‘They want the pain’: House Republican bristles during fiery exchange with CNN anchor

A House Republican got into a fiery exchange Friday with a CNN anchor, claiming "they want the pain" after the anchor asked if Republicans had a healthcare plan in mind to discuss with Democrats amid the ongoing government shutdown.

CNN anchor Omar Jimenez was interviewing Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO) and asked him the following: "Over 400,000 people in Missouri are enrolled in the marketplace. Have you seen those proposals that Speaker [Mike]Johnson is talking about? What are they then? And enlighten me?"

Alford appeared to get defensive.

"No, I have not," Alford said. "I would like to. I'm coming back up to D.C. on Tuesday to meet with my staff there and check in on them. We have been doing tremendous work in our district, covering all 24 counties. I would like to — I will tell you this, Omar, I don't think the Democrats are serious about this. They are using this as leverage. They want the pain. They want these statements to come out from the insurance companies, come November.

When Jimenez pushed back, Alford cut him off.

"The Senate majority leader actually proposed to get this on the House, on the Senate floor for debate and a vote. He promised that to them, and [Democrats] said no to that," Alford argued.

Alford then argued that Midwestern and agricultural states, including Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas, had suffered from drought over the last five years and were rebuilding their cattle — that's when Jimenez asked about Argentinian beef.

"Oh yeah, I, I firmly stand behind our beef producers here," Alford said. "We do not need more imports from Argentina. By the way, I was down there last year visiting with President [Javier] Milei, and their beef isn't that great. You know, I would prefer a Missouri Kansas City strip any day over Argentina beef."

"All right, well, maybe that's how we settle things in the end. Let's see which beef ends up better on the dinner table," Jimenez joked.