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NBC News
11-07-2025
- Business
- NBC News
Takeaways from Trump's latest interview and how his bill plays in the states: From the Politics Desk
Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team's latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail. In today's edition, Adam Edelman looks at the blue states seeking quick action to adjust their budgets following the passage of President Donald Trump's big domestic policy legislation. Plus, Kristen Welker analyzes the key takeaways from her interview with Trump. — Scott Bland Blue-state leaders weigh new laws to deal with financial fallout from Trump's big bill By Adam Edelman State lawmakers are scrambling to deal with the expected financial fallout from President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, with many in blue states demanding special legislative sessions they say are necessary to shore up funding for health care and food assistance programs affected by the new law. Democratic governors in at least five states are weighing such special sessions, and Democratic lawmakers in several more are urging their governors to convene them to address expected funding shortfalls. In Colorado, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis' Office of State Planning and Budgeting has projected that the state would receive about $500 million less in revenue yearly — and could see about the same amount in additional costs — because of the new law's impact on Medicaid and food assistance. Democratic state Sen. Iman Jodeh said a special session is 'absolutely necessary' to deal with the state's new financial landscape, predicting that it was 'imminent' that Polis convenes one. 'We have to do it,' said Jodeh, a member of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. 'Our budget just cannot absorb the backfill, the shortfall, the cuts.' Polis spokesperson Shelby Wieman said in email that Polis 'has previously indicated we may need to reconvene the General Assembly to deal with the terrible impacts from the bill — and we are still reviewing the impacts of this new law to evaluate next steps, including a potential special session.' Jodeh said that because of Colorado's unique Taxpayer Bill of Rights — a 1992 measure that effectively limits how much the state can raise taxes — it will be exceedingly difficult for Democrats, despite their control of the governorship and both legislative chambers, to avoid mostly cutting and freezing social programs to address the expected shortfalls. 'We're all incredibly scared about how we can possibly navigate this,' she said. 'What are those programs that we're going to have to freeze or defund or do away with altogether? Those will be the questions that we're going to have to answer during the special session.' Analysis by Kristen Welker I spoke with President Donald Trump yesterday in a wide-ranging 20-minute phone call, where we discussed his approach to tariffs, his response to the devastating floods in Texas, his views of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, and more. One key takeaway from our conversation is that the president signaled he is looking to pivot from policy to politics now that his sweeping tax and spending proposal, which he dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill, has become law. I asked Trump if he plans to hit the road to talk about the measure and he said 'a little bit,' later adding, 'But honestly, it's been received so well I don't think I have to, but a little bit. And certainly before midterms we'll be doing a lot but a little bit.' That focus on next year's midterm elections underscores the tough fight ahead for the GOP as it tries to hold onto its narrow majorities in both chambers. Democrats need to net just three seats to flip the House and four seats to take control of the Senate — a tougher task given the general lean of the states holding Senate races next year. And Democrats plan to campaign on the sweeping tax and spending measure, emphasizing cuts to Medicaid. But the president did not seem overly concerned that his party would lose seats in Congress. 'They said that about 2024 too. They said, 'We're going to win seats,'' Trump said of Democrats. 'They didn't. They said — we're going to do great in the presidency, and I won all seven swing states, won the popular vote by millions, etc. So you know, they always say that. They've lost their way. They've lost their minds, and they've lost their way, not necessarily in that order.' Meanwhile, the president is walking a fine line with his MAGA supporters, who Republicans need to turn out in droves to hold onto control of Congress next year. These voters have more isolationist views of foreign policy, creating some tension when it comes to assistance to Ukraine. Trump made some news on that front yesterday, when he stressed that NATO, not the U.S., would be covering the cost of additional weapons for Ukraine. 'We're sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100%,' Trump told me. 'So what we're doing is the weapons that are going out are going to NATO, and then NATO is going to be giving those weapons and NATO is paying for those weapons.' 'We are not paying for any more weapons,' the president later added. The details of that agreement with NATO are still unclear, though the president did tease a 'major statement' on Russia coming on Monday. NATO spokesperson Allison Hart responded to Trump's comments in a statement on Friday. 'Allies continue to work to ensure Ukraine has the support they need to defend themselves against Russia's aggression. This includes urgent efforts to procure key supplies from the United States, including air defence and ammunition,' she said. We'll delve more into all of this on Sunday's 'Meet the Press,' where I'll speak to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Republican Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, and Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky. ✉️ Mailbag: When do the provisions of Trump's new law go into effect? Thanks to everyone who emailed us! This week's reader question, from Cindy Scruggs, is about how Trump's big domestic policy law will be implemented. 'Knowing that many of the cuts will be put into effect after the 2026 elections, what parts of the bill or associated fallout (if any) will occur before the midterms?' One of our Congress experts, senior national political reporter Sahil Kapur, provided an answer: This is an important and somewhat complicated question. The short answer is that Republicans backloaded the most significant cuts under Medicaid, SNAP and the Affordable Care Act until after the 2026 election. That was a deliberate effort to manage political pain — hard-right Republicans wanted the Medicaid work requirements to take effect right away, but the party reached a deal to trigger them on the last day of 2026, just weeks after the midterms. Some GOP lawmakers have told us they believe (or hope) this will insulate them in the 2026 elections. Beyond that, many of the law's cutbacks are phased in over the coming decade. As KFF health policy expert Larry Levitt put it to me, 'There's not going to be a day where we wake up and there are suddenly millions more people without health insurance.' That said, some effects will still be felt beforehand. There are already reports of at least one hospital in Nebraska shutting down, citing the 'anticipated federal budget cuts to Medicaid,' a huge source of funding for hospitals. Sometimes, anticipation of an unpopular law taking effect can make for effective politicking: Republicans made Democrats paid a heavy political price in the 2010 midterms for the then-unpopular Affordable Care Act, even though it hadn't kicked in yet. In 2018, vast swaths of voters barely felt the benefits of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which Trump sold as the greatest tax cut in history, and House Democrats won 40 seats in that year's midterm election. Finally, the impacts of Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' will certainly be felt by the 2028 presidential election, and if this law takes effect as designed, Democrats are sure to make that an issue.
Axios
18-06-2025
- Business
- Axios
6 numbers to know about Colorado's wobbly fiscal outlook
Colorado's economy is teetering as tariffs, potential federal budget cuts and the possibility of a recession buffet the state's fiscal picture. State of play: Two independent forecasts presented to lawmakers Wednesday are weighted to the downside and anticipate only minimal economic and job growth in the coming year. What they're saying:"The chaos and uncertainty caused by Washington [loom] large over today's economic forecast," legislative budget committee chair Jeff Bridges (D-Arapahoe County) said in a statement. Zoom in: Here are the key numbers setting the scene. $1 billion: The potential negative impact on the state budget if Congress approves the House version of the reconciliation bill, per the governor's budget office. 50%: The chance for a recession, according to the governor's office, up from previous estimates in March of 40%. Gov. Jared Polis blamed President Trump's tariffs for the economic uncertainty and the rising chances of a recession. 800: The decrease in the federal workforce in Colorado, a 1.4% drop in the first four months of the year, according to nonpartisan legislative economists. 4.8%: The current unemployment rate in Colorado. It exceeds the 4.2% national average. This is the first time in the last 25 years that the state's unemployment rate exceeded the national average for a sustained period, legislative analysts said. Zero: The chance for refund checks under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights in tax years 2025 and 2026, legislative economists report.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pueblo Republican launches bid to unseat Nick Hinrichsen in Colorado Senate District 3
A local healthcare practice manager with nearly 25 years of experience is venturing into politics as a 2026 Republican candidate for Colorado State Senate District 3. Dana Charles told the Chieftain she is "not a politician," but is running for a state Senate seat because she is concerned about state fees, high taxation and legislative "attacks" on rights. Charles lists affordability, parental rights, Second Amendment rights, public safety, and preserving Colorado's Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR), among her priorities. "I just was so tired of questioning whether our Pueblo legislators were actually working for the people of Pueblo," she told the Chieftain. "I felt like enough was enough and I wanted to bring a voice to the state Senate that you don't have to wonder about." On her website, Charles said that recent legislation passed by members of the Colorado General Assembly has "tied the hands of law enforcement" and jeopardized the safety of Pueblo residents. She also told the Chieftain that taxes and fees have hampered residents' ability to afford living in Colorado. "Every single time we go to do absolutely anything — whether it's to renew our vehicle registration, whether it's going to the grocery store and paying bag fees — we are taxed and (made to pay fees) to death," Charles said. As a supporter of TABOR — a 1992 amendment to the state constitution limiting the amount of tax revenue Colorado government can retain and spend — Charles strongly believes Colorado does not have a revenue shortage and that Colorado residents, not state government, know how to best spend their money. In addition to having 24 years of experience in healthcare, Charles is a lifelong Pueblo resident who has raised two sons. "We have an amazing community, and I plan to tout that in every way when I'm in the state Senate. Many of the members of even our own city council, I have known for many years," Charles said. "While we may disagree on certain issues, I believe that we can communicate in a way that is positive and helps continue to move Pueblo forward." Senate District 3 includes all of Pueblo County. Senate Majority Whip Nick Hinrichsen has held the seat since February 2022. As of May 19, Charles and Hinrichsen were the only candidates who'd filed to run for Senate District 3, according to the Colorado Secretary of State's Office. Charles has already raised $11,915 in monetary contributions and has spent over $2,547, according to Transparency in Contribution and Expenditure Reporting (TRACER) information accessed May 19. Hinrichsen has received over $6,752 and spent over $5,551. City Park Bathhouse: Pueblo leaders respond to preservationists' frustrations over rejected bathhouse proposal Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@ Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo Republican launches 2026 bid for Colorado Senate seat
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmakers reflect on what did, did not get done during regular session
DENVER (KDVR) — State lawmakers have finished their work at the Colorado Capitol, for now. Both parties reflected on what they see as wins and losses for the state this year during their press conferences. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are glad they were able to end the session with a balanced budget that did not harm schools, but worries surrounding the fiscal shape of the state and its citizens still linger. Denver voted to not extend its Flock camera contract: Are ICE access concerns valid? 'While we worked really hard to address the $1.2 billion budget shortfall, I think there is still a lot more work to be done and we know that there is potential for more cuts coming forward,' said House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese. 'We are fearful that with the Trump administration, continuing to cut services in rural parts of our state, cuts to public safety, cuts to agricultural and water infrastructure, that there is more work ahead for us today,' said House Speaker Julie McCluskie. As lawmakers celebrate the end of the session, they also acknowledge they could be back this summer for two reasons: one being unfinished work at the state level, like delaying the state's landmark artificial intelligence regulation measure. 'We couldn't get that done. It was never the plan for this bill to be the final product. And I think that we will get working and whether we go into a special session or go into next year, I think we will be in a much better place with the policy and have more consensus,' said Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez. Another reason they could come back is the potential for cuts from the federal level, lawmakers could need to rework the state budget if the state does not get the federal dollars they planned for. Lawmakers act on artificial intelligence bills as Colorado session ends 'If we come back into a special session, it will clearly be on the polis administration and the tax and spend democrats in the legislature. I've said it before several times, probably at nauseam for some people, we do not have a revenue problem. We have a spending problem. The Democrats in Colorado have the same issue as the tax-and-spend democrats in Washington, D.C. They have a crisis of priorities, and they can't stop themselves from overspending,' said Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer. Leaders in both parties hailed the failure of a bill that would have allowed the state to sue over the legality of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights as a win for Colorado taxpayers. 'I'm always pleased to have one lawsuit less, so thank you for not suing us,' Governor Jared Polis said as he turned towards Democratic legislative leaders. 'There was a resolution introduced with 31 Democrat members of the House on that resolution, 13 Democrat members of the Senate on that resolution and we worked diligently behind the scenes to make sure that an effort to destroy the Taxpayer Bill of Rights did not come to committee and did not have a vote,' said Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen. The parties, however, have differing opinions over societal policy measures that have been passed: bills protecting civil rights for immigrants and members of the transgender community. Republicans said they wished more measures addressing affordability and public safety had been prioritized this year. While the governor acknowledged some bills, like a measure addressing collective bargaining for unions in the state, were not able to reach solutions he liked, he all but said he plans to veto the measure. 'We were seeking a way to get a policy that would have the buy-in to be stable and unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the sponsors and our best efforts, and many in both the labor and business community, we did not quite get there,' Polis said. Lawmakers send rideshare safety measure to governor's desk on last day of session Polis has 30 days to sign or veto bills. Lawmakers said if a special session happens, it would come after details of the federal budget are more finite. 'I expect there is still going to be more because of this affordability issue that we are going to see Medicaid grow in terms of the number of individuals. So it will not surprise me if we need to come back and talk about that,' said Representative Rick Taggart. 'We're watching Congress, it's in the hands of our congressional delegation. The lieutenant governor and I, and many members of the legislature, have called on them not to cut Medicaid, we hope that they don't. But if those big steps are taken, it is quite likely that we would need to work with the legislature to see what that looks like,' said Polis. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Senators vote to override governor's veto of social media bill
DENVER (KDVR) — With less than two weeks left in this year's legislative session, state lawmakers are making a rare move by going against Gov. Jared Polis. Senators voted to override the governor on a bipartisan bill less than 24 hours after he vetoed it. There has not been a veto override at the Colorado State Capitol in more than a decade. State lawmakers made it clear today, they are not afraid to change that. Rattlesnakes emerge from viral 'mega den' of 2,000 rattlesnakes in Colorado Senators made a rare move Friday, voting to override a veto on a measure Polis just rebuked the day before. 'I rise today to urge you all to override the governor's veto of Senate Bill 86 because this bill is about one thing above all: protecting our kids. Under this bill, social media companies would be required to remove users who are using these platforms to sell drugs, alcohol, guns and sexually exploiting children,' said Sen. Lindsay Daugherty, a prime sponsor of the bill. 'I think it's time that we dig deep and find the courage that is within all of us. And the conviction that is within all of us to protect the children of Colorado,' said Senator Lisa Frizell, another prime sponsor of the measure. Senators voted to override the veto by a vote of 29-6. In his veto letter, the governor said the bill has good intentions, but it fails to guarantee the safety of minors and infringes on privacy and freedom of speech. The governor also vetoed a bipartisan bill looking to change Colorado's open records act to give record keepers more time to respond to requests unless the requests come from journalists. Senators moved to vote on that override next week, but lawmakers also recently rejected the governor's proposal to change the way enrollment is calculated for school funding. They are also advancing a resolution that would allow the state to explore the constitutionality of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, without the governor's approval. What does this all mean? FOX31's political analysts have some thoughts. 'The governor is considered a moderate governor, he typically is liked by both sides. He's also hated by members of both sides, too, I'm sure, but the reality is that the governor is trying to play right down the center on this, and what the Democratic-led House and Senate leadership particularly is saying right now is we are going to go our own way, regardless of what the governor is going to do,' said FOX31 political analyst Andy Boian. Colorado's 5th measles case of 2025 confirmed in vaccinated adult from Denver 'I think that is just the tension there, and really you have Governor Polis at the two last years of his term. Some would consider that a lame duck period, and therefore, the legislature gets a little bit more bold to push back. Because they are not as worried about the long-term consequences of potentially going against the governor,' said FOX31 political analyst Michael Fields. A majority of House members have to vote to override the bill, too, for it to be did not take up the matter on Friday, but sources said it could happen in the near future. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
