"$10 million?""$100 million?""No, you're crazy, it's got to be more than that, it's got to be like in the billions."MAGA COUNTRY VOTERS SOUND ALARM OVER RIDICULOUS NATIONAL DEBT AMID DEBATE OVER TRUMP-BACKED BILL"Yeah it's got to be at least maybe $50 billion dollars. Maybe even $100 billion.""That much?""Maybe""No, no it must be even more than that. I bet you it's a trillion dollars."SENATE WEIGHS TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' AS POLICY GROUP BACKS CBO, PROJECTS $3 TRILLION DEBT INCREASE"A trillion dollars? No way its that much."I had just taught my high school seniors in U.S. government class about budgets and national debts and asked, "How much money do you think we owe? How much is our national debt?"Their ridiculous responses, ranging from millions to billions to $1 trillion, are funny but also sad. Finally, I can't listen anymore and, feeling like the evil queen giving Snow White the poisoned apple, tell them: "$37 trillion dollars."INVISIBLE TAX: GOVERNMENT DEBT IS CRUSHING YOUR FINANCESTheres a stunned silence.I then walk around the room with my hand out and start shaking students' hands, each time saying, "Thank you." They look at me, confused. Eventually a boy asks, "Why are you thanking us?"Because you're the ones who are going to be paying it."More stunned silence.TRUMPS BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL NEEDS A 'FAT SHOT' TO END OUR DANGEROUS DEBT ADDICTIONOf course, many of them have heard, one way or another, about Washington's spending problems, deficits and debts. But it was not until this moment that they finally understood what it really meant and what it will mean for them. Many of them are worried theyll incur student loan debt they were unaware of the other debt theyre inheriting.I put usdebtclock.org up, along with a photo of my granddaughter playing in our back yard, and ask, "How much does she owe?"It takes them a minute, but they find the "Debt per citizen" section $108,010. She is 3 years old.Of more immediate interest for them is "Debt per taxpayer," since some have already begun paying taxes, and most others will soon. That's $323,051.YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE THE SOLUTION TO THE DEBT CRISIS, BUT HERE'S HOW TO FIX AMERICA'S SPENDING PROBLEMI say, "Look at that debt clock what is the worst number on there? Not the highest, the worst."After a couple minutes, I direct their attention to the section, "Interest on the debt." Its a little over a trillion dollars a year."What does that money buy?" one of them asks. I take a piece of scrap paper off my desk, crumple it, hold it up, and say: "To the taxpayer, it's worth exactly as much as this crumpled paper. That money doesn't build a single hospital or school or bridge. It doesn't build a single bomber or manufacture a single bullet."I show them that in July of 2020 debt service was only $386 billion a year and the national debt was $26 trillion. I ask why would debt service be 2.6 times as high now when the national debt is "only" 1.4 times as high. The answer is that interest rates have gone up, greatly increasing the interest we pay on the debt.CLASS DISMISSED: COLLEGES EXPECTED TO CLOSE AS ENROLLMENT NUMBERS TANKThe students try to come up with solutions. "Why not just pay it by printing more money?"I explain hyperinflation and pass around a couple 100 million Deutsche Mark bills from Germany in 1923. I tell the story of a German woman filling an old wheelbarrow with Deutsche Marks, going to the store, leaving it outside for a moment while she selected some bread and milk, then coming back to find the old wheelbarrow gone--and the worthless bills dumped out in the street.We watch the 2009 Onion satirical video "U.S. Government Stages Fake Coup To Wipe Out National Debt" in which a newscaster informs viewers:"The White House today enacted an emergency plan to eliminate all the United States financial obligations to foreign nations by faking a violent coup of the American government the fake coup began at 10 a.m. today, when fake rebel leader Octavius Del Monte stormed Congress, pretended to kill several congressmen then said Hear my words China, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates. The U.S. and all its vast debt, no longer exists. Henceforth, this land will be called Octavia. Do not even try to collect funds owed!"INVISIBLE TAX: GOVERNMENT DEBT IS CRUSHING YOUR FINANCESThe newscaster then explains that "Representatives on both sides of the aisle said the plan was the best option left for lowering our debt after ideas like burning down the country for the insurance money and disguising the nation as Canada were deemed infeasible."I ask the students why it seems almost comical how worried they were in 2009 about the national debt. Theres a pause. Then one student raises his hand, and answers, ruefully, "Because it was only $10 trillion back then."The students want to know how we--the allegedly responsible adults could have done this to them. I list some of the reasons:REPUBLICANS SQUABBLE OVER TRUMP SPENDING PLAN AS FISCAL YEAR 2026 LOOMS: 'STAY UNTIL WE PASS IT'CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONOn the larger political reasons, I ask, "Have you ever seen your parents argue when one wanted to buy something?"Some hands come up. A girl volunteers that a couple years ago her parents had a long running argument mom wanted to buy a new refrigerator, and dad said, "We can't afford it". They were mad at each other."What happened? How did they resolve the conflict?", I ask."They bought a new one. I think they put it on their credit card.""Well, theres your answer."CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM GLENN SACKS

CBS News staffers are furious at their parent company Paramount Global's eight-figure settlement to President Donald Trump that was struck late Tuesday night, ending his $20 billion lawsuit against the network."This settlement is a cowardly capitulation by the corporate leaders of Paramount, and a fundamental betrayal of 60 Minutes and CBS News," veteran "60 Minutes" producer Rome Hartman told Fox News Digital.Fox News Digital has learned that the sum being paid to Trump could reach north of $30 million, with $16 million being paid upfront for his future presidential library, in addition to another eight-figure allocation set aside for advertisements, public service announcements, or other similar transmissions, in support of conservative causes by the network in the future.Current Paramount management disputes the additional allocation, and a source familiar with Paramount's current leadership told Fox New Digital only $16 million was sanctioned by the official mediator, and they have no knowledge of any deal Trump made with incoming ownership as Paramount is set to merge with David Ellisons Skydance Media. However, the incoming ownership will be responsible for the additional allocation.PARAMOUNT, CBS FORCED TO PAY EIGHT FIGURES, CHANGE EDITORIAL POLICY IN SETTLEMENT WITH PRESIDENT TRUMPThe lawsuit stemmed from the "60 Minutes" interview featuring then-Vice President Kamala Harris that aired in October and alleged CBS News deceptively edited an exchange to aid her candidacy in the 2024 race.Hartman, who was one of the producers of the "60 Minutes" Harris interview, maintains that his corporate bosses knew the segment that aired "was edited by the book and in accordance with CBS News standards." Hartman insisted any talk of a settlement was at the behest of Paramount's controlling shareholder Shari Redstone in hopes of paving the for the Skydance merger without potential retribution of the Trump-backed FCC, which could halt the deal. Redstone recused herself from settlement negotiations in February."They know that this lawsuit is completely baseless. But they settled it in order to preserve Shari Redstones payday. That is shameful," Hartman told Fox News Digital.BERNIE SANDERS BLASTS PARAMOUNT, SAYS LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT WILL FURTHER EMBOLDEN TRUMP TO ATTACK MEDIAA second CBS News journalist told Fox News Digital, "Nobody is happy," but the entire newsroom anticipated the outcome."I think the terms look as good as they could be in this situation with no apology, etc," the CBS journalist said.As part of the agreement, CBS News did not admit to any wrongdoing nor issue an apology, something Trump's legal team had previously demanded. However, the network did agree to update its editorial standards by mandating the release of full, unedited transcripts of interviews with future presidential candidates.'60 MINUTES' KAMALA HARRIS INTERVIEW AT CENTER OF TRUMP LAWSUIT RUNS AFOUL OF CRONKITE-ERA CBS GUIDELINESThe settlement was addressed internally by CBS News president and executive editor Tom Cibrowski on Wednesday's 9 a.m. editorial call. He began the meeting by thanking staffers for "blocking out the noise" over the past several months and continuing forward with their work, the journalist familiar with the call told Fox News Digital.During the call, Cibrowski openly discussed how CBS would cover the settlement with "CBS Evening News" executive producer Guy Campanile, who the staffer said was "clearly annoyed" by the Trump payout."I would say almost everyone is upset because it impacts the brand as a whole," the CBS journalist said."CBS Evening News" anchor John Dickerson, who previously saluted ousted "60 Minutes" executive producer Bill Owens and CBS News president Wendy McMahon, used Paramount's own words against itself while addressing the settlement on Wednesday."In the end, Paramount decided to settle the suit it said is without basis in law and fact, and an affront to the First Amendment," a stern Dickerson told viewers before ending the newscast, citing Paramount's motion to dismiss Trump's lawsuit in March.However, Dickerson reserved far more pointed commentary for his CBS online streaming program "CBS Evening News Plus" in a lengthy monologue focused on the mission for journalists to get the facts right."The obstacles to getting it right are many, but the Paramount settlement poses a new obstacle. Can you hold power to account after paying it millions? Can an audience trust you when it thinks you traded away that trust? The audience will decide that," Dickerson said.TOP '60 MINUTES' PRODUCER RESIGNS FROM SHOW, CITES LACK OF INDEPENDENCECBS SETTLEMENT WITH TRUMP SLAMMED BY JOURNALISTS, COMMENTATORS AS APPALLING SURRENDERCBS News' senior White House correspondent Weijia Jiang took a subtle swipe against her network by sharing a post by Bloomberg correspondent David Gura, who invoked CBS broadcasting legend Walter Cronkite's quote, "Freedom of the press is not just important to democracy, it is democracy."Andrew Heyward, who previously served as CBS News president from 1996-2005, denounced the settlement, telling NPR, "The decision to settle a case with no legal merit obviously comes squarely from the corporate suite, not from anybody at CBS News. To me, the critical issue is whether '60 Minutes' can hold onto its tradition of fierce editorial integrity under new management.""I spent seven years as the Chief Investigative Correspondent for CBS News and eight as a contributing correspondent to 60," former CBS journalist Armen Keteyian wrote on X. "This Paramount settlement is the nadir for the network a breach of the public trust Murrow, Cronkite, Hewitt and thousands of us worked decades to build."Representatives for Paramount and CBS News did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment.At the center of Trump's legal battle with Paramount was an exchange Harris had with "60 Minutes" correspondent Bill Whitaker, who asked her why Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wasn't "listening" to the Biden administration. Harris was widely mockedfor the "word salad" answer that aired in a preview clip of the interview on CBS' "Face the Nation."However, when the same question aired during a primetime special on the network, Harris had a different, more concise response. Critics at the time accused CBS News of deceitfully editingHarris' "word salad" answerto shield the Democratic nominee from further backlash leading up to Election Day.CBS BLASTS TRUMPS LAWSUIT AS MERITLESS DESPITE RECENT $15 MILLION SETTLEMENT OFFERThe raw transcript and footage released earlier this year by the FCC showed that both sets of Harris' comments came from the same response, but CBS News had aired only the first half of her response in the "Face the Nation" preview clip and aired the second half during the primetime special. CBS News previously refused to release the raw transcript when the controversy first erupted in October."With this record settlement, President Donald J. Trump delivers another win for the American people as he, once again, holds the Fake News media accountable for their wrongdoing and deceit. CBS and Paramount Global realized the strength of this historic case and had no choice but to settle.President Trump will always ensure that no one gets away with lying to the American People as he continues on his singular mission to Make America Great Again," a spokesperson for Trumps legal team told Fox News Digital.

For most Americans, the 4th of July is marked by patriotic celebrations with family and friends but for some, the festive holiday can end with an unplanned trip to the emergency room.More than 45,000 people visit the ER on July 4 and 5 each year, according to the Pew Research Center which means Independence Day has the years highest number of daily medical emergencies."This time of year, we see big increases in traumatic injuries and heat-related illness," Dr. Ryan Marino, M.D., an ER doctor and associate professor at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.BEACH BACTERIA WARNINGS PLAGUE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND PLANS NATIONWIDE"While fireworks accidents and injuries get most of the attention, there are far more falls, broken bones, head injuries and car accidents, just to name a few."As people are more likely to be outside and active during the holiday, that makes them more prone to accidents and injuries, Marino added.Dr. Robert Biernbaum, an emergency medicine physician in Fairport, New York, who is also the chief medical officer at WellNow Urgent Care, echoed that July 4th is one of the busiest holidays for ERs across the country."We routinely see a sharp spike in preventable injuries and medical emergencies," he told Fox News Digital.Several ER doctors shared the specific injuries that dominate emergency rooms during this holiday weekend.Fireworks are "by far" the most frequent source of injury, according to Biernbaum."We see everything from minor hand and facial burns to severe trauma from fireworks exploding in close proximity," he said. "Improvised or illegal fireworks tend to cause the worst damage."Dr. Betsy Koickel, chief medical officer of Memorial Hermann-GoHealth Urgent Care in Houston, Texas, echoed that fireworks can cause a wide variety of injuries, many of them severe."Eye injuries are particularly troubling, as they can include corneal burns, scratches or even permanent vision loss due to flying debris or sudden explosions," she told Fox News Digital."The loud blasts can also harm hearing, especially in young children, sometimes resulting in ringing in the ears (tinnitus) or even long-term hearing damage."In more serious incidents, people have suffered deep lacerations, lost fingers or sustained facial injuries when fireworks exploded too close or malfunctioned, Koickel added.With more people indulging in alcoholic beverages for the 4th, Dr. Ellana Stinson, a board-certified emergency medicine physician at Boston Medical Center, said she has seen everything from falls and cuts to vehicle accidents and alcohol poisoning."Impaired judgment is a leading cause behind many ER visits," she added.FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS: 4 TIPS TO HELP VETERANS AND OTHER PTSD SUFFERERS ENJOY THE HOLIDAYBiernbaum reiterated that intoxication leads to a range of emergencies, even contributing to assaults and drownings. "We often see head injuries or fractures in patients whove had too much to drink," he noted.July is the peak month for grill fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association."Mishandling propane tanks or grills results in flash burns and cuts, particularly to the hands and arms," Biernbaum said."Many patients come in with heat exhaustion or heatstroke after prolonged outdoor activities without proper hydration," Biernbaum said.This condition can be life-threatening, particularly for elderly people and children, the doctor cautioned.Marino added, "The heat that we saw most recently not only caused problems like heat illness and heat stroke, but can put people at risk for things like dehydration and kidney damage if they arent careful about staying cool and staying hydrated.""Unfortunately, holiday weekends can also bring an uptick in violence-related injuries or major trauma from boating or car accidents," Stinson cautioned.She shared one example when she treated a young man who fell from a speeding boat after a few too many drinks. "He struck the water hard and was rushed in with a ruptured spleen and multiple fractures we nearly lost him," she told Fox News Digital.Biernbaum noted that lack of life jackets, speeding and alcohol all contribute to injuries, ranging from fractures to near-drownings.July has the highest number of drowning deaths compared to all other months, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Children are particularly at risk, as drowning is the top cause of death for kids aged 1 to 4."Ive cared for individuals pulled from the water unconscious after near drownings, often because no one was watching closely or due to alcohol-blurred judgment," Stinson said.Experts agree that fireworks are best left to the professionals."But if you do participate in home fireworks, make sure there are designated adults who are in charge, alert and sober," Koikel advised. "Keep a bucket of water or fire extinguisher handy nearby."Fireworks should only be set off in safe, open spaces that are far away from people, pets, buildings and grass or trees, according to the doctor."Its crucial to closely supervise children if theyre around sparklers, and they should never handle sparklers or any type of fireworks on their own," Koikel said.Anyone handling fireworks should wear protective eyewear to guard against flying sparks or debris, Koikel said. "Its also wise to avoid loose clothing that could catch fire and to tie back long hair to reduce risk."Those lighting fireworks should follow all local laws and safety guidelines, she added.Additional fireworks safety guidelines can be found on the National Safety Councils website at https://www.nsc.org/.Many boating-related injuries occur on the feet, according to Dr. Jared L. Ross, emergency medicine physician and a professor at the University of Missouri.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER"Having a sturdy pair of water shoes both protects against injuries and makes slips and falls less likely," he told Fox News Digital."Life vests (PFDs) are a must for everyone on the water even the best swimmer cant stay afloat if they have been knocked unconscious by a head injury.""It is crucial to stay well-hydrated, avoid the sun between noon and 2 p.m., apply sunscreen and wear a large-brimmed hat," Ross recommended.All experts suggested taking breaks in the shade or air-conditioning, especially if consuming alcohol.If you are going to partake, Ross said its important to moderate your consumption."The risks from alcohol greatly increase after three drinks per day," he said. "Never participate in potentially dangerous activities, like driving or boating, while you are impaired."For those who consume alcohol, Marino emphasized the importance of staying away from dangers like fireworks and planning in advance for sober rides."Also, make sure to stay hydrated, since alcohol also causes dehydration," he added.All experts emphasized this safety tip particularly around grills, water and fireworks."The 4th of July should be a celebration, not a trip to the ER," Biernbaum said. "A little planning and caution go a long way."For more Health articles, visitwww.foxnews.com/health"If something does go wrong, dont hesitate to seek care immediately time is critical with burns, head injuries and heat-related illness."Its also wise to stay brushed up on basic first aid and to keep a well-stocked emergency kit on hand, Stinson added.

On a sweltering day recently, I found myself in need of an indoor activity for me and my six kids. Living near the nations capital has its perks, chief among them, the Smithsonian museums. So, we headed into D.C. for a dose of air conditioning and culture.As we walked in, we were greeted by a relic from the pandemic era: a sign listing "recommended" health and safety measures like masking, social distancing, and sanitizing, straight out of 2021, when the museums finally reopened after more than a year of COVID-19 closures.Our 4-year-old chose the destination: the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, specifically to see the dinosaur bones and dioramas. But we quickly got more than we bargained for. A large section of the exhibit is devoted not to the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs but to climate change.MUSEUM STAFF LEAVES 'MONA LISA' FANS HIGH AND DRY AS LOUVRE SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNINGThis wasnt surprising. Weve come to expect ideological hectoring at the Smithsonians. At the National Zoo, it often feels like for every exhibit about an animals habitat or diet, theres a parallel one warning that its going extinct because of climate change."Hey kids, enjoying the zebra? Greatbecause hes probably not going to make it, thanks to your parents SUV."At the Natural History Museum, the messaging is equally dire except this time, humans are the endangered species. One exhibit states, "Since the last ice age, Earths climate has warmed. But now that warming is getting faster because of us."STATE DEPT DEFENDS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE REPORT CHANGES, SAYS STREAMLINED PROCESS ELIMINATES 'POLITICAL BIAS'The message is clear: "Hope you liked the dinosaur bones, kids because we might be next."But climate change isnt the only narrative on display.At the National Museum of American History, visitors get a heavy dose of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Despite the fast-approaching 250th anniversary of Americas founding, there were no visible exhibits or events celebrating the milestone. In the week leading up to the Fourth of July, the museums homepage highlighted four features: a lunch counter sit-in, womens suffrage, a 19th-century Black firefighter and a community center for pregnant Latina immigrants. The Smithsonian did not respond to questions on deadline. As one historian told me, "The second-floor popular culture exhibit probably the most popular in the museum is a Marxist struggle session. Every single exhibit is interpreted through a race-class-gender lens."ANCIENT TEN COMMANDMENTS FRAGMENT OF 2,000-YEAR-OLD MANUSCRIPT TO GO ON DISPLAY AT REAGAN LIBRARYThis pattern isnt confined to the Smithsonian system. Two years ago, at the Hirshhorn Museum, my kids picked up a childrens book titled, "My Own Way: Celebrating Gender Freedom For Kids." One page reads, "You may be both you may be none!" Another shows a naked child looking at a clothesline with the caption, "Your truth isnt hidden underneath your clothes."Even museums outside the capital many of which still receive federal funding are echoing the same themes. During a recent visit to the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia, we expected to see paintings and sculptures. Instead, my kids were drawn to an exhibit filled with video screens titled, "Jamestown is Sinking."According to the exhibit description: "In the photographic series Jamestown is Sinking and the video installation The Interpreters, Greta Pratt explores the relationship between climate change and colonialism in Virginias Tidewater region compelling viewers to examine how colonialization, spurred on by capitalist interests, has dramatically altered the natural environment."In other words: climate change, colonialism, capitalism buzzword bingo in a single art exhibit.TRUMP'S DOGE PUSH SLASHES MILLIONS IN DEI CONTRACTS FUNDING 'DIVISIVE IDEOLOGIES' IN BLUE STATESAlthough the Chrysler Museum isnt funded exclusively by taxpayer dollars, it has received $1.2 million in federal grants over the years from agencies like the Institute of Museum and Library Services.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONWhich raises the obvious question: Why are our tax dollars underwriting this?Erik H. Neil, the Macon and Joan Brock Director at the Chrysler Museum, defended the exhibit: "Were honored to exhibit the work of Greta Pratt, a celebrated local artist and recent recipient of a prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship. The Chrysler Museum of Art is dedicated to fostering creativity, encouraging thoughtful dialogue, and exploring our shared humanity through art. We believe Pratts work contributes meaningfully to civic discourse, and we remain committed to presenting a wide spectrum of viewpoints without limiting artistic expression."There is a glimmer of hope. At the Kennedy Center, Richard Grenell has started cleaning house aiming to ensure that publicly funded art is about art, not indoctrination. Its a long-overdue shift that could mark a turning point.And it appears the issue is already on the administrations radar. Earlier this month, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Smithsonian is undergoing a sweeping review of all content across its 21 museums and zoo to eliminate political bias. According to internal documents, the decision came during a closed-door Board of Regents meeting on June 9. The review follows President Donald Trumps March executive order calling for the removal of "improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology" and the restoration of exhibits that reflect "American and Western values."With more than 30 million visitors expected to descend on Washington, D.C. for the nations Semiquincentennial next year, the clock is ticking. If nothing changes, theyll walk into the Museum of American History and leave not with a celebration of our founding but with a guilt trip.Time is of the essence.CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM BETHANY MANDEL

House Speaker Mike Johnson hopes to have brought President Donald Trumps "One Big Beautiful Bill" to a vote on Wednesday afternoon or evening. If he was successful and "OBBB" passed and is on its way to the presidents desk, then this column has been overtaken by events great events as passage of the OBBB means lift off of the American economy.If, however, four or more Republicans bolted the Caucus, turned on the president and their party, and stopped the huge breakthrough for the economy, the border, the energy sector and especially the nations defense and voted "no," then break glass and pull the lever.DEMOCRATIC DOCTORS' PROTEST AGAINST TRUMP'S BEAUTIFUL BILL DERAILED BY FLOOD OF US CAPITOL TOURISTSOBBB isnt the sort of bill that can survive a conference and a second run through the legislative course. Too many narrow choke-points were navigated to reach this decision point. Throwing caution to the wind and this delicately balanced high pile of compromises to a "conference committee" is actually to throw away a unique opportunity for the GOP to deliver on the central promises the party and President Trump made in the campaign of 2024.Its not a perfect bill in my eyes or the eyes of any other observer and most members of Congress. Its a very good bill, however, and the good must not be the enemy of the perfect.The most vocal critics of the OBBB are self-described "deficit hawks" (plus the odd ball Congressman Massie from Kentucky who believes his job is to be interviewed on television.)It isnt possible to cut more from the bills impact on the deficit without starting over, and "starting over" means failing to deliver.Again, the margins of the House and Senate GOP majorities are too narrow to expect a different result. Shooting down the "OBBB" now means shooting it down period. The members who vote "no" will be responsible for the biggest tax hike in history and the continued decline in American military readiness as well as the underfunded Border Patrol and unfinished wall.The Republicans voting "no" may be from "safe districts," but its pretty clear that the GOP writ large and President Trump specifically will be recruiting and funding primary challengers for them and if those arent successful, encouraging voters to send honest obstructionists and leftists to the House instead of grand-standers.There is, however, one thing which the president and the speaker can hold out to the House members who want more cuts to spending: the opportunity to write and manage the second reconciliation bill.Early this year there were voices arguing for two reconciliation bills a first reconciliation bill for a layup on border and defense spending, and then a second one for the much-more-difficult-to-pass spending and tax cuts and entitlement reforms aimed at paring waste, fraud and abuse from those programs.President Trump, ever the dealmaker, pushed for the "OBBB" on the theory so far proven correct that the GOP wouldnt risk the economy-killing tax hike scheduled to arrive January 1, 2026, unless the "OBBB" stops it first. Trump bet on momentum and thus far hes winning that bet.There are "true believers" in the House who want deeper spending cuts. If they blow the OBBB up this week, they will say they are counting on the House and Senate GOP to reassemble the pieces but with more cuts. That wont happen, of course. Its not even a mirage. Its counter-reality. That wont happen. Look at the Senate vote: 50-50. All the weight that the bill can bear is in it. Pass it or welcome the massive tax hike of 2026!The existing spending cuts in the bill endangered its passage in the Senate. Slice even a little deeper and the deal is dead. The dead-enders in the House may want to believe something else could happen, but the bottom line is killing the "OBBB" now means killing it forever. The Republicans who vote against the "OBBB" are voting to crash the economy between now and November 2026, and thus for a Democrat majority in the House and all the fiscal irresponsibility that telegraphs to the markets. It would be a bloodbath in the markets and rightfully so.The "no" votes on the "OBBB" are "yes" votes for Speaker Jeffries and massive spending hikes his arrival would herald along with the enormous tax hike whammy.The deficit hawks object that they were promised more and they probably were. But every senator gets a vote too and the limit of the Senates appetite for collective deficit cutting has been reached. This is the best that can be done on this round of reconciliation.What the president and the speaker can offer the hold-outs is control of the second round of reconciliation, a second round which this Congress has the right to take up.Put Representatives Chip Roy, Andy Harris and Ralph Norman in charge of that bills drafting and the management of it on the House floor. No guarantees of passage can be given there are moderates in the House GOP who would have to be persuaded, but the president and the speaker can offer strong support for the effort. The deficit hawks might come up with the thread that can make it through the smallest of many needles eyes: actual reform of entitlements.If there are members who want Social Security to go bankrupt, or Medicare and interest payments to devour the entire discretionary spending budget, they will be indifferent to entitlement reform. But responsible members of both parties in both houses of Congress have to realize that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell was correct when he declared Tuesday that "The level of the debt is sustainable, but the path is not.""We need to address that sooner or later," Powell continued. "Sooner is better than later.""Sooner" can mean right now and if the fiscal hawks are allowed to craft an entitlement reform bill for the second reconciliation bill, one that uses the greatest weapon in the arsenal against the national debt time. With a well-crafted bill, they could even pull it off.Recall the "BRAC" commissions? On five different occasions since 1988, Congress gave the very sensitive task of designating American military installations for closure to an independent commission which held hearings and produced a list of bases to be shuttered. Every localcongressman knew their ox could be gored, but they also knew the country needed to trim the size and scale of domestic military installations. So Congress set up and empowered BRACs, and the BRACs did their work. Congress was eventually presented the list and, by design, Congress could only vote "yes" or "no" on the entire list. By forcing all of Congress to deal with all of the closures, the pain was shared out and the BRACs recommendations always accepted. The five BRAC rounds since 1988 closed over 350 military installations, leading to significant cost savings and freeing up resources for other priorities.We need such an approach for an entitlement reform commission and such a procedure for Congressional consideration of the commissions recommendations.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONTake the easiest reform to propose and pass: adding a month to the retirement age eligibility tables every year for the next 60 years. That would mean a year increase in the age of eligibility from 65 to 66 for exampleevery dozen years, and would help conform Social Security to actuarial tables reflecting our collective longer life spans. Put the slowly moving reform in place only for those under 55 and the end result is that all Americans under 55 wont get a Social Security check until age 66. Thats a very gentle but necessary bending of the cost curve for entitlements.Include such a proposal in a package of other careful, gradual reforms to our tangle of entitlements and then arrange for the whole package to receive an up-or-down vote in the lame-duck session of Congress in December 2026.The deficit hawks can demand the right to try and actually fix the deficit. And they should get it.But is that what they want, or do they desire face time on viral videos that are here today and gone before sundown?This is a very serious moment in the life of the country. Making a tax structure permanent that rewards investment and risk is the single most important thing this Congress can do to guarantee a vibrant, growing economy. Resupplying our defense stockpiles and expediting ship and submarine construction are vital to our safety. Blocking the permanent adoption of that tax code as well as the urgently needed investments in defense and border security would be reckless beyond measure.But if enough short-sighted grandstanders rise up to block the OBBB, make them an offer they cant refuse: responsibility for more than speeches.Hugh Hewitt is a Fox News contributor, and host of "The Hugh Hewitt Show," heard weekdays from 3 pm to 6 pm ET on the Salem Radio Network, and simulcast on Salem News Channel. Hugh drives America home on the East Coast and to lunch on the West Coast on over 400 affiliates nationwide, and on all the streaming platforms where SNC can be seen. He is a frequent guest on the Fox News Channels news roundtable hosted by Bret Baier weekdays at 6pm ET. A son of Ohio and a graduate of Harvard College and the University of Michigan Law School, Hewitt has been a Professor of Law at Chapman Universitys Fowler School of Law since 1996 where he teaches Constitutional Law. Hewitt launched his eponymous radio show from Los Angeles in 1990. Hewitt has frequently appeared on every major national news television network, hosted television shows for PBS and MSNBC, written for every major American paper, has authored a dozen books and moderated a score of Republican candidate debates, most recently the November 2023 Republican presidential debate in Miami and four Republican presidential debates in the 2015-16 cycle. Hewitt focuses his radio show and his column on the Constitution, national security, American politics and the Cleveland Browns and Guardians. Hewitt has interviewed tens of thousands of guests from Democrats Hillary Clinton and John Kerry to Republican Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump over his 40 years in broadcast, and this column previews the lead story that will drive his radio/ TV show today.CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM HUGH HEWITT

A Wisconsin snow park is facing a federal lawsuit that accuses it of firing a Christian employee for posting Bible verses on his personal social media account.The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a complaint against Crystal Ridge Ski Area, LLC, formerly known as The Rock Snowpark, a winter sports park and summer events venue in Franklin, Wisconsin, on Wednesday. Their complaint alleges the park discriminated against a former employee who worked there from January 2, 2022 to June 12, 2023.During his time of employment, the Rock Snowpark employee "frequently posted religious messages" including Bible verses, on his personal social media account, the suit states. On June 9, 2023, Rock Snowparks Operations Manager met with the individual and expressed concern that his posts "were discriminatory to gay people," and asked him to refrain from posting these statements. When the employee asked if he could still post Bible verses, the manager gave approval, the suit says.Three days later, the employee posted another Bible verse on his personal social media and was terminated the same day.JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TAKES ON SMALL IDAHO TOWN IN RELIGIOUS FREEDOM BATTLE OVER CHURCH PERMITThe EEOC complaint states the employee did not identify his workplace or claim to be representing the views of his employer on his social media account. His posts were not directed at any employee of Rock Snowpark and the park did not receive any complaints about the posts, the complaint claims.The employee had worked for the company for a year and a half before his termination, during which time he received bonuses and was promoted for his excellent performance, according to the lawsuit.The EEOC filed the suit after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement, the complaint explains. The park is accused of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on religion.The commission is asking the court to issue a permanent injunction restricting Crystal Ridge from engaging in "any employment practices which discriminate on the basis of religion in violation of Title VII." The commission asks the court to order the park to implement new policies to ensure equal employment opportunities "regardless of religion." The complaint also asks for the employee to receive backpay and compensatory and punitive damages for the alleged harms caused.WISCONSIN MAN FIRED FOR REFUSING TO USE PREFERRED PRONOUNS APPEALS TO TRUMP ADMINISTRATIONThe commission is requesting a jury trial in the case."All employees have the right to earn a living free from discrimination based on their religious beliefs," EEOC Acting Chair Andrea Lucas said in a press release. "While employers must remain alert to potential harassment in the workplace, religious statements made outside of work that do not reference or impact anyone in the workplace do not constitute unlawful harassment."Crystal Ridge Ski Area told Fox News Digital it had not yet been served the legal complaint but rejected the allegations."First, we want to make clear that we, as an employer and member of the community, treat all of our employees and customers equally and with respect, regardless of who they are and what they believe," the park said. "We also expect all of our employees to similarly respect each other and the customers that we are here to serve.""Second, we want to make clear that the internal employment decision that apparently led to the EEOCs lawsuit was not made on the basis of the employees religious beliefs. Rather, it was a business decision based on performance issues and policy violations," they added, saying they had no further comment on the matter.

Sean "Diddy" Combs was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges Wednesday following a two-month trial where his legal team argued that the case was about "voluntary adult choices," not a "mean" man running a criminal enterprise.After the verdict was read, people in the courtroom began shouting "dream team" to Diddy's high-profile lawyers, a team headed by Teny Geragos and Marc Agnifilo. Geragos cried as she hugged Diddy's family.The other lawyers include Brian Steel who recently represented rapper Young Thug Anna Estevao, Jason Driscoll, Xavier R. Donaldson and Alexandra Shapiro.The "dream team" nickname first made headlines in 1995 for the group of defense lawyers who represented OJ Simpson in his eight-month trial for the alleged murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.DIDDY BEATS RICO, FOUND NOT GUILTY OF RACKETEERING CONSPIRACY AND SEX TRAFFICKINGRobert Shapiro, the first member and initial chair of Simpson's defense team, praised Diddy's legal counsel following the verdict."The defense team did a terrific job on a case the U.S. Attorney overcharged," Robert Shapiro told Fox News Digital. "An acquittal in Federal Court is highly unusual. Congratulations to Mark and Tenny for building an incredible group of talented lawyers."WATCH: Diddy's legal team won't stop until he walks a 'free man,' rapper's attorney Marc Agnifilo saysDIDDY JURY DEADLOCKED AFTER RAPPER'S DEFENSE PLAYED HIGH STAKES POKER': EXPERTJohnnie Cochran, Robert Kardashian, Barry Scheck, F. Lee Bailey, Shapiro and Alan Dershowitz comprised the dream team who helped get Simpson acquitted nearly 30 years ago.Professor emeritus Dershowitz admitted Diddy's dream team made the right decision by not letting the Bad Boy Records founder testify in his federal trial for sex crimes."Ultimately, the smart decision was not putting OJ on the witness stand," he told Fox News Digital. "The smart decision here was not putting Combs on the witness stand. The difference is we want a complete victory. They got a partial victory, but an almost complete victory, so I commend them for excellent work."He added, "I think this was a good day for justice today, and it showed the power of juries to stand up against the federal government. And that's a necessary check on the excesses of prosecutors."DIDDY JURY SETBACK COULD INDICATE A STEALTH JUROR, MIGHT SIGNAL MAJOR ADVANTAGE FOR DEFENSE: EXPERTFollowing the verdict, Dershowitz condemned the court's decision to not grant Diddy bail."Vindictive and wrong," Dershowitz said. "He was convicted of transactional, consensual sex with 2 adults."WATCH: PROFESSOR EMERITUS ALAN DERSHOWITZ DISCUSSES KEY MOVE IN DIDDY TRIALGeragos, known just as much for her last name as she is for her work in the courtroom, first earned fans last year with social media clips about her rapper client.Teny also gained recognition for her opening remarks during Diddy's federal trial, where she argued that the case was about "voluntary adult choices," which the government was attempting to skew into a narrative to fit a sex trafficking charge.The daughter of criminal defense lawyer Mark Geragos graduated from Loyola Law School Los Angeles in 2016. Her father is known for representing several high-profile clients, including Michael Jackson, Scott Peterson, Jussie Smollett, Colin Kaepernick and, most recently, the Menendez brothers in their successful pursuit of resentencing.She then worked with Brafman & Associates for eight years before becoming a founding partner of Agnifilo Intrater. Geragos serves on the board of directors of the New York Criminal Bar Association and is certified to practice law in New York and California.LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSDuring opening statements of Diddy's trial, which began on May 5, Teny asked the jury to consider the federal charges, not the choices of an at-times violent man.WATCH: Diddy trial was a colossal failure by the prosecution, attorney Mark Geragos says"Sean Combs is a complicated man, but this is not a complicated case," Teny told the court. "This case is about love, jealousy, infidelity and money. This case is about voluntary adult choices made by capable adults and consensual relationships. This case is about those real-life relationships, and the government is trying to turn those relationships into a racketeering case, a prostitution case and a sex trafficking case. It will not work."She noted that Diddy "has a bad temper" and at times gets "so angry or so jealous that he is out of control," but she emphasized that the "Victory" rapper was not charged with "being mean.""He is not charged with being a jerk. He's charged with running a racketeering enterprise," Teny said. "And though there was violence that you are going to hear about, you already have, that violence is not part of any RICO. That violence is not connected to sex trafficking and that violence is not prostitution."CLICK HERE TO GET THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERAgnifilo is no stranger to high-profile cases as a criminal defense lawyer based in New York. The former assistant district attorney previously worked for Brafman & Associates for more than 15 years before founding his own firm, Agnifilo Intrater, in 2024.Hes familiar with high-profile trials and district attorney investigations after representing a number of prominent clients, including "pharma bro" Martin Shkreli and NXIVM sex cult leader Keith Raniere.The Agnifilo household is familiar with high-profile cases, with Marc's wife Karen Friedman Agnifilo leading the defense for alleged health care CEO assassin Luigi Mangione.The jury found Diddy not guilty of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. He was found guilty on both counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Following the verdict, his defense pushed back after the judge denied the rapper's request for bail.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPAgnifilo argued that Diddy has done remarkable things in his life. He is a businessman and a serious person, the attorney noted, adding Diddy has seemingly been a model prisoner in a very difficult situation at MDC Brooklyn. According to Agnifilo, he has no issues on his record."Diddy is a man who has lived up to his obligations," the lawyer said. "Jury gave him a chance at life today."The government said Diddy is very wealthy, brazen, and dangerous. They noted that any chance of jail time is a reason to flee. They accused Diddy of having a short temper, and noted how the rapper has abused people violently."It was also brazen for him to have drugs and supplies for prostitution waiting while he was arrested," prosecutors argued. A sentencing hearing is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 3.After the trial concluded, Diddy's team spoke at a press conference, with Agnifilo vowing that they wouldn't stop until he walks a "free man."Fox News Digital's Larry Fink contributed to this report.

Archaeologists recently unearthed a hoard of early medieval treasures on the banks of an inlet in northern Germany, all thanks to a metal detectorist.The State Archaeology Department of Schleswig-Holstein (ALSH) announced the discovery in a press release in late May.The hoard, dating back roughly 1,000 years, was found on the shores of the Schlei, an inlet in the Baltic Sea. Officials said that the area is near "the once-significant Viking-era trading post of Haithabu."RARE 1,200-YEAR-OLD CHRISTIAN CROSS FOUND IN FIELD BY METAL DETECTORISTThe hoard was originally flagged by a metal detectorist named Arjen Spiesswinkel, who reported his finds to the ALSH."A targeted follow-up search with additional detectorists helped narrow down the location of the find," the ALSH said in a statement."Subsequently, a systematic excavation by the ALSH, together with volunteer helpers, recovered the objects."Pictures show focused volunteers digging through the soil in search of the treasure hoard, which consisted of over 200 artifacts.MAN STUMBLES ACROSS HOARD OF PRICELESS COINS WHILE OUT FOR NATURE WALK: 'FACE TO FACE WITH HISTORY'"In this case, the hoard includes around 200 objects, mostly made of silver, hacksilver, fragments of Arabic coins (dirhams), bar pieces and jewelry," the statement noted.Officials added, "Particularly noteworthy is a delicate cross pendant an early testament to the beginning of Christianization in the region."The ALSH also noted that hoard finds typically consist of "buried or submerged objects that were either hidden to protect them from others or laid down as offerings."A ceramic shard and a whetstone were also found at the site, which officials believe may be "possible indications of a previously unknown settlement."For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle"The finds offer fascinating insights into the history of the 10th century, a time of trade, cultural exchange, and religious transformation," the statement concluded.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERThe Viking Age lasted from roughly 800 A.D. to 1050 A.D., meaning that the hoard dates back to the later part of the era.The discovery comes as many recent Viking-related finds have been uncovered across Europe.In Sweden, officials recently announced the discovery of a Viking grave with "Christian overtones" on the outskirts of Linkping.

While summer boating brings great pleasure to most, one expert shared a bevy of resources for boaters to stay safe and avoid tragedy as water accident figures climb.Capt. Geoff Fahringer is a 50-year career law enforcement officer who worked in upstate New York where he was a SWAT officer and major crimes detective. He joined the Collier County Sheriffs Office in Florida, where he was part of the sheriff's department dive team. He is a licensed U.S. Coast Guard boating captain and boating safety expert."One of the most common dangerous things that I've seen on the water in my experience is people are just untrained," Fahringer told Fox News Digital.MORE THAN 20 PEOPLE INJURED AFTER BOAT CATCHES FIRE IN NEW YORK; CAPTAIN CHARGED WITH DWI"For example, you'll see someone on a boat and they've got the kids riding on the bow with their feet hanging off the front of the boat as they're going down a river or going on the water. And a lack of life jackets, overloading a boat, just basic things that if they had training, which is my big thing, would really alleviate a lot of the accidents that we see."The Coast Guard's Boating Safety Division keeps statistics on recreational boating accidents, their causes and subsequent injuries or deaths.According to data from 2023, the latest year for which it is available, operator inexperience accounted for 414 boating accidents, resulting in 200 injuries and 44 deaths. Navigation rules violations accounted for 210 accidents, resulting in 214 injuries and 24 deaths.In early June, two Florida men were charged with violating the Coast Guard's navigational rules before their vessel struck and killed 15-year-old ballerina Ella Adler last year. Adler was wakeboarding in Key Biscayne at the time.SEVERAL PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED IN FLORIDA AFTER COAST GUARD RESPONDS TO SEPARATE HOLIDAY BOATING INCIDENTSRecently, a sport fishing boat slammed into a jetty in Meschutt Beach, part of Suffolk County, New York. Four were injured in that crash, which is under investigation.The Coast Guard counted 3,844 boating mishaps that year, causing 564 deaths, 2,126 injuries and a $63 million in property damage. The report says that 75 percent of fatal boating accident victims drowned, and of those 88 percent were not wearing a life jacket."A lot of the stuff we just see is just carelessness, and a lot is based on someone who just doesn't know," Fahringer said. "Doesn't know the right kind of life jacket, somebody's pulling their kids on a tube or wakeboarding, and they don't have a spotter, they're running in an area where there's boat traffic instead of finding someplace quiet. A lot of it's just common sense stuff that causes a lot the problems."Fahringer is a proponent of safety checklists, and says that every boater should complete one before hitting open waters."Go through a checklist and go through all the things that you want to make sure that you've got on the boat [and] that the boat's working correctly," he said. "Just get the habit of doing that. Just go through a little checklist every time you leave.3 DEAD, 9 MISSING NEAR SAN DIEGO AFTER BOAT WASHES ASHOREHe also offered some less obvious tips and safety training ideas that boaters may not consider."A lot of people rely on a cellular phone, which don't always work, especially if they go offshore," Fahringer said. "A VHF radio really is a must. And if you have a radio in your boat, get in the habit of turning it on, even if it's turned down in the background."VHF radio channel 16 is the universal distress channel. He said marine authorities often hear and respond to calls on that channel before 911, which can help especially if a boat is far from the shore."You need to be your own first responder in a lot of cases," he said. That channel 16 VHF radio, [helps] both for you to be able to call for help, but also you could have someone in distress that's literally 200 yards away. And you could be that person to save someone if you're aware of what's going on."Taking first aid classes, or at least bleed-stopping training, can also be very valuable in a situation where help is far away.Danger can lurk in the water, too.Fahringer cautioned of stinging jellyfish, riptides, sharp objects that can cause abrasions and potentially harmful bacteria, which are common issues faced by those swimming in the water.At the end of the day, Fahringer said, boaters should enjoy being on the water, but a little bit of caution goes a long way to ensuring safety.

A University of Massachusetts-Amherst student who was a Congressional student intern was killed in a triple shooting in Washington, D.C., on Monday.Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, 21, a rising senior who was majoring in finance with a minor in political science, died at the hospital after being one of three people shot in northwest D.C., according to the Metropolitan Police Department.He was a Granby, Massachusetts, resident who started interning for U.S. Rep. Ron Estes, R-Kan., in June, according to police.Third District officers responded to gunshots on 7th Street and discovered Tarpinian-Jachym unconscious with gunshot wounds. An adult female and a 16-year-old male were also found shot at the location, but were conscious.HOUSE STAFFER VICTIM OF ARMED CARJACKING IN POPULAR WASHINGTON NEIGHBORHOODPolice said multiple suspects began firing shots at a group after exiting a vehicle at the intersection of 7th and M Street, Northwest. The suspect's vehicle was recovered and detectives said in a statement that they believe Tarpinian-Jachym was not the intended target."The university has learned of a students death in Washington, D.C. and is in communication with the students family. We extend our deepest condolences to all who knew him and will be communicating with the campus shortly to offer support," UMass Amherst told FOX 5 DC.Estes and his wife, Susan, released a statement expressing their deepest condolences and prayers to Tarpinian-Jachym's family."I will remember his kind heart and how he always greeted anyone who entered our office with a cheerful smile," Estes said. "We are grateful to Eric for his service to Kansas 4th District and the country. Please join Susan and me in praying for his family and respecting their privacy during this heartbreaking time."State Committeeman Chris Ryan also released a statement on behalf of the Massachusetts Republican Party, saying "The loss of DC Congressional student intern and Granby resident Eric Tarpinian-Jachym is a loss for Massachusetts and our nation. His family is now without its son, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst will be missing a promising young graduate from its Class of 2026."DRUGGED SUSPECT IN 'ALTERED MENTAL STATE' STABS SIX, ALONG WITH HIMSELF, DURING DC RAMPAGE: POLICEHe went on to say that "The Massachusetts Republican Party extends its deepest sorrows to his family and the office of Rep. Ron Estes (R-KS), all of whom are mourning the passing of this bright and talented young man."The Fund for American Studies also expressed sympathies for Tarpinian-Jachym, who was once part of a group of students completing a Washington Fellowship."The Fund for American Studies is heartbroken at the tragic and untimely death of Eric Tarpinian-Jachym. Eric was one of a select group of students who participated in the Washington Fellowship held January to April 2025," the group said. "He was a hardworking intern, a dedicated student and was well thought of by his peers. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends."Metropolitan police ask anyone with knowledge of the incident to call them at202-727-9099or text TIP LINEto50411.A reward of up to$25,000is available to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the people responsible.

The House of Representatives has voted to advance President Donald Trumps $3.3 trillion "big, beautiful bill" to its final phase in Congress, overcoming fears of a potential Republican mutiny.Its a significant victory for House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., though the fight is not over yet.Lawmakers voted to proceed with debate on the mammoth-sized Trump agenda bill in the early hours of Thursday a mechanism known as a "rule vote" teeing up a final House-wide vote sometime later Thursday morning.The House adopted the rules for debate on the measure in a dramatic 219 to 213 vote with all but moderate Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., voting to proceed.TAX CUTS, WORK REQUIREMENTS AND ASYLUM FEES: HERE'S WHAT'S INSIDE THE SENATE'S VERSION OF TRUMP'S BILLThe vote had been stalled for hours, since Wednesday afternoon, with five House Republicans poised to kill the measure before lawmakers could weigh the bill itself.Several members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus and their allies, meanwhile, appeared ready to skip the vote altogether in protest of GOP leaders' compromise bill.But both Johnson and Trump spent hours negotiating with holdouts, apparently to some success.But the process could still take hours. Democrats could still call up various procedural votes to delay the final measure, as they did when the legislation passed the House by just one vote for the first time in late May.Plus, the bill itself could still face opposition from both moderates and conservative Republicans.Conservative lawmakers were threatening to derail the rule vote as recently as Wednesday over changes the Senate made to the legislation, which fiscal hawks argued would add billions of dollars to the federal deficit.But those concerns appear to have been outweighed by pressure from House GOP leaders and the president himself who urged House Republicans to coalesce around the bill.The Senate passed its version of the bill late on Tuesday morning, making modifications to the Houses provisions on Medicaid cost-sharing with states, some tax measures, and raising the debt ceiling.SENATE PASSES TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' AFTER MARATHON VOTE-A-RAMAModerates are wary of Senate measures that would shift more Medicaid costs to states that expanded their programs under Obamacare, while conservatives have saidthose cuts are not enoughto offset the additional spending in other parts of the bill.Two members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus who also sit on the House Rules Committee, Reps. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., and Chip Roy, R-Texas, voted against the measure during the Rules Committee's 12-hour hearing to consider the bill.Johnson himself publicly urged the Senate to change as little as possible in the run-up to the vote. But the upper chambers bill ultimately passed by a similarly narrow margin as the House with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote."Im not happy with what the Senate did to our product," Johnson told reporters late on Tuesday afternoon. "We understand this is a process that goes back and forth, and we'll be working to get all of our members to yes."But Trump took to Truth Social after the Senate passed the bill to urge House Republicans to do the same."It is no longer a House Bill or a Senate Bill. It is everyones Bill. There is so much to be proud of, and EVERYONE got a major Policy WIN But, the Biggest Winner of them all will be the American People, who will have Permanently Lower Taxes, Higher Wages and Take Home Pay, Secure Borders, and a Stronger and More Powerful Military," the president posted."We can have all of this right now, but only if the House GOP UNITES, ignores its occasional GRANDSTANDERS (You know who you are!), and does the right thing, which is sending this Bill to my desk. We are on schedule Lets keep it going, and be done before you and your family go on a July 4thvacation. The American People need and deserve it. They sent us here to, GET IT DONE."Both the House and Senate have been dealing with razor-thin GOP majorities of just three votes each.THOM TILLIS ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM SENATE AFTER CLASH WITH TRUMPThe bill would permanently extend the income tax brackets lowered by Trump's 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), while temporarily adding new tax deductions to eliminate duties on tipped and overtime wages up to certain caps.It also includes a new tax deduction for people aged 65 and over.The legislation also rolls back green energy tax credits implemented under former President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, which Trump and his allies have attacked as "the Green New Scam."The bill would also surge money toward the national defense, and to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the name of Trump's crackdown on illegal immigrants in the U.S.The bill would also raise the debt limit by $5 trillion in order to avoid a potentially economically devastating credit default sometime this summer, if the U.S. runs out of cash to pay its obligations.New and expanded work requirements would be implemented for Medicaid and federal food assistance, respectively.Democrats have blasted the bill as a tax giveaway to the wealthy while cutting federal benefits for working-class Americans.But Republicans have said their tax provisions are targeted toward the working and middle classes citing measures eliminating taxes on tipped and overtime wages while arguing they were reforming federal welfare programs to work better for those who truly need them.Progressive Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., told reporters it was Democrats' intent to delay proceedings on Wednesday for as long as possible."This last go around, we were able to delay the bill upwards of 30 hours. And so we're going to do the same thing, do everything we can from a procedural point of view to delay this," Frost said.Meanwhile, there were earlier concerns about if weather delays in Washington could delay lawmakers from getting to Capitol Hill in time for the planned vote."We're monitoring the weather closely," Johnson told reporters. "There's a lot of delays right now."Fox News' Dan Scully contributed to this report.

President Donald Trump took to Truth Social early Thursday to call out Republicans who are still refusing to get behind a House procedural vote on the "Big Beautiful Bill."With the vote having stalled late Wednesday with five Republican "nays" and another eight Republicans having yet to cast a vote the president touted the benefits the country is poised to gain with the bills passage."Largest Tax Cuts in History and a Booming Economy vs. Biggest Tax Increase in History, and a Failed Economy," Trump wrote on Truth Social before turning his ire to GOP holdouts: "What are the Republicans waiting for??? What are you trying to prove??? MAGA IS NOT HAPPY, AND ITS COSTING YOU VOTES!!!"SENATE REPUBLICANS RAM TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' THROUGH KEY TEST VOTETrump later wrote that the vote should be an "EASY YES" for Republicans, calling the holdouts refusal to vote, "RIDICULOUS."A procedural "rule vote" allows lawmakers to debate ahead of a final vote on the "Big Beautiful Bill" before it would head to the presidents desk for a signature.By early Thursday, the following House Republicans were a no on the procedural vote: Reps. Andrew Clyde of Georgia, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Keith Self of Texas, Victoria Spartz of Indiana, and Thomas Massie of Kentucky who changed his vote from a "yay" to a "nay."When asked why he switched his vote, Massie told Fox News Digital, "Because most of the world isnt concerned about the difference between the rule resolution vote and the final passage vote."MIKE JOHNSON, DONALD TRUMP GET BIG, 'BEAUTIFUL WIN AS BUDGET PASSES HOUSEThe following Republican lawmakers have yet to cast their vote: Reps. Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma, Tim Burchett of Tennessee, Eric Burlison of Missouri, Michael Cloud of Texas, Andy Harris of Maryland, Bob Onder of Missouri, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, and Chip Roy of Texas.Leaving a room with other holdouts and critics of the bill just after 1 a.m. on Thursday, Burchett told reporters, "We're just getting very close, I think, to getting something resolved."He would not say how he would vote for the legislation, however.GOP lawmakers can only afford to lose three votes. Republican leaders have now kept the rule vote open for over four hours to try to pressure the holdouts to get a majority vote.House Speaker Mike Johnson had recalled lawmakers to Washington, eager to seize on the momentum of the bill's passage the day before in the Senate and vowed to press ahead."Everybody wants to get to yes," Johnson told Fox News as the voting was underway.Quickly convening for the vote on the more than 800-page bill was risky gambit, one designed to meet Trump's demand for a holiday finish. Republicans have struggled mightily with the bill nearly every step of the way this year, often succeeding by the narrowest of margins, only one vote.Their slim 220-212 majority, leaving little room for defections.