Jon Stewart could hardly believe what he was hearing when Ezra Klein detailed how Democrats sabotaged their own Build Back Better bill with a mountain of self-imposed bureaucracy—and why it reflects a bigger problem with liberal governance.
Key Facts:
- Jon Stewart interviewed Ezra Klein on The Weekly Show podcast to discuss the Build Back Better Act.
- Klein broke down the Biden administration’s 14-step funding process that derailed broadband expansion.
- Only 3 of 56 jurisdictions completed the process by the end of 2024.
- Stewart was visibly stunned, exclaiming “Oh my [expletive] God!” by step 12.
- Klein blamed the failure squarely on liberal governance and internal Democratic policy design.
The Rest of The Story:
The Build Back Better Act, passed in 2021 with a $2 trillion price tag, was supposed to reshape the country’s infrastructure and climate policy.
But as Ezra Klein explained to Jon Stewart, it never had a real chance—not because of Republican resistance, but because Democrats buried it in red tape.
Klein listed a 14-step federal process that states had to complete just to access broadband funds.
Jon Stewart screams 'OMFG' and is rendered speechless after hearing all 14 steps to apply for 'Build Back Better' funding:
Ezra Klein: "We have to issue the notice funding opportunity within 180 days that's step one.
Step Two: States who want to participate must submit a letter… pic.twitter.com/n2B3knnNY8— Eric Abbenante (@EricAbbenante) March 28, 2025
It included letters of intent, multiple proposals, competing maps, internal reviews, and final approvals.
Most jurisdictions didn’t make it.
By the end of 2024, only three had finished the process.
Stewart, known for his sharp wit, was left speechless.
He buried his head in his hands, walked off the set, and cursed out loud as Klein explained the regulatory mess—crafted entirely by the Biden administration.
“This is how liberal government works now,” Klein concluded.
Stewart could only respond: “It’s far worse than I could have imagined.”
Ezra Klein stuns Jon Stewart by detailing the failures of Biden's 'Build Back Better':
Ezra Klein: "7.5 billion passed for a nationwide network of electric vehicle chargers. We also get 42 billion dollars to do rural broadband. By the end of the administration, they just have not… pic.twitter.com/rLnNWJenqn— Eric Abbenante (@EricAbbenante) March 27, 2025
Commentary:
What Klein revealed wasn’t just a flaw in one bill—it was a damning indictment of how liberal governance operates today.
Modern progressivism has become so obsessed with process, equity reviews, and avoiding offense that it can no longer function.
Democrats aren’t being blocked from achieving their goals—they’re tripping over their own rules.
This isn’t some conservative talking point.
It’s Ezra Klein and Jon Stewart—two voices firmly on the left—throwing up their hands at the madness.
Klein clearly laid out how the Biden administration turned a broadband initiative into an obstacle course designed to keep itself busy and satisfy every internal stakeholder.
Stewart’s breakdown wasn’t comedy—it was frustration.
He saw what many Americans have come to believe: liberal governance has become too complex, too self-conscious, and too slow to solve real problems.
With the country facing serious challenges, voters don’t want more paperwork—they want working roads, working internet, and working government.
The left has lost sight of this.
Instead of focusing on results, they drown in “inclusive processes” and endless review cycles.
They aren’t building things—they’re building committees, checklists, and challenge maps.
And it’s ordinary people who suffer when nothing gets done.
If Democrats don’t return to a simple, results-first approach, they’ll keep losing ground.
Voters are tired of leaders who make grand promises but can’t follow through because they’re too busy pleasing every activist group.
And if the GOP can stay focused, they’ll walk right through the door the left keeps closing on itself.
The Bottom Line:
Ezra Klein and Jon Stewart didn’t just criticize a bill—they exposed the deeper failure of modern liberal governance.
When even their own side is overwhelmed by the bureaucracy they created, it’s a clear sign something’s broken.
Democrats need to cut the nonsense and start governing like adults.
Until they do, they’re handing power to the other side—and they have no one to blame but themselves.
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