Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) was swiftly removed from the room after he began to interrupt a news conference being held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles, where the Trump administration has deployed National Guardsmen and U.S. Marines in response to violent anti-ICE protests.
The outburst started after Noem said federal officials would stay and &#8220;liberate&#8221; the city from the &#8220;socialist&#8221; and &#8220;burdensome&#8221; leadership of California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Padilla started trying to speak loudly, after which security quickly started pushing him out.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
BREAKING: California Democratic Senator <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexPadilla4CA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AlexPadilla4CA</a> just crashed DHS Secretary Noem’s press conference in LA and was forcibly removed. <a href="https://t.co/Q2sUWiImAM">pic.twitter.com/Q2sUWiImAM</a>
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillMelugin_/status/1933222907398008912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;I&#8217;m Sen. Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary!&#8221; the Democrat cried as he tried, with little success, to stand his ground. Within moments, security shoved Padilla out the door. &#8220;Hands off!&#8221; he shouted as law enforcement kept him moving.
NBC News journalist Jacob Soboroff <a href="https://x.com/jacobsoboroff/status/1933232550409089128" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared</a> video that he said came from Padilla&#8217;s office, showing law enforcement officials pressing the senator to the ground and putting him in handcuffs.
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Senator Padilla’s office sends me this video of his take-down and detention at Sec. Noem’s press conference in L.A. <a href="https://t.co/RLUVYP1Jsb">pic.twitter.com/RLUVYP1Jsb</a>
— Jacob Soboroff (@jacobsoboroff) <a href="https://twitter.com/jacobsoboroff/status/1933232550409089128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin, who caught part of the initial incident on video, <a href="https://x.com/BillMelugin_/status/1933229630980534737" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> on X that Noem ended up meeting with Padilla.
&#8220;After I stopped recording, my team witnessed him being taken to the ground by FBI personnel and he was temporarily detained. Awaiting further details on what happened out of our view,&#8221; he said.
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Melugin later <a href="https://x.com/BillMelugin_/status/1933235624821272829" target="_blank" rel="noopener">added</a>: &#8220;Noem tells me she had a 10-15 minute meeting with Padilla and they swapped phone numbers. Says it was cordial and beneficial. He had concerns about ICE operations &amp; they opened up a line of communication. Said it was a good meeting and things are okay between the two of them (outside of all the political reaction happening now).&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
After he interrupted our press conference with law enforcement, I met with Senator Padilla for 15 minutes. We probably disagree on 90% of the topics but we agreed to exchanged phone numbers and we will continue to talk—that is the way it should be in this country.
I wish he… <a href="https://t.co/WdDs26jyCY">pic.twitter.com/WdDs26jyCY</a>
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sec_Noem/status/1933267265849278591?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
In a statement, the senator&#8217;s office gave an explanation of what transpired.
&#8220;[Padilla] tried to ask the Secretary a question, and was forcibly removed by federal agents, forced to the ground and handcuffed. He is not currently detained, and we are working to get additional information&#8221; it <a href="https://x.com/kyledcheney/status/1933234559145161005" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also responded in a post on X.
&#8220;Senator Padilla chose disrespectful political theatre and interrupted a live press conference without identifying himself or having his Senate security pin on as he lunged toward Secretary Noem,&#8221; DHS <a href="https://x.com/DHSgov/status/1933236707060822447" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;Mr. Padilla was told repeatedly to back away and did not comply with officers’ repeated commands. [Secret Service] thought he was an attacker and officers acted appropriately. Secretary Noem met with Senator Padilla after and held a 15 minute meeting.&#8221;
Reactions to the confrontation flooded social media.
&#8220;A member of Alex Padilla&#8217;s staff just so happened to record Padilla&#8217;s outburst and then him getting handcuffed in the hall by FBI, and then sent the video to a local TV anchor,&#8221; Washington Free Beacon investigative reporter Chuck Ross <a href="https://x.com/ChuckRossDC/status/1933233156368298376" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on X.
&#8220;Padilla missed Senate votes all week, only to throw a temper tantrum, rush the stage where DHS Secretary Noem was speaking, and get forcibly removed by security,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/SteveGuest/status/1933225102318915766" target="_blank" rel="noopener">observed</a> conservative commentator Steve Guest.
Newsom, in a post on X, <a href="https://x.com/CAgovernor/status/1933228665263042839" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declared</a>: &#8220;Senator Alex Padilla is one of the most decent people I know. This is outrageous, dictatorial, and shameful. Trump and his shock troops are out of control. This must end now.&#8221;
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) <a href="https://x.com/SenSchumer/status/1933231055999226078" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> for an investigation.
&#8220;Watching this video sickened my stomach, the manhandling of a United States Senator, Senator Padilla,&#8221; Schumer said. &#8220;We need immediate answers to what the hell went on.&#8221;
According to Punchbowl News reporter Andrew Desiderio, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-WY) <a href="https://x.com/AndrewDesiderio/status/1933240074180665835" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> of Padilla, &#8220;He has a responsibility to his constituents to show up at work, not to go try to make a spectacle of himself.&#8221;

Senator Alex Padilla

Dem Senator Handcuffed By Security After Disrupting Noem Presser In Los Angeles

Congress

Illegal Immigration

Kristi Noem

Los Angeles

Politics

U.S. Senate

When President Trump says other countries are “ripping us off,” he is referring to more than trade or currency manipulation. He is also talking about predatory investors overseas — foreign-based hedge funds and sovereign wealth funds — that have devoted staggering amounts of money to bankroll frivolous lawsuits in American courts. Why? Their aim is to pocket a significant portion of any verdict or settlement. If successful, these litigation gamblers not only secure a sizable return on their investment, they also walk away without having to pay any taxes.
It is unfair to American companies, consumers, and taxpayers. 
There is, however, a real opportunity to stop this litigation abuse through the budget negotiations currently underway in Congress. Foreign investors are using our U.S. court systems to punish American companies and citizens while enriching themselves. Since litigation is so costly, risky, and time consuming, many companies often agree to settle even when the case lacks real merit, because the risk of going to trial is simply too high.
The lawsuit funding landscape has become akin to the wild west. Foreign investors take advantage of loopholes to avoid paying taxes on their judgments or settlements even if the plaintiffs they are bankrolling are required to pay taxes. One reason this practice is not better known is very few jurisdictions require investors to disclose their involvement in cases or the terms of their agreements.
Allowing foreign-based investors to operate in the shadows, cloaked in anonymity, raises a host of legal, ethical, and even national security concerns. How are judges to know if they need to recuse themselves if they do not have access to all the facts? Who are the attorneys acting on behalf of the plaintiffs or the investors? Is the often-confidential information obtained during the discovery process about American citizens and companies at risk of being turned over to foreign funders, some of whom may hold views antithetical to our national interests? What are the real motivations for these lawsuits? Is it about justice or achieving other geopolitical goals?
Clearly, this practice is cloaked in secrecy. And while there is much the American people still do not know, they know enough to understand it’s both unfair and a serious threat. At least $15 billion is devoted to this dubious practice as of today. We also know Russian oligarchs have <a href="https://news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation-finance/putins-billionaires-sidestep-sanctions-by-financing-lawsuits">dodged sanctions</a> by investing in lawsuits in American courts and investors based in China have <a href="https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/china-firm-funds-us-lawsuits-amid-push-to-disclose-foreign-ties">used</a> litigation financing arrangements to target tech companies.
The good news? There is a remedy at the ready.
Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Congressman Kevin Hern (R-OK) introduced the <a href="https://www.tillis.senate.gov/services/files/94578FC8-8F83-48AB-9932-7D61465A7FFF">Tackling Predatory Litigation Funding Act</a>, a bill which cracks down on the misuse and abuse of our courts by ending investors’ preferential tax treatment and creating much-needed deterrence. This legislation will, at a minimum, make investors think twice before targeting a successful American company with a frivolous claim.
The Tillis-Hern Tackling Predatory Litigation Funding Act takes the “for sale” sign off of American courthouses and amends the tax code to impose a new “tax on income from litigation which is received by third-party entities that provided financing for such litigation.”
Income from lawsuits is just that – income; just as American taxpayers have to pay taxes on the money they make, so too should foreign investors who use our court systems as a casino.
President Trump’s Reconciliation Bill passed the House last month and now awaits consideration in the Senate. While it contains a permanent extension of the Trump tax cuts, No Tax on Tips, and billions for immigration enforcement – the Senate also has a chance to fix the equity and tax issues associated with predatory foreign litigation investing. In addition, the Tillis-Hern Tackling Predatory Litigation Funding Act would crack down on foreign intrusions in our courts, safeguard national security interests, and generate new tax revenues to fund other commonsensical American priorities.
This is an ideal time and a good legislative vehicle to stop foreign investors from using U.S. courts to harm and punish American taxpayers, and this Reconciliation Bill can accomplish just that.
* * *
Trey Gowdy represented South Carolina’s 4th District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 until 2019.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
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USTR Greer Slated To Defend Trump Tariffs To Congress

Time To Stop Predatory Foreign Investors

Corporations

finance

Foreign Policy

Opinion

U.S. House of Representatives

The anti-ICE demonstrations in and around Los Angeles have been “peaceful,&#8221; Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) claimed on Sunday, despite clear evidence of violent clashes with federal authorities.
Booker seemed to take a page out of CNN&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cnn-mocked-for-fiery-but-mostly-peaceful-protests-tv-chyron-shown-in-front-of-kenosha-fire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;mostly peaceful&#8221;</a> playbook from 2020 after President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tom-homan-says-national-guard-moving-into-la-to-shut-down-anti-ice-riots" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deployed</a> the National Guard to Los Angeles over the weekend. Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114646378582957392" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criticized</a> California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass — both Democrats — for not being able to contain the chaos as videos and <a href="https://ktla.com/news/local-news/compton-ice-raid-protest-car-fire-national-guard/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">media</a> reports <a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-raids-los-angeles-2d1d5e2f638da600c4b34fe8bf8cf3aa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">documented</a> how demonstrators <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/riot-police-anti-ice-protesters-square-off-los-angeles-after-raids-2025-06-07/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hurled</a> rocks, concrete, and fireworks at federal officers and their vehicles.
&#8220;The reality is we see peaceful protests launching in Los Angeles,” Booker insisted during a &#8220;Meet the Press&#8221; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnZQdYB7ohg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> on NBC. &#8220;And again, any violence against police officers should not be accepted. Local authorities can handle that. But remember, a lot of these peaceful protests are being generated because the president of the United States is sowing chaos and confusion by arresting people who are showing up for their immigration hearings, who are trying to abide by the law.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Senator <a href="https://twitter.com/CoryBooker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoryBooker</a> thinks the anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles — in which criminal illegals and violent mobs are hurling concrete projectiles at vehicles, lighting fires, and attacking federal law enforcement — are &#8220;peaceful.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/zdshuTeJdP">pic.twitter.com/zdshuTeJdP</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1931704892407562276?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Sharing a clip of Booker&#8217;s comments, the White House’s “Rapid Response” account on X <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1931704892407562276" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fired back</a>.
Booker “thinks the anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles — in which criminal illegals and violent mobs are hurling concrete projectiles at vehicles, lighting fires, and attacking federal law enforcement — are ‘peaceful,’” the account said.
Republican lawmakers who hit the talk show circuit on Sunday also dismissed the notion that the protests in Los Angeles should be characterized as nonviolent.
On CNN’s &#8220;State of the Union,&#8221; Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1931711731354448072" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the demonstrators were &#8220;not just peaceful protesters,&#8221; contending the &#8220;riot&#8221; in Los Angeles was &#8220;not under control&#8221; as protesters were &#8220;throwing all types of objects at law enforcement.&#8221;
Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX), a military veteran, <a href="https://x.com/RepTonyGonzales/status/1931746619201827272" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voiced</a> support for Trump’s actions during a &#8220;Face the Nation&#8221; interview on CBS.
&#8220;It’s tragic to see what’s happening in LA,&#8221; Gonzales said. &#8220;I fought to give people the freedom to protest whatever the hell they want to, but what we’re seeing in LA are not advocates. We’re seeing anarchists, and the President of the United States should absolutely put down the mob as soon as possible. But this is just the tip of the iceberg.&#8221;
During his NBC appearance, Booker took a swipe at Trump, quipping that the president &#8220;talking to anybody right now about responsive law enforcement to protect people is hypocritical at best&#8221; because of matters related to January 6. He also warned that Trump&#8217;s decision to deploy the National Guard without a request from Newsom would &#8220;only incite the situation and make things worse.&#8221;
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, speaking on &#8220;Face the Nation,&#8221; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIzS-RfqICI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defended</a> the National Guard’s deployment to &#8220;provide security for operations and to make sure that we have peaceful protests.&#8221;

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)

Cory Booker Spins LA Riots As ‘Peaceful’ While Feds Dodge Concrete Blocks

California

Cory Booker

Illegal Immigation

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Protests

Riots

U.S.

President Donald Trump&#8217;s administration submitted its first rescissions package of the year to Congress, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced on Tuesday, accompanied by a list of instances of &#8220;waste, fraud, and abuse&#8221; singled out for the chopping block.
In a thread <a href="https://x.com/WHOMB/status/1929991228449312979" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> on X, OMB said lawmakers in the House and Senate &#8220;must act&#8221; on the request to claw back billions of dollars in &#8220;wasteful foreign aid and federal funding for NPR and PBS&#8221; previously appropriated by Congress, with &#8220;45 days to codify these massive cuts to woke, wasteful, and weaponized spending via a simple majority vote&#8221; using the Impoundment Control Act.
OMB specifically highlighted $67,000 for testing insect powder nutrition on children in Madagascar, $33,000 for “Being LGBTI in the Caribbean,&#8221; $643,000 for &#8220;LGBTQI+&#8221; programs in the Western Balkans, and $567,000 for &#8220;LBGTQI+&#8221; programs in Uganda.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
$67,000 for testing insect powder nutrition on children in Madagascar. <a href="https://t.co/ehLzMuIkkr">pic.twitter.com/ehLzMuIkkr</a>
— Office of Management and Budget (@WHOMB) <a href="https://twitter.com/WHOMB/status/1929991230567457260?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Scores of DEI and Global Green New Deal funding&#8221; projects were also mentioned, including: $5 million for the &#8220;Minority Serving Institute Fellowship Cooperative Agreement,&#8221; $595,400 for training women in gender equity, $500,000 for electric buses in Rwanda, $6 million for “net zero cities” in Mexico, $2.1 million for climate resilience in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and East Africa, as well as $5 million for “green transportation and logistics” in Eurasia.
OMB&#8217;s list went on to mention $4 million for “legume systems research&#8221; and $3 million for Iraqi Sesame Street.
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In addition, OMB noted millions under the PEPFAR account for so-called LGBTQIA+ programs, condoms, and vasectomies: $833,000 for &#8220;transgender people, sex workers and their clients and sexual networks&#8221; in Nepal, $5.1 million for &#8220;resilience of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans gender, intersex, and queer global movements,&#8221; $3 million for circumcision, vasectomies, and condoms in Zambia, $1 billion in contributions to &#8220;wasteful, corrupt, and anti-American international organizations,&#8221; including $135 million to the World Health Organization, and $1.1 billion for the &#8220;left-wing&#8221; Corporation for Public Broadcasting, &#8220;which uses your taxpayer dollars to fund PBS and NPR.&#8221;
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) confirmed receipt of the rescissions package, which his office said focuses on $9.4 billion in &#8220;wasteful spending&#8221; identified by the Trump administration&#8217;s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative. He also gave a shoutout to Elon Musk, who earlier had <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/elon-cant-stand-it-anymore-goes-nuclear-on-big-beautiful-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener">assailed</a> the lawmakers who voted to pass the &#8220;One Big, Beautiful Bill&#8221; last month, citing the &#8220;unsustainable&#8221; debt.
&#8220;The House will act quickly on this request,&#8221; Johnson said in a statement. &#8220;Under President Trump, every federal taxpayer dollar is actually being used to serve the American people, not to fund a bloated bureaucracy or purely partisan pet projects. We thank Elon Musk and his DOGE team for identifying a wide range of wasteful, duplicative, and outdated programs, and House Republicans are eager to eliminate them.&#8221;
He added: &#8220;This rescissions package reflects many of DOGE’s findings and is one of the many legislative tools Republicans are using to restore fiscal sanity. Congress will continue working closely with the White House to codify these recommendations, and the House will bring the package to the floor as quickly as possible.&#8221;
Johnson also took a shot at Democrats, who have largely opposed anything Trump supports, including DOGE.
“Democrats continue to wail and complain — NOT at the fraud, waste, and abuse — but at the Trump Administration simply for exposing it,&#8221; the speaker declared. &#8220;In fact, Democrats are the only ones in Washington who do not want to stop the egregious misspending of the people’s tax dollars. Democrats continue to defend corruption, while Republicans are delivering real accountability and real savings the American people demanded in November.&#8221;
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) criticized the spending cuts request.
&#8220;The reckless rescissions package introduced today is only the latest attempt by the Trump administration to attack the free press, decimate lifesaving humanitarian aid and hurt our national security,&#8221; Jeffries said in a statement. &#8220;House Democrats will continue to aggressively push back on the continued chaos, cruelty and corruption of this administration and on the far-right extremism being unleashed on the American people.&#8221;

President Trump

DEI, Insect Powder, And Trans ‘Resilience’: Trump Unveils ‘Woke’ Spending Cuts Request

Budget

Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

Mike Johnson

National Public Radio (NPR)

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)

Spending Bill

Trump Administration

USAID

President Donald Trump singled out Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) for criticism on Tuesday in a dispute over the &#8220;One Big, Beautiful Bill.&#8221;
The scolding took place on Truth Social shortly after Paul made an appearance on TV in which the senator said he would not support the legislation in its current form because it aims to raise the debt ceiling by several trillion dollars.
&#8220;Rand Paul has very little understanding of the BBB, especially the tremendous GROWTH that is coming. He loves voting &#8216;NO&#8217; on everything, he thinks it’s good politics, but it’s not. The BBB is a big WINNER!!!&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114619628833129608" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in one post.
Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114619648032728687" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declared</a> in another post, &#8220;Rand votes NO on everything, but never has any practical or constructive ideas. His ideas are actually crazy (losers!). The people of Kentucky can’t stand him. This is a BIG GROWTH BILL!&#8221;
On CNBC&#8217;s &#8220;Squawk Box,&#8221; Paul <a href="https://x.com/RandPaul/status/1929908175748088234" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the &#8220;main thing&#8221; he objects to in the massive bill, which contains many provisions in line with Trump&#8217;s second-term agenda, is how it would raise the debt ceiling by another $4-5 trillion. As it stands, the national debt is approaching $37 trillion.
&#8220;That&#8217;s an indication that we&#8217;ll borrow that much. It&#8217;s an indication that we&#8217;ll put the debt on the back burner,&#8221; said Paul, who added that he did not join &#8220;most of the Republicans&#8221; who voted to &#8220;continue the Biden spending levels&#8221; with the six-month continuing resolution Congress passed in March.
Paul said he believes there are three or four Republicans in the Senate who might oppose the bill as it stands. That amount could be enough to stall the legislation&#8217;s progress, given the GOP has only a 53-45 <a href="https://www.senate.gov/history/partydiv.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">majority</a>.
&#8220;If there are four of us who want it to be more fiscally conservative, I think we can really reduce the spending levels and perhaps separate out the debt ceiling as well,&#8221; Paul said.
The senator also noted that he is &#8220;pretty much open to compromise on everything else in the bill,&#8221; specifically expressing support for how it seeks to retain the 2017 tax cuts.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) also defended the legislation from Paul&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rand-paul-warns-big-beautiful-bill-explode-debt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">critique</a> on the debt ceiling in a recent &#8220;Fox News Sunday&#8221; interview. He alluded to how the reconciliation process Republicans are using allows Congress to bypass the Senate&#8217;s 60-vote filibuster threshold.
&#8220;We have to do it,&#8221; Johnson <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/speaker-johnson-rebuts-rand-pauls-debt-warning-big-beautiful-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;We&#8217;re not going to get any Democrats to assist on that. So, to get it through the Senate and make sure we don&#8217;t crash the U.S. economy and default on our debts for the first time in history, it has to be part of the reconciliation package.&#8221;

Senator Rand Paul

Trump Puts Rand Paul On Blast Over ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’

Debt Ceiling

Donald Trump

Executive

National Debt

Rand Paul

Tax Cuts

Accusations of media hypocrisy have erupted over similar hand gestures by tech billionaire Elon Musk and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ). Critics argue that the press unfairly targeted Musk while giving Booker a pass.
The debate stems from Musk extending out his right arm after placing his hand over his heart to the crowd during a Inauguration Day rally for President Donald Trump, which some labeled a &#8220;Nazi salute&#8221; and resulted in breathless news coverage, while Booker’s comparable wave at a recent California Democrats event has drawn far less scrutiny, prompting condemnation from conservative figures and commentators.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Spot The (D)ifference… <a href="https://t.co/aPlb173M8S">pic.twitter.com/aPlb173M8S</a>
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) <a href="https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/1928992142153638308?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) chastised the media’s coverage, <a href="https://x.com/EliseStefanik/status/1929154849456771199" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declaring</a> on X, “The mainstream media is totally corrupt. In January, Democrats and the Left were hyperventilating about this false smear of Elon and the stenographers in the media went to work.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The mainstream media is totally corrupt.
In January, Democrats and the Left were hyperventilating about this false smear of Elon and the stenographers in the media went to work.
It was the trending news story the morning of my Senate hearing in January and I was asked about… <a href="https://t.co/RiinalTvaV">https://t.co/RiinalTvaV</a>
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) <a href="https://twitter.com/EliseStefanik/status/1929154849456771199?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The congresswoman recounted being pressed about Musk’s gesture during a Senate <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqz0ld48tC0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hearing</a> in January, calling it “a ridiculous question” from Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT).
&#8220;The American people are smart,&#8221; Stefanik added. &#8220;Neither Elon Musk or [Booker] are giving the Nazi salute. Americans see thru this obvious and destructive double standard by the totally broken media and Democrat Party.&#8221;
Conservative communicator Steve Guest echoed the sentiment.
&#8220;Will the media respond the same way to Cory Booker waving to the crowd as they did to Elon Musk waving to the crowd or was it all just performative nonsense when Elon did it?&#8221; Guest <a href="https://x.com/piersmorgan/status/1929258750637924631">asked</a>.
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British broadcaster Piers Morgan also sounded off.
&#8220;It’s most amusing to watch all the people who branded [Musk] a Nazi now tying themselves in tortured knots trying to explain why Cory Booker isn’t… for doing the EXACT SAME THING. Of course, neither is.. but the hypocrisy stinks,&#8221; Morgan <a href="https://x.com/piersmorgan/status/1929258750637924631">said</a>.
The X account Libs of TikTok, run by Chaya Raichik, called out specific news outlets.
One was MSNBC.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Hi <a href="https://twitter.com/MSNBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MSNBC</a>, you reported on Elon’s hand gesture and compared him to a n*zi
I was looking for your article on Cory Booker’s salute but I couldn’t find it..
I’m sure you probably just missed this story by mistake…
Here’s the clip. I look forward to your report condemning him. <a href="https://t.co/gUXxi3ncdM">pic.twitter.com/gUXxi3ncdM</a>
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1929214895809069166?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
The Western Lensman account on X highlighted a post from PBS, which the Trump administration has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-defunds-npr-and-pbs-no-media-outlet-has-a-constitutional-right-to-taxpayer-subsidies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">moved</a> to defund over the view that it is spreading &#8220;woke propaganda.&#8221; PBS has since <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/30/pbs-funding-donald-trump-lawsuit-00377585" target="_blank" rel="noopener">filed</a> a lawsuit.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Hello, <a href="https://twitter.com/NewsHour?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NewsHour</a> — will you be making a post comparing Cory Booker’s apparent “fascist salute” to the “Sieg Heil?&#8221;
Your post about Elon Musk making a very similar gesture amassed over 36M views.
Since you assure US taxpayers that PBS is a non-partisan organization, and all. <a href="https://t.co/OPcwtD1Cjv">pic.twitter.com/OPcwtD1Cjv</a>
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) <a href="https://twitter.com/WesternLensman/status/1928990335188783197?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Musk responded to several of the posts, criticizing the mainstream media.
In one, Musk <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1929191362777231827" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, &#8220;They are such hypocrites.&#8221; In another, he <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1929181905657700610" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, &#8220;Legacy media is one big psy op.&#8221;
Booker&#8217;s team defended the senator, dismissing comparisons to Musk&#8217;s wave.
&#8220;Cory Booker was obviously just waving to the crowd. Anyone who claims his wave is the same as Elon Musk’s gesture is operating in bad faith. The differences between the two are obvious to anyone without an agenda,&#8221; Booker spokesperson Maya Krishna-Rogers <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/conservatives-drag-booker-nazi-salute-cali-dems-after-liberal-meltdown-musk-gestured-like-nazi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Fox News.

Sen. Cory Booker

Hypocrisy Alert: Media Played Up ‘Nazi Salute’ Narrative Against Elon, Shrug At Cory Booker’s ‘Wave’

Elise Stefanik

Elon Musk

Media

Media Bias

With the Republican-led One Big Beautiful Bill over its first major hurdle in the U.S. House, Democrats and media are making sure the knives are out at every opportunity lest it pass the Senate and give President Donald Trump another win.
For those who don&#8217;t spend their Sunday mornings glued to the television — and their Sunday afternoons attempting to dig through a week&#8217;s worth of network and cable news media spin — The Daily Wire has compiled a short summary of what you may have missed.
Discussion regarding what the bill will and won’t cut — particularly with regard to Medicaid — took center stage on several broadcasts as Democrats and show hosts alike insisted people would lose health care coverage if it passed. The bill’s defenders argued that anyone stripped of coverage by this bill — namely illegal immigrants and those who were receiving payments through fraudulent means — should not have been getting Medicaid coverage in the first place.
On ABC News’ “This Week,” former Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus defended the measure, saying that Medicaid had become bloated in recent years but that the cuts being discussed were targeted to remove benefits going to people who were in the United States illegally.
Former Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Donna Brazile pressed the point by first claiming that the Trump administration was cutting aid across the board, particularly to areas hit by recent storms — and she argued that the American people would not be pleased with the &#8220;bone-crushing&#8221; changes.
&#8220;We had 50 million people on Medicaid in 2011. Today we’ve got 80 million people on Medicaid. This bill doesn&#8217;t cut Medicaid, he said. &#8220;It says that for illegal immigrants, there will be cuts.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
On GOP-led budget bill, former RNC chair <a href="https://twitter.com/Reince?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Reince</a> Priebus said: “We had 50 million people on Medicaid in 2011. Today we’ve got 80 million people on Medicaid. This bill doesn&#8217;t cut Medicaid &#8230; It says that for illegal immigrants, there will be cuts.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/qjCkcbK2qg">https://t.co/qjCkcbK2qg</a> <a href="https://t.co/1qfVKhXEae">pic.twitter.com/1qfVKhXEae</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/1929198183277600981?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The New York Times&#8217; national correspondent Astead Herndon said that Democrats were leaning in to what they saw as disappointment among Trump supporters because he&#8217;d been so focused on getting the budget bill over the line. He went on to claim that there was &#8220;a sense that he is not actually delivering on the core promises&#8221; — but he left out the fact that the One Big Beautiful Bill represents the fulfillment of major campaign promises such as &#8220;no tax on tips&#8221; and the permanent extension of the tax rates implemented under Trump&#8217;s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
NYT’s <a href="https://twitter.com/AsteadWH?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AsteadWH</a> said some of Pres. Trump&#8217;s supporters are surprised “about the things that he has been focusing on&#8221; like tariffs or the spending bill, adding that there&#8217;s a &#8220;sense that he is not actually delivering on the core promises.” <a href="https://t.co/naOG3dmK1b">https://t.co/naOG3dmK1b</a> <a href="https://t.co/LE58bUd94u">pic.twitter.com/LE58bUd94u</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/1929199711711322544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Brazile also brought billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk into the conversation, saying that despite his announcement that he&#8217;d be stepping away from his role in the Trump administration, he had already done more damage than could easily be undone.
&#8220;Elon Musk may have walked away from his temporary special government job, but no one will forget the harm that he has done to not only America&#8217;s reputation across the world, but also the harm that he&#8217;s done to the American people,&#8221;she claimed.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
“Elon Musk may have walked away from his temporary special government job, but no one will forget the harm that he has done to not only America&#8217;s reputation across the world, but also the harm that he&#8217;s done to the American people,” <a href="https://twitter.com/donnabrazile?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DonnaBrazile</a> said. <a href="https://t.co/88pTxxsTQQ">https://t.co/88pTxxsTQQ</a> <a href="https://t.co/pVk9msZd0L">pic.twitter.com/pVk9msZd0L</a>
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/1929204844448952549?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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On CBS News&#8217; &#8220;Face the Nation,&#8221; anchor Margaret Brennan highlighted the fact that the Senate — if it passed the One Big Beautiful Bill at all — was likely to make changes, and she spoke with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent about how those changes might be received.
Bessent outlined the items that he said &#8220;have to stay in&#8221; — specifically: no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, no tax on Social Security, deductibility of auto loans for American-made automobiles — and made it clear that it was not his call, but President Trump&#8217;s. &#8220;They&#8217;re not necessarily my red lines. The president has his campaign promises that he wants to fulfill for working Americans,&#8221; he said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” will be taken up next in the Senate — with some changes expected. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says there are some items that &#8220;have to stay in&#8221; — no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, no tax on Social Security, deductibility of auto loans… <a href="https://t.co/MpAxXs2NBS">pic.twitter.com/MpAxXs2NBS</a>
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1929221177945272465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) spoke with Brennan about the bill, which he opposes in its current form, saying that in his mind, &#8220;the math doesn&#8217;t really add up.&#8221; Paul has also vocally opposed Trump&#8217;s willingness to use tariffs as leverage to bring foreign nations to the table regarding trade agreements.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) told &#8220;Face The Nation&#8221; on Sunday that &#8220;the math doesn&#8217;t really add up&#8221; on the cost of President Trump&#8217;s &#8220;one big, beautiful bill,&#8221; while outlining his opposition as the legislation moves to the Senate this week. <a href="https://t.co/p7VFMlpZcN">https://t.co/p7VFMlpZcN</a>
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1929251077364322647?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Paul also said that if a provision raising the debt ceiling was removed, he would likely support the measure. &#8220;I would be very surprised if the bill at least is not modified in a good direction,&#8221; he said of possible Senate changes.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) says he thinks there are now four Senate Republicans who would vote to block President Trump&#8217;s &#8220;big, beautiful bill,&#8221; and &#8220;I would be very surprised if the bill at least is not modified in a good direction.&#8221;
Paul adds that he would likely support the bill… <a href="https://t.co/2VDikZ8hjZ">pic.twitter.com/2VDikZ8hjZ</a>
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1929199658779455997?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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On CNN&#8217;s &#8220;State of the Union,&#8221; anchor Dana Bash circled back to the idea of Medicaid cuts coming from the bill&#8217;s passage during an interview with OMB Director Russell Vought — and she cited Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) and his comments suggesting that there would be cuts to the program.
&#8220;No one will lose coverage as a result of this bill,&#8221; Vought said.
&#8220;That&#8217;s not what Josh Hawley, who is not exactly a liberal Democrat, said. He said, &#8216;It&#8217;s wrong to cut health care for the working poor, and that&#8217;s what we&#8217;re talking about here with Medicaid,'&#8221; she said.
&#8220;Well, we continue to work with people in the Senate as to working them through with the specifics of the bill, what it does and what it doesn&#8217;t do,&#8221; Vought pushed back.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
VOUGHT: “No one will lose coverage as a result of this bill.”
BASH: “That&#8217;s not what Josh Hawley, who is not exactly a liberal Democrat, said. He said, ‘It&#8217;s wrong to cut health care for the working poor, and that&#8217;s what we&#8217;re talking about here with Medicaid.’”
VOUGHT: “Well,… <a href="https://t.co/1w99EWULm9">pic.twitter.com/1w99EWULm9</a>
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSOTU/status/1929193721196609694?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Bash also brought in House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who blasted the bill outright: &#8220;Trump&#8217;s one, big ugly bill narrowly escaped the House of Representatives. And we&#8217;re going to continue to press our case across the country, partner with Senate Democrats in making clear to the American people the type of damage that this bill would do if it ever became law.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/RepJeffries?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepJeffries</a> says Democrats “can’t let our foot off the gas pedal” in opposing Trump’s tax and spending cut bill:
“Trump&#8217;s one, big ugly bill narrowly escaped the House of Representatives. And we&#8217;re going to continue to press our case across the country, partner with Senate… <a href="https://t.co/ikJ5aeUu4s">pic.twitter.com/ikJ5aeUu4s</a>
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSOTU/status/1929173562033619424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Spin Cycle: To Deal Or Not To Deal — On Tariffs, Trade, And One Big Beautiful Bill

ABC News

CBS News

Economy

NBC News

Sen. Tommy Tuberville announced on Tuesday that he will run to be the next governor of Alabama.
Tuberville announced his gubernatorial bid from Byron’s Smokehouse in Auburn, Alabama, the same spot he announced his bid for U.S. Senate, his first run for elected office, in 2019. The former longtime college football coach enters the race as the favorite after other notable Republicans passed on entering the race.
“President Trump was a guy that really was behind me in doing the Senate race. He&#8217;s been behind me ever since. And, today, I will announce that I will be the future governor of the great state of Alabama,” Tuberville said during an appearance on Fox News’ “The Will Cain Show.”
Tuberville leaned into his ties to President Donald Trump during his announcement, though the president has yet to make an official endorsement in the Alabama race.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do nationally. I&#8217;m looking forward to that with President Trump. He&#8217;s got us on the right track,” Tuberville continued. “Meantime, I will be running every weekend, doing the things I need to do to make sure that I can get over the threshold and win this governor&#8217;s race, come back to Alabama, and work with President Trump … because he&#8217;s fully supportive of this, to keep making America great again and put Alabama first.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) announces he is running for Governor of Alabama. 
“Today I will announce that I will be the future Governor of the great state of Alabama.”
“I’ve still got 18 months to go with President Trump to Make America Great Again. We’ve got a lot of work… <a href="https://t.co/SfxTyRYEkh">pic.twitter.com/SfxTyRYEkh</a>
&mdash; RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) <a href="https://twitter.com/RedWave_Press/status/1927461579324264501?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Tuberville’s announcement has long been expected. Expectations about his eventual candidacy warded off other potential candidates. Republican Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth <a href="https://www.facebook.com/willainsworthAL/posts/pfbid023SfWC35cTtduT4jjN5pRKFnNsH2Q9bYWySrBrfQasKsrnk5ryw31Q8km1XTo7RTxl?rdid=aNURcE1tbwMlobVB#" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> last week that he would be forgoing the opportunity to run.
The Alabama gubernatorial race will be to replace outgoing Republican Governor Kay Ivey, who is termed out.
Tuberville began his career in politics toppling Democratic former Sen. Doug Jones from the U.S. Senate in 2020. Jones won a 2017 special election to replace former Sen. Jeff Sessions, who had left the Senate to serve as Trump’s attorney general. Sessions ran to reclaim his old seat in 2020, but lost in the GOP primary to Tuberville.
As for who might replace Tuberville in the Senate, <a href="https://www.semafor.com/article/05/27/2025/gop-chatters-about-auburn-coach-bruce-pearl-for-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Semafor</a> on Tuesday reported that Auburn University&#8217;s men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl seems to be eyeing a run. Pearl is &#8220;an outspoken Israel supporter and opponent of antisemitism,&#8221; Semafor notes.

Tommy Tuberville

Tommy Tuberville Announces Run For Governor To ‘Put Alabama First’

Alabama

Elections

President Donald Trump signaled over the weekend that he is seriously weighing tougher sanctions on Russia over its years-long war against Ukraine, a potential move backed by a bipartisan Senate supermajority eager to force Moscow’s hand, as peace negotiations falter.
In a Sunday exchange with reporters, Trump <a href="https://x.com/Acyn/status/1926772105401549062" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> he is “absolutely” considering new sanctions on Russia. Hours later, he <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114571369956761390" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blasted</a> Russian President Vladimir Putin on social media, calling him “CRAZY” for “needlessly killing a lot of people” with continued fighting between soldiers, as well as missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities. &#8220;I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!&#8221; he added.
The rebuke stretched into Tuesday, with Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114580564427808609" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warning</a> that Putin is “playing with fire” and claiming that “really bad things” would have already struck Russia without his restraint.
A coalition of 81 senators, led by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), has rallied behind a <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1241/text?s=1&amp;r=2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bill</a> to slam Russia with fresh sanctions if Moscow refuses genuine peace talks with Ukraine or launches new attacks threatening Ukraine’s sovereignty post-agreement. The legislation also <a href="https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=3D495158-CF7D-4833-A2DB-9E5558843F1B" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposes</a> a 500% tariff on goods from nations buying Russian oil, gas, uranium, or other commodities.
&#8220;While we yearn for peace, it is increasingly clear to us – and a supermajority of the Senate – that Putin is playing games,&#8221; Graham and Blumenthal declared in a joint <a href="https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-grahams-hard-hitting-sanctions-bill-has-over-80-cosponsors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> last week. &#8220;The United States Senate stands ready to act if these games continue.&#8221;
The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-putin-has-gone-absolutely-crazy-risks-the-downfall-of-russia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that after a two-hour call with Putin last week, Trump declared that peace talks between Russia and Ukraine would &#8220;immediately start,&#8221; only for the Kremlin to deny any such plans. The week prior, Putin snubbed scheduled talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Turkey, prompting Trump to insist that “nothing’s going to happen until Putin and I get together.&#8221;
<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 &#8211; Get 40% Off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), a co-signer of the Graham-Blumenthal bill, argued Tuesday that sanctions are now critical. &#8220;I believe president trump was sincere when he thought his friendship w Putin wld end the war,&#8221; Grassley <a href="https://x.com/ChuckGrassley/status/1927369150529171572" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> on X. &#8220;Now that being the case ITS TIME FOR SANCTIONS STRONG ENUF SO PUTIN KNOWS &#8216;game over.'&#8221;
Trump also took aim at Zelensky and former President Joe Biden.
&#8220;President Zelenskyy is doing his Country no favors by talking the way he does,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114571369956761390" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> on Truth Social over the weekend. “Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don’t like it, and it better stop. This is a War that would never have started if I were President. This is Zelenskyy’s, Putin’s, and Biden’s War, not ‘Trump’s,’ I am only helping to put out the big and ugly fires, that have been started through Gross Incompetence and Hatred.&#8221;

Trump and Senate Republicans

Trump Eyes Stinging Russia Sanctions. This Bipartisan Proposal Could Bring The Pain.

Chuck Grassley

Global Politics

Lindsey Graham

Russia

Sanctions

Ukraine

Ukraine-Russia War

Vladimir Putin

Volodymyr Zelensky

World

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) criticized the version of President Donald Trump&#8217;s &#8220;One Big, Beautiful Bill&#8221; <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-passes-one-big-beautiful-bill-in-massive-win-for-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> by the House last week, warning that it would significantly increase the national debt.
In a Sunday interview with anchor Shannon Bream on &#8220;Fox News Sunday,&#8221; Paul expressed support for the bill&#8217;s tax cuts but described its spending cuts as &#8220;wimpy and anemic.&#8221; Even so, Paul said he could support the bill — if not for concerns about it adding to the nearly $37 trillion national debt.
&#8220;The problem is the math doesn&#8217;t add up,&#8221; Paul said. &#8220;They&#8217;re going to explode the debt by — the House says $4 trillion, the Senate&#8217;s actually been talking about exploding the debt $5 trillion.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Great joining <a href="https://twitter.com/ShannonBream?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShannonBream</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNewsSunday?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FoxNewsSunday</a> to talk about why I oppose the Big Beautiful Bill. <a href="https://t.co/ylvf4TKXrz">pic.twitter.com/ylvf4TKXrz</a>
— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenRandPaul/status/1926639668960883102?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Proponents <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-budget-chief-responds-fiscal-hawk-heartburn-over-big-beautiful-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tout</a> how the bill aims to make reforms to rein in spending programs, such as kicking illegal immigrants off Medicaid, and foster economic growth. Yet that may not be enough. Like the House, the Senate has a slim GOP majority, and it&#8217;s not guaranteed the bill will prevail in its current form.
Paul, who lamented that the U.S. deficit remains about $2.2 trillion, said he would consider backing the legislation if its proposed $4-5 trillion debt ceiling increase is removed.
&#8220;There&#8217;s got to be someone left in Washington who thinks debt is wrong and deficits are wrong and wants to go in the other direction,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The idea that we&#8217;re going to explode deficits and the projections are now looking at over $3 trillion in deficits over the next 10 years. I think it&#8217;s just &#8230; not a serious proposal.&#8221;
Confronted with the prospect of a coming U.S. default, Paul said he proposed an amendment that would raise the debt ceiling every three months to leverage spending cuts. However, Republicans are adopting the &#8220;same playbook&#8221; as the Democrats and keep avoiding the issue, he said.
Paul cautioned that borrowing to fund &#8220;free stuff&#8221; such as healthcare drives a $3 trillion deficit, triggering inflation that harms beneficiaries, and he bemoaned a failure to advance DOGE-proposed spending cuts or rescission packages.
The national debt, with $7 trillion in spending against $5 trillion in revenue, is the &#8220;greatest threat&#8221; to U.S. national security, Paul said.
&#8220;Conservatives do need to stand up and have their voice heard,&#8221; he declared. &#8220;This is a problem we&#8217;ve been facing for decades now, and if we don&#8217;t stand up on it, I really fear the direction the country is going.&#8221;

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)

Rand Paul Warns ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will ‘Explode The Debt’

Taxes

On Thursday, the GOP-led Senate voted to overturn a Biden administration move that powered California&#8217;s green energy agenda for cars and trucks that 11 other states have <a href="https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/advanced-clean-cars-program/states-have-adopted-californias-vehicle-regulations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sought</a> to adopt.
Fifty Republicans and one Democrat <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00277.htm#position" target="_blank" rel="noopener">banded together</a> to revoke the Clean Air Act waiver the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/12/18/epa-california-electric-vehicles-waiver" target="_blank" rel="noopener">granted</a> in December to the Golden State that allowed it to proceed with a plan to ban the sale of new gas-powered light-duty vehicles by 2035.
Because the Republican-controlled House already <a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2025114?Date=05%2F01%2F2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> the resolution of disapproval, the measure now heads to President Donald Trump. California has signaled that it is prepared to file a legal challenge.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), who is the chairwoman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, spearheaded the effort in the upper chamber to repeal the waiver.
&#8220;The impact of California’s waiver would have been felt across the country, harming multiple sectors of our economy and costing hundreds of thousands of jobs in the process,&#8221; Capito said in a <a href="https://www.capito.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senate-passes-capito-resolution-to-end-californias-ev-mandate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>. &#8220;I’m proud to have led this effort to protect American workers and consumers from this radical and drastic policy.&#8221;
President Donald Trump weighed in on the issue during his presidential campaign at a rally in Saginaw, Michigan.
“When I&#8217;m president, no state in America will be permitted to ban gas-powered cars or trucks, and I guarantee it,&#8221; Trump said.
Senate Republicans used the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which allows bypassing a filibuster to undo regulations, to pass the resolution. Under this process, Lawmakers also voted to strike down waivers related to emissions for heavier-duty vehicles.
The Government Accountability Office (<a href="https://www.gao.gov/products/b-337179" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GAO</a>) and 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> advised that the waivers are not rules that qualify for CRA, but The Hill <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5312952-thune-creates-procedure-ev-mandate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> on how Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) used a series of procedural votes to alleviate concerns by some of his GOP colleagues.
On X, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) accused Republicans of trying to &#8220;appease the fossil fuel industry.&#8221; He also <a href="https://x.com/SenSchumer/status/1925290705502577129" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> they were &#8220;hijacking the CRA process in a way that’s never been done before&#8221; and warned: &#8220;What goes around when you’re in the majority comes around when you’re back in the minority.&#8221;
The one Democrat who joined with Republicans and spurned California was Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).
&#8220;Today, I voted to prevent California and the states that follow its standard from effectively banning gas-powered cars by 2035,&#8221; she <a href="https://x.com/SenatorSlotkin/status/1925590423944257939" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declared</a> in a statement. &#8220;Michigan is the auto capital of the world, and as Michigan&#8217;s U.S. Senator, I have a special responsibility to stand up for the more than one million Michiganders whose livelihoods depend on the U.S. auto industry.&#8221;
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, <a href="https://x.com/AGRobBonta/status/1925624592481026347" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> his state was ready to fight in court.
&#8220;Since the Senate is caving to the Trump Admin’s demands, we will sue to protect California’s longstanding authority to maintain clean vehicle standards,&#8221; Bonta said. &#8220;President Trump may be playing partisan games with lives and good paying jobs on the line — but California won’t back down.&#8221;
Jayden Jelso contributed to this report.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)

Republicans Set To Block California’s ‘Radical’ Gas Car Ban

Biden Administration

Carbon Emissions

Chuck Schumer

Electric cars

John Thune

Shelley Moore Capito

Transportation

On Tuesday, the GOP-led Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation from Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) that seeks to make good on President Donald Trump&#8217;s campaign promise for getting rid of taxes on tips.
Axios <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/20/senate-dems-attempt-pass-no-tax-on-tips" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> earlier in the day that Senate Republicans were likely to block a request for unanimous consent for Cruz&#8217;s measure by Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) because the GOP-controlled House is working on Trump&#8217;s &#8220;one big, beautiful bill,&#8221; which has its own <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trumps-one-big-beautiful-bill-gets-no-tax-on-tips-and-overtime" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;No Tax On Tips&#8221;</a> component.
However, that opposition did not materialize and Cruz&#8217;s <a href="https://www.cruz.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/no_tax_on_tips_act_2025.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;No Tax on Tips Act&#8221;</a> passed by <a href="https://x.com/SenatePress/status/1924921893066277222" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unanimous consent</a>, which is an <a href="https://www.senate.gov/about/glossary.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">agreement</a> that allows the upper chamber to bypass standard rules to speed up proceedings.
&#8220;President Trump made a promise to the American people that he would eliminate taxes on tips. In Congress, I formed a bipartisan, bicameral coalition to get that done, and in the Senate introduced the No Tax on Tips Act,&#8221; Cruz said in a <a href="https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruzs-no-tax-on-tips-legislation-passes-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>.
&#8220;Today, I went with Senator Rosen to the floor to secure Senate passage of the bill,&#8221; he added. &#8220;This legislation will have a lasting impact on millions of Americans by protecting the hard-earned dollars of blue-collar workers, the very people who are living paycheck-to-paycheck. I urge my colleagues in the House to pass this important bill and send it to the President’s desk to be signed into law.&#8221;
According to a Congress.gov <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/129" target="_blank" rel="noopener">summary</a>, the bill, as introduced, allows workers in tip-heavy jobs to deduct up to $25,000 in reported cash tips from their taxes unless they earned over a threshold, which is $160,000 for 2025 and adjusted annually for inflation. It also expands business tax credits to cover payroll taxes on tips from beauty services such as haircare and spa treatments.
Cruz&#8217;s office says the bill &#8220;exempts &#8216;cash tips&#8217; — cash, credit and debit card charges, and checks — from federal income tax by allowing taxpayers to claim a 100% deduction at filing for tipped wages. The updated text includes guardrails to ensure only traditionally tipped employees will benefit from No Tax on Tips.&#8221;
The legislation now heads to the House, which is moving to pass through the reconciliation process a much <a href="https://docs.house.gov/meetings/BU/BU00/20250516/118284/BILLS-119pih.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">larger bill</a> that aims to provide funding for Trump’s domestic priorities, retain tax cuts from 2017, raise the debt limit, and more.
One of the megabill&#8217;s many provisions features a deduction for &#8220;qualified&#8221; tips for individuals who work in &#8220;an occupation which traditionally and customarily received tips&#8221; from 2025 through 2028. It also contains sections dedicated to some of Trump&#8217;s other ideas, including no tax on overtime and no tax on auto loan interest.
Democrats have joined Republicans in supporting the push for &#8220;No Tax On Tips.&#8221; In fact, Vice President Kamala Harris <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kamala-harris-steals-trumps-no-tax-on-tips-policy-proposal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stole</a> Trump&#8217;s proposal as they competed against each other for the White House in the 2024 election.
In a speech on the Senate floor, Rosen <a href="https://x.com/SenJackyRosen/status/1924933653894701465" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that she wanted the legislation from Cruz to succeed rather than &#8220;forcing working families to choose between keeping their healthcare or keeping their tips&#8221; with the more comprehensive &#8220;one big, beautiful bill,&#8221; alluding to efforts by GOP lawmakers to rein in spending on programs such as Medicaid.

Sen. Ted Cruz and Trump

Senate Unanimously Passes ‘No Tax On Tips Act’

Ted Cruz

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