The cost is now said to be about $2 trillion for President Biden’s economic and climate package.

A big number but far less than the $3.5 trillion first proposed. The challenge hasn’t been between Democrats and Republican. It’s between progressive Democrats and two conservative members of their own party. But President Biden says he’s optimistic the legislation will pass.

To discuss: 

• Jadan Horyn is a writer and conservative commentator.
• Lincoln Mitchell is a political analyst and adjunct associate professor at Columbia University.
• Chris Hahn hosts “The Aggressive Progressive” podcast and the syndicated Chris Hahn radio program.
• Joseph Williams is a senior news editor with U.S. News & World Report.

For more:

President Biden has told House progressives that the final bill to expand the social safety net is expected to drop tuition-free community college, a major White House priority, sources say https://t.co/tn3JT1F3OZ

— CNN (@CNN) October 19, 2021

Biden tells Democrats that scaled-back package of up to $1.9 trillion should be new target of budget talks https://t.co/RHIywrKaoN

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) October 20, 2021