We are currently not expecting any cuts to the social safety net or any tax cuts to be part of this, but we’ll know that part when we see the text.

We’re expecting to see text of a budget resolution tomorrow. That would be the first of many steps in enacting a reconciliation bill, which can be passed even with all Democrats opposed.

We’re expecting it to be a slush fund for ICE and CBP, but we’ll have a few more details tomorrow. Follow along.

Never forget 🫡
bsky.app/profile/bbko...

I have a dear friend who does all my dumb photoshops and video ideas. She now has the “but” video down to a formula.

NIH grantmaking plummeting under Trump

How many people will die from diseases that would otherwise have been preventable

i have no choice but to admit you are correct. saying it out loud makes it really clear. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year.

okay i see you are a brave truthteller

Van Hollen talks about how the tax cuts in OB3 disproportionately went to the rich

Vought says, "that's just current policy parts. the new ones were for the working class" which is an insane admission? Acknowledges TCJA was for the rich?

But even looking at just new stuff, it helped the rich most

Vought says he wants to make the new temporary tax cuts from OBBBA permanent. This would cost another $800 billion.

Rick Scott says the only way to solve deficits is to eliminate the filibuster. But the deficits he voted for, which of course also had historic cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, were filibuster proof. The big issue is folks like Senator Scott keep making deficits larger with tax cuts.

Rick Scott, who voted to increase deficits by $3.4 trillion nine months ago, begins by decrying deficits.

Rick Scott previously proposed having Medicare and Social Security sunset every five years. (He later removed that proposal from the internet and pretended it never happened).

Vought says "We don't think tariffs are a tax on the American people. They haven't raised prices."

This is,,,, not correct.

Vought says the acceptable level of fraud is zero. Yesterday, he defended cutting IRS enforcement of tax cheats by saying he assumes there's no fraud when people file their taxes.

In reality, the federal government takes in $725 billion less each year than it's supposed to under the law.

Vought says multiple times in his defense, "We have not impounded anything." This is a lie.

One of the huge takeaways from yesterday and today is the Vought is not capable of directly defending his actions while being bound to the truth. When pushed, he almost always lies or pivots.

Vought says "We're supposed to make sure money is well spent" in defense of ignoring the law. Says "we need to make sure the money is consistent with our agenda."

Consistent with agenda is not one of the reasons a president is legally allowed to pause funds under section 1013 of the ICA.

"If you wanted to legislate, you should jump in the fray and try to get elected."

Warner attacks Vought for illegally impounding CDFI funds, notes how bipartisan the money is.

Senator Warner begins by saying Russ Vought is violating his oath to execute the laws faithfully.

Wyden also elevates the proposed cuts to SAMSHA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Wyden lights into Vought on the illegal impoundments of our forest firefighting efforts.

It's really easy to calculate that number. You just divide the defense number by GDP.

Cornyn says Trump has been courageous in demanding NATO members spend 5% on GDP on defense.

Cornyn: Does President Trump request 5%?

Vought: No, it's more like 4.5%.

Cornyn, clearly expecting the answer to be yes: So the budget calls for what Trump is asking everyone else to do, and that's good.

Patty Murray, who is former Budget chair and currently Approps vice chair, asks Vought how much we've spent on the war in Iran.

Vought says he doesn't know precisely.

Murray asks for a range.

Vought refuses.

Murray is not happy.

Grassley (R-IA) calls Vought out for illegally impounding funds, particularly Community Services Block Grant (which Vought's budget calls to entirely eliminate). Says Vought hasn't been answering his questions. Wants the money. Grassley often uses hearings to yell at people and get what he wants.

I don't think it's that big a deal to just show the stuff you're trying to play with each year. But what they're asking for is so extreme that the real effect is just to neuter their own influence.

Merkley asks why Vought's budget request was lacking so much detail. Vought says it was just a discretionary request. I'm largely alone on this, but I actually don't think it's a problem that they did only a discretionary request. Requests have become largely fake over the years.

Russ Vought specifically calls out USAID as something he's proud of (illegally) dismantling. The cut foreign aid has likely already killed hundreds of thousands of people and will eventually kill millions.

Russ Vought says they made historic progress in righting our fiscal ship, but OBBBA added $3.4 trillion to the deficit, and it will add $4.7 trillion if the temporary provisions are made permanent.

Merkley now hammering Vought on impoundments (where the president illegally refuses to spend money on various programs/agencies).

Talks about USAID. Says their illegal USAID cuts have killed 780,000 people, including half a million kids.

Talks about CFPB costing consumers billions.

Ranking Member Merkley begins by saying ICE has started using the practices of SAVAK, the former secret police of Iran. Name checks various illiberal ICE abuses.