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Tuesday, May 13, 2025
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Jack Montgomery
NatSec

Pro-Terrorist Twitch Streamer Hasan Piker Detained at U.S. Airport.

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❓What Happened: Hasan Piker, a far-left streamer on Amazon’s Twitch with over six million followers across social media, was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. Piker, who openly backs Houthi attacks on civilian shipping in the Red Sea, claims he was targeted for his views on foreign policy and stance against President Donald J. Trump.

👥 Who’s Involved: Hasan Piker, CBP officials, U.S. government spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin, and the Trump administration.

📍 Where & When: Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, on Sunday, May 11, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “Claims that his political beliefs triggered the inspection are baseless,” U.S. government official Tricia McLaughlin posted on X (formerly Twitter).

⚠️ Impact: Piker’s detention underscores the Trump administration’s firm stance on national security, prioritizing scrutiny of individuals with terrorist sympathies.

IN FULL:

Hasan “HasanAbi” Piker, a top streamer on Amazon’s Twitch platform, was detained by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Sunday. Piker, boasting over six million followers across social media, openly supports the Houthis—a designated terrorist organization operating out of Yemen—and their attacks on civilian shipping and sailors. Piker, who was raised in Turkey, previously said that “America deserved 9/11” and stated Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), who lost an eye during a deployment in Iraq, “literally los[t] his eye because some mujahideen—a brave f***ing soldier—f***ed his eye hole with their d**k.”

Piker, returning from France, complained on X (formerly Twitter) that CBP officials quizzed him about his views on Trump, Israel, the Houthis, and Hamas, claiming the “insane situation” was an attempt to “silence” him. “It’s very obvious that they knew exactly who I was,” he told followers, framing the inspection as a political witch hunt.

U.S. officials denied Piker’s claims, with spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin saying he was “lying for likes,” and adding: “Claims that his political beliefs triggered the inspection are baseless.” The CBP added, “Our officers are following the law, not agendas,” and that Piker was released promptly after a lawful check.

Notably, Piker is not merely pro-Palestinian or anti-Trump. In a recent debate with Ethan Klein, a liberal YouTuber, Piker stated, “I believe what the Houthis are doing… to implement a blockade on the Red Sea, is a good thing, ten toes f***ing down. They are on the morally right side.”

Of an incident in which Houthi terrorists hijacked a civilian vessel and held a number of Filipino sailors hostage for around a year, Piker said, “It is a show of force to stop other… commercial shipping from going through. They literally bankrupted an entire Israeli port, I’d say that’s numbers on the f***ing board, baby.”

As recently as March, Piker told his followers, “If you cared about Medicare fraud or Medicaid fraud, you would kill Rick Scott, OK?” Last April, responding to comments by Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) on anti-Israel protestors, Piker shared an image of an improvised firearm design, in what was widely interpreted as a call to assassinate the GOP lawmaker.

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2 hours ago
Economy
News

Trump Scraps Biden Regulations, Saving Consumers $11BN+.

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❓What Happened: The Trump administration announced the reversal of dozens of appliance energy regulations, saving consumers over $11 billion and removing 125,000 words from federal regulations.

👥 Who’s Involved: The Department of Energy, headed by Energy Secretary Chris Wright, under President Donald J. Trump’s leadership; former Joe Biden-era Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.

📍 Where & When: The action was announced on Monday, with regulations impacting households and businesses across the United States.

💬 Key Quote: “It should not be the government’s place to decide what kind of appliances you or your restaurants or your businesses can buy,” said Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

⚠️ Impact: The move prioritizes consumer choice and free markets over Biden-era climate-driven appliance restrictions, reversing rules on gas stoves, dishwashers, shower heads, and more.

IN FULL:

The Trump administration has rolled back a series of Joe Biden-era energy regulations targeting household appliances, in a move announced Monday that will save consumers over $11 billion and eliminate more than 125,000 words from federal regulations.

The Department of Energy (DOE) confirmed the reversal of rules restricting sales of certain gas stoves, ovens, dishwashers, faucets, and other appliances. The Biden government implemented these regulations as part of its broader climate change agenda, pushing consumers toward electrification and away from natural gas reliance.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright emphasized the importance of consumer freedom, stating, “It should not be the government’s place to decide what kind of appliances you or your restaurants or your businesses can buy.” Wright added that the Trump administration is working to “bring back common sense” and reduce regulatory burdens that he described as elitist and counterproductive.

The action also includes streamlining regulations related to natural gas imports and exports, approvals for electric energy exports, and procedures for purchasing Strategic Petroleum Reserve oil stocks.

“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we are bringing back common sense—slashing regulations meant to appease Green New Deal fantasies, restrict consumer choice, and increase costs for the American people,” Wright said.

The move comes after President Trump ended Biden’s anti-coal policies to boost American energy production and dismantle the woke Green agenda of the former Democratic administration.

Image by Ivan Radic. 

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3 hours ago
Christopher Tomlinson
World

Muslim Prosecutor Faces Repeat Sexual Assault Allegations, Used Palestine to Silence Victim.

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❓What Happened: The chief prosecutor in the International Criminal Court (ICC) war crimes case against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allegedly used the situation in Gaza to try to silence a woman accusing him of sexual assault.

👥 Who’s Involved: British-Pakistani Karim Khan KC, an unnamed Malaysian woman, the ICC, the United Nations (UN).

📍 Where & When: The accusations date back to 2023, but recordings of Khan were released on May 11.

💬 Key Quote: “It’s the feeling of being trapped.” — Unnamed Malaysian victim.

⚠️ Impact: The accusations call Khan’s credibility into question, with some claiming he launched the prosecution of Netanyahu after learning of the accusations against him.

IN FULL:

A British-Pakistani prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has been accused of using Gaza to silence a woman who accused him of sexually assaulting her. Karim Khan KC heads the war crimes case against Israel at the ICC in the Hague and is alleged to have told the woman accusing him that her accusations could harm the Palestinian cause.

Khan’s statements were allegedly recorded during a phone conversation. He stated, “The casualties [of the victim’s allegations] will unfortunately be three: You and your family, me and my family, and the justice of [Israel’s] victims.” Khan is currently under investigation by the United Nations, which heard the recording as testimony.

Khan launched the arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last Tuesday, two weeks after he had learned of the sex allegations.

According to reports, the alleged victim is a Malaysian woman in her thirties, said to have been pressured into non-consensual sexual intercourse several times by Khan. “He always holds on to me and leads me to the bed,” the alleged victim said in her testimony, adding, “It’s the feeling of being trapped.” The various assaults allegedly took place in the Hague as well as on trips to Paris and countries in Africa.

Khan rejects the allegations and claims that not only are they not true, but he had informed the United States he would be seeking to arrest Netanyahu before learning about the allegations against him.

Image by the UN International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

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14 hours ago
News

MAGA Welcomes South African Refugees – VIDEO.

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❓What Happened: Dozens of white South Africans, specifically Afrikaners, arrived in the U.S. on May 11 as refugees under a program initiated by the Trump administration.

👥 Who’s Involved: 49 Afrikaners, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, U.S. President Donald Trump, and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.

📍 Where & When: The group departed South Africa on May 11, arriving in Washington, D.C., and is heading to Texas.

💬 Key Quote: “Refugees from South Africa. Notice these are actual families. Men, women and children who will easily assimilate and appreciate the United States. Stark contrast between the hordes of single men who were coming to abuse our system.”

⚠️ Impact: This marks the first relocation of Afrikaner refugees to the U.S. under a program addressing race-based persecution in South Africa.

IN FULL:

A group of 49 Afrikaners, members of South Africa’s white ethnic minority, arrived in the United States on May 11 after being granted refugee status under a program initiated by President Donald J. Trump. The group departed South Africa on a chartered flight bound for Washington, D.C., before continuing to Texas, according to South African Transport Department spokesman Collen Msibi.

This marks the first relocation of Afrikaners under a refugee admissions program established by Trump’s February 7 executive order. The order allows for the resettlement of Afrikaner refugees fleeing what the president described as “government-sponsored race-based discrimination.”

The program was introduced following South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s signing of the Expropriation Act in January. The legislation permits the redistribution of certain unused lands, a move aimed at addressing racial disparities in land ownership rooted in the apartheid era. The South African government has emphasized that specific conditions must be met before expropriating land, such as where land has been abandoned or is being held for speculation.

“Refugees from South Africa. Notice these are actual families. Men, women and children who will easily assimilate and appreciate the United States. Stark contrast between the hordes of single men who were coming to abuse our system,” wrote Geiger Capital on X.

Trump has been vocal about the situation, describing it as a “genocide” and highlighting the violence faced by white farmers. “White farmers are being brutally killed and their land is being confiscated. And the media doesn’t even talk about it,” he said in March.

The South African government has falsely dismissed these claims, labeling the U.S. refugee program as “politically motivated.” It stated, “Allegations of discrimination are unfounded… these do not meet the threshold of persecution required under domestic and international refugee law.” In reality, white farmers in South Africa have been exposed to major racial violence for decades.

White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller defended the program, asserting that the Afrikaners’ situation constitutes “race-based persecution.” He said, “What was happening in South Africa fits the textbook definition of why the refugee program was created.”

In March, Trump also announced plans to cut federal funding to South Africa over its expropriation policies. The White House warned that aid would cease if South Africa “continues to support bad actors on the world stage and allows violent attacks on innocent disfavored minority farmers.”

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15 hours ago
Economy

Trump’s Tariffs Net $16 BILLION and Slashed Budget Deficit.

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❓What Happened: U.S. tariff receipts reached a record $16.3 billion in April, marking an 86 percent increase from March and over double the amount collected in April 2024.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, the U.S. Treasury Department, and American taxpayers.

📍 Where & When: The United States, April 2025.

💬 Key Quote: Treasury Department data shows, “Customs duties totaled $16.3 billion for the month.”

⚠️ Impact: The tariffs contributed to a $258.4 billion budget surplus for April, though the fiscal year deficit remains at $1.05 trillion.

IN FULL:

U.S. tariff revenues surged to a record $16.3 billion in April 2025, as customs duties implemented under President Donald J. Trump’s trade policies began to take full effect, according to the Treasury Department. The figure represents an 86 percent jump from March’s $8.75 billion and more than double the $7.1 billion collected during the same month last year.

The increase follows the introduction of a 10 percent across-the-board tariff on foreign imports beginning April 2, adding to previously established duties. The year-to-date total for tariff receipts now stands at $63.3 billion, an 18 percent rise compared to the same period in 2024.

Despite the U.S. continuing to grapple with a significant budget deficit, the influx of tariff revenue contributed to a $258.4 billion surplus for April. Typically, this month sees an increase in government revenue due to the mid-April income tax filing deadline. The surplus marks a 23 percent increase from April 2024, though the fiscal year deficit remains high at $1.05 trillion, a 13 percent increase from the previous year.

On an annual basis, April 2025 receipts rose 10 percent compared to 2024, while government expenditures declined by 4 percent. However, year-to-date figures show a 5 percent increase in receipts alongside a 9 percent rise in spending.

Meanwhile, high interest rates continue to weigh heavily on the federal budget. Net interest payments on the $36.2 trillion national debt reached $89 billion in April, making it the second-largest expense category after Social Security. For the fiscal year, net interest costs have totaled $579 billion.

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16 hours ago
Immigration
News

WATCH: Leftists Clash With Cops Outside Major U.S. Migrant Facility.

🧭 PULSE POINTS:

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Far-left agitators clashed with police at the Delaney Hall ICE detention center Monday afternoon in Newark, blocking emergency vehicles and forcing their way toward the facility’s outer gates.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The agitators confronted Newark police and other law enforcement officers stationed at the site.

⚠️FALLOUT: Protesters barricaded entrances, impeded ambulance access, and shoved through barriers in a series of confrontations with officers.

📌SIGNIFICANCE: The unrest follows last week’s high-profile incident involving Democratic Reps. Watson Coleman, Menendez Jr., and McIver—who entered the facility as Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested outside. Tensions surrounding the GEO Group-run ICE center continue to escalate.

📰 IN FULL:

Tensions erupted again at the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in Newark on Monday as far-left agitators clashed with police during a fresh wave of protests.

In the early afternoon, demonstrators barricaded entrances to the facility and blocked access for emergency vehicles, including ambulances. Video from the scene shows activists shoving through outer gates and confronting law enforcement officers attempting to maintain order.

The incident marks a sharp continuation of unrest surrounding Delaney Hall, which reopened May 1 under a federal contract with the private prison firm GEO Group. Just days ago, three Democratic members of Congress—Bonnie Watson Coleman, Robert Menendez Jr., and LaMonica McIver—entered the facility. At the same time, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested after being denied entry. The confrontation sparked legal threats from the Department of Homeland Security and widespread national attention.

Today’s clashes further underline the breakdown between federal immigration enforcement and local resistance in sanctuary jurisdictions like Newark. Delaney Hall’s reopening has faced staunch opposition from city officials and far-left activist groups, who have sought to disrupt its operations physically.

No official arrest figures or statements from Newark police had been released at the time of this report.

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16 hours ago
Christopher Tomlinson
UK

Retired Cop Arrested Over Tweet in Stasi-Style Raid.

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❓What Happened: Police in the United Kingdom arrested a retired police officer for posts on X (formerly Twitter), held him for eight hours, but admitted later he had not committed a crime.

👥 Who’s Involved: British police, former special constable Julian Foulkes, the British government.

📍 Where & When: The raid and arrest occurred in November 2023, but bodycam footage of the raid was released on May 10.

💬 Key Quote:  “Nobody is really safe… the public needs to see what’s happening, and be shocked.” — Julian Foulkes.

⚠️ Impact: The case is just one of many alleged speech crimes or so-called non-crime hate incidents that have seen British police raid or arrest people based on social media posts.

IN FULL:

A retired British police officer was arrested over a social media post on X (formerly Twitter) and had his home raided by police, who questioned his pro-Brexit books. The former special constable was then taken to a police station, where he was held for eight hours.

Julian Foulkes, from Kent in England, was arrested in November 2023, but body camera footage from the police who raided his home was only published on May 10. The footage shows officers criticising Foulkes’s book collection, which contains pro-Brexit material.

The post that prompted the raid was a tacit defense of then-Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s description of anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian demonstrations in London as “hate marches.” Foulkes said the marchers were “One step away from storming Heathrow [Airport] looking for Jewish arrivals,” in reference to Muslims storming an airport in Russia’s Dagestan region looking for arriving Israelis.

“Free speech is clearly under attack,” Foulkes told British media, adding, “Nobody is really safe… the public needs to see what’s happening, and be shocked.” Along with being raided, police also seized Foulkes’s electronic devices and went through many of his personal belongings.

Despite locking Foulkes in a cell for eight hours, police later admitted he had done nothing wrong and even stated that the caution they gave him had been a mistake.

Mr Foulkes commented on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer telling President Donald J. Trump that the United Kingdom has had free speech for a long time, saying, “I saw Starmer in the White House telling Trump we’ve had it in the UK for a very long time, and I thought, ‘Yeah, right.’ We can see what’s really going on.”

The case is just the latest example of British police showing up at people’s homes or even arresting them over social media posts. A similar incident happened to Telegraph newspaper writer Allison Pearson over a social media post that was declared a “non-crime hate incident.” Police turned up at her home last November to ask about her posts.

As many as 250,000 non-crime hate incidents are reported to police every year in Britain.

Jack Montgomery contributed to this report. 

Image by Bob Bob.

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17 hours ago
Immigration

Trump Administration Revokes Deportation Protections for Additional Refugees.

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❓What Happened: The Trump administration has officially ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghan refugees, opening the door to deportations.

👥 Who’s Involved: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the decision; tens of thousands of Afghans are affected.

📍 Where & When: The announcement was made on Monday, May 12, 2025, in the United States, with deportation protections expiring in 60 days.

💬 Key Quote: “This administration is returning TPS to its original temporary intent,” said Secretary Noem, adding: “Afghanistan has had an improved security situation, and its stabilizing economy no longer prevents them from returning to their home country.”

⚠️ Impact: Deportation protections for Afghans will lapse, affecting tens of thousands of migrants, many of whom were resettled in Texas, California, and Virginia.

IN FULL:

The Trump administration has ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghan refugees, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Monday. The move sets the stage for the potential deportation of tens of thousands of Afghans currently residing in the United States. Deportation protections will expire in 60 days, the minimum period allowed by law after such a notice is issued.

“This administration is returning TPS to its original temporary intent,” Sec. Noem stated, adding: “We’ve reviewed the conditions in Afghanistan with our interagency partners, and they do not meet the requirements for a TPS designation. Afghanistan has had an improved security situation, and its stabilizing economy no longer prevents them from returning to their home country.”

The Biden government had brought approximately 76,000 Afghan nationals to the United States following the chaotic U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, a move ordered by President Joe Biden. Many of these individuals were resettled in states like Texas, California, and Virginia. Between 2010 and 2022, the Afghan population in the U.S. grew from 54,000 to 195,000, though it remains unclear how many of these individuals have obtained legal permanent residency or citizenship.

However, Noem’s analysis pointed to signs of recovery, such as Chinese tourism returning to the region, and a decline in the number of people requiring humanitarian assistance—from over 29 million last year to 23.7 million this year.

The Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, created in 2006 and expanded in 2009, was initially designed to assist Afghan and Iraqi translators working with U.S. forces. Many of the Afghans currently in the U.S. fled during Joe Biden’s botched 2021 withdrawal, supposedly seeking refuge from Taliban reprisals.

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17 hours ago
Immigration

US Cancels Mexican Governor’s Visa as Trump-Sheinbaum Tensions Escalate.

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❓What Happened: The U.S. revoked tourist visas for Mexico’s Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Avila and her husband, Carlos Torres.

👥 Who’s Involved: Governor Marina del Pilar Avila, her husband Carlos Torres, and the U.S. State Department.

📍 Where & When: Baja California, Mexico; announcement made on Sunday, May 11, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “I make this information public with responsibility and transparency, not only to avoid speculation but also to limit political opponents’ misuse of this situation,” Carlos Torres said.

⚠️ Impact: The visa revocation raises questions about U.S.-Mexico relations, though the issue may stem from Avila and Torres’s abuse of temporary tourism visas to conduct Mexican government business in the United States.

IN FULL:

The United States has revoked tourist visas for Marina del Pilar Avila, the governor of Mexico’s Baja California state, and her husband, Carlos Torres, who also serves as the state’s coordinator of special projects. Governor Avila announced the development on Sunday through a post to X (formerly Twitter).

Avila stated that no formal accusations, investigations, or incidents had been raised against her or her husband in either Mexico or the United States. Meanwhile, Torres claims the revocations are part of a broader pattern of administrative actions by the U.S. State Department against Mexican officials. “Currently, the application of these administrative criteria has become increasingly common and, like so many others, I am included in that universe,” Torres said.

The couple’s visas were reportedly revoked shortly after a visit to San Diego, where they promoted tourism in Baja California. While the U.S. State Department has not given an official reason for the revocation, it could stem from the couple engaging in cross-border tourism as Mexican government officials while in the United States on tourism visas.

Notably, if Avila and Torres only held B1/B2 temporary visas—used for short business trips and tourism—they would be barred from engaging in official Mexican government business while in the country. Diplomats and foreign government officials undertaking official business are required to obtain an A1/A2 visa.

Some reports suggest 2019 pictures of Avila with Emmanuel ‘El Botas’ Serrano, allegedly linked to Sinaloa Cartel boss Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, could also be a factor, although these have been public knowledge since 2022.

Torres has retained an international immigration attorney to explore legal options, including reopening or reconsidering the decision, or applying for a new visa.

Torres emphasized transparency in addressing the situation, stating, “I make this information public with responsibility and transparency, not only to avoid speculation, but also to limit political opponents’ misuse of this situation.” He also criticized political adversaries, claiming they are “willing to turn any fact into slander if they think it will give them an advantage.”

Governor Avila expressed her support for her husband, describing him as a man of integrity and dedication. “My support for him isn’t just personal, it’s moral and political,” she wrote, adding that the situation requires “composure and prudence” given the complex binational context.

The visa issue follows broader tensions between the U.S. and Mexico, including a recent dispute involving Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and her refusal to allow American military intervention in combating drug cartels. Both Avila and Torres are members of Sheinbaum’s Morena party, which has faced criticism from U.S. President Donald J. Trump.

Image by Jads28bc28.

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18 hours ago
William Upton
Politics

House Republicans Unveil Tax Provisions in Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill,’ Including No Tax on Tips and Overtime.

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❓What Happened:  House Republicans have unveiled the sweeping tax provisions that will be included in their budget reconciliation legislation, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The measures will permanently enshrine key elements of the 2017 Trump tax cuts while adding new deductions for tips, overtime, car loan interest, school choice scholarship contributions, and more.

👥 Who’s Involved: The amendment was filed by Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Many of the provisions reflect President Donald J. Trump’s 2024 campaign pledges, providing relief for American workers.

📍 Where & When: The tax provisions were filed on Monday, May 12, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “This week the Republicans are meeting in the Tax, Energy, and Agriculture Committees on major pieces of ‘THE ONE, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’,” President Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Monday, adding: “Republicans need to UNIFY behind their Highly Respected Chairmen, Jason Smith, Brett Guthrie, and Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson. Remember, these are men that truly strive to do what is RIGHT for America.”

⚠️ Impact: The bill enacts a number of President Trump’s 2024 campaign promises, providing tax relief for American workers through no tax on tips and no tax on overtime provisions. Additionally, other tax changes aim to boost domestic industry and make permanent Trump’s 2017 tax cuts.

IN FULL:

House Republicans have unveiled the tax portion of what President Donald J. Trump has dubbed the “Big, Beautiful Bill“—budget reconciliation legislation that will implement much of the America First leader’s White House agenda. Filed by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) as an amendment to the overall budget bill, the legislative measure contains provisions making the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent, and expands them with a bevy of new deductions aimed at workers, families, car buyers, and donors to private education initiatives.

“This week the Republicans are meeting in the Tax, Energy, and Agriculture Committees on major pieces of ‘THE ONE, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’,” President Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social earlier on Monday, adding: “Republicans need to UNIFY behind their Highly Respected Chairmen, Jason Smith, Brett Guthrie, and Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson. Remember, these are men that truly strive to do what is RIGHT for America.”

Critically, the Ways and Means amendment that will be incorporated into the larger reconciliation bill begins by eliminating the 2025 sunset provisions in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). Under the new framework, lower individual tax rates would remain in place permanently, and the increased standard deduction would be retained and boosted through 2028. The Child Tax Credit would increase from $2,000 to $2,500 between 2025 and 2028, then remain indexed to inflation thereafter. Eligibility for the credit would require each child to possess a valid Social Security Number—a change likely aimed at curbing fraudulent filings involving non-citizens.

The bill also introduces a new set of work-based incentives. Cash tips would become non-taxable in qualifying service industries. Overtime wages would be newly deductible for workers through 2028. Senior citizens would receive an additional $4,000 standard deduction, phased out at higher income levels. Another provision allows car buyers to deduct loan interest payments, provided the vehicle was assembled in the United States.

Education reforms also receive a significant boost. The bill offers a federal tax credit of up to $5,000 for donations to approved Scholarship Granting Organizations that support private and religious schooling. A nationwide cap of $5 billion would apply. Five hundred and twenty-nine savings plans would also be expanded to include homeschool expenses, tutors, special education therapies, and educational materials. The adoption tax credit is enhanced and made partially refundable, with new language recognizing tribal government input in determining children with special needs.

Notably, the estate tax exemption would rise to $15 million per person, effective permanently, providing additional protections to family farms. The Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) thresholds would be extended indefinitely. High-income earners would face a return of the so-called Pease limitation on itemized deductions, kicking in on incomes over $400,000.

Overall, the tax provisions reflect President Trump’s America First agenda, rewarding work, family formation, religious schooling, and domestic manufacturing. The Ways and Means Committee amendment’s text is 389 pages long, though the final full reconciliation bill is expected to be far longer.

While House and Senate Democrats have already expressed their opposition to the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” under the rules of the budget reconciliation process, the legislation only requires a majority in each chamber of Congress for passage. Additionally, a budget bill moved under the reconciliation process is not subject to Senate filibuster rules, meaning Republicans will not need to reach the 60-vote threshold to invoke cloture.

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