Latest news with #HillNationSummit
The Hill
3 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Sunday shows preview: Trump-Epstein saga reaches fever pitch
The case of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein dominated headlines once again this week as President Trump has struggled to manage the fallout over an FBI and Department of Justice memo that pushed back on several conspiracy theories about the convicted sex offender. This is likely to be the focus of much of this week's Sunday shows. Under Trump's direction, the DOJ has asked to unseal grand jury transcripts pertaining to Epstein's 2019 criminal case in New York, which was dropped after Epstein was found dead in his cell awaiting trial. The memo last week concluded that the death was a suicide, consistent with previous findings. Conspiracy theorists and some supporters of the president, however, have entertained the idea that Epstein could have been murdered in order to cover up some vast global scheme involving child sex trafficking. Trump's move has so far gathered mixed reactions. A new Wall Street Journal report claimed Trump wrote Epstein a 'bawdy' 50th birthday card in 2003, apparently including a drawing of a naked woman. Trump has denied the report and sued the Journal for libel. On Capitol Hill, the House muscled through several new cryptocurrency bills, while the Senate agonized over a $9 billion rescissions package for foreign aid and public media before ultimately sending it to Trump for a signature. White House crypto czar David Sacks could take a victory lap on Fox News' 'Sunday Morning Futures' following the signing of stablecoin legislation into law. He will be joined by Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), who was instrumental in pushing recissions through before a hard Friday deadline. Also on Fox, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard could double down on her threats of prosecution of officials from the Obama administration over allegations that they 'manipulated intelligence' regarding conclusions that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is making two Sunday show appearances this week, more than a month after anti-ICE protests roiled pockets of the LA region. Trump's aggressive deportation push has sparked fear and prompted a judge last week to block ICE from using indiscriminate immigration stops. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons will appear alongside Bass on CBS's 'Face the Nation.' Trump also escalated pressure against Jerome Powell this week, with reports circulating that he was mulling firing the Federal Reserve chair. The president cannot fire Powell without cause, and a chair has not been ousted in the modern age. Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), a member of the House Financial Services Committee, could take up the topic on CBS. His interview at the Hill Nation Summit will also re-air on NewsNation's 'The Hill Sunday.' Democratic Party electoral politics will also likely crop up on several Sunday shows. Former Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas), who is vying in a crowded Senate primary, and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser (D), who is running for governor, will both appear on NBC's 'The Weekend.' On CNN's 'State of the Union,' Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) could also address the party's split over Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City Mayor. Torres endorsed former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) in the primary and has not yet pledged his support to Mamdani but has increasingly warmed up to the ascendant Democratic socialist in recent weeks. NewsNation's 'The Hill Sunday': Rep. Eric Sorenson (D-Ill.); Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Jim Himes (D-Conn.) from the Hill Nation Summit. ABC's 'This Week': Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn); Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. CNN's 'State of the Union': Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.); former Trump campaign adviser Bryan Lanza; political commentator Karen Finney; former Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.). NBC's 'The Weekend': Former Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas); Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser (D). CBS' 'Face the Nation': Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass; acting ICE Director Todd Lyons; Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.); Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. 'Fox News Sunday': Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.); Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.)
The Hill
6 hours ago
- Business
- The Hill
Congress approves public media and foreign aid cuts: What to know
Congress this week approved a bill that claws back about $9 billion in foreign aid and public broadcasting funds, as Republicans look to begin locking in cuts pursued by his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The package includes about $8 billion in cuts for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other foreign aid, as well as more than $1 billion in cuts to the Corporation of Public Broadcasting (CPB), which provides some funding to NPR and PBS. Here are five things to know about the bill. NPR and PBS brace for cuts The bill yanks back more than $1 billion in advanced funding appropriated for CPB over fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Many Republicans say the cuts are long overdue, singling out NPR and PBS, for what they perceive as political bias. But some are concerned about how the cuts would impact smaller stations. In the previous fiscal year, NPR received upwards of $13 million from CPB, the corporation's grants and allocations data shows. More than $70 million went to PBS based in Arlington. About one percent of NPR's current operating budget comes directly from the federal government, compared to 15 percent for PBS, multiple outlets report. At the same time, however, fees from member stations, which rely on a larger share of CPB funding on average, make up about 30 percent of NPR's funding. PBS says it also receives annual programming dues from stations to carry national programming. About 35 percent of the annual funding for PBS News Hour, the organization said, comes from CPB and national programming funds it described as 'a combination of CPB appropriation funds and annual programming dues paid to PBS by stations re-allocated to programs like ours.' Public media faces fiscal 'cliff' in October Opponents of the cuts have already sounded alarm about the fiscal 'cliff' that some stations will face as a result of the latest legislation come October, the start of fiscal year 2026. 'It is a cliff,' Rep. Rosa Delauro (Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, told The Hill Thursday. 'They're already speaking about it, frightened to death, particularly in rural communities that they're not going to have access to important information or alerts about weather situations, information that they need to know, education for their kids, because they're not in communities where there are multiple sources of information.' In a statement responding to passage of the cuts on Friday, CPB president Patricia Harrison said 'many local public radio and television stations will be forced to shut down.' 'Cutting federal funding could also put Americans at risk of losing national and local emergency alerts that serve as a lifeline to many Americans in times of severe need,' Harrison also said. Senators on both sides of the aisle have raised similar concerns. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said at the Hill Nation Summit on Wednesday that the cuts could put rural radio stations in her home state out of business, calling them 'the lifeblood of these communities when it comes to emergency alerts.' Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), one of two Republicans in the upper chamber to vote against the bill, pointed to a recent earthquake in her home state. Seven-point-three [magnitude] earthquake off of Alaska and tsunami warnings. You know how I got this information? From public broadcasting,' she said on the Senate floor. Less than 5 percent of the nonprofit corporation's funding goes toward its operations, while more than 70 percent 'goes directly to local public media stations,' CPB states on its website. And almost half of its 'total 544 radio and TV grantees are considered rural.' However, many Republicans have downplayed the cuts. 'There's so many means for communications now that we didn't have in the 1960s. Everyone has it on their phone,' Rep. Mark Alford (R-Missouri) told The Hill this week. 'Everyone, pretty much, has a smartphone, even in rural districts that that I represent, there's all types of access for information that we didn't have in the 1960s' 'I don't think the American taxpayer should be funding journalism,' Alford, who is also a former television news anchor, also said, while arguing there's a 'liberal, progressive bent towards NPR and PBS.' Foreign aid The request initially sent by the White House called for $8.3 billion in cuts to USAID and other foreign aid. But the White House ended up agreeing to exempt the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which was established under former President George W. Bush in 2003 and totaled about $400 million, after those cuts became a critical point of contention for moderate GOP lawmakers. The administration said the bill targets items like migration and refugee assistance that 'could be more fairly shared with non-U.S. Government donors,' USAID efforts officials say have been used to 'fund radical gender and climate projects,' and development assistance they argued 'conflict with American values' and 'interfere with the sovereignty of other countries,' among other rescissions. Republicans in both chambers have overwhelmingly cheered the cuts. But a few have also voiced concerns about the proposal in recent weeks, sounding alarm over what they see as a lack of information about the accounts being targeted. Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) specifically singled out a proposed $2.5 billion in cuts to the Development Assistance account. She noted in a statement that the account 'covers everything from basic education, to water and sanitation, to food security,' but said lawmakers still lacked key details as to how those programs would be affected. More cuts could be coming Republicans see the bill as a critical 'test run' for the party, as Trump administration officials have already indicated they aim to send multiple special requests to Congress to claw back more funding if the first package makes it through. White House budget chief Russell Vought said Thursday that another rescissions package is 'likely to come soon,' though he stopped short of offering specifics as to what programs could be on the chopping block. 'Have nothing to announce, but we've been talking about it, and there's certainly an enthusiasm, although,' Vought said. 'I spent a good hour with Senate Republicans, there is still a great enthusiasm for these rescissions bills, because Congress wants to be a part of voting for these cuts and making them permanent.' Hardline conservatives have ramped up calls in recent months for the president to use the rare 'rescissions' tool – which unlocks a process that Republicans can use to secure funding cuts with GOP-only votes – as the party looks to codify DOGE cuts amid legal challenges over the administration's efforts to reshape the federal government. Implications for Sept. 30 Fewer than 20 legislative days stand between Congress and a looming Sept. 30 deadline to prevent a government shutdown. Both chambers are running behind in marking up and pushing their annual funding bills across the floor — increasing the likelihood Congress will have to resort to a stopgap measure to keep the lights on and buy time for lawmakers to finish their funding work. Senate Democrats have already warned the passage of the recent rescissions package threatens already fragile bipartisan funding talks. And some Republicans are also eager to begin shifting more focus to crafting and approving new funding levels for fiscal 2026. Asked about the administration's plans to send Congress additional requests for cuts, Murkowski, a senior GOP appropriator, said, 'I do not think that should be our path.' 'It's not legislating. It's basically the White House saying this is what we want you to do. Take it or leave it,' she told reporters this week.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Dems grudgingly admit Trump's political savvy at Hill Nation Summit
Some top Democrats at the Hill Nation Summit on Wednesday paid grudging compliments to President Trump's political moves as the party looks to learn from its November losses and chart a new path forward. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) lauded the Republican as a 'very talented politician' despite their disagreements, while Rep. Jim Himes (Conn.), the leading Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, offered praise for Trump's foreign policy. The lawmakers' careful acknowledgements come as the Democratic Party broadly tries to learn from their 2024 losses and build momentum for the 2026 midterms, when they'll be looking to cut into the GOP's narrow 220-212 majority. 'Donald Trump's a very talented politician, right? I don't agree with him as a leader. He's a very talented politician,' Khanna said at the Summit. He praised the president alongside progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, despite their stark political split. Later in the conversation, Khanna also contended that Democrats have been 'way too judgmental' of Americans who voted for Trump. 'We acted as if the problem was the voters; the problem was the party, and we acted with a condescension and a judgment on voters,' Khanna told NewsNation contributor Chris Cillizza. The Hill and NewsNation are both owned by Nexstar. Democrats have struggled to redefine the party in the wake of last year's big losses, when the GOP flipped the White House and took control of both chambers of Congress. The party is now pulling in its lowest favorability ratings in decades, and prominent activists within the party have called for a new generation of leaders, stoking intraparty frustration. Frank assessments of both 2024 and the current political landscape are critical, strategists said, to helping Democrats find their footing. 'You can't understand how to win by repeating losing behavior; you have to study winners. And the reality is that Trump has won two of his three elections,' said Democratic strategist Fred Hicks. 'I think it's prudent to understand how Republicans have earned the votes of so many people.' Khanna, a prominent House progressive who's been mired in speculation about potential presidential ambitions, also criticized that his own party 'has not had a compelling economic vision for years.' He said at the Summit that he hasn't yet made a decision on whether to run for president in 2028, but notably suggested that he could bring a better economic vision forward. Himes, also speaking at the Hill Nation event, gave Trump rare kudos on his foreign policy moves, even as he stressed his disagreement on other issues. 'I could spend the next hour talking about things I don't like about this presidency or about MAGA, but I will give him some real credit on foreign policy,' Himes said. He pointed to Trump's 'practical approach' in the Middle East, including the signing of an executive order in January to end sanctions against Syria after the unexpected collapse of Bashar Assad's regime. 'I mean, the opening to Syria, I did not anticipate that. That's pretty amazing…. I give the president and his administration credit for this — to build up and support the Syrian regime,' Himes said. The Connecticut lawmaker has previously scoffed at Trump's claims of success following U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, but told the Summit that there's 'no question' that between the Israelis and the United States, the Iranian nuclear program has been 'meaningfully' set back. 'Now, whether 'meaningfully' is six months or six years is still very much open to question,' he added. Public acknowledgements of GOP wins could serve Democrats, strategists suggested, by helping to rebuild credibility and signal a desire to work across the aisle. 'The problem in American politics right now is that if your team runs the play, then it's OK; if the other team does it, then it's not. What that has done is that's created a deficit of trust in our system, amongst voters, everyday people,' Hicks said. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) at the Hill Nation Summit touted her bipartisan work with Republican Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and other Republicans on the 'Take It Down' Act, criminalizing deepfake revenge porn, which Trump signed into law this spring. 'We have worked together despite having major disputes over judges and other things. We've worked together on a number of these issues. He's been willing to stand up,' Klobuchar told The Hill's Alex Bolton. Next year, Democrats will be vying to take advantage of traditional headwinds against the president's party in midterm years and claw back ground lost in key blue and swing states — and with core demographics — during the presidential election. To that end, Democratic campaign arms are ramping up efforts to generate party enthusiasm — while top Washington figures are leaning in on controversy around Trump's immigration raid protests, Medicaid cuts in the recently signed megabill and other issues as they try to amass fodder for midterm races. Broadly, there's 'a lot' for Democrats to learn from Trump's approach to politics, which has allowed him to 'hypnotize his base' along the campaign trail and in office, said Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright. 'Two things happen with elections: You win or you learn,' Seawright said of the 2024 results. 'I think there's certainly a lot to learn from Trump's political career and his style, and I think more than anything, to learn that we don't have to continue this idea of doing business as usual, but we must master doing unusual business.' Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) at the Summit stressed that Democrats need to keep up with the changing media landscape as Republicans dominate online arenas. But the Maryland lawmaker told The Hill's Judy Kurtz that he's optimistic about Democrats' chances to win back the House next year, pointing to the president's slipping approval numbers. 'He's hurting himself a lot,' Ivey said of Trump. 'If we later on – we being the Democrats – layer on top of that an affirmative message … we could really have very strong gains.' Trump has seen mixed reviews in recent weeks, even on some of his stronger issues, like immigration. The latest Economist/YouGov polling put Trump's disapproval rating at its highest since the start of his second term. 'If you want to turn voters out, get 'em angry, get 'em excited,' Ivey said. 'We'll see if we can sustain it, but it's certainly heading in the right direction for us at this point.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
12 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Dems grudgingly admit Trump's political savvy at Hill Nation Summit
Some top Democrats at the Hill Nation Summit on Wednesday paid grudging compliments to President Trump's political moves as the party looks to learn from its November losses and chart a new path forward. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) lauded the Republican as a 'very talented politician' despite their disagreements, while Rep. Jim Himes (Conn.), the leading Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, offered praise for Trump's foreign policy. The lawmakers' careful acknowledgements come as the Democratic Party broadly tries to learn from their 2024 losses and build momentum for the 2026 midterms, when they'll be looking to cut into the GOP's narrow 220-212 majority. 'Donald Trump's a very talented politician, right? I don't agree with him as a leader. He's a very talented politician,' Khanna said at the Summit. He praised the president alongside progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, despite their stark political split. Later in the conversation, Khanna also contended that Democrats have been 'way too judgmental' of Americans who voted for Trump. 'We acted as if the problem was the voters; the problem was the party, and we acted with a condescension and a judgment on voters,' Khanna told NewsNation contributor Chris Cillizza. The Hill and NewsNation are both owned by Nexstar. Democrats have struggled to redefine the party in the wake of last year's big losses, when the GOP flipped the White House and took control of both chambers of Congress. The party is now pulling in its lowest favorability ratings in decades, and prominent activists within the party have called for a new generation of leaders, stoking intraparty frustration. Frank assessments of both 2024 and the current political landscape are critical, strategists said, to helping Democrats find their footing. 'You can't understand how to win by repeating losing behavior; you have to study winners. And the reality is that Trump has won two of his three elections,' said Democratic strategist Fred Hicks. 'I think it's prudent to understand how Republicans have earned the votes of so many people.' Khanna, a prominent House progressive who's been mired in speculation about potential presidential ambitions, also criticized that his own party 'has not had a compelling economic vision for years.' He said at the Summit that he hasn't yet made a decision on whether to run for president in 2028, but notably suggested that he could bring a better economic vision forward. Himes, also speaking at the Hill Nation event, gave Trump rare kudos on his foreign policy moves, even as he stressed his disagreement on other issues. 'I could spend the next hour talking about things I don't like about this presidency or about MAGA, but I will give him some real credit on foreign policy,' Himes said. He pointed to Trump's 'practical approach' in the Middle East, including the signing of an executive order in January to end sanctions against Syria after the unexpected collapse of Bashar Assad's regime. 'I mean, the opening to Syria, I did not anticipate that. That's pretty amazing…. I give the president and his administration credit for this — to build up and support the Syrian regime,' Himes said. The Connecticut lawmaker has previously scoffed at Trump's claims of success following U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, but told the Summit that there's 'no question' that between the Israelis and the United States, the Iranian nuclear program has been 'meaningfully' set back. 'Now, whether 'meaningfully' is six months or six years is still very much open to question,' he added. Public acknowledgements of GOP wins could serve Democrats, strategists suggested, by helping to rebuild credibility and signal a desire to work across the aisle. 'The problem in American politics right now is that if your team runs the play, then it's OK; if the other team does it, then it's not. What that has done is that's created a deficit of trust in our system, amongst voters, everyday people,' Hicks said. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) at the Hill Nation Summit touted her bipartisan work with Republican Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and other Republicans on the 'Take It Down' Act, criminalizing deepfake revenge porn, which Trump signed into law this spring. 'We have worked together despite having major disputes over judges and other things. We've worked together on a number of these issues. He's been willing to stand up,' Klobuchar told The Hill's Alex Bolton. Next year, Democrats will be vying to take advantage of traditional headwinds against the president's party in midterm years and claw back ground lost in key blue and swing states — and with core demographics — during the presidential election. To that end, Democratic campaign arms are ramping up efforts to generate party enthusiasm — while top Washington figures are leaning in on controversy around Trump's immigration raid protests, Medicaid cuts in the recently signed megabill and other issues as they try to amass fodder for midterm races. Broadly, there's 'a lot' for Democrats to learn from Trump's approach to politics, which has allowed him to 'hypnotize his base' along the campaign trail and in office, said Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright. 'Two things happen with elections: You win or you learn,' Seawright said of the 2024 results. 'I think there's certainly a lot to learn from Trump's political career and his style, and I think more than anything, to learn that we don't have to continue this idea of doing business as usual, but we must master doing unusual business.' Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) at the Summit stressed that Democrats need to keep up with the changing media landscape as Republicans dominate online arenas. But the Maryland lawmaker told The Hill's Judy Kurtz that he's optimistic about Democrats' chances to win back the House next year, pointing to the president's slipping approval numbers. 2024 Election Coverage 'He's hurting himself a lot,' Ivey said of Trump. 'If we later on – we being the Democrats – layer on top of that an affirmative message … we could really have very strong gains.' Trump has seen mixed reviews in recent weeks, even on some of his stronger issues, like immigration. The latest Economist/YouGov polling put Trump's disapproval rating at its highest since the start of his second term. 'If you want to turn voters out, get 'em angry, get 'em excited,' Ivey said. 'We'll see if we can sustain it, but it's certainly heading in the right direction for us at this point.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Klobuchar says rural radio stations would go under due to GOP cuts
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said on Wednesday that rural radio stations in her home state could go out of business due to a rescissions package moving through Congress seeking to cut funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). 'My hope is that we find some way to get through this, and so we don't see a bunch of rural stations going under, which is what will happen and it won't be the big city ones, it will be the rural ones,' Klobuchar told The Hill's Alex Bolton at the Hill Nation Summit. The bill, which the House passed in June, includes around $8 billion in cuts for the United States Agency for International Development and another $1 billion cut to CPB. Some GOP senators, including Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Susan Collins (Maine), have expressed concerns about the proposed cuts to public broadcasting. Klobuchar, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, discussed the roles radio and television stations play in Minnesota's rural communities. 'These rural stations are often the lifeblood of these communities when it comes to emergency alerts,' Klobuchar said, pointing to the station's coverage of air quality and wildfires in neighboring Canada. 'These are things that, they sound small, but they are what bring communities together,' she said. Klobuchar said on Wednesday that she has been contacted by former Republican state legislators in Minnesota who live in rural areas and sit on the boards of local TV stations. 'We know there's going to be some changes to the bill, so it's going to go back to the House. So I was disappointed in the vote last night. I think we should be asserting our power,' the Minnesota Democrat said. Senate Republicans argue that they have enough votes to pass the package, which would be another victory for President Trump, who signed his 'big, beautiful' reconciliation package into law on July 4. Russell Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, struck a side agreement with Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) to repurpose Interior Department money to aid around 28 radio stations in 14 states that broadcast on tribal lands. Minutes before Klobuchar spoke on Wednesday, Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) said that CPB, the nonprofit that helps to fund PBS and NPR, was 'an inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars.' 'I don't think that's the role of the federal government,' said the Texas Republican. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
