The Big Beautiful Bill will inflict long-term damage on America
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NBC News
an hour ago
- NBC News
The potential impact of Elon Musk's third-party threat: From the Politics Desk
Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team's latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail. In today's edition, Sahil Kapur breaks down the effect Elon Musk could have if he follows through with creating a third party. Plus, Scott Wong sits down with GOP Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska for an exit interview. — Adam Wollner The potential impact of Elon Musk's third-party threat Elon Musk has vowed to create the 'America Party,' which he says will 'fight the Republican/Democrat Uniparty' and be serious about reducing the national debt. Musk's breaking point from the GOP: passage of President Donald Trump's megabill, which is projected to increase the national debt by $3.3 trillion over the next 10 years. Even if Musk files the paperwork to create the party, enormous hurdles loom. Gaining ballot access would be difficult in many states. Drawing in supporters would be daunting. And more broadly, breaking the two-party stranglehold on U.S. politics is easier said than done — as previous flirtations by groups like No Labels and national candidates like Michael Bloomberg taught them before they abandoned the pursuit. But assuming for a moment that the world's richest man marshals his resources to create the new party, what impact could it have? Recent national polls offer a clue about who is more likely to be attracted to it: Republican voters. A Quinnipiac University national poll last month tested Musk's popularity: It found that he's viewed favorably by 62% of Republican voters but just 3% of Democratic voters. And in battleground Wisconsin, a recent Marquette University Law School poll found that three-quarters of Republicans have favorable opinions of him, compared with 1% of Democrats. That suggests Musk has so thoroughly alienated Democrats that there's little risk of their getting interested in his third party. But among Republicans? That's a very different story. Both polls also found that Musk is considerably stronger with men than women, and the Wisconsin poll found that he's more appealing to voters with incomes above $75,000 than those who make less. So against the backdrop of a Musk-led party's playing 'spoiler' in a way that hurts Republicans, it's no surprise Trump is unloading on him. 'I think it's ridiculous to start a third party,' Trump told reporters Sunday. 'We have a tremendous success with the Republican Party. The Democrats have lost their way, but it's always been a two-party system. And I think starting a third party just adds to confusion.' Don Bacon is done with Congress — but not necessarily with politics As the 'big, beautiful bill' was making its way to President Donald Trump's desk last week, Scott Wong sat down with Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, one of three Republicans to represent districts Kamala Harris carried last year. Bacon said he didn't have the 'hunger' to seek a sixth term for his battleground House seat next year. But as he prepares to say goodbye to Congress, he made it clear he wasn't quite ready to be completely done with politics. Here are the key takeaways from the interview: Ambitions: Bacon, an Air Force veteran, cracked the door open to running for president in 2028 or Nebraska governor down the road. He said he wouldn't run against Gov. Jim Pillen, a close friend who took office in 2023. He's also interested in becoming defense secretary, though he's not sure he would ever be picked. 'I got asked the other day, 'You say you're interested in being an executive — is that governor or president?' I go, 'Yes,'' Bacon said. 'If there's an opportunity and I can make a difference, a unique difference, I would like to keep serving. I just don't want to do two-year elections.' 'I don't think it would be very easily done,' he said of a White House bid. 'All I know is I have a heart to serve our country, and I have a vision.' 2028 field: Bacon said he likes Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as potential candidates. But he took a jab at Vice President JD Vance. 'He's a contender. I like him personally, but I wish he saw the Russian threat a little better,' Bacon said. Russia-Ukraine war: Bacon, who has been critical of Trump's handling of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and his 'appeasement' of Vladimir Putin, said whoever ordered the pause on weapons to Ukraine should be fired. 'President Trump has done worse than Biden [on Ukraine], and I'm embarrassed to say that,' Bacon said. 'I don't like it. He seems to have a blind spot with Putin. I don't know what purpose it serves to withhold weapons to Ukraine and not see that Putin is the invader.'
Economist
6 hours ago
- Economist
The Economist is hiring a Seoul-based researcher/reporter
The Economist is seeking a Seoul-based researcher/reporter to work with the East Asia Bureau. This is an exciting, multifaceted job that encompasses reporting, researching, fact-checking, fixing, interpreting and, on occasion, writing. The successful candidate will work closely with the East Asia bureau chief and the research department to cover South and North Korean politics, foreign policy, society, business, finance and culture. There may also be opportunities to contribute to our radio, film and digital products. Previous experience in journalism is desirable but not essential.
Powys County Times
8 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Trump seeks to pressure trading partners to make deals before tariffs deadline
The Trump administration is stepping up pressure on trading partners to make new deals before a Wednesday deadline, with plans for the US to start sending letters warning countries that higher tariffs could begin on August 1. That furthers the uncertainty for businesses, consumers and America's trading partners, and questions remain about which countries will be notified, whether anything will change in the days ahead and whether President Donald Trump will once more delay imposing the rates. Mr Trump and his top trade advisers say he could extend the time for deal-making but they insist the administration is applying maximum pressure on other nations. Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, told CBS's Face The Nation on Sunday that Mr Trump would decide when it was time to give up on negotiations. 'The United States is always willing to talk to everybody about everything,' Mr Hassett said. 'There are deadlines, and there are things that are close, so maybe things will push back past the deadline or maybe they won't. In the end the president is going to make that judgment.' Stephen Miran, the chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, likewise said countries negotiating in good faith and making concessions could 'sort of, get the date rolled'. The steeper tariffs that Mr Trump announced on April 2 threatened to overhaul the global economy and lead to broader trade wars. A week later, after the financial markets had panicked, his administration suspended for 90 days most of the higher taxes on imports just as they were to take effect. The negotiating window until July 9 has led to announced deals only with the United Kingdom and Vietnam. Mr Trump imposed elevated tariff rates on dozens of nations that run meaningful trade surpluses with the US, and a 10% baseline tax on imports from all countries in response to what he called an economic emergency. There are separate 50% tariffs on steel and aluminium and a 25% tariff on vehicles. Since April, few foreign governments have set new trade terms with Washington as the Republican president demanded. Mr Trump told reporters on Friday that his administration might be sending out letters as early as Saturday to countries spelling out their tariff rates if they did not reach a deal, but that the US would not start collecting those taxes until August 1. On Sunday, he said he would send out letters starting Monday — 'could be 12, could be 15' — to foreign governments reflecting planned tariffs for each. 'We've made deals also,' Mr Trump told reporters before heading back to the White House from his home in New Jersey. 'So we'll get to have a combination of letters, and some deals have been made.' He and his advisers have declined to say which countries would receive the letters. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent rejected the idea that August 1 was a new deadline and declined to say what might happen on Wednesday. 'We'll see,' Mr Bessent said on CNN's State Of The Union. 'I'm not going to give away the playbook.' He said the US was 'close to several deals' and predicted several big announcements over the next few days. He gave no details. 'I think we're going to see a lot of deals very quickly,' Mr Bessent said.
