From WNYC Studios, it's Brian Lair, a daily politics podcast.

It's Friday, August 5th.

You might say there was big news from the Kirsten Caucus in the United States Senate.

Kirsten Cinema of Arizona made big news

last night. Maybe you've heard this by now, and she announced she will support the Democrats'

big bill addressing climate change, prescription drug prices, and more. For some reason,

she needed a promise that hedge fund managers will get to keep a very questionable tax loophole, but she's on board.

Then there's Kirsten Gillibrand, the New York Senator who made news this week as her longtime quest to fund health care for veterans of war exposed to toxic burn pits finally passed the Senate.

Now called the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson honoring our promise to address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 19 of 2022, winner of the longest named Bill of the Week Award. Maybe you've seen Gillibrand and John Stewart campaigning for this in recent days after some Republicans who were for it, decided they were against it, but then

finally decided they were for it again. Half of the Kirsten caucus is with us today for her monthly

call your senator's segment here on the Brian Laris show. And Senator Gillibrand, we always appreciate

that you do this. Welcome back to WNYC. Thank you so much. It's a pleasure to be on the call.

Senator, can we take the big news from your namesake first? Senator Sinema is a yes for the so-called

inflation reduction act on climate prescription drugs, Obamacare extension, a minimum tax on billion

dollar corporations, and federal deficit reduction.

I think I got all the major elements in there.

So is this it now?

Can you say you have all 50 Democrats on board so this can pass with no Republican support?

I think we can.

So it's a good day.

And those votes will start tomorrow at noon. But when you have a

reconciliation vote, you have to take votes on lots and lots of amendments. So it'll probably be a 24-hour

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