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House GOP Pushes Forward Extreme Budget Plan as Project 2025 Fears Become Reality

NNPA NEWSWIRE — House Republicans unveiled a budget resolution on Wednesday that slashes federal spending by $2 trillion while providing up to $4.5 trillion in tax cuts—largely benefiting the wealthy and major corporations.

Published

1 year ago

February 12, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

As the Trump administration prepares to close out its first full month back in power, the fears many Americans expressed about Project 2025 are rapidly becoming frightening realities. House Republicans unveiled a budget resolution on Wednesday that slashes federal spending by $2 trillion while providing up to $4.5 trillion in tax cuts—largely benefiting the wealthy and major corporations. The budget, introduced by House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington, sets the stage for a massive GOP-led legislative push to pass President Donald Trump’s economic agenda. If the committee and the full House approve, Republicans could move forward with a party-line reconciliation bill that would bypass Senate filibuster rules and enact sweeping tax and spending changes.

At the heart of the plan is the dramatic redistribution of resources, cutting programs that millions of Americans rely on while extending tax breaks for the richest households and businesses. The resolution grants $110 billion for border security and immigration enforcement, significantly less than the $175 billion allocated in the Senate’s version. Meanwhile, it raises the debt limit by $4 trillion in anticipation of a looming deadline later this year that could force Congress to act or risk defaulting on the nation’s obligations.

Deep Cuts to Healthcare, Food Assistance, and Education

The budget’s reconciliation instructions call for slashing $2 trillion in mandatory spending—a category that includes Medicare, Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and other essential safety-net programs. If lawmakers fail to achieve those cuts, the resolution mandates a proportional reduction in tax cuts. However, House conservatives have already demanded even steeper spending reductions. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities described the proposal as “an extreme giveaway to the wealthy at the expense of families who already have a hard time making ends meet.” The nonpartisan research group warned that the GOP plan would increase healthcare costs, make college more expensive, deepen economic inequality, and exacerbate poverty for tens of millions of Americans.

“For weeks, House Republicans have been circulating proposals that would take health coverage and food assistance away from millions of people and raise the cost of student loans to offset part of the cost of extending the expiring 2017 tax cuts,” officials at the center stated. “More than 36 million people could lose Medicaid coverage, over 40 million could see reductions in SNAP benefits, and millions of students may face higher borrowing costs to pay for college.” These proposals would have devastating real-world consequences. For families dependent on Medicaid, it could mean the inability to afford cancer treatments, insulin for diabetes, or basic medical care. Cuts to food assistance would force parents to skip meals so their children can eat. Those in rural communities and communities of color, who already face higher poverty rates, would be hit especially hard.

Additionally, the GOP budget could shift enormous costs to state, local, and tribal governments, already experiencing financial strain. Many of these governments would be unable to cover the gaps, leading to more severe economic consequences for low-income Americans.

Tax Breaks for the Wealthy While Millions Struggle

The spending cuts outlined in the resolution mirror the priorities of Project 2025, the right-wing policy blueprint crafted by the Heritage Foundation. While Trump distanced himself from the plan on the campaign trail, its core elements are now being pushed through Congress. One of the most alarming aspects is the proposal to impose lifetime caps on Medicaid benefits, which could leave millions without health coverage. The budget’s tax cuts overwhelmingly benefit the wealthiest Americans. The plan seeks to extend the expiring 2017 tax cuts for another decade, adding trillions to the deficit. Households earning over $743,000 per year, the top 1%—would receive an average tax break of $62,000 annually. Meanwhile, working-class Americans would see higher healthcare, education, and food costs.

Despite prioritizing tax relief for the ultra-rich, the budget proposal fails to extend the Affordable Care Act’s premium tax credits, which have helped 20 million Americans afford health insurance since 2021. If these credits expire, premiums will skyrocket for millions, including at least 3 million small business owners and self-employed workers. The Food Research and Action Center has also raised alarms about the proposal’s drastic changes to food assistance programs. The budget seeks to impose harsher work requirements for non-disabled adults without dependents and eliminate state flexibility in determining food stamp eligibility. Additionally, it aims to roll back updates to the Thrifty Food Plan, which modernized the SNAP benefits formula after decades of being outdated.

Republicans Push Forward Despite Widespread Opposition

The House GOP’s budget resolution now heads to the Budget Committee, where Republicans will need a majority vote to advance it to the full House. With a razor-thin majority of 218-215, they have little room for defections. The measure is unlikely to receive any Democratic support. Senate Republicans are also moving forward with their version of the budget, which includes more funding for border security. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., criticized House Republicans for cutting immigration enforcement funding to $110 billion instead of the $175 billion requested by Trump’s border czar Tom Homan. “They’re not listening to the administration as to what they need,” Graham said. “Now is not the time to go on the cheap to secure the border.”

Meanwhile, Democrats have blasted the GOP plan as a blatant attack on working-class Americans. “Republicans are pulling a fast one on working people by reaching into their pockets to pay for billionaire handouts,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. “Make no mistake: this GOP plan will raise the cost that American families pay for groceries, health care, and getting an education—all to fund tax cuts for the ultra-rich.” Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., the ranking Democrat on the Budget Committee, warned that the Republican proposal would drive up the national debt while making life harder for middle-class families. “This Republican plan isn’t just bad policy—it betrays the middle class,” Boyle said. “Their proposal slashes critical programs that millions of hardworking Americans rely on, all while adding trillions of dollars to the deficit to bankroll massive giveaways for giant corporations and billionaires like Elon Musk.”

Stacy M. Brown

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2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring Review — Is This $136K EV Sedan Worth It?

AUTONETWORK ON BLACKPRESSUSA — Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, but it still feels elegant instead of trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

Published

1 week ago

May 3, 2026

Oakland Post

The 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring is the kind of luxury EV that makes people stop and ask a simple question: Is this really better than a Tesla Model S, Mercedes EQS, or BMW i7? At $136,150, it has to do more than look futuristic. It has to feel special every time you get in it.

Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, yet it still feels elegant rather than trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

Inside is where the Air Grand Touring really makes its case. The 34-inch Glass Cockpit Display and retractable Pilot Panel screen give the cabin a clean, modern look that still feels different from other EVs. The Tahoe Extended Leather and Lucid Black Alcantara headliner lifts the sense of occasion, and the front seats are a highlight. They are 20-way power-adjustable, heated, ventilated, and include massage. That matters because luxury buyers at this price expect comfort first.

Rear passengers are not ignored either. You get 5-zone heated rear seating, a rear center console display, and power rear and rear side window sunshades. Add in the Surreal Sound Pro system with 21 speakers, and the Air feels like a true long-distance luxury sedan.

Lucid also gives this car serious EV hardware. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, 900V+ charging architecture, and Wunderbox onboard charger are big talking points. Buyers in this segment care about range, charging speed, and everyday ease, not just raw performance. That is where the Lucid continues to stand out.

On the technology side, the Air Grand Touring includes DreamDrive Premium, with 3D Surround View Monitoring, Blind Spot Warning, Automatic Park In and Out, Automatic Emergency Braking, and a Driver Monitoring System with distracted and drowsy driver alerts. This one also has DreamDrive Pro, which adds future-capable ADAS hardware.

There are still some real-world annoyances. Based on your notes, the windshield wiper control is hard to find and use, and that matters more than people think in a high-tech car. When controls become less intuitive, even a beautiful interior can feel frustrating.

Still, the 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring succeeds where it matters most. It feels luxurious, advanced, comfortable, and thoughtfully engineered. For buyers who want an EV sedan that feels truly premium and less common than the usual choices, this Lucid makes a very strong case.

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Snoop Dogg Celebrates 10 Til’ Midnight at the Compound

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL — The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles.

Published

1 week ago

May 3, 2026

admin

Snoop Dogg celebrated the premiere of 10 Til’ Midnight at his Inglewood recording studio & multipurpose facility, The Compound, but the night felt like much more than an album release. It felt like Los Angeles. It felt like legacy. And it felt like another major move from one of the city’s greatest cultural architects as he continues to prove that he is not just dropping music — he is building moments, shaping narratives, and pushing the culture forward in real time.

What made the event so powerful was the clarity behind the vision. During a panel conversation with DJ Hed, Snoop opened up about the heart behind 10 Til’ Midnight, explaining that the project was created to help bridge older and younger generations while also speaking to the long-standing divisions between Bloods and Crips in a unique way through film. That alone gave the project a different kind of weight. This was not just about songs. This was about using creativity as a tool for connection. This was about taking a story rooted in Los Angeles and telling it in a way that could bring people together.

Snoop Congratulated By Rapper & Fellow 10 Til Midnight Cast Member G Perico (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles. The film was shot in the city, including at WePlay Studios in Inglewood, which gave the entire project an even deeper hometown feel. It was not just a West Coast story in content — it was a Los Angeles-made production from the ground up.

That matters because, in a city like this, authenticity still carries weight. Snoop understands how to make sure that what he creates does not just represent Los Angeles on the surface, but actually comes from it.

What also makes 10 Til’ Midnight significant is that it represents another major step in Snoop’s evolution as both an artist and executive. Public reporting around the project identifies it as his 22nd studio album, but the bigger story is what it represents in this season of his life. This is one of several consecutive moves he has made in his 50s that show he is still building, still expanding, and still finding new ways to reinvent what the next chapter looks like.

Snoop Dogg at the Premiere of 10 Til Midnight (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

Now, as the head of Death Row Records and the newly aligned leader of Death Row Pictures, he is taking the brand into a new dimension. That is what made this moment feel bigger than music. Snoop is not just protecting the legacy of Death Row — he is stretching it. He is expanding it beyond records and into film, visual storytelling, and larger creative worlds that can continue carrying the label’s impact forward. Public reporting has noted that this project arrives as part of that broader cinematic push.

That is a major Los Angeles move because the city has always been built on the intersection of music, film, neighborhood identity, and cultural storytelling. With 10 Til’ Midnight, Snoop is leaning all the way into that intersection.

The room at The Compound reflected that. It felt like a private premiere, but it also felt like a statement — a reminder that Snoop Dogg’s staying power has never been based only on nostalgia. It comes from his ability to remain connected, remain visionary, and remain in tune with how to move the culture without losing the essence of who he is.

That is why this premiere mattered. It was not just about celebrating another album. It was about witnessing a Los Angeles legend continue to evolve, continue to unify, and continue to use art to tell stories that hit deeper than entertainment alone.

In that sense, 10 Til’ Midnight became more than a project launch. It became another example of how Snoop Dogg is still taking Los Angeles to the next level — using music, film, and legacy together to build something bigger than a moment.

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OP-ED: Small Businesses Need Minnesota to Act on Pass-Through Tax Policy

MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN RECORDER — A Twin Cities immigrant entrepreneur who built several businesses including grocery stores in underserved neighborhoods is calling on Minnesota lawmakers to extend the Pass-Through Entity tax option before it expires, warning that its loss would hit small businesses already recovering from Operation Metro Surge with higher federal tax bills.

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1 week ago

May 3, 2026

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A Twin Cities Small Business Owner Is Urging Minnesota to Extend a Tax Policy That Could Save Thousands of Businesses

By Daniel Hernandez | Minnesota Spokesman Recorder

I came to the United States as a teenager with a clear goal: to build something meaningful through hard work. I put in long days in construction, restaurants, and landscaping; doing whatever it took to learn, save, and eventually start my own business.

Over time, I built and ran several successful ventures, including an event photography company, a magazine, a tax and accounting firm, and now grocery stores serving neighborhoods across the Twin Cities where other retailers chose not to invest. I’ve created jobs, supported families, and committed to communities that deserve stability and opportunity.

That’s why I’m speaking out now.

Small business owners in Minneapolis and the communities we serve are recovering from serious disruptions, including the impacts of Operation Metro Surge. That event hit immigrant communities especially hard. In my own case, I lost nearly half of my 60 employees and saw revenue drop by about 85%. While I worked to provide competitive wages, health benefits, and paid time off, the real hardship fell on the people who lost their jobs and income.

Even as we rebuild, small businesses are facing another challenge. The Minnesota Legislature is considering letting an important tax policy expire: the Pass-Through Entity tax option.

Here’s what that means in plain terms.

Many small businesses, including mine, are pass-through businesses. That means the business itself doesn’t pay income tax. Instead, the owners report the income on their personal tax returns. But under current federal rules, there’s a limit on how much state tax we can deduct. That often leads to higher federal tax bills.

The Pass-Through Entity option fixes that. It allows the business to pay the state tax directly, which means the business can fully deduct those taxes on its federal return and lower the total amount of income taxed federally. The result is straightforward: small business owners pay less in federal taxes, without reducing what the state collects.

This policy is not new or controversial. Thirty-six states already offer it. It doesn’t cost Minnesota anything, it’s revenue neutral. And it benefits more than 66,000 businesses across the state.

In a state where the cost of doing business is already high, it’s hard to understand why we wouldn’t offer the same basic tax treatment as states like California and Illinois.

Small businesses have carried a heavy load in recent years, through a pandemic, rising costs and public safety disruptions. We’ve adapted, reinvested and stayed committed to our communities. What we need now are practical policies that support that work, not make it harder.

If the Minnesota House does not act soon, many businesses will face significantly higher federal tax bills. That’s money that could otherwise be used to hire workers, raise wages or reinvest in local neighborhoods.

I urge Gov. Tim Walz and members of the House Tax Committee to pass House File 3127 and extend the Pass-Through Entity election.

Small businesses are the backbone of our communities. We’ve proven our resilience. Now we need our state leaders to show the same commitment to us.

Daniel Hernandez is the owner of Colonial Market located at 2100 E. Lake St.

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