Why conservatives should be rooting for NPR and PBS
After decades of complaining about it, Republicans have finally cut federal spending for public broadcasting. The $9 billion rescissions package that President Donald Trump signed last Thursday removed funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which supports PBS and NPR, for fiscal 2026 and 2027.
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Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Furious voters are flooding lawmakers' town halls. Republicans aren't worried.
Republicans went home for the summer with a plan to sell President Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' to their constituents. Some are starting to find that voters aren't buying it. In the latest display of backlash, audience members jeered Nebraska Rep. Mike Flood at a Monday town hall, shouting 'Liar!' and 'You don't care about us!' over the two-term lawmaker as he made the case for the megabill, which Trump signed into law last month. By the end, chants of 'Vote him out!' threatened to drown out his closing comments. Such scenes of angry constituents confronting lawmakers are nothing new. They were commonplace in 2009 as Democrats pressed forward with a health care overhaul and in 2017 when Republicans sought to undo it. This time around, there is a fierce debate underway about whether the town hall explosions are part of a genuine backlash to GOP governance in Washington — one that could presage another wave election as seen in 2010 and 2018 — or just another reflection of America's political polarization. Many Republicans are dismissing the outbursts, concluding they have been choreographed by Democrats and groups aligned with them and do not reflect genuine voter sentiment. Some — including Trump — have claimed without evidence that paid protesters are responsible. 'I think Democrats have been organized to actually act out in town halls, and I think if you're going to have a town hall where you're inviting people to come in with the intent of protesting, that's what you're going to get,' Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said Tuesday. But left-of-center activists say the GOP dismisses voters' outrage at their peril. Groups might be helping to publicize and organize protests around lawmakers' events, they say, but that is merely harnessing a real grass-roots backlash to what Republicans are pursuing in Washington. 'I would say the level of energy and grassroots anger at Congress is at a higher level of intensity now than it was in 2017, and I think that's evidenced by just the numbers that you're seeing on the ground,' said Ezra Levin, the co-executive director of Indivisible,a progressive organization that came to prominence organizing protests that year. Evaluating the competing claims has grown more complicated because Republican lawmakers, on the whole, have been doing fewer events in the classic town hall format — in-person, with an open attendance policy. With the GOP megabill still in its initial stages earlier this year, the chair of the House GOP's national campaign committee explicitly urged members not to hold in-person town halls during congressional breaks. But recently, with the legislation now signed into law, the party committee urged members to get out and sell the bill's benefits. Even then, some Republicans say they plan to shy away from the type of town hall that Flood held on Monday — open mic, on a college campus in a relatively liberal corner of his district. Rep. Aaron Bean of Florida, who represents a solid Republican district, said he has a busy recess schedule speaking to small GOP and civic groups. But he said he is passing on scheduling the larger public forums. 'Only people who have never supported me want me to do a town hall,' he said. Bean insisted he wasn't insulating himself from criticism — he said he's fielded plenty of skeptical questions on tariffs from constituents who work in affected industries. But he said the only negative feedback he has heard on the megabill is "from left wing lunatics' who 'want a place to protest.' Rounds said he prefers to hold smaller 'coffees' as opposed to a 'free for all.' 'I make it very clear: One, it's going to be organized, and two, if you want to shut the coffee down, just act out and we'll just shut it down for everybody else,' he said. 'On the other hand, if you want to ask straightforward questions or hard questions, that's fine, but we're going to act like adults.' National Democrats, however, argue that Republicans who are opting for more controlled events are shirking their responsibilities as public officials — and obscuring the popular backlash to the GOP's domestic agenda. 'Town halls are about more than just politics, they're about good governing, which Republicans clearly don't care about,' said DCCC spokesperson Viet Shelton, who added that the recent outbursts are 'made-for-TV, viral examples of how unpopular and politically toxic' the megabill is for Republicans. Trump administration officials remain confident that the megabill's benefits will more than offset any costs felt by voters, especially those in GOP strongholds like Flood's Nebraska district. They ascribe the angry questioning and heckling to partisan plants and say Republican lawmakers just need to keep on the attack "All it is is a Democrat op," said one senior Trump adviser granted anonymity to discuss the backlash. The person added that Trump and congressional Republicans' approval ratings versus those of Democrats have the White House feeling bullish on the party's chances in the midterms. Recent polling does in fact show the Democratic Party with rock-bottom approval ratings, though it remains to be seen if that will translate into GOP votes. Democrats hold a narrow lead in the RealClearPolitics polling average for the generic congressional ballot. NRCC spokesperson Mike Marinella similarly said that GOP town halls were 'being hijacked into choreographed Democrat theater packed with left-wing activists' and said the 'manufactured outrage exposes just how desperate Democrats are to distract from their toxic agenda and failing candidates.' Audience members weren't screened ahead of Flood's event, according to Taylor Gage, a spokesperson for the lawmaker. Flood has no plans to abandon the town hall format, Gage added, but Monday's was the third of three such events he usually hosts each year. The Nebraska Democratic Party publicized attendance details for Flood's event on its social media channels. Before the event Monday, it posted, 'Voters of #NE01, you know what to do!' But Chair Jane Kleeb said Republicans were indulging in 'conspiracy theories' by suggesting that attendees were paid or protested out of anything other than their own genuine outage and are otherwise 'out of touch with how deeply their cruel cuts are angering the public.' Democrats have sought to weaponize GOP members' reticence to hold town halls. Local progressive groups have organized events to go on 'with or without' their GOP representatives' participation, and some congressional Democrats are undertaking summer tours of Republican districts. One such member, Rep. Yassamin Ansari of Arizona, said she planned on 'bringing their stories with me back to D.C. — even if their own representatives won't." But the volatile politics of town halls can swing both ways. Several House Democrats have faced their own backlash at events earlier this year from voters angry about the Gaza War and what they have seen as weak pushback against Trump. The same night as Flood's town hall, three people were arrested at a Renton, Wash., event held by Democratic Rep. Adam Smith, according to local news reports. 'I don't know if Congress knows what's coming for them,' Levin said. 'I would say that applies to Republicans because they are backing up Trump. It also applies to Democrats who are refusing to fight back and are headed into a primary season.' Jordain Carney, Lisa Kashinsky and Jake Traylor contributed to this report. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misspelled the name of Flood spokesperson Taylor Gage.
UPI
35 minutes ago
- UPI
Texas AG to investigate O'Rourke-linked group amid map row
Texas has launched an investigation into Beto O'Rourke's Powered by People group in connection to Democrats who fled the state over the weekend. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Wednesday launched an investigation into potential Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke over allegations that he "bribed" Democratic state lawmakers who fled the Lone Star State to prevent Republicans from passing GOP-favorable congressional maps that critics say strip power from voters of color. Paxton announced the investigation amid a deepening row between the state's Democrats and Republicans. The state's minority Democrats fled Texas over the weekend to deny Republicans the quorum needed to certify the controversial maps. The state's Republican leadership has responded with threats of arrest and to vacate their congressional seats if they don't return by Friday, as well as investigations into anyone who solicits funds to support their effort. Paxton said Wednesday that he is investigating the O'Rourke-led Powered by People, which is reportedly covering the costs of Texas Democrats who fled the state. He also said the Powered by People group may have violated bribery laws and state laws, such as those governing campaign or officeholder contributions and expenditures, coercion of a public servant and abuse of office. "Any Democrat coward breaking the law by taking a Beto Bribe will be held accountable," Paxton said in a statement announcing the investigation. "These jet-setting runaways have already lost public trust by abandoning our state, and Texans deserve to know if they received illegal bribes to do it." The new maps, if certified, are expected to give Republicans five additional seats in the U.S. House of Representatives ahead of next year's midterm elections. Critics and Democrats argue that the maps draw lines that dilute the voting power of Latino and Black people, while serving as a power grab by President Donald Trump through rigging the GOP representation in the House. Democrats have widely supported their Texan colleagues' actions to prevent quorum. Republicans have viewed the move as a shirking from their responsibilities. O'Rourke has been traveling throughout several swing states, including Missouri, Wisconsin, Indianapolis, Nebraska and others, trying to generate grassroots support for the Texas Democrats. In response to the investigation, O'Rourke accused Paxton of hypocrisy. "The guy impeached for bribery is going after the folks trying to stop the theft of five congressional seats," he said on X. Paxton was impeached by the state House but was acquitted of all corruption charges by the Senate. The Republican attorney general has vowed that he will seek "aggressive legal action" against any Democrat who is not present at the House on Friday, while Abbott has called for their arrests.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Trump-Modi bromance sours over trade talks, Russian oil
During his first term, President Trump struck up an exuberant bromance with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, holding joint rallies in Texas and India and calling Modi one of 'America's greatest, most devoted, and most loyal friends.' While Modi was among the first heads of state to visit the White House in Trump's second term, the U.S.-India relationship has soured amid the president's trade war and push for peace in Ukraine. The president in recent days has publicly fumed over India's trade imbalance with the United States and its economic ties with Russia, threatening to 'substantially raise' a 25 percent tariff rate set to take effect in the coming days. The tensions are straining a partnership that both Republicans and Democrats view as essential in challenging China. 'I don't think that he wants to spoil his relationship with Modi,' Derek Grossman, professor of international relations at the University of Southern California, said of Trump. 'Again, he is personalistic, and if he feels like Modi is a great guy, a great friend, as he said, why ruin that? Well, there's got to be a reason to, and that's that the U.S. is being undermined in its policies by India.' Trump has singled out India as a particularly egregious trade foe amid his global trade war, citing a trade deficit of about $46 billion. India is also the second-largest importer of Russian oil after China. 'What people don't like to say about India — they're the highest tariff nation. They have the highest tariff of anybody. We do very, very little business with India because their tariffs are so high,' Trump said Tuesday. 'So we settled on 25 percent, but I think I'm going to raise that very substantially over the next 24 hours, because they're buying Russian oil. They're fueling the war machine, and if they're going to do that, then I'm not going to be very happy.' Those remarks, echoed in a series of Truth Social posts in the days since, marked a stark change in tone. During Trump's first term, the two demonstrated a personal warmth and exchanged boisterous rallies — a 'Howdy Modi' rally in Texas in 2019 that drew a reported 50,000 people, and a 2020 'Namaste Trump' rally in India that drew an estimated 100,000 people. Hints of Trump's frustration were dropped during Modi's visit in February, when Trump said it was only 'fair' that the U.S. match India's tariffs on American exports. But the visit was largely friendly, with the two leaders launching an initiative to boost cooperation around military, commerce and technology. While Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about human rights issues in India — the nonprofit Freedom House has tracked democratic backsliding and rates the country as only 'partly free' — there's a growing bipartisan consensus that India provides one of the best partnerships for countering China's economic, diplomatic and military might. 'The Biden administration — and the first Trump administration, for that matter — looked at India and thought, having India on our side, so to speak, can be very helpful toward countering China throughout the Indo-Pacific,' Grossman said. 'There's a problem with that: The biggest problem is India is still multialigned. They are not really going to do too much for us in the Indo-Pacific unless it directly impacts their national interest.' A pillar of India's foreign policy is its 'strategic autonomy,' a right to have relations with any nation, unbound by decisions from other multilateral groupings. India has also chafed at Trump's efforts to claim credit for mediating a ceasefire with Pakistan after clashes in May. Modi reportedly conveyed to Trump during a call in June that the U.S. played no role in halting the fighting. Pakistan, on the other hand, has nominated Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize, and Trump welcomed Pakistan army chief Asim Munir to the White House in June. Grossman said the disagreement around the India-Pakistan ceasefire is likely fueling 'personalistic baggage' between Trump and Modi. The president hasn't said exactly how much tariffs will increase on India, but he called out the country Monday for buying Russian oil and 'selling it on the Open Market for big profits.' He previously had vowed to hit India with a penalty for buying military equipment and energy from Russia amid the war in Ukraine. India's Ministry of External Affairs criticized the U.S. and European Union on Tuesday as 'targeting' the country for buying Russian oil when New Delhi was 'encouraged' by the Biden administration to import Russian oil as other global supplies were diverted to Europe. 'India's imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer. They are a necessity compelled by global market situation,' the ministry's statement continued, also criticizing a double standard of carve-outs on Russian trade with the U.S. and Europe despite the war in Ukraine. Trump's focus on India as fueling Russia's war in Ukraine is a relatively new development, coming as trade talks between Washington and New Delhi have faltered. Top administration officials, including Trump, have insisted for months that a deal with India was pending. Vice President Vance traveled to India in April and, at the time, said there was progress on trade talks. But some four months later, no deal has materialized. India is laying out red lines protecting the country's agriculture and dairy sectors, an Indian government source told Reuters. New Delhi is committed to blocking imports of dairy products due to religiously based opposition to animal feed in these products. Trump also appears to be using India in a bid to gain leverage on Russia, putting an Aug. 8 deadline on Moscow to reach a peace deal or face 'secondary tariffs' on its trading partners. While the Senate has called for a 500 percent tariff on countries that buy Russian oil, Trump has said he could impose a 100 percent tariff on nations that do business with Russia. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, one of Trump's closest and most influential advisers, summarized all of the administration's problems with India in an interview with Fox News on Sunday. 'India portrays itself as being one of our closest friends in the world, but they don't accept our products, they impose massive tariffs on us, we also know they engage in a lot of cheating on immigration policies that is very harmful to American workers and, again, we see the purchasing of oil,' he said. Aman Thakker, vice president at the Asia Group, said a draft trade deal originally imposed around a 13 percent to 15 percent tariff on India, with India reducing tariffs across the board for most sectors in the U.S., except on certain agricultural products. He expects officials from the National Security Council to travel to India next week to continue talks on a deal, suggesting the door isn't closed to negotiations. 'I think this is, in my view, the president playing hardball with India trying to get a bigger deal than what was presented,' he said. 'The president, this is sort of his way now to say, 'Well, I can secure a better deal than what the trade negotiators have been able to hammer out, and I'm going to use as much leverage as I can to make that deal happen.'' Thakker argued it's 'an open question' as to whether India would back down on purchasing Russian oil. 'I still think that there is a possibility about both sides engaging and finding a solution. They've done it before across administrations and including the last time President Trump was in the White House,' he said. 'But it will really depend, I think, on how the next couple of days and weeks play out. If the president announces a higher tariff rate … that will raise the temperature in an unproductive way.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
