WASHINGTON, D.C. — Progress on former President Donald Trump’s sweeping $3.3 trillion legislative package came to a grinding halt early Thursday, as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) launched a marathon speech aimed at delaying the final vote.

Jeffries began speaking around 4:55 a.m., just after House Republicans successfully passed a procedural “rule vote” to advance what Trump has touted as his “big, beautiful bill.”

Armed with binders of material, Jeffries took full advantage of the “magic minute” — a House rule that allows party leaders to speak without time limits — in a bid to stall the vote for hours.

GOP Pushes Bill Forward Despite Intra-Party Tensions

The late-night procedural victory marked a major step forward for House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), following intense negotiations with far-right holdouts threatening to tank the measure.

The House voted 219–213 to adopt the rules for debate, with only Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) breaking ranks. The bill now awaits a final vote, likely later Thursday — but only after Jeffries and his fellow Democrats exhaust their procedural tools.

“I feel the obligation, Mr. Speaker, to stand on this House floor and take my sweet time,” Jeffries remarked during his remarks.

Jeffries Denounces GOP Bill as “One Big Ugly Bill”

Jeffries used his floor time to blast the Republican legislation, calling it “one big, ugly bill” that would reward the wealthy while harming everyday Americans. Reading from accounts of Medicaid recipients in Republican-led states, Jeffries criticized the proposed cuts to Medicaid and food assistance programs, warning that they could strip essential benefits from veterans, children, and seniors.

“This Congress is on the verge of ripping food out of the mouths of children, veterans, and seniors… in order to reward billionaires,” he said.

What’s in the Bill?

The bill — a centerpiece of Trump’s revived economic agenda — includes provisions that:

• Permanently extend tax brackets lowered by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA)

• Eliminate taxes on tipped and overtime wages up to a capped amount

• Add new deductions for Americans over 65

• Roll back green energy tax credits from Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act

• Increase funding for the military and ICE

• Raise the debt ceiling by $5 trillion

• Tighten work requirements for Medicaid and food assistance

Republicans claim the bill prioritizes the middle and working class, while Democrats argue it is a giveaway to the wealthy that guts essential services for vulnerable Americans.

Senate Modifications Stir Controversy

The Senate passed its version of the bill Tuesday, making key changes:

• Adjusted Medicaid cost-sharing between federal and state governments

• Tweaked certain tax provisions

• Increased the debt limit to avoid a potential default

These changes rattled both moderate and conservative Republicans. Fiscal hawks objected to the increased spending, while moderates worried about shifting Medicaid costs to states that expanded coverage under Obamacare.

Trump and Johnson Rally GOP to Unity

Despite these rifts, Trump and Johnson worked overtime to win over skeptical Republicans. Trump took to Truth Social to urge unity:

“This is everyone’s bill… the American people will have permanently lower taxes, secure borders, and a stronger military,” he wrote.

He added, “We are on schedule — let’s keep it going and be done before the July 4th vacation.”

Still, Reps. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) and Chip Roy (R-Texas) — both members of the House Freedom Caucus and Rules Committee — voted against the bill during a tense 12-hour committee hearing.

Democrats’ Strategy: Delay, Delay, Delay

With little power to block the bill outright, Democrats are using delay tactics to slow its passage. Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) said the goal is to “buy time” and push back against the bill’s more controversial provisions.

“We were able to delay the last version for 30 hours,” Frost said. “We’ll do everything we can to slow this one down too.”

Unpredictable weather delays in D.C. also had lawmakers worried that travel complications could affect turnout for the final vote.

What Happens Next?

While the House cleared the rule vote, the final vote on the bill remains in limbo. Democrats may introduce more procedural hurdles, and internal GOP divisions could still pose challenges.

House Republicans hold only a three-vote majority, meaning even minor defections could derail the legislation.

Stay with us for continuing updates as this high-stakes legislative showdown unfolds.\

Source: FOX News – Jeffries stalls Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ for hours after House GOP mutiny breakthrough

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As he approaches the 100-day mark of his return to the White House, President Donald Trump shared what he considers his proudest accomplishments so far in an exclusive interview with Fox Noticias, which aired Tuesday.

When host Rachel Campos-Duffy asked the former president to reflect on his key victories, Trump immediately pointed to what he called a near-complete turnaround at the U.S. southern border.

“The border is 100%. It’s like literally 100%,” Trump said confidently. “It’s perfect now. And I don’t know if you can tell—perfect. But it’s going to get better. We want people to come in, but they have to come in legally—and everybody agrees on that.”

Trump’s comments come amid new data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), showing a significant drop in illegal border crossings. According to CBP, there were fewer apprehensions at the southern border during the entire month of March than there were in the first two days of March 2024 under President Biden.

This marks the second consecutive month with historically low daily apprehension numbers—an achievement the Trump administration says reflects the strength of its immigration enforcement strategy.

Trump also spotlighted his administration’s economic policies—particularly the reimplementation of tough tariffs.

“We’re making tremendous amounts of money,” Trump said. “Billions and billions—hundreds of billions—are coming in from countries that have taken advantage of us for decades. And it’s time we stop allowing that.”

Earlier this month, Trump introduced a new tariff strategy, rolling out what the administration called “Liberation Day.” The plan includes a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs for nations open to negotiating fresh trade deals—while sharply raising tariffs on China.

Trump said there are plenty more initiatives he’s proud of in these early months. He teased upcoming efforts in Congress to push what he dubbed the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” aimed at cutting taxes and eliminating burdensome regulations.

“There’s a lot to be happy about,” Trump added. “But the best is yet to come.”

Source: FOX News – President Trump reveals his proudest accomplishment of his historic first 100 days

The post Trump Says Border Is “100% Perfect” in First 100 Days Back in Office appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.