What’s in the Mega-Budget Package? 

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2
PROGRAM #10823 12:00 PM PT

What’s in the Mega-Budget Package? 

Time was running out and Republican senators were scrambling to reach an agreement on the final version of the tax plan pushed by the White House. This package includes drastic cuts to the healthcare system and food assistance for millions, aimed at providing tax breaks to corporations and high-income earners in the country. How is the final version shaping up? What are the differences with the House plan? What impact will it have on families, seniors, veterans, and vulnerable communities?

Guests: Lisette Engel, Director of Economic Policy, UnidosUS, Germantown, MD; Monica Saucedo, Senior Policy Fellow, California Budget & Policy Center, Sacramento, CA.

Five Years After the Pandemic. Reports show that seniors have more confidence in the safety of vaccines compared to younger groups. At the same time, a new coronavirus variant has raised concerns within the medical community, while the U.S. Secretary of Health continues to downplay the effectiveness of the immunization shots. What vaccines are available for seniors? What are the common health challenges they face? What risks does the new coronavirus strain pose to this vulnerable group?

Guest: Paula Andalo, Ethnic Media Editor, KFF Health News, Silver Spring, MD.

NATO: Moving to an Arms Race? The NATO summit in The Hague concluded with the announcement that the alliance will increase its defense spending to 5% of GDP over the next decade, marking the largest increase in its history. This shift, driven by Trump’s pressure, represents an escalation in military spending for the collective defense of the world’s most powerful alliance. How should this announcement be interpreted in the context of the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East? Does it signal the start of a new arms race? What are the benefits and dangers?

Guest: Medea Benjamin, Author of the book “NATO: What You Need to Know”, Co-founder, Codepink, Washington, DC.

Photo: Sophie Smith/Unsplash

For more information about Linea Abierta and to find previous shows visit our  Linea Abierta page.