In a recent exchange, Senator Dick Durbin engaged in a pointed discussion with a CNN reporter regarding a proposed congressional pay raise. The spending bill under consideration would grant lawmakers their first salary increase since 2009. When questioned by CNN's Manu Raju about whether members of Congress "deserve" a raise, Durbin expressed surprise, stating he was unaware of the provision and remarking, "It's good news... I think it's about time something's done." He went on to highlight the lack of cost-of-living adjustments for over a decade.

Raju pressed further, citing public skepticism about Congress's performance justifying a pay increase. Durbin retorted by questioning how media figures maintain their salaries despite declining viewership. He pointedly asked Raju, "What about the media? Half of your listeners are not there anymore. You're still getting the same paycheck. What's going on?" Raju clarified that media salaries aren't funded by taxpayer dollars, to which Durbin acknowledged, "I know you're not." The exchange continued with Raju reiterating his question about whether a raise is deserved, given the use of taxpayer funds.

The conversation later became a topic of discussion on a CNN panel, where commentators defended Raju. One panelist remarked on Durbin's apparent unawareness of the pay raise provision and his positive reaction to it, while another described him as "a normal person when it comes to his bank account." This incident comes amidst declining trust in both Congress and the media, as highlighted by recent polling data. Gallup polls indicate the news media is the "least trusted" among various U.S. institutions, with Congress ranking only slightly higher. Furthermore, several liberal news networks have experienced viewership declines, with CNN's audience reportedly falling behind other cable networks, even during periods of significant news activity.