If you’ve spent any time lately worrying about whether your Social Security check will actually show up in ten years, you’ve probably seen Alex Lawson popping up on your screen. He’s usually the guy with the high-energy delivery, often on The Thom Hartmann Program or The Majority Report, sounding the alarm about "zombie lies."
Lawson is the Executive Director of Social Security Works, a group that’s basically become the front line of defense for the New Deal’s crown jewel. Honestly, the timing couldn't be more intense. We’re sitting here in 2026, and the conversation around retirement isn’t just about "saving" anymore—it’s about a full-blown ideological war over whether the program should even exist in its current form.
What is Social Security Works?
Basically, it’s a non-profit advocacy powerhouse. They don't just want to keep Social Security exactly how it is; they want to make it bigger.
The organization acts as the "convening member" of the Strengthen Social Security Coalition. That sounds like fancy DC-speak, but it really means they coordinate a massive network of over 340 organizations. We’re talking about a group that represents roughly 50 million Americans—unions, civil rights groups, and advocates for the disabled.
The core mission is pretty simple:
- Expand benefits: They argue that the retirement crisis is real and the current checks aren't enough to live on.
- Lower drug prices: Lawson is huge on the link between Medicare costs and Social Security solvency.
- Tax the rich: Their "big idea" is usually some version of "scrap the cap," which means making high-earners pay the same percentage into the system as everyone else.
Who is Alex Lawson?
Alex Lawson didn't just stumble into this. He’s got the pedigree—a BA from St. John’s College and a Master of Public Policy from George Washington University. Before taking the top spot at Social Security Works, he was a team leader at Media Matters for America.
That background explains a lot about his style. He’s incredibly good at spotting how politicians use specific language—like "entitlement reform" or "fiscal commission"—as a "backdoor" to cutting benefits.
💡 You might also like: JD Vance River Raised Controversy: What Really Happened in Ohio
Lawson also owns We Act Radio, a progressive station in DC. He’s a media guy through and through, which is why you see him everywhere from Salon to C-SPAN. He treats the defense of Social Security like a 24/7 campaign because, in his eyes, the other side never stops trying to privatize it.
The 2025-2026 Chaos: "One Big Beautiful Bill"
Things got weird recently. In July 2025, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBBA).
The Social Security Administration sent out an email that basically said federal income taxes on Social Security benefits were being eliminated for most people. Sounds great, right?
Lawson went ballistic.
He called the email "entirely unprecedented" and a "significant breach of trust." Why? Because according to Lawson and other policy experts, the bill didn't actually change the tax code for Social Security. It just provided a temporary, income-based deduction for people over 65. Lawson’s point was that the agency was being used for political propaganda, making people think a permanent fix was in place when it was really just a "temporary bonus" that could vanish.
📖 Related: Who's the Next Pope: Why Most Predictions Are Basically Guesswork
The "DOGE" Threat and Privatization
You’ve probably heard about the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In the current 2026 landscape, this is the biggest boogeyman for Social Security Works.
Lawson has been touring states like Montana—he called it the "Whistle Stop Tour"—to warn people that the administration is pursuing what he calls "backdoor privatization."
The argument goes like this:
If you can break the agency’s ability to function (by cutting staff or closing offices), you can point to the "failure" of the government and then argue that Wall Street should handle the money instead. Lawson’s job is basically to jump in front of that narrative before it takes hold.
Why Social Security Works Still Matters
Look, the math is the math. The Trustees Reports have been saying for years that the trust fund reserves might run dry by the mid-2030s. If that happens, benefits could be cut to about 75% or 80% of what they are now.
Most politicians want to talk about "raising the retirement age."
👉 See also: Recent Obituaries in Charlottesville VA: What Most People Get Wrong
Lawson and his team say that's a non-starter. They argue it’s a "values" question, not an "affordability" question. They point out that Social Security’s cost as a percentage of GDP is actually relatively stable. To them, the "crisis" is manufactured to justify cuts that aren't necessary if you just lift the income cap on payroll taxes.
Actionable Steps for Your Retirement Security
If you’re following Lawson’s work, he’s not just asking you to watch his videos. There’s a strategy here. Here’s what you can actually do to keep tabs on your own benefits in this volatile environment:
Check Your Statement Annually Don't wait for the mail. Go to ssa.gov and create a "My Social Security" account. Check your earnings record. If there's a mistake there, it will haunt your check later.
Watch the "Fiscal Commission" Talk Whenever you hear a politician talk about a "bipartisan commission" to "save" Social Security, pay attention. Lawson warns these are often "death squads" designed to fast-track cuts behind closed doors so individual members of Congress don't have to take the heat for a "no" vote.
Understand the "Scrap the Cap" Movement Currently, people stop paying into Social Security once they hit a certain income level (it changes every year). One of the main legislative pushes Lawson supports is making all income, including that over $400,000, subject to the tax. This is the primary "expansion" bill to watch in 2026.
Stay Alert for SSA Misinformation Given the 2025 email controversy, don't take every "official" email at face value. If you see a claim about taxes being "eliminated," double-check it with non-partisan sources like the Center for Medicare Advocacy or the actual text of the law.
The fight over Social Security isn't just about the money; it's about the "social contract." Alex Lawson and Social Security Works are betting that if Americans actually understand what’s being proposed, they’ll fight to keep the program public and robust. Whether they succeed or not depends on how many people are actually paying attention to the fine print.