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May 13, 2025
Capitol agenda: Make-or-break markup day
(Politico) House Republicans are gearing up for their most consequential megabill markups Tuesday with massive, unresolved policy fights that could unravel President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.” At least one blue-state Republican is threatening to torpedo the GOP’s tax package over Chair Jason Smith’s proposal to triple the cap on the state and local tax deduction to $30,000 and limit it to people who make $400,000 or less.
Go to discussionGOP Senator Introduces Bill to Make All Porn a Federal Crime, Following Project 2025 Playbook
(Gizmodo) Last year, the rightwing think-tank the Heritage Foundation launched Project 2025, which laid out much of the policy blueprint for the current Trump administration. One of the project’s espoused goals was to permanently criminalize all pornography. Now, a Republican senator with kind words for Trump has introduced a bill that would do just that. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) recently introduced the Interstate Obscenity Definition Act (IODA), which would effectively criminalize all pornography nationwide by legally redefining what it means to be obscene.
Go to discussionDonald Trump Salutes Saudi Arabian Generals During Riyadh Visit
(Newsweek) President Donald Trump saluted Saudi Arabian generals as they lined up to greet him during his visit to Riyadh, the first stop in his four-day tour of the Middle East. There has been a discussion in recent years about the proper etiquette for presidents saluting the military, particularly those from other nations. A returned salute by Trump to a North Korean general during his first term sparked criticism, with some saying he should not have shown respect to a hostile nation.
Go to discussionSenate GOP weighs safety, legal concerns over Trump Qatar jet gift
(The Hill) Senate Republicans on Monday indicated they have multiple concerns with President Trump potentially being gifted a new luxury jet from Qatar, ranging from safety to legal and ethical worries. Trump on Monday defended his potential acceptance of a new Boeing 747-8 airplane from the government of Qatar to serve as a replacement for the current pair of Air Force One aircraft, saying that it would be “stupid” not to do so.
Go to discussionNew York Post Shreds Major Team Trump Claim About His Motives
(Huff Post) The typically Donald Trump-promoting New York Post joined the chorus of criticism over the president’s Qatari jet controversy as it urged him to “think twice” before accepting a $400 million luxury Boeing 747-8 from the emirate’s ruling family. The New York Post’s conservative editorial board warned of potential conflicts of interest, stated that Qatar is “famous for seeking to buy influence,” cautioned how the “gift” will be “far from free,” and said “the optics are beyond awful, especially as Congress mulls hundreds of billions in Medicaid cuts.”
Go to discussionMAGA Attacks Church Over Donald Trump Rebuke: 'Funds MUST Be Pulled'
(Newsweek) Prominent right-wing figures lashed out at the Episcopal Church this week after it resisted calls to help resettle white South African refugees, sparking a wave of online outrage and calls to cut its funding. In a letter to church members, the Most Rev. Sean W. Rowe ... announced that the church will end its formal partnership with the federal government on refugee resettlement: "Accordingly, we have determined that, by the end of the federal fiscal year, we will conclude our refugee resettlement grant agreements with the U.S. federal government."
Go to discussionLeftwing pundit Hasan Piker says US border agents stopped and questioned him on Trump and Gaza
(The Guardian) Hasan Piker, a US-born progressive political commentator, said he was stopped by US Customs and Border Protection agents and questioned about his opinions of Donald Trump and Israeli war policy as he returned to the country on Sunday from France. Piker, recounting the incident on his Twitch livestream on Monday, said he was led to a private room at Chicago O’Hare airport and interviewed for nearly two hours about his political views.
Go to discussionVaccine developed in Nebraska could signal end to annual flu shot
(Nebraska Examiner) A new vaccine strategy developed and tested by a team from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln could signal an end to the annual flu shot routine. The possible breakthrough is laid out in newly published research in Nature Communications. The study, “Epitope-Optimized Vaccine Elicits Cross-Species Immunity Against Influenza A Virus,” describes a vaccine that protects against H1N1 swine flu and can also protect against influenza in birds and humans.
Go to discussionSenate Democrats, worried about Fetterman, discussing ways to help, alerted his doctor at Walter Reed
(The Hill) Democratic senators are having private conversations about how to help Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) in the wake of an explosive report that the first-term Pennsylvania senator is behaving erratically and in a way that may pose a danger to himself or others, according to sources familiar with those discussions. Two Democratic senators told The Hill they are talking with colleagues about how to best help Fetterman, who they fear is struggling to cope with the emotional rigors of serving in Congress, a stressful job even for the fittest individuals, who often find themselves the targets of political attacks.
Go to discussionBiden Undergoes Prostate Evaluation After 'Small Nodule' Discovered
(Mediaite) Former President Joe Biden spent last Friday in a Philadelphia hospital after doctors discovered a “small nodule” on his prostate that required “further evaluation,” his spokesman confirmed. No additional details were provided, according to the New York Times, although the outlet noted that it is common for a man of Biden’s age to experience prostate issues.
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