August 5, 2025
⏰ Tick Tock
Days to Utah's 2025 municipal primary elections (8/12/2025) - 7
Days until Election Day (11/4/2025) - 91
Days until the 2026 midterm elections (11/3/2026) - 457
Days until the 2028 presidential election (11/7/2028) - 1,190
"Big, beautiful bill" will add $4.1 trillion to deficit
The GOP's trillion-dollar megabill is set to inflate the deficit far beyond initial projections while threatening to push interest rates skyward.
According to new estimates from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the price tag is staggering: $4.1 trillion added to the deficit over the next decade. The lion's share – $3.4 trillion – represents pure deficit spending, with no offsetting cuts or revenue increases in sight.
The remaining $718 comes from the cost of rising interest rates from government borrowing to finance the deficit spending. For everyday Americans, this could mean pricier mortgages, costlier car loans, and more expensive credit card debt.
Republicans have brushed off concerns about any possible increase to the deficit, arguing that the legislation would juice the economy so much it would wipe out those projected shortfalls.
In a recent telephone town hall, Utah Congressman Mike Kennedy said he voted for the legislation because of those perceived economic benefits.
"I voted for that because there are so many provisions in that very long and complicated bill that are outstanding for not only our Utah citizens, but the United States of America. Frankly, I think with the economic benefit that you're seeing already with how things are going, for example, with the stock market lately, is a reflection of the cer certitude that comes from this bill, the tax cuts that we made permanent, and also the many policies that are in there," Kennedy said.
In June, the CBO estimated that the legislation would increase the deficit by $2.8 trillion over the next decade.
Politico first reported the new CBO analysis.
Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley, the top Democrat on the Senate Budget Committee who requested the new CBO analysis, said in a statement Monday that “Republicans can’t spin the fact that this bill is bad policy” and that it’s “the height of hypocrisy coming from the party that claims to be fiscally responsible.”
Tuesday morning's headlines
Utah and the West
Rep. Burgess Owens, who filed bankruptcy 5 times, tells struggling student borrowers to get a second job. [Utah Political Watch]
Utah sheriff calls ICE recruitment of deputies "classless" as agency offers $50,000 signing bonuses. [Fox 13]
Sen. John Curtis puts hold on Trump nominees over green energy tax credits. [KSL]
Utah Tech University VP whose office allegedly displayed "inappropriate" Post-it notes is now stepping down. [Salt Lake Tribune]
Dodging one bullet, Utah schools look ahead to possible funding cuts next year. [Fox 13]
Utah is facing an "alarming" new threat to affordable housing. It's convening people to address it. [Salt Lake Tribune]
Utahns skeptical of Trump's decision on National Guard deployment. [Deseret News]
Utah was initially expected to have normal fire danger by now – so, what happened? [KSL]
What happens if you have a hunting permit in a wildfire area? [Utah News Dispatch]
Resdistricting wars
The Texas House of Representatives has issued arrest warrants for Democratic legislators who left the state to block the GOP's plan to redraw congressional maps. [Texas Tribune]
California Gov. Gavin Newsom says if Texas moves forward with new congressional maps to give Republicans an advantage, his state will attempt to redraw its maps to give Democrats more seats. [Los Angeles Times]
Democrats in California's congressional delegation has reportedly signed off on a redistricting plan that could net the party 5 more seats. [Punchbowl News]
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is on board with an effort in her state to retaliate against the Texas gerrymandering by drawing more Democratic districts. [Politico]
Nation
Attorney General Pam Bondy directed federal prosecutors to launch a grand jury investigation into accusations that the Obama administration manufactured intelligence about Russian interference in the 2016 election. [CNN]
The White House is denying that they have set a goal for ICE to arrest 3,000 people per day. [Bloomberg]
The Trump administration is moving forward with a rule banning abortions at Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals in cases of rape, incest or where the mother's health is threatened. [Washington Post]
Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is pressuring President Donald Trump to pardon former GOP Rep. George Santos who is serving a seven-year prison sentence for fraud and identity theft. [Axios]
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's acting chief of staff tried and failed to oust the chief White House liaison assigned to the Pentagon. [Washington Post]
World
Some visa applicants coming to the U.S. may have to post a bond of up to $15,000. [Financial Times]
Economy
President Trump says tariffs on pharmaceuticals imported into the U.S. could reach up to 250%. [CNBC]
The White House is preparing an executive order that would punish big banks that discriminate against conservatives and cryptocurrency companies. [Wall Street Journal]
Technology
Chinese, Russian and North Korean hackers are working to insert backdoor hijacks and exploits into software used by governments around the world. [NextGov]