Which Senate Republicans voted against Trump's tax and spending bill?

Which Senate Republicans voted against Trump's tax and spending bill?

WASHINGTON – Three Republican senators voted againstPresident Donald Trump's package oftax reductions and Medicaid cuts, forcingVice President JD Vanceto cast the tie-breaking vote to pass the bill. GOP Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Susan Collins of Maine voted against the package of Trump's priorities. Paul and Tillis had each voted against even debating the bill. Paul called for greater spending cuts. Tillis said the bill would cost his state $26 billion in Medicaid funding, breaking a federal promise of health care to low-income people. Collins had voted to debate the bill but opposed its approval primarily because of Medicaid cuts. She said one-third of her state – 400,000 people – depend on Medicaid and the bill would hurt rural healthcare providers and nursing homes. "The Medicaid program has been an important health care safety net for nearly 60 years that has helped people in difficult financial circumstances, including people with disabilities, children, seniors, and low-income families," Collins said. She also cited concerns about phasing out tax credits for renewable energy providers. She said the bill should have kept incentives for families that choose to install heat pumps and residential solar panels. "This bill has additional problems," Collins said. Trump blasted Tillis for opposing the legislation and threatened to find Republican primary opponent to challenge him in 2026. But Tillis announced the day after his vote June 28 against debating the measure that he wouldn't seek reelection. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Which Senate Republicans voted against Trump's legislative package?

byAlpha World

in

July 01, 2025

Which Senate Republicans voted against Trump's tax and spending bill?

Which Senate Republicans voted against Trump's tax and spending bill? WASHINGTON – Three Republican senators voted againstPresident Dona...

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DOJ looking at denaturalization for American citizens convicted of certain crimes

DOJ looking at denaturalization for American citizens convicted of certain crimes

The Department of Justice is prioritizing revoking citizenship from some naturalized Americans who commit certain crimes, according to a DOJ memo posted online. In the memo dated June 11, Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate is giving U.S. attorneys wide discretion to decide when to pursue the denaturalization process in order to "advance the Administration's policy objectives" as the Trump administration pursues its ongoingimmigration crackdown. While attorneys are urged to prioritize cases involving individuals who "pose a potential danger to national security," the memo also states that they can seek out "any other cases referred to the Civil Division that the Division determines to be sufficiently important to pursue." MORE: In a new tactic, ICE is arresting migrants at immigration courts, attorneys say "The Civil Division shall prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings in all cases permitted by law and supported by the evidence," Shumate wrote. Some of the cases U.S. attorneys should pursue are those against individuals who have engaged in torture, war crimes, human trafficking, and human rights violations, the memo says. While the denaturalization process and requirements are codified into law, immigration attorney Rosanna Berardi says the memo changes how aggressively the Department of Justice plans to pursue these cases. "The memo clearly signals that DOJ is going to pursue more of these cases, and not just against terrorists or war criminals, even cases involving undisclosed criminal records or procedural errors during naturalization are now on the radar," Berardi told ABC News. "In the past 28 years of my practice, the government has generally left naturalized U.S. citizens alone. This is a departure from that mentality." According to a report conducted by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center in 2020, the government pursued denaturalization cases at a very low rate, averaging only 11 cases per year from 1990-2017. But those cases skyrocketed under Trump's first administration. In 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said it intended to refer 1,600 cases to DOJ for persecution, the report says. The DOJ memo also lays out four other priorities for the department, which include "ending antisemitism" and taking legal action against sanctuary states and jurisdictions.

byAlpha World

in

July 01, 2025

DOJ looking at denaturalization for American citizens convicted of certain crimes

DOJ looking at denaturalization for American citizens convicted of certain crimes The Department of Justice is prioritizing revoking citizen...

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Dallas Stars hire Glen Gulutzan for second stint as head coach

Dallas Stars hire Glen Gulutzan for second stint as head coach

TheDallas Starsare turning to a name from their past to lead the team into the future. The Stars announced on Tuesday, July 1 that they have hired Glen Gulutzan as their next head coach. He was the Stars' coach during the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons and was fired after missing the playoffs in both seasons. But he most recently was anEdmonton Oilersassistant coach since 2018-19, running their highly successful power play that featured Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The Oilers have reached the Stanley Cup Final the past two seasons, knocking off the Stars in the Western Conference both times. "Since his previous time in Dallas, Glen has worked tirelessly to establish himself as one of the most respected coaches in the NHL," general manager Jim Nill said. "His extensive NHL experience, both as a head coach and assistant coach, speaks to his ability to innovate and adapt to the modern game, as well as build relationships with his players. Glen has worked with some of the best players in the world and continually found ways to maximize their skill sets to contribute to team success. We have full confidence that he is the right person to elevate our team to the next level." Gulutzan, 53, replaces Peter DeBoer, who wasfired on June 6after the Stars' third consecutiveouster in the conference finals. DeBoer hadpulled No. 1 goalie Jake Oettingerin the elimination game after he gave up two goals and said it was because the"status quo had not been working."General manager Jim Nill said those comments were a component of his decision to fire DeBoer but not the only reason. Between Gulutzan's stints with the Stars and the Oilers, he was an assistant coach with theVancouver Canucksand head coach of theCalgary Flames. He has a 146-125-23 record as a head coach, with one playoff appearance in which the Flames were swept. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Dallas Stars name Glen Gulutzan head coach

byAlpha World

in

July 01, 2025

Dallas Stars hire Glen Gulutzan for second stint as head coach

Dallas Stars hire Glen Gulutzan for second stint as head coach TheDallas Starsare turning to a name from their past to lead the team into th...

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2025 NBA free agent tracker: Latest signings and deal details

2025 NBA free agent tracker: Latest signings and deal details

NBA free agencyis off to a fast start. Many of thetop free agentsare already off the board. Keep track of the most notable free agent moves below. Jakob Poeltl reportedly agrees to extension with RaptorsDeal: 4 years, $104 million Sandro Mamukelashvili reportedly agrees to deal with RaptorsDeal: 2 years, $5.5 million Jericho Sims reportedly agrees to re-sign with BucksDeal: 2 years, league minimum Dennis Schröder reportedly signing with KingsDeal: 3 years, $45 million Gary Harris reportedly agrees to deal with BucksDeal: 2 years, N/A Myles Turner reportedly agrees to deal with BucksDeal: 4 years, $107 million Guerschon Yabusele reportedly agrees to sign with KnicksDeal: 2 years, $12 million Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reportedly agrees to supermax extensionDeal: 4 years, $285 million Gary Trent Jr. reportedly agrees to return to BucksDeal: 2 years, $7.5 million Trendon Watford reportedly agrees to deal with 76ersDeal: 2 years, $5.3 million Taurean Prince reportedly agrees to return to BucksDeal: 2 years, $7.1 million Mason Plumlee reportedly signs deal with HornetsDeal: 1 year, $3.6 million Luke Kennard reportedly agrees to deal with HawksDeal: 1 year, $11 million Brook Lopez reportedly leaving Bucks for ClippersDeal: 2 years, $18 million Tyus Jones reportedly agrees to join MagicDeal: 1 year, $7 million Nickeil Alexander-Walker reportedly headed to Hawks in sign-and-tradeDeal: 4 years, $62 million Caris LeVert reportedly agrees to sign with PistonsDeal: 2 years, $29 million Luke Kornet reportedly agrees to deal with SpursDeal: 4 years, $41 million Clint Capela reportedly agrees to deal with RocketsDeal: 3 years, $21.5 million Ty Jerome reportedly agrees to deal with GrizzliesDeal: 3 years, $28 million Dorian Finney-Smith reportedly agrees to deal with RocketsDeal: 4 years, $53 million Kevin Porter Jr. reportedly re-signing with BucksDeal: 2 years, $11 million Bruce Brown Jr. reportedly reuniting with NuggetsDeal: 1 year, veteran's minimum Tre Jones reportedly returning to BullsDeal: 3 years, $24 million D'Angelo Russell reportedly agrees to join MavericksDeal: 2 years, $13 million Kevon Looney reportedly agrees to deal with PelicansDeal: 2 years, $16 million Cam Spencer reportedly agrees to deal with GrizzliesDeal: 2 years, $4.5 million Paul Reed reportedly will re-sign with PistonsDeal: 2 years, $11 million Jake LaRavia reportedly signing with LakersDeal: 2 years, $12 million Santi Aldama reportedly agrees to new deal with GrizzliesDeal: 3 years, $52.5 million Grizzlies, Jaren Jackson Jr. agree to 5-year, $240 million extensionDeal: 5 years, $240 million Rockets reportedly re-signing Jeff Green, Aaron HolidayDeals: 1 year, veteran's minimum Nicolas Batum reportedly returning to ClippersDeal: 2 years, $11.5 million Ziaire Williams reportedly returning to Nets on 2-year dealDeal: 2 years, $12 million Jabari Smith reportedly signing rookie extension with RocketsDeal: 5 years, $122 million James Harden declines option, reportedly re-signing with ClippersDeal: 2 years, $81.5 million Bobby Portis reportedly re-signing with BucksDeal: 3 years, $44 million Ajay Mitchell reportedly re-signing with ThunderDeal: 3 years, $9 million Julius Randle reportedly agrees to stay with TimberwolvesDeal: 3 years, $100 million Jaylin Williams reportedly agrees to extension with ThunderDeal: 3 years, $24 million Sam Merrill reportedly staying with CavaliersDeal: 4 years, $38 million Davion Mitchell reportedly re-signing with HeatDeal: 2 years, $24 million Naz Reid reportedly re-signing with TimberwolvesDeal: 5 years, $125 million

byAlpha World

in

July 01, 2025

2025 NBA free agent tracker: Latest signings and deal details

2025 NBA free agent tracker: Latest signings and deal details NBA free agencyis off to a fast start. Many of thetop free agentsare already o...

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Major reports about how climate change affects the US are removed from websites

Major reports about how climate change affects the US are removed from websites

WASHINGTON (AP) — Legally mandated U.S. national climate assessments seem to have disappeared from the federal websites built to display them, making it harder for state and local governments and the public to learn what to expect in their backyards from a warming world. Scientists said thepeer-reviewed authoritative reportssave money and lives. Websites for the national assessments and the U.S. Global Change Research Program were down Monday and Tuesday with no links, notes or referrals elsewhere. The White House, which was responsible for the assessments, said the information will be housed within NASA to comply with the law, but gave no further details. Searches for the assessments on NASA websites did not turn them up. NASA did not respond to requests for information. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which coordinated the information in the assessments, did not respond to repeated inquiries. "It's critical for decision makers across the country to know what the science in the National Climate Assessment is. That is the most reliable and well-reviewed source of information about climate that exists for the United States," said University of Arizona climate scientist Kathy Jacobs, who coordinated the 2014 version of the report. "It's a sad day for the United States if it is true that the National Climate Assessment is no longer available," Jacobs said. "This is evidence of serious tampering with the facts and with people's access to information, and it actually may increase the risk of people being harmed by climate-related impacts." Harvard climate scientist John Holdren, who was President Obama's science advisor and whose office directed the assessments, said after the 2014 edition he visited governors, mayors and other local officials who told him how useful the 841-page report was. It helped them decide whether to raise roads, build seawalls and even move hospital generators from basements to roofs, he said. "This is a government resource paid for by the taxpayer to provide the information that really is the primary source of information for any city, state or federal agency who's trying to prepare for the impacts of a changing climate," said Texas Tech climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe, who has been a volunteer author for several editions of the report. Copies of past reports are still squirreled away inNOAA's library. NASA'sopen science data repositoryincludes dead links to the assessment site. The most recent report, issued in 2023, included an interactive atlas that zoomed down to the county level. It found that climate change is affecting people's security, health and livelihoods in every corner of the country in different ways, with minority and Native American communities oftendisproportionately at risk. The1990 Global Change Research Actrequires a national climate assessment every four years and directs the president to establish an interagency United States Global Change Research Program. In the spring, theTrumpadministration told the volunteer authors of the next climate assessment that their services weren't needed and ended the contract with the private firm that helps coordinate the website and report. Additionally, NOAA's main climate.gov website was recently forwarded to a different NOAA website. Social media and blogs at NOAA and NASA about climate impacts for the general public were cut or eliminated. "It's part of a horrifying big picture," Holdren said. "It's just an appalling whole demolition of science infrastructure." The national assessments are more useful than international climate reports put out by the United Nations every seven or so years because they are more localized and more detailed, Hayhoe and Jacobs said. The national reports are not only peer reviewed by other scientists, but examined for accuracy by the National Academy of Sciences, federal agencies, the staff and the public. Hiding the reports would be censoring science, Jacobs said. And it's dangerous for the country, Hayhoe said, comparing it to steering a car on a curving road by only looking through the rearview mirror: "And now, more than ever, we need to be looking ahead to do everything it takes to make it around that curve safely. It's like our windshield's being painted over." ___ Associated Press writer Will Weissert contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP'sstandardsfor working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas atAP.org.

byAlpha World

in

July 01, 2025

Major reports about how climate change affects the US are removed from websites

Major reports about how climate change affects the US are removed from websites WASHINGTON (AP) — Legally mandated U.S. national climate ass...

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