Tuesday June 3rd, 2025

Medicaid Meltdown, Musk Bolts, and Palantir’s Panopticon

Welcome to another day in the American fever dream: Medicaid gets gutted, AI invents health science, Musk nopes out, and the Supreme Court turbo-charges Trump’s immigration crackdown.

Today in one sentence: As Trumpworld shrugs off the Medicaid apocalypse, the feds scramble to fix AI-generated health policy, Musk exits government in a blaze of blame, and the Supreme Court gives the green light to mass deportations and AR-15 bans—plus, Palantir quietly builds the surveillance state’s ultimate wishlist.

1. Medicaid Cuts Spark Outrage, GOP Doubles Down

Expect Democrats and health advocates to escalate attacks on the GOP after Sen. Joni Ernst’s ghoulish ‘we all die’ defense of $723 billion in Medicaid cuts. With the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ barreling toward a Senate vote, look for fresh CBO warnings and maybe a couple of swing-state Republicans sweating under the klieg lights. The White House will keep spinning, but the numbers (and the paperwork) say millions lose coverage. (NBC News, Washington Post)

2. AI-Generated Health Report Fallout Grows

The ‘Make America Healthy Again’ report’s fake citations debacle isn’t going away. Expect at least one congressional committee to announce hearings or demand documents from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. or the White House. Scientists will keep dunking on the report, and the CDC will distance itself further. Don’t bet on any real accountability, but the ridicule will be bipartisan. (New York Times, Reuters)

3. Supreme Court’s Gun, Magazine Rulings Ripple Out

Gun control groups will celebrate the Supreme Court’s refusal to hear challenges to Maryland’s assault weapons ban and Rhode Island’s mag limit, but gun rights groups will howl and sue somewhere else tomorrow. Expect at least one GOP candidate to grandstand about AR-15 ‘rights’ and six new lawsuits by sundown. (NBC News, CBS News)

4. SCOTUS Ruling Triggers Deportation Blitz

Now that the Supreme Court has let Trump pull humanitarian parole from 532,000 migrants, the administration will ramp up deportations and ICE raids. Advocates will sue, Democrats will rage, and the administration will brag about ‘common-sense enforcement.’ Look for at least one viral video of a family separated at an airport by tomorrow night. (Washington Post, Associated Press)

5. Musk’s Exit Leaves DOGE in Chaos

Elon Musk’s departure from the Department of Government Efficiency will trigger more leaks about internal dysfunction, and at least one lawsuit from a fired DOGE staffer will hit the wires. Trump will try to claim credit for any cost savings, while Musk blames the ‘deep state.’ Tesla stock will keep bleeding, and DOGE’s budget ‘savings’ will look even more imaginary. (Wall Street Journal, The Verge)

Notables

Palantir Data Project Faces New Lawsuits

Civil liberties groups are prepping fresh legal attacks against Palantir’s all-agency data dragnet. Expect whistleblowers to surface soon, with at least one congressional Dem demanding a pause.

Trump Tariffs Court Fight Escalates

A second federal judge may block enforcement of Trump’s tariffs, and the White House is threatening ‘new tools’ to keep trade wars rolling. Watch for China to rattle sabers again.

Alaska Drilling Decision Imminent (60% chance)

Interior could announce the rollback of Biden-era protections in Alaska as early as tomorrow, opening millions of acres to drilling and lawsuits.

Tune in tomorrow for more existential dread, same bat time, same bat channel.