Core Points - The U.S. government shutdown has ended, allowing states to resume the distribution of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, but new regulations from the "Big and Beautiful" tax and spending bill are tightening the SNAP system [1][2] - The Congressional Budget Office estimates that approximately 300,000 people nationwide will lose their SNAP eligibility due to these new rules [1] - This reform represents the most significant tightening of SNAP in a decade, requiring all adults under 65 without serious health limitations to prove they work, receive education, or participate in training for at least 80 hours per month, or they can only receive benefits for a maximum of three months [1][2] Summary by Sections SNAP Eligibility Changes - The new regulations require most previously exempt groups, including veterans, the homeless, and parents of children under 18, to meet work requirements, with the only new exempt group being legally defined Native Americans and tribal members [1] - The changes have been in effect since July 4, but states were given a 120-day adjustment period that ended on November 1 [1] Management and Funding Implications - States must manage SNAP more accurately or risk losing federal funding; starting in fiscal year 2028, states with an error rate exceeding 6% will face funding cuts [2] - From November 1, all errors will be counted, including those made during the government shutdown when states issued emergency benefits, which could complicate efforts to meet the error rate target [2] - Currently, only eight states are expected to meet the new requirements, while the national average error rate was nearly 11% last year [2] Program Scope and Financial Impact - SNAP is a crucial part of the U.S. social safety net, covering 42 million people, or about one-eighth of the U.S. population, with most participants living below the poverty line [2] - The program spends over $8 billion monthly, and for the first time in its 60-year history, SNAP benefits were halted during the recent government shutdown [2]

Core Insights - Trump's tariff policy and the "big and beautiful" tax and spending bill face higher opposition than support among Americans, with 61% opposing tariffs and 46% opposing the tax bill [1] - Overall approval rating for Trump stands at 38%, a decline of 9 percentage points since taking office, with negative perceptions regarding his honesty and care for ordinary people [1] Public Opinion on Specific Issues - Confidence in Trump's handling of trade negotiations is at 47%, while immigration stands at 46%, both higher than confidence in foreign policy (43%) and healthcare (38%) [1] - Only 40% of respondents express confidence in Trump's decisions regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, a decrease of 5 percentage points from the previous year [1] Government Performance Perception - 53% of Americans believe Trump has worsened the operation of the federal government, while 27% think he has improved it [1] - A significant 70% of respondents are dissatisfied with the government's handling of the Epstein case, and 63% do not trust the official narrative, with 88% of Democrats expressing distrust [1]

Core Insights - The survey conducted by the Pew Research Center indicates that President Trump's tariff policy and the "Big and Beautiful" tax and spending bill face higher opposition than support among Americans, with 61% opposing the tariff policy and only 38% supporting it [1] - Overall, Trump's approval rating stands at 38%, a decline of 9 percentage points since the beginning of his term, with negative perceptions regarding his honesty, concern for ordinary people, and being a good role model [1] Group 1: Tariff Policy and Tax Legislation - 61% of respondents oppose Trump's tariff policy, while only 38% support it [1] - 46% oppose the "Big and Beautiful" tax and spending bill, with 32% in support and 23% undecided [1] Group 2: Public Perception and Confidence - 53% of Americans believe Trump has worsened the operation of the federal government, while 27% think he has improved it [1] - Confidence in Trump's handling of trade negotiations (47%) and immigration (46%) is higher compared to foreign policy (43%) and healthcare (38%) [1] - Only 40% express confidence in Trump's decision-making regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, a decrease of 5 percentage points from the previous year [1] Group 3: Government Handling of Specific Cases - 70% of respondents are dissatisfied with the government's handling of information related to the Epstein case, and 63% express distrust in the official narrative, with 88% of Democrats sharing this sentiment [1]

Core Points - Elon Musk announced the formation of a new political party called the "American Party" on July 5, but has not yet registered it nearly a month later [1][2] - Musk's lack of progress in establishing the party contrasts with his typically decisive approach in business and government [1] - The "American Political Action Committee," funded by Musk, is the only formal political group he has established, aimed at supporting Trump's campaign [1] Group 1 - The "American Party" aims to participate in the upcoming congressional midterm elections, seeking to secure seats in both the House and Senate [2] - Establishing a political party in the U.S. requires a complex certification process, including party meetings and the election of temporary officials [2] - Tesla's Q2 financial report indicated poor performance, with both revenue and net profit declining year-over-year [2] Group 2 - Trump signed the "Big and Beautiful" bill on July 4, which is linked to Musk's announcement of the new party the following day [2] - Trump publicly denied rumors about undermining Musk's businesses, expressing hope for Musk's success [2]

Core Viewpoint - The Trump administration has canceled a federal aid of $327 million originally intended for Massachusetts, which was meant to support a nearly $2 billion reconstruction project for a heavily congested highway in Boston [1] Funding Details - The canceled funding was part of the "Neighborhood Access and Equity Program" established in 2023, which has now been officially abolished by the "Great American" tax and spending bill signed by Trump on July 4 [1]

Group 1 - The core issue revolves around the strained relationship between Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump, as well as the implications of Musk's recent actions, including changing his phone number and ceasing communication with House Speaker Mike Johnson after a disagreement over the "big and beautiful" tax and spending bill [1][3] - Mike Johnson expressed his desire to resolve the situation and indicated that he has attempted to reach out to Musk through third parties, hoping for a reconciliation between Musk and Trump [3] - The report highlights that Musk was previously a close ally of Trump, having invested over $290 million during the last federal election cycle to support Trump's victory, and played a significant role in establishing the government efficiency office under Trump's administration [3] Group 2 - Musk's recent criticism of Trump stems from concerns over the increasing national debt, which he attributes to Trump's policies, stating that the fiscal deficit has escalated from $2 trillion to $2.5 trillion under Trump's leadership, potentially leading to national bankruptcy [3] - The article notes that there are multiple factors contributing to the breakdown of the relationship between Musk and Trump, although specific reasons were not detailed [3] - Johnson's comments suggest that there is still hope for a positive relationship between Musk and Trump, despite the current tensions [3]

Group 1 - The conflict between Elon Musk and U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has escalated, with Yellen criticizing Musk on CNN and Musk retaliating on social media [1][3] - Yellen stated that while the concept of a "Department of Efficiency" is popular, Musk himself is not well-liked according to polls [1] - Musk responded by questioning Yellen's mathematical abilities and referred to her as a "puppet" of George Soros, highlighting his previous popularity in polls [3] Group 2 - This is not the first altercation between Musk and Yellen, as they have reportedly had disputes in the White House before [3] - Musk announced the formation of a new political party, the "American Party," aimed at representing 80% of moderate voters in the upcoming midterm elections [3]

Group 1 - Elon Musk announced the formation of a new political party called the "American Party," aiming to represent 80% of moderate voters in the U.S. and to gain a seat in Congress [1][3] - The "American Party" was proposed in response to the recently enacted "Big and Beautiful" tax and spending bill, which Musk criticized for its impact on electric vehicle tax credits [3][5] - A poll conducted by Musk on social media showed that 65.4% of approximately 1.25 million respondents supported the establishment of the "American Party" [3] Group 2 - The "Big and Beautiful" bill is expected to cut tax credits that have historically encouraged the purchase of electric vehicles, including those from Tesla, potentially leading to a loss of $1.2 billion annually for Tesla [5][6] - There are concerns that the bill may also significantly reduce NASA's scientific budget from approximately $7.3 billion to $3.9 billion, which could adversely affect SpaceX's government contracts [6] - The relationship between Trump and Musk has deteriorated due to a series of trust issues, power conflicts, and unmet financial commitments, reflecting differing priorities within the Republican Party [6]

Core Points - The article discusses President Trump's efforts to persuade reluctant House Republicans to pass his domestic policy bill, known as the "Big and Beautiful" tax and spending bill, which was ultimately approved by the House [1][3] - The bill is a significant part of Trump's legislative agenda following his anticipated return to the White House in early 2025, focusing on extending tax cuts for corporations and individuals [3] Group 1 - The "Big and Beautiful" bill includes key provisions such as extending corporate and individual tax cuts from Trump's first term and exempting tips and overtime pay from taxation, with a core focus on lowering corporate taxes [3] - The House version of the bill initially extended tax cuts until 2029, while the Senate version proposed making these tax cuts permanent [3] - The bill faced criticism for potentially increasing federal aid cuts, long-term debt, and benefiting the wealthy and large corporations, leading to accusations of "robbing the poor to pay the rich" [4] Group 2 - Trump's active involvement included making phone calls from early morning until late at night to rally support, demonstrating a hands-on approach to ensure the bill's passage [2][3] - The White House's strategy involved both incentives and pressure tactics to secure votes, indicating a high-stakes political maneuvering environment [3] - The bill's passage is set to be signed into law by Trump on July 4, coinciding with Independence Day, marking a significant legislative achievement for his administration [3]

Tax and Spending Bill - The core provisions aim to make permanent the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed by the Trump administration in December 2017, locking the corporate tax rate at 21% and permanently raising the estate tax exemption to $15 million, while maintaining a 37% individual tax rate for those earning over $500,000 [1] - The designed tax structure is presented as a means to "stimulate investment and create jobs," but evidence suggests that the wealth gap will widen, with the top 10% of households seeing a 2% increase in assets, while the bottom 10% will experience a 4% decrease due to welfare cuts [1] Food Stamp Reform - Daily benefits have been reduced from $5.90 to $4.80, leading to a 21% cut in welfare in Democratic-led states like Oregon, resulting in a 40% increase in families seeking assistance within a week of the bill's passage [2] - At least 16 states have joined in a lawsuit against the related provisions, with the Supreme Court potentially intervening [2] Tax Exemption for Tips - This provision is part of Trump's 2024 campaign promises, ostensibly benefiting 6 million service workers, but it primarily allows restaurant owners earning $400,000 annually to save an average of $27,000 in taxes, while servers gain less than $800 [3] Defense Budget Increase - The defense budget has risen to a historic high of $895 billion, with $20 billion allocated directly to the "Iron Dome" missile defense system, reflecting a trend of reallocating funds from social welfare to military spending [4] Enforcement Measures on Foreign Taxation - The bill authorizes the Treasury Secretary to impose punitive tariffs on countries implementing a "digital services tax" or "global minimum tax," viewed as a "nuclear option" or retaliatory tax by the Trump administration [5]