The Journal. How Trump's Megabill Squeaked Through the Senate
32 snips
Jul 2, 2025 
Richard Rubin, a journalist from WSJ, dives into the grueling 27-hour Senate session where Republicans rallied to pass Trump's major bill. He discusses the strategic maneuvering over contentious issues like Medicaid changes that impacted rural healthcare. Rubin highlights the balancing act of clean energy initiatives and tax cuts, revealing the fierce debates that accompanied these topics. With a looming July deadline, the urgency and complexities of the legislative process come to light, showcasing how the GOP united to secure a pivotal victory.
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Marathon Senate Session
- Senate Republicans spent 27 hours in continuous session to pass the bill, from Monday morning till Tuesday noon.
- They persevered through marathon votes and late-night negotiations, fueled by energy drinks and carrot cake.
Key Points Split Senate Republicans
- Medicaid, clean energy subsidies, and the budget deficit were the main sticking points for Senate Republicans.
- Republicans balanced the interests of rural states with conservative demands by adjusting Medicaid work requirements, rural hospital funding, and clean energy tax credits.
Disputes Over Deficit Impact
- The bill added about $3.4 trillion to the deficit over a decade as it extended 2017 tax cuts, unlike usual Congressional scoring.
- Republicans considered these extensions anticipated, so excluded them from deficit calculations, causing disputes with Democrats.