the atmosphere inside the congressional chamber was thick with tension Rows of senators and representatives sat in a semicircle their eyes locked onto the woman seated at the witness table The press gallery was packed cameras rolling journalists whispering into their microphones waiting to catch the first sparks of what was sure to be a political brawl At the center of it all satarene Levit the White House press secretary Drssed in a sharp navy blue blazer she exuded a quiet confidence her expression betraying no sign of unease The Doge dividend a plan promising a $5,000 tax refund for every American had sent the political landscape into turmoil and today she was here to defend it At the head of the committee Senator Chuck Schumer leaned forward clearing his throat dramatically The microphone amplified the deliberate impatience in his voice Ms Levit let's get straight to it Is it true that President Trump is planning to hand out $5,000 to every single American The room stilled A few murmurss rippled through the audience Some Democrats exchanged knowing glances while a few Republicans smirked clearly eager for the show to begin Caroline tilted her head slightly as if amused by the question Then with the precision of a seasoned debater she leaned into the microphone That's correct Senator Schumer And frankly I don't see why that's such a controversial idea The American people work hard They pay their taxes They deserve to see that money put back in their hands rather than wasted on bloated government programs A murmur of approval rippled through the Republican side of the chamber On the other side Democrats bristled Schumer scoffed tapping his pen against the desk You don't see why it's controversial Miss Lebett The American people deserve honesty What you're describing sounds like an economic fantasy Caroline clasped her hands together unfazed No Senator What's a fantasy is expecting Americans to keep footing the bill for wasteful unaccountable government spending while getting nothing in return That's the real scandal here The room erupted into whispers and the hearing was only just beginning A tense silence filled the chamber as Caroline Levit let her last words settle Across the table Senator Chuck Schumer leaned back in his chair his fingers steepled in an exaggerated show of skepticism A few Democrats exchanged smug glances waiting for Caroline to stumble She didn't Instead she pressed forward voice unwavering Now as I'm sure many of you know the Department of Government Efficiency has been working aggressively to eliminate waste and fraud from the federal budget and they've done an exceptional job so far Schumer let out a breathy chuckle shaking his head as if she had just told him unicorns were real Exceptional Miss Levit you make it sound as if the government is suddenly running like a welloiled machine I wouldn't say that Senator but I will say this When you actually start looking under the hood what you find is shocking Billions upon billions of dollars thrown away on redundant programs unnecessary contracts and frankly outright incompetence A low murmur rippled through the room On the Republican side some senators nodded approvingly across the aisle Democrats bristled In fact as it stands right now the Doge Department of Government Efficiency has already managed to cut over $55 billion in waste and we're just getting started The goal is to cut $2 trillion by 2026 That figure sent a shock wave through the room Even some of the journalists in the back stopped typing Schumer however was undeterred "And where exactly are these cuts coming from? " he challenged a knowing smirk playing at his lips "Surely Miss Levit you don't mean to suggest that all of these so-called wasteful programs were unnecessary. " Before Caroline could answer Senator Richard Blumenthal a staunch Democrat seized the moment to interject That's right Miss Levit Let's be clear here How do you guarantee that these cuts won't gut essential programs Social Security Medicare veterans benefits Are you prepared to tell the American people that their safety nets are on the chopping block A murmur of approval from the Democratic side The trap was set but Caroline wasn't about to walk into it She exhaled a slow deliberate pause before leaning forward On the contrary Senator what we're doing is making the budget work better not stripping vital services The money we're cutting it's not coming from Social Security or Medicare It's coming from bloated contracts duplicate government agencies and spending that no sane person could defend She glanced down at her folder flipping to a specific page For example did you know that last year the federal government spent millions on a study to determine whether fish can recognize themselves in mirrors A few muffled chuckles from the Republican side Or how about the fact that we've been funding a climate initiative in China Or that one agency alone misplaced nearly a billion dollars in accounting errors Schumer's smirk faltered slightly Senator this isn't about gutting anything It's about ending the era where taxpayer dollars disappear into the abyss of government inefficiency while everyday Americans struggle to make ends meet She folded her hands on the table Now tell me what exactly is controversial about that For a moment no one answered The silence spoke volumes The hearing had just taken a turn But Schumer wasn't one to stay quiet for long He leaned forward pen tapping rhythmically against the desk the hallmark of a man preparing to land his next strike "All right Miss Levit," he said his voice carrying the calculated condescension of a seasoned politician "So let's assume for the sake of argument that you've miraculously uncovered all this wasteful spending Now comes the real question How exactly does this so-called Doge dividend actually work?
" A few murmurss from the Democratic side some nodding in agreement Schumer didn't wait for an answer before adding "Because let's be honest here Miss Levitt The American people have heard grand promises before Tax breaks refunds rebates sounds great in a press release but at the end of the day what's stopping this from being just another empty campaign slogan? " He leaned back in his chair arms crossed waiting Carolene didn't hesitate She had been waiting for this question It's not a slogan Senator It's basic math She turned a page in her folder her nails tapping lightly against the desk Here's how the Doge dividend works For every dollar cut by the Department of Government Efficiency 20 cents goes directly back to the American taxpayer not to government projects not to bureaucrats directly into their pockets She glanced up That means that for every hundred billion in waste eliminated 20 billion goes straight to the people who earned it in the first place She paused letting the weight of that statement settle Schumer scoffed shaking his head And you're telling us this miraculously adds up to $5,000 per taxpayer Caroline smiled Not the kind of smile that signals amusement but the kind that means checkmate is imminent Senator let's walk through this together If the government removes $2 trillion in unnecessary spending by 2026 and I assure you it's there then 20% of that is $400 billion She let the number hang in the air for a moment then continued And when you divide that by the roughly 80 million taxpaying American households you land at a direct refund of about $5,000 per household Schumer opened his mouth but Caroline wasn't finished This isn't theoretical This isn't wishful thinking It's simple arithmetic Senator And frankly it's embarrassing that Washington needed a reality check to remember how math works A ripple of reaction ran through the chamber Republicans nodded in approval while a few Democrats shifted in their seats Schumer pursed his lips clearly recalibrating He leaned forward again voice carrying a forced patience Ms Levit Washington has a long history of making promises that don't hold up when the fine print is read How do you propose ensuring that this money this alleged $5,000 refund actually reaches the taxpayers and isn't just another bureaucratic mess Caroline didn't blink Because Senator for once Washington isn't keeping the money That's the difference She clasped her hands on the table her voice even but unyielding We are not raising taxes We are not borrowing We are simply doing what the American people have been demanding for years cutting the waste and giving them back what is rightfully theirs She leaned in slightly her eyes locked on Schumer's Now tell me Senator what exactly do you find so controversial about that The room was silent For the first time in the hearing Schumer had no immediate response A slow measured clap echoed through the chamber It wasn't enthusiastic It wasn't genuine It was mocking Senator Brian Shatz a longtime critic of Trump's economic policies leaned forward his smirk barely concealed Miss Levit that was quite the mathematical breakdown Truly impressive His tone dripped with sarcasm But forgive me if I don't break out the champagne just yet See I can't help but notice that this so-called Doge dividend sounds awfully convenient Right in time for an election year wouldn't you say colleagues A few chuckles from the Democratic side Schumer exhald through his nose clearly pleased to have someone else take the lead in this round Shatz turned his gaze back to Carolene his expression that of a man who believed he had just uncovered the grand deception So tell me Miss Levit are we supposed to believe that this isn't just a desperate attempt to buy votes A murmur rippled through the chamber There it was the accusation they had been waiting to throw Caroline didn't flinch If anything she looked almost amused She leaned forward resting her elbows on the desk her voice measured but sharp Let me get this straight Senator You're suggesting that because this plan actually benefits the American people It must be politically motivated Shatz opened his mouth but Caroline was already moving Let's break this down shall we she continued flipping open the Doge dividend proposal document in front of her There are four key reasons why this plan exists and not one of them has to do with politics She raised a finger Number one this serves to write the wrongs done to the American taxpayer For decades Washington has treated their hard-earned dollars like monopoly money Wasted it abused it and worst of all never once thought about paying them back A few murmurss of approval from the Republican side She raised a second finger Number two this ensures that when we cut costs the benefits don't just stay in Washington They go back to the people who actually funded this government in the first place Chats shifted in his seat Schumer's smirk had faded Caroline wasn't playing defense She was attacking a third finger Number three this will boost tax morale because let's be honest Senator Americans are sick of sending their money to a government that throws it away Maybe just maybe if they see that we're actually being responsible with their money for once they won't feel like they're being robbed every April 15th," the audience murmured again Shots's fingers tapped against the table a nervous tick then the fourth finger And number four this will incentivize labor force participation in 2025 You see Senator when people know they're keeping more of their earnings when they see direct returns on the efficiency of their government they're more likely to work invest and contribute That's how you build a thriving economy not by strangling people with higher taxes and bureaucratic red tape She let the final statement linger Then she smiled And let's add a cherry on top shall we Because this refund isn't being financed with new spending it's not even inflationary So forgive me if I don't quite understand what you find so controversial about letting the American people keep what they've rightfully earned Silence Shat sat back eyes narrowing Schumer scribbled something on a notepad The Democrats had expected a defense Instead Caroline had put them on trial And the jury the American public watching at home was taking notes A chair scraped against the floor the sound slicing through the tense silence like a blade Senator Mark Warner adjusted his glasses flipping through a Manila folder before looking up with practice seriousness Miss Levit while I'm sure the administration believes this Doge dividend is a foolproof plan I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that there are some significant concerns being raised. " Caroline didn't move didn't blink Oh," she said her tone polite but unmistakably sharp Warner nodded as if he had been waiting for this moment all day "CNN recently published an in-depth analysis on this very proposal," he said tapping the folder in front of him "They've pointed out that this plan lacks clear safeguards that it's riddled with logistical issues and let's not ignore this that it's nothing more than a political gimmick disguised as policy Would you care to respond to that?
" a visible shift in the room Some reporters in the press gallery leaned in their fingers hovering over their keyboards This was the moment they were hoping for a crack in the armor Caroline took a breath and then smiled Senator I appreciate the question and let me be very clear CNN can say whatever they want That doesn't make it true A few quiet chuckles rippled from the Republican side Warner wasn't amused Miss Levit are you dismissing concerns raised by a leading news organization Concerns No Senator Misinformation Absolutely Warner's lips pressed into a thin line Caroline continued her voice crisp her words cutting through the air like a blade sharpened just for this occasion See here's the problem CNN isn't reporting on the Doge dividend They're attacking it And why because they can't stand the idea that the American people might actually get to keep their own money A murmur spread through the room Warner bristled Miz leave it Are you implying that CNN has some kind of agenda against tax policy Caroline didn't hesitate Oh no Senator I'm stating it outright That landed Even some of the press corps looked takenback Warner sensing that the exchange was not going in his favor cleared his throat So you're saying their concerns are completely unfounded Caroline leaned back as if the answer was so obvious it hardly needed stating I'm saying that when the government takes billions of dollars from taxpayers and squanders it CNN calls it governance But when we propose giving some of that money back suddenly it's a scandal She let that hang in the air then delivered the final blow I don't know about you Senator but I think the American people are smart enough to see the difference The room exploded into whispers Warner opened his mouth then closed it He had no counter Caroline had just made one thing very very clear CNN didn't dictate this narrative She did The chamber had barely settled from the last exchange When Caroline Levit struck again she turned her gaze to Schumer her expression one of patient curiosity the kind that made it clear she already knew the answer to the question she was about to ask Senator Schumer just so I understand are you saying that there is no waste in our government Schumer blinked his lips parted slightly but he said nothing Caroline leaned back as if giving him time to process the trap he had just walked into Because Senator I find it fascinating that every time we talk about cutting unnecessary spending the same people who have spent decades in Congress suddenly pretend there's nothing to cut A low murmur spread through the room Schumer shifted in his seat Now maybe I misheard you Are you saying that the Pentagon budget is perfectly efficient That the Department of Health and Human Services whose expenditures are larger than most countries economies hasn't wasted a dime Schumer opened his mouth but Caroline wasn't done What about the Treasury Senator What about the billions of taxpayer dollars that disappear into unaccountable government programs every year Would you like me to start listing them for you The silence was deafening Schumer let out a measured breath Miss Levit let's not turn this into a spectacle Oh but why not Isn't this exactly what the American people deserve A full accounting of where their money has been going She folded her hands on the table letting her next words cut through the air like a scalpel Because here's the reality Senator Every single day that nothing is done taxpayer dollars are burned through by an unchecked bloated bureaucracy And when we finally propose putting an end to that suddenly the same people who have ignored the problem for decades want to act concerned about logistics She let the statement linger then delivered the final blow I'm sorry but I refuse to believe that Washington's newfound concern over government efficiency is anything more than a convenient excuse to maintain the status quo A stir of reaction Schumer looked to his colleagues but they weren't jumping in to save him Somewhere in the press gallery a journalist furiously took notes Caroline leaned back voice unwavering So Senator I ask again Do you believe that there is no waste to be cut Schumer exhaled sharply through his nose That's not what I said Oh good Then we agree that these cuts are necessary Schumer's jaw tightened The room knew what had just happened and this hearing was no longer going the way the Democrats had hoped The silence stretched uncomfortably Chuck Schumer's usual confidence had visibly wavered and everyone in the room knew it The press the lawmakers the aids sitting along the walls They all felt it For years Schumer had been the one asking the tough questions putting others on the defensive But now now he was the one being pinned down Caroline Levit didn't move didn't blink She simply waited letting the weight of her question hang in the air like an axe waiting to drop Senator if you agree there is waste if you agree there is abuse if you agree there is corruption then why are you not celebrating the cuts? " Schumer exhaled through his nose masking his irritation with fain composure Miss Levit no one here is arguing that there isn't government waste but what we're discussing is the method You can't just Oh no Senator that's not what we're discussing What we're discussing is why after decades of inaction Washington is suddenly acting like it's confused about how to cut waste when we're finally doing it Schumer glanced toward his Democratic colleagues but no one jumped in to rescue him The trap was set and he was still standing in the middle of it Caroline leaned forward slightly her hands clasped together on the table Let me ask you something Senator Do you think the American people care more about bureaucratic procedure Or do you think they care more about keeping the money they work for Schumer's jaw tightened Because Senator I can tell you what they actually care about They care about knowing that when they go to work their tax dollars aren't being thrown into some bottomless pit of government inefficiency They care about knowing that the people they elected are actually following through on promises instead of kicking the can down the road for another 10 years A few Republicans murmured in agreement while Schumer remained silent Caroline's voice didn't rise but there was steel in it The American people voted for this Senator They voted for accountability They voted to stop subsidizing a government that has been relentlessly weaponized against them And guess what That is exactly what's happening Another silence Schumer's fingers tapped lightly against the desk A subtle tell He was weighing his options trying to find a way out Carolene didn't give him one So I'll ask you again Senator If you agree there is waste then why exactly are you opposing the effort to eliminate it Schumer pressed his lips together his eyes flickering toward the cameras He knew every word of this exchange would be replayed on cable news and for the first time in a long time he had nothing to say A low hum of conversation buzzed through the hearing chamber but the tension still hung thick in the air Schumer had yet to recover from Caroline's latest assault and the Democrats were scrambling for footing That's when Senator Josh Holly a Republican leaned into his microphone "Madame Chair," he said turning toward the panel "I think it's important that we recognize something here Because while my colleagues on the other side of the aisle would like to make this about politics the reality is even some of the most influential voices outside of Washington can see exactly what's happening. " He reached for a sheet of paper in front of him and lifted it up theatrically scanning the text Last night Elon Musk weighed in on this debate and well I think his words speak for themselves At the mention of Musk's name the room shifted A few reporters in the press gallery adjusted their cameras On the Democratic side some senators exchanged wary glances The last thing they needed was another high-profile figure validating Caroline's argument Holly glanced at Caroline who nodded slightly and then with deliberate emphasis he began to read When these attacks occur he quoted "The thing that they're accusing the administration of is what they are guilty of They say this is unconstitutional but what they are doing is unconstitutional It's just a big con job.
" A ripple of reaction through the chamber A few Republicans smirked Caroline sees the moment You know Senator it's almost funny watching this play out in real time because let's be honest Elon Musk isn't exactly a Washington insider He doesn't owe this administration anything And yet even he can see what's happening here She turned her gaze back toward the panel her tone sharpening The same people who have spent years bleeding the American taxpayer dry are now pretending to be outraged when we finally decide to put a stop to it And instead of acknowledging that the vast majority of this country actually supports what President Trump is doing the media is bending over backwards to convince people that what they're seeing with their own eyes isn't real Another shift in the room Schumer adjusted his glasses his expression unreadable Carolene continued unrelenting And here's the kicker Every single time it's the same strategy Accuse the other side of what you're already guilty of Call tax relief a scandal while throwing billions of dollars at pet projects no one voted for Cry about accountability while refusing to take responsibility for decades of waste Play the victim when in reality you're the one holding the reigns She spread her hands as if the absurdity of it all spoke for itself And somehow despite all of this we're supposed to take their outrage seriously A few chuckles from the Republican side A narroweyed glance from Schumer Senator Warner still smarting from his failed CNN attack leaned forward Miss Levit are you seriously suggesting that the media is deliberately misleading the American people Caroline didn't even hesitate I'm not suggesting Senator I'm saying it outright Silence And then before Warner could formulate a counter she delivered the final strike Because let's be honest if the media actually cared about the truth we wouldn't be having this conversation in the first place Warner said nothing because what was there to say The room knew it The hearing was now firmly in Carolene's hands The tension in the chamber had begun to morph into something different Before it had been a battle a slugfest of accusations and counterattacks But now now it was starting to feel like something worse for the Democrats It was starting to feel like a losing fight Caroline Levit could sense it So could the press And from the way Chuck Schumer kept shifting in his seat he could too But she wasn't about to let up Senator I think we're overlooking a crucial detail here Because while the media is busy manufacturing outrage the American people they've already made up their minds She reached for a document in front of her and held it up for the chamber to see These are the latest voter registration numbers And if you take a close look you'll notice something interesting She glanced toward Schumer her smile tight It turns out the electorate isn't what it used to be She let that statement settle before continuing Let's go back a few years In 2017 Democrats held a five-point advantage in party identification By 2021 when President Biden took office that gap had grown to six points But fast forward to today February 2025 and guess what That advantage is gone She set the document down and folded her hands For the first time in decades there are now more registered Republicans than Democrats in America The chamber stirred A few low murmurss rippled across the press gallery Schumer's expression hardened Republicans now hold a plus two advantage nationwide So if anyone here is still confused about why this administration is pursuing policies like the Doge Dividend let me clear it up for you She leaned forward slightly her gaze sharp It's because the American people want them A beat of silence Then Senator Richard Blumenthal who had been largely silent since his earlier exchange cut in sharply Ms Levit you're making it sound like voter registration numbers somehow justify reckless economic policies That's not how governance works Carolene turned to him unfazed No Senator that's how democracy works The Republican side of the chamber stirred with approval Blumenthal frowned That's And since you brought up governance Caroline interrupted her voice taking on a slight edge Let's talk about that too because let's be honest if these policies were really as reckless as you claim we wouldn't be seeing this kind of shift in the electorate would we Blumenthal opened his mouth but Caroline was already moving See Senator what's happening here isn't just a policy debate It's a fundamental realignment More and more Americans many of them former Democrats and independents are looking at this administration's results and saying "You know what this actually works for me She gestured toward the document in front of her And when you combine that with the fact that Republicans are now more united than ever behind President Trump it creates a political shift that defies the normal rules The same rules that said Trump would never have a positive net approval rating Except well here we are She let that statement settle Blumenthal shook his head clearly irritated Miss Levit surely you don't believe What I believe Senator is that while you and your colleagues are busy trying to discredit a plan that puts money back in the hands of Americans the American people have already decided where they stand And the numbers speak for themselves She picked up the document and set it back down with a decisive thud So maybe instead of fighting against the inevitable it's time for Washington to start listening Blumenthal had no response Schumer's jaw tensed and across the chamber it was starting to sink in This hearing wasn't just about the Doge dividend anymore It was about who was winning the future And right now it wasn't them Chuck Schumer was done playing defense For the past hour he had watched Caroline Levit dismantle every line of attack turning each challenge into a moment to reinforce the administration's position She had sidestepped their traps undercut their talking points and worst of all she was winning And Schumer hated losing So now he was going to do what he did best Go for the emotional play He leaned forward his tone lower sharper Miss Levit let's cut through the noise The reality is the policies you're defending this entire so-called revolution are nothing more than an attempt to reshape America in Trump's image This is about control It's about dismantling the systems that have kept this country running for generations And frankly I don't think the American people want that The Democratic side of the chamber nodded in agreement A few aids in the back scribbled notes clearly preparing for the media spin later But Caroline she just smiled Senator you're absolutely right about one thing President Trump is reshaping America but not in the way you think She tilted her head slightly her expression carrying just the right amount of amusement See I think the real problem here isn't that the administration is failing It's that it's succeeding and some people just can't seem to come to terms with that Schumer didn't flinch but he didn't respond either Caroline took that as her cue to drive the knife in further So let's talk about what's actually happening shall we She leaned forward slightly her tone shifting from casual to razor sharp in an instant Border security popular Mass deportations popular Focusing on America first instead of pouring billions into foreign conflicts Popular Cutting out government waste Extremely popular And then with a slow deliberate pause And Senator She let the smallest smile tug at the corner of her mouth You know what else is pretty popular She sat back letting the weight of her words land like a hammer $5,000 tax refunds The room shifted Schumer's jaw tightened but he said nothing because what was there to say The facts were on Caroline's side The policies were working and no amount of performative outrage from the left was going to change that She folded her hands neatly on the table her voice returning to its calm deliberate tone So Senator if you'd like to keep pretending that these policies are unpopular you're more than welcome to but at some point you're going to have to face reality.