Latest news with #TheBig
Leaders
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Leaders
‘Big Beautiful Bill' Renews Trump-Musk Clash
The feud between the US President, Donald Trump, and the tech billionaire, Elon Musk, has resurfaced again over Trump's spending bill, known as the 'Big, Beautiful Bill.' Musk lashed out against the new bill, threatening to unseat Republican lawmakers who support the tax cuts and spending bill and to form a new political party if the bill passes in the Senate. Musk's Warning In a series of posts on X, Musk on Monday warned lawmakers who support Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' as the Senate was debating the bill before a final vote. He criticized Republican lawmakers who voted for the bill, suggesting that he would support primary challenges against Republicans who backed the bill. '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! And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth,' he said. Musk has criticized the bill due to its 'insane' spending levels, attacking a provision in the Senate version of the bill that would raise the debt ceiling by $5 trillion. He also slammed the bill's cuts to green energy subsidies, calling it 'utter madness' that could 'destroy millions of jobs in America,' according to CBS News. New Party Musk ramped up his threats by announcing that he would form a new party if the bill passes – an idea he floated earlier this month. 'If this insane spending bill passes, the America Party will be formed the next day. Our country needs an alternative to the Democrat-Republican uniparty so that the people actually have a VOICE,' he wrote. He doubled down on the idea in a separate post: 'It is obvious with the insane spending of this bill, which increases the debt ceiling by a record FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS that we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!! Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people.' The tech billionaire backed Trump and other Republicans in their election campaigns last year with an estimated $250 million. However, he suggested last month that he would scale back his political spending, saying 'I think I've done enough.' In early June, Musk also lashed out against Trump over the legislation, calling it a 'disgusting abomination,' engaging in a feud with the US President for days, before backing down in mid-June and acknowledging that his attacks 'went too far.' He once again intensified his criticism in recent days as the bill approaches a final approval. The Big, Beautiful Bill The US Senate held a marathon vote session, known as 'vote-a-rama,' on amendments to the 'One Big, Beautiful Bill Act' – a sweeping tax cuts and spending package. Senators hope to get approval of the bill and send it to the President's desk to sign it by the Fourth of July, according to CNN. However, their version of the bill must comply with certain Senate-specific budget reconciliation rules and get enough support before passing back to the House. According to a congressional budget office estimate, the Senate bill will add around $3.3 trillion to the deficit over the next decade. On the other hand, the House-approved bill will add $2.4 trillion to the deficit over the same period. The Senate bill includes further tax cuts, less spending cuts, and provisions that will raise revenue. The House narrowly passed its own version of the bill in May. However, the two chambers have to approve one text before sending it to Trump. Trump's Response The US President accused Tesla and SpaceX CEO of opposing the bill because he would lose electric vehicle (EV) and solar energy subsidies granted under the federal electric vehicle tax credits – a program that the new bill would end. In a post on Truth Social, Trump defended his position, saying: 'Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly Endorsed me for President, that I was strongly against the EV Mandate. It is ridiculous, and was always a major part of my campaign. Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one.' Trump also threatened Musk, suggesting that he would order the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which Musk once spearheaded, to look at other subsidies that the billionaire benefits from. 'Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa. No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE. Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!' Trump noted. Short link : Post Views: 8
Miami Herald
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Crowds gather in DC for Trump military parade amid nationwide ‘No Kings' protests
WASHINGTON - Thousands of President Donald Trump's supporters descended on the nation's capital Saturday for a parade marking the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army, a rare spectacle of military hardware and uniformed soldiers filing down American streets. The festivities, scheduled to coincide with Trump's 79th birthday as well as Flag Day, drew as much MAGA paraphernalia as American flags to Constitution Avenue. Attendees who spoke with The Times all expressed support for the president. But outside the expansive security perimeter for the event, in downtown Washington and beyond in cities across the country, demonstrations of the "No Kings" movement against Trump's rule countered Trump's military display with a show of defiance. The pageantry of equipment, and of troops rallying around the commander in chief, comes amid a fierce battle in federal court over Trump's use of the armed forces, one week after he federalized the National Guard and deployed it to Los Angeles. A federal judge on Thursday ruled that the National Guard deployment violated the law. Trump had sought a military parade ever since his first term, when he fawned over the sight of a military march down the Champs-Élysées during a Bastille Day celebration in Paris. Saturday's event, according to an Army spokesperson, will cost between $25 million and $45 million, depending on how much damage the tanks inflict on D.C. roads. Ahead of the start of the parade on Saturday, visitors posed alongside tanks, jeeps and other military vehicles parked along the Mall, part of a large "festival" area between the Capitol and the Washington Monument. Some expressed frustration with navigating the maze of security barriers, or confusion about where the festival area ended and where they could find the entrance to the separate parade route. One stand near the Mall had shirts reading, "The Big, Beautiful Military Parade," a reference to the similarly named spending bill that Trump has championed of late in Congress. After waiting in long lines, people cleared security checkpoints where they passed through metal detectors and had their bags - limited in size - checked by law enforcement. Inside, troops handed out bottled water for free from tents. "Take as many as you want," one said. "Stay hydrated." People who had entered along 14th Street near the Washington Monument rushed across the mall toward Constitution Avenue, where a grandstand played videos of military forces interspersed with images of Trump. People tired and hot from standing in line lay in the grass, clustered around trees for the shade. Paul Brown, a 57-year-old Army veteran, had driven to the event from Ohio. On Saturday, he wore a shirt that said, "Jesus is my savior. Trump is my president," and a hat reading, "Afghanistan War Veteran, U.S. Army." Brown said he served from 2010-16, and deployed to Afghanistan for nine months in 2012 and 2013 before being medically retired. He told The Times that the parade was a great thing. "I was in the Army, and it's nice to have somebody who gives a s- about the military, especially the commander in chief," he said. "And if other countries are watching, they'll see we can flex our muscles, too, if we have to." Of criticisms that such parades aren't commonly held in America, he said, "that's the problem - it's something America should have been doing." Members of the military die for this country, he said, and deserve to be honored. "It's the best thing in the world," he said. "This is history. I think this shows the military that we got a commander in chief who cares." Dozens of U.S. aircraft, hundreds of military vehicles, and thousands of soldiers are expected to take part in the parade, followed by a fireworks show. Both uniformed and plainclothes officers were seen practicing their march through the city on Friday morning. But the extent of Trump's participation is not entirely clear in light of the emerging crisis in the Middle East between Israel and Iran. While a handful of counterprotests are expected within the district itself, dozens are planned around the country. The "No Kings" protests, according to their organizers, are meant to counterprogram Trump's "made-for-TV display of dominance for his birthday." "Real power isn't staged in Washington," the group's website reads. "It rises up everywhere else." The Trump administration has said it welcomes peaceful protests throughout the country Saturday. But that White House commitment was called into question earlier this week, when a federal judge in California ruled that Trump had violated the law by federalizing the National Guard in response to largely peaceful demonstrations in Los Angeles protesting its immigration enforcement tactics. In the ruling, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer said he was "troubled by the implication" inherent in the Trump administration's argument that "protest against the federal government, a core civil liberty protected by the First Amendment, can justify a finding of rebellion." Trump wrested control over the National Guard troops from California Gov. Gavin Newsom to deploy 2,000 to Los Angeles after less than 24 hours of protests across the city. Thousands more were later called to Los Angeles, as were hundreds of Marines. Late Thursday, following an appeal by the administration, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals put Breyer's decision on hold, leaving the forces in L.A. under Trump's control as the litigation continues. The deployments of troops to march in D.C. were not challenged, though critics of the current administration have similarly criticized their presence in an American city - blasting the parade as the sort of spectacle more expected from a country such as North Korea. Constitution Avenue, where the parade will be held, was closed to traffic. Tourists wandered through openings in the gates, some lamenting the lengthy detours the barriers required - especially given the humidity and heat that pressed down on the city. City road closures and flight delays from nearby Reagan National Airport are expected throughout much of Saturday. There is also a chance it will rain on the president's parade, with thunderstorms, lightning and flash flooding forecast for the district. High chances of lightning, an Army spokesman said, could result in a cancellation of the festivities. But Trump addressed the weather forecasts on Saturday morning, writing on social media, "OUR GREAT MILITARY PARADE IS ON, RAIN OR SHINE. REMEMBER, A RAINY DAY PARADE BRINGS GOOD LUCK. I'LL SEE YOU ALL IN D.C." Small signs of protest against the Trump administration were already apparent around the Mall on Friday, though it was unclear when they'd been put up. One sign stuck to a utility box read, "Immigrants are not the enemy," while another read, "All You Fascists Bound to Lose." A man rode a bicycle along 14th Street near the Washington Monument holding up a large sign calling the president a "creep" and "unfit" - among other things. The security measures were similar to those put in place during other major events in Washington's downtown core - at least since Trump's supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in a failed attempt to keep Trump in office after his 2020 loss to President Joe Biden. The insurrection caused widespread damage to the Capitol and put many lawmakers at risk, but drew a decidedly different response from Trump than the recent protests in L.A. Shortly after he was reelected, Trump pardoned all of the Jan. 6 defendants. Jeanette Mangia, 46, stood on the National Mall on Saturday afternoon waiting for a friend - a "fellow J6er," as she put it. Mangia was among those charged with participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the nearby Capitol. She faced a dozen charges, including multiple assault charges, she said, and was in jail for seven months before Trump won reelection and pardoned her and all the other Jan. 6 defendants, which led to the case against her being dropped and her release. She had driven down from Pennsylvania for the parade. It was her first time back in Washington since her release, she said. "It feels kind of strange, know what I mean?" she said, pointing around the Mall. "I seen these streets every time I went back and forth to court" from jail. Mangia had a "Trump 2028" hat on, and said she wants him to run again - which the Constitution forbids - "if there's no better option." "He's the lesser of two evils, that's for sure," she said. She was hoping to meet up with a group of other so-called J6ers on Saturday to make some kind of statement about their deserving compensation for being jailed, she said. "Some people want millions. I don't want that," she added. "I just want to be made whole." Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How Indy keeps making doubters pay, including Jay-Z's failed $1M Thunder bet
Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine are back with this week's big number: 1 million dollars. That's how much Jay-Z allegedly wagered and then lost, when he placed a milly on OKC to win the Finals in 5 games. Indy won Game 3, which rendered that bet moot — and Indy added another victim to its pool of people that doubted them. Don't miss the guys break down the stats that prove Indy may very well be the better team, both offensively and defensively. Plus later in the show, Tom wonders if Kevin Durant could return to Oklahoma City — especially if the Thunder get packed up in 5 games! LEFT: Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) and Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton celebrate after Game 3 of the NBA Finals. RIGHT: Rapper Jay-Z looks on before a game between the Washington Commanders and the Dallas Cowboys. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy &) (AP Photo/Michael Conroy &) (1:10) The Big Number: $1,000,000 wager on OKC in 5 Advertisement (18:14) Little Numbers: Pacers record in first 25 games (23:50) Little Numbers: Indiana's MPH (29:15) Little Numbers: Pacers passes per game (32:41) Little Numbers: Indiana's defensive rating (37:14) Best landing spots for KD in trade 🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
National Black Farmers Association Condemn Proposal to Repeal Duty Drawback
"The Big, Beautiful Bill" Must Protect American Farmers, Protect Duty Drawback WASHINGTON, June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Representing 130,000 members, the National Black Farmers Association (NBFA) is calling on the U.S. Senate to protect all farmers, especially those who grow American tobacco, by removing the provision to repeal the duty drawback incentive for U.S. tobacco manufacturers from the budget reconciliation bill. "What logic suggests that 'making America great again' is achieved on the backs of American farmers? Growers in North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, and across our nation will be jeopardized if the duty drawback incentive does not remain in place," said 4th-generation black farmer John Boyd, Jr., founder and president of the NBFA. "To some, the incentive may seem minor. However, to my members and growers across America, protecting the duty drawback is of great significance. On behalf of the National Black Farmers Association, I humbly plead that legislators do not jeopardize the current American agricultural economy nor the future generations of American farmers." Without the support of duty drawback, the outlook for U.S. tobacco exports becomes increasingly grim. Additionally, domestic tobacco consumption has steadily declined over the past decade, adversely affecting American tobacco farmers. Kimberly Foley, Executive Director of Tobacco Associates, recently wrote to Members of Congress: "Export growth is not just our future, it's our present. Duty drawback plays a quiet but essential role in keeping U.S. leaf attractive on the international stage." Duty drawbacks are not loopholes—they are essential safeguards. Removing them would reverse over 200 years of trade policy designed to support American exports and bolster domestic manufacturing. Drawbacks stimulate domestic manufacturing in the states and ensure that U.S. leaf tobacco remains competitive in the international marketplace. If legislators remove the drawback incentive, this would lead to a decrease in US-grown tobacco crops. "The announcement of this proposed repeal was yet another blow to our industry. American farmers are already in a state of emergency due to tariffs and cuts from USAID. Tobacco has historically been a vital "cash crop," providing the financial means for farmers to cultivate other crops, such as sweet potatoes and peanuts, and helping farm families sustain their livelihoods. Keeping the duty drawback incentive in place protects American tobacco growers and fulfills the Administration's promise to support, rather than punish, farmers," President Boyd emphasized. The current House version of the legislation removes the Duty Drawback provision specifically for tobacco companies while preserving it for all other industries. Eliminating this incentive for American tobacco manufacturers would severely impact the farming of American tobacco crops. About The National Black Farmers Association (NBFA) is a nonprofit organization representing African American farmers and their families in the United States. As an association, it serves tens of thousands of members across the nation. The NBFA's education and advocacy efforts have been focused on civil rights, land retention, access to public and private loans, education, and agricultural training, as well as rural economic development for Black and other small farmers. For additional information, visit MEDIA CONTACT: Ayona Anderson 469-834-9500 396161@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE National Black Farmers Association Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Does Trump Actually Know What's Going on With the Budget?
Donald Trump claimed that his party was 'working nicely together,' just hours after House Republicans' infighting forced them to delay a vote on a multi-trillion dollar budget bill. 'Great News! 'The Big, Beautiful Bill' is coming along really well. Republicans are working together nicely. Biggest Tax Cuts in USA History!!! Getting close,' Trump wrote on Truth Social Thursday morning. House GOP members were anything but united. The night before, Republican Representative Rich McCormick told CNN's Manu Raju that there were still 15 Republican holdouts on the bill, which would provide the funding for Trump's sweeping agenda, including tax cuts and bolstering immigration initiatives. Representative Thomas Massie, who has become a regular holdout against Republican-backed government spending bills, said that a provision Republicans had added that would prevent efforts to roll back Trump's tariffs was 'illegal.' 'They used the Rules Committee resolution to circumvent U.S. law,' Massie told Raju. On Wednesday night, House Speaker Mike Johnson said he hadn't decided how best to rally Republican support behind the budget blueprint. 'We have a pretty well-developed playbook and it's got a number of plays in it and I just haven't made the call on which one it is yet,' he said. House Republicans are expected to vote again on the bill at 10:20 a.m. before setting off on a two-week recess.
