'You're doing it again!' GOP lawmaker dismisses CNN anchor's question on Medicare cuts

Republican Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) took issue Wednesday with the way CNN anchor Pamela Brown repeatedly asked about possible cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.

"I'm just telling you what Americans are concerned about," Brown said. "We're hearing that in town halls, as well, across the country. And it is a fact that that is what the [Congressional Budget Office] said, that there would have to be substantial cuts to Medicaid to reach that $880 billion in cuts that Republicans would need."

Brown continued, "President Trump, we should emphasize, says Medicare will not be touched," while still promising to cut "waste, fraud, and abuse" via Elon Musk's DOGE.

"What do you say to critics who claim that's just cover to make substantial cuts to Medicare, and you're saying that because you know how bad it would be politically to say, 'We're going to make cuts to Medicare?'" Brown asked.

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"Pamela, you're doing it again!" Emmer exclaimed. "You're trying to put words out there that don't exist."

"I'm asking you!" Brown pushed back. "You brought it up!"

"And, by the way, waste, fraud, and abuse? You're not in favor of getting rid of waste, fraud and abuse, and you rely on this — "

"I'm asking you!" Brown maintained.

Emmer continued, "You rely on the CBO that has absolutely been unreliable in the last seven, eight years or more."

Brown tried to interject that the CBO is "nonpartisan," prompting Emmer to argue, "You can say it's nonpartisan, but what did they say about the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act when it was enacted into law in 2017? They said it wasn't going to generate any revenue like it has. It's been exponential compared to what they predicted. They're like weather people. they don't have to be right."

"You can criticize them," Brown said, "but what I'm getting at, are Republicans going to make cuts through waste, fraud and abuse to Medicaid, as you said? I'm not putting words in your mouth. I'm just asking a question."

Watch the clip below via CNN or click here.