Friday’s edition of NBC Nightly News might have seemed to give both sides their say on President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, but given who White House correspondent Kelly O’Donnell chose to highlight, viewers would have come away with the impression that it was lower taxes on tips were coming at the expense of other people getting sick and dying.
O’Donnell reported that, “Under the new law, workers who qualify can deduct up to $25,000 in tips from their taxable income. Susanna Castillo waits tables at Butcher Bar in New York and says this bill will help her save and spend on her family.”
Castillo was then shown declaring, “It’s going to be amazing. It is going to be a big positive.”
Shifting to the other side, O’Donnell teed up a clip of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, “However, the new law is a new rallying cry for Democrats.”
In the clip, Jeffries lamented the bill was “The largest cut to Medicaid in American history.”
Despite just playing a clip of a waiter, who is not exactly filthy rich, O’Donnell resumed her narration, “Who will argue to voters that Republicans chose to boost the rich, while cutting food assistance and healthcare for millions.”
She then introduced another opponent of the law, “Heather Payne lives in Georgia and says she did not qualify for Medicaid after a series of strokes because she could not meet state work requirements like those that will be implemented nationwide.”
Payne declared that, “I think it immoral and unethical to deny people medical care so that they can get sick and die. That's the way I feel about it.”
According to NBC’s own website, Payne also did not qualify for an Obamacare plan. Meanwhile, other outlets point to the fact that Payne’s lack of coverage has more to do with bureaucratic red tape in processing her disability claim than the state’s work requirements.
Here is a transcript for the July 4 show:
NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas
7/4/2025
7:08 PM ET
KELLY O’DONNEL: Under the new law, workers who qualify can deduct up to $25,000 in tips from their taxable income. Susanna Castillo waits tables at Butcher Bar in New York and says this bill will help her save and spend on her family.
SUSANNA CASTILLO: It’s going to be amazing. It is going to be a big positive.
O’DONNELL: However, the new law is a new rallying cry for Democrats.
HAKEEM JEFFRIES: The largest cut to Medicaid in American history.
O’DONNELL: Who will argue to voters that Republicans chose to boost the rich, while cutting food assistance and healthcare for millions. Heather Payne lives in Georgia and says she did not qualify for Medicaid after a series of strokes because she could not meet state work requirements like those that will be implemented nationwide.
HEATHER PAYNE: I think it immoral and unethical to deny people medical care so that they can get sick and die. That's the way I feel about it
