What Happened Today - 22 May 2025
What Happened Today – 22 May 2025
Golden Dome
More Illegal Deportations
Dependent Age…18 to 7….? What?
FEMA Response…in the Midwest.
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The "One Big Beautiful Bill" passed the House just before Memorial Day, meeting Speaker Mike Johnson’s goal for House approval by the holiday. However, it will not meet Donald Trump’s original wish for the entire bill to be fully passed and signed into law by Memorial Day.
Next, the bill heads to the Senate, where it faces a tougher road. Senate Republicans have a slim majority, and several have already said they want major changes, especially to the bill’s cuts to Medicaid and other social programs. The Senate is expected to take up the bill in early June and will likely make significant amendments.
Republican leaders are now aiming for final passage and the President’s signature by July 4th. While the bill has momentum, its chances depend on whether Senate Republicans can agree on changes and if House conservatives will accept a revised version. The Memorial Day deadline for full passage will not be met, but July 4th is the new target.
What’s really in the “One Big Beautiful Bill”? Here’s what’s NOT getting enough attention:
Besides the well-publicized cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, Medicare, and student loan relief, the "One Big Beautiful Bill" packs in a wide range of lesser-known or “snuck in” provisions that could have major impacts:
Tax Breaks & Deductions
- Permanent extension of the 2017 Trump tax cuts for individuals and corporations.
- Higher SALT (state and local tax) deduction cap, raised from $10,000 to $40,000.
- New deductions for car loan interest, premium pay overtime, and tips.
- Temporarily bigger standard deduction and child tax credit—but these expire in 2029.
- Expanded small business expensing and new “Trump accounts” for children’s savings.
Student Loan Overhaul
- All existing repayment plans replaced with just two options: a standard plan (10–25 years) and a less generous “repayment assistance” plan.
- Repeals Biden-era rules that made it easier to get loans canceled if your college closed or defrauded you.
- New tax (up to 21%) on certain university endowments.
Border & Immigration
- Billions for border wall construction and security tech.
- Hires thousands of new ICE and Border Patrol agents.
- New $1,000 fee for asylum applications.
- Ends Medicaid for undocumented immigrants and penalizes states that use their own funds to cover them.
- Funds for at least one million deportations per year.
Healthcare & Medicaid
- Medicaid applicants must verify eligibility twice a year (instead of once).
- New work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents.
- Disqualifies Medicaid applicants with homes valued over $1 million.
- Bans Medicaid funding for gender-affirming care for minors.
Public Lands & Environment
- Allows more drilling, mining, and logging on public lands.
- Reduces royalties for fossil fuel extraction.
- Sells hundreds of thousands of acres of public land in Nevada and Utah.
Education
- Cuts to Pell Grants and other federal education funding.
- Imposes new taxes on large university endowments.
Other Notable Additions
- Modernizes air traffic control systems.
- $60 billion in new aid for agriculture programs.
- New “quality control” penalties for states with high SNAP error rates.
- Changes to Medicaid matching rates for states expanding coverage to undocumented immigrants.
This bill isn’t just about tax cuts and social program cuts—it’s a sweeping overhaul that touches everything from immigration and public lands to education, overtime pay, and even air traffic control. Many of these changes have flown under the radar but could have lasting effects on millions of Americans and state budgets.
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Golden Dome…
Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile shield isn’t just about defense—it’s a political play and a massive business opportunity for his wealthy allies. Multiple companies are bidding to build this $175+ billion project, but Elon Musk’s SpaceX is the clear frontrunner, alongside other tech firms with close Trump ties.
Musk’s deep connections to Trump—serving as a government advisor, donating over $250 million to his campaign, and leading a department slashing government spending—have sparked outrage and calls for investigation. Critics say this shows blatant favoritism and a system rigged for the ultra-rich who helped put Trump in power.
The Golden Dome is being sold as a game-changing missile defense, but for many, it looks like another headline-grabbing legacy project that rewards Trump’s inner circle and wealthy donors, while regular Americans foot the bill.
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More Illegal Deportations
The Trump administration just deported 8 migrants—including some from Cuba, Laos, and Mexico—despite a federal court order saying they had a right to more notice before removal. A judge is now considering holding officials in contempt of court for violating his order. Accountability could be coming.
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Dependent Age…18 to 7….? What?
The bill would lower the age for SNAP work exemptions from 18 to just 7 years old. That means parents with kids 7+ would have to meet strict work requirements or lose food aid.
What does this mean?
3 million adults & 4 million kids (ages 7–17) could lose or see reduced food assistance.
Families could lose hundreds of dollars a month in SNAP benefits.
Critics say this will push working families and kids into hardship.
Why?
Supporters claim it will save money and encourage work. Opponents say it puts millions of children at risk of hunger.
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FEMA Response…in the Midwest.
After a devastating wave of tornadoes and storms killed dozens and destroyed thousands of homes across Kentucky, Missouri, and other states, FEMA’s response has been painfully slow and understaffed. With about a third of FEMA’s workforce eliminated by Trump administration cuts, local officials and survivors are left waiting for federal help that is delayed or not arriving at all. In places like St. Louis, the mayor has had to ask for private donations because FEMA took days just to begin damage assessments—and federal disaster aid is still waiting on Trump’s signature.
Meanwhile, Trump has shown little public concern or acknowledgment for the suffering. He has not offered condolences or “thoughts and prayers” for recent victims. Instead, his public appearances have focused on boasting about a new gold-plated jet gifted from Qatar, promoting his $175 billion “Golden Dome” missile defense project, and launching attacks on South Africa over debunked claims about white farmers.
While communities are desperate for help and waiting on disaster declarations, Trump’s attention has been on luxury, self-promotion, and international controversies—not on Americans picking up the pieces after disaster.
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**These are facts that I researched and verified – AI helped put together some sentence structure, but the words and tone are mine. These are my views based upon facts, research and thoughtful consideration using logic. I own the copyright to any images used. I’m comfortable to stand alone to uphold truth. Feel free to check me, but do not attack me. I am only causing good trouble.**