Connect with us

INTERNACIONAL

Congress sends $9B spending cuts package to Trump’s desk after late-night House vote

Published

on


NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Congress is officially sending a package detailing $9 billion in spending cuts to President Donald Trump’s desk, minutes after midnight on Friday.

Advertisement

The bill, called a «rescissions package,» was approved by the House of Representatives in a late-night 216 to 213 vote after intense debate between Republicans and Democrats. Just two Republicans, Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., and Mike Turner, R-Ohio, voted in opposition.

Friday was also the deadline for passing the legislation, otherwise the White House would be forced to re-obligate those funds as planned.

It’s a victory for House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., but a mostly symbolic one – the spending cuts bill was largely seen by Trump allies as a test run of a fiscal claw-back process not used in more than two decades.

Advertisement

FAR-LEFT FIREBRAND SAYS SHE ‘NEVER HAD A CONCERN’ ABOUT BIDEN’S MENTAL STATE AS HOUSE PROBE HEATS UP

House Speaker Mike Johnson ushered through President Donald Trump’s spending cuts (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

«This bill tonight is part of continuing that trend of getting spending under control. Does it answer all the problems? No. $9 billion, I would say is a good start,» House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said during debate on the bill.

Advertisement

When signed by Trump, it will block $8 billion in funding to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and $1 billion to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for the remainder of the fiscal year. The dollars had been allocated by Congress for the duration of fiscal year 2025.

Republicans celebrated it as a victory for cutting off the flow of U.S. taxpayer dollars to what they called «woke» initiatives abroad, while Democrats accused the right of gutting critical foreign aid.

Rescissions packages are a way for the president to have input in Congress’ yearly appropriations process. The White House sends a proposal to block some congressionally obligated funds, which lawmakers have 45 days to get through the House and Senate.

Advertisement

Republicans have also been able to sideline Democrats so far, with the rescissions process lowering the Senate’s threshold for passage from 60 votes to 51.

The last time a rescissions package was signed into law was 1999.

Consideration of the bill began with a House Rules Committee hearing at 6 p.m. on Thursday evening.

Advertisement
Rep. Jim McGovern

Ranking member Rep. Jim McGovern attempted to force multiple voted related to Jeffrey Epstein (Tom Williams)

Democrats attempted multiple times throughout the process to weaponize the ongoing inter-GOP fallout over the Jeffrey Epstein case, both in the House Rules Committee and on the chamber floor during debate on the bill. 

Multiple calls were made for votes to force the release of the so-called Epstein «files.»

«If every Republican votes to block our attempt to release the records, they are telling Epstein’s victims, you don’t matter as much as our political convenience. And that should disgust every single one of us,» said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass.

Advertisement

Far-right GOP figures are demanding accountability, while Trump has called on his base to move on after the Department of Justice (DOJ) signaled the case was closed.

Initial plans to begin advancing the bill earlier in the day were quickly scuttled, with Republicans on the committee being concerned about being put into a difficult position with potential Epstein votes.

In the end, a compromise led to the House Rules Committee advancing a separate nonbinding measure dealing with Epstein transparency, on a parallel track to the rescissions bill.

Advertisement

THOM TILLIS ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM SENATE AFTER CLASH WITH TRUMP

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

«All the credible evidence should come out. I’ve been very clear with members of the House Rules Committee. Republicans have been taking the incoming criticism because they voted to stop the Democrats’ politicization of this, and they’re trying to stick to their job and move their procedural rules to the floor so we can do our work and get the rescissions done for the American people,» Johnson told reporters during negotiations earlier in the day.

Advertisement

Democrats nevertheless pressed on, mentioning Epstein multiple times on the House floor. McGovern even briefly led a chant of «release the files» when closing debate on the bill.

Republicans, in turn, accused Democrats of hypocrisy.

«Interesting how they talk about Jeffrey Epstein, because for four years, Mr. Speaker, President Joe Biden had those files, and not a single Democrat that you’re hearing tonight tried to get those files released,» House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said at one point during the House floor debate.

Advertisement

The House initially voted to advance a $9.4 billion rescissions package, but it was trimmed somewhat in the Senate after some senators had concerns about cutting funding for HIV/AIDS prevention research in Africa.

Trump is expected to sign the bill on Friday.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

INTERNACIONAL

Señales de alerta para Donald Trump: el caso Epstein desnuda las grietas en el Partido Republicano

Published

on


Con el masivo apoyo de los republicanos, el Congreso de los Estados Unidos aprobó el martes la apertura de los famosos archivos del financista abusador sexual Jeffrey Epstein, que se sospecha que podrían contener pruebas que incriminen al presidente Donald Trump y otros ricos y poderosos.

La votación, más allá de tener un fuerte impacto en las posibles derivaciones judiciales, fue apenas una de las varias señales de alarma que se encendieron en la Casa Blanca en las últimas semanas: el partido oficialista, que fue siempre monolítico detrás de Trump, comenzó a mostrar sus primeras grietas, al tiempo que el presidente cae en las encuestas y enfrenta cuestionamientos por su manejo de la economía.

Advertisement

La apertura de los controvertidos archivos, que los republicanos apoyaron abrumadoramente en la votación, mostró un giro sorprendente después de que los legisladores oficialistas hubieran trabajado durante meses para evitarlo. La novedad fue un golpe para el presidente, que se opuso hasta último momento a la difusión de esos documentos hasta que no tuvo más remedio que aceptarlo porque se le avecinaba una derrota legislativa.

“Inicialmente, los republicanos en el Congreso no apoyaban la publicación de los archivos de Epstein, sin duda debido a la oposición de Trump”, dijo a Clarín Elizabeth Suhay, profesora de Gobierno de American University. “Sin embargo, una vez que el proyecto de ley se sometió a votación, los legisladores republicanos se sintieron presionados por sus electores para votar a favor de la publicación de los archivos”, señaló.

Para Julian Zelizer, profesor de Historia y Asuntos Públicos de la Universidad de Princeton, “los republicanos votaron contra Trump porque el de los archivos era un tema en el que suficientes oficialistas del Congreso estaban firmemente en contra del presidente y consideraron que era mejor oponerse a él que a sus votantes y convicciones”, según dijo a Clarín.

Advertisement
Una protesta contra Donald Trump, este sábado en Washington. Foto: EFE

Y agregó: “Trump fue quien puso en marcha una campaña centrada en este tema y no la pudo controlar. El presidente solo se mostró a favor cuando se dio cuenta de que iba a perder. Sospecho que los resultados de las elecciones de hace unas semanas demostraron que Trump está más ‘pato rengo’ de lo que cree”, en referencia a la expresión que suele adjudicársele a los presidentes que pierden poder al estar cerca de finalizar su mandato, aunque a Trump aún le quedan 3 años en la Casa Blanca.

El experto aludió también al impacto de los comicios el 4 de noviembre para alcalde en Nueva York, donde ganó el socialista demócrata Zohran Mamdani al candidato apoyado por el presidente, y a los de gobernadores en New Jersey y Virginia, donde triunfaron ampliamente dos mujeres demócratas, todos con campaña contra las políticas económicas de Trump, sobre todo el alza de precios de alimentos y servicios básicos.

Tensión interna

Advertisement

Para Zelizer la votación en el caso Epstein muestra “claros indicios de tensión interna dentro del partido y esto es significativo. Es una demostración de fuerza por parte de los republicanos, incluso bajo un ataque implacable, y se convierte realmente en el primer modelo de cómo los republicanos pueden oponerse a él de nuevo. Estas son el tipo de divisiones que los demócratas pueden explotar y que incluso pueden mermar el entusiasmo republicano de cara a las elecciones de mitad de término”, el año que viene.

En los primeros 10 meses de gobierno de Trump, los legisladores republicanos habían aceptado incondicionalmente el liderazgo del presidente, aún cuando muchas de sus políticas eran contrarias a los principios tradicionales del partido e incluso eran miradas con recelo por los votantes del mundo MAGA.

Refrendaron sin chistar los recortes sociales, aunque muchos de ellos afectaban a sus estados, y también la política arancelaria que provocó una enorme incertidumbre en diversos sectores, especialmente la agroindustria y llevó al alza de precios en productos básicos. Pero el alineamiento incondicional se quebró con la votación sobre los archivos de Epstein.

Advertisement
Donald Trump aceptó la apertura de los archivos del caso Epstein. Foto: REUTERS Donald Trump aceptó la apertura de los archivos del caso Epstein. Foto: REUTERS

Trump llegó a llamar “traidora” a Marjorie Taylor Greene, una de las legisladoras ultra MAGA que impulsó el caso el Congreso y le quitó el apoyo para su reelección. Ella terminó renunciando a su banca el viernes. Impensado divorcio con una aliada de la primera hora.

“Durante el primer mandato de Trump, vimos divisiones entre los republicanos más tradicionales y Trump; sin embargo, esta es la primera división seria entre los republicanos durante el segundo mandato”, agrega Suhay, autora del libro «Debatiendo el sueño americano: cómo las explicaciones de la desigualdad polarizan la política».

El caso Jeffrey Epstein

¿Por qué el caso Epstein marcó un quiebre? “Por décadas, los votantes republicanos han creído que muchas personas en el gobierno y asociadas con el gobierno son corruptas. Los republicanos se obsesionaron con Epstein por lo escandaloso de sus delitos y sus estrechas conexiones con muchos políticos. Por supuesto, los votantes republicanos no entendían que Trump fuera tan cercano a Epstein como lo era. Pero es demasiado tarde para volver a poner al genio en la botella”, señala.

Advertisement

Y explica: “Hay dos razones para el comienzo de la disidencia dentro del Partido. Los candidatos demócratas superaron con creces las expectativas en varias contiendas menores en todo el país en 2025, un resultado abrumador que se atribuye en gran medida al mal liderazgo de Trump. Además, en su segundo y último mandato, Trump es un «pato rengo’ como presidente. Su popularidad en declive y su inevitable salida de la escena política le dificultan ejercer influencia sobre los miembros republicanos del Congreso”.

La legisladora republicana Marjorie Taylor Greene renunció tras un fuerte encontronazo con Donald Trump. Foto: REUTERS  La legisladora republicana Marjorie Taylor Greene renunció tras un fuerte encontronazo con Donald Trump. Foto: REUTERS

El contexto es fundamental para entender el cambio. Trump llega a esta altura del mandato con los peores índices de popularidad de su presidencia. Su aprobación cayó al 38%, el más bajo desde su regreso al cargo, según una encuesta de Reuters/Ipsos de esta semana.

Solo el 26% de los estadounidenses dice que Trump está haciendo un buen trabajo en la gestión de la inflación, que es hoy la mayor preocupación de los votantes. En el interior rural hasta fustigaron la ayuda a la Argentina. ¿Por qué enviar dinero a un país remoto cuando los “farmers” están sufriendo?, se cuestionaban.

El presidente ya dio algunos indicios de que este panorama lo afecta, sobre todo porque el año que viene se vota la renovación del Parlamento. Se muestra agresivo con periodistas que le hacen preguntas incómodas y a una hasta la calificó de “cerdita”. Incluso, algo completamente inusual en él, reconoció que su popularidad había disminuido en los sondeos. «Así que mis números en las encuestas acaban de bajar, pero con la gente inteligente han subido mucho», dijo. Y culpó a los demócratas de la inflación, añadiendo que, «ahora tenemos una inflación hermosa y normal, que va a bajar un poco más en los próximos meses.»

Advertisement

Tuvo además que retroceder en su política arancelaria, que llevó al alza de alimentos y a causar desabastecimiento e incertidumbre en varios sectores. Firmó acuerdos comerciales con Argentina, Ecuador, Guatemala y El Salvador. Pero sobre todo se acercó a China (liberando el mercado de soja) y también a Brasil, a quien acaba de levantar aranceles de carne, café, frutas y madera, todos productos clave en el consumo de Estados Unidos.

En este marco sensible, no se sabe cómo avanzará y cuánto daño podrá hacerle la apertura de los archivos de Epstein, que se estima que será en un mes.

“Si hubiera habido algo contra el presidente lo hubiéramos sabido durante el gobierno de Biden”, señaló Jaime Florez, Director de Comunicaciones Hispanas del Comité Nacional Republicano en una entrevista con Clarín. Y admitió además que, si bien los resultados macroeconómicos son “positivos”, “a la gente no le interesa que el crecimiento esté en 3,8% si está pagando el arroz, los frijoles o la carne más caros de lo que pagaba antes”. Culpa a la herencia del gobierno de Joe Biden, pero admite que “naturalmente, hay que hacer ajustes”.

Advertisement

Todavía falta un año para las elecciones legislativas y el presidente busca corregir el rumbo para intentar mantener el control del Congreso. Si bien Trump es un hombre que ha sobrevivido a mil batallas, ahora percibe señales adversas, un escozor que no le gusta.

Continue Reading

INTERNACIONAL

Reporter’s Notebook : A ‘Letter’ To Zelesnkyy Re The Peace Plan

Published

on


NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Having covered Ukraine … and Russia … for over three decades, especially the war between the two countries for the last several years, I’ve naturally been fascinated by the latest Trump administration effort to broker peace.

Advertisement

The reaction I’ve been getting from contacts in Ukraine to the 28-point plan to end the war is not all that positive.  

«It’s not worth the paper it’s written on,» said one observer.

«Any deal would have to include Ukraine…and Europe,» noted another. 

Advertisement

The overall consensus of analysts is that the document is slanted heavily towards Moscow. The man at the center of things, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has been diplomatic in various statements, basically saying he’s «reviewing the points» aiming at arriving at a «dignified peace.»

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with Fox News correspondent Greg Palkot in Kyiv, Ukraine, in April 2024, during coverage of the ongoing war with Russia. (Fox News)

US AND RUSSIA DRAFT PEACE PLAN FOR UKRAINE REQUIRING MAJOR CONCESSIONS FROM KYIV

Advertisement

There are all sorts of talks happening now between the U.S. and Ukraine and among European leaders. We’re even hearing from Russian President Vladmimir Putin. It’s no wonder: The stakes in this war for Europe and the world are enormous. If I were to send a quick note to Zelenskyy, it would go something like this: 

Dear Volodymyr, 

So far so good. You haven’t freaked out, and you’re promising to engage. Rejection of this plan out of hand would have been a non-starter.

Advertisement

TRUMP, ZELENSKYY AGREE ON CRUCIAL ASPECT TO END UKRAINE WAR: ‘GOOD COMPROMISE’ 

You’re staying cool (though a bit grim and determined), and you’re talking to people. 

My overall advice is … pick your fights, don’t sweat the small stuff, and keep the big picture in mind. 

Advertisement

I know what your country is going through. Every time I’m in Kyiv, I go to the same military cemetery outside the city, and it keeps getting bigger and bigger and sadder.

TRUMP’S FIRE FADES ON RUSSIA AS HE PULLS TROOPS, AVOIDS PRESSING XI ON OIL 

So, as to the points of the plan: There are a lot easy «gimmes» to Russia. Re-joining the G-8. Gradual dropping of sanctions. Granting of amnesty for everything Russian troops have done. I know this stuff is going to stick in your craw, but little of it affects your country’s future. 

Advertisement
Blue and yellow Ukrainian flags and framed photos honor fallen soldiers at a military memorial site in Kyiv, Ukraine, in April 2024.

Memorial flags and photos commemorate fallen Ukrainian soldiers amid the ongoing war with Russia. (Fox News)

I mentioned that you shouldn’t «sweat the small stuff.» Some of the points might sound like a big deal. Like prohibiting «Nazi ideology» in Ukraine. And adopting «EU rules on religious tolerance and linguistic minorities.» That’s pretty much window-dressing for Moscow. Having the Russian language and Russian church regain official status is not horrendous. 

In fact, the plan’s glass is at least one-third full for you guys. Confirming your sovereignty. Russia expected not to invade you again. You will receive reliable security guarantees. Rebuilding pledges and humanitarian promises. They are all good. Just nail down the specifics. Get all sides to commit for sure.

COULD TRUMP’S GAZA CEASEFIRE PLAN OFFER A BLUEPRINT FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE? 

Advertisement

Now to three of the points which cross, according to analysts, your red line. 

Like handing over the rest of the eastern Donetsk region to Russia even though Moscow’s troops haven’t even taken it. The region is referred to as a demilitarized zone in the plan. A «DMZ» ala the divider between North and South Korea. Well, hold them to that. No troops from either side. Tough security on both sides. A neutral body running things. And see if you can get them to not call it Russian!

Then there’s the reduction by a third of your military. Troop strength limited to 600,000. That’s a huge cut, but it’s still not a bad-sized force. That is if…it was properly trained, well-armed, and finely-positioned.  Guarantees are needed for all of this to happen.

Advertisement
Fox News correspondent Greg Palkot reports live from Kyiv, Ukraine.

Fox News senior foreign affairs correspondent Greg Palkot reports live from Kyiv, Ukraine, as the U.S. House approves a long-stalled aid package for Ukraine. (Fox News)

ZELENSKYY WARNS UKRAINE FACES ‘DIFFICULT CHOICE’ AS US PEACE PLAN HITS MAJOR HURDLE 

And then there’s the other red line : No NATO troops in Ukraine. That would seem to scupper the plan to have foreign peace-keepers on the ground, which has been in the works, to monitor the peace. A possible compromise? They’re stationed around Ukraine’s borders, surveillance keeps a close eye on things and rapid-response forces are at the ready. 

There are also a few gimmes for the U.S. in all this, like sharing in the profits of reconstruction. But that’s the price of doing business with President Trump. 

Advertisement

As for that Thanksgiving deadline to sign the deal? The president has already signaled he’s willing to let that slide if there’s talking. 

And that other deadline? One-hundred days until a new election? I know it’s a tough time for you politically with those corruption charges getting near. It might be something you have to live with. 

Anyway, for what it’s worth, that’s my take. 

Advertisement

Negotiations will probably sink on any hard discussion of any of these main points. But you know what the old adage is : «jaw-jaw» is better than «war-war.» 

For the proud people of Ukraine, who have suffered so much during this time, it’s worth your best shot.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Advertisement

Sincerely,

Greg

Advertisement

volodymyr zelenskyy,ukraine,peacekeeping,foreign affairs

Advertisement
Continue Reading

INTERNACIONAL

FAA warns airlines about flying over Venezuela: ‘Potentially hazardous situation’

Published

on


NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

The Federal Aviation Administration warned airlines about flying over Venezuela as it issued a notice urging them to «exercise caution» due to the «potentially hazardous situation» in the region. 

Advertisement

The advisory comes as the U.S. has significantly increased its military presence across the Caribbean under U.S. Southern Command, deploying bombers, warships and Marines as part of an expanded campaign targeting drug-trafficking and so-called «narco-terrorist» networks operating near Venezuela. 

«Operators are advised to exercise caution when operating in the Maiquetia flight information region at all altitudes due to the worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around Venezuela,» the FAA advisory said. 

«Threats could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight, the arrival and departure phases of flight, and/or airports and aircraft on the ground,» it added, requesting airlines to provide at least 72-hour advance notice to the FAA if they plan to fly through the area.

Advertisement

US NAVY DESTROYER ARRIVES IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO AS TRUMP TURNS SCREWS ON VENEZUELA 

Members of Venezuela’s Bolivarian National Guard stand in formation as they carry out an increased security patrol along Lake Maracaibo amid rising tensions between Venezuela and the U.S., in Maracaibo, Venezuela, on Oct. 26, 2025.  (Isaac Urrutia/Reuters)

Direct flights from U.S. passenger and cargo carriers to Venezuela have been suspended since 2019, but some airlines still fly over the country on their South American routes, according to Reuters. 

Advertisement

It added that American Airlines said Friday it stopped flying over Venezuela in October, while Delta Air Lines said it stopped «a while ago.» 

HEGSETH ANNOUNCES OPERATION TO REMOVE ‘NARCO-TERRORISTS FROM OUR HEMISPHERE’

Venezuelan Navy boat operates off coastline

A coast guard boat of the Venezuelan Navy operates off the Caribbean coast on Sept. 11, 2025.  (Juan Carlos Hernandez/Reuters)

«Since September 2025, there has been an increase in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference in the Maiquetia Flight Information Region (SVZM FIR), as well as activity associated with increasing Venezuela military readiness,» the FAA also said.

Advertisement

«Some civil aircraft recently reported GNSS interference while transiting the SVZM FIR, which, in some cases, caused lingering effects throughout the flight. GNSS jammers and spoofers can affect aircraft out to 250 nautical miles and can impact a wide variety of critical communication, navigation, surveillance, and safety equipment on aircraft,» the FAA continued.

USS Gravely departs Trinidad and Tobago

The USS Gravely, a U.S. Navy warship, departs Port of Spain on Oct. 30, 2025. The warship arrived in Trinidad and Tobago on Oct. 26, 2025, for joint exercises near the coast of Venezuela, as Washington ratcheted up pressure on drug traffickers and Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.  (Martin Bernetti/AFP via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP  

«Additionally, since early September, Venezuela has conducted multiple military exercises and directed the mass mobilization of thousands of military and reserve forces. While Venezuela has at no point expressed an intent to target civil aviation, the Venezuelan military possesses advanced fighter aircraft and multiple weapons systems capable of reaching or exceeding civil aircraft operating altitudes, as well as potential low-altitude risk from man-portable air defense systems and anti-aircraft artillery,» it also warned. 

Advertisement

Fox News Digital’s Morgan Phillips contributed to this report. 



airlines,venezuelan political crisis,south america,military,world

Continue Reading

Tendencias