Did you say am i hope . In my humble opinion. Do you pronounce it lol or lol . I say in my humble opinion, or i laugh out loud, but i appreciate the text shorthand. In my honest opinion. I will be sure to take it up with senator tim kaine. He watches this vote on the house floor, thank you, buddy. And that is it your home for joining us this evening. Right now, we are, as i just said, to chris hayes, watching the house of, where any moment, the bill to avoid catastrophic default is about to face the vote on the house floor. The dynamic here, what you will see unfold tonight, the dynamic, that dynamic, was set earlier today, when democrats had to bail out republicans on a procedural vote that republicans claim they could pass on their very own. Prior to that vote, politico reported, when asked if the gop would need democratic help to pass this procedural measure, majority whip, tom emmer, said, republicans are the ones who are running this place and republicans will pass the bills, and that is what we are doing. But in the end, republicans did not have the votes to pass that measure on their own. They needed 52 democrats to bail them out. Now, both sides have faced opposition to voting for this deal. Conservatives say it does not go nearly far enough. Progressives have argued that the bills impact on the poor and the Working Class is too severe. But the character of that opposition is remarkably different. Take, for instance, Marjorie Taylor greene. The fringe conservative whos now landed herself a place as one of Speaker Mccarthys top allies. Today, congresswoman Taylor Greene told reporters that she was leaning toward voting yes on this bill, while also repeatedly describing the deal as an expletive sandwich. And also taking that particular Metaphor Weight further than she needed to. So, Marjorie Taylor greene thinks this deal is a really very disgusting sandwich, but she was willing to eat that really very disgusting sandwich, as long as it came with some good sides, okay. And the sides she wants are a bunch of things that we are never going to get added to this bill before it reached the house floor. Also, she would like desert, which, in this case, means impeaching someone, anyone. Just a little impeachment as a treat. That, alone, should tell you everything you need to know about the way conservatives have been mounting opposition to this bill. What might best be turned, alarmingly delusional. By contrast, democrats remain united around passing this bill and even avoiding default, even as some of them voice their opposition to it. Democratic leader, hakeem jeffries, made that very clear in his speech on the house floor, just moments ago. House democrats were clear that we will not allow extreme maga republicans to default on our debt, crash the economy, but trigger a jobkilling recession. Democrats put people over politics. Even though we strongly disagree with your reckless policies. President biden understood, despite the Hostage Taking situation that you unnecessarily thrust the country into, that we had an obligation, irresponsibility, to avoid a catastrophic default. Joining me now is the man himself, House Democratic leader, hakeem jeffries, of new york. Congressman, thank you very, very much for being here. I am told that voting has begun, so we will not keep you too long, but ive got to ask you, on this network last night, you said Kevin Mccarthy needs to have 150 republican votes. Do you think he has those votes, as of this moment . That actually remains to be seen. But its still our expectation that House Republicans should put up at least 150 votes, approximately two thirds of their conference, in connection with an agreement that they, themselves, negotiated. We will see what occurs on the house floor, but House Democrats remain committed to ensuring that we avoid a catastrophic default because we understand the consequences, there would be devastating for everyday americans, for working families, for middle class folks, for those who aspire to be part of the middle class, for the poor, the sick, and the afflicted, for the people that we fight for each and every day. So, we are going to do our part, certainly, my hope that the extreme maga republicans do their part as well. Did Speaker Mccarthy ever reach out to you . He seems to be very much banking on democratic support here and quite a bit of it. Have you talked to him . We talk often, but we have not talked about specific numbers. However, i continue to make the point publicly and in my private conversations with a wide variety of people on the other side of the aisle that is our expectation that in order to get out of this manufactured gop default crisis, we have got to proceed in a common sense, bipartisan way. And that remains, means democratic votes, and that means republican votes, and thats hopefully what we will see on the house floor in a few moments. Earlier today, during rules vote, you flashed a green card. I dont think we have a visual of it, but it was a signal to democrats that they could start voting. In support of a bill that was supposed to pass, or in support of a provision, effectively, that was supposed to pass with only republican support. Is something similar in place for tonight, if and when republicans dont get that 150 vote threshold . Well, weve said from the very beginning, across the caucus, that we want to make sure that we protect every day americans from the harmful consequences of our economy crashing, which many extreme maga republicans from the very beginning seemed determined to bring about. In part, as ive said, because they think it will be in their own political interest in 2024. Thats incredibly irresponsible. Earlier today, we had the rescue House Republicans from their own extremism, and we are prepared to make sure that we rescued the economy from a catastrophic default. We will see what that ultimately looks like, in terms of numbers, but we are going to do our part in supporting the leadership of president joe biden. We are thankful that he managed to arrive at a resolution that protected social security, protected medicare, protected medicaid, protected veterans, protected the very important Climate Change provisions in the context of the inflation reduction act, protected education, protected public safety, and protected the American People, from the extreme maga republican proposed cuts that would have hurt the health, the safety, and the economic wellbeing of the American People. How are you feeling about, well i should ask you, what are your what are your caucus members, what do democrats telling you. As they have, to pull something out they wanted nothing to do with to begin with. What is the general sentiment inside the Democratic Caucus right now . The sentiment is that we get through this moment, and will continue to support our president , i believe that will be a strong democratic vote in support of the resolution. That he has negotiated, that we some democrats who may vote against the bill on the floor, but everyone is unified in support of President Bidens leadership, were gonna get through this moment. Were gonna avoid this devastating default. Were gonna continue to push back against republican extremism. And as we emerge from this moment, worked to build upon the incredible success and accomplishments and the leadership, speaker pelosi, senate democrats, House Democrats, President Biden in the last congress. And building an economy from the middle out, and from the bottom up. And pushing back against the effort to simply always benefit the wealthy, the well off and the bill connected. Which is the Policy Agenda of the extreme maga republicans on the other side of the aisle. Youve invoked the president a number of times, do you have a message for the white house, as they contemplate whether to take the debt ceiling off the table entirely as a legislative cudgel . Its the right thing to do for the American People, i think once we emerge from this manufactured gop crisis, one of the things that all we should, do legislatively here in the United States congress, administratively, legally, is to explore all options so that we can remove this Weaponized Vehicle to hold the American People and the economy hostage. An incredibly irresponsible ways. If not for the leadership of President Biden, democrats and the house and in the Senate Holding together we might even be in a very different situation at this moment. And we cant afford to allow extremists to be able to continue to utilize the debt ceiling to hold the American People hostage moving forward and we should look at all opportunities to stop that from ever happening again. Yeah, i have to ask you. As you talk about the extremists, we played a little bit of sound from Marjorie Taylor greene who earlier said, that in exchange for support for this bill, she effectively wants someone to be impeached. You think Kevin Mccarthys gonna have to pay the tab on this . Which is to say, kowtow to the most conservative members of his conference in the days to come . Are you at all concerned about what concessions he might have to make to them, in order to hold on to the speakers gavel, for example . , well the American People have continued to be concerned with the extremists that have been on full display, and in many ways, unleashed. Marjorie Taylor Greene is front and center as a leader of the House Republican conference. So is george santos, a default on america act passed with the support of george santos. And youve got individuals who are totally out of control, like santos, unfit to serve in United States congress. But who have become an important part of the fabric of what the modern day House Republicans represent. Thats unfortunate. As democrats, were gonna continue to try to find common ground, whenever and wherever possible. To put people over policy, Do The Right Thing for the American People. But we will always push back against the extremism of, whenever, and wherever necessary. What are you think a message to the American People should be about the House Republican conference right now. As theyre trying to make sense of this, i think democrats have done a very decent job of showing the country how they are doing the work, the hard work, of governing. And keeping the countrys economy in safe hands. What should the message be, how should they think about what Speaker Mccarthy has done here, and the role he plays in guiding his Party Forward . What will continue to see is on, the one hand, House Democrats, senate democrats, President Biden. Tim extreme. Team normal. Tim normal. Team get stuff done for everyday america. Against team extreme. On the other side of the aisle. Tim reasonable, House Democrats. Team normal. Versus team extreme. On the other side of the aisle. Its easy to remember, it rhymes. It also seems to be true. Democratic leader, hakeem jeffries, a very, very busy man tonight. I am deeply appreciative of your time. Thanks and good luck out there. Thank you very much. Now, if the house passes this Debt Ceiling Bill, the bill then goes to the senate, where any single senator has the power to bring this whole process to a halt. And well the consensus seems to be in favor of passing the bill in the house, senators and in the senate, senators from both parties, are unhappy with certain aspects of this deal. And ive already said they will introduce amendments to it. That means, essentially, that these senators want to have four votes. In those four votes, they can voice their concerns. Which, in the, and could eat a precious debate time and in the very worstcase scenario, it could end up sending the whole bill back to the house. That would almost certainly push the house passage of this bill put far beyond june 5th, which is the drop dead date for the u. S. To avoid default. Right now, Senate LeaderChuck Schumer and Mitch Mcconnell are reportedly Holding Private meetings and they are working the phones. Theyre also publicly asking senators not to risk everything that has been negotiated over amendments. I can tell you what i hope happens. That those who have amendments, if given votes, will yield back time. So that we can finish this thursday or friday. We cant send anything back to the house. That would risk, default plaintive. Joining us now, senator tim kaine, democrat of virginia. Senator cain, thank you so much for joining me tonight. I know that you have not been happy about certain elements of this bill. Are you going to support it in the end . When it comes to the senate . Alex, i have an amendment filed to block a provision in the bill, completely unrelated to the debt ceiling. That would greenlight a very controversial pipeline in virginia. That no one talk to us about, no one conferred with virginians about, they just dropped it into the bill. Look, we do amendments all the time in the senate, ive had bills redone multiple amendments a day, im insisting on an amendment to strip out approving the Mountain Valley pipeline. This is a pipeline that should have to go through normal permitting processes. Sadly, the deal that was struck gives this a greenlight, exams it from all the normal permitting processes. And to build a pipeline, you have to take peoples land. This runs through appalachian virginia, some of my poorest, hardest hit, residents. They dont have their land taken. And they definitely dont Want Congress putting our thumb on the scale to take away the power of agencies in courts to review whether its a good idea or not. So, ive got an amendment to say, lets strip out this provision. I want to vote on it. Its not gonna delay us, we can do an Amendment Vote immediately. And i guarantee, if this amendment were to pass, and it were to go back to the house, nobody in the house is voting for or against this bill. Because of the green light of the Mountain Valley pipeline. Its not fatal to the bill. Its not gonna delay. And they put it in the bill, and deals with virginia, they didnt ask me about it. Im fighting for virginians or gonna lose their land and i want to vote on my amendment. Are you at all concerned that the timing of that might push this past june 1st, that mid june 5th, that might be the dropped a date for the u. S. Avoiding catastrophic consequences . Alex, absolutely not. I think the house is gonna pass this bill and give it to us tonight. I have been involved in bills where ive been the sponsor, where weve done seven or eight Amendment Votes in a day. Theres gonna be some republican Amendment Votes in the senate, i believe. If we will allow republicans to offer amendments, i want an amendment on my provision stripped in mountain vibrantly pipeline. All of what the result. You know, if i can convince my colleagues, great. If i cant convince my colleagues, thats on me. But i dont think anybody should cut a deal that affects virginians, particularly, in the hardest hit part of our state. On a really important controversial project, without reaching out to us. I also think stripping, giving a greenlight to one project in the United States and saying, it doesnt have to go through a normal permitting rules . That just opens the door to really big problems in the future. Any Big Corporation that is unhappy with the pace of their approvals and regulatory environment, thats unhappy with what courts are doing, can just go to congress and say, hey, let us bypass you. Everyday people dont get that deal. Everyday people dont get to bypass the courts and have Congress Take a magic wand and give them what they want. We shouldnt do it for a wealthy company either. For those who are following along at home here, there are 217 votes, 218, this is now i believe passed the house. That is a big deal for people who have been watching the short but tortured history of these debt ceiling negotiations. Senator cain, i have to ask you, and i want to talk and a little bit more detail about the Mountain Valley pipeline and why the white house did not bring you into those negotiations. But if youre amendment fails, are you prepared to vote yes on this . Which is now assuredly come into the senate in the next day or two . My only goal right now, alex, i want to get a vote on my amendment. Okay. They cut a deal affecting virginia that even talking to us. It hits the hardest hit, toughest, poorest, most challenged part of my state. It affects people, and it takes their land. To build a pipeline, you have to take peoples land. In this part of virginia, appalachia, people dont have a lot, sometimes land is what theyve got. All that theyve got