I had to do a double-take reading this because after months of Republicans screaming about “unelected bureaucrats” (if they aren’t Elon Musk) while systematically firing inspectors general and stripping civil service protections from 50,000 federal employees (supposedly because their unelected-ness means they must be evil), suddenly seeing them show deference to MacDonough felt like stepping into an alternate reality. They’ll rail against career scientists at the FDA as illegitimate “deep state” actors, but then John Thune says firing the parliamentarian would be “akin to killing the filibuster” and multiple GOP senators are like “that’s just the process, we respect it.” Okay! I’m happy for everyone suddenly respecting processes because they are processes, but will that sentiment last when it comes to passing the bill?
Then I went digging into what right-wing media is actually saying about MacDonough and yeah, we’re definitely still in the same universe. Did you know she’s a “former Gore advisor” who is a “leech from the corpse of Harry Reid” who in an act of “animus” “took a hatchet” to “suck the life” out of the bill like a “wet blanket” because, as every one of the articles I found repeatedly mentions, she was “appointed by a Democrat” years ago? Did you know she is the swamp?
It’s just fascinating that Senate Republican leadership seems to understand they actually need some institutional guardrails to function, even while the broader party wages war on the concept of non-partisan expertise. I guess the difference is MacDonough’s rulings can be overruled if they really want to, whereas career civil servants in agencies might actually know things that contradict their policy goals, and therefore must be eradicated? Much easier to attack people who can’t fight back than to pick a fight with an institution you might need to work with later when the pendulum swings back.
I think the reason they are deciding to side with her decision is bc they know if they don’t this could be used against them when they aren’t in the majority. They also have deeply unpopular provisions in the bill that they want someone else to kill, so that they don’t have to piss off Trump or their constituents bc they didn’t make the call.
I was already assuming the first part of what you said was true, but hadn't thought of that 2nd part. Totally makes sense.
BTW... just signed up to phone bank to call people to tell them to tell their reps they hate this bill! Because it seems like the vast majority of people do hate this bill, including a lot of Republicans. The question is whether people in consequential voting districts have the energy to pick up the phone. Lorde knows I barely have any energy left, and I'm a childless dog dad. Not sure how anyone with real responsibilities juggles saving the world in the spare time they don't have. Just putting that out there for anyone reading who feels powerless about this bill passing...
I've had some fun experiences in phone banking in the past, but also some that triggered some anxiety, where I was calling people who were angry to hear from me. But given the almost bipartisan hatred of this thing, I'm feeling a little better about helping in this mission. I hope I'll be given a script of items that are broadly unpopular and motivating people to agree this is a disgusting abomination of a bill.
It's such a mixed bag, isn't it? The satisfaction of talking to people who truly appreciate learning something vs the emotional hits that come from people who hate you. I definitely set myself back in my health journey by doing this kind of stuff. It was worth it for a time, though :)
Thank you, Gabe! This is exactly what I needed to know. We were debating this at our state representatives’ town hall on Monday, where I admonished everyone that the current administration does not respect guardrails, and questioned whether congress would respect the Byrd rule.
Seems like quite the fantasy to believe we’ll ever return to a time of compromise and working across the aisle to pass bipartisan legislation. The Senate Parliamentarian should never be the most powerful person in government. When’s the last time there was ever a win/win outcome in Congress? Seems like it’s always I win/you lose. Logic would say after an election where more people voted for someone other than Trump and with razor thin margins in the House and Senate, the legislative environment would be ripe for compromise. I would say to Logic, ha, ha, you’re kidding, right? But I know there are state legislatures where the parties work together (Minnesota comes to mind), so maybe things will change if enough of those people make it to the national level.
Senators not having to listen to what she says does not give me good feelings. Whenever it's "typically they do though", this administration seems to fly in the face of the typical.
Exactly. It feels like too many of our checks and balances rely on the party willingly doing the right or expected thing even when they don't have to. This admin has proved they don't care about precedent.
This is incredibly interesting! The job of the parliamentarian is one I always mean to look up but instead ends up sitting on my checklist of things to research later.
Somehow learning that Sen. Mike Lee’s proposal to sell off public lands is officially considered “Byrd droppings” makes me as a Utahn very pleased. I wonder what it would be called if the rule had been instituted by a senator named “Bull”. 😉
How has the AI part not been cut out yet? Doesn’t seem to have anything to do with budget. I hope it gets cut. Hopefully the republicans will follow her advice.
Is there a House equivalent? A House parliamentarian? Until reading this I had no idea this was a position. Also, how do you become Senate Parliamentarian and how long are the terms?
I had to do a double-take reading this because after months of Republicans screaming about “unelected bureaucrats” (if they aren’t Elon Musk) while systematically firing inspectors general and stripping civil service protections from 50,000 federal employees (supposedly because their unelected-ness means they must be evil), suddenly seeing them show deference to MacDonough felt like stepping into an alternate reality. They’ll rail against career scientists at the FDA as illegitimate “deep state” actors, but then John Thune says firing the parliamentarian would be “akin to killing the filibuster” and multiple GOP senators are like “that’s just the process, we respect it.” Okay! I’m happy for everyone suddenly respecting processes because they are processes, but will that sentiment last when it comes to passing the bill?
Then I went digging into what right-wing media is actually saying about MacDonough and yeah, we’re definitely still in the same universe. Did you know she’s a “former Gore advisor” who is a “leech from the corpse of Harry Reid” who in an act of “animus” “took a hatchet” to “suck the life” out of the bill like a “wet blanket” because, as every one of the articles I found repeatedly mentions, she was “appointed by a Democrat” years ago? Did you know she is the swamp?
It’s just fascinating that Senate Republican leadership seems to understand they actually need some institutional guardrails to function, even while the broader party wages war on the concept of non-partisan expertise. I guess the difference is MacDonough’s rulings can be overruled if they really want to, whereas career civil servants in agencies might actually know things that contradict their policy goals, and therefore must be eradicated? Much easier to attack people who can’t fight back than to pick a fight with an institution you might need to work with later when the pendulum swings back.
I think the reason they are deciding to side with her decision is bc they know if they don’t this could be used against them when they aren’t in the majority. They also have deeply unpopular provisions in the bill that they want someone else to kill, so that they don’t have to piss off Trump or their constituents bc they didn’t make the call.
I was already assuming the first part of what you said was true, but hadn't thought of that 2nd part. Totally makes sense.
BTW... just signed up to phone bank to call people to tell them to tell their reps they hate this bill! Because it seems like the vast majority of people do hate this bill, including a lot of Republicans. The question is whether people in consequential voting districts have the energy to pick up the phone. Lorde knows I barely have any energy left, and I'm a childless dog dad. Not sure how anyone with real responsibilities juggles saving the world in the spare time they don't have. Just putting that out there for anyone reading who feels powerless about this bill passing...
https://www.mobilize.us/wfpower/event/796084
I've had some fun experiences in phone banking in the past, but also some that triggered some anxiety, where I was calling people who were angry to hear from me. But given the almost bipartisan hatred of this thing, I'm feeling a little better about helping in this mission. I hope I'll be given a script of items that are broadly unpopular and motivating people to agree this is a disgusting abomination of a bill.
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/06/trump-big-beautiful-bill-polling-unpopular-republicans-yale-study/
It's such a mixed bag, isn't it? The satisfaction of talking to people who truly appreciate learning something vs the emotional hits that come from people who hate you. I definitely set myself back in my health journey by doing this kind of stuff. It was worth it for a time, though :)
Thank you for doing this!
Thank you, Gabe! This is exactly what I needed to know. We were debating this at our state representatives’ town hall on Monday, where I admonished everyone that the current administration does not respect guardrails, and questioned whether congress would respect the Byrd rule.
Seems like quite the fantasy to believe we’ll ever return to a time of compromise and working across the aisle to pass bipartisan legislation. The Senate Parliamentarian should never be the most powerful person in government. When’s the last time there was ever a win/win outcome in Congress? Seems like it’s always I win/you lose. Logic would say after an election where more people voted for someone other than Trump and with razor thin margins in the House and Senate, the legislative environment would be ripe for compromise. I would say to Logic, ha, ha, you’re kidding, right? But I know there are state legislatures where the parties work together (Minnesota comes to mind), so maybe things will change if enough of those people make it to the national level.
Interesting article!! Thank you! I really appreciate it and I feel like I am learning so much!
Senators not having to listen to what she says does not give me good feelings. Whenever it's "typically they do though", this administration seems to fly in the face of the typical.
Yeah, I am extremely worried about that. This administration is openly defiant of the Supreme Court. What's to stop them from defying "norms"?
Exactly. It feels like too many of our checks and balances rely on the party willingly doing the right or expected thing even when they don't have to. This admin has proved they don't care about precedent.
Yes, exactly. Why do we even have checks and balances if they no one *really* has to comply? It's maddening.
This is incredibly interesting! The job of the parliamentarian is one I always mean to look up but instead ends up sitting on my checklist of things to research later.
Somehow learning that Sen. Mike Lee’s proposal to sell off public lands is officially considered “Byrd droppings” makes me as a Utahn very pleased. I wonder what it would be called if the rule had been instituted by a senator named “Bull”. 😉
How was the Byrd Rule enacted. Did he just establish a rule that they all follow, or was it voted on by the entire body? Just curious.
This was fascinating! I learned so much, and laughed out loud at the Byrd bath and Byrd droppings! 😂
She sounds like a remarkable person. This was fascinating and I learned a ton-thank you!
How has the AI part not been cut out yet? Doesn’t seem to have anything to do with budget. I hope it gets cut. Hopefully the republicans will follow her advice.
Wow! Wonderful to learn about her! MacDonough for president!
Can you make this available to anyone so I can post it??
This isn't a post for only paid subscribers. You should be able to share the link with anyone.
I enjoyed the brain exercise of this lesson piece.
Is there a House equivalent? A House parliamentarian? Until reading this I had no idea this was a position. Also, how do you become Senate Parliamentarian and how long are the terms?
Very informative article. I don't understand how all the spending in this bill and cutting taxes, which raises the deficit gets a pass.