May 21, 2025 • 17 mins
• US Attorney Alina Habba defends felony charges against Rep. LaMonica McIver over alleged assaults on federal agents during an ICE detention center protest
• Federal complaint alleges McIver slammed her forearm into a Homeland Security agent and struck an ICE agent while trying to prevent Newark Mayor's arrest
• House Republicans advance a 1,116-page bill making Trump's 2017 tax cuts permanent at an estimated $5 trillion cost over the next decade
• GOP package includes SALT cap increases, elimination of taxes on tips and overtime, Medicaid work requirements, and SNAP funding changes
• Joe Scarborough confronted with his "best Biden ever" comments, doubles down despite mounting evidence of Biden's cognitive issues
• Media narratives shifting dramatically after release of Hur-Biden interview audio revealed more significant memory concerns than initially reported
Source Credits:
https://nypost.com/2025/05/20/us-news/alina-habba-defends-charging-rep-mciver-over-newark-ice-protests/ https://thehill.com/business/budget/5308446-trump-gop-bill-medicaid-salt-taxes/ https://www.foxnews.com/media/msnbcs-joe-scarborough-confronted-viral-best-biden-ever-clip
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello America JOC here with your Ranting Politics
headline updates, where we arediving into today's most
explosive political stories thatyou need to know about Coming
up.
Acting US Attorney Alina Habadefends felony charges against
Democratic Rep Monica McIverover that heated ICE detention
center protest in Newark.
We've got the details on whatwent down, plus, house
(00:23):
Republicans push forward amassive tax package making
Trump's 2017 cuts permanent,alongside major program reforms
that could reshape Medicaid andSNAP benefits.
And MSNBC's Joe Scarboroughgets confronted with his
infamous best Biden evercomments His defense.
Well, you'll want to hear thisone If you're just tuning in for
the first time.
(00:43):
Welcome to America'sfastest-growing daily news
rundown, designed specificallyfor your commute run or coffee
time.
Stick around for all this andmore in your daily dose of
unfiltered news and common-sensecommentary.
This is Ranting PoliticsHeadline Updates.
Well, things are heating up inthe Garden State folks.
(01:20):
Acting New Jersey US AttorneyAlina Haba is standing firm on
her decision to file felonycharges against Democratic
Representative LaMonica McIverafter what can only be described
as a chaotic scene at a NewarkICE detention center earlier
this month.
According to reporting from theNew York Post, haba, who
previously served as PresidentTrump's personal attorney, isn't
(01:43):
mincing words about theincident.
She told the Post that McIver'salleged assault of federal
agents was beyond the pale andemphasized that this isn't about
politics or congressionaloversight.
It's about respecting lawenforcement.
This is not political.
It's the law.
I didn't create the law.
My job is to enforce it.
Haba declared, making itcrystal clear that her office is
(02:04):
backing the federal agents whoclaim they were assaulted during
the law.
My job is to enforce it.
Habba declared, making itcrystal clear that her office is
backing the federal agents whoclaim they were assaulted during
the protest.
The two-count felony chargesaccused the 38-year-old
congresswoman of using force tointerfere with federal agents
during a protest that includedseveral other Democratic
lawmakers.
If convicted, mciver could faceup to eight years behind bars.
Not exactly a slap on the wristsituation here.
(02:26):
For her part, representativeMcIver, who's represented New
Jersey's 10th congressionaldistrict since last September,
is firing back hard.
She's blasting the charges aspurely political and claims they
mischaracterize and distort heractions.
Characterize and distort heractions.
Mciver maintains she was simplyexercising congressional
(02:47):
oversight to enter the facilityand has blamed ICE agents for
escalating the confrontation.
Haba counters that she onlyproceeded with charges after
efforts to resolve the matterwithout filing charges failed.
According to a source familiarwith the investigation, haba's
office reviewed hours of bodycam footage showing McIver
allegedly acting insanelyaggressive, elbowing, shoving,
(03:08):
impeding federal agents.
This whole situation raisessome serious questions about the
boundaries of congressionaloversight versus law enforcement
authority.
Where's the line betweenlegitimate oversight and
obstruction?
It's a tension we're seeingplay out in real time with real
consequences.
As this case moves forward, itcould set some interesting
(03:28):
precedents for how lawmakersconduct themselves during
similar protests in the future.
Stay tuned on this one, folks.
Let's dig into what actuallywent down at this ICE facility,
because the allegations againstRep McIver are pretty serious.
According to the federalcriminal complaint, mciver
allegedly slammed her forearminto the body of a uniformed
Homeland Security agent andlater forcibly struck an ICE
(03:51):
agent during the May 9th protestat the Delaney Hall Detention
Center in Newark, investigatorsweren't just going off hearsay
either.
They used body cam footage andaerial camera stills to document
McIver's actions during what'sbeing described as a melee.
The footage apparently showsher actively trying to prevent
the arrest of Newark Mayor RossBaraka, who happens to be a top
(04:13):
candidate for New Jerseygovernor in June's Democratic
primary.
Witnesses claim McIver wasshouting Hell, no, hell no, hell
, no as agents attempted toarrest Baraka.
The complaint details that shenot only slammed her forearm
into a Homeland Security agent,but also reached out and tried
to restrain the agent byforcibly grabbing him.
After Baraka was taken intocustody, mciver allegedly
(04:37):
forcibly struck an ICE agent aswell.
This wasn't a solo mission, bythe way.
Mayor Baraka, along withRepresentatives Robert Menendez
Jr and Bonnie Watson Coleman,both Democrats from New Jersey,
were among those who reportedlyattempted to force their way
into the detention center,demanding its closure.
What's interesting is howdifferently this played out for
(04:59):
the various players involved.
Baraka was arrested at thescene for trespassing, but was
later released with chargesagainst him dismissed just this
week.
According to a source close tothe investigation, baraka
understood the severity of whatwas going on, while McIver
apparently didn't take theopportunity to avoid charges.
The source also claims thereare hours of yet-to-be-released
(05:22):
body cam footage that paints aneven more damning picture of
McIver's behavior during theincident.
If and when that footagebecomes public, it could
dramatically shift publicperception of what went down at
that protest.
While congressional oversightof federal facilities is
certainly within lawmakers'rights, physically interfering
with law enforcement crossesinto entirely different
(05:45):
territory.
As this case unfolds, we'lllikely see a heated debate about
where exactly that line shouldbe drawn.
Hold on to your hats, folks,because House Republicans just
cleared a major hurdle inadvancing what can only be
described as a budget beast Amammoth, 1,116-page bill
containing President Trump'ssweeping tax proposals.
(06:06):
The House Budget Committeepushed this monster through
during an unusual late-nightvote on Sunday, despite
significant infighting amongRepublican factions over just
how big this thing should be.
At the heart of thislegislation is making the 2017
Trump tax cuts permanent, a movethat nonpartisan scorers
estimate would cost the nation acool $5 trillion over the next.
(06:28):
The Joint Committee on Taxation, which is the official revenue
scorekeeper for Congress,projects that the overall cost
of extending these tax cuts andother measures would add more
than $5 trillion to our nationaldeficits.
Breaking it down, extendingjust the individual rate
reductions from the 2017 lawwould reduce revenues by more
(06:49):
than $2 trillion through 2034.
That's trillion with a T people.
At the same time, the JCT foundthe package would put about
$1.9 trillion toward reducingthe deficit through measures
like cutting renewable energyincentives and international tax
enforcement.
When all the math is done, theJCT estimates the tax piece
(07:10):
alone would cost $3.7 trillionover the next decade.
Republicans are clearly hopingAmerican voters will focus on
the tax relief rather than theprice tag, but both sides of
this fiscal coin deserve equalattention.
This bill represents one of themost significant tax and
spending packages in recentmemory and, as Republicans
continue making adjustments inthe coming days will keep you
(07:33):
updated on how this could affectyour wallet and the nation's
financial future.
According to reporting from theHill, this is just one piece of
a much larger economic visionbeing pushed forward.
Diving into the nitty-gritty ofthis GOP bill, it's packed with
proposals that'll toucheverything from your tax returns
to health care access.
First up, let's talk SALT, notthe kind on your fries, but the
(07:56):
state and local tax deductionthat's been capped at 10,000
since 2017.
The bill proposes raising thiscap to 30,000 for filers making
under 400,000, with a gradualphase down for higher incomes.
This would be a major win fortaxpayers in high-tax blue
states, who've been feeling thepinch.
Remember when Trump promised notax on tips during his campaign
(08:19):
?
Well, they're following throughwith proposals to eliminate
taxes on gratuities, along withnixing taxes on car loan
interest and overtime pay.
There's also an enhanceddeduction for seniors in the mix
.
These are the kinds of kitchentable tax cuts Republicans hope
will resonate with workingvoters.
On the green energy front, thebill takes a hatchet to Biden
(08:40):
era tax credits for climatefriendly energy sources.
Electric vehicle tax creditswould vanish within two years,
while credits for wind and solarwould phase out through 2032.
They're also adding newrequirements that would exclude
projects using minerals orcomponents from China, a move
industry insiders have describedas unworkable.
(09:00):
And that's still not aggressiveenough for some GOP hardliners.
Perhaps most consequential arethe Medicaid reforms estimated
to result in millions losingcoverage by 2034.
The bill would requirechildless adults aged 19 to 64
to meet work requirements toremain eligible for the program
and would shorten the ACA openenrollment period.
(09:22):
These health care changes arepart of a larger effort to find
more than $800 billion insavings over the next decade.
The SNAP benefits program wouldalso see significant changes,
with the bill requiring statesto cover a portion of benefit
costs, while currently 100%federally funded states would be
on the hook for 5% of costsstarting in fiscal 2028, with
(09:45):
that percentage potentiallyrising to 2.5% for states with
high payment error rates.
Republicans frame this as anincentive for states to improve
program efficiency, whileDemocrats warn it could lead to
benefit cuts.
But that's not all.
This massive bill contains theConsumer Financial Protection
Bureau, a watchdog agency bornfrom the 2008 financial crisis,
(10:09):
would face significant fundingrestrictions.
The legislation slashes theCFPB's funding cap from 12
percent of the Federal Reserve'soperating expenses down to just
five percent, a moveRepublicans have long sought to
rein in what they view as anagency with too much
independence and power.
Democrats, meanwhile, considerthis a direct attack on consumer
(10:31):
protections.
The package also addresses thelooming debt ceiling crisis by
raising the nation's borrowinglimit by $4 trillion.
Treasury Secretary Scott Besanthas already warned Congress
that the government risksdefaulting on its more than $36
trillion debt by July, with areasonable probability that cash
(10:51):
and extraordinary measures willbe exhausted by August, right
when Congress is scheduled to bein recess.
On the education front, the billwould beef up Pell grants for
students in short-term trainingprograms, while simultaneously
tightening limits on federalstudent loan borrowing.
It would also increase taxes onprivate university endowments,
another front in the ongoingclash between the Trump
(11:13):
administration and highereducation institutions.
Perhaps most notably, itcreates the first federal school
choice bill allowing taxcredits for donations to groups
providing school choicescholarships.
Defense hawks will find plentyto like with Pentagon spending
increases totaling roughly $150billion.
Trump officials are proudlytouting that this would push
defense spending above $1trillion for the first time ever
and to fulfill campaignpromises on immigration.
Billion Trump officials areproudly touting that this would
(11:34):
push defense spending above $1trillion for the first time ever
.
And to fulfill campaignpromises on immigration, the
bill allocates tens of billionsfor Trump's border wall and
detention facilities.
As reported by the Hill, theseproposals represent a
significant reshaping of federalpriorities, combining tax cuts
with targeted spending increasesand broad program reforms a
(11:54):
package that still facessubstantial hurdles before
becoming law.
Well, talk about eating yourwords with a side of awkward
sauce.
Msnbc's Joe Scarborough gotserved a healthy portion of his
own commentary this week whenMark Halperin confronted him
with that now infamous clipwhere he proclaimed Joe Biden
the best Biden ever back inMarch.
(12:15):
For those who missedScarborough's passionate defense
of Biden earlier this year, hedidn't just say Biden was
competent, he went full throttle, declaring the former president
was far beyond cogent and evenchallenged viewers with a
defiant few if you can't handlethe truth, pretty strong words
for a man who would step downfrom his presidential campaign.
(12:35):
Just months later, when pressedby Halperin on his Morning Joe
show, scarborough didn't exactlybackpedal.
Instead, he doubled down,insisting he never personally
witnessed Biden's bad days.
He referenced multiple privatemeetings where Biden supposedly
displayed impressive analysis ofinternational situations,
particularly regarding Russiaand Ukraine.
Impressive analysis ofinternational situations,
particularly regarding Russiaand Ukraine.
(12:55):
Halperin wasn't buying it,reminding Scarborough that he'd
witnessed Biden's public fumbles, including addressing a
deceased congresswoman as if shewere in the room.
But rather than directlyaddress these contradictions,
scarborough pivoted to Trump,arguing that politicians often
stumble and bumble around.
The timing couldn't be moreinteresting, coming right after
(13:16):
the release of special counselRobert Herr's interview with
Biden, which revealedsignificant memory lapses.
This is the same Herr reportthat Scarborough previously
dismissed as random-esque backin February, suggesting Herr was
auditioning for a judgeshipunder a potential second Trump
administration.
What makes this particularlynoteworthy is how it illustrates
(13:37):
the media's struggle toreconcile private impressions
with public performances,especially, as CNN's Abby
Phillips suggested, herr mayhave actually undersold Biden's
cognitive issues in thatinterview, as reported by Fox
News.
This incident highlights thecomplicated relationship between
media narratives and politicalrealities when it comes to
doubling down, scarboroughshould get an Olympic medal.
(14:00):
In his conversation withHalperin, he refused to
acknowledge the disconnectbetween his best Biden ever
claims and the mounting evidenceto the contrary and the
mounting evidence to thecontrary.
Instead, he essentially arguedthat his personal encounters
with Biden carried more weightthan what millions of Americans
witnessed on their screens.
Am I going to look at a clipthat's gone viral and pay more
(14:21):
attention to that than two and ahalf three hours I had with a
guy one-on-one going around theworld?
No, I'm just not going to.
Scarborough insisted this,despite Halperin pointing out
that he could show multipleinstances where Biden was
clearly struggling.
Let's rewind to February, whenthe Her report first dropped.
Scarborough went ballistic,demanding Her apologize for
(14:43):
documenting Biden's memorylapses, including forgetting
when his son Beau died.
I think he hopes he gets ajudgeship if Donald Trump gets
elected again because he'strying out.
Scarborough ranted, suggestingHerr had political motivations.
Fast forward to last Friday,when the actual Herr-Biden
interview audio was released.
Suddenly, the narrative shifteddramatically.
(15:03):
Even CNN's Abby Phillip had toacknowledge that Herr might have
actually undersold Biden'scognitive issues in the report a
complete reversal of what manymedia figures, including
Scarborough, had claimed.
What's particularly striking ishow Scarborough attempted to
normalize Biden's stumbles bycomparing them to Trump, saying
Donald Trump did, otherpoliticians did.
(15:23):
It's the classic.
But what about defense whenconfronted with inconvenient
facts?
This whole saga reveals thedangers of media figures
becoming too personally investedin the politicians they cover.
When you've spent hours withsomeone privately, it becomes
much harder to objectivelyassess their public performance.
More importantly, itdemonstrates how quickly
(15:45):
established narratives cancrumble when direct evidence
becomes available.
The question remains ifScarborough was this wrong about
Biden's cognitive state,despite his insider access, what
else might he and other mediafigures be getting wrong about
the politicians they claim toknow so well?
And that wraps our headlineroundup for today.
Folks From Rep McIver facingserious charges over ICE
(16:09):
facility protests, to HouseRepublicans advancing a massive
tax and spending package withfar-reaching implications for
millions of Americans.
Meanwhile, joe Scarborough'sdefense of his best Biden ever
comments highlights the ongoingdebate about media narrative
versus reality.
These stories share a commonthread the tension between
(16:30):
political positioning andfactual accountability.
Whether it's a congresswomanclaiming oversight privileges
during a protest,trillion-dollar tax proposals
being framed as deficitreduction, or a media
personality defending personalimpressions against
contradictory evidence, asalways, we're committed to
bringing you the unfiltered newsyou need, without the partisan
(16:51):
spin.
Follow us on X at Ranting RPand find us on YouTube, spotify,
(17:13):
iheart.
Align with a political party.
We align with you, the Americancitizen.
Until then, stay tuned, stayinformed and, as always, stay
free.
Hello America JOC here with your Ranting Politics
headline updates, where we arediving into today's most
explosive political stories thatyou need to know about Coming
up.
Acting US Attorney Alina Habadefends felony charges against
Democratic Rep Monica McIverover that heated ICE detention
center protest in Newark.
We've got the details on whatwent down, plus, house
(00:23):
Republicans push forward amassive tax package making
Trump's 2017 cuts permanent,alongside major program reforms
that could reshape Medicaid andSNAP benefits.
And MSNBC's Joe Scarboroughgets confronted with his
infamous best Biden evercomments His defense.
Well, you'll want to hear thisone If you're just tuning in for
the first time.
(00:43):
Welcome to America'sfastest-growing daily news
rundown, designed specificallyfor your commute run or coffee
time.
Stick around for all this andmore in your daily dose of
unfiltered news and common-sensecommentary.
This is Ranting PoliticsHeadline Updates.
Well, things are heating up inthe Garden State folks.
(01:20):
Acting New Jersey US AttorneyAlina Haba is standing firm on
her decision to file felonycharges against Democratic
Representative LaMonica McIverafter what can only be described
as a chaotic scene at a NewarkICE detention center earlier
this month.
According to reporting from theNew York Post, haba, who
previously served as PresidentTrump's personal attorney, isn't
(01:43):
mincing words about theincident.
She told the Post that McIver'salleged assault of federal
agents was beyond the pale andemphasized that this isn't about
politics or congressionaloversight.
It's about respecting lawenforcement.
This is not political.
It's the law.
I didn't create the law.
My job is to enforce it.
Haba declared, making itcrystal clear that her office is
(02:04):
backing the federal agents whoclaim they were assaulted during
the law.
My job is to enforce it.
Habba declared, making itcrystal clear that her office is
backing the federal agents whoclaim they were assaulted during
the protest.
The two-count felony chargesaccused the 38-year-old
congresswoman of using force tointerfere with federal agents
during a protest that includedseveral other Democratic
lawmakers.
If convicted, mciver could faceup to eight years behind bars.
Not exactly a slap on the wristsituation here.
(02:26):
For her part, representativeMcIver, who's represented New
Jersey's 10th congressionaldistrict since last September,
is firing back hard.
She's blasting the charges aspurely political and claims they
mischaracterize and distort heractions.
Characterize and distort heractions.
Mciver maintains she was simplyexercising congressional
(02:47):
oversight to enter the facilityand has blamed ICE agents for
escalating the confrontation.
Haba counters that she onlyproceeded with charges after
efforts to resolve the matterwithout filing charges failed.
According to a source familiarwith the investigation, haba's
office reviewed hours of bodycam footage showing McIver
allegedly acting insanelyaggressive, elbowing, shoving,
(03:08):
impeding federal agents.
This whole situation raisessome serious questions about the
boundaries of congressionaloversight versus law enforcement
authority.
Where's the line betweenlegitimate oversight and
obstruction?
It's a tension we're seeingplay out in real time with real
consequences.
As this case moves forward, itcould set some interesting
(03:28):
precedents for how lawmakersconduct themselves during
similar protests in the future.
Stay tuned on this one, folks.
Let's dig into what actuallywent down at this ICE facility,
because the allegations againstRep McIver are pretty serious.
According to the federalcriminal complaint, mciver
allegedly slammed her forearminto the body of a uniformed
Homeland Security agent andlater forcibly struck an ICE
(03:51):
agent during the May 9th protestat the Delaney Hall Detention
Center in Newark, investigatorsweren't just going off hearsay
either.
They used body cam footage andaerial camera stills to document
McIver's actions during what'sbeing described as a melee.
The footage apparently showsher actively trying to prevent
the arrest of Newark Mayor RossBaraka, who happens to be a top
(04:13):
candidate for New Jerseygovernor in June's Democratic
primary.
Witnesses claim McIver wasshouting Hell, no, hell no, hell
, no as agents attempted toarrest Baraka.
The complaint details that shenot only slammed her forearm
into a Homeland Security agent,but also reached out and tried
to restrain the agent byforcibly grabbing him.
After Baraka was taken intocustody, mciver allegedly
(04:37):
forcibly struck an ICE agent aswell.
This wasn't a solo mission, bythe way.
Mayor Baraka, along withRepresentatives Robert Menendez
Jr and Bonnie Watson Coleman,both Democrats from New Jersey,
were among those who reportedlyattempted to force their way
into the detention center,demanding its closure.
What's interesting is howdifferently this played out for
(04:59):
the various players involved.
Baraka was arrested at thescene for trespassing, but was
later released with chargesagainst him dismissed just this
week.
According to a source close tothe investigation, baraka
understood the severity of whatwas going on, while McIver
apparently didn't take theopportunity to avoid charges.
The source also claims thereare hours of yet-to-be-released
(05:22):
body cam footage that paints aneven more damning picture of
McIver's behavior during theincident.
If and when that footagebecomes public, it could
dramatically shift publicperception of what went down at
that protest.
While congressional oversightof federal facilities is
certainly within lawmakers'rights, physically interfering
with law enforcement crossesinto entirely different
(05:45):
territory.
As this case unfolds, we'lllikely see a heated debate about
where exactly that line shouldbe drawn.
Hold on to your hats, folks,because House Republicans just
cleared a major hurdle inadvancing what can only be
described as a budget beast Amammoth, 1,116-page bill
containing President Trump'ssweeping tax proposals.
(06:06):
The House Budget Committeepushed this monster through
during an unusual late-nightvote on Sunday, despite
significant infighting amongRepublican factions over just
how big this thing should be.
At the heart of thislegislation is making the 2017
Trump tax cuts permanent, a movethat nonpartisan scorers
estimate would cost the nation acool $5 trillion over the next.
(06:28):
The Joint Committee on Taxation, which is the official revenue
scorekeeper for Congress,projects that the overall cost
of extending these tax cuts andother measures would add more
than $5 trillion to our nationaldeficits.
Breaking it down, extendingjust the individual rate
reductions from the 2017 lawwould reduce revenues by more
(06:49):
than $2 trillion through 2034.
That's trillion with a T people.
At the same time, the JCT foundthe package would put about
$1.9 trillion toward reducingthe deficit through measures
like cutting renewable energyincentives and international tax
enforcement.
When all the math is done, theJCT estimates the tax piece
(07:10):
alone would cost $3.7 trillionover the next decade.
Republicans are clearly hopingAmerican voters will focus on
the tax relief rather than theprice tag, but both sides of
this fiscal coin deserve equalattention.
This bill represents one of themost significant tax and
spending packages in recentmemory and, as Republicans
continue making adjustments inthe coming days will keep you
(07:33):
updated on how this could affectyour wallet and the nation's
financial future.
According to reporting from theHill, this is just one piece of
a much larger economic visionbeing pushed forward.
Diving into the nitty-gritty ofthis GOP bill, it's packed with
proposals that'll toucheverything from your tax returns
to health care access.
First up, let's talk SALT, notthe kind on your fries, but the
(07:56):
state and local tax deductionthat's been capped at 10,000
since 2017.
The bill proposes raising thiscap to 30,000 for filers making
under 400,000, with a gradualphase down for higher incomes.
This would be a major win fortaxpayers in high-tax blue
states, who've been feeling thepinch.
Remember when Trump promised notax on tips during his campaign
(08:19):
?
Well, they're following throughwith proposals to eliminate
taxes on gratuities, along withnixing taxes on car loan
interest and overtime pay.
There's also an enhanceddeduction for seniors in the mix
.
These are the kinds of kitchentable tax cuts Republicans hope
will resonate with workingvoters.
On the green energy front, thebill takes a hatchet to Biden
(08:40):
era tax credits for climatefriendly energy sources.
Electric vehicle tax creditswould vanish within two years,
while credits for wind and solarwould phase out through 2032.
They're also adding newrequirements that would exclude
projects using minerals orcomponents from China, a move
industry insiders have describedas unworkable.
(09:00):
And that's still not aggressiveenough for some GOP hardliners.
Perhaps most consequential arethe Medicaid reforms estimated
to result in millions losingcoverage by 2034.
The bill would requirechildless adults aged 19 to 64
to meet work requirements toremain eligible for the program
and would shorten the ACA openenrollment period.
(09:22):
These health care changes arepart of a larger effort to find
more than $800 billion insavings over the next decade.
The SNAP benefits program wouldalso see significant changes,
with the bill requiring statesto cover a portion of benefit
costs, while currently 100%federally funded states would be
on the hook for 5% of costsstarting in fiscal 2028, with
(09:45):
that percentage potentiallyrising to 2.5% for states with
high payment error rates.
Republicans frame this as anincentive for states to improve
program efficiency, whileDemocrats warn it could lead to
benefit cuts.
But that's not all.
This massive bill contains theConsumer Financial Protection
Bureau, a watchdog agency bornfrom the 2008 financial crisis,
(10:09):
would face significant fundingrestrictions.
The legislation slashes theCFPB's funding cap from 12
percent of the Federal Reserve'soperating expenses down to just
five percent, a moveRepublicans have long sought to
rein in what they view as anagency with too much
independence and power.
Democrats, meanwhile, considerthis a direct attack on consumer
(10:31):
protections.
The package also addresses thelooming debt ceiling crisis by
raising the nation's borrowinglimit by $4 trillion.
Treasury Secretary Scott Besanthas already warned Congress
that the government risksdefaulting on its more than $36
trillion debt by July, with areasonable probability that cash
(10:51):
and extraordinary measures willbe exhausted by August, right
when Congress is scheduled to bein recess.
On the education front, the billwould beef up Pell grants for
students in short-term trainingprograms, while simultaneously
tightening limits on federalstudent loan borrowing.
It would also increase taxes onprivate university endowments,
another front in the ongoingclash between the Trump
(11:13):
administration and highereducation institutions.
Perhaps most notably, itcreates the first federal school
choice bill allowing taxcredits for donations to groups
providing school choicescholarships.
Defense hawks will find plentyto like with Pentagon spending
increases totaling roughly $150billion.
Trump officials are proudlytouting that this would push
defense spending above $1trillion for the first time ever
and to fulfill campaignpromises on immigration.
Billion Trump officials areproudly touting that this would
(11:34):
push defense spending above $1trillion for the first time ever
.
And to fulfill campaignpromises on immigration, the
bill allocates tens of billionsfor Trump's border wall and
detention facilities.
As reported by the Hill, theseproposals represent a
significant reshaping of federalpriorities, combining tax cuts
with targeted spending increasesand broad program reforms a
(11:54):
package that still facessubstantial hurdles before
becoming law.
Well, talk about eating yourwords with a side of awkward
sauce.
Msnbc's Joe Scarborough gotserved a healthy portion of his
own commentary this week whenMark Halperin confronted him
with that now infamous clipwhere he proclaimed Joe Biden
the best Biden ever back inMarch.
(12:15):
For those who missedScarborough's passionate defense
of Biden earlier this year, hedidn't just say Biden was
competent, he went full throttle, declaring the former president
was far beyond cogent and evenchallenged viewers with a
defiant few if you can't handlethe truth, pretty strong words
for a man who would step downfrom his presidential campaign.
(12:35):
Just months later, when pressedby Halperin on his Morning Joe
show, scarborough didn't exactlybackpedal.
Instead, he doubled down,insisting he never personally
witnessed Biden's bad days.
He referenced multiple privatemeetings where Biden supposedly
displayed impressive analysis ofinternational situations,
particularly regarding Russiaand Ukraine.
Impressive analysis ofinternational situations,
particularly regarding Russiaand Ukraine.
(12:55):
Halperin wasn't buying it,reminding Scarborough that he'd
witnessed Biden's public fumbles, including addressing a
deceased congresswoman as if shewere in the room.
But rather than directlyaddress these contradictions,
scarborough pivoted to Trump,arguing that politicians often
stumble and bumble around.
The timing couldn't be moreinteresting, coming right after
(13:16):
the release of special counselRobert Herr's interview with
Biden, which revealedsignificant memory lapses.
This is the same Herr reportthat Scarborough previously
dismissed as random-esque backin February, suggesting Herr was
auditioning for a judgeshipunder a potential second Trump
administration.
What makes this particularlynoteworthy is how it illustrates
(13:37):
the media's struggle toreconcile private impressions
with public performances,especially, as CNN's Abby
Phillips suggested, herr mayhave actually undersold Biden's
cognitive issues in thatinterview, as reported by Fox
News.
This incident highlights thecomplicated relationship between
media narratives and politicalrealities when it comes to
doubling down, scarboroughshould get an Olympic medal.
(14:00):
In his conversation withHalperin, he refused to
acknowledge the disconnectbetween his best Biden ever
claims and the mounting evidenceto the contrary and the
mounting evidence to thecontrary.
Instead, he essentially arguedthat his personal encounters
with Biden carried more weightthan what millions of Americans
witnessed on their screens.
Am I going to look at a clipthat's gone viral and pay more
(14:21):
attention to that than two and ahalf three hours I had with a
guy one-on-one going around theworld?
No, I'm just not going to.
Scarborough insisted this,despite Halperin pointing out
that he could show multipleinstances where Biden was
clearly struggling.
Let's rewind to February, whenthe Her report first dropped.
Scarborough went ballistic,demanding Her apologize for
(14:43):
documenting Biden's memorylapses, including forgetting
when his son Beau died.
I think he hopes he gets ajudgeship if Donald Trump gets
elected again because he'strying out.
Scarborough ranted, suggestingHerr had political motivations.
Fast forward to last Friday,when the actual Herr-Biden
interview audio was released.
Suddenly, the narrative shifteddramatically.
(15:03):
Even CNN's Abby Phillip had toacknowledge that Herr might have
actually undersold Biden'scognitive issues in the report a
complete reversal of what manymedia figures, including
Scarborough, had claimed.
What's particularly striking ishow Scarborough attempted to
normalize Biden's stumbles bycomparing them to Trump, saying
Donald Trump did, otherpoliticians did.
(15:23):
It's the classic.
But what about defense whenconfronted with inconvenient
facts?
This whole saga reveals thedangers of media figures
becoming too personally investedin the politicians they cover.
When you've spent hours withsomeone privately, it becomes
much harder to objectivelyassess their public performance.
More importantly, itdemonstrates how quickly
(15:45):
established narratives cancrumble when direct evidence
becomes available.
The question remains ifScarborough was this wrong about
Biden's cognitive state,despite his insider access, what
else might he and other mediafigures be getting wrong about
the politicians they claim toknow so well?
And that wraps our headlineroundup for today.
Folks From Rep McIver facingserious charges over ICE
(16:09):
facility protests, to HouseRepublicans advancing a massive
tax and spending package withfar-reaching implications for
millions of Americans.
Meanwhile, joe Scarborough'sdefense of his best Biden ever
comments highlights the ongoingdebate about media narrative
versus reality.
These stories share a commonthread the tension between
(16:30):
political positioning andfactual accountability.
Whether it's a congresswomanclaiming oversight privileges
during a protest,trillion-dollar tax proposals
being framed as deficitreduction, or a media
personality defending personalimpressions against
contradictory evidence, asalways, we're committed to
bringing you the unfiltered newsyou need, without the partisan
(16:51):
spin.
Follow us on X at Ranting RPand find us on YouTube, spotify,
(17:13):
iheart.
Align with a political party.
We align with you, the Americancitizen.
Until then, stay tuned, stayinformed and, as always, stay
free.
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