内容摘要：Though Sesame Workshop receives only a small amount of government funding, Perez urged viewers to support public media, especially following President Donald Trump’s

Though Sesame Workshop receives only a small amount of government funding, Perez urged viewers to support public media, especially following President Donald Trump’s

and often find it difficult to find consensus without Trump’s involvement.Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.,

his job to Trump and has kept in constant contact with him during the negotiations, including during his overseas trip this week.“He’s excited about our forward progress,” Johnson said. “You know, I keep him apprised of the developments, and he’s had a busy time over there in the Middle East, and it’s been good — he’s in good spirits and we’re in good spirits.”The Republican bill runs a

and includes more than $5 trillion in tax cuts, costs that are partially offset by spending cuts elsewhere and other changes in the tax code. The legislation would make permanent the tax cuts from Trump’swhile reducing funding for programs involving food assistance, college financing and environmental protection.

As talks over the bill have progressed, divisions have emerged among Republicans, particularly between fiscal hawks most concerned about federal deficits and others more focused on the impact of cuts back home.

That’s where Trump usually comes in, playing the “closer” who turns no votes to yes.Associated Press writer Almudena Calatrava contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged Wednesday and signaled that it still expects to cut rates twice this year even as it seesstaying stubbornly elevated.

The Fed also now expects the economy to grow more slowly this year and next than it did three months ago, according to a set of quarterly economic projections also released Wednesday. It forecasts growth falling to just 1.7% in 2025, down from 2.8% last year, and 1.8% in 2026. Policymakers also expect inflation will pick up slightly, to 2.7% by the end of this year from its current level of 2.5%. Both are above the central bank’s 2% target.Even though the Fed maintained its forecast for two cuts, economists noted that under the surface there were signs that the central bank could stay on hold for some time. That is likely to keep borrowing costs for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards unchanged in the coming months.