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Government Spending

The Insanity of Trump's Big Beautiful Bill

Plus: Trump's E.U. trade deadline, masked ICE agents, and Elon Musk's third party

Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Eric Boehm | 7.7.2025 5:25 PM


This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Nick Gillespie and Reason reporter Eric Boehm unpack the passage of President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill, focusing on its tax carve-outs, its special-interest subsidies, and what happens when key provisions expire in 2028. They also examine the potential fallout from Trump's looming trade deadline with the European Union, answer a listener question about the legality of masked federal law enforcement, and discuss the viability of Elon Musk launching a new political party.

0:00—America is still the greatest country on earth

6:18—The One Big Beautiful Bill becomes law

12:39—Medicaid cuts and what they mean

20:51—Sunset clauses will cause more instability

33:33—Listener question on masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents

42:16—Elon Musk announces new third party

49:47—Weekly cultural recommendations

Mentioned in This Podcast

"The Secret Police Are Here," by Mike Brock

"Errol Morris and Jacob Soboroff: Trump's Immigration Policies Are Indefensible," by Nick Gillespie

Upcoming Reason Events

The Reason Roundtable Live in NYC! July 15

The Soho Forum Debate: Jacob Hacker vs. David Goldhill, July 16

 

Today's Sponsors:

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  • Producer: Paul Alexander
  • Video Editor: Ian Keyser

Peter Suderman is features editor at Reason.

Katherine Mangu-Ward is editor in chief of Reason.

Nick Gillespie is an editor at large at Reason and host of The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie.

Eric Boehm is a reporter at Reason.

Government SpendingFederal agentsFree TradeTariffsThird PartiesElon MuskMedicaidImmigration