Receipts: public statements, side by side
25 entries (18 Democratic, 7 Republican). Each entry shows two public statements by the same person, with exact quotes, dates and primary-source links (official transcripts, the Congressional Record, official websites and press releases). Every quote was checked against the linked source for exact wording and context. Labels are neutral: Then and Now.
James Talarico (D) · Texas State Rep.; U.S. Senate nominee (TX)
Topic: Abolishing ICE
THEN · 2026-01-25
“It’s time to tear down this secret police force.”
NOW · 2026-10-14
“No, and I never have. … We need Immigration and Customs Enforcement in this country.”
Context: In the same answer he added: "But that’s not what we’re seeing. What we’ve seen over the last year is a secret police force. And that’s what we don’t want in this country." He describes his objection as being to how ICE has operated over the last year, not to the agency existing.
Share card (PNG)
Sherrod Brown (D) · U.S. Senate nominee (OH); former U.S. Senator
Topic: Confirming federal judges
THEN · 2022-01-31
“I am proud of the work that we have done with Senator Portman to continue that tradition through Presidents of both parties.”
NOW · 2026-10-13
“we're not obviously confirming judges that are Trump judges, but there's much we can do to help people in their daily lives.”
Context: In 2022 he was describing Ohio's bipartisan commission that recommends district judges to presidents of both parties. In 2026 he was speaking as a Senate candidate about a possible Democratic majority, not as a sitting senator.
Share card (PNG)
Abdul El-Sayed (D) · U.S. Senate nominee (MI); former Detroit health director
Topic: Medicare for All and private health insurance
THEN · 2019
“Medicare for All guarantees you a public health care plan and eliminates your private one.”
NOW · 2026-10-08
“If families want to keep their private health insurance, that's fine by me.”
Context: In 2019 he was describing single-payer Medicare for All as proposed in the Democratic presidential race. In the 2026 debate, the moderator's question noted he has said additional private coverage would become redundant under his plan.
Share card (PNG)
James Talarico (D) · Texas State Rep.; U.S. Senate nominee (TX)
Topic: Transgender athletes in girls' school sports
THEN · 2021-10-15
“If one trans child dies to protect someone's damn trophy, then this bill is grotesque.”
NOW · 2026-09-09
“I oppose trans athletes playing in girls sports if it endangers safety or fairness.”
Context: The 2021 post quotes his House floor remarks against a bill limiting K-12 school sports teams by sex at birth, which the House passed that week. The 2026 position is conditional ("if it endangers safety or fairness"). He said he voted against the 2021-era bills as "overly broad" and had backed amendments leaving eligibility to local school boards (Texas Tribune, Sept. 9, 2026).
Share card (PNG)
Chuck Schumer (D) · Senate Democratic Leader
Topic: Conditions for funding the government
THEN · 2019-01-25
“It reopens the government without preconditions and gives Democrats and Republicans an opportunity to discuss border security without holding hundreds of thousands of American workers hostage.”
NOW · 2025-09-08
“Working on bipartisan legislation that has real input from Democrats is the way to avoid a shutdown.”
Context: In 2019 Democrats were in the minority-party position opposing a border-wall funding demand; in 2025 Democrats sought health-care and other provisions in a funding deal. Circumstances and parties' roles differed.
Share card (PNG)
Chuck Schumer (D) · Senate Democratic Leader
Topic: Trump tariffs
THEN · 2018-06-15
“President Trump is right on target.”
NOW · 2025-04-04
“Donald Trump unleashed a wave of tariffs that will make inflation much worse.”
Context: The 2018 statement concerned tariffs targeted at Chinese imports; the 2025 remarks concerned the broad April 2025 tariffs on many trading partners.
Share card (PNG)
Topic: TikTok
THEN · 2020-08-06
“The United States must take aggressive action against the owners of TikTok to protect our national security.”
NOW · 2025-01-20
“Accordingly, I am instructing the Attorney General not to take any action to enforce the Act for a period of 75 days from today”
Context: The 2025 order cites the need to negotiate a resolution while addressing national security concerns.
Topic: Pardon for Hunter Biden
THEN · 2024-06-13
“And I will not pardon him.”
NOW · 2024-12-01
“Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter.”
Share card (PNG)
Topic: Staying in the 2024 race
THEN · 2024-07-11
“I'm determined on running”
NOW · 2024-07-24
“So I've decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation.”
Share card (PNG)
Nancy Pelosi (D) · Speaker of the House
Topic: Presidential student debt relief
THEN · 2021-07-28
“People think that the President of the United States has the power for debt forgiveness. He does not. He can postpone. He can delay. But he does not have that power. That has to be an act of Congress.”
NOW · 2022-08-24
“President Biden's bold action is a strong step in Democrats' fight to expand access to higher education and empower every American to reach fulfillment.”
Share card (PNG)
Nancy Pelosi (D) · Speaker of the House
Topic: Banning stock trading by Members of Congress
THEN · 2021-12-15
“Because this is a free market and people - we are a free market economy. They should be able to participate in that.”
NOW · 2022-01-20
“But, if Members want to do that, I'm okay with that.”
Context: In the Jan. 2022 remarks she also said she trusts Members and did not think the change necessary, but would accept it if Members wanted it.
Share card (PNG)
Topic: Changing Senate rules by majority vote
THEN · 2005-05-10
“I will do everything I can to prevent the nuclear option from being invoked not for the sake of myself or my party but for the sake of this great Republic and its traditions.”
NOW · 2022-01-19
“The only way to achieve our goal of passing voting rights, ending dark money, and ending partisan gerrymandering is by changing the rules”
Context: 2005 concerned judicial nominations; 2022 was a proposed one-time rules change for voting rights bills.
Share card (PNG)
Topic: Senate filibuster
THEN · 2017-04-07
“we are united in our determination to preserve the ability of Members to engage in extended debate when bills are on the Senate floor.”
NOW · 2022-01-19
“Rules developed over time. And believe it or not, to my friend from South Dakota, those rules changed with the times.”
Context: The 2017 statement is a joint letter signed by 61 senators, including Sen. Klobuchar. In 2022 she spoke in support of a limited rules change (a 'talking filibuster') for voting-rights legislation.
Share card (PNG)
Joe Biden (D) · Senator (2005); President (2022)
Topic: Changing Senate filibuster rules
THEN · 2005-05-23
“This nuclear option is ultimately an example of the arrogance of power.”
NOW · 2022-01-11
“To protect our democracy, I support changing the Senate rules, whichever way they need to be changed, to prevent a minority of Senators from blocking action on voting rights.”
Context: The 2005 debate concerned filibusters of judicial nominations under a Republican majority; the 2022 remarks concerned voting-rights legislation.
Share card (PNG)
Kamala Harris (D) · Senator (2017); Vice President (2022)
Topic: Senate filibuster
THEN · 2017-04-07
“we are united in our determination to preserve the ability of Members to engage in extended debate when bills are on the Senate floor.”
NOW · 2022-01-11
“And nowhere -- nowhere -- does the Constitution give a minority the right to unilaterally block legislation.”
Context: The 2017 statement is a joint letter signed by 61 senators, including then-Senator Harris. It concerned legislation; the 2022 remarks concerned voting-rights legislation.
Share card (PNG)
Topic: Afghanistan and the Taliban
THEN · 2021-07-08
“But the likelihood there's going to be the Taliban overrunning everything and owning the whole country is highly unlikely.”
NOW · 2021-08-16
“The truth is: This did unfold more quickly than we had anticipated.”
Context: Facts on the ground changed between the two dates (Kabul fell on Aug. 15, 2021).
Share card (PNG)
Topic: Election-year Supreme Court vacancy
THEN · 2016-03-16
“@POTUS has done his job. It’s time for Republicans to do theirs.”
NOW · 2020-10-22
“It's dangerous, anti-democratic, and illegitimate to confirm a Supreme Court justice now.”
Context: Garland was nominated about 8 months before the 2016 election; Barrett's confirmation vote came 8 days before the 2020 election, with early voting underway, which Sanders cited. In 2016 the White House and Senate were held by opposite parties; in 2020 by the same party.
Share card (PNG)
Tom Cotton (R) · U.S. Senator (AR)
Topic: Election-year Supreme Court vacancy
THEN · 2016-03-09
“In a few short months, we will have a new President and new Senators who can consider the next Justice with the full faith of the people.”
NOW · 2020-09-26
“I therefore look forward to voting promptly for Judge Barrett next month and confirming her to the highest court in the land.”
Topic: Election-year Supreme Court vacancy
THEN · 2016-02-13
“it only makes sense that we defer to the American people who will elect a new president to select the next Supreme Court Justice.”
NOW · 2020-09-21
“Both have confirmed their intentions to move forward, so that's what will happen.”
Context: The 2020 statement cites divided vs. unified government as the distinction.
Topic: Election-year Supreme Court vacancy
THEN · 2016-03-09
“I would submit, with only months left until the presidential election, we should let the people decide.”
NOW · 2020-09-21
“I look forward to considering and voting on President Trump's nominee to fill the Supreme Court vacancy before the end of the year.”
Context: The 2020 statement cites same-party control as consistent with precedent.
Cory Booker (D) · U.S. Senator (NJ)
Topic: Election-year Supreme Court vacancy
THEN · 2016-03-16
“The Senate must do its job to provide advice and consent, and swiftly schedule hearings, debate, and an up-or-down vote.”
NOW · 2020-09-19
“we call upon you to state unequivocally and publicly that you will not consider any nominee to fill Justice Ginsburg's seat until after the next President is inaugurated.”
Context: 2020 letter is signed jointly by all 10 Judiciary Committee Democrats.
Share card (PNG)
Topic: Election-year Supreme Court vacancy
THEN · 2016-03-16
“Now the Senate must do its job.”
NOW · 2020-09-19
“we call upon you to state unequivocally and publicly that you will not consider any nominee to fill Justice Ginsburg's seat until after the next President is inaugurated.”
Context: 2020 letter is signed jointly by all 10 Judiciary Committee Democrats.
Share card (PNG)
Mitch McConnell (R) · Senate Majority Leader (KY)
Topic: Election-year Supreme Court vacancy
THEN · 2016-02-13
“The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new President.”
NOW · 2020-09-18
“President Trump's nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate.”
Context: The 2020 statement cites divided vs. unified party control as the distinction.
John Thune (R) · U.S. Senator (SD)
Topic: Election-year Supreme Court vacancy
THEN · 2016-03-16
“Since the next presidential election is already underway, the next president should make this lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court.”
NOW · 2020-09-18
“As Leader McConnell has said, President Trump's Supreme Court nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the U.S. Senate.”
Topic: U.S. coronavirus outlook
THEN · 2020-02-26
“And again, when you have 15 people, and the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero, that's a pretty good job we've done.”
NOW · 2020-03-31
“But this is going to be a very painful -- a very, very painful two weeks.”
Context: Facts changed rapidly between the two dates as U.S. cases grew. Transcript uses a dash where shown as --.
Congress Trades TrackerRecent tradesLeaderboardLate filersTrades near votesReceiptsPromises KeptMethodology / AboutSponsor
