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Despite risks that President Donald Trump’s multitrillion-dollar tax breaks package could stall due to conservative holdouts, House Speaker Mike Johnson and his GOP leadership team appeared confident that they will be able to stick to their schedule and shore up Republican support for final passage before Memorial Day.
Next steps are highly uncertain. As evening hours set in, the upbeat tone stood at odds with the unwieldy scene at the Capitol. The Rules Committee has been grinding through a marathon session, passing its 18th hour. Another Republican, Tennessee Rep. John Rose, announced his opposition to the GOP bill as Democrats use all available tools to press their opposition.
Other news we’re following:
Trump’s baseless claim of ‘genocide’ in South Africa: The U.S. president forcefully accused South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government of failing to address claims of the systematic killing of white farmers. Trump had already cut all U.S. assistance to South Africa and welcomed dozens of white South African farmers as refugees.Deportation of 8 migrants violated court order, judge says: Judge Brian E. Murphy said the administration was “unquestionably in violation” of a court order on deportations to third countries with a flight linked to South Sudan, noting that the migrants weren’t given a meaningful opportunity to object that the deportation could put them in danger. The acting director of ICE, Todd Lyons, called the migrants “true national security threats” and offered few details on their final destinations.Administration accepts free Boeing 747 from Qatar: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has accepted the jet for Trump to use as Air Force One. Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said the plane was accepted “in accordance with all federal rules and regulations,” though it’s unclear how long or how much it would cost to retrofit the plane to meet security requirements.
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