Wednesday morning news - May 21, 2025

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Golden dome missile defense » President Trump has announced a proposal for a new Golden Dome missile defense program — a multilayered system that for the first time will put U.S. weapons in space.

TRUMP:  Once fully constructed, the Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world, and even if they're launched from space.

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said the system would cost $175 billion. He expects it will be “fully operational before the end of [his] term.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters:

HEGSETH:  The Golden Dome for America is game changer. It's a generational investment in the security of America and Americans.

The Air Force secretary told senators Tuesday that Golden Dome overall is “still in the conceptual stage.”

Critics of the plan question the effectiveness of such a system, and say the price tag could be a half-trillion dollars over 20 years.

Trump meeting with GOP on big bill » President Trump has requested a $25-billion-dollar down payment for the Golden Dome be included in what he calls his ‘big beautiful bill.’ That would be one bill to address his top priorities, including tax cuts, and border control and national security.

On Capitol Hill today, President Trump huddled with House Republicans about that legislation working to convince some holdouts. He later told reporters:

TRUMP: There was no shouting... I think it was a meeting of love.

And he pushed back on a report that he said he was losing patience with Republican lawmakers.

TRUMP:  I never used the term. I didn't say losing. I didn't even talk about it. In fact, it's the opposite. I think we're gonna get it done. I'm not losing patients. We're ahead of schedule. Anybody that told you that is a liar.

Speaker Mike Johnson also said the mood was overwhelmingly positive.

JOHNSON: We are on the verge

The bill could go to a vote on the House floor as early as this week but will have to first advance through the House Rules Committee.

Some GOP members insist on steeper cuts to federal programs to offset the cost of trillions of dollars in lost tax revenue.

Democrats have criticized proposed Republican-led cuts to Medicaid. The president insists the only thing cut from Medicaid would be waste and abuse.

Pressure on Israel over Gaza war » Several Western governments are ramping up pressure on Israel over its handling of its war against the Hamas terror group.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy says his government is halting free trade negotiations with Israel and hitting Israeli settlers in the West Bank with new sanctions.

LAMMY: We are unwavering in our commitment to your security and to your future, to countering the very real threat from Iran, the scourge of terrorism and the evils of anti-Semitism.

But he said the conduct of the war is damaging the UK’s relationship with the Israeli government.

But Israel's minister of economy and industry Nir Barkat said the UK is pointing its finger in the wrong direction.

BARKAT: The world should put pressure on Hamas. Because the minute they drop their weapons and bring our hostages, the war is over.

He added that the war against terrorism is not just Israel's fight.

Kellogg on Ukraine peace talks at Vatican » Special Envoy to Russia and Ukraine, retired General Keith Kellogg is weighing in on the Vatican’s suggestion that it could host peace talks between Russia and Ukraine

KELLOGG:  The Vatican has had a history of this, and I think we're gonna end up doing it, and I think it'll be good.

President Trump this week talked with Russia’s Vladimir Putin in a two-plus hour phone call aimed at convincing Putin to re-engage in peace talks. Trump said the call went very well, and he believes Putin and Russia are prepared to move forward with negotiations.

Kellogg added:

KELLOGG:  I think he's gonna be reasonable about it. I, I hope he does. I think there's a glimmer of hope, and I think one thing about President Trump, he says, let's try to go the last mile to get there.

Ukrainian negotiators held peace talks with Russian officials in Turkey last week. No peace deal was reached, but the two sides reached agreement on a prisoner swap.

Rubio hearing » Secretary of State Marco Rubio shared a few fiery exchanges with his former Senate colleagues Tuesday as he testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine sparred with Rubio about the Trump administration’s decision to expedite the approval of refugee status for roughly 60 white South African farmers, citing concerns over racial discrimination and violence in South Africa.

KAINE: So if you have a different standard based on the color of somebody’s skin, would that be acceptable?
RUBIO: Well, I’m not the one arguing that. Apparently you are because [SIC] the fact that they’re white and that’s why …
KAINE: No, I’m just asking you to say that that would be unacceptable. It would seem to be a very easy thing to say!
RUBIO: I would say that the United States has a right to pick and choose who they allow into the United States.
KAINE: Even based on the color of somebody’s skin.
RUBIO: No one’s—You’re the one who’s talking about the color of their skin, not me.
KAINE: You’re refusing to acknowledge [SIC] evenhanded.
RUBIO: Farms were beng burned down. They were killed because of the color of their skin.

The Trump administration says white farmers in South Africa were victims of a "genocide" and faced threats of land expropriation without compensation.

Critics of the move accuse the administration of showing racial favoritism. And some claim that attacks on South African farmers have been primarily driven by criminal motives rather than racial targeting.

George Wendt obit » Actor George Wendt has died. He was best known for his portrayal of the affable barfly Norm Peterson on the hit 1980s TV comedy “Cheers.”

AUDIO: Good afternoon, everybody. Norm!

He earned six straight Emmy Award nominations for best supporting actor in a comedy series from 1984-89.

Wendt enjoyed a long TV career and later built a stage career that took him to Broadway.

Wendt's family said he died early Tuesday, peacefully in his sleep while at home. He was 76 years old.

I'm Kent Covington.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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