Bernie Sanders on Face the Nation: War Funding, Midterms, and Healthcare Explained Simply

Interview Date: July 26, 2026
Show: Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan
Guest: Senator Bernie Sanders (Independent, Vermont)

Quick Overview: What This Interview Was About

Senator Bernie Sanders sat down with Margaret Brennan to talk about five big issues affecting everyday Americans:

1. The Iran War – Should we spend $67 billion more on a war Sanders says is illegal?
2. The 2026 Midterms – Can progressive candidates win against billionaire-backed opponents?
3. Democratic Party Infighting – Establishment vs. progressive visions
4. Healthcare Crisis – Why America still doesn’t have universal coverage
5. Food & Health – Fighting obesity with better labels and less junk food ads for kids

Section 1: The Iran War and That $67 Billion Request

What Happened

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked Congress for $67 billion in emergency funding to pay troops and restock weapons for the war in Iran.

Sanders’ Position: Just Say No

"The war in Iran is unconstitutional. It is illegal. Should never have been started."

His Reasoning (In Plain English)

The Solution Sanders Proposes

1. Sit down and negotiate with Iran
2. Stop the killing on both sides
3. End the war as fast as possible
4. Use that $67 billion for American needs instead

IMPORTANT POINT: Both the House and Senate already voted on a War Powers Resolution saying Trump’s actions in Iran are illegal. Sanders says: "Given that we are where we are right now, let’s sit down. Let’s negotiate with them. Let’s stop the killing."

Section 2: The Midterms Are Coming (100 Days Out!)

Three Key Races Sanders Is Watching

Why Sanders Thinks They Can Win

• They’re authentic working-class people – Not career politicians
• They understand the struggle – 60% of Americans live paycheck-to-paycheck
• Grassroots excitement is huge – Big rallies, lots of volunteers
• People are fed up with both parties’ establishments

The Big Obstacle: Billionaire Money

"The oligarchs, the billionaire class, are throwing unbelievable amounts of money into these campaigns to protect the establishment candidates."

In Michigan alone: $50 million from super PACs against El-Sayed

Section 3: The Democratic Civil War – Establishment vs. Progressives

The Criticism (From Rahm Emanuel, former Obama Chief of Staff)

"The Bernie Bros could spoil Democrats’ midterms… saddling the party with nominees who [have] wildly unpopular positions… socialists who led the charge to defund the police, open borders, abolish prisons."

Sanders’ Response (Translated from Political-Speak)

Sanders’ Core Argument

"People are sick and tired of the Rahm Emanuels, and the Democratic establishment, and the Republican establishment."

Simple questions regular people ask:

• Why does Canada guarantee healthcare but we don’t?
• Why does one man (Musk) own more wealth than the bottom half of America?
• Why will our kids have a lower standard of living than us?

Section 4: Healthcare – The #1 Kitchen Table Issue

The Problem in Numbers

• Top economic worry: Healthcare costs (per KFF polling)
• Vermont has: Highest ACA premiums in the country
• America spends: Twice as much per person as other rich countries
• Result: Worse health outcomes, medical bankruptcy, millions uninsured

Why Nothing Gets Done in Congress

"The function of the current American healthcare system is to make billions of dollars in profits for the insurance companies and the drug companies, and they are spending huge amounts in campaign contributions to make sure that that happens."

Sanders’ Solution: Medicare for All

• Single-payer system like Canada, UK, Germany, etc.
• Everyone covered – No exceptions
• No bills when you leave the hospital
• Half the cost per person compared to current system

IMPORTANT POINT: "50 miles north of where I am talking to you right now [Canada], they are spending half as much per capita as we spend, and somehow or another, they manage to guarantee healthcare to every man, woman, and child in that country."

The "Vermont Tried It" Counterargument

Brennan: Vermont struggled with single-payer. Is there a working model?
Sanders: Vermont is a small state – it can’t negotiate drug prices like a whole country can. But Canada works. Europe works. We’re the only major country that doesn’t do this.

Section 5: Junk Food, Kids, and Warning Labels

The Crisis

• 1 in 5 American children is obese
• $400 billion/year spent on diabetes care
• Current labels are confusing and hidden

Sanders’ Bipartisan Bill (With MAHA Caucus Republicans!)

Two main parts:

The Coke Example

A 20-ounce bottle of Coca-Cola = 15 teaspoons of sugar
That’s "bad stuff" – and it’s not just Coke. It’s all sweetened drinks and processed foods.

Section 6: Government Vacancies – CDC, FDA, Surgeon General

The Vacancy Crisis (As of July 2026)

The Nominee: Dr. Erica Schwartz

• Strong resume: Public health, military, attorney
• Sanders’ concern: Would she stand up to RFK Jr. (HHS Secretary) on vaccine conspiracy theories?
• Sanders’ vote: No – "She did not impress me as somebody who, in fact, would do that."

Summary: 5 Big Takeaways

FAQ: Questions You Might Have

Q1: Why does Sanders call the Iran war "unconstitutional"?

A: The Constitution says only Congress can declare war. Presidents have been using "Authorizations for Use of Military Force" (AUMFs) from 2001/2002 to justify wars never voted on by this Congress. Sanders (and both chambers) voted to say: This specific war needs new authorization or it’s illegal.

Q2: What’s a "super PAC" and why does $50 million matter?

A: A Super PAC (Political Action Committee) can raise unlimited money from billionaires/corporations to attack or support candidates – as long as they don’t officially coordinate with the campaign. $50 million buys massive TV ads, mailers, digital targeting – enough to define a candidate negatively before they introduce themselves.

Q3: What does "Medicare for All" actually mean for me?

A: Instead of:

• Paying premiums + deductibles + copays + fighting insurance denials
• Losing coverage if you change/lose jobs

You’d get:

• One public plan covering everything (doctor, hospital, drugs, dental, vision, mental health)
• No bills at point of service
• Paid through taxes (progressive – rich pay more, most families pay less than current costs)
• Keep your doctor – they just bill the government instead of 50 insurance companies

Q4: Can a progressive really win in Michigan (a swing state Trump won)?

A: Sanders says yes, and here’s the logic:

• Trump won narrowly – Not a deep-red state
• Working-class voters (including Republicans) struggle with same issues: healthcare, housing, wages
• Progressive policies poll well even in red districts when described without labels
• Turnout matters – Excited base + working-class cross-over > low-enthusiasm establishment candidate

Q5: Why haven’t warning labels on junk food happened already?

A: Food industry lobbying. Companies spend millions to:

• Keep labels voluntary/confusing (e.g., "Smart Choices" checkmarks on sugary cereal)
• Block "traffic light" labels (red/yellow/green) used successfully in Chile/UK
• Argue "personal responsibility" while engineering addictive products and marketing to toddlers
• Sanders’ bill has Republican co-sponsors (MAHA caucus) – rare bipartisan momentum

Final Thought

"The American people are tired of a rigged economy, a corrupt campaign finance system. They want real change. They don’t want Rahm Emanuel and the establishment maintaining the status quo."
– Senator Bernie Sanders

Whether you agree with Sanders or not, this interview lays out a clear, consistent worldview: Follow the money to understand why government fails working people – on war, healthcare, elections, and food. The solution, in his view, is organized people beating organized money.

Note: This article summarizes a full interview transcript. Some quotes are condensed for clarity while preserving original meaning. For the complete verbatim transcript, visit CBS News Face the Nation transcripts.