“Former Republican Michigan U.S. Rep. Dave Trott is considering another bid for Congress in the Detroit suburbs, but this time as a Democrat or an independent candidate after leaving the GOP and labeling President Donald Trump a threat to democracy,” the Detroit News reports.
Dozens Arrested at House Markup
“No sooner had the House Energy and Commerce Committee kicked off its markup of the GOP’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ than protesters descended upon the proceedings,” Politico reports.
“U.S. Capitol Police was forced to quickly arrest 25 people and remove several protestors in wheelchairs from the hearing room amid chants of ‘no cuts to Medicaid’ and ‘waste, fraud and abuse my ass.'”
GOP Lawmaker Made Millions Trading Around Tariffs
“A freshman Republican congressman made millions of dollars in personal stock trades as financial markets plunged during the days immediately following President Donald Trump’s April 2 ‘Liberation Day’ tariff binge,” NOTUS reports.
“Rep. Jefferson Shreve of Indiana, one of Congress’ wealthiest members, made more than 140 individual stock purchases and sales between April 7 and April 17 — some of them in companies that fall within the jurisdiction of one of his committees, the records indicate.”
“Shreve traded between $3.44 million and $9.45 million worth of stocks in that April period.”
GOP Lawmaker Would Boot Three Democrats
Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) “is proposing to strip three New Jersey lawmakers of their House committee assignments after they participated last week in a protest at a Newark migrant detention facility,” Politico reports.
Said Carter: “This behavior constitutes an assault on our brave ICE agents and undermines the rule of law. The three members involved in this stunt do not deserve to sit on committees alongside serious lawmakers.”
Senate Republicans Criticize Trump’s Jet Deal
“A number of Republican lawmakers are souring on President Donald Trump’s plans to accept a luxury Boeing 747 aircraft as a gift from Qatar — a rare series of rebukes of the president by his allies in Congress,” Politico reports.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Tuesday became the most prominent Republican to express discomfort with the deal, telling reporters there are “lots of issues associated with that offer which I think need to be further talked about.”
Mike Lawler Bashes Ways and Means Chairman
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) harshly criticized the House GOP’s top tax writer over negotiations on expanding the state and local tax deduction, saying Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-MO) “should be reminded that he wouldn’t have a fucking gavel without the members of the SALT caucus,” Politico reports.
Trump’s Free Plane Is Not So Free
“President Donald Trump insists he’s getting a ‘free, very expensive airplane’ from Qatar’s royal family. But it’s not much of a gift for the American taxpayer,” Politico reports.
“The Qatari Defense Ministry is talking to the White House about transferring the luxury-configured Boeing jet to the Pentagon, which would oversee its retrofitting into a makeshift Air Force One. But a private contractor would have to rip it apart to turn the jet into a flying White House for the president with secure communications and classified upgrades, according to former Air Force officials and lawmakers, an expensive and complicated prospect that could cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.”
Trump Heaps Praise on Saudi Crown Prince
“President Donald Trump spent the bulk of what was billed as a ‘major foreign policy address’ to outline his vision for the Middle East instead touting his domestic policies and heaping praise on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,” ABC News reports.
Said Trump: “He’s your greatest representative, greatest representative. And if I didn’t like him, I’d get out of here so fast. You know that, don’t you? He knows me well. I do — I like him a lot. I like him too much. That’s why we give so much, you know? Too much. I like you too much.”
7.6 Million Would Lose Health Insurance Under GOP Plan
Politico: “The Medicaid portions of the GOP megabill would lead to 10.3 million people losing coverage under the health safety net program and 7.6 million people going uninsured, according to estimates from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.”
When We’re In Charge
Just out: When We’re in Charge: The Next Generation’s Guide to Leadership by Amanda Litman.
A practical manual for millennials and Gen Zers taking on positions of power.
- Hardcover Book
- Litman, Amanda (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 272 Pages - 05/13/2025 (Publication Date) - Zando – Crooked Media Reads (Publisher)
Bonus Quote of the Day
“Far too many American presidents have been afflicted with the notion that it’s our job to look into the souls of foreign leaders and use U.S. policy to dispense justice for their sins.”
— President Trump, quoted by NBC News, rejecting the notion that U.S. policy should judge foreign leaders’ morals, advocating instead for pragmatic economic cooperation.
How Democrats Will Counter the GOP Tax Bill
Punchbowl News: “Democrats are ramping up to counter the GOP’s tax plans and drag the markup into the night. Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richie Neal (D-MA) said in an interview that the GOP’s decision to extend the 2017 Trump tax cuts will be a political winner for Democrats.”
Said Neal: “I’ve long held the opinion that when we left the committee room library and walked into the markup, that’s when we won the election in 2018.”
GOP Tax Bill Would Add Nearly $4 Trillion to Deficit
The Joint Committee on Taxation found the tax portion of Republicans’ wide-ranging bill full of President Trump’s domestic priorities would cost $3.7 trillion over the next decade, The Hill reports.
Playbook: “That’s a boon for GOP leaders, since it comes in under their $4 trillion target with some room to spare — perhaps for negotiations on the state and local tax deduction. In particular, new tax breaks Trump proposed would cost less than some experts expected. The overall cost would still vastly outstrip the savings from spending cuts.”
Fetterman Loses More Staffers
“Two more aides left John Fetterman’s office in recent weeks, the latest in a stream of staff exits amid the Pennsylvania senator’s shifting political persona and questions about his health,” Politico reports.
Zelensky Will Be In Turkey for Peace Talks
“Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to travel to Turkey regardless of Vladimir Putin’s plans, raising the stakes in a western-led pressure campaign to get the Russian president to engage in peace talks,” the Financial Times reports.
“Zelensky plans to travel to Ankara on Thursday where he will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and await Putin’s arrival in Istanbul or anywhere else in Turkey.”
Rodrigo Duterte Wins Mayoral Election from Jail
“Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was almost certain to be elected mayor of his home city by a landslide on Monday, unimpeded by his detention at the International Criminal Court on charges of murder as a crime against humanity,” CNN reports.
“With 80% of votes counted in an unofficial tally, Duterte, who was brought to The Hague in March over his bloody ‘war on drugs’ that killed thousands of people, was winning the Davao mayoral contest with eight times more votes than his nearest rival.”
Nikki Haley Rips Trump for Accepting $400 Million Jet
Nikki Haley slammed President Trump over his decision to accept a $400 million luxury plane from Qatar.
Said Haley: “Accepting gifts from foreign nations is never a good practice. It threatens intelligence and national security.”
She added: “Regardless of how beautiful the plane may be, it opens a door and implies the President and U.S. can be bought. If this were Biden, we would be furious.”
Trump and Republicans Want to Make States Pay
New York Times: “Across the country, state leaders are beginning to express alarm about the budgetary fallout from President Trump’s economic agenda, warning that they will not be able to pick up the bill if the federal government reduces its funding for major public services.”
“To governors and other officials, many of whom are Democrats, the fear is that Washington could sharply curtail federal programs that help states improve their infrastructure, respond to natural disasters, expand education and provide a suite of health, housing and nutrition benefits to the poor.”
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