Episode #190
Reconciliation, Explained (pt. 2) — What to watch as Congress negotiates Trump’s budget bill
On this episode: Congress is once again turning to the powerful tool of budget reconciliation to try and pass major legislation — and with razor-thin majorities in both chambers, every vote counts for the Republican coalition trying to pass President Donald Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill.’
Michael Thorning, director of the Structural Democracy Project at the Bipartisan Policy Center, joins the show to break down what reconciliation actually is, why it matters to everyday Americans, and how it’s being used in current debates over tax cuts, deficit concerns, and federal spending. From the internal GOP clash over the Trump-era tax cuts to the Senate’s complex Byrd Rule restrictions, this high-stakes and rapidly evolving fiscal showdown is playing out in real time. Here’s what you need to know as you follow along.
Guest(s): Michael Thorning, director of the Structural Democracy Project at the Bipartisan Policy Center
Key Highlights
- Explore how budget reconciliation works in Congress and why it matters for passing major legislation.
- Break down the basics of reconciliation with this simplified guide from the Bipartisan Policy Center.
- Revisit our deep dive on reconciliation from earlier in the year in Ep. #165.
On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.
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