00:00Today, we delve into the significant public opposition faced by President Donald Trump's
00:05ambitious legislative proposal, dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill.
00:10This comprehensive piece of legislation, which has already passed the House of Representatives
00:16and is now under review in the Senate, aims to extend the 2017 Trump tax cuts, reduce
00:22taxes on tips and overtime, and implement substantial spending cuts across various programs,
00:29notably Medicaid.
00:30However, recent polling data reveals a stark reality.
00:35This bill is widely unpopular across the American public, creating considerable political head
00:40winds for its passage.
00:43The rejection stems from several key areas, highlighted by a series of nonpartisan surveys
00:48released this month.
00:50For instance, a Fox News poll indicated that a striking 59 percent of registered voters
00:56opposed the bill, while only 38 percent support it.
01:00This opposition, in isolated to specific groups, spans across demographic age and income categories,
01:08including a notable 73 percent opposition among independents and 53 percent among white men
01:15without a college degree, a demographic traditionally considered central to President Trump's base.
01:22Similar negative perceptions were echoed in surveys by Quinnipiac University, KFF, Pew Research Center,
01:29and The Washington Post, Ipsos, with opposition consistently outweighing support, often by significant
01:36margins.
01:37A primary driver of this widespread rejection is the proposed cuts to Medicaid.
01:43The bill seeks to reduce Medicaid spending through new work requirements and eligibility rules.
01:49While initial support existed for work requirements for able-bodied adults receiving Medicaid at
01:5452 percent, this sentiment dramatically shifted once voters were informed of the projected consequences.
02:01The Nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, or CBO, estimates that approximately 8 million
02:07people could lose their health coverage as a direct result of this bill, with later versions
02:12projecting this number to exceed 10 million.
02:15This consequence is largely deemed unacceptable by the public, with 63 percent finding it so.
02:22Furthermore, broader sentiment among voters shows a strong preference to either maintain
02:28or increase Medicaid spending, not decrease it.
02:32Another point of contention lies within the tax provisions.
02:36While extending the 2017 tax cuts for all income levels garners some popularity.
02:41Defending these cuts specifically for incomes above $400,000 is notably unpopular, opposed
02:48by 49 percent of adults compared to 30 percent in favor.
02:53Critics also point to the bill's projected impact on the national debt.
02:57The House-passed version is estimated to increase the national debt by $2.4 trillion over the next
03:04decade, according to the CBO, despite the President's assertion that the great, big, beautiful bill will
03:11grow the economy like it has never been grown before.
03:15Public concern over the national debt is evident.
03:18This strong public sentiment creates significant challenges for Republican leaders in the Senate,
03:23who can only afford a minimal number of defections, assuming unanimous Democratic opposition.
03:30Several Republican senators have already voiced concerns, signaling potential hurdles for
03:35the bill's passage.
03:36Looking ahead, the Democrats are poised to make this bill a central theme in their messaging
03:41to voters for the 2026 midterm elections, emphasizing its perceived unpopularity and negative impacts
03:48on the American public.
03:50Money Explainers
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