Jeffries: It’s Time For Dramatic Change

Published Sep 8, 2026 6:00 am : Updated Sep 7, 2026 3:30 pm

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House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries recently held a press conference, where he emphasized that Democrats are committed to rooting out Republican corruption and lowering the cost of living for everyday Americans.

Jeffries was Tuesday’s KVML “Newsmaker of the Day”. Here are his words:

“Donald Trump promised to lower costs on day one, but under Donald Trump and Republican control of government, costs in the United States of America haven’t gone down. They’ve gone up. Life has gotten far too expensive in this country, and Republicans don’t give a damn about it. The Republican priorities, as evidenced by the One Big Ugly Bill, in the entire Congress has been focused on ripping healthcare away from the American people, enacting the largest cut to nutritional assistance in American history, literally stealing food from the mouths of seniors, hungry children and veterans, giving ICE billions of taxpayer dollars to brutalize and kill American citizens, all to reward their billionaire donors with massive tax breaks.

Life hasn’t gotten better under the Republican-controlled Congress. Life has gotten worse, and we need a dramatic change in direction. House Democrats will continue to focus on fighting for an affordable America, lowering the high cost of groceries, gas and housing. We’re committed to making healthcare affordable for every single American and, at the same time, to combating corruption and holding the crooks accountable beginning on day one, because there’s a direct link between the unbelievable levels of corruption being visited on the American people and the continued rise in the cost of living.

If you have people in high office in this town who are so focused on enriching themselves, their family members and their donors, that means they’re not focused on making life better for everyday Americans. And it’s one of the many reasons why the economy under Donald Trump and Republicans is a disaster. It continues to move in the wrong direction. The decisions that have been made, like this reckless and costly war of choice in Iran, have been a failure, and it’s time for dramatic change.”

The “Newsmaker of the Day” is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML.