Donald Trump and Elon Musk take their falling out onto social media for all to see. New federal jobs data are expected to mostly reflect economic stability, though the effects of tariffs are starting to show. And at least 200 Planned Parenthood clinics across the country are at risk of closing..
Here’s what to know today.
As Trump and Musk fight, Republican unity could become collateral damage
A simmering fight between the world’s most powerful man and the world’s richest man spilled into public view yesterday, as President Donald Trump and Elon Musk traded attacks and threats online and in view of the world.
Tensions rose a few days ago when Musk criticized the bill for Trump’s agenda as a “disgusting abomination.” Trump finally responded yesterday, telling reporters in the Oval Office that “Elon knew the inner workings of the bill.” The president suggested Musk, who owns Tesla, was upset that the bill cut a tax credit meant to incentivize electric vehicle purchases. Musk and his allies bristled at the suggestion.
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Then, the online jabs began. Musk suggested Trump would have lost the 2024 election without Musk’s massive donations. Trump implied the federal government could end the billions of dollars in contracts with Musk’s companies, primarily SpaceX and Tesla. Musk, in response, claimed the president was in the so-called “Epstein files.” Musk also suggested Trump should be impeached. The attacks didn’t end there.
It’s clear, now, that the bromance between the two is dead and the collateral damage left in the feud’s wake could last for weeks, months or even years. And Republicans are caught in the middle.
In interviews with GOP lawmakers and operatives with ties to Congress, a clear theme emerged: Republicans should be scared of getting crosswise with either Trump or Musk. At stake are congressional leadership positions, the midterm elections and even the fate of Trump’s agenda bill.
Just a few months ago, Musk indicated he would put $100 million into political committees associated with Trump. That money never came and now, it won’t, a Musk adviser said. “He does not give a f— about Republicans or the RNC, or House seats, or whatever,” the adviser said. “He will blow them up; he will.”
Republican Rep. Don Bacon, who represents a competitive Nebraska district, said of the fight: “There’s a good verse in Proverbs: ‘Stay out of fights.’ I’m staying out of this one.”
More politics news:
- Senate Republicans are exploring the possibility of making cuts to Medicare “waste, fraud and abuse” in Trump’s agenda bill.
- And watch out for reactions from these seven senators as changes are made to the bill to get it through the Senate.
- A federal judge temporarily blocked Trump’s efforts to deny visas to foreign students planning to attend Harvard University.
- The day after Trump’s latest travel ban was announced, families, attorneys and immigration advocates expressed confusion and made accusations of discrimination by the Trump administration.
- Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone call and planned an in-person meeting “shortly” amid ongoing tensions between the two countries.
- Trump has referred to the Joe Biden autopen allegations as “the biggest scandal in American history,” while Biden has said the investigation is a “distraction.” Here’s what is and isn’t known about the claims.
- The Supreme Court revived a woman’s claim that she was discriminated against at work because she is straight, potentially making it easier for people in majority groups to bring such “reverse discrimination” claims.
Jobs data could reflect economic stability, for now
The Bureau of Statistics will release its latest jobs data from May, and it’s likely to show that some economic stability has persisted. Forecasts were 120,000 for new payrolls added in the last month, which most economists consider a healthy figure. But it would still represent the fewest monthly jobs created since February and fall below the 12-month average of about 150,000.
Meanwhile, other data are already pointing to signs of a softening economy in the face of President Donald Trump’s unprecedented tariffs. The Department of Labor’s weekly jobless claims report, released yesterday, came in higher than expected. Private payroll processor ADP reported the weakest monthly jobs total since March 2023. And Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, said forthcoming inflation readings are likely to reflect price increases due to tariffs. Read the full story here.
Planned Parenthood clinics nationwide fear closures
At least 20 Planned Parenthood clinics have closed or will close this year as the health care organization faces the same pressures as nearly all U.S. providers, like low insurance reimbursement rates, understaffing and rising costs. But things could get worse, as targeted cuts by the Trump administration threaten to throw the organization further into uncertainty.
Earlier this year, federal funding to more than 100 clinics was frozen. And written into the House GOP-backed bill for Trump’s agenda is a rule that would cut off Medicaid reimbursement to any nonprofit that meets three criteria, which Planned Parenthood does. That means if the bill is passed, another 200 of the roughly 600 Planned Parenthood locations nationwide will be in danger, the organization said.
Planned Parenthood has already taken steps to adapt, like consolidating locations in some states and shuttering clinics in states that have historically voted in favor of abortion rights, such as Vermont. The resulting landscape leaves fewer health care options for patients. Read the full story here.
Read All About It
- At least three people were wounded and damage was reported in several districts in Kyiv amid ongoing Russian missile and drone attacks in Ukraine.
- The suspect in the Boulder firebombing was charged with 118 criminal counts in Colorado and could face more than 600 years in prison on attempted murder charges alone.
- The judge in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal trial threatened to throw the hip-hop mogul out of the courtroom after he was seen flashing facial expressions at jurors.
- The Indiana Pacers led for three-tenths of a second in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, enough to catapult them to a 111-110 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. For those who have been watching closely, such a dramatic win shouldn’t be a surprise.
- Earth’s atmosphere has more carbon dioxide than it has had in possibly tens of millions of years, according to new data, thrusting Earth further into uncharted territory.
Staff Pick: Fight night in China
With so much focus on trade wars and U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods these days, it was refreshing to look at a uniquely American export to China: professional wrestling. On a recent Saturday night in Beijing, I attended “The Battle of the Decade” organized by Middle Kingdom Wrestling, one of the few pro wrestling organizations here. It had all the hallmarks of a pro wrestling experience: rubbery costumes, body blows, and yes, some chair smashing, too.
What I did not expect was that the man behind it all, a 37-year-old American living in China named Adrian Gomez, would be the antithesis of the supercharged showmanship typically attached to WWE-style wrestling and promoters like Vince McMahon. Easy-going and unfrazzled, Gomez politely troubleshot everything from sound checks to media passes. Then, when the music surged and the lights flashed, there he was ringside smiling as the room swelled with wrestling mayhem and raucous spectators. For 10 years, he had worked toward this night.
This is not a story about trade or geopolitics. It is a glimpse at a small but dedicated community of pro wrestlers, their growing legion of Chinese fans, and the determination of a former English teacher turned unlikely wrestling promoter trying to make it all work in China. — Janis Mackey Frayer, Beijing-based correspondent
NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified
After eight years, the Nintendo Switch 2 is finally here with improved design, better internal specs and all new games. Here’s everything you need to know about the release. Plus, there’s a good chance you’re not properly applying sunscreen. The NBC Select team spoke with dermatologists about the dos and don’ts and the best spray sunscreen options.
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