Synopsis
CQs Budget Editor Jane Norman leads a weekly conversation on how lawmakers in Congress are spending taxpayers' money and how their actions impact among other areas federal agencies, safety net programs and the presidents agenda.
Episodes
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Medicaid cuts in play
12/05/2025 Duration: 23minThe House Energy and Commerce Committee has proposed Medicaid cuts to help pay for the GOP's budget reconciliation bill, though the cuts are less deep than some party moderates had feared and hard-right conservatives had sought. CQ Roll Call's Sandhya Raman, Jessie Hellmann and David Lerman outline the major changes to Medicaid that Republicans have proposed, the major cuts they omitted, and whether the package will have enough political support to reach the finish line. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Trump's budget ax
05/05/2025 Duration: 20minPresident Donald Trump's preliminary fiscal 2026 budget request, which takes a meat ax to domestic programs and foreign aid, is getting a frosty reception from Senate GOP appropriators and Democrats alike. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley and David Lerman provide an early outlook for this year's appropriations process and the likely next steps. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Budget promises put to the test
14/04/2025 Duration: 30minVague promises from GOP leaders to seek deep spending cuts put down a rebellion from conservative holdouts and secured the adoption of a budget resolution this month. But now Republicans must begin writing a reconciliation bill enacting much of President Donald Trump's agenda with little sign of any resolution of the key conflicts that have divided GOP lawmakers for months. CQ Roll Call's Caitlin Reilly, Aidan Quigley and David Lerman assess the deal cut between leadership and Republicans rebels and what it could mean for the drafting of a filibuster-proof reconciliation bill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Budget battle in the House
07/04/2025 Duration: 28minSpeaker Mike Johnson faces a rebellion within GOP ranks over a budget blueprint that squeaked through the Senate. CQ Roll Call's Caitlin Reilly, Paul M. Krawzak and David Lerman assess the outlook for final adoption of a budget resolution and the big fights over Medicaid cuts and whether to pay for extending tax cuts --- two key disputes that could trip up a GOP reconciliation bill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Tough climate for appropriations
28/03/2025 Duration: 33minThe upcoming appropriations cycle faces some rough headwinds, as the Trump administration tries to freeze funding, fire thousands of public employees and gut federal agencies, while Republicans pursue a partisan reconciliation package that will further antagonize Democrats. Aidan Quigley, Caitlin Reilly and David Lerman discuss the challenging political climate for fiscal 2026 spending bills and how the reconciliation process could interfere with that work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Spending bill's political fallout
18/03/2025 Duration: 21minThe six-month continuing resolution that avoided a partial government shutdown left Democrats deeply divided. CQ Roll Call's Mary Ellen McIntire and David Lerman explain the nature of the rift, whether it's likely to heal, and what it means for the party's ability to govern and combat the Trump administration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Leadership test on spending
10/03/2025 Duration: 26minHouse GOP leaders must rally their razor-thin majority to pass a stopgap funding measure this week, while Senate Democrats must decide whether to vote against a bill they dislike and trigger a partial government shutdown. CQ Roll Call's Peter Cohn and David Lerman assess the prospects for a fiscal 2025 continuing resolution and discuss the state of play on the GOP's budget reconciliation process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Stopgap spending decision time
03/03/2025 Duration: 24minA continuing resolution to head off a partial government shutdown is caught in the political crossfire of federal employee layoffs, funding freezes and a partisan dispute over the power of the purse. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley, Caitlin Reilly and David Lerman assess the political pressures for passing a stopgap funding extension, and the state of negotiations for a budget reconciliation package. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Pivotal test for House budget
24/02/2025 Duration: 21minA House vote this week will test the unity of Republicans for a budget blueprint that would pave the way for a sweeping package of tax cuts, border security, defense funding, spending cuts and more. CQ Roll Call's Paul M. Krawzak and David Lerman outline the competing pressures between GOP centrists and hardcore conservatives over a budget resolution critical to President Donald Trump's agenda. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Budget reconciliation pressures mount
19/02/2025 Duration: 23minThe Senate's plan for a slim budget blueprint focused on border security and defense could be upended by President Donald Trump's new endorsement of the House push for "one big, beautiful" reconciliation package enacting much of his agenda all at once. But the House plan faces political pressures of its own, as GOP moderates shy away from steep spending cuts to critical safety-net programs. CQ Roll Call's Caitlin Reilly and David Lerman discuss the latest state of play on the competing strategies for budget reconciliation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Budget reconciliation stalls
10/02/2025 Duration: 28minHouse leaders had to punt on plans for a Budget Committee markup early this week as Republicans continue to squabble over the size of a budget reconciliation package and how to pay for it. CQ Roll Call's Caitlin Reilly and David Lerman assess the status of budget negotiations, the timing for action, and how far Senate Republicans may get in their own alternative, slimmer reconciliation package that omits tax cuts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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House GOP in a quandary
03/02/2025 Duration: 24minRepublicans are struggling to come together on a budget resolution that would pave the way for a mammoth reconciliation bill encompassing much of President Donald Trump's agenda, but there's no sign of a deal that would unite the conference. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley and David Lerman discuss the latest on a budget resolution, the fight over spending cuts, and whether leadership's timeline for action is becoming a pipe dream. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Funding freeze turmoil
28/01/2025 Duration: 26minA Trump administration directive to freeze spending on federal grants and loans pending a policy review outraged Democrats and reignited a debate over who controls the power of the purse. CQ Roll Call's Paul M. Krawzak and David Lerman outline the battle over presidential "impoundment" authority and what it may mean for appropriations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Budget reconciliation 'horse race'
17/01/2025 Duration: 27minTorn over strategy for passing Donald Trump's agenda, the House and Senate are on a collision course over how to use the budget reconciliation process to pass tax cuts, border security, defense funding and more. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley and David Lerman outline the dispute, the political dynamics involved, and whether a leadership timeline for action is realistic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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GOP's fragile majority
06/01/2025 Duration: 27minThe election of Speaker Mike Johnson for another term underscored how difficult it will be for Republicans to govern with a razor-thin majority. CQ Roll Call's Jim Saksa and David Lerman recount what it took for Johnson to win the gavel and explain what it may mean for the legislative battles to come. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Political fallout over spending
23/12/2024 Duration: 27minA funding package that averted a partial government shutdown left Republicans bitterly divided and chastened. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley and David Lerman examine the political fallout from a week of GOP infighting and what it means for President-elect Donald Trump's ambitious agenda next year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Big tax-cut and spending agenda
09/12/2024 Duration: 22minRepublicans are preparing to use the budget reconciliation process to push border security, tax cuts and more on party-line votes next year. CQ Roll Call's Caitlin Reilly, Aidan Quigley and David Lerman outline what GOP leaders have in mind and the challenges they face. They also have the latest on plans for a stopgap funding and disaster relief measure needed by next week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The meaning of DOGE
02/12/2024 Duration: 28minPresident-elect Donald Trump's new Department of Government Efficiency isn't really a federal department, but it promises to take a meat ax to federal spending and regulations. CQ Roll Call's Peter Cohn and David Lerman assess what the outside agency can and can't do and what to expect from the new DOGE effort. We also look at President Joe Biden's push for new Ukraine aid and disaster relief as Congress prepares for a stopgap funding measure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Disaster aid scrubbing
22/11/2024 Duration: 27minLawmakers are torn over the size and shape of a disaster relief package headed for a vote next month. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley and David Lerman discuss the latest on disaster aid, overdue appropriations, a new Senate defense budget writer, and a House firebrand's new role in curbing government spending. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Funding strategy unresolved
12/11/2024 Duration: 25minCongress returns for a lame-duck session with a major decision to make on fiscal 2025 spending: whether to pass an omnibus package by Christmas or punt spending bills into the new year. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley, Caitlin Reilly and David Lerman assess the political ramifications of the choice, the crowded lame-duck agenda, and the challenge for Republicans in their quest for tax cuts next year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices