Trump's big beautiful betrayal
Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill', as he and fellow Republicans call it, is a sprawling piece of legislation covering everything from tax cuts to border walls to repealing environmental protections, the Guardian US's chief reporter, Ed Pilkington, explains.
But for a president who normally rules by executive order, the act perhaps tells us better than anything so far what he wants to achieve in office. 'It enshrines what Trump wants to do in his second term,' says Pilkington.
Most controversially, it includes enormous tax breaks for the country's super-wealthy, while making swingeing cuts to social welfare programmes used by its poor. More than 10 million US citizens are expected to lose access to Medicaid - despite Trump's continued insistence, since coming into office, that he would not touch the service.
So, asks Michael Safi, why is Trump doing it? And will it cost him the support of the millions of poorer Americans, who came out to vote for him last year?
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The Guardian
29 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Republicans toe Trump line even in aftermath of deadly Texas floods
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'Despite the fact that the Doge cuts and the reductions in force and the early buyouts have savaged the workforce of the National Weather Service, they can't even utter the slightest vague, elliptical critique of the administration that is now engaged in these cuts that have cost the lives of the people they supposedly represent.' The raging flash floods – among the US's worst in decades – slammed into riverside camps and homes in central Texas before daybreak on Friday, pulling sleeping people out of their cabins, tents and trailers and dragging them for miles past floating tree trunks and cars. Some survivors were found clinging to trees. Authorities say the death toll is sure to rise as crews look for the many who are still missing. Republicans have long been criticised for responding to mass shootings with 'thoughts and prayers', as if the tragedy transcends politics. 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The NWS defended its forecasting and emergency management, stating that it assigned extra forecasters to the San Antonio and San Angelo offices over the holiday weekend. But a top leadership role at the NWS's San Antonio office has been vacant since earlier this year after Paul Yura accepted an offer from the Trump administration to retire. Doge, formerly led by the billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, has been pushing the NWS to cut jobs and gave hundreds of employees the option to retire early rather than face potential dismissal. Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate, asked the commerce department's acting inspector general to investigate whether staffing vacancies at the NWS's San Antonio office contributed to 'delays, gaps, or diminished accuracy' in forecasting the flooding. Republicans accused Democrats of seeking to politicise the tragedy. 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The Guardian
36 minutes ago
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Fifa opens office in Trump Tower, deepening ties with US president
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Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Wendy's CEO Kirk Tanner jumps ship to Hershey as top boss
July 8 (Reuters) - Wendy's (WEN.O), opens new tab said on Tuesday its CEO Kirk Tanner was leaving the burger chain after just over a year in the role to take on the top job at chocolate maker Hershey (HSY.N), opens new tab. For Wendy's, the change at the top comes at a time when it has been grappling with muted sales as macroeconomic volatility pushes more people to eat at home. Its stock is down nearly 31% this year. Hershey had announced in January that Michele Buck, who had been CEO for over seven years, would retire in 2026 and would transition to a senior advisor role once a replacement was named. Tanner will take over on August 18. He will depart Wendy's on July 18, the burger chain said in a separate statement, adding that it has appointed its CFO, Ken Cook, as interim chief. Wendy's also said it has launched a comprehensive search process to select a permanent CEO, and is set to report its second quarter results on August 8. Hershey is expected to report on July 30. Mary Kay Haben, chair of the Hershey CEO search committee, said that "(Tanner's) deep experience in snacks, beverages, M&A and innovation — combined with public company CEO and board roles — makes him well suited to lead Hershey into the future." Tanner joins the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups maker as it navigates higher tariff-related costs and still-high cocoa prices amid growing uncertainty around consumer spending. He was previously a top executive at PepsiCo (PEP.O), opens new tab before moving to head Wendy's in February 2024. Shares of Hershey fell about 2% in early trading, while Wendy's was down around 1%.
