Overview

• At a late-May town hall in Parkersburg, Iowa, Ernst responded to a heckler warning that proposed Medicaid changes would cost lives by saying “we’re all going to die.”
• Major outlets from the Associated Press to Vanity Fair and CNN highlighted the comment as a symbol of a callous defense of Medicaid cuts projected to strip coverage from millions.
• Ernst posted a tongue-in-cheek apology video mocking the reaction and joking about the “Tooth Fairy,” intensifying debate over her tone and sincerity.
• A campaign spokesperson defended her record by saying she aims to protect vulnerable Iowans through stronger fraud controls and safeguarding benefits for eligible residents.
• Democratic Rep. J.D. Scholten announced his 2026 Senate bid in response to the controversy, citing Ernst’s remarks as evidence of misplaced health-care priorities.