'Kill the bill': Elon Musk tries to nuke Trump's GOP tax plan

'Kill the bill': Elon Musk tries to nuke Trump's GOP tax plan

WASHINGTON –Elon Muskis launching an all-out attack onPresident Donald Trump'ssweepingtax and policy bill,urging his 220 million-plus followerson social media to lobby their lawmakers and "KILL the BILL." Musk, who formallyleft his job working for Trumpon May 30, has beenpublicly lambastingthe Republican president's signature legislation that would extend 2017 income tax cuts and implement new tax cuts on tipped wages and overtime that were central promises from his successful 2024 presidential campaign. Those provisions are expensive, and Musk is now railing against the overall bill's costs. The House-passed legislation is expected to add around $2.4 trillion to the federal deficit over the next 10 years if it were to become law, according to the mostrecent nonpartisan analysis. In highlighting his fiscal concerns, Musk argue the legislation's price tag undermines the work that he did leading the Department of Government Efficiency cost-cutting project. On June 3, Musk called the bill a "disgusting abomination" and suggested that Republicans who voted for the package –all but two of themin the House – should face primary challenges. "I think he's flat wrong. I think he's way off on this, and I've told him as much, and I've said it publicly and privately," House SpeakerMike Johnsonresponded on June 4 when pressed on Musk's public comments. Trump, known to lash out at his critics, has pushed back on Republicans senators who oppose his tax bill but has remained silent about Musk. A senior White House official told USA Today that Trump is disappointed by Musk's criticisms over the tax bill but the president is committed to get the legislation passed. The argument signals a showdown between Trump and his billionaire former advisor, and it may threaten to derail the legislation as Musk inflamesexisting tensions in the Republican conference. Several GOP senators, includingSens. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, Rick Scott, R-Florida, and Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, have also raised concerns about the package's overall cost. But some lawmakers have brushed off the impact that Musk may have on the legislation's future. "If Elon was going to give me advice on how to get to the moon, I'd listen. If he was going to give me advice on how to raise several billion dollars from other billionaires, I'd listen," said Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-North Dakota. "But he doesn't govern. To be honest, he's just not that big a factor." Contributing: Joseph Garrison This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'Kill the bill': Elon Musk slams Trump's GOP tax legislation

byAlpha World

in

June 04, 2025

'Kill the bill': Elon Musk tries to nuke Trump's GOP tax plan

'Kill the bill': Elon Musk tries to nuke Trump's GOP tax plan WASHINGTON –Elon Muskis launching an all-out attack onPresident Do...

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State Department shifts $250 million from refugee aid to 'self-deportations'

State Department shifts $250 million from refugee aid to 'self-deportations'

By Jonathan Landay WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. State Department has moved $250 million to the Department of Homeland Security for voluntary deportations by migrants without legal status, a spokesperson said, an unprecedented repurposing of funds that have been used to aid refugees uprooted by war and natural disasters. The money has been transferred "to provide a free flight home and an exit bonus to encourage and assist illegal aliens to voluntarily depart the United States," the State Department spokesperson told Reuters. Historically, those funds have been used "to provide protection to vulnerable people" overseas and to resettle refugees in the U.S., said Elizabeth Campbell, a former deputy assistant secretary of state. The re-routing of the money comes as President Donald Trump pushes to reshape U.S. government agencies to serve his "America First" agenda. The State Department's planned reorganization explicitly states that the agency's refugee bureau now largely will focus on efforts to "return illegal aliens to their country of origin or legal status." The funds came from Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA) overseen by the Bureau of Population, Refugee and Migration. Its website says its mission is to "reduce illegal immigration," aid people "fleeing persecution, crisis or violence and seek durable solutions for forcibly displaced people." Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, citing the law authorizing the funding, said in a May 7 Federal Register notice that underwriting the repatriation of people without legal status will bolster the "foreign policy interests" of the U.S. He did not mention the $250 million transfer to DHS. The DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump's administration is working to speed up deportations in a crackdown that the Republican president vowed during the 2024 campaign would expel millions of people illegally in the U.S. It has encouraged migrants to leave voluntarily by threatening steep fines and deporting migrants to notorious prisons in Guantanamo Bay and El Salvador. But the volume of deportations since he took office in January appears to be less than those overseen by his predecessor Joe Biden in the February-May period of 2024, about 200,000 people versus 257,000. On May 9, Trump announced Project Homecoming, an initiative overseen by DHS that offers $1,000 stipends and travel assistance to migrants who "self-deport." DHS said in a May 19 news release that 64 people had "opted to self deport" to Honduras and Colombia on a charter flight under the program. Some experts said that while legal, sending the money to DHS for deportation operations was an unprecedented use of MRA funds. The main purpose of the funds historically has been "to provide refugee and displacement assistance, refugee processing and resettlement to the U.S., and respond to urgent and emerging humanitarian crises - not to return those very people to the harm or persecution they fled," said Meredith Owen Edwards, senior director of Policy and Advocacy at the Refugee Council USA. (Reporting by Jonathan Landay; additional reporting by Ted Hesson; Editing by Don Durfee and Alistair Bell)

byAlpha World

in

June 04, 2025

State Department shifts $250 million from refugee aid to 'self-deportations'

State Department shifts $250 million from refugee aid to 'self-deportations' By Jonathan Landay WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. State...

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Suns hire Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott as head coach, AP source says

Suns hire Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott as head coach, AP source says

PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Suns hired Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott as their head coach, opting for a young, emerging leader to rebuild a franchise that has regressed over the past few seasons, a person familiar with the search told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the hire hasn't officially been announced. Ott will be the team's fourth head coach in four seasons and replaces Mike Budenholzer, who was firedfollowing a miserable 36-46 seasonthat ended without a trip to the playoffs despite the high-priced trio of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. The 40-year-old Ott has worked for the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers and the Cavaliers. He also worked as a video coordinator under Tom Izzo at Michigan State, which is where Suns owner Mat Ishbia played as a walk-on from 1999 to 2003. It remains to be seen if Durant or Beal will be on next season's roster — both could be moved in trades. Booker seems like the only player on the roster who is truly untouchable after 10 seasons in the desert, including four All-Star appearances. Ott and fellow Cavs assistant Johnnie Bryant were the two finalists for the job. Both worked under Kenny Atkinson, helping lead Cleveland to a 64-18 record this season, which was the best record in the NBA's Eastern Conference. Ishbia and general manager Brian Gregory led a lengthy, deliberate search that lasted 1 1/2 months and included more than a dozen candidates. Gregory also has Michigan State ties as a former assistant coach. ESPN first reported the hiring. Ott takes over a franchise that's had a quick rise and fall over the past five years. The Suns made the NBA Finals in 2021 with a core that included Booker, Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges, Chris Paul, Cameron Johnson and coach Monty Williams, but lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. Phoenix had the best record in the NBA the next season before losing to the Dallas Mavericks in the second round. Ishbia blew up that nucleus shortly after purchasing the team in 2023, trading for a superstar in Durant, but the Suns lost again in the postseason's second round, this time to the eventual champion Denver Nuggets. Williams was fired following the season, which started the franchise's sideline shuffle. The Suns traded for Beal — a three-time All-Star — and hired coach Frank Vogel during the ensuing offseason, but the group never seemed to gel. Phoenix was swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening round of the playoffs in 2024, leading to Vogel's firing. Budenholzer replaced Vogel before last season, but the Suns didn't even make it to the play-in tournament in 2025. Ott worked under Budenholzer as the Hawks' video coordinator from 2013 to 2016. ___ AP NBA:https://apnews.com/nba

byAlpha World

in

June 04, 2025

Suns hire Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott as head coach, AP source says

Suns hire Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott as head coach, AP source says PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Suns hired Cleveland Cavaliers assistant J...

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Ryan Lochte's Wife Kayla Reid Files for Divorce After 7 Years and 3 Kids

Ryan Lochte's Wife Kayla Reid Files for Divorce After 7 Years and 3 Kids

Harry How/Getty; Phillip Faraone/Getty Ryan Lochte and his wife Kayla Rae Lochte have split Kayla announced on Instagram on Wednesday, June 4 that she has decided to end their marriage The couple share three children: son Caiden Zane, almost 8, and daughters Liv Rae, nearly 6, and Georgia June, 23 months Ryan Lochteand his wife Kayla Rae Lochte are going their separate ways. The mother of threeconfirmed she's divorcing her husband of seven years in an Instagram poston Wednesday, June 4. "Earlier this year, I made the hard decision to end my marriage after deep prayer and reflection," Kayla wrote. "I hold marriage in the highest regard, so this has been one of the most painful, revealing, and challenging seasons of my life. I've been hesitant to share until I could do so from a place of healing — not from fresh, open wounds." Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. She continued, "Sometimes we face trials we didn't choose or see coming. And in those moments, we're forced to make the hardest decisions to protect our peace, our children, and our future. I've come to the understanding that staying isn't always the most loving decision someone can make. For me, leaving was an act of love — for those around me and for myself." The Olympian and his wife share three children, sonCaiden Zane, who turns 8 on June 8, and daughtersLiv Rae, 6 on June 17, andGeorgia June, who turns 2 on June 22. Kayla continued in her post that she has chosen to announce the news because "living with transparency and authenticity has been how I have grown into the person I am today, and I'll continue to do so — while also protecting the parts of this journey that are private and unfolding in uncharted territory." Lochte and Reid did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's requests for comment. The 12-time Olympic medalist in swimming first met his wife the same year as the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He revealed after the games thathe was dating Kayla, and in October of the same year, he proposed to her during a private helicopter tour of Los Angeles. The couple welcomed their son Caiden Zane a year later and were married in 2018. Last year, the retired swimmer opened up about the mental impact of a near-fatal car accident in 2023. Lochte penned a powerful message on social media that detailed his rise out of the "depression" that set in after the November accident that left him with multiple injuries — including a broken femur and abrasions on his forehead. "One year ago, my life changed forever," Lochte wrote in his post at the time. "A car accident nearly took everything from me — and for a long time, it felt like it had. I struggled to find myself again, sinking back into depression and doubting my worth as a father, a husband, and the person I knew I could be. But I didn't face this journey alone." Kayla wrote on Wednesday that she is relying on her faith to get through. "I believe god is still at work — even in the breaking, even in the unknown. I choose to believe that new growth can emerge from broken ground," she concluded. "Moving forward, I'm choosing to give myself grace. I'm choosing resilience. And I'm choosing to believe that what lies ahead will bring strength and peace. Your prayers and continued support mean the world to me right now." Read the original article onPeople

byAlpha World

in

June 04, 2025

Ryan Lochte's Wife Kayla Reid Files for Divorce After 7 Years and 3 Kids

Ryan Lochte's Wife Kayla Reid Files for Divorce After 7 Years and 3 Kids Harry How/Getty; Phillip Faraone/Getty Ryan Lochte and his wife...

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Marjorie Taylor Greene under fire after admitting she missed AI provision in GOP tax bill

Marjorie Taylor Greene under fire after admitting she missed AI provision in GOP tax bill

WASHINGTON - Conservative firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, is facing backlash from Democrats after saying she wouldn't have voted in favor ofPresident Donald Trump's tax and domestic policy bill if she'd known about the artificial intelligence provision included in it. The bill, which passed by a party line vote in theHouse on May 22, includes a provision that prohibits states fromenforcing any law or regulation"limiting, restricting, or otherwise regulating artificial intelligence models, artificial intelligence systems, or automated decision systems entered into interstate commerce" for a ten year period. "Full transparency, I did not know about this section on pages 278-279 of the OBBB that strips states of the right to make laws or regulate AI for 10 years,"Greene wrote on X."I am adamantly OPPOSED to this and it is a violation of state rights and I would have voted NO if I had known this was in there. We have no idea what AI will be capable of in the next 10 years and giving it free rein and tying states hands is potentially dangerous." Democratic lawmakers quickly fired back at Greene. "I read the AI provision, that's one reason I voted no on the GOP's big, ugly bill," California Democrat Rep. Ted Lieuwrote on X. "PRO TIP: It's helpful to read stuff before voting on it," he added. Wisconsin Democrat Rep. Mark Pocan had more blistering words for his colleague across the aisle, taking aim at Greene for missing the provision. "You should have done your job while it was written. You didn't. You own that vote,@RepMTG,"he wrote on X. Greene urged the Senate to strip the provision. The provision has raised alarms from other groups as well. On June 3,over 200 statelawmakers wrote a letter addressed to the House and Senate asking them to reject the provision and "work toward the enactment, rather than the erasure, of thoughtful AI policy solutions." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:MTG under fire after opposing AI provision in Trump tax bill

byAlpha World

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June 04, 2025

Marjorie Taylor Greene under fire after admitting she missed AI provision in GOP tax bill

Marjorie Taylor Greene under fire after admitting she missed AI provision in GOP tax bill WASHINGTON - Conservative firebrand Rep. Marjorie ...

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