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An interview between Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on This Week spiraled into crosstalk as Bessent dodged whether ending the Senate filibuster is the way to end the shutdown. He instead attacked Stephanopoulos’s 1990s White House role and book, citing the Clinton-era shutdown to argue Democrats are to blame and urging five Democratic senators to cross the aisle. Stephanopoulos disputed the history and pressed for an answer. Bessent declined to endorse the nuclear option. The tense exchange came as Bessent remains loyal to Trump, who recently labeled Stephanopoulos a top enemy.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.