• Analysis from the Congressional Budget Office shows Republicans will have no choice but to cut Medicaid in order to fund President Trump’s policy priorities. The CBO showed funds available to be cut only amount to one-sixth of what Republicans need.
• Republicans want to cut $880 billion from the Energy and Commerce Committee’s jurisdiction, but only $135 billion can be cut without slashing Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
• Republicans say they will not cut benefits, but will look for waste fraud and abuse. Democrats say the new analysis proves that statement is a lie.

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House Republicans will have no choice but to cut Medicaid in order to fund President Trump’s immigration, tax and policy priorities, according to the Congressional Budget Office. New analysis shows the funds available to be cut only amount to about one-sixth of what Republicans need. 

The House budget resolution, approved Feb. 25, requires the Energy and Commerce Committee to find $880 billion in budget cuts for fiscal years 2025 through 2034. Over that time period, the budget office determined that when taking Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program out of the equation, the committee only has only $135 billion to work with. 

The committee is responsible for $8.2 trillion in Medicaid spending over the next decade.

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The analysis was done at the request of Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., the ranking members of the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Budget Committee. 

“The reality is the only way Republicans can cut at least $880 billion within the Energy and Commerce Committee’s jurisdiction is by making deep, harmful cuts to Americans’ health care,” Pallone said in a statement. “Republicans know their spin is a lie, and the truth is they have no problem taking health care away from millions of Americans so that the rich can get richer and pay less in taxes than they already do.”

The Congressional Budget Office is a nonpartisan research department that Congress created to help make informed budget policy decisions. 

“This is a complete betrayal of the middle class, and Democrats will keep fighting to stop them. The American people deserve to know just how much pain Republicans are willing to inflict on their own constituents to reward their billionaire donors,” Boyle stated. 

Republican leaders say they will not cut benefits, but will look to cut waste fraud and abuse. 

“Go do a word search of the budget resolution that we passed on Tuesday. There is not one mention of Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security. It’s not in the bill because we haven’t set the policy,” Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said on “Meet the Press” Sunday. “What we’re trying to do is get America back on sound fiscal ground.”

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Even if Republican leadership tries to cut Medicaid benefits, it’s not clear rank and file members would let them. Republican lawmakers in states and districts with many Medicaid recipients are saying publicly and repeatedly that they will not support that. 

“Anything that slashes into benefits for people who are working I’m not gonna be for it. I think that’s probably true to a lot of my colleagues,” Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo said. 

In a Congress with tight margins, individuals have a lot of power when they threaten not to vote for a bill unless something they want is either added or removed. More than enough members to sink the bill have already said they’d use their leverage.

• The Trump administration reinstated Yemen’s Tehran-backed Houthis as a “foreign terrorist organization” (FTO) as promised shortly after President Donald Trump’s inauguration. The U.S. State Department announced the move on Tuesday, which brings sanctions and penalties against anyone giving “material support” to the Houthi rebels.
• The Iran-backed militants have launched attacks against more than 100 commercial ships with missiles and drones since the start of Israel’s war against Hamas in 2023.
• Trump designated the Houthis as an FTO in his first term, but former President Joe Biden removed the label over concerns it could negatively impact the delivery of aid to Yemen, which faces a humanitarian crisis.

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The Trump administration has reinstated Yemen’s Tehran-backed Houthis as a “foreign terrorist organization” as promised shortly after President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

The U.S. State Department announced the move on Tuesday, Mar. 4, which brings sanctions and penalties against anyone giving “material support” to the Houthi rebels.

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What is Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying?

“Since 2023, the Houthis have launched hundreds of attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, as well as U.S. service members defending freedom of navigation and our regional partners,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement. “Most recently, the Houthis spared Chinese-flagged ships while targeting American and allied vessels.”

What has changed since the Biden administration?

The Iran-backed militants have launched attacks against more than 100 commercial ships with missiles and drones since the start of Israel’s war against Hamas in 2023.

Trump designated the Houthis as an FTO in his first term, but former President Joe Biden removed the label over concerns it could negatively impact delivery of aid to Yemen, which faces a humanitarian crisis.

What is the current situation in Yemen?

In February 2025, the United Nations announced it suspended humanitarian operations in a northern province of Yemen as Houthi rebels have detained dozens of U.N. staffers in recent months.

How bad is the humanitarian crisis?

The U.N. predicts more than 19 million people across Yemen will need humanitarian assistance with malnutrition, cholera and other impacts from an ongoing war between the Houthis and Yemen’s internationally recognized government.

A source associated with the Houthi rebels told Newsweek that the group considers the designation as a “badge of honor” and claims it will harm the U.S. rather than serve its economic interests.

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What else is the State Department doing?

In addition to the rebranding of the Houthis, the State Department said it will pay up to $15 million for information leading to the disruption of Houthi financing as part of the “Reward for Justice Program.”

• Twenty-five Canadians face charges linked to defrauding American retirees out of $21 million over a three-year period in what authorities dub a “grandparent scam.” Law enforcement said that the suspects sat in call centers in Montreal and targeted older Americans in an operation that had been active since 2021.
• The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Vermont announced on Tuesday that the 25 Canadian nationals are charged with conspiring to defraud people across 45 states.
• Prosecutors said the call centers used in the scam were run by five Canadians who were charged with money laundering, in addition to the conspiracy charge.

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Twenty-five Canadians face charges linked to defrauding American retirees out of $21 million over a three-year period in what authorities dub a “grandparent scam.”

Where were the operation’s headquarters?

Law enforcement said the suspects sat in call centers in Montreal and targeted older Americans in an operation that had been active since 2021.

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What are the charges the defendants face?

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Vermont announced on Tuesday, March 4, that the 25 Canadian nationals are charged with conspiring to defraud people across 45 states.

Prosecutors said the call centers used in the scam were run by five Canadians who were charged with money laundering in addition to the conspiracy charge.

Out of those charged, 23 of the 25 individuals were arrested in Canada on Tuesday, while the two others remain on the loose.

What is the “grandparent scam?”

Prosecutors said the defendants often used the “grandparent scam” to swindle money from victims.

Scammers told the grandparents that their grandchild had crashed their vehicle, being arrested. They then urged the victim to send thousands of dollars to bail their grandchild out of jail, according to prosecutors.

Officials said that the scammers would claim the case was under a gag order and told the victims they were barred from telling anyone about the request for money.

After the victims sent the money through various methods, the money was wired to Canada, with some transactions coming through cryptocurrency, according to authorities.

For now, it’s unclear how much money individuals lost in the scams.

How long could potential sentences be for the defendants?

If convicted, the five alleged managers of the call center face up to 40 years in prison, while the other defendants could be sentenced to up to 20 years behind bars.

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What are federal agencies saying?

The FBI warned scams targeting grandparents are common.

The head of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division said the defendants are part of a “transnational criminal enterprise with the sole intent of defrauding hundreds of retirees of their life savings by preying on their emotions.”

• President Trump delivered his first address to Congress in his second term, focusing on social issues and key topics like tariffs, the border, energy costs and inflation.
• Trump emphasized his administration’s efforts to lower illegal border crossings, boost energy production, and reduce government waste. He announced plans for a massive natural gas pipeline in Alaska and vowed to balance the federal budget.
• Additionally, Trump introduced reciprocal tariffs and claimed swift action was just the beginning of his agenda.

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President Donald Trump delivered his first address to Congress in his second term Tuesday night, March 4. He outlined his political agenda, discussed national issues and set the tone for the year ahead.

Trump focused on social issues, including banning transgender athletes from women’s and girls’ sports and ending diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in the military.

The president also addressed the recent election, calling it a mandate from the American people to pass his agenda. He touched on tariffs, the border, cutting government fraud and waste, and lowering energy costs to help reduce inflation.

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Things get off to a slightly rowdy start

Within minutes, Trump declared that the momentum, spirit and confidence of America is back and that the country is on the verge of a comeback.

Democrats objected, and Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, interrupted the proceedings. After several warnings, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., asked the sergeant-at-arms to remove Green from the chamber.

Johnson reminded lawmakers to follow proper decorum, and there were no other major disruptions following Green’s removal.

Trump touts swift border security measures

Trump quickly transitioned to discussing the country’s borders, touting February’s border numbers.

“Within hours of taking the oath of office, I declared a national emergency on our southern border,” Trump said. “And I deployed the U.S. military and Border Patrol to repel the invasion of our country and what a job they’ve done. As a result, illegal border crossings last month were by far the lowest ever recorded. Ever.”

Trump addresses inflation, energy independence

The president also highlighted one of his highest priorities: lowering inflation and controlling prices for working families. He emphasized that lowering energy costs would be central to achieving this goal.

“To do this,” Trump said, “we will be opening power plants and drilling.”

He continued, “As you’ve heard me say many times, we have more liquid gold under our feet than any nation on Earth, and by far. And now, I’ve fully authorized the most talented team ever assembled to go and get it. It’s called ‘drill, baby, drill,'” he said to Republican applause.

In Alaska, Trump announced plans to open a natural gas pipeline project. “My administration is also working on a gigantic natural gas pipeline in Alaska, among the largest in the world, where Japan, South Korea, and other nations want to be our partner—with investments of trillions of dollars each.”

Musk, DOGE get a shoutout

Trump also mentioned the work of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), saying that the group is helping cut waste and fraud, which will ultimately benefit American taxpayers.

“Thank you, Elon. He’s working very hard. He didn’t need this. He didn’t need this. Thank you very much. We appreciate it. Everybody here. Even this side appreciates it, I believe it,” Trump said, referencing the Democrats in attendance. “We found hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud.”

Balancing the budget and tariffs

The president discussed his goal of balancing the federal budget, which hasn’t been accomplished since 2001.

Trump also addressed tariffs. On Tuesday, tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods went into effect.

“We have been ripped off for decades by nearly every country on Earth, and we will not let that happen any longer,” Trump said.

Trump called other countries’ tariffs on U.S. products unfair, announcing that on April 2, his administration would implement reciprocal tariffs. “Whatever other countries tax us, we will tax them,” he said.

Although it was not a State of the Union address, Trump spoke for nearly 95 minutes, touting swift action and declaring that this is just the beginning.

• First Lady Melania Trump is backing an online safety bill aiming to enhance protections against the unconsented release of sexual images, including those manufactured through artificial intelligence. The Take It Down Act specifically targets deepfakes and revenge pornography.
• The first lady expressed her support for the bipartisan legislation at a roundtable on Monday, joined by congressional leaders and victims of child sexual abuse material.
• The Take It Down Act reportedly requires tech and social media platforms to remove child sexual abuse material and non-consensual sexual images within 48 hours of being alerted by a victim and outlaws posting such material.

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First lady Melania Trump is backing an online safety bill aiming to enhance protections against the unconsented release of sexual images, including those manufactured through artificial intelligence.

The Take It Down Act specifically targets deepfakes and revenge pornography.

The first lady expressed her support for the bipartisan legislation at a roundtable on Monday, Mar. 3, joined by congressional leaders and victims of child sexual abuse material.

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What did the first lady say?

“I urge Congress to prioritize the passage of the “Take It Down” bill,” Melania Trump said. “This legislation is essential to addressing the growing concerns related to the online safety, protecting individual rights, and promoting a healthier digital environment.”

What would the law do?

The Take It Down Act reportedly requires tech and social media platforms to remove child sexual abuse material and non-consensual images, and it outlaws posting such material.

What penalties would criminals face?

If signed into law, people found guilty under the act would face fines and prison time.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) would also be able to sue Big Tech companies for failing to comply with the proposed law.

The U.S. Senate passed the bill unanimously last month, and U.S. House leaders said they’re ready to pass the bill.

House and Energy Chair Brett Guthrie promised to make it a top priority “over the next few weeks.”

Who is sponsoring the legislation?

The bill is sponsored by Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas, and its cosponsors include Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar, Minn., and Cory Booker, N.J.

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Why is Melania Trump’s support significant?

The move is also the first time Melania Trump has used her platform to push legislation.

In President Donald Trump’s first term, the first lady introduced a “Be Best” campaign that focused on combatting cyberbullying.

• Israel adopted a temporary ceasefire plan Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said was proposed by U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. The new plan would require Hamas to release half of its remaining hostages.
• If Hamas accepts, the sides would then have around six weeks during Ramadan and the Jewish Passover holiday to negotiate a permanent ceasefire.
• Israel cut off humanitarian aid to Gaza on Sunday, March 2.

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Israel introduced a new U.S. ceasefire plan in an effort to force Hamas to accept by imposing a siege on the Gaza Strip. The plan differs from what the two sides agreed to in January with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referring to the new version as the “Witkoff proposal.”