{"id":2441456,"date":"2025-06-01T13:59:02","date_gmt":"2025-06-01T17:59:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/russel-vought-dismisses-ridiculous-critics-at-joni-ernst-town-hall-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-06-01T14:00:12","modified_gmt":"2025-06-01T18:00:12","slug":"russel-vought-dismisses-ridiculous-critics-at-joni-ernst-town-hall-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/russel-vought-dismisses-ridiculous-critics-at-joni-ernst-town-hall-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Russel Vought dismisses \u2018ridiculous\u2019 critics at Joni Ernst town hall &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frussel-vought-dismisses-ridiculous-critics-at-joni-ernst-town-hall-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2441456&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/canadian-parliament-declares-chinas-treatment-of-uyghurs-genocide-as-biden-remains-silent\/\" title=\"Canadian Parliament Declares China\u2019s Treatment Of Uyghurs \u2018Genocide\u2019 As Biden Remains Silent\">recent town hall<\/a>, Russell Vought, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, defended Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) after she faced backlash for her comments regarding the proposed changes to Medicaid in a legislation referred to as &#8220;the big, gorgeous bill.&#8221; During the event, Ernst was confronted by an audience member who warned, &#8220;People are going to die,&#8221; to which she coldly replied, &#8220;Well, we all are going to die,&#8221; a remark that drew meaningful criticism and media attention. Vought claimed that the criticisms of ernst&#8217;s comments were unwarranted and termed them as &#8220;ridiculous&#8221; and &#8220;astroturf,&#8221; suggesting they were orchestrated rather than genuine grassroots concerns. He further stated that the proposed bill would actually strengthen Medicaid by ensuring that benefits are prioritized for those who truly need them while addressing issues of improper claims. Ernst echoed these sentiments by highlighting the issue of illegal immigrants receiving Medicaid. Despite the controversy, she expressed her commitment to listening to constituents, as she approaches her re-election campaign in 2026.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Russel Vought dismisses &lsquo;ridiculous&rsquo; critics at Joni Ernst town hall<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2126943\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Director of Office of Management and Budget&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/russell-vought\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Russell&nbsp;Vought<\/a>&nbsp;mocked the backlash Sen. <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joni-ernst\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Joni Ernst<\/a> (R-IA) faced for defending the changes to Medicaid proposed in the reconciliation bill before Congress.<\/p>\n<p>Ernst took questions about what Democrats have characterized as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3415559\/white-house-trump-medicaid-cuts-house-republicans-divided\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cuts to Medicaid<\/a>&nbsp;in legislation passed by the House and dubbed &ldquo;the big, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-downplays-strategy-fight-after-huddle-with-senate-gop-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Trump downplays strategy fight after huddle with Senate GOP - Washington Examiner\">beautiful bill&#038;rdquo<\/a>; in a town hall this week. As the bill now lies before the Senate, she was answering questions about how she will vote on it. One audience member shouted at the senator, &ldquo;People are going to die,&rdquo; to which Ernst responded &ldquo;Well, we all are going to die,&rdquo; drawing boos at the moment and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nyt-writes-off-crimes-that-hurt-dems-electorally-as-mere-local-stories\/\" title=\"NYT Writes Off Crimes That Hurt Dems Electorally As Mere \u2018Local\u2019 Stories\">national news coverage<\/a> since.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3427814\/us-submits-nuclear-deal-proposal-iran-increases-uranium-enrichment\/\">US <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >submits nuclear deal proposal<\/a> after Iran increases uranium enrichment<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3427809\/trump-to-meet-merz-white-house-next-week\/\">Trump to meet with Germany&#8217;s Merz at White House next week<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3427803\/trump-warns-rand-paul-against-opposition-big-beautiful-bill\/\">Trump warns Rand Paul against opposition to &#8216;big, beautiful bill&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;I think they&lsquo;re totally ridiculous. This is astroturf,&rdquo; Vought told <em>Sunday Morning Futures<\/em> in response to critics of Ernst&rsquo;s comment and in reference to the attendees at her town hall. He used the term &ldquo;astroturf&rdquo; to suggest that the attendees there were trying to artificially start a movement that appeared to be grassroots when those behind it were large corporations or political groups.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; max-width: 640px; max-height: 360px; min-width: 320px; min-height: 180px; overflow: hidden;\">\n<div style=\"position: relative; width: 100%; padding-top: 56.25%;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/share.grabien.com\/share.php?id=2960348&amp;userid=11311&amp;loginid=10455&amp;playercolor=%23000000&amp;playersize=auto&amp;code=461a8a83b3540a35cfe3bac799318d03\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0px;\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&ldquo;This bill will preserve and protect the programs, the social safety net, but it will make it much more common sense. Look, one out of every five or six dollars in Medicaid is improper. We have illegal immigrants on the program. We have able-bodied working adults that don&lsquo;t have a work requirement that they would have in TANF or even SNAP,&rdquo; Vought said. &ldquo;And those are something that&lsquo;s very important to institute. That&lsquo;s what this bill does. No one will lose coverage as a result of this bill.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Ernst similarly cited the 1.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dhs-secretary-mayorkas-admits-biden-admin-released-over-1-million-illegal-immigrants-into-the-u-s\/\" title=\"DHS Secretary Mayorkas Admits Biden Admin Released Over 1 Million ... Into The U.S.\">4 million illegal immigrants<\/a> who are receiving Medicaid benefits but &ldquo;would be coming off&rdquo; as a result of the bill.<\/p>\n<p>    <iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/video.php?height=476&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWashingtonExaminer%2Fvideos%2F1696830140924529%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=310&amp;t=0\" width=\"310\" height=\"476\" style=\"border:none;overflow:hidden\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share\"><\/iframe>    <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/healthcare\/3421853\/dr-oz-why-states-paying-illegal-immigrants-health-care\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>DR. OZ ASKS WHY STATES ARE &lsquo;PAYING FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS GETTING HEALTHCARE&rsquo;<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;What you don&rsquo;t want to do is, listen to me when I say that we are going to focus on those that are most vulnerable,&rdquo; Ernst said at the town hall. &ldquo;Those that meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid, we will protect. We will protect them.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Several Republican&nbsp;town&nbsp;halls&nbsp;have gone sideways as protesters have increasingly infiltrated the meetings to shout down lawmakers. As a result,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3336382\/house-republican-members-in-person-town-halls\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Republican Congressional Committee<\/a>&nbsp;Chairman Richard Hudson (R-NC) told members that they should cease holding in-person&nbsp;town&nbsp;halls&nbsp;to stop encouraging such actors. However, Ernst defended her Parkersburg event, saying, &ldquo;I always enjoy hearing from constituents and sharing my work to cut government red tape for you&rdquo; as she approaches her reelection in 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2126943\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2126943\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Russell Vought mocks critics at Joni Ernst&#8217;s town hall<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2631,"featured_media":2441457,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/vought-confirmation.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[4365,33027,56309,38665,32076],"class_list":["post-2441456","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-critics","tag-joni-ernst","tag-russel-vought","tag-town-hall","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/vought-confirmation.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2441456","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2631"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2441456"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2441456\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2441460,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2441456\/revisions\/2441460"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2441457"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2441456"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2441456"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2441456"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}