Fox News host Maria Bartiromo said on Monday her “thinking is evolving” on political issues facing the GOP-controlled House after a blistering interview Sunday morning with Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who has been arguing for single-agency appropriations bills rather than fund a weaponized federal government in a massive omnibus bill.
The host responded to a tweet from Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.), who said the back-and-forth with his Republican colleague was “the best interview” he has seen.
“The ad hominem attacks against @RepMattGaetz will undoubtedly persist, but his every point was perfectly stated and utterly inarguable,” Bishop quote tweeted alongside a clip of the video. “Let’s see a rational rebuttal. Maria is usually one of the best, but she could only sputter.”
She responded by saying that Bishop was “right,” adding: “@RepMattGaetz made a very good argument. And my thinking is evolving. I was happy to have him on.”
You are right. @RepMattGaetz made a very good argument. And my thinking is evolving. I was happy to have him on. https://t.co/RQu6y9pNQ6
— Maria Bartiromo (@MariaBartiromo) September 25, 2023
Their responses came after the Florida Republican joined Bartiromo on Sunday to talk about the looming government shutdown. At one point, he talked about four bills the House is preparing to advance, explaining that “the only way to do this, Maria, is line by line. Kevin [McCarthy] wants it in one big, up-or-down vote; keep the government open, shut it down.”
“The bills are being worked on; you just heard [Ohio Republican Rep.] Jim Jordan say that they are effecting four bills this week, appropriations bills this week, to get through that would partially fund the government, the Defense bill as well,” Bartiromo said. “You wanted the Defense bill to move forward, did you not?”
“Yes, that’s why I voted for it, and I voted for the rule to proceed on to it,” Gaetz said. “Any by the way, don’t give Kevin McCarthy credit for the fact that we’re moving on to these four appropriations bills. That was the deal that House conservatives foisted upon Kevin McCarthy when he couldn’t just move the big spending bills without moving the bills that cut spending.”
“Well, he’s doing the four bills next week,” Bartiromo said before Gaetz chimed in.
“Because we’re making him do it!” he said.
“So to push now, to blow up all of the wins that you all have had now,” Bartiromo said in response.
Gaetz then challenged her: “Which wins? Please enumerate them.”
“Hold on, hold on,” she continued. “How about the fact that he has set up the China select committee to keep China to account, and of course, he has launched this inquiry into impeachment, potentially for President Biden, is that not what you want?”
Gaetz countered that “none of those things are deliverable” and that “these committees have done nothing to reduce inflation, they’ve done nothing to actually constrain the Biden government.”
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