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On Politics

Thu May 22 2025

Rebecca Morin | Newsletter Writer

@RebeccaMorin_

It's Thursday! Rebecca Morin here. National parks will see its first big test since the Trump administration's mass layoffs: Memorial Day. Speaking of Memorial Day, there will be no Monday edition of On Politics because of the holiday. I'll see you all again on Tuesday!

House passes Trump's sweeping tax and policy bill

After days of intra-party negotiations and a marathon all-night debate, the U.S. House passed President Donald Trump 's sweeping tax and policy bill that will enact the president's major campaign promises. Major changes to Medicaid, food stamps, border security and taxes are part of the legislation, which Trump has dubbed the "big, beautiful bill." All Democrats and two Republicans – Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Warren Davidson of Ohio – voted against the bill, which narrowly passed the House 215-214. How the bill was passed.

•	Those weren't the only Republicans who didn't vote for the bill. One Republican, Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, who is the chairman of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, voted present. Two other GOP lawmakers *missed the vote entirely.*
•	So what's in the bill? There will be big changes that would save at least $625 billion from Medicaid. Those changes, however, are expected to cause 7.6 million Americans to lose their health insurance over the next 10 years, according to initial estimates by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The tax cuts implemented through the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law by Trump during his first term were also in the legislation. While those cuts, which are set to expire at the end of the year, keeps tax rates lower for all income groups, they disproportionately benefit wealthier Americans. *See what else is in the bill.*
•	The legislation just passed its first hurdle. The bill now will go to the Senate and then be voted on yet again before heading to the president's desk for his signature. Meaning, the bill will likely see *changes before becoming law.*

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speaks to the media after the House narrowly passed a bill forwarding President Donald Trump's agenda at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday.

Kevin Dietsch, Getty Images

A politics pit stop

•	State Department refugee office to assume USAID's disaster aid role.
•	Oklahoma will teach high schoolers 'Big Lie' about 2020 election.
•	Army will pay for any damage to city of DC in June 14 military parade.
•	No, Trump didn't cancel Pride Month. Deepfake video goes viral.
•	Critics say DOJ plans to drop police reforms will harm US cities.

2 Israeli embassy staffers fatally shot at Jewish event

Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, who were staff members at the Israeli embassy, were fatally shot on Wednesday at about 9 p.m. as they exited the Lillian & Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum in Washington D.C. Lischinsky and Milgrim, who were set to be engaged, were attending the after the American Jewish Committee's annual Young Diplomats reception. Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said investigators believe one shooter was behind the attack and identified the suspect as Elias Rodriguez, 30, from Chicago. Smith said Rodriguez chanted "Free, free Palestine" after being taken into custody by event security. AJC CEO Ted Deutch said the "senseless hate and violence must stop."

•	Who were Israeli embassy workers killed in DC shooting?
•	What we know about Elias Rodriguez, suspect in Jewish museum shooting.
•	See the scene in Washington D.C. after Israeli embassy staff shot dead.

Judge blocks dismantling of Education Department

Hundreds of laid off Education Department workers were temporarily reinstated Thursday after a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump's executive order attempting to dismantle the agency. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun, a Biden appointee in Boston, said the White House's decision to fire more than 1,300 workers in March has prevented the federal government from effectively implementing legally required programs and services. What to know about the ruling.