40 h. ago Donald Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ is the ultimate betrayal of his base | Sidney Blumenthal

The measure exposes the most elaborate charade in recent US political history. But betrayal is Trump’s operating principleDonald Trump’s so-called “big, beautiful bill”, which will eviscerate the living standards, healthcare and aspirations of his white, working-class base, conclusively draws the curtain down on his Maga populist conceit, the most elaborate charade in recent American political history.The price will be staggering: $1tn in cuts to Medicaid; throwing 17 million people off health coverage closing rural hospitals and women’s health clinics; battering food assistance for families, children and veterans; the virtual destruction of US solar and wind energy manufacturing; limiting access to financial aid for college; and, according to the Yale Budget Lab, adding $3tn to the national debt over the next decade, inexorably leading to raised interest rates, which will depress the housing market. These are the harsh, brutal and undeniable realities of Trumpism in the glare of da...

Politics

62 h. ago Market volatility recedes as investors brush off Trump’s tariff threats

‘Taco trade’ dominates as stocks, bonds and currencies remain calm

Economics

8 d. ago Elon Musk goes quiet on Trump's epic Big, Beautiful Bill as Republicans brush off his ominous threats of political revenge

Is Elon Musk planning to make good on his pledges to primary Republicans and even start his own political party after Republicans passed Trump's budget bill?

Politics

2 w. ago ‘Everything is opportunistic’: Can Netanyahu expect more years in power after Israel’s war with Iran?

Loyalists hope for boost after apparent victory, but political divisions and 7 October security failures still loom largeWhen Benjamin Netanyahu described the opportunities for peace that Israel’s successes in its brief war with Iran might bring, supporters took him at his word.“This victory presents an opportunity for a dramatic widening of peace agreements. We are working on this with enthusiasm,” Israel’s longest-serving prime minister said on Thursday in a pre-recorded statement. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Iraq War architect Condi Rice heaps praise on Trump admin for Iran strikes

Bush era official says bombing raid delivered ‘shot in the arm for American credibility’ but president unlikely to welcome applause from ‘neocon’ unpopular with his MAGA base

Events

2 w. ago Iran retaliation fears as hospitals and power plants on high alert for cyberattacks

The Trump administration attacked three main nuclear sites in Iran late Saturday

Events

2 w. ago NATO chief bizarrely calls Trump ‘daddy’ as he tries to brush off F

NATO chief referred to Trump as ‘daddy’ while praising his intervention with Iran and Israel

Politics

2 w. ago Republican Lisa Murkowski on Trump’s America and the ‘intensity on the security of our democracy’

The Alaska senator, who helped deal Trump’s first big legislative setback, believes there can be only so much fear that Americans can handleLate one night about six months into Donald Trump’s first term, John McCain stepped onto the Senate floor and with a dramatic thumbs-down gesture dealt the president his first major legislative setback by defeating an attempt by his fellow Republicans to repeal the Affordable Care Act.It was the last major political effort of the Arizona senator, who would die the following year from brain cancer, but his no vote would not have been effective had he had not been joined by fellow Republicans Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska – who gives that incident, and many other brushes with Trump, a prominent place in Far from Home, the memoir she released on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago House Democratic veterans back moves to limit Trump’s military authority

Letter from 12 members demanding congressional approval for war follows Trump’s unauthorized bombing of IranUS politics live – latest updatesA group of 12 House Democratic military veterans have thrown their weight behind efforts to constrain Donald Trump’s military authority, announcing they will support a War Powers Act resolution in response to the US president’s go ahead for airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.The veterans – some of whom served in Iraq and Afghanistan – were strongly critical of Trump’s decision to launch what they called “preventive air strikes” without US congressional approval, drawing explicit parallels to the run-up to some of America’s longest recent wars. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump’s war with Iran signals perilous shift from showman to strongman

The emergence of Hawk Trump dismayed some of his Maga base but students of US adventurism were unsurprisedSo the military parade that brought tanks to the streets of Washington on Donald Trump’s birthday was more than just an authoritarian ego trip. It was a show of strength and statement of intent.Exactly a week later, sporting a “Make America great again” (Maga) cap in the situation room, the American president ordered the biggest US military intervention in decades as more than 125 aircraft and 75 weapons – including 14 bunker-busting bombs – struck three Iranian nuclear sites. Trump called it a “spectacular military success” – but it remains unclear how much damage had actually been inflicted. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump's embattled Intel Chief's extraordinary power play on the eve of war with Iran that infuriated the White House

Different factions of the intelligence community are grappling to see who can control the classified reports placed before President Donald Trump, the Daily Mail has learned.

Events

2 w. ago Inside the ferocious power struggle to control Trump's daily intelligence briefing as he tiptoed toward Iran decision

Different factions of the intelligence community are grappling to see who can control the classified reports placed before President Donald Trump, the Daily Mail has learned.

Politics

3 w. ago Who is Iran’s supreme leader? Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s rise to power explained during Israel conflict

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei crushed internal threats during more than three decades in power as Iran’s supreme leader

Politics

3 w. ago Trump brushing off MAGA base on Iran for this new power trio of GOP hawks who won his ear

President is increasingly turning to a handful of Iran hardliners and brushing off the MAGA isolationists that got him elected to a second term

Politics

3 w. ago Bannon warns Trump Iran strike would ‘tear the country apart’

Former adviser’s comments reflect backlash from US president’s Maga base

Events

3 w. ago Experts warn that Iran could target power and water systems for cyberattacks if US gets involved in Middle East

As the conflict between Israel and Iran evolves, leaders in the critical infrastructure realm remain on high alert.

Events

3 w. ago MARK ALMOND: The lesson from history to everyone hoping to topple Iran's mullahs: Be careful what you wish for!

For the first time since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, which swept the mullahs to power, the collapse of Iran's tyrannical regime is a realistic prospect, writes MARK ALMOND.

Politics

3 w. ago Voices: This is what the world looks like when America is weak

Trump is choosing weakness over strength with Israel and Iran, writes Luke McGee. The US president has the power to bring people to the negotiating table, but offers no real sticks or carrots

Politics

3 w. ago Iran and Israel trade attacks amid reports Tehran could be seeking talks – live updates

Hostilities continue for fourth day but Iran reportedly seeking urgent negotiations to end strikes and resume nuclear talksIran strikes Tel Aviv and Haifa as conflict enters fourth dayLiving in Israel: how have you been affected?Living in Iran: how have you been affected?If you are just tuning in to the latest developments in the escalating conflict in the Middle East, here is our new wrap on the strikes between Israel and Iran.Iran has executed a man who was found guilty of spying for Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Monday, as reported by Reuters. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Iran and Israel trade attacks as conflict enters fourth day – live updates

Up to eight reportedly killed and more than 90 injured in Israel as strike damages hospital in the west of IranIran strikes Tel Aviv and Haifa as conflict enters fourth dayIf you are just tuning in to the latest developments in the escalating conflict in the Middle East, here is our new wrap on the strikes between Israel and Iran.Iran has executed a man who was found guilty of spying for Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Monday, as reported by Reuters. Continue reading...

Events