Today has been very long day already, and we are just getting started. I spent most of the night tracking the budget bill to get you updates as soon as it passed. I am not stopping. I am providing you with just the facts. Just the news. Subscribe today to support my work and let’s continue redefining media:
With that, here’s the news:
In a razor-thin 215–214–1 vote, the Republican-led House of Representatives has passed their long-anticipated budget reconciliation package, marking a significant—though politically dangerous—victory for Speaker Mike Johnson.
According to a fresh analysis from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Republican plan would add $3.8 trillion to the federal deficit over the next decade. That staggering figure is largely the result of major tax cuts—most notably, the extension of key provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. These tax breaks are not fully offset by spending cuts, despite GOP claims of fiscal responsibility.
The cuts include: $698 billion from Medicaid, $267 billion from SNAP (food assistance), and $64 billion in net cuts to other federal programs, with slight increases in defense, immigration enforcement, and homeland security spending. Medicare is also facing $535 billion in cuts due to automatic PAYGO-triggered reductions.
The bill also includes increased student loan payments, slashes the child tax credit for children without two parents who have social security numbers, and makes it harder for courts to enforce contempt proceedings against federal government officials.
The budget bill now heads to the United States Senate. Time will tell whether there are enough votes to pass this legislation.
Two employees of the Israeli embassy were shot and killed near the Jewish museum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday evening, according to the Secretary of Homeland Security. Israel’s foreign minister later identified the victims as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. The shooting has been condemned by politicians on both sides of the aisle as antisemitic as, according to authorities, the shooter targeted the museum because it was a Jewish museum.
Disney’s CEO and ABC News’ president have instructed co-hosts of The View to scale back their political commentary and criticism of Donald Trump. The move has raised concerns about censorship and limiting free expression on the show.
A gala dinner tonight will connect Donald Trump with a group of wealthy cryptocurrency traders, some of whom reportedly aim to sway his stance on crypto regulation or take advantage of the opportunity for direct access. These traders are the largest owners of Trump’s meme coin.
The White House clarified that the event is a private affair: “This is a personal dinner that the president is attending on his personal time. The White House has absolutely nothing to do with it. There will be no White House tours for any winners of the memecoin contest.”
Rep. Jamie Raskin is calling on the Justice Department’s Inspector General to look into whether Attorney General Pam Bondi or other officials may have been involved in illegal insider trading. This comes after reports revealed that Bondi sold millions of dollars in Trump Media stock right before a major market downturn, shortly before Trump’s tariff announcement.
Republican Senator Roger Marshall has blocked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s attempt to pass a resolution by unanimous consent that would prohibit the use of a foreign aircraft as Air Force One.
The U.S. plans to stop producing and distributing new pennies starting early next year, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Senate Democrats are set to introduce legislation that would shift control of the U.S. Marshals Service from the executive branch to the judiciary, aiming to reduce political influence amid rising threats to federal judges. Led by Sen. Cory Booker, the bill seeks to protect judicial independence by removing the Marshals from the Department of Justice's oversight.
Fannie Mae shares jumped 40% in premarket trading after former President Trump hinted at a possible move to re-privatize the mortgage giant.
According to CBS News, a woman was shot by CIA security this morning after she drove toward the agency’s headquarters gate and refused to stop. She was hit in the upper body and taken to a medical facility with what authorities believe are non-life-threatening injuries. The FBI is currently investigating the incident.
A small plane crashed into a residential neighborhood in San Diego, igniting several homes and vehicles. Emergency crews are on the scene responding to the fire and assessing damage.
See you this evening.
— Aaron
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