This week, Washington is buzzing about one thing: the "big beautiful bill." After a dramatic showdown in the Senate, the bill just barely passed this weekthanks only to Vice President JD Vances tie-breaking vote. But while the bill squeaked through the Senate, its fate in the House remains uncertain, with a final vote unfolding over the July Fourth weekend. Yet, the real battle isnt in Congressits in the hearts and minds of the American people.A Crisis of TrustAnd a Nation on the BrinkForget the legislative horse race for a moment. The real story is the crisis of trust thats threatening to tear the country apart. Americans arent just divided over the "big beautiful bill" theyre losing faith in the very institutions meant to serve them. The bill has become a lightning rod for a deeper, more dangerous problem: a sense that no one in Washington is telling the truth, and that ordinary people are being left behind.This isnt just about policy. Its about legitimacy. Its about whether Americans believe their government is working for themor against them. The "big, beautiful bill" is so sprawling, so complex, and so politicized that its almost impossible for anyone to know whats real. In a moment when the country is desperate for clarity and leadership, all theyre getting is confusion, spin, and division.TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' CLEARS FINAL HURDLE BEFORE HOUSE-WIDE VOTEAnd the stakes couldnt be higher. If Americans cant trust whats in this billor the people selling it to themwhat hope is there for any future reform? The "big, beautiful bill" isnt just a test of policy. Its a test of whether our democracy can function at all.A Bill That Means Everythingand NothingLets be honest: almost nobody has read all 940 pages of the "big, beautiful bill" Act. Its a legislative monster, stuffed with everything from tax cuts for the wealthy to changes in Medicare, defense spending, and billions for border security. Its so big, so sprawling, that its become a Rorschach test for what you believe. If you oppose Donald Trump, you see it as a symbol of everything thats broken about Washington. If you support him, you probably see it as big and, well, beautiful.Republicans are calling it a historic win. Democrats warn its a disaster for healthcare and the social safety net. But heres the truth: a majority of Americans dont trust either side. According to a recent KFF poll, 64% of Americans have an unfavorable view of the bill. That number soars to 85% among Democrats and 71% among Independents. While most MAGA Republicans support the bill, support is shaky among Republicans who dont identify as MAGAtwo-thirds of non-MAGA Republicans dont like it either.Public Opinion: Overwhelming OppositionThe numbers are stark. By a 21-point margin, voters questioned in the most recent Fox News national poll opposed the federal budget legislation (38% favored vs. 59% opposed). The bill is also underwater in national surveys conducted this month by the Washington Post (minus 19 points), Pew Research (minus 20 points), and Quinnipiac University (minus 26 points).GROVER NORQUIST: TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' AND ITS PERMANENT TAX CUT WILL CHANGE THE WORLDAbout half of respondents in the Fox News poll said the bill would hurt their family (49%), while only a quarter thought it would help (23%), and another quarter didnt think it would make a difference (26%). Sixty percent felt they had a good understanding of whats in the measure, formally known as the "One, Big, Beautiful Bill," and while those voters were more likely to favor the legislation than those unfamiliar with it, more still think it will hurt rather than help their family (45% vs. 34%).A Political Firestorm: Elon Musk and the Third Party ThreatThe backlash isnt just coming from the polls. Elon Musk has promised to launch a third party and to challenge any member of Congress who votes for the bill. Hes already begun targeting lawmakers on X, vowing to make this a defining issue in the next election cycle. The political stakes are rising, and the pressure on lawmakers is intense.The Republican Pitch: Prosperity and SecurityDonald Trump has called it "ONE GREAT "BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL" promising it will "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN." The White House claims the bill will deliver nearly1.7 trillion in mandatory savings and spark an era of unprecedented economic growth. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise says its a "huge win for all Americans," promising that the average family will save $1,700 a yearenough, he says, "to cover nine weeks of groceries." Theres $46 billion for the border wall, more money for border agents, and even billions for modernizing air traffic control.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONSupporters argue that the bill is about more than just numbers. Its about restoring American competitiveness, putting more money in peoples pockets, and making the country safer. They point to investments in infrastructure, border security, and tax relief as proof that this is a bill designed to help working families and strengthen the nation.The Democratic Warning: Cuts and ConsequencesDemocrats, meanwhile, see something very different. They warn that the bill is a massive tax cut for the wealthy, paid for by slashing Medicaid, Medicare, and food assistance. Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders says it will take healthcare away from millions. Connecticut Democrat Sen. Chris Murphy calls it a "wealth transfer from the poor and middle class to the rich." Virginia Democrat Sen. Mark Warner has gone so far as to call the bill a "pig," arguing that its dressed up with false promises but ultimately harmful to the most vulnerable Americans.Democrats are also furious about the process. They point to late-night votes, unread pages, and what they call "fake math" used to hide the bills true cost. Senator Elizabeth Warren has highlighted the lack of transparency, saying that the rush to pass the bill without proper debate or scrutiny is "sick." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., accuses Republicans of using accounting gimmicks to disguise the bills impact, calling it the "single most expensive bill in US history" that benefits billionaires at the expense of social programs and jobs.For Democrats, the "big, beautiful bill" isnt just bad policyits a betrayal of American values. They argue that the cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other programs will hit the very communities that need help the most, including many who voted for President Trump. They warn that the bill will deepen inequality, undermine healthcare, and leave millions worse off.The Real Legacy of the "Big, Beautiful Bill"As the House prepares for a final vote by the 4th of July weekend, the "big, beautiful bill" faces its toughest testnot in Congress, but in the court of public opinion. Will Americans buy the promise of prosperity and security? Or will they fear the cuts and chaos that critics warn about?In the end, this bill is more than just legislation. Its a mirror of our divided politics, our broken process, and our crisis of trust. No matter what happens in Washington, thats a problem no bill can fix. The "big beautiful bill" may pass or fail, but the deeper challenge remains: rebuilding faith in our leaders, our institutions, and each other.Until we do, every "big, beautiful" promise will be met with skepticismand every debate will leave us more confused, and more divided, than ever.CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM LEE HARTLEY CARTER

Several people were injured at a mall in Savannah, Georgia, on Wednesday, according to officials.The Savannah Police Department confirmed to Fox News Digital that there were multiple victims in a shooting at the Oglethorpe Mall, which occurred at about 5:45 p.m. local time.MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND SHOOTING LEAVES 11 INJURED AT NORTH MYRTLE BEACH MARINA AS POLICE HUNT SUSPECTSFirefighters also responded to the mall, and the International Association of Firefighters, a labor union for firefighters in Savannah, confirmed several of its members were sent to the scene to assist with patient care and to transport victims to a local hospital.This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

A man who went viral after he was captured on live TV allegedly dropping off a pickup truck full of face shields for protesters to use amid demonstrations and riots in Los Angeles last month was indicted Wednesday.Alejandro Orellana, 29, is charged with conspiracy to aid and abet civil disorders.LA OFFICIALS CHARGE OVER 40 ANTI-ICE PROTESTERS WHO ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTED OFFICERS, HORSES AND THREATENED CHILDFederal prosecutors said Orellana met up with other people on June 9 to load up his Ford F-150 pickup truck with Uvex brand Bionic Face Shields, masks, water bottles and other items as anti-ICE protests raged in Los Angeles.He then drove the truck to a crowd of protesters and distributed the items, the Justice Department said."We have made it a huge priority to try to identify, locate and arrest those who are involved in organizing, supporting, funding or facilitating these riots," U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli told Fox News at the time of Orellana's arrest.LA ANTI-ICE RIOTERS FACE NEW CHARGES AS VIOLENCE RAGES"It appears they're well-orchestrated and coordinated and well-funded, so we want to understand who these people are and where this organization's coming from, and today was one of those first arrests, the key arrests that we did," he added.A group Orellana is allegedly associated with, CENTRO CSO, is raising funds for his legal defense and is planning a protest on Thursday to demand the charges against him are dropped."Orellana is facing 5 years for protesting ICE Raids, Protesting is Not a Crime! Alejandro did nothing wrong!" the group wrote on Instagram.Locally, more than 40 people have been charged with offenses stemming from violent riots against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) efforts last month.The charges came after protests and riots erupted in and around Los Angeles amid the Trump administration's mass deportation operations targeting criminal illegal immigrants.

A Biden-appointed federal judge on Tuesday stepped in to halt the Trump administration's efforts to dramatically reorganize the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) after 19 Democratic attorneys general sued to stop the reforms.HHS announced in March it would be laying off around 20,000 full-time agency employees, while also reducing the number of regional offices across the country and consolidating several HHS divisions. A fact sheet from HHS about the cuts said the reforms were aimed at making the agency more efficient, saving money and ensuring Americans' most critical health needs are adequately met.In response, 19 Democratic state attorneys general sued to block the Trump administration's reforms. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Melissa DuBose granted a temporary injunction in their favor.ONLY THE BEGINNING: TRUMP ADMIN RELEASES DATA SHOWING FEDERAL WORKFORCE SLASHED SINCE JANUARYDuBose's ruling Tuesday temporarily blocks the Trump administration from enforcing its proposed workforce reduction or sub-agency restructuring, and HHS was also ordered to file a status report by July 11."We stand by our original decision to realign this organization with its core mission and refocus a sprawling bureaucracy that, over time, had become wasteful, inefficient and resistant to change," HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said in response to the ruling."The reorganization was designed to restore the department around bold, measurable public health goals like reversing the chronic disease epidemic and advancing U.S. leadership in biomedical research. While we strongly disagree with the decision by a Biden-appointed district court judge, HHS remains committed to modernizing a health workforce that for too long prioritized institutional preservation over meaningful public health impact."RUBIO OFFICIALLY KILLS USAID, REVEALS FUTURE HOME FOR FOREIGN ASSISTANCE PROGRAMSNixon added that HHS is reviewing the decision and considering next steps.Last month, the Supreme Court limited the use of nationwide injunctions to halt President Donald Trump's executive actions.However, the ruling did not shut the door on legal challenges to Trump's executive orders.FEDERAL APPEALS COURT THROWS ROADBLOCK AT TRUMP'S EDUCATION REFORM AGENDAIn DuBose's ruling Tuesday, she asked both parties to address how that ruling affects the scope of her order, if at all, by July 11."HHS is the backbone of our nations public health and social safety net from cancer screenings and maternal health to early childhood education and domestic violence prevention," said New York Attorney General Letitia James, one of the 19 state attorneys general who sued to stop the Trump administration's reduction in force at HHS."Today's order guarantees these programs and services will remain accessible and halts the administrations attempt to sabotage our nations healthcare system. My office will continue fighting to stop this unlawful dismantling and defend the essential services that protect our most vulnerable communities."Since the Trump administration began its restructuring at HHS, some employees who were let go have been brought back.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPDuring a CBS News interview in April, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said, in some instances, personnel were cut that should not have been."We're reinstating them. And that was always the plan. Part of the at DOGE, we talked about this from the beginning, is we're going to do 80% cuts, but 20% of those are going to have to be reinstated, because we'll make mistakes," Kennedy said in April.

Former President George W. Bush joined up with former President Barack Obama and U2 singer Bono to comfort United States Agency for International Development employees Monday, while also taking shots at President Donald Trump and his administration for shuttering the agency plagued by accusations of fraud and abuse."Gutting USAID is a travesty, and its a tragedy," Obama said in a video that was shown to departing USAID employees Monday, according to the Associated Press. "Because its some of the most important work happening anywhere in the world."Obama summed up the decision to shutter the agency as "a colossal mistake," and added that "sooner or later, leaders on both sides of the aisle will realize how much you are needed."Bush, Obama and Bono spoke to departing USAID employees Monday in a videoconference as the agency officially was shuttered following the Trump administration's reporting that it was overrun with alleged corruption and mismanagement. The videoconference did not include members of the media, with the Associated Press reviewing and reporting on clips of the conference later that day.RUBIO OFFICIALLY KILLS USAID, REVEALS FUTURE HOME FOR FOREIGN ASSISTANCE PROGRAMSUSAID is an independent U.S. agency that was established under the Kennedy administration toadminister economic aid to foreign nations. It was one of the first agencies investigated by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in early February for alleged mismanagement and government overspending, with DOGE's then-leader Elon Musk slamming the agency as "a vipers nest of radical-left marxists who hate America."USAID officially was absorbed by the State Department Tuesday.Bush, who overwhelmingly has shied away from publicly criticizing Trump, lamented in his recorded message to the staffers that the end of USAID marks an end to his administration's work rolling out an AIDS and HIV program that is credited with saving 25 million people nationwide.FOUR PLEAD GUILTY IN MASSIVE BRIBERY SCHEME AT AGENCY DEMOCRATS FOUGHT TO PROTECT FROM DOGE"Youve showed the great strength of America through your work and that is your good heart, Bush told USAID staffers, according to the Associated Press. "Is it in our national interests that 25 million people who would have died now live? I think it is, and so do you."Bono of U2 fame recited a poem he wrote reflecting on USAID's closure and his claims that millions around the world will likely now die, according to the Associated Press."They called you crooks. When you were the best of us," Bono said.Fox News Digital reached out to Obama's and Bush's respective offices Wednesday morning for additional comment, but did not receive responses.Other longtime Trump foes, such as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, thanked foreign service officers for their work before USAID's closure."In all my years of service, I found that foreign service officers and development professionals were among the most dedicated public servants I encountered," Clinton posted to X Tuesday. "Their work saves lives and makes the world safer. Today, and every day, I stand with them."Obama and Bush overwhelmingly have remained tight-lipped on their views of Trump under his second administration, with both former presidents attending Trump's inauguration and not weighing in on the majority of Trump's policies. Obama has taken issue with Trump's "big, beautiful bill," which is clearing its final hurdles to passage and will fund Trump's agenda on social media, while Bush has consistently shied away from public rebukes of Trump in recent history.Bono previously has claimed that cuts to USAID would kill hundreds of thousands of people, and had slammed Trump in 2016 as "potentially the worst idea that ever happened to America."Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was serving as acting administrator of USAID, announced the State Department absorbed USAID's foreign assistance programs Tuesday after decades of failing to ensure the programs it funded actually supported America's interests."Beyond creating a globe-spanning NGO industrial complex at taxpayer expense, USAID has little to show since the end of the Cold War," Rubio wrote in his announcement. "Development objectives have rarely been met, instability has often worsened, and anti-American sentiment has only grown." RISCH URGES 'TOP TO BOTTOM' USAID SPENDING REVIEW AFTER WASTE, FRAUD EXPOSED"This era of government-sanctioned inefficiency has officially come to an end," he continued. "Under the Trump Administration, we will finally have a foreign funding mission in America that prioritizes our national interests. As of July 1st, USAID will officially cease to implement foreign assistance. Foreign assistance programs that align with administration policiesand which advance American interestswill be administered by the State Department, where they will be delivered with more accountability, strategy, and efficiency."The shuttering comes after DOGE gutted USAID as part of Trump's effort to remove waste, fraud and abuse from the federal government earlier in 2025.BONOS 300,000 DEAD CLAIM OVER USAID CUTS GETS SMACKED DOWN BY ROGAN, MUSK: LIAR/IDIOTTrump repeatedly had touted DOGE's work uncovering fraud and mismanagement within the federal government, including in his March address before Congress celebrating that DOGE identified $22 billion in government "waste," including at USAID."Forty-five million dollars for diversity, equity and inclusion scholarships in Burma," Trump said as he rattled off various examples of federal waste. "Forty million to improve the social and economic inclusion of sedentary migrants. Nobody knows what that is. Eight million to promote LGBTQI+ in the African nation of Lesotho, which nobody has ever heard of. Sixty million dollars for indigenous peoples and Afro-Colombian empowerment in Central America. Sixty million. Eight million for making mice transgender."

MSNBC host Rev. Al Sharpton has called on Andrew Cuomo to drop out of the New York City mayoral race, urging the former governor to consider what would be in the best interest of New York City residents."I think Andrew Cuomo should look at what is best for the city and let them have a one-on-one race," Sharpton said on MSNBCs Morning Joe on Wednesday.SCANDAL-PLAGUED FORMER GOV ANDREW CUOMO AIMS TO PULL OFF POLITICAL COMEBACK IN THE NATION'S BIGGEST CITYSharpton, adding that he had previously reached out to the Cuomo camp to encourage the former governor to drop out, said that Cuomo removing his name from the NYC mayoral ballot this fall would also be in "the best interest" of the legacy of the 56th Governor of New York."He can endorse one or the other and let them have a battle over what is best for New York," Sharpton said.In response to a question about Sharpton's comments, a spokesperson for Cuomo's campaign told Fox News Digital in an email that "everyone is entitled to their own political opinion."CUOMO'S LEAD SHRINKS WITH UNDER ONE WEEK UNTIL NEW YORK CITY MAYORAL PRIMARY: POLL"We understand President Trump supports Eric Adams, and do not believe socialism is the answer," the spokesperson said. "Most New Yorkers are not Trumpers, and most New Yorkers are not socialists the majority lies in the middle. We will continue to assess the current situation in the best interest of the people of the City of New York."Also on Wednesday, President Donald Trump vowed to "save New York City" from mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Mamdani has faced criticism from conservatives and even some Democrats over his socialist policies and refusal to condemn terrorism-linked rhetoric.CUOMO TEAM DENIES AOCS CLAIM HES USING NYC MAYOR RUN AS A SPRINGBOARD TO THE WHITE HOUSE"As President of the United States, Im not going to let this Communist Lunatic destroy New York," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Rest assured, I hold all the levers, and have all the cards. Ill save New York City, and make it 'Hot' and 'Great' again, just like I did with the Good Ol USA!"In a victory over Cuomo and nine other candidates, Mamdani on Tuesday was officially declared the winner of New York City's Democratic Party primary for mayor.The New York City Board of Elections posted the official results of three rounds of the ranked choice voting from last week's mayoral primary, and Mamdani grabbed a majority in the third round, with 56% of the vote.Eric Adams and Zohran Mamdani did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Earlier this year, Max Homa said he had a "come-to-Jesus" moment when he decided to delete X, formerly Twitter.The PGA star was once active on the app, but he said in March the platform is now "for the sick.""I was sick. Im just trying to get healthy now," Homa said at the time.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMAhead of the John Deere Classic, Homa stood firm on his personal boycott of the "awful, awful place.""The reason for that is just the vitriol you read online. It has become a safe haven for people who are, I think, angry at themselves. It is quite absurd how comfortable people feel writing awful things," Homa told reporters Wednesday."Twitter or X or whatever is an awful, awful place. It took me a while to catch onto how impactful that can be and how much of a waste of energy. I miss the connection with the fans, but nothing comes without so much hate and anger. There's a lot of love in there, too, but, unfortunately, it gets overwhelmed with one really bad one."Homa hinted that the rise in gambling, which he said "seems fun as hell in golf," may be contributing to the online vitriol.GOLF INFLUENCER TISHA ALYN CARVES HER OWN PATH IN THE SPORT"People say some bad, bad things on the internet. You get people telling you you should die on the internet. It has nothing to do with not connecting. Id love to keep connecting with people, but I try to do it in person a bit more because I have yet to meet somebody in person who has said anything even remotely mean."Its a safe haven for a--holes, for lack of a better term."Homa has struggled of late. He's missed seven cuts in 16 tournaments this year with just one top 25 finish, which came at the Masters. That was his first made cut since last year's Open Championship, but, since then, he has finished 70th, tied for 30th, tied for 60th, tied for 51st and tied for 54th with another pair of missed cuts.Last year, he was ranked 10th in the world. Last month, he was carrying his own bag for 36 holes of U.S. Open qualifying. He missed out on the tournament after a heartbreaking three-putt on his final hole, where two putts would have put him into the Oakmont tournament.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X,and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS) on Tuesday filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Navy, seeking more than $1 billion after the military branch released petroleum and other hazardous chemicals into Oahu, Hawaii's sole source of drinking water.During the incident, 27,000 gallons of toxic jet fuel stored in miles of underground tunnels leaked into the aquifer near Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, affecting 93,000 people living near the military's strategic fuel storage facility, Red Hill.The Navy acknowledged responsibility for the environmental and human health crisis caused by the November 2021 jet fuel release, though the board alleges it has refused to accept responsibility for the $1.2 billion the BWS will incur to respond to the Navys contaminant releases.TRUMP ADMINISTRATION LAUNCHES $10M HEALTH STUDY FOR EAST PALESTINE RESIDENTS AFTER TOXIC SPILLResidents served by the Navys water system allegedly suffered serious injuries from the incident, and the BWS claimed its ability to provide clean, safe, dependable water to Oahu residents continues to be severely impacted, according to a statement from BWS.Fox News Digital previously reported that some residents continue to suffer long-term symptoms, including Parkinsons disease and seizures.To protect against contamination of its own water sources following the spill, BWS shut down its Hlawa Shaft and the Aiea and Hlawa wells.It also implemented enhanced water quality testing, started planning for additional groundwater monitoring wells, and shifted to alternate water sources to make up for lost water supplies.LIV GOLF STAR PHIL MICKELSON ADDS HIS REACTION TO DEEPENING SEWAGE CRISIS IN SAN DIEGOThe BWS, a semi-autonomous agency of the City and County of Honolulu, estimates the total cost of restoration, remediation and mitigation efforts at $1.2 billion.Board members said they "have a fiduciary responsibility to minimize the burden of these costs to the Oahu ratepayers," and will hold the Navy accountable for its failure to prevent or appropriately respond to the contaminant releases, according to a statement.The BWS told Fox News Digital the suit comes after an administrative Federal Tort Claims Act claim filed in October 2023 was denied by the Navy on Jan. 10 of this year.The statute of limitations for filing the complaint ends on July 10.EPA CHIEF ZELDIN LAUNCHES TALKS WITH MEXICO TO END SEWAGE HITTING SAN DIEGO, NAVY SEALS: 'OUT OF PATIENCE'"This is not an issue that will be solved quickly or cheaply," said BWS manager and chief engineer Ernest Lau. "Every action must be taken to protect the purity of Oahus water, and it is only right that the Navy assume financial responsibility for its actions that put water purity and safety of everyone on Oahu at risk and caused harm to the BWS."BWS board chair Nlehu Anthony, added litigation was the board's "last resort.""Litigation was our last resort and comes after months of futile negotiation with the Navy, an attempt to recover costs administratively under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) and the Navys refusal to pay for any of the costs incurred by BWS, even while the Navy has publicly acknowledged its responsibility for this disaster and subsequent contaminant releases," Anthony said. "Our steadfast commitment to the protection of the purity of Oahus water resources, and our obligation to our ratepayers for responsible fiscal management compelled us to take this action."As the largest water utility in Hawaii, the BWS serves about 1 million customers on O'ahu.In May, a federal judge awarded nearly $700,000 to more than a dozen families who claimed they got sick after the fuel leaked into the Navy drinking water system, according to a report from the Associated Press. More than 7,500 other military family members have pending lawsuits.The Navy did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.Fox News' Liz Friden, Jennifer Griffin, Emma Goldkopf, and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Former PresidentBarack Obamas treasury secretary says he is worried that mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani will ruin New York City if he wins."The policies that hes outlined are not policies that are good for New York. Hes running for mayor of New York, and I worry deeply, having spent most of my life in New York, about a city that I call home, you know it," Jack Lew,former treasury secretary, said Tuesday onCNBCs"Squawk on the Street.""I see a similarity between the kind of policy solutions to the left and the right, and, you know, that satisfy populist sentiment," Lew added. "Dont always go through the filter of, Do they work? I dont think they work. And I think thats a problem."CITY-RUN GROCERY STORES, DEFUNDING POLICE, SAFE INJECTION SITES: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT NYC'S NEXT POTENTIAL MAYORMamdani, a 33-year-old state assembly member from Queens who wasborn and raisedin Uganda, is a proud democratic socialist.He hasrecently discussed raising corporate taxes to pay for his idea to "Trump-proof" New York City."We're talking about corporations that are making millions of dollars, not in revenue, but in profit," Mamdani said during a June 11 episode of "The Breakfast Club" radio show. "And the second is taxing the top 1% of New Yorkers. We're talking about people who make a million dollars a year or more, taxing them just by a flat 2% tax increase."During the conversation,Mamdani acknowledged that some, like rapper 50 Cent, dont approve of his ideas."I know if 50 Cent is listening, he's not going to be happy about this," he added. "He tends to not like this tax policy, but I want to be very clear, this is about $20,000 a year. It's a rounding error. And all of these things together, they make every New Yorker's life better, including those who are actually getting taxed now."NEW YORK DEMOCRAT SAYS MAYORAL CANDIDATE ZOHRAN MAMDANI 'TOO EXTREME TO LEAD'Mamdani has also comeunder fire for acampaign policy document that directly calls for moving NYCs tax burden onto "richer and whiter neighborhoods."But Lew, who also served as the United States ambassador to Israel from 2023 to 2025, says he is concerned aboutMamdanis policies, and how the state would respond."One of the things Ill say aboutNew York is that New York is not an entirely independent governing entity," Lew said."Many of the policies have to be approved by the state legislature or governor," he added. "So its a process where you have more centrist political voices that will still be very much in a position to determine whether or not different tax and spending policies can take effect. You know, I think the Democratic Party is well served by building the center out. And that means appealing to the center left and the center right. I think going to either extreme in either party tends to polarize the country. So thats my own personal view. But I really cant speak to the party politics part of it."

There is a healthcare crisis brewing in the nations heartland, as evidenced by a landmark study conducted by the RAND Corporation in conjunction with top national emergency physicians.The study from the Arlington nonprofit research institute found that emergency rooms (ERs) are no longer the safety net but the proverbial "front door" to the U.S. healthcare system, particularly after a 1986 law passed requiring ERs to stabilize patients or deliver babies from women in labor regardless of their ability to pay.That has led to instability and hospital closures across the heartland, including in states where a dozen or more have closed, like Texas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. States like West Virginia, Pennsylvania, the Carolinas and Alabama have also been affected."This RAND study is the first ever that points to this crisis, which is that the emergency departments and the care that patients receive in them usually is so critical that, especially for time-sensitive conditions that patients can have, just the fact that you have to travel as far as you might have to, or that even in some cases if a hospital is close to you, but it still doesn't have the resources to operate efficiently," said Dr. Randy Pilgrim, an ER doctor and chief medical officer for emergency room services company SCP Health in Atlanta.BLISTERING REPORT CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION INTO 5 'WOKE' HOSPITALS PUSHING 'RADICAL' AGENDA WITH TAXPAYER MONEY"[I]n emergency medicine, we do time-sensitive, high-quality care as long as we have the resources to do it. And this study shows that we really have a crisis brewing here."Nearly $5.9 billion in emergency services go unpaid every year, the study found. Overcrowding and spates of violence towards staff have exacerbated the problem.EMTALA, the aforementioned law, is essentially an unfunded mandate in many cases, and lack of funding for hospitals that treat a large proportion of that uncompensated care which tends to fall in rural areas or poor neighborhoods in cities leads to the dual issue of higher patient volumes and more uninsured patients being seen.Many hospitals outside of cities cannot fully account for the funding gap, Pilgrim said."The economics of reimbursement for physician care play a huge role. We need more physicians generally in America, and we need physicians to feel like they can and will go to where they're needed," he said."Physicians won't go where they are needed if there's not enough resources or reimbursement to attract them."Rural hospitals characteristically pay less than higher-end urban hospitals and have fewer local resources.With hospital demand "higher than ever," all of the above factors mean help is needed now.Pilgrim said he has met with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and other top officials at the agency, to discuss the issue and hopes Washington can help."Secretary Kennedy did a beautiful job of listening to what we were saying about the impending crisis that would probably happen during this administration," Pilgrim said.TEXAS HOSPITALS HIT WITH $122 MILLION BILL FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS' CARE IN SINGLE MONTH"And he was concerned about it because he could tell that you can't make patients healthy unless you have a healthy healthcare system for them to engage. So I'm very encouraged about what Secretary Kennedy and his staff are doing to try to make a difference on the pieces that they control."He also said Congress must act, particularly as 10,000 Americans turn 65 every day and are therefore eligible for Medicare, which presents a different environment than separate Medicaid."That's where we see more volume of patients, more complexity, and much more clinical demand. But if the reimbursement in Medicare doesn't keep pace with that demand, once again, you're in this vicious cycle where emergency departments will be at greater risk, starting with the rural and underserved areas and moving forward from there."Some in Congress have banded together to advocate for healthcare-related issues, including members of the bicameral "Doctors Caucus."One member, Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., is a urologist from Greenville who previously served as chief of staff at a Level-I trauma center. "Congress cannot leave rural America behind," he said.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"The most important thing Congress can do is to fix dwindling Medicare reimbursements for rural providers and ensure health insurance companies dont play games with denied care and denied payments," he said, pinning the decrease at 33% since 2001 if adjusted for inflation," Murphy told Fox News Digital.The lawmaker added that many hospitals in his area do not have commercial payers as part of their funding sources to help offset losses from Medicare and Medicaid disbursement amounts and that all hospitals must root out waste as well.Pilgrim was also asked why Americans outside the heartland with more reliable emergency care should be supportive of added funding or resources miles away from them."In a large city like Atlanta, if rural healthcare is not healthy and patients have to go somewhere else, they will eventually end up in your hospital So spending a dollar somewhere else besides in your own hospital if you're in a better place makes a lot of sense for you" he said.