Surprised? #344
By Hank Silverberg
Commentary
The One Big Beautiful Bill is now the law--all 1,116 page of it. I doubt any congress member or senator has actually read it, and I am certain Donald Trump has not, because everyone knows he never reads anything. Some people across the country who liked this bill are going to be surprised. And I suspect some member of Congress are going to be surprised as well when they see how it plays out in their district.
Many people were thrilled to hear that there will be no more taxes on tips or overtime, though there is a $25,000 cap. If they read the fine print they will see that part of the bill is good for only three years, sunsetting after the 2026 mid-term elections. Some seniors may be pleased they will be getting a bit more in their Social Security checks, until they find out about the changes in Medicare, which will cost them more, and will leave 17 million American citizens (not illegal immigrants, who never had it) without medical insurance.
The bill also makes ICE the biggest, most expensive law enforcement agency in the country.
It takes some money away from Medicare to help fund "Alligator Alcatraz," where immigrants being deported will be temporarily housed. That facility is costing $450 million a year to run, and it's just one of several planned.
Something else to think about that is already playing out in neighborhoods across the nation. Not only is ICE the biggest law enforcement agency in the country, it also has unique powers put in place after 9-11 that should give you a chill. ICE agents are not required to wear body cameras, they can cover their faces, they don't have to provide badge numbers or identify themselves, they can arrive in unmarked cars and they don't need a warrant from a judge to detain someone. There is no way of telling if that person on your block wearing a bullet proof vest and camouflaged uniform, with automatic weapons, is a police officer or a member of the local militia. Not worried because you are a U.S. citizen? Worry. They have already arrested some citizens who questioned their presence, charging them with obstruction of justice.
Check out the link below for more details. All this makes ICE the closest thing to a secret police force the USA has ever had.
https://www.axios.com/2025/06/29/axios-explains-inside-ice-superpowers
There are many other things in the BBB which are really too numerous to detail in one blog. The irony is that many of them involve the social safety net for the poor and lower income people. Many of the parts of this massive bill will have a bigger impact in red states, which don't provide those same services to the public at the state level as blue states.
Of course, the BBB is not the only thing the public will be noticing in a few months. Tariffs are slowly starting to kick in on everything from new cars to candy bars.
One of my simple pleasures in life is to buy a "Bounty" bar at the supermarket every week when I
For years, despite some inflation the "Bounty" bar has been just $1.79. But this week there was a 20 cent jump to $1.99. Why? You guessed it--tariffs.
Okay, I can handle 20 cents. But what if that was a car made in Europe, or clothing, or a high tech item, many of which are NOT MADE in the USA? That 20 cents could turn into $20 or $200 depending on the item. The money does not go from foreign countries into the U.S. Treasury as the President would like you to believe. It comes out of our pockets kind of like a hidden tax increase for everyone. There is much more to come.
https://www.axios.com/2025/06/29/axios-explains-inside-ice-superpowers
News You May Have Missed!
Europe may be getting a bit more nervous about Russia as the war with Ukraine drags on. Germany has increased its checks on Russia's "shadow fleet" of ships that circumvent western oil sanctions. German authorities are now checking insurance documentation on tankers in the aging fleet as they travel through the Baltic Sea on the northern coast of Germany. It's part of an effort to enforce the G7 sanctions on Russia by cracking down on
Russia needs the oil sales to help finance its war against Ukraine. Lower prices mean less profit and less money for the war.
https://www.ft.com/content/bf45619a-aba1-4861-8342-27d7ae3440d4
UFC At The White House??
In past years, the White House has often been a venue for the arts and entertainment. There have been concerts from classical to country. There have been performances from Broadway to Shakespeare and on occasion, a sports team has shown up to be recognized for a World Series or Super Bowl win.
But Mr. Trump has taken us to new lows in that arena as well. First he turned the White House lawn into a car dealership to sell Teslas for his sometimes-friend Elon Musk. That was just months before Trump stripped tax breaks out of the BBB for electric vehicles and angered his buddy.
Now Trump has gone to the lowest form of entertainment. Next year, on Independence Day 2026, the 250th birthday of the United States, the south lawn of the White House could host a full-scale UFC championship fight with as many as 25,000 people expected to attend.
"Every one of our national parks, battlefields and historic sites are going to have special events in honor of ‘America250,’ and I even think we’re going to have a UFC fight," Trump announced.
I imagine the Secret Service will have trouble clearing such an event, and it would also have to be approved by the National Park Service, which of course, is now way understaffed thanks to the BBB. Trump is a big fan of the UFC.
If you don't know what the Ultimate Fight Championship is, it is a mixed martial arts event with 578 fighters in 11 weight divisions based in Las Vegas. But it's more hype than a sport. Trump was probably attracted by the money. It's grown into a multi-billion dollar enterprise. Trump had no entertainment at all at the White House during his first term.
To put this into perspective, the first performance at the White House, for John Adams, was The Marine Corps Band in 1801. Ronald Reagan brought in his friend Frank Sinatra to perform. Barak Obama had Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, John Williams, Beyonce and Mick Jagger. Joe Biden had Elton John in 2022.
A nation and a leader are often judged by their culture.
https://www.fox5dc.com/news/trump-ufc-white-house-fight
Dumbest Quote of The Week!
I am not going to comment much on this week's dumbest quote. This was the post on X from Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who holds the record for the most dumb quotes since I added this feature more than 344 weeks ago. I lost track at ten.
"I am introducing a bill that prohibits the injection, release, or dispersion of chemicals or substances into the atmosphere for the express purpose of altering weather, temperature, climate, or sunlight intensity. It will be a felony offense."
Talk about weird science! Hey, Marge. When you find these weather fixers, can we hire them to prevent any rain from falling over Fenway Park during games for the rest of the season???
My recent book "The Campaign" can be purchased at the links below. Or you can buy a copy by emailing me at: HankSilverberg@gmail.com for instructions on how to get a copy at a reduced price and with my signature)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B084Q7K6M5/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0
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