Matt Gagnon discussed the Senate’s consideration of the sweeping domestic policy bill, known as the Big Beautiful Bill. Senator Thom Tillis expressed concerns about the impact of a provider tax on North Carolina, estimating losses at over $38 billion. Tillis, along with other Republican senators, is hesitant to vote for the bill without clarity on its provisions. Gagnon highlighted the political dynamics at play, noting that each senator has specific constituent concerns that could compromise potential budget savings. He argued that the system’s design, which slows and complicates change, is both a strength and a weakness, especially when addressing significant financial issues.
They gathered at the Washington National Cathedral on Thursday — former presidents, vice presidents, sworn political foes and newfound friends — in a show of respect and remembrance for Dick Cheney, the consequential and polarizing vice president who became an acidic scold of President Donald Trump.
Melania Trump and Usha Vance took their first trip together, spending time in North Carolina on Wednesday with service members and their families to show appreciation for their service and sacrifice as the holidays approach.
Members of the Sackler family who own OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma must pay billions of dollars to settle a flood of lawsuits over the harms of opioids, in a new deal formally approved by a federal bankruptcy judge on Tuesday.
The House voted overwhelmingly in favor of a bill Tuesday to force the Justice Department to publicly release its files on the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a remarkable display of approval for an effort that had struggled for months to overcome opposition from President Donald Trump and Republican leadership.
