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    Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Rejected By GOP-Led House Committee

    By
    Patrick Houck
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    Ted Eytan from Washington, DC, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

      Fiscal fractures within the GOP torpedo Trump-backed budget…

      President Trump’s 2025 budget proposal — branded the “Big Beautiful Bill” — was dealt a devastating blow on Friday when the House Budget Committee voted it down in a 16–21 decision. All Democrats opposed it, but the decisive factor was a group of Republicans who broke ranks, citing concerns about federal debt and spending.

      The Proposal: Sweeping Trump Agenda, Big Price Tag

      The bill laid out a sweeping fiscal roadmap aligned with Trump’s priorities for a transformative second term: deep tax cuts, uncompromising immigration enforcement, increased defense spending, and accelerated domestic energy production. But its projected $2.5 trillion increase to the federal deficit over the next decade drew fire — even from within the GOP.

      Just days before the vote, a nonpartisan budget analysis warned that the proposal would exacerbate the national debt, which already exceeds $36 trillion. As Fox News reports, that forecast gave fiscal conservatives new ammunition to push back ahead of today’s committee meeting:

      The committee met on Friday to mark up and debate the bill, a massive piece of legislation that’s a product of 11 different House committees’ individual efforts to craft policy under their jurisdictions. The result is a wide-ranging bill that advances Trump’s priorities on the border, immigration, taxes, energy, defense and raising the debt limit.

      Emotions ran high in the hallway outside the House Budget Committee’s meeting room from the outset, however, giving the media little indication of how events would transpire.

      Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, who had been at home with his wife and newborn baby, surprised reporters when he arrived at the Cannon House Office Building after he was initially expected to miss the committee meeting.

      His appearance gave House GOP leaders some added wiggle room, allowing the committee to lose two Republican votes and still pass the bill, rather than just one.

      Office of Speaker Mike Johnson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

      In the end, five Republican committee members voted against the bill:

      • Chip Roy (Texas)
      • Andrew Clyde (Georgia)
      • Lloyd Smucker (Pennsylvania)
      • Josh Brecheen (Oklahoma)
      • Ralph Norman (South Carolina)

      Smucker, who initially supported the measure, reversed his position and voted “no” at the last minute — adding insult to injury for supporters of the president’s agenda.

      The vote underscores a growing tension within the Republican Party: Are Trump’s populist, big-ticket proposals increasingly at odds with traditional conservative budget hawks who prioritize fiscal restraint? Only time will tell.

      Trump Rescinds His Nomination For DC US Attorney

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
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      0

      A big shakeup…

      The White House will soon select a new nominee to serve as United States Attorney for the District of Columbia after Trump’s pick met a series of roadblocks.

      Trump previously nominated Ed Martin, a former defense attorney who represented Americans charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol, for the role. Martin has taken on the responsibilities of the interim U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., since January. 

      On Thursday, Trump suggested he would put forward another candidate who would receive broader backing than Martin. 

      “He wasn’t getting the support from people that I thought,” Trump told reporters at the White House Thursday. “You know, he’s done a very good job. Crime is down 25% in DC during this period of time … I can only lift that little phone so many times of the day. But we have somebody else.”

      “I have to be straight. I was disappointed,” Trump said. “A lot of people were disappointed. But that’s the way it works. Sometimes, you know, that’s the way it works. And he wasn’t rejected, but we felt it would be very — it would be hard. And we have somebody else that will be announcing over the next two days who’s going to be great.” 

      The Senate has held up confirming Martin amid concerns from lawmakers.

      Republican Sen. Thom Tillis (N.C.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced Tuesday he wouldn’t endorse Martin. 

      Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.) the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, also has opposed Martin’s nomination. 

      The move came a day after President Donald Trump resolved to withdraw his nomination of former Fox News contributor Janette Nesheiwat to serve as his surgeon general on Wednesday.

      Nesheiwat’s credentials came into question last month when CBS News reported that records showed she had graduated from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, and not the University of Arkansas School of Medicine, as had been said when her nomination was announced.

      Casey Means, a physician with close ties to the “Make America Healthy Again,” or MAHA, movement, was announced as Trump’s new pick to fill the role.

      Means, a graduate of Stanford Medical School, is the sister of Calley Means, a close ally to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and a special government employee at HHS. They are both high-profile proponents of Kennedy’s MAHA agenda.

      “I am pleased to announce that Dr. Casey Means, will be nominated as our next Surgeon General of the United States of America. Casey has impeccable ‘MAHA’ credentials, and will work closely with our wonderful Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to ensure a successful implementation of our Agenda in order to reverse the Chronic Disease Epidemic, and ensure Great Health, in the future, for ALL Americans,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

      “Her academic achievements, together with her life’s work, are absolutely outstanding,” he added. “Dr. Casey Means has the potential to be one of the finest Surgeon Generals in United States History. Congratulations to Casey!”the Senate Judiciary Committee. 

      Anna Paulina Luna Resigns From House Freedom Caucus

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
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      0
      By Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America - Anna Paulina Luna, CC BY-SA 2.0,

      On Monday, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) announced she is resigning from the House Freedom Caucus.

      The focus of her anger reportedly stems from a brief incident from earlier this month when a group of House conservatives held up a chamber-wide vote on unrelated legislation to press GOP leaders to kill Luna’s measure – known as a “discharge petition.”

      A discharge petition allows lawmakers to force a bill onto the House floor, despite objections from leadership, provided the mechanism gets signatures from a majority of the chamber.

      “I have consistently supported each of you, even in moments of disagreement, honoring the mutual respect that has guided our caucus,” Luna wrote in a letter to colleagues. “That respect, however, was shattered last week.”

      “Acting within the House conference rules – rules we all agreed to – I sought to bring a vote to the floor on a measure that would allow new mothers in Congress (fewer than 14 in our nation’s history) and fathers, if they choose, to vote by proxy,” Luna continued. 

       “This was a modest, family-centered proposal. Yet, a small group among us threatened the Speaker, vowing to halt floor proceedings indefinitely – regardless of the legislation at stake, including President Trump’s agenda – unless he altered the rules to block my discharge petition.”

      “I cannot remain part of a caucus where a select few operate outside its guidelines, misuse its name, broker backroom deals that undermine its core values and where the lines of compromise and transaction are blurred, disparage me to the press, and encourage misrepresentation of me to the American people,” Luna wrote.

      She will be the first House Freedom Caucus member to leave the group, which does not advertise its membership, in the 119th Congress.

      This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

      Top Democrat Hijacks Senate Floor With Marathon All-Nighter Speech Protesting Trump

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
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      7
      By U.S. Army photo by Spc. Vincent Levelev - This image was released by the United States Army with the ID 230711-A-ID763-9272 (next).

      Sen. Cory Booker launched into a blistering all-night speech late Monday, taking aim at President Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

      Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) spoke out against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk on the Senate floor throughout the night after beginning his marathon speech at 7 p.m. Monday.

      The senator was still speaking on the floor after 8 a.m. Tuesday, more than 13 hours after he had begun.

      Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) who said he planned to join Booker “for the entirety of his speech,” noted that he was “returning the favor” as Booker joined him when he “launched a filibuster to demand action on gun violence nine years ago.”

      Murphy was among the Democrats who provided Booker with some relief by speaking at times to punctuate the marathon session.

      Watch:

      At around midnight, Booker said he would continue to speak “as long as [he is] physically able” using the chamber’s open floor time to command attention and spotlight Democratic concerns about the direction of the country.

      “In just 71 days, the president of the United States has inflicted so much harm on Americans’ safety, financial stability, the core foundations of our democracy and even our aspirations as a people for — from our highest offices — a sense of common decency,” Booker said. “These are not normal times in America. And they should not be treated as such in the United States Senate.”

      He continued to blast Trump and Musk for “complete disregard for the rule of law, the Constitution and the needs of the American people.”

      Among the key issues Booker hammered: proposed GOP cuts to Medicaid.

      “It is maddening… to create greater and greater health care crisis,” he said, accusing Republicans of tearing down systems “with no plan to make it better.”

      Trump has previously indicated that he will not “touch” Americans’ Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits, but wants to weed out fraud.

      While technically not a filibuster — since it hasn’t been tied to any active legislation — Booker’s speech threatens to delay Senate business, which is set to begin at noon.

      Trump Admin. To Direct Agency Leaders To Brace For ‘Large-scale Reductions In Force’

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
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      3
      By The White House - https://www.flickr.com/photos/202101414@N05/54325633746/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=159707159

      The Trump administration will direct heads of agencies across the federal government to prepare to initiate “large-scale reductions in force” and develop reorganization plans by mid-March, Fox News reports. 

      Fox News Digital obtained the memo that will be sent Wednesday to agency heads by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought and acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Charles Ezell. The memo directs them to prepare to eliminate roles and submit plans for reorganization by March 13. 

      Notably, the memo states that government positions “necessary to meet law enforcement, border security, national security, immigration enforcement, or public safety responsibilities” are exempt from the order, as well as officials nominated and appointed to positions requiring presidential appointment or Senate confirmation, officials in the Executive Office of the President and U.S. Postal Service workers. 

      The memo is titled “Guidance on agency RIF and Reorganization Plans Requested by Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Workforce Optimization Initiative.” 

      Read:

      opm_omb-guidance-on-doge-workforce-eo-2.26.25Download

      The memo points to the president’s February executive order, which directed agencies to “eliminate waste, bloat and insularity” in order to “empower American families, workers, taxpayers, and our system of Government itself.” 

      The memo provides guidance to agency heads about the reduction-in-force and reorganization plans, along with instructions for how those plans should be submitted to OMB and OPM. 

      “President Trump required that ‘Agency Heads shall promptly undertake preparations to initiate large-scale reductions in force, consistent with applicable law,’” the memo states, noting that agencies have to submit reorganization plans “no later than March 13, 2025.”

      The reorganization plans, according to the memo, should provide “better service for the American people; increased productivity; a significant reduction in the number of full-time equivalent positions by eliminating positions that are not required; a reduced real property footprint; and reduced budget topline.” 

      President Trump said during Wednesday’s White House Cabinet meeting that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin has floated cutting the agency’s workforce by up to 65 percent.

      This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

      House GOP Pressures Attorney General To Prosecute Officials Helping Subvert Deportations

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
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      0

      Multiple House Republicans are demanding the Justice Department prosecute elected officials and left-wing activist groups allegedly attempting to undermine the administration’s deportation efforts.

      GOP Reps. Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma, Andy Harris of Maryland, Eric Burlison of Missouri and Pete Sessions of Texas sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi Tuesday, exclusively obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation. 

      “We write today to applaud your prosecution of Governor Kathy Hochul and New York Attorney General Letitia James and to respectfully request that you continue prosecuting individuals, organizations and elected officials who aid and abet illegal aliens in evading Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers,” the Republican lawmakers wrote. “Assisting aliens in avoiding deportation is illegal; therefore, we urge you to continue upholding the integrity of the American system.”

      “Far-left politicians and nongovernmental organizations [NGOs] are flouting the law under the assumption that it will not be enforced. We ask that you demonstrate that such violations will not be tolerated.”

      Read:

      829767401-House-Republicans-Letter-to-AG-Pam-BondiDownload

      The letter alleges that left-wing organizations such as Code Pink, Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network and the Immigration Defense Project are actively providing resources to illegal migrants to evade detection by ICE.

      The GOP congressmen also urged Bondi to prosecute elected officials helping illegal migrants evade detection by ICE.

      Democrat New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy appeared to suggest that he was harboring an illegal migrant on his property on Feb. 3, leading border czar Tom Homan vowing to prosecute the elected official for appearing to violate federal law.

      “And good luck to the feds coming in to try to get her,” the Democrat then added, speaking at an open discussion at Montclair State University.

      Murphy walked back the shocking claim days later.

      Homan warned New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez that he is working with the DOJ to determine whether the left-wing firebrand violated federal law by hosting a virtual webinar advising illegal migrants on how to handle encounters with ICE on Jan. 11.

      “Let’s hope she’s not educating the next person who gets out and murders a young college student in Georgia,” Homan said on Fox News on Feb. 16. “These are bad people we’re looking for. So she can call it education all she wants, but we all know it’s about evading law enforcement. These people have been ordered removed. The people we’re looking for now have final orders. They’re criminals. They’re in the country illegally.”

      Bondi filed a lawsuit against Hochul and James on Feb. 12, citing a New York state law allowing immigrants to obtain a driver’s license regardless of legal status. The Trump administration hit Chicago and the state of Illinois with lawsuits on Feb. 6 over the city and state’s sanctuary laws, which restrict cooperation between local officials and ICE.

      “This is a new DOJ,” Bondi said during a press conference announcing the Justice Department’s lawsuit against the state of New York. “We are taking steps to protect Americans, American citizens and angel moms.”

      “New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens. It stops today,” Bondi added. “We sued Illinois. New York did not listen. Now you’re next.”

      Billionaire Threatens To Primary Lawmakers Who Vote Against RFK Jr. Confirmation

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
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      3
      Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

      The fight is on…

      Billionaire Nicole Shanahan, who was the running mate of independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., threatened to primary senators who vote against his nomination as Secretary of Health and Human Services.

      With Kennedy’s confirmation hearing set to begin on Wednesday morning, Shanahan wrote on X on Tuesday, where she posted a video warning senators not to oppose his nomination.

      “He is more than qualified,” Shanahan said. “He’s proven, principled, and prepared to lead. I’ll list I’ll share a list below of key senators. If they represent your state, they need to hear from you. If they don’t, please call your own senator and ask them to vote yes.”

      She then addressed several senators whose votes she said she would monitor.

      “The two candidates I helped elect, Senator Raphael Warnock and Senator Jon Ossoff, please know I will be watching your votes very closely,” Shanahan added. “I will make it my personal mission that you lose your seats in the Senate if you vote against the future health of America’s children.”

      Shanahan listed more senators, including “Lisa Markovsky” a clear nod to Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski also voted “no” on Trump’s nominee to lead the Pentagon.

      “And more than that, I also want to say to Senators Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, Lisa Markovsky, Susan Collins, Bill Cassidy, Thom Tillis, James Lankford, Cory Booker, John Fetterman, Bernie Sanders, and Catherine Cortez Masto,” she said. “This is a bipartisan message and it comes directly from me. While Bobby may be willing to play nice. I won’t. If you vote against him, I will personally fund challengers to primary you in your next election, and I will enlist hundreds of thousands to join me.”

      Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has reservations and made it clear she’s hesitant about supporting RFK Jr. for the role/

      “Well I’m certainly concerned about it. I know others have other, other points of concerns that they want to drill down on and try to get some commitments, public commitments, from him on,” the senator said. “But vaccines are important.”

      Federal Judge Blocks Pardoned J6 Defendants From DC, Capitol Building

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
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      20
      Tyler Merbler, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

      A federal district judge has issued an order barring certain January 6 defendants with commutations from entering Washington, D.C., or the U.S. Capitol building. 

      The filing says the order is effective at noon on Friday. 

      Fox News reports:

      In the filing, Judge Amit P. Mehta specified the order applied to “Defendants Stewart Rhodes, Kelly Meggs, Kenneth Harrelson, Jessica Watkins, Roberto Minuta, Edward Vallejo, David Moerchel, and Joseph Hacket” – whose sentences were commuted. Those pardoned are not subject to the order.

      The order states “You must not knowingly enter the District of Columbia without first obtaining the permission from the Court” and “You must not knowingly enter the United States Capitol Building or onto surrounding grounds known as Capitol Square.”

      This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

      Republican Holdout Opts To Support Sec. Of Defense Nominee

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
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      2
      By Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America - Pete Hegseth, CC BY-SA 2.0

      A significant win…

      On Tuesday, Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump’s nominee to lead the Pentagon, scored a significant endorsement after a grueling hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee.

      According to Fox News, Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst — who previously declared herself being on the fence regarding Hegseth — said Tuesday evening that she was on board with the appointment.

      That speaks volumes because Ernst was the only GOP holdout making her reservations public on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

      “After four years of weakness in the White House, Americans deserve a strong Secretary of Defense,” Ernst told Fox News via a statement.

      “Our next commander in chief selected Pete Hegseth to serve in this role, and after our conversations, hearing from Iowans, and doing my job as a United States Senator, I will support President Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense,” she added.

      “As I serve on the Armed Services Committee, I will work with Pete to create the most lethal fighting force and hold him to his commitments of auditing the Pentagon, ensuring opportunity for women in combat while maintaining high standards, and selecting a senior official to address and prevent sexual assault in the ranks.”

      The endorsement is critical, as Ernst had first told the media she was skeptical of Trump’s pick and subsequently issued a statement vaguely supportive of him.

      In December Ernst, a combat veteran, told Fox News that she had a “very long, lengthy discussion” with Hegseth in early December and added that “we will continue with the vetting process. I think that is incredibly important.”

      When Fox News’ Bill Hemmer responded that it sounded like the Senator hadn’t “gotten to a yes” yet, she responded, “I think you are right.”

      Congress Elects House Speaker

      By
      Madeleine Jackson
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      4

      On Friday, Congressional lawmakers convened to elect the next Speaker of the House.

      Mike Johnson (R-La.) will serve as Speaker of the House for the 119th Congress.

      With the Republican majority at 219-215, Johnson could lose only one Republican vote to remain speaker.

      Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) was reelected to the top post in the House in a stunning floor vote on the opening day of Congress on Friday, securing the gavel on the first ballot.

      It appeared that he would fail on the first ballot as Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) and Keith Self (R-Texas) voted for other candidates. However, the chamber held the vote open as Johnson conferred with his opponents and Norman and Self switched their votes to applause in the chamber.

      The vote came after President-elect Donald Trump issued his “total” endorsement of Mike Johnson (R-la.) earlier this week.

      “Speaker Mike Johnson is a good, hard working, religious man. He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN. Mike has my Complete & Total Endorsement. MAGA!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

      Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene also offered her endorsement of Johnson shortly before Friday’s vote.

      Watch:

      “Tomorrow we convene at noon in the House of Representatives, and our first order of business will be to vote for Speaker of the House. This is a historic vote, and it is the first order of business that we have to accomplish before we can even swear in as members of Congress,” began Greene. “Now, here’s how I feel about it. You all have seen may disagree with Mike Johnson at times. You’ve seen me fight against him at times. But you want to know something else? Here’s what I recognize: For the past four years, all of you and myself included, have put blood, sweat, and tears into electing President Trump. And when you want to talk about blood, President Trump himself actually was the one that shed blood after an assassin shot him in the face.”

      This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

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