A $9 billion rescissions package deal may jeopardize the way forward for tons of of native NPR and PBS stations. Pam Bondi mentioned she’ll request the discharge of “grand jury transcripts” within the Jeffrey Epstein case. And the way sufferers are utilizing AI to problem insurance coverage declare denials.
Right here’s what to know at the moment.
Congress sends $9 billion spending cuts to Trump’s desk
President Donald Trump is anticipated to signal a invoice reducing $9 billion in spending that Congress had already authorized after the Republican-led Home voted in a single day to cross the package deal. The Home voted 216-213 in favor of the package deal, with simply two GOP representatives — Mike Turner of Ohio and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania — becoming a member of Democrats to oppose the measure.
The package deal cuts $1.1 billion from the Company for Public Broadcasting, which supplies funding cuts to NPR and PBS. Now, tons of of member stations will face hundreds of thousands in finances cuts, and media advocates warn the cuts would have an particularly dangerous affect on rural Individuals, who might rely extra closely on the retailers for native information. Some stations are already downsizing in anticipation of the funding. Learn extra about how the funding cuts may have an effect on public media.
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The package deal cuts $1.1 billion from the Company for Public Broadcasting, which supplies funding to NPR and PBS. Now, tons of of member stations will face hundreds of thousands in finances cuts, and media advocates warn these can have an particularly dangerous affect on rural Individuals, who might rely extra closely on the retailers for native information. Some stations are already downsizing in anticipation. Learn extra about how the funding cuts may have an effect on public media.
The package deal additionally cuts $8 billion from overseas help, together with the U.S. Company for Worldwide Improvement and applications to advertise international well being and refugee help. Nevertheless, $400 million in cuts to PEPFAR, the favored international HIV/AIDS program that then-President George W. Bush began in 2003, have been pulled from the ultimate package deal after a handful of Republicans joined Democrats’ in opposing the cuts within the Senate. In search of to tamp down the GOP rise up, the White Home agreed to drop the PEPFAR cuts. Learn extra about this system credited with saving hundreds of thousands of lives.
The ultimate $9 billion package deal, which Trump requested, handed each chambers of Congress with solely Republican votes by way of a hardly ever used “rescissions” course of that may bypass the 60-vote threshold within the Senate. Democrats condemned the cuts as merciless and an try by Republicans to look fiscally accountable after the GOP voted so as to add $3.3 trillion to the debt in Trump’s large home coverage invoice.
Learn the complete story right here.
Extra politics information:
- Democrats walked out of a Senate Judiciary Committee assembly to advance the nomination of Emil Bove, a senior Justice Division official and Trump’s private lawyer, for a federal judgeship.
- Almost 79 million Medicaid enrollees’ private info can be shared with federal immigration authorities because the Trump administration seeks to ramp up deportations.
- The Trump administration formally terminated the 988 Suicide & Disaster Lifeline’s specialised service for LGBTQ youth.
- A day after she was fired as U.S. legal professional, Maurene Comey wrote a memo urging her colleagues to struggle again towards “abuses of energy.”
- Lawmakers launched a bunch of payments aimed toward banning or regulating cancer-causing chemical substances in hair and wonder merchandise marketed towards Black ladies.
Trump denies letter to Epstein and orders Bondi to hunt launch of information
A brand new article from the Wall Road Journal has alleged that Trump wrote a letter to Jeffrey Epstein for his birthday greater than 20 years in the past. It reportedly included a top level view of a unadorned girl and a “Donald” signature.
Trump denied the report. “I by no means wrote an image in my life,” he informed the newspaper. “I don’t draw photos of girls.” Trump later confirmed his plans to hunt authorized motion towards the newspaper; its guardian firm, Information Corp.; and Rupert Murdoch, the group’s head.
Trump mentioned yesterday in a social media put up that he has directed Legal professional Common Pam Bondi to launch “pertinent testimony” tied to the Jeffrey Epstein case amid strain from his supporters and a few Republicans for extra transparency in regards to the case. Bondi responded on X that the Justice Division would request that the courtroom “unseal the grand jury transcripts” on Friday. Trump’s resolution comes amid a uncommon splintering of his base over the Justice Division’s resolution earlier this month to not disclose new info associated to the investigation into Epstein, the financier whose 2019 demise in a New York jail has spurred conspiracy theories.
Additionally yesterday, the White Home mentioned that Trump wouldn’t appoint a particular counsel to overview the case, as some allies had advocated for.
Learn the complete story right here.
Value of Obamacare anticipated to soar in 2026
Insurers that supply well being care plans by way of the Inexpensive Care Act are planning a 15% enhance in 2026, the biggest in seven years, in response to a brand new evaluation from well being coverage analysis group KFF. Meaning a household of three incomes $110,000 a yr enrolled in a silver ACA plan may probably see their month-to-month price bounce from $779 to $1,662 in 2026, in response to KFF. The finalized plans, together with how rather more folks can be anticipated to pay every month, are normally revealed round August.
The premium enhance will seemingly come on high of the lack of enhanced subsidies, which helped folks pay for ACA well being plans by capping the prices at a sure proportion of their revenue. The subsidies, enacted through the Biden administration and prolonged by way of 2025, weren’t prolonged within the home coverage invoice Trump signed into regulation earlier this month. The president’s invoice additionally added extra hurdles for individuals who get their medical health insurance by way of the ACA. “This isn’t a repeal [of the ACA], nevertheless it’s actually an try to maneuver in that path,” one skilled mentioned. Learn the complete story right here.
Stephen Colbert’s ‘Late Present’ will come to an finish
CBS is closing the curtain on “The Late Present with Stephen Colbert” subsequent Could, the community introduced, placing an finish to the present Colbert has hosted since 2015 — and the franchise itself. CBS executives mentioned in a joint assertion yesterday that the transfer “is a purely monetary resolution towards a difficult backdrop in late evening” and never associated to the present’s content material or “different issues occurring at Paramount.”
CBS’s guardian firm, Paramount, is within the midst of an $8 billion merger with Hollywood studio Skydance. Earlier this month, Paramount agreed in precept to settle a lawsuit introduced by Trump over a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris, by paying $16 million to Trump’s future presidential library. Colbert had just lately criticized the settlement, calling it “an enormous fats bribe.” Learn the complete story right here.
Learn All About It
- Trump is pushing for Coca-Cola to sweeten its merchandise with cane sugar as an alternative of high-fructose corn syrup. However is cane sugar really more healthy? Specialists clarify the destructive impacts of each elements.
- The White Home mentioned Trump was recognized with power venous insufficiency after he was examined for “gentle swelling” in his legs. Right here’s what to know in regards to the non-life-threatening situation.
- Juul can proceed to promote its e-cigarettes and refill cartridges, although the FDA’s authorization doesn’t imply the merchandise are secure or “FDA authorized.”
- A 22-year-old may resist life in jail after he was charged with homicide within the deadly shootings of an “American Idol” music supervisor and her husband of their Los Angeles house.
- A pair noticed on a kiss cam at a Coldplay live performance instantly hid their faces, main frontman Chris Martin to joke that they have been having an affair.
Employees Decide: AI helps sufferers struggle insurance coverage firms
Stephanie Nixdorf, a stage 4 most cancers survivor in Davidson, North Carolina, couldn’t even open a cup of yogurt due to crippling arthritis attributable to her immunotherapy. But her well being insurer, Premera Blue Cross, saved turning her down for a remedy her medical doctors mentioned would assist. Exasperated, she used a synthetic intelligence instrument to put in writing an enchantment letter crammed with scientific proof supporting the remedy — and two days later, Premera authorized her for the drug.
I spoke with Stephanie about her resolution to show to AI to get the remedy she wanted. She’s amongst a rising cohort of sufferers who’re fed up with insurance coverage firm denials and are discovering new methods to struggle again. — Gretchen Morgenson, senior monetary reporter
NBC Choose: On-line Procuring, Simplified
Amazon Prime Day is over, however that doesn’t imply that there aren’t a bunch of leftover offers value trying out, together with discounted Apple AirTags, canine treats and extra. Talking of offers, Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale runs till Aug. 3 and presents offers on attire, footwear and extra.
Signal as much as The Choice e-newsletter for hands-on product evaluations, skilled purchasing ideas and a have a look at the very best offers and gross sales every week.
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