Despite a planned $50 million military parade celebrating the Army’s 250th anniversary and coinciding with Donald Trump’s birthday, attendance by Republican lawmakers is notably low, with only a small fraction of those surveyed indicating they will attend. Several prominent Republican leaders cited prior commitments or expressed disapproval of the event’s style, contrasting it with American ideals. The White House, however, anticipates a large public turnout, and the event will receive extensive coverage from Fox News. Criticism of the parade has come from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who decried it as a “vulgar display.”
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The U.S. government’s deficit swelled to over $316 billion in May, pushing the year-to-date total to $1.36 trillion—a 14% increase compared to the previous year. Soaring interest payments on the $36.2 trillion national debt, exceeding $92 billion, were a primary driver, despite a 15% rise in May tax revenue. While tariff collections contributed positively, the deficit’s magnitude, exceeding 6% of GDP, has prompted warnings from prominent financial leaders about potential economic instability.
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Elon Musk is criticizing the Trump administration’s “Big Beautiful Bill” for hindering his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cost-cutting efforts, blaming it for undermining his work and causing a public backlash against his companies. Despite initially aiming to save $2 trillion, DOGE has only identified $170 billion in savings, while the bill adds $3.8 trillion to the national deficit. Musk attributes negative public perception and decreased Tesla sales to this controversy, and plans to refocus his efforts on high-impact projects within DOGE. He acknowledges overspending on political activities and intends to scale back his involvement in the future.
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During a commencement address at West Point, President Trump boasted about his refusal to cut Pentagon spending, advocating for a $1 trillion military budget. He asserted that reductions should instead target unspecified other programs. This comes after the House passed a budget including over $100 billion in military spending increases, offset by cuts to programs like Medicaid and SNAP. Critics argue this prioritization is unnecessary and benefits private contractors, while the funds could address pressing domestic needs such as healthcare, poverty, and infrastructure. The National Priorities Project demonstrated that a trillion dollars could significantly improve various social programs instead.
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Elon Musk’s claims of significant government cost savings through his DOGE initiative have been sharply challenged. Initially boasting of $2 trillion in savings, this figure was revised downward to $1 trillion, then further reduced to a much smaller, unverifiable amount. When questioned about this discrepancy, Musk defensively dismissed the interviewer’s inquiries, attributing the shortfall to limitations on the advisory group’s authority and external opposition. He also engaged in a heated exchange with Bill Gates, employing a controversial personal attack.
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Moody’s downgraded the U.S. credit rating from AAA to AA1, citing rising national debt exacerbated by tax cuts and continued high spending. This marks the first downgrade by Moody’s since 1919, signaling diminished global investor confidence. While the immediate impact on borrowing is minimal, consumers may experience higher interest rates on loans due to increased lender demands for higher returns. The downgrade reflects a decade of growing federal deficits stemming from reduced government revenue and increased spending.
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House Republicans’ ambitious “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a sweeping tax cut and spending package, failed its initial Budget Committee vote due to conservative opposition. Hard-right lawmakers demanded deeper cuts to programs like Medicaid and rejected the bill’s green energy provisions, citing concerns about the national debt. Speaker Mike Johnson plans a Sunday committee revote, with negotiations continuing amid President Trump’s urging for party unity. The bill, while extending existing tax cuts and adding new ones, aims to offset revenue losses through spending cuts and increased work requirements for social programs, though its fiscal impact is heavily debated.
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Upway simplifies e-bike shopping by offering a wide selection of new and used models from top brands, all in one convenient location. The platform features a helpful quiz to match buyers with ideal bikes based on individual needs, and a “help me decide” tool further streamlines the process. Currently, Upway offers discounts of up to 60% off retail price, free California delivery, and a one-year warranty. Beyond online shopping, Upway also provides in-person showrooms, bike certification services, and a buy-back program.
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Despite efforts to reduce government spending, the federal deficit rose by $196 billion this fiscal year due to increased spending on defense, Homeland Security, and social safety net programs like Social Security and Medicare. The increase in spending, driven largely by rising costs of entitlement programs and defense, far outpaced the increase in tax revenue. Republicans, facing pressure to make significant spending cuts, are struggling to reconcile this with their proposed tax cuts and are considering various strategies to manage the deficit, including potential tax increases on high-income earners and accounting maneuvers. These actions could still lead to increased borrowing costs for the federal government.
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Musk’s promised federal spending cuts, initially touted as $2 trillion, have been drastically reduced to $150 billion, a figure still considered vastly inflated and ultimately insignificant compared to the overall budget. These cuts, however, will cost taxpayers an estimated $135 billion due to the elimination of cost-saving programs. Furthermore, the reductions are resulting in widespread job losses and are projected to cause preventable deaths, particularly impacting vulnerable populations through the dismantling of crucial programs like USAID and PEPFAR. The consequences of these actions are severe and disproportionately affect those least capable of bearing the burden.
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John Q. Hosedrinker