Sunday shows preview: Bipartisan infrastructure talks drag on; Democrats plow ahead with Jan. 6 probe

Ongoing talks between lawmakers to reach a bipartisan infrastructure deal ahead of an informal Monday deadline and drama surrounding the House select committee to probe the Jan. 6 insurrection are expected to dominate the Sunday show circuit. 

Democrats and Republicans are anxious to make an agreement on a bipartisan infrastructure package, but frustration is building among both sides as negotiators face the possibility of missing an informal, self-imposed deadline on Monday.

Democrats say that Republicans are trying to resurface issues during negotiations that they believe were already resolved, while Republicans claim some of Democrats’ demands are unrealistic.

At the forefront of one of these issues is transit funding, and Republicans consider the tens of billions of dollars that Democrats want in new funding unreasonable. However, Democrats like Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) want to see more money set aside for it.

Lead Republican negotiator, Sen. Rob Portman (Ohio), suggested that the group drop funding for transit since it appeared that both sides would not be able to come to an agreement.

“Transit funding has not yet been resolved. That’s important, but if we can’t resolve it then we could leave that out. I hope not,” he said.

“Democrats frankly are not being reasonable in their requests right now. We have had a very generous offer out there that provides a significant increase in funding over the next five years,” he added.

Despite Portman’s comment, the Republican senator said on Thursday that a negotiated deal was “very close.”

Portman is scheduled to appear on ABC’s “This Week.”

Meanwhile in the House, tensions rose to a boiling point this week after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) rejected two of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) picks for a select committee to probe the events of the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. 

On Wednesday, the speaker rejected Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Jim Banks (R-Ind.), two of the five picks put forth by McCarthy. Both Banks and Jordan have been ardent supporters of former President Trump. 

In a statement, Pelosi said she had spoken with McCarthy “about the objections raised about Representatives Jim Banks and Jim Jordan and the impact their appointments may have on the integrity of the investigation.”

“With respect for the integrity of the investigation, with an insistence on the truth and with concern about statements made and actions taken by these Members, I must reject the recommendations of Representatives Banks and Jordan to the Select Committee,” she said.

She noted that she would appoint the other three members he picked — Reps. Rodney Davis (Ill.), Kelly Armstrong (N.D.) and Troy Nehls (Texas) — and urged him to pick two new members to replace Banks and Jordan.

Instead, McCarthy yanked all five of his picks and said in a statement, “This represents an egregious abuse of power and will irreparably damage this institution.” 

“Denying the voices of members who have served in the military and law enforcement, as well as leaders of standing committees, has made it undeniable that this panel has lost all legitimacy and credibility and shows the Speaker is more interested in playing politics than seeking the truth,” McCarthy said.

The move comes before the House panel is set for their first hearing next week, featuring testimony from four police officers who were injured during Jan. 6 attack. 

Pelosi is scheduled to appear on ABC’s “This Week” and Banks is scheduled to appear on “FOX News Sunday.”

Below is the full list of guests scheduled to be on this week’s Sunday talk shows:

ABC’s “This Week” — Pelosi, Portman 

NBC’s “Meet the Press” — Preempted by coverage of the Tokyo Olympics.

CBS’ “Face the Nation” — Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, former U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, Mayor Quinton Lucas of Kansas City, Missouri.

CNN’s “State of the Union” — Fauci, Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-Ark.), Gov. Kate Brown (D-Ore.)

“Fox News Sunday” — Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C,) Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), Banks

FOX News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures” —  Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas), Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), Blake Masters, COO of Thiel Capital, AZ Senate Candidate