NEWS

Donald Trump’s newly installed leadership team at the Republican National Committee on Monday began the process of pushing out dozens of officials, according to two people close to the Trump campaign and the RNC.

All told, the expectation is that more than 60 RNC staffers who work across the political, communications and data departments will be let go. Those being asked to resign include five members of the senior staff, though the names were not made public. Additionally, some vendor contracts are expected to be cut.

In a letter to some political and data staff, Sean Cairncross, the RNC’s new chief operating officer, said that the new committee leadership was “in the process of evaluating the organization and staff to ensure the building is aligned” with its vision. “During this process, certain staff are being asked to resign and reapply for a position on the team.”

The overhaul is aimed at cutting, what one of the people described as, “bureaucracy” at the RNC. But the move also underscores the swiftness with which Trump’s operation is moving to take over the Republican Party’s operations after the former president all but clinched the party’s presidential nomination last week.

Trump’s campaign took over operational control of the RNC on Monday. On Friday, former North Carolina GOP Chair Michael Whatley was elected the RNC’s new chair, and Trump daughter-in-law Lara Trump was elected as co-chair. Both had Trump’s endorsement. Additionally, Trump senior campaign adviser Chris LaCivita was named as the RNC’s new chief of staff.

The discovery of a bus-sized concrete block washing ashore in Long Beach has raised concerns and captured the attention of local residents. The debris, measuring more than 6 feet high and 30 feet long, was found on Junipero Beach weeks after storms hit the area.

Jacqueline Lopez, a witness to the debris, expressed her surprise, stating that she couldn’t initially discern what the object was due to its size and unfamiliarity. The concrete slab has been relocated next to the Long Beach Marine Department maintenance yard near Belmont Pier, a week after it initially washed ashore.

Authorities in Long Beach have identified the origin of the debris, linking it to the Hotel Maya. They believe the concrete block was part of a dry dock that broke off during a storm on February 1st. The incident highlights the impact of severe weather conditions on coastal structures and infrastructure, prompting local crews to respond and assess the situation.

Residents and officials will likely monitor the cleanup efforts and investigate measures to prevent similar incidents in the future, emphasizing the importance of resilient coastal infrastructure and environmental conservation.

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday released a budget proposal aimed at getting voters’ attention: It would offer tax breaks for families, lower health care costs, smaller deficits and higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations.

Unlikely to pass the House and Senate to become law, the proposal for fiscal 2025 is an election year blueprint about what the future could hold if Biden and enough of his fellow Democrats win in November. The president and his aides previewed parts of his budget going into last week’s State of the Union address, and they provided the fine print on Monday.

If the Biden budget became law, deficits could be pruned $3 trillion over a decade. It would raise tax revenues by a total of $4.9 trillion over that period and use roughly $1.9 trillion to fund various programs, with the rest going to deficit reduction.

The president traveled Monday to Manchester, New Hampshire, where he called on Congress to apply his $2,000 cap on drug costs and $35 insulin to everyone, not just people who have Medicare. He also advocated for making permanent some protections in the Affordable Care Act that are set to expire next year.

“I’m here in New Hampshire to talk about the budget I released today that would, I think, help in a big way,” Biden said.