Republicans Push Budget Bill with Medicare Cuts as Party Faces Internal Revolt; Target Sales Crash Amid DEI Protests

 

Tensions are running high in Washington as House Republicans move to advance a controversial budget bill that includes deep cuts to Medicare, sparking outrage among Democrats and division within their own ranks.

House Speaker Mike Johnson is pushing for a floor vote today, insisting the measure is necessary to reduce national debt and redirect funds to defense and infrastructure. However, at least three Republican lawmakers have already publicly vowed to vote ‘NO’, citing concerns over the impact on elderly voters and the upcoming election season.

“We cannot go back to our constituents and explain why we’re cutting Medicare while increasing spending elsewhere,” said Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. (R-NJ), one of the Republican holdouts.

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The proposed budget would reduce Medicare growth by $150 billion over ten years a move that budget hawks praise but critics say will slash vital healthcare access for millions of older Americans.

Meanwhile, in the private sector, retail giant Target is reeling from plummeting sales, as a wave of nationwide protests over the company’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs has led to sharp boycotts and declining in-store traffic.

Target’s Q2 earnings report shows a 12% drop in consumer spending, its worst quarter since 2020. The backlash follows growing conservative criticism of the brand’s social responsibility campaigns, including Pride merchandise and inclusive hiring policies.

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Industry analysts warn that Target’s struggles could mark a turning point in the culture war between corporations and politically charged consumers, with other brands likely to reassess their public stances.

On Capitol Hill, Democrats are using the twin crises Medicare cuts and corporate backlash to paint Republicans as out of touch with middle-class Americans.

“This is who they are: cut healthcare for the elderly and punish companies for trying to be inclusive,” said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).

With Speaker Johnson racing against time to secure enough votes for the budget, the GOP finds itself at a political crossroads caught between fiscal pressure, party unity, and growing public scrutiny.

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