Over an hour-long breakfast in the borough that raised them, Congress’ two highest-ranking Democrats discussed working across the aisle with Republicans.

“When we disagree with them on serious things, we’re going to show our Brooklyn,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters afterward, standing alongside House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. “We’re going to fight tooth-and-nail.”

What You Need To Know

  • Jeffries was also asked about George Santos, linking him to extremist Republicans

  • Also Tuesday, in Nassau County, Ritchie Torres met with Santos' constituents in urging an FEC probe

  • In Brooklyn, Jeffries and Schumer voiced concern about defaulting on the national debt

Schumer and Jeffries, the most powerful Democrats on Capitol Hill, have not just their Brooklyn roots in common but their outreach to some in the GOP.

“It’s our hope that we can reach out to some of the non-MAGA Republicans,” Schumer said.

“We are looking forward to finding common ground with those reasonable Republicans,” Jeffries said.

One House colleague who does not fall in that group for Jeffries is Congressman George Santos, who faces calls to resign for fabricating much of his life story.

“The Santos situation speaks for itself and, as Leader Schumer has indicated, you’ve got an extreme group of Republicans who want to drive the country over a cliff,” Jeffries said.

Earlier in the day, Congressman Ritchie Torres spoke more vehemently against Santos in Great Neck, part of Santos’ district in Nassau County, urging his resignation as well as an investigation into his campaign finances.

“The $700,000 question is, ‘where did all the money come from?’” Torres asked alongside members of Concerned Citizens of NY-03.

Many New York Democrats and Republicans are calling for Santos to step down. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is not.

“I don’t see any way that he’s going to have top secret—if you’re referring to George Santos, he’s got a long way to go to earn trust,” McCarthy told reporters Tuesday in Washington, D.C. “But the one thing I do know is you applied the Constitution equal to all Americans.”

Though McCarthy previously said Santos would not receive a committee assignment, the congressman appeared Tuesday to secure seats on the House committees on small business as well as science, space and technology.

Back in Brooklyn, Schumer and Jeffries were more focused on an impending crisis if Republicans and Democrats can’t collaborate.

Jeffries said he was committed to “making sure the country does not default on our debt for the first time in American history.”