Archive July 1, 2025

Why is Musk calling for a new America Party over the Big Beautiful Bill?

Billionaire Elon Musk said on Monday that he would form a new political party in the United States if a Republican-leaning Congress passes President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill”, which proposes tax breaks and funding cuts for healthcare and food programmes.

Musk has voiced criticism of the bill on multiple occasions over the past month and began suggesting the idea of the new party on social media starting early June.

Here is more about Musk’s reservations about the bill, and about his new proposed party.

What has Musk said about the America Party?

Musk has been saying that if the bill is passed, Republicans are no different from Democrats, who are often accused by conservatives of being profligate with spending taxpayers’ dollars.

The version of the bill that the Senate is discussing at the moment, if passed by both chambers of Congress, would expand the national debt by $3. 3 trillion between 2025 and 2034. The current US national debt stands at more than $36 trillion.

“If this insane spending bill passes, the America Party will be formed the next day,” Musk posted on his social media platform, X, on Monday.

“Our country needs an alternative to the Democrat-Republican uniparty so that the people actually have a VOICE. ”

In an earlier post, Musk wrote: “It is obvious with the insane spending of this bill, which increases the debt ceiling by a record FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS that we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY! ! ”

The debt ceiling, set by the US Congress, determines the upper limit to the amount of money that the US Treasury can borrow. The current debt limit is $36. 1 trillion.

Why does Musk oppose the bill?

Once a key aide and major campaign donor for Trump, Musk had a public online falling out with the president in June over his criticism of the bill.

On June 3, Musk wrote on X: “I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. ”

Musk alleged that Trump was linked to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein  in a now-deleted post on X. However, Trump and Musk seemed to have reached a detente when Trump told reporters that he wished Musk well while the latter wrote on X on June 11 that he had gone “too far” in his criticism of the US president.

However, since then, Musk has argued in a series of online posts that the bill would increase the debt ceiling, “bankrupt America”, and “destroy millions of jobs in America”.

Musk owns the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Tesla. The current version of the bill, with amendments made by the Senate, seeks to end the tax credit for purchases of EVs worth up to $7,500, starting on September 30. This could reduce the consumer demand for EVs in the US.

What is the America Party that Musk proposed?

On June 5, Musk posted a poll on his X account, asking his followers: “Is it time to create a new political party in America that actually represents the 80 percent in the middle? ”

While social media polls are known to be nonrepresentative of broader public sentiment, 5. 6 million people voted on the poll, and 80. 4 percent responded with “yes”. Since then, Musk has repeatedly reposted the poll result, citing it as evidence that most Americans want a new party to be formed.

“Musk believes that 80 percent of Americans are unhappy with the two major parties and are not being represented,” Natasha Lindstaedt, a professor at the Department of Government, the University of Essex, told Al Jazeera.

While that number might not reflect the wider American public, it does point to a trend in the electorate; according to a Gallup poll from 2024, 43 percent of Americans identified as independent, 28 percent identified as Republican and 28 percent identified as Democrat. In other words, more Americans identify as independent than as either Democrat or Republican.

One of Musk’s followers replied to a post on X with an image with the text “America Party”. The world’s richest man responded: “‘America Party’ has a nice ring to it. The party that actually represents America! ”

How real is Musk’s threat?

Experts say Musk, whose net worth is $363bn as of Monday according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, would realistically be able to fund a third party in the US. However, it is still unclear whether he would go ahead with his plan or whether his party would have a significant effect on US elections.

“Musk certainly has the financial power to back a third party that could be very disruptive to the Republican Party, but it’s not certain if Musk will take on this risk,” Lindstaedt said.

Lindstaedt recalled how earlier this month, Musk backed down from his criticism of Trump on X. “If we take him at his word, he could spend hundreds of millions on this project,” she added.

“Musk has been ramping up his criticism of the bill lately, and he may find specific legislators [particularly from the House] would be willing to defect if their constituencies are more negatively affected by Trump’s policies,” Lindstaedt said, referring to the House of Representatives. “He will also have the attention of fiscal hawks in particular. ”

Lindstaedt added that among American voters, there is a “huge appetite” for a third party.

“The bill will leave the US spending hundreds of billions just in the interest, and the more Americans understand this, the more they may want to flock to something different. US public frustration with the traditional parties is at an all-time high, and Musk may be able to capitalise on this. ”

However, Thomas Gift, an associate professor of political science in the UCL School of Public Policy in London, said it was unclear whether Musk is serious and suggested that the barriers to breaking the Republican-Democrat duopoly are hard to scale for anyone.

“This is Elon Musk bluffing,” he told Al Jazeera. “He knows as well as anyone that the power of party machines behind Democrats and Republicans is too much to surmount. ”

Gift added that while forming a party is possible, “winning seats in Congress or the White House is another matter entirely”.

“At best, a third party will have little impact on US elections; at worst, it will play ‘spoiler’, taking votes from one of the two parties and de facto giving it to another. ”

What has Trump said about Musk?

On Monday, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, saying: “Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly Endorsed me for President, that I was strongly against the EV Mandate. Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one. ”

Trump added: “Without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa. No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE. ”

Israel has killed 1,000 Palestinians in the West Bank since October 7, 2023

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has escalated its violence in the occupied West Bank, killing 1,000 Palestinians.

As the world was distracted by Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed more than 56,331 people and uprooted nearly the entire population of 2. 3 million, Israel ramped up its violent raids on the West Bank, as well as its silence as Israeli settlers attack and kill Palestinian villagers.

The most recent casualty was Samer Bassam al-Zagharneh, a young man who was shot by Israeli soldiers on July 1.

According to the Wafa Palestinian news agency, al-Zagharneh was killed near the separation barrier, which Israel began building in 2002 to divide Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank and which cuts through Palestinian communities and agricultural fields.

This is all you need to know about how we got here.

Who is attacking Palestinians in the West Bank?

Israeli forces and Israeli settlers from illegal settlements that are choking the West Bank.

Settlers launch sudden, violent raids on towns, burning property, attacking people, and trying to drive them out of their homes.

At the same time, the security forces have surrounded refugee camps and raided them relentlessly, driving yet more people from their homes and not allowing them to return.

Many settlers have also been handed semi-automatic weapons and “integrated” into Israeli forces in the West Bank, to compensate for all the personnel deployed to carry out the war on Gaza.

This has blurred the lines between the security forces and settlers, empowering the latter to escalate violence against Palestinians.

The Palestinians killed by Israel since October 7, 2023 (Al Jazeera)

Why is Israel doing this?

To displace Palestinians and annexe their land, according to residents, experts, rights groups, and observers.

In 2024, Israel confiscated more Palestinian land in the West Bank than in the previous 20 years combined, according to Peace Now, an Israeli nonprofit tracking land theft in Palestine.

Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has led the charge after assuming control of the newly established “Settlements Administration” in February 2023.

The position allows Smotrich to advance Israel’s de facto annexation of the occupied West Bank by working to extend Israeli civil law over the area, in direct contravention of international law.

Smotrich has approved new outposts – illegal not only under international law but also under Israeli law – confiscated land, and enforced “settlement and construction regulations”.

In reality, Smotrich is relying on the occupation and settler violence to uproot Palestinians so that he can extend and approve new illegal Israeli settlements, Al Jazeera previously reported.

Is violence escalating?

Every day.

Israeli forces killed 70 Palestinians in the West Bank in the first month of 2025. Over the last two months, they have killed 34 people, according to the Shireen Monitor, a local observatory named after the murdered Palestinian Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.

Many of the casualties were the result of Israel’s ongoing raids.

Israel says the raids are to root out Palestinian armed groups, which sprang up in 2021 to resist Israel’s worsening violence and entrenching occupation, in refugee camps across the West Bank.

However, Israel has reportedly committed myriad human rights abuses on the ground, such as killing unarmed civilians, preventing families from burying their murdered loved ones and razing entire neighbourhoods to the ground to trigger mass displacement.

West Bank
Israeli soldiers during a raid in the heart of the Palestinian city of Nablus, in the occupied West Bank on May 27, 2025 [Jaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP]

Where is Israel attacking?

Israel is attacking the refugee camps in Jenin, Tulkarem, Nur Shams, Far’a and Nablus, generating mass displacement.

Israel has used some of the same tactics it has deployed in Gaza – such as laying complete siege to the camps and uprooting most of the inhabitants, according to Forensic Architecture, a research group that investigates and monitors human rights abuses.

Israel has also attacked medical facilities and bombed Tulkarem and Jenin camps, indiscriminately killing civilians.

What about the settler attacks?

There were about 1,800 settler attacks across the occupied West Bank between October 7, 2023, and December 16, 2024, according to data collected by Tech for Palestine, a collective of tech volunteers that monitor rights abuses and advocates for the liberation of Palestinians.

What’s more, the Israeli army reported that there were at least 414 settler attacks against Palestinians during the first half of 2025. Yet the real figure is likely higher.

Many of the attacks have taken place in Area C.

The 1993 Oslo Accords, which were signed between Israeli and Palestinian then-leaders to initiate a peace process, carved up the occupied West Bank into three zones: A, B and C.

Area A is ostensibly under the full administrative and security control of the Palestinian Authority (PA) – an entity born out of the Oslo Accords – while Area B is under the PA’s administrative governance and Israeli security.

Area C makes up more than 60 percent of the occupied West Bank and is under Israeli administrative and security control.

A Palestinian inspects the damage after an attack by Israeli settlers, in Sinjil, near Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank April 23, 2025. REUTERS/Mohammed Torokman
A Palestinian inspects the damage after an attack by Israeli settlers, in Sinjil, near Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on April 23, 2025 [Mohammed Torokman/Reuters]

Is there an end in sight?

It doesn’t look like it.

The Israeli army and settlers have stepped up attacks against Palestinians in recent days. The United Nations has warned that the army is trying to evict 12 communities in Masafer Yatta, in the southern Hebron hills in Area C.

Israel is trying to justify this expulsion as the area being a “military zone”, and, therefore, needed for military training – a pretext used to uproot Palestinians from their lands for decades.

On June 25, about 100 heavily armed Israeli settlers violently attacked Palestinians in the village of Kfar Malik, killing three people. The settlers were reportedly trying to burn homes to the ground when Palestinians came out to try and stop them.

In the neighbouring village of Taybeh, settlers burned a car to ashes, as seen in a video obtained by B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights group monitoring abuses against Palestinians.

Al Jazeera has spoken to several Palestinians who say they are bracing for more attacks.

Aftermath of an Israeli air attack on a Gaza cafe

Israeli forces killed at least 95 people in Gaza on Monday with air raids that left 39 dead at a seaside cafe and gunfire that killed Palestinians trying to get desperately needed food aid, witnesses and health officials said.

One air raid hit al-Baqa Cafe in Gaza City when it was crowded with women and children, said Ali Abu Ateila, who was inside at the time.

“Without warning, all of a sudden, a warplane hit the place, shaking it like an earthquake,” he said.

At least 39 people were killed and dozens were wounded, many critically.

Among the dead was journalist Ismail Abu Hatab, as well as women and children who had gathered at the cafe.

The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate said more than 220 journalists had been killed in Gaza since the war began in October 2023.

Firpo leaves Leeds following end of contract

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Leeds United left-back Junior Firpo has left the club following the end of his contract.

The Dominican Republic international was offered a new deal at Elland Road but is expected to re-join Real Betis on a free transfer.

Firpo moved to Leeds in 2021 for a fee in the region of £13m from Barcelona who had signed him from Betis in 2019.

The 28-year-old’s first two seasons were spent in the Premier League before they were relegated in 2022-23.

Firpo departs having helped Leeds to the Championship title last season as they secured promotion back into the top-flight.

He made 119 appearances for the club, including 35 during the 2024-25 campaign as he scored four goals and provided 10 assists.

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Oasis’ Liam Gallagher denies soundcheck vocals are his after ‘bigmouth’ remark

The Oasis Live ’25 Tour is bringing together Noel Gallagher and Liam Gallagher, who has addressed speculation over soundchecks from the Principality Stadium in Cardiff this week

Liam Gallagher has reacted to footage of an apparent soundcheck for Oasis’ first comeback gig(Image: Joseph Okpako, WireImagevia Getty Images)

Soundchecks have been heard coming from the Principality Stadium lately ahead of Oasis’ first reunion gig at the venue in Cardiff. Liam Gallagher has since addressed speculation that he’s been rehearsing there with Noel Gallagher.

The song Cigarettes and Alcohol could be heard coming from the stadium on Monday, ahead of Friday’s opening night show on the Oasis Live ’25 Tour, as reported by WalesOnline. It sparked rumours that Liam and Noel have been there together to rehearse for their first shows in more than a decade.

Liam responded to a video of the apparent soundchecks on X yesterday. He wrote: “Mmm I’m not sure about the vocals there too aggressive he really needs to take a chill pill man he’s just so angry all the time I don’t know who he thinks he is as far as I’m concerned he’s just a bigmouth from up north. “

Noel Gallagher, in a green jacket, stood beside Liam Gallagher, in a black jacket.
Noel Gallagher (left) and Liam Gallagher (right) are reuniting as part of Oasis for a world tour which launches later this week(Image: Dave Hogan/Getty Images)

When asked by a fan to seemingly “confirm or deny” if it was him rehearsing, Liam replied on the platform: “I’ve been in my pool all day doing under water farts so it’s defo a recording from rehearsals unless there’s 2 of me which I’m absolutely 1 million per cent here for well there for as well. “

Liam however could be joking with fans, so it’s possible that the Gallagher brothers are in Cardiff already after all. His comment suggests that isn’t the case though.

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Preparations at the Principality Stadium are already in full swing, highlighted by a seven-days-to-go video released last week. A comprehensive soundtrack is expected later this week.

Ahead of Oasis’ first comeback gig, the Mirror revealed just days ago that the band, which includes Liam, Noel, new drummer Joey Waronker and guitarists Andy Bell, Gem Archer and Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs, are gearing up to ensure they sound their best on the tour.

A source told us: “With a new line up and it being such a huge first show, the boys will do some songs inside the venue too. Some tours would start with a smaller show or take a week or two to get into the groove again. “

The exterior of the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
The tour kicks off at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Friday night(Image: Huw Fairclough/Getty Images)

They went on to say that the brothers want each show to be “massive”. The source continued by saying: “But there is no time for that and also Liam and Noel want every night to be massive. “

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Further commenting on the tour, the source added: “This is such a huge comeback show and they are taking it very seriously. It all points to it being an incredible comeback tour. “

Jason Manford hits out at hotel’s ‘ridiculous policy’ after being forced to share room

Comedian Jason Manford hits out at a Bournemouth hotel for selling his room to another guest after he arrived ‘late’

Jason Manford hits out at hotel’s ‘ridiculous policy’ after being forced to share room(Image: JasonManford/x)

Jason Manford hit out at a hotel’s ‘ridiculous policy’ after he had to share a room with a friend because it was overbooked. The comedian, 44, was in Bournemouth on Saturday before his A Manford All Seasons show but the staff at the hotel told him the place was overbooked for the night.

Staff at the Village Hotel told Jason his room was sold to someone else as he arrived late. Because of the issue, he was forced to share a room with his friend Steve. “So we got to our hotel tonight in Bournemouth and it’s fully booked. We were like, ‘Fine, that’s good – well done you’,” he said.

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Jason Manford
Jason shared his room with a friend after the hotel was overbooked(Image: JasonManford/x)

“They went, ‘No, no, as in like without you’. So me and Steve, obviously [we’re] in separate rooms. And then we just discovered that basically if it’s fully booked it means that, [you have to share].

“Okay, don’t worry, it is what it is, these things happen – all that b******t! I mean we spent all day together! Oh, well, at least we’ve got a nice view of the car park. Oh well, these things happen and all that. Worse things happen at sea. But Village Hotel, just beware, if you are booking and it’s a busy day in a busy city…

“I mean, we’re lucky that [our booking] was two rooms because that fella coming behind us, a doctor as well, and no room for him. He just had to walk out, and like and there’s no rooms anywhere in Bournemouth tonight. Naughty that, naughty. I’ve heard of aeroplanes doing it, but I’ve never known in 25 years of touring, a hotel doing it. That’s not on, that is not on. “

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Jason Manford
He reminded fans it wasn’t the staff’s fault(Image: JasonManford/x)

He then showed the bedroom he was staying in and added: “So we’ve managed to make best of our situation. But that poor doctor, maybe he could sleep on the floor! Anyway, good night. ” In the caption, he said: “What’s your minimum expectation when you book a room at @Villagehotelsup? Staff were lovely but policy stinks! “

Jason returned to social media the next day to reveal the hotel management had been in touch and asked him to remove the video. He refused to take down the video and said he wanted to warn people about the company’s practice. Jason also reminded fans it wasn’t the staff’s fault, but the company’s itself.

“What I will say is it’s not the staff’s fault. And this is the problem with these big companies. That is somebody in an office, making a policy that makes them more money, but they don’t have to deal with the s**t,” he said to the camera.

Jason Manford
He returned to social media and revealed the hotel had been in touch(Image: JasonManford/x)

“I didn’t kick off, but I can imagine people would. So the staff then have to deal with upset customers and getting vitriol in heightened emotional situations. So I’m not going to take the video down, because I think it’s right that people know that’s what your company are doing.

“And I’m going to leave it up as a bit of support for the staff, who aren’t being paid as much as the person who made the decision is and how much that person is making out of this ridiculous policy. So bear that in mind if these things do happen, same with an aeroplane. We’ve all been there, we’ve all been in a moment where the person we’re in contact with is the person that’s going to get it.

“But we have to take a step back sometimes, just remember that person is just doing their job and they don’t like it either. In fact that’s what the manager said to me last night, ‘I don’t like this either, I hate it’. It takes a video like this and us talking about it for them, hopefully to have a little look at their policies and think maybe this is not in the best interest of our staff and certainly not of the customer. “

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