‘Big Ugly Bill’: Dems Plot To Make Trump’s ‘Beautiful’ Package Politically Toxic For GOP Lawmakers

Democratic strategists are attempting to make House Republicans pay a political price for backing President Donald Trump’s “one big, beautiful bill” Thursday, although GOP groups suggest that voters will reject their “fearmongering.” House Majority Forward (HMF), the nonprofit arm of a House Democratic leadership-aligned super PAC, announced a series of ads Wednesday targeting 26 House Republicans […]

Meet The Dems Jockeying To Become Trump’s Top Capitol Hill Enemy

'The walls of this institution are collapsing'

Progressive Democrat sits down with Glenn Beck despite disagreements: 'We're all Team America'



Glenn Beck hosted Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California on "The Glenn Beck Program" Thursday, where the two reached across the aisle to share some friendly disagreement, as well as some areas of common ground.

Khanna is one of few Democrats who refrains from acting as an ideologue and is willing to talk to those he will likely disagree with. Whether it's DOGE cuts or nuclear energy, Khanna has no problem breaking from his party's messaging.

"You've got a lot of followers, and look, at the end of the day, we're all Team America," Khanna told Beck. "We have differences of opinion, but this country has gone down a place of greater and greater division. And I do hope that the next generation, whether that's JD Vance, Rubio, myself, others, that we find some way of turning that around."

'They didn't talk a lot about my rights. They talked about my responsibilities.'

RELATED: Vance tells Glenn Beck Congress needs to 'get serious' about codifying DOGE cuts

Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Khanna's veneration for our country's founding makes him stand out within his party. Rather than condemning the roots and the history of our nation like some of his fellow Democrats, Khanna says he was raised to appreciate and value America.

"Our common, defining moment as a nation is the Constitution and the Bill of Rights as interpreted through the Declaration of Independence," Khanna said. "The biggest blessing I had, as a son of immigrants born in Philadelphia in our bicentenary, is I got to go to a school that taught American history and gave me a reverence for this country."

"My parents said, 'Ro, you won the lottery,'" Khanna added. "They didn't talk a lot about my rights. They talked about my responsibilities."

Beck and Khanna had their fair share of respectful back-and-forth on subjects such as the 14th Amendment and immigration. One area of agreement Khanna pointed out was about the role of government with respect to asset forfeiture.

"Progressive Democrats like me and libertarians in the Freedom Caucus often align, saying that the government shouldn't come in and be able to take things from citizens without due process," Khanna said. "I believe that's the essence of who we are as a people, that yes, you have inalienable rights endowed by God, and that's who makes citizens."

RELATED: Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' narrowly passes the House, notching another win for Johnson

Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images

Khanna also departed from his Democratic colleagues on the border, admitting that it was a weak point of their party platform.

"Someone said it's like a knock-knock joke," Khanna said. "You say, 'Knock, knock. Who's there?' The American people just want to know who's there, who's at the border, just like you would when coming to someone's house and making sure that people are vetted before they come in. That seems to be a very reasonable a place. We can agree."

"But I also believe that people here, now that they're here, if they're paying taxes, and you and I may disagree with this, if they're paying taxes, if they're working hard, and ... if they've been here that there should be some path to at least legalization," Khanna added.

Khanna insists that, above party, all people should be skeptical of their politicians. At the same time, Khanna said that the state of our divided politics is not due to a lack of skepticism, but rather to a lack of trust.

"Skepticism is healthy," Khanna said. "I get concerned if there were town halls and people weren't asking hard questions, weren't criticizing their politicians. But I think there's a difference between skepticism and what's happened now, which is just the loss of trust, the sense that people aren't in it for the country, aren't in it for the public good."

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Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' narrowly passes the House, notching another win for Johnson



The House worked through the night to narrowly pass President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill" early Thursday morning after another tumultuous week on Capitol Hill.

The bill passed in a 215-214 vote, with one member, House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris (R-Md.), voting present. Republican Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Warren Davidson of Ohio were the lone "no" votes on the bill, and Republican Reps. Andrew Garbarino of New York and David Schweikert of Arizona refrained from voting altogether.

The bill's passage has proven to be another impressive feat for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who dealt with uncertainty and skepticism within the Republican conference leading up to the vote.

'Once again, they have been proven wrong.'

RELATED: Spending hawks dig their heels in as White House battles to keep 'big, beautiful bill' afloat

🚨THE “BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL” HAS JUST PASSED THE HOUSE pic.twitter.com/Ae19tZgaQN
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) May 22, 2025

"The media and the Democrats have consistently dismissed any possibility of House Republicans succeeding in our mission to enact President Trump's America First agenda," Johnson said in a statement. "Once again, they have been proven wrong."

To the speaker's point, Johnson spent the last few weeks homing in on a balancing point that would eventually satisfy as many Republicans as he needed to get this bill passed. Fiscal hawks like Harris and Republican Rep. Chip Roy (Texas) fought for meaningful spending cuts, legitimate Medicaid reform, and eliminating IRA subsidies before they signed off on the bill. They even met with the president alongside HFC colleagues on Wednesday after Trump's Capitol Hill appearance failed to persuade them.

Johnson was also dealing with the SALT Caucus Republicans, who kept refusing overly generous offers to raise the cap on state and local deductions for their blue states. The SALT Caucus eventually accepted Johnson's offer to raise the cap to $40,000, which quadruples the current $10,000 cap.

RELATED: Senate unanimously codifies Trump's 'No Tax on Tips' policy

Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Now that Republicans have successfully passed this bill before their ambitious Memorial Day deadline, it is up to the Senate to take up reconciliation.

"We look forward to the Senate's timely consideration of this once-in-a-generation legislation and stand ready to continue our work together to deliver the one big, beautiful bill to the president's desk," Johnson said in the statement.

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Beloved Democrat lawmaker passes away after battling illness



Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia passed away on Wednesday at the age of 75 after battling esophageal cancer, according to a statement released by his family.

Connolly, who dedicated his life to public service, passed away peacefully in his Virginia home surrounded by his family, the statement said. Connolly spent 14 years on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and 17 years as a member of Congress.

'We were fortunate to share Gerry with Northern Virginia for nearly 40 years because that was his joy, his purpose, and his passion.'

RELATED: Trump pressures House Republican holdouts as reconciliation talks intensify

Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

"Gerry lived his life to give back to others and make our community better," Connolly's family said in a statement. "He looked out for the disadvantaged and voiceless. He always stood up for what is right and just. He was a skilled statesman on the international stage, an accomplished legislator in Congress, a visionary executive on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, a fierce defender of democracy, an environmental champion, and a mentor to so many."

"But more important than his accomplishments in elected office, Gerry lived by the ethos of 'bloom where you are planted,'" the statement reads. "From the Silver Line to the Oakton Library, Mosaic District to the Cross County Trail and beyond, his legacy now colors our region."

Connolly eventually rose to ranking member in the House Oversight Committee but announced last month that he would be stepping down after his cancer returned. Connolly had been elected to the position in December against Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York despite his diagnosis.

Democrats and Republicans alike mourned Connolly's passing, remembering the friendships he had on both sides of the aisle.

RELATED: Senate unanimously codifies Trump's 'No Tax on Tips' policy

Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images

“I’m deeply saddened by the passing of Ranking Member Gerry Connolly," House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) said in a statement. "He was a dedicated public servant who represented Virginia’s 11th Congressional District with honor and integrity. We mourn the loss of our friend and colleague, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”

"We were fortunate to share Gerry with Northern Virginia for nearly 40 years because that was his joy, his purpose and his passion," the family statement continued. "His absence will leave a hole in our hearts, but we are proud that his life's work will endure for future generations."

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Vulnerable House Democrats Held Intimate Meetings With Biden in the White House. Most Had Nothing To Say About Biden’s Fitness To Serve—Even After His Disastrous Debate.

Several vulnerable House Democrats representing swing districts held intimate meetings with former president Joe Biden at the White House during the same timeframe his senior aides were hard at work concealing his rapidly deteriorating mental acuity from the public. Most of those Democrats had nothing to say about Biden’s fitness to serve—even after his disastrous debate performance.

The post Vulnerable House Democrats Held Intimate Meetings With Biden in the White House. Most Had Nothing To Say About Biden’s Fitness To Serve—Even After His Disastrous Debate. appeared first on .

Senate unanimously codifies Trump's 'No Tax on Tips' policy



The Senate unanimously passed President Donald Trump's popular policy eliminating federal income taxes on tipped wages, fulfilling yet another campaign promise.

The No Tax on Tips Act passed with 100 votes in the Senate on Tuesday, with Republican Sen. Ted Cuz of Texas and Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen of Nevada spearheading the legislation. Trump campaigned on this very issue, and it has become a popular feature of his "big, beautiful bill" in the House, marking another bipartisan win for Americans.

'This legislation will have a lasting impact on millions of Americans by protecting the hard-earned dollars of blue-collar workers, the very people who are living paycheck-to-paycheck.'

RELATED: Trump pressures House Republican holdouts as reconciliation talks intensify

THE US SENATE HAS PASSED TRUMP’S “NO TAX ON TIPS” POLICY 100-0

WINNING 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Psrw5pg1KW
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) May 20, 2025

"President Trump made a promise to the American people that he would eliminate taxes on tips," Cruz said in a statement following the bill's passage. "In Congress, I formed a bipartisan, bicameral coalition to get that done, and in the Senate introduced the No Tax on Tips Act. Today, I went with Senator Rosen to the floor to secure Senate passage of the bill."

"This legislation will have a lasting impact on millions of Americans by protecting the hard-earned dollars of blue- collar workers, the very people who are living paycheck-to-paycheck," Cruz added. "I urge my colleagues in the House to pass this important bill and send it to the President's desk to be signed into law."

RELATED: Eric Swalwell calls for escalation after fellow Democrat faces charges for allegedly assaulting ICE officer

Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

It's not just Trump allies championing this bill. Although Rosen couldn't resist making a jab at the president, she ultimately embraced the legislation as a victory for her constituents.

"For so many service and hospitality workers, tips aren't extra, it's part of their income that they use to make ends meet," Rosen said. "Tips are how Nevadans pay their rent, cover their groceries, take care of their families, their kids."

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Marc Elias’s Firm Sues Kansas To Let Foreign Donors Influence Ballot Measures

The law firm of Marc Elias, the Democratic campaign lawyer who played a key role in the Russiagate conspiracy theory, is suing the state of Kansas to allow wealthy foreign nationals to fund state ballot initiatives and constitutional referendums.

The post Marc Elias’s Firm Sues Kansas To Let Foreign Donors Influence Ballot Measures appeared first on .