Two conservatives found themselves under fire from CNN anchor Abby Phillip, who pressed them on the GOP's plans for Medicaid, as President Donald Trump threatens members of his own party who threaten to blow up his "One, Big, Beautiful Bill."
Phillip opened her show late Tuesday, recounting Trump's threat to Republican hardliners: "Get in line, or else," she paraphrased, noting Trump's agenda is "on the brink tonight."
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"The plan puts more money into the border and the Pentagon, and less money into programs like food stamps," Phillip noted. "And even though Trump told Republicans on the Hill today, 'Don’t F around with Medicaid,' his plan will do just that by enforcing work requirements that would result in millions losing coverage."
Steve Moore, former Trump economic adviser, told Phillip that if lawmakers fail to pass Trump's budget, the average American will see a $3,000 tax increase next year.
"I don’t think anybody wants that," he warned, calling it the "biggest tax increase in history."
Moore also took issue with criticism of the GOP's plans for Medicaid.
"Look, I object a little bit to this language, for example, that work requirements are going to throw all these people off unemployment and Medicaid," he began.
But Phillip refused to concede that point.
"But isn’t that the point? In order to save money?" she interjected.
"We did this, Abby. Abby, we did this under Bill Clinton. He was the last, and it was extremely successful. 75% of the people got work, and they climbed the economic ladder," he said, steamrolling over Phillip, who continued to insist the point of the change is to get the GOP to "a certain number of savings."
"And in order to do that, they need fewer people to get benefits. Is that not the point?" she pressed.
Before Moore could answer, fellow conservative and Trump ally Scott Jennings jumped in to defend the party's agenda.
"Yes. But isn’t it the point that you want people to go to work? Isn't that the point?" he shot back.
Phillip turned to her colleague and continued pressing..
"Okay — no, no, no. Scott, hold on. I’ll ask you the exact same question I asked Steven. Isn’t the point that they want to save money?" Phillip asked. "So in order to save money, you’ve got to get people off the program. How is that not taking people off the program?"
Jennings agreed the move is designed to save money, but pushed back that the goal of Medicaid is "not to trap people."
"It’s not supposed to be a lifestyle. It’s supposed to be a temporary deal. So yes, we don’t want to trap people on Medicaid. We want to get them to go to the workplace. And, I mean, there are able-bodied people all over this country who do nothing," Jennings insisted.
Phillip refused to let the conservatives off the hook, demanding to know if Trump was merely fishing for a headline by saying, "Don't F with Medicaid."
"It’s going to mess with Medicaid for sure," she noted.
"Well, it is — but it messes with it in a good way because it forces people to go to work," Jennings replied, visibly frustrated. "Do you want a country where nobody works? Or do you want a country where people go to work?"
"So, yes?" Phillip pressed. "So he is trying to get a headline but not be honest about why."
Watch the awkward clip below or at this link.
