In at this time’s challenge:
- Home GOP: Massive week for mammoth invoice
- U.S., China unveil 90-day commerce settlement
- Will Susan Collins run once more in 2026?
- Trump throws wrench into Ukraine truce
Showtime for Home GOP funds
President Trump landed a short-term commerce take care of China and will probably be within the Center East this week to chop some offers. Within the meantime, Home Republicans flip to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to dissolve discord and ship what is meant to be the most important legislative raise of the president’s second time period.
What occurs this week and through each legislative workday earlier than Memorial Day will reveal whether or not Home Republicans, in opposition to lengthy odds, can anchor Trump’s pledges to chop taxes, shrink authorities, hike protection spending, strengthen border safety and defend entitlements. The Rubik’s Dice of objectives, if ultimately enacted with out Democratic assist, is meant to function a vote magnet for Republican candidates subsequent 12 months — and a legacy builder for Trump.
“The wheels can come off a number of occasions on this course of, and sometimes do. Ultimately, we’ve bought to verify we get it again on the rails, and I feel there’s sufficient dedication to doing that that we’ll determine it out,” Senate Majority Chief John Thune (R-S.D.) stated after conferring with Johnson final week about Home difficulties and delays. “They’ve bought an enormous week forward of them,” he added.
How massive? An early model of the Home GOP tax provisions, supposed to be the beating coronary heart of the large funds laws, carries an estimated price tag of $5 trillion, based on Congressional Finances Workplace calculations. That value exceeds what’s permitted by the funds decision Republicans adopted earlier this 12 months. In different phrases, the tax math nonetheless doesn’t add up.
Trump, trying to inject some political ambiguity into debates about taxes, will escape Washington this week after suggesting that GOP lawmakers raise taxes to 39.6 p.c on people incomes greater than $2.5 million a 12 months. He prompted quick pushback from some Home conservatives.
“Personally, I’ve considerations about elevating any taxes,” Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Sick.), a member of the Methods and Means panel, advised Bloomberg TV’s “Balance of Power” on Friday. “We’re centered on predictability and certainty for the financial system, for long- and short-term investments. I feel you try this with making these tax cuts everlasting and determining the correct option to give rocket gasoline to the financial system.”
There are two marquee committee markup periods deliberate on Tuesday, which can convey behind-the-scenes GOP disagreements into sharper reduction.
Lawmakers drafting the tax provisions on the House Ways and Means Committee plan a marathon session poring over a 28-page tax invoice. It doesn’t spell out how lawmakers will deal with attainable tax will increase to assist offset the budgetary value of the Trump agenda, reminiscent of a proposed enhance in a tax on school endowment funding earnings and culling inexperienced power tax subsidies. It doesn’t point out how Home Republicans would embrace Trump’s marketing campaign guarantees to finish taxes on ideas, additional time pay and supply different tax breaks for middle- and lower-income working Individuals.
The Home Power and Commerce Committee on Tuesday will put its calculators on show throughout a markup session wherein its task is to seek out cuts of at the least $880 billion. The panel has authority over Medicaid, now a controversial goal for shrinkage within the “massive, stunning invoice” Trump needs to see emerge from the Home. Textual content launched Sunday of the proposed provisions for markup, together with Medicaid, is HERE.
The Wall Street Journal: The Home plan to chop Medicaid goals for the GOP’s center floor with work necessities and eligibility checks.
SALTY WATERS: Republican conservatives and moderates are clashing over whether or not to extend the present $10,000 state and native tax deduction (SALT), doubtlessly to $30,000, to profit tax filers in high-tax blue states reminiscent of New York, New Jersey and California. 4 New York Republicans issued a blistering statement rejecting a suggestion they stated got here from the Speaker and the Home’s prime tax author.
▪ The Hill: Senate Democrats are discussing ways to help Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), who’s navigating unfavorable protection about his latest risky habits and absences for Senate votes and committee conferences.
▪ The Hill: Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) advised NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday he doesn’t imagine White Home officers’ instructed suspension of habeas corpus will come to Congress. Right here’s what that idea would mean.
SMART TAKE with NewsNation’s BLAKE BURMAN
When you’re interested in what’s within the skies — particularly UFOs — this week may flip right into a newsy one.
Rep. Eric Burlison (R- Mo.) advised NewsNation a congressional listening to is coming and says this week will probably be “essentially the most centered and intense UAP/UFO investigation week that I’ve had.”
Burlison sits on the Home Oversight and Authorities Reform Committee and just lately employed UFO whistleblower David Grusch to advise on the subject. Grusch has alleged the Pentagon is working a secret UFO retrieval program.
“That is the place the chance will come for the members of Congress to really hear correctly, for the primary time, the total particulars of what David Grusch is aware of,” Ross Coulthart, NewsNation particular correspondent and host of “Actuality Examine,” advised me.
In our NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ poll, 44 p.c of Individuals stated they imagine the federal government is hiding UFO info. With a quantity that prime, you’re not going to see these sorts of questions from Congress go away anytime quickly.
PHOTO/Thumbnail hyperlink: https://thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Rep-Burlison_051125.jpg
Burman hosts “The Hill” weeknights, 6p/5c on NewsNation.
3 THINGS TO KNOW TODAY
▪ Debate swirls round Trump’s problem to automated birthright citizenship because the Supreme Court prepares to hear oral arguments on Thursday.
▪ A bunch of 49 white South Africans departed for the U.S. on Sunday on a personal constitution airplane. They had been provided refugee standing by the Trump administration below a brand new program introduced in February.
▪ Educators are working to combat artificial intelligence challenges in the classroom.
LEADING THE DAY
© Related Press | Kiichiro Sato
U.S., CHINA REACH TEMPORARY TRADE ACCORD: The U.S. and China announced today that they reached an agreement to quickly scale back the steep tariffs they’ve imposed on one another in an try and defuse the commerce struggle threatening the world’s two largest economies. Under the 90-day agreement, the U.S. would scale back the tariff on Chinese language imports to 30 p.c from 145 p.c, whereas China would decrease its import obligation on American items to 10 p.c from 125 p.c. China additionally said it would suspend or cancel its “non-tariff countermeasures.”
Trump’s 145 p.c tariffs on Chinese language imports just about halted $600 billion in annual commerce between the world’s two largest economies. The tariffs had been already disrupting the world’s provide chains, and plenty of U.S. companies are weighing how a lot they will increase prices to assist offset the tariff prices. Economists have warned that the commerce dispute will gradual global growth and gasoline inflation, doubtlessly tipping the USA right into a recession.
“It’s vital to know how shortly we had been capable of come to settlement, which displays that maybe the variations weren’t so massive as possibly thought,” U.S. Commerce Consultant Jamieson Greer stated Sunday from Geneva in short remarks to reporters. “That being stated, there was numerous groundwork that went into these two days.”
▪ Bloomberg News: International shares climbed after the 90-day pause announcement.
▪ The Hill: Trump’s tariffs threaten to grow to be his Achilles’ heel.
▪ The Hill: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated Sunday that the U.S. anticipates “a ten p.c baseline tariff to be in place for the foreseeable future” for international locations throughout the globe amid commerce tensions.
HIGH-FLYING DEAL: Trump will embark on the primary main international journey of his second time period tomorrow, heading to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The Center East journey is anticipated to focus closely on enterprise offers and new investments from the oil-rich area. Usually, U.S. presidents journey to Canada or Mexico first. Trump’s journey to the Center East, against this, highlights the area’s rising affect — and the president’s tension with many longtime allies.
With an eye fixed on blockbuster offers and a Nobel-worthy diplomatic breakthrough in regional peace, Trump is specializing in a area that he has handled as a key diplomatic and financial participant in his second time period. It’s additionally a enterprise alternative: All three countries on the list have Trump-branded properties or ongoing developments.
Whereas within the area, Trump plans to accept a luxury Boeing 747-800 airplane as a donation from the Qatari royal household that will probably be upgraded to function Air Power One, in presumably the most important international reward ever obtained by the U.S. authorities. The airplane will then be donated to Trump’s presidential library when he leaves workplace, permitting him to proceed utilizing it as a personal citizen.
WHERE AND WHEN
- The Home will meet Tuesday at midday.
- The Senate will convene at 3 p.m.
- The president will maintain a information convention at 9:30 a.m. with Well being and Human Providers Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. within the Roosevelt Room. Trump will depart the White Home at 10:05 a.m. and start touring to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, arriving on Tuesday.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio will accompany the president to Saudi Arabia and Qatar on an itinerary by Wednesday.
ZOOM IN
© Related Press | Ben Curtis
POLITICS: Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins, 72, is taking unofficial steps towards reelection, as some big-name Dems think about a 2026 race. In an interview with CNN, Collins signaled she does plan to run however wasn’t able to say so formally.
“It’s definitely my inclination to run and I’m getting ready to take action,” Collins stated final week. “I very a lot get pleasure from serving the individuals of Maine. I’ve clearly not made a proper announcement as a result of it’s too early for that.”
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) is taking steps to construct his nationwide profile at the same time as he seeks to tamp down hypothesis that he may run for the White Home subsequent cycle. Moore told ABC’s “The View” final week that he’s “not working” for the White Home in 2028. However his latest swings by key states are conserving the highlight on the rising Democratic star, who’s additionally staring down reelection as governor in 2026.
“He’s doing little or no to discourage that hypothesis about 2028. … His schedule was at odds along with his message,” Maryland-based Democratic strategist Len Foxwell stated.
In New York, Rep. Mike Lawler (R) is dealing with a tough choice as he weighs whether or not to run for governor, doubtlessly placing him up in opposition to Rep. Elise Stefanik (R), who’s contemplating her personal run to guide the state. Lawler appeared just some weeks in the past to be the favourite for the GOP nomination as Republicans look to unseat unpopular incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul (D). However that now appears up in the air, and Trump has weighed in to induce Lawler to run once more for his Home seat.
▪ The Hill: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy advised NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday that the federal government will lengthen the retirement age for air site visitors controllers amongst its responses to security worries for plane at congested airports. “I’m going to present them a 20 p.c upfront bonus to remain on the job. Don’t retire. Maintain serving your nation.’ And these are the most effective guys,” he stated.
▪ The Washington Post: Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport noticed extra delays Sunday on account of an gear outage that necessitated a 45-minute floor cease.
▪ The Hill: Trump’s second alternative for U.S. surgeon common set off a wave of infighting between distinguished figures within the MAGA and “Make America Wholesome Once more” areas as allies of each Trump and Well being and Human Providers Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. denounced the well being tech entrepreneur nominated for the position.
▪ The Hill: Trump’s firing of the director of the Federal Emergency Administration Company final week plunged the catastrophe company into uncertainty.
OMB: The Trump administration is dealing with stress to revive a authorities web site that detailed spending choices by the administration that lawmakers on each side say is required by regulation. For weeks, advocates and Democrats have ratcheted up criticism over a transfer by the Workplace of Administration and Finances to take down the net database. However that doesn’t imply Trump officers aren’t additionally listening to from Republicans concerning the tracker’s removing.
“It’s the regulation. It’s a requirement of the regulation, so it is not discretionary on OMB’s half,” Collins told The Hill on Thursday. She additionally stated that prime appropriators had “not heard again” but from the OMB after a letter, first reported by The New York Times this week, wherein prime appropriators from each events within the Home and Senate urged public entry to the location be restored.
The Hill: Liberals rail at institution: “Too many company, institution politicians.”
ELSEWHERE
© Related Press | Mstyslav Chernov
UKRAINE: Trump urged Ukrainian leaders Sunday to agree to fulfill with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkey this week to barter an finish to the three-year battle. Trump’s urging got here after Putin on Sunday proposed direct talks with Ukraine this Thursday in Istanbul “to attain the restoration of a long-term, lasting peace.”
Russia additionally launched drone assaults on Kyiv simply hours after Putin proposed the talks. Putin’s announcement got here as Ukraine and its European allies are upping their pressure on Moscow to just accept phrases for a 30-day ceasefire that may start as early as at this time.
Ukrainian Overseas Minister Andrii Sybiha stated Saturday that leaders of France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Poland — a partnership dubbed the “Coalition of the Prepared” — met in Kyiv with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky to debate phrases for a short lived pause in combating. Trump additionally joined the assembly by cellphone, the place the world leaders mentioned “peace efforts.”
However with Putin’s announcement, weeks of what gave the impression to be Trump’s thawing relations with Zelensky and impatience with Moscow are once again in question. Zelensky eagerly accepted the provide Sunday, urging Putin to meet him in Turkey, however solely below a ceasefire.
The Hill: Former nationwide safety adviser John Bolton stated that Putin could also be prone to “overplaying his hand” with Trump amid the talks to finish the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.
BACK FROM THE BRINK: Following 4 days of escalating assaults, India and Pakistan have seemingly agreed to a truce. Trump on Saturday morning signaled that the 2 international locations agreed to a “full and quick” ceasefire following a slew of tit-for-tat strikes, with some focusing on navy bases. However the underlying tensions stay, leading experts to conclude there’s little to recommend that the truce represents any return to outdated patterns of restraint.
“After a protracted evening of talks mediated by the USA, I’m happy to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE,” he wrote on Fact Social. “Congratulations to each International locations on utilizing Widespread Sense and Nice Intelligence. Thanks to your consideration to this matter!”
“NEVER AGAIN WAR”: Pope Leo XIV called for a genuine and just peace in Ukraine and a direct ceasefire in Gaza in his first Sunday midday blessing as pontiff. He famous that it was nearly 80 years to the day that the “immense tragedy” of World Struggle II ended and quoted Pope Francis, his predecessor, who typically referred to the present wave of violence globally as “a 3rd world struggle in items.”
“I carry in my coronary heart the sufferings of the beloved Ukrainian individuals,” he stated. “Let every part attainable be achieved to attain real, simply and lasting peace as quickly as attainable.”
In his remarks, Leo called for an immediate truce in Gaza, and for humanitarian reduction to be offered to the “exhausted civilian inhabitants and all hostages be freed.”
▪ NBC News: Disagreements on Iran and Gaza are straining Trump’s relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
▪ PBS: Israeli airstrikes kill 23 individuals in Gaza as worldwide outcry over help blockade grows.
▪ The New York Times: Hamas says it should free Edan Alexander, 21, the final residing American citizen held captive in Gaza as early as at this time. U.S. officers negotiated instantly with Hamas leaders to safe Alexander’s launch, breaking with the standard U.S. boycott of the group.
OPINION
■ Qatar’s reward to Trump reveals a loophole sufficiently big to fly a jumbo jet by, by Jacob T. Levy, visitor essayist, The Washington Post.
■ Pope Leo XIV could also be a stern trainer for American Catholics, by Sam Sawyer SJ, visitor essayist, The New York Times.
THE CLOSER
© Related Press | Mark Thiessen
And eventually … ♥️ Many moms within the U.S. celebrated their big day on Sunday with brunch, flowers, cellphone calls and maybe greeting playing cards with stamps on them. However there’s at all times an offbeat advertising salute within the headlines, and you may’t make this one up.
In Alaska, a favourite Mom’s Day custom concerned getting up shut and private with a species that survived the ice age: musk ox. All mothers on Sunday obtained a daisy and free admission on the Musk Ox Farm in Palmer, Alaska, about an hour’s drive north of Anchorage. Additionally a draw was an outdated bull named Trebek, named after the late “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek, a benefactor of the ability.
“Who doesn’t need to have a good time Mom’s Day with a musk ox mother and essentially the most lovable calf you’re ever going to seek out in your life?” Mark Austin, the farm’s government director, told The Associated Press.
The offbeat rationale: Mom’s Day for the Palmer farm is the standard begin of the summer time season and marks its 1964 launch.
Keep Engaged
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