The Morning Sixpack—July 1, 2025
Trump-Musk feud heats up amid GOP budget battles as democracy fears rise and Sen. Murkowski holds key vote on MAGA mis-spending bill. Oh, and all MAGA pols are grafters & grifters
Trump Threatens to Yank Billions From Musk’s Empire as Billionaire Blasts “Porky Pig Party”
The bromance between Donald Trump and Elon Musk is officially in the dumpster fire phase—again.
On Tuesday, Trump declared he might sic the government’s efficiency watchdog on Musk’s subsidies, potentially choking off the federal gravy train that props up Tesla and SpaceX. This latest grenade came after Musk trashed Trump’s gargantuan tax-and-spending bill and promised to politically kneecap any Republican who voted for it.
Tesla stock tanked more than 6% before the market opened, as traders did the math on how an angry president plus a mountain of subsidies equals serious business risk. It’s not like Musk’s self-driving robotaxi dreams don’t already face an uphill battle with regulators itching to scrutinize every pedal-free prototype.
Trump didn’t mince words in his Truth Social post: “Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa.” He even floated letting DOGE—yes, the Department of Government Efficiency—“take a good, hard, look at this.”
Trump knows how to troll a guy.
Musk fired back on X with his own scorched-earth reply: “I am literally saying CUT IT ALL. Now.” He kept piling on, dubbing the GOP the “Porky Pig Party” and vowing to end the careers of deficit-loving politicians “if it is the last thing I do on this Earth.”
Look, Musk might fancy himself the kingmaker of American politics, but let’s be real—Trump doesn’t need him nearly as much as he needs Trump. As one strategist put it bluntly, “Musk needs Trump, Trump does not need Musk.” If the subsidies vanish, Tesla’s valuation could evaporate faster than a Dogecoin meme.
Source: Reuters
But wait, there’s more!
Trump Says His “DOGE Monster” Might Devour Elon Musk as Billionaire Vows Revenge on Debt-Busting Republicans
Trump just threatened to unleash a government “monster” to eat Elon Musk’s subsidies alive—and maybe even deport him.
At a Florida-bound press gaggle, Trump lobbed another grenade at his on-again-off-again pal, warning that the Department of Government Efficiency—cheekily dubbed DOGE—could be sicced on Musk’s empire of taxpayer cash.
“DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon. Wouldn’t that be terrible?” Trump quipped, right before pondering aloud whether Musk should be sent packing back to South Africa.
This circus act is all because Musk keeps torching Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill”—a mammoth spending and tax “plan” Musk calls “utterly insane.” In a rant worthy of a late-night infomercial, Trump bragged about killing California’s electric vehicle mandates and crowed, “Not everybody wants an electric car… You have a hydrogen car, it has one problem: it blows up.” Yes, that’s the leader of the free world reminding you your high-tech car might explode like a SpaceX rocket.
Musk, for his part, tried to look like the adult in the room—sort of. He posted on X: “So tempting to escalate this. So, so tempting. But I will refrain for now.”
Of course, that restraint didn’t last long. He slapped out meme after meme calling Republican lawmakers liars for backing “the BIGGEST DEBT ceiling increase in HISTORY,” complete with a flaming Pinocchio for emphasis.
Let’s be clear: Musk isn’t just tweeting into the void. He’s threatening to bankroll primary challengers against any Republican who dares to support the bill.
“Anyone who campaigned on the PROMISE of REDUCING SPENDING…will see their face on this poster in the primary next year,” Musk warned.
Meanwhile, Trump reminded everyone that without subsidies, “Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa.”
The timing of this meltdown is perfect political theater. As the July 4 deadline for Trump’s bill looms, the world’s richest man is openly declaring that America has become “a one-party country—the PORKY PIG PARTY.”
And in this clown show, the two ringmasters are just getting warmed up. Could be wild!
Source: Fox "News"
Nearly Three-Quarters of Americans Say Democracy Is at Risk as Political Violence Looms Large
American democracy is under serious threat, and most of us aren’t ignoring it.
A new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll finds that 76% of Americans believe democracy is facing a grave danger, with 73% also identifying politically motivated violence as a major problem. This sentiment cuts across party lines, though Republicans show less concern than Democrats and independents, reflecting the country's deep political divides under Trump’s second term.
The survey reveals a broad lack of confidence in political leadership: President Trump’s approval sits at just 43%, congressional Republicans hit an approval rating of 35%, while Democrats languish at a seven-year low of 27%. Disapproval grows with age among Democrats, showing frustration across generations.
On immigration, two-thirds of respondents say openness to immigrants is key to America’s identity, but Republicans sharply disagree, worried that too much openness threatens national identity. That’s straight-up white supremacy right there.
Support for deporting unauthorized immigrants varies widely, with Republicans favoring stricter enforcement and a majority believing ICE has overstepped its bounds.
The poll also finds Americans deeply divided over U.S. attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, splitting 50-50 largely along party lines. Concern about retaliation remains high, though Trump supporters are notably less worried. This fractured landscape reveals a nation struggling to define its future amid escalating political tension and uncertainty.
Source: NPR
Was this political violence? We don’t know yet. But I suspect it was… Suspect in Idaho firefighter shooting identified as 20-year-old man (gift article)
Senate GOP Scrambles to Salvage Trump’s “Big, Beautiful” Budget Bill as Deadline Slips
The clock is ticking, and Senate Republicans are struggling to herd cats on Trump’s mega budget bill.
After more than 24 hours of grueling amendments and tense negotiations, the Senate still lacks the votes to push President Trump’s nearly 1,000-page tax and spending package over the finish line.
Four Republican senators—Susan Collins, Thom Tillis, Lisa Murkowski, and Rand Paul—have publicly declared they can’t back the bill in its current form. With a razor-thin majority, just one defector can sink the whole thing.
Vice-President JD Vance showed up early to cast tie-breaking votes and has already helped nudge one amendment through, but the leadership won’t call for a final vote until they’re sure they have enough support.
Meanwhile, Trump, who wanted the bill signed by July 4th, conceded that hitting that patriotic deadline is “very hard” now.
The bill aims to extend massive tax cuts from Trump’s first term but demands big spending cuts—especially on healthcare and food subsidies for lower-income Americans.
The problem? Republicans can’t agree on which programs should take the hit, exposing fractures within the party just as they try to deliver Trump’s second-term agenda.
Even if the Senate passes it, the bill faces another rocky road in the House, where the GOP’s narrow control means every vote counts. Democrats are gearing up to oppose it fiercely, adding yet another layer of uncertainty to this high-stakes legislative drama.
Source: BBC
All of us should be able to admit that this is quite a shitty bill that will fuck up millions of American lives. Why this is even being considered is stunning. Gutting social programs like Medicaid has always been the “third rail” of U.S. politics. No more, I guess.
Senate’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” Hangs by a Thread as Murkowski Holds the Key
Trump’s MAGA budget bill is teetering on the edge—and Sen. Lisa Murkowski holds the deciding vote.
GOP leaders have been scrambling overnight, practically camped out on the Senate floor, trying to win over Murkowski with promises around Medicaid and food assistance. The Senate parliamentarian just greenlit expanded SNAP benefits for Alaska but struck down a Medicaid boost for Murkowski’s state and four others, complicating the deal.
These selective “pork projects” should NOT be allowed in any bill. They should be stand-alone and be voted on as such. THIS is why people hate the government.
Murkowski isn’t just about social programs—she’s also pushing to restore clean-energy credits gutted from Biden’s climate law, making her support a delicate balancing act for Republicans. Meanwhile, Majority Leader Thune admitted they’re “close” to wrapping up the vote marathon but still facing a few stubborn amendments and that all-important final “wraparound” vote.
Throw in Rand Paul, who’s still a firm “no” over the debt ceiling hike, and Maine’s Susan Collins, who’s openly skeptical and saw her rural hospital funding hopes crushed, and you’ve got a Senate lineup that looks more like a political minefield than a marching band. And the bitter fight over Medicaid cuts, championed by Rick Scott, is far from settled, with GOP defections looming. This is rich coming from Rick Scott, who is on record as having defrauded Medicare (a different program) for millions of dollars.
Assuming this circus of votes somehow passes the Senate, the bill will then hit the House Rules Committee, where delays are expected amid the Senate’s slow grind. And if you thought this was the end of budget battles, think again—fiscal 2026 funding fights are already queued up, promising more gridlock and drama.
Source: Politico
Kristi Noem Secretly Pocketed $80,000 from Dark Money Group While Governor—and Didn’t Disclose It
South Dakota’s Kristi Noem quietly boosted her income by funneling nonprofit cash into her private company—and kept it under wraps.
New tax filings reveal that in 2023, while serving as governor, Noem’s personal LLC, Ashwood Strategies, collected $80,000 from American Resolve Policy Fund—a dark money nonprofit promoting her political career. That’s a hefty add-on to her $130,000 government salary, coming from an organization that doesn’t disclose its donors. The kicker? Noem didn’t report this payment on her federal ethics disclosures, a move experts say likely breaks federal rules.
What’s really disturbing here isn’t just the secret side hustle; it’s that political donors were effectively lining her pockets directly.
“If donors to these nonprofits are not just holding the keys to an elected official’s political future but also literally providing them with their income, that’s new and disturbing,” says Daniel Weiner, a former FEC attorney.
The nonprofit raised $1.1 million that year but spent most of it on paying Noem’s LLC and some vague travel costs, with almost no clear public record of activity.
Noem’s lawyer insists she “fully complied” with the law and that the ethics office cleared her but refuses to show proof of disclosure, especially about the unreported $80,000. Meanwhile, Noem’s personal lifestyle—flashing a $50,000 Rolex and carrying $3,000 in cash on official trips (that she famously got stolen because she’s a dumbass)—has drawn criticism, especially as questions swirl about taxpayer-funded travel expenses.
Despite South Dakota’s minimal disclosure laws, local experts argue it’s inappropriate for a sitting governor to run a secret side business funded by political nonprofits. This episode highlights the murky overlap between public office, private gain, and dark money politics—and it’s a mess waiting to unravel.
Source: ProPublica