Democratic US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries | Bloomberg Talks
Summary
Government Shutdown: The podcast discusses the ongoing government shutdown, emphasizing the need for bipartisan negotiations to reopen the government and address the healthcare crisis caused by Republican policies.
Healthcare Crisis: A significant focus is on the urgent need to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits to prevent skyrocketing healthcare costs, which are impacting millions of Americans, particularly those earning around $63,000 or less.
Republican Policies: The discussion highlights the negative impact of Republican policies, including substantial cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, and the refusal to address the Affordable Care Act tax credits, affecting public health infrastructure.
Economic Impact: The podcast underscores the economic strain on Americans due to rising costs of living, including housing, groceries, and healthcare, and criticizes the lack of action from the Trump administration to alleviate these burdens.
Federal Employees: Concerns are raised about the impact of the shutdown on federal employees, with more than 200,000 already affected, and the potential withholding of pay despite legal requirements for back pay.
Political Trust: There is a noted deficit of trust between Democrats and Republicans, particularly concerning promises to address healthcare and cost of living issues, with skepticism about Republican commitments.
International Relations: The podcast briefly touches on international relations, criticizing Trump's approach to Russia and emphasizing the importance of supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression.
Future Outlook: The discussion concludes with a call for decisive legislative action to address the healthcare crisis and reopen the government, while also preparing for upcoming elections and addressing affordability issues.
Transcript
Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio, news. >> It's day 23 and I'm curious sort of what has changed between day one, the start of this shutdown, and today in terms of the conversation and how you're feeling about where things are. Well, as Democrats, we continue to make clear to our Republican colleagues that we will sit down with them anytime, any place in order to reopen the government to negotiate a bipartisan agreement that actually makes life better for the American people in terms of spending and funding. But we also have to decisively address the Republican healthcare crisis. We've maintained that position from the very beginning before Republicans shut the government down and during the entirety of the shutdown because it is a real crisis that has been created at this moment, particularly as it relates to the urgent need to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. >> As you and I are speaking, the House Speaker is doing a press conference just down the hall. What is the level of engagement? Do you pass one another? Are you speaking with one another? Are Democrats talking to Republicans right now? Uh the conversations have been very limited unfortunately because Donald Trump has not given House Republican leaders or Senate Republican leaders permission to negotiate reinforcing the principle from our view that he made the decision to shut the government down. Uh they want to continue to inflict pain on federal employees. They've done that from the very beginning of Donald Trump's presidency. In fact, uh, more than 200,000 federal employees had been forced off the job prior to the government shutdown. And this is something that we've continued to see them build upon during the shutdown. Until Donald Trump gets serious about reopening the government, unfortunately, we're going to remain in this situation and everyday Americans are being hurt. >> He's getting ready to take a trip to Asia. Is it appropriate for him to be doing that at this moment when the government is is shut down? >> I I think that the president has a responsibility both domestically and throughout the world. However, what has been irresponsible is that throughout this shutdown, he's found more time to gulf uh than he has to engage with Democrats on Capitol Hill. He's decided to try to steal $230 million in taxpayer funds from the Department of Injustice. Donald Trump and his administration have found $40 billion to bail out a right-wing wannabe dictator in Argentina and can't find a dime to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits to keep health care affordable for tens of millions of Americans. And on top of all of that, uh, they are demolishing the east wing of the White House in ways that have appropriately horrified the American people. I want to ask you about potential off-ramps and Tammy Baldwin, the senator from Wisconsin Democrat, said Trump is the offramp at this point. Do do you agree with that assessment? And has there been any kind of outreach or dialogue between you and the White House? Uh Lad Schumer made clear earlier this week that we have reached out to the White House again uh to indicate that prior to Trump's departure uh for Asia, he should sit down with Democrats to find a path forward to reopen the government to enter into a bipartisan spending agreement and to address the healthcare crisis that Marjgerie Taylor Green acknowledges must be addressed and that traditional conservatives who are in the toughest seats in the country have now publicly acknowledged this week needs to be addressed. >> Can I ask you a question of congressional mechanics, and that is, can the Democratic leader pick up the phone, call the White House, and reasonably expect the president's going to take that phone call? Are you able to do that? And if so, what's keeping you from having that dial? >> Well, traditionally, that probably is the case, but in this White House, uh, that's very much unclear. Donald Trump didn't have a meeting, uh, with House or Senate Democratic leadership until 2 days prior to the government shutting down. And we had to demand uh, that meeting. He initially agreed to it, then he cancelled it and then he was forced by public sentiment uh to agree to it. But unfortunately uh we had a discussion for about an hour or so and then there was no followup from either Donald Trump or his administration because they are not serious about solving these challenges on behalf of the American people. We live in a high cost of living environment. The American people are struggling to afford to live, struggling paycheck to paycheck. And Donald Trump and Republicans promised that they were going to lower costs on day one, but costs aren't going down. Costs are going up, inflation going up, electricity prices through the roof. Housing costs, uh, expensive grocery costs increasingly expensive. And now people facing the possibility as we approach the open enrollment period for health insurance on November 1st that millions of folks are going to see premium increases that could be as high as a,000 or $2,000 more per month. And yet we see nothing but inaction uh from the president of the United States. Keeping that in mind, uh Jason Smith, chairman of House Ways and Means, was on our air yesterday and he said maybe there could be a longer term CR 14 months. Take us through the midterms. Am I right in assuming that's unpalatable to you because it does nothing to address what you were just talking about, those healthcare subsidies? >> Yes, it's definitively uh unacceptable to us. We've made clear from the beginning we will not vote for a partisan Republican spending bill that continues to gut the health care of the American people in the face of an extraordinary crisis that Republicans have created. If you think about it, the largest cut to Medicaid in American history, almost a trillion dollar cut. This from a president and Republicans who promised in January that they would love and cherish Medicaid. As a result of the policies in the one big ugly bill, we're seeing hospitals and nursing homes and community- based health centers close all across the country because of what Republicans have done. We also are facing a possible $536 billion cut to Medicare at the end of the year if Congress doesn't act. They refuse to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, uh, which is going to impact tens of millions of people. By the way, uh more than 90% of the people who receive tax credits connected to their health insurance make around $63,000 or less. These are workingclass folks. And then we know that Republicans are continuing to assault our public health infrastructure in the country related to vaccine availability. their appropriations bill right now that they want us to support uh in the House. They propose cutting $1.7 billion for from the Centers uh you know for disease control and another 500 or so million dollars from the National Institute of Health. It's not something that's acceptable to us in any way, shape or form. This is a healthcare crisis uh that cannot be overstated and so we've got to address it decisively. Now >> want to talk about your vision for how all of this unfolds. So my first question is how do you see all of this playing out? How long do you think it's going to be? What's your best guess at this point? Well, listen, I think the longer this goes on, uh, the more pressure that unfortunately continues to mount on Congress decisively to act, meaning our Republican colleagues who control the House and the Senate. And it shocks a lot of people that House Republicans have been on vacation now four consecutive weeks, have literally cancelled votes for four consecutive weeks. That's an unsustainable position. uh we believe they need to get back to work, come back from vacation, sit down, let's do the business of the American people. We also, of course, are going to approach the November 1st open enrollment period. And at that moment in time, it will be crystal clear to the American people that their premiums, co-pays, and deductibles are about to skyrocket in ways that will crush them financially, and they will be unable uh to go see a doctor when they need one, when their children need one, when their family needs one. And it's unsustainable for Republicans to continue to refuse to address that issue. It's not a madeup issue. It's a real life issue that has adverse consequences on everyday Americans. >> I think back to the beginning of this and the days before, there were some critics who said that date's too far off and you're making this argument based on that November 1st deadline. People aren't dealing with that in real terms yet. Does this become an easier sell to the American public as we get closer to that date? Indeed, as we hit November 1st. Well, our view was that um we needed to address this issue in October because of the fact that notices were going out to tens of millions of Americans who have to be able to plan. They need some certainty to understand are they going to be able to afford health care? Um how am I going to manage this situation? What are my alternatives? And that's why we felt like it needed to be dealt with with the fierce urgency of now in connection to what was also happening with the need to either fund the government, prevent a shutdown that Republicans have now brought to the country, now reopen the government, and actually to re reach an enlightened bipartisan spending agreement where our only criteria had been if we're going to reach an agreement that's bipartisan in nature, it has to actually improve the lives of the American people in three different areas. Their health, public safety, and their economic well-being, particularly as it relates to lowering the high cost of living because America's too expensive right now. A nearer pressure point is Friday, October the 24th. Federal workers aren't going to receive their paychecks. How confident are you that you're not going to be blamed? Democrats aren't going to be blamed for that when that that comes around? Well, from the very beginning of this president's term, uh, Donald Trump and the Republicans have assaulted in the most egregious way possible hardworking federal civil servants and public employees. And it's outrageous. Uh, as I mentioned, more than 200,000 federal employees have already been forced off the job. That was prior to Donald Trump shutting down the government. We passed a law in 2017 that Donald Trump signed which requires that furled workers, all federal employees receive their back pay. Does Donald Trump that's now suggesting unlawfully uh that he can withheld hold that pay uh and they might might not be compensated. >> Should workers be worried about that? I've talked to a few federal workers who for the first time for the first shutdown they've been through they're they're worried that that's not going to happen. Is that a reasonable concern? >> Well, the law is crystal clear. It's reasonable concern from the standpoint that when Donald Trump says anything uh and he's the president of the United States and there's been a willingness to engage in unlawful and illegal behavior sometimes rubber stamped by the conservative majority on the US Supreme Court that's problematic. But the law is very crystal clear in this particular instance and we are going to make sure uh that every single federal employee receives the entirety of their pay. Um, Russell Vote, president seemingly fond of calling him Darth Vader, says he's playing budgetary twister as all of this unfolds and that's maybe lessened the pain that some constituents feel as a result of this. How has that complicated your efforts here? The fact that some government entities are still running, some people are still getting paid, but it's not across the board. It's not universal. Well, of course, in any government shutdown, it it it is critical that there are federal employees who are deemed essential in order to allow the country to continue to function as best we can. But the most comprehensive way forward, of course, is to make sure that we can negotiate a spending agreement that makes life better for the American people, that we pay every single federal employee by reopening uh the government. And that's what Republicans have refused to do. Donald Trump consistently has chosen not to engage even though we've made our position clear and have held to that position in the House, in the Senate, Senate Democrats being bold and courageous on behalf of the American people to say we have to decisively address the healthc care crisis that impacts people all across the country. And by the way, David, the reality is Republican um constituents are being impacted adversely uh by the Republican refusal to address the Affordable Care Act tax credit and section. The five states that would be most impacted are West Virginia, Wyoming, Alaska, Tennessee, and Mississippi. The next five states are all states currently governed by Republicans. About 45% of the people who benefit from the Affordable Care Act tax credits apparently are registered Republicans. Another 35% are Democrats. Uh and the balance are independents or unaffiliated. This is an American issue. Uh and we're fighting hard on behalf of everyone, everyday Americans, working-class Americans, and middle-ass Americans all across the land. >> So fundamentally, is this an issue of trust that you have the Senate majority leader saying, "Look, open the government. We will talk about these subsidies. We'll talk about healthcare." Are you just unable to trust Republicans at this moment or believe that that would happen were we to go that path? >> It's hard for the American people to trust Republicans, particularly as it relates to the issue of health care, cost of living. Group of people who promised to lower costs on day one. Costs haven't gone down, they've gone up. Trump tariffs are making life more expensive. Thousands of dollars per year more in additional expenses. This is also a group of people who said we were going to love and cherish Medicaid and then they went out and enacted the largest cut to Medicaid in American history. A group of folks who have said they'll never touch Medicare and now because of the one big ugly bill, they've triggered the possibility of the largest cut to Medicare in the history of the country if Congress doesn't act by the end of the year. And so, of course, these folks have zero credibility on this issue, which is why we need decisive action. And by the way, in the House, Republicans have voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act more than 70 different times. Since 2010, they are relentlessly obsessed, meaning these extremists on the other side of the aisle with ripping health care away from the American people. And so we think it's very reasonable for everyday Americans to be skeptical about any promises made by Republican. We don't need a wing and a prayer. We need decisive legislative action. People will be watching this and listening to this, hearing what you're saying and detecting that there is this deficit of trust between the two parties here. And I don't think that engenders a lot of optimism because this gets solved anytime soon. Is that is that misplaced? Do you feel like it there there can be some comedy here somewhere? >> Well, we're taking the Ronald Reagan approach to this particular situation from the standpoint of what needs to happen. Trust but verify. And so, yeah, promises can be made, but we need verification. That verification comes in the form of actual legislation, decisive legislative action to be able to address the Republican healthcare crisis. But, you know, we're here each and every day. Democrats have been showing up on Capitol Hill. We're committed to doing the work to finding a bipartisan path forward to reopening the government and to addressing the healthcare crisis that Republicans have viciously visited on the American people. >> Got a couple questions just about the long-term consequences of this. So, the president has said we're closing up programs that are Democrat programs that were opposed to and they're never going to come back in many cases. Um, is is he right? Is the work that's being done by OM and his administration irrevocable? Well, Republicans have been trying to shut down programs unlawfully from the very beginning of this presidency in ways that clearly violate the law because they're inconsistent with bipartisan bills that have been passed dictating how taxpayer dollars are spent in ways that are designed to benefit the American people. So, what we're seeing right now is not inconsistent. These are just threats, you know, from Donald Trump trying to intimidate Democrats from backing away from the position that we've taken on behalf of the American people. This is a principle position for us, not political. It's not partisan. It's about the quality of life, the health, the safety, and the economic well-being of the American people. And we'll continue to hold this position. And we're going to have to, of course, continue to push back against overreach from Donald Trump and his administration. Unfortunately, Republicans who control the House and the Senate, they have complete control of government uh right now in the Congress, they're not functioning like a separate and co-equal branch of government. They're a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trump cartel. And unfortunately, they continue to recklessly rubber stamp Donald Trump's extreme policies. >> We can pour one out for regular order. We haven't seen that in in a long time. But I wonder if what's at risk here is the appropriations process. since you talked to your appropriations team. What do they say about how that's likely to change as a result, yes, of what's led to the shutdown, but also what we've seen this administration do when it comes to budgeting over the last few months? >> Well, our appropriators on the Democratic side, Rosa Deloro, um, and on the Senate side of the Democratic caucus, of course, Patty Murray, they are superb appropriators and they're committed to a process of finding a bipartisan path forward. >> Are they worried? Well, they well I I think Lisa Marowsky and Susan Collins have expressed concern about how this administration has conducted itself in violating congressional intent. The framers were very clear. Congress has the power of the purse. That's for good reason. We're the institutions that are closest to the American people, particularly on the House side. And so yes, the American people should be worried, but we we need a Congress to actually reassert itself in the best interest of the American people so that the administration is not allowed just to make these decisions unilaterally on their own uh without the people's representatives in the House or the Senate actually being able to have our will exerted through our representation of everyday Americans. Um, it was opening night at the Garden last night. Knicks versus Cavs, Knicks 1119 to 111, also the final mayoral debate in New York City. Did you watch it? Have you kept up with what happened on stage last night? >> Uh, I wasn't able to catch the debate live. I did catch the final few moments of the Knicks game, I do admit. Uh, but the debate had already ended at that point by the time uh, my day ended. I did think it was interesting yesterday and a strong step uh that was taken by Zoron, the Democratic nominee, when he indicated his intention to retain our current police commissioner, Jessica Tish. I think that probably will provide a lot of comfort to people uh throughout the city of New York. She's done a great job. She's well respected. We're a diverse city. Uh and it'll be interesting to see how that is received upon my return home. >> Uh you've been asked about this a thousand times. Let me ask a thousand1 times. Um, are you prepared to endorse the Democratic nominee for mayor in New York City? >> Well, I'm I'm what I'll say is I'm prepared to weigh in in advance of early voting and early voting days away. Early voting starts on Saturday. >> Yeah. Um, what's what's holding you up? I mean, what are the issues that you're still concerned about? I know that you said the last time you were asked about this, you were going to have a conversation with Son Mandani, another conversation. What's left >> undisussed? Well, I hope to speak to him today and tomorrow, and I I in fact, I plan on speaking to him today uh and tomorrow. And I think my from my standpoint, look, um I was prepared to try to bring this to a close one way or the other several weeks ago and then the government shutdown hit. And honestly, David, it's been all encompassing because this is a traumatic moment for the country that this has been inflicted on the American people. And then layering on top of it, right, just shutting the government down as Republicans have done is very problematic. uh but trying to communicate with the American people why we as Democrats also believe that addressing the Republican healthc care crisis is necessary and explaining the entirety of the assault on their health care that has occurred this year beginning with the one big ugly bill and the largest cut to Medicaid in American history and the fact that their hospitals and nursing homes and community-based health centers are closing all across the country. Home care will be adversely affected, the possible cut to Medicare at the end of the year, the Republican refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, and the threats that they're now making to even try to repeal the Affordable Care Act and the assault on public health infrastructure. This is extraordinary stuff. We've never seen anything like this uh in the history of the country, which is why we believe it needs to be decisively addressed along with, of course, reopening the government, standing by our hardworking federal civil servants uh and making sure that we can enact a bipartisan spending agreement. So, it's been all-encompassing, you know, for the last uh several weeks. That said, uh I do have a sense of obligation to weigh in one way or the other in terms of the mayor's race in advance of early voting. So, I did watch the debate and the themes of criticism that came up from the other two candidates were he's inexperienced and his comments on the Middle East are problematic. Are those likewise the same issues that you want to talk to him more about? What what's left unsaid between the two of you? >> Well, I've certainly already publicly uh communicated and privately communicated some of my concerns with respect to some of the views that he's expressed uh in terms of foreign policy. That said, um I believe his relentless focus on affordability is the right focus. The question, you know, becomes for any mayor, for any executive, how are you going to implement uh that objective? Because it's the right objective. Uh but he's got to navigate a treacherous governmental terrain in terms of the city, state, and most significantly the federal government. uh because it's clear that Donald Trump has it out uh for Democratic le cities all across the country and we've got to be prepared for the fact that Donald Trump is coming for New York. >> I guess my question is one of confusion. So I sat down with Governor Cuomo and in that conversation he said uh I'm a Democrat. My dad was a Democrat. He's really taking up that mantle. Of course he lost the primary. He's running as an an independent. Isn't there an element here of of confusion that in this vacuum >> and you could I guess do something to close that vacuum. he's he's able to take up that mantle to the detriment of the dulyeleed Democratic nominee. >> Well, it's interesting because he is running as an independent, so he's not the Democratic nominee, but of course, he has a long history uh as a Democrat. I think some of the concerns uh that I've seen articulated however is well what is the actual path to victory given the inability to convince a majority of Democrats in the primary uh that you were the right person uh to lead the city moving forward at this moment. >> Let me use this as a segue. So a lot of people point to his youth point to as you just noted his emphasis on affordability. part of your job is surveying the national terrain, political terrain, and looking for candidates. >> Does his success in that primary make you think that youth is more important this time around? That that emphasis, that kind of monomomaniacal emphasis on affordability is going to be critical here as you look to the midterms and beyond. Well, we've said from the very beginning of uh this year when we came back into session, in fact, in my first set of remarks on the House floor, that would have been on January 3rd, uh that we were relentlessly committed to lowering the high cost of living, that America is too expensive, housing costs too high, grocery costs too high, child care costs too high, health care costs too high, utility costs uh too high, and something needed to be decisively done about it. It certainly was our hope that Republicans would keep their core promise of lowering the high cost of living. They've refused to do it. In fact, what they've done is make life more expensive. Uh but from the very beginning of the year, it's clear to us that the affordability issue is central to what we need to do on behalf of the American people. Well listen, we believe in this country um greatest country in the history of the world that everyone who works hard and plays by the rules should be able to provide a comfortable life for themselves and for their families to live the good life uh good paying job, good housing, good healthcare, good education for their children and a good retirement. And the problem that so many Americans confront right now is that far too many people are doing the first two things. They're working hard and they're playing by the rules, but they can't get to that American dream, that comfortable life, living the good life for themselves and for their family. That's what's broken in the country right now. And so, we've got to fix it. And yes, affordability is a big part of it, the central issue, the high cost of living. We've also got to find ways to put money uh back into the pockets of the American people, actually use the tax code to make their life better. Instead, what we've seen with Republicans, this one big ugly bill that's now law, is that they hurt everyday Americans in order to reward their billionaire donors with massive tax breaks. That's why I think that um voters are going to reject this Republican extremism and Republican policies all across the country. And we'll begin to see that during the upcoming general election in Virginia, in New Jersey, and with respect to Prop 50 in California. What do you say to those candidates who are mounting primary campaigns against Democrats, who are critical of Democratic leadership, maybe looked at what happened in March, wished that you and the Senate minority leader had stood up then, want you to do more. What's your message to them just about the way that this party is operating in its current form? Well, to be very clear, um, you know, House Democrats were strongly opposed to the partisan Republican spending bill, uh, in March, and we continue to have that position, and I'm thankful for the incredible leadership of Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats who, you know, strongly opposed the one big ugly bill from the very beginning all the way through the end. Yeah. unanimous Democratic opposition, uh, and will continue to stand on principle in defense of the American people. At the same period of time, I understand that, you know, we've seen extraordinary extremism unleashed on the American people. An assault on all of the things that matter. Republican assault on the economy, on healthcare, on nutritional assistance, on veterans, on farmers, on law-abiding immigrant families, on the rule of law, on due process, on the American way of life, and of course on democracy itself. It's the reason why more than 7 million people most recently uh came out in connection with the no kings protest came out peacefully, powerfully, and patriotically in order to express dissent with the fact that the country is moving in the wrong direction under Donald Trump and sickopantic Republicans in the House and the Senate who continue to behave like nothing more than a reckless rubber stamp. So, we're in a more is more environment, and we're just going to have to continue uh to do more, you know, more rallies, more protests, uh more speeches on the House floor, Senate floor, more town hall meetings in Democratic districts, more town hall meetings in Republican districts. We've held a hearing every week during this shutdown here and we'll continue to do that to amplify the voices of the American people in terms of who's being hurt by Donald Trump's policies, who's being hurt by the shutdown uh that Republicans have visited upon the American people and who's being hurt by the Republican healthcare crisis. And we'll continue to do that. But more will be required and I understand that because this is an extraordinary unprecedented moment of extremism being unleashed on the American people. >> Last question. Uh the capital is quieter than usual. City a bit quieter than usual. The president's about to leave. He'll be halfway around the world. >> It's going to only add to that. Um he was going to go to Budapest to meet with President Putin. Now apparently that's not happening. What is your assessment of how hard he's being on the Russian president? Is he being hard enough? Could he be doing more? And I've kind of noted here Steve Witoff, his longtime business associate, was kind of running point on setting up this meeting between the two of them. Now, it seems like Secretary of State Marco Rubio is doing that as well. What What do you make of that? What do you make of the approach the president has, his team has right now to Vladimir Putin and to a potential meeting with him? Well, I think one, the president should actually be focused right now on reopening the government immediately, on reaching a bipartisan spending agreement immediately and addressing the Republican healthcare crisis immediately. In terms of the war uh of aggression that Russia has launched against Ukraine, the American people are with the Ukrainian people and we are with the Ukrainian people because Ukraine is not just fighting for its territorial integrity. uh they are standing on the right side of democracy, of freedom and of truth. And Russia is on the side of authoritarianism, uh of tyranny and of propaganda. And in that kind of situation, we should always be standing up for principles that are consistent with who we are as Americans. That means standing with Ukraine. And you know, Donald Trump continues to in different ways play footsie with Vladimir Putin, who is a sworn enemy of the United States of America. Congress probably needs to act both in the House and the Senate in terms of increasing the economic sanctions on Russia. And the only reason why Republicans haven't moved legislation that they themselves support is because apparently they've been ordered uh not to bring this legislation forward by Donald Trump. I assume you applaud what the Treasury Secretary did yesterday, putting those sanctions on the Russian oil companies.
Democratic US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries | Bloomberg Talks
Summary
Transcript
Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio, news. >> It's day 23 and I'm curious sort of what has changed between day one, the start of this shutdown, and today in terms of the conversation and how you're feeling about where things are. Well, as Democrats, we continue to make clear to our Republican colleagues that we will sit down with them anytime, any place in order to reopen the government to negotiate a bipartisan agreement that actually makes life better for the American people in terms of spending and funding. But we also have to decisively address the Republican healthcare crisis. We've maintained that position from the very beginning before Republicans shut the government down and during the entirety of the shutdown because it is a real crisis that has been created at this moment, particularly as it relates to the urgent need to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. >> As you and I are speaking, the House Speaker is doing a press conference just down the hall. What is the level of engagement? Do you pass one another? Are you speaking with one another? Are Democrats talking to Republicans right now? Uh the conversations have been very limited unfortunately because Donald Trump has not given House Republican leaders or Senate Republican leaders permission to negotiate reinforcing the principle from our view that he made the decision to shut the government down. Uh they want to continue to inflict pain on federal employees. They've done that from the very beginning of Donald Trump's presidency. In fact, uh, more than 200,000 federal employees had been forced off the job prior to the government shutdown. And this is something that we've continued to see them build upon during the shutdown. Until Donald Trump gets serious about reopening the government, unfortunately, we're going to remain in this situation and everyday Americans are being hurt. >> He's getting ready to take a trip to Asia. Is it appropriate for him to be doing that at this moment when the government is is shut down? >> I I think that the president has a responsibility both domestically and throughout the world. However, what has been irresponsible is that throughout this shutdown, he's found more time to gulf uh than he has to engage with Democrats on Capitol Hill. He's decided to try to steal $230 million in taxpayer funds from the Department of Injustice. Donald Trump and his administration have found $40 billion to bail out a right-wing wannabe dictator in Argentina and can't find a dime to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits to keep health care affordable for tens of millions of Americans. And on top of all of that, uh, they are demolishing the east wing of the White House in ways that have appropriately horrified the American people. I want to ask you about potential off-ramps and Tammy Baldwin, the senator from Wisconsin Democrat, said Trump is the offramp at this point. Do do you agree with that assessment? And has there been any kind of outreach or dialogue between you and the White House? Uh Lad Schumer made clear earlier this week that we have reached out to the White House again uh to indicate that prior to Trump's departure uh for Asia, he should sit down with Democrats to find a path forward to reopen the government to enter into a bipartisan spending agreement and to address the healthcare crisis that Marjgerie Taylor Green acknowledges must be addressed and that traditional conservatives who are in the toughest seats in the country have now publicly acknowledged this week needs to be addressed. >> Can I ask you a question of congressional mechanics, and that is, can the Democratic leader pick up the phone, call the White House, and reasonably expect the president's going to take that phone call? Are you able to do that? And if so, what's keeping you from having that dial? >> Well, traditionally, that probably is the case, but in this White House, uh, that's very much unclear. Donald Trump didn't have a meeting, uh, with House or Senate Democratic leadership until 2 days prior to the government shutting down. And we had to demand uh, that meeting. He initially agreed to it, then he cancelled it and then he was forced by public sentiment uh to agree to it. But unfortunately uh we had a discussion for about an hour or so and then there was no followup from either Donald Trump or his administration because they are not serious about solving these challenges on behalf of the American people. We live in a high cost of living environment. The American people are struggling to afford to live, struggling paycheck to paycheck. And Donald Trump and Republicans promised that they were going to lower costs on day one, but costs aren't going down. Costs are going up, inflation going up, electricity prices through the roof. Housing costs, uh, expensive grocery costs increasingly expensive. And now people facing the possibility as we approach the open enrollment period for health insurance on November 1st that millions of folks are going to see premium increases that could be as high as a,000 or $2,000 more per month. And yet we see nothing but inaction uh from the president of the United States. Keeping that in mind, uh Jason Smith, chairman of House Ways and Means, was on our air yesterday and he said maybe there could be a longer term CR 14 months. Take us through the midterms. Am I right in assuming that's unpalatable to you because it does nothing to address what you were just talking about, those healthcare subsidies? >> Yes, it's definitively uh unacceptable to us. We've made clear from the beginning we will not vote for a partisan Republican spending bill that continues to gut the health care of the American people in the face of an extraordinary crisis that Republicans have created. If you think about it, the largest cut to Medicaid in American history, almost a trillion dollar cut. This from a president and Republicans who promised in January that they would love and cherish Medicaid. As a result of the policies in the one big ugly bill, we're seeing hospitals and nursing homes and community- based health centers close all across the country because of what Republicans have done. We also are facing a possible $536 billion cut to Medicare at the end of the year if Congress doesn't act. They refuse to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, uh, which is going to impact tens of millions of people. By the way, uh more than 90% of the people who receive tax credits connected to their health insurance make around $63,000 or less. These are workingclass folks. And then we know that Republicans are continuing to assault our public health infrastructure in the country related to vaccine availability. their appropriations bill right now that they want us to support uh in the House. They propose cutting $1.7 billion for from the Centers uh you know for disease control and another 500 or so million dollars from the National Institute of Health. It's not something that's acceptable to us in any way, shape or form. This is a healthcare crisis uh that cannot be overstated and so we've got to address it decisively. Now >> want to talk about your vision for how all of this unfolds. So my first question is how do you see all of this playing out? How long do you think it's going to be? What's your best guess at this point? Well, listen, I think the longer this goes on, uh, the more pressure that unfortunately continues to mount on Congress decisively to act, meaning our Republican colleagues who control the House and the Senate. And it shocks a lot of people that House Republicans have been on vacation now four consecutive weeks, have literally cancelled votes for four consecutive weeks. That's an unsustainable position. uh we believe they need to get back to work, come back from vacation, sit down, let's do the business of the American people. We also, of course, are going to approach the November 1st open enrollment period. And at that moment in time, it will be crystal clear to the American people that their premiums, co-pays, and deductibles are about to skyrocket in ways that will crush them financially, and they will be unable uh to go see a doctor when they need one, when their children need one, when their family needs one. And it's unsustainable for Republicans to continue to refuse to address that issue. It's not a madeup issue. It's a real life issue that has adverse consequences on everyday Americans. >> I think back to the beginning of this and the days before, there were some critics who said that date's too far off and you're making this argument based on that November 1st deadline. People aren't dealing with that in real terms yet. Does this become an easier sell to the American public as we get closer to that date? Indeed, as we hit November 1st. Well, our view was that um we needed to address this issue in October because of the fact that notices were going out to tens of millions of Americans who have to be able to plan. They need some certainty to understand are they going to be able to afford health care? Um how am I going to manage this situation? What are my alternatives? And that's why we felt like it needed to be dealt with with the fierce urgency of now in connection to what was also happening with the need to either fund the government, prevent a shutdown that Republicans have now brought to the country, now reopen the government, and actually to re reach an enlightened bipartisan spending agreement where our only criteria had been if we're going to reach an agreement that's bipartisan in nature, it has to actually improve the lives of the American people in three different areas. Their health, public safety, and their economic well-being, particularly as it relates to lowering the high cost of living because America's too expensive right now. A nearer pressure point is Friday, October the 24th. Federal workers aren't going to receive their paychecks. How confident are you that you're not going to be blamed? Democrats aren't going to be blamed for that when that that comes around? Well, from the very beginning of this president's term, uh, Donald Trump and the Republicans have assaulted in the most egregious way possible hardworking federal civil servants and public employees. And it's outrageous. Uh, as I mentioned, more than 200,000 federal employees have already been forced off the job. That was prior to Donald Trump shutting down the government. We passed a law in 2017 that Donald Trump signed which requires that furled workers, all federal employees receive their back pay. Does Donald Trump that's now suggesting unlawfully uh that he can withheld hold that pay uh and they might might not be compensated. >> Should workers be worried about that? I've talked to a few federal workers who for the first time for the first shutdown they've been through they're they're worried that that's not going to happen. Is that a reasonable concern? >> Well, the law is crystal clear. It's reasonable concern from the standpoint that when Donald Trump says anything uh and he's the president of the United States and there's been a willingness to engage in unlawful and illegal behavior sometimes rubber stamped by the conservative majority on the US Supreme Court that's problematic. But the law is very crystal clear in this particular instance and we are going to make sure uh that every single federal employee receives the entirety of their pay. Um, Russell Vote, president seemingly fond of calling him Darth Vader, says he's playing budgetary twister as all of this unfolds and that's maybe lessened the pain that some constituents feel as a result of this. How has that complicated your efforts here? The fact that some government entities are still running, some people are still getting paid, but it's not across the board. It's not universal. Well, of course, in any government shutdown, it it it is critical that there are federal employees who are deemed essential in order to allow the country to continue to function as best we can. But the most comprehensive way forward, of course, is to make sure that we can negotiate a spending agreement that makes life better for the American people, that we pay every single federal employee by reopening uh the government. And that's what Republicans have refused to do. Donald Trump consistently has chosen not to engage even though we've made our position clear and have held to that position in the House, in the Senate, Senate Democrats being bold and courageous on behalf of the American people to say we have to decisively address the healthc care crisis that impacts people all across the country. And by the way, David, the reality is Republican um constituents are being impacted adversely uh by the Republican refusal to address the Affordable Care Act tax credit and section. The five states that would be most impacted are West Virginia, Wyoming, Alaska, Tennessee, and Mississippi. The next five states are all states currently governed by Republicans. About 45% of the people who benefit from the Affordable Care Act tax credits apparently are registered Republicans. Another 35% are Democrats. Uh and the balance are independents or unaffiliated. This is an American issue. Uh and we're fighting hard on behalf of everyone, everyday Americans, working-class Americans, and middle-ass Americans all across the land. >> So fundamentally, is this an issue of trust that you have the Senate majority leader saying, "Look, open the government. We will talk about these subsidies. We'll talk about healthcare." Are you just unable to trust Republicans at this moment or believe that that would happen were we to go that path? >> It's hard for the American people to trust Republicans, particularly as it relates to the issue of health care, cost of living. Group of people who promised to lower costs on day one. Costs haven't gone down, they've gone up. Trump tariffs are making life more expensive. Thousands of dollars per year more in additional expenses. This is also a group of people who said we were going to love and cherish Medicaid and then they went out and enacted the largest cut to Medicaid in American history. A group of folks who have said they'll never touch Medicare and now because of the one big ugly bill, they've triggered the possibility of the largest cut to Medicare in the history of the country if Congress doesn't act by the end of the year. And so, of course, these folks have zero credibility on this issue, which is why we need decisive action. And by the way, in the House, Republicans have voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act more than 70 different times. Since 2010, they are relentlessly obsessed, meaning these extremists on the other side of the aisle with ripping health care away from the American people. And so we think it's very reasonable for everyday Americans to be skeptical about any promises made by Republican. We don't need a wing and a prayer. We need decisive legislative action. People will be watching this and listening to this, hearing what you're saying and detecting that there is this deficit of trust between the two parties here. And I don't think that engenders a lot of optimism because this gets solved anytime soon. Is that is that misplaced? Do you feel like it there there can be some comedy here somewhere? >> Well, we're taking the Ronald Reagan approach to this particular situation from the standpoint of what needs to happen. Trust but verify. And so, yeah, promises can be made, but we need verification. That verification comes in the form of actual legislation, decisive legislative action to be able to address the Republican healthcare crisis. But, you know, we're here each and every day. Democrats have been showing up on Capitol Hill. We're committed to doing the work to finding a bipartisan path forward to reopening the government and to addressing the healthcare crisis that Republicans have viciously visited on the American people. >> Got a couple questions just about the long-term consequences of this. So, the president has said we're closing up programs that are Democrat programs that were opposed to and they're never going to come back in many cases. Um, is is he right? Is the work that's being done by OM and his administration irrevocable? Well, Republicans have been trying to shut down programs unlawfully from the very beginning of this presidency in ways that clearly violate the law because they're inconsistent with bipartisan bills that have been passed dictating how taxpayer dollars are spent in ways that are designed to benefit the American people. So, what we're seeing right now is not inconsistent. These are just threats, you know, from Donald Trump trying to intimidate Democrats from backing away from the position that we've taken on behalf of the American people. This is a principle position for us, not political. It's not partisan. It's about the quality of life, the health, the safety, and the economic well-being of the American people. And we'll continue to hold this position. And we're going to have to, of course, continue to push back against overreach from Donald Trump and his administration. Unfortunately, Republicans who control the House and the Senate, they have complete control of government uh right now in the Congress, they're not functioning like a separate and co-equal branch of government. They're a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trump cartel. And unfortunately, they continue to recklessly rubber stamp Donald Trump's extreme policies. >> We can pour one out for regular order. We haven't seen that in in a long time. But I wonder if what's at risk here is the appropriations process. since you talked to your appropriations team. What do they say about how that's likely to change as a result, yes, of what's led to the shutdown, but also what we've seen this administration do when it comes to budgeting over the last few months? >> Well, our appropriators on the Democratic side, Rosa Deloro, um, and on the Senate side of the Democratic caucus, of course, Patty Murray, they are superb appropriators and they're committed to a process of finding a bipartisan path forward. >> Are they worried? Well, they well I I think Lisa Marowsky and Susan Collins have expressed concern about how this administration has conducted itself in violating congressional intent. The framers were very clear. Congress has the power of the purse. That's for good reason. We're the institutions that are closest to the American people, particularly on the House side. And so yes, the American people should be worried, but we we need a Congress to actually reassert itself in the best interest of the American people so that the administration is not allowed just to make these decisions unilaterally on their own uh without the people's representatives in the House or the Senate actually being able to have our will exerted through our representation of everyday Americans. Um, it was opening night at the Garden last night. Knicks versus Cavs, Knicks 1119 to 111, also the final mayoral debate in New York City. Did you watch it? Have you kept up with what happened on stage last night? >> Uh, I wasn't able to catch the debate live. I did catch the final few moments of the Knicks game, I do admit. Uh, but the debate had already ended at that point by the time uh, my day ended. I did think it was interesting yesterday and a strong step uh that was taken by Zoron, the Democratic nominee, when he indicated his intention to retain our current police commissioner, Jessica Tish. I think that probably will provide a lot of comfort to people uh throughout the city of New York. She's done a great job. She's well respected. We're a diverse city. Uh and it'll be interesting to see how that is received upon my return home. >> Uh you've been asked about this a thousand times. Let me ask a thousand1 times. Um, are you prepared to endorse the Democratic nominee for mayor in New York City? >> Well, I'm I'm what I'll say is I'm prepared to weigh in in advance of early voting and early voting days away. Early voting starts on Saturday. >> Yeah. Um, what's what's holding you up? I mean, what are the issues that you're still concerned about? I know that you said the last time you were asked about this, you were going to have a conversation with Son Mandani, another conversation. What's left >> undisussed? Well, I hope to speak to him today and tomorrow, and I I in fact, I plan on speaking to him today uh and tomorrow. And I think my from my standpoint, look, um I was prepared to try to bring this to a close one way or the other several weeks ago and then the government shutdown hit. And honestly, David, it's been all encompassing because this is a traumatic moment for the country that this has been inflicted on the American people. And then layering on top of it, right, just shutting the government down as Republicans have done is very problematic. uh but trying to communicate with the American people why we as Democrats also believe that addressing the Republican healthc care crisis is necessary and explaining the entirety of the assault on their health care that has occurred this year beginning with the one big ugly bill and the largest cut to Medicaid in American history and the fact that their hospitals and nursing homes and community-based health centers are closing all across the country. Home care will be adversely affected, the possible cut to Medicare at the end of the year, the Republican refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, and the threats that they're now making to even try to repeal the Affordable Care Act and the assault on public health infrastructure. This is extraordinary stuff. We've never seen anything like this uh in the history of the country, which is why we believe it needs to be decisively addressed along with, of course, reopening the government, standing by our hardworking federal civil servants uh and making sure that we can enact a bipartisan spending agreement. So, it's been all-encompassing, you know, for the last uh several weeks. That said, uh I do have a sense of obligation to weigh in one way or the other in terms of the mayor's race in advance of early voting. So, I did watch the debate and the themes of criticism that came up from the other two candidates were he's inexperienced and his comments on the Middle East are problematic. Are those likewise the same issues that you want to talk to him more about? What what's left unsaid between the two of you? >> Well, I've certainly already publicly uh communicated and privately communicated some of my concerns with respect to some of the views that he's expressed uh in terms of foreign policy. That said, um I believe his relentless focus on affordability is the right focus. The question, you know, becomes for any mayor, for any executive, how are you going to implement uh that objective? Because it's the right objective. Uh but he's got to navigate a treacherous governmental terrain in terms of the city, state, and most significantly the federal government. uh because it's clear that Donald Trump has it out uh for Democratic le cities all across the country and we've got to be prepared for the fact that Donald Trump is coming for New York. >> I guess my question is one of confusion. So I sat down with Governor Cuomo and in that conversation he said uh I'm a Democrat. My dad was a Democrat. He's really taking up that mantle. Of course he lost the primary. He's running as an an independent. Isn't there an element here of of confusion that in this vacuum >> and you could I guess do something to close that vacuum. he's he's able to take up that mantle to the detriment of the dulyeleed Democratic nominee. >> Well, it's interesting because he is running as an independent, so he's not the Democratic nominee, but of course, he has a long history uh as a Democrat. I think some of the concerns uh that I've seen articulated however is well what is the actual path to victory given the inability to convince a majority of Democrats in the primary uh that you were the right person uh to lead the city moving forward at this moment. >> Let me use this as a segue. So a lot of people point to his youth point to as you just noted his emphasis on affordability. part of your job is surveying the national terrain, political terrain, and looking for candidates. >> Does his success in that primary make you think that youth is more important this time around? That that emphasis, that kind of monomomaniacal emphasis on affordability is going to be critical here as you look to the midterms and beyond. Well, we've said from the very beginning of uh this year when we came back into session, in fact, in my first set of remarks on the House floor, that would have been on January 3rd, uh that we were relentlessly committed to lowering the high cost of living, that America is too expensive, housing costs too high, grocery costs too high, child care costs too high, health care costs too high, utility costs uh too high, and something needed to be decisively done about it. It certainly was our hope that Republicans would keep their core promise of lowering the high cost of living. They've refused to do it. In fact, what they've done is make life more expensive. Uh but from the very beginning of the year, it's clear to us that the affordability issue is central to what we need to do on behalf of the American people. Well listen, we believe in this country um greatest country in the history of the world that everyone who works hard and plays by the rules should be able to provide a comfortable life for themselves and for their families to live the good life uh good paying job, good housing, good healthcare, good education for their children and a good retirement. And the problem that so many Americans confront right now is that far too many people are doing the first two things. They're working hard and they're playing by the rules, but they can't get to that American dream, that comfortable life, living the good life for themselves and for their family. That's what's broken in the country right now. And so, we've got to fix it. And yes, affordability is a big part of it, the central issue, the high cost of living. We've also got to find ways to put money uh back into the pockets of the American people, actually use the tax code to make their life better. Instead, what we've seen with Republicans, this one big ugly bill that's now law, is that they hurt everyday Americans in order to reward their billionaire donors with massive tax breaks. That's why I think that um voters are going to reject this Republican extremism and Republican policies all across the country. And we'll begin to see that during the upcoming general election in Virginia, in New Jersey, and with respect to Prop 50 in California. What do you say to those candidates who are mounting primary campaigns against Democrats, who are critical of Democratic leadership, maybe looked at what happened in March, wished that you and the Senate minority leader had stood up then, want you to do more. What's your message to them just about the way that this party is operating in its current form? Well, to be very clear, um, you know, House Democrats were strongly opposed to the partisan Republican spending bill, uh, in March, and we continue to have that position, and I'm thankful for the incredible leadership of Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats who, you know, strongly opposed the one big ugly bill from the very beginning all the way through the end. Yeah. unanimous Democratic opposition, uh, and will continue to stand on principle in defense of the American people. At the same period of time, I understand that, you know, we've seen extraordinary extremism unleashed on the American people. An assault on all of the things that matter. Republican assault on the economy, on healthcare, on nutritional assistance, on veterans, on farmers, on law-abiding immigrant families, on the rule of law, on due process, on the American way of life, and of course on democracy itself. It's the reason why more than 7 million people most recently uh came out in connection with the no kings protest came out peacefully, powerfully, and patriotically in order to express dissent with the fact that the country is moving in the wrong direction under Donald Trump and sickopantic Republicans in the House and the Senate who continue to behave like nothing more than a reckless rubber stamp. So, we're in a more is more environment, and we're just going to have to continue uh to do more, you know, more rallies, more protests, uh more speeches on the House floor, Senate floor, more town hall meetings in Democratic districts, more town hall meetings in Republican districts. We've held a hearing every week during this shutdown here and we'll continue to do that to amplify the voices of the American people in terms of who's being hurt by Donald Trump's policies, who's being hurt by the shutdown uh that Republicans have visited upon the American people and who's being hurt by the Republican healthcare crisis. And we'll continue to do that. But more will be required and I understand that because this is an extraordinary unprecedented moment of extremism being unleashed on the American people. >> Last question. Uh the capital is quieter than usual. City a bit quieter than usual. The president's about to leave. He'll be halfway around the world. >> It's going to only add to that. Um he was going to go to Budapest to meet with President Putin. Now apparently that's not happening. What is your assessment of how hard he's being on the Russian president? Is he being hard enough? Could he be doing more? And I've kind of noted here Steve Witoff, his longtime business associate, was kind of running point on setting up this meeting between the two of them. Now, it seems like Secretary of State Marco Rubio is doing that as well. What What do you make of that? What do you make of the approach the president has, his team has right now to Vladimir Putin and to a potential meeting with him? Well, I think one, the president should actually be focused right now on reopening the government immediately, on reaching a bipartisan spending agreement immediately and addressing the Republican healthcare crisis immediately. In terms of the war uh of aggression that Russia has launched against Ukraine, the American people are with the Ukrainian people and we are with the Ukrainian people because Ukraine is not just fighting for its territorial integrity. uh they are standing on the right side of democracy, of freedom and of truth. And Russia is on the side of authoritarianism, uh of tyranny and of propaganda. And in that kind of situation, we should always be standing up for principles that are consistent with who we are as Americans. That means standing with Ukraine. And you know, Donald Trump continues to in different ways play footsie with Vladimir Putin, who is a sworn enemy of the United States of America. Congress probably needs to act both in the House and the Senate in terms of increasing the economic sanctions on Russia. And the only reason why Republicans haven't moved legislation that they themselves support is because apparently they've been ordered uh not to bring this legislation forward by Donald Trump. I assume you applaud what the Treasury Secretary did yesterday, putting those sanctions on the Russian oil companies.