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Washington has a better hand in Africa. But will it play it against Beijing?

May 18, 2026Far Right

When President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping sat down in Beijing this week, most of the world was watching for signals about tariffs, Taiwan, and technology. […]

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Pay-to-play cycle behind GOP's corporate tax cuts exposed in new report

Raw Story

6 hours ago

Pay-to-play cycle behind GOP's corporate tax cuts exposed in new report

Major American corporations that benefited from tax cuts enacted last year by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans are donating to the campaigns of GOP lawmakers who made the windfall possible.A report published Friday by Unrig Our Economy spotlights seven House Republicans who voted for the sprawling and unpopular GOP budget package, which extended tax breaks for corporations and wealthy Americans while inflicting unprecedented cuts on Medicaid and federal nutrition assistance—with disastrous consequences for millions of low-income families across the country.Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), one of the lawmakers featured in the new report, has received campaign donations from corporate PACs representing 3M, Amazon, Walmart, AT&T, and other companies that collectively received billions of dollars in tax breaks from the Republican law, which restored a provision allowing businesses to immediately write off new investments.Amazon saw its US income taxes fall by more than half last year due to the GOP law, even as the company’s profits grew. Unrig Our Economy noted that Amazon, whose PAC donated thousands to the Republicans spotlighted in the new report, has an effective federal tax rate of 1.37% following enactment of the budget law.Miller-Meeks, who has received at least $57,000 in donations from the PACs of companies that benefited from the 2025 law, issued a statement Thursday bragging about supporting “the largest tax cuts in American history,” not mentioning that the benefits will disproportionately flow to profitable corporations and the richest people in the country.“Thanks to the Republican tax law, corporations are receiving tax breaks, House Republicans are getting campaign cash, and working families are getting stuck with the bill,” the report states.Another Republican lawmaker featured in the report, Rob Bresnahan of Pennsylvania, received $2,500 in campaign donations from the PAC of FirstEnergy, which reaped $500 million in depreciation deductions thanks to the GOP tax law.“Bresnahan voted to give FirstEnergy hundreds of millions in tax breaks even after the company raised utility prices for his constituents,” Unrig Our Economy’s report observes.The report also points out that Bresnahan “owned stock in every single one” of the companies who contributed PAC money to his campaign following passage of the Republican budget package last summer.“This comes after Bresnahan has already faced scrutiny for dumping stock in Medicaid providers and selling off bonds in Pennsylvania hospitals before voting to slash Medicaid and put rural hospitals at risk,” the report notes.Leor Tal, Unrig Our Economy’s campaign director, said in a statement that “one year ago, House Republicans ripped away healthcare and food assistance from millions of Americans, so that corporations could get massive tax breaks.”“Now, many of those companies are dishing out PAC money to the Republicans listed in this report,” said Tal. “Republicans in Congress sold out many of their own constituents to help corporations get even richer. It’s time that House Republicans step up, do the right thing, and start fighting for working Americans—not giant corporations.”

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Washington Examiner

8 hours ago

READ IN FULL: Zohran Mamdani’s America 250 address from George Washington’s desk at New York City Hall

Good morning, my fellow Americans. Season after season, year after year, the tides have come in and out of New York Harbor long before the name New York had ever been spoken; Lenape dugouts crossed these currents. It was on these waters, tall masts crested the horizon, captained by explorers like Verrazzano and Hudson, after […]

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EXCLUSIVE: James Dolan steps away from Rangers, hands control of team to son Quentin

New York Post

9 hours ago

EXCLUSIVE: James Dolan steps away from Rangers, hands control of team to son Quentin

EXCLUSIVE: James Dolan steps away from Rangers, hands control of team to son Quentin.

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Heat Wave Forces Washington, DC to Alter July 4 Festivities

NBC News Politics

10 hours ago

Heat Wave Forces Washington, DC to Alter July 4 Festivities

Record-breaking heat is having an impact on one of the biggest celebrations for the United States’ 250th birthday, with organizers of the Freedom 250 Salute to America are delaying the event’s start time from 1pm to 5pm because of the expect triple-digit heat in Washington. It comes as President Donald Trump prepares to visit Mount Rushmore ahead of July 4 celebrations. NBC’s Gabe Gutierrez reports for TODAY.

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Trump Accounts Are the President’s Latest Legacy Play

Bloomberg Politics

11 hours ago

Trump Accounts Are the President’s Latest Legacy Play

The president is aiming for generational impact with the launch of new fund for kids

Center

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Oppressive Heat Alters Plans for 250th Celebrations in Washington

NYT > U.S. > Politics

12 hours ago

Oppressive Heat Alters Plans for 250th Celebrations in Washington

The 100-degree-plus heat that has enveloped the nation’s capital shut down the Great American State Fair until 5 p.m. on Friday.

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Mamdani delivers July 4 remarks from behind George Washington's desk

NBC News Politics

13 hours ago

Mamdani delivers July 4 remarks from behind George Washington's desk

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani delivered his July 4 address from behind George Washington's desk at City Hall. The mayor was joined by recently naturalized U.S. citizens as he highlighted the ideals the founders of the nation put forward 250 years ago.

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Donald Trump is the accidental hero of a real-life feelgood climate tale even as a creeping horror story plays alongside | Clear Air

US news | The Guardian

16 hours ago

Donald Trump is the accidental hero of a real-life feelgood climate tale even as a creeping horror story plays alongside | Clear Air

Despite a deadly heatwave sweeping through Europe, the US president’s ineptness has created reason for optimism on the climate crisisSign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter hereTwo real-life climate-themed movies are playing in parallel across the globe. They are about the world today, but they are also a snapshot of the future. The first is a slow-building horror story; the second, a feelgood summer hit. Both are worth watching.Horror films are suddenly box-office gold, so let’s start there. The World Health Organisation says the extreme, record-breaking heatwave blanketing Europe has killed more than 1,300 people. But everyone knows that number will end up a dramatic understatement. Continue reading...

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Washington has a better hand in Africa. But will it play it against Beijing? | ParallaxNews.io

Washington has a better hand in Africa. But will it play it against Beijing?

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Washington has a better hand in Africa. But will it play it against Beijing?

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