Inside the Epic Political Battle Over the Debt Ceiling in 2012 (documentary) | FRONTLINE
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- čas přidán 28. 05. 2024
- FRONTLINE investigated how a clash of politics and personalities in 2012-2013 took the U.S. economy to the edge of the “fiscal cliff.” (Aired 2013)
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Based on interviews with key Republican and Democratic players including former Speaker of the House John Boehner, former White House adviser Gene Sperling and President Obama’s former Chief of Staff William Daley, “Cliffhanger” investigated how a struggle over America’s debt ceiling and deficit problems led to a bitter, high-stakes standoff.
Explore additional reporting on "Cliffhanger" on our website:
www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/do...
#Documentary #DebtCeiling #USeconomy
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FRONTLINE is produced at GBH in Boston and is broadcast nationwide on PBS. Funding for FRONTLINE is provided through the support of PBS viewers and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Additional funding is provided by the Abrams Foundation; the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; Park Foundation; and the FRONTLINE Journalism Fund with major support from Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L. Hagler Foundation, and additional support from Koo and Patricia Yuen.
CHAPTERS:
Prologue - 00:00
Republicans Elected in the 2010 Midterms - 0:49
The "Young Guns:" Eric Cantor, Kevin McCarthy, Paul Ryan - 08:41
The President and the House Speaker’s Grand Bargain - 15:41
Another Deal from the Senate - 25:212
Teetering on the Fiscal Cliff - 35:02
Credits - 51:57
I fear the loss of this level of journalism.
That would be terrible
The type that only leans left?
I don't participate in politics like it's football. @@tonytonz88
I fear the loss of this level of democracy
Trumpoloid aren’t you!
Best program in the US. So glad we have this.
Haha "Eric Cantor is playing for the future, he wants to be speaker of the house".
Eric Cantor, one year later: *Becomes first house majority leader to lose his primary*
Ironic, right?
@@andrewdb01 David Brat!!
The power of the media and the power of establishment remember what Donald Trump was saying in 2016 the swamp the media pushed such a bad agenda or a bad narrative end up getting the man voted out
As Soon as I get Finished watching This Video.. I will be Watching Eric Cantor's Election Night Lost. He was a TOTAL JERK
@@wilnerolivier7971 who then lost to Abigail Spanberger. Oops!
1:13: 📉 The 2010 midterm elections resulted in a significant loss for the Democratic party, leading to a change in power in Congress and a new class of Republican freshmen with a mission to change Washington.
5:07: 📜 House Republicans in the 112th Congress strategized to oppose President Obama's agenda, with Eric Cantor leading the charge.
11:42: 😱 The president's speech on fiscal policy becomes a direct assault on Paul Ryan's budget proposal, causing outrage among Republicans.
16:23: 😮 President Obama and Speaker Boehner secretly meet to discuss a grand bargain to address the debt ceiling and government size, with Boehner willing to offer an increase in tax revenue.
22:47: 💥 Negotiations for a grand bargain on the debt crisis hit a roadblock when Eric Cantor disagreed with the president and walked out of a meeting.
27:16: 😡 Speaker Boehner walks away from a potential deal with President Obama, causing anger and frustration.
32:19: 😔 The Republican party fails to reach a deal on the debt ceiling, leading to a fiscal cliff and their defeat in the 2012 election.
39:25: 📉 Boehner offers new tax revenue in a deal, but Obama demands more concessions.
43:07: 😔 Negotiations between House Speaker John Boehner and President Obama to avert the fiscal cliff quickly soured, leading Boehner to conclude that the negotiations were going nowhere and to pursue a different strategy.
49:14: 😔 Despite attempts at negotiation and compromise, the fiscal problems in Washington remain unsolved and the government is facing imminent deadlines on mandatory cutbacks, keeping the government running, and another debt ceiling vote.
Recap by Tammy AI
This documentary was one of the most balanced and truthful and honest i have ever seen, nice job Frontline 👌🌹
how do you know it was truthful? why do you watch what you already know? with that said, it is a good documentary. it seems balanced.
@@wmickinley x in
@@wmickinley probably because there are actual primary sources used.
@@jenh7004 yes...and?
If Nancy Polsiy is part of this documentry, it certainly raises eyebrows.
I don’t know what makes me revisit these old political episodes from Frontline. They are so fascinating for reasons I can’t explain.
It’s completely normal and a great thing to do. Learning from history is a great tool to attempt to understand the happenings of today.
I love them, I hope they continue uploading theme here
The documentary shows a very sad aspect about elected politicians that are riving each other in a personal and party level , and not making decisions for the good of the people and country.
☝
PBS documentary are always fair , balanced , objective and honest .
They have to be. They are funded by an oversight that requires them to report the truth, from both sides, or lose all funding.
You have to consider as well, until 2016 both parties had operated from a basic set of agreed truths. Since we were already so dysfunctional that that agreed truths was like the last stitch, or the glue holding it together. Now that is gone, it feels like with corruption from both sides, everyone is thinking this is something you can "win". Government is not winning or losing, it's about what we can make work for the majority of people. (you can't please everybody)
msm propaganda
Yet they never really interview any of the people involved. Just analysts
@@michaelcrennan7856 dude? They literally had John Boehner in the documentary speaking after the fact. What are you talking about?
I wouldn't say always but they seem to attempt to maintain their journalistic integrity
Great documentary. Thank you, Frontline. Can't believe this video was 10 years ago.
Nothing has changed. Only further, much further in debt with costs of government not paid for, divided like never before and ever toxicity in politics as another midterm approaches.
...and you can thank 30 years of Murdoch for that.
I know.
@@Martin-qm2lg let's be honest the debit is just being used as a prop. Most of our debt is actually owed to things like social security. You can't really complain about the debit and then pass a massive tax cut bill that isn't paid for. And a war that lasted three administrations. I think we should just be honest about what's actually going on.
@@mrankin2825 the honest truth is that it’s the same games, same issues now as in that 2012 documentary, but now even worse and intractable. What will it be in 2032? If anyone thinks that far ahead.
Politicians treating humans like pawns… shocking
The more I study politics, the more I realize what a game and shit show this whole thing is.
@@manuelramos8172 It was my field of study in college, and I worked a few campaigns. I completely am in full alignment with you on that remark.
@@andrewdb01 Oh wow! Me too! I'm actually currently in a course called Campaigns and Elections and oof, we always have a lot to say in there😂
@@manuelramos8172 Very cool! What university are you going to?
@@manuelramos8172 a game and a shit show, but one thing is for certain. If you want your future secured, politics is the best field to enter.
I remember living through this and thinking it was madness. We have lived through much greater madness since.
We have to go over this again 😢
These documentary are gonna be record keepers
Holy shit - I’m watching this going “omfg I remember this - most of these guys are gone! We got fkn robbed - they farted and ran off”
Now they are likely K-street lobbyists
Farted and ran off😂😂
It will be the same thing with the Freedom Caucus.
Looks like history going to repeat itself in 2023.
Yeah true
I disagree. The GOP majority is extremely slim. I think enough moderates will hop off the crazy train and raise the debt ceiling.
Very well done Frontline. This is the content I crave.
Hi stud 😋
Who knew it would get so much worse? Boehner had a pretty good idea about what was coming; Cantor did not.
Agreed, cantor and democrat were spending trillions of dollar's
@@marcosaguilar518 Trumps 3 Tillion in tax cuts probably didn't help
Asia doesn't exist. Florida gave Asia to the arabs. You are ruining his life
@@marcosaguilar518 Are you otherwise it’s going to get the dip the death penalty is that why you don’t want to tell the truth because you’re going to get the death penalty
I have to say that was pretty good. Awesome work.
Frontline delivering again. I put this on in the background while doing chores. Good stuff.
Same lol 😹
Honest and well prepared journalism as always, another great one from frontline. I appreciate the background of all the drama we have witnessed over the past ten years.
I do not get the idea behind it. Once you buy something you need to pay the credit card. The same people who refused raising the ceiling were the ones who also voted for the spending that led to the need to raise the same ceiling.
Politicians 🙃
It is just brinkmanship, there is no ideological consistency other than "this is something that can help us gain power, so let's do it".
They didn’t want them and their rich friends/donors to pay more taxes. Simple as. They frame it as the “American people” being taxed, but in reality they couldn’t give two shits about what happens to the American People unless it somehow affects them. It always boils down to money when it comes to America’s elite.
It could affect Americas credit score ( bond ratings). Making future loans ( bonds selling) at higher rates costing America more.
@@imwrongbutlisten Are you gone are you one of the ones is going to get to death militia is that why you don’t want to tell the truth
Another Frontline masterpiece.
*Will Lyman* is a national treasure!
9:33. Pretty ironic that paul ryan quit public service to work in the private sector. Real altruistic.
Well how else was he going to pay for his spinal transplant?? Besides, the GOP was spending a small fortune on constantly stapling Ryan to his chair, lest slide off his seat onto the floor like a jelly fish.
What does he do now
Ryan could read the tea leaves. He figured Trump would be voted out. He decided that he might run as for President in 2024. He didn't see Trump still owning the GOP after being beaten.
Watching this after McCarthy gets ousted from House Speaker is the funniest thing 😂
Lmao @ the Young Guns thing
@@jamesa.romano8500 I laughed so hard when the young guns thing came up, YEAH RIGHT !!
Watching this in April 2023 to prep for another round XD
Paul Ryan is offended when poor people are considered.
Of the “young guns” only one remains. Unbelievably fast breakdown of a group.
Well mccarthy is gone to so
Entitlement cuts are absurd. The social security act was to provide a living for people who can not earn a living. The minimum wage act was enforced correctly locally to have every job paid as living local. If you cut entitlement you are depriving disabled people food and shelter and elderly people food and shelter. This cut could be prosecuted as a crime against the people of the USA. A harmful reduction in spending that deliberately harmful is a crime.
I agree. But I would support a cut to medicare. It's unsustainable at this rate, it might help lower costs as well.
@@jc.1191 What about a cut to the military budget instead? We spend an overinflated 800+ billion a year on “defense”, of which does nothing to help the average, hard working, American people. Medicare does actually have a positive impact so if anything we should expand Medicare benefits and move as close to socialized medicine as realistically possible. Funding programs that actually help the people and create true material change that will positively change millions of Americans lives
@@tgutz7019 I'm open to that too. But ive heard medicare is unsustainable. We'd have more benefit if we spent more on Medicaid, like children under 5 who are the countries future productivity wise. Also increasing social security, while cutting more in Medicare. It'll force the inflated medical costs down, we're getting ripped off.
@@jc.1191 you are in fact, disproportionally getting ripped off by defense contractors (many of which are very well represented in congress). They have received billions in defense contracts to develop needless weapons of killing, half of which basically don't work (look into some of the planes these practical jokers are developing). And somebody is supposed to give up their healthcare, their life, for that? You have in effect made a moral judgement that the lives of people are to be weighed against this country's obsession with war and the killing they make off of it. There is a hierarchy of what to cut first, and people's safety nets are the last thing to go.
Excellent, balanced documentary.
We just gonna ignore Biden and McConnell saving the day twice at the last minute? While temporary and imperfect, I gotta admit that was so clutch.
You obviously fell for the theatrics.
@@LynxStarAuto Are you one of the ones he’s going to get the death penalty is that why you don’t want to tell the truth
@@LynxStarAuto u mean the easily accessible public information?
The reason this deal was on table because we must understand the midterms 2010.
The pov of Boehner here is just amazing. I was in college when this was going on. It really is mind-blowing the treachery of both parties.
Paul Ryan is a forgotten worm now but the disastrous tax bill he helped create is never going away
He was a coward who jumped ship instead of standing up to the evil cabal that is the GOP.
I’m sure he’s going to come back
@@21972012145525 He's a coward, he only wants to be there if he can be in charge, ha ha ha. No spine whatsoever.
Boehner was the old school Republican. Tea party was a cancer.
Yup, they have turned into a malignant tumor known as the Freedom Caucus.
Great documentary! 10/10.
At a buffet, I personally sneak corn into the buffet so others can enjoy them. I hide 6 boiled corn ears in my jacket pockets. It is a joy for me to see other patrons of the establishment eat my corn thinking they were part of the buffet.
I’ve tried the corn. It was delicious
?
Frontline Narrator: “…And even now, in 2023. It could ALL be solved overnight if Republicans would just TAX THE WEALTHY THEIR FAIR SHARE!!!”
Imagine if we lived in that world (again), America. Can you imagine?
Its kind of funny looking back at the political fights when 400 billion is a drop in the bucket to what they're spending now.
This was captivating!
Frontline at it again. This guys are the best📈
💪🇺🇸💪🇺🇸💪🇺🇸
I thought Supreme Revenge Supreme Court is one of the best politica documentaries I'd ever seen. It should be shown to every High School student in History/Government class. It explains exactly why Merrick Garland is so shady and why Confirmation Hearings are so full of question avoidance. This one is pretty good, as well. These political documentaries from PBS are top notch.
How is Merrick Garland shady?
This is awesome. Please re-release all your political documentaries
Thanks Frontline PBS
Once upon a time, the US was a decent country.
Glad this is a balanced doc, Frontline puts blame on both sides and rightfully so. Both sides failed at critical moments and were playing politics. No matter who is sent to DC they’ll always become a politician
All of them promise to change Washington, but all of them leave changed from Washington.
Not Trump. The way he enter, the way he left Washington.
Come here because Kevin McCarthy winner speaker to night 🤣
This episode really gives the 2010s feelings from the namecard soundbite to editing.
This aired in 2013 so that would make sense
Remember when this was the biggest problem the county faced??
Well it was the biggest problem for the "themed election" of that time. Every election has a theme. If problems are not emphasized, you have no reason to vote. If there is no reason to vote, politicians don't have a job. 😉
@@LynxStarAuto Can you clarify for me, do you think that elections shouldn't be centered around certain issues? For example, I'm glad that 2020's "theme" was the pandemic because that's the issue that voters should be most invested in. Of course it would be better if voters could analyze candidates and their policies holistically, however I don't think that's reasonable to expect of the public. Therefore it serves a function to have elections center around a few, critical (hopefully) issues.
I will also say that its awful when political chicanery is the reason why an election may have a certain "theme", specifically in instances highlighted in this documentary, where politicians intentionally put the country in crisis as a political strategy.
Thanks Frontline .....CHANGE IS AT HAND ....business as usual in DC for both parties is going to get a BIG SURPRISE 😮
I am hooked now I love this show all the things I learned now so educational to me
Vice news 2008 financial crisis documentary.
And power of the fed.
You're welcome
Make an updated retirement gamble episode!
The existence of the debt ceiling to begin with is a fucking joke.
We never fully recovered and Larry Fink is already set to cut the US loose too... This is going to get messy and deadly... Especially to people like me and I'm already practically on death's door as it is... Well at least I won't have to suffer much longer...
Right there with you!
The path of prosperity?
Imagine if John had just stuck with the people who caucused with him.
Another Frontline doc to look forward to
Don't look forward to it. Watch it!
It aired a decade ago!
Every election is the new "Most important election of our lifetime!"
I know!! Right??
i mean looking back it’s actually true , we have shaped history with who we’ve voted for and things that have happened . ex jan 6
Man, I'm so glad Congress learned their lesson and stopped all that brinksmanship. If they'd continued like that they'd surely have doomed our country. We were starting to look like a failed state... glad we grew up at last.
I have searched for past The Choice (2004, 2000, amd prior) on your app, Prime, and youtube... PLEASE make available!
Yes!! Ive also looked for 2000 and 2004 with no luck...... and commented the same on other Frontline videos.
Mike Wiser is a great narrator.
Best journalism on tv. You can not get better and most honest and intelligent programing. Maybe that's why Republicans hate it. It's the truth.
You don't default. You pay the interest and spend what is left. This is the constitution of the USA.
Now we just print money like Crack heads
Intelligence, humbleness, humanity, well-spoken. How we miss you, mr. President.
Ahhh the good old days.
You mean the 90's?
Will there be a follow up on this episode?
The debt ceiling is an absurd notion. We decided on an amendment to the constitution to require the temps we elected to only spend as much the taxes are collected. There is not supposed to be a dollar of debt without impeachment.
Lol. That was a long long long time ago. Now we have MIC, and 300 million more people.
Considering that most of the debt we owe to ourselves (our banks), thats a hard sale.
Young Guns is some peak cringe
Sounds like an amateur metal band...
9:40 haha...just before Trump came in and shook their whole party to the core
And here we are again
"The Calvary has arrived" at the very beginning is a cute Freudianh slip.
This is not an endorsement of or agreement with the tactics of the President, but you can't deny the fact that he and the Democrats bent the Republicans over a barrel on this one. I remember watching this as it happened, and it was the general consensus at the time that the fault was largely that of the Republicans. I will say this, though: considering that this was the time of the Congress that featured the likes of Michele Bachmann and Eric Cantor, was there ever any hope for Boehner to succeed?
Sadly, the situation has devolved to those folks looking sane when compared to the ilk we've seen recently (e.g. Cawthorn, Boebert, Marjorie Taylor Green, etc)
Biden took advantage of Republican zeal regarding the certitude that they would win the 2012 presidential election. He gambled not once but twice and left McConnell empty handed . Well played Joe .
@@Timmy2384 They don't make Bachmann look sane. No one makes Bachmann look sane besides people like Ted Bundy or Eileen Wournos.
FRONTLINE! 👍🏻🇺🇲 ONE OF THE BEST SHOWS ON. IF YOUR TURNED ON?
And a dignified president called it a "shellacking" and kept moving forward. A man who really lives "Country First."
Didn’t he call it a thumping
@@21972012145525 No; "a shellacking" was the phrase he used.
@@topgrain maybe it was bush then idk
Not an Obama fan. However you never never never take a tone or speak disrespectful to the President……. He’s the president respect the fucking office
Frontline does investigative journalism and documentaries like the Brits do pageantry. Always unparalleled. Simply no equal.
This just show they wasn’t for the people it’s more personal to them they are playing with people livelihood. I Remember this & just thought they thought it was a game
But Boehner and GOP kept control of the House of representatives 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
The Young Guns 😂😂😂😂😂
Who's here after the recent month long Kabuki theater of the 2023 'debt ceiling'? LMAO. The 14th amendment nullifies the concept of a 'debt ceiling' - this shit is insanely stupid.
32:05 you broke the agreement first isn’t it and then you want more money😂
Resulted in the US credit rating being downsized , these GOPers have to be voted out
Raising the debt ceiling is a direct violation of the constitution of the USA. The purpose of the balanced budget amendment was to force the paying the interest payment first and limit the spending to the revenue incoming. Congress is refusing to manage the country 's finances normal.
There is no balanced budget amendment for the federal government. Since the adoption of the Constitution, the country has always, except a few years under Jackson, been in debt. I agree that we need to reign in federal spending, but carrying a deficit isn't a problem in and of itself.
41:10
That's the golden quote. What side are you on? Fairness or paid politics?
I feel like I’m living through Groundhog Day.
The Young Guns 😂🤦🏻♀️
That whole video is hilarious!
these guys are so d a m n lame😂😂
That’s what they were referred as
History is repeating itself
oh how I miss Chris Matthews’ voice. Nobody like him today.
Let's not be so quick to beatify these guys with the courage to stop the poison pill they put in place ...
This extraordinary management and political ideology clash with superior negotiate technique
This is hard for brain
Hard for great quality statesmanship
Isn't the "debt ceiling" debate back in the News in November? Sometimes I think Humans are too self-destructive.
Is part 2?
Please make us aware of Europe politics of The UN and the Rwanda Genocide, the Kashmir Conflict, The Italy Politics, The French Revolution, and more
I would pay you but just do this
One of thse repubican freshman was somebody we might have been fimilar with former speaker and congressman Paul Ryan from the upper Midwestern state of Wisconsin 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
"Someone" told the former speaker to sit down.
"I think all 87 came here with the idea to change Washington."
L...M...M...F...A...O...!!!!!!!!!
Frontline has changed.
@MNS • How so? Content, context, construct? How so?
Dam this Joe Biden guy should run for President sometime
They kinda skipped over the Biden telling Cantor that Boehner was meeting with the President. Like, was Biden supposed to do that? Was that a big no no?
Everyone who caused the issue is well off . . Those who didn't are not. 🤔
And what is the current fight over, the debt limit?