JQJO — Politics news · Page 943

House Republicans failed to pass a Republican budget framework due to opposition from conservative GOP members who demanded deeper spending cuts in exchange for tax breaks. Speaker Mike Johnson adjourned Wednesday's vote and plans to try again Thursday. President Trump urged passage, but at least a dozen Republicans, including members of the Freedom Caucus, opposed the plan, citing insufficient spending reductions and concerns about rising deficits. Disagreements remain between the House and Senate GOP regarding spending cuts and the debt limit, creating further hurdles in the budget process. Democrats criticized the plan as reckless.

New Zealand's controversial Treaty Principles Bill, aiming to legally define the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi's principles, has been overwhelmingly rejected in a 112-11 vote. The bill, tabled by the Act Party, sparked widespread public outrage and over 300,000 submissions opposing it. While proponents argued it would clarify Treaty principles and promote equality, opponents feared it would undermine existing processes for addressing historical injustices. Despite the defeat, Act leader David Seymour vowed to continue campaigning for the issue.

House Republicans postponed a vote on their budget framework due to opposition from conservative members who object to the inclusion of trillions in tax cuts without deeper spending reductions. Speaker Mike Johnson, despite President Trump's urging, had to postpone the vote, vowing to try again. Conservatives are concerned about soaring deficits and the Senate's accounting methods. Disagreements exist over spending cuts, with the House proposing $2 trillion in reductions while the Senate's approach is viewed as less stringent. The budget includes tax cuts, increased defense spending, and funds for mass deportations, partially offset by cuts to domestic programs. Democrats criticize the plan as reckless.

The Supreme Court ruled against the Trump administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants without due process. While blocking the mass deportation, the ruling requires individual habeas corpus petitions, potentially limiting legal recourse. Approximately 260 migrants were deported to a Salvadoran prison before the ruling, seemingly in defiance of a court order. The decision, criticized for ignoring the human cost and potential precedent, raises concerns about the rule of law and the Court's willingness to confront executive overreach.

The House passed the "No Rogue Rulings Act", restricting federal judges from issuing nationwide injunctions against executive orders. The largely partisan vote (219-213) aims to limit judges' power to halt nationwide policies. However, the bill's Senate passage is unlikely due to the need for bipartisan support, facing significant hurdles in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

House Speaker Mike Johnson canceled a vote on a Republican budget resolution after failing to secure enough votes within his caucus. The resolution, incorporating parts of Donald Trump's agenda, faced opposition from both moderate and hardline Republicans. While President Trump expressed confidence in Johnson, the vote's failure highlights divisions within the GOP. Johnson plans to revisit the vote after further discussions with members, potentially incorporating Senate amendments. The resolution includes significantly fewer spending cuts than a previous House version, leading to concerns about Medicaid benefits and the federal deficit.

President Trump escalated his attacks on critics by ordering investigations into former officials Miles Taylor and Chris Krebs, and stripping them of security clearances. This follows Trump's targeting of law firms, including Susman Godfrey, which represented Dominion Voting Systems in a defamation suit against Fox News. Trump's actions are seen as retaliation against those who have investigated him or opposed him, despite widespread evidence refuting his claims of election fraud. Taylor and Krebs' actions were previously approved by Trump, only leading to his ire after he lost the 2020 election.

Donald Trump mistakenly called his former National Security Advisor, H.R. McMaster, instead of South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster. Upon realizing his error, Trump insulted McMaster, calling him a loser and criticizing his memoir. White House communications director Steven Cheung echoed Trump's attacks, dismissing McMaster's book as filled with lies. The incident stems from McMaster's criticism of Trump's handling of the Ukraine conflict in his book, "At War with Ourselves." Trump's past criticisms of McMaster's appearance and perceived lack of expertise were also highlighted.

A former Meta executive, Sarah Wynn-Williams, testified before the US Senate, alleging that Meta collaborated with China on censorship and compromised US national security to gain a foothold in the Chinese market. Wynn-Williams claims Meta deleted the Facebook account of a Chinese dissident at China's behest and built censorship tools. Meta denies these allegations, stating they do not operate in China and that Wynn-Williams' claims are false and defamatory. The hearing was marked by accusations of Meta attempting to silence Wynn-Williams through legal threats and financial penalties, which Meta partially refutes. The testimony follows a previous hearing where Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg faced criticism regarding social media's impact on children.

President Trump issued an executive order demanding a Pentagon review of all major weapons programs. Programs exceeding 15% over budget or schedule, failing key performance metrics, or misaligned with the Secretary of Defense's priorities face potential cancellation. The review, led by Deputy Secretary Stephen Feinberg, includes Air Force One, the Sentinel missile system, and nine Navy ship programs. The order also seeks to expedite weapons acquisition through reform, using commercial technologies and streamlining processes. A 60-day acquisition reform plan and a 120-day workforce reform plan are also mandated, aiming for efficiency and cost reduction.