If you’ve spent any time on political Twitter or followed the news lately, you know Bernie Sanders doesn't usually do "polite." He does "urgent." His recent communications—ranging from scathing statements to formal memos—have hit the internet like a series of lightning bolts. People call it the Bernie Sanders open letter, though in reality, it’s a collection of high-stakes demands aimed at the Democratic establishment, the Trump administration, and the pharmaceutical industry.
He’s angry. Honestly, can you blame him?
The most significant of these documents arrived right after the 2024 election and has continued to echo into 2026. It wasn't just a "sorry we lost" note. It was a forensic autopsy of a political party. Sanders basically told the Democratic leadership that they had abandoned the working class, and in return, the working class had abandoned them. It sounds harsh because it is.
Why the Bernie Sanders Open Letter Still Matters Today
Most people think these letters are just old news. They aren't. We are currently in January 2026, and the issues Sanders raised in his post-election "open letter" are the exact same ones causing gridlock in Congress right now. He specifically called out the "big money interests" and "well-paid consultants" who run the show.
His argument is simple: if you don’t talk about the fact that 60% of people live paycheck to paycheck, you lose.
Sanders didn't stop there. He’s been prolific. Just recently, he unveiled a massive 23-page report—which many are treating as his latest open letter to the public—accusing the Trump administration of "extorting" universities. He claims the White House is withholding nearly $3 billion in higher education funding to force schools to fall in line with specific political agendas. It’s a classic Bernie move: take a complex budget issue and frame it as a moral crisis.
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The Healthcare "Crisis" Letter of 2025
Last November, Sanders sent a pointed letter to his Democratic colleagues. He told them—flat out—that now is the time to grow a backbone on healthcare. He isn't just talking about Medicare for All anymore. He’s looking at the immediate damage of the current budget reconciliation bills.
Here is what he’s actually worried about:
- Medicaid cuts: He estimates that the proposed $1 trillion in cuts could lead to 50,000 unnecessary deaths every year.
- Dental and Vision: He’s still pushing for Medicare to cover these, noting that 92% of Americans agree with him.
- CEO Pay: He wants to ban stock buybacks for healthcare companies that prioritize profits over patients.
It’s not just rhetoric. It’s a survival guide for a party trying to find its soul.
The Gaza Essay: A Different Kind of Open Letter
One of the most controversial pieces of writing Sanders has put out recently is his "genocide" essay. For a long time, allies criticized him for being too slow to use that specific word. Then, in September 2025, he changed his tune.
He posted an essay to his Senate website that functioned as an open letter to the world. He wrote, "The intent is clear. The conclusion is inescapable: Israel is committing genocide in Gaza."
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This was a massive shift. Sanders, who is Jewish and has deep personal ties to the history of the Holocaust, acknowledged the weight of that word. He didn't use it lightly. He cited U.N. panels and scholarly groups, arguing that the war had moved beyond self-defense into something much darker.
Naturally, this sparked a firestorm. Critics called him biased; supporters called him a hero. But that’s the thing about a Bernie Sanders open letter—it’s designed to make you uncomfortable. It forces a conversation that most politicians would rather avoid.
What Most People Get Wrong About His Strategy
People often think Bernie writes these letters just to complain. That's a mistake. He’s a tactician.
For instance, look at his recent report on prescription drugs from late 2025. He sent letters to 17 major pharmaceutical companies. He gave them 60 days to lower prices. When they didn't, he didn't just shrug. He released a report showing that 688 drugs actually increased in price during that time.
Take the drug Galzin, used for Wilson's disease. In the U.S., it costs $88,800 a year. In the U.K.? It’s $1,400.
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Bernie uses these letters as "paper trails" of corporate greed. He sets the trap, waits for the companies to ignore him, and then uses their own data to hammer them in the press. It’s effective. It keeps the pressure on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at HHS and JD Vance in the White House.
The Tone Shift
You've probably noticed his tone has gotten sharper. In his 2026 communications, there’s less "we should" and more "we must." He is 84 years old now. He’s just won another six-year term, but he writes like a man who knows he’s running out of time to fix a broken system.
He’s currently focusing on four main pillars:
- Campaign Finance: Getting the "big money" out.
- Wealth Inequality: Addressing the fact that the top 1% own more than the bottom 90%.
- AI Deployment: Ensuring workers aren't replaced by robots without a safety net.
- Medicare for All: The lifelong dream.
Actionable Insights: How to Use This Information
If you’re a voter, a student, or just someone concerned about the state of the country, don't just read the headlines. The Bernie Sanders open letter (in all its various forms) is a roadmap for grassroots organizing.
- Check the Facts: When Bernie releases a report, the data is usually tucked away in the "Minority Staff Report" sections of committee websites. Look there for the raw numbers on drug prices.
- Contact Your Reps: Sanders frequently asks people to "stay tuned" for serious political discussions. He’s looking for people to pressure local Democratic offices to adopt his working-class platform.
- Watch the Budget: The real fight right now is the 2026 spending deal. Sanders is using his position on the HELP committee to block cuts to the ACA.
The most important takeaway? Sanders is proving that even in a divided government, a single voice with a clear message can still set the agenda. He isn't waiting for permission to lead. He’s just writing the truth and letting the chips fall where they may.
To stay truly informed, you should keep an eye on the Senate HELP Committee's press room. That is where the "official" versions of these letters live before they become viral social media posts. The next few months of 2026 will likely see even more of these memos as the midterm elections begin to loom on the horizon.
Next Steps for You:
Check the official Senate HELP Committee website to read the full 23-page report on campus free speech. It contains the specific list of $3 billion in withheld funds that Sanders is currently fighting to release. You can also sign up for his Senate newsletter to get these "open letters" delivered directly to your inbox before they hit the news cycle.