White House urges GOP lawmakers to unite behind legislation

President Trump is urging all congressional Republicans to support a bill that delivers on his campaign promises.  The White House is cranking up the pressure on GOP lawmakers to put aside their differences. However, serious disagreements remain. Fiscal conservatives want deeper spending cuts, moderates want to protect Medicaid coverage. In addition to extending tax cuts, the bill also proposes big spending increases for border security and defense.

Former President Biden diagnosed with “aggressive” prostate cancer

Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Biden’s office says he was diagnosed with prostate cancer on Friday, with the cancer cells having spread to the bone. A statement said: “While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management.” The 82-year-old Biden and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.

Trump to speak with Russian, Ukrainian leaders by phone

Trump was silent on human rights during Mideast trip

A push for human rights was absent from President Trump’s recent visit to authoritarian governments in the Mideast. During a business conference in Saudi Arabia, the president went out of his way to distance himself from the actions of past administrations. He told leaders gone were the days when American officials would fly to the Mideast to give “you lectures on how to live and how to govern your own affairs.” Human rights groups viewed that as a pledge of non-intervention and expressed their disappointment.

Trump Organization has deepening business ties in Mideast

President Trump toured the Mideast last week at a time when his family has fast-growing business ties in the region. During his trip, the president secured new investment pledges for the U-S and announced major orders for Boeing. But watchdogs and critics also point to the Trump family’s business connections in the Mideast that could deliver big profits. Before Donald Trump’s three-nation tour began, his sons Eric and Donald Jr. had already traveled to the region extensively, drumming up business for The Trump Organization.

Vance to attend pope’s installation and inaugural mass

Vice President JD Vance is headed back to Vatican City. The vice president will attend Pope Leo the 14th’s inaugural mass at the Vatican on Sunday. The White House says the U-S delegation will also include Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Vance is the first Catholic convert to serve as vice president. He was one of the final people to have an audience with Pope Francis before he died last month.

Trump struck by Arab wealth on display during foreign tour

President Trump was struck by the wealth on display during his visit to three Arab states this past week. Throughout his four-day tour, the president repeatedly commented on the lavish surroundings of the oil-rich autocrats. He admired the marble in the Qatari palace, praised the “gleaming” skyline in Saudi Arabia, and boasted about the red carpet welcome he received. The president also grumbled about the “much less impressive” Air Force One compared with the aircraft belonging to his Arab hosts. The trip focused mainly on business deals boosting U-S investment.

Consumer sentiment slides to lowest level in three years

Consumer sentiment has dropped to its lowest level in three years. The University of Michigan’s closely watched consumer sentiment index shows that Americans are increasingly worried that President Trump’s trade war will worsen inflation. The index is down for the fifth straight month. Since January, sentiment has tumbled nearly 30 percent. Even though the U-S and China have paused some tariffs, import taxes remain historically high.

Trump not surprised Putin didn’t meet with Zelenskyy

President Trump says he’s not surprised that Russia’s Vladmir Putin didn’t show up for peace talks with Ukraine. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy traveled to Turkey for negotiations, but Putin was absent after Zelenskyy challenged him to show up. President Trump says Putin’s decision was not surprising. “Nothing’s going to happen until Putin and I get together,” Trump said. The president told reporters they need to meet because too many people are dying in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Walmart to increase prices because of Trump tariffs

Price increases are coming to Walmart. Even though it posted solid first quarter sales, the nation’s largest retailer says it will raise prices later this month due to higher tariffs. The U-S and China have agreed to pause reciprocal tariffs for the next 90 days, but import taxes remain at high levels. Walmart says the Trump administration’s trade war is forcing it to hike prices.

VP Vance to attend Pope Leo’s inaugural mass

Vice President JD Vance is headed back to Rome. The vice president will attend Pope Leo the 14th’s inaugural mass at the Vatican on Sunday. The White House says the U-S delegation will also include Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Vance is the first Catholic convert to serve as vice president. He was one of the final people to have an audience with Pope Francis before he died last month.

Poll: Democrats are feeling pessimistic about party’s future

Democrats are down in the dumps following last November’s elections. According to a new AP NORC poll, Democrats are deeply pessimistic about the future of their party. The level of optimism is down sharply from last July — about the time President Biden dropped his re-election bid. Democrats are seeking momentum after losing the White House and both chambers of Congress. The survey also finds neither major political party is viewed favorably by the majority of U-S adults.

Trump thinking about attending Putin-Zelenskyy meeting

President Trump says he’s considering adding another stop to his Middle East trip itinerary. The president is floating the possibility of joining the leaders of Russia and Ukraine for talks in Turkey later this week. During the Air Force One flight from Saudi Arabia to Qatar, he told reporters that Russia’s Vladimir Putin would like him to be there on Thursday for a meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy — and Donald Trump said he’s thinking about it.

Trump faces lawsuits over his sweeping import taxes

President Trump’s trade war is facing a legal challenge. Seven businesses and states argue that the president exceeded his power by waging a trade war without getting approval from Congress. And now, the administration is facing several lawsuits that argue it’s gone too far in imposing sweeping import taxes. Last month, the president declared a national emergency in order to slap tariffs on almost every country in the world.

Top Trump supporters criticize jet gift from Qatar

President Trump’s plan to accept a jumbo jet from Qatar is not sitting well with many of his top supporters. The White House is batting away ethics concerns about the gift, insisting that receiving a 400-million dollar luxury airplane would be legal. But that hasn’t stopped some of the president’s biggest MAGA supporters from condemning the potential gift. Various media reports quote Ben Shapiro, Mark Levin, and others objecting to it and expressing alarm over receiving the jet from a country accused of financing terrorism.

Small nodule found in former President Biden’s prostate

An update on former President Joe Biden’s health. A small nodule has been found in Joe Biden’s prostate during a routine physical exam. A short statement says the finding “necessitated further evaluation.” The news comes as Axios reports on a forthcoming book that says White House advisers discussed the possibility that the 82 year-old Biden would need to use a wheelchair if he won re-election.

U.S. and China suspend reciprocal tariffs for 90 days

President Trump is cheering the agreement between the U-S and China to suspend reciprocal tariffs.
Following weekend trade talks between the two countries, the president said China will open up its market to American businesses and suspend trade barriers. He said the reduced tariff rates don’t include tariffs on autos, steel and aluminum. The president also said he’ll likely speak soon with China’s leader Xi Jinping.

Trump defends Qatar gift of luxury jumbo jet

President Trump could soon receive a luxury jumbo jet as a gift from the ruling family of Qatar. Under the arrangement, the Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet would be converted into a presidential aircraft. President Trump says he would use the plane as Air Force One while in office before transferring ownership to his presidential library. The president calls the gift a “gesture of good faith” and insists the plane is for the Defense Department and not him personally. But critics say it raises serious ethics concerns.

Trump sets 30-day deadline for lower prescription drug costs

The Trump administration is taking steps to lower the cost of prescription drugs. Administration officials will begin talks with drugmakers to discuss lowering prices over the next 30 days. If there is no deal, President Trump says he will establish new pricing guidelines. And he’s predicting big savings. The president said the U-S “will no longer subsidize the health care of foreign countries.”

Trump continues to urge Fed to lower interest rates

President Trump continues to urge the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates. On Wednesday, the Fed left its benchmark interest rates unchanged. Reacting to the news, President Trump criticized chairman Jerome Powell for holding rates at current levels instead of slashing them, and suggested Powell was doing it because “he’s not in love with me.” Powell has warned that the president’s tariffs were creating uncertainty and the Fed could afford to wait until more data shows the impacts on the economy.

Trump supports higher tax rates on top U.S. earners

President Trump supports higher taxes on the wealthiest Americans — even as he warns of the political fallout. Writing on social media, the president said Democrats would seize on “even a ‘tiny’ tax increase for the ‘rich.'” But added that he would be “OK” if they do increase the top tax rate. The president said “Republicans should probably not do it,” despite his support for boosting the tax rate for those earning 2-and-a-half million dollars and higher or joint filers earning five million.

Trump suggests tariffs on China could drop to 80%

President Trump is proposing the possibility of lower tariffs on China ahead of this weekend’s trade talks. The president said tariffs on Chinese goods could go from 145 percent down to 80 percent. He floated the idea in a social media post, saying it’s up to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who will be meeting with officials from China. Donald Trump also called on China to open its markets to the U-S, writing: “closed markets don’t work anymore.”

Ahead of trade talks with China, Trump sounds upbeat

Top U.S. officials will meet with a high-level Chinese delegation this weekend to talk trade. President Trump is sounding upbeat about the upcoming talks in Switzerland. And he believes the discussions can be a win-win. The president has imposed a 145 percent tariff on China, leading to a trade confrontation between the world’s two largest economies.

Trump: UK’s 10% tariff level not a template for other countries

President Trump says not all countries will get as good a trade deal as the one Britain negotiated with the United States. The new trade deal with Britain will cut tariffs on U.K. cars from more than 27 percent to 10 percent. And the president says the baseline 10 percent tariff for the U-K will not be a template for future trade deals with other nations. He said, “that’s a low number.” The president said the U-K agreement is the first of many more trade deals to come with U-S trading partners.