Stephen Colbert Presses Chuck Schumer On Controversial Support for GOP Funding Bill: ‘Do You Know Why They’re Mad At You?’
Stephen Colbert pressed Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on his reasons for supporting a Republican-backed continuing resolution and whether he’ll be handing the GOP a similar win in September.
Schumer joined Colbert on The Late Show on Thursday, where the Democratic leader promoted his new book Antisemitism in America: A Warning. During the conversation, Colbert also noted the internal backlash Schumer has received in his party after he chose to back a GOP continuing resolution earlier this month to keep the federal government funded.
“A lot of people got mad at you,” Colbert told Schumer.
The senator defended his vote by saying a government shutdown would have been much worse.
“Before you explain, I’m sure very reasonably, why they should not be mad at you, can you put yourself in their shoes for a moment and try to understand why they are?” Colbert asked Schumer.
“People are angry. I’m angry because Donald Trump is doing such damage to America, to the working people of America,” Schumer said.
“But do you know why they’re mad at you?” Colbert asked.
Schumer explained he knew people would be angry with his decision. Colbert went on to say he would be more supportive of Schumer’s decision if they had passed a “clean” CR bill instead of one with GOP additions.
Check out the exchange below:
STEPHEN COLBERT: On March 14, after months of the Democrats, desperate for the leadership of the party to exercise whatever limited power a minority party may have, you voted to advance the Republican-drafted continuing resolution that averted a government shutdown. A lot of people got mad at you. Like seriously, Nancy Pelosi was very disappointed. She said, I myself don’t give away anything for nothing. People in the caucus have openly called for you to be replaced. People are protesting at your house with signs like, spine lost, please return if found. Before you explain, I’m sure very reasonably, why they should not be mad at you, can you put yourself in their shoes for a moment and try to understand why they are?
CHUCK SCHUMER: People are angry. I’m angry because Donald Trump is doing such damage to America, to the working people of America, trying to take away so many things.
COLBERT: But do you know why they’re mad at you?
SCHUMER: Well, they’re mad at me because of the way I voted. And I knew that. Stephen, I knew when I voted the way I did that a lot of people would be upset. But let me tell you why I did it because it’s important. The shutdown would have been 10 times worse than the CR. Why? because under a shutdown, the executive branch, in this case, Donald Trump, Musk, Elon Musk, Doge would have complete power. Once the government shut down of what could be open and what couldn’t, you know, they get to determine what is essential. And they could just decimate the whole federal government, and that’s what they wanted to do.
COLBERT: I can understand what you’re saying. I would understand it more if it had been what people call a clean CR, meaning let’s just continue things the status quo, as it is. But it wasn’t that. It was, there were no additional FEMA funds, $1.4 billion in cuts in FEMA construction, $185 million cuts in defense nuclear nonproliferation programs, $280 million cuts and scientific research, $40 million cuts to help children and families, $30 million cuts from farmer’s assistance. The bill doesn’t give any specific funding directive, so it’s possible that Trump could take this money and create slush funds. And was, am I correct, a billion dollars from D.C.’s budget could be taken out?
SCHUMER: Yeah, although that was restored.
COLBERT: That was restored, okay, good. So, why can’t they just do this again in September when the next CR has to be passed?
SCHUMER: Here’s what we think can happen by September. We are going after Trump in every way. We are going after him on so many things. He’s destroying, he’s trying to destroy even Social Security by shutting down the offices, cutting back the phone line. It’s been sacred in America, Stephen, to have Social Security. We love it. He’s trying cut it.
Watch above via CBS.
