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  • Gov. Kathy Hochul’s four-year report: lower taxes, safer streets, stronger schools, 812,000 jobs, and clean-energy gains

    Gov. Kathy Hochul’s four-year report: lower taxes, safer streets, stronger schools, 812,000 jobs, and clean-energy gains

    ALBANY, N.Y. — Aug. 25, 2025: Gov. Kathy Hochul’s four-year memo highlights middle-class tax cuts at 70-year lows, a minimum wage tied to inflation, a tripled Child Tax Credit, an insulin copay ban, and a $25B plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes. Public safety steps include $2.6B for law enforcement, tighter gun laws, a 53% drop in shootings since the pandemic peak, and transit crime below pre-COVID levels. Schools see record aid, universal free meals, a distraction-free learning policy, and free community-college pathways for adults. The economy added 812,000 private-sector jobs since August 2021, powered by Micron’s $100B chip campus, the Empire AI initiative, and a $1B Chobani expansion. Rights protections cover reproductive health and the Equal Rights Amendment. Infrastructure advances include Grand Central Madison, the Interborough Express, Second Avenue Subway progress, and the nation’s first congestion pricing. Energy moves hit New York’s 6-GW solar goal early, launched a utility-scale wind farm, and directed a new advanced nuclear plant.

    Memo: Four Years of Governor Hochul,
    Four Years of Delivering for New Yorkers

    Putting Money Back in Families Pockets by Cutting Middle Class Taxes, Tripling Child Tax Credit and Increasing Minimum Wage. Keeping New Yorkers Safe Through Landmark Legislation and Investments in Law Enforcement and Public Safety. Fighting for New York’s Families With Record Investments in Education, Universal Free School Meals and Distraction-Free Learning. Generating New Economic Opportunities for New Yorkers With More Than 812,000 Jobs Created Since August 2021. Protecting New Yorkers’ Fundamental Rights Through Nation-Leading Legislation. Transforming the State’s Infrastructure To Modernize Transportation Landscapes, Limit Congestion and Make Public Transit More Accessible. Securing New York’s Energy Future by Making the State a National Leader in Solar Power; Advancing Nuclear Power Plant To Power One Million Homes and Businesses.

    On August 24, 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul took her oath of office as the 57th Governor of New York. In Governor Hochul’s inaugural address, she laid out a clear vision: make New York more affordable, safer, and fairer for every family. The Governor pledged to take on the State’s toughest challenges head-on and invest in what makes New York, New York.

    Four years later, Governor Hochul has delivered on that promise, putting money back in New Yorkers’ pockets, keeping communities safe, defending fundamental rights from Washington’s attacks, and fighting for hardworking families. And she’s just getting started.

    Making New York More Affordable

    Keeping New Yorkers Safe

    Fighting for New York’s Families

    Creating New Economic Opportunities

    • Secured Micron’s $100 billion investment in Central New York — the largest private investment in New York’s history, creating 50,000 jobs
    • Launched Empire AI, a first-of-its-kind partnership with New York’s top universities coming together to establish a world-class AI computing center
    • Landed a $1 billion investment from Chobani, the largest food manufacturing investment in the nation
    • More than 812,000 private sector jobs since August 2021

    Protecting New Yorkers’ Fundamental Rights

    Transforming New York’s Infrastructure

    Securing New York’s Energy Future

    August 25, 2025

    Albany, NY

    Sources: Governor.ny.gov , Big New York news BigNY.com
    Midtown Tribune News New York

    Midtown Tribune Independent USA new from New York

  • CLUBHOUSE CURE! Adams touts 13 new mental-health hubs on WBLS, blames NYCHA receivership for 5K empty apartments, vows fix for trash-pail blues

    CLUBHOUSE CURE! Adams touts 13 new mental-health hubs on WBLS, blames NYCHA receivership for 5K empty apartments, vows fix for trash-pail blues

    On Aug. 24, 2025, Mayor Eric Adams hit 107.5 WBLS’s “Hear From the Mayor” to hype the clubhouse model—free, open 365 days, and aimed at jobs, housing, and belonging—with 13 newly contracted sites citywide targeting 6,600 members by 2027. Joined by Venture House Bronx’s Faqueni Ravel, Adams praised recovery-through-work while callers torched City Hall over more than 5,000 vacant NYCHA units; he said control is limited under receivership and an ~$80B repair backlog. Another listener griped about disappearing DSNY pails, and Hizzoner vowed to crack down and get bins put back where they belong.

    Transcript: Mayor Adams Hosts “Hear From the Mayor” Radio Show

    Gary Byrd: As you know, each and every second Sunday of the month, normally WBLS is proud to welcome the 110th mayor of New York City and second mayor of color, first hip-hop mayor in the city’s history. But we’re on an extended schedule this month and proud to bring back our mayor, Mayor Eric Adams on 107.5 WBLS. Mr. Mayor, good morning and welcome.

    Mayor Eric Adams: Hey, thank you, Gary. And yesterday was a really somber but powerful moment for a good brother, Brother Lloyd Williams. And he just meant so much to so many people in general, but specifically he meant a lot to me. And so I was happy just to celebrate a life well lived. So I want to say to the audience, welcome back. 

    This is Hear from the Mayor, your mayor, Eric Adams, and if this is your first time tuning in, the purpose of this show is just to have a dialogue and hear directly from you. So listeners should give me a call and hear directly from your mayor on what we are doing to build a better New York. And you can sign up to hear more from me by visiting nyc.gov/HearFromEric. You can sign up on our website to text with Eric and talk with me on WhatsApp. 

    For today, though, please feel free to call in 212-545-1075. I want to say happy Sunday to everyone. And really, this is such an important topic that we’re going to have today. I have an amazing sister here, Faqueni Ravel, director of Venture House Clubhouse in the Bronx. And many people say, what is a clubhouse? What does that mean? And I didn’t even know what it was until I got into the Mayor’s Office. 

    I was hearing about it when I was campaigning and just really impressed with clubhouses. And we’re going to let sister Ravel just share with us the foundation of it. But let me say this. Everyone is going through some form of mental concern, I would like to say. Some is more severe than others. All of us feel a level of sadness sometimes, a level of depression sometimes. Some is more severe. And we need to be there for our fellow New Yorkers as they experience a level of mental illness. 

    But it’s nothing to be ashamed about. And you should not feel as though you cannot communicate with those who understand how to cycle us out of those moments. And that is what we believe clubhouse, the model, is one method that should be used. So I want to really celebrate this administration and what we have done. 

    We opened the first time in nearly 30 years, we’ve opened up a process for new clubhouses to be opened. And as a result, our administration has opened 13 newly contracted clubhouses across the five boroughs to serve adults living with severe mental illness. And the numbers are impressive, 6,600 members by 2027 is our goal. And our guest today is going to really break this down for you. So Faqueni, can you just first tell us, what is a clubhouse? The ABCs of a clubhouse.

    Faqueni Ravel, Director, Venture House Bronx Clubhouse: ABCs. Well, good morning, everybody. I’m excited to be here. Thank you, Mayor Adams, for inviting us over and for your leadership in New York. We’re proud and we’re very excited to be here and to talk about the best kept secret, right? It’s been the best kept secret for such a long time until the Mayor Adams administration has put a spotlight on it. And the clubhouse model is good news for people with mental health issues. 

    It’s like the gospel of it. It’s a community-based model that helps individuals work side-by-side and gain access to employment, housing, civic engagement, the arts. They work and help us run the clubhouse side-by-side. We have units devoted with goals, a mission, and a vision. We have a commercial kitchen where members come and they work with us. 

    You have the administration unit, you have an education and employment unit, and the clubhouse model is to help focus on the strengths rather than the illness, right? So members are much more engaged and they’re able to apply their talents in the work that they like to do. So it is rooted in the concept that work is restorative. 

    So there’s conventional ways of treatment and therapy and that helps, right? We want to get our therapy, we want to take our prescribed medications, but then what happens later when a person leaves their psych office and doesn’t have a place to be? So they come to the clubhouse.

    Mayor Adams: And that’s what I enjoyed about the clubhouses that I have visited. And I think the best way, in my layman analysis, is that when you’re dealing with severe mental health illness, you go to your medical professional for your help. And then when you leave that medical professional’s office, who is there to support you as you find your way to continue being part of society. 

    So when you walk inside the door of a clubhouse, you’re not judged, you’re not afraid to state what you’re going through to help you get through what you’re facing. And that’s what I saw. When I was up in the Bronx, at Venture, I saw people who came in shy, afraid to talk about their mental health illness. But then the clubhouse, all of a sudden, said, you’re not alone. And you do it in a creative way, such as cooking. How does that help people reintegrate themselves?

    Ravel: Absolutely. So like I said before, when they walk in, and thank you, Mayor Adams, for saying that, they walk in sometimes highly medicated, right? Or sometimes they walk in and do not want to speak with anybody. And once they feel the energy, the clubhouse, each clubhouse has its own culture. And they’re introduced through a tour. And once they start working in a unit, first, in their minds, they’re stigmatized. They’re also marginalized. 

    They have been told that they’re unable. And once they start working in something that’s meaningful, and they start connecting with others that have, they might have the same diagnoses. So they’re working side by side with a member and a staff. They’re able to not just reintegrate into the clubhouse overall, and they start running and they start taking initiatives. They start taking leadership. They become stakeholders of every work that we do there. And they start to have that voice that was taken away from the mental health issue that they might be living, right? 

    So they speak on these things, and the recovery is seen throughout their attendance and their participation in the clubhouse community. And they just slowly but surely, organically, they integrate. And it shows, and it equals to recovery overall. When someone is out there, I mean, you could be completely sane and not have a job, and you feel like you’re coming down with something, right? So the minute that you feel that you have purpose and you have value, and you’re able to identify your own strength and be attached to a specific meaningful task, then that’s recovery, that’s reintegration.

    Mayor Adams: You know, it is as though when I visit the clubhouse, particularly up in the Bronx, it is as though people are invited and they’re saying, it’s okay not to be all right, because we’re going to help you be all right. You know, and finding ways to do that. 

    Now, I know I saw the cooking, they were preparing their own meals, and the food was excellent. What are some of the other things that they do to take a person from that shyness, that feeling as though that no one understands what they’re going through, to, okay, you’re fitting, you have a home here?

    Ravel: Absolutely. So we tried, this is a person-centered care approach. And the first thing we want to let the individual know is that we know that you’re here, we’re all in this together, let’s work together. So besides the commercial kitchen that we run, there are other units devoted into certain tasks, like education and employment. And we have members there that are seeking employment and helping other members to seek employment and seek education. 

    We have members helping other members, you know, seek housing and obtain housing as well through these units. We have members working in the newsletter, publishing the outcomes that are happening in the clubhouse, spreading the news, right, presenting the model also to other CBOs and other entities, spreading the good news of this psychosocial rehabilitation model. 

    So they’re getting engaged. They’re also building these meaningful relationships, which helps members find themselves, right? And they’re able to say and apply what they have learned and also apply their strength in making sure that the clubhouse is working in a sense that that brings recovery overall and rehabilitation.

    Mayor Adams: And you know, I think about that song, I never thought I’d be quoting Barry Manilow, but I think about that song, I made it through the rain. And basically, I got my respect from those who made it through the rain too. And so people who are in the clubhouse, the senior members or members who have been there and made that transformation, they made it through the rain. And now they’re helping others make it through the rain too. And it means a lot. Absolutely.

    Ravel: Absolutely. Because you have these people that it’s hard for them to sustain relationships. It’s hard for them to make friendships. It’s hard for them to keep a job. It’s hard for them to have a job. So when they come and they make it through the rain, right, and they see someone else that came out of that rain, they build that connection. And membership is for life. 

    So with membership being for life, it’s a clear indication that their relationship might be for life, right? And usually people that are living with mental health issues, right, because you hear voices or you’re depressed, statistics show that it’s really hard for them to sustain a relationship, right? 

    So some members just come in and they don’t want to do work. And they just, I just want a place to be. I just want to be here. And we make sure that we help them feel wanted, expected, and needed. And they are needed because we are unable to run the clubhouse without their help. And we’re understaffed on purpose. If we do the work, then we’re taking recovery from them. 

    So we promote the sense of urgency that, and then they say, okay, you know what? I’m good at cooking. I’m going to go cook. And you know what? I’m good at speaking. I’m going to go speak about this model. I’m good at doing administration things. You know what? I’m going to be a receptionist. And they welcome the other members. And we all, if the cloud rains on one member, it rains on all of us, right?

    Mayor Adams: I love that. And that energy. Now, let’s say if we were to remove our clubhouses, then a person is home, often home alone, or sitting in a dark place somewhere, not feeling as though they have a purpose. And so absence of the clubhouse, you are dealing with a lot of the issues of loneliness. Loneliness is a very important social determinant to help when people feel lonely. And so we’re going to be back. 

    We’re going to take a break now. But we’ll be back to field your calls. You can ask anything you want about the clubhouse or any other topic that we’re hearing. Faqueni is here to really share that experience. So you can call 212-545-1075, 212-545-1075. We’ll speak to you on the other side of the break.

    Byrd: The program is Hear From the Mayor. And as you hear, the mayor wants to hear from you. 212-545-1075 is the number to call. Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Long Island, Staten Island, Westchester, wherever you are, 212-545-1075. We’ll come back right after these messages from 107.5 WBLS.

    [Commercial Break.]

    Mayor Adams: And we’re back. We’re looking forward to hear from you and get your thoughts. 212-545-1075. So let’s go to the first caller. Caller, you are in the air. Caller, you’re in the air. Okay. So while we [wait] for our caller, why don’t we dig into the clubhouse model a little more. Tell me, Faqueni, what are the hours of operation?

    Ravel: Great question. So Venture House in particular, Venture House Inc. has been around for over 37 years and we have steps to schedule. We’re open 365 days of the year. And I don’t know if I mentioned that membership is free. And we’re open Monday through Friday for a work order day task. We’re open 9 to 4, 9 to 5 rather. And we have social programming and we’re open from 9 to 8 p.m. We’re open on Saturdays from 10 to 3. And on Sundays, we’re also open for the same time frame.

    Mayor Adams: You know what I learned in my policing days that the highest number or one of the highest periods of suicides occurs around holidays, you know, because people are not with family. There’s a great level of sadness. Are you open during the holidays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, all of those holidays?

    Ravel: Actually, Thanksgiving is actually the day that we serve the membership. We, it is a tradition for us to make the meal and serve the members. It brings joy. It brings– it actually helps us become more integrated as a family. 

    This is how you see those individuals that do not have anybody, they come to Venture House and they sit and have a meal with us. So we’re open 365 days a week. Yes, every Christmas, we’re there sending them letters. And for those who are not coming, we’re not able to see them. We are reaching in and reaching out so they can come in for Christmas, Thanksgiving. We celebrate every holiday. We have the members and staff working. But it’s amazing.

    Mayor Adams: I think we got a caller on. Caller, you’re in the air. I’m here with Faqueni. If you have a question for me or our clubhouse, please feel free.

    Question: Yes. Good morning, Mayor Adams. My name is [Joe Gonzalez.] I’m calling from Brooklyn, New York. You often speak about housing issues. And it was recently developed that there are in excess of 5,000 empty apartments in the New York City Housing Authority developments. And unfortunately, many people believe that that’s part and parcel of a plot to just wipe out public housing. And so can you speak to the pain of people who believe that? And second, can you with specificity reveal when those 5,000 apartments going to start getting filled with needy people? Thank you and have a good day.

    Mayor Adams: Yeah, thank you so much. One of the most disappointing aspects of our NYCHA situation is how little control the mayor has over NYCHA. When you look at the fact that it is in receivership and there’s a special monitor that’s in charge, hiring and firing is not within my scope because, trust me, when I looked at some of the things that happened over at Riis Houses when there was a water scare, I stepped up and said, listen, we need to take immediate actions. And they said, Eric, you don’t have the authorization to do that. 

    We need to give control back to the mayor and let the mayor be held fully responsible like we did with our school system. And so when you talk about those housing, all those housing units should be repaired. Some of them are taking longer than others. They have to be led abatement. Our NYCHA stock is a stock that has been ignored far too long. It has almost an $80 billion capital deficit. We need help on the federal and the state level. 

    They’ve walked away from NYCHA. We have done successful things. We included NYCHA in our housing plan, which has never been done before. We’ve also were able to go to Albany and get what’s called their housing land trust. Sheepshead Bay was one of the first areas where the tenants voted on the improvements in NYCHA. We must do something differently, get those units back online. But we have to repair NYCHA, not with a Band-Aid, but with real ideas that we have presented to rebuild our NYCHA stock. Thank you for that call. Caller, you’re in the air.

    Question: Good morning, Mr. Mayor.

    Mayor Adams: Good morning.

    Question: I just have one issue. Is there anything that you can possibly do when sanitation comes around after they take the garbage, if they can put the garbage pails back in front of the property? I’ve lost two brand new garbage pails, and they’re quite expensive. Every week, I have to stay up until two, three o’clock in the morning. I have to walk sometimes a block away. Your garbage pail cannot be found. They don’t put it back in front of the property. Is there anything you can possibly do? I’m begging.

    Mayor Adams: Yes, yes, yes. Those pails are expensive. I’m going to speak with the commissioner and just reinforce the policy of putting the pail right back in front. Just basic etiquette on how to do it correctly. Our DSNY members are doing an amazing job. But thanks for that feedback. And I will share it. I’ll share it.

    Question: But then I got to get up to walk. Sometimes they come at two in the morning. I have to stay up to go just bring it back inside. I’ve lost three. They’re like up to $54, $55. I’m a senior. I can’t afford that anymore.

    Mayor Adams: Yes, and we don’t want that to happen to you. So I’m on top of it. Callers, that music is telling us that the lady is singing, so the show is concluding. But I look forward to being back on with you in the next few weeks. And again, we want to thank our guest that’s here today. Thank you so much for your input.

    Ravel: Thank you, Mayor Adams, for your exemplary work. Thank you for taking the initiative and bringing clubhouses [out from] under the rug and making it not just the best kept secret anymore. Right now, there’s been a spotlight. And that’s thanks to your administration from bringing it from awareness to results. You’ve done it under your leadership and Venture House, and all the other clubhouses, want to thank you for bringing clubhouses to our local neighborhood communities.

    Mayor Adams: Thank you. Thank you. 

    August 24, 2025

    Sources: NYC.gov , Big New York News BigNY.com
    Midtown Tribune News

    Midtown Tribune Independent USA new from New York

  • Marco Rubio: U.S. Congratulates Ukraine on Its 34th Independence Day

    Marco Rubio: U.S. Congratulates Ukraine on Its 34th Independence Day

    USA news U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated the people of Ukraine

    Summary: On Ukraine’s National Day, August 24, 2025, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated the people of Ukraine and reaffirmed America’s commitment to Ukraine’s future as a free, independent nation. The statement supports a negotiated settlement that upholds Ukrainian sovereignty and guarantees long-term security, aiming for durable peace. Rubio also emphasized strengthening the U.S.–Ukraine economic and security partnership to advance a peaceful, prosperous future for both countries.

    Ukraine National Day

    Press Statement

    Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

    On behalf of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of Ukraine as you commemorate your 34th Independence Day.

    The United States is committed to Ukraine’s future as an independent nation. We believe in a negotiated settlement that upholds Ukrainian sovereignty and guarantees its long-term security, leading to durable peace. On this Independence Day, as you pay tribute to your nation’s history, the United States looks forward to continuing to build on our economic and security partnership for a peaceful, prosperous future for both our nations.

    August 24, 2025 Washington DC

    Sources: State.gov , Midtown Tribune

    Midtown Tribune Independent USA new from New York

  • White House. America by Design

    White House. America by Design

    On August 21, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order launching “America by Design,” a national initiative to modernize and improve the usability of federal digital and physical services. The order establishes the National Design Studio within the White House and introduces a Chief Design Officer to lead efforts in recruiting top creative talent, standardizing government design, and enhancing user experiences. Agencies are directed to prioritize updates to high-impact websites and services by July 4, 2026, ensuring compliance with modern digital standards while reducing costs from outdated systems. The initiative underscores the administration’s policy to deliver government services that are not only efficient but also visually engaging and accessible for all Americans.

    IMPROVING OUR NATION
    THROUGH BETTER DESIGN

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

    Section 1.  Purpose and Policy.  America has long led the world in innovation, technological advancement, and design.  But with a sprawling ecosystem of digital services offered to Americans, the Government has lagged behind in usability and aesthetics.  There is a high financial cost to maintaining legacy systems, to say nothing of the cost in time lost by the American public trying to navigate them.  It is time to fill the digital potholes across our Nation.

    With this order, I am announcing “America by Design,” a national initiative to improve experiences for Americans, starting by breathing new life into the design of sites where people interface with their Government.  It is time to update the Government’s design language to be both usable and beautiful.  This effort will be facilitated by a new National Design Studio and by a new Chief Design Officer.  The Chief Design Officer will help recruit top creative talent, coordinate with executive departments and agencies (agencies), and devise innovative solutions.

    It is the policy of my Administration to deliver digital and physical experiences that are both beautiful and efficient, improving the quality of life for our Nation.  Towards that end, the National Design Studio will advise agencies on how to reduce duplicative design costs, use standardized design to enhance the public’s trust in high-impact service providers, and dramatically improve the quality of experiences offered to the American public.

    Sec. 2.  Establishing America by Design and the National Design Studio.  (a)  There is established a national initiative, America by Design, to improve comprehensively the visual presentation and usability of Federal services provided to the public in both digital and physical spaces, creating first-class online and offline experiences for Americans.

    (b)  To help facilitate the America by Design initiative, there is established within the White House Office of the Executive Office of the President the National Design Studio (NDS) and, within the NDS, a new position entitled the Chief Design Officer.  The NDS shall be led by an Administrator, who shall report to the Office of the White House Chief of Staff.  There is further established within the NDS, in accordance with section 3161 of title 5, United States Code, a temporary organization headed by the NDS Administrator and dedicated to helping advance the America by Design initiative.  The temporary organization shall terminate 3 years from the date of this order, but that termination shall not be interpreted to imply the termination, attenuation, or amendment of any other authority or provision of this order.

    Sec. 3.  Implementing America by Design.  (a)  Heads of agencies shall consult with the Chief Design Officer to implement the America by Design initiative at their respective agencies and shall produce initial results by July 4, 2026. 

    (i)    Heads of agencies shall prioritize improving websites and physical sites that have a major impact on Americans’ everyday lives. 

    (ii)   The Administrator of General Services shall consult with the Chief Design Officer to update the United States Web Design System consistent with the policies set forth in this order.

    (iii)  Heads of agencies shall consult with the Chief Design Officer to ensure Government-wide compliance with the 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act, Public Law 115-336.

    (b)  The Chief Design Officer shall consult with thought leaders and research and design firms on how best to implement the America by Design initiative.  In order to employ the most talented designers of our generation to serve their country, the Chief Design Officer shall help recruit designers and other experts from the private sector as well as other sources of expertise.  Heads of agencies shall use all relevant hiring authorities to facilitate this effort, including title IV of the Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 1970, Public Law 91-648, 5 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.

    (c)  The Chief Design Officer shall consult with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, as appropriate, in carrying out his or her obligations under this order.

    Sec. 4.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

    (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

    (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

    (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

    (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

                                 DONALD J. TRUMP

    THE WHITE HOUSE,

        August 21, 2025.

    Executive Orders Presidential Actions

    Sources: White House , Midtown Tribune

    #DonaldTrumpNews #USANewsToday #FunUSAWhiteHouse #WhiteHousePictures

    Midtown Tribune Independent USA new from New York

  • Americans Nationwide to Save Thousands in Taxes Under President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill

    Americans Nationwide to Save Thousands in Taxes Under President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill

    One-Paragraph Summary:
    President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act is delivering sweeping tax relief across the country, with the average American taxpayer set to save $3,752 in 2026, according to the nonpartisan Tax Foundation. From Alaska’s $3,485 average savings to Nevada’s $4,220, Florida’s $5,000, and Miami-Dade County’s $5,872, families in every state will feel the impact through lower taxes and higher take-home pay. The bill makes the 2017 tax cuts permanent while introducing new breaks, including deductions for tips and overtime income, tax relief for seniors, expanded child-care credits, and enhanced small business incentives. In Ohio alone, savings are projected to protect 232,000 jobs and boost wages by as much as $6,100, while Michigan and North Carolina families will save an average of over $3,000 each. With provisions like permanent Opportunity Zones, manufacturing support, and business-friendly deductions, the bill is being hailed as the most significant federal tax reform in decades — fueling job creation, simplifying the tax code, and putting more money in the pockets of working Americans.

    Across the Country, Americans Will Pay Less in Taxes Thanks to President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill

    Americans across the country will feel the benefits of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill this tax season, with the average taxpayer saving more and paying less.

    Here’s what outlets across the country are saying:

    Must Read Alaska (Homer, AK): Alaska Taxpayers to Save an Average of $3,485 Under New Federal Tax Law

    “Alaska taxpayers will see significant relief under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, with average savings of $3,485 thanks in part to the Alaska delegation’s support for working-family tax cuts, according to a new analysis from the Tax Foundation.”

    Reno Gazette-Journal (Reno, NV): Nevada Ranks in Top States for Tax Cuts from Trump’s Big Budget Bill

    “Nevadans will see among the biggest tax reductions of any state because of changes in this year’s federal budget package. The average tax cut for each Nevada resident who files a return in 2026 will be $4,220 — with Washoe County filers seeing a $6,313 drop. That’s according to the nonpartisan, nonprofit Tax Foundation, a national think tank that advocates for lower taxes and limited government.”

    The Tennessean (Nashville, TN): How Much Can Middle Tennessee Taxpayers Expect to Save Under Trump’s Tax Cuts? These Counties Will Save the Most.

    “Middle Tennessee residents are among the Tennesseans set to experience the most financial relief by tax cuts introduced under President Donald Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill.’

    Signed into law on July 4, the legislation marks the most significant overhaul of federal tax policy since the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which lowered average tax burdens across income levels and temporarily streamlined the filing process through structural reforms, according to an analysis by the Tax Foundation. The new bill not only makes the 2017 tax cuts permanent but also introduces additional breaks, including deductions on tips and overtime pay, tax relief for seniors and an expanded child-care tax credit.”

    WKMG-TV (Orlando, FL): Tax Cuts are Coming to Florida Next Year. Here’s How Much to Expect

    “With the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) being signed into law last month, Florida is slated to see plenty of individual and business tax cuts. That’s according to The Tax Foundation, which put together a study this month detailing what Florida residents can expect during the upcoming 2026 tax season.

    The study predicts that the OBBBA will bring down federal taxes on average for individual taxpayers in every state, largely thanks to features like new deductions for tipped/overtime income, as well as an expanded child tax credit and standard deduction.”

    Axios Phoenix (Phoenix, AZ): Arizonans Will See Tax Cuts From “Big, Beautiful Bill”

    “Arizonans’ average tax cut will be $3,521 in 2026, a bit under the national average of $3,752, per an analysis from the Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan research group that mostly supports lower taxes. But if you’re in Maricopa County, the average tax savings will be $4,049, the biggest cuts of any county in the state.”

    Spectrum News 1 (Toledo, OH): Ohio Lawmakers Seek to Frame Big Beautiful Bill During Congress’ August Recess

    “The average Ohio taxpayer will save $3,175 in 2026 because of tax cuts in the so-called One Big, Beautiful Bill Congress passed in July, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Tax Foundation… The analysis is based on the tax rate that would have taken effect if the 2017 tax cuts expired at the end of this year, so the average Ohio filer will see $1,036 in savings on their 2026 taxes compared to 2025.”

    Axios Richmond (Richmond, VA): Richmonders to get $3.5K Tax Cut in 2026

    “The average Richmonder will see a federal tax cut of nearly $3,500 in 2026 thanks to the ’big, beautiful bill,’ per an analysis from the Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan research group that mostly supports lower taxes.,, The spending bill Congress passed last month made President Trump’s first term tax cuts permanent — and added on a bunch more. The new tax breaks include deductions for tips and overtime income, a cut for seniors and an expanded child-care credit.”

    The Ohio Press Network (OH): Ohio Officials Discuss OBBBA Tax Cuts, Benefits at White House Event

    “Nationwide, the act makes permanent the 2017 TCJA provisions, preventing tax hikes for 62% of filers in 2026 according to a Tax Foundation analysis. It also introduces new deductions for tipped and overtime income, expands the child tax credit, and enhances the standard deduction.

    In the Buckeye State, the Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) projects OBBBA will significantly boost Ohio’s economy, raising wages by $3,400 to $6,100 over the next four years and increasing take-home pay for a typical family with two children by $7,000 to $9,800, according to CEA analysis.

    CEA predicts OBBBA will protect 232,000 Ohio jobs with 5% of the workforce benefiting from no taxes on tips, 2.1 million seniors gaining from no taxes on Social Security, and 24% of employees (plus 65% in eligible occupations) advantaged by no taxes on overtime. The bill supports manufacturing (14% of Ohio’s employment) and extends the 199A deduction for 141,000 small businesses statewide. Enhanced Opportunity Zones, now permanent, have already created 43,000 jobs and 13,000 housing units in Ohio’s 320 zones.”

    Axios Miami (Miami, FL): Miami-Dade, Broward Residents See $5K Tax Cut in 2026

    “In Miami-Dade, the average tax break is expected to be $5,872 next year. In Broward County, it’s $4,441. In Florida, the average tax cut will be about $5,000, per the Tax Foundation analysis. Collier County residents will see some of the largest average tax cuts in the state ($14,315).”

    Axios Des Moines (Des Moines, IA): Iowa Taxpayers Expected to See Average of $3,000 in Savings

    “Iowa’s average cuts in 2026 range from $2,311 in Appanoose County to $4,330 in Dallas County. Iowa’s all-Republican congressional delegation supported the bill. Sen. Chuck Grassleycalled it a ‘resounding victory,’ outlining a dozen ways he believes it benefits Iowans. Sen. Joni Ernstsaid it will keep more money in people’s pockets.”

    Axios Kansas City (Kansas City, KS/MO): How the “Big, Beautiful Bill” Affects Your 2026 Taxes

    “On the Kansas side,Johnson County filers are projected to receive an average cut of $5,344 in 2026. Wyandotte County filers are estimated to get an average cut $2,115. In Missouri, Platte County leads with an estimated average cut of $4,104. Cass County is projected at $3,240, Clay County at $3,138 and Jackson County at $3,039.”

    The Greenville News (Greenville, SC): Chamber of Commerce Lobbyist Touts One Big Beautiful Bill as “game-changer” for Businesses

    “The law makes the 20 percent qualified business income deduction permanent – ‘a game-changer for businesses,’ Jackson said. She also pointed to the 100 percent deduction for research and experimental expenses. Jackson was pleased that businesses will receive an expanded employer-provided childcare tax credit because ‘we know that childcare is one of the biggest hurdles to getting people into the workforce and keeping people in the workforce.’”

    The Dallas Express (Dallas, TX): Tax Foundation: Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Cuts Taxes, Creates Jobs

    “American taxpayers will receive an average tax cut of $3,752 under President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, according to a new analysis released Friday by the nonpartisan Tax Foundation. The organization also projects that the legislation will create nearly one million new jobs nationwide. The sweeping tax overhaul represents the centerpiece of Trump’s economic agenda. White House officials tout it as historic relief for middle-class families.”

    The Columbus Dispatch (Columbus, OH): The Buckeye State has Reason to Thank Donald Trump. He Just Gave Workers a Raise

    “Among the many commonsense and overdue measures to jumpstart the U.S. economy, President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill specifically targets middle-class blue-collar and service-sector workers for relief from high taxes, so that every American — and especially those here in the Buckeye State — can benefit from a growing economy.

    The bill’s provision on cutting taxes on overtime, up to $12,500 a year, means more money in the pockets of our hardest-working Ohioans. Overtime taxes are essentially a tax on production, since labor is such a big cost in making things right here at home.”

    The Midwesterner (Michigan): Tax Foundation Study Shows Avg $3,151 Tax Cut for Michiganders After One Big Beautiful Bill

    “The Tax Foundation’s report estimates that, in 2026, the average Michigan taxpayer would see a $3,151 tax cut. Every county would benefit, with some seeing larger reductions than others: Ingham County residents would save $2,657 on average, Kalamazoo County $3,276, Grand Traverse County $3,855, Genesee County $2,430, Macomb County $2,693, Oakland County $5,006, and Saginaw County $2,462.

    The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ is a comprehensive federal tax reform package passed by Trump’s administration. It includes cuts to individual and corporate tax rates, expands child tax credits, and reduces certain deductions. Supporters say it is designed to simplify the tax code, stimulate economic growth, and put more money in the pockets of middle-class families.”

    The Mountaineer (Waynesville, NC): Report: Average Tax Cut Coming is $3,264

    “More than $3,200 in tax cut savings is projected on average for North Carolinians, a report from The Tax Foundation says. Long range, more than 26,000 jobs are forecast to be added in the state as well, says the international nonprofit research organization publishing studies on American tax policies. The report was done in response to the July 4 signing of House Resolution 1, known also as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”

    Axios Atlanta (Atlanta, GA): Fulton County Residents to get $5,666 Tax Cuts in 2026

    “At $5,666, Fulton residents will see the second-highest average tax cut next year in Georgia, per the Tax Foundation. Residents of Cherokee, Cobb, DeKalb, Fayette and Forsyth counties will see at least $3,500.”

    The White House

    August 21, 2025

    Sources: White House , Midtown Tribune News

    Midtown Tribune Independent USA new from New York

  • President Trump Criticizes Smithsonian’s Woke Exhibits and Progressive Agenda

    President Trump Criticizes Smithsonian’s Woke Exhibits and Progressive Agenda

    President Trump has taken aim at the Smithsonian Institution, highlighting a series of exhibits and programs that critics say push an extreme progressive agenda under the guise of cultural education. Museums including the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the American History Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, and the National Museum of the American Latino have featured content portraying America’s founding as rooted in racism and colonization, celebrating illegal border crossings, and reframing historic events such as the Texas Revolution and Mexican-American War through an anti-American lens. Displays include LGBTQ+ identity showcases, activist-driven narratives on immigration, exhibits that reinterpret the Pilgrims and Benjamin Franklin primarily through slavery, and even artwork proposing a transgender Statue of Liberty. Trump argues that such programming, filled with activist voices and radical reinterpretations of U.S. history, disrespects American heritage and misrepresents the nation’s founding principles.

    President Trump Is Right About the Smithsonian

    • The National Museum of African American History and Culture debuted a series to educate people on “a society that privileges white people and whiteness” — defining so-called “white dominant culture“ as “ways white people and their traditions, attitudes, and ways of life have been normalized over time” and portraying “the nuclear family,” “work ethic,” and “intellect” as white qualities rooted in racism.
    • As part of its campaign to stop being “wealthy, pale, and male,” the National Portrait Gallery featured a choreographed “modern dance performance“ detailing the “ramifications“ of the southern border wall and commissioned an entire series to examine “American portraiture and institutional history… through the lens of historical exclusion.”
    • The American History Museum prominently displays the “Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride flag” at its entrance, which was also flown alongside the American flag at multiple Smithsonian campuses.
    • The National Portrait Gallery features art commemorating the act of illegally crossing the “inclusive and exclusionary” southern border — even making it a finalist for one of its awards.
    • The National Museum of African Art displayed an exhibit on “works of speculative fiction that bring to life an immersive, feminist and sacred aquatopia inspired by the legend of Drexciya,” an “underwater kingdom populated by the children of pregnant women who had been thrown overboard or jumped into the ocean during the Middle Passage.”
    • The American History Museum’s “LGBTQ+ History” exhibit seeks to “understand evolving and overlapping identities such as lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer, transsexual, transvestite, mahu, homosexual, fluid, invert, urning, third sex, two sex, gender-bender, sapphist, hijra, friend of Dorothy, drag queen/king, and many other experiences,” and includes articles on “LGBTQ+ inclusion and skateboarding“ and “the rise of drag ball culture in the 1920s.”
    • The National Museum of the American Latino features programming highlighting “animated Latinos and Latinas with disabilities” — with content from “a disabled, plus-sized actress” and an “ambulatory wheelchair user” who “educates on their identity being Latinx, LGBTQ+, and disabled.”
    • The National Museum of the American Latino characterizes the Texas Revolution as a “massive defense of slavery waged by ‘white Anglo Saxon’ settlers against anti-slavery Mexicans fighting for freedom, not a Texan war of independence from Mexico,” and frames the Mexican-American War as “the North American invasion” that was “unprovoked and motivated by pro-slavery politicians.”
    • According to the National Museum of the American Latino, “what unites Latinas and Latinos“ is “the Black Lives Matter movement.”
    • The American History Museum’s exhibit marking the 50th anniversary of Title IX includes biological men competing in women’s sports and argues in favor of “transgender” athletes competing in sports against the opposite biological sex.
    • A exhibit at the American History Museum depicts migrants watching Independence Day fireworks “through an opening in the U.S.-Mexico border wall” and says America’s founders “feared non-White immigration.”
    • The American History Museum features a display that refers to the founding of America as “a profound unsettling of the continent.”
    • The American History Museum’s “American Democracy” exhibit claims voter integrity measures are “attempts to minimize the political power” of “new and diverse groups of Americans,” while its section on “demonstrations” includes only leftist causes.
    • An American History Museum exhibit features a depiction of the Statue of Liberty “holding a tomato in her right hand instead of a torch, and a basket of tomatoes in her left hand instead of a tablet.”
    • The National Museum of the American Latino features an anti-American exhibit that defines Latino history as centuries of victimhood and exploitation, suggests the U.S. is stolen land, and characterizes U.S. history as rooted in “colonization.”
      • The exhibit features writing from illegal immigrants “fighting to belong.”
      • The exhibit displays a quote from Claudia de la Cruz, the socialist nominee for president and a director an anti-American hate group, as well as another quote that reads, “We didn’t cross the border; the border crossed us.”
      • The exhibit remains prominently featured on its website alongside a quote from the Communist Party USA’s Angela Davis, who was once among the FBI’s Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitives.
    • The National Museum of the American Latino describes the post-Mexican-American War California describes a “Californio” family losing their land to American “squatters.”
    • The Museum of American Art uses American sculpture “to invite dialogue and reflection on notions of power and identity.”
    • The American History Museum’s “Upending 1620” exhibit claims Pilgrims are a “myth,” instead framing them as colonizers.
    • The American History Museum’s exhibit about Benjamin Franklin focuses almost solely on slavery, directing visitors to learn more about his “electrical experiments and the enslaved people of his household,” noting his “scientific accomplishments were enabled by the social and economic system he worked within.”
    • The National Portrait Gallery was set to feature a “painting depicting a transgender Statue of Liberty” before the artist withdrew it.
    • The former interim director of the future Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum declared the museum will be “inclusive” of biological men posing as women.

    The White House

    August 21, 2025

    All illustration from White House Website

    Sources: White House , Midtown Tribune

    Midtown Tribune Independent USA new from New York

  • White House. U.S. and EU Announce Framework Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade

    White House. U.S. and EU Announce Framework Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade

    The United States and the European Union have unveiled a landmark Framework Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade, designed to strengthen one of the world’s largest economic relationships and address longstanding trade imbalances. Under the deal, the EU will eliminate tariffs on U.S. industrial goods and expand market access for American agricultural and seafood products, while the U.S. will adjust tariffs on European goods, including cars, aircraft parts, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors. The agreement also prioritizes cooperation on energy security, with the EU planning $750 billion in U.S. energy purchases and $40 billion in AI chip imports, alongside expanded European investments of $600 billion in U.S. industries. Key commitments cover defense procurement, mutual recognition of standards, technology and cybersecurity cooperation, agricultural trade, digital trade protections, labor rights, and supply chain resilience. Positioned as a first step, the Framework Agreement sets the stage for broader transatlantic economic cooperation and long-term industrial revitalization.

    Joint Statement on a United States-European Union Framework on an Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade

    The United States and the European Union are pleased to announce that they have agreed on a Framework on an Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade (“Framework Agreement”). This Framework Agreement represents a concrete demonstration of our commitment to fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial trade and investment.  This Framework Agreement will put our trade and investment relationship – one of the largest in the world – on a solid footing and will reinvigorate our economies’ reindustrialization. It reflects acknowledgement by the European Union of the concerns of the United States and our joint determination to resolve our trade imbalances and unleash the full potential of our combined economic power. The United States and the European Union intend this Framework Agreement to be a first step in a process that can be further expanded over time to cover additional areas and continue to improve market access and increase their trade and investment relationship.

    The key terms include: 

    1.​ The European Union intends to eliminate tariffs on all U.S. industrial goods and to provide preferential market access for a wide range of U.S. seafood and agricultural goods, including tree nuts, dairy products, fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, processed foods, planting seeds, soybean oil, and pork and bison meat. The European Union will immediately take the necessary steps to extend the Joint Statement of the United States and the European Union on a Tariff Agreement announced on August 21, 2020, with respect to lobster (that expired 31 July 2025), coupled with an expanded product scope to include processed lobster.

    2.​ The United States commits to apply the higher of either the U.S. Most Favored Nation (MFN) tariff rate or a tariff rate of 15 percent, comprised of the MFN tariff and a reciprocal tariff, on originating goods of the European Union. Additionally, effective as of 1 September 2025, the United States commits to apply only the MFN tariff to the following products of the European Union: unavailable natural resources (including cork), all aircraft and aircraft parts, generic pharmaceuticals and their ingredients and chemical precursors. The United States and the European Union agree to consider other sectors and products that are important for their economies and value chains for inclusion in the list of products for which only the MFN tariffs would apply.

    3. ​The United States intends to promptly ensure that the tariff rate, comprised of the MFN tariff and the tariff imposed pursuant to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, applied to originating goods of the European Union subject to Section 232 actions on pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and lumber does not exceed 15 percent. When the European Union formally introduces the necessary legislative proposal to enact the tariff reductions set forth in Section 1 of this Framework Agreement, the United States will reduce tariffs on automobiles and automobile parts originating from the European Union subject to Section 232 tariffs as follows: No Section 232 automobile or automobile parts tariffs will apply to covered European Union goods with an MFN tariff of 15 percent or higher; and for covered goods with an MFN rate lower than 15 percent, a combined rate of 15 percent, comprised of the MFN tariff and Section 232 automobile tariffs, will be applied. These tariff reductions are expected to be effective from the first day of the same month in which the European Union’s legislative proposal is introduced. The United States expects the European Union’s legislative proposals will be consistent with this Framework Agreement and enacted by the necessary legislatures. All modifications to U.S. Section 232 tariffs will be executed in a manner that reinforces and is consistent with U.S. national security interests. With respect to steel, aluminum, and their derivative products, the European Union and the United States intend to consider the possibility to cooperate on ring-fencing their respective domestic markets from overcapacity, while ensuring secure supply chains between each other, including through tariff-rate quota solutions.

    4. ​The United States and the European Union will negotiate rules of origin that ensure that the benefits of the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade accrue predominately to the United States and the European Union.

    5. ​The United States and the European Union commit to cooperate on ensuring secure, reliable, and diversified energy supplies, including by addressing non-tariff barriers that might restrict bilateral energy trade.  As part of this effort, the European Union intends to procure U.S. liquified natural gas, oil, and nuclear energy products with an expected offtake valued at $750 billion through 2028. In addition, the European Union intends to purchase at least $40 billion worth of U.S. AI chips for its computing centers. The European Union further plans to work with the United States to adopt and maintain technology security requirements in line with those of the United States. in a concerted effort to avoid technology leakage to destinations of concern. The United States will endeavor to facilitate such exports once such requirements are in place.

    6. ​The United States and the European Union share one of the world’s largest economic relationships, supported by mutual investment stocks exceeding $5 trillion, and intend to promote and facilitate mutual investments on both sides of the Atlantic. In this context, European companies are expected to invest an additional $600 billion across strategic sectors in the United States through 2028. This investment reflects the European Union’s strong commitment to the transatlantic partnership and its recognition of the United States as the most secure and innovative destination for foreign investment.

    7. ​The European Union plans to substantially increase procurement of military and defense equipment from the United States, with the support and facilitation of the U.S. government.  This commitment reflects a shared strategic priority to deepen transatlantic defense industrial cooperation, strengthen NATO interoperability, and ensure that European allies are equipped with the most advanced and reliable defense technologies available.

    8. ​The United States and the European Union commit to work together to reduce or eliminate non-tariff barriers. With respect to automobiles, the United States and the European Union intend to accept and provide mutual recognition to each other’s standards. Cooperation on standards plays a crucial role in enhancing the transatlantic marketplace. The European Union and United States commit to enhance opportunities for technical cooperation between EU- and U.S.-domiciled standards development organizations with the objective of identifying and developing standards for the transatlantic marketplace in key sectors of mutual interest.  The United States and the European Union commit to facilitate conformity assessments to cover additional industrial sectors.

    9. ​Recognizing the importance of continued engagement to resolve longstanding concerns, the European Union and the United States commit to work together to address non-tariff barriers affecting trade in food and agricultural products, including streamlining requirements for sanitary certificates for pork and dairy products.

    10. ​Recognizing that production of the relevant commodities within the territory of the United States poses negligible risk to global deforestation, the European Union commits to work to address the concerns of U.S. producers and exporters regarding the EU Deforestation Regulation, with a view to avoiding undue impact on U.S.-EU trade.

    11. ​Taking note of the U.S. concerns related to treatment of U.S. small and medium-sized businesses under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the European Commission, in addition to the recently agreed increase of the de minimis exception, commits to work to provide additional flexibilities in the CBAM implementation.

    12. ​The European Union commits to undertake efforts to ensure that the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) do not pose undue restrictions on transatlantic trade.  In the context of CSDDD, this includes undertaking efforts to reduce administrative burden on businesses, including small- and medium-sized enterprises, and to propose changes to the requirement for a harmonized civil liability regime for due diligence failures and to climate-transition-related obligations.  The European Union commits to work to address U.S. concerns regarding the imposition of CSDDD requirements on companies of non-EU countries with relevant high-quality regulations.

    13. ​The European Union reaffirms that U.S. conformity assessment bodies can be designated as Notified Bodies in accordance with the Sectoral Annex for Telecommunications Equipment to the Agreement on Mutual Recognition Between the European Community and the United States (1998) to carry out the tasks in relation to all essential requirements, including cybersecurity, in the Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU.  In addition, the United States and the European Union will commit to negotiate a mutual recognition agreement on cybersecurity.

    14.​ The European Union and the United States commit to strengthen cooperation and action related to the imposition of export restrictions on critical mineral and other similar resources by third countries.

    15. ​The United States and the European Union commit to discuss high-standard commitments related to intellectual property rights protection and enforcement.

    16. ​The European Union and the United States commit to work together to ensure strong protection of internationally recognized labor rights, including with regard to the elimination of forced labor in supply chains.

    17.​ The United States and the European Union commit to address unjustified digital trade barriers. In that respect, The European Union confirms that it will not adopt or maintain network usage fees. The United States and the European Union will not impose customs duties on electronic transmissions. The United States and the European Union intend to continue to support the multilateral moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions at the World Trade Organization and seek the adoption of a permanent multilateral commitment.

    18.​ The European Union intends to consult with the United States and U.S. traders on digitalization of trade procedures and implementation of the legislation currently proposed on EU Customs Reform.

    19. ​The United States and the European Union agree to strengthen economic security alignment to enhance supply chain resilience and innovation by taking complementary actions to address non-market policies of third parties as well as cooperating on inbound and outbound investment reviews and export controls, as well as duty evasion. This includes addressing non-market practices, unfair competition, and lack of reciprocity in public procurement with respect to third countries. The United States and the European Union will cooperate on further implementation measures. ​

    The United States and the European Union, in line with their relevant internal procedures, will promptly document the Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade to implement this Framework Agreement.

    The White House

    August 21, 2025

    Sources: White House , Midtown Tribune

    Midtown Tribune Independent USA new from New York

  • White House. Presidential Message on National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week

    White House. Presidential Message on National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week

    Since before the birth of our Republic, the National Guard and Reserve have stood as our first line of defense against forces of tyranny, invasion, and violence.  From their origins in colonial militias to their service fighting for our interests abroad and cleaning up the streets of our crime-ridden cities, our courageous Guardsmen and Reservists have been indispensable to the survival of our way of life.  This National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week, we pay tribute to every employer who hires and supports these citizen Service members—and we offer our thanks for their steadfast commitment to keeping America safe, strong, sovereign, and free.

    At a moment’s notice, the brave men and women of the National Guard and Reserve—who comprise nearly half of our fighting force—bring unparalleled expertise, combat capabilities, and technical prowess to their mission.  Since I took office in January, members of the National Guard have played a crucial role in restoring integrity to our southern border, reasserting the rule of law in our Nation’s most violent cities, and returning order to our communities and our public square.  Thanks in part to their tremendous efforts, our Nation is now safer than ever before.

    Even in the throes of battle or extraordinary mayhem and violence, the warriors of the National Guard and Reserve do not flinch.  With incredible valor and professionalism, they defend our citizens, guard our freedom, and enforce our laws—made possible by the businesses and organizations in the private sector that employ them and empower them to accomplish their mission.  Their support enables these Service members to respond to unpredictable threats at home and abroad with the assurance that their jobs will still be there when their mission is complete.

    The flexibility and understanding of these employers—often despite sacrificing their own bottom line—is a testament to their integrity, patriotism, and unwavering commitment to defending our homeland.  They employ our Service members in the face of unpredictable schedules, last-minute missions, and uncertain futures not because they have to, but because they have faith in their unrivaled tenacity and unmatched military discipline.  These employers know that our citizen Service members are among the best, brightest, and toughest employees in our Nation.  They represent the very best of the American spirit, and we are grateful to every employer who makes their work possible.

    The First Lady joins me in honoring the members of the National Guard and Reserve, as well as their resilient loved ones who share the burdens and blessings of service.  This week, we offer our heartfelt gratitude to the extraordinary employers of our Reserve force for their valiant work on behalf of our liberty, safety, and peace.

    The White House

    August 19, 2025

    Sources: White House , Midtown Tribune

    Midtown Tribune Independent USA new from New York

  • President Trump’s Historic Peace Summit Marks Turning Point in Ukraine War

    President Trump’s Historic Peace Summit Marks Turning Point in Ukraine War

    Summary: President Donald J. Trump’s peace summit at the White House on August 19, 2025, is being hailed globally as a game-changing step toward ending the war in Ukraine. Bringing together Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and key European leaders, the summit is praised as a historic breakthrough that restored American leadership on the world stage and opened a credible path to lasting peace. From NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to lawmakers across the U.S., experts and officials alike credited Trump’s firm diplomacy and strategic vision for breaking years of deadlock, uniting allies, and pressuring Vladimir Putin into meaningful negotiations. Many now believe this bold move could soon lead to a definitive peace deal that stops the bloodshed and secures stability in Europe.

    President Trump’s Peace Summit Hailed as a Game-Changer

    President Donald J. Trump’s groundbreaking peace summit at the White House yesterday is being celebrated by world leaders, national security experts, lawmakers, and others as a monumental stride toward resolving the longstanding war in Ukraine. The summit, which brought together Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and key European allies, marked another transformative moment in the pursuit of peace.

    Here’s what they’re saying:

    NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte: “Without President Trump, this deadlock with Putin would not have been broken. He is the only one who could do this.”

    Gen. Jack Keane (ret.): “You can’t overstate the significance of what we all witnessed and to describe it, as you have and others, as ‘historic’ certainly is factual… What we saw there is the undisputed global leader sitting down with the prominent leaders in Europe and President Zelensky to discuss a pathway forward for peace — and it is stunning.”

    Former Special Envoy Nathan Sales: “Peace is closer today than it was yesterday. President Trump didn’t capitulate; he stood firm. Even Zelenskyy says this was the best meeting he’s had with Trump. That’s the path to a durable peace.”

    Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul: “That was a very positive meeting and whoever had the idea to bring all these European leaders together in addition to President Zelenskyy — that was a brilliant, brilliant idea. And having it come so quickly after Alaska was very important… This is very positive progress.”

    Former U.S. Ambassador to Poland Daniel Fried: “A deal to end Russia’s war against Ukraine could emerge.”

    Former National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien, Jr.: “Let’s be clear — it’s Donald Trump who’s cleaning up the Biden mess.”

    Atlantic Council President and CEO Frederick Kempe: “It’s going to be very difficult … but what’s different in the last two weeks is we now have an opening we didn’t have before to at least start working in that very, very difficult direction.”

    Lexington Institute VP for Defense Rebecca Grant: “This is the 100% restoration of American leadership, with NATO and our European allies now united with us in a way that we’ve never seen before… Trump has really done a great job… Masterful leadership.”

    Batya Ungar-Sargon: “It’s truly amazing to see the unity between Trump, Zelensky, and the European leaders. There is finally a consensus developing around how this horrific war ends. It’s clear now Putin agreeing to security guarantees in Alaska was a huge breakthrough, and territorial swaps are now on the table from the Ukrainian side. You won’t hear this in the mainstream legacy media who would rather lie than give Trump any credit, but make no mistake about it: This is Trump’s win. ‘The path is open. You opened it,’ as Germany’s Chancellor Merz put it.”

    Lex Fridman: “What a great day and meeting between Trump & Zelenskyy. I pray for peace soon”

    Larry Kudlow: “If anybody can get a peace deal and end the Russian war on Ukraine, as I’ve said before, it’s President Trump. And, right now, he’s moving at warp speed. Bypassing a cease-fire and moving straight to a peace deal, it appears that he has already got a NATO-like security guarantee agreement from President Vladimir Putin.”

    Harold Ford, Jr.: “I give President Trump tremendous credit for where we are.”

    Newsmax’s Ed Henry: “This President today actually did the work to move us closer to a peace deal… This is Diplomacy 101.”

    ACT for America Founder and Chairman Brigitte Gabriel: “President Trump’s pursuit of peace for two countries he does not live in is inspiring. This war was started by Putin and allowed by Joe Biden, but President Trump is the one who is taking all the arrows to end it. The most selfless leader our nation has ever had.”

    Secretary of State Marco Rubio: “The whole thing was a big moment — unprecedented… After three years of deadlock and no talks and no change in circumstances, this is the first time where there seems to be some movement.”

    Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent: “It was an incredible group to have in the White House, all led by President Trump. The culmination of that was a call with President Putin — and my strong belief is that there will be a bilateral meeting between President Putin and President Zelenskyy. That’s the only way to end this conflict is to get the two sides talking.”

    Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth: “What an honor it was to watch Our President forge the peace process today. No other leader on Planet Earth could do what he did in Alaska, today at the White House, or in the future. President Trump is a tough & relentless peacemaker — the world owes him a debt of gratitude.”

    U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker: “We have a World War I-style land war right now on the European continent. Nobody thought this would ever happen, but here it is — and President Trump, thankfully, was elected last November and has brought us to a position of getting a peace deal where we are possibly a couple meetings away from having the killing end.”

    Speaker Mike Johnson: “Don’t believe the Fake News – President Trump is the PEACE PRESIDENT. His leadership is making our enemies FEAR us, our allies TRUST us, and the world is SAFER and more stable because of it. This is the leadership Americans voted for!”

    Senate Majority Leader John Thune: “President Trump should be commended for his dogged determination to bring peace to Ukraine and for his courage to engage with all parties in a way his predecessor refused to do. As peace talks continue today in Washington, the U.S. Senate stands ready to provide President Trump any economic leverage needed to keep Russia at the table to negotiate a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.”

    Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso: “We’re seeing America’s strength and leadership under President Trump. The killing needs to stop. A longstanding, verifiable peace between Ukraine and Russia is going to be good for Ukraine, Russia, Europe, and the United States.”

    Senate Republican Conference Chair Tom Cotton: “Unlike his predecessor, President Trump has demonstrated peace through strength on the world stage.”

    Sen. Marsha Blackburn: “President Trump has not wavered in his pursuit of peace through strength on the world stage. He is willing to do what Joe Biden never could.”

    Sen. Katie Britt: “President Trump is the President of Peace and the Dealmaker in Chief. History needs his strong leadership on the world stage in this pivotal moment.”

    Sen. Ted Cruz: “We’re seeing the prospect of peace because Donald Trump is a strong commander-in-chief. Putin and our enemies are afraid of him. That’s a good thing.”

    Sen. Deb Fischer: “I am encouraged that Russia remains at the negotiating table as President Trump continues peace talks to end the war in Ukraine, and I commend the president for convening European leaders in Washington to secure lasting peace in Europe. This is what’s possible when America leads with strength.”

    Sen. Lindsey Graham: “Well done, Mr. President. A significant step forward today. Thank you for meeting with President Zelensky and our European allies. You’re right to want to end this bloodbath honorably and justly. It is in America’s interest to make sure this war never restarts again. There appears to be light at the end of the tunnel after all these years of fighting, brutality and heartache. President @realDonaldTrump is the right man at the right time to end this bloodbath.”

    Sen. James Lankford: “President Trump has made it clear that ending this three and a half year war is a top priority. After meeting directly with Russia, he is now bringing together European leaders and Ukraine to chart the path toward a meaningful and lasting peace.”

    Sen. Bernie Moreno: “President Trump delivering a master class in leadership, showcasing American strength in a way Joe Biden could never have imagined possible.”

    Sen. Tommy Tuberville: “Thank goodness we got President Trump that’s speaking for us. He’s a leader… Putin respects President Trump, and that’s the key card to play in this game… This is right up his [Trump’s] alley, Larry. He loves to negotiate. He’s a peacemaker. I mean, he’s already stopped, what, five, six, seven wars that have been fighting all over the world the last 10, 15 years.”

    House Majority Whip Tom Emmer: “President Trump is the president of PEACE.”

    Rep. Michael Baumgartner: “Every American should appreciate President Trump’s determination to help bring an end to the fighting in Ukraine. President Trump certainly assembled an impressive group of western leaders for this meeting.”

    Rep. Andy Biggs: “President Trump is the President of Peace! Nations around the world see that real leadership is back in the Oval Office.”

    Rep. Tim Burchett: “Nothing President Trump does is by accident, it’s all a part of his plan. I trust @realDonaldTrump to achieve peace in Ukraine, just like he’s done all across the globe.”

    Rep. Buddy Carter: “No one could’ve gotten these two men to the point that they are now than Donald J. Trump. He is the chief negotiator. He has done more to negotiate peace in the last eight months than anyone in the history of the world.”

    Rep. Mike Carey: “@POTUS is committed to ending wars, and his record shows it. I was glad to see him assemble our allies in Washington to find a diplomatic plan for peace in Ukraine.”

    Rep. Andrew Clyde: “President Trump is the PEACE President.”

    Rep. Pat Fallon: “Peace through strength!”

    Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick: “I commend and thank President Trump for today’s critical meeting with President Zelenskyy and our European allies. This is peace through strength: American resolve matched with allied unity, securing a safer and freer world for generations to come. There is more work ahead, but I am confident the United States, Ukraine, and our allies will rise to this moment—and together, deliver the triumph of a just and lasting peace.”

    Rep. Lance Gooden: “The mainstream media is more outraged by President Trump working to deliver peace in Ukraine than by Joe Biden allowing Russia to invade Ukraine in the first place.”

    Rep. Brett Guthrie: “@POTUS has proven that strong American leadership on the world stage is essential to obtaining peace and deterring conflict. Excited by the progress made yesterday at the White House to finally bring an end to the war in Ukraine.”

    Rep. Mike Haridopolos: “President Trump is the PEACE President. The Russians, Ukrainians, and Europeans came to the table on OUR terms to bring a conclusive END to this destructive war. This is what happens when countries respect American leadership.”

    Rep. Mark Harris: “Obama and Biden did a terrible job handling Putin, which is why we are in the mess we are in today. We need peace – and President Trump is the man finally bringing everyone to the table!”

    Rep. Kevin Hern: “Let’s be clear: there’s only one leader in the world that has any chance of bringing Ukraine and Russia together to end this war, and that’s President Trump.”

    Rep. Richard Hudson: “Thank you President Trump. For the first time in four years, we are seeing real progress toward peace in Ukraine. You are demonstrating that peace through strength, coupled with the art of the deal, can halt the bloodshed and move the world closer to a lasting peace.”

    Rep. Wesley Hunt: “President Trump is the peace President. He is determined to stop the killing and save lives. He is our negotiator-in-chief and will not stop until there is a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.”

    Rep. Brad Knott: “President Trump has consistently pursued peace. From a position of strength, he has placed immense pressure on Russia and has positioned us well to hopefully secure durable peace in Ukraine.”

    Rep. Anna Paulina Luna: “I am praying for POTUS and the other leaders to come to an agreement on Peace. That is what the world needs.”

    Rep. Michael McCaul: “President Biden’s weakness on the global stage led to a world on fire, and President Trump is working tirelessly to extinguish the flames. I was proud to see him welcome so many European leaders and allies to the White House to chart a peaceful path forward that includes security guarantees for Ukraine. If anyone can secure lasting peace in Europe, it’s President Trump — as he’s already proven by brokering peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Rwanda and the DRC, and others. His strength and resolve have no doubt brought Putin to the table, and Congress stands ready to use economic tools at our disposal to continue putting leverage on Putin to negotiate in good faith. I will continue to support this administration’s historic commitment to peace through strength and look forward to seeing the progress that follows.”

    Rep. Barry Moore: “President Trump is doing more for peace across the globe in his first few months than prior administrations did throughout their whole term!”

    Rep. Andy Ogles: “Trump is not a warmonger—he’s a peacemaker. The world has fewer wars because of Donald Trump’s leadership.”

    Rep. Keith Self: “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.”

    Rep. Claudia Tenney: “President Trump brought Zelensky and European leaders to the table to secure Ukraine. He knows Putin cannot be trusted, and by isolating him economically and rallying world leaders, Trump is forcing him into negotiations. This is historic leadership.”

    The White House

    August 19, 2025

    Sources: White House , Midtown Tribune USA News

    Midtown Tribune Independent USA new from New York

  • White House.Congressional Bill H.R. 1316 Signed into Law

    White House.Congressional Bill H.R. 1316 Signed into Law

    On August 19, 2025, the President signed into law H.R. 1316, known as the “Maintaining American Superiority by Improving Export Control Transparency Act.” This law amends the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to require the Secretary of Commerce to provide annual reports to Congress on applications for dual-use export licenses.

    White House News -Bill H R 1316 USA News Midtown Tribune New York

    The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is now mandated to report annually to Congress on license applications, enforcement actions, and authorizations related to the export, reexport, release, and in-country transfer of items subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). These items include dual-use goods, which have both civilian and military applications.

    The law specifically requires the report to cover entities operating in countries under U.S. arms embargoes (Country Group D:5) that are listed on BIS’s Entity List or Military End-User List. The reports must include details such as the name of the applying entity, export destinations, decisions on license applications, and information on related enforcement activities. Except for aggregate statistics, this information is exempt from public disclosure to protect sensitive details.

    This legislation aims to increase transparency and congressional oversight regarding export controls on sensitive technologies to maintain American technological and strategic superiority.

    Congressional Bill H.R. 1316 Signed into Law

    On Tuesday, August 19, 2025, the President signed into law:

    H.R. 1316, the “Maintaining American Superiority by Improving Export Control Transparency Act”, which amends the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to require the Secretary of Commerce to report annually to Congress on applications for dual-use export licenses.

    The White House

    August 19, 2025

    SOURCES: WHITE HOUSE , Midtown Tribune USA News

    Midtown Tribune Independent USA new from New York