Latest news with #MikeRounds
New York Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Republicans Rely on Trump's Promises to Grease the Path for His Agenda
When Senator Mike Rounds, Republican of South Dakota, first saw President Trump's request to cancel $9 billion in congressionally approved funding for foreign aid and public broadcasting, he balked. He was wary of supporting a measure that would gut public media, given that his state relies so heavily on federally funded tribal stations. But before long, top Trump administration officials were assuring him that they would find grants to fund those outlets. That vague assurance was enough to win over Mr. Rounds, who ultimately voted for the measure. It was part of a pattern that has emerged as Republicans in Congress, increasingly ceding their power to Mr. Trump, continue to find ways of falling in line behind even elements of his agenda that run directly counter to their interests and stated priorities. Republican leaders presiding over slim majorities in both chambers are more and more dependent on the president and his team to cut side deals with holdouts to win enough votes to push through his top priorities. That has been the case for some of Mr. Trump's biggest legislative items, including the massive tax cut bill that slashed Medicaid and food assistance, and a bill clawing back $9 billion in foreign aid and public broadcasting funds that Congress had already approved. In both cases and many others, skeptical G.O.P. lawmakers have relented after winning promises — sometimes little more than imprecise commitments for future action — that their pet issues will be addressed or their constituents spared the worst of the impacts. Horse-trading behind the scenes has always powered much of what goes on in Congress, particularly when it comes to major legislative pushes. But the past several weeks have been dominated by an extraordinary flurry of handshake deals and written carve-outs meant to assuage the most anxious Republicans, often with scant details about how the exceptions will be implemented or enforced. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump endorses GOP senator years after asserting 'I will never endorse this jerk again'
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways After lambasting GOP Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota in 2022 and vowing that he would never endorse the lawmaker again, President Donald Trump issued a full-throated endorsement of the incumbent Republican senator in a Truth Social post on Monday. Trump previously endorsed Rounds in 2020, but then excoriated the senator in 2022 after Rounds appeared on ABC's "This Week" and described the 2020 election as "fair." "'Senator' Mike Rounds of the Great State of South Dakota just went woke on the Fraudulent Presidential Election of 2020," Trump declared at the beginning of a lengthy statement in January 2022. Gop Senator Invites Trump To 'An Appreciation Event Like You've Never Seen' In Deep-red State "Even though his election will not be coming up for 5 years, I will never endorse this jerk again," Trump later said in the statement. "The Radical Left Democrats and RINOS, like 'Senator' Mike Rounds, do not make it easy for our Country to succeed. He is a weak and ineffective leader, and I hereby firmly pledge that he will never receive my endorsement again!" Trump asserted in that statement several years ago. Read On The Fox News App But in an about-face, Trump has endorsed Rounds for re-election. Us Can't Cut China Off Completely, But Must Defend Ai And American Innovation From Nonstop Theft: Sen Rounds In a Monday Truth Social post, the president called the senator "An America First Patriot," declaring, "Mike Rounds has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election – HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!" Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment on Tuesday morning but did not receive a response by the time of publication. Trump Blasts Massie As 'The Worst Republican Congressman' And Says He's Seeking A Challenger To Support Rounds thanked Trump for the endorsement on Monday in posts on X, adding, "I look forward to working with you to make America even better!" Original article source: Trump endorses GOP senator years after asserting 'I will never endorse this jerk again'
Fox News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Trump endorses GOP senator years after asserting 'I will never endorse this jerk again'
Print Close By Alex Nitzberg Published July 22, 2025 After lambasting GOP Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota in 2022 and vowing that he would never endorse the lawmaker again, President Donald Trump issued a full-throated endorsement of the incumbent Republican senator in a Truth Social post on Monday. Trump previously endorsed Rounds in 2020, but then excoriated the senator in 2022 after Rounds appeared on ABC's "This Week" and described the 2020 election as "fair." "'Senator' Mike Rounds of the Great State of South Dakota just went woke on the Fraudulent Presidential Election of 2020," Trump declared at the beginning of a lengthy statement in January 2022. GOP SENATOR INVITES TRUMP TO 'AN APPRECIATION EVENT LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN' IN DEEP-RED STATE "Even though his election will not be coming up for 5 years, I will never endorse this jerk again," Trump later said in the statement. "The Radical Left Democrats and RINOS, like 'Senator' Mike Rounds, do not make it easy for our Country to succeed. He is a weak and ineffective leader, and I hereby firmly pledge that he will never receive my endorsement again!" Trump asserted in that statement several years ago. But in an about-face, Trump has endorsed Rounds for re-election. US CAN'T CUT CHINA OFF COMPLETELY, BUT MUST DEFEND AI AND AMERICAN INNOVATION FROM NONSTOP THEFT: SEN ROUNDS In a Monday Truth Social post, the president called the senator "An America First Patriot," declaring, "Mike Rounds has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election – HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!" Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment on Tuesday morning but did not receive a response by the time of publication. TRUMP BLASTS MASSIE AS 'THE WORST REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN' AND SAYS HE'S SEEKING A CHALLENGER TO SUPPORT CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Rounds thanked Trump for the endorsement on Monday in posts on X, adding, "I look forward to working with you to make America even better!" Print Close URL
Boston Globe
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Here's what's in the Republican bill cutting $9 billion from public broadcasting and foreign aid
Here's a closer look at what's in the bill: Advertisement Public media on the chopping block Trump has asked lawmakers to rescind nearly $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which represents the full amount it's due to receive during the next two budget years. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The White House says the public media system is politically biased and an unnecessary expense. The corporation distributes more than 70% of the money to more than 1,500 locally operated public television and radio stations, with much of the remainder assigned to National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service to support national programming. The potential fallout from the cuts for local pubic media stations has generated concerns on both sides of the political aisle. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., said he secured a deal from the White House that some funding administered by the Interior Department would be repurposed to subsidize Native American public radio stations in about a dozen states. Advertisement But many lawmakers say that won't help a large number of local broadcasting stations. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., unsuccessfully sought to take out the public broadcasting cuts. 'If we don't adopt this amendment, local television and radio stations will shut down and it will be rural stations that will be the first to close,' Baldwin said. To justify the spending cuts, the Trump administration and Republican lawmakers have cited certain activities they disagree with to portray a wide range of a program's funding as wasteful. In recent testimony, Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought criticized programming aimed at fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. He said NPR aired a 2022 program entitled 'What 'Queer Ducks' can teach teenagers about sexuality in the animal kingdom.' He also cited a special town hall that CNN held in 2020 with 'Sesame Street' about combatting racism. Targeting humanitarian aid As part of the package, Trump asked lawmakers to rescind about $8.3 billion in foreign aid programs that aim to fight famine and disease and promote global stability. A Senate amendment knocked the foreign aid cuts down to about $7.9 billion when Republicans agreed to remove what would have been a $400 million cut to PEPFAR, the politically popular program that began under President George W. Bush to combat HIV/AIDS. The program is credited with saving millions of lives. Among the targets: — $500 million of the $4 billion appropriated for global health programs funding actives to combat infectious diseases and promote maternal health. — $800 million for a program that provides emergency shelter, water and sanitation and family reunification for those forced to flee their own country. Advertisement — $4.15 billion for two programs designed to boost the economies and democratic institutions in developing and strategically important countries. — $496 million to provide humanitarian assistance such as food, water and health care for countries hit by natural disasters and conflicts. —$361 million for international peacekeeping efforts, which are designed to stabilize conflict zones and protect civilians. The Trump administration also said some cuts, such as eliminating funding for UNICEF, would encourage international organizations to be more efficient and seek contributions from other nations, 'putting American taxpayers first.'
Axios
17-07-2025
- Business
- Axios
Republicans call Schumer's bluff on cuts to PBS and foreign aid
The Senate is plowing ahead Wednesday evening on $9 billion in cuts to PBS, NPR and foreign aid, threats from Democrats be damned. Why it matters: Democratic leaders — and some high-level Republicans — say budget rescissions undermine the trust they need to pass the annual bipartisan spending deals. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has warned Republicans they'll be left to figure out a potential government shutdown on their own if they keep the partisan cuts coming. But GOP leaders insist they aren't worried. Between the lines: Democrats have a "valid concern" about making spending deals just to be undone through rescissions, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) told reporters Wednesday. "We've actually shared with folks from the administration that the bigger challenge for them is — appropriations take 60 votes," Rounds said. The other side: Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told Axios he didn't think the appropriations would be any more difficult because of the rescissions package. "I think we can have a bipartisan process," he said, pointing to the appropriations bills that have already been voted out of committee with Democratic support. He said the Senate could even start voting on appropriations bills or the National Defense Authorization Act as early as before the August recess. "I think our first markup went well. The second one was mixed, but we've reported bills out of committee. I expect we're going to report more tomorrow," Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) said on whether rescissions will complicate her job. The simple math: Government spending bills require 60 votes to advance in the Senate. But rescission packages — which cut specific spending from a budget — can be passed with a simple majority, as they're set to tonight. "This is beyond a bait-and-switch — it is a bait and poison-to-kill," Schumer said earlier this month.
