Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
As President Trump signs the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act into law, not all conservatives are behind it.
This sweeping budget reconciliation package revives key elements of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, overhauls spending on Medicaid, green energy, and immigration, and raises the debt ceiling by $5 trillion. Supporters call it a bold push for economic growth and renewed American leadership, crediting it with preserving Trump-era tax cuts and encouraging investment.
But not everyone on the right is convinced.
In this episode, we’re not asking what Democrats think—we already know. Two conservatives. One controversial bill. Where do they align, and where do they draw the line?
With two House Republicans voting “no” and the Congressional Budget Office projecting a $2.8 trillion increase to the deficit over the next decade, some on the right are raising concerns about fiscal responsibility and long-term consequences.
So, is the Big, Beautiful Bill a strategic investment in America’s future—or a step too far for limited-government conservatives?
Arguing Yes: Jessica Riedl, Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute
Arguing No: Diana Furchtgott-Roth, Director of the Center for Energy, Climate, and Environment and the Herbert and Joyce Morgan Fellow in Energy and Environmental Policy at The Heritage Foundation
Emmy award-winning journalist John Donvan moderates
More Debates to Watch:
Trump’s First 100 Days: The Economic Agenda youtu.be/ijHsD-gNkm8
Is the Republican Party’s Refusal to Raise Taxes Fiscally Irresponsible? youtu.be/iPvpORs4VWM
Does America Need a Third Party? Andrew Yang vs. Daniel DiSalvo youtu.be/sjh1K6sVLK4
Is Musk’s DOGE Dodging the Law? youtu.be/UATYoq4a1hA
Is Elon Musk Killing Twitter? Kara Swisher vs. Anthony Scaramucci youtu.be/kM5ZCtCFi5Q
#opentodebate #debate #law #congressional #budget #politics #economics #republicans #presidentrump #economy
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Timestamps:
00:00:00 The Big Beautiful Bill
00:02:11 Jessica Riedl: The Bill Is a Disaster
00:06:20 Diana Furchtgott-Roth: The Bill is Not a Disaster
00:12:08 Should Republicans Prioritize Economic Growth or Tackle National Debt?
00:18:18 Unpacking the Bill: Is It "Clutter" or Essential Provisions?
00:24:02 Are Medicaid Cuts and Work Requirements Too Strict?
00:33:57 Scrutinizing the Legislative Process & CBO Scoring
00:41:08 Sahil Kapoor's Q: Will Future Majorities Continue to Avoid Paying for Priorities?
00:47:03 Taylor Gro's Q: Will the Bill's Divisive Nature Help or Hurt Republicans?
00:54:07 Immigration's Role: How Do Provisions Impact the Broader Debate?
00:57:41 Jessica’s Closing Statement
00:59:53 Diana’s Closing Statement
As President Trump signs the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act into law, not all conservatives are behind it.
This sweeping budget reconciliation package revives key elements of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, overhauls spending on Medicaid, green energy, and immigration, and raises the debt ceiling by $5 trillion. Supporters call it a bold push for economic growth and renewed American leadership, crediting it with preserving Trump-era tax cuts and encouraging investment.
But not everyone on the right is convinced.
In this episode, we’re not asking what Democrats think—we already know. Two conservatives. One controversial bill. Where do they align, and where do they draw the line?
With two House Republicans voting “no” and the Congressional Budget Office projecting a $2.8 trillion increase to the deficit over the next decade, some on the right are raising concerns about fiscal responsibility and long-term consequences.
So, is the Big, Beautiful Bill a strategic investment in America’s future—or a step too far for limited-government conservatives?
Arguing Yes: Jessica Riedl, Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute
Arguing No: Diana Furchtgott-Roth, Director of the Center for Energy, Climate, and Environment and the Herbert and Joyce Morgan Fellow in Energy and Environmental Policy at The Heritage Foundation
Emmy award-winning journalist John Donvan moderates
More Debates to Watch:
Trump’s First 100 Days: The Economic Agenda youtu.be/ijHsD-gNkm8
Is the Republican Party’s Refusal to Raise Taxes Fiscally Irresponsible? youtu.be/iPvpORs4VWM
Does America Need a Third Party? Andrew Yang vs. Daniel DiSalvo youtu.be/sjh1K6sVLK4
Is Musk’s DOGE Dodging the Law? youtu.be/UATYoq4a1hA
Is Elon Musk Killing Twitter? Kara Swisher vs. Anthony Scaramucci youtu.be/kM5ZCtCFi5Q
#opentodebate #debate #law #congressional #budget #politics #economics #republicans #presidentrump #economy
===================================
Subscribe: youtube.com/@OpentoDebate
Official site: opentodebate.org
Newsletter: opentodebate.org/insight
X: twitter.com/OpentoDebateOrg
Facebook: facebook.com/BeOpentoDebate
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/opentodebate
Instagram: instagram.com/opentodebateorg
TikTok: tiktok.com/@opentodebateorg
Open to Debate Apple Podcasts: tinyurl.com/bdzmz5xt
Open to Debate Spotify Podcasts: tinyurl.com/22tuxu7h
===================================
Timestamps:
00:00:00 The Big Beautiful Bill
00:02:11 Jessica Riedl: The Bill Is a Disaster
00:06:20 Diana Furchtgott-Roth: The Bill is Not a Disaster
00:12:08 Should Republicans Prioritize Economic Growth or Tackle National Debt?
00:18:18 Unpacking the Bill: Is It "Clutter" or Essential Provisions?
00:24:02 Are Medicaid Cuts and Work Requirements Too Strict?
00:33:57 Scrutinizing the Legislative Process & CBO Scoring
00:41:08 Sahil Kapoor's Q: Will Future Majorities Continue to Avoid Paying for Priorities?
00:47:03 Taylor Gro's Q: Will the Bill's Divisive Nature Help or Hurt Republicans?
00:54:07 Immigration's Role: How Do Provisions Impact the Broader Debate?
00:57:41 Jessica’s Closing Statement
00:59:53 Diana’s Closing Statement
