Latest news with #2026Election
CNN
12 hours ago
- Business
- CNN
Joni Ernst's ‘Well, we all are going to die,' and the GOP's flippant defenses of Trump's agenda
One of the reasons politicians don't often engage in massive overhauls of the American economy is that it's very difficult to defend a massive overhaul of the American economy. However good any given plan is, it often produces losers and – even in the best of cases – some short-term pain. And repeatedly now as President Donald Trump has launched multiple massive overhauls, prominent Republicans have learned that the hard way. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa is the most recent. Appearing at a town hall on Friday, Ernst was pressed on cuts to Medicaid – the health care program for low-income Americans – in House Republicans' budget plan. One audience member shouted that 'people will die.' The usual politician thing would have been to take issue with that premise – or to, as other Republicans have strained to do, cast the Medicaid cuts as merely cutting waste and abuse. (That's not the full story, of course; the Congressional Budget Office recently projected that House Republicans' changes to Medicaid, including work requirements for some recipients, would leave 7.6 million Americans uninsured by 2034.) But Ernst decided to go in a different direction. 'Well, we all are going to die,' said Ernst, who's facing reelection in 2026. When hostile portions of the crowd balked at the response, she said: 'For heaven's sakes, folks.' The senator and her office argued Friday that Republicans are in fact trying to 'strengthen' Medicaid. A spokesman said: 'There's only two certainties in life: death and taxes, and she's working to ease the burden of both by fighting to keep more of Iowans' hard-earned tax dollars in their own pockets and ensuring their benefits are protected from waste, fraud, and abuse.' Ernst in her remarks went on to accuse her critics of not wanting to 'listen to me when I say that we are going to focus on those that are most vulnerable. Those that meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid, we will protect … them.' As a contrast, she cited an oft-invoked GOP claim that 1.4 million undocumented immigrants are receiving Medicaid benefits. But that's not actually what the CBO estimate says – nor does it account for the other millions of people the CBO says would lose insurance. In other words, however bad Ernst's answer was, it might just be that there's not a good answer to be given. Republicans needed to cut spending to pay for Trump's tax cuts, and it's hard to cut enough unless you cut entitlements. It's a political minefield that even some Trump allies like Steve Bannon have warned their party about. And indeed, Democrats quickly leapt to highlight Ernst as the epitome of an uncaring, Medicaid-busting Republican. But Ernst is not the first to wander into this kind of territory. Repeatedly in recent weeks, prominent Republicans who have been asked to account for the pains caused by Trump's bold plans have stumbled into similar territory. Trump himself has repeatedly talked about how the price increases created by his tariffs might mean people have to buy fewer dolls for little girls. 'You know, someone said, 'Oh, the shelves, they're going to be open,'' Trump said. 'Well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, and maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally.' Trump said on the campaign trail that foreign countries would pay the extra cost of the tariffs, not consumers. Conservative Daily Wire founder Ben Shapiro called Trump's comments 'a tremendous commercial for Democrats' and urged Trump to avoid language that minimized the impacts of inflation. Back in March, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick addressed the administration's chaotic changes to the Social Security system by claiming that only 'fraudsters' would complain about missing a Social Security check. He pointed to his own mother-in-law. (The administration has pursued a series of sometimes halting changes to the Social Security system, including limiting claims to in-person rather than over the phone – something it later walked back – and cutting staff.) 'Let's say Social Security didn't send out their checks this month. My mother-in-law, who's 94 – she wouldn't call and complain,' Lutnick said. He added: 'She just wouldn't. She'd think something got messed up, and she'll get it next month. A fraudster always makes the loudest noise – screaming, yelling and complaining.' It's logical to assume that Lutnick's mother-in-law wouldn't complain, given her son-in-law is a billionaire. But according to the Social Security Administration, more than 1 in 10 seniors rely on the program for at least 90% of their income. Are any of these game-changing gaffes? Not necessarily. But they are certainly fodder for Democrats to argue that Trump is pursuing a rather haphazard and callous overhaul of the American economy. It's the kind of thing Bannon warns about in cautioning Republicans against Medicaid cuts. There just aren't many good ways to defend millions of poor people being projected to lose their health insurance. And if the early evidence is any indication, it's going to result in plenty of awkward defenses in the future.
CNN
12 hours ago
- Business
- CNN
Joni Ernst's ‘Well, we all are going to die,' and the GOP's flippant defenses of Trump's agenda
One of the reasons politicians don't often engage in massive overhauls of the American economy is that it's very difficult to defend a massive overhaul of the American economy. However good any given plan is, it often produces losers and – even in the best of cases – some short-term pain. And repeatedly now as President Donald Trump has launched multiple massive overhauls, prominent Republicans have learned that the hard way. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa is the most recent. Appearing at a town hall on Friday, Ernst was pressed on cuts to Medicaid – the health care program for low-income Americans – in House Republicans' budget plan. One audience member shouted that 'people will die.' The usual politician thing would have been to take issue with that premise – or to, as other Republicans have strained to do, cast the Medicaid cuts as merely cutting waste and abuse. (That's not the full story, of course; the Congressional Budget Office recently projected that House Republicans' changes to Medicaid, including work requirements for some recipients, would leave 7.6 million Americans uninsured by 2034.) But Ernst decided to go in a different direction. 'Well, we all are going to die,' said Ernst, who's facing reelection in 2026. When hostile portions of the crowd balked at the response, she said: 'For heaven's sakes, folks.' The senator and her office argued Friday that Republicans are in fact trying to 'strengthen' Medicaid. A spokesman said: 'There's only two certainties in life: death and taxes, and she's working to ease the burden of both by fighting to keep more of Iowans' hard-earned tax dollars in their own pockets and ensuring their benefits are protected from waste, fraud, and abuse.' Ernst in her remarks went on to accuse her critics of not wanting to 'listen to me when I say that we are going to focus on those that are most vulnerable. Those that meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid, we will protect … them.' As a contrast, she cited an oft-invoked GOP claim that 1.4 million undocumented immigrants are receiving Medicaid benefits. But that's not actually what the CBO estimate says – nor does it account for the other millions of people the CBO says would lose insurance. In other words, however bad Ernst's answer was, it might just be that there's not a good answer to be given. Republicans needed to cut spending to pay for Trump's tax cuts, and it's hard to cut enough unless you cut entitlements. It's a political minefield that even some Trump allies like Steve Bannon have warned their party about. And indeed, Democrats quickly leapt to highlight Ernst as the epitome of an uncaring, Medicaid-busting Republican. But Ernst is not the first to wander into this kind of territory. Repeatedly in recent weeks, prominent Republicans who have been asked to account for the pains caused by Trump's bold plans have stumbled into similar territory. Trump himself has repeatedly talked about how the price increases created by his tariffs might mean people have to buy fewer dolls for little girls. 'You know, someone said, 'Oh, the shelves, they're going to be open,'' Trump said. 'Well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, and maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally.' Trump said on the campaign trail that foreign countries would pay the extra cost of the tariffs, not consumers. Conservative Daily Wire founder Ben Shapiro called Trump's comments 'a tremendous commercial for Democrats' and urged Trump to avoid language that minimized the impacts of inflation. Back in March, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick addressed the administration's chaotic changes to the Social Security system by claiming that only 'fraudsters' would complain about missing a Social Security check. He pointed to his own mother-in-law. (The administration has pursued a series of sometimes halting changes to the Social Security system, including limiting claims to in-person rather than over the phone – something it later walked back – and cutting staff.) 'Let's say Social Security didn't send out their checks this month. My mother-in-law, who's 94 – she wouldn't call and complain,' Lutnick said. He added: 'She just wouldn't. She'd think something got messed up, and she'll get it next month. A fraudster always makes the loudest noise – screaming, yelling and complaining.' It's logical to assume that Lutnick's mother-in-law wouldn't complain, given her son-in-law is a billionaire. But according to the Social Security Administration, more than 1 in 10 seniors rely on the program for at least 90% of their income. Are any of these game-changing gaffes? Not necessarily. But they are certainly fodder for Democrats to argue that Trump is pursuing a rather haphazard and callous overhaul of the American economy. It's the kind of thing Bannon warns about in cautioning Republicans against Medicaid cuts. There just aren't many good ways to defend millions of poor people being projected to lose their health insurance. And if the early evidence is any indication, it's going to result in plenty of awkward defenses in the future.
Fox News
2 days ago
- General
- Fox News
Former Navy SEAL mounts Senate bid to 'crush the woke agenda' as Tuberville seeks governorship
Former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson is running for the U.S. Senate, as Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., seeks the governorship in the Yellowhammer State. Tuberville, who has served in the U.S. Senate since early 2021, announced a gubernatorial bid this week, leaving Alabama's 2026 U.S. Senate race wide open since there will not be an incumbent in that contest. "President Trump needs fighters, not career politicians. I'm a former Navy SEAL, not a swamp insider — and I'm running for U.S. Senate in Alabama to help secure the border, crush the woke agenda, and defend our Christian values," Hudson noted in a post on X. House Freedom Caucus member Rep. Eli Crane spoke highly of Hudson when sharing the candidate's post on X. "Really glad to see men like Jared jumping into one of the toughest fights on earth. I served with Jared at Team 3. He is a very good man, who loves the Lord and his family," the congressman said in a post. "Eli Crane is a friend & God-fearing patriot," Hudson posted in response to Crane's comments. "We need more warriors like him in Congress — representatives who don't quit & serve the people, not the Swamp. That's why I'm running. I'll provide reinforcements for Eli & Pres. Trump in the fight to Make America Great Again!" Hudson and his wife founded the nonprofit organization Covenant Rescue Group, according to the group's website. "They saw a lack of skills and funding to properly rescue victims and arrest criminals involved in human trafficking and child exploitation," the site notes. "Sharing a passion for children who fall victim to these crimes globally, they decided to become active. They organized their passion, training, and expertise to bring this wicked organized enterprise to an end."
CBS News
3 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Detroit Mayor Duggan talks Michigan's political and educational systems at Mackinac Policy Conference
For one of the last times as Detroit mayor, Mike Duggan took the stand at the Mackinac Policy Conference Wednesday afternoon. In a speech that could be considered a test run for a campaign rally, Duggan told the crowd he knows how to recognize a bad system. It's why he said he is calling for a change in Michigan politics, and is proposing a $4.5 billion plan to overhaul the state's education system. Duggan gave a stern message about what needs to change to drive the state forward. He says one of the main stumbling blocks is the state of politics in Michigan, which requires a significant turnaround. "I'm not talking about a turnaround from the current governor, who has had a great deal of success with her leadership. I am talking about a turnaround from the political system in the state," Duggan said. Last December, the longtime Democrat announced plans to run as an independent for governor in 2026. During his speech on Wednesday, Duggan used examples of how he and his team turned things around for the city of Detroit, from housing to development. "I decided I am going to campaign by going into everyone's living room and just talk to them about why we have to give up the us vs them politics. We talked about the abandoned houses. We talked about the parks, but mostly what I said is, we have got to change the narrative." The gubernatorial candidate also proposed a strict school accountability system to ensure students have the best opportunities for a prosperous future. "We need to build an educator-driven plan," Duggan said. "We need to have a grading system." "There's got to be consequences if we are going to put 4.5 billion into our schools. The people running the schools need to have some skin in the game," Duggan added. "So here's what I think. First year at your school, if you're failing, you give us an improvement plan. We will help you, too, if you are failing. As a principal, you're our last chance. I will give you more help, but in the third year, if you're still failing, the principal and the team, you're fired." "I said when I stood here 10 years ago, Detroit's turnaround is not as far away as it appears ... I will say this to you, Michigan's turnaround is not as far away as it appears, but we've got to change the political system. "
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Kamala Harris gets VERY embarrassing endorsement to run for governor of California
As speculation swirls around whether Kamala Harris will make a bid for governor of California, she has received support from the most unlikely source - California Republicans. 'I sense that this is the best shot for someone to be elected statewide in California who's not a Democrat for at least 20 years, and I think the evident reason for that is the failure of one-party rule,' conservative commentator Steve Hilton declared in a recent fundraising email. 'The candidate who's going to win in 2026, regardless of party label, is the change candidate. Kamala Harris is the one who least represents change.' With Governor Gavin Newsom term-limited out in 2026, Harris has remained coy about her future, teasing in an April appearance, 'I'll see you out there. I'm not going anywhere.' Across GOP circles, the prospect of Harris entering the race is being openly celebrated for what it promises Republican candidates. From political consultants to fringe MAGA influencers, a Harris candidacy is being treated as a golden opportunity to rile up donors, energize disaffected voters, and, perhaps most crucially, draw national attention to an otherwise unwinnable contest. 'I'd jump for joy,' Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco told supporters. 'She's the perfect example of everything Californians are sick of - soft on crime, blind to our problems, and more focused on DC than Main Street.' Republican strategist Dave Gilliard agreed, saying her entry would be a dream scenario. 'I think it could attract some donors from around the country who might be interested in taking another pound of flesh,' Republican political consultant Dave Gilliard said to Politico. 'Money is the biggest obstacle other than the registration because the donor world doesn't think a Republican can be elected governor anymore.' Even Elon Musk's name has been floated as a possible wildcard donor. The former vice president has given herself until late summer to decide whether to run. The billionaire has sparred with Harris on social media and publicly blasted her support for diversity policies and social justice causes. While Musk hasn't weighed in directly, insiders suggest his disdain for Harris could reignite his interest in California politics. There's a reason Harris evokes such a visceral response from the right. Her tenure as vice president was marked by relentless attacks from Donald Trump and conservative media. Her prosecutorial past has been dissected from both the left and the right and her 2024 loss to Trump, after stepping in as the Democratic nominee following Biden's withdrawal, mean she is toxic when it comes to elections. 'She's had her chance,' said Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. 'Democrats must turn elsewhere for leadership.' But Republican messaging is far from subtle. 'This is our shot,' Hilton told supporters. 'She'll clear the Democratic field, but we'll get to define her - and she's already underwater.' Indeed, while Harris trounced Trump in California in 2024, she underperformed Joe Biden's 2020 numbers, particularly among Latinos and swing voters in purple counties. 'She won two statewide elections, and she won in California when she was running for president,' Bianco said. 'But those votes didn't go to Kamala Harris. Those votes went against Donald Trump.' California's infamous 'jungle primary' system means that Harris wouldn't necessarily face a Republican in the general election. 'I'd jump for joy,' Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, pictured, told supporters (if Kamala Harris ran). 'She's the perfect example of everything Californians are sick of - soft on crime, blind to our problems, and more focused on DC than Main Street.' All candidates compete in a single open primary, and the top two vote-getters - regardless of party - advance. That means Harris could be forced into a brutal head-to-head with another Democrat in the general. Already, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, former Rep. Katie Porter, and Xavier Becerra are eyeing the race. At least some, however, are expected to bow out if Harris runs. 'She's got the résumé - but so do a lot of people who've lost,' said Republican consultant Kevin Madden. 'What she doesn't have is momentum.' And Democratic strategist Eric Jaye cautioned against viewing the race as a coronation. 'She's polarizing, and not just with Republicans. Democrats have questions too.' If Harris were to run, she'd inherit a California in turmoil. The state is facing a $12 billion deficit, wildfires are worsening, homelessness remains a humanitarian crisis, and home insurance markets are collapsing. 'Why the hell would you want this job?' Newsom himself quipped on the Next Up with Mark Halperin podcast. 'You need a burning 'why.' If you can't enunciate that, don't do it.' While Harris has nearly universal name recognition, an elite fundraising machine, and deep institutional ties, she also carries a historic loss to Donald Trump, middling approval ratings, and a political brand that has never quite caught fire. 'If she's beatable (and if she runs), it won't be by a Republican. But Republicans can still turn her candidacy into a weapon,' Democratic consultant Dan Newman explained. 'For now at least, Republicans can't win statewide.' Even if Harris wins, Republicans are ready to claim a different kind of victory.
