​The Senate has just passed its version of the GOP megabill, which cuts taxes, adds work requirements to Medicaid, phases out green energy tax incentives, and increases funding for ICE and the border wall between the U.S. and Mexico.⁠
⁠
While all Senate Democrats opposed the bill, most Republicans supported it, though some broke ranks. Republicans Rand Paul, Thom Tillis, and Susan Collins voted against it.⁠
⁠
What do Americans think of the bill?

Senate Republicans narrowly advanced President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill on Tuesday, with Vice President JD Vance breaking a 50-50 tie after hours of debate. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes permanent tax cuts and major reductions to government programs, now returns to the House for final approval.⁠
⁠
Three Senate Republicans—Susan Collins, Thom Tillis, and Rand Paul—joined Democrats in opposing the bill. Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski voted yes after negotiations. The legislation proposes cuts to Medicaid and food subsidies while preserving Trump-era tax breaks. Critics, including the House Freedom Caucus, warned the bill could add $650 billion annually to the deficit. “That’s not fiscal responsibility,” the caucus posted on Monday.⁠
⁠
President Trump had hoped to sign the bill by July 4, but said meeting that date would be “very hard.” Tech executive Elon Musk, who helped Trump win the presidency, has turned against the bill, citing its impact on renewable energy. “Every member of Congress who… voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame,” Musk posted on X.⁠
⁠
​​​🔗Head to our bio for the full story

Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s public feud has reignited after a short-lived pause. “Without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa,” Trump posted on Truth Social, adding, “Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!”⁠
⁠
Trump was responding to a series of criticisms Musk levied over the last two days against the president’s signature “Big Beautiful Bill,” which today passed the Senate and is headed to the House. Musk accused the GOP of abandoning its fiscal promises, calling it the “PORKY PIG PARTY!!” and labeling the bill “political suicide.” He wrote, “Every member of Congress who… voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame!” and pledged to help primary those lawmakers out of office.⁠
⁠
Musk also backed Rep. Thomas Massie, reposted a call to support him, and threatened to launch a new political faction. “If this insane spending bill passes, the America Party will be formed the next day,” he wrote. He also warned that the bill’s defunding of contempt enforcement “enables many other abuses of power by the President,” and posted a poll asking whether such a provision should be allowed.⁠
⁠
On Tuesday, Trump told reporters he would “have to take a look” at deporting Musk and again invoked DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency that Musk once led. “We might have to put DOGE on Elon,” Trump said, alluding to turning the agency against Musk and potentially targeting his federal contracts and subsidies.⁠
⁠
​​​🔗Head to our bio for the full story

Did you know that during the dark days of SEGREGATION in the United States, Black families were forced to pay TAXES that built schools their own children could not enter? While white children sat in shiny classrooms with new books and warm heaters, many Black kids sat in crumbling buildings, sometimes with no desks, no heat, and torn books passed down like leftover scraps.

This painful TRUTH is not just a forgotten piece of history — it’s proof of the strength and sacrifice that Black communities made just to claim a BASIC RIGHT: EDUCATION. Even when the SYSTEM locked them out, they built their own schools, taught their own kids at home, and stood up to unfair laws.

Stories like this remind us that every time you walk freely into a classroom today, or send your child to a good school, someone before you PAID THE PRICE for that freedom — sometimes twice. Once with their taxes, again with their struggle.

This is why we must never let these stories fade. HISTORY is more than dates and old photos — it’s the sacrifice, sweat, and HOPE that built the world we live in today.

This fact is backed by the US National Park Service and the Equal Justice Initiative, which documented how Black families often funded schools through taxes while being banned from attending them. (Source: Equal Justice Initiative, Segregation in America Report, 2018)

If this story touched you, please FOLLOW our BACKUP page (@afrikan_echo) because our main Instagram is facing RESTRICTIONS for sharing too much TRUTH. Also, SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel (african_echo) for more deep stories about AFRICAN HISTORY they don’t teach in school.

Do you want your BUSINESS or BRAND to reach an audience that cares about real stories? Reach out to us — let’s grow together.

Finally, SUPPORT our mission by getting our new book: “20 Notable Activists, Liberators, and Trailblazers Who Changed History [AFRICA WONDER WOMEN].” Your support helps us keep telling these stories that matter.

What do you think we can learn from these families who PAID FOR what they were denied? Type EQUALITY in the comments if you believe every child deserves FAIR EDUCATION!