Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Jake Tapper Perfectly Shuts Down Stephen Miller's Rant About Government Funding—And We're All Cheering

Screenshot of Jake Tapper and Stephen Miller
CNN

Jake Tapper said what everyone was thinking to Stephen Miller as he ranted nonsensically about government spending.

CNN's Jake Tapper said what everyone was thinking to Stephen Miller, who, fresh off his first week as the White House Deputy Chief of Staff, defended President Donald Trump's order to freeze hundreds of billions of dollars in government spending that created significant confusion across all levels of government.

Earlier, a Trump administration official stated that the move is not a funding freeze but a "pause" to allow agencies time to review whether federal grants and loans align with recent executive actions by Trump. The official added that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has been coordinating with agencies to exempt certain programs.


Though the freeze was set to begin at 5 p.m. Tuesday, a federal district judge intervened minutes before the cutoff and set a hearing for further arguments for next Monday morning.

Asked for specifics on how long the Trump administration expects its top-down review to take and when funding for programs will resume, Miller said:

"In the original executive order that addressed NGOs, foreign aid, and other grants, there is a 90-day review process, as you know, Jake."
"More fundamentally, do you believe, does anyone believe that an unaccountable career-tenured bureaucrat should be able to approve vast sums of money for the projects that they personally agree with?"

Tapper swiftly cut him off, stressing that Miller had completely lost the plot:

"I'm literally asking about Meals on Wheels. I don't know what you're talking about."

Indeed, the funding freeze shook nonprofit organizations that administer programs like Meals on Wheels, which supports older Americans living in poverty and would be dealt an incredible blow by an action critics have decried as inhumane, pointing to the similar impact the move would have on school lunch programs.

You can watch their exchange in the video below.

STEPHEN MILLER: Does anyone believe that an unaccountable career bureaucrat should be able to approve vast sums of money for the projects that they personally agree with? JAKE TAPPER: I'm literally asking about Meals on Wheels. I don't know what you're talking about.

[image or embed]
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) January 28, 2025 at 4:51 PM

Many echoed Tapper's frustrations and criticized Miller as a result.

Stephen Miller would starve his own parents before he would disobey The Buffoon.
— SpunkyByChance (@spunkybychance.bsky.social) January 29, 2025 at 5:53 AM


Miller and their new press secretary don't seem to understand that Meals on Wheels is not a direct-to-beneficiary organization, which is why people are worried.
— randylane.bsky.social (@randylane.bsky.social) January 29, 2025 at 10:19 AM


So Miller is claiming 'no unaccountable bureaucrat' should be able to disburse funding already approved by Congress? And who the heck is he??
— beautifulwallsinfo.bsky.social (@beautifulwallsinfo.bsky.social) January 29, 2025 at 10:36 AM


Congress approved the funds - federal employees work with states and organizations to get CRITICAL funding to agencies that HELP AMERICANS. The only ppl who shouldn’t be in charge are ppl like Stephen Miller and all the corrupt P25 co-conspirators waiting in the wings to harm AMERICANS.
— magstarshine99 (@magstarshine99.bsky.social) January 28, 2025 at 6:21 PM


As someone who has worked for many federally funded programs. There is a high level of accountability for those funds being spent in the way in which they were intended. And non-profits that receive them take that responsibility seriously!
— Badasha-a-tron Adams (@flamingowmn74.bsky.social) January 28, 2025 at 5:38 PM


Sticking it to the people. That's what they're all about.
— Juju (@juju71.bsky.social) January 29, 2025 at 6:15 AM


The irony being that Stephen Miller is positioning himself as an unaccountable career bureaucrat who is allowed to approve vast sums of money for the projects he personally approves of.
— Professor Cynthia (@professorcyndi.bsky.social) January 28, 2025 at 9:56 PM



Miller has no idea what he’s talking about. Meals on Wheels is a group that distributes services to individuals. They’ve stopped funding groups.
— xnomads.bsky.social (@xnomads.bsky.social) January 28, 2025 at 9:31 PM

Miller's argument fails to acknowledge that the memo suspending federal funding was vaguely worded, leading to confusion among federal assistance programs, nonprofits, and aid recipients, and forcing OMB to issue an updated guidance.

While the memo specified that Social Security and Medicare would be exempt, additional guidance released Tuesday clarified that "any program that provides direct benefits to Americans is explicitly excluded from the pause."

Amid experts warning that even if the order is more narrowly tailored, it could still have significant financial consequences for the millions of Americans who rely on federal assistance, it was ultimately rescinded on Wednesday.

More from News/political-news

 Timothée Chalamet has officially entered his buzzcut era, debuting a freshly shaved head.
Chelsea Guglielmino/FilmMagic via Getty Images

Fans Split Over Timothée's New Look!

Fair warning, dear readers: 'Dune' references run rampant in this article.

Someone check on @clubchalamet, because Timmy’s curls have officially gone the way of Arrakis water—extinct. After months of suspiciously heavy hat usage, Timothée Chalamet has finally confirmed what the fandom feared (or thirst-tweeted about) most: the long, luscious locks are gone.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from ​@jenniferrpicone's TikTok video
@jenniferrpicone/TikTok

Fitness Influencer Hit With Backlash After Calling Out Gymgoer For 'Photobombing' Her Workout Video

It's pretty rich when a social media influencer posts a TikTok video, preaching about social etiquette while clearly not embracing those values themselves.

Take TikToker and fitness influencer Jennifer R. Picone, who frequently posts her gym routines, for example. During a recent gym session, Picone demonstrated weighted chest presses and several calisthenic moves, until the video went downhill.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rev. David Black; screenshots of Black being shot by ICE agents
Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church USA/YouTube; @ReichlinMelnick/X

Chicago Pastor Sues ICE After Video Shows Agents On Rooftop Shooting Him In The Head With Pepper Balls

First Presbyterian Church of Chicago senior pastor Reverend David Black is suing the Trump administration after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were filmed shooting him in the head with pepper balls during a peaceful protest at an ICE facility set up in a suburb of the city.

The agents were standing on a rooftop overlooking parking spaces where peaceful protesters, including Reverend Black, were gathered for a prayer vigil.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dolly Parton
@DollyParton/Twitter (X)

Dolly Parton Shares New Video To Assure Fans That She's Still Alive: 'I Ain't Dead Yet!'

Dolly Parton's health has been a concern since she posted on Instagram about having to postpone her Las Vegas shows due to several health issues she and her doctors were in the process of addressing.

Her sister, Freida Parton, accidentally encouraged the noise when she asked for prayers for Dolly, followed by offering an apology for stirring up concern across the Dolly community.

Keep ReadingShow less

Doctors Break Down The Most Obvious Lies A Patient Has Ever Told Them

Content Warning: Drugs, Drug Use, Drug Addiction

Those of us who are uncomfortable going to a doctor's appointment can attest to how hard it can be to talk to and get vulnerable with someone you don't inherently trust.

Keep ReadingShow less