Congressional Republicans have pushed themselves into a corner with their support of Paul Ryan’s budget propoal that would dismantle Medicare. They are now begging for a lifeline—in the form of assistance from Democrats in their quest to cut Medicare.

It would be crazy for Democrats to support cutting the wildly succesful healthcare program, The Nation’s Ari Berman tells MSNBC’s Cenk Uygurt, especially since the unpopularity of Ryan’s budget gives them leverage they haven’t enjoyed for months. Berman also argues that the GOP’s attack on the nomination of Elizabeth Warren to direct the newly-founded Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is rooted in the Republican’s misplaced loyalties. The large bankers, payday lenders and mortgage brokers who have paid their dues in hefty GOP campaign contributions all want to avoid regulation, and the Republicans are helping them keep Warren out of their way.

—Sara Jerving