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From taxes to health care to immigration, Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ will have big impact on Long Island

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WASHINGTON — Halfway through his first year back in office, President Donald Trump has the green light from the Republican-majority Congress to move ahead on major parts of his domestic agenda.

The sprawling budget bill Congress passed this week will touch Long Island in a variety of ways — from the economy to the environment, from health care access to immigration enforcement, and will be at the center of next year’s midterm elections, said Lawrence Levy, executive dean of Hofstra University’s National Center for Suburban Studies.

“On Long Island, the messaging battle will take place over SALT,” said Levy, referring to the $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions that was approved by the Republican congressional majority in 2017 and raised to $40,000 under the current bill.

“Who wins will not only depend on media skill and money raising, but on how the economy is doing and how much people feel the pinch of the caps compared to everything else going on in their economic lives,” said Levy.

WHAT NEWSDAY FOUND

  • The sprawling budget bill Congress passed last week will touch Long Island in a variety of ways — from the economy to the environment, from health care access to immigration enforcement.
  • Long Island will benefit in particular from an increase in the deduction for state and local taxes, or SALT, which  goes to $40,000 for households earning $500,000 or less for the next five years.
  • Meanwhile, health care advocates say hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers could lose access to health care coverage due to changes to Medicaid eligibility requirements and  Affordable Care Act enrollment requirements.

Long Island’s House delegation voted along party lines, with Reps. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) and Nick LaLota (R- Amityville) voting in favor of passage, and Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) and Laura Gillen (D- Rockville Centre) voting against it. Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand also voted against.

Here’s a glance at some of the expected impacts of the bill on New York and Long Island:

Economics

The cornerstone of the megabill was extending the 2017 tax cuts congressional Republicans passed during Trump’s first term that were set to expire at the end of this year.

The current bill makes the majority of those cuts permanent, but also adds some new temporary provisions, including increasing the cap on state and local tax deductions to $40,000 for households earning $500,000 or less for the next five years, after which it will default back to the $10,000 cap first initiated in the 2017 Trump-backed bill.

Matt Cohen, president and CEO of the Long Island Association, a nonpartisan business group, lauded Garbarino and LaLota for their work negotiating an increase amid opposition from red-state Republicans, but said the group is still examining the long-term impacts the overall bill will have on Long Island.

“The reinstatement of SALT has been the holy grail for Long Islanders and kudos to Congressmen Garbarino and LaLota for delivering significant changes to it which will impact many more taxpayers, jolt our economy, and make our region more affordable,” Cohen said in an email to Newsday. “While other provisions of the bill like making permanent a small business tax deduction will benefit us here, we are examining how the legislation will impact health care, renewable energy, food security and the national deficit.”

The White House has argued that the tax cuts will boost domestic spending and spur business growth, but various economic studies have countered that costs of the package will add $3.4 trillion to the national debt through 2034, which will likely slow long-term economic growth.

“There are few provisions that would drive economic growth in the long run as opposed to simply running up debt and generating upward pressure on interest rates,” states a recent analysis by the Yale Budget Lab.

Health care

Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers could lose access to health care coverage due to changes to Medicaid eligibility requirements and changes to Affordable Care Act enrollment requirements, according to health care advocates.

New York stands to lose $120 billion in federal Medicaid funding over the next decade as states that expanded Medicaid access under the Affordable Care Act will be expected to shoulder an increased share of Medicaid costs with the federal government, according to an analysis by KFF, a nonprofit focused on health care policy.

In Suffolk, 367,087 individuals are enrolled in Medicaid, and Nassau has 308,354 enrollees, according to the most recent state health data.

Kenneth E. Raske, president of the Greater New York Hospital Association, a group that advocates on behalf of the state’s hospitals and medical facilities, said the group has projected major cuts to services and jobs, including 1.5 million New Yorkers potentially losing health care coverage.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated more than 11.8 million Americans will lose access to health care by 2034, under the health care provisions of the bill.

“Cutting health insurance eligibility doesn’t stop people from getting sick and ultimately going to the hospital, but it does skyrocket hospitals’ uncompensated care costs,” Raske said in a statement released by the group after the Senate passed the bill on Tuesday.

Environment

Biden-era clean energy tax credits aimed at boosting the use of solar panels, wind energy and electric vehicles will be phased out under the bill, which local environmental advocates said will likely tamp down some of the growth Long Island has experienced in the clean energy sector.

A $7,500 tax credit for the purchase or lease of a new electric vehicle will end on Sept. 30, and a 30% tax credit for rooftop residential solar panels will be eliminated at the end of the year. Larger scale wind and solar energy utility projects that previously qualified for tax credits will have one year from when the bill is signed into law to claim the credits. Projects that start later would need to be operational by 2027 to qualify for the credits.

Adrienne Esposito, executive director of the Farmingdale based Citizens Campaign for the Environment, said the eventual loss of the credits will hurt middle to low-income homeowners on Long Island who have used the credits to help reduce some of their energy costs.

“On Long Island, we have very high electric costs, so the people who have been using all these tax breaks are low- to moderate income people,” Esposito said. “That’s who’s using the tax breaks to get solar panels, to buy energy efficient appliances, to change out their windows. I’d like to tell you they’re doing it to save the environment, but they’re actually doing it to save money.”

Immigration

Immigration enforcement ranked as a top issue for New York voters during last year’s presidential election, with Trump using campaign rallies at the Nassau Coliseum and Madison Square Garden to promise a widespread deportation campaign.

Those plans, largely already underway, will now receive a $100 billion surge through 2029. The money to expand the footprint of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, making it the largest law enforcement agency in the country, includes $45 billion to build detention facilities, $46 billion for border security efforts along the U.S. southern border and $14 billion for deportations.

Levy said the increased enforcement could help Republicans score points with Trump’s base in next year’s midterm elections, but could also turn away moderate swing voters as a number of recent polls show a majority of respondents disapprove of how masked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are implementing Trump’s plans.

“The way that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has carried out its orders has turned off a lot of people, particularly political independents and moderates, who are the swing vote in this country,” Levy said. “By the same token there are a lot of people who are pleased and would like to see even more aggressive action. So it really depends how the parties handle this in terms of messaging.”



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Israel bombs Houthis in Yemen after rebels attack commercial ship for first time in months

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CNN
 — 

Israel has carried out its first strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen since the Israel-Iran ceasefire, attacking ports and a power plant around midnight local time Sunday night into Monday morning.

The strikes come after at least three Houthi ballistic missiles were launched at Israel, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), including one missile that was intercepted Saturday.

The Iran-backed Houthis also claimed responsibility for an attack on the bulk carrier ‘Magic Seas’ in the Red Sea on Sunday, the first on commercial shipping in the region by the rebels this year.

Israel struck the ports of Hodeida, Ras Isa, Salif and the Ras Kanatib power plant along the Red Sea. The IDF also hit the Galaxy Leader, a cargo ship seized by the Houthis in November 2023.

“Houthi forces installed a radar system on the ship and have been using it to track vessels in the international maritime arena to facilitate further terrorist activities,” the IDF said in a statement following the strikes.

A short time before the wave of attacks, the IDF’s Arabic language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, issued an evacuation warning for the ports and the power station.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said the strikes were part of the newly named Operation “Black Flag.” In a statement on social media, Katz said, “The Houthis will continue to pay a heavy price for their actions” and promised more attacks would follow if the Houthis kept launching drones and ballistic missiles at Israel.

The Houthi military confirmed the strikes but said, “Yemeni air defenses effectively confronted the Israeli aggression,” using, “a massive barrage of locally manufactured surface-to-air missiles,” in a short statement on early Monday morning.

There are no immediate reports of casualties from the strikes.

Houthi political bureau member Mohammed Al Farah said targeting Yemeni ports, power stations, and other “civilian facilities is an attempt to harm civilians and has no connection to any military activity,” according to the Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV.

Since Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza started in October 2023, the country has come under fire from missiles and rockets from Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, who claim to strike Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians.

On Sunday, the Houthis attacked the ‘Magic Seas’ ship, claiming that the its owner had used Israeli ports.

The rebels said they had struck the vessel with unmanned boats, missiles and drones, and it had now sunk. They have warned that they will target shipping that uses ports in Israel, which they describe as “occupied Palestine.”

The vessel’s operator – Stem Shipping – told Reuters that the ‘Magic Seas’ had made a port call to Israel in the past, but the latest transit of the region appeared low-risk as it had nothing to do with Israel.

The ‘Magic Seas’ crew of 19 left the boat on Sunday and were being taken by another ship to Djibouti.

In May, the Houthi group – which controls much of northern and central Yemen – agreed to halt attacks on US warships in the Red Sea after more than a month of airstrikes by US forces on its strongholds and missile infrastructure.

But it did not pledge to end attacks on other shipping with alleged connections to Israel and has continued to fire ballistic missiles at Israel in support of the Palestinian population in Gaza.

This story has been updated with additional developments.



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Amazon Prime Day 2025 hi-fi deals live: huge discounts on headphones, turntables, speakers and more

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Five-star wired open-back headphones deal

(Image credit: Grado)

One of our favourite wired headphones is enjoying a lowest-ever price deal, and it’s not even part of the Amazon Prime Day deals.

The Grado SR325x open-back headphones are a repeat What Hi-Fi? Award winner and a team favourite for their terrific sound quality, even if the retro-utilitarian looks and foam earbuds aren’t to everyone’s tastes. Now available for £247 at Peter Tyson – a £82 saving over its RRP – this is a great headphones deal that you won’t find on Amazon.

Top 5 hi-fi deals to look out for

WiiM Ultra music streamer

(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

Hi all, Kash here. The Prime Day deals don’t kick off until tomorrow, but as with every year, I always keep an eye on a handful of five-star products to see if they have a discount. These products are great value at full price anyway, but any money off makes it all that sweeter.

So here are my top 5 products to look out for, and what deal price you should expect.

WiiM Pro Plus music streamer – current price £219
Our favourite budget music streamer can do it all. A tiny box that brings you easy wi-fi streaming from all the most popular apps and streaming methods, any money off the Pro Plus is worth pouncing upon. We’ve seen the price drop to £179 before, but I’d personally be happy with any deal price under £200.

WiiM Ultra music streamer – current price £349
WiiM’s top-of-the-range streamer is its best yet, with lively, engaging sound and a powerful platform. The touch-screen interface is a joy to use, and its only con is that it lacks AirPlay. We’ve not seen a deal on the Ultra yet, but I’m hoping it goes down to £319 at least.

Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 speakers – current price £499
Award-winning speakers that deliver a punchy, detailed and clear sound, these small-ish speakers are crowd-pleasers that work with a variety of partnering kit and all kinds of music genres. They originally cost £599 and have been £499 for the last couple of years, so I have my fingers crossed that they will go down at least to £449 – £50 off is pretty great savings for such a good pair of bookshelf speakers.

Cambridge Audio DacMagic 200M – current price £349
This unit may be a few years old, but I still use the DacMagic 200M at home: it’s the perfect desktop size, has extensive hi-res audio support (and MQA files) and is a dream to use. Used with a good pair of wired headphones, this DAC and headphone amp will boost your laptop-based music performance considerably. It’s a nicely made DAC, too. If the price comes down to £299 – you know it’s a great discount.

Technics SL-1500C turntable – current price £879
Usually, it’s the affordable, fully automatic and Bluetooth-toting Sony PS-LX310BT (£199) that I have my eye on for a turntable deal. But this year it’s the pricier Technics SL-1500C that I’m hoping will come down in price. The SL-1500C is a former Award-winner and is incredibly fuss-free to use thanks to a built-in phono stage and direct-drive operation. Add in a detailed, musical and powerful sound with a rock-solid build, and this turntable will keep you entertained for years to come. I’ve seen the price drop down to £799 before, so if you are looking for a new turntable and see this Technics on a discount? Snap it up.

Meet the team looking after this hub! If you’re curious about which of our experts are handling this hub over Prime Day this week, fear not, you’re in good hands. Read below to know more about the people behind it and why you should be taking their advice.

Kashfia Kabir

Kashfia Kabir

Kash is the veteran professional shiny things chaser who runs our hi-fi and audio section. She first joined What Hi-Fi? 13 years and has spent a good chunk of that time reviewing everything from premium stereo amplifiers and turntables to affordable DACs and speakers. If you’re after some hi-fi this Prime Day, she’s the person you want to speak to.

Andy Madden author bio pic

Andy Madden is one of the most seasoned and senior members of the What Hi-Fi? editorial team. Though he’s reviewed pretty much every category we cover in his career, in the past few years, he’s become one of our main headphone expert. Whether it’s a pair of premium wireless headphones from Focal or an affordable but musical set of earbuds, he’ll be on hand here offering his expert advice on which is the best pair to get.

Harry McKerrell headshot

Harry McKerrell

Though he’s the youngest member of our audio team, Harry brings a fresh perspective to our coverage. Though he initially focused on reviewing headphones, he has since branched out and helped us test everything from record players to floorstanding speakers to all-in-one systems. This gives him a fantastic holistic knowledge of the hi-fi market.

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 over-ear headphones

(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

Looking for a set of wireless headphones over Prime Day, but not sure which to get?

Then you’ll want to check out this handy guide by our deputy editor, Andy Madden. In it our veteran hi-fi and headphone reviewer details the five big sets he’s personally keeping an eye on over this year’s deals bonanza.

These range from flagship, five-star pairs from Bowers & Wilkins to affordable options from Sony. We have fully reviewed them all and know first-hand they are worth your hard-earned cash, even at full price. So a good deal on any of these models is worth a look.

On top of that, each choice is based on the product’s price history and Andy’s honed instincts, having covered Prime Day more years than he cares to reveal.

Read the full story: 5 wireless headphones deals to look out for during Amazon Prime Day

Welcome to our 2025 Amazon Prime Day hi-fi deals live hub! In it, our team of experts will be live reporting on all the latest and greatest deals we’ve spotted this week.

We’re currently in the warm-up period for this year’s sale, which is set to start at midnight and run until the clock strikes 12.00am on Friday.

If you’re worried you’ve gotten here too early, don’t be. Though the sale event hasn’t started yet, our experts are checking all the stores, including specialist hi-fi retailers, to make sure you know about the actual best audio deals doing the rounds – not just the ones on Amazon.

And with that in mind, we’ve already spotted solid savings on everything from affordable bookshelf speakers to top-of-the-line wireless headphones.

Our experts will also use the run up to the event to offer advice, flagging which products they’ll be keeping a particularly close eye on and why.

So make sure to keep this page open and check back regularly!



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Texas floods: At least 75 dead in single county after flash floods, officials say as more rain expected

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Multiple factors contributed to these devastating floodspublished at 15:02 British Summer Time

Matt Taylor
BBC Weather

Several factors came together to create the devastating outcome
we saw in Texas last week.

First there was the weather patterns at the time.

The remnants
of an ex-tropical storm had become embedded within a broader area of very
unstable air within the region. Unstable air is air which has the ability to
rise rapidly to form large storm clouds.

Tropical Storm Barry, that caused flooding across the Yucatan
Peninsula in Mexico a week earlier, had tracked across the Gulf of Mexico to decay
over north-east Mexico. This had meant there was already large supply of
moisture in the atmosphere.

Wind patterns across the region at the time also
resulted in a flow of humid, moisture-laden air from Gulf too.

The next factor was the geography and topography of the area: Kerr County, where the worst of the floods occurred, is a hillier area which forced moisture-laden
air upwards helping to build huge storm clouds.

The ones that formed over the area were so large they effectively became
their own weather system, producing huge amounts of rain over a larger area.

It was slow-moving, adding to the rain totals and creating further
thunderstorms along a zone that continued to affect the area containing the
Guadalupe River.



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