US Senate Debates Trump's Budget Bill Amidst Opposition

A proposed US Senate budget bill, backed by President Donald Trump, is estimated to cut health insurance coverage for nearly 12 million Americans and add $3.3tn to the national debt, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The bill, which narrowly passed a preliminary Senate vote, includes $1tn in healthcare funding cuts and proposes a work requirement for most adults to qualify for Medicaid benefits. Despite revisions to appease Republican holdouts, the bill remains contentious, with Democrats criticizing its impact on healthcare and Republicans facing internal divisions. The bill's passage is uncertain, with a final vote pending and further delays possible.

The US Senate is holding a marathon vote on a budget bill, known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act", which is crucial to President Donald Trump's agenda. The bill has been the subject of weeks of negotiations and is facing opposition from both Democrats and some Republicans. The vote, known as a "vote-a-rama", could last up to 20 hours and involves debating amendments to the nearly 1,000-page bill. The bill proposes to cut welfare programs, including Medicaid, and extend tax breaks, which could add $3.3 trillion to the national debt. Elon Musk, a former Trump ally, has criticized the bill, calling it "insane" and threatening to challenge Republicans who support it. The bill's passage is uncertain, with Republicans able to afford only three defections, and Democrats expected to use all their allotted debate time. If passed, the bill will return to the House of Representatives for another vote.

Sen. Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat and Vice Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, criticized a Republican bill expected to pass along party lines, calling it a "political albatross" due to its cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, which would leave 16 million Americans uninsured. Warner argued that the bill's provisions, including tax breaks for the wealthy and increased debt, would harm the country. He also discussed the Trump administration's pressure campaign against the University of Virginia's diversity programs, which led to the resignation of the university's president, and expressed concern that this tactic could be used against other universities. Warner also expressed skepticism about the administration's claims regarding a recent military strike on Iran, stating that the US intelligence community may not have a complete understanding of Iran's remaining capabilities.