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Democratic Senator Dick Durbin gave a CNN reporter a brutal reality check during an exchange on whether members of Congress deserve a pay raise.

Pressed on accountability by CNN’s Manu Raju, Durbin snapped back at one point to remind him of the downward spiral of the media. The entire exchange was looked upon, not with any embarrassment but with mockery as CNN host Jim Acosta laughed with Raju after the fact.

“Understand that part of this year and spending package, the stopgap continuing resolution, as it’s called, apparently has a provision in there that gives lawmakers their first pay raise since 2009. Is that correct? What’s the latest on that?” he asked the reporter on “CNN Newsroom With Jim Acosta” Wednesday.

“From what we understand, this is a massive bill, roughly 1500 pages that came out just yesterday. They’re trying to jam this through Congress by the end of the week to prevent a government shutdown,” Raju explained from the halls of Congress.

“This would extend funding until mid-March, but it also includes a whole wide range of other issues, one of which is to increase the members’ pay that has not been increased since 2009, but the language in there would allow them to get their first pay increase since then,” Raju continued.

“Right now, members make the rank and file make about $174,000 a year. I just caught up with Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin about this issue. I asked him if it was appropriate for lawmakers to give themselves a raise,” he said as he showed a clip of him asking Durbin, “Do you guys deserve a pay raise?”

“Well, that’s news to me. It’s good news!” laughed the senior Illinois lawmaker who has served as the Senate majority whip since 2021. “You know, what has it been ten years or 14 years and no COLA? No change at all. I think it’s about time something’s done.”

“You support giving yourselves a pay raise,” Raju pressed, to which the senator replied, “Well I don’t know what it is. How would I not know about a pay raise–?”

“But I mean, people look at the performance of Congress, say, why should we give them more money?” the reporter shot back, setting himself up for Durbin’s zinger.

“What about the media? Think about that for a second,” he said, prompting Raju to clarify, “We’re not paid by public money.”

“I know you’re not. But I mean, half of your listeners are not there anymore. You’re still getting the same paycheck? What’s going on?” Durbin asked, leaving Raju to just repeat his question.

As the camera rolled back to the reporter, there was a lengthy pause before he wrapped up the report and Acosta chimed in.

“Unreal! But Manu, I have to say, you are worth every penny!” he said, laughing.

The clip immediately racked up thousands of views on X where users applauded the left eating their own.

Frieda Powers
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