Dave Spencer, Kurt Bardella, and Ashley Davis examine the recently passed House spending legislation, including its impact on Medicaid coverage, tax policy changes, and the political implications for Republicans who voted for it. The discussion also covers new reporting about President Biden's health timeline and prostate cancer diagnosis, analyzing the political fallout and questions of transparency. Additionally, the hosts discuss broader challenges facing the Democratic Party, including messaging strategy and voter outreach across different demographics. The conversation concludes with analysis of congressional dysfunction and historical patterns in American politics.

Further Reading

House Spending Bill & Medicaid Cuts

KFF Analysis: 

• Tracking the Medicaid Provisions in the 2025 Reconciliation Bill | KFF - Comprehensive breakdown of the House-passed bill's health provisions
• https://www.kff.org/tracking-the-medicaid-provisions-in-the-2025-budget-bill/

CNN Fact-Check: 

• Fact-checking Republican and Democratic claims about Medicaid cuts in the GOP bill | CNN Politics - Independent analysis of competing claims about the bill's impact
• https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/21/politics/fact-check-gop-bill-medicaid-cuts

Biden Health Cover-Up Revelations

NPR Interview: 

• In 'Original Sin,' Jake Tapper describes a 'cover-up' of Joe Biden's decline - Authors discuss their investigation into Biden's health timeline
• https://www.npr.org/2025/05/20/nx-s1-5398050/joe-bidens-decline-jake-tapper-original-sin

TIME Interview: 

• Bombshell Biden Book Draws More Attention After Cancer Reveal | TIME - Co-author Alex Thompson on the reporting process and implications
• https://time.com/7286591/biden-cancer-original-sin-alex-thompson/

Democratic Party's Electoral Challenges

Rolling Stone Analysis:

• Dems Hemorrhaged Support from All Demographics in 2024 — Including New Voters - Detailed voter data analysis showing Democratic losses across all groups
• https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/how-kamala-harris-lost-2024-catalist-1235344875/

NBC Analysis:

• 5 Democratic assumptions shattered by the 2024 election: From the Politics Desk - Breakdown of fundamental party assumptions challenged by election results
• https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/democratic-assumptions-shattered-2024-election-politics-desk-rcna181725

Congressional Dysfunction & Reform

Pew Research:

• Changing demographics of US voters and Republican, Democratic coalitions, 1996-2023 | Pew Research Center - Long-term data on voter demographic shifts
• https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/04/09/the-changing-demographic-composition-of-voters-and-party-coalitions/

NPR Report: 

• After major 2024 defeats, the Democratic Party searches for a new direction : NPR - Current state of Democratic Party leadership and strategy discussions
• https://www.npr.org/2025/01/18/nx-s1-5262358/democratic-party-future-trump

 

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