Latest news with #SenateDemocrats
Fox News
2 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
Schumer, Democrats plot coordinated resistance to Trump's 'one ugly bill'
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is coordinating with his colleagues in the House to push back against Senate Republicans' efforts to ram President Donald Trump's wish list of policy desires through the Senate. In a letter to Senate Democrats on Sunday, Schumer, D-N.Y., laid out a multipronged strategy to inflict as much pain on Republicans as possible in the budget reconciliation process, the legislative strategy the GOP is employing to sidestep negotiating with Democrats to advance the president's priorities. While congressional Republicans don't need Democrats to move the colossal bill to Trump's desk, Schumer wants to make the process as uncomfortable as possible as Senate Republicans begin a roughly monthlong sprint to put their fingerprints on what Trump deemed a "big, beautiful bill." The top Senate Democrat is coordinating with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and the top Democrats on crucial House committees to "share firsthand insight from their process and key Republican fault lines" with their Senate counterparts. "Based on Senate Republicans' public comments, it's clear that if this reckless reconciliation bill passes the Senate it is very likely to contain changes, forcing it to be sent back to the House of Representatives," Schumer wrote. "That's why we must be united with our House Democratic colleagues to fight this assault on working families." Indeed, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said much of the debate and subsequent tweaks to the bill would focus on finding deeper spending cuts. The House's offering set a goal of $1.5 trillion in spending cuts over the next decade, but some Senate Republicans want to hit $2 trillion, while a smaller cohort of fiscal hawks want to go even deeper. Thune said that Republicans' main focus during the next month would be ensuring that Trump's first-term tax cuts are made permanent with the massive bill and not allowed to expire by the end of the year on the Senate floor, marking the Senate's return on Monday. "We are not going to let that happen, and our biggest focus this month is completing this tax relief legislation with the goal of getting the final bill to the president before the Fourth of July," he said. "It's going to be a very busy month, Mr. President." In all, 10 Senate committees will be tasked with sifting through the massive bill's contents, which include the president's policy desires on taxes, immigration, energy, defense and the national debt. Schumer's edict comes as those committees gear up to make their own revisions to the bill to, in part, fall in line with their own policy and spending desires and to also comply with Senate rules. He noted that Senate Democrats have been working "overtime" to target a litany of policies in the GOP's plan that "are in clear violation of the reconciliation rules and, in some cases, an assault on our very democracy." Some Republicans already have issues with certain policies in the bill, like cuts to Medicaid or the plan to move up the timeline to phase out green energy tax credits ushered in by the Biden administration. Schumer also prodded Democrats to continue aggressively denouncing the bill on the ground in their home states and districts, arguing that "if the American people truly knew how deeply devastating, damaging, and deceitful this Republican plan is, they will reject it." "Republicans' 'One Ugly Bill' is a farce; an attack on the values that make America great," he wrote. "We know the first four months of Donald Trump's presidency have been catastrophic for the American people. It is our duty to fight for American families, to stop the damage, and make certain Republicans are held accountable."
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Cory Booker Responds to 'Nazi Salute' Accusation
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. A spokesperson for Cory Booker told Newsweek Sunday that the New Jersey Senator was simply waving to the crowd after MAGA supporters claimed Booker had made a Nazi salute. "Cory Booker was obviously just waving to the crowd. Anyone who claims his wave is the same as Elon Musk's gesture is operating in bad faith," Maya Krishna-Rogers, spokesperson for Booker, told Newsweek in an emailed statement Sunday. "The differences between the two are obvious to anyone without an agenda." The statement comes after billionaire Elon Musk accused Booker of making a 'Nazi Salute' during a speech Saturday. Newsweek reached out to Musk for comment by email Saturday during non-working hours. Musk did post and repost several images and video of Booker on his social media Sunday, accusing him of doing the salute. Why It Matters The accusation from MAGA supporters against Booker follows a series of incidents involving Musk and Bannon in which they were accused of making the salute during their appearances. Musk was accused in January of making the controversial gesture during a rally on Trump's second inauguration day, and he made a series of statements joking about Nazis on social media platform X, which he owns. "Don't say Hess to Nazi accusations! Some people will Goebbels anything down! Stop Gőring your enemies! His pronouns would've been He/Himmler! Bet you did nazi that coming 😂," Musk said in one such post. What To Know As Newsweek previously reported, video shows Booker speaking at the Democratic convention Saturday in California. As he finished his speech, Booker puts his hand over his heart before extending his hand, fingers open, towards the crowd and returning both his hands to his heart. The gesture is similar to the ones made by Musk and Bannon but not made as forcefully, the video shows. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) speaks during a news conference following the weekly Senate Democrats policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on March 4, 2025 in Washington, DC. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) speaks during a news conference following the weekly Senate Democrats policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on March 4, 2025 in Washington, DC. Photo by Tierney L. Cross/Getty Images Bannon was also accused of making the salute during a speech in February, which led to a political fallout that saw him drop out of the 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Maryland, Newsweek previously reported. Following Musk's and Bannon's gestures, some defended the movements, calling them a 'Roman Salute' although it has not been proven that it was a widely practiced gesture. Earlier this year, the New Jersey Senator made history by speaking on the Senate floor for 25 hours and five minutes. The speech was largely critical of President Donald Trump's policies on immigration, DEI, and spending cuts. What People Are Saying Angela Belcamino, host of "Last Week on X", posted on X: "If Elon Musk is a Nazi for doing this gesture... Cory Booker is one too. Sorry, I don't make the rules." Collin Rugg, co-owner of conservative news site Trending Politics, posted on X Saturday: "Democrat Senator Cory Booker appears to do a "Nazi" salute in front of a large crowd of Democrats. I'm looking forward to the wall to wall coverage from the "honest" and totally not biased media." What Happens Next It is unclear when Booker will speak next or if he will issue further statements on the accusations made by MAGA. A schedule for the senator is not available on his website. The Democratic Convention in Anaheim continues Sunday with an award ceremony, committee reports, and adoption of resolutions listed on the agenda.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
I'm the new leader of the Florida Senate Democratic Caucus. Let's make progress.
I rise with deep gratitude, a strong sense of responsibility, and profound hope. It is the greatest honor of my professional life to stand before you as the newly elected Leader of the Florida Senate Democratic Caucus. I thank my colleagues for their trust, and I appreciate the people of Palm Beach County for the incredible privilege of representing them in this chamber. Let me begin with this: Florida stands at a crossroads. This moment demands clarity and courage. Yes, we face serious challenges, from a changing climate to rising costs, but within every challenge lies a chance to lead with purpose and heart. And this session has shown us what's possible when we choose progress over partisanship. This session in Tallahassee, we are standing firm against bills that would roll back child labor protection. We are fighting against efforts to ban books and censor ideas in our schools. We oppose efforts to roll back the important gun safety measures passed in a bipartisan manner in the wake of the horrific Parkland school shooting. We must honor the memories of those we lost by continuing to prioritize public safety, not by moving backward. Floridians are watching. They are watching this chamber not for theatrics or soundbites, but for leadership. Leadership that puts people first. Leadership that rises above the noise and moves us toward a shared vision for our state's future. We come from different parts of Florida. We hold diverse perspectives, life experiences, and political philosophies. But we were all elected for the same reason: because the people of this state entrusted us to do the work. The real work. Our diversity is our strength, and our unity is our power. Opinion: I'm the mayor of Wellington. Florida's local governments need property taxes. Our caucus is not just here to oppose; we are here to propose. To advance real solutions that address the needs of everyday Floridians. We will listen, legislate, and lead with empathy and resolve. My approach to leadership will not be one of division. It will be one of inclusion. We will not trade in fear. We will lead with facts. We will not engage in personal attacks. We will focus on policy. And we will not allow the loudest voices to drown out the needs of everyday Floridians. To my colleagues across the aisle: I extend my hand in partnership. Some issues should never be partisan, such as ensuring our children's safety in school, protecting clean water, caring for our veterans, and growing our economy in a way that uplifts all Floridians, not just the few at the top. Let's work together where we can. Let's disagree with respect where we must. And let's remember we were not elected to be comfortable. We were elected to be courageous. To my fellow Democrats: I am proud to serve you, and I am prouder of what we are building. We are alive and kicking, passing bills, fighting bad policy and getting appropriations for projects that impact our districts. We may not hold the majority, but we have something just as powerful: a vision rooted in fairness, in justice, in equality, and in care. Members, let us work together to build a Florida where every child, no matter their background or ZIP code, can attend a well-funded public school that prepares them not just to pass a test, but to thrive in life. Let us make healthcare affordable and accessible, not just in our urban centers, but in rural communities where care is too often out of reach. Let us address our housing crisis — not by pushing people out, but by ensuring that working families, seniors, and young people can afford to live in the communities they love. Let us protect fundamental freedoms, ensuring that every person has the right to make decisions about their own body, their own future, and their own family. Opinion: Rolling the dice with Mother Nature: Trump's FEMA cuts would be new disaster for Florida This is what we believe, and this is what I will fight for. I believe in the potential of Florida's future, and I will fight to see it realized. We will lead with heart, with purpose, and with the unwavering belief that Florida's best days are ahead of us. Editor's Note: Sen. Lori Berman gave this speech, outling her hopes in the Florida Legislature, shortly after being selected Senate Democratic Leader. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida Democrats can make a difference in our Senate | Opinion
E&E News
28-05-2025
- Business
- E&E News
Trump USDA nominee tussles with Forest Service over land use
The Trump administration's nominee to oversee the Forest Service is facing a new dispute over his use of land managed by the agency. Michael Boren, the pick for Agriculture Department undersecretary for natural resources and environment, is clashing with the Forest Service for building a cabin and clearing land in the Sawtooth National Forest near Stanley, Idaho, according to agency correspondence and people familiar with the situation. The work on the property began before Boren was nominated earlier this year to the position, which requires Senate confirmation. But the dispute hasn't been fully resolved, according to people who've discussed the matter with Forest Service officials in the past week. Advertisement Boren's nomination hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday in the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee. The dispute about the cabin and other work including diverting a stream is the latest issue between Boren and the Forest Service over how he manages land in and around the national forest. It also speaks to broader questions about how the Forest Service deals with communities and neighboring property owners, as well as how the agency handles special-use permits for a variety of activities. Boren's testy relationship with the Forest Service has attracted attention among Senate Democrats, including Ron Wyden of Oregon and Agriculture ranking member Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, and could be a focus of questioning at his hearing. The Democrats' offices didn't have immediate comment Wednesday. A spokesperson for Chair John Boozman (R-Ark.) didn't return a message seeking comment. Boren also didn't immediately return messages sent Wednesday by email and through lawyers he's worked with. A former Forest Service employee familiar with some of the details said the agency has tried to work with him to resolve the matter, which involves disagreements about precisely where his corporation's mining claims exist, for instance. According to a warning letter the Forest Service sent to one of Boren's companies, Galena Mines, last Nov. 13, a cabin was built on forest system land without prior authorization and must be removed by July 1, and the land returned to its prior condition. 'We recently discovered a cabin and cleared land around a nearly built structure on National Forest System (NFS) land,' the agency's area ranger, Kirk Flannigan, wrote to Galena Mines, adding that the closest private property to the site is owned by the business. 'The Forest Service has no record of a special use authorization, contract or approved operating plan that would permit the clearing of NFS land and the construction of the cabin in this location,' Flannigan wrote. Therefore, he said, 'the cabin must be removed and the area restored to its natural condition.' The agency gave Galena Mines 45 days — which would have been in January — to submit a restoration plan and until Aug. 1 to complete it. The Forest Service and Agriculture Department didn't immediately respond to a message Wednesday seeking comment and further updates. Among other challenges in the Sawtooth, the forest has become short staffed by agency-wide staffing reductions and recently announced reduced operating hours in some offices. Galena Mines is registered with the Idaho secretary of state's office. Boren was listed as a manager until Feb. 24, when the corporation filed an amendment to remove him as a manager, leaving the title to Amanda Boren. At issue, too, is where certain mining claims are located in the forest, which would indicate where Galena Mines would have access rights. The warning letter indicates that the Forest Service is aware of Galena's nearby mining claims but contends that the cabin is on other, unsurveyed parcels. Boren's selection in mid-January stirred attention in forest policy circles, given his and his brother David Boren's recent history of conflicts with the Forest Service about property rights. David had a disagreement over a trail the Forest Service was building through his ranch near Stanley on an easement. Michael Boren ran into trouble with a small airstrip on his ranch. He had a conditional-use permit from the Forest Service to land small planes, but neighbors complained that he'd already been using the airstrip. In court papers, Boren said he used aircraft occasionally in the management of his ranch. Those conflicts played out in legal fights as well as in local news reports at the time. In nominating Boren, President Donald Trump cited his experience in business as well as his work as a board member of the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, and as a volunteer firefighter. A co-founder of Clearwater Analytics, Boren has made a career in financial management and software development. On Feb. 24, Michael and Joan Boren, as trustees of the MJB Revocable Trust, bought a new condominium at The Wharf in Washington for $6 million, according to property records with the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue. Contact this reporter on Signal at hellmarcman.49.
Washington Post
28-05-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
The varied issues facing American manufacturing
Good morning, Early Birds. One of us is enjoying the NBA playoffs, foul artists and all. Send tips to earlytips@ Thanks for waking up with us. In today's edition … King Charles III goes to the mat for Canada … Senate Democrats preview their Medicaid messaging … Sen. Tuberville looks for an exit … but first … President Donald Trump is pressing to invigorate manufacturing in the United States. He said Sunday that his trade policy is aimed at making 'big things' in the U.S. again, not just T-shirts and sneakers. 'We are looking to do chips and computers and lots of other things, and tanks and ships,' Trump said. To that end, last month, Trump signed an executive order aimed at encouraging Americans to go into high-skilled trade jobs. According to experts and recent examinations of the American labor market, that may not be enough. There are major issues facing American manufacturing, and yes, those issues include cheaper labor abroad and trade barriers in other countries, two problems Trump is trying to address through tariffs. But his trade policy largely ignores key domestic issues: Widespread job openings that companies are struggling to fill and an aging workforce with millions set to retire over the next decade. The declining size of the American workforce is further exacerbated by the president's efforts to decrease immigration, particularly in skilled-labor professions. 'This gets into an immigration debate. … We'll have students from Asia come in to study, but they can't stay. And so we educate them at taxpayer expense, and then they go back to our competition,' Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) recently told us at a Washington Post Live event on manufacturing. 'I had this bill several years ago. If you get a PhD in high-skilled engineering, you get a green card. … I'm not sure how others in the administration may view that now.' There were about 450,000 open manufacturing jobs in March, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, positions that companies are struggling to fill. And a study last year by the Manufacturing Institute — a nonprofit workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers — and Deloitte found that recruiting and retaining workers was the most pressing issue for top manufacturing companies. 'The U.S. manufacturing industry could see a net need for as many as 3.8 million jobs between 2024 and 2033 as significant investment continues to drive growth,' read the report. 'Without significant changes, more than 5 in 10 or 1.9 million of these jobs could go unfilled if workforce challenges are not addressed through 2033.' Central to that problem is age. The average age of a manufacturing worker is 44.3 years, older than the 42-year-old average age of all workers in America, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Only 8 percent of manufacturing workers are under 25 years old. The Census Bureau also found in 2020 that 'nearly one-fourth of the manufacturing workforce is age 55 or older.' And surveys show that few younger Americans are interested in factory work. To Carolyn Lee, president of the Manufacturing Institute, this is an issue of perception vs. reality. 'The age of the manufacturing workforce has long been a challenge for us,' Lee said. 'People don't understand what manufacturing is all about today. They have this image of something they have seen on television or in the movies. So there is this disconnect between understanding the reality of the sector and what the potential of those jobs are and what people believe them to be. Perception is one of our biggest gaps.' This issue is a political football in nearly every presidential campaign. As states such as Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania have grown in political relevance, so too has the issue of manufacturing, with presidential candidates often sparring over who will be better for the trades. A 'manufacturing renaissance' was the centerpiece of Trump's economic policy during his 2024 run. 'You will see a mass exodus of manufacturing from China to Pennsylvania, from Korea to North Carolina, from Germany to right here in Georgia,' Trump told an audience in that state months before the election. But analysts at Wells Fargo recently found that 'a meaningful increase in factory jobs does not appear likely in the foreseeable future,' because just to bring the industry back to its high point of around 1980, it will cost 'at a minimum $2.9 trillion in net new capital investment.' 'There is no one lever that is going to fix all the things that ails us when it comes to workforce development,' Lee said. 'Most people think of manufacturing that you are standing on an assembly line and doing a single manual function and that is 40 years of your career. And that is far from the truth. That is why we need to tell the story of manufacturing jobs.' Senate Democrats are looking to make the sweeping spending bill passed by the House a political cudgel, launching a digital ad campaign today that ties Senate Republicans to the House bill that would cut Medicaid spending and lock in tax cuts for higher earners. The 60-second digital spot — titled 'Devastating' — will run on Meta platforms and a range of digital TV channels. It shows a simple Google search asking, 'What's happening with the Republican budget,' followed by news reports on what the bill's Medicaid cuts would mean for states and how taxes would go down for top earners. 'The Republican budget is wrong for American families,' a text block reads at the end of the spot. The ad highlights how the months-long work by the House will probably become a central point of Democratic messaging in the 2026 midterms, whether or not the Senate changes the bill in the coming weeks. 'Under the leadership of Senate Republicans, millions of people are at risk of losing their health insurance — and voters will hold them accountable for it at the ballot box in 2026,' committee spokeswoman Maeve Coyle said. In other campaign news: Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) is officially running for governor after weeks of anticipation. He had been hinting at a run but made it official during an interview on Fox News yesterday. 'I'm a football coach. I'm a leader. I'm a builder. I'm a recruiter, and we're going to grow Alabama,' Tuberville said. 'We're going to bring manufacturing to this state. We're going to stop this illegal immigration.' Tuberville is a first-term senator who was elected in 2020 after a career coaching at Auburn University, taking that persona onto Capitol Hill, where he's affectionately called 'coach.' Tuberville would be a formidable candidate in a Republican primary. He's closely aligned with Trump, and successfully defeated former attorney general Jeff Sessions, who previously held the seat, in the 2020 Republican primary. Elon Musk weighed in on Republicans' catchall legislation, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. He doesn't seem pleased. The billionaire tasked with slashing federal spending was 'disappointed' to see the bill add to the federal deficit, he said in an interview with 'CBS Sunday Morning' airing this weekend. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the bill could add $2.3 trillion to the national debt over 10 years. Musk said the bill 'undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing.' 'I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I don't know if it can be both. My personal opinion,' Musk said. The bill passed the House last week, and the Senate will take it up when it returns to Washington next week. Some deficit hawks in the Senate expressed concerns similar to Musk's, but Republicans are divided, with others demanding protections for clean energy tax cuts and social spending programs. Britain's King Charles III, who is also Canada's king, visited Ottawa yesterday, giving the first speech to Parliament from a Canadian monarch in nearly 50 years. It was a stern assertion of Canada's sovereignty and widely seen as a rebuke to Trump's musings about making the country the 51st state. 'Democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination and freedom are values Canadians hold dear and ones which the government is determined to protect,' Charles said in a speech mixing English and French and opening with an acknowledgment. 'The system of open global trade that, while not perfect, has helped to deliver prosperity for Canadians for decades is changing. Canada's relationship with partners is also changing.' Charles spent much of the speech, which was written by Canada's government, stressing the country's need to navigate a changing world — including alliances that it may have historically taken for granted. He largely avoided mentioning Trump, but he did say the president had productive conversations to define a 'new economy and security relationship' with Prime Minister Mark Carney. 'All Canadians can give themselves far more than any foreign power on any continent can ever take away,' Charles said. Amanda Coletta has more from Toronto. SpotlightPA (Pennsylvania): Pennsylvania is the last state in the nation to elect poll workers, leading officials to worry that they are short thousands of candidates for the positions. County17 (Gillette, Wyoming): There is an odd, yet public, conflict brewing between Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon (R) and Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray (R). Gordon began publishing a newsletter Friday, alleging that Gray was spreading misinformation that needed to be debunked. 'The record needs to be set straight,' Gordon wrote. The Boston Globe: Tom Morello did not mince his words on Trump during a performance this weekend in Boston, where the Rage Against the Machine guitarist called for a revolution and shouted out Harvard and Bruce Springsteen, both subjects of Trump's ire. Colorado Public Radio: NPR and some of its Colorado partners sued the Trump administration over an executive order gutting funding for the public radio networks. The networks say Trump is violating their First Amendment rights in a politically motivated attack. Yesterday, we wrote about how clean energy tax credits created under President Joe Biden could get nixed in Republicans' mammoth tax and spending cuts bill. The tax credits were the biggest investment in combating climate change in history and the cornerstone of Democrats' 2022 climate bill. Paul Grabowski of Alexandria, Virginia, wrote back emphasizing that the federal government also has generous tax incentives for oil and gas production, benefiting the coal, oil and gas industries with more than $12 billion from 2022 to 2026, according to an analysis by the Tax Policy Center. That's a great point — the clean energy tax credits weren't created in a vacuum and had precedent with federal assistance for fossil fuel production. If you ever have feedback for us, please feel free to reach out at earlytips@ We will be writing about the movement for a national popular vote later this week. Would you support a national popular vote for presidential elections? For our Republican readers, are you more supportive of selecting a president by national popular vote now that Trump won the popular vote in 2024? Let us know at earlytips@ or at or Thanks for reading. You can follow Dan and Matthew on X: @merica and @matthewichoi.
