Today in Politics, Bulletin 131. 5/15/25

… The Supreme Court heard oral arguments today on the big birthright citizenship case challenging Trump’s executive order seeking to deport children born in the US to immigrant parents. Oral arguments did not sound like they went especially well for the Trump admin, with tough questions coming even from conservative justices like Kavanaugh.

… Before court began, Trump did what he does to every judge who presides over any case involving him - trying to influence them to go his way: “Birthright Citizenship was not meant for people taking vacations to become permanent Citizens of the US and bringing their families with them, all the time laughing at the ‘SUCKERS’ that we are! Birthright Citizenship is about the babies of slaves. As conclusive proof, the Civil War ended in 1865, the Bill went to Congress less than a year later, in 1866, and was passed shortly after that. It had nothing to do with Illegal Immigration for people wanting to SCAM our Country, from all parts of the World, which they have done for many years. Please explain this to the Supreme Court. What we had were the BABIES OF SLAVES.”

… Politico’s summary of key parts of the current House budget bill: “In each slice of the megabill House Republicans are working to tie up this week, policies would kick in immediately that curry favor with voters and add trillions of dollars to the federal deficit — before those costs are ultimately offset with unpopular policies that hit after the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential election. The House bill is unquestionably the most drastic display of instant gratification on the incumbent president’s watch before the pain sets in when his successor is inaugurated.”

• Babies born in 2024 through 2028 would start their lives with $1,000 in a tax-preferred savings fund, called a “MAGA account.”

• The standard deduction would be boosted by $4,000 for people older than 64 years old, phasing out at higher income brackets.

• Most people receiving Medicaid coverage would have to work at least 80 hours a month or be enrolled in an education program at least part time.

• $150 billion in additional defense spending.

• End many green tax incentives beginning after Trump’s presidency — including credits for producing and investing in clean energy that are popular with a wide cross-section of Republicans and their constituents.

• Most workers wouldn’t pay taxes on tips, as long as those tips are voluntary and customers decide the amount, but it is set to expire after 2028.

• People who pay car loans could deduct up to $10,000 a year in interest. It would shrink for taxpayers whose incomes top $100,000, or $200,000 for people filing jointly.

• Workers could deduct overtime pay, with some exceptions for higher earners.

• $62 billion in additional funding for DHS for border security and deportations.

• States must cover 5-25% of food aid costs under SNAP, the nation’s largest anti-hunger program. That mandate would cost states billions of dollars.

… As it stands, the current bill would absolutely explode the deficit to unprecedented levels because of all the tax cuts and deductions, along with increases in spending.

… But Republicans in both the House and Senate have been going at it with each other behind closed doors and in front of the cameras over various parts of the massive bill, and it doesn’t sound like things are going well. Punchbowl’s Jake Sherman: “A House Republican just exited the party meeting about reconciliation and texted me this: ‘We're cooked. Speaker let this get out of control.’”

… NBC reported that 4 House Republicans - Elise Stefanik, Mike Lawler, Nick LaLota and Andrew Garbarino - have banded together to form a united bloc demanding that the federal deduction for state and local taxes paid be increased. Current law caps the deduction at $10,000: “Those 4 NY Republicans are so far sticking together and have the power to sink the entire bill in the narrow House majority, where Johnson has just 3 votes to spare.”

… “Stefanik, a member of Johnson’s leadership team who has had an icy relationship with the Speaker as of late, has taken a lead role in the talks. Rep. Young Kim (R-CA), who represents one of the highest-taxed districts in the country, has also been aligning closely with the group. Now it’s up to Johnson to cut a deal and appease the holdouts — many of them from swing districts that will decide which party controls the chamber in the 2026 midterm elections — on the House floor.”

… Rep. Nicolle Malliotakis (R-NY), who is siding with House leadership against her fellow 4 NY Republicans, tried to crash their closed door strategy meeting. She was thrown out because the other 4 reportedly considered her “a spy” for Speaker Mike Johnson.

… Rep. Marge Greene went at it with Mike Lawler over the issue. Greene: “Lawler usually isn’t the guy in the conference with the best ideas. Lawler is a NO on Trump’s big beautiful bill because he won’t accept a SALT cap increase from $10K to $30K per year. The deduction applies to those who make under $400,000 per year. Yes taxes in Democrat controlled NY are ridiculous, but if a $30,000 State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction isn’t good enough for those making under $400,000 then you need to either vote Republican in NY or you need to move! The rest of America doesn’t want to and shouldn’t have to make up the difference!”

… Lawler responded: “Shockingly the ‘Jewish Space Laser’ lady once again doesn’t have a clue what she is talking about. By the way, the reason you enjoy a gavel is because Republicans like me have won our seats. Good luck being in the Majority if we don’t.”

… Greene: “Here is Mike Lawler claiming HE gave us the majority NOT President Donald Trump!!! Did you all vote for Mike Lawler and his agenda??? Or did America vote for President Trump and his MAGA America First agenda? Tell Mike Lawler what you voted for.”

… Lawler: “MTG ran almost 10 points behind President Trump in one of the most Republican districts. I ran 6.5 points ahead of Trump in a district won by Kamala Harris. I’m 1 of only 3 Republicans in a district won by Harris. I know math is difficult, but: 220-3=217.”

… Like I said, things are going well.

… While Trans Sec Sean Duffy continues his daily media appearances blaming Pete Buttigieg for issues at airports, Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) asked COO of the FAA Tim Arel specifically how many air traffic controllers have quit or been fired since Trump took office. Arel refused to answer the question or even give a ballpark number when pressed repeatedly: “I’m not aware of how many. I can’t tell you that exact number.”

… Trump said that raising tariffs on China to 145% for a month was a great thing for America: “Don't forget, we were losing $1 trillion to China. So we essentially went cold turkey with China for a period of a month. Therefore we weren't losing $1 trillion. I think that’s pretty simple.”

… We weren’t “losing” anything. People were buying products from China and then stopped buying products from China.

… WalMart CFO John Rainey told CNBC they are going to have to raise prices because of Trump’s tariffs: “We’re wired for everyday low prices, but the magnitude of these increases is more than any retailer can absorb. It’s more than any supplier can absorb. And so I’m concerned that consumer is going to start seeing higher prices. You’ll begin to see that, likely towards the tail end of this month, and then certainly much more in June.”

… Rainey: "The level of tariffs that have been proposed is pretty challenging for all retailers, for suppliers, and certainly our concern is that consumers are gonna feel some of that. Keep in mind, just a week ago we were at 145% tariffs. Now, we're very appreciative of the progress the admin has made to get them down to this level, but I would say it's still too high for consumers. We'd like to see them come down more."

… NYT reported that Jared Kushner’s firm, which is seeking to develop a $500 million Trump International Hotel in Belgrade, Serbia, is on hold after a govt official confessed to forging a document that allowed a historic building to be demolished on the site so the hotel could be built. Office of the Prosecutor for Organized Crime: “Vasic forged a proposal for a decision to revoke the status of cultural property.”

… The Free Press published, ‘How Qatar Bought America’, showing the ties between senior Trump officials and Qatar, which indicated that Trump’s moves to have the US go all-in on aren’t being done solely for the benefit of the country:

• The airplane deal was signed off by AG Pam Bondi. She used to work at a lobbying firm that received $115,000 a month from Qatar.

• Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles, led a lobbying firm when it represented Qatar’s embassy in Washington.

• FBI Director Kash Patel worked as a consultant for Qatar, although he didn’t bother to register as a foreign agent.

• In 2023, Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund bought out Special Envoy Steve Witkoff’s investment in the struggling Park Lane Hotel in NY for $623 million.

• Trump Org is building a new luxury golf resort near Qatar’s capital, Doha, in partnership with a Qatari company.

• Donald Trump Jr. will speak next week at the invitation-only Qatar Economic Forum in a session titled “Investing in America.”

… IDF spokesman Doron Spielman to CNN: “Qatar is a terror-sponsoring country. They have been playing both sides of the field for many, many years. The largest funder of Hamas and Hezbollah and the Taliban. They also housed the Hamas leadership. I'm not so sure it's in the US' interest to be putting so many eggs in the basket of Qatar. Israel obviously relies on the US. I think that Americans need to be very concerned.”

… Trump gave a speech to American troops in Qatar: "We love France, right? But I think we did a little more to win the war than France did. Do we agree? I don't want to be a wise guy, but when Hitler made his speech at the Eiffel Tower, I would say that wasn't exactly ideal."

… Hitler never gave a speech at the Eiffel Towel.

… Trump in Qatar: “I have concepts for Gaza. I’d be proud to have the United States take it and make it a freedom zone.”

… The Qatar PM was asked about Trump’s Palace in the Sky jet: “Unfortunately, I see this story is taking a different direction and it’s being politicized while it’s a normal government to government deal. It's basically part of a cooperation that we have been doing together between Qatar and the US.”

… Maybe it’s normal for Qatar. It’s not normal for the US.

… CNN noted that the “gift” from Qatar to Trump isn’t exactly free - Trump just wants a Palace in Sky and doesn’t want to wait for the new AF1: “Making necessary security changes to this plane is estimated to cost three times the value of the plane. In other words, for this 'free' plane, American taxpayers may pay an additional $800 million.”

… Trump then went to UAE to give a speech, and said this: “My first week, eggs were up 200%. Now, they are down 97%, 98% from where they were.”

… Trump to the UAE president: "We have a term 'groceries.' It's an old term but it means basically what you're buying, food, it's a pretty accurate term but it's an old fashioned sound but groceries are down."

One day to go in what has been a very long week with Trump’s trip to the Middle East, the Russia-Ukraine drama, Republicans fighting with each other over the budget, congressional hearings, and court cases all over the place. I would like to say next week things will slow down, but I’m afraid there is only going to be even more mania.

Thank you to everyone for subscribing to support my work and everything we are doing here at Meidas.

… DHS Secretary Kristi Noem also wants a new jet. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL): My committee just received a last-minute addition to the Coast Guard’s spend plan: $50 million for a new Gulfstream 5 jet for DHS Secretary Noem’s personal use. She already has a Gulfstream 5, by the way, but she wants a new one paid for with your taxpayer dollars. We should be investing in our national security and improving the lives of our Coasties – not wasting taxpayer dollars on luxury travel and political stunts.”

… Sen. Chris Murphy: “Just got word that Secretary Noem is asking for an addition to her budget - a new private Gulfstream 5 jet for her personal national photo op tour. She's already got a private plane but wants a tricked out new one. All while she supports kicking 13 million people off Medicaid.”

… Noem also launched a new investigation today: “Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of President Trump. DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately.”

… This was in response to Donald Trump Jr posted an Instagram post made by Comey and Junior captioned it this way: “Just James Comey causally calling for my dad to be murdered. This is who the Dem-Media worships. Demented!!!!”

… This is what Comey posted that has him under federal investigation for an