NATIONAL

Polarizing Budget Bill Passes: The Republican House and Senate passed a budget bill that gives tax breaks to middle to high earners and seniors, with the biggest breaks to the wealthiest Americans. It makes up for the lost revenue by cutting access to healthcare and food assistance for the poorest and rural Americans. The bill also provides for huge funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), potentially making the agency the largest paramilitary force behind the US and Chinese armies. For details on the bill, click here.

BUDGET BILL IMPACT

Rural Hospital in Nebraska Closes:  In the first, immediate impact of the budget bill, the Curtis Medical Center in rural Nebraska, providing essential healthcare services to families, students and individuals in this rural region, is closing. Their statement - “Unfortunately, the current financial environment, driven by anticipated federal budget cuts to Medicaid, has made it impossible for us to continue operating all of our services, many of which have faced significant financial challenges for years.” KNOP NEWS

Republican Lawmaker Pleads With his State’s Governor to Protect Hospitals from Trump’s Budget: Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin wrote a letter urging his state’s Democratic governor to take steps to protect rural hospitals from the fallout of Republicans’ budget bill — which Van Orden voted for. Van Orden’s letter acknowledged the legitimacy of widespread fears that Republicans’ Trump-backed budget will harm some of the most vulnerable Americans. MSNBC

DESI NEWS

Fee on Remittances to India to be at 1% in Some Cases:  The budget bill introduces a 1% levy on remittances made through cash, money orders, or cashier’s cheques. It targets international money transfers made by non-U.S. citizens, including green card holders and temporary visa workers like those on H-1B or H-2A visas. The proposed levy will not be applicable to U.S. citizens. THE HINDU

CORRUPTION ALERT

Special Tax Breaks in the Budget Bill:  Special tax breaks for venture capitalists, Alaskan fisheries, spaceports, private schools, rum makers and others — together costing tens of billions of dollars — quietly caught a ride on Republicans’ sprawling domestic policy megabill. The legislation is primarily designed to prevent $4 trillion in looming tax increases set to hit at the end of this year. But, shortly before approving the plan, Senate Republicans added a new crop of unrelated, bespoke tax breaks. House GOP lawmakers got in their share, too. POLITICO

HEALTH & SAFETY

After Texas Banned Abortion, More Women Nearly Bled to Death During Miscarriage: A ProPublica investigation found that after Texas made performing abortions a felony, the number of blood transfusions during emergency room visits for first-trimester miscarriage shot up by 54%. The number of emergency room visits for early miscarriage also rose, by 25%, compared with the three years before the COVID-19 pandemic. 

GOOD NEWS FOR PROGRESSIVES

Terminated NIH grants are being reinstated almost entirely in blue states: Because Attorneys General from Republican states did not join the class action lawsuit by DEmocratic AGs against termination of NIH grants, the judge’s ruling to reinstate grants disproportionately impacts blue states. Scientists in Democratic congressional districts stand to have nearly $2 billion in grants reinstated, compared to $62 million in red districts. STAT (paywall) Thank You TSB Volunteers, Your Efforts Paid Off! All our hard work to elect liberal Susan Crawford as a Supreme Court judge in April 2025, against big money funding from Musk, has paid off! The Wisconsin Supreme Court’s liberal majority struck down the state’s 176-year-old abortion ban. AP NEWS

TAKE ACTION

Just as our win in Wisconsin shows, local and state elections are a great way to combat the forces of fascism and authoritarianism at the federal level. This November, TSB is working on elections in Virginia, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. These state offices protect the American people from the worst impacts of federal policy that is geared towards the wealthy. Join us as we make an all out push to get Democrats out to vote. Write to us at tsbmarcomm@gmail.com with the subject line “I want to help.”