In an extended interview with CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett, Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla of California and Republican Sen. Tim Sheehy of Montana discussed areas of both sharp disagreement and bipartisan cooperation.
They described a bipartisan effort to improve wildfire disaster aid and recovery, focusing on quicker, more predictable federal assistance for communities hit by wildfires. Both senators emphasized the need to strengthen forest management and reduce fuels to limit the scale and intensity of fires — a shared priority reflecting experiences in states with large wildfire risks.
On health care, the two differed. Padilla, as a Democrat, framed his views around preserving access and protections associated with existing programs; Sheehy, as a Republican, outlined concerns about cost and the structure of federal involvement, arguing for approaches that would address affordability without expanding entitlement-style federal programs. Both acknowledged the Senate’s difficulties in moving comprehensive health legislation and characterized the chamber’s stalemate on major health reforms.
Immigration was another point of contention. Padilla highlighted the need for pathways and protections for migrants and emphasized humane enforcement paired with reform, while Sheehy stressed border security and stricter enforcement measures as prerequisites for broader immigration solutions. They disagreed on priorities and policy levers even as each described migration as a complex issue requiring federal, state and local coordination.
Throughout the conversation, both senators returned to areas of agreement on land and forest policy, disaster response improvements and practical, bipartisan fixes to reduce fire risk and speed recovery — illustrating how members from different parties can find common ground on specific, place-based problems even while divided on broader ideological questions.