www.thecentersquare.com – By Thérèse Boudreaux | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-08-06 15:30:00
Republicans are pushing to change Senate rules to fast-track confirmation of President Trump’s remaining 130+ civilian nominees, frustrated by Democratic obstruction. Democrats have blocked quick confirmations via voice vote or unanimous consent, causing delays. Senate Majority Leader John Thune called it “historic obstruction,” urging Democrats to stop their reflexive opposition. GOP senators plan to pursue a “nuclear option” after recess to limit debate, permit multiple confirmations per vote, or end procedural hurdles. Trump supports this, accusing Democrats of extortion for demanding $2 billion in withheld funds. Changing rules could also help pass the necessary 2026 funding bills and avoid a government shutdown.
(The Center Square) – With Democrats still playing hardball over confirming the rest of President Donald Trump’s civilian nominees, Republicans are becoming increasingly vocal about changing Senate procedural rules to help fast-track the process.
Democrats haven’t allowed a single civilian nominee to pass by voice vote or unanimous consent, which would drastically speed up the confirmation process. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has called Democrats’ tactics “a historic level of obstruction” and urged them to “rein in their reflexive anti-Trump sentiment.”
With more than 130 nominees remaining, Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., told reporters earlier this week that Senate Republicans plan to take up some kind of rules reform legislation when they return from recess in September.
This so-called “nuclear option,” implemented by a simple majority vote, could include cutting down on debate time, allowing more than one nominee confirmation per vote, or abolishing procedural votes on nominees entirely.
“What Chuck Schumer has done is slow down the process. Typically, by now, 70% of the President’s nominees are confirmed through a short process, a short pass called unanimous consent,” Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., said Wednesday. “But Chuck Schumer is making us spend two hours at a minimum on every one of those.”
Trump also threw his support behind a rules change after nominee-related negotiations between Republican and Democratic leaders apparently blew up. According to a Trump social media post Wednesday, Schumer had demanded the administration release some $2 billion in withheld federal funds in exchange for Democrats’ cooperation.
“This has never happened before. There has never, in U.S. history, been such a delay. THEY ARE EXTORTIONISTS!,” Trump wrote, referring to Senate Democrats. “Republicans must create legislation in order to get out of the grasp of these Country hating THUGS. Move quickly!!!”
This “nuclear option” is not unprecedented. Democrats used it in 2013 to limit debate time and more easily invoke cloture on all nominees except U.S. Supreme Court appointees, while Republicans extended that to include SCOTUS nominees in 2017.
“So when anyone tells you Republicans are taking the ‘nuclear option’ with President Trump to change the Senate rules, remind them that DEMS started this in 2013,” Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., said on X Wednesday. “We’re working through rule change options with the Trump White House to expedite nominees, end the gridlock, and clear the backlog.”
If Republicans do change Senate rules, it would also allow lawmakers more time to pass the 12 annual appropriations bills providing funding for the federal government in fiscal year 2026. So far, the Senate has only passed three of those bills via a minibus, which still needs the House’s approval.
If Congress is unable to pass all 12 funding bills by Sept. 30 – the end of fiscal year 2025 – they will have to pass a short-term Continuing Resolution, or CR, to prevent a government shutdown.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Right
The article largely reports on Senate procedural disputes factually but frames the situation through a lens sympathetic to Republican perspectives. It highlights Republican criticisms of Democratic obstruction, emphasizes Republican calls for rules changes to expedite confirmations, and prominently features quotes from Republican senators and former President Trump’s social media post, which uses charged language against Democrats. While it mentions Democrats’ prior use of the “nuclear option,” the overall tone and source (The Center Square, known for conservative-leaning coverage) suggest a center-right bias that favors the Republican narrative and critiques Democratic Senate tactics. The reporting stops short of overt editorializing but clearly aligns more with the Republican viewpoint.
oklahomawatch.org – Jake Ramsey and Valerie Scott – 2025-08-06 06:00:00
In Tulsa and Oklahoma City, large boulders have been deliberately placed in public spaces near transit stations and under bridges to deter homeless encampments, a form of “hostile architecture.” Officials say this discourages unsafe camping and encourages people experiencing homelessness to seek housing or resources. However, experts criticize this approach for pushing vulnerable people away from vital services and view it as exclusionary. Oklahoma City’s Key to Home Partnership instead uses a housing-first strategy, prioritizing permanent housing and supportive services. This approach has successfully housed hundreds and helped maintain stable living conditions, proving more effective and humane than deterrent designs.
by Jake Ramsey and Valerie Scott, Oklahoma Watch August 6, 2025
The boulders appeared on Fourth Street as if by magic. But their placement near Tulsa’s Metrolink station is no accident; the rocks are intentionally unwelcoming, placed to deter those without homes from spending the night.
“We really encourage people to not stay at this location because it is not a safe place for camping,” said Jamie Caves, strategy implementation manager for Oklahoma City’s Key to Home Partnership.
Officials for both cities said the boulders are to push people experiencing homelessness towards housing or other resources to combat homelessness, but experts claim those developments are not an effective way to address the problem. However, Oklahoma City is approaching the closure of the Boulevard bridge encampment with their housing-first projects, which seek to house people experiencing homelessness across the city.
The Boulevard bridge boulders are the only instance in which Key to Home in Oklahoma City has used the drastic measure of blocking an area, Caves said.
“We identified (under the bridge) for closure,” Caves said. “We wanted to help improve the safety of that area. It’s on a busier street that has a curve and people were sleeping right up against that road.”
The practice is a more modern and more explicit form of defensible space, said Wanda Liebermann, a professor and architectural and urban historian at the University of Oklahoma.
Defensible space, similar to hostile architecture, uses municipal architecture to prevent certain behaviors or people from being in public areas.
“It is a very old way of city leaders dealing with problems because they don’t see the problem as fellow human beings who are suffering,” Liebermann said.
When hostile architecture is established, homeless people tend to be driven away from the resources cities intend to drive them toward.
“What kind of message are we sending if we are promoting architecture that says, ‘You are not welcome here,’” said Meghan Mueller, chief executive officer of the Homeless Alliance in Oklahoma City. “It can absolutely be a barrier to access to resources.”
Concrete boulders to prevent the homeless from setting up shelter under the Oklahoma City Boulevard bridge at Classen Blvd. (Valerie Scott/Oklahoma Watch)
In Oklahoma City, nearly $44,000 was spent on the boulders underneath the Boulevard bridge to discourage further encampment. Tulsa’s boulder project, including landscaping products, was donated by a local quarry, a city spokesperson said.
“It is much easier to tackle things like mental health or substance use disorders if you have at least the stability of having your basic physiological needs met,” Mueller said.
Housing-first projects and resources are being adopted by the Key to Home Partnership for people experiencing homelessness in Oklahoma City.
“First and foremost, we want to ensure we are not just moving people or kicking them out of the place that they are staying, so housing is a critical component to the work that we are doing,” Caves said.
Housing First
Housing-first projects prioritize permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness to improve their quality of life through shelter and resources like case management, healthcare and food.
Oklahoma City’s Encampment Rehousing Initiative finds encampments in the city and provides services to the people living in those areas to get housing. The project led to the Boulevard bridge encampment’s closure, and the 27 people living under the bridge being housed.
Dustin, a homeless Oklahoman, and his dog in the summer sun at the Homeless Alliance campus in downtown Oklahoma City. (Valerie Scott/Oklahoma Watch)
Teams from the project visit the encampments to provide resources to the people living there, such as ensuring they have the necessary requirements to move into housing, such as identifying documents, Caves said. If they do not, the teams will help them get the documents.
Of the 400 people who have been housed through the Key to Home Partnership, 95% of them have maintained their housing through the project.
“Eliminating harms or trying to help these people wasn’t served by putting rocks under the overpass,” Liebermann said. “It was served by actually reaching out to them and helping them find services and homes that actually fit their needs.”
Across the nation, several studies have shown that between 75% and 91% of people housed through similar programs remain housed, indicating the projects are successful, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
“The unique thing about that initiative is that the housing is not theoretical,” Mueller said. “The housing opportunity is a mere weeks away.”
Oklahoma Watch, at oklahomawatch.org, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Left
This article adopts a generally center-left perspective by focusing on the social issue of homelessness and critiquing the use of hostile architecture as a deterrent. It emphasizes compassionate solutions like housing-first initiatives, highlighting the human impact and effectiveness of supportive services over punitive measures. The tone and framing reflect concern for marginalized populations and favor systemic, resource-based responses rather than simply maintaining order through exclusionary design. While presenting statements from officials and experts on both sides, the overall narrative leans toward progressive approaches to social welfare without overt partisanship.
SUMMARY: A driver allegedly rammed into an ICE agent’s car and fled, prompting a large police response in Oklahoma City. The suspect, 26-year-old Julio Ramirez, abandoned his vehicle and forced his way into a nearby house with two occupants inside. Police secured the perimeter and contacted the victims, who were told to leave safely. Officers waited outside, and Ramirez surrendered without incident. He was taken into custody by ICE agents. Ramirez faces charges including burglary, looting, and assault and battery on an officer. The victims in the home were unharmed. Authorities continue to confirm his custody details.
KFOR News
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www.thecentersquare.com – By Andrew Rice | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-08-04 15:58:00
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins approved six waivers allowing Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia to exclude sodas and energy drinks from SNAP benefits. These states join Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Indiana, Utah, and Nebraska in such restrictions. Rollins emphasized the need to prevent taxpayer funds from buying unhealthy items, aiming to combat chronic illness. Colorado’s Democratic Governor Jared Polis supported the move, reflecting bipartisan cooperation. West Virginia and HHS officials highlighted the health and economic burdens of sugary drinks. Critics, including the American Beverage Association, argue the ban unfairly targets low-income families and won’t improve health outcomes. SNAP spending was $112.8 billion in 2023.
(The Center Square) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins approved six waivers to exclude sodas and energy drinks from federal nutrition programs on Monday.
Rollins signed waivers exempting soda and energy drinks from being included in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs in Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia. The six states join Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Indiana, Utah and Nebraska in restricting sodas and energy drinks from SNAP.
“Since my confirmation, our department has encouraged states to think differently and creatively about how to solve the many health issues facing Americans,” Rollins said. “One way is by not allowing taxpayer funded benefits to be used to purchase unhealthy items like soda, candy and other junk food.”
Critics of the new push to ban soda and energy drinks under SNAP say it unfairly targets lower income families, limits consumer choice and won’t result in better health outcomes.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture signs a waiver limiting sodas and energy drinks from SNAP in West Virginia.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture signs a waiver limiting sodas and energy drinks from SNAP in Colorado.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture signs a waiver limiting sodas and energy drinks from SNAP in West Virginia.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture signs a waiver limiting sodas and energy drinks from SNAP in Colorado.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis is the first Democrat governor to request a waiver of sugary drinks from the states SNAP program.
“This is not red or blue, Republican or Democrat. We are discussing and working with every state. So [I am ] really excited to continue to work with Governor Polis,” Rollins said.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey joined Rollins for the announcement.
Morrisey praised his state’s inclusion as part of the SNAP waiver program. He said the lack of access to healthy foods in West Virginia contributes to the prevalence of chronic disease in residents.
“I’m happy now that West Virginia taxpayers are not going to be subsidizing soda and these sugary drinks, things that have no nutritional value and are directly linked to obesity, diabetes, and a lot of other terrible health care outcomes,” Morrisey said.
HHS Secretary Kennedy agreed with Morrisey. He said the inclusion of soda and energy drinks in SNAP increases the cost to medicaid and medicare programs due to increased chronic disease.
“US taxpayers should not be paying to feed kids foods – the poorest kids in our country – with foods that are the gift of diabetes. And my agency ends up through Medicaid and Medicare paying for those injuries,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy also gave an update on the dietary guidelines for Americans that he is working alongside Rollins to complete. He said the guidelines will be complete in late September, “three months ahead of schedule.”
“They will drive changes in the school lunch program, in prison lunches and military food, and they will begin to change America almost immediately,” Kennedy said.
Not everyone agrees.
“Make no mistake, this waiver won’t make an ounce of difference on health,” the trade organization American Beverage said when a waiver was being discussed in Ohio. “Obesity has skyrocketed in the last two decades while beverage calories per serving have dropped by 42% – thanks to our industry’s efforts to empower Americans with more choice and information. In fact, 60% of beverages Americans buy today have zero sugar due to our innovation.”
The U.S. government spent $112.8 billion on SNAP in 2023, covering 100% of the cost of food benefits and 50% of states’ administrative costs.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Right
This article presents factual reporting on the recent waivers approved by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to exclude sodas and energy drinks from SNAP programs in multiple states. The tone is largely neutral but leans slightly toward a Center-Right perspective due to the emphasis on public health concerns tied to obesity, diabetes, and taxpayer costs, which are often highlighted in conservative-leaning policy discussions. The inclusion of statements from Republican officials and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as well as criticism from the beverage industry, provides some balance. However, the framing around reducing taxpayer spending on “junk food” and linking sugary drinks to negative health outcomes reflects a policy approach typically favored by Center-Right viewpoints, focusing on health responsibility and fiscal conservatism. The article avoids strong partisan language and acknowledges dissenting views, maintaining overall journalistic balance.
