Latest news with #Hemmer
Newsweek
23-05-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Fox News Host Confronts Trump Adviser on Bill Adding Trillions to US Debt
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. Fox News co-anchor Bill Hemmer confronted Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday about concerns that President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill" could add trillions of dollars to the nation's debt. Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. Treasury for comment via email. Why It Matters The legislation extended Trump's 2017 tax cuts, reducing taxes for individuals and corporations and adding new exemptions for tipped workers and overtime pay. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated the bill would add $3.8 trillion to the national debt over the next 10 years, drawing criticism from Democrats and some Republicans who warn the spending cuts included in the bill would be insufficient to pay for the tax cuts and other spending priorities. The potential increase to the country's $36.2 trillion deficit was the primary source of opposition from certain House Republicans. What to Know Hemmer pressed Bessent about the CBO's report during an interview on America's Newsroom Friday morning. "This bill adds trillions to our debt. How is that acceptable to this administration?" Hemmer asked. Bessent responded: "You're referring to the CBO scoring, I believe, which is 10-year scoring, and it's D.C.-style scoring. So, we think that we can both grow the economy and control the debt. And what's important, Bill, is that the economy grows faster than the debt." The treasury secretary added: "So, what I would tell your viewers to focus on is what I'm focused on, is what [former Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen] was focused on, is what is the total debt to GDP [gross domestic product] because we can grow our way out of this. That if we change the growth trajectory, of the country, of the economy, then we will stabilize our finances and grow our way out of this." The bill passed the House of Representatives early Thursday morning by a 215-214 vote. Two Republicans, Representatives Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Warren Davidson of Ohio, voted against the bill, along with every House Democrat. Both congressmen had raised concerns about the bill's impact on the deficit. "While I love many things in the bill, promising someone else will cut spending in the future does not cut spending. Deficits do matter and this bill grows them now. The only Congress we can control is the one we're in. Consequently, I cannot support this big deficit plan. NO," Davidson wrote in a post to X, formerly Twitter, Thursday morning. The bill, if signed into law in its current form, could have implications for education, defense and health care. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks during a news conference in Geneva on May 12. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks during a news conference in Geneva on May 12. FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images What People Are Saying Representative Thomas Massie said on the House floor: "I'd love to stand here and tell the American people 'we can cut your taxes and increase spending and everything is going to be fine.' But I can't because I'm here to deliver a dose of reality. This bill dramatically increases deficits in the near term but promises our government will be fiscally responsible five years from now. Where have we heard that before? How do you bind a future Congress to these promises? This bill is a debt bomb ticking." Senator Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, recently told reporters: "I couldn't care less if he's [Trump] upset. I'm concerned about my children, my grandchildren and the fact that we are stealing from them. We are stealing from our children and our grandchildren. $37 trillion in debt and we're going to add to it as Republicans? That is unacceptable." Senator Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, wrote on X on Friday: "Republicans promised Americans we would rein in wasteful spending and tackle the national debt if they gave us control of all three branches of government. Instead, my colleagues want to tack on more to our national debt instead of making necessary cuts." President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: "'THE ONE, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' has PASSED the House of Representatives! This is arguably the most significant piece of Legislation that will ever be signed in the History of our Country!" What Happens Next? The bill now heads to the Senate, where it may be reworked to pass, as several Republicans have already raised concerns about it. Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska have questioned whether it would cut Medicaid benefits. Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota has indicated the "goal and aspiration" is to get the bill passed by July 4.
Int'l Business Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
Trump Official Mocked After Failing to Name Next Country Expected to Complete a Trade Deal: 'Translation: We Have No Deals'
A senior Trump administration official is being mocked by social media users online after being asked to identify the next nation the US is expected to complete a trade deal with during a televised interview. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent appeared on Fox News America's Newsroom on Friday in order to discuss the new tariffs President Donald Trump is threatening to levy against the European Union and Apple. While speaking to host Bill Hemmer, Bessent failed to name which nation would be the next to secure a trade deal with the US. "On the tariffs that you mentioned, you had a lot of discussions in Canada. Japan was a part of that. You've talked about Japan a lot. If Japan is not the next country to do a deal, who is?" Hemmer asked. "As I've mentioned before, we're far along with India. Early on, many of the asian countries have come with very good deals. There are 18 important trading partners, and I would say, with the exception of the EU, most are negotiating in very good faith," Bessent replied. "Who do you think goes first?" Hemmer further inquired. "We're gonna have to see," Bessent responded. "Is this a summer battle? Do we take this into the fall? And if we take it into the fall, are we talking about 2026 to do a deal which we can announce publicly?" Hemmer asked. "These deals are moving quickly and I think, as we approach the end of the 90 day period, we are going to see more and more of them announced," Bessent said. Frustrated social media users quickly took to online platforms to mock Bessent for his apparent confusion and inability to provide a straight answer. "@RealPNavarro said 90 deals in 90 days. What happened?" said one user, mentioning trade counselor Peter Navarro. "This is such vague bullsh-t," wrote another user. "Nobody buys this bullshit. We were 'close' a month ago to a deal with the EU," said a third. "Translation: We have no deals!" wrote a fourth. Bessent also shared that he hoped the renewed calls for tariffs against the European Union made by President Trump would expedite negotiations and allow for a deal to be reached sooner. "I would hope that this would light a fire under the EU, because... I've said before, [the] EU has a collective action problem here. It's 27 countries, but they're being represented by this one group in Brussels. So some of the feedback that I've been getting is that the underlying countries don't even know what the EU is negotiating on their behalf," Bessent said. Originally published on Latin Times
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Elon Musk Is Stirring Tensions in His Tony Texas Suburb
Photo:Elon Musk, the world's wealthiest man, never obtained permission to erect the 16.5-foot black chain-link fence and weathered-metal gate now surrounding his $6 million property in the city of West Lake Hills, Texas. But the structures have been there since 2022, after the tech titan moved the Tesla headquarters from California to Texas the year prior—and neighbors aren't happy about it. Musk may be close with President Trump and wield a huge amount of clout in Washington at the moment, but come June 11 the electric car company's largest shareholder (or a representative on his behalf) will have to face his local Texas city council in order to keep his fences and request a couple of other special permissions, while they're at it. As per the city's local NBC news outlet, Musk's neighbors are incensed over the billionaire's disregard for their local regulations. Not only are residents disturbed by the fence and gate, which are reportedly direct violations of their six-foot maximum height rule, but neighbors have complained about a barrage of traffic reportedly coming in and out of the SpaceX owner's nearly 7,000-square-foot house as being unprecedented and disruptive. Celebrity Real Estate Trump's Billionaire Broligarchy Is Snapping Up Homes in DC Elon Musk might be sleeping on the floor at the DOGE house, but Mark Zuckerberg and other tech titans are getting in on a DC real estate gold rush 'No permit was obtained prior to installation,' according to a Musk representative who went before the city's Zoning and Planning Commission in order to obtain retroactive variances. 'This was an oversight by the property manager at the time.' Both commissioners and neighbors shut down Musk's request at that meeting. 'Granting these variances would do nothing but facilitate their bad behavior on our quiet, little cul-de-sac,' said Paul Hemmer, a neighbor who seems to be one of the more vociferous voices in the ongoing battle. According to The New York Times, Hemmer's gripe with the 'special government employee' extends to Musk's security, who has now filed complaints against him, telling local police that he had been caught standing naked in the street. (Hemmer denied the allegation, insisting he was on his property wearing black underwear.) The West Lake Hills resident calls out the staff's three chaotic shift changes during the day, with fleets of Teslas 'coming and going.' NYT reported that Hemmer's testimony included the story of a driver shouting, late at night, that he was looking for a party at 'E's house.' As told by council members at their weekly public hearing on May 14, homeowners of West Lake Hills are only granted variances to their property when faced with hardships that are not self-created or driven by personal needs. Usually, these hardships are due to topographical issues that prevent homeowners from enjoying their property, like with the couple who were granted permission to remove an elm tree from their lot, which was impeding the construction of their home. Commissioners have made recommendations to the city council that all of Musk's variances be denied due to a 'lack of appropriate hardships.' celebrity weddings Jeff Bezos's Wedding to Lauren Sánchez: Here's What You Need to Know Rumors are swirling about the venue, musical performances, and more Judging by the ire of council members, who take issue with residents building first and seeking permission later, it's hard to say whether Musk's wish list (including permission for street parking and an exception to his fence and gate, which are 10.5 feet over the maximum allowance) will be fulfilled. 'I can't believe how often we have people come in after the fact they've already constructed it,' a council member responded as they deliberated a situation with another resident at the May 14 meeting. 'They've got some idea that they're permitted, and we're just stuck with a mess…. I'm tired of contractors and consultants giving us a bag of goods we're running around trying to figure out how to fix—we can't all the time. It's very frustrating. We've got a certain amount of our builders and contractors and consultants around and they need to be held responsible for every violation.' The discussion on the variance request submitted on Musk's behalf will pick back up June 11. Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest More Great Celebrity Style Stories From AD Sinners' Production Designer Takes AD Inside the Making of Ryan Coogler's Vampire Thriller Lola Kirke's Colorful Guide to Nashville Jeff Bezos's Yacht: Everything You Ever Wondered About Koru Cowboy Carter Tour: My Experience at Beyoncé's Kaleidoscopic Rodeo of Black Americana
New York Post
05-05-2025
- New York Post
Elon Musk's security guards at ‘Fort Knox' Texas compound called cops on neighbor they thought was naked: report
High fences make bad neighbors. At least that's what those living near Elon Musk's 'Fort Knox' high-walled compound near Austin, Texas, claim — including allegations that the mogul's security forces called the cops on one neighbor for allegedly standing naked in the street. Paul Hemmer, a retired real estate agent and head of the neighborhood homeowners association in West Lake Hills, has been among the most vocal residents complaining about Musk's alleged zoning code violations. 4 Elon Musk reportedly converted his suburban Austin mansion into his own 'Fort Knox.' REUTERS He told the New York Times that he has been under constant surveillance from Musk's security cameras, which were installed on the grounds of a property that the billionaire mogul purchased with the intention of merging with two other adjacent lots to serve as a compound for him, his 13 kids and their mothers. 'I call that place Fort Knox,' Hemmer told the Times. Last year, Musk's security team accused Hemmer of indecent behavior, alleging he was nude outside his home. Hemmer denied that he was naked and said he was on his property wearing black underwear. On another occasion, Hemmer stopped to urinate while walking his dog — which Musk's security surveillance captured. 'The cameras got me,' Hemmer told the Times. 'It's scary they have guys sitting and watching me pee.' 4 West Lake Hills, Texas is an affluent suburb of Austin not far from the banks of the Colorado River. Getty Images/iStockphoto Hemmer's outrage at Musk prompted him to fly a video-equipped drone over his property in a bid to document alleged violations, the Times reported. Hemmer and other residents of an upscale cul-de-sac in West Lake Hills, an affluent suburb just west of Austin, launched a formal complaint against Musk after he moved in to their neighborhood in 2022. The world's richest man — whose portfolio of companies includes Tesla, SpaceX, X and Neuralink, — purchased the $6 million, 6,900-square-foot mansion through a limited liability company. Musk's arrival in the neighborhood, however, was anything but subtle as neighbors soon observed unsettling changes, the Times reported. Workers installed a towering 16-foot chain-link fence around the property — significantly exceeding local height restrictions — accompanied by outward-facing surveillance cameras. The fence is 10 feet higher than zoning ordinances permit, according to the Times. Traffic congestion soon became another sore point. Residents noted fleets of vehicles, particularly Teslas, routinely parked on their previously serene streets. Security personnel, identifiable by their firearm holsters, changed shifts three times daily, adding to neighborhood frustrations, according to the Times. The scale of the construction also violated at least six city ordinances, the Times reported. Musk's representatives sought to retroactively gain permission for the various construction projects in and around the property, but were denied last month, according to the outlet. 4 Musk has reportedly turned his West Lake Hills, Texas mansion into a fortress replete with 16-foot-high fences, security guards and surveillance cameras. Matthew Rutledge Hemmer, whose house is located across the street from Musk's compound, voiced his irritation in a formal complaint to the city. 'Transporting service employees to other houses, leaving their cars on our quiet streets, hauling laundry to and fro to other houses has to stop,' he wrote in the complaint. Hemmer and other neighbors formally appealed to the West Lake Hills Zoning and Planning Commission, stating that Musk was effectively operating a security business from his residence. Last month, the commission unanimously sided with the neighbors. 4 Local officials in West Lake Hills say that Musk has violated several zoning ordinances. Joe Mabel Commissioner Jim Pledger emphasized the seriousness of the infractions, declaring: 'If an exception was made, we'd incentivize people to break the rules.' The West Lake Hills city council will review the zoning commission's decision on May 14. Musk faces a potential mandate to dismantle his non-compliant installations. In a bid to justify Musk's actions, his representatives cited ongoing security threats to the billionaire. Longtime resident Anne Yeakel questioned Musk's decision to move to the neighborhood. 'Castles are supposed to be built on hills, right?' she remarked. 'These were sophisticated buyers, and if security was the prime directive, this was not the house for it.'
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jesse Watters' 'Main Question' For Astronauts Is Out-Of-This-World Crass
Jesse Watters took one giant leap for mankind ― into tackiness. (Watch the video below.) The Fox News host on Monday offered a few notes on colleague Bill Hemmer's interview of astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who returned to Earth on March 18 after nine months on the International Space Station. 'Hemmer's a great interviewer, but he whiffed,' Watters said. 'The main question that everybody wanted asked was, did they hook up? And he just left it hanging out there. I hope there's a part two to this interview, Hemmer, because next time I see you I'm going to slap you silly.' The pair was expected to return in June but, due to problems with their spacecraft, the mission stretched out until Elon Musk's SpaceX was able to help bring them back. Trump accused the Biden administration of abandoning them. The president also wondered about the state of their celestial relationship at one point; they are both married. 'They've been left up there,' he said. 'I hope they like each other. Maybe they'll love each other, I don't know. But they've been left up there, think of it. And I see the woman with the wild hair. Good solid head of hair she's got. There's no kidding, there's no games with her hair.' Meanwhile, Watters has been concerning himself at times with more earthly matters, like dictating how men should wave and criticizing men who grocery shop with their wives. Jesse Watters' Ridiculous New 'Real Man' Rule Gets Waved Off With Laughter Online Fox News' Jesse Watters Says His Mom Is 'Upset' Over DOGE Cuts Affecting His Sister's Workplace Jesse Watters Says DOGE Cuts Go Too Far In On-Air Plea
