6 h. ago Mike Johnson’s prize for victory on Trump’s budget? A fight over Medicaid

House Republicans go to war with math as they try to save hundreds of billions of dollars without scaling back critical health care coverage, writes John Bowden

Politics

14 h. ago Mike Johnson claims ‘paid protesters’ are disrupting GOP town halls — then backtracks when asked for proof

‘You can’t argue they were all paid protestors, though, Mr. Speaker,’ CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins pushed back, prompting Mike Johnson to admit: ‘I don’t know.’

Politics

29 h. ago MacArthur Foundation to increase giving for two years in response to 'crisis'

The John D

Events

34 h. ago Trump praises Doge in first cabinet meeting and claims ‘billions’ in savings without evidence – live

Elon Musk attends first cabinet meeting of Trump’s second term amid chaos and confusion caused by his efforts to cull the federal government workforceThere has been reaction to Trump’s proposal for a “gold card” for wealthy foreigners (post 11.14am) which would give them the right to live and work in the US as well as a route to citizenship in exchange for a $5million fee.Immigration and wealth advisers have said the proposed initiative is unlikely to trigger a major inflow of wealthy global investors seeking US citizenship because of concerns over higher taxes, Reuters reports.I do not believe that the current POTUS offer will have a big impact, as getting a green card in the US if you meet certain criteria, is not difficult.Paying $5 million for a golden visa and getting taxed on your global income defeats the purpose. Continue reading...

Politics

44 h. ago Trump live: House Republicans narrowly pass budget bill; president offers ‘gold card’ as route to US citizenship

‘Wealthy people will be coming into our country by buying this card,’ the president said about the new path to U.S. citizenship

Politics

45 h. ago Mike Johnson delivers win for Trump as House narrowly passes GOP budget framework calling for steep cuts

Johnson squeaks through chaotic vote session with first legislative victory for Donald Trump’s second term

Politics

48 h. ago Mike johnson delivers major win for Trump as House narrowly passes GOP budget plan calling for steep cuts

Johnson squeaks through chaotic vote session with first legislative victory for Donald Trump’s second term

Politics

49 h. ago Trump’s agenda passed its first hurdle. Now comes the hard part

House Speaker Mike Johnson twists enough arms. But, Eric Garcia warns, the internal disputes between House and Senate Republicans remain

Politics

50 h. ago Mike Johnson wins over holdouts as House passes budget framework calling for steep cuts

Johnson squeaks through chaotic vote session with first legislative victory for Donald Trump’s second term

Politics

50 h. ago Republican budget blueprint to fund Trump’s agenda narrowly passes House

Vote passes 217-215 in win for president as Democrats assail proposal over planned cuts to social safety-net programsRepublicans unified behind a budget blueprint, a major step toward delivering Donald Trump’s sprawling tax-cut and immigration agenda over unanimous opposition from Democrats – and deep concerns that it would slash social safety net programs – to advance Trump’s 2025 agenda.The vote on passage was 217-215, with one Republican voting in opposition and no Democrats supporting the controversial measure. One Democrat did not vote. Continue reading...

Politics

50 h. ago Trump live updates: House Republicans narrowly pass budget bill; president offers ‘gold card’ as route to US citizenship

House Republicans pulled the budget proposal Tuesday evening after it became they didn’t have enough votes to pass, due to several GOP holdouts

Politics

56 h. ago House Republicans to vote on spending deal that could slash Medicaid funding

Budget central to Trump’s agenda might get stalled before 14 March deadline as lawmakers warn of nearly $1tn in cutsHouse Republicans are planning to vote on Tuesday on a spending blueprint central to Donald Trump’s agenda, but the package faces potential derailment over nearly $1tn in Medicaid cuts that could fracture their slim majority.The fiscal year 2025 proposal includes approximately $4.5tn in tax cuts alongside increased spending for defense and border security. To offset these costs, the plan tasks congressional committees with finding about $2tn in spending reductions over the next decade. Continue reading...

Economics

62 h. ago Nearly 40% of contracts canceled by Doge are expected to produce no savings – live

Almost 40% of federal contracts canceled as part of Doge’s cost-cutting efforts aren’t expected to save government any money, Trump administration’s own data showsIt’s coming down to the wire for beleaguered House speaker Mike Johnson, who is trying to rally GOP holdouts behind his budget plan for enacting Donald Trump’s agenda before the showdown vote this evening.Amid Republican opposition threatening to derail his bill, Johnson was up late last night locked in talks with holdouts from across his party who remain skeptical of his outline plan for tax and spending cuts - as well as border security, energy and defense policy - via a single reconciliation bill. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Cutting Medicaid and raising the debt limit: Mike Johnson struggles to get Republicans behind Trump’s budget

Analysis: ‘One big, beautiful bill’ could pass thanks to Speaker’s hard work and a few gifts from the Democrats, writes John Bowden

Politics

6 d. ago US Senate passes budget resolution to fund Trump’s deportation plan

Bill approving $175bn for border security and extra $150bn for Pentagon faces tough challenge in HouseUS politics live – latest updatesThe US Senate has passed a budget resolution that paves the way for funding Donald Trump’s mass deportation plan after his “border czar” said there were insufficient funds for the operation.A 10-hour marathon session – dubbed a “vote-a-rama” – concluded in the early hours of Friday morning with a 52-48 vote almost entirely on party lines in favor of a spending structure that would see $175bn reserved for border security, including Trump’s prized border wall with Mexico, and a $150bn boost to the Pentagon budget. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Senate passes budget funding Trump’s mass deportations; Pentagon reportedly delays firing civilians – US politics live

Republicans approve spending plan that will pay for hardline immigration policies; sackings on hold amid concerns they could hit military readinessMass firings could cause ‘monumental’ bill, say expertsNational security adviser Mike Waltz told a crowd of Donald Trump loyalists that he believes the president will receive the Nobel peace prize.“This is the presidency of peace. He’s going to end the war in Europe. He is going to end the wars in the Middle East. He is going to reinvest the United States and our leadership in our own hemisphere, from the Arctic to the border to Panama all the way down to our good friends in Argentina,” Waltz told the Conservative Political Action Conference.The pause comes after CNN reported on Wednesday that the mass terminations, which could affect over 50,000 civilian employees across the Pentagon, could run afoul of Title 10 section 129a of the US code. Following that report, Pentagon lawyers began reviewing the legality of the planned terminations m...

Politics

6 d. ago Senate passes budget funding Trump’s mass deportations; federal workers brace for more firings – US politics live

Senate Republicans approve spending plan that will pay for hardline immigration policies; mass layoffs get all-clear after judge lifts blockMass firings could cause ‘monumental’ bill, say expertsThe defense department will delay a plan to fire civilian employees on probation as it assess whether the move complies with the law and if it affects military readiness, CNN reports.The cuts were to be made as part of Donald Trump’s effort to dramatically downsize the federal government, which is being led by Elon Musk’s “department of government efficiency”. Here’s more, from CNN:The pause comes after CNN reported on Wednesday that the mass terminations, which could affect over 50,000 civilian employees across the Pentagon, could run afoul of Title 10 section 129a of the US code. Following that report, Pentagon lawyers began reviewing the legality of the planned terminations more closely, the officials said.That law says that the secretary of defense “may not reduce the civilian workforce ...

Politics

8 d. ago US politics briefing: Trump rails against Zelenskyy and derails Senate Republicans’ budget proposal

From the Trump administration’s latest moves to Donald Trump’s latest feuds – key US politics stories from Wednesday at a glanceThe Guardian is tracking Donald Trump and his administration’s latest moves with several stories, features and analyses each day. Here are some of the biggest stories in US politics that happened Wednesday, 19 February.***Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative, a global finance conference in Miami organized by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, Trump said the United States is “back and open for business” and that the “dark days of high taxes, crushing regulations, rampant inflation, flagrant corruption, government weaponization and total incompetence will be gone for ever.”Illinois governor JB Pritzker delivered a searing state-of-the-state address, likening Trump’s stunning power grabs to the rise of Nazism in 1930s Germany.In a blistering statement after asking a federal judge to dismiss the corruption case against New York mayor Eric Adams, the ...

Politics

8 d. ago Trump defense chief reportedly orders Pentagon to plan for sweeping budget cuts – US politics live

Pete Hegseth orders leaders to develop plans to cut 8% of budget in each of next five years, Washington Post reportsAs Donald Trump’s administration continues to fire thousands of federal workers and radically slash federal spending, some Republicans are growing unnerved, Axios reports.As the cuts start to hit GOP lawmakers’ districts and states, some have told Axios there is a larger conflict brewing over the constitutional issue of whether the president can bypass Congress on such decisions.I think you’re going to see a clash when they start abolishing [agencies]. Say like USAid, right? We authorized that. That’s a creature of Congress. If they try to do something like that, then you’re going to get into a constitutional argument or crisis.Before making cuts rashly, the administration should be studying and staffing to see what the consequences are. Measure twice before cutting. They have had to backtrack multiple times.We all want efficiencies, there is a way to do it, and the wa...

Politics

8 d. ago Mike Pence lashes out, but most Republicans mum as Trump savages Ukraine and Zelensky

Will Republicans in Congress do something about it? Probably not

Politics