Trumponomics 2.0 Will Erode Foundations of America’s Prosperity; Rural Hospitals Brace for Financial Hits or Closure Under GOP’s Medicaid Cut; Colleges to Pay Millions Under Trump's Tax
+ Trump wants to celebrate 250 years of independence with a UFC fight at the White House.
This is a quick roundup of some of the more notable recent news stories from the United States:
Trumponomics 2.0 will erode the foundations of America’s prosperity (The Economist)
The newly passed "One Big Beautiful Bill" (BBB), central to Trump's Trumponomics 2.0 agenda, extends unsustainable tax cuts while slashing Medicaid and clean energy incentives, exacerbating America’s ballooning debt and weakening its social safety net. Although the administration projects economic growth, most of the bill’s tax cuts are gimmicky and unlikely to spur a major boom, especially with high interest rates and offsetting tariffs. Key structural reforms - like raising the retirement age or enacting a real climate policy - are ignored in favor of populist and politically expedient measures. Overall, the BBB reflects a broader neglect of the economic foundations that underpin American prosperity, risking long-term damage despite short-term market gains.
Democratic lawmakers denied entry to ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ immigration jail (The Guardian)
Five Democratic lawmakers were denied entry to the controversial new Florida immigration detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” prompting accusations of a cover-up of human rights abuses. The facility, jointly operated by Florida and the federal government and supported by FEMA, recently began housing detainees and has drawn sharp criticism for its secrecy, remoteness, and Trump-aligned immigration enforcement practices.
Food truck companies face backlash for catering ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ (The Independent)
Four food truck companies - Kona Ice, Churro Mania, Elote Lovers, and Ms. Cheezious - faced online backlash and boycott calls after being filmed entering Florida’s controversial “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center, which was recently toured by Donald Trump. Although the companies claimed they were hired to serve construction crews or service members and denied supporting the facility's purpose, social media users criticized their presence as complicity in the mistreatment of immigrants.
Trump signs order to raise national park fees for foreigners but there's a huge problem (Irish Star)
At a July 3rd “Salute to America” rally in Iowa, Donald Trump announced an executive order to raise U.S. National Park entrance fees for foreign tourists while keeping them low for Americans, sparking backlash and confusion online. Critics pointed out the irony of demanding passports at parks and questioned how such a policy would be implemented given budget cuts to park services under Trump’s administration.
Many Missouri laws restricting abortion blocked again by state judge (CBS News)
A Missouri judge reinstated a preliminary injunction against the state’s abortion restrictions, citing a constitutional right to abortion approved by voters in 2023, allowing Planned Parenthood to resume procedural abortions. The ruling, which blocks the near-total abortion ban and other restrictive laws, faces immediate appeal from the state attorney general amid ongoing legal and legislative battles over abortion access in Missouri.
Colleges will have to pay millions under Trump's new tax bill (Newsweek)
Donald Trump's newly passed "Big Beautiful Bill" has sparked alarm among top U.S. universities by imposing steep, tiered taxes on wealthy school endowments - up to 8% at elite institutions like Harvard and Princeton - potentially diverting billions from education funding. The bill also significantly overhauls student loan policies, introducing borrowing caps, limiting repayment options, and eliminating income-based relief programs, prompting widespread concern about access to and affordability of higher education.
Rural hospitals brace for financial hits or even closure under Republicans’ $1 trillion Medicaid cut (AP News)
Massive Medicaid cuts in Donald Trump’s new tax and spending bill are threatening to shut down hundreds of rural hospitals, especially in states like Nebraska and Kentucky where facilities heavily rely on Medicaid reimbursements to stay open. Despite a $50 billion rural hospital fund added to the bill, health experts and advocates warn it won’t offset the projected $1.2 trillion in cuts, potentially leaving millions in remote areas without timely emergency care and stripping hundreds of thousands of people of health coverage.
Trump wants to celebrate 250 years of independence with a UFC fight at the White House (AP News)
Donald Trump announced plans to potentially host a UFC fight with up to 25,000 spectators on the White House grounds as part of the 250th anniversary celebrations of American independence in 2026. A known UFC enthusiast and friend of league president Dana White, Trump made the announcement during a kickoff event in Iowa and emphasized his seriousness about the idea, though the White House has yet to release official details.
Number Of 'Trumpugees' Leaving America Continues to Rise (Newsweek)
Amid increasing legal and social hostility toward transgender people in the U.S., particularly after recent Supreme Court rulings restricting trans rights, trans writer Grover Wehman-Brown and their family have relocated to the Netherlands in search of safety and stability. They join a growing number of Americans - especially LGBTQ+ individuals - seeking to leave the country due to rising fears of political repression, deteriorating civil rights, and threats to personal safety even in liberal states.