Elon Musk Vows to Campaign Against Republicans Who Back Debt-Raising MegabillNew Foto - Elon Musk Vows to Campaign Against Republicans Who Back Debt-Raising Megabill

Elon Musk looks on during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on April 30, 2025. Credit - Andrew Harnik—Getty Images President Donald Trump has made clear that any Republican member of Congress who opposes his sprawling tax-and-spending package dubbed the "One Big Beautiful Bill" will face his wrath. He launched a campaign to primaryRep. Thomas Massieof Kentucky and suggested he would do the same againstSen. Thom Tillisof North Carolina, before Tillis announced that he wouldn't seek reelection. Now, however, another powerful politicalkingmakerhas vowed to challenge any Republican who supports the bill. "Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame!" tech billionaire and former close ally of Trump Elon Muskpostedon X. "And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth." Musk spent more than $250 million to help elect Trump in 2024 butsaidin May that he had "done enough" and was going to do "a lot less in the future." He added at the time, however, "if I see a reason to do political spending in the future, I will do it." Musk posted his warning, among many posts on the topic, on Monday night as Senators continued to vote on a series of amendments to the megabill, which estimates say will add trillions to thenational deficitand lead to cuts toMedicaid. Anyone who campaigned on the PROMISE of REDUCING SPENDING , but continues to vote on the BIGGEST DEBT ceiling increase in HISTORY will see their face on this poster in the primary next yearpic.twitter.com/w13Qkm2e1A — Elon Musk (@elonmusk)July 1, 2025 Reigniting aonce-regretted feudwith the President and Republicans that exploded afterMusk left a temporary government rolein the Administration in May, Musk reiterated a prior idea he'd floated of starting anew political party. "It is obvious with the insane spending of this bill, which increases the debt ceiling by a record FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS that we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!!" hepostedon X. "Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people." In another post, hesaidthat if the bill actually passes, the "America Party will be formed the next day" to provide "an alternative to the Democrat-Republican uniparty so that the people actually have a VOICE." When former Rep. Justin Amash, wholeft the Republican Party in 2019and opted not to run for reelection in 2020 amid criticisms of Trump, asked Musk to support his friend and fellow libertarian-minded conservative Massie, whom Trump has set his sights on ousting from the House, Muskresponded"I will." "The establishment is working to primary him because he's a genuine fiscal conservative and opposes the Big, Bloated Scam," Amash said of Massie. Trump took to his own Truth Social platform Monday night to lash out at Musk, suggesting that the wealthiest man in the world, who is also the CEO of electric-car company Tesla and space-technology company SpaceX, is self-interested. "Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly Endorsed me for President, that I was strongly against the EV Mandate," Trumpposted, referring topoliciesthat incentivize—though don't require—the manufacture and purchase of electric vehicles. "It is ridiculous, and was always a major part of my campaign. Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one. Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa. No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE," Trump added. Musk's companies are estimated to receive about$38 billionin government contracts and subsidies. "Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this?" Trump added, referencing the Department of Government Efficiency that Musk spearheaded. "BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!" Musk previously dismissed Trump when the President made a similar claim about the former White House adviser's priorities. "Whatever. Keep the EV/solar incentive cuts in the bill, even though no oil & gas subsidies are touched (very unfair!!)," hepostedon X in early June. Over the weekend, however, Muskpostedthat "A massive strategic error is being made right now to damage solar/battery that will leave America extremely vulnerable in the future." The bill threatens to endbillions of dollarsin green-energy tax credits, which some say could decimate the country's wind and solar industries. Musk reposted on Monday apost by Tillis, theRepublican Senatorwho announced on Sunday that he planned to retire at the end of his term and would be free from expected deference to party leaders, which backed Musk. "Folks, @ElonMusk is 100% right, and he understands this issue better than anyone," Tillis posted. "We should take his warnings seriously. We can't let Communist China become the long-term winner." Still, Musk insisted that his main focus is the national deficit. "All I'm asking is that we don't bankrupt America," hepostedas Senators continued to vote on amendments early Tuesday. The White House hasmaintainedthat the bill "actually reduces the debt burden on future generations," claiming that it "will unleash robust, real economic growth and restore fiscal sanity in America." But a new estimate from the nonpartisanCongressional Budget Officereleased on Sunday showed that the Senate version of the bill would add nearly $3.3 trillion to the deficit over a decade. Contact usatletters@time.com.

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June 30, 2025

Elon Musk Vows to Campaign Against Republicans Who Back Debt-Raising Megabill

Elon Musk Vows to Campaign Against Republicans Who Back Debt-Raising Megabill Elon Musk looks on during a Cabinet meeting at the White House...
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Russia takes full control of Ukraine's Luhansk region, Russian-backed official saysNew Foto - Russia takes full control of Ukraine's Luhansk region, Russian-backed official says

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia has taken full control of Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region, more than three years after President Vladimir Putin ordered thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, the Russian-backed head of the region told Russian state television. Luhansk, which has an area of 26,700 square km (10,308 square miles), is the first Ukrainian region to fall fully under the established control of Russian forces since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. Putin in September 2022 declared that Luhansk - along with the partially controlled Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions - was being incorporated into Russia, a step Western European states said was illegal and that most of the world did not recognise. "The territory of the Luhansk People's Republic is fully liberated - 100%," Leonid Pasechnik, who was born in Soviet Ukraine and is now a Russian-installed official cast by Moscow as the head of the "Luhansk People's Republic", told Russian state television. There was no immediate confirmation from the Russian defence ministry, or comment from Ukraine. Ukraine says that Russia's claims to Luhansk and other areas of what is internationally recognised to be Ukraine are groundless and illegal, and Kyiv has promised to never recognise Russian sovereignty over the areas. Russia says the territories are now part of Russia, fall under its nuclear umbrella and will never be returned. Luhansk was once part of the Russian empire but changed hands after the Russian Revolution. It was taken by the Red Army in 1920 and then became part of the Soviet Union in 1922 as part of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. Along with neighbouring Donetsk, Luhansk was the crucible of the conflict which began in 2014 after a pro-Russian president was toppled in Ukraine's Maidan Revolution and Russia annexed Crimea, with Russian-backed separatist forces fighting Ukraine's armed forces in both Luhansk and Donetsk. Russia controls nearly 19% of what is internationally recognised to be Ukraine, including Luhansk, plus over 70% of the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, and fragments of the Kharkiv, Sumy and Dnipropetrovsk regions. (Reporting by Reuters; editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Lincoln Feast.)

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June 30, 2025

Russia takes full control of Ukraine's Luhansk region, Russian-backed official says

Russia takes full control of Ukraine's Luhansk region, Russian-backed official says MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia has taken full control of U...
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China appoints ethnic affairs head as Xinjiang Communist Party chiefNew Foto - China appoints ethnic affairs head as Xinjiang Communist Party chief

BEIJING (Reuters) -China's ruling Communist Party has appointed the head of an ethnic affairs panel as its new party secretary in the vast northwestern region of Xinjiang, the official news agency Xinhua said on Tuesday. Chen Xiaojiang has also held a vice ministerial role since 2020 in the party's United Front Work Department, his profile on China's Wikipedia equivalent, Baidu's Baike, shows. The department runs influence operations related to ethnic minorities, religious groups and on the Taiwan issue at home and abroad. In 2020, he also became the first individual with an ethnic Han majority background to be appointed director of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission since it was re-established in 1978, the Caixin business outlet said. Xinhua did not say when Chen will officially take up the role. In 2022, the United Nations reported finding "serious human rights violations" against mainly Muslim Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang under China's national security and counter-terrorism policies, as well as forced labour accusations. China has repeatedly countered that the rights of all ethnic groups in the region were protected, while denying forced labour. It has dismissed the report as "groundless" and a part of the West's attempts to contain China. (Reporting by Liz Lee and Beijing newsroom; Additional reporting by Claire Fu in Singapore; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Clarence Fernandez)

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June 30, 2025

China appoints ethnic affairs head as Xinjiang Communist Party chief

China appoints ethnic affairs head as Xinjiang Communist Party chief BEIJING (Reuters) -China's ruling Communist Party has appointed the...
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Japanese manufacturers are slightly more optimistic despite Trump tariff worriesNew Foto - Japanese manufacturers are slightly more optimistic despite Trump tariff worries

TOKYO (AP) — Business sentiment among large Japanese manufacturers has improved slightly, according to a survey by Japan's central bank released Tuesday, although worries persist overPresident Donald Trump's tariffs. The Bank of Japan's quarterly tankan survey said an index for large manufacturers rose to plus 13 from plus 12 in March, when it marked the first dip in a year. The survey is an indicator of companies foreseeing good conditions minus those feeling pessimistic. Major manufacturers include auto and electronics sectors, whoseexports to the U.S.drive the Japanese economy. U.S. autotariffsare a worry for major manufacturers likeToyota Motor Corp., but some analysts note global auto sales have held up relatively well in recent months. The U.S. has imposed 25% tariffs on auto imports. Japanese automakers have plants in Mexico, wherePresident Donald Trumphas announced a separate set of tariffs. The U.S. has also imposed 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum. Japanese officials have been talking frequently with the Trump administration, stressing that Japan is a key U.S. ally. Trump posted on his social media site Monday that Japan wasn't buying enough rice from the U.S. "They won't take our RICE, and yet they have a massive rice shortage," the president wrote, adding that a letter to Japan was coming. Also on Monday, National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett told reporters at the White House that Trump "is going to finalize the frameworks we negotiated with a whole bunch of countries after the weekend." The Bank of Japan, which has kept interest rates extremely low for years to encourage growth, is expected to continue to raise interest rates, but some analysts expect that to wait until next year. The central bankraised its benchmark rate to 0.5%from 0.1% at the start of this year and has maintained that rate. The next Bank of Japan monetary policy board meeting is at the end of this month. The tankan findings work as important data in weighing a decision. The weak yen has raised the cost of materials for Japan at a time when the U.S. dollar has been trading at around 140 yen, up considerably from about 110 yen five years ago. A weak yen is a boon for Japan's exporters by boosting the value of their earnings when converted into yen. The tankan showed sentiment for large non-manufacturers fell to plus 34 from plus 35. That was better than some forecasts, which projected a deeper decline. The Japanese government reported last week that the nation's unemployment rate in May stood at 2.5%, unchanged from the previous month. ___ Yuri Kageyama is on Threads:https://www.threads.net/@yurikageyama

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June 30, 2025

Japanese manufacturers are slightly more optimistic despite Trump tariff worries

Japanese manufacturers are slightly more optimistic despite Trump tariff worries TOKYO (AP) — Business sentiment among large Japanese manufa...
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Bob Vylan Banned From U.S. Over Glastonbury ControversyNew Foto - Bob Vylan Banned From U.S. Over Glastonbury Controversy

British punk-rock and hip-hop duo Bob Vylan will not be able to perform in the U.S., where they were scheduled to open for American singergrandson's tour in October and November, after a controversial performance at the Glastonbury Festival in England over the weekend. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landaupostedon X on Monday that the Department has revoked the duo's visas "in light of their hateful tirade at Glastonbury, including leading the crowd in death chants." Landau added: "Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country." At the Glastonbury Festival, which is aired annually on BBC, one of the group's members, Bobby Vylan, led the crowd on Saturday to chant, "Death to the IDF," referring to theIsrael Defense Forces, to the shock of organizers and onlookers. The duo has faced a firestorm of criticism in the U.K., and British policesaidthey are examining videos of the incident for possible criminal violations. The Israeli embassy in the U.K.saidit was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage" and that "when such messages are delivered before tens of thousands of festivalgoers and met with applause, it raises serious concerns about the normalisation of extremist language and the glorification of violence." "We are appalled by the statements made from the West Holts stage by Bob Vylan yesterday," Emily Eavis, the co-organizer of Glastonbury and daughter of the festival's founder, said in astatement. "Their chants very much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the Festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence." U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned Vylan's actions on the Glastonbury stage,saying, "There is no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech." He also demanded that the BBC answer questions about streaming the controversial remarks. In a statement, the BBCsaidVylan's expressions "were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves." It explained that the performance was aired on its channels because the BBC team was dealing with "a live situation" but added that "with hindsight we should have pulled the stream during the performance." Starmer had previously said that it was "not appropriate" for Irish rap trioKneecap, who have accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and accused the U.S. and U.K. of enabling it, to be performing at the festival, and the BBC haddecidedin advance not to broadcast Kneecap's performance live to "ensure that our programming meets our editorial guidelines." Bob Vylan performed before Kneecap's set, where festival attendees had gathered in anticipation with Palestinian flags. Singer Bobby Vylan first led the crowd to chant, "Free, free, Palestine!" Then he interjected: "Alright, but have you heard this one though?" before leading a chant of "Death, death to the IDF!" The chant recalled the phrasing of "Death to Israel" and"Death to America" chants by Iraniansas well as"Death to Arabs" chants by Israelis. Following the controversy that ensued, Bobby Vylan wrote "I said what I said"on Instagram, where he shared a statement that explained: "Teaching our children to speak up for the change they want and need is the only way that we make this world a better place." Here's what to know. Bob Vylan is composed of singer-guitarist Bobby Vylan and drummer Bobbie Vylan, and they collectively refer to themselves as "the Bobs." The two have used stage names reportedly to maintain privacy, but some U.K.mediahave since identified Bobby Vylan as 34-year-old Pascal Robinson-Foster. The duo, which formed in Ipswich in 2017 and has more than 200,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, is known for its politically charged music and performances. According totheIndependent, their songs "often speak out against racism, homophobia, toxic masculinity and far right politics," and in past performances Bobby would preface their song "Pretty Songs" by saying "violence is the only language that some people understand." The paper also said that Bobby has been deliberately provocative in past performances, such as by swinging a baseball bat at the crowd or wearing the soccer jersey of the rival team of where they were performing. Last year, Bobbytold theIrish Timesthat he was infuriated by bands that didn't speak up more about Gaza. The U.K. and U.S. governments' response, he said, "but also the people's response – the people of these countries … will be remembered forever. It will be documented throughout history. If you're asking yourself, 'Oh, what would you have done during slavery? What would you have done throughout the Holocaust?' You're doing it now – right now. With what it is happening over there in Palestine, you're doing it." Since the Glastonbury performance, the duo wasreportedlydropped by United Talent Agency. Sen. Ted Cruz (R, Texas)repostedvideo of the incident on X, and commented: "Truly sick. Thousands of people screaming 'Death to the IDF.' This is the base of the Democrat Party." StopAntisemitism, an advocacy group in the U.S.,flaggedon X that the duo has scheduled performances in the U.S. later this year and said of Bobby Vylan: "This antisemite must have his visa denied/rescinded - his hate is not welcome here." Republican Rep. Randy Fine of Floridarespondedto the post, saying "On it." Leo Terrell, who chairs the Justice Department's task force to combat antisemitism, also responded to StopAntisemitism's post, which he was tagged in. "These abhorrent chants, which included calls for the death of members of the Israeli Defense Forces, are abhorrent and have no place in any civil society," Terrellpostedon X. "We understand that Mr. Vylan is planning to travel to the United States as part of the Inertia Tour. In response, Mr. Terrell's Task Force will be reaching out to the U.S. Department of State on Monday to determine what measures are available to address the situation and to prevent the promotion of violent antisemitic rhetoric in the United States." After Landau's announcement, Terrellthankedthe State Department for "moving so fast on this." Bobby Vylan "is a person who wants to incite violence and we're not going to allow that under the Trump Administration," Terrell said on Fox News. "The Trump Administration is not going to allow antisemitism to exist in this country." A State Department spokesperson told TIME before Landau's announcement that it does not publicly discuss the details of individual cases but that the Department "is committed to protecting our nation and its citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety." The spokesperson added that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been clear that "a U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right." Trump Administration immigration officials announced in April that they would screen visa applicants' social media accounts for "antisemitic" content. "There is no room in the United States for the rest of the world's terrorist sympathizers, and we are under no obligation to admit them or let them stay here,"saidDepartment of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin at the time. The Administration has also claimed to reject censorship at home and abroad, with the State Departmentannouncingvisa restrictions in May for foreign officials who restrict "protected expression" in the U.S. "Free speech," Rubio said in the announcement, "is among the most cherished rights we enjoy as Americans." Contact usatletters@time.com.

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June 30, 2025

Bob Vylan Banned From U.S. Over Glastonbury Controversy

Bob Vylan Banned From U.S. Over Glastonbury Controversy British punk-rock and hip-hop duo Bob Vylan will not be able to perform in the U.S.,...
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Tiny Tuvalu seeks assurance from US its citizens won't be barredNew Foto - Tiny Tuvalu seeks assurance from US its citizens won't be barred

By Kirsty Needham SYDNEY (Reuters) -Tuvalu, a tiny Pacific nation that scientists predict will be submerged by rising seas, said it is seeking written assurance from the United States that its citizens will not be barred from entry after being apparently mistakenly included in a list of 36 countries facing visa bans. An internal diplomatic cable signed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio showed the United States, which has already barred entry for citizens from 12 countries, was considering expanding travel restrictions to the 36 countries, including three Pacific Island states, Reuters and other media reported last month. Nations on the list would have 60 days to take corrective action, the cable showed. The news had caused significant concern in Tuvalu, whose population of 11,000 is at risk from rising sea levels, and where a third of residents have applied to an Australian ballot for a landmark climate migration visa. Tuvalu's ambassador to the United Nations, Tapugao Falefou, said he had been told by a U.S. official that Tuvalu's inclusion on the list was "an administrative and systemic error on the part of the U.S. Department of State". In a statement on Tuesday, Tuvalu's government said it had not received any formal notification that it was on the list, and had also been assured by the United States embassy in Fiji it was "an error within the system". "The Embassy has provided verbal assurances that there are no current restrictions on Tuvaluan nationals entering the United States, and that the matter is being reviewed with authorities in Washington," the statement from Tuvalu's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Labour and Trade said. It added Tuvalu was seeking a "formal written confirmation to that effect and continues to engage the U.S. Government to ensure Tuvaluans are not unfairly affected". The embassy did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. A U.S. official familiar with visa policy who is not authorized to speak publicly told Reuters "no decisions have been made, and any speculation is premature". "Tuvalu's public statement mischaracterizes and omits some of the valid concerns the United States has with travelers from that country," the official added. The other Pacific Islands listed in the cable were Vanuatu and Tonga. Tonga's government had received an official U.S. warning, and was working on a response, Tonga media reported. Vanuatu's government did not respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney; Editing by Saad Sayeed)

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June 30, 2025

Tiny Tuvalu seeks assurance from US its citizens won't be barred

Tiny Tuvalu seeks assurance from US its citizens won't be barred By Kirsty Needham SYDNEY (Reuters) -Tuvalu, a tiny Pacific nation that...
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Bombs Now or Nukes Later: The New Moral DilemmaNew Foto - Bombs Now or Nukes Later: The New Moral Dilemma

Every Philosophy 101 student knows the dilemma. If given the chance to kill Adolf Hitler years before his tyrannical ambitions unleashed death and destruction, would you be willing to pull the trigger and end the life of the innocent Austrian art student he seemed to be? For most of us, the answer was clear. Given what you know now - that Hitler would be responsible for the deaths of millions - the life of that aspiring but not very talented art student would be a small price to pay to at least attempt to prevent the Holocaust and World War II. Of course, there would be unforeseen and unintended consequences. No war means no war heroes, for instance. Cancel the presidencies of Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. But that would just be the beginning. There would be no way to gauge whether the death of Hitler before he came to power would actually improve the world or not. Still, considering the 70 million to 85 million deaths caused by WWII, most of us would probably roll the dice. But that was yesterdays moral dilemma. Cue the Iranian nuclear bomb scenario. For the past three weeks, every social influencer, Hollywood celebrity, cable TV news panelist, and Twitter user has weighed in on the wisdom of the United States going to war on the side of Israel in order to eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat. The arguments against it have ranged from the vacuity of "orange man bad" to the more reasoned approach of "show me the evidence." But when confronted with the awful possibility of Irans "Death to America" mullahs having access to nuclear weapons, almost everyone agreed thats just not a good idea. But before we ever got to that point, it was amusing to watch otherwise sane people twist themselves into pretzels in order to justify doing nothing when the alternative could likely lead to death and destruction just as widespread as Hitlers war. My favorite twisted thinking was the argument that proposed that as long as Iran wanted a nuclear bomb, it should have the right to get one - consequences be damned - because we have no right to interfere with the decisions of a "sovereign nation." Of course, there was a legitimate concern that a United States attack on Iran could lead to a long-term ground war, and if any other president had made the decision, it very likely could have. President Trump, on the other hand, has a long track record of avoiding war, using American military power to end conflicts, not to begin them. Yet even many of Trumps allies seemed to walk away from him in the buildup to the B-2 bombers dropping "bunker busters" on Irans nuclear facilities. Tucker Carlson and Steve Bannon were convinced that Trump was being manipulated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or by so-called neo-con commentators such as Mark Levin or by the Murdoch media empire or the invisible deep state into committing to a brand-new "forever war." With friends like those, Trump was right to keep his own counsel. Or keep to the position he had held for years - Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. What about MAGA? Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green and other self-righteous conservatives claimed for weeks that President Trump, the inventor of MAGA, had betrayed the movement and violated his own campaign promises. But wait a minute. MAGA is Make America Great Again, not Make America Grovel Again. A large portion of that slogans appeal is restoring Americas greatness abroad. Under Presidents Obama and Biden, the American profile in foreign affairs shrank to a slim shadow of its former greatness. Whether it was Obama airmailing pallets of U.S. dollars to Tehran or Bidens disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, everyone knew that America had become a handmaiden to globalist interests. Under Trump 2.0, those days are over. Trump never said he was against foreign military engagement. He said he would protect American soldiers and American interests from foolish foreign entanglements, the same warning that George Washington issued in his farewell address. And Trump has been good to his word. The result so far has been magnificent. Not only did President Trump deliver a significant blow to the Iranian nuclear ambitions, but he also forced Israel and Iran to accept a ceasefire after 12 days of war (and decades of bellicose propaganda and terrorist activity). Following Trumps negotiation of a peace deal between India and Pakistan, two nuclear-armed enemies, the Iran operation made Trump the heads-on favorite for the Nobel Peace Prize (were it decided by honest judges). And just last week, in a clear victory for MAGA and America First, Trump was hailed by our European allies as a conquering hero, not for his Iran policy, but for finally convincing NATO countries to pay their fair share of our common defense costs. No wonder Democrats are remaining mostly silent about Trumps foreign policy successes. As for history, hopefully it will speak loud and clear in praise of this presidents willingness to take action to protect future generations when others have dithered and doddered. And every patriotic American should be rooting for him, because its not a philosophy quiz this time; its real life. Frank Miele, retired editor of the Daily Inter Lake in Kalispell, Mont., is a columnist for RealClearPolitics. His book"The Media Matrix: What If Everything You Know Is Fake"is available from his Amazon author page. Visit him atHeartlandDiaryUSA.comor follow him on Facebook @HeartlandDiaryUSA and on X/Gettr @HeartlandDiary.

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June 30, 2025

Bombs Now or Nukes Later: The New Moral Dilemma

Bombs Now or Nukes Later: The New Moral Dilemma Every Philosophy 101 student knows the dilemma. If given the chance to kill Adolf Hitler yea...
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Netanyahu will visit the White House next Monday as Trump presses for a ceasefire in GazaNew Foto - Netanyahu will visit the White House next Monday as Trump presses for a ceasefire in Gaza

WASHINGTON (AP) — PresidentDonald Trumpwill host Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahufor talks at the White House next Monday as the U.S. leadersteps up his pushon the Israeli government and Hamas to broker a ceasefire and hostage agreement and bring about an end to the war in Gaza. The impending visit was confirmed by two U.S. administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly on it. The trip will be Netanyahu's third visit to the White House sinceDonald Trumpreturned to office in January, and it comes after the United States inserted itself into Israel's war against Iran byattacking Iranian nuclear sites. Afterbrokering a ceasefirebetween the two countries, Trump has signaled that he's turning his attention to bringing a close to the fighting between Israel and Hamas. Trump on Friday told reporters that "we think within the next week we're going to get a ceasefire" in Gaza, but didn't offer any further explanation for his optimism. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that Trump and administration officials were in constant communication with Israeli leadership and that bringing about an end to the Gaza conflict is a priority for Trump. "It's heartbreaking to see the images that have come out from both Israel and Gaza throughout this war, and the president wants to see it end," Leavitt added. "He wants to save lives." Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer is in Washington this week for talks with senior administration officials on a Gaza ceasefire, Iran and other matters. Talks between Israel and Hamas have repeatedly faltered over a major sticking point — whether the war should end as part of any ceasefire agreement. About 50 hostages remain captive in Gaza, with less than half believed to be alive. With Netanyahu's visit, the timing of which was first reported by Axios, Trump will embrace the Israeli leader while continuing to push back against skeptical questions from Democratic lawmakers and others about how far U.S. and Israeli strikes have set back Iran's nuclear program. A preliminary report issued by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, meanwhile, said the strikesdid significant damageto the Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan sites, butdid not totally destroy the facilities. Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said on CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday that the three Iranian sites with "capabilities in terms of treatment, conversion and enrichment of uranium have been destroyed to an important degree." But, he added, "some is still standing," and that because capabilities remain, "if they so wish, they will be able to start doing this again." He said assessing the full damage comes down to Iran allowing inspectors access. Trump in recent days has also inserted himself into Israeli domestic affairs, calling for charges against Netanyahu in his ongoing corruption trial to be thrown out. He has condemned the trial as a "WITCH HUNT" and vowed that the United States will be the one who "saves" Netanyahu fromserious corruption charges. The decision by Trump toplunge himself into one of Israel's most heated debateshas unnerved some in its political class. Meanwhile, the Trump administration on Monday approved a new half-billion-dollar arms sale to Israel to resupply its military with bomb guidance kits for precision munitions. The State Department said the sale is worth $510 million. It includes more than 7,000 guidance kits for two different types of Joint Direct Attack Munitions, or JDAMs. The deal is relatively small given that the U.S. provides Israel with more than $3 billion annually in military aid. But Israel has relied on JDAMs and other related US weaponry in its war against Hamas in Gaza and its recent strikes against Iran. "The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability," the department said in a statement. "This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives." ___ Associated Press writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.

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June 30, 2025

Netanyahu will visit the White House next Monday as Trump presses for a ceasefire in Gaza

Netanyahu will visit the White House next Monday as Trump presses for a ceasefire in Gaza WASHINGTON (AP) — PresidentDonald Trumpwill host I...
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Trump drops federal lawsuit against Iowa pollster Ann Selzer, refiles in state courtNew Foto - Trump drops federal lawsuit against Iowa pollster Ann Selzer, refiles in state court

President Donald Trump on Monday dropped his federallawsuit against Iowa pollster Ann Selzerand The Des Moines Register over a poll that found Democratic nomineeKamala Harrisleading in Iowa shortly before Election Day in November, before refiling it hours later in state court. Trump had initially filed the lawsuit in Iowa District Court in Polk County in December. The case was later moved to federal court. Earlier this month, a federal judge denied Trump's request to move the case back to state court. Follow live politics coverage here Bob Corn-Revere, chief counsel for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a nonprofit civil liberties group that is representing Selzer, said in a statement that Trump's effort to dismiss the federal case after having lost his earlier attempt to remand it to state court "is a transparent attempt to avoid federal court review of the president's transparently frivolous claims." "Whatever court ultimately reviews this matter, FIRE will defend J. Ann Selzer's First Amendment rights, and we remain confident the courts will see through this sham lawsuit," Corn-Revere said. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The refiling of the lawsuit at the state level shields it from being subject to an "Anti-SLAPP" measure that Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds signed in May and takes effect Tuesday. So-called SLAPP lawsuits, also known as strategic lawsuits against public participation, are cases brought against news organizations in an effort to prevent public speech and reporting on an issue by engaging in expensive and extensive legal battles. Lark-Marie Anton, a spokesperson for the Register, said in a statement that Trump's move to drop the case in U.S. district court was "clearly intended to avoid the inevitable outcome of the Des Moines Register's motion to dismiss President Trump's amended complaint currently pending in federal court." "After losing his first attempt to send his case back to Iowa state court, and apparently recognizing that his appeal will be unsuccessful, President Trump is attempting to unilaterally dismiss his lawsuit from federal court and re-file it in Iowa state court," Anton said before Trump refiled his lawsuit. "The Des Moines Register will continue to resist President Trump's litigation gamesmanship and believes that regardless of the forum it will be successful in defending its rights under the First Amendment." The newspaper previously said Trump's federal lawsuit was "without merit" and acknowledged that the Selzer/Des Moines Register pre-election poll "did not reflect the ultimate margin of President Trump's Election Day victory in Iowa." Trump in December sued Selzer; her polling firm, Selzer & Co.; The Des Moines Register; and the newspaper's parent company, Gannett, alleging consumer fraud over the poll, which found Harris up by 3 percentage points in the state. Trump defeated her in Iowa 55.7% to 42.5% last year. Trump has carried the state in the past three presidential contests, beating Hillary Clinton 51.7% to 42.2% in 2016 and besting Joe Biden 53.1% to 44.9% in 2020. Trump's lawsuit against Selzer and the Register was one of many he filedover 2024 campaign coverage. He filed a similar suit against Paramount, the parent company ofCBS News, in which he accused "60 Minutes" of selectively editing an interview segment with Harris ahead of the election. In a filing Monday, attorneys for Trump and Paramount asked the court for a pause in the proceedings for the $20 billion lawsuit, saying the parties "are engaged in good faith, advanced, settlement negotiations."

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June 30, 2025

Trump drops federal lawsuit against Iowa pollster Ann Selzer, refiles in state court

Trump drops federal lawsuit against Iowa pollster Ann Selzer, refiles in state court President Donald Trump on Monday dropped his federallaw...
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G7 urges talks to resume for deal on Iran nuclear programNew Foto - G7 urges talks to resume for deal on Iran nuclear program

By Kanishka Singh and Ismail Shakil WASHINGTON/OTTAWA (Reuters) -Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven nations said on Monday they supported the ceasefire between Israel and Iran and urged for negotiations to resume for a deal to address Iran's nuclear program, according to a joint statement. Since April, Iran and the U.S. have held talks aimed at finding a new diplomatic solution regarding Iran's nuclear program. Tehran says its program is peaceful and Israel and its allies say they want to ensure Iran cannot build a nuclear weapon. "We call for the resumption of negotiations, resulting in a comprehensive, verifiable and durable agreement that addresses Iran's nuclear program," the G7 foreign ministers said. Last week, Trump announced a ceasefire between U.S. ally Israel and its regional rival Iran to halt a war that began on June 13 when Israel attacked Iran. The Israel-Iran conflict had raised alarms in a region already on edge since the start of Israel's war in Gaza in October 2023. Before the ceasefire was announced, Washington struck Iran's nuclear sites and Iran targeted a U.S. base in Qatar in retaliation. The G7 foreign ministers said they urged "all parties to avoid actions that could further destabilize the region." U.S. Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff has said talks between Washington and Tehran were "promising" and that Washington was hopeful for a long-term peace deal. The G7 top diplomats denounced threats against the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog on Monday, after a hardline Iranian newspaper said IAEA boss Rafael Grossi should be tried and executed as an Israeli agent. On June 12, the U.N. nuclear watchdog's 35-nation Board of Governors declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in almost 20 years. Israel is the only Middle Eastern country believed to have nuclear weapons and said its war against Iran aimed to prevent Tehran from developing its own nuclear weapons. Iran is a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, while Israel is not. The U.N. nuclear watchdog, which carries out inspections in Iran, says it has "no credible indication" of an active, coordinated weapons program in Iran. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington and Ismail Shakil in Ottawa; Editing by Chris Reese and Lincoln Feast.)

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June 30, 2025

G7 urges talks to resume for deal on Iran nuclear program

G7 urges talks to resume for deal on Iran nuclear program By Kanishka Singh and Ismail Shakil WASHINGTON/OTTAWA (Reuters) -Foreign minister...
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Trump imposes tougher US policy toward CubaNew Foto - Trump imposes tougher US policy toward Cuba

By Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Donald Trump on Monday signed a memorandum imposing a hard-line U.S. policy toward communist-run Cuba and reversing measures put in place by former President Joe Biden, the White House said. The directive will enforce a statutory ban on U.S. tourism to Cuba while supporting an economic embargo of the country, the White House said in a fact sheet. While Americans cannot visit Cuba for leisure, travel has been allowed for activities including educational or humanitarian trips. As one of his first acts after taking office in January, Trump, a harsh Cuba critic, revoked the Biden administration's last-minute decision to remove the country from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. He has also partially restricted the entry of people from Cuba. Under Monday's memorandum, Trump renewed a ban on direct or indirect financial transactions with entities controlled by the Cuban military, such as Grupo de Administracion Empresarial S.A. (GAESA), and its affiliates, with exceptions for transactions that advance U.S. policy goals or support the Cuban people. Biden had revoked a 2017 Trump order that restricted financial transactions with some military and government-linked Cuban entities. The new memorandum "enforces the statutory ban on U.S. tourism to Cuba and ensures compliance through regular audits and mandatory record-keeping of all travel-related transactions for at least five years," the White House fact sheet said. It also supports the economic embargo of Cuba and opposes calls in the United Nations and other international forums for its termination, the fact sheet said. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez posted on social media platform X that "the Presidential Memorandum against Cuba made public today by the US government reinforces the aggression and economic blockade that punishes the entire Cuban people and is the main obstacle to our development." "It is a criminal act and a violation of the human rights of an entire nation. The main obstacle to our development," he said. (Reporting By Steve Holland; additional reporting by Marc Frank in Havana; Editing by Franklin Paul and Chris Reese)

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June 30, 2025

Trump imposes tougher US policy toward Cuba

Trump imposes tougher US policy toward Cuba By Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Donald Trump on Monday signed a memorandum imp...
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Who would win and who would lose in Republicans' 'big, beautiful bill'New Foto - Who would win and who would lose in Republicans' 'big, beautiful bill'

Legislation making its waythrough the Senatestands to have wide-ranging effects across the economy — bolstering tax benefits for businesses and higher-income households while threatening health insurance for millions of Americans and putting thousands of clean energy and health care jobs at risk. The bill,which is more than 900 pages longand Republicans have dubbed the "big, beautiful bill," passed a keyprocedural voteover the weekend in the Senate largely along party lines, with all but two Republicans voting to advance it. Follow live coverage here The Senate is debating the measurebefore taking a final vote. If the bill passes the Senate, it will then go back to the House for another vote and ultimately must be signed by President Donald Trump before becoming law. While changes could still be made and its passage isn't certain, here are some of the key winners and losers under the latest version of the bill. The legislation would make permanent trillions of dollars in corporate tax cuts enacted in 2017 during Trump's first term and expand other tax breaks for businesses. That includes permanently lowering the corporate tax rate to 21% from the 35% level before the 2017 tax cuts. The bill would also extend or increase other tax breaks for business investments, like those on new machinery, equipment and research and development, whichbusiness groups have saidwould encourage business investments in the U.S. The bill would also extend through 2033 tax incentives enacted in 2017 for businesses that invest in disadvantaged areas, called Opportunity Zones. The tax cuts would add around $3 trillion over the next decade to the national debt, according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office. That means the U.S. would have to borrow more money to cover its expenses, requiring it to pay an estimated $600 billion to $700 billion in additionalinterest payments, according to an analysis by the Center for a Responsible Federal Budget. The amount of money Americans pay toward interest on the country's debt is expected to increase sharply in the coming years, totaling $78 trillion over the next 30 years and accounting for 34% of federal revenues,according tothe Congressional Budget Office. Paying for that added interest will fall to future generations, likely in the form of higher taxes and less spending on other programs younger generations could benefit from, like early childhood education, more affordable housing or improved infrastructure. It will also give the U.S. less flexibility to borrow if there is a future crisis, such as a pandemic or war. As U.S. debt has ballooned — with the current ratio of debt to gross domestic product at similar levels to those seen during World War II — it has also increased concern among investors about the country's ability to make its debt and interest payments on time. That means investors are starting to seek a higher interest payments, or yield, in exchange for buying U.S. debt, which could also drive up interest rates for other private loans — with higher mortgage rates or interest on a small business loan. The bill would greatly expand the amount of state and local taxes households are able to deduct from their federal taxes from the current cap of $10,000 to up to $40,000. The biggest beneficiaries from the change would be households making $200,000 to $500,000 a year and those that own property, because they are likelier to pay higher property and income taxes,according to an analysisby the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. It would also disproportionately benefit households in higher-tax states, like New York, New Jersey and California. Wealthy households and business owners would also benefit from a permanent reduction in the estate tax. Under the legislation, heirs of estates valued at less than $15 million would not have to pay a tax on their inheritance. That cap is set to drop to $7 million in 2026. Provisions in the latest version of the bill would cause nearly 12 million low-income people to lose their health insurance over the next decade by cutting around $1 trillion from Medicaid, the health insurance program for poor and disabled people,according to the CBO.The Senate bill includes steeper cuts to Medicaid than an earlier version passed by the House. The cuts would take a particular toll on people in rural areas who are more likely to receive their health insurance through Medicaid than those in urban or suburban areas. Researchers atGeorgetown University foundthat 40% of children in small and rural towns receive their health insurance from Medicaid. The bill could also reduce the number of people who receive their insurance through the Affordable Care Act. The version of the Senate bill released over the weekend also includes cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, by requiring adults ages 18 to 64 without disabilities to work at least 80 hours a month unless they are caring for children under 10. The added requirements could lead to $300 billion in cuts to food stamp spending, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The legislation would carry through on a campaign promise by Trump to exempt income from tips and overtime from federal income taxes. Tipped workers make up about 2.5% of the workforce, and about 12% of hourly workers clock some overtime each year, according to ananalysis by the Yale Budget Lab. Both tax exemptions are structured as deductions that workers would claim when they filed their taxes the following year. The tax exemption would apply only to federal income tax, so workers would still have to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes on their income, along with any state or local taxes. As many as 40% of tipped workers already don't make enough money to have to pay federal income tax on any of their earnings, so the benefit would be relatively limited, the Yale Budget Lab found. Less funding for Medicaid and fewer people with health insurance would mean a drop-off in doctor's office visits, prescription refills and medical procedures — and, as a result, fewer workers needed to support those types of services. That could lead to the loss of nearly500,000 health care jobsover the next decade, according to an analysis by George Washington University and the Commonwealth Fund. The Senate bill would also prohibit Medicaid funding for entities that provide abortions, including Planned Parenthood, which could cause cuts backs or the closure of those health care centers. The Senate legislation seeks to mitigate some of that pain for rural health care providers, who care for a disproportionately high number of Medicaid patients, with a $25 billion fund for rural hospitals. Both the House and the Senate bill include wins for the fossil fuel industry, stripping away numerous provisions put in place during President Joe Biden's administration to shift energy consumption away from fossil fuels. Both bills would delay a fee on excess methane pollution by oil and gas companies, roll back Biden-era rules to curb vehicle emissions and include provisions intended to speed the development of new fossil fuel projects. The Senate bill also includes a new tax workaround for oil drillers that would enable many of them to avoid having to pay a corporate alternative minimum tax of 15%. Clean energy companies say the bill could cripple their businesses by stripping away tax subsidies and funding made available during the Biden administration. The Senate bill would go further than the earlier version passed in the House by imposing new tax penalties on wind and solar farm projects started after 2027, unless they met certain requirements. That could jeopardize billions of dollars in investments in clean energy projects — along with the thousands of jobs that would come along with those projects, including in Republican-led states like Georgia and South Carolina. Other provisions would reduce benefits for consumers buying electric vehicles, solar panels and appliances to make their homes more energy efficient.

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June 30, 2025

Who would win and who would lose in Republicans' 'big, beautiful bill'

Who would win and who would lose in Republicans' 'big, beautiful bill' Legislation making its waythrough the Senatestands to hav...
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Why Republican Senator Thom Tillis Is RetiringNew Foto - Why Republican Senator Thom Tillis Is Retiring

Get on board the Trump train or get out. That's been President Donald Trump's message to Republicans in Congress since his first term. Some of his biggest intraparty critics, like former Rep. Liz Cheney, put up a fight and lost. Others, like former Sen. Mitt Romney, chose not to run for reelection. As Trump picks new fights in his second term with insufficiently loyal Republican lawmakers, Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina has become the latest to announce that he plans to leave of his own volition. "Great News!" Trumpreactedon his Truth Social platform after Tillis announced in astatementthat he does not plan to run for reelection in 2026. "In Washington over the last few years, it's become increasingly evident that leaders who are willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise, and demonstrate independent thinking are becoming an endangered species," Tillis said. "When people see independent thinking on the other side, they cheer. But when those very same people see independent thinking coming from their side, they scorn, ostracize, and even censure them." Tillis, 64, said he hadn't been "excited" about running for another term for some time, and he hadreportedlybeen leaning against running but had given himself until the end of the summer to decide. His decision, however, was apparently made easier after Trump launched a multi-post social-media tirade against the Senator after Tillis voted on Saturday against advancing the President's massive tax-and-spending legislative priority, dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB). TrumpaccusedTillis of grandstanding "in order to get some publicity for himself, for a possible, but very difficult Re-Election." Headdedthat he would be "meeting with" potential candidates to run against Tillis in a primary race. "Tillis is a talker and complainer, NOT A DOER!" Trumpsaid. "It's not a hard choice," Tillis said of his decision to retire from the Senate at the end of his term, saying that he wishes to spend more time with his family instead of "spending another six years navigating the political theatre and partisan gridlock in Washington." Here's what to know. Tillis was born in Jacksonville, Fla., in 1960. His working-class family, including three boys all named Thomas after their father and three girls, moved frequently when he was a child, and he graduated from high school in Nashville, Tenn., in 1978, voted by his peers as "most likely to succeed." He initially joined the Air Force but was honorably discharged before he could go to basic training, after a car accident severely injured his hand. He instead worked various jobs, eventually working his way to a position at accounting and consulting firm PriceWaterhouse (and later IBM after it acquired PriceWaterhouse), while attending night school at several institutions to earn a bachelor's degree. In 1998, Tillis moved with his wife and children to North Carolina, and he entered politics in his hometown of Cornelius in 2002, after pushing for a bike trail and being asked to join the parks and recreation advisory board. In 2003, he was elected a town commissioner, and in 2006, he ran and won the Republican primary for a state General Assembly seat, and he ran unopposed in the general election that year and unopposed in three subsequent reelection bids in 2008, 2010, and 2012. Tillis, who had earned a reputation aspro-businessandmoderate, was elected Speaker of the state House in 2011, after Republicans won control of the chamber for the first time since 1998. In 2014, after helping to shepherd conservative legislation in North Carolina's capital, he set his sights on Washington, D.C., running against and ultimately defeating then-incumbent Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan. He narrowly won reelection in 2020 after Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham was caught in asex scandal. As a Senator, in terms of leadership and ideology, Tillis has been firmly in the middle of the pack in his party, according to the independent government transparency and accountability trackerGovTrack. Among other things, he's known for opposing abortion and advocating for corporate tax cuts. And he's supported every conservative Supreme Court justice nomination before him. But he's also been unafraid to cross party lines on issues includinggun controland immigration. Tillis has also been known to occasionally butt heads with Trump. In 2016, when Trump had become the presumptive GOP nominee for President, Tillis called on Republicans to support Trump. "We have to recognize that more than anything else, we have to unite," hesaidat the time. "At the end of the day, we're all Republicans." He would later criticize Trump's controversial comments on anAccess Hollywoodtape as "indefensible" and said Trump should "apologize to women everywhere," though he continued to back the candidate. In 2017, he supported the appointment of Robert Mueller as a special counsel to investigate Trump and later co-sponsored a bill with Delaware Democrat Sen. Chris Coons to protect Mueller from interference by the President. Pushing back against criticism from other Republicans, hetoldPolitico in 2018 that he wanted to take a stand against "situational ethics" in which politicians change their stances based on who is occupying the White House. "Courage is when you know you're going to do something that's going to anger your base," he said. In 2019, Tilliswrote an op-edin theWashington Postto criticize Trump's declaration of a national emergency to divert funds to border control. "I cannot justify providing the executive with more ways to bypass Congress," Tillis wrote at the time, citing conservatives' past opposition to former President Barack Obama's executive actions on immigration. "There is no intellectual honesty in now turning around and arguing that there's an imaginary asterisk attached to executive overreach—that it's acceptable for my party but not thy party." (A few weeks later, however, he backed down andsupportedthe emergency declaration.) Trump went on toendorseTillis ahead of his challenging reelection contest in 2020,sayingthat the Senator "really stepped up to the plate," and Tillis voted against Trump's impeachment that year,sayingit was "motivated by partisan politics and a desire to remove the President from office instead of allowing the American people to decide his fate at the ballot box in November." In 2021, following the Capitol riot, Tillisvoted againstTrump's second impeachment on charges of incitement of insurrection, though he would latercallJan. 6 "a dark day in American history" andsaidthat many involved needed to be held accountable and "go to prison." At the start of Trump's second term, TilliscalledTrump's blanket pardon of Jan. 6 participants "a bad idea." Tillis alsodashedTrump's nomination of Ed Martin to be U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. Martin previously made inflammatory comments about the Jan. 6 Capitol riots and hadcome to the rioters' defense. Tillis' opposition effectively killed Martin's nomination in the Senate Judiciary Committee, earning the ire of Trump's MAGA base. Tillis drew further criticism from the right when hescrutinizedthe nomination of Pete Hegseth to become Defense Secretary, though he ended upsupportingHegseth's confirmation, which passed on a tiebreaker vote by Vice President J.D. Vance. Tillis and Trump's relationship finally broke over the controversial tax-and-spending package, which is estimated to add trillions of dollars to the national debt and lead to significant Medicaid cuts. "I did my homework on behalf of North Carolinians, and I cannot support this bill in its current form," Tillis said in astatementon June 28. "It would result in tens of billions of dollars in lost funding for North Carolina, including our hospitals and rural communities." After Tillis and fellow Republican Sen. Rand Paul voted with Democrats against a procedural advancement of the bill,which narrowly passed, Trump lashed out on social media against the pair. He previously launched a similar campaign against Republican holdout in the HouseThomas Massie. Whereas Massie will likely face a difficult primary challenge supported by Trump that will focus on his opposition to the OBBB, by not running for reelection, Tillis will face no electoral repercussions for remaining outspoken against the bill. Tillis said in his statement announcing his retirement that, over his remaining year-and-a-half remaining in office, he plans on "focusing on producing meaningful results without the distraction of raising money or campaigning for another election. I look forward to having the pure freedom to call the balls and strikes as I see fit and representing the great people of North Carolina to the best of my ability." And he started on Sunday night, when he took to the Senate floor to deliver a scathing rebuke of the OBBB. "What do I tell 663,000 people in two years, or three years, when President Trump breaks his promise by pushing them off of Medicaid because the funding's not there anymore?" hesaid. Tillis compared Trump's campaign promises not to cut Medicaid to Obama'snotorious"if you like your health care plan, you can keep it" unkept promise about the Affordable Care Act. Tillisadded: "Mr. President, we owe it to the American people and I owe it to the people of North Carolina to withhold my affirmative vote until it's demonstrated to me that we've done our homework." Tillis' decision to not run for reelection comes as Democrats seek to challenge Republicans' dominance in Congress in the upcoming midterms. Former Gov. Roy Cooper is expected to present Democrats with the best chance of flipping the seat, though he has not yet officially entered what is expected to be a"blockbuster race." For his part, Tillis has said he still wants Republicans to win in 2026, but on social media heofferedsome advice to Trump about his potential replacement: "Word to the wise, let's avoid minisoldr," he said, using the reported username of former Trump-endorsed North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson, who was embroiled in scandal afterCNN reportedhe'd made lewd and inflammatory comments on a pornography website, including referring to himself as a "perv" and a "Nazi." But Trump could get behind someone much closer to home: His daughter-in-lawLara Trumpis reportedly "seriously considering" entering the race, just days after her husband ErictoldtheFinancial Timesthat he could see himself running for President one day. Contact usatletters@time.com.

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June 30, 2025

Why Republican Senator Thom Tillis Is Retiring

Why Republican Senator Thom Tillis Is Retiring Get on board the Trump train or get out. That's been President Donald Trump's message...
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Justice Department sues Los Angeles to end 'sanctuary' immigration policiesNew Foto - Justice Department sues Los Angeles to end 'sanctuary' immigration policies

WASHINGTON – TheJustice Department filed a lawsuit on June 30against the city of Los Angeles to end policies that restrict cooperation withPresident Donald Trump's enforcement of immigration laws. The lawsuit comes aftersometimes violent protests in Los Angelesearlier in the month against federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, which led Trump to mobilize the National Guard. It is the latest to challenge so-called "sanctuary" policies, in which state or local law enforcement do not collaborate with ICE, which the Trump administration contends are unlawful. The department hasalso sued New Yorkstate and filedcriminal charges against a Wisconsin judgeover immigration enforcement. It alsosued federal judges in Marylandon June 25, for blocking deportation orders. "Sanctuary policies were the driving cause of the violence, chaos, and attacks on law enforcement that Americans recently witnessed in Los Angeles," Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement. "Jurisdictions like Los Angeles that flout federal law by prioritizing illegal aliens over American citizens are undermining law enforcement at every level – it ends under President Trump," Bondi added. ICE raids earlier this month in Los Angelessparked several days of proteststhat included people hurling rocks at federal officials and setting fire to cars. Attacks on federal officials are up 500%,according to the Department of Homeland Security. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass didn't immediately reply to a request for comment. But she and California Gov. Gavin Newsom have opposed Trump's tougher immigration enforcement and said the federal mobilization enflamed tensions. "Unmarked cars. Masked men with guns. People being snatched off the street.,"Bass said on social media June 28."This isn't law and order − it's fear and chaos in Los Angeles. And it's deliberate." Protesters have resorted toclanging pots and pans outside a hotelwere ICE agents were staying, to prevent them from sleeping. TheLos Angeles Dodgers baseball teamsaid they denied federal agents access to the stadium's parking lot June 20, although federal officials said there was no enforcement action. But federal officials said they would continue strict enforcement of immigration laws, one of Trump's top domestic priorities. "We will keep enforcing federal immigration law in Los Angeles, whether or not the city's government or residents agree with it," Chad Mizelle, the department's chief of staff,said on social media. "And we will not tolerate any interference with the federal government's duty to enforce the law." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:DOJ sues Los Angeles over 'sanctuary' immigration policies

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June 30, 2025

Justice Department sues Los Angeles to end 'sanctuary' immigration policies

Justice Department sues Los Angeles to end 'sanctuary' immigration policies WASHINGTON – TheJustice Department filed a lawsuit on Ju...
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Trump blames AT&T for tech issues in a call with faith leadersNew Foto - Trump blames AT&T for tech issues in a call with faith leaders

By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday blamed AT&T for technical issues in a conference call he held with American faith leaders and urged the wireless carrier's boss to handle the situation. The president also said his administration may use another carrier's service in other calls. "I'm doing a major Conference Call with Faith Leaders from all over the Country, and AT&T is totally unable to make their equipment work properly," Trump wrote on social media about the call on Monday. "This is the second time it's happened. If the Boss of AT&T, whoever that may be, could get involved — It would be good. There are tens of thousands of people on the line!" AT&T said on X it had reached out to the White House and was working to "understand and assess the situation." Trump did not elaborate on the specifics of the issue. In a subsequent post, Trump apologized to faith leaders for what he described as a long wait on the conference call. "We may have to reschedule the call, but we'll use another carrier the next time," Trump said. AT&T shares pared gains very briefly after Trump's post then recovered. During his first White House term, Trump criticized the company, which at the time owned CNN, about the news channel's coverage of his administration. Earlier this month, Trump's family business licensed its name to launch a U.S. mobile service and a $499 smartphone, calling it Trump Mobile, in a deal brokered by the president's children. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh, Jasper Ward and David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Cynthia Osterman)

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June 30, 2025

Trump blames AT&T for tech issues in a call with faith leaders

Trump blames AT&T for tech issues in a call with faith leaders By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump on Mo...
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Trump to attend opening of "Alligator Alcatraz" in Florida

Washington— President Trump on Tuesday plans to visit a new immigration detention center in South Florida that state officials are calling "Alligator Alcatraz," Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the Tuesday visit, saying DeSantis, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Republican Rep. Bryon Donalds of Florida will also attend. The controversialdetention facilityis at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in the Florida Everglades, and has its own runway. DeSantis said the site has been modified "within a matter of days" to also function as a detention center, and he expects the site to be operational Tuesday. "When the president comes tomorrow, he's going to be able to see," DeSantis told reporters in a press conference in Florida on Monday. The Florida governor said he spoke with the president over the weekend, and Mr. Trump is "very excited" to visit. DeSantis called the center an "effective way" to increase the numbers of removals and deportations of unauthorized immigrants as the state seeks to help the federal government's deportation efforts.The facility will have up to 5,000 beds to house, process and deport individuals in the country illegally, the Trump administration said. "There is only one road leading in and the only way out is a one-way flight," Leavitt said. "It is isolated, and surrounded by dangerous wildlife in unforgiving terrain." "They ain't going anywhere once they're there, unless you want them to go somewhere," DeSantis said Monday. "Because good luck getting to civilization. So the security is amazing — natural and otherwise." Last week,environmental groupsfiled a lawsuit to block the opening of the facility until it undergoesan environmental reviewas required by federal law. Video shows Arizona police rescuing baby left alone for days Saving money vs. saving lives Trump tells Republicans not to get "too crazy" on cuts in budget bill

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June 30, 2025

Trump to attend opening of "Alligator Alcatraz" in Florida

Trump to attend opening of "Alligator Alcatraz" in Florida Washington— President Trump on Tuesday plans to visit a new immigration...
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Bush, Obama and a tearful Bono fault Trump's gutting of USAID on agency's last dayNew Foto - Bush, Obama and a tearful Bono fault Trump's gutting of USAID on agency's last day

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former PresidentsBarack ObamaandGeorge W. Bushdelivered rare open criticism of theTrumpadministration — and singer Bono held back tears as he recited a poem — in an emotional video farewell on Monday with staffers of the U.S. Agency for International Development. Obama called the Trump administration's dismantling of USAID "a colossal mistake." Monday was the last day as an independent agency for the six-decade-old humanitarian and development organization, created by President John F. Kennedy as a peaceful way of promoting U.S. national security by boosting goodwill and prosperity abroad. Secretary of State Marco Rubiohas ordered USAID absorbedinto the State Department on Tuesday. The former presidents and Bono spoke with thousands in the USAID community in a videoconference, which was billed as a closed-press event to allow political leaders and others privacy for sometimes angry and often teary remarks. Parts of the video were shared with The Associated Press. They expressed their appreciation for the thousands of USAID staffers who have lost their jobs and life's work. Their agency was one of the first andmost fiercely targetedfor government-cutting byPresident Donald Trumpand his billionaire allyElon Musk, with staffers abruptly locked out of systems and offices and terminated by mass emailing. Trump claimed the agency was run by "radical left lunatics" and rife with "tremendous fraud." Musk called it "a criminal organization." Obama, speaking in a recorded statement, offered assurances to the aid and development workers, some listening from overseas. "Your work has mattered and will matter for generations to come," he told them. Obama has largely kept a low public profile during Trump's second term and refrained from criticizing the monumental changes that Trump has made to U.S. programs and priorities at home and abroad. "Gutting USAID is a travesty, and it's a tragedy. Because it's some of the most important work happening anywhere in the world," Obama said. He credited USAID with not only saving lives, but being a main factor in global economic growth that has turned some aid-receiving countries into U.S. markets and trade partners. The former Democratic president predicted that "sooner or later, leaders on both sides of the aisle will realize how much you are needed." Asked for comment, the State Department said it would be introducing the department's foreign assistance successor to USAID, to be called America First, this week. "The new process will ensure there is proper oversight and that every tax dollar spent will help advance our national interests," the department said. USAID oversaw programs around the world, providing water andlife-saving food to millionsuprooted by conflict in Sudan, Syria, Gaza and elsewhere, sponsoring the "Green Revolution" that revolutionized modern agriculture and curbed starvation and famine, preventing disease outbreaks, promoting democracy, and providing financing and development that allowed countries and people to climb out of poverty. Bush, who also spoke in a recorded message, went straight to the cuts in alandmark AIDS and HIV programstarted by his Republican administration and credited with saving 25 million lives around the world. Bipartisan blowback from Congress to cutting the popular President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known as PEPFAR, helped save significant funding for the program. But cuts and rule changes have reduced the number getting the life-saving care. "You've showed the great strength of America through your work — and that is your good heart,'' Bush told USAID staffers. "Is it in our national interests that 25 million people who would have died now live? I think it is, and so do you," he said. Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, former Colombian President Juan Manual Santos and former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield also spoke to the staffers. So did humanitarian workers, including one who spoke of the welcome appearance of USAID staffers with food when she was a frightened 8-year-old child in a Liberian refugee camp. A World Food Program official vowed through sobs that the U.S. aid mission would be back someday. Bono, a longtime humanitarian advocate in Africa and elsewhere, was announced as the "surprise guest," in shades and a cap. He jokingly hailed the USAID staffers as "secret agents of international development" in acknowledgment of the down-low nature of Monday's unofficial gathering of the USAID community. Bono held back tears at times as he recited a poem he had written to the agency and its gutting. He spoke of children dying of malnutrition, a reference to millions of people who Boston University researchers and other analysts say will die because of the U.S. cuts to funding for health and other programs abroad. "They called you crooks. When you were the best of us," Bono said.

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June 30, 2025

Bush, Obama and a tearful Bono fault Trump's gutting of USAID on agency's last day

Bush, Obama and a tearful Bono fault Trump's gutting of USAID on agency's last day WASHINGTON (AP) — Former PresidentsBarack Obamaan...
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GOP Rep. Don Bacon, who represents key swing district, won't seek reelection in 2026New Foto - GOP Rep. Don Bacon, who represents key swing district, won't seek reelection in 2026

WASHINGTON - Nebraska Republican Rep. Don Bacon, a vocal Trump critic who represents a key battleground district, announced on June 30 that he won't seek reelection in 2026. Bacon has represented Nebraska's second congressional district, which includes the city of Omaha, since 2017. The districtwas won byformer Vice PresidentKamala Harrisin 2024, and Bacon's victory last yearwas crucial for Republicansretaining their majority in the House. "After three decades in the Air Force and now going on one decade in Congress, I look forward to coming home in the evenings and being with my wife and seeing more of our adult children and eight grandchildren, who all live near my home," Bacon, 61,said in a statement. "I've been married for 41 years, and I'd like to dedicate more time to my family, my church, and the Omaha community," he said. "I also want to continue advocating for a strong national security strategy and a strong alliance system with countries that share our love of democracy, free markets and the rule of law," he added. Bacon has previously broken withPresident Donald Trumpand his party. Hewas the lone Republicanto vote against a bill codifying Trump's executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. He toldThe New York Times in an interviewhe opposed Trump's decision to take away deportation protection for Afghans in the U.S. His retirement is expected to open up a crowded candidate field for the seat. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee had been eyeing the seat as one the party could pick up. "Nebraskans are tired of the false promises that Republicans are trying to sell and they want real results. Don Bacon's decision to not seek reelection in 2026 is the latest vote of no-confidence for House Republicans and their electoral prospects," DCCC spokesperson Madison Andrus said. National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Zach Bannon thanked Bacon for his "steadfast commitment to duty and principled leadership." "As we look ahead, Republicans are confident in keeping Nebraska's 2nd District red as we maintain and expand our majority in the House," Bannon said in a statement. Contributing: Sarah Wire, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:GOP Rep. Don Bacon won't seek reelection, an opportunity for Democrats

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June 30, 2025

GOP Rep. Don Bacon, who represents key swing district, won't seek reelection in 2026

GOP Rep. Don Bacon, who represents key swing district, won't seek reelection in 2026 WASHINGTON - Nebraska Republican Rep. Don Bacon, a ...
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Trump administration appeals blocking of executive order against law firm Perkins CoieNew Foto - Trump administration appeals blocking of executive order against law firm Perkins Coie

By Mike Scarcella (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump's administration on Monday appealed a federal judge's decision to strike down an executive order targeting law firm Perkins Coie over its past legal work for Hillary Clinton and others. The Justice Department filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit challenging the May 2 ruling by U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell. The appeal could give one of the country's most influential courts its first chance to weigh the Republican president's orders singling out law firms, which the Justice Department has argued fall within his authority. Three other federal judges in Washington have rejected executive orders against law firms WilmerHale, Jenner & Block and Susman Godfrey. The Justice Department has not yet filed appeal notices in those cases. The court filing on Monday did not include arguments the administration intends to make in its appeal. The White House had no immediate comment. Perkins Coie said in a statement that it looked forward to presenting its case to the appeals court. It said judges in Washington "permanently blocked all four unlawful executive orders targeting law firms because those orders violate core constitutional freedoms." Trump in February launched a pressure campaign against law firms he perceived as aligned against him and the interests of his administration. His executive order against Perkins Coie accused the firm of taking part in an effort to "steal" the 2016 election for Clinton, his Democratic opponent. The order, issued in March, sought to strip government contracts from the law firm's clients and to restrict attorneys at the firm from entering federal buildings. The administration's executive orders against WilmerHale, Jenner & Block, and Susman Godfrey contained similar provisions. Perkins Coie's lawsuit, like the cases from rival firms, said the executive order violated U.S. constitutional protections for speech and other measures, and was designed to intimidate lawyers from representing clients Trump might disfavor. Howell agreed, rebuking the president in a strongly-worded 102-page ruling. "Settling personal vendettas by targeting a disliked business or individual for punitive government action is not a legitimate use of the powers of the U.S. government or an American president," wrote Howell, an appointee of Democratic former President Barack Obama. Republican-appointed U.S. District Judges John Bates and Richard Leon also ruled against the Trump administration in the cases brought by Jenner and WilmerHale, respectively. Democratic-appointed U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan ruled similarly in the case brought by Susman Godfrey. Nine other firms have pledged nearly $1 billion in free legal services and made other concessions in settlements with the White House to avoid being targeted by Trump. (Reporting by Mike Scarcella in Washington; Editing by David Bario, Matthew Lewis and Paul Simao)

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June 30, 2025

Trump administration appeals blocking of executive order against law firm Perkins Coie

Trump administration appeals blocking of executive order against law firm Perkins Coie By Mike Scarcella (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald T...
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DeSantis signs a slimmed-down Florida budget into law after vetoing millionsNew Foto - DeSantis signs a slimmed-down Florida budget into law after vetoing millions

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the state's new budget of about $115 billion into law Monday, capping the end of alengthyandcombative legislative seasonthat was largely defined byGOP infighting, despite the party's iron grip on Tallahassee. The signing came "right at the buzzer," DeSantis said, just one day before the budget goes into effect. It took lawmakers 105 days to finalize the spending plan, during what was supposed to be a 60-day session. The budget comes in at about $4 billion less than the state's current adjusted budget, and is nearly $600 million less than the Legislature'sproposed budget, after DeSantis used his line-item veto power to cut spending projects. "I think what you see in the budget is an example of a very fiscally responsible state," DeSantis said. "We're meeting the needs of the state of Florida that I think most people want us to be focusing on. We're not, you know, frittering it away." The new budget and a related tax cut package include a 2% raise for state workers and a 10% to 15% pay hike for state law enforcement, $1.3 billion a year in tax cuts for families and businesses, and $4 billion to fund scholarships toprivate and religious schools. Democrats supported the budget, but some criticized the spending on vouchers and tax cuts, arguing for more funding for public schools and programs that support low-income families. The second-term governor, who cannot run for reelection in 2026, held the bill signing event in The Villages, one of the world's largest retirement communities and a place long known asa conservative stronghold. DeSantis used the event to tout a slate of familiar talking points, railing against aself-described democratic socialistrunning forNew York City mayor, while touting his own crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and his push to eliminate property taxes in the state, a change that voters would have to approve. The adoption of a tighter state budget comes as officials are grappling with the loss of federal coronavirus funding and as economists fret over RepublicanPresident Donald Trump'strade warsand asweeping proposalto cut federal taxes and spending. Florida's legislative leaders have largely downplayed concerns about how Trump'saggressive and unpredictableeconomic policies could impact the state's coffers, but lawmakers are taking steps to set aside billions of dollars in reserves. ___ Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative.Report for Americais a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

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June 30, 2025

DeSantis signs a slimmed-down Florida budget into law after vetoing millions

DeSantis signs a slimmed-down Florida budget into law after vetoing millions TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis s...
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US revokes visas for Bob Vylan after music duo's Glastonbury chantsNew Foto - US revokes visas for Bob Vylan after music duo's Glastonbury chants

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States has revoked visas for members of Britain's Bob Vylan punk-rap duo after they led chants during their set at the Glastonbury music festival in England over the weekend that the State Department and the BBC, who broadcast the event, said were antisemitic. "The @StateDept has revoked the US visas for the members of the Bob Vylan band in light of their hateful tirade at Glastonbury, including leading the crowd in death chants. Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country," U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said in a post on X on Monday. On Monday, the British broadcaster said it regretted not stopping its livestream of Saturday's event, which included on-stage chants of "death, death to the IDF," a reference to the Israel Defense Forces fighting a war in Gaza, and "From the river to the sea, Palestine must be, will be, inshallah, it will be free." That phrase is often taken in Israel as a call for Israel's destruction and denial of its right to exist, although many Palestinians dispute that characterization. Bob Vylan, known for mixing grime and punk rock, tackles a range of issues including racism, homophobia and the class divide in their songs and has previously voiced support for Palestinians. Its lead vocalist, who goes by the stage name Bobby Vylan, appeared to refer to the weekend performance in a post on Instagram, writing: "I said what I said." "Teaching our children to speak up for the change they want and need is the only way that we make this world a better place," he added. The State Department did not immediately give more details as to the names of those who had visas revoked and what kind of visas they were. Bob Vylan is scheduled to play some concerts in the U.S. in November. (Reporting Daphne Psaledakis; writing by Susan Heavey; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)

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June 30, 2025

US revokes visas for Bob Vylan after music duo's Glastonbury chants

US revokes visas for Bob Vylan after music duo's Glastonbury chants WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States has revoked visas for member...
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Will Trump visit 'Alligator Alcatraz'? FAA notice hints at presidential stopNew Foto - Will Trump visit 'Alligator Alcatraz'? FAA notice hints at presidential stop

IsPresident Donald Trumpheading to Florida's so-called"Alligator Alcatraz"immigration detention center? The Federal Aviation Administration issued a "VIP Movement Notification" for Tuesday, July 1, for Ochopee, Fla. The alert is for a 30/10 NMR, which stands for a protective inner core radius of 10 nautical miles and an outer ring radius of 30 nautical miles. Those distances are reserved for the U.S. president. Ochopee is the site of Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport. It has been in the news for more than a week as the location of a planned immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades that has been dubbedAlligator Alcatraz. However, a notice of temporary flight restrictions had not been posted by the FAA. An attempt to seek confirmation Sunday from the White House on the president's travel plans this week was not successful. The president, who was focused on U.S. Senate passage of the massiveGOP tax and spending billall weekend, had not posted about a potential visit on his Truth Social account either. Florida Gov.Ron DeSantisdid offer the president an invitation to visit the facility during a cable news interview. The governor even said that Air Force One could land at the Everglades airstrip, once envisioned as an airport site. The first detainees from what Trump has promised will be the biggest immigration deportation crackdown in U.S. history are to arrive at the holding facility July 1. "I think the president will be impressed with what these guys are doing out here," DeSantis said on the "Fox and Friends" program June 29. Nonetheless, the development of a detention facility at the site near Everglades National Park is a source of contention. Two groups, Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity, have filed a lawsuit against the Florida Division of Emergency Management, the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to stop what they said is the "unlawful construction of a prison in the heart of the Everglades." Sierra Club Florida also is opposed to the development, which it said is "irresponsible." "This proposal is not only deeply inhumane, it is profoundly irresponsible from an environmental, ethical, and fiscal standpoint," the state chapter of the national organization said in a statement June 24. On Saturday, June 28, protesters gathered at the access road to the Dade-Collier Airport to protest the construction of the detention center. The demonstration was led by Betty Osceola, an activist and a member of the Miccosukee tribe. The president's visit would come as his immigration policies are roiling Miam-Dade County, a jurisdiction that has been a longtime bastion of Hispanic population, business hub and political base. And a place where Republicans have made significant inroads in the Trump era. Trump crushed Vice PresidentKamala Harrisin the traditional blue county in the 2024 presidential balloting. He lost the county to PresidentJoe Bidenin 2020, though by a narrower margin than in 2016 against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. But the crackdown on immigration, particularly detaining and deporting people with pending asylum and other status cases, has caused consternation. So has the administration's ending temporary protective status for Venezuelans and canceling a humanitarian parole program that benefited Cubans and Nicaraguans. Earlier this month, state Sen. Ileana Garcia, a Miami Republican, spoke out on X in a post highly critical of White House immigration adviser Stephen Miller. "I understand the importance of deporting criminal aliens, but what we are witnessing are arbitrary measures to hunt down people who are complying with their immigration hearings — in many cases, with credible fear of persecution claims — all driven by a Miller-like desire to satisfy a self-fabricated deportation goal," wrote Garcia, a founder of the Latinas for Trump movement. "This undermines the sense of fairness and justice that the American people value," she said. Another southern Miami-Dade County immigration holding facility, the Krome Detention Center, has been the site of protests. Activists and attorneys for some of those being held there have decried the conditions and overcrowding. While critical of the Biden Administration's border policies, Miami's three Cuban-American members of Congress, Mario-Diaz-Balart, Carlos Gimenez and Maria Elvira Salazar, have also supported continuing TPS coverage for Venezuleans. In May, the three, all Republicans, issued a statement saying they "have consistently supported and will continue to support Temporary Protected Status" for Venezuelans in the United States. "There is a clear distinction between individuals, such as members of the Tren de Aragua who exploited Biden's open border and wreaked havoc on American communities, and the many Venezuelans who have arrived in our country, fleeing the political crises under the repressive dictatorship of [Nicolás] Maduro with legitimate claims of persecution," the lawmakers said. Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor atThe Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him atafins@pbpost.com. This article originally appeared on USATNetwork:Will Trump visit 'Alligator Alcatraz'?

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June 30, 2025

Will Trump visit 'Alligator Alcatraz'? FAA notice hints at presidential stop

Will Trump visit 'Alligator Alcatraz'? FAA notice hints at presidential stop IsPresident Donald Trumpheading to Florida's so-cal...
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States brace for impact as Trump's big bill nears completion in CongressNew Foto - States brace for impact as Trump's big bill nears completion in Congress

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — PresidentDonald Trump'sbig bill to cut taxesand reduce federal spending on some social safety net programs could have large implications for states, but for many it's too late to do much about it this year. Tuesday marks the start of a new budget year in 46 states. Though some legislatures are still working, most already have adjourned and finalized their spending plans without knowing whether federal funding will be cut and, if so, by how much. "The ebb and flow of rumors and reality have created great uncertainty and some anxiety in state governments," said David Adkins, executive director of The Council of State Governments. Several states have taken preemptive steps, setting aside money in reserves or tasking committees to monitor the impact of federal funding reductions. Others are tentatively planning to return in special sessions this year to account for potential fundingcuts to joint federal-state programssuch as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Others will have to wait until their legislatures are back in session next year. What's at stake for states? "If there are significant cuts, states wouldn't be able to fully absorb those," said Brian Sigritz, director of state fiscal studies at the National Association of State Budget Officers. Nationally, theMedicaid health care programfor lower-income residents accounts for 30% of total state expenditures, according to the health policy research organization KFF. That makes it the costliest program in many states, ahead of even K-12 education. The bulk of Medicaid money comes from the federal government, meaning any changes in federal policy can create big ripples for states. Legislation pending in Congress would affect Medicaid in several ways. New work requirements are expected toreduce enrollment by millionsof people, while other proposed changes also could reduce federal payments to states. Until now the federal government also has covered the full cost of SNAP benefits and half the administrative costs. Trump's bill would shift more of those costs to states, leaving them to either divert money from other purposes or trim back their food assistance programs. The Medicaid and SNAP changes are just the latest in a series of Trump policies affecting state finances, including the rollback of grants fortransportationandhigh-speed internet projectsand attempts to withhold federal funds fromsanctuary jurisdictionsthat limit cooperation with federalimmigrationauthorities. Some legislatures are stocking up on savings A surge in federal aid and state tax revenue during the coronavirus pandemic led to booming budgets andhistoric cash surplusesin many states. As revenues slow and those surpluses get spent, some states now are trying to guard against federal funding reductions. New Mexicoenacted a lawthis year creating a Medicaid trust fund gradually stocked with up to $2 billion that can be tapped to prop up the program if federal funding cuts would otherwise cause a reduction in coverage or benefits. Hawaii lawmakers, in crafting the state's budget, left an extra $200 million in the general fund as a contingency against federal funding uncertainty. They plan to return for a special session. And Vermont's budget sets aside up to $110 million in case federal funding is cut. That includes $50 million that can be spent while the Legislature is not in session and up to $60 million that could be appropriated in the future to address federal funding shortfalls. Though not necessarily tied to federal cuts, Florida lawmakers approved a proposed constitutional amendment that wouldset aside $750 million a year— or an amount equal to up to 25% of the state's general revenue, whichever is less — in a reserve fund that lawmakers could use for emergencies. That measure still must go before voters. Some governors are cutting back on spending Because of legislative deadlines, some state lawmakers had to craft budgets well before the details of Trump's bill took shape. Virginia lawmakers passed a budget in February for their fiscal year that starts Tuesday. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin announcedseveral dozen line-item vetoesin May with the goal of creating a roughly $900 million financial cushion. "There are some short-term risks as President Trump resets both fiscal spending in Washington and trade policies that require us to be prudent and not spend all of the projected surplus before we bank it," Youngkin said in a statement. Other states also have left money unspent, even though it has not always been touted as a buffer against federal cuts. States are "enacting really cautious budgets, knowing that they may have to kind of revise them in special sessions or address changes in next year's sessions," said Erica MacKellar, a fiscal affairs program principal at the National Conference of State Legislatures. Some are taking a wait-and-see approach Before adjourning their sessions, some state legislatures established procedures to monitor federal funding cuts and recommend budgetary changes. Montana's budget includes $50,000 for an analysis of the financial implications of federal actions, but that spending kicks in only upon the cancellation of at least $50 million of previously approved federal funding or the anticipated loss of at least $100 million of future revenue. If federal funding to Maryland decreases by at least $1 billion,a provision approved by lawmakersrequires the state budget office to submit a report to the General Assembly with proposed actions and potential spending reductions. The spending plan passed by Connecticut lawmakers also requires the state budget office to respond quickly to federal reductions by identifying state funds that could be used to preserve programs, particularly those providing health care, food assistance, education and other priorities. North Dakota lawmakers left room for more work. They adjourned their biennial session six days shy of their 80-day limit, allowing time to reconvene if needed.

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June 30, 2025

States brace for impact as Trump's big bill nears completion in Congress

States brace for impact as Trump's big bill nears completion in Congress JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — PresidentDonald Trump'sbig bill ...
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