CNN anchor tries gotcha question on GOP Rep. Amodei, over gambling tax — backfires spectacularly

By Brittany Sheehan  

Nevada News and Views

You know how CNN loves to try and trap Republican lawmakers with “gotcha” questions? Well, they tried it again with Nevada’s Rep. Mark Amodei, and it completely backfired.

The CNN anchor thought he had a perfect setup to make the Republican look like a hypocrite over a gambling tax provision in Trump’s big bill. Instead, Amodei showed exactly why voters trust conservatives to be straight shooters.

The anchor laid out the trap carefully. He explained how the new tax law means gamblers who break even will still get taxed.

Then came the gotcha attempt: “Do you support that measure?”

When Amodei said no, the anchor pounced: “But sorry, did you vote to pass this bill after it came back from the Senate?”

Here’s where it got good. Instead of squirming or giving some politician non-answer, Amodei was completely honest: “I voted to pass it back because it had that in it, but I wasn’t going to kill the whole bill over something that we think we can fix. So if your question is, do I support that provision? No.”

The anchor tried one more time: “But you did vote to pass. It wasn’t enough to keep you from passing the bill?”

Amodei’s answer was perfect: “Correct.”

What the Real Issue Is

The problem is with gambling taxes. A 100 percent deduction of gambling losses up to the amount of gambling winnings has been tax policy in the US for more than five decades. But the new law changed that. Starting in 2026, individuals can only deduct 90 percent of their gambling losses up to the amount of their winnings.

Here’s what that means in plain English. Say you go to Vegas and win $100,000 during the year. But you also lose $100,000. You broke even, right?

Under the old rules, you’d pay zero taxes because you didn’t really make any money. Under the new rules, you can only deduct $90,000 of your losses.

So the government thinks you made $10,000 and wants to tax you on it. Even though you actually lost as much as you won.

Why CNN’s Gotcha Failed

See what happened here? The CNN anchor thought he could make Amodei look bad by showing he voted for something he disagreed with. But Amodei’s response showed exactly the kind of principled leadership conservatives want. He supported the big picture while being honest about the parts that need fixing.

This is exactly the kind of government overreach that drives conservatives crazy. You didn’t make any real money, but the IRS wants to tax you anyway. It’s like taxing phantom income that doesn’t exist.

Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nevada), co-chair of the Congressional Gaming Caucus, pledged to introduce a “legislative fix,” telling the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the deductions change: “punishes people who are trying to do the right thing by reporting gambling on their taxes”.

But here’s the really good news. Nevada’s own Republican Congressman Mark Amodei is working across the aisle to fix this mess. Congressman Mark Amodei (R) has signed onto the Fair Bet Act with Democrat Dina Titus.

Amodei Shows How It’s Done

When Amodei appeared on CNN, he didn’t try to dodge or spin.

He said: “You shouldn’t be taxed on income that wasn’t really income, regardless of who you are.”

That’s exactly the kind of practical conservative thinking we need more of in Washington. Amodei supported the big picture of cutting taxes and spending. But he’s not afraid to admit when something needs fixing. And he’s not going to let CNN make him look bad for being honest about it.

Rep. Titus indicated in a post on X on Tuesday afternoon that Reps. Steven Horsford (D., Nev.), Jeff Van Drew (R., N.J.), and Mark Amodei (R., Nev.) have also joined the bill as co-sponsors.

What Happens Next?

The good news is that smart lawmakers are already working to fix this. The Fair Bet Act would restore the previous ability for gamblers to deduct 100 percent of their losses against their gains.

The bill has been referred to the House’s Ways and Means Committee. That’s where the real work happens on tax issues.

But here’s where it gets tricky. Senate Republicans on Thursday blocked an attempt to reverse a little-noticed provision from their tax and spending cuts law that professional gamblers warn could be the end of their industry. Some Republican senators are digging in their heels.

This is a perfect example of why conservatives need to stay engaged even after the big wins. Trump’s tax bill was a huge victory. But that doesn’t mean every single line in those 900 pages was perfect.

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Brittany Sheehan is a Las Vegas-based mother, policy advocate and grassroots leader. She is active in local politics, successful in campaign work and passionate about liberty.