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Senate Republicans reveal dramatic dealmaking behind Trump’s $3.3T megabill passage
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Senate Republicans left Washington this week to sell President Donald Trump’s «big, beautiful bill,» but the road to creating and passing the legislation began just over a year and a half ago.
Trump’s $3.3 trillion megabill, crammed with his legislative priorities on border security, defense and energy, was a product months in the making. And it was the marquee policy in the bill, which was to extend or make permanent many of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, that was the driving force behind Republicans’ desire to pass it.
But Senate Republicans have had little time to rest on their laurels and celebrate the bill’s passage, spending the month since Trump signed it advancing a $9 billion clawback package and trying to ram through Senate Democrats’ blockade of the president’s nominees.
SENATE PASSES TRUMP’S ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ AFTER MARATHON VOTE-A-RAMA
President Donald Trump boards Air Force One bound for Scotland on July 25, 2025, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
The journey to pass the bill began well before Republicans had a trifecta in Washington in early 2024, when then-Senate Republican Conference Chair John Barrasso, R-Wyo., hosted a policy retreat with Senate Republicans to hash out what the GOP’s agenda could look like should the win out in November.
And months later, Trump visited with Senate Republicans to discuss the strategy they had been working on behind-the-scenes.
«With President Trump in the White House, we discussed how Republicans will get America back on track,» Barrasso said at the time. «That starts with helping families escape the pain of Democrat high prices, unleashing American energy, stopping Democrat tax increases, and securing the Southern Border. Republicans are united.»
The real, nitty-gritty work began in January where concepts were taken and fleshed out into legislation.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., opted to leapfrog the House and move forward with the Senate’s own budget framework, which initially divided the «big, beautiful bill» into two chunks. That added pressure on Republicans in the lower chamber to coalesce behind a plan of their own.
For much of the earlier part of this year, however, the Senate was waiting on the House to fine-tune and pass their own version of the bill. Still, Thune and his leadership team, including Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., worked to get a product from one side of the building to the other that the Senate GOP could work with.
TRUMP’S ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ FACES REPUBLICAN FAMILY FEUD AS SENATE REVEALS ITS FINAL TEXT
Reporters surround Senate Majority Leader John Thune as he moves between his office and the Senate Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Aug. 1, 2025, in Washington. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
And when the bill made its way to the upper chamber in early June, the pressure was on to deliver a finished product to Trump by July 4, an artificial deadline used to help corral lawmakers into finishing work on the bill.
One of the major disagreements in the upper chamber before the bill ever hit the floor was over the nature of cuts to Medicaid, particularly aimed at the provider tax rate. The issue was eventually smoothed over through the creation of a $50 billion rural hospital fund, but lawmakers who sounded the alarm against it vowed to ensure that the changes to the provider would never take effect.
«I think it was a huge mistake,» Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said at the time. «I think this has been an unhappy episode here in Congress, this effort to cut Medicaid.»
«And I think, frankly, my party needs to do some soul-searching,» he continued. «If you want to be a working class party, you’ve got to get delivered for working class people. You cannot take away health care from working people.»
And when the bill did finally hit the floor for what would evolve into a multi-day affair of passing through procedural hurdles, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., forcing the reading of the entire bill and a marathon vote-a-rama, Senate Republicans were still not entirely on board.
At first, a cohort of fiscal hawks led by Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., appeared to not support the package — they wanted even deeper cuts to Medicaid by tweaking the percentage that the federal government pays for healthcare in states that opted into Obamacare, which they argued would have saved billions extra.
They were offered an amendment that eventually never came to the floor, but was enough for them to back down from tanking the bill. And their resistance began in the first of a handful of huddles inside Thune’s office outside the Senate floor.
TAX CUTS, WORK REQUIREMENTS AND ASYLUM FEES: HERE’S WHAT’S INSIDE THE SENATE’S VERSION OF TRUMP’S BILL
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina announced in June that he wouldn’t run for a third term in the Senate when he is up for re-election in 2026. (Getty Images)
Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., joined them for the closed-door conversations, and told Fox News Digital that while her vote was not contingent on getting the change added, she wanted to make the case for why it should be.
«It saved a lot of money,» she said. «It saved a lot of money, and so I was anxious to see us use the opportunity, since we were able to open up mandatory spending, use the opportunity to really save some money.»
And later on, in the wee hours of the night, Republicans were bouncing from Thune’s office to the Senate floor, hashing out deals as they went to get Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, to support the bill, knowing that Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., could vote against it.
«Sometimes it’s got to be put on a clock, because at some point the argument has to come to an end,» Mullin told Fox News Digital. «And that’s why we had to do some of it on the floor. We had to, we had to force the hand.»
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And in the end, only three Republicans, Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Collins and Tillis voted against the bill. From there it went to the House, where Republicans in the lower chamber had their own dramatic rally to pass the legislative behemoth.
And now, as Republicans scatter to their home states to sell the bill to their constituents, Tillis said that the «foundational» piece of information that lawmakers can share is that they averted a nationwide tax hike.
«The shame of the Medicaid provision is that the vast majority of the bill is supported,» he told Fox News Digital. «I think we have to remind them the problem with the tax bill is they’re not going to see a cut, but if we hadn’t done it, they would have seen a historic increase.»
«So we need to remind them of what we’re doing is continuing what we started, and the economy that we created, it was able to withstand COVID,» he continued. «And I firmly believe if we hadn’t passed it. We’d have been in a different posture.»
politics,senate,donald trump,republicans
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Trump admin agencies coordinating to expose Biden admin’s ‘prolific and dangerous’ weaponization of government
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EXCLUSIVE: Trump administration agencies are working to expose the Biden administration’s «prolific and dangerous weaponization of government,» Fox News Digital has learned.
The Interagency Weaponization Working Group (IWWG) is made up of officials from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Justice Department, the FBI, the CIA and more.
Officials told Fox News Digital that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard initiated the Interagency Weaponization Working Group, which has been meeting biweekly since April to «share information, coordinate, and execute.»
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced on Tuesday the revocation of former intelligence officials’ credentials. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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«The American people made a clear choice when they elected President Trump — to stop the Biden administration’s prolific and dangerous weaponization of government agencies against the American people and the Constitution,» Gabbard told Fox News Digital. «I stood up this working group to start the important work of interagency coordination under President Trump’s leadership to deliver accountability.»
She added: «True accountability is the first step toward lasting change.»
Officials told Fox News Digital the group was created to streamline information sharing across the government in support of the Trump executive order.
Attorney General Pam Bondi is sworn in before a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025. (Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo)
«Joe Biden’s Department of Justice targeted President Trump and anyone close to him, prosecuted pro-life advocates, treated parents at school board meetings as domestic terrorists, and destroyed public trust in federal law enforcement,» Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News Digital.
GABBARD FIRES ‘DEEP STATE’ HEADS OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE COUNCIL TO ROOT OUT ‘POLITICIZATION OF INTEL’
«Under President Trump, we are working every day alongside our partners to end weaponization and restore one tier of justice for all,» Bondi said.
Meanwhile, FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News Digital that, «for years, Biden’s DOJ turned federal law enforcement into a political weapon.»
FLASHBACK: HOUSE WEAPONIZATION PANEL RELEASES 17,000-PAGE REPORT EXPOSING ‘TWO-TIERED SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT’
«Going after President Trump, pro-life Americans, and parents at school boards while letting real criminals run wild,» Patel told Fox News Digital. «Under Preisdent Trump, we’ve ripped that agenda out by the roots.»
Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on Sept. 16, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Patel added: «We’re restoring equal justice under the law, one standard, one mission: Protect the American people.»
Officials involved pointed Fox News Digital to President Trump’s executive order, which says interagency coordination is needed to «ensure accountability for the previous administration’s weaponization of the federal government against the American people.»
GABBARD ESTABLISHES NEW INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY TASK FORCE TO RESTORE TRANSPARENCY
The executive order had directed Gabbard, in consultation with the heads of other appropriate departments and agencies within the intelligence community, to «take all appropriate action to review the activities of the intelligence community over the last four years and identify any instances» of the weaponization of government.
Officials told Fox News Digital that the interagency group is «working to undo the Biden administration’s whole-of-government approach to abuse the powers of government against the American people.»
«The weaponization of government against Americans did not happen in one agency, one time,» an official explained. «It happened repeatedly over the duration of the Biden administration.»
Attorney General Pam Bondi, left, FBI Director Kash Patel, center, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, center right, are seen on Wednesday, March 5, awaiting Muhammed Sharifullah’s arrival in the U.S. following his arrest overseas. (Justice Department)
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«That’s why, in order to depoliticize and deweaponize the government, it is important to understand what agencies carried out, what roles, and why,» the official continued. «The IWWG is essential for coordinating across agencies.»
But officials said the media has attempted to «negatively spin lawful oversight and accountability» by claiming it is a way for the Trump administration to weaponize the government against its political opponents.
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«The irony is, accusing the Interagency Weaponization Working Group of targeting the president’s political opponents is classic projection and could not be further from the truth,» an official said.
The official said that there is «no targeting of any individual person for retribution.»
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«IWWG is simply looking at available facts and evidence that may point to actions, reports, agencies, individuals, and more who illegally weaponized the government in order to carry out political attacks,» the official said.
«The only people who fear accountability are the ones who never expected to face it,» the official continued. «Oversight is not the problem—abuse of power is.»
joe biden,tulsi gabbard,pam bondi,kash patel,justice department,cia,fbi
El Gobierno de Brasil estima que el nuevo horizonte petrolero frente al río Amazonas, cuya exploración fue autorizada este lunes por la agencia ambiental del país, atraerá inversiones por unos 300.000 millones de reales (55.000 millones de dólares).
El Instituto Brasileño de Medio Ambiente (Ibama) concedió a la petrolera estatal Petrobras el permiso para perforar un pozo exploratorio en una zona del Atlántico situada a unos 500 kilómetros de la desembocadura del Amazonas y a unos 175 kilómetros de la costa.
La decisión, cuestionada por las organizaciones ecologistas, se produjo a menos de un mes de que comience la cumbre climática de la ONU (COP30), que se celebrará en la ciudad amazónica de Belém.
Sin embargo, el ministro de Minas y Energía, Alexandre Silveira, afirmó que ese nuevo horizonte petrolero, cuyo potencial es de 10.000 millones de barriles recuperables, representa “el futuro de la soberanía energética” de Brasil.
“Brasil no puede renunciar a conocer su potencial. Hicimos una defensa firme y técnica para garantizar que la exploración se realice con total responsabilidad ambiental (…) Nuestro petróleo es uno de los más sostenibles del mundo”, aseguró en una nota.
Según estimaciones oficiales, además de atraer una cantidad importante de inversiones, si finalmente se materializa la explotación de hidrocarburos en la región, conocida como Margen Ecuatorial, el Estado brasileño recaudará “un billón de reales (cerca de 200.000 millones de dólares) en las próximas décadas”.
Además, el Ejecutivo del presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva prevé la creación de 300.000 empleos directos e indirectos.
Silveira subrayó que la exploración del territorio se llevará a cabo “bajo los más altos estándares de sostenibilidad, conciliando la preservación ambiental con la generación de empleo e ingresos”.
Y recordó que Petrobras montó “la mayor estructura de respuesta del país, con 13 embarcaciones a disposición para apenas un pozo”.
“La decisión refuerza el compromiso del Gobierno con una transición energética justa, inclusiva y equilibrada, en la que el desarrollo de las actividades de exploración y producción de petróleo y gas avanza de la mano con las políticas de descarbonización y expansión de los biocombustibles”, señaló el ministro.
Por otra parte, ONG ambientalistas cargaron este lunes contra la concesión de la licencia. El Observatorio do Clima, un red formada por 130 organizaciones, señaló en un comunicado que se trata de una decisión “desastrosa” desde el punto de vista ambiental y pedirán ante la justicia que el permiso sea “anulado” por las “fallas técnicas” en el proceso de licenciamiento.
La red ambientalista apuntó, además, a la contradicción que supone dar esta licencia a menos de un mes del inicio de la COP30.
La decisión es un “sabotaje” a la COP30 y “va en dirección contraria al papel de líder climático reivindicado por el presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva”, de acuerdo con el Observatorio do Clima.
Asimismo, la licencia para explorar esta área, situada a unos 500 kilómetros de la desembocadura, choca, según los ambientalistas, con las metas del Gobierno brasileño, que se ha comprometido a reducir entre un 59 % y un 67 % las emisiones contaminantes hasta 2035.
“En un escenario de emergencia climática como el actual, la apertura de nuevos pozo de petróleo contradice los compromisos del país con la transición energética y refuerza patrones excluyentes e insostenibles”, señaló la portavoz de Greenpeace Mariana Andrade, en declaraciones distribuidas a los medios.
Brasil, según los ambientalistas, debería invertir más en energías renovables, en vez de ampliar su producción de petróleo.
“Necesitamos invertir en alternativas que generen desarrollo inclusivo y sostenible, como las energías renovables y la bioeconomía; insistir en el petróleo es ir en dirección contraria al mundo”, dijo, a su vez, Ricardo Fuji, especialista en conservación de WWF en Brasil.
Alrededor del área objeto de la licencia hay reservas ambientales, territorios indígenas, manglares y arrecifes de coral, así como una variada diversidad marina con especies en peligro de extinción.
La petrolera tiene planes para explorar la región desde 2022, pero el proceso de autorización se alargó durante casi cinco años, ante los pedidos de información adicional por parte del Instituto Brasileño de Medio Ambiente (Ibama), la entidad responsable de emitir los permisos.
(Con información de EFE)
South America / Central America,RIO DE JANEIRO
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NYC mayoral rivals unite against billionaire ‘election interference’ as campaign enters final stretch
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With two weeks until Election Day, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa have landed on unlikely common ground: rejecting billionaire influence in the New York City mayoral election.
Two billionaires, Red Apple Media CEO John Catsimatidis and hedge fund CEO Bill Ackman, are calling on Sliwa to drop out of the mayoral race in order to clear a pathway to victory for former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an Independent candidate.
«The billionaires can conspire to pick their candidate,» Sliwa said during a press conference in Manhattan on Monday. «I trust the people. They will make the decision. I will not drop out.»
BILL ACKMAN JUMPS INTO NYC MAYORAL FIGHT, SAYS SLIWA MUST DROP OR ‘WE ARE TOAST’
New York City mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa speaks to reporters in Manhattan on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, with two weeks until Election Day. (Fox News Digital/Deirdre Heavey)
Several blocks downtown at his own press conference Monday morning, Mamdani admitted his surprise to agree with Sliwa.
«I never thought I would say this, but here we are, where the only candidates who agree that billionaires shouldn’t control the future of this city are the Republican nominee and the Democratic nominee,» Mamdani said.
Catsimatidis, who is also the CEO of WABC Radio, publicly urged Sliwa to drop out of the race on Monday. Sliwa has long hosted a radio program on WABC but is on leave while he runs for mayor.
«Curtis would make the best mayor of all the candidates … but Curtis has to realize that he should love New York more than anything else,» he said. «It certainly looks like Curtis should pull out right now.»
«I’m not dropping out,» Sliwa reaffirmed to reporters on Monday while responding to Catsimatidis’ plea.
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New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani fields reporter questions in Manhattan on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. (Fox News Digital/Deirdre Heavey)
A recent Fox News survey of the mayoral race, conducted Oct. 10–14, asked voters about their second-choice candidate. If both Adams and Sliwa are out, the results show Mamdani keeping a significant lead, even as support for Cuomo increases.
With Sliwa out, the poll found Mamdani would pick up 50% compared to 37% to Cuomo.
Yet, Cuomo on Monday said that when New Yorkers realize that Sliwa dropping out would create a head-to-head matchup with Mamdani, «they’ll discard the spoiler Curtis Sliwa and rally behind Cuomo to save the city.»
When asked who bears responsibility if Mamdani is elected mayor, Sliwa told Fox News Digital on Monday, «We blame Andrew Cuomo.»
«I would suggest to Andrew Cuomo, stop this nonsense. You are the one who is responsible for Zohran Mamdani. You got beaten mightily in a Democratic primary,» Sliwa said when asked about Cuomo calling him a «spoiler.»
Mamdani on Sunday responded to a viral clip of Sliwa reiterating that he will stay in the race, despite pleas from billionaires, like Ackman.
«It’s genuinely positive for our democracy that there’s another candidate in this race who believes NYC voters should pick their next mayor, not billionaires who mostly live somewhere else,» Mamdani said in the post.
CUOMO RALLIES BUSINESS LEADERS AGAINST SOCIALIST CANDIDATE AS NYC MAYORAL RACE REACHES BOILING POINT
Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, left, speaks while participating in a mayoral debate with Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, right, and independent candidate former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (not pictured), Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis, Pool)
Ackman and Catsimatidis are among those billionaires arguing that a vote for Sliwa is a vote for Mamdani.
«Like that Ackman, out in Chappaqua, what does he know about New York City?» Sliwa questioned on Monday, telling reporters that billionaires «have paved the way for Zohran Mamdani because every time they fail, it makes it easier for Zohran Mamdani to campaign.»
«They should stay out of it, focus on Wall Street, hedge funds. They know nothing about the streets, as clearly evidenced by their panic,» Sliwa said, urging billionaires to «let the people decide.»
«Billionaires should be ashamed of themselves for interfering with this election. I call it election interference. Let the people decide. That’s the way I was raised. That’s the way everybody was raised. Nobody was ever told the billionaires were going to pick the person who wins an election.»
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Mamdani agreed with his Republican opponent on Monday, arguing that New Yorkers «no matter what they think about our politics, want to make their own decisions, and that is one place where Curtis and I agree, which is that it’s time for New Yorkers to make this decision, not for billionaire donors to decide who gets to run this city.»
«To have a candidate spending all his time pleading with another candidate to get, it shows that he doesn’t have much to share with New Yorkers himself,» Mamdani said of Cuomo.
Fox News Digital reached out to Cuomo for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
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