Senate Slashes $9b In Government Spending In Early Morning Vote: Unbiased Updates, July 17, 2025

Slashed and passed. The Senate takes a nine-billion-dollar wound retired of overseas aid. And that’s conscionable nan start.

Plus, nan Epstein files, and a crisp move distant from Trump. What he’s now saying astir his ain supporters, and nan connection he’s sending if they support digging.

And Israel bombs Syria — pinch cameras rolling. Why nan onslaught caught U.S. officials disconnected guard.

Senate slashes $9B successful spending; Foreign aid, NPR, PBS connected chopping block

We statesman pinch breaking news. Early this morning, nan Senate greenlit $9 cardinal successful fund cuts pushed by President Trump. The cuts target U.S. overseas aid, nutrient alleviation and moreover nationalist broadcasting.

The House has to motion disconnected — again — aft senators made changes to nan already-approved plan.

The package strips backing from a scope of programs, including U.S. world nutrient aid, overseas improvement initiatives and nan corp for nationalist broadcasting, which supports NPR and PBS.

Two Republicans— Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski — collapsed ranks and voted no, alongside each Democrat.

Supporters of nan cuts telephone it woke spending connected pork projects. But there’s a catch: nan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) says this scheme could really adhd $3.3 trillion to nan shortage complete nan adjacent decade.

Now it’s a title against nan clock.

If some chambers don’t walk nan nonstop aforesaid type by Friday, nan money stays put.

Trump criticizes Epstein critics connected right: ‘I don’t want their support’

President Trump is lashing retired — not only astatine Democrats, but astatine his ain supporters arsenic good — complete nan Epstein files controversy.

In a blistering Truth Social post, Trump dismissed nan increasing outcry from MAGA-aligned voters arsenic “bullshit” cooked up by Democrats, and referred to GOP critics arsenic “weaklings” and “past supporters” who bought into nan alleged “Epstein hoax.”

His message: I don’t want their support anymore!

The backlash began aft Trump’s Department of Justice said there’s nary Epstein customer database and nary plans to merchandise much documents.

Many connected nan correct are not buying it.

GOP Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie are pushing forward, teaming up to unit a House ballot demanding nan files beryllium released.

They’re utilizing a uncommon procedural moved called a discharge petition, which could override statement leaders if capable lawmakers motion on.

It’s a high-profile trial of loyalty wrong nan GOP, 1 that pits Trump against immoderate of his ain supporters that person helped specify his presidency truthful far.

Israel strikes Syrian subject HQ amid caller ceasefire pinch Druze population

A awesome escalation successful nan Mideast: Israel strikes nan beforehand gross of Syria’s subject office successful Damascus arsenic caller clashes break retired successful nan south.

The onslaught comes amid tense fighting successful nan metropolis of Sweida, wherever nan number Druze population is clashing pinch Syria’s caller interim government.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa took powerfulness aft ousting Bashar al-Assad past December.

One of nan airstrikes was caught unrecorded connected Syrian authorities TV, nan anchor forced to return screen mid-broadcast.

Israel says it’s acting to protect nan Druze community, which has heavy ties to nan Israeli-held Golan Heights.

Syria is furious, accusing Israel of targeting “civilian facilities” and “government institutions.”

Syria’s wellness ministry says nan onslaught near 3 dormant and dozens injured.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says American officials person been successful touch with  “all parties involved” and claims steps are successful spot to “bring this troubling and horrifying business to an end.”

A renewed ceasefire has been announced, but whether it holds is anyone’s guess.

Gulf Coast braces for dense rainfall arsenic tropical strategy develops

It’s mid-July, premier clip for hurricane season. And arsenic we caput into nan weekend, nan Gulf Coast is gearing up for a soaker, pinch dense rainfall and imaginable flooding connected nan way.

A brewing strategy sliding crossed nan Florida panhandle is gaining steam, now pinch a heightened chance of processing into a tropical slump arsenic it tracks toward nan bluish Gulf Coast.

The large wind is expected to push complete nan gulf and into southeastern Louisiana by later today, pinch Alabama and Mississippi besides successful nan effect zone.

How bad could it be?

New Orleans is prepping for up to 5 inches of rainfall by Saturday, pinch nan nationalist upwind work informing immoderate spots could spot double that.

Residents spent Wednesday stacking sandbags, stocking up connected supplies and getting shelters fresh conscionable successful case.

If nan strategy strengthens capable to get a name, it’ll beryllium called “Dexter.”

Cane sweetener comeback? Trump says yes, Coke not quite

We’re not judge if it’s charismatic argumentation aliases conscionable a statesmanlike preference, but Donald Trump says he’s convinced Coca-Cola to sweeten up.

On Truth Social, Trump claimed Coke has agreed to commencement utilizing existent cane sweetener successful U.S. products, calling it “a very bully move. You’ll see. It’s conscionable better!”

Coca-Cola’s response? Not precisely a confirmation.

In a statement, nan institution said it “appreciates President Trump’s enthusiasm” and teased “innovative” caller offerings coming soon.

Trump didn’t mention high-fructose maize syrup, which Health Secretary RFK Jr. called a culprit successful America’s obesity crisis.

Coke already makes “Mexican coke” sweetened pinch cane sugar.

Astronomers observe nan infinitesimal a caller star strategy is born

Finally this morning, a celestial first that’s genuinely retired of this world.

Astronomers person caught — for nan first clip ever — nan nonstop infinitesimal a solar strategy started to form astir a newborn star.

Working together, NASA’s James Webb scope and nan European Southern Observatory zoomed successful connected a babe prima called HOPS-315, sitting 1,370 light-years distant from Earth.

For reference, 1 light-year is astir six trillion miles.

What they saw: Gleaming specks of planet-forming worldly — nan mini building blocks of a early star strategy — swirling into orbit for nan very first time.

Astronomers person spotted state and particulate disks astir young stars before, but ne'er this early, correct astatine nan infinitesimal erstwhile planets statesman to return shape.