Latest news with #DepartmentofGovernmentalEfficiency
Time Magazine
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Time Magazine
Musk Announces New America Party Is Formed Amid Trump Split
Elon Musk says he has 'formed' his new political party titled the "America Party." The former lead of the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE) had promised to do just that if President Donald Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' passed. Musk has been—and continues to be—a vocal critic of the policy bill, arguing that it will 'cause immense strategic harm' to America on account of the trillions of dollars the bill is projected to add to the debt of the country. 'By a factor of two to one, you want a new political party and you shall have it! When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste and graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy,' Musk said via his social media platform, X, on Saturday, a day after Trump signed the bill. 'Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.' The Tesla CEO had opened a poll on July 4, Independence Day, asking his more than 220 million followers if he should create the new political party. Over 65% of the more than 1.2 million respondents voted 'yes.' Read More: Musk Renews Promise to Start New Rival Political Party as Trump Debates Deporting Him Musk went on to share his potential strategy for 'gaining independence from the two-party system,' arguing that he might try to 'laser-focus on just two or three Senate seats and eight to 10 House districts' for his party. 'Given the razor-thin legislative margins, that would be enough to serve as the deciding vote on contentious laws, ensuring that they serve the true will of the people,' Musk elaborated. But as for what exactly Musk plans to do with his rival third party is largely open for discussion. Musk has yet to share any specific proposed policies or explicitly state what the core tenets of his party would what we do—and don't—know about Musk's vision for the America Party and how it came to be. What do we know of the America Party's proposed policies? When Musk floated the idea of creating a new political party in early June amid the very public fracturing of his relationship with Trump, his one-time ally, Musk after conducting a poll said: 'The people have spoken. A new political party is needed in America to represent the 80% in the middle!' He appeared to be referring to those who may not feel seen or represented by either the Republican Party or Democratic Party. Musk, the country's biggest Republican donor, is seemingly committed to campaigning against any Republicans who showed support and voted for the Big, Beautiful Bill that he so vehemently opposes. 'Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame!' Musk said on June 30. 'And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth.' If he so desired, Musk could target pivotal congressional seats in an effort to turn them and thus potentially have the upper hand during votes on key matters. He seemingly referenced this plan with his July 4 post about establishing a 'laser-focus on just two or three Senate seats and eight to 10 House districts.' Musk did not elaborate or specify which seats would be at the center of his focus. While Musk has yet to share an actual policy platform for his party, he has reposted and responded affirmatively to some of his X followers' posts about what the platform could be. What appears to be on the docket is a platform that prioritizes cuts on debt and excess spending within the government, similar to what Musk pushed for during his time in the White House. One of Musk's followers asked: 'Is this the America Party platform?' They went on to list the following stances: In response, Musk said 'yeah!' and went on to repost the list to his millions of followers, but stopped short of providing his own official policy plan. Read More: Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' Faces Opposition From Musk and Some Republicans as Senate Narrowly Votes to Advance It Musk's split from Trump and the Republican Party Though Musk had voted Democrat previously, he played a vital role for the Republican Party when he became the largest donor of the 2024 presidential race, predominantly funding Trump's campaign but also financially backing other Republicans via his super political action committee (PAC) titled America PAC. Musk became a close ally of Trump's and appeared at major campaign rallies with him, addressing large crowds and urging them to vote for Trump. As a sign of their close working relationship, Trump appointed Musk as the lead of DOGE, a role he held until May. During his tenure, Musk became known for actualizing Trump's vision of cutting 'waste' in the government, which amounted to laying off thousands of federal employees. But Musk and Trump's relationship soured, especially after the former took a public stance against the spending bill. 'I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful,' Musk told CBS News in May, shortly before he announced his DOGE departure. 'But I don't know if it could be both.' Going a step further in early June, Musk said the 'massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination' and told his millions of followers to 'call your Senator, call your Congressman… kill the bill!' Musk and Trump engaged in an all-out war of words, exchanging jabs and lobbying threats—with Trump threatening to take away the government contracts for Musk's companies, including the SpaceX firm that has become a critical player for NASA. Trump has repeatedly claimed that the falling out stemmed from Musk being unhappy over changes to the Electric Vehicle [EV] mandate. Tensions reignited once more when Musk renewed his calls for the policy bill not to be passed. When asked by reporters on July 1 if he was planning to deport Musk, who has U.S. and South African citizenship, Trump replied: 'I don't know, we'll have to take a look.' 'We might have to put DOGE on Elon. The monster that might have to go back and eat Elon. Wouldn't that be terrible?' Trump said, appearing to refer to the contracts and subsidies that Musk's prominent businesses have from the federal government. Read More: Musk Floats Idea of Starting New Rival Political Party—and Even Names It—Amid Trump Feud A third party has never been able to thrive in America's two-party system Though Musk is looking to build a viable, competitive third party, it requires more than an X poll to actualize it in the U.S.. In fact, many have tried before. Two major parties—Democratic and Republican—have dominated U.S. politics and no third party in recent memory has been able to penetrate the two-party system in a meaningful way. Former 2020 Democratic presidential primary candidate Andrew Yang has pushed for representation beyond the two-party system, but has arguably encountered limited success with his Forward Party. In June, Yang expressed a keenness to join forces with Musk, seemingly hoping that the two of them may have a stronger chance of succeeding. 'Elon has built world-class companies from nothing more than an idea multiple times, and in this instance, you have the vast majority of Americans who are hungry for a new approach,' Yang said in an interview with Politico. 'I'm happy to spell it out for Elon, or anyone else who wants to head down this road. A third party can succeed very quickly.' Part of the reason third parties struggle is due to the U.S.' 'winner takes all' system in the Electoral College. 48 out of the 50 States award Electoral votes on a winner-takes-all basis (so does the District of Columbia). This makes voting for third party candidates difficult. For example, support for the Tea Party held strong at 24% according to polls in the 2010s, though they rarely held significant political power, since the Republicans were often fearful of splitting votes in races with narrow margins, which would have risked giving the election to Democratic candidates.
Economic Times
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
The baseball cap makes a global comeback, even in cricket-loving India
It's been a great year for caps. Donald Trump loves them. The US president uses his red baseball cap as a billboard of sorts. His election campaign saw the Make America Great Again (MAGA) slogan on all caps, in all caps. Analysing his campaign look, anthropologist Stephen E Nash wrote in digital magazine 'The Republican nominee for president, Donald Trump, is a self-proclaimed billionaire and (apparently) a successful businessman. Yet he claims to be a champion of the disenfranchised working class. How does he do that? One way is by donning a baseball cap. After capping a victory, Trump has refused to let go. In February, he handed out caps with the slogan 'TRUMP WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING' in the Oval Office. On April 30, Trump and erstwhile favourite Elon Musk bantered at a cabinet meeting, where Musk was donning a double hat— a black DOGE (Department of Governmental Efficiency) and a Gulf of America red cap. Even though the love did not last, the caps did, because the recent outing of the chic chapeau was on July 1, when Trump visited a temporary migrant detention centre. The 'GULF OF AMERICA' slogan came with a baseline 'Yet Another TRUMP Development'. STATE OF HEADSThe cap is the medium and the message— but this is not the first time. Headgears, in general, have been deployed by leaders. This time, it is not about resistance but renaissance. In May 2025, GQ proclaimed that 'a good cap is about as essential to the modern wardrobe as good underwear'. Internationally, it-boys, from Timothee Chalamet to Kendrick Lamar to Jeremy Allen White, have been sporting noggin designer Kanika Goyal, known for her playful, neo-luxury fashion, a cap is the perfect piece to disrupt or balance an outfit. She says, 'It can add ease to something overly serious or elevate a casual look with the right detailing. Whether it's a quirky slogan, unexpected fabric, or an exaggerated form, it has the power to pull a whole look together.' In her recent Disney x Kanika Goyal Label (KGL) collaboration, there was a minimal black cap with a Mickey Mouse head cut-out. 'It's simple but still feels bold and experimental. For me, it's that duality that makes the cap so relevant right now.'Stylists Ayesha Amin Nigam and Shaurya Athley recently launched their elevated basics label Stitchuation with caps being the first drop. Athley says, 'A baseball cap has become a classic accessory that anyone can wear. It's unisex. It's not limited by size. It adds spunk to any outfit—with colour or text.' Their caps come with sassy slogans like 'pre-rich' and 'I look great on Instagram'. Nigam says, 'Caps are a way of self-expression.'If celebrity style in Hollywood is to go by, novelty baseball caps are having its time in the sun. While America is the heart of baseball caps—400 million caps are sold annually—India is discovering the lid life. Meenakshi Singh, cofounder of Capsul, a streetwear retail store, says caps as a category has always done well for them, with price points ranging from `3,000 to `7, says baseball caps have a centuries-old history. She adds, 'Streetwear takes inspiration from sports like baseball, skateboarding and basketball. A sports revival in streetwear, popularity of athleisure and fashion trends like normcore [characterised by embracing clothing and aesthetics that are intentionally ordinary] are all fuelling the rise of baseball caps.'Singh notes that the stealth wealth aesthetic popularised by the series Succession has also created a market for luxury baseball caps. Fashion houses like Loewe, Dior, Balenciaga and Louis Vuitton have baseball caps. Singh says, 'Pop culture currently is powering the baseball cap revival. Soaps and celebrities, like musicians Frank Ocean or Pharrell Williams, create a demand even though baseball doesn't exist in India because the influences are universal now.' Yash Gangwal, founder of Mumbai-based Urban Monkey, an Indian streetwear brand that started out with headgear, says, 'While globally, cap trends are moving away from basics. Indian trends are bit more conservative. The distressed look is big globally, but we still go for basic or utility caps,' he says, adding that 90% of his cap sales are baseball caps. The clientele is mainly spread over 16-40 years. CLASS TOPPER In many ways, a cap is the perfect topper. Adding a baseball cap instantly makes an outfit feel a bit more casual. Nigam says, 'I like how even luxury brands have gotten into it, showing that baseball cap has really penetrated every sort of market.'Goyal says designers have been playing with the cap's fabrications, embroidery and construction, but what feels different now is how far brands are pushing the envelope. 'There's a shift towards redefining the cap through conceptual design—take Avavav x Adidas's deconstructed caps or KidSuper's take in his Spring-Summer 2026 show. There's a deeper shift in how luxury is defined—less about polish, more about play and narrative,' she it as a sun protector, a bad hair day cover, or a bald spot concealer, there are many reasons to don a cap. But the reason why a baseball cap is emerging as a formidable style accessory is that it spares the wearer from breaking the first rule of style: looking like you are trying too hard. Stylist Rin Jajo advises, 'The idea is to use it in a high-low style, that is pair it with unexpected outfits: a tailored shirt and trousers, or a dress.'Jajo says caps are also an easy entry point to incorporate branded luxury labels into your wardrobe. His advice? Go for simple, solid colours. A well-used or vintage cap with patina adds an authentic layer of style to your outfit. To know where to wear it, the rule of thumb is, the more casual the setting, the better the cap works. Can you wear it backwards? Apparently, the flipped-around look of the early aughts is back, but make sure it's fitted. In a GQ article, LA-based celeb stylist Mike Comrie calls it a style symbolic of rebellion. He says: 'It embodies where a lot of our culture is mentally at this time.... There's a general desire to just go against the status quo.' A cap apparently says it all. No cap.
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
The baseball cap makes a global comeback, even in cricket-loving India
It's been a great year for caps. Donald Trump loves them. The US president uses his red baseball cap as a billboard of sorts. His election campaign saw the Make America Great Again (MAGA) slogan on all caps, in all caps. Analysing his campaign look, anthropologist Stephen E Nash wrote in digital magazine 'The Republican nominee for president, Donald Trump, is a self-proclaimed billionaire and (apparently) a successful businessman. Yet he claims to be a champion of the disenfranchised working class. How does he do that? One way is by donning a baseball cap. After capping a victory, Trump has refused to let go. In February, he handed out caps with the slogan 'TRUMP WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING' in the Oval Office . On April 30, Trump and erstwhile favourite Elon Musk bantered at a cabinet meeting, where Musk was donning a double hat— a black DOGE (Department of Governmental Efficiency) and a Gulf of America red cap. Even though the love did not last, the caps did, because the recent outing of the chic chapeau was on July 1, when Trump visited a temporary migrant detention centre. The 'GULF OF AMERICA' slogan came with a baseline 'Yet Another TRUMP Development'. STATE OF HEADS The cap is the medium and the message— but this is not the first time. Live Events Headgears, in general, have been deployed by leaders. This time, it is not about resistance but renaissance. In May 2025, GQ proclaimed that 'a good cap is about as essential to the modern wardrobe as good underwear'. Internationally, it-boys, from Timothee Chalamet to Kendrick Lamar to Jeremy Allen White, have been sporting noggin covers. For designer Kanika Goyal, known for her playful, neo-luxury fashion, a cap is the perfect piece to disrupt or balance an outfit. She says, 'It can add ease to something overly serious or elevate a casual look with the right detailing. Whether it's a quirky slogan, unexpected fabric, or an exaggerated form, it has the power to pull a whole look together.' In her recent Disney x Kanika Goyal Label (KGL) collaboration, there was a minimal black cap with a Mickey Mouse head cut-out. 'It's simple but still feels bold and experimental. For me, it's that duality that makes the cap so relevant right now.' Stylists Ayesha Amin Nigam and Shaurya Athley recently launched their elevated basics label Stitchuation with caps being the first drop. Athley says, 'A baseball cap has become a classic accessory that anyone can wear. It's unisex. It's not limited by size. It adds spunk to any outfit—with colour or text.' Their caps come with sassy slogans like 'pre-rich' and 'I look great on Instagram'. Nigam says, 'Caps are a way of self-expression.' If celebrity style in Hollywood is to go by, novelty baseball caps are having its time in the sun. While America is the heart of baseball caps—400 million caps are sold annually—India is discovering the lid life. Meenakshi Singh, cofounder of Capsul, a streetwear retail store, says caps as a category has always done well for them, with price points ranging from `3,000 to `7,000. Singh says baseball caps have a centuries-old history. She adds, 'Streetwear takes inspiration from sports like baseball, skateboarding and basketball. A sports revival in streetwear, popularity of athleisure and fashion trends like normcore [characterised by embracing clothing and aesthetics that are intentionally ordinary] are all fuelling the rise of baseball caps.' Singh notes that the stealth wealth aesthetic popularised by the series Succession has also created a market for luxury baseball caps. Fashion houses like Loewe, Dior, Balenciaga and Louis Vuitton have baseball caps. Singh says, 'Pop culture currently is powering the baseball cap revival. Soaps and celebrities, like musicians Frank Ocean or Pharrell Williams, create a demand even though baseball doesn't exist in India because the influences are universal now.' Yash Gangwal, founder of Mumbai-based Urban Monkey , an Indian streetwear brand that started out with headgear, says, 'While globally, cap trends are moving away from basics. Indian trends are bit more conservative. The distressed look is big globally, but we still go for basic or utility caps,' he says, adding that 90% of his cap sales are baseball caps. The clientele is mainly spread over 16-40 years. CLASS TOPPER In many ways, a cap is the perfect topper. Adding a baseball cap instantly makes an outfit feel a bit more casual. Nigam says, 'I like how even luxury brands have gotten into it, showing that baseball cap has really penetrated every sort of market.' Goyal says designers have been playing with the cap's fabrications, embroidery and construction, but what feels different now is how far brands are pushing the envelope. 'There's a shift towards redefining the cap through conceptual design—take Avavav x Adidas's deconstructed caps or KidSuper's take in his Spring-Summer 2026 show. There's a deeper shift in how luxury is defined—less about polish, more about play and narrative,' she says. Be it as a sun protector, a bad hair day cover, or a bald spot concealer, there are many reasons to don a cap. But the reason why a baseball cap is emerging as a formidable style accessory is that it spares the wearer from breaking the first rule of style: looking like you are trying too hard. Stylist Rin Jajo advises, 'The idea is to use it in a high-low style, that is pair it with unexpected outfits: a tailored shirt and trousers, or a dress.' Jajo says caps are also an easy entry point to incorporate branded luxury labels into your wardrobe. His advice? Go for simple, solid colours. A well-used or vintage cap with patina adds an authentic layer of style to your outfit. To know where to wear it, the rule of thumb is, the more casual the setting, the better the cap works. Can you wear it backwards? Apparently, the flipped-around look of the early aughts is back, but make sure it's fitted. In a GQ article, LA-based celeb stylist Mike Comrie calls it a style symbolic of rebellion. He says: 'It embodies where a lot of our culture is mentally at this time.... There's a general desire to just go against the status quo.' A cap apparently says it all. No cap.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Over the finish line': Tuberville says passing spending bill bolster economic growth
ALABAMA (WHNT) — As the Big Beautiful Bill is under consideration in the Senate, an Alabama Senator says his top priority is to get the spending bill passed. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville said Thursday the legislation is likely to undergo some significant changes while in the Senate, but he said his ultimate goal was to get the bill over the finish line. Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate to run for lieutenant governor 'The number one priority in this bill is getting the jobs and tax cuts done,' Tuberville said. The spending bill has received criticism from conservatives over the past few days, including the former head of the Department of Governmental Efficiency. Elon Musk has called the bill an 'abomination,' posting on social media platform X about how the spending bill will significantly increase the national debt. 'The problem that Elon Musk looks at, I look at it different,' Tuberville told members of the press on Thursday. 'Number one, the way to grow this country is to get the tax cuts done and that tax cuts are in this bill and we need to make them permanent.' Tuberville said he and his colleagues have complained that Democrats spend too much money. He said he wants to cut back on how much can be cut from this bill. 'There's a lot of things the federal government, in this bill, is trying to send down to the states,' Tuberville said. 'We can't afford it in Alabama. We can't afford to pick up the tab for a federal government agency that was started years ago by the federal government. We don't need it in the state.' Tuberville said he is looking to the future to make changes. 'Remember, we will do another reconciliation after this,' Tuberville said. 'We have two more in the next year and a half, so whatever we don't get done in this bill, hopefully we can get done in the next.' The president has given Republicans in the Senate a tight deadline to pass the spending bill, asking them to have it on his desk by July 4th. The Tax Foundation estimates the bill passed by the House of Representatives will add more than $2 trillion to the national deficit over the next 10 years. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Senator Lee responds to the Trump-Musk feud
SALT LAKE CITY () — President Donald Trump and Elon Musk's relationship as the two sniped jabs at each other on social media. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) shared his thoughts on the feud in a few posts on his personal X account. Sen. Lee of the Musk and President Trump and stated that he really likes both of them, seemingly disappointed that the two are at odds. Later, Lee also replied to a post by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who said that Musk did not get involved in government to enrich himself and politicians did not understand that. Lee agreed that Musk was never in government for money. PREVIOUSLY: Musk backs call to impeach Trump, replace him with Vance Lee also posted about his desire for Musk and Trump to reconcile, in one post asking people to reply if they agree that the world is a better place with the 'Trump-Musk bromance fully intact.' The feud between Musk and Trump comes after Musk in the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE) at the end of May and Musk attended with a black eye. The public disagreements between the President and the richest man in the world began when Musk , calling it a 'disgusting abomination.' Then during an Oval Office meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Thursday, Trump said that he was in Musk following his criticisms. In response, Musk took to X, posting claims that Trump had ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He claimed that Trump's involvement is the reason that the Epstein files have not been made public. Later, Musk calling for Trump to be impeached and replaced by Vice President JD Vance, agreeing with the post. Utah man pleads guilty to attempting to hire hitman while behind bars in 2020 Senator Lee responds to the Trump-Musk feud Chrysler at 100: Plans for a bold comeback Wyoming state senator proposes eliminating property taxes More heavy rain, rumbles for southern & central Utah Thursday evening Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
