Bulwark Takes: Episode 17 - Republicans Admit They’re Voting for Disaster
Release Date: June 29, 2025
Introduction
In Episode 17 of Bulwark Takes, host Sam Stein and co-host Jonathan Cohn delve into the impending passage of a highly controversial Senate bill, colloquially referred to as the "big beautiful bill." This legislation has stirred significant concern across various sectors due to its extensive cuts and fiscal implications. Stein and Cohn provide a comprehensive analysis of the bill’s potential impact, the motivations behind its passage, and the political dynamics at play.
1. Overview of the Destructive Senate Bill
The episode opens with Sam Stein expressing his astonishment at the Senate's progress on a bill that many, including himself, view as catastrophically harmful. Despite expectations of its eventual passage, the magnitude of its negative repercussions remains shocking.
Sam Stein [00:30]: “The amount of self-inflicted damage we're about to cause is really remarkable. And I just can't, to a degree, I can't really wrap my head around it.”
Jonathan Cohn concurs, highlighting the bill's extensive destructiveness across multiple areas:
Jonathan Cohn [01:37]: “We're taking out a generational investment in clean energy, going to kill a ton of factory jobs. We're taking away food assistance from people who are already, you know, barely making it.”
2. Economic Implications: Debt and Deficit
A significant portion of the discussion centers on the bill's fiscal impact. Using data from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Stein and Cohn break down the bill's financial repercussions:
- Total Debt Addition: $3.9 trillion
- Net Tax Cuts: $4.45 trillion
- Gross Spending Cuts: $300 billion
- Overall Deficit Impact: Worse than the House counterpart
Sam Stein [03:11]: “The bill, the Senate bill, will have a $3.9 trillion addition to the debt that is constituted with $4.45 trillion in net tax cuts, $300 in gross spending, and $1.5 trillion in cuts.”
Cohn elaborates on the Medicaid cuts, emphasizing their severity compared to the House bill:
Jonathan Cohn [03:48]: “The provider tax cut was a little bigger... you’re taking insurance away from 11 million people. What another million?”
3. Devastating Cuts to Clean Energy and Manufacturing
One of the most alarming aspects of the bill is its impact on clean energy initiatives and manufacturing. The elimination of subsidies and tax breaks is causing uncertainty among businesses planning significant investments:
- Case Study: A $620 million factory in Tulsa is in jeopardy due to potential removal of tax subsidies.
- Industry Impact: Clean energy sectors in states like Texas, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Georgia face significant setbacks, jeopardizing jobs and economic growth.
Sam Stein [05:00]: “They're eliminating all these subsidies. The Post story has this anecdote about this company, a factory in Tulsa, that is just now up in the air because they don't know if they're going to have any of these tax subsidies.”
Cohn underscores the broader implications, noting the stagnation of clean energy progress initiated during the Biden administration:
Jonathan Cohn [07:22]: “This will be a sledgehammer to one of the pillars of the House and much more serious. It would completely screw over a bunch of states that have expansion.”
4. Medicaid and Affordable Care Act (ACA) Cuts
The bill introduces historic cuts to Medicaid and the ACA, risking coverage for millions:
- Medicaid Cuts: Historic, with significant reductions.
- ACA Implications: Up to 16 million people could lose health insurance coverage.
Jonathan Cohn [02:27]: “They’re doing all of this and still know if you're like a fiscal conservative, you should hate this bill because it's going to add trillions of dollars to the deficit.”
Sam Stein highlights the personal impact these cuts will have on individuals relying on these programs:
Sam Stein [10:27]: “Josh Hawley... admits the bill will, quote, take away health care from working people... this is his…”
5. Political Dynamics and Republican Motivations
Stein and Cohn explore the political maneuvering behind the bill's passage, questioning why Republicans are supporting legislation they know to be fiscally irresponsible:
- Influence of Trump: Despite Trump's diminished sway, his disdain for initiatives like the Green New Deal appears to drive the bill's progression.
- Intra-Party Conflict: Moderate Republicans and fiscal conservatives are at odds with more extreme elements pushing for deeper cuts.
Sam Stein [09:10]: “Trump just overwhelm, at least in the short term for now, are overwhelming everything else.”
Cohn suggests that the urgency to pass the bill is artificially manufactured, influenced by political theatrics rather than genuine policy necessity:
Sam Stein [12:34]: “He managed to convince these people that they had to move at this speed.”
6. Reactions from Republican Senators
The episode discusses specific instances of Republican senators grappling with the bill's provisions:
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Josh Hawley: Publicly acknowledges the negative impact while still supporting the bill.
Sam Stein [10:27]: “He says he's not pleased that it will, quote, take away health care from working people...”
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Ronc Johnson: Expresses dissatisfaction but votes in favor due to limited alternatives.
Sam Stein [14:07]: “He couldn't vote for the bill. Couldn't vote for the bill. Gonna vote for this bill even though it's worse with respect to debt and deficits than the House bill.”
Cohn notes the improbability of successful amendments to mitigate these cuts:
Jonathan Cohn [16:52]: “It's difficult to imagine that passing... that would be by as devastating as the cuts are in the bill already…”
7. Consequences and Future Outlook
Stein and Cohn conclude by emphasizing the dire consequences of the bill's passage, including the loss of jobs, diminished healthcare access, and the undermining of clean energy progress. They call for introspection within the Republican Party to prioritize working-class interests over partisan agendas.
Sam Stein [12:34]: “If you want to be a working class party, you've got to deliver for working class people. You cannot take away health care from working people.”
Cohn echoes the sentiment, highlighting the disconnect between political actions and the needs of constituents:
Jonathan Cohn [14:36]: “It would completely screw over a bunch of states that have expansion... and their hospitals.”
Conclusion
In this compelling episode of Bulwark Takes, Sam Stein and Jonathan Cohn dissect a Senate bill poised to inflict widespread economic and social harm. Through detailed analysis and critical insight, they illuminate the bill's far-reaching consequences and the troubling political dynamics facilitating its passage. The discussion underscores a pressing need for accountability and a reevaluation of priorities within the Republican Party to safeguard the interests of the American populace.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
- Sam Stein [00:30]: “The amount of self-inflicted damage we're about to cause is really remarkable."
- Jonathan Cohn [01:37]: “We're taking out a generational investment in clean energy..."
- Sam Stein [03:11]: “The Senate bill... will have a $3.9 trillion addition to the debt..."
- Jonathan Cohn [03:48]: “You’re taking insurance away from 11 million people.”
- Sam Stein [10:27]: “Josh Hawley... admits the bill will... take away health care from working people.”
- Sam Stein [12:34]: “If you want to be a working class party, you've got to deliver for working class people."
- Jonathan Cohn [14:36]: “It would completely screw over a bunch of states that have expansion... and their hospitals.”
Final Thoughts
For listeners seeking an in-depth understanding of the Senate bill's implications and the internal conflicts within the Republican Party, this episode of Bulwark Takes offers a thorough and thought-provoking analysis. Stein and Cohn effectively highlight the urgent need for political leaders to prioritize the welfare of the populace over destructive legislative agendas.