cut Medicaid funding could devastate families who depend on Medi-Cal for essential health services. In the first episode of her new iHeartRadio podcast, Prescribing a Healthier Future, Weber Pierson connects these potential cuts to broader political shifts she says are undermining equity and public health.

Weber Pierson and featured guest, Democratic strategist Will Rodriguez-Kennedy, discussed how changes to congressional representation and redistricting in other states, such as Texas, could reduce California’s share of federal funds. They argued that those budget changes would have real consequences for working families, seniors, and communities of color.

Weber Pierson warns that threats to Medi-Cal are not isolated budget issues but part of a larger struggle over who gets access to health care and who has a voice in government.

“When you are silenced, or when you silence yourself, that is when we find ourselves and our communities in peril,” said Weber Pierson.

She emphasized that stable health funding supports programs like CalFresh and hospital systems that rely on predictable federal reimbursements.

Rodriguez-Kennedy added that fair representation in Congress helps ensure California continues to receive funding that matches its population and needs. If those balances shift, he said, the state’s health care system could face deep strain, with hospitals and clinics losing critical revenue.

Weber Pierson urged Californians to stay engaged ahead of the November election, pointing to Proposition 50, a ballot measure that would allow California to temporarily redraw its congressional districts to favor Democrats until 2030. She said the proposal would help protect California’s political influence and, by extension, its access to health care funding.

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By: Bo Tefu, California Black Media