Will Republicans Slash Medicaid?

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Will Republicans Slash Medicaid?"

Podcast Information

• Title: What A Day
• Host: Jane Coaston
• Publisher: Crooked Media
• Episode: "Will Republicans Slash Medicaid?"
• Release Date: February 25, 2025

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Overview

In this episode of What A Day, host Jane Coaston delves into the critical issue of Medicaid and the Republican Party's long-standing efforts to reduce its funding. Coaston explores the potential implications of proposed Medicaid cuts, the political dynamics surrounding the debate, and the broader impact on millions of Americans who rely on the program for essential health care services.

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Medicaid Under Threat

Understanding Medicaid (00:38 - 05:11)
Coaston begins by outlining the significance of Medicaid, highlighting that approximately 80 million Americans—about 1 in 5 people—depend on the program for healthcare. Unlike Medicare, which primarily serves seniors, Medicaid covers a diverse group including low-income families, pregnant women, children, and individuals with disabilities. According to Sarah Cliff, an investigative healthcare reporter for The New York Times, "Medicaid is a major health insurance program in the United States. It covers about 80 million people...you have to have some kind of need that the government has decided, yes, we're gonna have these people qualify for the Medicaid program" (04:22).

Republican Opposition to Medicaid (05:16 - 07:20)
Coaston details the Republican Party's longstanding opposition to Medicaid, arguing that the program fosters dependency on government support. Sarah Cliff explains, "There's a number of arguments right now...the idea that people didn't work for their benefits...they're just kind of relying on a government handout versus doing the work they should be doing to get a health insurance plan" (05:49). Despite these criticisms, many Republicans recognize the political risk of cutting Medicaid, given its extensive reach and the number of voters who depend on it.

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Political Dynamics and Budget Proposals

House GOP Budget Proposal (02:22 - 03:24)
The House GOP, alongside former President Donald Trump, has proposed a budget that seeks nearly a $1 trillion reduction in Medicaid spending. This proposal faces significant challenges, with key Republicans like Representatives Thomas Massie (Kentucky) and Victoria Spartz (Indiana) opposing the current version due to its substantial cuts (02:22).

Impact on Legislators and Voters (03:24 - 10:15)
Coaston discusses the precarious position of House Speaker Mike Johnson, who can only afford to lose one Republican vote to pass the budget. However, with two opposing members already noted, the bill's survival is uncertain (02:20). Sarah Cliff elaborates on the contradiction within the Republican stance: while some leaders vocally oppose cuts, the proposed budget aims for drastic reductions, making it challenging to garner unified support within the party (06:21).

Proposed Cuts and Their Implications (07:20 - 11:05)
Cliff outlines the GOP's strategies for cutting Medicaid, including implementing work requirements and reducing funding for Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. "One of the ones I'm pretty sure you're going to see pass this Congress is a work requirement," explains Cliff (07:40). Additionally, proposals to dial back Medicaid expansion could potentially save around $500 billion over a decade by limiting coverage (07:40). These cuts threaten the health insurance of approximately 20 million people enrolled in Medicaid expansion, particularly in conservative states that have adopted the expansion (11:05).

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Historical and Political Context

Trump's ACA Repeal Attempt (09:33 - 09:43)
Coaston references President Trump's failed attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), noting that his approval ratings dipped significantly as a result. Sarah Cliff attributes this to the personal impact of potentially losing healthcare coverage: "I think it's personal...a lot of issues. So even though you have this big, lofty $880 billion goal now, there is a true question with some of the worry" (09:33).

Comparison with Obamacare (10:15 - 10:43)
Clifton posits that Medicaid is a more challenging target for political maneuvering than Obamacare because of its broad base: "Medicaid is a huge middle class program at this point...it's less polarizing than Obamacare was" (10:15). This broader support makes substantial cuts more politically sensitive.

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Broader Political Developments

International Relations: Trump and Macron Meeting (14:12 - 16:29)
Coaston shifts focus to international politics, covering the meeting between President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron. The discussion centers on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with Macron opposing Trump's proposal to have Ukraine provide the U.S. access to its rare earth minerals in exchange for aid. Macron advocates that Russia should bear the costs of the war, leading to tensions as Trump incorrectly claims Ukraine will repay European countries, which misrepresents the financial arrangements (14:20 - 15:34). Additionally, Coaston highlights Trump's refusal to condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin, maintaining his hardline stance (15:59).

Federal Workforce Chaos (16:27 - 18:09)
Another major topic is the turmoil within the federal workforce under President Trump's administration. An controversial email from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) demanded that over 2 million federal workers list five tasks they performed each week, with Elon Musk threatening to treat non-responses as resignations (14:24 - 18:09). The OPM later retracted the mandate, clarifying that responses were voluntary and would not result in job loss. Musk’s criticism of the federal workforce and President Trump's support for his demands exemplify internal conflicts within the administration (16:29 - 17:46).

Appointment of Dan Bongino as FBI Deputy Director (18:09 - 21:05)
Coaston reports on the appointment of Dan Bongino, a controversial figure with a history of spreading misinformation, as the Deputy Director of the FBI. Announced by President Trump, Bongino's appointment has raised concerns due to his lack of FBI experience and his outspoken support of Trump, including his role in promoting false claims about the 2020 election (18:09 - 21:05). Bongino’s appointment underscores the administration's alignment with loyalists over traditional law enforcement qualifications.

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Legal and Judicial Actions

Immigration Enforcement at Places of Worship (11:45 - 16:27)
The episode also covers a federal judge's decision to block the Trump administration's immigration enforcement actions targeting places of worship. The ruling halts ICE raids at churches, mosques, and other religious institutions, emphasizing the protection of migrants' right to religious freedom. This decision is limited to the specific congregations involved in the lawsuit, reflecting ongoing tensions between immigration policies and civil liberties (11:45 - 16:27).

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Conclusion

Jane Coaston’s episode of What A Day provides a comprehensive examination of the Republican Party's attempts to slash Medicaid funding, the potential repercussions for millions of Americans, and the intricate political dynamics that govern such policy decisions. By incorporating expert insights from Sarah Cliff and addressing related political developments, the episode offers listeners a nuanced understanding of the challenges facing Medicaid and the broader implications for American healthcare and governance.

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Notable Quotes:

• Sarah Cliff (04:22): "Medicaid is a major health insurance program in the United States. It covers about 80 million people...you have to have some kind of need that the government has decided, yes, we're gonna have these people qualify for the Medicaid program."

• Sarah Cliff (05:49): "There's a number of arguments right now...the idea that people didn't work for their benefits...they're just kind of relying on a government handout versus doing the work they should be doing to get a health insurance plan."

• Sarah Cliff (07:40): "One of the ones I'm pretty sure you're going to see pass this Congress is a work requirement."

• Sarah Cliff (11:05): "These are places like Montana, Missouri, places that...do not tend to vote for Democrats quite as much...so it really could come down to not having health insurance anymore."

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the episode, providing a detailed and structured overview for those who have not listened to the podcast.

Transcript

[Sarah Cliff]

Foreign.

[Jane Coastin]

It's Tuesday, February 25th. I'm Jane Coastin and this is Whataday, the show that says if you buy tickets to Fyre Festival 2, it would have probably been for the best if you had just sent that money to me. On today's show, federal workers continue to get jerked around by President Elon Musk and a judge blocks Trump administration immigration enforcement in some houses of worship. But let's start with health care. Millions of Americans, just around 80 million people, or 1 in 5, rely on a program called Medicaid for health care. From grandparents in nursing homes to pregnant moms to kids with disabilities, they all rely on Medicaid for support. In fact, in 2019, Medicaid paid for half, yes, half of all births in the United States. And the GOP has been trying to gut Medicaid for decades, especially since Medicaid expansion added millions of low income adults, including those without kids, to the program after the passage of the Affordable care Act in 2010. They claim that Medicaid encourages dependency and that the people who use Medicaid are becoming slaves to a government entitlement program. But Republicans have a big problem. Here's Steve Bannon on his War Room podcast to explain why Medicaid you gotta.

[Sarah Cliff]

Be careful because a lot of mag is on Medicaid.

[Jane Coastin]

I'm telling you, if you don't think so, you are dead wrong. Medicaid's gonna be a complicated one.

[Sarah Cliff]

Just can't take a meat X to it. Although I would love to.

[Jane Coastin]

Yeah, see, lots of people are on Medicaid, including lots of working class and low income voters, which includes lots and lots of folks who voted for President Donald Trump. And Republicans in Congress, especially those who are facing tough re election battles ahead, know it. Take Republican Representative Robert Bresnahan, who represents northeastern Pennsylvania, including Scranton, about 27% of his constituents are on Medicaid. Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri has spoken out against cuts to the program. About 21% of his constituents are enrolled in Medicaid. You know who else knows just how much President Donald Trump's voters need Medicaid? President Donald Trump, he told Fox News host Sean Hannity last week.

[Sarah Cliff]

Medicare, Medicaid, none of that stuff is.

[Jane Coastin]

Going to be touched. But while a bunch of Republicans and Trump have voiced concerns about cutting Medicaid, the House GOP and Trump have put forward a budget proposal that asks for nearly a $1 trillion cut to Medicaid. Yes, Donald Trump has sworn to never cut Medicaid and endorsed a budget that cuts Medicaid. The Full Donald Trump experience. Republicans are debating the budget resolution today, and already two members of Congress, Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Representative Victoria Spartz of Indiana, have said they're a no on the current version. With a razor thin margin in the chamber, House Speaker Mike Johnson can only afford to lose one Republican if he wants to get the proposal adopted. And while my math isn't great, two is bigger than one. So to get a better idea of what these proposed cuts to Medicaid would mean for actual people, I had to talk to Sarah Cliff. She's an investigative healthcare reporter for the New York Times, and she's covered healthcare policy for a long time. Sarah, welcome to Whataday.

[Sarah Cliff]

Thank you for having me.

[Jane Coastin]

So healthcare policy is notoriously complicated. So to start this all off, can you give me a very quick primer on Medicaid? Who does it cover, how do you qualify, and who pays for it?

[Sarah Cliff]

So Medicaid is a major health insurance program in the United States. It covers about 80 million people. It is jointly paid for by the federal government and the states. And the way you qualify is by falling into a certain category. So Medicaid is a little different from Medicare. Medicare is the program for seniors. You qualify by being over 65. Medicaid, you have to have some kind of eligibility criteria. So you're under a certain income, you have a disability, you are a kid under a different income threshold, you're pregnant. There's all these different eligibility categories. They vary a little bit state to state. They've changed a lot over the past decade. But basically, you have to have some kind of need that the government has decided, yes, we're gonna have these people qualify for the Medicaid program.

[Jane Coastin]

So it's not just poor people. Right. I think that that's kind of the assumption. But it's such a bigger program than that.

[Sarah Cliff]

Yeah. And it's especially grown over the past decade since Obamacare. One of the big things Obamacare did is it expanded Medicaid to cover anyone under a certain income. The very wonky threshold is 138% of the poverty line. I think that hovers around like, 17, $18,000 a year for an individual person at this moment. And it also covers a lot of things you might not expect. Nursing care. Some people might be surprised to know that Medicare, the program for the elderly, actually doesn't cover much nursing care. So a lot of people end up having their nursing care paid for or through Medicaid. It covers children up to about four times the poverty line. So that's definitely Getting into middle class. It's a really reaching program that's covering one in five Americans right now.

[Jane Coastin]

And Medicaid has also been a political target of Republicans for decades. Why?

[Sarah Cliff]

Yeah, you know, there's a number of arguments right now, and the ones I've heard kind of reporting in areas that supported Donald Trump heavily is, you know, a frustration with government dependence, the idea that people didn't work for their benefits. You know, in the United States, we have a health insurance system where typically you get your health coverage at work. So I do hear this argument in kind of Republican circles about, you know, these people aren't working, why should they be getting this coverage? And that they're just kind of relying on a government handout versus doing the work they should be doing to get a health insurance plan.

[Jane Coastin]

Yes, those babies. Gotta get them in the mines.

[Sarah Cliff]

Yeah. I mean, one thing I would even add about the adults on Medicaid, the vast majority of them are working already, right? They're working, but, you know, maybe they're a rideshare driver, maybe they're at a low wage job. They're working, but they're not earning enough and they're not getting offered health insurance at work, which is how they ended up on, you know, a government program.

[Jane Coastin]

Right. And yet, even as Republicans have vilified Medicaid, as you mentioned, as a handout, as welfare, they failed to make the kind of drastic spending cuts to the program they say they want. Why?

[Sarah Cliff]

They're in a tricky spot. I mean, you see this, this kind of fracture right now between Republican rhetoric and what they're actually proposing. So there's definitely, in the House budget, they're aiming to cut roughly $880 billion in cuts over a decade. That works out to about 10% of all federal Medicaid spending. But there's also this kind of hesitance among Republicans because they know so many of their voters rely on these programs. You've had Steve Bannon out there saying, don't touch Medicaid. You've got, you know, Josh Hawley, someone who's not known for his liberal politics, saying don't touch Medicaid. And I think it boils down to the fact it's really hard to claw back benefits. We absolutely saw this during the Obamacare repeal. Deb. Once people are using a program and it turns out Medicaid is actually very well liked, the people on Medicaid give it very, very favorable remarks. That makes it really tough for legislators to, you know, just take 10% of the spending away on a program like that.

[Jane Coastin]

Yeah, let's, let's get into the budget. How are they looking to get those major savings from Medicaid?

[Sarah Cliff]

Yeah, I mean, that's a wonderful question I would like better answers to. All we have right now is kind of a list of proposals they're thinking about. One of the ones I'm pretty sure you're going to see pass this Congress is a work requirement, basically requiring people on Medicaid to file paperwork showing that they're working or that they're looking for a job in order to earn benefits.

[Jane Coastin]

But you mentioned that most people on Medicaid are working. So it feels like that's not going to get you to 880 billion. That just as a thing. That sounds good.

[Sarah Cliff]

Well, so. Well, it definitely doesn't get you to 800. It does get you to about 100 billion. It will get, you know, the small share of people who are not working might no longer have Medicaid. But there's also just going to be some natural attrition. Right. When you put up more things you have to do and forms you have to fill out, you're going to see people fall off of Medicaid. When you're looking for those big cuts, like when you really need to get 880 billion out of the program, there's kind of two that jump out at me as the ones that would get you there. One that's really floating around, we're working on a story about it right now is dialing back the funding for Medicaid expansion. This is part of Obamacare that expanded Medicaid well beyond the populations you know, traditionally covered. People who are disabled, who are pregnant, children in low income household households to anyone who earns less than a certain amount. And you can, you know, shave about, I think it's about 500 billion out of Medicaid spending by reducing the funding for that specific program. So that's kind of getting you there. The other big one, it's circulated in conservative circles for a year, is doing some kind of cap on Medicaid spending. Sometimes like a per capita cap that is a certain amount you get for each beneficiary. That would be a really big change from how Medicaid works now where there's no limit on a per person spending. You get the medical claims, you pay them. This would put a firm limit. That could be a pretty big cut. It all depends on like where you sent that, you know, ceiling for spending, how big of a cut that one becomes. But those are ones kind of circulating in the Mix right now.

[Jane Coastin]

Yeah. I was thinking about how during Trump's first term, he saw some of his lowest approval ratings ever around the time he tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Obamacare. I mean, his approval rating was lower after the failed ACA repeal than it was after the insurrection. So why do you think that was the thing that voters seemed to really hammer him for?

[Sarah Cliff]

I think it's personal, right? You know, more personal than the insurrection is the idea like, oh, I'm not gonna be able to go to the doctor. I'm not gonna be able to take my kids to the doctor. I'm gonna have to think about, do I have the money to actually see someone? I think it just really hits people in a very deep personal way that a lot of issues. So even though you have this big, lofty $880 billion goal now, there is a true question with some of the worry. You're already seeing the rhetoric around not cutting Medicaid about whether they can actually achieve those levels of cuts and kind of get their party behind them.

[Jane Coastin]

Do you think that Medicaid is a harder political target than Obamacare is or was?

[Sarah Cliff]

Yes, I think so because it covers so many people. Again, like one in five Americans are on Medicaid. It's a huge middle class program at this point with the way it funds nursing care. And I think it's less polarizing than Obamacare was. I mean, Obamacare always had Obama in the name and tended to kind of divide along party lines, whereas Medicaid, I think, generally enjoys more support among Democrats. But it doesn't have that same kind of political division built into it in the way that Obamacare did.

[Jane Coastin]

And I think Trump seems to know that because we saw evidence with his win in 2024 of a major political realignment happening along economic lines. He was able to make big gains with midd and low income voters. But those are the voters, as you've mentioned, who are more likely to depend on programs like Medicaid. What specifically could these cuts to Medicaid mean for those voters who maybe took a chance on Trump?

[Sarah Cliff]

Yeah, I mean, they could mean losing your health insurance. So there's about 20 million people who are enrolled on the Medicaid expansion right now, and a lot of them are in red states. You've seen a lot more conservative states signing up for the Medicaid expansion since the last time Trump was in office. So, you know, these are places like Montana, Missouri, places that, you know, do not tend to vote for Democrats quite as much. If Congress decides to dial back the funding, it'll be the states who have to come in and fill that budget hole. And it's a massive, you know, billions of dollar budget hole. I don't think a lot of states are going to be able to find those kind of funds. So it really could come down to, you know, not having health insurance anymore.

[Jane Coastin]

Sarah, thank you so much for joining me today.

[Sarah Cliff]

Thank you.

[Jane Coastin]

That was my conversation with Sarah Cliff, investigative healthcare reporter for the New York Times. We'll get to more of the news in a moment, but if you like the show, make sure to subscribe. Leave a five star review on Apple Podcasts, watch us on YouTube and share with your friends. More to come after some ads Whataday is brought to you by Magic Spoon Magic Spoon has turned their super popular high protein cereal into high protein treats that are light, crispy and taste just like those classic crunchy cereal bars. Magic Spoon's treats are so delicious and have already become one of my favorite on the go gym snacks. Magic Spoon is also launching a brand new high protein granola. True to the Magic Spoon promise, it's packed with protein and so crunchy and so sweet. Perfect for breakfast or a snack. Magic Spoon's Pie protein treats are crispy, crunchy, airy and a very easy way to get 12 grams of protein on the go. They come in mouthwatering flavors like marshmallow, chocolate, peanut butter and dark chocolate. They're so good and so filling too. And Magic Spoons brand new granola packs in 13 grams of protein and zero added sugars. They come in delicious flavors, honey, almond and peanut butter. Get $5 off your next order at magicspoon.com day or look for Magic Spoon on Amazon or in your nearest grocery store. That's magicspoon.comday for $5 off. NetCredit is here to say yes to a personal loan or line of credit. When other lenders say no, apply in minutes and get a decision as soon.

[Sarah Cliff]

As the same day. Loans offered by Netcredit or lending partner.

[Jane Coastin]

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[Sarah Cliff]

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[Jane Coastin]

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[Sarah Cliff]

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[Jane Coastin]

Here's what else we're following today. Head of lines.

[Sarah Cliff]

We've had some very good talks with Russia. We've had some very good talks with others, and we're trying to get the.

[Jane Coastin]

War ended with Russia and Ukraine.

[Sarah Cliff]

And I think we've come a long way in a short period of weeks.

[Jane Coastin]

President Donald Trump met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House Monday. Their conversation largely focused on the war in Ukraine. Macron's visit coincided with the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of the sovereign country. He and Trump spoke with reporters in the Oval Office before their meeting, and the two struck very different tones when it came to Russia. Macron seemed to push back on the Trump administration's current plan to get Ukraine to give the US Access to its rare earth minerals in exchange for continued American aid. The French president said, it's Russia who should be helping pay for the costs of the war. I support the idea to have Ukraine.

[Sarah Cliff]

First, being compensated because they are the.

[Jane Coastin]

Ones who have lose a lot of their fellow citizens and being destroyed by this attack.

[Sarah Cliff]

Second, all of those who paid for.

[Jane Coastin]

Could be compensated, but not by Ukraine, by Russia, because they were the one to aggress. This led to a very awkward exchange where Trump falsely claimed that Ukraine is going to pay European countries back for their support. Europe is loaning the money to Ukraine.

[Sarah Cliff]

They get their money back?

[Jane Coastin]

No, in fact, to be frank, we paid.

[Sarah Cliff]

We paid 60% of the total default.

[Jane Coastin]

And it was like the US loans guarantee grants and we provided real money. To be clear, I would prefer to never be corrected by a French person. Trump also once again refused to condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin at all. Really? Instead, he doubled down on his choice to call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a dictator last week.

[Sarah Cliff]

Would you use the same words for Galvin Putin? Uh, I don't use those words lightly.

[Jane Coastin]

You don't? Interesting. Also Monday at the United nations, the US joined our historic BFFs. Russia, Iran, North Korea. Wait, what? In voting against a resolution to condemn the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine. It passed anyway. Trump was asked to explain the vote on Monday during Macron's visit, to which he said, I would rather not explain.

[Sarah Cliff]

It now, but it's sort of self evident.

[Jane Coastin]

I think that's not the word I would use. The UN also passed a watered down US Resolution that calls for an end to the war in Ukraine. The US Abstained from voting on that resolution after European leaders inserted some anti Russian language. It also passed. Two days after asking federal workers to justify their jobs, the Trump administration continued to sow chaos. We're recording this Monday night, and the story is still changing a lot. But the drama all started Saturday with an email from the Office of Personnel Management to more than 2 million federal workers. It asked them to list five things they did at work last week and demanded a response by Monday night. Before the email went out, though, Doge leader non leader Elon Musk said on Twitter, quote, failure to respond will be taken as a resignation. But some government agencies balked and told employees not to respond. That included agencies led by staunch Trump loyalists like the Justice Department and the Pentagon. By Monday afternoon, multiple news outlets reported that OPM had backed off, telling top agency officials responses were now voluntary. The personnel department also made clear that failing to respond would not be considered a resignation. But President Trump voiced support for Musk's demand during his Oval Office meeting with the French president.

[Sarah Cliff]

I thought it was great because we have people that don't show up to work and nobody even knows if they work for the government.

[Jane Coastin]

So by asking the question, tell us.

[Sarah Cliff]

What you did this week. What he's doing is saying, are you actually working? And then if you don't answer like you're sort of semi fired or you're.

[Jane Coastin]

Fired because a lot of people are not answering the.

[Sarah Cliff]

Because they don't even exist.

[Jane Coastin]

They don't even exist. Also, what does semi fired mean? Okay, and as if all of that wasn't confusing enough, Musk weighed in on the whole thing on Twitter Monday night. He said that the email request was, quote, trivial and so many failed what he called an inane test. He wrote, quote, have you ever witnessed such incompetence and contempt for how your taxes are being spent? Well, Elon Musk seems to have a prominent role in this administration. So yeah, I have. Also Monday, NBC News reported emailed responses from federal workers were likely to be fed into an artificial intelligence system to figure out whose jobs were worth keeping. NBC News cited anonymous sources in its report. A federal judge Monday blocked immigration agents from making arrests at some churches, mosques, and other places of worship. Former President Biden initially barred agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ice, from raiding, quote, unquote sensitive locations like churches, schools, and hospitals. But Trump's Department of Homeland Security, led by Secretary Kristi Noem, tossed out those restrictions. Late last month, a group of congregations from multiple states sued Noem and DHS over the order a few days later. The plaintiffs include some Quicker congregations and Baptist churches, as well as a Sikh temple. At a hearing earlier this month, the religious groups argued that the threat of ICE entering their places of worship has discouraged migrants from attending service. Lawyers for the Trump administration downplayed those claims in a court filing. They insisted the faith groups have no proof their congregations are being targeted for immigration rates. But a federal judge sided with the congregations, saying that the new DHS policy could violate migrants right to religious freedom. He put the policy on hold while the lawsuit makes its way through the courts. It's important to note, though, Monday's ruling only applies to the faith groups that join the lawsuit, not all places of worship. It states that any immigration agents who make arrests at their facilities will face penalties. I'm going to accept the role proudly as the deputy director of the number two spot at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Dan Bongino, the former Secret Service agent turned right wing podcaster, announced on his show Monday that he plans to accept the role as FBI deputy director. He said he needed to turn in his man card to get a little emotional about the whole thing because I guess men aren't allowed to feel feelings. President Attorney General Bondi and now Director Gosh, that sounds good to say. FBI Director Akash Patel offered this role, a role I expressed an interest in and ladies and gentlemen, I told you.

[Sarah Cliff]

You see, it's hard for me.

[Jane Coastin]

President Trump announced Bongino's appointment Sunday. Trump posted on Truth Social that FBI Director Kash Patel, a Trump loyalist, chose Bongino for the role. The president called Bongino a man of incredible love and passion for our country. Like Patel, Bongino has never served in the FBI, but the deputy director role does not require Senate confirmation. Bongino served on the presidential details for then Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. He was a commentator on Fox News before leaving the network in 2023. In 2018, Bongino said, quote, owning the libs is a lifestyle. You must own the libs repeatedly. And his online Persona includes spreading misinformation like lies about the 2020 election being stolen. And that's the news. One more thing. This administration is trying to make me and you insane. It's difficult to keep up with the rage bait, sort out what matters from what doesn't and not just scream on street corners or on social media. But sometimes it's worth saying, what in the entire hell are you doing? Case in point, Ed Martin is the interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. Before his posting, he was probably best known for his work on behalf of the Stop the Steal campaign that aimed to overturn the 2020 election results. And on Monday, he posted a tweet from the official accounts for the U.S. attorney's office, as one does. The tweet was in reference to the Associated Press's lawsuit against three Trump administration officials for their efforts to bar the AP from press briefings and Air Force One over the outlet's refusal to use the new Gulf of America moniker. The tweet reads as follows, quote, as President Trump's lawyers, we are proud to fight to protect his leadership as our president, and we are vigilant in standing against entities like the AP that refused to put America first. Now, a few things first. I know you probably can't see this, but mercifully, there is only one Donald Trump. So the location of the apostrophe in Trump's is wrong. I'm a punctuation pedant. But also, that's not what a U.S. attorney is. See, if you go to the official website of the U.S. attorneys, it will tell you what a U.S. attorney is. It reads, charged with ensuring that the laws be faithfully executed than 93 United States Attorneys work to enforce federal laws throughout the country. Did you get that? Did you get that? The job of a U.S. attorney is to enforce federal law and not to be Donald Trump's personal attorney. If you're a U.S. attorney, your job is to act on behalf of the American people. Legal briefs won't say your name at the top. It'll say United States versus Whomever. And this might be tough for Ed Martin to understand, but the United States is not Donald Trump, and the United States was not Joe Biden or Barack Obama or President James Buchanan, for God's sake. The job of a U.S. attorney is not actually to run cover for the American president in a stupid battle over the name of the Gulf of America. Mexico. You're not standing against fascism. You're standing against a journalistic outfit that the president of the United States is mad at. There's a lot I could ask for from the attorney General for my former home city. I could ask that he show at least some small amount of interest in doing his actual job, which is not contrary to Martin's opinion, pursuing people who have, quote, acted unethically in their criticisms of Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency, quote, to the end of the earth, or acting as Donald Trump's personal lawyer. But I will ask this instead, be less embarrassing, say less online. Do less of whatever this is because you can be the most enthusiastic supporter of Donald Trump to ever exist. But man, just be less embarrassing. Before we go Trump's attack on birthright citizenship isn't just illegal, it's a legal fever dream. On this week's Strict Scrutiny, Melissa, Leah and Kate team up with historian Kate Macer to break down just how absurd his executive order really is. Plus a SCOTUS preview, fresh nonsense from the 5th Circuit, and a critical investigation are the men okay? Listen to Strict Scrutiny wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube. That's all for today. If you like the show, make sure you subscribe, Leave a review. Don't tell fired federal workers that it's all good because, quote, God has a plan and tell your friends to listen. And if you're into reading and not just about how Missouri Republican Representative Mark Alford told a town hall full of recently fired workers in Belton, there are jobs available. God has a plan and purpose for your life. And everyone in the crowd got very understandably mad like me. What a Day is also a nightly newsletter. Check it out and [e-mail] subscribe I'm Jane Coston and maybe don't bring God into this whole Doge thing. Water Day is a production of Crooked Media. It's recorded and mixed by Desmond Taylor. Our associate producers are Raven Yamamoto and Emily Foer. Our producer is Michelle Eloi. We had production help today from Johanna Case, Joseph Dutra, Greg Walters, and Julia Claire. Our senior producer is Erika Morrison and our executive producer is Adrienne Hill. Our theme music is by Colin Gilliard and Kashaka. Our production staff is proudly unionized with the Writers Guild of America. East.

[Sarah Cliff]

Netcredit is here to say yes because you're more than a credit score. Apply in minutes and get a decision as soon as the same day. Loans offered by Netcredit or lending partner banks and serviced by Netcredit. Applications subject to review and approval. Learn [e-mail] partners. NetCredit credit to the people. Please leave a message. Hey, it's me. Well, it's you, San Diego. You, that is. Oh, I'm here at the beach.

[Jane Coastin]

Sun's out, everything's looking up.

[Sarah Cliff]

Oh my gosh, the food. We love the spice. Oh, and oh, that show was so fun. Sand in my shoes and all. Anyway, wish you I me. We hope to see you soon. Discover the best [e-mail] funded in part by San Diego Tourism Marketing District assessment funds.