📰 California sues Trump admin again, this time over Medicaid data transfer to DHS
California, along with 19 other states, is suing the Trump administration for transferring Medicaid data to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which includes ICE. The lawsuit alleges that millions of individuals’ health information was shared without consent and in violation of federal law. The states involved in the lawsuit argue that Medicaid benefits should be available to all individuals residing in the U.S., regardless of immigration status. The lawsuit also accuses the Trump administration of violating federal privacy laws and using Medicaid data for anti-immigration purposes. The states fear that the sharing of data will lead to noncitizens disenrolling from emergency Medicaid, resulting in negative public health consequences.
📰 State Department unveils patriotic ‘America First’ rebrand as part of sweeping makeover
The State Department is launching a new “America First” rebranding initiative to unify logos under one depicting the American flag, aiming for consistent branding across its various offices and programs. This effort is led by Darren Beattie, undersecretary for public diplomacy, to ensure that American contributions abroad are easily recognized. The guidance for this rebranding was rolled out just a day after Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the absorption of remaining USAID functions into the State Department. The rebranding is part of a larger restructuring of the State Department, described as the most significant since the Cold War, with plans to empower regional bureaus and embassies for more effective diplomacy. The reform efforts led by Rubio aim to streamline operations by cutting or consolidating offices and personnel within the State Department, with a focus on empowering ideas and actions at the embassy level and regional bureaus.
📰 Murkowski got to yes on $3.3T megabill thanks to spending for Alaska
Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska initially opposed President Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” until she secured clean energy tax credits and other benefits for her state. She eventually voted in favor of the bill after negotiations with Senate leaders. The bill passed in the Senate under the reconciliation process, which requires a simple majority. Despite some deal sweeteners being rejected by the Senate parliamentarian, Murkowski managed to secure benefits for Alaska, such as a delay on cost hikes for food assistance programs. The bill now faces uncertainty in the House of Representatives, where conservative lawmakers have criticized the lack of spending cuts.
In summary, Senator Murkowski played a key role in securing benefits for Alaska in President Trump’s bill, ultimately voting in favor after negotiations. The bill passed in the Senate under reconciliation rules, but still faces challenges in the House due to concerns over spending cuts.
📰 Federal climate website goes dark as Trump administration promises policy reset
The federal website hosting U.S. national climate assessments, which are congressionally-mandated and peer-reviewed reports on climate change effects, has been inaccessible this week. The U.S. Global Change Research Program and national assessment pages were down without alternative links. The White House plans to relocate climate-related reports to NASA, but searches on the NASA website yielded no results. The assessments are released every four years and are seen as crucial by some scientists for saving money and lives. The Trump administration has taken steps to remove climate change content from federal websites, with a focus on rebranding departments to align with their agenda.
📰 Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ clears final hurdle before House-wide vote
The House Rules Committee has scheduled a vote on President Trump’s comprehensive bill after a lengthy debate session. Some Republicans have expressed concerns about the bill, but the majority are in favor, viewing it as a compromise to fulfill Trump’s promises. Democrats have criticized the bill for favoring the wealthy and increasing the national debt. The bill includes provisions on taxes, defense, and energy, with the Senate making modifications related to Medicaid and tax cuts. Several conservative lawmakers have introduced amendments to change the bill, potentially delaying its passage. The House is set to vote on the bill on Wednesday, with potential weather-related attendance issues.
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