"Why haven't you met with Mike Johnson?" "Because, Donald Trump hasn't given him permission, Katy."

[bigtree]

Leader Jeffries on MSNBC's Katy Tur Reports

watch:

Tur: The Republicans have put forward a clean CR. That means they're not changing funding levels. They just want this to pass for um a short and extended period of time while they work out other issues. Do you not trust that they'll if you signed on to this and the Senate Democrats signed on to this that the Republicans would then come and negotiate and compromise on those healthcare subsidies?

Leader Jeffries: Well, there's definitively no reason to ever trust the Republicans, particularly as it relates to the health care issue and the Affordable Care Act. These are people who have now tried more than 70 different times over the last 15 years to repeal the Affordable Care Act. And so there's no reasonable basis to conclude uh that if they simply give their word as it relates to dealing with the Affordable Care Act tax credits that they'll actually move toward a legislative resolution.

The other thing that's important to point out is this is not a bipartisan spending bill that they're asking House and Senate Democrats to vote on. And Senate Democrats have held the line in such an extraordinary way.

This is a partisan Republican spending bill that many of us strongly objected to in March because it cut veterans health care, cut nutritional assistance, cut benefits as it relates to affordable housing programs in this country, which is desperately needed, and it also cut health care.

And so we view this as a partisan Republican spending bill that continues the trajectory of gutting the health care of the American people at a time when we need to fix our broken health care system because of all the damage that Republicans have done to workingclass Americans, rural America, urban America, small town America, the heartland of America, and black and brown communities throughout America.

It is an interesting moment with Marjorie Taylor Green breaking with the party on a couple of issues. One of them is the Epstein files and the other one again are these health care subsidies and costs. Have you met with her?

I have not met with her, but it does seem to many of us that she's had a surprisingly enlightened few weeks in terms of her perspective on both the Epstein files and also Katie, we know one of the reasons why Republicans refuse to come back, why they remain on vacation all across the country is because they don't want to swear in representative elect Adalita Graalva because she would represent the 218th signature for an up or down vote on releasing the Epstein file.

And at the same period of time, Republicans have no interest, zero interest in trying to address the health care crisis that they visited upon the American people. Even though you've got Republicans now, most prominently Marjorie Taylor Green, who's making clear this is not a madeup crisis. It's a real thing and the cost of living in this country is already crushing the American people. Republican policies are failing and we need to reverse course.

Have you met with Speaker Mike Johnson?

No, Speaker Mike Johnson and I have not met. They've made the decision. Donald Trump has not given because Donald Trump has not given them permission to meet, Katie. And we know that until Donald Trump gives them permission to meet, they're going to continue to hide as it relates to sitting down and negotiating a bipartisan agreement.

[sheshe2]

1. Thank you, Leader Jefferies.

Well said, Sir.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. The transcript is much appreciated. Jeffries line is direct and true. . . . nt

[canetoad]

3. Agree

Personally, prefer transcript to video.

[littlemissmartypants]

4. Zing!! And there it is, ladies and gentlemen. Truth. Take a good long look. ...

Thank you, Leader Jeffries.

And thank you, bigtree, for sharing this. ❤️

[Mblaze]

5. Capiche Katy?

Is the big picture beginning to form in your head?

[flashman13]

6. Holy Moly! Jefferies finally sounds like he knows how to play hard ball.

Even Schumer seems to get it now. I must say I am pleasantly surprised.

And I must also say that I find it stunning that MTG actually sounds like she has a functioning brain. I suspect she has been taking heat from her constituents.

[Deminpenn]

8. Reportedly MTG's son will see his

health insurance premiums will rise dramatically, but not sure if it's because he gets insurance through the ACA or if it's because premiums are going up because insurers are pricing in the cost of more un- or underinsured people.

[flashman13]

11. Nothing like taking a hit up close and personal to focus your attention.

[spanone]

9. Is Katy really that naive?

I think not.

Thank you Hakeem Jeffries!

[paleotn]

10. Hold the line, Dems. Don't break. Don't fold.

It's going to be painful for a lot of people. Maybe that's the price we must all pay for some of us being incredibly stupid last November. Hold the line and break the bastards.

[tazcat]

12. Totally agree - these people need to know consequences finally instead of dems always bailing out the cons. FAFO!!!

[Jack Valentino]

13. Because Mike is too busy watching pedophile porn and playing video games on Vance's couch

to actually WORK! (while they continue to GET PAID for not working!)


We need "work requirements" for Republican congresspeople,
instead of for old poor people to get a bit of food and health care....