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CQ Budget

CQ Roll Callwww.rollcall.com
CQ Roll Call’s budget tracker David Lerman explains how lawmakers in Congress spend the nation’s money.
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Episodes

The politics of Medicare funding

President Joe Biden's accusation that Republicans are trying to cut Medicare triggered a counterattack by the GOP: that the Biden administration wants to cut benefits in Medicare Advantage plans. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Jessie Hellmann unpack the basis of those claims and the potential impact of new administrative rules for the privately run Medicare Advantage plans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 24, 202319 min

Gloomy fiscal forecast

Deficits over a decade will be 20 percent higher than forecast just nine months ago, and action is needed by summer to raise the debt limit, the Congressional Budget Office said in two new reports. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Peter Cohn assess the latest budget forecasts and what they may mean for the spending and debt limit battles to come. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 17, 202330 min

Battle lines drawn

Both parties have made their opening bids in the battle over raising the statutory debt limit. CQ Roll's David Lerman, Paul M. Krawzak and Aidan Quigley outline the political dynamics in the Republican push for spending cuts and pledges to protect Social Security and Medicare. They also assess how new members could influence spending bills in the Appropriations Committees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 10, 202323 min

Appropriations power shifts

The new Congress features a power shakeup on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees that will change how spending bills are written. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman, Aidan Quigley and Paul M. Krawzak outline the leadership changes in appropriations and assess the political dynamics in the battle over raising the statutory debt limit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 03, 202323 min

CQ Budget: Debt limit strategy

House Republicans are mulling a short-term suspension of the debt limit in an attempt to buy time for a bipartisan deal. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Paul M. Krawzak outline the dilemma facing the GOP as it seeks to pair a debt limit increase with spending cuts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 27, 202324 min

Two fiscal brawls ahead

Both parties have raised the stakes in a battle over lifting the statutory debt limit. And House Republicans are promising big spending cuts while they try to protect the Pentagon's budget. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman, Lindsey McPherson, Paul M. Krawzak and Caroline Coudriet outline the biggest fiscal challenges of the year and assess prospects for possible compromise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 20, 202325 min

Fiscal train wreck ahead?

A partisan showdown over the debt limit and Republican promises to slash spending could add up to a fiscal train wreck this year for a divided new Congress. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman, Paul M. Krawzak, Aidan Quigley and Laura Weiss offer a preview of the budget, appropriations and tax policy agenda for the year to come. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 13, 202326 min

Next year's fiscal outlook

Lawmakers finally cleared an omnibus spending package three months late, but a divided Congress next year is sure to make fiscal policy even more contentious. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman, Lindsey McPherson, Aidan Quigley, Laura Weiss and Paul M. Krawzak assess how the two parties fared in the omnibus deal and the range of disputes coming in the new year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 27, 202230 min

Omnibus showdown

Congress has one week left to complete an overdue omnibus spending package for the current fiscal year. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman, Lindsey McPherson, Aidan Quigley and Laura Weiss outline what to expect in the final bill, what may end up on the cutting room floor, and how a climactic week on Capitol Hill may play out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 16, 202226 min

Political Theater: ‘The Corridors of Power’ shows how genocide goes through the policy calculus

Dror Moreh’s documentary “The Corridors of Power” is a chronicle of the American response to genocide in modern times. It combines difficult footage of atrocities and violence with Moreh’s one-on-one interviews with powerful U.S. officials, from such iconic figures as Colin Powell and Madeline Albright to contemporary ones who are still serving at the highest levels of government like Antony Blinken and Jake Sullivan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 12, 202227 min

Omnibus Spending Talks Heat Up

After weeks of inaction, top appropriators and congressional leaders began making headway on a bipartisan deal that would pave the way for an overdue omnibus spending package, but big sticking points remain. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman, Lindsey McPherson and Paul M. Krawzak outline the state of negotiations and discuss prospects for raising the debt limit and the fate of a proposed earmarks ban. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 02, 202227 min

Lame-duck fiscal agenda

After a split verdict in the midterm elections, a lame-duck Congress under Democratic control will try to complete its fiscal agenda. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Peter Cohn assess the impact of the elections on the prospects for an omnibus spending package, lifting the statutory debt limit, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 17, 202228 min

Stopgap funding finale

President Joe Biden signed a short-term spending measure that staves off the risk of a partial government shutdown until mid-December. But a lame-duck session after the November elections will be a busy one. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Peter Cohn outline a to-do list that includes an omnibus funding package, hurricane relief, coronavirus aid, and compensation to families of victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 03, 202227 min

Final countdown

Lawmakers have less than a week left to pass a stopgap spending measure to avoid a partial government shutdown. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Aidan Quigley outline the likely game plan for completing a deal and the hurdles still standing in the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 23, 202221 min

Spending talks morass

Negotiations on a short-term measure to avoid a partial government shutdown next month have stalled, as disputes over environmental permitting, coronavirus aid, disaster relief and more create obstacles to a deal. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Peter Cohn outline the sticking points and a likely path to resolution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 16, 202225 min

Obstacles to stopgap funding

A short-term funding measure to head off a partial government shutdown is now caught up in fights over emergency spending requests and an effort to streamline federal permitting for energy projects. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman, Lindsey McPherson and Aidan Quigley outline the challenges facing Congress to pass stopgap funding by the end of this month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 09, 202225 min

A win for Democrats

Democrats celebrated the passage of their climate, health and tax package, but debate over the partisan measure now moves to the campaign trail. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman, Laura Weiss and Paul M. Krawzak examine what the new law could mean for the midterm elections and how both parties could use it to their political advantage. They also discuss the upcoming fight over a stopgap funding measure to ward off a partial government shutdown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adch...

Aug 18, 202230 min

Democrats unite

Democrats appear to have the votes they need to pass a revised version of their health, climate and tax package along party lines in the evenly divided Senate. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Peter Cohn outline the changes that led to a new agreement with Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema and explain the procedural hurdles that still await the package. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 05, 202229 min

Joe Manchin's 180

A surprise change of heart from the West Virginia Democrat put a revamped "Build Back Better" plan back on the table. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman, Lindsey McPherson and Laura Weiss examine the twist of fate and the challenges awaiting Democrats in trying to pass the measure.They also discuss microchip and veterans benefits legislation and the latest on appropriations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 29, 202234 min

Microchips and drug pricing

Before their August recess, lawmakers hope to pass a major funding package to bolster domestic semiconductor manufacturing and a measure designed to lower the cost of many prescription drugs. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman, Aidan Quigley and Lauren Clason outline the challenges awaiting Congress to pass those bills. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 22, 202228 min

`Build Back Better' unravels

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin III told fellow Democrats he could no longer support climate provisions or higher taxes as part of any budget reconciliation package that comes to a vote before the August recess. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman, Lindsey McPherson and Laura Weiss examine how Democratic negotiations unraveled, what can still be salvaged, and what it means for their broader legislative agenda. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 15, 202229 min

Crunch time for Democratic agenda

Senate Democrats want to pass a downsized "Build Back Better" reconciliation package before the August recess despite a threat from the Republican leader to hold up a bipartisan chip manufacturing and economic competitiveness bill in retaliation. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Peter Cohn examine the legislative options for what could be a chaotic and unpredictable July work session on Capitol Hill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 08, 202226 min

Military budget set to swell

Two major congressional committees have now spoken on the fiscal 2023 Pentagon budget. Peter Cohn and John M. Donnelly discuss how the Armed Services panels will keep the pressure on appropriators to add tens of billions of dollars more to President Joe Biden's defense proposals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 24, 202228 min

Defense spending battle lines

A bipartisan Senate defense authorization bill upped the ante on defense spending for the coming fiscal year. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Peter Cohn explain the new battle lines over defense spending that could stall appropriations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 17, 202226 min

Appropriations kickoff

House appropriators are about to begin their markups on fiscal 2023 spending bills after taking a shortcut on a budget blueprint. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Paul M. Krawzak outline what lies ahead for appropriators and assess the latest effort to resurrect a "Build Back Better" reconciliation package. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 10, 202222 min

UFO's in budget projections

A new 10-year budget forecast shows soaring revenue increases that the Congressional Budget Office acknowledged it can't fully explain. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Peter Cohn analyze the latest fiscal and economic projections and explain what they might mean for future spending and tax policy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 27, 202227 min

Pandemic aid derailment

Senate spending hawks blocked a $48 billion aid package for restaurants and some other small businesses. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Lindsey McPherson assess the fallout and prospects for any future aid attempt. Recorded 5/20/22 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 20, 202226 min

Senate fumble on Ukraine aid

A lone senator's objection stymied bipartisan hopes for speedy passage of a $40 billion Ukraine aid measure. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Peter Cohn explain the cause of the holdup and what it may mean for pandemic-related funding bills waiting in the wings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 13, 202225 min

Aid package puzzle

Disputes over school meal waivers, immigration policy and business assistance are some of the moving pieces complicating aid measures for Ukraine and COVID-19. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Lindsey McPherson discuss the latest twists and turns in assembling billions of dollars of supplemental funding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 06, 202225 min

Aid quandary for Congress

New aid for Ukraine is tied up in a fight over pandemic relief and immigration policy. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Peter Cohn explain the tangle over supplemental funding and assess the prospects for fiscal 2023 appropriations, a downsized "Build Back Better" measure and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 29, 202226 min
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