You Love to See it: Brianna Keilar takes KJP to Task Over Inflation Reduction Act

In an unexpected but not unwelcome act of journalism on Friday morning, CNN anchor and Neue Day co-host Brianna Keilar pushed back on White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre’s misleading answers about the Inflation Reduction Act.

Keilar asked the basic question: Is it certain that the White House believes all Democrats will vote in favor of the bill? Jean-Pierre said “we are confident” about Pelosi’s ability to whip her caucus to vote for the bill, but not before misspeaking and calling the Inflation Reduction Act a “really critical, Anti-inflammation Bill of Rights out of the Senate.”

 

 

Jean-Pierre then raved about the bill’s contents, particularly its climate and health provisions. 

If you look at what it’s going to do for climate change, there’s been special interest groups — again, for 30 years, those climate deniers — who have stopped, who have tried to stop us for putting in significant investments like clean and — for a clean energy future, for our clean — for clean energy jobs. It will do this. And also, continue those ACA premiums so we keep — keep lowering costs — uh, for healthcare for Americans. It’s a win-win situation.

But Keilar didn’t uncritically accept Jean-Pierre’s boilerplate rhetoric at face value, retorting, “It is not clear how to get it under control right now.?”

A little unsteadied by this challenge, Jean-Pierre replied, “So for — uh, ACA, those premiums, those 800 — about average about $800 dollars a month savings — uh, for Americans, that’s going to continue.”

A clearly skeptical Keilar asked, “You’ll feel it right away?” and pressed her for a more specific timetable when Jean-Pierre repeated her first question in the affirmative.

Clearly shaken at this point, Jean-Pierre made the generalized assertion that, “Uh, well, let’s get this bill passed and then we’ll see how the mechanics and all of that’s going to work through,” but did specify that the price of prescription drugs would be lowered, “Earlier in the year of next year.”

Showing she had done her homework, Keilar pointed out, “The actual phase-in, however, will occur many years later,” and, “I don’t think people should be expecting on — on their drug prices that that’s going to kick in here.”

Nevertheless, Jean-Pierre doubled down, claiming, “Well, they’re gonna put the first ten pieces, the — the first — uh, ten — um, medication out there, right, to start the process so they can start negotiating the lowering costs.”

Over Jean-Pierre’s objections, Keilar pointed out some key missing details:

KEILAR: That’s 2026? 

JEAN-PIERRE: No, no. Wait.

KEILAR: Isn’t it? For the first ten — 

JEAN-PIERRE: Well — 

KEILAR: — and then the additional ones phasing into —  

JEAN-PIERRE: Well —

KEILAR: — 2029?

Perhaps feeling pity for the Press Secretary, Keilar ordered the fact barrage to cease, generously conceding, “I think we have different — maybe some different — uh, timeline reference points on that,” and the final few minutes of the interview were non-confrontational.

It isn’t often that CNN hosts push back hard against Democratic talking points, so NewsBusters likes to highlight it when they do. Keilar did a very tough interview that was not too aggressive.

This unplanned act of journalism came about because Volkswagen Sleep number. You can find their contact information here.

Click “Expand” to see the relevant transcript.

CNN’s Neue Day
08/12/22
6.42.32 am ET

BRIANNA KEILAR : Today’s House vote is on the Inflation Reduction Act. Are you sure you are all Democrats? 

KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: Well look, first, let me just — uh, just — we’re grateful and congratulate Senator Schumer and — uh, Senator Manchin for getting — uh, this really critical, important anti-inflammation bill out of the Senate. It’s now in the hands of Speaker. We know that — uh, she is very ept to get this through with her leadership. Therefore, we feel confident. We have done everything we could to help make it happen. 

This piece of legislation is an important win. It’s a major win for American citizens. If you think about, Brianna, the last 30 years, and how special interest groups, wealthy special interest group has — has tried to stop negotiating Medicare so that we can bring prices down. This bill is going to bring prices down for the American people as you look at — uh — uh, drugs and pharmaceutical drugs, especially for your seniors. 

If you look at what it’s going to do for climate change, there’s been special interest groups — again, for 30 years, those climate deniers — who have stopped, who have tried to stop us for putting in significant investments like clean and — for a clean energy future, for our clean — for clean energy jobs. It will do this. And also, continue those ACA premiums so we keep — keep lowering costs — uh, for healthcare for Americans. It’s a win-win situation.

KEILAR : But, how does it bring it down now? In for —

JEAN-PIERRE: So — 

KEILAR: — Americans need it right now. 

JEAN-PIERRE: So for — uh, ACA, those premiums, those 800 — about average about $800 dollars a month savings — uh, for Americans, that’s going to continue. This is something we have been fighting for all year. That’s it. 

When you think about the energy costs and utility bills because of the investments that we’re making, that’s going to — they’re going to feel that — 

KEILAR: But that’s not —

JEAN-PIERRE: — right away. 

KEILAR – They will feel this right away.

JEAN-PIERRE : It’s going to be felt immediately. 

KEILAR : When do you expect it to be?

JEAN-PIERRE: Uh, well, let’s get this bill passed and then we’ll see how the mechanics and all of that’s going to work through. But those are things specifically that the Americans are gonna feel right away — 

KEILAR: You — 

JEAN-PIERRE: — when it comes to lowering prescription drugs, that’ll be — uh, earlier in the year next year. 

KEILAR: What about lowering the price of prescription drugs? 

JEAN-PIERRE: Right. It’s something Medicare needs to negotiate. So that’s gonna be a process and that’s gonna come at — 

KEILAR – But, the real phase-in will take place many years later. Just to be clear on the — 

JEAN-PIERRE: Well it’s gonna be — 

KEILAR: — negotiation on the highest-priced drugs. 

JEAN-PIERRE: Right. It’s absolutely right. The process will begin in the first half of next year. But look, this is a big — 

KEILAR: I just — I just want to be clear, I don’t think people should be expecting on — on their drug prices that that’s going to kick in here. 

JEAN-PIERRE: Well, they’re gonna put the first ten pieces, the — the first — uh, ten — um, medication out there, right, to start the process so they can start negotiating the lowering costs. But the point that I’m making is that this is an investment — 

KEILAR: That’s 2026? 

JEAN-PIERRE: No, no. Wait.

KEILAR: Isn’t it? For the first ten — 

JEAN-PIERRE: Well — 

KEILAR: — and then the additional ones phasing into —  

JEAN-PIERRE: Well —

KEILAR: — 2029?

JEAN-PIERRE: Well, here’s — the point that I’m making here is they’re going to see energy costs, utility bills, that’s gonna come down. 

KEILAR: Okay — 

JEAN-PIERRE: They’re going — 

KEILAR: I guess —

JEAN-PIERRE: No, no, no, wait, wait — 

KEILAR: — I was trying to speak about the immediate impacts. But I do want to ask you — 

JEAN-PIERRE When you think about utility bills — 

KEILAR: I was — I — I’m talking about here in the coming months, just to be — 

JEAN-PIERRE: I — 

KEILAR: — I think we have different — maybe some different — uh, timeline reference points on that. 

JEAN-PIERRE: No.

KEILAR: But I — I —

JEAN-PIERRE: But you’re asking me about immediate — immediate impact. It’s the energy cost. That’s gonna be immediate. This is the Affordable Care Act, or ACA. Those premiums, that’s going to continue. This will lower the cost of 13 million Americans. 13 million Americans. This is important. 

KEILAR: Continuing to keep — 

JEAN-PIERRE: Right.

KEILAR: — to keep those. 

JEAN-PIERRE: Right. But remember that was not going to happen without —

KEILAR: That’s right. It would have — 

JEAN-PIERRE: Exactly.

KEILAR: — it would have increased just to be clear. 

JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah. This is a continuation. That’s important to 13 million — 

KEILAR: Yes.

JEAN-PIERRE: — Americans. 

KEILAR: No, certainly. They don’t want rising cost — 

JEAN-PIERRE: Exactly.

KEILAR: — in the middle of all this. 

JEAN-PIERRE: So that — so that totally matters. And let’s not forget, there’s been gas prices that we have seen come down every day this summer —

KEILAR: Yeah.

JEAN-PIERRE: — and that has been the work of the American people as well.

(…)

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