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Pelican Press

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Everything posted by Pelican Press

  1. Angry Trump Kills “Woke” Program—and Accidentally Screws MAGA Voters Angry Trump Kills “Woke” Program—and Accidentally Screws MAGA Voters The other day, during his intensive daily reading of complex policy papers, President Donald Trump noticed that a government initiative created by his predecessor had the word “equity” in its title. Naturally, this caught his attention. As he appeared to conclude, this could only mean the initiative was designed to help undeserving minorities. Which presented Trump with a ripe opportunity to demagogue about supposed reverse racism against white people. As Trump just announced on Truth Social, he has canceled the program, raging that it’s “RACIST.” He fumed: “No more woke handouts based on race!” Except there’s a problem here. The program in question, the Digital Equity Act, contained huge amounts of money for governments in GOP-run states, as well as Democratic ones, to expand high-speed internet access in underserved communities—very much including red states’ rural areas. What’s more, every red state government had submitted proposals designed to garner their states large amounts of this funding. These proposals were explicitly designed by these GOP governments partly to serve their states’ rural areas. While much of that money has already been approved, large sums still have not, according to the office of Senator Patty Murray, who is monitoring these expenditures as ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Committee. With Trump moving to block these funds, these states now could be denied some or possibly all of that money, Murray’s office says. Murray’s office says this cutoff is ********, and some of these states will likely sue. “Democrats will fight this every step of the way,” Murray said in an emailed statement. In this saga, we once again see Trump—who is supposed to be remaking the GOP into a “working-class party”—employing precisely the same race-mongering scam that Republicans have used for a very long time to downsize “Big Government” in ways that hurt their own voters. The Digital Equity Act—which was part of the bipartisan infrastructure law that former president Joe Biden signed in 2021—appropriated over $2 billion for grants to states to improve internet access. As The New York Times reports, states were already in the process of submitting plans to access that grant money, red ones included. Here’s where the story gets funny—or perhaps sad. Under the law, the federal government recognizes “covered populations” that are underserved by high-speed internet. Each state’s plan is supposed to be designed to use federal money to expand access to those populations. One of these populations is “members of a racial or ethnic *********.” Plainly, that’s what constitutes the “woke handouts based on race” that triggered Trump. After all, it sounds woke, doesn’t it? But as it happens, some of the other “covered populations” include “veterans” and “people living in rural areas,” as well as “low-income households.” Guess what: Those aren’t necessarily minorities, and red states have a lot of people in those categories too! Indeed, as the Times story details, the racial component of the law was actually pretty negligible. “The law barely mentions race at all,” the Times observes. But here’s the real rub of the matter. A number of red states’ proposals—submitted, again, to access federal money for themselves—explicitly detailed how they intend to use that money to expand digital access to their veterans and to their rural residents. You can see that in proposals submitted by Arkansas, Indiana, Ohio, Kansas, and many others. “Individuals living in rural areas face the most urgent needs for broadband availability,” Alabama’s proposal reads. And Iowa’s proposal laments the internet “accessibility gap” that persists “particularly in rural communities.” Here’s the other rub of the matter. As of now, under the law, the federal government has approved tens of millions of dollars to well over a dozen red states, along with a lot of blue states. But many of these states don’t have full access to that money, pending their completion of further steps in the approval process, Murray’s office tells me. This is where Trump entered the picture. He tweeted: I have spoken with my wonderful Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, and we agree that the Biden/Harris so-called “Digital Equity Act” is totally UNCONSTITUTIONAL. No more woke handouts based on race! The Digital Equity Program is a RACIST and ******** $2.5 BILLION DOLLAR giveaway. I am ending this IMMEDIATELY, and saving Taxpayers BILLIONS OF DOLLARS! It’s anybody’s guess how serious Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick really is about this. But if the Commerce Department, which is implementing this law, follows Trump’s command, it will do all it can to halt these payments. Murray’s office estimates that as much as hundreds of millions of dollars has still not been formally approved. “It’s insane that Trump is blocking resources to help make sure kids in rural school districts can get online all because he doesn’t like the word ‘equity,’” Murray, who originally sponsored this law, said in her statement. “My Republican colleagues will need to explain to their constituents why the rural schools they represent won’t get this funding for hotspots or laptops in the meantime.” The irony here is that lack of digital access is a good example of a serious inequity (there’s that “woke” word again!) that impacts both low-income minorities and low-income rural whites in a similar way. This lack of access constitutes an unfairness embedded in the nation’s patchwork infrastructure, something the federal government is well positioned to try to rectify across racial lines. So it’s degenerate nonsense for Trump to pluck out the tiny fraction of this effort aimed at minorities and cast it as racism against white people. “In today’s world, everything is online, and yet folks in rural areas, low-income households, and racial and ethnic minorities all suffer from the same challenge—barriers that keep people offline,” Amy Huffman, policy director at the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, told me. “It’s absurd to say this is reverse racism.” For decades, Republicans have demagogued about Big Government giving handouts to racial minorities, in order to justify slashing government programs in myriad ways that hurt their own voters. This has often been communicated in couched language: For Ronald Reagan it was “******** queens.” For Mitt Romney, it was the “47 percent” who were “dependent on the government.” For Paul Ryan, it was the “hammock that lulls able-bodied citizens to lives of dependency.” We constantly hear that Trumpism is supposed to represent a break with that old form of Reaganesque, drown-government-in-the-bathtub, plutocratic GOP ideology, as part of its supposed project to remake the GOP as “working class.” But the reality is that MAGA often takes that old race-baiting trick and, if anything, supercharges its racist overtones. This latest move is a case in point: Once again, here we see Trump carrying out precisely that same old swindle. And once again, GOP voters may very well get screwed by it. Source link #Angry #Trump #Kills #Woke #Programand #Accidentally #Screws #MAGA #Voters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  2. Zelensky, European leaders tell Trump they are ready for 30-day ceasefire – Axios Zelensky, European leaders tell Trump they are ready for 30-day ceasefire – Axios Zelensky, European leaders tell Trump they are ready for 30-day ceasefire AxiosUkraine ceasefire call aimed at forcing Putin to reveal his war goals to Trump CNNEurope Threatens Nord Stream 2 Sanctions to Pressure Russia to Cease Fire WSJEuropean leaders pressure Russia over 30-day Ukraine ceasefire BBC’Hugely problematic’ ceasefire is ‘far from ideal’ for Ukraine Sky News Source link #Zelensky #European #leaders #Trump #ready #30day #ceasefire #Axios Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
  3. Port missed Rioli in narrow loss to Crows: Hinkley Port missed Rioli in narrow loss to Crows: Hinkley Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says suspended forward ******* Rioli would have been handy in a five-point loss to Adelaide. Source link #Port #missed #Rioli #narrow #loss #Crows #Hinkley Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  4. Pope Leo XIV lays out his vision and identifies AI as a main challenge for humanity Pope Leo XIV lays out his vision and identifies AI as a main challenge for humanity ******** CITY (AP) — Pope Leo XIV laid out the vision of his papacy Saturday, identifying artificial intelligence as one of the most critical matters facing humanity and vowing to continue with some of the core priorities of Pope Francis. But in a sign he was making the papacy very much his own, Leo made his first outing since his election to a sanctuary south of Rome that is dedicated to the Madonna and is of particular significance to his Augustinian order and his namesake, Pope Leo XIII. Townspeople of Genazzano gathered in the square outside the main church housing the Madre del Buon Consiglio (Mother of Good Counsel) sanctuary as Leo greeted them and blessed them. The sanctuary, which is managed by Augustinian friars, has been a place of pilgrimage since the 15th century and the previous Pope Leo elevated it to a minor basilica and expanded the adjacent convent in the early 1900s. After praying in the church, Leo greeted the crowd and told them they had both a gift and a responsibility in having the Madonna in their midst. He offered a blessing and then got back into the passenger seat of the car, a ****** Volkswagen, with ******** security alongside. The after-lunch outing came after Leo presided over his first formal audience, with the cardinals who elected him pope. In it Leo repeatedly cited Francis and the Argentine pope’s own 2013 mission statement, making clear a commitment to making the Catholic Church more inclusive and attentive to the faithful and a church that looks out for the “least and rejected.” Leo, the first American pope, told the cardinals that he was fully committed to the reforms of the Second ******** Council, the 1960s meetings that modernized the church. He identified AI as one of the main issues facing humanity, saying it poses challenges to defending human dignity, justice and labor. Identifying with Pope Francis Leo referred to AI in explaining the choice of his name: His namesake, Pope Leo XIII, was pope from 1878 to 1903 and laid the foundation for modern Catholic social thought. He did so most famously with his 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, which addressed workers’ rights and capitalism at the dawn of the industrial age. The late pope criticized both laissez-faire capitalism and state-centric socialism, giving shape to a distinctly Catholic vein of economic teaching. In his remarks Saturday, Leo said he identified with his predecessor, who addressed the great social question of the day posed by the industrial revolution in the encyclical. “In our own day, the church offers everyone the treasury of its social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice and labor,” he said. Toward the end of his pontificate, Francis became increasingly vocal about the threats to humanity posed by AI and called for an international treaty to regulate it. He warned that such powerful technology risks turning human relations into mere algorithms. Francis brought his message to the Group of Seven industrialized nations when he addressed their summit last year, insisting AI must remain human-centric so that decisions about when to use weapons or even less lethal tools always remain made by humans and not machines. The late Argentine pope also used his 2024 annual peace message to call for an international treaty to ensure AI is developed and used ethically, arguing that a technology lacking human values of compassion, mercy, morality and forgiveness is too perilous to develop unchecked. Francis in many ways saw the Chicago-born Augustinian missionary Robert Prevost as something of an heir apparent: He moved him to take over a small Peruvian diocese in 2014, where Prevost later became bishop and head of the Peruvian bishops conference, and then called him to Rome to take over one of the most important ******** offices vetting bishop nominations in 2023. The ******** revealed Saturday that Leo would retain the motto and coat of arms that he had as bishop of Chiclayo, Peru. The motto, “In Illo uno unum,” was pronounced by St. Augustine in a sermon to explain that “although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one.” In the speech, delivered in Italian in the ********’s synod hall — not the Apostolic Palace — Leo made repeated references to Francis and the mourning over his death. He held up Francis’ 2013 mission statement, “The Joy of the Gospel,” as something of his own marching orders. He cited Francis’ insistence on the missionary nature of the church and the need to make its leadership more collegial. He cited the need to pay attention to what the faithful say “especially in its most authentic and inclusive forms, especially popular piety.” Again, referring to Francis’ 2013 mission statement, Leo cited the need for the church to express “loving care for the least and rejected” and engage in courageous dialogue with the contemporary world. A quick conclave Greeted by a standing ovation, Leo read from his prepared text, only looking up occasionally. Even when he first appeared to the world on Thursday night, Leo read from a prepared, handwritten text that he must have drafted sometime before his historic election or the hour or so after. He seemed most comfortable speaking off-the-cuff in the few words he pronounced in Spanish. Prevost was elected the 267th pontiff on Thursday on the fourth ballot of the conclave, an exceptionally fast outcome given this was the largest and most geographically diverse conclave in history and not all cardinals knew one another before arriving in Rome. Cardinals have said Prevost did not make any major speech during the pre-conclave discussions, and he carried into the conclave the traditional taboo precluding a pope from the United States given America’s superpower status. But Prevost was already known to many. They said he made an impression in smaller groups where English was the key language of communication in a conclave that brought together 133 cardinals from 70 countries. Madagascar Cardinal Désiré Tsarahazana told reporters on Saturday that on the final ballot, Prevost had received “more” than 100 votes. That suggests an extraordinary margin, well beyond the two-thirds, or 89 votes, necessary to be elected. A comment from a contender Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the ******** secretary of state who had been considered one of the top contenders to be pope, offered his congratulations on Saturday in a letter published in his hometown paper, Il Giornale di Vicenza. Parolin praised Leo’s grasp of today’s problems, recalling his first words from the loggia when he spoke of the need for a peace that is “disarmed and disarming.” Parolin said he had appreciated Prevost’s leadership in Chiclayo, saying he helped handle a particularly thorny problem — with no details — and grew to appreciate his governance more closely at the ******** handling the bishops’ office. Specifically, Parolin praised Leo’s understanding of people and situations, his “calmness in argumentation, balance in proposing solutions, respect, care and love for everyone.” Source link #Pope #Leo #XIV #lays #vision #identifies #main #challenge #humanity Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  5. Save close to $250 on this 2024 Apple iMac with an M4 CPU Save close to $250 on this 2024 Apple iMac with an M4 CPU The 2024 Apple iMac debuted last year, featuring the M4 chip as its main processor. It typically costs $1,299, but you can find the blue edition for $1,058—one of its lowest prices to date. Other colors are available, but at a higher rate of around $1,190. The hardware inside is the same, so if color isn’t an issue, you can pick up the 2024 Apple iMac for a significant discount. We haven’t had the opportunity to review the 2024 edition with an M4 chip, but we got our hands on an M3 in 2023. We noticed a significant improvement over the M1 chip and rated our overall experience with the 2023 iMac at 4 out of 5 stars. The M4 is even more powerful and capable of speeds as high as 4.4 GHz. Apple’s M4 chip is packed with processing needs and graphics support, eliminating needing a separate GPU. The M4 has an 8-core CPU alongside an 8-core GPU, which outputs to a 24-inch Retina display. This screen supports up to 1 billion colors and is illuminated by a maximum possible brightness of 500 Nits. Regarding memory, you get 16GB of RAM and a 256GB Internal SSD for storage. It has four Thunderbolt 4 ports and can support two external 6K monitors. It also supports wireless peripherals using Bluetooth 5.3 and features WiFi 6E. So far, the discount has not been specified as expiring, so we’re not sure how long it will be listed at this price. Visit Amazon’s Apple 2024 iMac product listing for more information and purchase options. Follow Tom’s Hardware on Google News to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. Source link #Save #close #Apple #iMac #CPU Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  6. Amazon’s ad-free Kindle Paperwhite Kids has hit its best price to date – The Verge Amazon’s ad-free Kindle Paperwhite Kids has hit its best price to date – The Verge Amazon’s ad-free Kindle Paperwhite Kids has hit its best price to date The VergeAmazon Has a Great Kindle Paperwhite Deal Right Now, But Only for Kids’ Editions IGNThe Excellent Kindle Scribe Is Now $85 Off CNETThe Kindle Colorsoft takes too many shortcuts that diminish its quality as an e-reader Android PoliceGet the newest Kindle in time for Mother’s Day and save 20% if you shop now New York Post Source link #Amazons #adfree #Kindle #Paperwhite #Kids #hit #price #date #Verge Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
  7. Spain chemical fire, toxic cloud keeps thousands inside Spain chemical fire, toxic cloud keeps thousands inside A fire at a chemical factory in northeastern Spain and the resulting toxic cloud has forced emergency services to issue health warnings to 150,000 local residents and stay-indoors orders for five nearby towns, authorities say. Health services said that medics attended to four people who had reported breathing problems. The fire broke out early on Saturday inside a warehouse at the plant near the town of Vilanova i la Geltrú. The warehouse housed 70 tonnes of chlorine for use in swimming pools, firefighters said. The stay-indoors order stayed in effect for seven hours for the nearest municipalities in the area between Barcelona and Tarragona on the Mediterranean coast. Firefighters said that by Saturday afternoon that the fire was under control. with Reuters Source link #Spain #chemical #fire #toxic #cloud #thousands Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  8. US House tax committee unveils partial tax plan to achieve Trump agenda US House tax committee unveils partial tax plan to achieve Trump agenda WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. House committee in charge of taxes released on Friday evening a partial text of its part of President Donald Trump’s proposed tax agenda that would make his 2017 tax cuts permanent, leaving out contentious issues before a planned vote on Tuesday. The 28-page proposal by the House Ways and Means Committee would increase the child tax credit from $1,000 to $2,500 through 2028 and to $2,000 after, and adds a requirement for recipients to have a Social Security number and reduces some taxes for multinational companies and unincorporated businesses. But it does not address more hotly contested issues like what to do with the current $10,000 deduction limit for state and local taxes, which is important to states with high taxes like New York, California and New Jersey. It also does not address the fate of Medicaid, which covered about 35 million people in states Trump won in last year’s presidential election and clean energy tax credits that benefit some Republican states. “Ways and Means Republicans have spent two years preparing for this moment, and we will deliver for the American people,” said Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith of Missouri. U.S. congressional Republicans are struggling over how to pay for what Trump has called his “big, beautiful bill” – a multitrillion-dollar tax-cut and immigration reform agenda, with the fate of the Medicaid healthcare program and the nation’s debt ceiling hanging in the balance. The party is torn between hardliners who want tax cuts to be scaled back to achieve a goal of $2 trillion in spending reductions over the next decade and moderates pushing back against large-scale slashing of the Medicaid healthcare program. Ways and Means is scheduled to hold a meeting to debate and advance the legislation on Tuesday afternoon. (Reporting by Valerie Volcovici in WashingtonEditing by Matthew Lewis) Source link #House #tax #committee #unveils #partial #tax #plan #achieve #Trump #agenda Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  9. India and Pakistan agree to an immediate ceasefire after days of escalation – Al Jazeera India and Pakistan agree to an immediate ceasefire after days of escalation – Al Jazeera India and Pakistan agree to an immediate ceasefire after days of escalation Al JazeeraTrump Announces Cease-Fire Between India and Pakistan: Live Updates The New York TimesThe US takes credit for India-Pakistan ceasefire, but it was pushing on an open door CNNIndia and Pakistan ceasefire agreement in jeopardy after cross-border shelling The GuardianIndia-Pakistan water treaty remains suspended despite ceasefire, sources say Reuters Source link #India #Pakistan #agree #ceasefire #days #escalation #Jazeera Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  10. India and Pakistan Agree Ceasefire India and Pakistan Agree Ceasefire And European leaders push for another for Ukraine. Source link #India #Pakistan #Agree #Ceasefire Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  11. Crows coach content after downing arch foes Port Crows coach content after downing arch foes Port Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks says he’s pleased with the way his side is tracking after downing Port Adelaide by five points in an AFL thriller. Source link #Crows #coach #content #downing #arch #foes #Port Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  12. President Donald Trump Just Called for a Drastic Social Security Change — but It Comes With Unintended Consequences President Donald Trump Just Called for a Drastic Social Security Change — but It Comes With Unintended Consequences Key Points America’s leading retirement program is staring down the possibility of sweeping benefit cuts for retired workers and survivor beneficiaries by 2033. Last week, Trump doubled down on a proposal to remove the least liked aspect of Social Security. While the president’s plan would boost some retirees’ checks in the very short run, it would also exacerbate Social Security’s long-term cash deficit and expedite the timeline to benefit cuts. In March, more than 52 million retired workers took home an average Social Security benefit of nearly $2,000. While this is a relatively modest monthly sum, this income has proved vital to helping retirees make ends meet. Since 2002, Gallup has been conducting annual surveys to decipher how important the income retirees receive from Social Security is. Over this 23-year stretch, between 80% and 90% of respondents have consistently noted their monthly benefit is needed, to some degree, to cover their expenses. Protecting and strengthening Social Security should be a priority for our elected officials. However, reports suggest Social Security’s financial foundation has been weakening for decades. President Trump delivering remarks. Image source: Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks, courtesy of the National Archives. Current and future retirees are looking to their elected officials on Capitol Hill — including President Donald Trump — to enact reforms that’ll bolster Social Security. The only problem is, not every idea is necessarily a good one. Social Security benefit cuts are a projected eight years away Before diving into what Trump has done through his first 100 days in office, as well as what he plans to do, it’s important to understand what awaits America’s leading retirement program if nothing is done. Ever since the first retired-worker benefit check was mailed out in January 1940, the Social Security Board of Trustees has published an annual report that, in detail, examines the financial health of the program. In addition to outlining every dollar received and where those dollars end up, the Trustees Report is perhaps best known for its forward-looking projections. The Trustees Report takes into account a number of factors, including changing monetary and fiscal policy, as well as ongoing demographic shifts, to forecast how financially sound Social Security will be over the coming 75 years (what it defines as the “long term”). For the last 40 years, the Trustees Report has warned of a long-term funding deficit. Based on the 2024 Social Security Board of Trustees Report, the program is staring down a $23.2 trillion funding obligation shortfall. In other words, projected income collection won’t be sufficient to cover outlays, which primarily includes benefits, but also accounts for the costs to operate Social Security. Making matters worse, the Trustees expect the asset reserves — i.e., excess cash built up since inception — of the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund (OASI) to be exhausted by 2033. Though the OASI is in no danger of bankruptcy and doesn’t require its asset reserves to dole out benefits, the continuity of the existing payout schedule, including cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), is at risk beyond 2033. If the OASI’s issues aren’t addressed and the asset reserves run dry, retired workers and survivor beneficiaries could see their monthly payout slashed by up to 21% in eight years. President Trump has made changes already — but the biggest is still on the docket Most elected officials, including President Trump, recognize that Social Security needs attention. In the same respect, lawmakers also fear making changes that upset future voters, which is why little has been done over the last four decades. Since Inauguration Day for Trump’s second term, he’s made five notable changes to Social Security: Through his commissioning of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Trump is overseeing the reduction of the Social Security Administration’s (SSA’s) staff by 7,000 to 50,000. Trump signed an executive order to end paper Social Security checks, effective Sept. 30, 2025. He oversaw the alteration of personal identification methods used by the SSA. Trump reversed former President Joe Biden’s overpayment and recovery rules by implementing a 50% clawback rate on a person’s monthly benefit until the overpayment is recovered in full. The president nominated Frank Bisignano to become the new SSA commissioner. However, it’s the drastic change Donald Trump wants to make that could really shake up Social Security. On April 29, Trump doubled down on his desire to pass a flurry of tax cuts, which includes eliminating the tax on Social Security benefits. The Social Security Amendments of 1983, which is the last bipartisan overhaul of the program, gradually raised the full retirement age and payroll tax, as well as introduced the now-hated taxation of benefits. When the tax on benefits went into effect in 1984, up to 50% of benefits could be taxed at the federal rate if provisional income (adjusted gross income + tax-free interest + one-half of Social Security benefits) topped $25,000 for a single filer or $32,000 for a couple filing jointly. A second tax tier was added a decade later that allowed up to 85% of benefits to be taxed at the federal rate when provisional income surpassed $34,000 for single filers and $44,000 for jointly filing couples. Four decades ago, this tax was expected to impact around 10% of senior households. But since the provisional income thresholds have never been updated to account for the effects of inflation, the combination of higher wages and COLAs over time means around half of all senior households are subjected to this tax today. Image source: Getty Images. Trump’s effort to rid Social Security of the tax on benefits will backfire Hypothetically, if Trump were successful in amending the Social Security Act to remove the tax on benefits, it would provide an immediate boost to the take-home income of around half of all senior households. While beefing up Social Security income might sound like a can’t-miss proposal, what’s popular isn’t always what’s best for America’s leading retirement program. The prevailing issue with Trump’s “no tax on Social Security benefits” proposal is that it would eliminate one of the three sources of funding for the program. In 2023, Social Security collected approximately $1.351 trillion in income from three sources: The 12.4% payroll tax on earned income (applicable between $0.01 and $176,100 in 2025), which accounted for more than 91% of what was collected in 2023. The interest earned on the OASI’s and Disability Insurance Trust Fund’s asset reserves, which are invested in special-issue government bonds, as required by law. The taxation of Social Security benefits. Even though the payroll tax does most of the heavy lifting, funding source No. 2 is going to dwindle as the OASI’s asset reserves shrink. If Trump also eliminated funding source No. 3, Social Security would be missing out on a significant portion of its annual income. Based on the 2024 Trustees Report, taxing benefits is forecast to generate almost $944 billion in aggregate income for Social Security from 2024 through 2033. Removing this income would almost certainly expedite the OASI’s asset reserve depletion timeline and potentially exacerbate how much payouts would need to be cut for retired workers and survivor beneficiaries. Further, the retirees paying some level of tax on their benefits are in the mid to high end of the provisional income scale. Thus, Trump’s proposal would do nothing to financially aid the lifetime low earners who rely most on their Social Security income to make ends meet. To round things out, amending the Social Security Act will require 60 votes in the Senate, which is a figure the president will have a virtually impossible time getting to. Democrats in the upper house have shown no support for Trump’s proposal, and it’s not yet clear if members of Trump’s own party would support his proposal given that the short-term payout boost would quickly give way to potentially steeper long-term benefit reductions. Trump’s plan may be well intentioned, but it comes with some very serious unintended consequences. The $22,924 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook If you’re like most Americans, you’re a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known “Social Security secrets” could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. One easy trick could pay you as much as $22,924 more… each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we’re all after. Join Stock Advisor to learn more about these strategies. View the “Social Security secrets” » The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. President Donald Trump Just Called for a Drastic Social Security Change — but It Comes With Unintended Consequences was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #President #Donald #Trump #Called #Drastic #Social #Security #Change #Unintended #Consequences Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  13. Authorities arrest over 100 people on Tennessee roads in support of Trump's deportation plan – AP News Authorities arrest over 100 people on Tennessee roads in support of Trump's deportation plan – AP News Authorities arrest over 100 people on Tennessee roads in support of Trump’s deportation plan AP NewsNashville mayor signs executive order after more than 100 people detained by ICE Https://Www.Wsmv.ComICE: MS-13, Tren De Aragua arrests made, Nashville Mayor demands proof WTVCPlaza Mariachi businesses hit as ICE operations spark fear in immigrant communities WZTVNashville council members monitor neighborhoods as immigration operations lead to more arrests News Channel 5 Nashville Source link #Authorities #arrest #people #Tennessee #roads #support #Trump039s #deportation #plan #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  14. Gran Turismo 7’s next update includes four cars, launches 15th May Gran Turismo 7’s next update includes four cars, launches 15th May With the Spec II update released on November 2, a new version of the remarkable AI (Artificial Intelligence) racing technology, Gran Turismo Sophy, has officially become available to play on Gran Turismo 7 (PS5 console only). The innovative next-gen race program, called Gran Turismo Sophy 2.0, was developed by Polyphony Digital, in collaboration with Sony AI. Source link #Gran #Turismo #update #includes #cars #launches #15th Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  15. Chelsea: Blues ‘special’ unbeaten WSL season provides ‘moments to remember’ Chelsea: Blues ‘special’ unbeaten WSL season provides ‘moments to remember’ “Consistency” was the word repeatedly used by Bompastor to sum up Chelsea’s campaign but it has not been easy. With the former Lyon boss stepping into the big shoes left by Emma Hayes, the squad went through what they described as a “transitional season”, bedding in new players and adapting to the new manager’s style and coaching methods. Hayes herself was one of the first to congratulate Chelsea, posting on Instagram that their achievements were “so, so deserved”. The results were immaculate but not the performances – they won by one-goal margins on 10 occasions and trailed four times during the season. Of their 56 goals, 17 came in the last 15 minutes of matches (30.4% of their total), and eight were scored in stoppage time. Between 26 January and 2 March, they dropped two points and won four successive matches by a one-goal margin in a ******* where they had to grind out results. “It is sometimes difficult to describe my feelings and emotions. We had the right mentality from the beginning of the season until the end,” said Bompastor. “We have been consistent even when sometimes performances were not the best – we always found a way to win and get the three points. “I think maybe the game we had against Arsenal [in January] was probably when we started to realise we were in a really good position to win the league. “The second part of the season was more difficult because we were not as dominant as we would have liked to have been. “For me, it is a great achievement because we were able to be consistent, unbeaten, and in this league it means a lot because it is really competitive.” All-in-all, Chelsea’s title was never in doubt as they finished 12 points clear with 19 wins and three draws. They won six of their six matches against the other top-four sides – Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City. The only times they dropped points were in three draws against Leicester (1-1), Brighton (2-2) and West Ham (2-2). They remain, as they have done for the past six years, the best team in England. Source link #Chelsea #Blues #special #unbeaten #WSL #season #moments #remember Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  16. DOOM: The Dark Ages PS5 Pro Version Delivers A Modest Visual Upgrade Over PS5 & Xbox Series X|S DOOM: The Dark Ages PS5 Pro Version Delivers A Modest Visual Upgrade Over PS5 & Xbox Series X|S Ash from WellPlayed writes: “An amazing new array of systems reinvents DOOM once again, delivering a bombastic and brutal new way to smash demons. With awesome new cosmic threats dying to meet the serrated edge of your shield, The Dark Ages may well be the best age for any aspiring Doom Slayer.” Source link #DOOM #Dark #Ages #PS5 #Pro #Version #Delivers #Modest #Visual #Upgrade #PS5 #Xbox #Series Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  17. 'WeightWatchers set me up to fail' – Why diet industry is losing to jabs like Ozempic 'WeightWatchers set me up to fail' – Why diet industry is losing to jabs like Ozempic ‘WeightWatchers set me up to fail’ – Why diet industry is losing to jabs like Ozempic Source link #039WeightWatchers #set #fail039 #diet #industry #losing #jabs #Ozempic Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  18. The cozy retro-like farming sim “Doloc Town” is now available for PC via Steam EA The cozy retro-like farming sim “Doloc Town” is now available for PC via Steam EA TGG_overlord|190d ago |News|0| ▼ Info Add Alt Source “The China-based indie games publisher Logoi Games and indie games developer RedSaw Games, are today very happy and excited to announce that their cozy retro-like farming sim “Doloc Town”, is now in development for PC.” – Jonas Ek, TGG. Doloc Town PC thegg.net Read Full Story >> [Hidden Content] thegg.net Source link #cozy #retrolike #farming #sim #Doloc #Town #Steam Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  19. Administration ‘actively looking at’ suspending habeas corpus, Miller says – The Washington Post Administration ‘actively looking at’ suspending habeas corpus, Miller says – The Washington Post Administration ‘actively looking at’ suspending habeas corpus, Miller says The Washington PostThe WH says Trump is considering suspending habeas corpus. What would that mean? YahooTrump Team Mulls Suspending the Constitutional Right of Habeas Corpus to Speed Deportations. Can It? U.S. News & World ReportWhite House – ‘It depends on whether the courts do the right thing’ BBCTrump administration ‘looking at’ suspending habeas corpus for migrants, Stephen Miller says CNBC Source link #Administration #actively #suspending #habeas #corpus #Miller #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  20. SWTOR Game Update 7.7 Recap – Twitch Drops, PvP Season 8, and New Flashpoints SWTOR Game Update 7.7 Recap – Twitch Drops, PvP Season 8, and New Flashpoints casiokvik|7d ago |Article|0| ▼ Info Add Alt Source Celebrate Star Wars Day in SWTOR with 50% unlock sales, 25-75% off Cartel Market items, Double XP, and a free probe droid mini-**** from May 1–16, 2025. SWTOR swtorstrategies.com Read Full Story >> [Hidden Content] swtorstrategies.com Source link #SWTOR #Game #Update #Recap #Twitch #Drops #PvP #Season #Flashpoints Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  21. Canadians could stay visa-free longer in U.S. under proposed bill Canadians could stay visa-free longer in U.S. under proposed bill By Ian Bickis The ********* Press Posted May 10, 2025 1:21 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size ********* snowbirds could stay longer in the United States without a visa if a bill recently proposed in the U.S. House of Representatives becomes law. The bipartisan bill put forward by Reps. Elise Stefanik of New York, Laurel Lee of Florida and Greg Stanton of Arizona proposes to extend the time ********* citizens can stay in the U.S. without a visa from 180 days to 240. The ********* Snowbird Visa Act, introduced at the end of April, would provide a longer timeframe for those aged 50 and over who both maintain a home in Canada and either own or lease a U.S. residence. 2:06 Snowbird sell-off: New travel requirements, Trump’s rhetoric pushing some Canadians out of U.S. Trending Now Inmate suffers bungled execution after firing squad misses target in South Carolina Tempers flare as Trump taps doctor-turned-influencer for surgeon general The proposal comes as many Canadians are choosing not to travel south because of U.S. President Donald Trump’s ongoing trade war and threats of annexation, while a lower loonie and rising insurance rates have also pushed ********* snowbirds to sell their U.S. homes. Story continues below advertisement Lee says in a news release that extending the amount of time Canadians can stay in the U.S. would support local communities and job growth, as well as strengthen bonds with their closest neighbours. The bill comes as the U.S. has also moved to require Canadians who are in the U.S. for more than 30 days to register with the government. More on World More videos &copy 2025 The ********* Press Source link #Canadians #stay #visafree #longer #U.S #proposed #bill Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
  22. Vine blooms amid Plapp’s gloom in Aussie Giro drama Vine blooms amid Plapp’s gloom in Aussie Giro drama *********** cyclist Jay Vine has once again demonstrated his considerable courage by overcoming a knee injury to finish a superb third in the second-stage time trial at the Giro d’Italia. But while Vine rebounded magnificently from a first-stage spill which he had feared might prevent him from lining up in Albania on Saturday, his compatriot Luke Plapp, the national time trial champ who had been flying through the streets of Tirana, had his chances flattened by his own ******. Vine delivered a superb ride on the 13.7km circuit around the capital 24 hours after he had taken a heavy fall and finished only three seconds behind British stage winner Josh Tarling and two seconds adrift of race favourite Primoz Roglic, who ended the day in the leader’s pink jersey. The 2023 *********** time trial champ Vine had his right knee heavily strapped, which made observers wonder whether, if he had been fully firing, the in-form UAE Team Emirates rider might even have taken the stage victory himself. On Friday, Vine, who’s making a tremendous 2025 comeback after suffering what he had feared might be a career-ending ****** with cracked vertebrae at last year’s Tour of the Basque Country, was unable to avoid an accident in which Mikel Landa’s Giro ended by injury. Saying his thoughts had all been with the Spaniard, who also endured a fractured vertebra, Vine admitted before the second stage: “Honestly, I wasn’t even sure I’d be able to start today, but the knee’s feeling much better and I’ll be back on the start line.” This time the misfortune was all with Jayco AlUla’s Plapp, the three-time *********** TT champ who slid off his bike earlier in the day as he rounded a tight corner and, after remounting on a new bike, could only limp home as the slowest finisher among the 182 riders some four minutes adrift. No-one could match the 16min 7sec effort of the 21-year-old British champ Tarling, who’s the youngest ever Giro time trial winner. But 2023 Giro champ Roglic (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) demonstrated he’s in the mood to regain his title as he powered home fractionally short of his target. Michael Storer, Australia’s best hope of challenging Roglic in the overall standings, also had a super day, finishing 19th on the stage in 16:35. Among the GC contenders, the Tudor Pro rider, the recent Tour of the Alps victor, is ninth overall, 27 seconds behind the Slovenian leader. Denmark’s Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), the opening-stage winner on Friday, could only finish 12 seconds behind in seventh, having to relinquish the leader’s jersey to Roglic by a mere second. But he may have a good chance to regain it on Sunday in the last of the Albanian stages in a 160km ride that starts and finishes in Vlore. Australia’s 2022 Giro champion Jai Hindley was 35th quickest on the day but lies 16th overall, 39 seconds behind. Source link #Vine #blooms #Plapps #gloom #Aussie #Giro #drama Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  23. A 68-year-old driver killed in Hanford highway ****** when a Corvette and pickup collide A 68-year-old driver killed in Hanford highway ****** when a Corvette and pickup collide A Friday morning ****** on a rural Benton County highway killed a 68-year-old Yakima man and left two others hurt. James L. Sandall was pulling out from the Vernita Rest Area near the Vernita Bridge in a 2018 Corvette onto Highway 24 when a GMC Sierra pickup slammed into his car, the Washington State Patrol said in a traffic memo. The ****** happened about 11 a.m. Friday. Highway 24 is also known as the Hanford highway because it crosses a large section of the Hanford nuclear site. Because it’s a two-lane highway, both lanes can exit and enter the same Washington state rest area just south of the bridge that crosses the Columbia River. Sandall died at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland. The Corvette’s passenger, Carrie A. Greenough, 62, of Yakima, and the GMC driver, Rhonda G. Procell, 66, of Bovill, Idaho, were also taken to Kadlec, the state patrol said. Their conditions were not immediately available. A passenger in the GMC, Robin D. Taylor, 65, of Rochester, Wash., was not hurt. Everyone was wearing a seat belt, said the WSP. No other information was available Friday evening. Source link #68yearold #driver #killed #Hanford #highway #****** #Corvette #pickup #collide Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  24. And the Millennial Canon Bracket Winner Is … – The Ringer And the Millennial Canon Bracket Winner Is … – The Ringer And the Millennial Canon Bracket Winner Is … The RingerThe Millennial Canon Bracket: The Final The RingerMillennials, a Generation Defined by Contradiction The RingerWhat’s Trending: The Millennial Canon Chapelboro.comThe Millennial Canon Bracket: The Final Four The Ringer Source link #Millennial #Canon #Bracket #Winner #Ringer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  25. SC man sues North Myrtle Beach & adventure park for ‘extremely dangerous’ ride SC man sues North Myrtle Beach & adventure park for ‘extremely dangerous’ ride A man is suing North Myrtle Beach and Shark Wake Park after suffering “significant injuries” when he was allegedly struck in the head on a ride at the North Myrtle Beach Park and Sports Complex. Horry County resident Benjamin Greene was knocked into the water when an object hit his head on the wakeboarding course ride on July 6, 2024, according to the lawsuit. The object in question isn’t specified in the suit and Greene’s lawyer didn’t respond to The Sun News’ requests. The ride was “extremely dangerous, more so than a typical wake board course ride,” the lawsuit says. Shark Wake Park allegedly had no lifeguards on duty in the tower and Greene’s brother had to swim out to help him because he was unable to exit the water on his own. Greene is suing Apex Water Parks LLC, doing business as Shark Wake Park 843, the city of North Myrtle Beach, which owns and leases the property to Apex, and two Horry County residents. According to the lawsuit, Josh Johnston and Scott Osborn were working as employees and/or agents of Apex Water Parks. “Defendants knew, or should have discovered and known, of the defective and hazardous conditions,” the lawsuit says. “Defendants did not take any steps to correct or repair the dangerous and defective conditions, or to warn users.” According to the lawsuit, the defendants failed to train and supervise competent employees, staff the state-required ratio of lifeguards to customers, perform routine maintenance and initiate and follow adequate safety procedures. They also allegedly did not maintain safe conditions, warn customers of the hazards or have proper safety equipment for injuries. In addition to mental anguish and “extreme and painful injuries” from which Greene “is informed and believes that he will have permanent adverse effect and disability,” the lawsuit says, adding that he has and will in the future suffer financial loss, require medical treatment, incur substantial medical bills, be prevented from attending ordinary activities and be subjected to strong drugs and medications. Greene is seeking actual, consequential, punitive and special damages, though the summons doesn’t name a specific dollar amount. In a text to The Sun News, a spokesperson for North Myrtle Beach said the city doesn’t comment on pending litigation. The Sun News was unable to reach Shark Wake Park for comment. Source link #man #sues #North #Myrtle #Beach #adventure #park #extremely #dangerous #ride Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

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