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Trump asks appeals court to toss election interference case, arguing that he's immune - NPR #NewYork #news

Academia Reply diciembre 24, 2023

Trump asks appeals court to toss election interference case, arguing that he's immune NPR
Donald Trump urges federal appeals court to grant him immunity from criminal prosecution in election subversion case CNN
With the Supreme Court on sideline for now, Trump's lawyers press immunity claims before lower court The Associated Press
Trump asks appeals court to block 2020 election prosecution POLITICO
Donald Trump calls on court to block federal 2020 election charges The Columbus Dispatch

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Trump calls out Republican holdouts as House procedural vote on megabill remains open: ‘Costing you votes!’ - President Donald Trump took to Truth Social early Thursday to call out Republicans who are still refusing to get behind a House procedural vote on the "Big Beautiful Bill." With the vote having stalled late Wednesday – with five Republican "nays" and another eight Republicans having yet to cast a vote – the president touted the benefits the country is poised to gain with the bill’s passage. "Largest Tax Cuts in History and a Booming Economy vs. Biggest Tax Increase in History, and a Failed Economy," Trump wrote on Truth Social before turning his ire to GOP holdouts: "What are the Republicans waiting for??? What are you trying to prove??? MAGA IS NOT HAPPY, AND IT’S COSTING YOU VOTES!!!" SENATE REPUBLICANS RAM TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' THROUGH KEY TEST VOTE Trump later wrote that the vote should be an "EASY YES" for Republicans, calling the holdouts’ refusal to vote, "RIDICULOUS." A procedural "rule vote" allows lawmakers to debate ahead of a final vote on the "Big Beautiful Bill" before it would head to the president’s desk for a signature. By early Thursday, the following House Republicans were a no on the procedural vote: Reps. Andrew Clyde of Georgia, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Keith Self of Texas, Victoria Spartz of Indiana, and Thomas Massie of Kentucky – who changed his vote from a "yay" to a "nay." When asked why he switched his vote, Massie told Fox News Digital, "Because most of the world isn’t concerned about the difference between the rule resolution vote and the final passage vote." MIKE JOHNSON, DONALD TRUMP GET ‘BIG, 'BEAUTIFUL’ WIN AS BUDGET PASSES HOUSE The following Republican lawmakers have yet to cast their vote: Reps. Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma, Tim Burchett of Tennessee, Eric Burlison of Missouri, Michael Cloud of Texas, Andy Harris of Maryland, Bob Onder of Missouri, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, and Chip Roy of Texas. Leaving a room with other holdouts and critics of the bill just after 1 a.m. on Thursday, Burchett told reporters, "We're just getting very close, I think, to getting something resolved." He would not say how he would vote for the legislation, however. GOP lawmakers can only afford to lose three votes. Republican leaders have now kept the rule vote open for over four hours to try to pressure the holdouts to get a majority vote. House Speaker Mike Johnson had recalled lawmakers to Washington, eager to seize on the momentum of the bill's passage the day before in the Senate and vowed to press ahead. "Everybody wants to get to yes," Johnson told Fox News as the voting was underway. Quickly convening for the vote on the more than 800-page bill was risky gambit, one designed to meet Trump's demand for a holiday finish. Republicans have struggled mightily with the bill nearly every step of the way this year, often succeeding by the narrowest of margins, only one vote. Their slim 220-212 majority, leaving little room for defections.
Italian archaeologists unveil rare 2,600-year-old tomb untouched by looters: 'Doorway to our ancestors' - Archaeologists recently unearthed a remarkable 2,600-year-old tomb in Italy — a rare find untouched by looters. The discovery was announced by the Italian Ministry of Culture on June 30. In a press release, the organization said the burial mound dated back to the late 7th century B.C., during the Orientalizing period of Italian history. The tomb is part of the Caiolo Necropolis within the San Giuliano archaeological area, some 30 miles north of Rome. The site is famous for housing other ancient burials, including the Queen's Tomb, the Tomb of the Stag and the Tomb of the Beds. ANCIENT CHRISTIAN TOMB COMPLEX REVEALED BENEATH RUBBLE FROM SYRIA'S CIVIL WAR The newly discovered tomb has not been officially named, but authorities emphasized its significance – especially as it remained undisturbed for 2,600 years. Its treasures included ceramic vessels still bearing paint, along with bronze ornaments. "Once the slab sealing the chamber was removed, numerous vessels immediately became visible," the ministry said in a statement translated from Italian to English. STRANGE VIKING GRAVE WITH 'CHRISTIAN OVERTONES' DISCOVERED BY PERPLEXED ARCHAEOLOGISTS: 'VERY UNUSUAL' "Some [were] fine painted ceramics, such as those near the entrance – deliberately placed according to a precise ritual performed before the tomb was sealed," the statement added. "On the left-hand bed, a basin and several bronze ornamental elements belonging to the deceased remain in situ." The excavation was conducted under the supervision of the Superintendency of Viterbo and Southern Etruria, in partnership with Baylor University. Supervising archaeologist Barbara Barbaro said that the necropolis contains over 500 tombs, though most were looted by either ancient people or modern robbers – but not the most recent one. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER "Finding an untouched tomb is incredibly rare," Barbaro noted. "That’s what makes this discovery so exceptional." Barbaro also said that further study on the site will be "fundamental to advancing knowledge of the ancient world." For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle "A sealed context is crucial not only for preservation but also because it gives us a complete snapshot of life through the ritual of death," she added. Reflecting on the emotional weight of the find, Barbaro compared the discovery of the tomb to "a bridge to our past, a doorway to our ancestors." "This is what happens when an untouched tomb is found – it becomes a collective event," the archaeologist said. "The silence … the awe, the respect for those waiting behind that massive stone. The emotion." "We’re thrilled to have rescued this material from those who would illegally profit from it," she added. "Now, it will tell a beautiful story for everyone."
Canada plans to recognize Palestinian state in September, PM Carney says - Canada plans to recognize a Palestinian state in September during a meeting of the United Nations, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Wednesday. "We are working ourselves, with others, to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution, to not allow the facts on the ground, deaths on the ground, the settlements on the ground, the expropriations on the ground, to get to such an extent that this is not possible," Carney said. Carney said the move was subject to the Palestinian Authority's commitment to reforms, including commitments to reform its governance and to hold general elections next year in which Hamas "can play no part." Israel criticized Carney's position, calling it a "reward for Hamas" that hurts efforts to reach a ceasefire and free the remaining hostages still held by the terror group after its Oct. 7, 2023, attack against the Jewish State. STARMER SAYS UK TO RECOGNIZE PALESTINIAN STATE IF ISRAEL DOESN'T AGREE TO CEASEFIRE, HAMAS MUST 'DISARM' "Israel rejects the statement by the Prime Minister of Canada," Israel's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "The change in the position of the Canadian government at this time is a reward for Hamas and harms the efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of the hostages." Carney's announcement came after France said last week it would recognize a Palestinian state and a day after Britain said it would recognize the state at the U.N. if the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza had not stopped by then. French President Emmanuel Macron, who spoke with Carney before Canada's announcement, said the recognition of a Palestinian state will "revive a prospect of peace in the region." The announcements by some of Israel's closest allies reflect the growing international outrage over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, adding more pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government. "Canada condemns the fact that the Israeli government has allowed a catastrophe to unfold in Gaza," Carney said. The White House also opposes the decision to recognize a Palestinian state, saying President Donald Trump agrees with Israel that it would be "rewarding Hamas." "As the president stated, he would be rewarding Hamas if he recognizes a Palestinian state, and he doesn’t think they should be rewarded," a White House official said. "So he is not going to do that. President Trump’s focus is on getting people fed [in Gaza]." U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff is scheduled to travel to Israel on Thursday to discuss the situation in Gaza. Trump said this week he expected centers to be set up to feed more people in the area. CANADA'S ANTISEMITISM ENVOY RESIGNS, CITING EXHAUSTION AMID HATE SURGE CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The Palestinian government has been a non-member observer state of the U.N. General Assembly since 2012, recognized by more than three-quarters of the assembly's 193 member states. The war in Gaza began with Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack against Israel in which roughly 1,200 people were killed and another 251 were abducted, Israeli officials reported. Israel responded with an ongoing military offensive in the Gaza Strip, killing more than 60,000 people, according to the Hamas-run government's Gaza health ministry. Reuters contributed to this report.
State Department to begin mass layoffs of about 1,800 employees in coming days - The State Department informed U.S.-based employees on Thursday that it would soon begin laying off nearly 2,000 workers after the recent Supreme Court decision allowing the Trump administration to move forward with mass job cuts as part of its efforts to downsize the federal workforce. The agency's reorganization plan was first unveiled in April by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to eliminate functions and offices the department considered to be redundant. In February, President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing Rubio to revamp the foreign service to ensure that the president's foreign policy is "faithfully" implemented. Employees affected by the agency's "reduction in force" would be notified soon, Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources Michael Rigas told employees in an email on Thursday. ‘IT WILL HAPPEN QUICKLY’: STATE DEPT POISED TO ACT AFTER SUPREME COURT GREEN-LIGHTS AGENCY LAYOFFS "First and foremost, we want to thank them for their dedication and service to the United States," Rigas said in the email. "Every effort has been made to support our colleagues who are departing, including those who opted into the Deferred Resignation Programs … On behalf of Department leadership, we extend our gratitude for your hard work and commitment to executing this reorganization and for your ongoing dedication to advancing U.S. national interests across the world," he added. The department did not specify on Thursday how many people would be fired, but in its plans to Congress sent in May, it had proposed laying off about 1,800 employees of the 18,000 estimated domestic workforce. Another 1,575 were estimated to have taken deferred resignations. SOTOMAYOR BREAKS WITH JACKSON IN SUPREME COURT DECISION OVER TRUMP CUTS TO FEDERAL WORKFORCE The plans to Congress did not state how many of these workers would be from the civil service and how many from the foreign service, but it did say that more than 300 of the department's 734 bureaus and offices would be streamlined, merged or eliminated. Once affected staff have been notified, the department "will enter the final stage of its reorganization and focus its attention on delivering results-driven diplomacy," Rigas said in the email to colleagues. The expectation is for the terminations to start as soon as Friday. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters earlier on Thursday that the only reason there had been a delay in implementing force reductions is because the courts have stepped in, as she said the mass layoffs would be happening quickly. "There has been a delay – not to our interests, but because of the courts," Bruce noted. "It's been difficult when you know you need to get something done for the benefit of everyone." "When something is too large to operate, too bureaucratic, to actually function, and to deliver projects, or action, it has to change," she said. Reuters contributed to this report.
Congress sends $9B spending cuts package to Trump's desk after late-night House vote - Congress is officially sending a package detailing $9 billion in spending cuts to President Donald Trump’s desk, minutes after midnight on Friday. The bill, called a "rescissions package," was approved by the House of Representatives in a late-night 216 to 213 vote after intense debate between Republicans and Democrats. Just two Republicans, Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., and Mike Turner, R-Ohio, voted in opposition. Friday was also the deadline for passing the legislation, otherwise the White House would be forced to re-obligate those funds as planned. It’s a victory for House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., but a mostly symbolic one – the spending cuts bill was largely seen by Trump allies as a test run of a fiscal claw-back process not used in more than two decades. FAR-LEFT FIREBRAND SAYS SHE 'NEVER HAD A CONCERN' ABOUT BIDEN'S MENTAL STATE AS HOUSE PROBE HEATS UP "This bill tonight is part of continuing that trend of getting spending under control. Does it answer all the problems? No. $9 billion, I would say is a good start," House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said during debate on the bill. When signed by Trump, it will block $8 billion in funding to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and $1 billion to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for the remainder of the fiscal year. The dollars had been allocated by Congress for the duration of fiscal year 2025. Republicans celebrated it as a victory for cutting off the flow of U.S. taxpayer dollars to what they called "woke" initiatives abroad, while Democrats accused the right of gutting critical foreign aid. Rescissions packages are a way for the president to have input in Congress’ yearly appropriations process. The White House sends a proposal to block some congressionally obligated funds, which lawmakers have 45 days to get through the House and Senate. Republicans have also been able to sideline Democrats so far, with the rescissions process lowering the Senate’s threshold for passage from 60 votes to 51. The last time a rescissions package was signed into law was 1999. Consideration of the bill began with a House Rules Committee hearing at 6 p.m. on Thursday evening. Democrats attempted multiple times throughout the process to weaponize the ongoing inter-GOP fallout over the Jeffrey Epstein case, both in the House Rules Committee and on the chamber floor during debate on the bill. Multiple calls were made for votes to force the release of the so-called Epstein "files." "If every Republican votes to block our attempt to release the records, they are telling Epstein's victims, you don't matter as much as our political convenience. And that should disgust every single one of us," said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass. Far-right GOP figures are demanding accountability, while Trump has called on his base to move on after the Department of Justice (DOJ) signaled the case was closed. Initial plans to begin advancing the bill earlier in the day were quickly scuttled, with Republicans on the committee being concerned about being put into a difficult position with potential Epstein votes. In the end, a compromise led to the House Rules Committee advancing a separate nonbinding measure dealing with Epstein transparency, on a parallel track to the rescissions bill. THOM TILLIS ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM SENATE AFTER CLASH WITH TRUMP "All the credible evidence should come out. I've been very clear with members of the House Rules Committee. Republicans have been taking the incoming criticism because they voted to stop the Democrats' politicization of this, and they're trying to stick to their job and move their procedural rules to the floor so we can do our work and get the rescissions done for the American people," Johnson told reporters during negotiations earlier in the day. Democrats nevertheless pressed on, mentioning Epstein multiple times on the House floor. McGovern even briefly led a chant of "release the files" when closing debate on the bill. Republicans, in turn, accused Democrats of hypocrisy. "Interesting how they talk about Jeffrey Epstein, because for four years, Mr. Speaker, President Joe Biden had those files, and not a single Democrat that you're hearing tonight tried to get those files released," House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said at one point during the House floor debate. The House initially voted to advance a $9.4 billion rescissions package, but it was trimmed somewhat in the Senate after some senators had concerns about cutting funding for HIV/AIDS prevention research in Africa. Trump is expected to sign the bill on Friday.
Katie Taylor defeats Amanda Serrano to complete sweep in trilogy - Katie Taylor officially has nothing left to prove. Taylor defeated Amanda Serrano for the third time in as many fights between the two living legends on Friday night at Madison Square Garden via majority decision. Taylor retained her WBA, WBO, WBC, and IBF super lightweight championship belts. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM This was the trilogy bout between two of the greatest female boxers to step into the ring. Taylor won the first bout back on April 30, 2022, which also took place at the world’s most famous arena, in a split decision. The two squared off again on Nov. 15 of last year as the co-main event to Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson, and Taylor won in a controversial unanimous decision. The New York faithful was mostly backing Serrano, as Madison Square Garden was loaded with Puerto Rican flags - although Irish flags were scattered throughout. Serrano’s entrance was a show with the Knicks City Dancers and even some dancing herself – Taylor was much more stoic. But the fans were insane on both sides. UFC'S DANA WHITE HINTS THAT RECENTLY RETIRED JON JONES, CONOR MCGREGOR COULD RETURN FOR WHITE HOUSE FIGHTS Round one was mellow, with both fighters appearing to get a feel of one another in the ring with some quick jabs and feet. Round two was more aggressive. Serrano and Taylor shared hard blows in the third round, and the fight was officially on. But over the next few rounds, the fight stayed a bit more subdued than their two other bouts. Taylor was able to land the biggest of the punches from rounds 4-6, resulting in chants of "Katie." But Serrano gained some momentum late in the sixth and got some good shots in the eighth, winning back the crowd. In round 10, the blows came rapidly from both fighters in any attempt to steal the victory late. One judge scored the fight a tie, but the two others gave it to Taylor, and she released an emphatic yell when the results were read - while all Serrano could do was smile. Serrano was emotional in thanking the crowd for supporting women's boxing - she shouted out Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, the co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions, for "changing my life" and the other fighters' on the card. Taylor improved to 25-1 in her illustrious career, while Serrano is now 47-4-1 - with three of those losses to Taylor. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
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Chief Justice Roberts sounds alarm on dangerous rhetoric aimed at judges from politicians - U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts warned Saturday of the dangers of politicians using heated rhetoric against judges. "It becomes wrapped up in the political dispute that a judge who’s doing his or her job is part of the problem," Roberts said in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the Judicial Conference of the Fourth Circuit, a gathering of judges and lawyers. "And the danger, of course, is somebody might pick up on that. And we have had, of course, serious threats of violence and murder of judges just simply for doing their work. So, I think the political people on both sides of the aisle need to keep that in mind." Roberts didn’t name anyone but appeared to be referencing President Donald Trump and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer when he said he'd felt compelled to speak out against rhetoric by Democrats and Republicans in the past. CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS DOUBLES DOWN ON DEFENSE OF COURTS AS SCOTUS GEARS UP TO HEAR KEY TRUMP CASES Trump has criticized judges many times over the years, including calling for the impeachment of a judge who ruled against a deportation policy earlier this year, referring to him as "radical left" and a "lunatic." Roberts responded at the time, saying, "For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision. The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose." In 2020, Roberts condemned Schumer for saying that Trump-appointed Supreme Court justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch would "pay the price" regarding an abortion rights case during Trump’s first term. EX-SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ANTHONY KENNEDY PLEADS FOR CIVIL POLITICAL DISCOURSE, WARNS, ‘DEMOCRACY IS AT RISK’ "You have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price," Schumer said at a rally outside the Supreme Court at the time. "You will not know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions." Schumer later said he was referring to the political price he believed Senate Republicans would pay, but he said, "I shouldn't have used the words I did, but in no way was I making a threat. I never, never would do such a thing, and Leader McConnell knows that." Roberts, at the time, said of Schumer, "Justices know that criticism comes with the territory, but threatening statements of this sort from the highest levels of government are not only inappropriate, they are dangerous. All members of the court will continue to do their job, without fear or favor, from whatever quarter." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In April, an armed man who was arrested outside of Kavanaugh’s home pleaded guilty to attempting to assassinate the justice. Roberts’ remarks came after the Supreme Court issued the final decisions of its term, handing the Trump administration a win Friday by limiting judges’ ability to block his agenda through court orders. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Trump to speak at NATO Summit amid warming relations with alliance's leaders - President Donald Trump is set to take the main stage on the second day of the NATO Summit in The Hague, Netherlands — offering a surprisingly cordial tone toward the alliance he has long criticized. The president is scheduled to meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and other world leaders before holding a press conference. Trump also said he will "probably" greet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is attending the summit amid his ongoing push for Ukraine to join NATO. In text messages shared by Trump, Rutte congratulated him for "making Europe pay in a big way" through a new 5% defense spending target — and for brokering an end to the recent conflict between Israel and Iran. TRUMP HEADS TO NATO SUMMIT AS EUROPE AGREES TO HEED HIS DEFENSE SPENDING DEMANDS "Congratulations and thank you for your decisive action on Iran. That was truly extraordinary, and something no one else dared to do," Rutte wrote as Trump flew toward the summit. "It makes us all safer." Israel and Iran entered into a U.S.-brokered ceasefire on Tuesday that almost fell apart — though Israel called off its counterattack at Trump's urging. "You are flying into another big success in The Hague this evening," Rutte added, referencing the new agreement for NATO members to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP. NATO allies first agreed in 2006 to spend 2% of GDP on defense — a goal many failed to meet for years. Now, after Trump’s repeated calls for Europe to "pull its weight," the alliance has approved a more ambitious 5% target, with an exception for Spain, which has long struggled to meet even the original benchmark. The new figure breaks down into 3.5% for core defense spending, and 1.5% for related infrastructure, including cyberwarfare and intelligence. NATO ambassadors agreed on the compromise text Sunday. WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE UPCOMING NATO SUMMIT: TRUMP, SPENDING, UKRAINE, IRAN For most allies, the target marks a significant leap. Poland currently leads all member states with 4.1% of GDP going toward defense. The U.S. stands at 3.4%. Trump said he doesn’t believe the U.S. needs to reach the full 5% threshold — a position backed by Rutte. "The United States is already spending almost 3.5% on core defense, and no doubt they are close to spending the 1.5% on defense-related items," Rutte said. "Countries like Estonia and Poland are very close. For many others, it will still be a long road ahead, but it’s really important that we do this." He also called on defense industries "on both sides of the Atlantic" to ramp up production. "It is simply unthinkable that Russia, with an economy 25 times smaller than NATO’s, should be able to outproduce and outgun us," Rutte said Tuesday. He urged Europe: "Make your defenses so strong that no one dares to attack you." Despite the progress, Trump cast fresh doubt on whether the U.S. would abide by NATO’s cornerstone mutual defense clause — Article 5 — which obligates members to defend one another in the event of an attack. "It depends on your definition," Trump said when asked if he would honor the commitment. "There’s numerous definitions of Article 5, you know that, right? But I'm committed to being their friends. I've become friends with many of those leaders, and I'm committed to helping them." Still, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker sought to reassure allies, telling reporters, "The United States isn’t going anywhere." Rutte echoed that message, telling partners to "stop worrying so much" and focus on strengthening their own defenses.
Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' faces Republican family feud as Senate reveals its final text - Senate Republicans unveiled their long-awaited version of President Donald Trump’s "big, beautiful bill," but its survival is not guaranteed. Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., revealed the stitched-together text of the colossal bill late Firday night. The final product from the upper chamber is the culmination of a roughly month-long sprint to take the House GOP’s version of the bill and mold and change it. The colossal package includes separate pieces and parts from 10 Senate committees. With the introduction of the bill, a simple procedural hurdle must be passed in order to begin the countdown to final passage. When that comes remains an open question. Senate Republicans left their daily lunch on Friday under the assumption that a vote could be teed up as early as noon on Saturday. HOUSE CONSERVATIVES GO TO WAR WITH SENATE OVER TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., told Fox News Digital that he had "strongly encouraged" Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., to put the bill on the floor for a vote Saturday afternoon. "If you're unhappy with that, you're welcome to fill out a hurt feelings report, and we will review it carefully later," Kennedy said. "But in the meantime, it's time to start voting." But Senate Republicans’ desire to impose their will on the package and make changes to already divisive policy tweaks in the House GOP’s offering could doom the bill and derail Thune’s ambitious timeline to get it on Trump’s desk by the July 4 deadline. However, Thune has remained firm that lawmakers would stay on course and deliver the bill to Trump by Independence Day. When asked if he had the vote to move the package forward, Thune said "we’ll find out tomorrow." TOP TRUMP HEALTH OFFICIAL SLAMS DEMOCRATS FOR 'MISLEADING' CLAIMS ABOUT MEDICAID REFORM But it wasn't just lawmakers who nearly derailed the bill. The Senate parliamentarian, the true final arbiter of the bill, ruled that numerous GOP-authored provisions did not pass muster with Senate rules. Any item in the "big, beautiful bill" must comport with the Byrd Rule, which governs the budget reconciliation process and allows for a party in power to ram legislation through the Senate while skirting the 60-vote filibuster threshold. That sent lawmakers back to the drawing board on a slew of policy tweaks, including the Senate's changes to the Medicaid provider tax rate, cost-sharing for food benefits and others. Republican leaders, the White House and disparate factions within the Senate and House GOP have been meeting to find middle ground on other pain points, like tweaking the caps on state and local tax (SALT) deductions. While the controversial Medicaid provider tax rate change remained largely the same, a $25 billion rural hospital stabilization fund was included in the bill to help attract possible holdouts that have raised concerns that the rate change would shutter rural hospitals throughout the country. On the SALT front, there appeared to be a breakthrough on Friday. A source told Fox News that the White House and House were on board with a new plan that would keep the $40,000 cap from the House's bill and have it reduced back down to $10,000 after five years. But Senate Republicans are the ones that must accept it at this stage. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., has acted as the mediator in those negotiations, and said that he was unsure if any of his colleagues "love it." "But I think, as I've said before, I want to make sure we have enough that people can vote for than to vote against," he said. Still, a laundry list of other pocket issues and concerns over just how deep spending cuts in the bill go have conservatives and moderates in the House GOP and Senate pounding their chests and vowing to vote against the bill. Republican leaders remain adamant that they will finish the mammoth package and are gambling that some lawmakers standing against the bill will buckle under the pressure from the White House and the desire to leave Washington for a short break. Once a motion to proceed is passed, which only requires a simple majority, then begins 20 hours of debate evenly divided between both sides of the aisle. 'BABY STEPS': LEADER THUNE DETAILS HIS WORK TO CORRAL REPUBLICANS BEHIND TRUMP'S LEGISLATIVE VISION Democratic lawmakers are expected to spend the entirety of their 10 allotted hours, while Republicans will likely clock in well below their limit. From there starts the "vote-a-rama" process, when lawmakers can submit a near-endless number of amendments to the bill. Democrats will likely try to extract as much pain as possible with messaging amendments that won't actually pass but will add more and more time to the process. Once that is complete, lawmakers will move to a final vote. If successful, the "big, beautiful bill" will again make its way back to the House, where House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., will again have to corral dissidents to support the legislation. It barely advanced last month, squeaking by on a one-vote margin. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hammered on the importance of passing Trump's bill on time. He met with Senate Republicans during their closed-door lunch and spread the message that advancing the colossal tax package would go a long way to giving businesses more certainty in the wake of the president's tariffs. "We need certainty," he said. "With so much uncertainty, and having the bill on the president's desk by July 4 will give us great tax certainty, and I believe, accelerate the economy in the third quarter of the year."

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