This podcast explores the US government shutdown and the compromise made regarding Ukraine aid. It discusses the role of hardliners in negotiations, the Democrats' refusal to negotiate, winners and losers in Washington politics, Speaker McCarthy's broken word, and Congress' decision on Ukraine funding.
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Quick takeaways
Kevin McCarthy faced challenges as Speaker of the House, including avoiding a government shutdown by compromising with Democrats.
The demands of the Freedom Caucus for larger spending cuts, increased spending on border security, and a reevaluation of aid to Ukraine highlighted divisions within the Republican Party during budget discussions.
Deep dives
Challenges Faced by Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House
Kevin McCarthy's tenure as Speaker of the House has been fraught with challenges, including a tenuous hold on the position and a difficult path to winning the election. He recently faced his toughest challenge yet in avoiding a government shutdown, ultimately having to work with Democrats, which may have consequences for his job.
The Demands of the Freedom Caucus
The Freedom Caucus, a faction within the Republican Party, had several key demands during the discussion of the budget. They sought larger spending cuts, increased spending on border security, and a reevaluation of aid to Ukraine. These demands dominated the discussion and highlighted divisions within the Republican Party.
The Resolution and Winners and Losers
After multiple attempts to pass a GOP-only bill failed, Kevin McCarthy turned to working with Democrats to pass a clean continuing resolution that maintained funding at previous levels and included disaster aid. Hardline Republicans lost out on having significant input, while moderate Republicans who urged McCarthy to work with Democrats saw it as a win. The situation also intensified the personal feud between McCarthy and Matt Gaetz, with implications for McCarthy's future as Speaker of the House. Overall, the resolution kept the government functioning in the short term, but challenges remain for future budget negotiations and Ukraine funding.
The US government is open for business at the cost of Ukraine aid. Semafor’s Jordan Weissmann explains how we got here. And White House communications director Ben LaBolt explains how the Biden administration is justifying the compromise.
This episode was produced by Jon Ehrens and Miles Bryan with an assist from Siona Peterous, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact checked by Amanda Lewellyn and Laura Bullard, and engineered by Patrick Boyd and Rob Byers.