Overview

• The CNN-hosted town hall featured four congressional members from battleground districts, including Republicans Mike Lawler and Ryan Mackenzie and Democrats Jahana Hayes and Derek Tran.
• Immigration policy emerged as the central flashpoint, with Rep. Mike Lawler and Rep. Jahana Hayes engaging in a heated exchange over the Laken Riley Act and broader border security measures.
• Lawler defended the GOP-backed legislation, while Hayes criticized it as overly punitive, advocating for a balance between border security and comprehensive immigration reform.
• Moderator Jake Tapper was called upon to fact-check claims about the bipartisan nature of past immigration legislation, highlighting the contentious and fact-driven nature of the debate.
• The event offered a snapshot of the nation's deep partisan divide, with Republican lawmakers advancing President Trump’s legislative priorities and Democrats opposing cuts to government agencies and social programs.