Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent argued on Friday that the country’s massive debt can be controlled by growing the U.S. economy. Bessent addressed concerns over President Donald Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” adding to the national deficit during a segment with Fox News host Bill Hemmer. A Congressional Budget Office report released earlier this week said the Republican bill passed by the House on early Thursday morning will add $3.8 trillion to the deficit over the next decade. The national debt is rapidly approaching $37 trillion as the federal deficit currently sits at over $2 trillion. “We think that we can both grow the economy and control the debt,” Bessent said. “And what’s important, Bill, is that the economy grows faster than the debt.” He added that Americans should focus on the debt-to-GDP ratio “because we can grow our way out of this.” In December, U.S. debt accounted for 124% of the nation’s nominal GDP, which was down from the all-time high of 130.4% in March of 2021. “If we change the growth trajectory of the country, of the economy, then we will stabilize our finances and grow our way out of this,” Bessent continued. .@SecScottBessent: "What's important is that the economy grows faster than the debt… If we change the growth trajectory of the country, of the economy, then we will stabilize our finances and grow our way out of this." pic.twitter.com/aplXNS5mLP — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 23, 2025 The approach touted by Bessent focuses on reducing taxes, a major part of Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill.” The idea is that lower taxes and deregulation will create a thriving economy and boost manufacturing, sales, and consumer spending, which will in turn increase tax revenue without raising taxes. Last year, however, the Congressional Budget Office projected that the deficit would continue to outpace economic growth over the next 30 years. Memorial Day Sale – Get 40% Off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships “The deficit increases significantly in relation to gross domestic product (GDP) over the next 30 years, reaching 8.5 percent of GDP in 2054,” the office stated. “That growth results from rising interest costs and large and sustained primary deficits, which exclude net outlays for interest.” During the 2024 campaign, Bessent said that his goal is to “cut the deficit to 3% by 2028; achieve 3% real economic growth, largely through deregulation; and then add 3 million new barrels of energy per day.” He told Bloomberg that Trump is concerned about addressing the national debt and wants to get it under control “without causing a recession.” Some conservative Republicans raised concerns about Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” not doing enough to cut back on government spending. Two House Republicans, Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Warren Davidson of Ohio, voted against the legislation, citing the federal deficit. “While I love many things in the bill, promising someone else will cut spending in the future does not cut spending. Deficits do matter and this bill grows them now. The only Congress we can control is the one we’re in. Consequently, I cannot support this big deficit plan. NO,” Davidson said on Thursday. The White House called the two GOP congressmen “grandstanders.” “I don’t think he likes to see grandstanders in Congress,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said of Trump’s thoughts on Massie and Davidson. “What’s the alternative? I would ask those members of Congress. Did they want to see a tax hike? Did they want to see our country go bankrupt? That’s the alternative by them trying to vote ‘no.’ The president believes the Republican Party needs to be unified.” In the Senate, the bill faces more hurdles as multiple Republicans have raised concerns on numerous topics. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) said he will vote against the bill unless they “take the debt ceiling off of it.” “We’ve never, ever voted to raise the debt ceiling this much. It’ll be a historic increase. I think it’s not good for conservatives to be on record supporting a $4 [trillion] or $5 trillion increase in the debt ceiling,” Paul said.

Outkick founder Clay Travis, 46, who has been fed up with WNBA star Angel Reese for a while, offered her an open challenge, saying that if she faced off against him one-on-one and beat him, she could earn $100,000, which Travis stated was more than she makes in an entire season. “Angel Reese signed a 4 year, $324,383 contract with the Chicago Sky, including an average annual salary of $81,096. In 2025, Reese will earn a base salary of $74,909, while carrying a cap hit of $74,909,” spotrac reported. Memorial Day Sale – Get 40% Off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships Reese has been at odds with WNBA star Caitlyn Clark for a long time. Recently, an imbroglio occurred when Reese shoved Clark’s teammate in the back for a rebound. After Clark pointed out the shove to an official who did nothing, she grabbed Reese by the arm as she attempted a layup. Reese later reposted a TikTok video of an X post mocking Clark as a “white gyal running away from the fade.” This Angel Reese-Caitlin Clark “controversy” is insane. Watch the play, Reese clearly fouls the other chick — pushing her in the back with both hands — to get the rebound. Clark points to it and then when the call isn’t made, fouls to stop the open layup. pic.twitter.com/M3cpk1Qap0 — Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) May 19, 2025 The reposted video remains up on Angel Reese's TikTok. I'm sure she'll eventually take it down, but screenshots are forever. The racism in the WNBA towards Clark is appalling and disgusting. pic.twitter.com/V9EJ0FdsMN — David Hookstead (@dhookstead) May 20, 2025 Meanwhile, Clark has spoken respectfully of Reese. In a TIME bio of her from last year, Clark said of Reese, “We’re not best friends, by any means, but we’re very respectful of one another. Yes, we have had tremendous battles. But when have I ever guarded her? And when has she guarded me?” Caitlin Clark on Angel Reese: “We’re not best friends, by any means, but we’re very respectful of one another. Yes, we have had tremendous battles. But when have I ever guarded her? And when has she guarded me?” https://t.co/wu5Ex8LvIn — TIME (@TIME) December 10, 2024 “Hey @Reese10Angel me vs you half court to 15 by 1’s and 2’s. $100k to the winner, more than you make in an entire WNBA season. Rebounds taken back to three point line. We put the game on pay per view and raise millions for charity of winner’s choice. You in?” Travis posted on X. Hey @Reese10Angel me vs you half court to 15 by 1’s and 2’s. $100k to the winner, more than you make in an entire WNBA season. Rebounds taken back to three point line. We put the game on pay per view and raise millions for charity of winner’s choice. You in? — Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) May 23, 2025 “My 8th grade son’s team says they will train me. I got this,” he added. My 8th grade son’s team says they will train me. I got this. — Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) May 23, 2025 Travis estimated his odds of beating Reese, writing on X: “I am 6 foot 185, Angel Reese is listed at 6’3” 165. She plays basketball all the time. I occasionally play my 14 year old in our backyard. (And wreck him.) He’s a middle school basketball player. I legit think I could beat her if I didn’t get an old man injury in the game. There’s a 38% chance I get injured. The other 62% of our games to 15 I win. No best two out of three, I only have the tendons and ankles for one game to 15.” There’s a 38% chance I get injured. The other 62% of our games to 15 I win. No best two out of three, I only have the tendons and ankles for one game to 15. — Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) May 23, 2025 He also belittled Reese’s skills: “Angel Reese has middle school boy’s basketball level offensive skill. The fact that anyone gets paid for this is crazy to me. …Can you imagine buying tickets for this? You should get paid to go. … I can’t stop watching this. The announcer may be the best part. She’s selling this play sequence like Angel is Olajuwon in his prime.” Angel Reese has middle school boy’s basketball level offensive skill. The fact that anyone gets paid for this is crazy to me: pic.twitter.com/GaSRIX0vmz — Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) May 23, 2025 I can’t stop watching this. The announcer may be the best part. She’s selling this play sequence like Angel is Olajuwon in his prime. — Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) May 23, 2025

A new leak has rocked Washington’s intelligence community — and it centers on Joe Kent, President Trump’s nominee for the nation’s top counterterrorism post. Leaked emails show Kent pushed intel officers to rewrite reports on a violent Venezuelan gang, igniting a fierce debate over political influence in national security. Kent Urged Alteration of Reports on Venezuelan Gang Ties Joe Kent, a former Green Beret and Tulsi Gabbard’s chief of staff, is under fire after leaked communications revealed he pressured U.S. intelligence officials to modify assessments about the Tren de Aragua (TDA) gang. The intent, according to the emails, was to align findings with Trump’s hardline immigration stance. “We need to do some rewriting so this document is not used against the DNI or POTUS,” Kent wrote in a now-public email. The February 26 intelligence assessment contradicted the Trump administration’s claims that the Maduro regime in Venezuela was sending TDA gang members into the U.S. Officials found no credible evidence that the regime had a policy of facilitating the gang’s migration. Kent’s emails show he pushed for revisions that would strengthen the case for using wartime powers to deport over 100 Venezuelans. Internal Clash Between Facts and Policy Despite the pressure, the final version of the intelligence memo, released publicly on May 5, concluded that the Venezuelan government “probably does not have a policy” of aiding TDA operations. That finding clashed directly with statements made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who backed the FBI’s more aggressive position over the broader intelligence community’s conclusion. OFFICIAL PUSHED TO REWRITE INTELLIGENCE SO IT COULD NOT BE 'USED AGAINST' TRUMP "We need to do some rewriting… so this document is not used against the DNI or POTUS." – Joe Kent One-sentence summary: A top aide to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard pressured… — ??? ????? (@bob_weeks) May 21, 2025 Rubio declared the assessment “wrong” and stood “100% with the FBI,” while Gabbard’s office responded by firing two top intelligence officials — a move critics are calling retaliatory and politically motivated. Kent’s Nomination Now in Question Kent, a strong Trump loyalist who previously ran for Congress, is awaiting Senate confirmation to lead the National Counterterrorism Center. But Democrats are calling for a pause in the nomination, citing serious concerns about political interference in intelligence work. One of Kent’s leaked emails made clear his priority: “Flooding our nation with ‘migrants,’ particularly those associated with a violent gang, is an act of hostility — even if the Venezuelan government isn’t directly directing TDA operations.” Did you know that the CIA has used ANTHROPOLOGISTS as undercover agents for decades? This unique field facilitated the ability to send agents into countries around the world without raising suspicion It leaves one to wonder if certain Anthropologists today are Intelligence… pic.twitter.com/Kxxvx2LlX0 — Jimmy Corsetti (@BrightInsight6) May 1, 2025 The remark underscores Kent’s push to support Trump’s America First immigration crackdown, even when the intelligence didn’t back it up. As pressure mounts in Washington, this controversy could become a defining test of how far politics is allowed to influence the intelligence community — and whether integrity still stands at the core of national security analysis. Sources: Tulsi Gabbard’s right-hand man Joe Kent under scrutiny after leaked emails surface. What is the controversy? – The Economic Times Counterterrorism nominee Joe Kent under scrutiny as emails show he pushed for edits to intelligence assessment – CBS News

A roundup of mysterious, paranormal and strange news stories from the past week.

'It's seen through'

Drone-warfare...

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'Might Be Time To Hang It Up'