Trump’s ‘big, beautiful’ tax and spending bill clears major hurdle in House

President Donald Trump’s “one big, beautiful bill” survived a key hurdle in the House of Representatives on Sunday night, putting it one step closer to a chamber-wide vote later this week.

It comes after a rebellion by four House conservatives upended plans to advance the bill on Friday morning.

Lawmakers on the House Budget Committee were summoned back to Washington for a 10 p.m. meeting to vote again on the bill. It passed the panel in a nearly party-line vote, 17 to 16, with four Republicans voting “present.”

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., made a surprise appearance in the committee room shortly before the vote began, telling reporters there would likely be “minor modifications” to the final bill before disappearing into a back room with the four GOP holdouts who sunk the bill on Friday morning.

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Johnson later signaled confidence in another set of remarks to reporters just as the vote began, “I think what is about to happen here is that every member, every Republican member, will give a vote that allows us to proceed forward, and we count that as a big win tonight.”

The speaker said he expects to have “productive discussions” with various factions of the House GOP, adding, “I am absolutely convinced we’re going to get this in final form and pass it in accordance with our original deadline.” 

Four conservative House Freedom Caucus members on the committee blocked the bill from advancing on Friday, with the fiscal hawks seeking assurances that stricter crackdowns on Medicaid and green energy subsidies in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) would be in the final bill before a House-wide vote.

The four conservatives voted “present” in an effort to move discussions forward on Sunday night after getting those assurances from House GOP leaders.

Advancing the legislation through the House Budget Committee is a largely procedural move. Lawmakers have signaled that some changes will be introduced as amendments in the House Rules Committee, the final gatekeeper before a House-wide vote, sometime early this week.

Notably, two of the Budget Committee fiscal hawks who demanded further changes – Reps. Chip Roy, R-Texas, and Ralph Norman, R-S.C. – also sit on the House Rules Committee.

“Tonight, after a great deal of work and engagement over the weekend, the Budget Committee advanced a reconciliation bill that lays the foundation for much needed tax relief, border security, and important spending reductions and reforms.  Importantly the bill now will move Medicaid work requirements forward and reduces the availability of future subsidies under the green new scam,” Roy said in a statement after the vote.

Norman, meanwhile, told Fox News Digital that the four conservatives got those assurances from House GOP leaders in writing.

The House Budget Committee passed a framework earlier this year with “instructions” for various other committees to enact Trump policies under their jurisdictions. 

Following House and Senate-wide votes on their frameworks, House committees began crafting those policies, which have now been put back together into the massive bill the House Budget Committee advanced on Sunday night.

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Republicans are working to pass Trump’s agenda via the budget reconciliation process, which allows the party controlling both Congress and the White House to pass vast pieces of legislation while completely sidelining the minority – in this case, Democrats.

It does so by lowering the Senate’s threshold for passage from 60 votes to 51, lining up with the House’s own simple majority. The legislation must adhere to a specific set of rules, however, including only items related to federal spending, tax, and the national debt.

Trump is having Republicans use the legislation to enact his campaign promises on tax cuts, immigration, energy, defense, and raising the debt limit.

And while quelling Friday’s GOP mutiny is a victory for House Republican leaders, lawmakers will still have to sit through high-stakes negotiations on any changes made to the bill before the House Rules Committee considers it.

Conservatives are opposed to aspects of the legislation’s crackdown on Medicaid, which Republicans have said they are only trimming for waste, fraud, and abuse. But Medicaid work requirements for able-bodied people are not set to kick in until 2029, and conservatives have argued that it was a large window of time for those changes to be undone, among other concerns.

They’re also pushing for a more aggressive effort to repeal green energy tax subsidies passed in the former Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). 

The respective pushes have pitted them against moderates wary of significant Medicaid cuts, and Republican lawmakers whose districts have businesses that have benefited from the tax relief.

Meanwhile, moderates in high-cost-of-living areas have also pushed for larger state and local tax (SALT) deduction caps, which red state Republicans have largely dismissed as subsidies to high-tax blue states.

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The Republicans in those seats, however, have argued that it’s an existential issue for their districts, where GOP victories were critical to winning and holding the House majority.

But even after it passes the House, Republicans there likely won’t be done with the “big, beautiful bill” – Republican senators have already signaled they are likely going to make changes to the bill.

Johnson said on Fox News Sunday that House and Senate leaders were “in close coordination” on the final product, adding, “we hope that they don’t make many modifications to it.”

Any changes will have to go through the House again; identical bills must pass both chambers before getting signed into law by Trump.

Republican leaders have said they hope to get a bill on the president’s desk by Fourth of July.

Iran gives unshakeable vow regarding nuclear program amid US negotiations

Tough-on-crime new DA sends message to criminals as he takes charge in Dem-run city

Tough-on-crime Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman is doubling down on border crossings and vowed that criminals will now be held “fully accountable for their illegal actions.”

Hochman, a Republican-turned-Independent, defeated incumbent progressive prosecutor George Gascón by a 20-point margin. Gascón was considered by many voters to be soft on crime.

“I am standing at the border between LA County and San Bernardino County where criminals used to enjoy crossing in the LA direction, thinking that little to no consequences would occur if they stole, robbed and engaged in criminal conduct,” Hochman shared in a video posted on his X account on Sunday.

“Times have changed! The fun is over. A new DA was elected. And criminals in LA County will now be prosecuted and held fully accountable for their illegal actions,” he continued.”

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Hochman, a former federal prosecutor and lifelong Los Angeles resident, campaigned as a “hard middle” candidate, rejecting both mass incarceration and the “public safety failure” of Gascón’s liberal policies, which Hochman said led to increased crime and a lack of consequences for juvenile offenders.

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He also previously served as the president of the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission and accused Gascón of “catastrophic incompetence” on the campaign trail and vowed to restore order and common sense.

While in office, Gascón survived two recall attempts as voters voiced concern over his policies. He also co-authored the infamous Proposition 47, a 2014 voter-approved measure that downgraded most thefts from felonies to misdemeanors if the amount stolen were under $950, and reclassified some felony drug offenses as misdemeanors.

Despite political differences between voters, public safety is a crossover issue, said Hochman.

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“I spoke to ultra-left liberals, independents and conservative Republicans. And it turns out that even though they don’t agree on much, they do agree that making sure that the district attorney prioritizes their safety and implements policies that will hold criminals accountable for their actions in a smart and proportional manner really matters,” he said.

FBI’s Patel and Bongino shut down Epstein conspiracy theories

FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino insisted that disgraced financier and alleged sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein killed himself in his Manhattan jail cell in an exclusive interview with Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo Sunday.

Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York in August 2019. New York City’s chief medical examiner ruled his death a suicide by hanging.  He was set to stand trial on federal charges of sex trafficking of minors. His death instantly triggered a wave of conspiracy theories, with many speculating that he was murdered in order to protect the powerful figures who associated with him.

Epstein was a known associate of former President Bill Clinton, former MIT Professor Noam Chomsky, and Prince Andrew. The phrase “Epstein didn’t kill himself” became a viral internet meme in the wake of his death. Patel, however, was adamant that his death was indeed a suicide when questioned by Bartiromo. 

“As someone who has worked as a public defender, as a prosecutor who’s been in that prison system, who’s been in the Metropolitan Detention Center, who’s been in segregated housing, you know a suicide when you see one, and that’s what that was,” Patel said when questioned about Epstein’s death. He added that those who disagree with him “have a right to their opinion.”

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“He killed himself,” Bongino added, “I’ve seen the whole file, he killed himself.”

Conservatives were livid in February after the Trump administration’s Justice Department facilitated a release of documents related to the Epstein case that critics claimed had been “a complete disappointment.” The documents did not include a so-called “client list,” nor were there any new revelations regarding Epstein’s alleged sex trafficking. 

“I nor the task force were given or reviewed the Epstein documents being released today… A NY Post story just revealed that the documents will simply be Epstein’s phonebook, THIS IS NOT WHAT WE OR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ASKED FOR and a complete disappointment. GET US THE INFORMATION WE ASKED FOR!” Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., posted on X.

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After the blowback, Attorney General Pam Boni told Fox News’ Sean Hannity in March that the Justice Department had received “thousands of pages” of additional documents from the DOJ office in the Southern District of New York after she had given them a deadline to turn them over. Bondi claimed the DOJ had received a “truckload of evidence” and that a detailed report from the FBI was forthcoming. No report has been issued to date.

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Epstein and Prince Andrew accuser Virginia Giuffre died by suicide in April. Giuffre, 41, was one of the most prominent accusers to step forward and sued Prince Andrew in New York in 2021, claiming she was forced to have sex with him three times between 1999 and 2002. She claimed she was recruited by Epstein’s then-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell when she was just sixteen years old. 

Palm Springs bombing suspect’s bizarre beliefs revealed

The 25-year-old man that authorities say is responsible for bombing a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, was reportedly a self-proclaimed “pro-mortalist” and believed that people should not be brought into the world without their own consent.

Guy Edward Bartkus — who was from Twentynine Palms — allegedly set off a car bomb on Saturday near the American Reproductive Center fertility clinic, killing himself and injuring four others.

Bartkus reportedly wrote in writings and recordings that he opposed the idea of bringing people into the world against their will, KCAL News reported, citingtwo law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation.

The writings he left behind were “anti-pro-life,” U.S. Attorney Bilal “Bill” Essayli said on X.

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“This was a targeted attack against the IVF facility,” Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of FBI Los Angeles’ field office, said at a Sunday news conference. “Make no mistake, we are treating this, as I said yesterday, as an intentional act of terrorism.”

The FBI described Bartkus as having “nihilistic ideation,” and noted he may have attempted to livestream the bombing on social media. Authorities are also looking into a possible manifesto Bartkus wrote as part of their investigation, Davis said. 

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“Based on our investigation, some of the posts that he’s made online, some of the comments made in his manifesto that we’re combing through right now — it’s kind of what led us to that nihilist belief,” Davis said.

The car bombing happened just before 11 a.m. on Saturday on North Indian Canyon Drive near East Tachevah Drive, according to city officials. The explosion damaged nearby businesses and residential properties, and pieces of Bartkus’ car were thrown hundreds of feet in the air and several blocks away, according to authorities.

Bartkus was driving a 2010 silver Ford Fusion sedan with license plate number 8HWS848. Officials believe they are aware of when he entered Palm Springs, but are seeking the public’s help with finding out where he was in the city before the attack.

The FBI said Bartkus was not on their radar prior to the bombing. No criminal records, bankruptcies or sexual offenses were immediately found in a public records scan of Bartkus by Fox News Digital.

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Bartkus was a resident of Twentynine Palms, a city in San Bernardino County that is located about 60 miles away from Palm Springs. The city serves as an entry point to the Mojave Desert and Joshua Tree National Park.

“This is probably the largest bombing scene that we’ve had in Southern California,” Davis said. 

American Reproductive Centers claims to be the first and only full-service fertility center and in vitro fertilization lab in Coachella Valley, according to its website. While the building was damaged, the IVF lab and its materials remained unharmed.

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The FBI, the Palm Springs Police Department and the Palm Springs Fire Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Heartbreaking update after Mexican tall ship crashes into New York landmark

One of two people who died on the Mexican navy tall ship Cuauhtémoc, which crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City on Saturday night, has been identified as a female Mexican Navy cadet from Veracruz, according to the state’s governor.

Veracruz Gov. Rocío Nahle García identified the cadet as América Yamilet Sánchez of Xalapa in an X post Sunday.

“I deeply regret the passing of Veracruz cadet América Yamilet Sánchez,” the governor wrote in a translated post. “My love, support, and solidarity go out to her family. My gratitude to the @SEMAR_mx and my wishes for a speedy recovery for those injured. Veracruz is with you.”

Sánchez died when the ship, described as an academy training vessel, ran into the Brooklyn Bridge at about 8:20 p.m.

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The scene was captured on video by multiple eyewitnesses, showing the ship – which was flying a large Mexican flag – traveling swiftly in reverse toward the bridge near the Brooklyn side of the East River.

As the bystanders continued to watch, the ship’s three masts struck the bridge’s span and snapped, one-by-one, as the tall ship continued to push into the bridge. 

Videos captured heavy traffic on the span at the time of the collision, though nobody on the bridge was reported injured.

MASSIVE SAILING VESSEL COLLIDES WITH BROOKLYN BRIDGE IN DRAMATIC NYC CRASH CAUGHT ON CAMERA

Sailors could be seen aloft in the rigging of the damaged masts, though remarkably, officials noted, nobody fell into the water.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said Sunday in a post on X that he was fighting for answers about whether President Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency had impacted water traffic control.

“We know they’ve been meddling with U.S. Coast Guard staffing,” Schumer said. “Trump relieved Admiral Linda Fagan as Commandant of the USCG, and that position is still vacant. And the hiring freeze has limited the ability for the USCG to staff up the Vehicle Traffic Service, that’s their traffic control operation that acts like Air Traffic Control but on water. We need action for our national security, infrastructure protection, and public safety.”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) responded to Schumer’s accusations that a hiring freeze led to inadequate staffing of the Coast Guard’s Vessel Traffic Services, calling them “FALSE.”

“The US Coast Guard has been fully supported and been exempt from hiring freezes. Additionally, this incident had nothing to do with Vessel Traffic Services— when a ship loses propulsion in a high current area, the vessel needs to engage all capabilities to stop and ideally tugs are nearby to support,” DHS said in a post on X. “We encourage Minority Leader Schumer to get his facts straight before he misleads the American people.”

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called the tragedy an accident in a video shared by El Universal, a Mexican publication.

“We regret that this is being used politically because it was an accident,” Sheinbaum said while speaking with reporters from inside a vehicle on Sunday.

New York City’s deputy mayor of public safety, Kaz Daughtry, echoed Sheinbaum by calling the incident an “accident,” in an exclusive interview with Fox News.

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“This seems to be a complete accident,” Daughtry said. “However, we’re going to let the investigators determine what caused…this mechanical malfunction, whether it be with the propulsion system, with the power system…”

He continued, saying the cause was something the engineers would have to determine because it was a naval vessel that city officials do not have responsibility over, or even the ability to board.

Daughtry added that federal authorities will work with the Mexican government to determine who will take the lead on the investigation, whether that is the National Transportation and Safety Board or the Mexican equivalent of the NTSB.

The Cuauhtémoc – about 297 feet long and 40 feet wide, according to the Mexican navy – sailed for the first time in 1982. The vessel’s main mast has a height of 160 feet, according to the Mexican government. Each year, the Cuauhtémoc sets out at the end of classes at the naval military school to finish cadets’ training. This year, it left the Mexican port of Acapulco on the Pacific coast on April 6, according to the Mexican navy. 

It arrived in New York City on May 13, when visitors were welcome for several days, the Mexican consulate said. The ship was scheduled to visit 22 ports in 15 nations over 254 days, 170 of them at sea.

It is unclear what caused the ship to veer off course, and investigations are being conducted by several agencies, including the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB).

The Brooklyn Bridge, which opened in 1883, has a nearly 1,600-foot main span supported by two masonry towers. More than 100,000 vehicles and an estimated 32,000 pedestrians cross every day, according to the city’s transportation department. Its walkway is a major tourist attraction.

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Traffic was halted after the collision but was allowed to resume after an inspection, city officials said.

As midnight approached, the broken ship was moved slowly up the East River, going under and past the Manhattan Bridge, aided by a series of tugboats, before docking at a pier.

Country music legend performs final tour show of career: ‘Lived the American dream’

Alan Jackson had a “Good Time” on the road for more than three decades of his life. 

The country music legend is hanging up his cowboy hat for good, and performed his final tour show in Milwaukee, on Saturday.

Jackson, 66, announced last year that he would be retiring from the stage as he battled major health issues, and embarked on his “Last Call: One More for the Road Tour.”

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“Y’all may have heard that I’m kinda winding down. In fact, this is my last roadshow of my career,” Jackson told the crowd in a video shared online. “Y’all gonna make me tear up out here.

“I will say that this is my last road show out here, but we’re planning on doing a big finale show in Nashville next summer sometime. I just felt like I had to end it all where it all started, and that’s in Nashville, Tennessee. But this is the last one out on the road for me.”

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The “Chattahoochee” singer added, “It’s been a long, sweet ride. It started 40 years ago this September. My wife and I drove to Nashville with an ol’ UHaul trailer, and chased this dream. It’s been a crazy ride. I lived the American dream for sure. So blessed.”

“Y’all may have heard that I’m kinda winding down. In fact, this is my last roadshow of my career. Y’all gonna make me tear up out here.”

— Alan Jackson

Jackson’s representatives did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 

Jackson kicked off the tour just one year after revealing his battle with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a degenerative nerve condition that affects his motor skills. He was diagnosed in 2011.

“I have this neuropathy and neurological disease,” Jackson said during a”Today” showinterview at the time. “It’s genetic that I inherited from my daddy. There’s no cure for it, but it’s been affecting me for years. And it’s getting more and more obvious.”

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The “Livin’ on Love” musician said he’s been “self-conscious” on stage because it’s affected his ability to balance, especially in front of a crowd and in front of the microphone.

“It’s been a crazy ride. I lived the American dream for sure. So blessed.”

— Alan Jackson

“I know I’m stumbling around stage now,” he said. “I’m having a little trouble balancing, even in front of the microphone. I just feel very uncomfortable.

“In some ways it’s a relief [to talk about it] because I was starting to get so self-conscious up there about stumbling around. I think it’ll be good for me now to get it out in the open. If anybody’s curious at why I don’t walk right, that’s why.”

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In 2023, the two-time Grammy Award winner opened up about his plans to release new music despite his personal setback. 

“I’m always scribbling down ideas and thinking about melodies… I feel like there’ll be some more music to come, yes,” Jackson said during an appearance on his daughter Mattie Jackson’s “In Joy Life” podcast.

“I may not have toured much, but again… like I said, the creative part jumps out every now and then,” Jackson said.

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“[Writing songs] is more fulfilling than anything. It’s like, you can be a singer and go out and tour … but it’s kind of like you’re just doing the same thing over and over.”

WNBA launches investigation after alleged ‘hateful comments’ during game

The WNBA on Sunday said it launched an investigation into reports of “hateful comments” that took place during the Indiana Fever’s blowout win over the Chicago Sky on Saturday.

The comments were reportedly directed at Angel Reese by fans during the game.

The league didn’t get into specifics of what allegedly occurred during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

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“The WNBA strongly condemns racism, hate, and discrimination in all forms — they have no place in our league or in society. We are aware of the allegations and are looking into the matter,” the league said in a statement.

The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) also released a statement.

“The WNBPA is aware of reports of hateful comments at yesterday’s game in Indianapolis and supports the WNBA’s current investigation into this matter,” the union said. “Such behavior is unacceptable for our sport.

“Under the WNBA’s ‘No Space for Hate’ policy, we trust the league to thoroughly investigate and take swift, appropriate action to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all.”

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Pacers Sports & Entertainment CEO Mel Raines issued a statement on the matter.

“We are aware of the allegations of inappropriate fan conduct during yesterday’s game and we are working closely with the WNBA to complete their investigation,” Raines said. “We stand firm in our commitment to providing a safe environment for all WNBA players.”

The WNBA launched its “No Space for Hate” campaign before the 2025 season tipped off. The campaign will include the use of AI social media monitoring tools that will help the league enforce a revised code of conduct. 

“As part of the comprehensive plan, the WNBA is rolling out an AI-powered technology solution to monitor social media activity, in partnership with players and teams, to help protect the community from online hate speech and harassment,” it said.

A revised WNBA fan code of conduct includes regulations for fans on social media, and threats of sanctioning those fans from official content if they are violated. The new policy lists racist, homophobic, sexist, sexual, threatening or libelous content as “subject to blocking or deletion.” 

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“Repeat violations of these guidelines may result in the violator no longer being able to follow our news, comment on our posts or send us messages,” the policy reads. “Additionally, any direct threats to players, referees or other league and team personnel may be referred to law enforcement and may result in the violator being banned from all WNBA arenas and events.”

The Fever-Sky game featured a heated moment between Fever star Caitlin Clark and Reese in the third quarter. Clark fouled Reese hard, sparking an outburst from the Sky forward, but cooler heads prevailed.

Aaron Rodgers’ NFL future decided, award-winning quarterback’s biographer says

The New York Jets split with Aaron Rodgers became official in February. The breakup came nearly two years after the four-time NFL MVP’s high-profile arrival in New Jersey.

In the months since, Rodgers has reportedly drawn interest from the Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers and other teams. In March, the Vikings announced they would move past their discussions with the free-agent quarterback. 

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Rodgers recently visited the Steelers’ facilities, and multiple outlets reported he met with the team’s coaching staff. But, Rodgers has still yet to decide if he will continue his NFL career in 2025 or step away from the game all together.

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As the clock continues to tick, Ian O’Conner — who interviewed Rodgers and hundreds of others as he gathered research to compose the quarterback’s biography — offered a prediction on where the star signal caller will ultimately end up. 

“I just think verbally, behind the scenes, not that he guaranteed it, but he’s told [the Steelers], ‘Listen, I’m gonna play for you. I just don’t want to go there and then miss part of mandatory minicamp because of my personal issues. I’m pretty sure they’re gonna be solved by the end of May, at least in my satisfaction where I can give you my all.’ So that’s where I think he is,” O’Connor said during a recent appearance on 93.7 The Fan.

The Steelers’ mandatory minicamp runs from June 10 through 12. 

O’Conner went on to describe the Steelers as the “perfect place” for Rodgers to bring his storied career to a close.

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“He knows it was an embarrassment in New York largely, and he’s the face of that embarrassment,” O’Connor said. “Whether that’s fair or not, that’s the case. It may be me as an optimist, but I think this is gonna work out. Do I think the Steelers will win the Super Bowl next year? No. But if you told me 11-6 with at least one playoff victory . . . I think that’s realistic.”

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