Hitchhiker's Guide to where the 'big, beautiful bill' stands, and what happens Sunday in the Budget Committee

Hitchhiker's Guide to where the 'big, beautiful bill' stands, and what happens Sunday in the Budget Committee

Multiple conversations are ongoing on Sunday — some in person but most on the phone — asHouse Republicanstry to lock in agreements for the big, beautiful bill. Three areas are outstanding overall. Two are specific to theBudget Committee, which reconvenes Sunday night. Republicans are trying to work out a final pact on green energy tax credits, which could be a major payfor in the bill. The other item is work requirements for Medicaid recipients — and when those kick in. Fox News is told that prospective deals on this front will likely be handshake pacts or "gentlemen's agreements," as it was phrased to Fox News. Republicans Ready Late-night Session On Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' After Gop Mutiny The other issue in question is the SALT deduction. That refers to state and local tax breaks for high-tax states. That provision is of the utmost importance to court the votes of moderate Republicans from New York and California. Read On The Fox News App The "SALT caucus" wanted a tax write-off, which might cost as much as $600 billion. The new proposal only costs $230 billion. Fox News is told they are trying to forge a compromise which grants a higher SALT deduction at the beginning of the bill's implementation — and then dials that back over the 10-year budgetary window for the bill. Remember, this measure must not add to the deficit over that decade-long budgetary timeframe in order to qualify for a special process to avoid a filibuster in the Senate. Fox is told that nothing will change in the bill before the Budget Committee on Sunday night. TheWhite Houseis currently addressing how to implement possible changes with a "manager's amendment" before the Rules Committee later this week. That would finalize and lock in stone the actual text of the bill. Fox is told that the GOP leadership believes they are certainly within range. The GOP brass is generally feeling good at where they stand, "so long as people don't start adding things," said one senior House Republican leadership source. House Gop Unveils Medicaid Work Requirements In Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' The overall goal is to post the text of the bill early this week and go to the Rules Committee on Wednesday with a possible vote on Thursday. But one senior GOP source told Fox the timetable could be expedited with a Tuesday Rules Committee meeting — where changes would be made — and maybe go to the floor on Wednesday. Now, on to what will likely happen on Sunday night in the Budget Committee: The resolution, mashing together the text from all the other committees, failed on Friday afternoon. The process can't move forward unless they get the measure out of the Budget Committee. Hence, Sunday's 10 p.m. ET meeting. There will be little if any debate — it's only about that math. Either the GOP leadership and the White House have satisfied the concerns of those who voted nay or they haven't. In fact, if things go swimmingly, this could be wrapped up after 20 minutes or so. Here's what it will look like: The first vote is the "motion to reconsider" the failed Friday vote. If that fails, they are stuck. But if they get over that hurdle, it's on to an actual re-vote of what failed on Friday. This is the key vote. If the Budget Committee greenlights the package at this stage, it's on to the Rules Committee this week and then the floor. There will be five non-binding votes after that key vote on issues we don't need to worry about. Original article source:Hitchhiker's Guide to where the 'big, beautiful bill' stands, and what happens Sunday in the Budget Committee

byDaniel Coleman

in

May 18, 2025

Hitchhiker's Guide to where the 'big, beautiful bill' stands, and what happens Sunday in the Budget Committee

Hitchhiker's Guide to where the 'big, beautiful bill' stands, and what happens Sunday in the Budget Committee Multiple conversat...

Read More

Rubio teases details of potential Trump, Putin in-person meeting after Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks stall

Rubio teases details of potential Trump, Putin in-person meeting after Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks stall

Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the timing of a potential face-to-face meeting between PresidentDonald Trumpand Russian leader Vladimir Putin regarding a ceasefire deal in Ukraine in an interview that aired Sunday. Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday while returning to Washington, D.C., from Abu Dhabi that no peace in Ukraine would be reacheduntil he met with Putinin person. The president added in a Truth Social post on Saturday that he planned to speak with Putin on the phone on Monday, followed by a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and some NATO leaders. Meanwhile, Rubio — who attended Pope Leo XIV's inaugural mass in Rome on Sunday — said the Vatican has offered to host a direct meeting between Ukraine, Russia and possibly other parties. "Obviously, the Vatican has made a very generous offer to host anything — by the way, not just a meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin, but any meeting, including at a technical level, you know — any meetings that need to be hosted, they've expressed a willingness to do so. So it's a very generous offer that may be taken up on," Rubio told CBS' "Face the Nation" in an interview that was recorded on Saturday. "I mean, it would be a site that all parties would feel comfortable. So hopefully we'll get to that stage where talks are happening on a regular basis, and that the Vatican will have the opportunity to be one of the options." Zelenskyy Sheds Details On Meeting With Vance, Rubio In Rome After Russia Peace Talks Stall Rubio had a phone call with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, on Saturday afterPutin was a no-showto a face-to-face meeting the Russian leader called with Zelenskyy in Turkey last week. Despite Putin's absence, the Ukrainian and Russian delegations did agree to a prisoner exchange of 1,000 people from each side, though a broader ceasefire or peace deal failed to materialize. Read On The Fox News App CBS host Margaret Brennan asked Rubio if he spoke with Lavrov about lining up a face-to-face meeting between Trump and Putin. "Well, we talked about a variety of things," said Rubio. "I wanted to get his readout on his view of how the talks went yesterday. They were not a complete waste of time. For example, there were 1,000 prisoners that are going to be exchanged, and that, from a humanitarian standpoint, is very positive. He explained to me that they are going to be preparing a document outlining their requirements for a ceasefire that would then lead to broader negotiations." Rubio said the Ukrainians will be working on their own proposal coming soon, and he hoped proposals from both sides would be "serious and viable." "So we'll have to wait and see. But he wanted me to know, and he communicated in our call, that their side will be working on a series of ideas and requirements that they would have in order to move forward with a ceasefire and further negotiations," he said. Rubio said the U.S. is "testing" whether the Russian are just "tapping" them along, as Trump has suggested could be the case. Zelenskyy Speaks With Trump, Allies After Russia Peace Talks Broker No Ceasefire "On the one hand, we're trying to achieve peace and end a very bloody, costly and destructive war. So there's some element of patience that is required. On the other hand, we don't have time to waste," Rubio said. "There are a lot of other things happening in the world that we also need to be paying attention to. So we don't want to be involved in this process of just endless talks — there has to be some progress, some movement forward. And if at the end of this, in the next few days, we get a document produced by both sides, and it shows that both sides are… making concessions and being realistic and rational in their approach, then I think we can feel good about continuing to remain engaged." "If, on the other hand, what we see is not very productive, perhaps we'll have a different assessment. I also agree that, ultimately, one of the things that could help break this logjam — perhaps the only thing that can — is a direct conversation between President Trump and Vladimir Putin. And he's already openly expressed a desire and a belief that that needs to happen, and hopefully that'll be worked out soon as well," he added. Pressed on whether the in-person talks between Trump and Putin were being planned, Rubio reiterated that the president had already made that offer publicly. "The mechanics of setting that kind of meeting up would require a little bit of work, so I can't say that's being planned as we speak in terms of picking a site and a date," Rubio said. "But the president wants to do it. He wants to do it as soon as feasible. I think the Russian side has also expressed a willingness to do it. And so, now it's just a question of bringing them, bringing everyone together, and figuring out where and when and that meeting will happen and what it will be about." Rubio joinedVice President JD Vance in meeting with Zelenskyy at the U.S. ambassador's residence in Rome on Sunday. Vance and Rubio later met with Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for discussions on trade, the war in Ukraine and NATO spending, according to a spokesperson for the vice president. "The individual countries within Europe are important allies of the United States. But, of course, we have some disagreements, as friends sometimes do, on issues like trade, and we also have many agreements and many things we can work on together, and I'm looking forward to the conversation," Vance told reporters at the top of the meeting. After the meeting, the vice president's office released a statement saying that "the leaders discussed their shared goal of ending the bloodshed in Ukraine and provided updates on the current state of negotiations for a ceasefire and lasting peace." Fox News' Meghan Tomes and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source:Rubio teases details of potential Trump, Putin in-person meeting after Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks stall

byDaniel Coleman

in

May 18, 2025

Rubio teases details of potential Trump, Putin in-person meeting after Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks stall

Rubio teases details of potential Trump, Putin in-person meeting after Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks stall Secretary of State Marco Rubio a...

Read More

Tariffs Will Likely Lead To Price Increases, Bessent Says

Tariffs Will Likely Lead To Price Increases, Bessent Says

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent conceded on Sunday that President Donald Trump's tariffs could increase prices for consumers. Walmart CEO Doug McMillonannouncedon a Thursday earnings call that the company wouldraiseits prices due to the tariffs after recording a slip in first-quarter profits, despite strong quarterly sales and a bump in operating profit. During a Sunday appearance on "State of the Union," Bessent said he spoke to McMillon, who told him that Walmart would potentially pass tariff-related costs on to American shoppers.(RELATED: Chinese Manufacturers Flood Social Media With Anti-Tariff Videos) WATCH: "I did speak to Doug McMillon, who I have a very good relationship, yesterday, just to understand what he had to say. And, you know, understand that came from an earnings call. On an earnings call, because of [Securities and Exchange Commission] requirements, they have to give the most draconian case," Bessent said. "So, Walmart will be absorbing some of the tariffs. Some may get passed on to consumers. But the other thing that's happening is that inflation is down. We had the first drop in inflation in four years under President Trump." "The other thing that Doug mentioned to me is for his consumers, for his buyers, the most important thing are gasoline prices. And this administration has gotten gasoline prices down, service prices are down," Bessent continued. "So overall, I would expect inflation to remain in line. But I don't blame consumers for being skittish after what happened to them four years under Biden. We had the worst inflation in 40 years." Inflationeasedmore than anticipated in April, decelerating to its lowest level since February 2021, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)reportedTuesday. Trumpdemandedthat Walmart not pass on tariff-related costs to consumers in a Saturday post on Truth Social. "Walmart should STOP trying to blame Tariffs as the reason for raising prices throughout the chain. Walmart made BILLIONS OF DOLLARS last year, far more than expected," the president wrote. "Between Walmart and China they should, as is said, 'EAT THE TARIFFS,' and not charge valued customers ANYTHING. I'll be watching, and so will your customers!!!" However, Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand PaulsaidSunday on ABC's "This Week" that increased costs from tariffs are an inevitability. "Well, tariffs are taxes, and when you put a tax on a business, it's always passed through as a cost," Paul said. "So, there will be higher prices." Bessent said on "State of the Union" Sunday that he believed the Trump administration "will do a lot of regional deals," meaning setting different tariff rates for different regions, including Central America and certain parts of Africa,accordingto Axios. The treasury secretary also noted that the Trump administration is currently prioritizing "the 18 important trading relationships." Following trade negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland, the U.S. and China have temporarilydroppedtheir tariffs on one another significantly. China had previouslyendeavoredto make inroads inVietnam,MalaysiaandEurope, following Trump's "Liberation Day" tariff rollout in early April. Trump on Friday asserted that his administration will soon tell certain countries in a letter what their tariff rates will be, Fortunereported. The president noted it was impossible to negotiate with every single one of the numerous nations that his administration has hit with tariffs. Several recent polls have found that Americans are generally unhappy with Trump's approach to theeconomy. For instance, a Reuters/Ipsospollpublished April 23 showed that just 37% of respondents approved of the president's management of the economy. After Trump said that children may end up with fewer and more expensive dolls due to his tariffs on China, political analyst Mark Halperin, former Democratic strategist Dan Turrentine and former White House press secretary Sean Spicerarguedon May 5 that Democrats were failing to capitalize on what they viewed as poor political rhetoric by the president. All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter's byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contactlicensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

byDaniel Coleman

in

May 18, 2025

Tariffs Will Likely Lead To Price Increases, Bessent Says

Tariffs Will Likely Lead To Price Increases, Bessent Says Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent conceded on Sunday that President Donald Trump...

Read More

Opinion - Netanyahu is not America’s ally — and Trump finally knows it

Opinion - Netanyahu is not America's ally — and Trump finally knows it

Antisemitism is real. It is ugly, persistent and absolutely worth condemning at every turn. But criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu — the man, the politician, the schemer — is not antisemitism. It's realism, and it's long overdue. So when Donald Trumpbypassed Israel on his recent Middle East tour, choosing instead to shake hands in Riyadh and Doha while skipping Tel Aviv altogether, it wasn't hatred. It wasn't betrayal. It was distance. It was pragmatism. It was a reminder that the U.S. is the superpower — not a client state, not a donor, not a servant. And it doesn't need to stop in Tel Aviv to make that point. That distance says something the political class in America has been afraid to utter for far too long: Benjamin Netanyahu is no friend of the U.S. He may call himself an ally. He may speak before Congress. He may wrap himself in shared values and talk about Western civilization. But strip away the optics, and you're left with a man desperately clinging to power, willing to endanger global stability, fan the flames of war, and burn bridges with the very country he pretends to revere — if it means keeping himself out of a jail cell. Trump, to his credit, finally seems to see it. And unlike previous presidents who spoke softly while writing Israel blank checks, Trump is speaking with leverage — because he understands what few are willing to say out loud: America holds the cards. Of course, the usual suspects are already spiraling. Ben Shapiro, among others, has launched into meltdown mode, accusing Trump of betraying Israel, the Jewish people and the so-called moral order. But it's not Trump who has done the betraying here. It's Netanyahu, and he's been doing it for years. Let's not forget: Netanyahu has repeatedly undermined American foreign policy when it suited him. Heopenly opposed the Obama administration's Iran deal, even campaigning against it on U.S. soil by addressing Congress without White House approval. Imagine the outrage if another country's leader did the same. His administration has soldmilitaryandcyber technologyto China behind America's back. He's thumbed his nose at every U.S. president who didn't do exactly what he wanted, while pocketing billions in U.S. aid without question or accountability. And now, with his own political survival at stake, Netanyahu is playing a far more dangerous game. He's prolonging the brutal war in Gaza — not out of principle or necessity, but out of political desperation. Every bomb dropped, every hospital hit, every civilian killed gives Bibi another news cycle where he gets to be "the wartime prime minister" instead of the man facing a raft of corruption charges at home. And if dragging Gaza into the abyss isn't enough, he's increasingly flirting with war against Iran. Not because it's strategically wise. Not because it serves American interests. But because he knows war is the ultimate distraction. The ultimate shield. And if he can drag the U.S. into it alongside him? Even better. That's not leadership. Not good leadership, anyway. It's manipulation. What we have is a man trying to use American might to escape domestic judgment. So let's not pretend this is about betrayal. The betrayal already happened. Netanyahu has taken American goodwill and weaponized it for years. He's used evangelical loyalty like a battering ram, leaned on AIPAC to silence critics, and hidden behind accusations of antisemitism every time someone dared to question his motives. Trump, to be blunt, is simply breaking the code of silence. He didn't need Tel Aviv photo ops this time around. He needed leverage. He needed Gulf oil and Gulf money. And for once, he chose to work around the man who has for too long positioned himself as the gatekeeper to American policy in the region. He acted like a president of a superpower should — on his own terms. Good. Because the truth is, Netanyahu needs America far more than America needs Netanyahu. That's not arrogance — it's reality. America provides the weapons, the cover, the vetoes at the U.N. Without America, Israel doesn't survive in its current form. Full stop. And the Republican Party needs to decide: does it serve the interests of the United States, or the legal survival of a foreign politician neck-deep in scandal? Criticizing Netanyahu is not abandoning Israel. It's calling out a man who has turned Israel into a vessel for his own ego. It's recognizing that real allies don't spy on each other, don't interfere in each other's elections, and don't risk regional war for the sake of avoiding a courtroom. So let the pundits scream. Let the pearl-clutchers weep. Trump didn't betray anyone. Unlike previous presidents, he found a backbone and decided to put America first. John Mac Ghlionn is a writer and researcher who explores culture, society and the impact of technology on daily life. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.

byDaniel Coleman

in

May 18, 2025

Opinion - Netanyahu is not America’s ally — and Trump finally knows it

Opinion - Netanyahu is not America's ally — and Trump finally knows it Antisemitism is real. It is ugly, persistent and absolutely worth...

Read More

Vance and Zelenskyy meet in Rome as Trump pushes for Ukraine peace deal

Vance and Zelenskyy meet in Rome as Trump pushes for Ukraine peace deal

Vice President JD Vancemet with Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyyin Rome, coming together after an earlier spat in the Oval Office to work towards a peace deal to end Ukraine's war with Russia. Zelenskyy and Vance, whoclashed at the White Housein February, met on May 18 after the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV. Secretary of StateMarco Rubioalso attended the meeting. "The leaders discussed their shared goal of ending the bloodshed in Ukraine and provided updates on the current state of negotiations for a ceasefire and lasting peace," the vice president's office said in a statement. Zelenskyy said it was a "good" meeting, a shift from February when Vance accused him of being "disrespectful" and their discussion blew up from there, with Trump jumping in to berate the Ukrainian leader. "I reaffirmed that Ukraine is ready to be engaged in real diplomacy and underscored the importance of a full and unconditional ceasefire as soon as possible,"the Ukrainian leader wroteof the May 18 discussion with Vance. The meeting came ahead of Trump'splanned callson May 19 with Zelenskyy and Russian PresidentVladimir Putin. Trump met with Zelenskyy in April atPope Francis' funeral. Trump has pressured both sides to accept a ceasefire and peace deal to end a war that began in 2022 whenRussia invaded Ukraine. Zelenskyy backs a 30-day ceasefire, but Putin has said he first wants talks to review details of a possible truce. Ukraine and Russia held negotiations in Turkey that wrapped up on May 16. It was the first time the two sides engaged in talks since the early weeks of the war.They agreed to a prisoner swapand continued discussions. Putin sent a second-tier team of negotiators to the peace talks, spurning Zelenskyy's challenge to meet in person. Trump told reporters last week that he doesn't expect progress on peace talks until "Putin and I get together." After leaning heavily on Ukraine and joining Vance inclashing with Zelenskyyin the February Oval Office meeting, Trump has shown increasing impatience with Putin in recent weeks and threatened additional sanctions on Russia. Former Vice PresidentMike Pencetold NBC's "Meet the Press"in an interview that aired May 18 that Putin only understands strength, and it's time for Trump to get tough with Russia. "President Zelenskyy has agreed to a ceasefire... and Vladimir Putin calls a meeting that he doesn't show up for," Pence said. "So I honestly think the time has come forPresident Trumpto impose harsh sanctions on Russia and also to increase military support for Ukraine." While in Rome, Vance and Rubio also met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Canadian Prime MinisterMark Carney. They discussed trade issues as the Trump administration threatens reciprocal tariffs on several countries. Contributing: Reuters This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:JD Vance meets Volodymyr Zelenskyy after Pope Leo XIV's inaugural mass

byDaniel Coleman

in

May 18, 2025

Vance and Zelenskyy meet in Rome as Trump pushes for Ukraine peace deal

Vance and Zelenskyy meet in Rome as Trump pushes for Ukraine peace deal Vice President JD Vancemet with Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelensk...

Read More