, they called it classless, according to mike rounds, one of the 11 to vote for it, as well as john thune, the number two senate republicans, and warned he would not cooperate in the future, we'll see if that happens. nevertheless, didn't go over well particularly with republicans. >> staying with senator man chin, you've got new reporting about the difficulty of getting senator manchin, even into the same room with chairman of the budget committee, senator sanders, tell us about that. >> reporter: this came up in a conference call earlier this week where house progressives were talking to president biden about the way forward. why don't we get the two different leaders of the factions, manchin, the leader of the moderates, bernie sanders, the leader of the progressives, get them in the same room, try to come up with a deal on the larger democratic agenda because ultimately if they sign off, probably all of the different quarters of the democratic caucus will sign off as well. biden responded i'm told said that would be like committing quote homicide saying i have been in politics for a l

mitch mcconnell, john thune, john of texas. lisa murkowski, no shock. richard shelby, rob portman because he's retiring, john barrasso, lloyd blunt because he's retiring, they care more about mitch mcconnell than the promise they made the american people for two straight months? >> welcome but they didn't use the leverage they had, sean. you're exactly right to and using it in december, just kicking the can down the road. his hair was right, they're so much at stake in the country. where you look at where we are today, gas prices are $1 more a gallon. americans are playing 20 more dollars every time they fill up their tank. a year ago, it was only 4,000 people coming across the border. donald trump, not a single person died in afghanistan over the past 18 months. that's why joe biden -- they can't even use joe biden in virginia. jerry mcauliffe, and to ease up on the democrat in this moment, did not keep pressing and writing this thing up, i mean, you mention back to biden, you mention biden in his fake truman show room. think about harry truman and wha

so as senator thune said, let's go to work. >> our differences seem very minor in the face of the revelations that we've now seen so i'm hoping we can move forward. >> i share that with you, mr. chairman, thank you. thank you very much for your testimony. what examples do you know, we've talked about particularly children, teenage girls in specifically. but what other examples do you know about where facebook or instagram knew its decisions would be harmful to its users but still proceeded with the plan and executed those harmful, that harmful behavior? >> facebook's internal research is aware that there are a variety of problems facing children on instagram that are, they know that severe harm is happening to children. for example, in the case of bullying, facebook knows that instagram dramatically changes the experience of high school. so when we were in high school, when i was in high school, most kids -- >> you looked at me and changed your word. >> sorry. when i was in high school, most kids have positive home lives. it doesn't matter how bad it is at school, kids can go home and reset f

so, senator thune said, let's go to work. >> our differences are very minor. or they seem very minor in the face of revelations that we have now seen, so i'm hoping we can move forward. >> i share that view, mr. chairman thank you. thank you very much for your testimony. what examples do you know -- we've talked about particularly children, teenage girls specifically, but what other examples do you know about where facebook or instagram knew its decisions would be harmful to its users but still proceeded with the plan and executed those harmful behavior >> facebook's internal research is aware that there are a variety of problems facing children on instagram, that are -- they know that severe harm is happening to children. for example, in the case of bullying, facebook knows that instagram dramatically changes the experience of high school. so when we were in high school, when i was in high school, most kids -- >> you looked at me and changed your wording. >> sorry when i was in high school, you know, most kids have positive home lives it doesn't matter how ba

from the democrats to fund or reckless tax and spending spree republican south dakota senator john thune called the effort desperate markets go up, markets go down. if you had a year where. >> total value went down by 20%. then what. you get a refund. democrats are also considering other alternatives imposing 15% minimum tax to make sure large corporations pay their fair share of creating a global minimum tax in washington. alexandra limon. california senator dianne feinstein has proposed more than 18 million dollars in direct funding for baper project and this money. >> as part of the 2022 fiscal year government funding bills. senator feinstein said in a statement, quote, i'm proud we were able to get this critical funding included in the senate bills and will work with colleagues to ensure that california receives its fair share in the final package negotiated with the house, the house and senate are expected to begin negotiations soon. this bill will fund the government through september 30th of 2022. governor gavin newsome and and more than a dozen state lawmakers are heading to scot

republican senator john thune says there is bipartisan support to regulate facebook's algorithms and to get tougher on social media. giant's ability to collect users personal data in washington. i'm joe khaleel. >> a facebook spokesperson later released this statement in response to the whistleblower's testimony which reads in part, quote, we don't agree with her characterization on many of the issues he testified about despite all this. we agree on one thing. it's time to begin to create standard rules for the internet. >> well, this surrounding facebook isn't the only issue that has lawmakers attention this week. the united states could default on its debt as early as sunday which analysts say could trigger a financial crisis and that could be avoided. they say if lawmakers reach a deal to raise the debt ceiling. but it's of course, controversial republicans and democrats. >> predictably are at odds are grant. lotus is here in the studio with more on this. we're always on the brink of something that seems i think people at home are listening to this kind of following along a bit an

republican senator john thune has sponsored several measures to create transparency that could give the public and policymakers more understanding of how the algorithms work in pushing content to users, and democrats want to strengthen privacy and competition laws, bolster online protections for children, get full access to research data to create new rules and standards to address consumer harms and illegal content, and limit legal protections for facebook and other companies for the actions of their users. now, the whistle-blower, for her part, she is calling for an independent government agency to audit the impact of social media. senators say what is next? possibly a hearing on facebook's impact on national security. pam, i know you probably caught that "snl" last night, the parody on the whistle-blower testimony. so it is not just in the sterile halls of congress where this is being debated. pam. >> it's certainly not. that was a pretty funny skit with quite the message behind it. all right. so let's turn to you, joe, and basically president biden's political struggles right now ev

the fact that john thune said we don't want our name on increasing the debt limit. they don't care about the issue, they want to run ads saying only the other guys did it. this is so irresponsible, david. i don't know your comments. i'm just going to let you talk. >> it's for the most part no longer a governing party. you know, claire remembers there were times even though it's not like washington was laughs and giggles when she was there, but you could get stuff done. this party is sworn to trump, denialism, sworn to destroying the democracy. the only reason mcconnell blinked was he heard from manchin and sinema they would have a carve out on the filibuster. we've got better things to talk about. listen, the republicans don't want to do that. it's outrageous and hitch critical. i want them out there talking about the jobs and home health care and taxes raised on the wealthy. i wouldn't fall into this trap. it's an important issue of course. claire and i went through this in 2011. i would shrug your shoulders and say, we'll do this. deeply hypocrite call but that sh

joining me right now, the ranking member of the house intel committee, congressman thune yes, sir, and former acting director of intelligence, ric grenell. gentlemen, good to see you. congressman nuÑes, you were on this program back in may telling us, in fact, they did send this money. why is it that anthony fauci can go under oath and say otherwise? >> maria, i don't think that he can, and he should be prosecuted here. if he was notified, our committee did a year-long investigation. we talked about it back this may, we put out an official report. so he was clearly on notice then. after that he went where? he went to the united states senate, and not once but, i believe, twice under questioning by senator rand paul he said it didn't happen, and that's simply not true. and i don't think his e-mails, when you go back and look at the time, show that he wouldn't though something about this either. so he's long been on notice, he knows this, and now the question is, is will the department of justice do anything about it. maria: yeah. ric grenell, actually merrick garland was questioned abo

he becomes the six republican senator to endorse walker including south dakota senator john thune, the number two senate republican on monday. with today's apparent change of heart, mcconnell is now in full alignment with former-president trump. >> you know, herschel is not only a georgia hero, he is an american legend. >> reporter: walker, a former-football star, was recruited by trump to run. >> i have known donald trump for 37 years and i don't mean just casual ran into him from time to time. i am talking about a deep personal friendship. >> reporter: the political newcomer has faced scrutiny over his past allegations of abuse, he was accused of threatening his ex-wife and friend of hers in the early 2000s. >> you can get angry but the anger that you can go out and really, really hurt someone and th that is when you know you got a problem. >> reporter: walker spoke to cnn in 2008 about his struggle with dissociative identity disorder, previously known as multiple personality disorder which his campaign has said he has received help for since the alleged incidents. >> how many altars

. >> senator thune. >> i've been arguing for some time that it is time for congress to act and i think the question iss always what is the correct way to do it in the right way to do it consistent with our first amendment right to freest speech. this committee doesn't have jurisdiction over the antitrust issue. that's the judiciary committee and i'm not adverse to looking at the monopolistic nature facebook and i think that's a real issue that needs to be examined and perhaps addressed as well but at least under this committee's jurisdiction there a couple of things i think we can do. i have a piece of legislation and senator blackburn and blumenthal are both co-sponsors called the filter bubble transparency a.c.t. and what it will do is give users the options to engage with social media platforms without being manipulated by the secret formulas that essentially did take the content that you see when you open up an app or log onto a web site. we also i think need to hold big tech accountable by reforming section 230 and one of best opportunities to do that in a bipartisan way is the pl

. >> senator thune >> thank you, mr. chair. and ranking member blackburn i've been arguing for some time that it is time for congress to act. i think the question is always what is the correct way to do it, the right way to do it consistent with our first amendment right to free speech. >> totally. >> this committee doesn't have jurisdiction over the anti-trust issue. that's the judiciary committee and i'm not averse to looking at the monopolistic nature of facebook honestly. i think that's a real issue that needs to be examined, perhaps addressed as well. but at least under this committee's jurisdiction, there are a couple of things i think we can do. and i have a piece of legislation and senators blackburn and blumenthal are both co-sponsors called the filter bubble transparency act essentially what it would do is give users the options to engage with social media platforms without being manipulated by the secret formulas that essentially dictate the content that you see when you open up an app or log on to a website. we also

let me turn and recognize senator thune. >> thank you, mr. chair. i along with many of my colleagues are deeply concerned about the lack of transparency and limited accountability of big tech companies. consumers have becomely increasingly troubled about thee way their information is used by social media platforms and how they decide what information we see. because of the secrecy with which they protect the algorithm practices that largely continues to be consumers have little or no idea how much information they see on the sites they are visiting. i urge the these bills for the platform accountability and transparency with the pack act and filter transparency act. this would increase transparency around the content moderation for the consumers and more due process and the level gives the option to engage with and turned platforms without being manipulated by these opaque algorithms and i would like very briefly to discuss those with you today. "the wall street journal" recently revealed facebook toorithm 2018 in the efforts postoo meaningful socia

. >> it's mit romney's it's the ben sass and john thunes that are standing in the schoolhouse store, standing in the senate door and they are stopping voting rights bills from being debated. >> why do you go into public life? what do you choose here? it's bigger than infrastructure now. historians are going to debate. at stake here is the fabric of american democracy. what can be bigger? why else do you choose this line of work? they'll talk about republicans and what they're trying to do with voting rights. let my say to my republican friends who i still consider you as friends even if you don't consider me. i can love you but you don't have to love me. if you don't like the bill as it's, get in there and do what legislatures are paid to do. tell them what you don't like about the bill. what will it take, lisa, murkowski, to get you to a yes. just let them debate on the bill and vote on it. mit romney, what do you not like about it? i am not going to vote to help them pass voting rights. what don't you like about it? don't hold a press conference. talk to them about it. say i don't

mitch mcconnell also voted yes, as did senator john thune south dakota, senator barrasso, senator ron portman, senator murawski, richard shelby of alabama, blunt of missouri, and my clowns of south dakota. 11 vote supplied by republicans. they raise the debt ceiling through early december. that now goes into the house. the house is expected to be back in session on tuesday, the 14th of october, just days ahead of what the treasury department says is deadline for default, if the u.s. bid to raise money is not raised by that point. so that is where we are on the debt ceiling. plenty more physical fight the head, and amid all of that, we are asking you this morning for your top news story of this past week. again, (202) 748-8001 for republicans. democrats, it is (202) 748-8000. an independents, (202) 748-8002. dan is in jackson heights, new york come up first this morning. what was your top news story this past week? caller: hi. i just heard a congressional hearing on arizona elections that preceded your program, and i am, frankly, utterly shook. i am a republican. i came here as a refug

we are joined by senator thune and senator amy klobuchar and senator ed markey. they have all been extraordinary leaders in this effort, and today i should note is the first time that tiktok and snap have appeared before congress. i appreciate you and you do for your testimony this morning. means a lot. our hearing with facebook whistleblower francis haugen was a searing indictment along with her documents of a powerful, check in a a corporation that ps profits ahead of people, especially our children. deafening drumbeat of continuing disclosures, about facebook -- they have deepened america's concerns and outrage. and have led to increasing calls for accountability, and there will be accountability. this time is different. accountability to parents and the public, accountability to congress. accountability to investors and shareholders, and accountability to the securities and exchange commission and other federal agencies. because there is ample credible evidence as we start an investigation here. but today, we are concerned about continuing to educate the amer

thune: madam president? the presiding officer: the republican whip. mr. thune: madam president, i understand we're in a quorum call. the presiding officer: yes, we are. mr. thune: i ask unanimous consent the quorum call be lifted. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. thune: unanimous consent that i be allowed to speak for up to 15 minutes. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. thune: madam president, work continues on democrats' social spending spree and the senate seems on on -- to be on track to vote on their bill in the near future. well maybe. it depends on who you ask at any given time around here these days. just to highlight the high level of uncertainty surrounding this process, president biden was on capitol hill just this morning. his second visit this month to twist the arms of still undecided democrats. as they continue to see what sticks to the wall, it's good to know that priorities for government jobs -- tax credits for justice programs at college universities and $200 million park in speaker pelosi's district may soon come

thune: mr. president, democrats continue to negotiate with each other on their reckless tax and spending spree. democrats are currently working to lower the topline number in an effort to meet some of the demands of the few moderate democrats who have reservations about unchecked government spending. now, mr. president, you might think that lowering the topline number would involve deciding what programs and spending to eliminate toll bring the bill in at a lower cost. not exactly. yes, democrats are reportedly eliminating some spending. but the word is that under pressure from progressives who are dead set against curtailing their plans for expanding government, democrats are planning to keep a lot of their most expensive proposals but simply shorten the funding window to make the cost of these programs seem lower. take democrats' fantastically expensive child allowance. democrats have every intention of turning their child allowance into a permanent government welfare program. but in order to

thune: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that i be able to complete my remarks and that senator burr also be able to complete his remarks before the vote starts. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. thune: mr. president, there are a few, quote-unquote winners under democrats' $3.5 trillion tax and spending spree. unions, for example, and electric vehicle manufacturers. but there are a lot more losers like middle-class families who will have to stretch their paychecks to cover higher inflation and higher energy bills, workers who will see jobs and opportunities shrink and farmers and ranchers. mr. president, agriculture is the lifeblood of my home state of south dakota, and so ag issues are always pretty much on my mind and i'm pretty concerned about democrats' tax and spending spree will mean forked south dakota farmers. for starters, i'm worried that democrats' bill could mean the end of some farms thanks to the bill's expansion of the death tax. now, mr. president, i have long cr

thune: in just a few minutes we're going to take another vote, just an ordinary vote senator most of us unless you're susan collins, because this next vote we're going to take in the senate will be susan collins' 8,000th consecutive vote. the leader described it. she is the cal ripken of the united states senate. he played 2,632 consecutive games and susan collins has been showing up every day for work and bringing her a-game literally since 1997. it is an extraordinarily number but what it represents is what really matters a. that's susan's work ethic, her tenacity and unshakable commitment to the people of maine. if there's one thing that the people of maine can depend on is that susan collins will be there to represent them, not just on the big days or for the big votes but every day on every single vote. mr. president, i'm also proud to stand up today and to recognize susan. susan, congratulations on this incredible milestone. you truly are the workhorse of the united states senate. here is the next 8,000. -- here is to the next 8,000. the presiding officer: the majority whip. mr

thune: thank you, mr. president. mr. president, on september 25, president biden tweeted, and i quote, my build back better agenda costs zero dollars. that's right. according to the president, a series of new, permanent entitlements and a massive expansion of government, the biggest expansion of government at least since the new deal, is going to cost zero dollars. that from the president of the united states. and the president has now been doubling down on that claim. on monday, he once again tweeted the fact of the matter is my build back better agenda costs zero. well, no, mr. president, the fact of the matter is that your build back better agenda costs $3.5 trillion at least. that's the minimum number. the committee for responsible federal budget where the president's treasury secretary served on the board before joining the administration estimates the cost at $5 trillion or more. believing -- but leaving that aside, mr. president, even if the president has been merely trying to claim that his plan is fully paid for