Sunday: Cruz, Mulvaney and Pelosi

Early Thursday morning the president released his 2018 budget blueprint, which immediately drew criticism from both Democrats and Republicans because of its drastic reduction in funding for several government agencies. Among the hardest hit were the EPA and the State Department -- which would each see budgets slashed by almost thirty percent. The plan also included an extra $54 billion dollars in defense spending, an allotment for the wall on the U.S./Mexican border and other increases for national defense. In addition to Congressional fury over the budget blueprint, the White House is  facing an uphill battle on healthcare. The American Healthcare Act has faced fierce opposition from House and Senate Republicans and the President spent most of the week making his case for his version of reform. 

Sunday on “Face the Nation” we’ll talk to Senator Ted Cruz, one of the Republicans who has been critical of the AHCA and is working with House colleagues to adapt their bill into a vehicle that can pass in the Senate. Also on the agenda: the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch. We’ll ask Senator Cruz how much resistance he predicts from Democrats and what to expect from those hearings next week. 

Then we’ll turn to White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney to take us through Mr. Trump’s budget proposal and why he thinks such extreme reductions in the federal government are necessary.  

With FBI Director James Comey scheduled to testify on the Hill next Monday, we’ll sit down with the top Democrat in the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi, R- California, to discuss the ongoing investigation into potential Russian ties with the Trump presidential campaign. Does Pelosi have faith in Comey’s investigation?  Democrats oppose the American Health Care Act, but will they work with Republicans in finding a solution to healthcare suitable to both sides?

And we’ll check in with CBS News Elections Director Anthony Salvanto who will discuss the new findings from the CBS News Nation Tracker, our ongoing attempt to keep tabs on what real Americans think about healthcare, the administration, congress and the country? He’ll have the latest findings from our collaboration with Yougov. 

As always, our political panel will break down all the news from the week and look ahead to what’s coming up. Sunday we’ll be joined by the Washington Post’s Ed O’Keefe, Wall Street Journal columnist Kimberly Strassel, The Atlantic’s Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg and Ruth Marcus, columnist and deputy editorial page editor at The Washington Post.

A lot of news to get through. Check your local listings for times. Don’t miss it!