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Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Opinion - Trump's bill will feed the rich and starve the poor
These are the times that try people's souls and tax their faith in human nature. The House of Representatives just passed President Trump's big bad bill that awards huge tax breaks for rich people and big corporations and rips a gaping hole in the social safety net that protects the poor in bad economic times. The draconian proposal undermines the already shaky health, wealth and wellbeing of millions of struggling American families. The MAGA endgame is to fatten up a few big bankers and billionaires, starve the growing ranks of the working poor and hope the shrinking middle class doesn't care. Be careful what you wish for. The Republicans may get what they wants, but they risk losing control of the House after the chaos created by this massive transfer of wealth from the poor to wealthy Americans. An April survey from health policy research group KFF indicates the overwhelming majority of people oppose the Medicaid cuts in Trump's bill, which is incredibly titled — not making this up — the 'Big Beautiful Bill Act.' Just about every Democrat and four out of five independents oppose the proposal. Even most Republicans feel the cuts are a bad idea. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office analysis indicates the House bill over the next decade would add $3.8 trillion to the federal budget deficit, increase the assets of the top 10 percent earners by 2 percent and reduce the resources of the bottom 10 percent by 4 percent. The proposal would deprive millions of Americans of medical care and many of food. The action will inevitably lead to the tragic deaths of many people and malnutrition for many kids. The cuts will disproportionately hurt residents of blue states which expanded health care opportunities under ObamaCare. Who will take care of the ill and feed the hungry? Republicans just don't care as long as the rich get even richer. The GOP response is that tax cuts for the rich will trickle down to working families and the poor. If you believe that, I have a bridge in Brooklyn that I would like to sell you. These devastating cuts will create the perfect storm of suffering and despair. There will be more poor people because of Trump's reckless economic policies and less aid to take care of them as they fall through the cracks. This will not end well for millions of struggling families, many of whom are Trump supporters. Congress is in recess for the next two weeks, but the war of words continues. Then it's the Senate's turn to handle the hot potato. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has warned Senate Republicans not to alter the big bad bill but big changes are likely even if the president wants the House bill. Consideration in the Senate will put vulnerable Republicans like Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Tom Tillis (R-N.C.) under the gun. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has already announced his opposition, and both Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) take delight in tormenting Trump. Budget hawk Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) openly worries about the increase in the budget deficit, and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) is wary of the cuts to Medicaid. They will get little or no help for their dastardly deed from Senate Democrats. The response to presidential pressure, the threat of a government shutdown and the Moody's downgrade of the U.S. credit rating mean a budget bill will probably pass the Senate. But only God knows what it will look like. The Senate could still come back with a bill that has fewer tax cuts and tax breaks (like the increased write-off for state and local taxes) and restores some of the budget cuts. That will create chaos when the Senate version goes back to the House. The battle over Medicaid is really a battle over the future of health care. We have a broken, expensive system that needs fundamental reform. Trump's proposal will only make the problem worse. Democrats have a responsibility to make it better. The Republicans' cuts mean people will die for want of health care or develop long-term illnesses that will crush the system in the future. There will be an increased demand for free care that will decapitate already overwhelmed hospitals. After Trump destroys it, it will be up to Democrats to rebuild the health care infrastructure when the party returns to power. The late great Democratic House Speaker Sam Rayburn once said, 'Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a carpenter to build one.' The Republicans' assault is an abrupt reversal of the trend created by Democratic presidents to improve health care for ailing Americans. President Lyndon Johnson gave us Medicare and Medicaid and Barack Obama improved on LBJ's good works. Now it's up to the next Democratic chief executive to take the next big step. Fasten your seatbelts, we're in for a long bumpy ride through the labyrinthine legislative process as it grinds its way up and down Pennsylvania Avenue. Brad Bannon is a national Democratic strategist and CEO of Bannon Communications Research which polls for Democrats, labor unions and progressive issue groups. He hosts the popular progressive podcast on power, politics and policy, Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Newsweek
8 hours ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Map Shows States Where Seniors Are Most Vulnerable to Social Security Cuts
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. Seniors in states like Oregon, New Hampshire, and Vermont are among the most vulnerable to Social Security cuts in the country, according to research from Retirement Living. The report, which identifies the top states where retirees rely most heavily on the benefit for basic living expenses, comes amid sweeping changes to the Social Security Administration (SSA) under the Trump administration. Newsweek reached out to the SSA and House Speaker Mike Johnson for comment. Why It Matters Earlier this year, the SSA announced it plans to cut 7,000 staff members. The changes came as part of efforts by President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to streamline government spending; however, critics argue that the cuts could delay or interrupt benefits for vulnerable retirees. The closure of field offices and internal departments also complicates access for the elderly and individuals with disabilities. What To Know For over 40 percent of Americans aged 65 and older, Social Security now serves as their sole source of retirement income, making benefit stability a matter of life and death for millions. Seniors in certain states are at heightened risk, not only because of high dependency but also owing to challenging cost-of-living conditions and limited local services. Vermont ranked as having the most vulnerable Social Security beneficiaries due to its high cost of living index, the eighth highest in the U.S., contending with a senior poverty rate of 9.6 percent, and a high rate of Social Security fraud. Retirees in Massachusetts, which ranks third, also struggle to make an average monthly check of $1,979.84 last in a state with the second-highest cost of living index and the 20th-highest senior poverty rate. Top 10 States Where Seniors Rely Most on Social Security The Retirement Living rankings reflect several factors, including the state's percentage of seniors dependent on Social Security, the cost of living, the senior poverty rate and the state's social security fraud reporting. Vermont: 90.9 percent of seniors receive Social Security; the average check is $1,949.07; the cost-of-living index is 114.4. New Hampshire: 91.6 percent of seniors; $2,087.54 average check; cost-of-living 112.6. Massachusetts: 82.8 percent of seniors; $1,979.84 average check; cost-of-living 145.9. Washington: 90 percent of seniors; $2,003.81 average check; cost-of-living 114.2. New York: 83.1 percent of seniors; $1,922.40 average check; cost-of-living 123.3. Delaware: 90.1 percent of seniors; $2,085.16 average check; cost-of-living 112.6. New Jersey: 85 percent of seniors; $2,087.95 average check; cost-of-living 114.6. Rhode Island: 88.4 percent of seniors; $1,963.73 average check; cost-of-living 112.2. Oregon: 92.7 percent of seniors; $1,909.85 average check; cost-of-living 112. Hawaii: 83.9 percent of seniors; $1,895.23 average check; cost-of-living 186.9. A Social Security Administration (SSA) office in Washington, D.C., as seen on March 26, 2025. A Social Security Administration (SSA) office in Washington, D.C., as seen on March 26, 2025. SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images Max Richtman, president and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, warned last month that DOGE cuts to the SSA were harmful and "have already hindered our members and supporters (mostly seniors, people with disabilities, and their families) from collecting the benefits they have paid for." A recent survey also found that even future recipients are concerned that the Trump administration's changes could impact their Social Security benefits, with 59 percent of working-age Americans concerned that it will be gone by the time they retire. What People Are Saying A spokesperson for RetirementLiving told Newsweek: "Our research shows that many retirees rely on Social Security as their financial lifeline, not just a supplement. That's why older adults in some states are more at risk than others. In places with higher economic vulnerability, a large portion of the senior population simply can't afford to lose any part of their benefit." Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "The reoccurring theme of states with residents who rely more on Social Security is a higher cost of living. States primarily in the Northeastern United States provide a significant strain on benefits, due to higher costs and more common fraud. Cuts to the program could provide substantial challenges for seniors as they struggle to maintain the same standard of living with less." Michael Ryan, a finance expert and the founder of told Newsweek: "You know the saying 'actions speak louder than words?' Well, Trump's crew is putting on the biggest magic show in Washington. They're waving one hand, saying 'we'll never touch your Social Security,' while the other hand is quietly dismantling the whole thing, piece by piece. "West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas are more than just red dots on a map (barely...). Places where nearly one in 10 dollars in the local economy comes from Social Security checks. That sounds like the difference between keeping the lights on and going dark." Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek: "It is worth noting that many retirees in those states may also have additional income sources, whether it be pensions, investments, or rental income. So while the strain would be real, some individuals may be in a better position to absorb the blow compared to retirees in lower-cost states who rely more heavily on their monthly benefit." What Happens Next The prospect of further cuts at the SSA remains unclear, and several advocacy groups have launched legal actions seeking to reverse DOGE-ordered changes. "When Social Security spending disappears from these communities, it's not just individual families that suffer," Ryan said. "Think of the 'trickle down.' Grocery stores, pharmacies, the small businesses that survive on that steady monthly flow of federal dollars."
CNN
8 hours ago
- Business
- CNN
House speaker says GOP ‘eager and ready' to enact DOGE cuts as White House expected to send request to Congress next week
Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday signaled that House Republicans are 'eager and ready' to formalize the White House's so-called DOGE cuts as soon as President Donald Trump's team makes the official request to Congress. 'The House is eager and ready to act on DOGE's findings so we can deliver even more cuts to big government that President Trump wants and the American people demand,' Johnson posted on X. The White House is expected to make its first recommended 'recissions' – or spending cuts that effectively claw back federal dollars – early next week when Congress returns from its Memorial Day recess, according to a source familiar with the matter. The anticipated package is expected to check in at over $9 billion, the source said. The precise timing of the White House's proposal is not yet clear, but House Republicans expect to receive the White House's formal request 'very soon,' one GOP lawmaker familiar with the discussions said. The request, according to the source familiar and GOP lawmaker, is expected to target programs like the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a small chunk of the federal budget that provides some public funding for NPR and PBS, as well as foreign assistance – an issue that has been dicey with GOP leaders in Congress who oversee the State Department. Johnson's comments come hours after a video circulated of Elon Musk, the billionaire who led the Department of Government Efficiency, directly criticizing the White House and House Republicans for its pricey domestic megabill. 'I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing,' Musk told 'CBS Sunday Morning.' 'I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful. I don't know that it can be both,' Musk said of the legislation, which GOP leaders named the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' after Trump's comments about the package. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said on X earlier Wednesday that she was told the first DOGE cuts bill would appear on Monday, writing that 'foreign aid and NPR/CPB on the chopping block.' Johnson's post did not specify when exactly the White House would formally transmit its request or what it would target. As soon as the White House makes its request, Congress has 45 days to consider it – a potentially tight timeline with Senate Republicans focusing on an effort to pass their version of Trump's domestic policy package. The House passed its version of the bill prior to the Memorial Day recess.
The Hill
9 hours ago
- Business
- The Hill
Trump's bill will feed the rich and starve the poor
These are the times that try people's souls and tax their faith in human nature. The House of Representatives just passed President Trump's big bad bill that awards huge tax breaks for rich people and big corporations and rips a gaping hole in the social safety net that protects the poor in bad economic times. The draconian proposal undermines the already shaky health, wealth and wellbeing of millions of struggling American families. The MAGA endgame is to fatten up a few big bankers and billionaires, starve the growing ranks of the working poor and hope the shrinking middle class doesn't care. Be careful what you wish for. The Republicans may get what they wants, but they risk losing control of the House after the chaos created by this massive transfer of wealth from the poor to wealthy Americans. An April survey from health policy research group KFF indicates the overwhelming majority of people oppose the Medicaid cuts in Trump's bill, which is incredibly titled — not making this up — the 'Big Beautiful Bill Act.' Just about every Democrat and four out of five independents oppose the proposal. Even most Republicans feel the cuts are a bad idea. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office analysis indicates the House bill over the next decade would add $3.8 trillion to the federal budget deficit, increase the assets of the top 10 percent earners by 2 percent and reduce the resources of the bottom 10 percent by 4 percent. The proposal would deprive millions of Americans of medical care and many of food. The action will inevitably lead to the tragic deaths of many people and malnutrition for many kids. The cuts will disproportionately hurt residents of blue states which expanded health care opportunities under ObamaCare. Who will take care of the ill and feed the hungry? Republicans just don't care as long as the rich get even richer. The GOP response is that tax cuts for the rich will trickle down to working families and the poor. If you believe that, I have a bridge in Brooklyn that I would like to sell you. These devastating cuts will create the perfect storm of suffering and despair. There will be more poor people because of Trump's reckless economic policies and less aid to take care of them as they fall through the cracks. This will not end well for millions of struggling families, many of whom are Trump supporters. Congress is in recess for the next two weeks, but the war of words continues. Then it's the Senate's turn to handle the hot potato. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has warned Senate Republicans not to alter the big bad bill but big changes are likely even if the president wants the House bill. Consideration in the Senate will put vulnerable Republicans like Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Tom Tillis (R-N.C.) under the gun. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has already announced his opposition, and both Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) take delight in tormenting Trump. Budget hawk Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) openly worries about the increase in the budget deficit, and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) is wary of the cuts to Medicaid. They will get little or no help for their dastardly deed from Senate Democrats. The response to presidential pressure, the threat of a government shutdown and the Moody's downgrade of the U.S. credit rating mean a budget bill will probably pass the Senate. But only God knows what it will look like. The Senate could still come back with a bill that has fewer tax cuts and tax breaks (like the increased write-off for state and local taxes) and restores some of the budget cuts. That will create chaos when the Senate version goes back to the House. The battle over Medicaid is really a battle over the future of health care. We have a broken, expensive system that needs fundamental reform. Trump's proposal will only make the problem worse. Democrats have a responsibility to make it better. The Republicans' cuts mean people will die for want of health care or develop long-term illnesses that will crush the system in the future. There will be an increased demand for free care that will decapitate already overwhelmed hospitals. After Trump destroys it, it will be up to Democrats to rebuild the health care infrastructure when the party returns to power. The late great Democratic House Speaker Sam Rayburn once said, 'Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a carpenter to build one.' The Republicans' assault is an abrupt reversal of the trend created by Democratic presidents to improve health care for ailing Americans. President Lyndon Johnson gave us Medicare and Medicaid and Barack Obama improved on LBJ's good works. Now it's up to the next Democratic chief executive to take the next big step. Fasten your seatbelts, we're in for a long bumpy ride through the labyrinthine legislative process as it grinds its way up and down Pennsylvania Avenue. Brad Bannon is a national Democratic strategist and CEO of Bannon Communications Research which polls for Democrats, labor unions and progressive issue groups. He hosts the popular progressive podcast on power, politics and policy, Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon.
CNN
9 hours ago
- Business
- CNN
Live updates: Trump news on Harvard, student visas, GOP policy bill and tariffs
Update: Date: 1 hr ago Title: Johnson says House GOP "eager and ready" to enact DOGE cuts Content: Speaker Mike Johnson signaled today that House Republicans were 'eager and ready' to formalize the White House's so-called DOGE cuts as soon as President Donald Trump's team makes the official request to Congress. 'The House is eager and ready to act on DOGE's findings so we can deliver even more cuts to big government that President Trump wants and the American people demand,' Johnson posted on X. Johnson's comments come hours after a video circulated of Elon Musk, the billionaire who led the Department of Government Efficiency, directly criticizing the White House and House Republicans for its pricey domestic megabill. 'I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing,' Musk told 'CBS Sunday Morning.' The precise timing of the White House's proposed claw back of federal dollars is not yet clear. House Republicans expect to receive the White House's formal request 'very soon,' according to one GOP lawmaker familiar with the discussions. It is expected to target programs like the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a small chunk of the federal budget that provides some public funding for NPR and PBS. It is also expected to formalize DOGE cuts to foreign aid programs — an issue that has been dicey with GOP leaders in Congress who oversee the State Department. Update: Date: 53 min ago Title: Trump suggests controversial Qatari plane is in the process of being retrofitted Content: President Donald Trump appeared to indicate that a luxury Boeing 747 airplane the administration accepted from Qatar is in the process of being retrofitted by the US military. Asked when the plane would become a new Air Force One, Trump said efforts to transform it were already underway. 'Well, it's here already. It's in the country. It's being refitted for military standard,' Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. Trump started touting the plane while heralding deals he made while on his trip to the Middle East earlier this month. 'By the way – got a beautiful, big, magnificent, free airplane for the United States Air Force. Okay? Very proud of that, too,' the president said. He continued, 'They tried to say, 'Oh, it's Trump's airplane.' Oh, yeah, sure, it's too big. It's, frankly, it's too big, much too big.' Trump has repeatedly cast the plane as a possible replacement for Air Force One, sparking controversy over ethical and security concerns, as well as legal questions about the details of the transaction. Last week, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth accepted the plane from Qatar, and a Defense Department spokesperson said it would be fitted with 'proper security measures and functional-mission requirements.' Pressed Wednesday on how much it would cost to prepare the plane for presidential transport, Trump replied: 'Oh, I don't know, whatever it is, a lot – hell of a lot less than building a new one. We're waiting too long from Boeing. Boeing has got to get its act together.' Update: Date: 1 hr 1 min ago Title: Vance casts Trump admin as savior of crypto, calling on Bitcoin conference to vote in 2026 Content: Vice President JD Vance leaned into the politics of Bitcoin during remarks at a conference in Las Vegas, casting the Trump administration as a 'champion' and 'ally' of the cryptocurrency industry. 'I'm here today to say loud and clear with President Trump, crypto finally has a champion and an ally in the White House,' the vice president said. Vance also used his remarks to implore cryptocurrency supporters to show up for the 2026 midterm elections, making an ask to the crowd to 'carry' their momentum 'forward.' 'The first piece of advice, the first thing that I'd ask you, is to take the momentum of your political involvement in 2024 and carry it forward to 2026 and beyond,' he said. The vice president railed against the Biden administration's regulations of Bitcoin, saying the Trump White House would end the 'weaponization of federal regulations.' The crypto industry, created as a rejection of traditional finance, has long complained about being unfairly 'debanked' as part of a coordinated federal effort. Banking regulators have disputed that narrative. Banks are required to ensure their clients comply with a maze of rules, and those lenders have to assess risk on a case-by-case basis. Crypto, in particular, raises red flags for traditional lenders because transactions are anonymous, making it especially useful for illicit transactions. Vance also championed the firing of a Biden-era chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Gary Gensler, who was openly hostile toward crypto. In one of his first speeches as chair, he described crypto as an asset class that is 'rife with fraud, scams, and abuse in certain applications.' His stern stance toward digital assets made him a frequent rhetorical punching bag for the crypto industry. 'Maybe the most important thing that we did for this community, we reject regulators and we fired Gary Gensler, and we're gonna fire everybody like him,' Vance said. Update: Date: 48 min ago Title: Trump on pardoning the men convicted of plotting to kidnap Michigan governor: "I'm going to look at it" Content: When President Donald Trump was asked on Wednesday if he had plans to pardon the men convicted of plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2020, he responded: 'I'm going to look at it.' 'It's been brought to my attention. I did watch the trial. It looked to me like somewhat of a railroad job. I'll be honest with you, it looked to me like some people said some stupid things,' Trump said in the Oval Office. He continued, 'You know, they were drinking, and I think they said stupid things, but I'll take a look at that. And a lot of people are asking me that question from both sides. Actually, a lot of people think they got railroaded. A lot of people think they got railroaded.' Six men were originally charged with participating in the kidnapping plot. Two pleaded guilty, and two more were found guilty by a jury. Trump had previously criticized Whitmer in 2020 for not thanking him after authorities announced they foiled a plot to kidnap her, while falsely claiming she called him a 'White Supremacist.' 'My Justice Department and Federal Law Enforcement announced today that they foiled a dangerous plot against the Governor of Michigan. Rather than say thank you, she calls me a White Supremacist,' Trump said in a social media post at the time. The two have had a seemingly more amicable relationship in Trump's second administration; the president publicly complimented her during a recent trip to Michigan. Update: Date: 1 hr 27 min ago Title: Trump says he cautioned Netanyahu against disrupting "very close" US-led Iran nuclear talks Content: President Donald Trump said that he urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to disrupt US-led nuclear talks with Iran, telling reporters Wednesday that he cautioned his counterpart that such a move would be 'inappropriate.' Asked about reports that he warned Netanyahu against disrupting the talks during a phone call last week, Trump said, 'Well, I'd like to be honest. Yes I did.' He added: 'It's not a warning – I said I don't think it's appropriate.' Trump said that his team is having 'very good discussions' with Iran, which have taken place over the last several weeks led by special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and moderated by Oman. 'I said, I don't think it's appropriate right now, because if we can settle it with a very strong document, very strong with inspections. … I told him this would be inappropriate to do right now because we're very close to a solution,' he said. Trump indicated that any agreement with Iran would be 'very strong,' saying, 'I want it very strong where we can go in with inspectors. We can take whatever we want, we can blow up whatever we want, but nobody getting killed. We can blow up a lab, but nobody's going to be in the lab, as opposed to everybody being in the lab and blowing it up.' Trump offered a caveat that the situation 'could change at any moment – could change with a phone call.' But, he added of Iran, 'Right now, I think they want to make a deal. And if we can make a deal, I'd save a lot of lives.' Update: Date: 1 min ago Title: Trump suggests Harvard should have 15% cap on foreign students Content: President Donald Trump doubled down on his attacks against Harvard University, saying Wednesday that the Ivy League school should have a cap on the percentage of foreign students. 'I think they should have a cap of maybe around 15%, not 31%. We have people want to go to Harvard and other schools, they can't get in because we have foreign students there,' Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. Harvard has said in court documents that full-time international students make up about a quarter of its student body. Harvard has broadly refused many government demands, including that it hand over foreign students' entire conduct records and allow audits to confirm it has expanded 'viewpoint diversity.' The Trump administration last week canceled Harvard's ability to enroll foreign students, a move that a federal judge put on hold. And The Trump administration on Tuesday directed federal agencies to cancel all remaining contracts with the university. 'Harvard has to show us their lists,' Trump said Wednesday. 'They have foreign students, about 31% of their students are foreign-based, almost 31%. We want to know where those students come… Are they troublemakers? What countries do they come (from)?' Trump suggested, without evidence, that some of the international students included in Harvard's records will be 'very radical people.' 'They're taking people from areas of the world that are very radicalized, and we don't want them making trouble in our country,' Trump said. CNN's Alayna Treene and Andy Rose contributed reporting to this post. Update: Date: 59 min ago Title: Trump shrugs off Musk's criticism of his "big, beautiful bill" Content: President Donald Trump on Wednesday brushed off comments from Elon Musk that the 'big, beautiful bill' passed by the House did not contain enough cuts, saying he expected more changes to the legislation as it goes through the Senate. 'We have to get a lot of votes. We can't be cutting,' Trump said when asked to respond to statements Musk made in a CBS interview. 'We need to get a lot of support, and we have a lot of support.' The president also said he's not happy with certain parts of the bill, and there will be negotiations on it. 'We will be negotiating that bill, and I'm not happy about certain aspects of it, but I'm thrilled by other aspects of it. That's the way they go, it's very big. It's the big, beautiful bill. But the beautiful is because of all of the things we have, the biggest thing being, I would say, the level of tax cutting that we're going to be doing,' Trump said. Musk, who led the Department of Government Efficiency before stepping back, made the critical comments about the bill in an interview with CBS that aired Tuesday night. 'I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing,' Musk said. Update: Date: 43 min ago Title: Trump downplays frustration with Netanyahu as Witkoff prepares new proposal to end Israel-Hamas conflict Content: President Donald Trump downplayed any frustration with Israel's handling of its war with Hamas as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu readies a new offensive in Gaza. 'No, we're dealing with the whole situation in Gaza. We're getting food to the people of Gaza. It's been a very nasty situation, very nasty fight. October 7 was a very nasty day, the worst that I think I've ever seen. It was a horrible day, and people aren't going to forget that either. So we'll see how that all works out,' Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked about the growing humanitarian crisis and Israel's plans. Wednesday marks 600 days of Israel's war against Hamas following the deadly October 7, 2023, attacks. And Israel's military operations show no signs of abating despite rising international condemnation. Steve Witkoff, the president's special envoy for the Middle East who has been a key negotiator, expressed some optimism as he previewed plans to send both sides a 'new term sheet' aimed at resolving the conflict, as a peace deal has remained elusive. 'I think that we are on the precipice of sending out a new term sheet that hopefully will be delivered later on today. The president is going to review it, and I have some very good feelings about getting to a long-term resolution,' Witkoff said. Update: Date: 1 hr 37 min ago Title: Trump says he'll give it two weeks to determine if Putin is serious about Ukraine peace Content: President Donald Trump said he'll know in a fortnight whether his Russian counterpart is 'tapping us along,' vowing a change in course if he determines Vladimir Putin is not serious about achieving peace in Ukraine. But Trump declined to specify what actions he might consider to punish Russia, insisting instead his new harsh language toward Moscow should speak for itself. And he voiced concern that potential new sanctions on Russia could jeopardize a deal. 'The words speak pretty loud,' he said. 'We're not happy about that situation.' Trump in recent days has grown increasingly frustrated at the state of the conflict, which he once vowed to end within 24 hours of taking office. On Wednesday, he laid out a near-term timeline for determining how to proceed. 'I'll let you know in about two weeks,' Trump said when questioned in the Oval Office whether Putin wants to end the war. 'We're going to find out whether or not he's tapping us along or not, and if he is, we'll respond a little bit differently,' Trump went on. Trump's two-week timeline has been a recurring feature of his presidency when he is asked about pending decisions. He frequently uses the timeframe when questioned about actions he could take. Trump said Wednesday he still believes Russia 'seem to want to do something,' but suggested uncertainty in how serious the country is about ending the war. And he appeared cautious about slapping new sanctions on Moscow amid ongoing talks. 'I think I'm close to getting a deal, I don't want to screw it up by doing that,' he said. Update: Date: 1 hr 41 min ago Title: Jeanine Pirro ceremonially sworn in as acting US attorney in Oval Office Content: Attorney General Pam Bondi swore in Judge Jeanine Pirro as acting US attorney for Washington, DC, from the Oval Office today. The swearing in was preceded by remarks from President Donald Trump about Pirro. Bondi previously swore in Pirro while Trump was in the Middle East. After the ceremony, Pirro brought up the shooting that killed two Israeli embassy staffers last week outside a museum in Washington, DC. Pirro outlined how she intends to approach the job, saying that 'we need to send a message that justice will be honored in the District of Columbia.' 'Just last week, here in our nation's capital, two people on the brink of beginning their life had hopes and dreams that were never realized, because a cold-blooded murderer made a decision to shoot them down on the streets on a cold, rainy night in our nation's capital,' Pirro said. 'My voice and should be heard loud and clear: no more. No more tolerance of hatred. No more mercy for criminals. Violence will be addressed directly with the appropriate punishment,' she added. Pirro is a longtime Trump ally who was a regular presence at Mar-a-Lago even before he ran for president the first time. This post has been updated with additional remarks from Pirro. Update: Date: 2 hr 7 min ago Title: Outgoing Capitol Police chief says plaque honoring January 6 officers may be too "divisive" to solve Content: A plaque honoring officers who defended the US Capitol during the January 6, 2021 attack has become a 'very politically divisive issue,' the chief of the US Capitol told CNN's Wolf Blitzer in an interview Wednesday. When asked about the plaque – which was approved in 2022 and has not yet been hung by Republican leaders in the House – Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said he thought the issue was so divisive 'that I don't imagine there's any discussions even going on.' Manger, who took up the role in the wake of the January 6 attack, will retire this week after nearly 50 years in law enforcement. 'I will tell you that my cops, many of them, were here on January 6,' Manger said Wednesday. 'They don't need anybody to tell them what happened or what it was, because they were here and they experienced it. They know the truth. They know what happened on January 6, and they know how bravely they responded.' Update: Date: 2 hr 46 min ago Title: US will restrict visas over alleged censorship of Americans, Rubio says Content: The United States will restrict US visas from those who are responsible for alleged censorship of Americans, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced today. 'We will not tolerate encroachments upon American sovereignty, especially when such encroachments undermine the exercise of our fundamental right to free speech,' Rubio said in a statement. The policy comes as the Trump administration has been actively revoking visas from foreign nationals in the US who were involved in protests against the war in Gaza. They also detained a Tufts University student for writing an op-ed critical of the conflict. A federal judge ordered her immediate release earlier this month the case raised concerns about her First Amendment and due process rights. In his statement, Rubio said 'it is unacceptable for foreign officials to issue or threaten arrest warrants on U.S. citizens or U.S. residents for social media posts on American platforms while physically present on U.S. soil.' 'It is similarly unacceptable for foreign officials to demand that American tech platforms adopt global content moderation policies or engage in censorship activity that reaches beyond their authority and into the United States,' he added. It is unclear how the policy will be applied and who will decide what amounts to 'censorship.' CNN has reached out to the State Department for further information. Update: Date: 2 hr 13 min ago Title: Musk says Trump's sweeping tax bill "undermines" DOGE mission Content: Elon Musk raised concerns about President Donald Trump's sweeping tax and spending cuts package, saying in a video released Tuesday that he believes it would raise the US budget deficit and undercut efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency. 'I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing,' the tech billionaire and Trump donor told 'CBS Sunday Morning.' 'I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I don't know if it can be both.' Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' includes trillions of dollars in tax cuts and a big boost to the US military and to national security spending – largely paid for by overhauls to federal health and nutrition programs and cuts to energy programs. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill would pile another $3.8 trillion to the deficit. It narrowly passed the House last week, and now heads to the Senate, where it will likely face many changes. Musk's comments come amid a media tour ahead of a SpaceX test flight Tuesday evening. Musk is stepping away from full-time government work to focus on his companies, including SpaceX and Tesla, which have struggled in part as a result of Musk's alliance with the Trump administration. He noted the move in an interview with Ars Technica on Tuesday, hours before SpaceX's Starship test flight. 'I think I probably did spend a bit too much time on politics, it's less than people would think, because the media is going to over-represent any political stuff, because political bones of contention get a lot of traction in the media,' he said when asked whether he feels his focus on politics over the past year has 'harmed' SpaceX. 'It's not like I left the companies. It was just relative time allocation that probably was a little too high on the government side, and I've reduced that significantly in recent weeks. In an interview with "CBS Sunday Morning," Elon Musk raised concerns about President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful" bill, warning it could increase the US budget deficit and undermine the Department of Government Efficiency. The bill narrowly passed the House last week and now heads to the Senate, where major changes are expected. Musk also announced he's stepping back from full-time government work to focus on his companies. #elonmusk #donaldtrump #bigbeautifulbill #doge #cnn #news Update: Date: 3 hr 22 min ago Title: Trump will swear in Jeanine Pirro as acting US attorney today Content: The White House plans to officially swear in Jeanine Pirro today, after President Donald Trump named her interim US attorney for Washington, DC earlier this month. The swearing-in ceremony for Pirro, who has been acting as the top federal prosecutor in Washington, is scheduled to take place in the Oval Office at noon. Attorney General Pam Bondi swore in Pirro earlier this month, while Trump was on a trip in the Middle East. Prior to being named to the role, Pirro appeared on Fox News' 'The Five' program and previously on her own weekend evening show called 'Justice with Judge Jeanine.' She used her platform and her legal background to bellicosely defend Trump and deride his critics. Update: Date: 3 hr 19 min ago Title: Trump plans to privatize mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Content: President Donald Trump announced yesterday that he plans to release Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from government conservatorship — but he also said the two mortgage giants could still count on a government bailout in a crisis. Such a move would end 17 years of federal government control over the two companies, which play a central role in America's housing finance system by providing liquidity to the mortgage market. 'Our great Mortgage Agencies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, provide a vital service to our Nation by helping hardworking Americans reach the American Dream — Home Ownership,' Trump wrote on Truth Social yesterday. 'I am working on TAKING THESE AMAZING COMPANIES PUBLIC, but I want to be clear, the U.S. Government will keep its implicit GUARANTEES, and I will stay strong in my position on overseeing them as President.' 'These Agencies are now doing very well, and will help us to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!' he added. The announcement came less than a week after Trump said he was giving 'very serious consideration' to bringing Fannie and Freddie public. Fannie and Freddie essentially grease the wheels of America's home lending market by buying mortgages from lenders and repackaging them for investors. The government conservatorship of the two companies was initiated in 2008 after Fannie and Freddie played a role in America's housing market crash. The conservatorship was never meant to be permanent, but untangling them from the government could be tricky. Privatizing Fannie and Freddie could spook investors who buy up mortgage loans, leading them to demand a higher return for their investments and pushing up mortgage rates, experts warn. Update: Date: 3 hr 37 min ago Title: Vance visits Israeli Embassy to honor couple killed outside Capital Jewish Museum Content: Vice President JD Vance visited the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC, yesterday to honor Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, who were killed last week leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum. The Israeli ambassador to the US posted photos on X and thanked the vice president for visiting. 'Thank you @VP Vance for coming to the Embassy to honor our dear colleagues and friends, Sarah and Yaron. The care and compassion you and the Trump administration have shown in the wake of this murderous attack are testaments to the enduring friendship between our two countries and peoples, and our mutual battle against terrorism,' Ambassador Yechiel Leiter wrote. Vance is seen in one photo writing inside a book at the young couple's memorial table inside the embassy, where their picture is up on a posterboard next to a vase of flowers. The ambassador previously said Lischinsky, 30, and Milgrim, 26, who worked at the embassy, were about to be engaged. The Department of Justice is investigating the shooting as an act of terrorism and a hate crime. Update: Date: 3 hr 11 min ago Title: Chaos erupts on first day of US-backed aid distribution in Gaza after weeks of hunger Content: Thousands of Palestinians overran a newly established aid site in southern Gaza yesterday that is part of a controversial new Israeli- and US-approved aid distribution mechanism that began after months of blockade. Videos from the distribution site in Tel al-Sultan, run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), showed large crowds storming the facilities, tearing down some of the fencing and appearing to climb over barriers designed to control the flow of the crowd. Several residents trying to access the aid told CNN they were grateful for the food they received, but described walking long distances to reach the distribution center, hours-long lines and general confusion. A diplomatic official called the chaos at the site 'a surprise to no one.' The GHF acknowledged the pandemonium, saying 'the GHF team fell back to allow a small number of Gazans to take aid safely and dissipate. This was done in accordance with GHF protocol to avoid casualties.' A security source said American security contractors on the ground did not fire any shots and that operations would resume at the site on Wednesday. The Israel Defense Forces said their troops fired warning shots in the area outside the compound and that the situation was brought under control. They denied carrying out aerial fire toward the site. 'It's a big failure that we warned against,' said Amjad al-Shawa, director of Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network. Read more Update: Date: 3 hr 37 min ago Title: US State Department orders embassies to pause new student visa appointments Content: The US State Department has instructed US embassies and consulates around the world to pause new student visa appointments as it moves to expand 'social media screening and vetting' to all applicants for student visas, according to a diplomatic cable seen by CNN. It's the latest move from the Trump administration that could deter international students from studying at universities in the United States. The cable signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio comes as the Trump administration has revoked scores of student visas and has attempted to stop foreign students from studying at Harvard University — a move that has been halted by a judge for the time being. Read more
