Welcome to The Daily Politic Briefing! Good morning and thank you for joining us on this edition of The Daily Politic Briefing. I'm your host, bringing you the most significant political developments shaping Washington and beyond. Today, we have a packed agenda of crucial policy discussions, legislative hurdles, and partisan standoffs that are defining the current political landscape. Today's Headlines First up, we'll examine President Trump's aggressive push for tax cuts and the complex negotiations underway. Then, we'll look at the tight congressional timelines facing lawmakers before the July Fourth recess. We'll also cover the contentious rescissions package vote, Senate Republicans' border security standoff, and significant progress on cryptocurrency legislation. Finally, we'll discuss emerging divisions on defense policy and proposed changes to green credits and nutrition assistance programs. Trump's Tax Cut Campaign President Trump has set an ambitious three-week timeline for what he calls a "big, beautiful bill" on tax cuts. He's been meeting with Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Finance Chair Mike Crapo to hash out details. The central challenge is making three key business tax cuts permanent at an additional cost of $450 billion. House fiscal hawks are demanding dollar-for-dollar spending cuts for any tax increases, creating a significant hurdle. One compromise being floated involves scaling back Trump's promised tax eliminations on tips and overtime pay, though the White House strongly opposes this approach. Another point of contention involves the state-and-local-tax deduction cap. The House had increased it to $40,000, but any reduction could trigger opposition from blue-state Republicans who see this as essential for their constituents. Congressional Timeline Crunch Senate leadership aims to release final bill text by June 23rd, with votes that same week to meet their self-imposed July Fourth deadline. Majority Leader Thune has even threatened to keep senators working into the recess week if necessary. The real question is whether Speaker Mike Johnson can persuade House members to accept whatever changes emerge from the Senate. With numerous competing interests at play, there's no guarantee on timing, and the pressure is mounting as the deadline approaches. Rescissions Package Faces Opposition Speaker Johnson is moving forward with a vote on a package that would rescind $9.4 billion in previously approved funds for global aid and public broadcasting. However, this effort faces meaningful resistance within his own party. Several moderate Republicans, including Representatives Nicole Malliotakis, Don Bacon, and David Valadao, have expressed serious concerns. With Republicans only able to afford three defections assuming full attendance and united Democratic opposition, the vote margin looks extremely tight. Border Security Standoff Senate Republican leaders are working to resolve a standoff with Senator Rand Paul over border security funding. Budget Chair Lindsey Graham is expected to release text for the Homeland Security portion of the megabill that more closely mirrors the House-passed version. Paul, who chairs the Homeland panel, opposes directing $46.5 billion for building the border wall. In a surprising twist, Paul has claimed the White House uninvited him and his family from the congressional picnic over his opposition to elements of Trump's agenda, highlighting growing tensions within the party. Cryptocurrency Legislation Advances In a rare show of bipartisanship, the Senate is advancing landmark cryptocurrency legislation. A stablecoin regulatory framework has cleared procedural hurdles with support from both parties. A final vote could come as early as Tuesday if no amendment deals or time agreements emerge beforehand. This represents a significant step forward in creating a coherent regulatory environment for digital assets, something industry participants have long advoca

Welcome to The Daily Politic Briefing! Good day, listeners. This is The Daily Politic Briefing, bringing you the most significant political developments happening right now in Washington and beyond. Today we have a packed show covering critical legislative maneuvers, leadership contests, and the growing tensions between the White House and Congress on multiple fronts. In Today's Briefing: House Republicans are making crucial changes to their megabill to keep it viable in the Senate. Congressional leadership races are heating up with Rep. Mfume seeking a top committee position. President Trump's military parade is seeing notable Republican absences. We'll also cover Texas redistricting concerns, military deployments in Los Angeles, and tonight's much-anticipated Congressional Baseball Game. House GOP Megabill Adjustments House Republicans are working to salvage their megabill by removing provisions flagged by the Senate parliamentarian. Several key elements are being cut, including a $6.3 billion crackdown on the employee retention tax credit, $2 billion for Pentagon intelligence programs, and $500 million for missile development. Mining allowances in a protected Midwest wilderness area are also being removed. These changes are strategic necessities to maintain the bill's ability to pass with a simple majority rather than requiring 60 votes in the Senate, which would doom its chances. Congressional Leadership Contest In committee leadership news, 76-year-old Rep. Kweisi Mfume is making a bid to become the top Democrat on House Oversight. His campaign emphasizes seniority despite his previous departure from Congress due to frustrations with that very system. Mfume faces competition in a four-person field that includes Rep. Stephen Lynch, Rep. Robert Garcia (who secured the Congressional Hispanic Caucus endorsement), and Rep. Jasmine Crockett. Mfume's pitch centers on building consensus rather than confrontational politics. Trump's Military Parade Attendance Gaps President Trump's military parade scheduled for Saturday is notably missing many top Republicans from its attendance list. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise are all skipping the Army's 250th birthday celebration, which coincides with Trump's 79th birthday. Of those surveyed, only seven Republicans confirmed their attendance, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Byron Donalds, and Elise Stefanik. The event's price tag could exceed $40 million. Tax Policy Developments Senate Majority Leader Thune has confirmed that Trump's campaign tax pledges will remain in the Senate version of the megabill. These include eliminating taxes on tips, overtime, Social Security, and interest on car loans, despite ongoing discussions about scaling back provisions. Meanwhile, SALT Republicans are seeking meetings with Thune over the state-and-local-tax deduction, while House Freedom Caucus members have met with Senate deficit hawks to discuss their concerns. Texas Redistricting Tensions House Majority Leader Scalise has expressed skepticism about the White House's push for Texas to redraw its 38 U.S. House districts. He cautioned that efforts to preserve the GOP majority shouldn't put incumbents at risk. The Texas GOP House delegation has shown little enthusiasm for the plan and will meet with White House officials Thursday to discuss further options. Military Force in Los Angeles Speaker Mike Johnson has supported Trump's decision to deploy both National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles amid protests over ICE operations. Johnson distinguished between condemning these protesters and pardoning January 6 Capitol rioters. This position has created some fractures within the GOP, as Senator Collins broke with party leadership, noting that "Active duty forces are generally not to be involved in domestic law-enforcement operations." Congressional Baseball Game Tonight brings the annual Con

Welcome to The Daily Politic Briefing! Good morning, listeners. Today we're bringing you the most significant political developments from Washington and beyond. The GOP tax policy priorities are hitting roadblocks, budget negotiations continue as the debt ceiling deadline shifts, and major changes could be coming to CDC vaccine advisory panels. We'll also explore cybersecurity legislation targeting Chinese hackers and the political fallout from protests in Los Angeles. Let's start with Republican tax policy priorities facing internal resistance. Senate Finance Republicans are working to scale back key elements of President Trump's tax agenda. While House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith warns against diluting the president's tax vision, GOP senators are prioritizing permanent tax incentives for research, business equipment, and debt interest through 2029. To offset these costly measures, they're considering cuts to Trump's campaign promises including "no taxes on tips," "no taxes on overtime," and tax relief for seniors - which collectively cost around $230 billion. On the budget front, there's some breathing room as the so-called X-date when the country runs out of cash has been pushed back to between mid-August and September. Despite this extension, Senate Majority Leader John Thune maintains his goal to complete the megabill by July 4th. Several committees are releasing bill text this week, with Energy and HELP committees expected today, Agriculture later this week, and Finance aiming for Friday. Meanwhile, House Republicans are making procedural adjustments to ensure compliance with budget reconciliation rules. In related news, House Republican leadership is advancing the White House's rescissions package through the Rules Committee, with a floor vote expected by Thursday. Speaker Johnson continues addressing concerns about clawing back appropriated funds and cuts to programs like PEPFAR and public media. Representative Smucker, joined by 37 colleagues, has warned against "budget gimmicks" in the Senate's megabill version, insisting tax cuts must be matched by genuine spending reductions. Turning to health policy, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to replace all current members of the CDC's outside vaccine advisory panel. This move tests assurances he made during his confirmation to Senate HELP Chair Bill Cassidy about maintaining the panel "without changes." Cassidy has expressed concern that "the panel will be filled up with people who know nothing about vaccines except suspicion." On Medicare, Republicans are increasingly doubtful that a bipartisan proposal will make it into the final megabill. The legislation from Senators Cassidy and Merkley would target overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans, potentially generating significant savings, but has encountered resistance from the insurance industry and raised concerns about unintended consequences. In cybersecurity developments, House China Committee Republicans are crafting legislation to authorize American companies to conduct defensive cyber strikes against Chinese hackers. This controversial "hack back" plan would allow U.S. companies to disable IT systems used by Chinese attackers, though cyber experts have criticized such approaches as impractical or potentially escalatory. Finally, the political response to protests in Los Angeles has intensified partisan divisions. NRCC chair Rep. Richard Hudson is urging House Republicans to criticize Democrats over the unrest, while CBC chair Rep. Yvette Clarke called President Trump's decision to deploy National Guard members and Marines to Los Angeles an impeachable offense. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has clashed with Democratic lawmakers over whether California Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Bass mishandled the situation. That concludes today's Daily Political Briefing. We've covered the tensions in GOP tax policy, ongoing budget negotiations, significant changes at CDC's vaccine advisory panel,

Welcome to The Daily Politic Briefing! Good morning and thank you for joining us on this edition of The Daily Politic Briefing, where we bring you the most significant political developments shaping our nation. Today, we'll dive into the evolving tax policy debate among Republicans, critical budget maneuvers in Congress, and several other pressing issues that are dominating Washington's agenda this week. In today's briefing, we'll cover the growing tensions among Senate Republicans over Trump's tax priorities, the House's budget reconciliation process, a controversial rescissions package, landmark cryptocurrency legislation, RFK Jr.'s vaccine advisory panel shake-up, Medicare reform challenges, and a bold China cybersecurity initiative. Let's begin with the Republican tax policy debate that's heating up on Capitol Hill. Senate Finance Republicans are looking to scale back several key elements of President Trump's tax policy wish list. At issue are tax incentives for research and development, business equipment, and debt interest. House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith has warned senators against retreating from these priorities. The central question revolves around whether to make certain tax incentives permanent versus implementing Trump's campaign promises like "no taxes on tips," "no taxes on overtime," and tax relief for seniors—measures that would collectively cost around $230 billion according to the Joint Committee on Taxation. Senators Ron Johnson and Thom Tillis are among those pushing for adjustments to these policies. Meanwhile, House Republicans are navigating procedural hurdles in their budget reconciliation process. They're working to modify language in their bill to ensure compliance with Senate reconciliation rules. To avoid a standalone vote on revised measures, they're employing procedural maneuvers within the Rules Committee. House leadership anticipates a report on potential Senate complications, though Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed confidence, saying he doesn't expect "any big surprises." On the fiscal front, House Republican leadership plans to advance the White House's rescissions package through the Rules Committee, with a floor vote likely by Thursday. This package has raised concerns among some members about clawing back already-approved funding, particularly for the PEPFAR program and public media. Johnson has indicated that the White House budget office is working to provide additional details to address skeptics' concerns. In the Senate, Majority Leader John Thune is pushing to pass landmark cryptocurrency legislation this week that would establish new rules for dollar-pegged digital tokens. Republican leaders are still finalizing an amendment deal with Democrats, a process partly delayed by Senator Roger Marshall's efforts to force a vote on legislation targeting credit card swipe fees. A significant controversy is brewing at HHS, where Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is moving to dismiss all current members of the CDC's outside vaccine advisory panel—a group that plays a crucial role in setting vaccine policy. This action contradicts assurances Kennedy made during his confirmation process to maintain the panel "without changes." Senators Bill Cassidy and Susan Collins have voiced concerns about this development. On healthcare policy, Republicans are increasingly doubtful that a bipartisan Medicare proposal will make it into the final megabill package. The proposal, from Senators Cassidy and Merkley, aims to address overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans and could potentially yield significant savings. However, it has sparked concern among Republicans and faced pushback from the insurance industry. Finally, House China Committee Republicans are drafting legislation that would allow American companies to conduct defensive cyber strikes against Chinese hackers targeting the U.S. This "hack back" plan would enable U.S. companies to disable IT systems used by Chinese attackers, though

Welcome to The Daily Politic Briefing! Good morning and thank you for joining us on this significant day in American politics. I'm your host, bringing you the most crucial political developments happening right now in Washington and beyond. Today's landscape is particularly charged with legislative battles, immigration tensions, and high-stakes political maneuvering that will shape the weeks ahead. Today's Headlines First, we'll examine Senate Finance Chair Mike Crapo's mammoth legislative agenda as he navigates conflicting priorities on Trump's economic bill. Then, we'll look at Speaker Johnson's struggle to secure votes for the controversial rescissions bill. We'll also cover the escalating immigration clashes in Los Angeles and their ripple effects on Capitol Hill. Plus, the growing tension between Elon Musk and Donald Trump over the megabill, and several other critical developments shaping today's political landscape. Senate Finance Chair Faces Critical Week Senate Finance Chair Mike Crapo finds himself at the epicenter of crucial legislative battles this week. The Idaho Republican is juggling an enormous to-do list that includes resolving conflicts over tax policy, Medicaid cuts, and clean-energy credits for Trump's self-described "big, beautiful" bill. Senate Finance is expected to begin reviewing bill text with members and staff, with Crapo scheduled to brief the Senate Republican conference mid-week. Despite past tensions with House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith, the two have apparently found common ground to advance Trump's tax cut agenda. However, Crapo faces internal conflicts within Senate Finance itself. Senator Thom Tillis is pushing for modifications to the "no tax on tips" provision, while Senator James Lankford seeks to scale back planned endowment taxes targeting private universities. Crapo's personal priority appears to be using current policy baseline accounting to treat Trump's 2017 tax cuts extension as budget-neutral. Johnson's House Rescissions Bill Faces Republican Resistance Shifting to the House, Speaker Mike Johnson is confronting a serious mathematical challenge with his planned rescissions bill. The legislation, which would claw back $9.4 billion in previously approved funds for foreign aid and public broadcasting, has privately drawn opposition from at least ten moderate Republicans. These lawmakers have expressed concerns about the impact of these cuts and questioned whether it's appropriate to allow the White House to slash funding that Congress has already approved. Despite this resistance, Johnson's leadership team believes they can persuade the holdouts before Thursday's planned vote. The Rules Committee is scheduled to review the bill on Tuesday, setting the stage for a potentially tight vote later in the week. Immigration Tensions Escalate Between Los Angeles and Capitol Hill The immigration debate has intensified following clashes between law enforcement and protesters in Los Angeles over federal immigration policy. These confrontations have reverberated through Capitol Hill, especially after Trump mobilized the National Guard. Senator Lindsey Graham and Stephen Miller are leveraging these clashes to advocate for passing legislation that would strengthen immigration enforcement. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus held an emergency meeting on Sunday to address the situation, and the issue will likely dominate discussions at the House Appropriations subcommittee on Department of Homeland Security funding. Musk and Trump Clash Over Megabill A notable rift has emerged between Elon Musk and former President Trump regarding the congressional megabill. Speaker Johnson revealed he has texted with Musk but hasn't spoken with him since last Monday, adding that he isn't concerned about Musk's opposition to the bill. Johnson claimed Republicans haven't received significant constituent pushback based on Musk's complaints. Meanwhile, Trump is taking a hard line, warning Musk to

Welcome to The Daily Politic Briefing! Good morning and thank you for joining us on this edition of The Daily Politic Briefing, where we break down the most significant political developments shaping Washington and beyond. Today, we have a packed show covering the latest political tensions, legislative updates, and policy discussions that are dominating the conversation in the nation's capital. Today's Headlines In today's briefing, we'll examine the growing rift between Elon Musk and Donald Trump over the GOP's megabill, track the legislation's progress toward a July 4th deadline, discuss the looming rescissions deadline for Trump's funding clawback request, explore developing tax policy discussions, review potential changes to AI legislation, and finally, look at concerns over a planned Army parade. GOP Leaders Navigate Musk-Trump Tensions Republican leadership finds itself in an awkward position as they try to manage the fallout from a public disagreement between former President Trump and Elon Musk. The dispute centers around the GOP's domestic policy package, with Musk criticizing its impact on the deficit. Speaker Mike Johnson has stepped up to defend the bill, questioning Musk's motives while maintaining his own credentials as a deficit hawk. House Whip Tom Emmer has downplayed the impact of the spat, claiming he's not even tracking Musk's social media posts. Interestingly, there were signs late Thursday that Trump and Musk may be moving toward reconciliation. Megabill Timeline and Confidence Speaking of the megabill, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer expressed strong confidence about getting the legislation to President Trump's desk before July 4th, despite ongoing Senate disputes. "The Senate will do their work. They're going to send the bill back to us. We are going to pass it and send it to the president's desk. The time for talking is over," Emmer stated in an exclusive interview. He believes senators concerned about Medicaid provisions will be "pleasantly surprised" when they review the details, and suggested that additional reconciliation packages could follow, though he emphasized the importance of completing this first one. Rescissions Deadline Approaches A critical deadline is approaching on July 18th for Congress to act on Trump's request to rescind $9.4 billion in funding. According to the Senate parliamentarian, if Congress doesn't vote by this date, the White House will be required to spend the money. The request targets $8.3 billion in foreign aid and $1.1 billion for public broadcasting. Both chambers still have the option to approve or reject Trump's proposal before the deadline expires at midnight on July 18th. Tax Policy Discussions Continue On the tax front, Senator Steve Daines reported that Trump remained noncommittal during their White House meeting about whether business tax incentives should be extended or made permanent, saying he's "open to either way." Meanwhile, Republican senators who support clean-energy credits from the Democrats' 2022 climate law are optimistic that the Senate will soften the harsh phaseouts included in the House-passed megabill. Senator Thom Tillis predicted that "every one of them is going to have some sort of an extension." AI Legislation Faces Senate Scrutiny The House-included 10-year moratorium on state and local artificial intelligence laws faces potential rewrites in the Senate. Commerce Chair Ted Cruz indicated his committee would attempt to modify the provision, while several GOP senators questioned whether the current language meets the requirements for inclusion in a reconciliation package. Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed support for the House measure but acknowledged uncertainty about whether it could pass the procedural "Byrd test" required for reconciliation bills. Army Parade Raises Cost Concerns Finally, a planned Army parade in Washington D.C. on June 14th – coincidentally Trump's birthday – is raising eyebrows among

"Welcome to The Daily Politic Briefing!" Good morning and thank you for joining us on this edition of The Daily Politic Briefing, where we bring you the most significant political developments from Washington and beyond. Today we have a packed lineup of critical legislative battles, funding disputes, and key appointments that are shaping American politics right now. In today's briefing, we'll examine the growing tension over the SALT deduction cap, proposed CFPB funding cuts, concerns about food aid costs being shifted to states, the battle over clean energy credits, escalating tariff negotiations, a bipartisan opioid crisis bill, a new Capitol Police Chief appointment, and House appropriations planning ahead of the fiscal deadline. Let's begin with the Senate Republicans' pushback on the SALT deduction cap increase. House Republicans had proposed quadrupling the state-and-local-tax deduction limit, but Senate Finance Chair Mike Crapo has expressed skepticism, noting there's little appetite for what he described as a "$353 billion" subsidy for certain states. Senate Republicans are prioritizing making former President Trump's business tax incentives permanent rather than the five-year extension proposed by the House. This disagreement could potentially derail Trump's legislative priorities due to the precarious vote margins in the House. In another significant development, Senate Banking Republicans are proposing to completely eliminate funding for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. According to a committee staff memo, they're also looking to change the pay scale for Federal Reserve employees as part of their contribution to the GOP megabill. These Banking Republicans need to find $1 billion in cuts over the next decade to help balance the tax-and-spending package. On the social safety net front, Senator Tommy Tuberville has raised serious concerns about the House GOP plan to shift billions in federal food aid costs to states. This move, intended to help pay for the Trump megabill, has prompted Tuberville to question whether states could actually afford these new financial responsibilities. He's not alone – reports indicate that at least two dozen other Republican senators have privately expressed concerns about how this policy change would impact their home states. Turning to energy policy, a heated debate is unfolding over clean energy tax credits. The pro-clean-energy group "Protect Our Jobs" has launched a million-dollar ad campaign targeting key Senate Republicans, warning them against following the House's plan to sunset or significantly reduce green tax credits established by the Biden administration's climate law. Several Republican senators, including Jerry Moran, John Curtis, and Thom Tillis, have urged GOP leadership not to pursue a full repeal of these credits, citing potential damage to investments in their states. Meanwhile, tensions are rising in trade negotiations. During a recent hearing, Senator John Kennedy pressed Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on the administration's tariff strategy. When Kennedy asked if the administration would accept a zero-for-zero trade deal with Vietnam, Lutnick firmly rejected the idea, claiming Vietnam is being used as a pathway for Chinese products to enter the American market. This exchange suggests Republican patience with the White House's trade negotiation approach may be wearing thin. In a rare show of bipartisanship, the House voted 366-57 to reauthorize landmark legislation aimed at preventing and treating illicit opioid use. This bill would reauthorize billions in funding to combat the opioid crisis, which claimed nearly 50,000 American lives last year. The original legislation, passed in 2018, expired almost two years ago, though Congress has continued to fund its programs. In personnel news, Michael Sullivan has been appointed as the next chief of the U.S. Capitol Police. Sullivan previously served as interim chief of the Phoenix Police Department and

Welcome to The Daily Politic Briefing! Good morning and thank you for joining us on this edition of The Daily Politic Briefing, where we bring you the most significant political developments from Washington and beyond. Today, we have a packed agenda covering critical legislative battles, budget negotiations, and policy disputes that are shaping the national conversation as lawmakers race against the clock before the July 4th recess. Today's Headlines In today's briefing, we'll examine the high-stakes tax disputes in the Republican megabill, track the busy House and Senate schedules, analyze the upcoming vote on President Trump's rescissions package, dive into contentious policy battles from Medicaid to AI regulation, and catch up on the latest political movements in Washington. Tax Disputes in Republican Megabill Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Finance Republicans are heading to the White House today for a critical meeting with President Trump. They're attempting to resolve several thorny tax policy disputes that have been holding up the Republican megabill. At the center of these discussions are business tax incentives, which some members have described as a "red line" that must be made permanent. The controversial $40 billion "no tax on tips" proposal is also on the agenda. Clean-energy tax credits have emerged as another flashpoint, with senators like Tillis, Murkowski, Curtis, and Moran pushing back against full-scale repeal efforts. The SALT deduction cap remains contentious as well. While the House is advocating to increase it to $40,000, the Senate appears likely to scale back this proposal significantly. Despite these challenges, Senator Thune expressed confidence that committee bill texts would be ready by next week, with a vote planned before the July 4th recess. Busy Legislative Schedule Both chambers of Congress are in full swing today. The House is in session with votes scheduled on opioid crisis legislation, while Republicans and Democrats hold their separate weekly conference meetings. The committee schedule is particularly packed. The Appropriations Committee will examine the FAA budget and OMB budget with Russ Vought testifying. Armed Services will review the Army's fiscal posture, while Agriculture and Financial Services committees take on digital assets. Other key hearings include Oversight's examination of Defense Department fraud, Foreign Affairs' discussion of NATO challenges, and Energy and Commerce's look at illegal robocalls. Meanwhile, the Senate will vote on several nominations, including Michelle Bowman for Fed vice chair. Senate committees will hold hearings on the Commerce budget, transnational criminal organizations, and China's influence in Africa. Budget Battles and Rescissions House Republicans are preparing for a significant vote next week on President Trump's $9.4 billion rescissions request. Appropriations Chair Tom Cole characterized this as "a big test case" for Congress's appetite to codify cuts proposed by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Interestingly, this package will bypass the normal committee process and go straight to the floor, following negotiations between top GOP appropriators and the White House. OMB Director Russ Vought is scheduled to testify before the House Appropriations Committee today, where these matters will likely be addressed. Policy Debates Heating Up Several major policy debates are reaching critical junctures. On Medicaid, Senator Justice has now voiced support for freezing new provider taxes, though concerns remain among other lawmakers. A proposed 10-year ban on states enforcing artificial intelligence laws is facing significant pushback from Democrats and some Republicans who worry about overriding state authority. The cryptocurrency sector is watching closely as the Senate is expected to introduce new legislation this month that could reshape digital asset regulation. Defense Department spending is under in

Welcome to The Daily Politic Briefing! Good morning and thank you for joining us on this edition of The Daily Politic Briefing, where we bring you the most significant political developments shaping Washington and beyond. Today, we have a packed agenda covering critical legislative maneuvers, executive actions, and political responses that are defining this week's political landscape. Today's Headlines In today's briefing, we'll examine the Senate's strategic rollout of the GOP megabill, the White House's proposed $9.4 billion spending cuts package, and Elon Musk's surprising opposition to Republican legislation. We'll also cover complications with AM radio legislation, immigration-related SBA bills, Obama's defense of the Affordable Care Act, and important leadership changes on Capitol Hill. Senate Megabill Rollout Strategy The Senate is preparing for a carefully orchestrated release of the GOP megabill components beginning in June 2025. Senate committees will unveil portions in a strategic sequence, starting with Armed Services on Tuesday, followed by Environment and Public Works on Wednesday, Commerce on Thursday, and Banking on Friday. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has set an ambitious timeline, aiming to bring the complete package to the floor by late June, just before the July 4th recess. Committee staffers are currently working closely with the Senate Parliamentarian to ensure all provisions comply with budget reconciliation rules. What's particularly notable is President Trump's personal engagement with this legislation. He's been meeting directly with key senators including Thune, Rick Scott, Ron Johnson, and Josh Hawley to discuss specific details of the bill. White House Spending Cuts Package The administration is moving forward with a significant $9.4 billion spending cuts package targeting several programs. This rescissions package aims to reduce funding for public broadcasting entities like NPR and PBS, along with foreign aid programs, potentially including PEPFAR, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. While House Republican leadership helped shape this package, it may face resistance in the Senate. Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins has already voiced concerns about cuts to PEPFAR, emphasizing that the program has "saved literally millions of lives." The package is expected to move through the House next week, but its path in the Senate appears more challenging. Musk's Megabill Opposition Creates Stir In an unexpected development, Elon Musk has publicly criticized the GOP domestic-policy megabill, calling it a "disgusting abomination" in a post on X. This comment has created significant ripples on Capitol Hill. Speaker Mike Johnson responded by calling Musk's assessment "terribly wrong" and "very disappointing," revealing that he had personally walked Musk through the bill recently. Most Senate Republicans appear unmoved by Musk's criticism, with Senator Thom Tillis simply responding "No" when asked if Musk's message would influence amendments. Even lawmakers who have previously aligned with Musk seem unswayed by his opposition. Senator Kevin Cramer summed up the sentiment by stating, "I like Elon Musk, but he's one man." AM Radio Legislation Faces Complications A seemingly straightforward bill to maintain AM radio in vehicles is becoming unexpectedly complex. Automakers are now pushing to link the AM Radio in Every Vehicle Act with the American Music Fairness Act, which would require broadcasters to pay royalties to copyright holders. Automaker trade groups argue that "Congress should not mandate the use of an infringing platform that exploits artists by not paying them for their work." This strategic move has complicated what was previously considered a popular and straightforward piece of legislation, as broadcasters who support the AM radio mandate strongly oppose the music payment requirements. Immigration-Related SBA Bills Advancing The House is preparing to

Welcome to The Daily Politic Briefing! Good morning and thank you for joining us for today's essential political updates. I'm your host, bringing you the most significant developments from Washington and beyond. In a fast-moving political landscape, we're here to break down what matters most and why you should care. Let's dive into today's top stories. Today's Headlines In today's briefing, we'll cover the Senate's ambitious megabill taking shape this week, President Trump's hands-on involvement with key legislation, the White House's new $9.4 billion spending cuts package, cryptocurrency legislation developments, Russia sanctions deliberations, complications with the AM Radio bill, immigration-related votes in the House, ACA debates, and personnel changes at the Capitol. Senate Megabill Timeline Takes Shape Senate committees are beginning to release portions of the GOP megabill this week, following a strategic sequence from least to most controversial items. The Armed Services Committee kicks things off today, followed by Environment and Public Works tomorrow, Commerce on Thursday, and Banking on Friday. The Finance Committee, handling the more contentious tax cuts and Medicaid changes, will likely be among the last to release its text. According to Majority Leader John Thune, the full bill should reach the Senate floor by the last week of June, just before the July 4th recess. This timeline depends on Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough's review to ensure provisions comply with budget reconciliation rules. Presidential Engagement on Legislative Priorities President Trump has stepped up his direct involvement with the megabill, holding separate meetings with Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senator Rick Scott. He's also been working the phones, speaking with Senators Ron Johnson about returning to pre-pandemic spending levels and Josh Hawley regarding Medicaid changes. Looking ahead, the President is expected to meet with Thune and Finance Chair Mike Crapo either this week or next to specifically address the tax portions of the bill, signaling the administration's high-priority focus on this legislation. White House Proposes $9.4 Billion in Spending Cuts The White House is preparing to send Congress a $9.4 billion rescissions package targeting funding for NPR, PBS, and foreign aid programs. While House Republican leadership helped shape this request, Senate Republicans are exploring options to amend it. Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins expressed uncertainty about whether her committee would mark up the package, citing "complicated" rules around modifying rescissions requests. Budget Director Russ Vought has indicated openness to additional packages and is working with House GOP leaders on making DOGE cuts permanent. Cryptocurrency Legislation Faces Hurdles Majority Leader Thune has committed to finalizing landmark cryptocurrency legislation "in the very near future," but his promise of an open amendment process may complicate passage. One potential amendment forcing credit card processors like Visa and MasterCard to compete on swipe fees has Senator Thom Tillis warning it would be a "deal killer" if adopted. Russia Sanctions Bill Deliberations Continue Despite bipartisan pressure to act quickly, Thune is proceeding cautiously with Senator Lindsey Graham's Russia sanctions bill. The Majority Leader indicated it "could be something we take up in this work period" but emphasized coordination with the White House on timing and strategy. Meanwhile, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for the bill to be put on the floor "as soon as possible," highlighting the tension between congressional and executive approaches to Russia policy. AM Radio Legislation Hits New Roadblock Efforts to pass the AM Radio in Every Vehicle Act face fresh complications as automakers link it to the American Music Fairness Act. Two car manufacturer trade groups argue that "Congress should not mandate the u