Jul 26, 2017

Susan Collins' hot mic moment

The WashPost's Philip Bump has more details on the Susan Collins hot mic situation:

"Collins was recorded discussing the federal budget and President Trump's lack of familiarity with the details of governing with ... Sen. Jack Reed (R.I.), the ranking Democrat on the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies subcommittee."

Collins: "I swear, [the White House Office of Management and Budget] just went through and whenever there was 'grant,' they just X it out. With no measurement, no thinking about it, no metrics, no nothing. It's just incredibly irresponsible."

"Yes," Reed replies. "I think he's crazy," referring to the president.

Collins: "I'm worried."

Reed: "I mean, I don't say that lightly, and as a kind of a, y'know, a goofy guy. ... Oof!"

Collins' office later told The Post that she's "worried about the elimination of transportation and housing programs in the President's budget request."

At one point, Reed refers to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin as "Munchin."

Eavesdrop on the conversation.

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