Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., had a heated conversation with a CNN reporter Wednesday after learning the “good news” that lawmakers' pay could rise.
The proposed spending bill in Congress, which would give lawmakers their first pay increases since 2009, has received mixed reactions across the political spectrum.
Durbin was asked by CNN host Manu Raju about salary increases in Congress, saying, “Congressmen are raising their own salaries. Are you eligible for a raise?” did.
“Well, that's news to me. Good news,” Durbin replied. “Did you know that I didn't drink coke for 10 or 14 years and nothing changed? I think it's time to do something.”
Sen. Dick Durbin turned the tables on a CNN reporter when asked about a potential pay raise for lawmakers on the Hill.
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Asked again if he supported the raise, Durbin continued to express surprise at the provision, saying, “How can you not know about a raise?”
Raju put pressure on senators, suggesting that “people will look at Congress' record and say, 'Why should we give you more money?'”
But Mr. Durbin fired back at a CNN reporter, asking why he and his media colleagues are getting paid the same even though ratings are down.
“What about the media? Just think about it,” Durbin said.
“We are not being paid by public funds,” Raju replied.
“I know you're not,” Durbin said. “But half of your listeners are gone. You're still getting the same salary. What's going on?”
“Well, I mean, you guys are taxpayers' money, so does that mean you guys deserve a raise?” Raju asked.
Committee Chairman Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, at the Washington State Capitol. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
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The exchange was discussed on a CNN panel, where they defended their colleague Raju.
“I thought it was very interesting this morning. Dick Durbin, when Manu asked him about this this morning, he didn't know this was in the bill, but it's the first time in 10 years. , he claimed it was good news for him,” CNN said. Congressional Correspondent Lauren Fox said.
“And he's a normal guy when it comes to his bank account,” CNN host Dana Bash added.
According to a recent Gallup poll, the news media is the “least trusted group of the 10 civic and political institutions in the United States,” with the U.S. Congress trailing just behind at 34%.
Liberal news networks have certainly taken a hit since Trump won the election.
MSNBC averaged 807,000 total daily viewers and CNN 488,000. MSNBC averaged 1.7 million viewers in prime time from 8 to 11 p.m. ET, compared to just 700,000 for CNN.
In early December, despite a busy news cycle, CNN's dark audience remained on TNT, Food Network, Freeform, Discovery, INSP, Hallmark Mysteries, TLC, TBS, History, HGTV, USA, MSNBC, Paramount, and Hallmark. Channel, ESPN, and Fox. news.
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Fox News' Brian Flood contributed to this report.
