Poland's govt faces confidence vote after shock election result
Poland's pro-EU coalition government faces a confidence vote after the shock victory of a populist candidate in last month's presidential election shook the ruling party.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk is expected to comfortably win the motion, by which he intends to show that he 'is still the boss,' Politico said: His coalition partners have been squabbling over who is to blame for incoming President Karol Nawrocki's election triumph, and a recent poll showed nearly half of voters believe Tusk should resign.
Tusk's program will be heavily curtailed: Nawrocki has the power to veto or delay legislation, and has been more circumspect about supporting Ukraine, telling a Hungarian outlet that he was against Kyiv's entry into the European Union.
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Politico
31 minutes ago
- Politico
Playbook PM: Reconciliation, rescissions roil Republicans
Presented by THE CATCH-UP BIG IMMIGRATION NEWS: The Trump administration today will tell hundreds of thousands of Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who immigrated here legally under humanitarian parole that their legal status is being terminated, CNN's Priscilla Alvarez scooped. That will leave them vulnerable to deportation, after the Supreme Court green-lit the policy for now. … But the administration seems to have paused its plans to begin mass transfers of detained immigrants to Guantanamo Bay, POLITICO's Myah Ward and Nahal Toosi report. RECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES: Republicans have averted one small blow-up on the Hill — Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is invited to today's White House congressional picnic after all. President Donald Trump announced it, and Paul posted a photo of his grandson in a MAGA hat (though Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) said he too had his tickets withheld). But much more challenging clashes still loom for both the reconciliation megabill and today's House vote on rescissions. Miller time: White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller met with Senate Republicans today to advocate for border/immigration enforcement funding in the reconciliation bill, per ABC's Allison Pecorin. But things got tense between Miller and deficit hawks who want to pare back spending, including what sources tell Punchbowl's Andrew Desiderio was a 'shouting match' with Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) on the budget math. Axios' Stef Kight reports that Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) was peeved at Miller, while an absent Paul loomed large. Kicking the can down the road: A decision on the state and local tax deduction number won't be included in the Senate Finance bill text yet, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) told Semafor's Burgess Everett. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) told reporters he's working with House members to try to land a SALT deal. 'I hope they modify it in a very small way,' Speaker Mike Johnson said, holding up prayer hands. By the numbers: The latest CBO report offers a neat encapsulation of the messaging wars likely to come between Democrats and Republicans on the bill. The analysis finds that the reconciliation package — including tax cuts, Medicaid cuts and SNAP cuts — would bolster the average American household's resources from 2026 to 2034. But it would increase inequality, hurting low-income families' resources while benefiting the middle class and wealthy. Specifically, the nonpartisan scorekeeper says low-income households would suffer a $1,600 annual hit on average, middle-income households would gain $500 to $1,000, and high-income households would romp with a whopping $12,000 boost, per POLITICO's Jennifer Scholtes. WHAT TO WATCH TODAY: The House is barreling toward a 3 p.m. vote on enshrining Department of Government Efficiency cuts to foreign aid and public broadcasting, with the outcome potentially still up in the air. Johnson said he feels confident Republicans have the votes to claw back $9 billion in funding. But POLITICO's Meredith Lee Hill reports that it's not a done deal yet: Leadership hasn't been able to flip seven GOP holdouts, and they 'may have to rely on Dem absences.' At stake: The consequences of this vote are enormous. Republicans see it as a way to start institutionalizing DOGE cuts and ax spending for organizations they dislike. But decimating funding for PEPFAR could threaten HIV treatment and prevention programs that have saved 25 million lives in 22 years, even as the White House claims it'll keep lifesaving work going. Humanitarian groups say the future of foreign aid looks very bleak, though the Senate may try to scale back some of the cuts, NOTUS' Helen Huiskes reports. Meanwhile, cuts to PBS and NPR have public media stations, especially in rural areas, fearing they may not survive, POLITICO's Aaron Pellish reports. Good Thursday afternoon. Thanks for reading Playbook PM. Drop me a line at eokun@ 8 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 1. CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS WATCH: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth today refused to confirm that the administration would comply with a potential court ruling barring the deployment of Marines to support ICE operations in Los Angeles, POLITICO's Joe Gould reports. He deflected lawmakers' questions and said only that 'we should not have local judges determining foreign policy or national security policy.' The California clash: Ahead of this afternoon's court hearing, California Gov. Gavin Newsom continued to go after Trump for deploying troops to anti-ICE protests. On NYT's 'The Daily,' Newsom outright questioned the president's mental acuity after Trump claimed he talked to the governor Monday: 'Maybe he actually believed he said those things, and he's not all there. I mean that.' But he also distanced himself from sanctuary policies and said he'd work with ICE. Indeed, many Democrats are hoping to refocus the political conversation here away from immigration policy and onto Trump pushing the legal limits of his power, POLITICO's Dustin Gardiner and Natalie Fertig report from San Francisco. Behind the escalation: Before the LA situation, there was a monthslong history of planning within the administration to use the military more to support domestic immigration enforcement, CNN's Priscilla Alvarez and Natasha Bertrand report. And on the flip side, far-left groups that advocate for violence have encouraged agitators to escalate beyond peaceful protests, especially at night — part of a pattern from other cities in recent years, NBC's Rich Schapiro and Andrew Blankstein report. Wait, what? Apparently having heard from farming and hospitality advocates, Trump posted on Truth Social today to indicate that he doesn't want aggressive deportations to target their workforce. That message may not have gotten through to his vast immigration enforcement apparatus: Border czar Tom Homan told Semafor's Ben Smith that coming soon, 'worksite enforcement operations are going to massively expand.' The other military hubbub: The latest AP/NORC poll shows Americans have mixed feelings about Trump's military parade on his birthday this Saturday. The median opinion seems to be something like: Seems fine, but wish we weren't spending money on it. U.S. adults overall say they approve of the parade, 40 percent to 31 percent, but don't think it's a good use of government funds, 60 percent to 38 percent. 2. PAGING NUUK: 'I just want to help you out, because people try to twist your words,' Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) said to Hegseth on the Hill today. 'You are not confirming in your testimony today that at the Pentagon, there are plans for invading or taking by force Greenland, correct?' But Hegseth wouldn't go there: 'The Pentagon has plans for any number of contingencies,' he said. 'We look forward to working with Greenland to ensure that it is secured from any potential threats.' 3. MIDDLE EAST LATEST: Top Israeli officials are expected to travel tomorrow to meet with special envoy Steve Witkoff, POLITICO's Nahal Toosi reports. That will be an opportunity for Jerusalem to clarify what its plans are toward Iran, amid a flurry of reports that U.S. officials expect an Israeli attack on Iran could be imminent. 'I don't want to say imminent, but it is something that could very well happen,' Trump said of a potential Israeli strike. But Witkoff has warned senators that Iran's response might be a mass casualty event in Israel, Axios' Barak Ravid scooped. 4. MAN OF STEEL: 'Trump Says US Government Will Get 'Golden Share' in US Steel,' by Bloomberg's Josh Wingrove and Mario Parker: 'Trump's comment was the first public confirmation by the administration that it was seeking a golden share. The White House has not yet spelled out what that would mean, including — as is typically the case — whether that would include an equity stake.' 5. TRADING PLACES: Trade talks between the U.S. and India have hit some speed bumps as both sides dig in on crucial demands, including whether New Delhi will allow genetically modified crops in, Bloomberg's Shruti Srivastava reports. Meanwhile, despite Trump touting the latest framework agreement with China this week, Beijing is very much playing the long game and learning how to stall the U.S. repeatedly, NYT's David Pierson and Berry Wang report. 'While Trump seeks quick deals done directly with top leaders, [Chinese President Xi Jinping] favors a framework led by his lieutenants that wards against being blindsided,' Bloomberg writes. 'Such haggling could drag on for years.' 6. WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE: Despite Trump's alliance with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, ProPublica's T. Christian Miller and Sebastian Rotella reveal that San Salvador impeded a yearslong U.S. investigation into whether its government had quietly struck a deal with MS-13. Bukele allies have also refused to extradite gang members to the U.S. who could have been witnesses. At the same time, Bukele's growing relationship with Trump has emboldened what experts say is a growing authoritarian crackdown on dissent at home, AP's Megan Janetsky and Marcos Alemán report. Longtime Bukele opponents say there's been 'an inflection point' in recent weeks, as the U.S. Embassy hasn't said anything. 7. LOOK WHO'S BACK: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is hitting the road again with his record-breaking 'Fighting Oligarchy' tour, which has rejuvenated progressives deep into red territory. His stops next weekend will take a similar approach, from the Rio Grande Valley to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Johnson's hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana. 8. BUYER'S REMORSE: 'Trump's travel ban fuels despair and disgust with politics among Arab Americans in Michigan,' by AP's Isabella Volmert in Dearborn: 'It came as a particular shock to many Yemeni Americans … While it may not elicit the same protests as 2017, many Yemeni and Arab Americans in the all important battleground state see it as yet another offense contributing to enormous dissatisfaction with both major political parties.' TALK OF THE TOWN Winsome Earle-Sears' old Google/Yelp reviews for her business show that she often got into it with displeased customers. Abraham Lincoln-signed copies of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment are going up for auction, potentially fetching several million dollars. Noah Wyle was on the Hill today to advocate for mental health care for health care workers. PLAYBOOK REAL ESTATE SECTION — 'This D.C. real estate agent is closing huge deals with Trump-world elite,' by Axios' Mimi Montgomery: 'Over the years, [Daniel] Heider, 38, has become known in Washington for selling ginormous, ultra-lux estates — positioning him perfectly for catering to the enormously wealthy cast of players moving into President Trump's Gilded Age D.C. … He doesn't see himself as simply a real estate agent. He's more of a white-glove concierge meets sociologist meets therapist, he tells Axios.' OUT AND ABOUT — SPOTTED at Walmart's U.S. manufacturing reception yesterday at its Navy Yard office, capping the company's two-day Hill fly-in: Reps. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.), Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.), Bill Foster (D-Ill.), Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Brad Knott (R-N.C.), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), Nick Langworthy (R-N.Y.) and Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas) and Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández (D-P.R.). — SPOTTED at the Aspen Institute's Philosophy and Society/Wisdom of Crowds salon with Francis Fukuyama at Damir Marusic's residence last night: Shadi Hamid, Samuel Kimbriel, Christine Emba, Jason Willick, Freddy Gray, Freddie Hayward, Jordan Castro, Rachel Rizzo, Kelly Chapman, Harry Stein, Jamie Kirchick, Diana Brown, Mana Afsari, Santiago Ramos, Kristina Tabor, Samuel Goldman, Jon Purves, Chris Griswold, Peter Catapano, Chris McCaffery, Sadev Parikh and John Hudson. TRANSITIONS — Ronald Rowe Jr. is joining the Chertoff Group as a senior adviser. He previously was acting director of the Secret Service. … Reservoir Communications Group is adding Patrick 'Pat' Kannan as CFO and Ashley Flint as an SVP. Kannan previously was CFO at OPEXUS. Flint previously was a principal at Avalere Health. Send Playbookers tips to playbook@ or text us on Signal here. Playbook couldn't happen without our editor Zack Stanton, deputy editor Garrett Ross and Playbook Podcast producer Callan Tansill-Suddath.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Irish government rejects motion to stop sale of Israeli bonds
The Irish government on Wednesday defeated a cross-party motion that called on it to stop the Central Bank of Ireland from facilitating the sale of Israeli bonds. The motion, presented by the Social Democrats and supported by Sinn Féin, Labour, and People Before Profit, was intended to block what many refer to as 'Israeli war bonds'. The instruments provide economic support to Israel while it conducts military operations in Gaza, and Ireland's Central Bank currently approves the sale of these bonds in EU markets. Bonds issued by non-EU countries must be approved by the financial regulator in one member state before they can be sold within the single market. The bill failed with 85 votes against and 71 in favour, upholding the government's position. Several TDs, Irish members of parliament, argued that Ireland should not be involved in financial instruments that fund destruction in Gaza. The Central Bank estimated that Israel has raised between €100mn and €130mn from their sale. Taoiseach Micheál Martin nonetheless rejected claims that the Irish government is complicit in genocide by allowing the facilitation of the bond sales. Despite publicly acknowledging the severity of Israel's attacks in Gaza, he maintained that Ireland must oppose the military action within legal and diplomatic channels. As such, the government argued that it cannot legally direct the Central Bank due to its independence under Irish and EU law. When the same objection arose last month in response to a similar motion from Sinn Féin, party leader Mary Lou McDonald argued: 'We have over 20 pages of independent, robust legal opinion clearly stating that the bill is compliant with Irish law, European law and international law.' Related Entertainment world reacts to Greta Thunberg interception in Gaza-bound aid boat Does the public support the government of Israel in Western European countries? As per the EU's Prospectus Regulation, non-EU countries like Israel must meet disclosure and legal standards to issue bonds in the bloc. If those standards are met, the Central Bank doesn't have the authority to reject bond applications. 'The Central Bank cannot decide to impose sanctions for breaches or alleged breaches of international law. It is for international bodies such as the UN or the EU to determine how to respond to breaches or alleged breaches of international law,' said Central Bank Governor Gabriel Makhlouf. He added that the Genocide Convention applies to the Irish State, not regulatory bodies like the Central Bank. The reason why the Irish Central Bank is at the core of this issue — despite Ireland being one of the EU countries that has been the most vocally pro-Palestine — is Brexit. When the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in 2016, Israel chose Ireland to be the home member state to approve its bonds. Prior to 2021, this responsibility fell to the UK. The current prospectus for Israeli bonds is set to expire in September, but Central Bank officials believe that Israeli authorities will likely initiate the renewal process several weeks beforehand. In the absence of new EU sanctions or changes to existing legislation, the Central Bank will remain legally bound to approve the bond prospectus, regardless of the political fallout. Meanwhile, protesters have been gathering for months outside the seat of the parliament, Leinster House, and the Central Bank, demanding that the government block Israeli bond sales.
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
American Sympathy for Israel Reaches 'All-Time Low' in New Poll
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. American sympathy for Israel reached an "all-time low" in the latest Quinnipiac University poll released this week. Newsweek reached out to Israel's Foreign Affairs Ministry for comment via email. Why It Matters The U.S. has been a key ally to Israel for decades, but polls suggest an increasing number of Americans are questioning that relationship amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. On October 7, 2023, Hamas led an attack against Israel, killing 1,200 and abducting 251 people. Israel has said 58 hostages remain in Gaza, and Trump has said 21 remain alive. Israel has since launched an offensive on Gaza, killing more than 54,000 people, according to The Associated Press, citing Gaza's Health Ministry. Critics have sounded the alarm on Israel's military operation, raising concerns about the number of civilians killed or displaced, as well as conditions such as the threat of starvation on the Gaza Strip. The poll also comes as tensions heat up between Israel and Iran amid concerns Israel could launch a strike on Tehran's nuclear facilities. Iran's government warned this week such action would be met with an "unprecedented response." What to Know Although sympathies are shifting, more Americans are still sympathetic to Israel—37 percent—than the Palestinians—32 percent—according to the Quinnipiac poll, which surveyed 1,265 registered voters from June 5 to June 9, 2025 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points. Additionally, 31 percent were unsure which side they are feeling more sympathetic toward, according to the polling report. pro-Palestinian protesters rally in New York City on October 5, 2024. pro-Palestinian protesters rally in New York City on October 5, 2024."This is an all-time low for the Israelis and an all-time high for the Palestinians since the Quinnipiac University Poll began asking this question of registered voters in December 2001," reads the polling report. Israeli sympathy reached a high mark on October 17, 2023—less than two weeks after the Hamas attack on the Israeli music festival. At that point, 61 percent of Americans were more sympathetic toward Israel, while 13 percent were more sympathetic toward Palestinians. The May, 2024, Quinnipiac poll found that 46 percent of Americans were more sympathetic with Israel, while 29 percent were more sympathetic toward Palestinians. The finding is not particularly surprising, Dina Smeltz, vice president of public opinion and foreign policy at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, told Newsweek on Thursday. "This has been building for some time, and this drop is driven by decreases in both Democratic supporters' opinion and Independent supporters' declining favorability toward Israel," she said. Smeltz noted that the polling doesn't necessarily mean Democrats and independents don't support the state of Israel—just that they do not support its current policies. These shifts may not mean much to the Trump administration, which appears to be "focused mostly on what its base wants," Smeltz said, as Republicans are generally still supportive of Israel. However, it does pose a "serious challenge" to the Democratic Party, whose base is split between progressive and moderates who "don't always see this issue in the same way," she said. "You could see that in the struggles that the Biden administration had in addressing this issue before and during the last election," she said. The poll is in line with the council's latest data as well, with its latest survey finding Americans overall rate their feelings toward Israel on a scale of one to 100 as a 50—the lowest point since at least 1980. That poll surveyed 1,019 Americans from April 18 to April 20. A Gallup poll released in March also found the number of Americans who are sympathetic to Israel had dropped to its lowest point of 46 percent, compared to 33 percent who were sympathetic to the Palestinians. What People Are Saying Smeltz told Newsweek: "The people who should really be paying attention to these polls are the Israeli government officials and Israeli political leaders. Its policy toward the Palestinians, especially in the ongoing military action in Gaza, seems to have squandered a great deal of American support, especially among younger generations and nonwhite Americans. Israel's policies and the U.S. response to them will shape attitudes among budding politicians, experts and voters from these demographic groups in the near term and in future policymaking. Israel may not have an opportunity to improve its image once the war is over." Progressive commentator Mehdi Hasan responded to the poll on X (formerly Twitter), writing: "It only took 50,000+ dead Palestinians and the starvation of the entire Gaza Strip." In March, Gallup wrote: "Americans' sympathies with the Israelis continue to decline, largely because of Democrats' dwindling support for the Israelis in the long-standing conflict with the Palestinians. Republicans remain overwhelmingly sympathetic toward the Israelis." What Happens Next The situation between Israel and Iran remains tense ahead of nuclear talks this weekend in Oman. Americans' views of Israel may continue to be shaped over how the Middle East conflicts play out over the coming months.
