Rising: July 11, 2025
Amber Duke and Lindsey Granger discuss Secret Service suspending six agents without pay over failures related to last year's assassination attempt against President Trump.
Steve Bannon calls on Trump to appoint special prosecutor to release Epstein files | RISING
Amber Duke and Lindsey Granger discuss the rising feud between Steve Bannon and Elon Musk as Bannon demands President Trump to appoint a special prosecutor to probe the Epstein files.
Federal Judge blocks Trump's birthright citizenship order after SCOTUS ruling | RISING
Amber Duke and Lindsey Granger discuss a federal judge blocking President Trump's order to end the birthright citizenship order.
Trump admin ending free tuition to illegal immigrants | RISING
Amber Duke and Lindsey Granger discuss President Trump's Education Department moving to bar undocumented immigrants from using taxpayer funds for tuition.
Zohran Mamdani allies threatening to primary Hakeem Jeffries, 4 other Dems | RISING
Amber Duke and Lindsey Granger discuss the brewing feud between multiple factions of the Democratic Party as some Democratic socialist members are threatening to primary Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. (D-N.Y.)
Jeff Bezos blasted by former WaPo columnist for being 'Trump supplicant,' 'plummeting morale' | RISING
Amber Duke and Lindsey Granger react to Washington Post columnist Joe Davidson quitting his job while calling out Jeff Bezos's editorial constraints.
Jasmine Crockett leading all Dems In hypothetical Senate primary race, shock poll finds | RISING
Amber Duke and Lindsey Granger react to news that Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) is leading in the Democratic primary for Senate.
Lee Zeldin launches contrails, geoengineering transparency initiative | RISING
Amber Duke and Lindsey Granger discuss President Trump's Environmental Protection Agency head Lee Zeldin launches website to combat misinformation on airplane contrails and geoengineering.
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Axios
9 minutes ago
- Axios
Trump comes for American lore with pop agenda
In his second term, President Trump is making a habit of taking action on topics plucked from America's popular imagination that had previously been non-existent in Washington's policy playbook. Why it matters: Trump's voracious appetite for generating attention and marketing his policies has bred ideas that inject the power of the presidency into deep recesses of American life and culture. Driving the news: This past week, Trump announced that Coca-Cola had agreed to use real cane sugar in Coke. For decades, high-fructose corn syrup has sweetened the drink. (The company hasn't confirmed his claim.) The topic has been steadily gaining attention in the U.S., with interest in Mexican Coke — which uses cane sugar — rising for years, according to Google Trends. The big picture: We all know "kitchen-table issues," the topics shaped by decades of campaign trail debates. But these are "group-chat issues" — stuff you'd text your friends about that doesn't usually get picked apart by policy wonks. Alcatraz: Trump stunned the country by announcing this spring that the notorious prison island — closed for more than 60 years — would be reopened. The move is inspired "more by symbolism than necessity," Axios' Marc Caputo reported. The penny: The administration took action on the ultimate pocketbook issue by announcing plans to discontinue the 1-cent coin. While the move makes economic cents — pennies now cost more to make than they're worth — the bigger impact could the cultural ripple of an extinct piece of American iconography. Gulf of America: Trump caught Americans off guard when he edited U.S. maps on his first week in office. The seemingly superficial move led to profound fallout over press freedom and geopolitics. JFK files: He indulged a decades-long national fascination about the JFK assassination by releasing 63,000 pages of records — a topic that had largely been left to amateur sleuths and conspiracy theorists. While the records added color to the understanding of the event, there were no bombshells. Reality check: Trump finds himself on the other side of a group-chat issue with his posture on the Jeffrey Epstein case. He is fighting against the populist current demanding more information and transparency around Epstein's sex trafficking operation, while disavowing his supporters who continue to press him. Zoom in: On some lesser-noticed, Seinfeldian issues, Trump addressed everyman gripes with the stroke of a pen.
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Opinion - 4 reasons why Trump should reject China's invitation to its military parade
Beijing's Kyodo News reported June 29 that China is planning to invite President Trump to attend a military parade at Tiananmen Square on Sept. 3. The event marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II under the banner of the 'Commemoration of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.' However, behind this seemingly historical commemoration lies a calculated political agenda by Beijing: the distortion of history and an ambition to challenge the free world. Every international visit by a U.S. president carries deep symbolic meaning. This event touches on the core of U.S.-China relations, America's position on historical truth and the international order the U.S. upholds. I therefore earnestly urge President Trump to weigh the following four considerations before making any final decision should Beijing extend an official invitation. First, this parade is not a symbol of peace, but a strategic challenge to U.S.-Led Global Order. The Chinese Communist Party is not holding this parade merely to commemorate a historic victory. It is a deliberate display of military strength, aimed at projecting the narrative of Communist Party superiority and signaling strategic rivalry with the U.S. Since 2015, the party has increasingly normalized large-scale military parades. Domestically, they glorify one-party rule; internationally, they serve as a geopolitical tool to intimidate neighbors. By showcasing hypersonic missiles, fifth-generation fighter jets and long-range nuclear strike capabilities, these parades are clearly targeted at undermining the leadership of the U.S. and the free world. The Xi regime's invitation to Trump is a calculated effort to present China as America's equal on the global stage — conveying a vision of 'co-governance of the world.' Should Trump attend, his presence may be exploited as an implicit endorsement of China's military rise, thereby weakening America's global standing and eroding the confidence of regional allies. As President Ronald Reagan said in his 1981 inaugural address, 'Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.' True strength lies not in weaponry, but in the spirit and conviction of free people. America's greatness stems from its values — not from military displays. Moreover, the essence of a military parade should be to honor those who gave their lives in service. Just last month, Trump presided over the 250th anniversary celebration of the U.S. Army in Washington, fulfilling that solemn duty with dignity and honor. This would not be like that. Second, the Chinese communists have falsified history and stolen the Nationalist government's wartime legacy. There is no historical ambiguity regarding who bore the brunt of Japan's invasion during World War II. Following the outbreak of the Pacific War in 1941, China became the principal theater of war in Asia. The Republic of China under Chiang Kai-shek's leadership conducted over 90 percent of the major battles and suffered the bulk of casualties. In contrast, the Communist Party operated largely in guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines, focused more on consolidating its own strength than on resisting Japan strategically. It was the Nationalist government's sacrifices that initially earned the Republic of China a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council. Even after its retreat to Taiwan in 1949 following the civil war, the U.N. continued to recognize the Republic of China for nearly two more decades — underscoring its historical legitimacy. After consolidating power, the Chinese Communist Party eliminated many of the generals and troops who had genuinely resisted Japan. Now, Beijing stages military parades as if it had been the actual victor, mocking the true heroes of World War II and engaging in historical theft of valor. If Trump were to attend, it would risk signaling U.S. endorsement of this manipulated narrative, creating the impression that America has accepted the Chinese Communist Party's version of history. Third, this parade dishonors fallen American soldiers from the Korean War. During World War II, the U.S. provided significant aid to China's anti-Japanese efforts. Yet less than five years later, the Chinese communists sent over 1 million troops across the Yalu River to directly engage U.S.-led United Nations forces in the Korean War. The Chinese Communist Party's support for the Kim regime in North Korea was part of its strategy to establish regional dominance in East Asia. More than 36,000 American soldiers died in the Korean War, and over 100,000 were wounded. Even today, many American families continue to grieve the loss of loved ones. The U.S. has always deeply honored its veterans and war dead — building monuments, museums and preserving their legacy in public memory. For a U.S. president to attend this parade would amount to public recognition of the very military that opened fire on American troops. Trump understands the profound sacrifice of military service. He must also be made to understand that attending this parade could deeply wound the families and descendants of the fallen. Finally, sharing a platform with Putin and Xi could send the wrong signal to the free world. Reports suggest that, because Xi attended Russia's 80th anniversary parade for the Great Patriotic War in Moscow this last May, Russian President Vladimir Putin will return the favor by attending China's parade in September. Both men are now seen across the free world as symbols of authoritarian expansionism. Putin has invaded Ukraine and constantly threatens Europe. Xi, meanwhile, has escalated provocations in the South China Sea and around Taiwan, suppressed freedoms in Hong Kong and continues the persecution of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang and Tibet. His regime that is both militaristic and repressive. Even if Trump does not share their goals, his standing alongside these two dictators at a military parade would be heavily exploited by Chinese and Russian media to depict an image of unity among the three powers. Such an image could damage global perceptions of the U.S. and undermine America's moral standing as the beacon of freedom. It risks shaking allies' trust in the values the U.S. represents. Trump is unquestionably one of the most influential American presidents and global leaders of our time. He has firmly defended American interests and values, taken strong action against the Iranian regime, and shown deep respect for America's military — earning widespread admiration at home and abroad. Yes, diplomacy involves difficult trade-offs. But China's invitation is not a normal diplomatic event. It is a stage crafted by an authoritarian regime to whitewash history and showcase military might — not in the pursuit of peace, but to control the global narrative. By declining to attend, President Trump would send a powerful signal: that America stands for historical truth, democratic values and the shared honor of defending freedom with its allies. Moreover, the Chinese Communist Party is currently under significant pressure from U.S. tariffs and technological sanctions. Its economy is more dependent on global markets than ever. This is not the time to offer Beijing symbolic concessions or legitimacy. A wiser, stronger strategy would be to reserve a presidential visit to China for when Beijing demonstrates genuine reform, keeps its promises, curbs its aggression and halts its theft of American technology and commerce. Only then should a U.S. president visit — with moral authority and strategic advantage. Trump, for the honor of the United States and in the name of historical responsibility, should firmly and respectfully decline this invitation. Vincent C. Chen is a senior executive in Taiwan's information and communications technology industry who serves as an advisory board member for Taiwan Thinktank and Foundation for Future Generations, Taiwan. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
CNN
35 minutes ago
- CNN
New tax law increases big beyond-the-grave tax break for the wealthy
The US federal estate tax has come a long way since 2000, when the exemption level was set at $675,000. The amount has increased greatly over the past quarter century. Americans who die in 2025 may leave behind tax free to their heirs up to $13.99 million. That exemption level had been set to expire after this year and snap back to a little more than $7 million per person. But that won't happen. Instead, starting in 2026, the exemption level will increase by roughly 7.2% to $15 million and adjust for inflation every year thereafter. That's courtesy of the One Big Beautiful Act that Republicans pushed through in time for President Donald Trump to sign it into law on his self-appointed deadline of July 4. Keep in mind, while not new, the exemption level is effectively doubled for married couples. That's because any unused exemption from the first spouse who dies can be passed to the surviving spouse, and the decedent's estate can pass to the widow or widower tax free. Then, when they die, they will get up to two times the individual exemption level. So that comes to $27.98 million tax free for couples this year and $30 million next year. (It's also worth noting that the estate tax exemption level is the same as the lifetime gift tax exemption level. That means essentially how much you're allowed to exempt from estate taxes at death is reduced by how much you gave away in gifts while you were alive.) The OBBA did not change the federal tax rates imposed on the taxable portion of estates. They're set on a graduated scale, from 18% to 40% with the initial portion above the exemption level taxed at 18%, the next portion at 20% and so on up to 40%, which is well below the 55% top rate that applied in 2001. Raising the exemption level to $15 million a person is likely to further reduce the already low share of estates subject to the estate tax. In 2001, roughly 2.1% of Americans who died left behind taxable estates — and that number dropped to just 0.07% in 2019, according to the Congressional Research Service. That share was expected to rise to 0.2% in 2026, had the exemption level snapped back to roughly $7 million as was scheduled. Despite those very tiny percentages, the Joint Committee on Taxation estimates that the OBBA change will reduce federal revenue by nearly $212 billion over the next decade relative to what the law had called for before OBBA was enacted. Even if your estate or that of a loved one falls well below the federal exemption level, the estate may still be considered taxable in the state where a decedent was living when they died. As of this year, 12 states and the District of Columbia have an estate tax, according to the Tax Foundation. The states are: Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. The exemption levels and the tax rates imposed vary from state to state. In Massachusetts, for example, the exemption level is $2 million, and depending how much more an estate is worth above that threshold, it may be subject to a tax rate between 0.8% and 16%. In Washington, up to $3 million may be exempt from the state estate tax but rates run as high as 35% on the taxable portion of an estate.
