Liam Donovan and Brendan Boyle: The Great Grift

In this episode of the Bulwark Podcast, the hosts explore the complexities of the congressional budget process, particularly the reconciliation process. They kick things off with a light-hearted story before diving into how reconciliation works and its limitations. This process primarily addresses spending, revenue, and debt limit adjustments, but it doesn't extend to other policy areas. The discussion then shifts to the strategic decisions facing Republicans, weighing the pros and cons of pursuing one versus two reconciliation bills. They delve into the difficulties of reaching consensus on tax policy and the leverage that Democrats may have given the slim Republican majority. As the conversation unfolds, they also consider the impending government funding deadline and possible strategies for Democrats to use their voting power to gain concessions. The episode wraps up with a forecast predicting a government shutdown is likely, though a complete shutdown might not happen.