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Rep. McIver's Felony Charges, Keys to Big Beautiful Bill, Morning Joe Asleep at Wheel?

• Ranting Politics • Season 1 • Episode 168

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• US Attorney Alina Habba defends felony charges against Rep. LaMonica McIver over alleged assaults on federal agents during an ICE detention center protest
• Federal complaint alleges McIver slammed her forearm into a Homeland Security agent and struck an ICE agent while trying to prevent Newark Mayor's arrest
• House Republicans advance a 1,116-page bill making Trump's 2017 tax cuts permanent at an estimated $5 trillion cost over the next decade
• GOP package includes SALT cap increases, elimination of taxes on tips and overtime, Medicaid work requirements, and SNAP funding changes
• Joe Scarborough confronted with his "best Biden ever" comments, doubles down despite mounting evidence of Biden's cognitive issues
• Media narratives shifting dramatically after release of Hur-Biden interview audio revealed more significant memory concerns than initially reported


Source Credits:

https://nypost.com/2025/05/20/us-news/alina-habba-defends-charging-rep-mciver-over-newark-ice-protests/ https://thehill.com/business/budget/5308446-trump-gop-bill-medicaid-salt-taxes/ https://www.foxnews.com/media/msnbcs-joe-scarborough-confronted-viral-best-biden-ever-clip

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Speaker 1:

Hello America JOC here with your Ranting Politics headline updates, where we are diving into today's most explosive political stories that you need to know about Coming up. Acting US Attorney Alina Haba defends felony charges against Democratic Rep Monica McIver over that heated ICE detention center protest in Newark. We've got the details on what went down, plus, house Republicans push forward a massive tax package making Trump's 2017 cuts permanent, alongside major program reforms that could reshape Medicaid and SNAP benefits. And MSNBC's Joe Scarborough gets confronted with his infamous best Biden ever comments His defense. Well, you'll want to hear this one If you're just tuning in for the first time. Welcome to America's fastest-growing daily news rundown, designed specifically for your commute run or coffee time. Stick around for all this and more in your daily dose of unfiltered news and common-sense commentary. This is Ranting Politics Headline Updates. Well, things are heating up in the Garden State folks.

Speaker 1:

Acting New Jersey US Attorney Alina Haba is standing firm on her decision to file felony charges against Democratic Representative LaMonica McIver after what can only be described as a chaotic scene at a Newark ICE detention center earlier this month. According to reporting from the New York Post, haba, who previously served as President Trump's personal attorney, isn't mincing words about the incident. She told the Post that McIver's alleged assault of federal agents was beyond the pale and emphasized that this isn't about politics or congressional oversight. It's about respecting law enforcement. This is not political. It's the law. I didn't create the law. My job is to enforce it. Haba declared, making it crystal clear that her office is backing the federal agents who claim they were assaulted during the law. My job is to enforce it. Habba declared, making it crystal clear that her office is backing the federal agents who claim they were assaulted during the protest.

Speaker 1:

The two-count felony charges accused the 38-year-old congresswoman of using force to interfere with federal agents during a protest that included several other Democratic lawmakers. If convicted, mciver could face up to eight years behind bars. Not exactly a slap on the wrist situation here. For her part, representative McIver, who's represented New Jersey's 10th congressional district since last September, is firing back hard. She's blasting the charges as purely political and claims they mischaracterize and distort her actions. Characterize and distort her actions. Mciver maintains she was simply exercising congressional oversight to enter the facility and has blamed ICE agents for escalating the confrontation. Haba counters that she only proceeded with charges after efforts to resolve the matter without filing charges failed.

Speaker 1:

According to a source familiar with the investigation, haba's office reviewed hours of body cam footage showing McIver allegedly acting insanely aggressive, elbowing, shoving, impeding federal agents. This whole situation raises some serious questions about the boundaries of congressional oversight versus law enforcement authority. Where's the line between legitimate oversight and obstruction? It's a tension we're seeing play out in real time with real consequences. As this case moves forward, it could set some interesting precedents for how lawmakers conduct themselves during similar protests in the future. Stay tuned on this one, folks.

Speaker 1:

Let's dig into what actually went down at this ICE facility, because the allegations against Rep McIver are pretty serious. According to the federal criminal complaint, mciver allegedly slammed her forearm into the body of a uniformed Homeland Security agent and later forcibly struck an ICE agent during the May 9th protest at the Delaney Hall Detention Center in Newark, investigators weren't just going off hearsay either. They used body cam footage and aerial camera stills to document McIver's actions during what's being described as a melee. The footage apparently shows her actively trying to prevent the arrest of Newark Mayor Ross Baraka, who happens to be a top candidate for New Jersey governor in June's Democratic primary. Witnesses claim McIver was shouting Hell, no, hell no, hell, no as agents attempted to arrest Baraka. The complaint details that she not only slammed her forearm into a Homeland Security agent, but also reached out and tried to restrain the agent by forcibly grabbing him. After Baraka was taken into custody, mciver allegedly forcibly struck an ICE agent as well.

Speaker 1:

This wasn't a solo mission, by the way. Mayor Baraka, along with Representatives Robert Menendez Jr and Bonnie Watson Coleman, both Democrats from New Jersey, were among those who reportedly attempted to force their way into the detention center, demanding its closure. What's interesting is how differently this played out for the various players involved. Baraka was arrested at the scene for trespassing, but was later released with charges against him dismissed just this week. According to a source close to the investigation, baraka understood the severity of what was going on, while McIver apparently didn't take the opportunity to avoid charges. The source also claims there are hours of yet-to-be-released body cam footage that paints an even more damning picture of McIver's behavior during the incident. If and when that footage becomes public, it could dramatically shift public perception of what went down at that protest. While congressional oversight of federal facilities is certainly within lawmakers' rights, physically interfering with law enforcement crosses into entirely different territory. As this case unfolds, we'll likely see a heated debate about where exactly that line should be drawn.

Speaker 1:

Hold on to your hats, folks, because House Republicans just cleared a major hurdle in advancing what can only be described as a budget beast A mammoth, 1,116-page bill containing President Trump's sweeping tax proposals. The House Budget Committee pushed this monster through during an unusual late-night vote on Sunday, despite significant infighting among Republican factions over just how big this thing should be. At the heart of this legislation is making the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent, a move that nonpartisan scorers estimate would cost the nation a cool $5 trillion over the next. The Joint Committee on Taxation, which is the official revenue scorekeeper for Congress, projects that the overall cost of extending these tax cuts and other measures would add more than $5 trillion to our national deficits. Breaking it down, extending just the individual rate reductions from the 2017 law would reduce revenues by more than $2 trillion through 2034. That's trillion with a T people. At the same time, the JCT found the package would put about $1.9 trillion toward reducing the deficit through measures like cutting renewable energy incentives and international tax enforcement. When all the math is done, the JCT estimates the tax piece alone would cost $3.7 trillion over the next decade. Republicans are clearly hoping American voters will focus on the tax relief rather than the price tag, but both sides of this fiscal coin deserve equal attention. This bill represents one of the most significant tax and spending packages in recent memory and, as Republicans continue making adjustments in the coming days will keep you updated on how this could affect your wallet and the nation's financial future. According to reporting from the Hill, this is just one piece of a much larger economic vision being pushed forward.

Speaker 1:

Diving into the nitty-gritty of this GOP bill, it's packed with proposals that'll touch everything from your tax returns to health care access. First up, let's talk SALT, not the kind on your fries, but the state and local tax deduction that's been capped at 10,000 since 2017. The bill proposes raising this cap to 30,000 for filers making under 400,000, with a gradual phase down for higher incomes. This would be a major win for taxpayers in high-tax blue states, who've been feeling the pinch. Remember when Trump promised no tax on tips during his campaign? Well, they're following through with proposals to eliminate taxes on gratuities, along with nixing taxes on car loan interest and overtime pay. There's also an enhanced deduction for seniors in the mix. These are the kinds of kitchen table tax cuts Republicans hope will resonate with working voters.

Speaker 1:

On the green energy front, the bill takes a hatchet to Biden era tax credits for climate friendly energy sources. Electric vehicle tax credits would vanish within two years, while credits for wind and solar would phase out through 2032. They're also adding new requirements that would exclude projects using minerals or components from China, a move industry insiders have described as unworkable. And that's still not aggressive enough for some GOP hardliners. Perhaps most consequential are the Medicaid reforms estimated to result in millions losing coverage by 2034. The bill would require childless adults aged 19 to 64 to meet work requirements to remain eligible for the program and would shorten the ACA open enrollment period. These health care changes are part of a larger effort to find more than $800 billion in savings over the next decade. The SNAP benefits program would also see significant changes, with the bill requiring states to cover a portion of benefit costs, while currently 100% federally funded states would be on the hook for 5% of costs starting in fiscal 2028, with that percentage potentially rising to 2.5% for states with high payment error rates. Republicans frame this as an incentive for states to improve program efficiency, while Democrats warn it could lead to benefit cuts.

Speaker 1:

But that's not all. This massive bill contains the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a watchdog agency born from the 2008 financial crisis, would face significant funding restrictions. The legislation slashes the CFPB's funding cap from 12 percent of the Federal Reserve's operating expenses down to just five percent, a move Republicans have long sought to rein in what they view as an agency with too much independence and power. Democrats, meanwhile, consider this a direct attack on consumer protections. The package also addresses the looming debt ceiling crisis by raising the nation's borrowing limit by $4 trillion. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant has already warned Congress that the government risks defaulting on its more than $36 trillion debt by July, with a reasonable probability that cash and extraordinary measures will be exhausted by August, right when Congress is scheduled to be in recess.

Speaker 1:

On the education front, the bill would beef up Pell grants for students in short-term training programs, while simultaneously tightening limits on federal student loan borrowing. It would also increase taxes on private university endowments, another front in the ongoing clash between the Trump administration and higher education institutions. Perhaps most notably, it creates the first federal school choice bill allowing tax credits for donations to groups providing school choice scholarships. Defense hawks will find plenty to like with Pentagon spending increases totaling roughly $150 billion. Trump officials are proudly touting that this would push defense spending above $1 trillion for the first time ever and to fulfill campaign promises on immigration. Billion Trump officials are proudly touting that this would push defense spending above $1 trillion for the first time ever. And to fulfill campaign promises on immigration, the bill allocates tens of billions for Trump's border wall and detention facilities. As reported by the Hill, these proposals represent a significant reshaping of federal priorities, combining tax cuts with targeted spending increases and broad program reforms a package that still faces substantial hurdles before becoming law.

Speaker 1:

Well, talk about eating your words with a side of awkward sauce. Msnbc's Joe Scarborough got served a healthy portion of his own commentary this week when Mark Halperin confronted him with that now infamous clip where he proclaimed Joe Biden the best Biden ever back in March. For those who missed Scarborough's passionate defense of Biden earlier this year, he didn't just say Biden was competent, he went full throttle, declaring the former president was far beyond cogent and even challenged viewers with a defiant few if you can't handle the truth, pretty strong words for a man who would step down from his presidential campaign. Just months later, when pressed by Halperin on his Morning Joe show, scarborough didn't exactly backpedal. Instead, he doubled down, insisting he never personally witnessed Biden's bad days. He referenced multiple private meetings where Biden supposedly displayed impressive analysis of international situations, particularly regarding Russia and Ukraine. Impressive analysis of international situations, particularly regarding Russia and Ukraine.

Speaker 1:

Halperin wasn't buying it, reminding Scarborough that he'd witnessed Biden's public fumbles, including addressing a deceased congresswoman as if she were in the room. But rather than directly address these contradictions, scarborough pivoted to Trump, arguing that politicians often stumble and bumble around. The timing couldn't be more interesting, coming right after the release of special counsel Robert Herr's interview with Biden, which revealed significant memory lapses. This is the same Herr report that Scarborough previously dismissed as random-esque back in February, suggesting Herr was auditioning for a judgeship under a potential second Trump administration. What makes this particularly noteworthy is how it illustrates the media's struggle to reconcile private impressions with public performances, especially, as CNN's Abby Phillips suggested, herr may have actually undersold Biden's cognitive issues in that interview, as reported by Fox News.

Speaker 1:

This incident highlights the complicated relationship between media narratives and political realities when it comes to doubling down, scarborough should get an Olympic medal. In his conversation with Halperin, he refused to acknowledge the disconnect between his best Biden ever claims and the mounting evidence to the contrary and the mounting evidence to the contrary. Instead, he essentially argued that his personal encounters with Biden carried more weight than what millions of Americans witnessed on their screens. Am I going to look at a clip that's gone viral and pay more attention to that than two and a half three hours I had with a guy one-on-one going around the world? No, I'm just not going to. Scarborough insisted this, despite Halperin pointing out that he could show multiple instances where Biden was clearly struggling.

Speaker 1:

Let's rewind to February, when the Her report first dropped. Scarborough went ballistic, demanding Her apologize for documenting Biden's memory lapses, including forgetting when his son Beau died. I think he hopes he gets a judgeship if Donald Trump gets elected again because he's trying out. Scarborough ranted, suggesting Herr had political motivations. Fast forward to last Friday, when the actual Herr-Biden interview audio was released.

Speaker 1:

Suddenly, the narrative shifted dramatically. Even CNN's Abby Phillip had to acknowledge that Herr might have actually undersold Biden's cognitive issues in the report a complete reversal of what many media figures, including Scarborough, had claimed. What's particularly striking is how Scarborough attempted to normalize Biden's stumbles by comparing them to Trump, saying Donald Trump did, other politicians did. It's the classic. But what about defense when confronted with inconvenient facts? This whole saga reveals the dangers of media figures becoming too personally invested in the politicians they cover. When you've spent hours with someone privately, it becomes much harder to objectively assess their public performance. More importantly, it demonstrates how quickly established narratives can crumble when direct evidence becomes available. The question remains if Scarborough was this wrong about Biden's cognitive state, despite his insider access, what else might he and other media figures be getting wrong about the politicians they claim to know so well? And that wraps our headline roundup for today.

Speaker 1:

Folks From Rep McIver facing serious charges over ICE facility protests, to House Republicans advancing a massive tax and spending package with far-reaching implications for millions of Americans. Meanwhile, joe Scarborough's defense of his best Biden ever comments highlights the ongoing debate about media narrative versus reality. These stories share a common thread the tension between political positioning and factual accountability. Whether it's a congresswoman claiming oversight privileges during a protest, trillion-dollar tax proposals being framed as deficit reduction, or a media personality defending personal impressions against contradictory evidence, as always, we're committed to bringing you the unfiltered news you need, without the partisan spin. Follow us on X at Ranting RP and find us on YouTube, spotify, iheart. Align with a political party. We align with you, the American citizen. Until then, stay tuned, stay informed and, as always, stay free.