Members of Congress face frustrations over the Trump agenda from voters at home

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• Amna Nawaz:

  Lawmakers have been in their home districts this week answering tough questions about legislation making its way through Congress and about the Trump administration.

  Lisa Desjardins reports on the fired-up constituents they heard from at town halls.

• Man:

  We answer to the America people.

• Woman:

  We are standing up in the Congress.

• Man:

  My opportunity to listen and learn is tonight.

• Lisa Desjardins:

  For lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, heat at home about President Trump's agenda and Democrats' strategy.

• Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA):

  I was also proud to vote for President Trump's one big, beautiful bill last week.

  (Booing)

• Rep. Ashley Hinson:

  This is a generational investment. This is a general investment. This is your time.

  (Booing)

• Lisa Desjardins:

  Iowa Republican Ashley Hinson, a rising star in Congress, stood her ground on the Republican tax cut and spending cut bill that just passed the House.

• Rep. Ashley Hinson:

  This bill is about securing our borders. This bill is about providing continued tax relief for working Americans and returning our country to prosperity.

  (Shouting)

• Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA):

  When does it end?

  (Crosstalk)

• Woman:

  When you do your job!

• Lisa Desjardins:

  Across Iowa, Republican Senator Joni Ernst saw frustration about that bill firsthand this morning, including concerns over how the plan now heading to the Senate handles Medicaid, leading to this response.

• Sen. Joni Ernst:

  When you are arguing about illegals that are receiving Medicaid benefits, 1.4 million, they're not. They are not eligible, so they will be coming off.

• Woman:

  People will die!

• Sen. Joni Ernst:

  People are not — well, we all are going to die, for heaven's sakes.

  (Shouting)

• Man:

  Congressman Mike Flood.

• Rep. Mike Flood (R-NE):

  Thank you very much, Mary.

• Lisa Desjardins:

  Over in Seward, Nebraska, Republican Congressman Mike Flood also faced some angry constituents.

• Man:

  You either lied to us or you have been bullied into voting against our health care in favor of giving $5 trillion in tax breaks to billionaires.

  (Cheering)

• Lisa Desjardins:

  Flood admitted to not reading the entire bill before voting yes. After that came shouts of fascist.

• Rep. Mike Flood:

  I get that you get an applause line when you call me a fascist, but I'm not.

  (Shouting)

• Lisa Desjardins:

  Meanwhile, Democrats face their own challenges at home.

• Man:

  As of today, the national Democrats still don't get their acts together to fight for the people.

• Lisa Desjardins:

  At a town hall in Portland, Oregon…

• Woman:

  What are you doing to make up for this shameful vote, protect immigrants and protect due process?

• Lisa Desjardins:

  … Congresswoman Janelle Bynum was asked about her vote for the Laken Riley Act, which requires detention for undocumented migrants charged with burglary and other crimes.

• Rep. Janelle Bynum (D-OR):

  It is really important for us to have a nation of laws, and it is also very important for us to have due process.

• Lisa Desjardins:

  At a town hall in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar heard from a voter who sees Democrats as too weak.

• Man:

  Democrats are so afraid of actually fighting for the people. Can you tell me what are you going to do to hold the Democratic Party leadership accountable?

• Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN):

  I don't think I have ever been accused of not holding the (AUDIO GAP) accountable, so I will continue to do that.

• Lisa Desjardins:

  And where town halls happen, voters continue to hold their lawmakers accountable.

  For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Lisa Desjardins.

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