A Christian organization on Wednesday filed a lawsuit alleging OpenAI discriminated against it on religious grounds.
The suit, filed by the group Holy Sexuality, accuses the California-based tech company of denying its application for a nonprofit discount because of its Christian beliefs. Represented by Alliance Defending Freedom, Holy Sexuality says that OpenAI’s policies violate California law, which prevents businesses from treating customers differently based on their religion. 
“This is a lawsuit that is purely focused on corporate discrimination against a nonprofit because of its religious character,&#8221; Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives Ryan Bangert told The Daily Wire. &#8220;The idea that corporations would discriminate against their customers solely because of their customers’ religious faith is really troubling, and in this case, it violates a California state law.”
Holy Sexuality is a Christian organization that promotes biblical views on marriage and sexuality. Its founder, Dr. Christopher Yuan, says that he applied for the 20% ChatGPT discount offered by OpenAI to nonprofits, but was told his organization didn&#8217;t qualify because it was religious.
“Our nation was founded on the principle of the free exercise of religion—a cornerstone of our democracy,” Yuan said. “Yet some corporations, emboldened by intersectional ideology and anti-Christian sentiment, choose to unlawfully discriminate based solely on religion. This must stop.&#8221;
Goodstack — a software company that works with OpenAI to verify groups&#8217; nonprofit status — is named alongside OpenAI. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, says that the two tech companies violated California&#8217;s Unruh Civil Rights Act, which says that businesses treat all customers equally regardless of their religious beliefs. 
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=memorial&amp;utm_content=editorialmemorialday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Memorial Day Sale – Get 40% Off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
On its website, OpenAI notes that religious organizations do not qualify for its nonprofit discount, though it doesn&#8217;t explain why.
&#8220;Nonprofit discounts are available to eligible nonprofits based anywhere in the world. At this time, academic, medical, religious, or governmental institutions are not eligible for OpenAI for Nonprofits,&#8221; OpenAI <a href="https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9359041-openai-for-nonprofits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">says</a>.
Bangert says that this policy is a &#8220;brazen&#8221; example of religious discrimination.
“This categorical denial, OpenAI’s published policy, and Goodstack’s enforcement of that policy are invidious religious discrimination,” the suit says. “People of faith aren’t second-class citizens in California, and tech companies cannot provide lesser services to customers simply because they are religious.”
The suit asks a judge to declare that the tech companies violated the Unruh Civil Rights Act, that OpenAI&#8217;s denial of a religious organization&#8217;s nonprofit status violates California law, and to issue an injunction blocking OpenAI from enforcing its policy toward religious organizations.
Holy Sexuality won a similar victory last month after it challenged software company Asana over a policy it had in place denying discounts to religious organizations. Asana agreed to offer Holy Sexuality the same 50% discount it gives to other nonprofits after a lawsuit from the Alliance Defending Freedom was filed.

TOPSHOT-US-TECHNOLOGY-AI-MICROSOFT-COMPUTERS

EXCLUSIVE: Christian Group Accuses OpenAI Of ‘Brazen’ Religious Discrimination

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF)

Big Tech

California

Christianity

Discrimination

Religious Liberty

More than two weeks after President Donald Trump announced a 100% tariff on movies produced outside of the United States, Los Angeles Democratic Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order on Tuesday that she says will cut red tape and make it easier for entertainment professionals to film in her city.
The move comes after production has shifted dramatically toward different locations outside the city, including U.S.-based filming spots and foreign countries where it’s cheaper and easier to make movies and television shows.
“We are going to fight now,” Bass <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/20/movies/los-angeles-film-industry.html">said</a>. “While we push for the tax credits to be passed in Sacramento, we need to do what we can today to impact building in Los Angeles.
“The City is taking bold action to support our legacy industry,” she continued. “Keeping entertainment production in L.A. means keeping good-paying jobs in L.A., and that’s what we are fighting for.”
Specific popular locations in L.A., which she says will be easier for filmmakers to access, include the Griffith Observatory, the L.A. Central Library, and the Port of Los Angeles, among others. The directive also reduces the number of city employees who must be on-site during filming down to one. 
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=memorial&amp;utm_content=editorialmemorialday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Memorial Day Sale – Get 40% Off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
The move comes after President Trump made <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-movie-industry-is-dying-puts-plan-in-place-to-save-it">headlines</a> saying Hollywood was dying a &#8220;very fast death,&#8221; calling incentives from other countries to produce movies outside of the United States &#8220;a national security threat.&#8221; 
“Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States. Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social earlier this month.
“It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda! Therefore, I am authorizing the Department of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative, to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands,” he added. “WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!”

Karen Bass

Weeks After Trump’s Film Tariff, L.A. Mayor Issues Order To Bring Productions Back To Hollywood

Business

Donald Trump

Economy

Entertainment

Film

Los Angeles

This week, the Republican-controlled Senate aims to dismantle the former Biden administration&#8217;s move giving California room to implement a green agenda for cars across the country, Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) announced on Tuesday.
During <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4856qr2PN0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remarks</a> on the Senate floor, Thune said the upper chamber will take up Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions to overturn Clean Air Act preemption waivers the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted to California, which <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/12/18/epa-california-electric-vehicles-waiver" target="_blank" rel="noopener">allowed</a> it to proceed with a plan to ban the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035.
The waivers allowed California &#8220;to dictate emissions standards for the whole country – effectively imposing a nationwide electric vehicle mandate,&#8221; said Thune, who called the state&#8217;s rules an &#8220;improper expansion of a limited Clean Air Act authority and would endanger consumers, our economy, and our nation’s energy supply.&#8221;
A key conflict is whether the CRA, which allows bypassing a filibuster to undo regulations, applies to the waivers. Both the Senate <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5233436-senate-parliamentarian-says-lawmakers-cant-overturn-california-car-rules-but-republicans-may-try-anyway/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">parliamentarian</a> and Government Accountability Office (<a href="https://www.gao.gov/products/b-337179" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GAO</a>) have assessed the waivers are not rules that qualify.
But the Senate is poised to press forward, as Thune contended the EPA submitted the waivers as rules. He also noted the GOP-led House already <a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2025114?Date=05%2F01%2F2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voted</a> to pass a Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval with the support of 35 Democrats, and did so &#8220;without objection from the House parliamentarian.&#8221;
Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA), the top Democrat for the Committee on Rules and Administration and a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, declared in a <a href="https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-places-holds-on-epa-nominees-until-republicans-cease-efforts-to-abuse-the-cra-to-revoke-californias-clean-air-act-waivers/#:~:text=But%20if%20my%20Republican%20colleagues,the%20CRA%2C%E2%80%9D%20added%20Senator%20Padilla" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> that he was placing a hold on EPA nominees until Republicans back off and warned of future consequences if the GOP refuses to relent.
“None of these actions are rules, which is why they’ve never been submitted to Congress as rules,&#8221; Padilla said. &#8220;But if my Republican colleagues open this door and overturn the Parliamentarian’s wise safeguards on this type of abuse, there would be no practical limit, and the Senate could be forced to vote repeatedly on such matters that are clearly not ‘rules’ notwithstanding the plain language of the CRA.&#8221;
Thune suggested there will soon be repercussions for GAO, which <a href="https://www.gao.gov/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bills</a> itself as being an independent and non-partisan agency that &#8220;works for&#8221; Congress, because of the stance it took on the CRA in the California waiver debate.
&#8220;It is true that we are facing something of a novel situation,&#8221; Thune said. &#8220;Because for the first time ever, the Government Accountability Office has decided to insert itself into the process and affirmatively declare that an agency rule submitted to Congress as a rule is not a rule. It’s an extraordinary deviation from precedent for an agency that should be defending Congress’ power instead of constraining it.&#8221;
He added: &#8220;And frankly &#8230; I think we need to act to ensure that this intrusion into the Congressional Review Act process doesn’t become a habit, and that the Senate doesn’t end up transferring its decision-making power on CRA resolutions to the Government Accountability Office. That’s why this week I intend to bring the question of GAO’s unprecedented interference to the floor.&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Thune: Senate to Overturn California Waiver Rules" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w4856qr2PN0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Senate Majority Leader John Thune

Senate Gears Up To Stop California’s 2035 Gas Vehicle Sales Ban

Cars

Congress

Electric cars

Environment

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

John Thune

Politics

U.S. Senate

A California high school girl track and field athlete didn’t let the fact that a boy had stolen her championship deter her, and waited until the boy stepped off the podium to step up herself, stand up on the podium, and claim her rightful place as the winner.
Reese Hogan, 16, from Crean Lutheran High School, finished second place in the triple jump behind AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley, a boy who claims to be a girl, at the CIF Southern Section Finals on Saturday. Hernandez jumped 41 feet, four inches, more than four feet farther than Hogan’s 37 feet, 2 inches. To make the difference clearer, third-place finisher Sofia Jara’s 36 feet, five inches was only 9 inches behind Hogan, and fourth-place finisher Kezia Gavlak jumped 35 feet, 11 inches, only six inches behind Jara. “Hernandez currently holds the state&#8217;s top marks in long jump (20-1.5) and triple jump (41-4) in girls track and field,” Sports Illustrated <a href="https://www.si.com/high-school/california/transgender-athlete-wins-cif-track-and-field-titles-in-girls-high-school-events-01jvmqrckp7b">noted</a>.
After Hernandez stepped off the podium, Hogan seized the moment, walked onto the first-place spot, smiled, and proudly posed for a picture.
“When the boy got off the podium, she assumed her rightful spot as champion. The crowd erupts with applause. THIS is the way. Congrats to Reese Hogan, the REAL champ!!!” women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines cheered.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
When the boy got off the podium, she assumed her rightful spot as champion. The crowd erupts with applause.
THIS is the way.
Congrats to Reese Hogan, the REAL champ!!! <a href="https://t.co/KiEm2yV2YY">https://t.co/KiEm2yV2YY</a> <a href="https://t.co/hqGdikES29">pic.twitter.com/hqGdikES29</a>
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) <a href="https://twitter.com/Riley_Gaines_/status/1924193952590160100?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
On May 10, at the CIF Southern Section Division 3 Prelims at Yorba Linda High School, Hogan joined other girl athletes who donned t-shirts that said, “Protect Girls Sports.” Officials at the track meet reportedly made the girls change their shirts.
The day before, JSerra Catholic High School, Orange Lutheran High School, and Crean Lutheran High School wrote a letter to the CIF in which they stated:
<blockquote>For young women, CIF&#8217;s Gender Identity Policy means lost opportunities and an unlevel playing field. The consequences of this Policy will be felt this weekend as CIF&#8217;s state semi-final competitions for track and field events take place. Star female athletes, some of whom attend our schools, will soon compete in multiple track and field events against a male athlete who self- identifies as a female. If their respective regular-season performances are any indication, the male student will trounce his female competitors, depriving them of opportunities for advancement in tournaments, state championships, performance records, and potentially even college scholarships. Some of our female athletes have indicated they will not compete in their events to protest the injustice of this situation. This result makes it clear that the CIF Gender Identity Policy deprives women of the equal opportunities required by Title IX. Worse still, in some sports, the CIF Gender Identity Policy jeopardizes the physical safety of female student athletes.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Here is their letter to CIF. <a href="https://t.co/AfDpisJk6x">pic.twitter.com/AfDpisJk6x</a>
— Julie Hamill (@hamill_law) <a href="https://twitter.com/hamill_law/status/1920999049236267298?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Athlets on Podium

After Boy Beats Her In Triple Jump, High School Track Athlete Takes ‘Her Rightful Spot As Champion’

Girls

High School

High school sports

Social Issues

Transgender

transgender athlete

Transgender Athletes

Women Sports

Women's sports

Authorities have identified the deceased suspect in a vehicle explosion outside a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, over the weekend, which they are treating as an act of domestic terrorism.
The suspect is Guy Edward Bartkus, 25, of nearby Twentynine Palms, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli <a href="https://x.com/USAttyEssayli/status/1924155038236365096" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> in a Sunday post on X.
&#8220;Bartkus is believed to be the individual who is deceased at the scene. Investigators are working to positively identify the remains,&#8221; Essayli said. &#8220;An anti pro-life manifesto believed to be authored by the suspect has been located and is being examined by the FBI.&#8221;
He continued: &#8220;We are happy to report that no embryos at the IVF center were damaged by the explosion. This case is being treated as an intentional act of domestic terrorism. The investigation is ongoing.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Palm Springs Explosion Update:
We can now confirm the identity of the suspect is Guy Edward Bartkus, 25, of 29 Palms.
Bartkus is believed to be the individual who is deceased at the scene. Investigators are working to positively identify the remains.
An anti pro-life…
— U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) <a href="https://twitter.com/USAttyEssayli/status/1924155038236365096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
A vehicle exploded on Saturday in a parking lot outside of the American Reproductive Centers (ARC) facility, ARC said in post on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanReproductiveCenters" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a>. The Los Angeles Times <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-05-18/palm-springs-clinic-bombing-authorities-probe-suspect-motive" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that there was &#8220;extensive damage&#8221; to the ARC clinic and vitro fertilization lab at the location, as well as blown-out windows in buildings blocks away.
While several people were <a href="https://ktla.com/news/local-news/person-of-interest-in-palm-springs-ivf-clinic-explosion-is-dead-officials-say/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> injured in the blast, ARC said no members of its team were harmed. ARC further shared that all eggs, embryos, and reproductive materials remained &#8220;fully secure and undamaged&#8221; in the lab.
In a post on X, the FBI&#8217;s Los Angeles field office said the vehicle in the explosion was a silver Ford Fusion sedan with the plate 8HWS848. The bureau also <a href="https://x.com/FBILosAngeles/status/1924160131798839439" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released</a> a photo of the suspect and requested the public share with it any information or upload any relevant video and images.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The FBI has identified Guy Edward Bartkus, 25, of 29 Palms as the primary suspect in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PalmSprings?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PalmSprings</a> vehicle explosion. The vehicle was a silver Ford Fusion sedan, plate 8HWS848. Please call 1800 CALLFBI with information or upload relevant video/images at <a href="https://t.co/CnxyRN1YIv">https://t.co/CnxyRN1YIv</a> <a href="https://t.co/dYAG26xCYY">pic.twitter.com/dYAG26xCYY</a>
— FBI Los Angeles (@FBILosAngeles) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBILosAngeles/status/1924160131798839439?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
A search warrant was executed at a location in Twentynine Palms in connection to the explosion, Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBI&#8217;s Los Angeles field office, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/palm-springs-explosion-riverside-county-southern-california/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a press conference. He also stressed that officials did not believe there was an ongoing threat to the community despite some residents being evacuated in the area.
Davis additionally mentioned that Bartkus &#8220;had nihilistic ideations and this was a targeted attack&#8221; against the fertility clinic. He noted later: &#8220;We believe he was attempting to livestream it and, yes, that is also part of our investigation.&#8221;
ARC said it &#8220;will be fully operational on Monday morning, and our team is here to answer any concerns you may have,&#8221; adding, &#8220;We appreciate the incredible support from our patients and local community, as well as the swift action of Palm Springs Police, Fire, and emergency responders.&#8221;

Explosion Near Fertility Clinic In Palm Springs, CA Leaves One Dead

Suspected Fertility Clinic Bomber Had ‘Anti Pro-Life Manifesto,’ Authorities Say

Crime

Department of Justice

Explosion

Terrorism

U.S.

A liberal billionaire with a long history of funding left-wing organizations has been accused of repeatedly sexually harassing a former employee, according to a new lawsuit.
Hansjorg Wyss, the 89-year-old Swiss billionaire who has dumped heaps of cash behind liberal organizations in the United States, stands <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/wine/article/hansjorg-wyss-halter-ranch-lawsuit-20327267.php">accused</a> of harassing a former employee of a winery in Paso Robles, California, that he owns.
Madison Busby, a former project manager at Halter Ranch Winery, alleges that Wyss groped her, exposed himself to her, and told her stories about his sexual activities, including “his many sexual affairs outside his marriage.” The lawsuit goes on to claim that Wyss, who critics say <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bill-aims-to-close-loopholes-to-ensure-u-s-elections-are-free-from-foreign-influence">supplied</a> a left-wing dark money organization with hundreds of millions of dollars and poured <a href="https://freebeacon.com/issues/memo-reveals-100-million-effort-by-clinton-foundation-donor/">another $100 million</a> into an effort to bolster the Democrat Party&#8217;s electoral chances, even suggested that Busby and her husband engage in group sex with him and another woman.
Then, Busby says, the leftist billionaire retaliated against her after she rejected his sexual advances. Busby’s lawyer says that Wyss’ harassment of his client caused her emotional distress and financial damage in the form of lost wages.
“Madison has suffered severe emotional distress from the harassment which took place over the course of many years, and also from lost wages and then future damages,” Busby’s attorney John Ly said. “She’s been harmed immensely.” The complaint alleges that Wyss even admitted to Busby in 2022 that “if you ever went after me for sexual harassment, you would win.”
Halter Ranch denies the claims of the lawsuit against its owner. “The allegations in the complaint are not true and we intend to vigorously advance the facts that surround their time at the winery and their departure,” the winery said in response to the complaint.
Busby and her husband Bryce Mullins lived in a house on the Halter Ranch property, the complaint says, adding that Wyss would stay at the house with them when he was in town. But when the couple got married and had a baby, they moved into a smaller house on the property that wasn’t large enough for Wyss to stay with them on his trips. Then Wyss charged the couple $1,650 a month in rent instead of the usual $300 per month, the lawsuit says.
Then when Busby voluntarily resigned and filed her complaint against Wyss, Mullins’ employment at Halter Ranch was allegedly terminated.
Mullins filed a claim of his own, alleging that Wyss failed to honor an agreement that would have provided Mullins with equity in Halter Ranch that eventually would have been worth $30 million.

Hansjorg Wyss with Bloomberg

Left-Wing Mega-Donor Accused Of Sexually Harassing Employee

Billionaire

Courts

Donors

Lawsuit

Republicans in the GOP-led House are struggling to reach an agreement for the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap being considered for President Donald Trump&#8217;s &#8220;one big, beautiful bill.&#8221;
In the 389-page tax package <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trumps-one-big-beautiful-bill-gets-no-tax-on-tips-and-overtime" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released</a> on Monday, there was a provision to increase the SALT deduction cap to $30,000 for individuals earning $400,000 or less, up from the current $10,000 limit from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that is set to expire at the end of this year.
The House Ways and Means Committee advanced the tax measure in a 26-19 vote along party lines on Wednesday morning, but Republicans from high-tax blue states such as New York, New Jersey, and California are fighting for a higher ceiling.
After Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) posted on X a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-works-fry-cooker-at-mcdonalds-roasts-kamala-ive-now-worked-15-minutes-more-than-she-has" target="_blank" rel="noopener">photo</a> of Trump at McDonald&#8217;s and saying, &#8220;Thanks for playing, @WaysMeansCmte,&#8221; Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) <a href="https://x.com/lawler4ny/status/1922652928638173652" target="_blank" rel="noopener">replied</a>, &#8220;You forgot to add SALT with those fries, Chairman.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
You forgot to add SALT with those fries, Chairman. 🧂 🍟 <a href="https://t.co/QhGAUZjxla">https://t.co/QhGAUZjxla</a>
— Mike Lawler (@lawler4ny) <a href="https://twitter.com/lawler4ny/status/1922652928638173652?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
GOP lawmakers who want a SALT deduction cap increase have star power in Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who is considering a run for New York governor after Trump pulled her nomination to become U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. She joined other New York Republicans for a May 8 statement that <a href="https://x.com/theblaze/status/1922021280120766600" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warned</a> a flat $30,000 SALT deduction cap would not get their support.
&#8220;[It] risks derailing President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill,&#8221; they said. &#8220;New Yorkers already send far more to Washington than we get back — unlike many so-called &#8216;low-tax&#8217; states that depend heavily on federal largesse. A higher SALT cap isn’t a luxury. It’s a matter of fairness. We reject this offer.&#8221;
Some House conservatives, who are focused on cutting how much the federal government spends and reining in a national debt that is approaching $37 trillion, have voiced reservations about the SALT deduction cap.
&#8220;The top Congressional districts taking advantage of SALT (State &amp; Local Tax) deductions (i.e., they have high state &amp; local taxes on high incomes. Mostly Dem, heavily CA, Swamp (MD, VA), &amp; NY,&#8221; Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) <a href="https://x.com/chiproytx/status/1917715364605223414" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post on X last month. &#8220;In fairness, property taxes in TX are horrible, but we shouldn’t subsidize that either!&#8221;
Democrats are pushing in the opposite direction.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) <a href="https://x.com/hakeemjeffries/status/1920839627113480620" target="_blank" rel="noopener">indicated</a> that he would rather not have a SALT deduction cap at all, as it was before the 2017 tax law, saying on X that Republicans &#8220;must now fully restore it or be completely exposed for their phony advocacy.&#8221;
The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/05/14/us-news/house-lawmakers-debate-medicaid-reform-salt-deductions-caps-in-contentious-marathon-markup-sessions-for-trumps-big-beautiful-bill/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) offered an amendment to increase the SALT deduction cap to $80,000 and pay for it by raising the tax rate on top earners from 37% to 39.6%, but that proposal was rejected by the Ways and Means Committee.
Trump himself seems to be on board with a change.
During the 2024 campaign, Trump <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/17/trump-salt-tax-law.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> on Truth Social that he would &#8220;get SALT back.&#8221; CNBC <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/12/salt-deduction-trumps-tax-cuts.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a> that after Trump began his second term, he told Fox News that he would &#8220;love to see something happen on SALT.&#8221;
Lawmakers will now have to negotiate a resolution before the tax package is added to other parts of the &#8220;one big, beautiful bill&#8221; and a final vote by the full House. Republicans have a <a href="https://pressgallery.house.gov/member-data/party-breakdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">220-213 majority</a>, meaning there can only be a few defectors for the bill to pass if all Democrats vote against it.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) reportedly <a href="https://x.com/thehill/status/1922650573746082114" target="_blank" rel="noopener">predicted</a> that Republicans would need until the weekend to reach a deal on SALT. He&#8217;s been gunning to have the House finish up with the overall spending bill by Memorial Day.
&#8220;We have a delicate balance to maintain to get 218 votes on one of the largest and most comprehensive and complex pieces of legislation that&#8217;s ever been drafted by Congress,&#8221; Johnson said, per a <a href="https://x.com/mychaelschnell/status/1922654897213673641" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a> on X from a congressional journalist. &#8220;So yeah, my concern is always the vote total, but I&#8217;m very confident that we&#8217;ll be able to deliver that.&#8221;

President Trump

This Tax Deduction Cap Threatens To Derail Trump’s ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’

Chip Roy

Elise Stefanik

New Jersey

New York

Spending Bill

Taxes

U.S. House of Representatives

California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is pushing to freeze enrollment for illegal immigrants in the state&#8217;s free health care program.
Newsom&#8217;s 2025-2026 revised budget proposal, which is set to be released later on Wednesday, plans to block new adult applications from illegal immigrants to the Medi-Cal program as soon as January 1, the Los Angeles Times <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-05-14/newsom-walks-back-free-healthcare-for-undocumented-immigrants" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. The governor, who previously expanded Medi-Cal from going to children of low-income illegal immigrants to making it available to all income-eligible illegal immigrants, is now concerned about cutting back on California&#8217;s spending as the state faces a budget deficit. The expanded free health program has cost billions more than the state expected.
In addition to freezing enrollment at the beginning of next year, Newsom also wants to begin charging illegal immigrants who remain in the program $100 a month, starting in 2027, The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/14/us/california-newsom-healthcare-budget.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. Newsom&#8217;s office says the change will save California $5.4 billion through 2028-2029.
Last year, California became the <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Health/california-1st-state-offer-health-insurance-undocumented-immigrants/story?id=105986377" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first state</a> to offer free health insurance to illegal immigrants, but the program quickly ballooned as more joined than the state had expected, according to the L.A. Times. California lawmakers and Gov. Newsom recently approved a $3.4 billion loan to pay for the expanded program&#8217;s extra expenses through June. It&#8217;s the third straight year that Newsom and Democratic lawmakers have been forced to cut spending after allocating more money for big government programs than the state has available to spend.
Newsom has also blamed President Donald Trump&#8217;s tariffs for hurting California&#8217;s economy, projecting that the state would lose $16 billion in revenue between 2025 and 2026.
Newsom&#8217;s revised budget proposal also comes as the Trump administration targets state-funded programs for illegal immigrants. Earlier this week, the Department of Homeland Security <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/05/12/department-homeland-security-investigates-state-california-providing-federal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> an investigation into California&#8217;s program that hands out cash assistance to elderly illegal immigrants who are ineligible for Social Security because of their immigration status. The Trump administration is pushing to &#8220;make sure those in this country illegally are not receiving federal benefits or other financial incentives to stay illegally.&#8221;
“Radical left politicians in California prioritize illegal aliens over our own citizens, including by giving illegal aliens access to cash benefits,” said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. “The Trump Administration is working together to identify abuse and exploitation of public benefits and make sure those in this country illegally are not receiving federal benefits or other financial incentives to stay illegally. If you are an illegal immigrant, you should leave now. The gravy train is over. While this subpoena focuses only on Los Angeles County – it is just the beginning.”

Gavin Newsom

Newsom Wants To Cut Back On Free Health Care Program That He Expanded To Illegal Immigrants

Health

Health Care

illegal immigrants

Illegal Immigration

Immigration

Trump Administration

A Los Angeles judge has resentenced the Menendez brothers to 50 years to life on Tuesday, making them eligible for parole and opening the door for their potential release from prison.
Lyle, 57, and Erik, 54, were originally sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 1996 for murdering their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in 1989 inside their Beverly Hills home. The brothers have justified the fatal shootings, claiming they endured sexual abuse from their father that went on for several years.
Both brothers read statements during the resentencing hearing.
&#8220;I committed an atrocious act. My actions were criminal, selfish and cowardly,&#8221; Erik said. &#8220;I have come a long way on this path [of redemption].” 
The case had received renewed interest after several high-profile entertainment projects were released, including a Netflix docuseries.
Judge Michael Jesic said he&#8217;d given the case &#8220;long thought.&#8221; While the judge described Lyle and Erik’s crime as &#8220;absolutely horrific,” he added that in his belief, they’ve been rehabilitated while in jail for the past three decades.
&#8220;Life without parole gives an inmate no hope, no reason to do anything good. And I give them a lot of credit. It&#8217;s remarkable what they did when they had no hope of getting out,&#8221; Jesic said.
Menendez brothers&#8217; attorney Mark Geragos said after the hearing, &#8220;I&#8217;m hopeful and glad that we&#8217;re one huge step closer to bringing the boys home.&#8221;
“This encourages people who are incarcerated to make the right decisions, to take the right path,&#8221; Geragos went on. &#8220;It&#8217;s just a win-win on so many levels.&#8221;
Former Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón initiated the resentencing process before losing his re-election bid to Nathan Hochman. In March, the new DA filed a motion to withdraw the resentencing petition, saying the self-defense claims were nothing but “lies,” according to ABC News.
&#8220;The Menendez brothers have failed to come clean with the full extent of their criminal conduct, their cover-up, their lies and their deceit,&#8221; Hochman said outside the courtroom on Tuesday.
Members of the Menendez family have mostly supported the brothers&#8217; resentencing bid. Their uncle, Milton Anderson, was the only family member to publicly oppose the effort. He died in March.

Menendez Brothers

Menendez Bros Win Resentencing Battle, Eligible For Parole

Beverly Hills

Los Angeles County

Murder

Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday called on cities to ban homeless encampments from public property, using billions in state funding as leverage.
The guidance from Newsom, an early contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, would prohibit people from placing tents on public property, including sidewalks, parks, and bike paths, while also banning individuals from sleeping on streets with sleeping bags or blankets for more than three consecutive days.
&#8220;There&#8217;s nothing compassionate about letting people die on the streets. Local leaders asked for resources — we delivered the largest state investment in history. They asked for legal clarity — the courts delivered,&#8221; Newsom <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/05/12/us-news/newsom-calls-to-ban-homeless-encampments-on-public-property/">said</a> in a statement, per the New York Post.
Enabled by last year&#8217;s Supreme Court <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/28/us/politics/supreme-court-homelessness.html">ruling</a> that upheld an Oregon law banning camping on public property, the guidance represents a notable shift in Newsom&#8217;s approach to managing homelessness.
&#8220;Now, we&#8217;re giving them a model they can put to work immediately, with urgency and with humanity, to resolve encampments and connect people to shelter, housing, and care. The time for inaction is over. There are no more excuses.&#8221;
However, Newsom&#8217;s ordinance specifies that no one &#8220;should face criminal punishment for sleeping outside when they have nowhere else to go,&#8221; and further requires city officials to &#8220;make every reasonable effort to identify and offer shelter&#8221; and services to encampment residents.
Newsom is unable to compel municipalities to implement the ban, but he has pledged approximately $3.3 billion in state funding to cities that adopt his guidance.
The model ordinance would allow for enforcement that officials hope could begin to reshape California&#8217;s urban landscape without running afoul of legal precedent, encouraged by California voters approving a Newsom-backed measure imposing strict requirements on counties to spend on housing and drug treatment programs to address homelessness.
A 2024 statewide audit <a href="https://calmatters.org/housing/homelessness/2024/04/california-homelessness-spending/">found</a> that Newsom’s government had spent $24 billion to address homelessness since 2019, only for the state to have a record homeless <a href="https://www.ppic.org/blog/homelessness-hits-record-high-in-california-jumps-dramatically-in-rest-of-us/">population</a> of 187,000, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.
Newsom&#8217;s rightward shift on homelessness has faced backlash from many progressives in the lead-up to the 2028 Democratic presidential primary, with the progressive Current Affairs magazine deeming Newsom &#8220;not a progressive.&#8221;
<div class="css-175oi2r">
<div class="css-175oi2r r-1s2bzr4">
<div id="id__nyh2uch1rqd" class="css-146c3p1 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-37j5jr r-1inkyih r-16dba41 r-bnwqim r-135wba7" dir="auto" lang="en" data-testid="tweetText">&#8220;Gavin Newsom isn’t fighting homelessness, he’s fighting homeless people. Banning encampments won’t fix the housing crisis, but it will make life more miserable for those with nowhere to go,&#8221; the magazine <a href="https://x.com/curaffairs/status/1921959173295591437">wrote</a> on X.</div>
</div>
</div>

California Governor Newsom Announces New Funding For Los Angeles Communities Affected By Wildfires

Newsom Calls On Cities To Clear Homeless Encampments Ahead Of 2028

Homelessness

San Francisco

One of President Donald Trump’s better qualities flies far under the radar. He doesn’t hold a grudge. That’s especially true when there’s a greater good in play.
Then-candidate Trump sparred aggressively with Fox News’ Megyn Kelly during the 2016 campaign. Late last year, Kelly endorsed Trump, speaking at a MAGA rally days before the Nov. 5 election.
The president once dubbed a presidential rival “Little” Marco Rubio. That politician is currently Trump’s trusted Secretary of State.
Now, Trump wants to make amends with Hollywood, an industry that loathes him with the heat of a thousand suns. This act of forgiveness dwarfs them all, but Trump sees movies as a vital part of the nation’s soft power as well as a critical industry.
<div id="attachment_877383" style="width: 873px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-877383" class="size-large wp-image-877383" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-877916002-863x576.jpg" alt="HOLLYWOOD, CA - DECEMBER 06: Donald Trump star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California on Dec. 6, 2016." width="863" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-877916002-863x576.jpg 863w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-877916002-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-877916002-768x513.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-877916002-1536x1026.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-877916002-2048x1368.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-877916002-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/02/GettyImages-877916002-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 863px) 100vw, 863px" />shalunts. Getty Images.</div>
It’s why Hollywood should swallow hard and play nice with President Trump. Or, at the very least, lend him its collective ear.
Trump’s shocking outreach began with, what else, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-movie-industry-is-dying-puts-plan-in-place-to-save-it" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a social media post</a>. He promised 100% tariffs on movies made outside of the U.S.
<blockquote>I am authorizing the Department of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative, to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands,” he added. “WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!&#8221;</blockquote>
All heck broke loose in La La Land, with entertainment news outlets spinning furiously against the vague proposal.
Call it Trump’s opening volley, part of the president’s knack for starting with big claims and negotiating from there. It’s similar to Trump’s earlier announcement that movie superstars Mel Gibson, Sylvester Stallone and Jon Voight would form a group of “Ambassadors” to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-appoints-a-list-stars-as-ambassadors-to-hollywood" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revive the flailing film industry.</a>
<blockquote>It will again be, like The United States of America itself, The Golden Age of Hollywood!</blockquote>
Except the news seemed to have caught the trio by surprise and, only recently, did one of the actors, Voight, step forward with <a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/news/jon-voight-trump-hollywood-tariff-1236390109/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">concrete plans</a> on making Hollywood great again.
<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/05/07/nx-s1-5389865/trump-movie-tariffs-jon-voight-tax-incentives-hollywood" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NPR described Voight’s vision</a> as “federal tax incentives, co-production treaties with other countries and subsidies for theater owners and film and TV production companies.”
<div id="attachment_861225" style="width: 987px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-861225" class="size-large wp-image-861225" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/Jon-Voight-977x576.jpg" alt="WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: Actor Jon Voight speaks at Donald Trump's victory rally on January 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. U.S. President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance will be sworn in on January 20. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)" width="977" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/Jon-Voight-977x576.jpg 977w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/Jon-Voight-300x177.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/Jon-Voight-768x453.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/Jon-Voight.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 977px) 100vw, 977px" />Scott Olson/Getty Images</div>
The “Midnight Cowboy” star acknowledged the rift between Trump and Hollywood, adding that it shouldn&#8217;t distract from the big picture.
“I think he’s been treated unfairly. I think I have too. But what’s the difference? Who cares?” Voight asks. “I mean, there’s been a battle, but now it’s time to put that aside. And I must say, in all of the interactions we’ve had [on addressing runaway production], politics has never come up. Never.”
Hollywood, Inc. would be foolish not to listen.
Yes, the box office came roaring back in recent weeks, courtesy of hits like “Sinners” and “A Minecraft Movie.” That doesn’t camouflage the sizable issues confronting movie studios, from the death of the modern movie star to escalating film budgets.
Case in point? The upcoming “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” has a <a href="https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2025/3/25/mission-impossible-8-has-a-400m-budget" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$400 million budget</a>, meaning it will have to dramatically out-perform the best films in the series to make a profit.
Hollywood’s problems would make a depressing feature.
Film and TV productions have been fleeing Los Angeles for some time. Streaming platforms have proven to be far less profitable than hoped, with Netflix emerging as the strongest money maker for now.
The DVD/Blu-ray gravy train slowed some time ago, removing a safety net for films that didn’t catch fire at theaters.
Dueling 2023 strikes hurt the industry more than anticipated, and the threat of A.I. to the creative community looms in the not-so-distant future. Social media, YouTube and other distractions now dominate the culture, making young consumers <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/deloitte-gen-z-creator-content-streaming-price-1236171227/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">less invested in Hollywood product</a>.
Meanwhile, California Democrats are <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2025-05-06/newsom-called-for-a-federal-tax-incentive-to-save-hollywood-but-will-that-actually-happen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scrambling to prevent productions</a> from leaving the City of Angels for more receptive states and countries. That’s left countless Calif.-based crew members desperate for work. <a href="https://variety.com/2025/biz/news/new-york-film-subsidy-jersey-1236392167/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York just followed suit</a>.
Hollywood players hate Trump so much some wish they could erase his presence from pop culture of yore. “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” <a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/news/home-alone-2-director-trump-cameo-removed-1236369779/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">director said just that about Trump’s seconds-long cameo</a> in his 1992 film.
<div id="attachment_908099" style="width: 832px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-908099" class="size-large wp-image-908099" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Donald-Trump-Macauley-Culkin-822x576.jpg" alt="Macaulay Culkin" width="822" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Donald-Trump-Macauley-Culkin-822x576.jpg 822w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Donald-Trump-Macauley-Culkin-300x210.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Donald-Trump-Macauley-Culkin-768x538.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/Donald-Trump-Macauley-Culkin.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 822px) 100vw, 822px" />Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images</div>
Others have alternately <a href="https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/louis-c-k-donald-trump-insane-bigot-dangerous-1201723679/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dubbed him Hitler</a> or <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/celebrities-wished-trump-dead/">wished him dead</a>. That sentiment may be hard to overcome.
The perfect storm of problems facing Hollywood may be too much for any presidential plan to solve. Gen Z’s drift away from movie watching can’t be assuaged by new policies. Stars still insist on <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/fantastic-four-rachel-zegler-problem/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">insulting potential customers</a>, from “Snow White’s” Rachel Zegler to the cast of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.”
The two sides need to put aside their differences for the greater good. A healthy film market impacts more than just studio executives, theater owners and various crew members.
Hollywood movies send a message to the world. Films like “The Pursuit of Happyness” (2006) showcase the power of the American capitalist system. Others promote values like individual liberty (2012’s “Still Mine”) and triumphs over adversity (2016’s “Hidden Figures”).
It’s why China invests so heavily in its movie industry. The Communist nation wants to put the nation’s best foot forward on the big screen, removing sequences from foreign films that cast the country in a negative light.
President Trump may not make Hollywood great again. He could help the industry thrive against all odds.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

TOPSHOT-US-POLITICS-TRUMP

Trump Wants To Make Hollywood Great Again — Will The Industry Listen?

Hollywood

Jon Voight

Mel Gibson

Movies

Netflix

New York City

Sylvester Stallone

A 48-year-old Mississippi man accused of stalking actress Jennifer Aniston and crashing his PT Cruiser through the front gate of her Los Angeles home showed up to court on Thursday shirtless and wrapped in a blanket, leading the presiding judge to order a mental evaluation.
Jimmy Wayne Carwyle, who did not speak during his court appearance, pleaded not guilty to felony charges of stalking and vandalism through his public defender. Prosecutors allege that Carwyle has harassed Aniston for two years with voicemails, emails, and social media messages, referring to Aniston as his wife in some posts.
“You are not to have any contact with Jennifer Aniston under any conditions,” the judge said, per the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/jennifer-aniston-stalking-case-e17d66ca3fe201400c33049d5bf4c7a8">Associated Press</a>.
Proceedings were suspended due to Carwyle’s mental health status. His next hearing is scheduled for May 22 in mental health court. He will remain in jail until that time.
The gate-crashing incident occurred on Monday. Carwyle was arrested by LAPD around 12:30 p.m. after private security guards detained him outside Aniston&#8217;s home. Prosecutors said the accused caused “substantial damage&#8221; to the property.
Fox News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/jennifer-anistons-alleged-gate-crasher-charged-felony-stalking">reported</a> that he had been living in a Walmart parking lot in Los Angeles for several months. The outlet also noted that Carwyle was an auto mechanic and that his friends have said they’re concerned that he’s having a “mental breakdown.”
&#8220;Stalking is a crime that can quickly escalate from harassment to dangerous, violent actions, threatening the safety of victims and our communities,&#8221; Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said. &#8220;My office is committed to aggressively prosecuting those who stalk and terrorize others, ensuring they are held accountable.&#8221;
Aniston&#8217;s attorney, who was at Thursday’s hearing, declined to comment on the proceedings. 
The actress bought her mid-century style mansion in L.A.&#8217;s Bel Air neighborhood for about $21 million in 2012.
Aniston shot to fame while starring on the hit sitcom “Friends,” which aired from 1994 until 2004. She currently stars in “The Morning Show” on Apple TV+.
&nbsp;

Aniston and Carwyle

Jennifer Aniston’s Alleged Stalker Shows Up To Court Shirtless, Wrapped In Blanket

Jennifer Aniston

stalker

Vandalism

Menu