INTERNACIONAL
GOP push to make Trump’s 2017 tax cuts permanent, say going back would be a ‘dramatic’ change for many
Tax season is done.
And this year, Congressional Republicans converted tax season to «sales» season. Republicans and President Donald Trump are pushing to approve a bill to reauthorize his 2017 tax cut package. Otherwise, those taxes expire later this year.
«We absolutely have to make the tax cuts permanent,» said Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., on FOX Business.
«We’ve got to get the renewal of the President’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. That’s absolutely essential,» said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., on FOX Business.
Rates for nearly every American spike if Congress doesn’t act within the next few months.
CONFIDENCE IN DEMOCRATS HITS ALL TIME LOW IN NEW POLL
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., talks with the media after the House passed the budget resolution on Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
«We are trying to avoid tax increases on the most vulnerable populations in our country,» said Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee which determines tax policy. «I am trying to avoid a recession.»
If Congress stumbles, the non-partisan Tax Foundation estimates that a married couple with two children – earning $165,000 a year – is slapped with an extra $2,400 in taxes. A single parent with no kids making $75,000 annually could see a $1,700 upcharge on their tax bill. A single parent with two children bringing home $52,000 a year gets slapped with an additional $1,400 in taxes a year.
«Pretty significant. That’s an extra mortgage payment or extra rent payment,» said Daniel Bunn of the non-partisan Tax Foundation. «People have been kind of used to living with the policies that are currently in law for almost eight years now. And the shift back to the policy that was prior to the 2017 tax cuts would be a dramatic tax increase for many.»
But technically, Republicans aren’t cutting taxes.
«As simple as I can make this bill. It is about keeping tax rates the same,» said Sen. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma, on Fox.
Congress had to write the 2017 tax reduction bill in a way so that the reductions would expire this year. That was for accounting purposes. Congress didn’t have to count the tax cuts against the deficit thanks to some tricky number-crunching mechanisms – so long as they expired within a multi-year window. But the consequence was that taxes could climb if lawmakers failed to renew the old reductions.
«It sunsets and so you just automatically go back to the tax levels prior to 2017,» said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.
A recent Fox News poll found that 45% of those surveyed – and 44% of independents believe the rich don’t pay enough taxes.
Democrats hope to turn outrage about the perceived tax disparity against Trump.
«He wants his billionaire buddies to get an even bigger tax break. Is that disgraceful?» asked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., at a rally in New York.
«Disgrace!» shouted someone in the crowd.
«Disgraceful! Disgraceful!» followed up Schumer.
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., (R) speaks alongside Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., (L) to reporters during a news conference on the impacts of the Republican budget proposal at the U.S. Capitol on April 10, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
Some Republicans are now exploring raising rates on the wealthy or corporations. There’s been chatter on Capitol Hill and in the administration about exploring an additional set of tax brackets.
«I don’t believe the president has made a determination on whether he supports it or not,» said White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.
«We’re going to see where the President is» on this, said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent while traveling in Argentina. «Everything is on the table.»
A Treasury spokesperson then clarified Bessent’s remarks.
«What’s off the table is a $4.4 trillion tax increase on the American people,» said the spokesperson. «Additionally, corporate tax cuts will set off a manufacturing boom and rapidly grow the U.S. economy again.»
Top Congressional GOP leaders dismissed the idea.
«I’m not a big fan of doing that,» said House Speaker Mike Johnson on Fox. «I mean we’re the Republican party and we’re for tax reduction for everyone.»
FEDERAL JUDGE TEMPORARILY RESTRICTS DOGE ACCESS TO PERSONALIZED SOCIAL SECURITY DATA
«I don’t support that initiative,» said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., on FOX Business, before adding «everything’s on the table.»
But if you’re President Donald Trump and the GOP, consider the politics of creating a new corporate tax rate or hiking taxes on the well-to-do.
Sunrise light hits the U.S. Capitol dome on Thursday, January 2, 2025, as the 119th Congress is set to begin Friday. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
The president has expanded the GOP base. Republicans are no longer the party of the «wealthy.» Manual laborers, shop and storekeepers and small business persons now comprise Trump’s GOP. So maintaining these tax cuts helps with that working-class core. Raising taxes on the wealthy would help Republicans pay for the tax cuts and reduce the hit on the deficit. And it would shield Republicans from the Democrats’ argument that the tax cuts are for the rich.
Congress is now in the middle of a two-week recess for Passover and Easter. GOP lawmakers and staff are working behind the scenes to actually write the bill. No one knows exactly what will be in the bill. Trump promised no taxes on tips for food service workers. There is also talk of no taxes on overtime.
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Republicans from high-tax states like New York and Pennsylvania want to see a reduction of «SALT.» That’s where taxpayers can write off «state and local taxes.» This provision is crucial to secure the support of Republicans like Reps. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., and Mike Lawler, R-N.Y. But including the SALT reduction also increases the deficit.
So what will the bill look like?
«Minor adjustments within that are naturally on the table,» said Rounds. «The key though, [is] 218 in the House and 51 in the Senate.»
In other words, it’s about the math. Republicans need to develop the right legislative brew which commands just the right amount of votes in both chambers to pass. That could mean including certain provisions – or dumping others. It’s challenging. Especially with the slim House majority.
People attend a press conference and rally in support of fair taxation near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on April 10, 2025. (Bryan Dozier / Middle East Images / Middle East Images via AFP)
«There were trade-offs and offsets within that bill that many people are dissatisfied with,» said Bunn of the 2017 bill. «And it’s not clear how the package is going to come together with those various trade-offs.»
Johnson wants the bill complete by Memorial Day. Republicans know this enterprise can’t drag on too late into the year. Taxpayers would see a tax increase – even if it’s temporary – if working out the bill stretches into the fall when the IRS begins to prepare for the next tax season.
It’s also thought that finishing this sooner rather than later would provide some stability to the volatile stock markets. Establishing tax policy for next year would calm anxieties about the nation’s economic outlook.
«The big, beautiful bill,» Trump calls it, adding he wants the legislation done «soon.»
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And that’s why tax season is now sales season. Both to the lawmakers. And to the public.
Politics,Taxes,Congress,Donald Trump
INTERNACIONAL
Venezuela’s Delcy Rodriguez replaces sanctioned loyalist defense minister with military intel head
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Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez on Wednesday replaced a longtime loyalist military official, as she continues to make changes to her cabinet amid relations with the Trump administration.
General Gustavo Gonzalez Lopez, 65, will replace General Vladimir Padrino as defense minister, who held the position for more than a decade, Reuters reported.
In a Telegram post, Rodriguez thanked Padrino for his service and said he would be given new responsibilities.
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Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez waves after bidding farewell to U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright following their meeting at Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Ariana Cubillos/AP)
Lopez was appointed by Rodriguez in January as the head of the presidential guard and the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM).
Lopez, who is among several officials sanctioned by the United States and European Union for human rights violations and corruption, was appointed in January the new head of the presidential guard and the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence.
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U.S. State Department «wanted» posters show Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López accused by U.S. authorities of corruption and links to drug trafficking networks. (State Department)
He previously worked with Rodriguez as head of strategic affairs at PDVSA, the state-owned oil company, which she previously oversaw as energy minister.
Padrino had also been sanctioned by the U.S. over alleged drug trafficking and his support for ousted President Nicolas Maduro.
Despite the U.S. intervention, Venezuela’s repressive apparatus remains intact, the United Nations said last week. The government has repeatedly denied allegations of human rights and political oppression.
Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, left, smiles at Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, as they take the route that the body of late President Hugo Chavez followed to his final resting place, during the activities marking the 10th anniversary of Chavez’s death, in Caracas, Venezuela, March 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
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The United States recently restored diplomatic relations with the South American nation following years of heightened tensions between the two states.
venezuelan political crisis,south america,latin america
INTERNACIONAL
‘How do you sleep at night?’ Moreno slams ‘disgraceful’ shutdown leaving 260,000 workers without pay
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Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, lambasted his Democratic colleagues for blaming Republicans for the partial government shutdown during a Congressional hearing on Wednesday, calling their behavior «disgusting» and «disgraceful.»
Moreno used his allotted time during Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s confirmation hearing for the Department of Homeland Security Secretary to focus on the close to 260,000 DHS employees, which includes Transportation Security Administration employees, who have gone without a paycheck for more than a month.
«260,000 American citizen families who have not received a paycheck in over a month. None of those people are in charge of policy,» Moreno said. «It’s not one of those families that makes policy decisions. For the most part, that’s on the people here. There isn’t a single human being on this dais that has missed a paycheck. Every single one of us has gotten a paycheck the last 30 days and before that.»
‘YOU CAN CRY ABOUT IT’: TEMPERS FLARE IN SENATE AS DHS SHUTDOWN DEBATE ERUPTS, STALEMATE DIGS DEEPER
Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, delivers remarks during a Congressional hearing on the nomination of Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., as Secretary of Homeland Security. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Moreno argued that the real victims of the government shutdown are DHS employees.
«They’re having to tell their kids they can’t send them to dance recital because they did everything right in life except got a job with the Department of Homeland Security so that a politician can make a 30-second video online to fundraiser for the next election,» he said.
«That’s disgusting.»
Weeks ago, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., posted a video on social media vowing to vote against funding DHS until reforms are made to the agency.
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Moreno then turned his attention toward Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs ranking member Gary Peters, D-Mich., accusing him of failing to keep his promise of keeping key agencies funded. But Peters wasn’t paying attention. Moreno called it «incredibly disrespectful» before laying in on Peters.
«You said you’re going to fund all these agencies,» Moreno said to Peters. «Here’s one that you haven’t funded.»
Moreno showcased a large poster board, which shared how the mission of DHS was being compromised by the government shutdown. At the top of the board was listed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Gary Peters, D-Mich., grilled Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., during his confirmation hearing to become the next DHS chief. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
«USCIS is near and dear to my heart,» Moreno said. «That’s how I became a US citizen. We’ve defunded the agency that allows legal immigrants into this country. That is insane. Never hear the Democrats talk about that. 3,300 employees, trying to process legal immigrants. They don’t get a paycheck.»
He also railed against the defunding of Customs and Border Patrol and Immigration Customs and Enforcement.
«Are you suggesting that we not fund an organization that tracks transnational organizations?» Moreno rhetorically asked Democrats of ICE funding. «Be specific. When you say you don’t want to fund ICE, I want you to say the words ‘we do not want to fund 7,000 special agents that are in charge of stopping transnational criminal organizations, drug smugglers, and human traffickers.»
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., President Donald Trump’s pick for Homeland Security secretary, is sworn in before testifying during Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing, Wednesday, March 18, 2026 on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo)
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Moreno’s comments during Mullin’s Senate confirmation hearing come a day after Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., accused Democratic leadership of holding DHS agencies «hostage» amid negotiations for appropriations.
Fox News Digital reached out to Sen. Peters for comment.
homeland security,republicans,government shutdown,senate,politics
INTERNACIONAL
Amenazas de Irán y el petróleo Brent en precios récord: el análisis de un especialista en seguridad y defensa sobre la tensión en Medio Oriente
Juan Battaleme, ex secretario de Asuntos Internacionales del Ministerio de Defensa, advirtió en Infobae al Mediodía que la amenaza de Irán sobre las refinerías del Golfo ya disparó el Brent a 108 dólares y podría provocar una crisis global de abastecimiento.
En una entrevista durante el debate en vivo de Infobae al Mediodía, el analista internacional dialogó con Maru Duffard, Andrei Serbin Pont y el resto del staff sobre el cambio de escenario tras el ataque israelí a campos de gas iraníes y la reacción inmediata de Teherán.
“Estamos hablando de un Brent en USD 108,79”, precisó Andrei Serbin Pont al analizar la reacción de los mercados tras la amenaza iraní. La advertencia de Irán, que incluye una lista de blancos en Qatar y Arabia Saudita, forzó a evacuar y detener operaciones en varias instalaciones, según explicó el panel con datos de Bloomberg. “Varias de estas plantas ya están declarando que las están evacuando en preparativos para un posible ataque”, sostuvo Serbin Pont, lo que refuerza el riesgo de una interrupción mayor en el suministro energético global.
Battaleme destacó la paradoja del conflicto: “Irán dice: ‘Voy a atacar todas estas infraestructuras petroleras, el precio del petróleo sube’. Irán recauda más, porque no tiene el bloqueo petrolero en este momento. China paga más por el petróleo que le compra a Irán. Eso ya es una locura”. El impacto ya se siente en Argentina y el mundo, donde “aumenta el petróleo y no importa lo que hagas, te impacta”, remarcó Duffard. La logística nacional, dependiente del combustible, sufre la volatilidad del mercado internacional.
El panel abordó el uso de bombas penetrantes norteamericanas tras los recientes ataques a posiciones iraníes. Serbin Pont detalló: “Estados Unidos habría utilizado diferentes tipos de bombas penetradoras. Específicamente, se especula que podrían haber sido la GBU 72, que es una de las más avanzadas que se vienen desarrollando en los últimos años. Permiten atravesar por lo menos unos cinco metros de concreto en esta versión más avanzada”.
Battaleme profundizó sobre la capacidad destructiva de estos proyectiles: “La GBU 57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator es una bomba de 13.700 kilogramos que permite penetrar hasta 61 metros de concreto reforzado”. El ataque a campos de gas como South Pars demuestra la sofisticación del arsenal estadounidense y la carrera tecnológica entre potencias para vulnerar las fortificaciones subterráneas de Irán.
Consultado por la influencia externa, Battaleme explicó: “Irán está empezando a tener inteligencia de Rusia. Antes necesitabas diez misiles para pegarle a algo, ahora con uno o dos tenés más chance. Hoy Rusia le está proveyendo inteligencia satelital, le están marcando cuáles son los objetivos más rentables”. El apoyo ruso optimiza la capacidad de daño iraní sobre infraestructuras estratégicas, mientras la falta de una coalición internacional limita la reacción de Estados Unidos.
La situación se complejiza con la postura de China, principal comprador del crudo iraní. “China está activo a nivel diplomático, se aseguró de que lo que salga de Irán y vaya para China no se lo toquen los norteamericanos”, subrayó Battaleme. El panel recordó que, a diferencia de conflictos previos, Estados Unidos hoy permite que buques iraníes crucen el estrecho de Ormuz hacia Asia, para evitar una escalada directa con China.
Battaleme sintetizó el escenario: “La voluntad norteamericana es irse cuanto antes, terminar la misión. Trump está apurado porque lo corren los tiempos del Congreso. Israel defiende la supervivencia de su Estado. Irán, sobrevivir. Los países del Golfo, salvar la infraestructura petrolera. Podés terminar en la paradoja de que en una semana digan: Irán ganó, Estados Unidos ganó, Israel sigue bombardeando y los países del Golfo salvaron la infraestructura”.
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