Sen. Adam Schiff Criticizes Trump Over Government Shutdown
On “Face the Nation” this past Sunday, Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) condemned President Donald Trump, alleging that he has committed “atrocities” and has been responsible for “cutting off food from people.”
A partial transcription follows:
STEPHANOPOULOS: Let’s discuss the government shutdown. You watched an interview with Director Bessent. President Trump has called for an end to the filibuster, stating that this is not the government’s stance. He also advocates for direct subsidies to help Americans with healthcare costs, but claims that this isn’t the administration’s official position. He links it to whether Democratic senators will alter their approach. Do you think that will happen?
Schiff: No. I truly hope that doesn’t occur, so that millions can maintain their health insurance and avoid steep premium hikes. George, we’ve been hearing from individuals throughout California, especially those with pre-existing conditions. They’re reporting premium increases of up to $1,000 a month, forcing them to drop their coverage. They recognize how detrimental this is for themselves and their families. It’s alarming to think that millions might lose access to quality care, leading to tens of thousands of lost lives. We must resolve this. I’m recommending a proposal that I believe is quite sensible—a compromise. While not everything I wished for, it includes a permanent extension of the tax credit. We suggested extending the current law for a year to buy us time to tackle this issue, and to reopen the government.
However, the response from Republicans was—Senate Republicans and House Republicans said they were on vacation. Meanwhile, I ended up going golfing for the president. While people are suffering, they’re still absent. What’s particularly shocking to me, George, is that during this crisis, they are seeking to have the Supreme Court endorse their desire to cut off food assistance. Who would do something like that? Who would go through such lengths to use the judicial system to deprive food from those in need? But that seems to be their approach. Cruelty appears to be part of their agenda.
