All articles tagged with #entitlements
A recent Xbox outage locked players out of digital games and, for some offline consoles, prevented disc-based games from working due to entitlement checks. Microsoft says offline mode relies on saved entitlements, has fixed the underlying issue, and plans a future update to ensure disc-based play isn’t disrupted during outages.
Microsoft says Xbox game discs should remain playable offline during an outage since disc-based entitlement checks are designed not to block access; the company later identified a saved-entitlements issue that prevented offline use and announced a fix will be rolled out.
Xbox suffered a global outage when an external licensing service failed, breaking sign-in and entitlement checks and preventing access to libraries and stores. After isolating the issue and rerouting traffic, services were restored, and Microsoft’s CTO said a full post-incident review will drive harder dependency hardening, faster detection, and clearer communication to prevent a repeat.
Nine months into FY2026, the U.S. Treasury is borrowing about $155 billion per month (roughly $39 billion per week) while net interest on the public debt runs at about $857 billion for the year (around $23.8 billion per week). The national debt stands near $39.4 trillion, and rising Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid costs are pushing deficits higher, prompting calls for entitlement reforms and higher revenues to avert an unsustainable fiscal path.
Nine months into FY2026, the U.S. deficit reached about $1.4 trillion as outlays ($5.5 trillion) surpassed receipts ($4.2 trillion). Most of the shortfall stems from entitlement programs (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid) and reduced corporate tax revenue tied to policy changes, while individual taxes rose. The debt surpassed 100% of GDP and interest payments neared $1 trillion, prompting calls for entitlement reform and a bipartisan plan to restore fiscal sustainability.
Former President Donald Trump, who previously opposed cuts to Medicare and Social Security, recently expressed openness to cutting entitlement spending, prompting concerns about potential reductions in benefits. The GOP's fiscal commitments, including desired tax cuts and increased defense spending, may necessitate cuts to entitlement programs. President Joe Biden has proposed raising payroll taxes on households making over $400,000 to sustain benefits, while Trump has not presented a sustainable funding plan. The GOP's stance on tax cuts and entitlement benefits may pose challenges in reconciling their commitments.
During an interview with CNBC, Donald Trump suggested the possibility of cutting Social Security and Medicare benefits, prompting his campaign to issue a retraction. Joe Biden quickly seized upon the remarks, vowing to protect the entitlements relied upon by over 70 million Americans and criticizing Trump's stance. Trump's comments sparked immediate political backlash and damage control efforts from his campaign.
President Biden's reelection campaign released a new digital ad targeting former President Trump over his comments about potential cuts to government programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. The ad features footage of Trump's remarks on CNBC and Biden's pledge to protect these programs. Trump's team attempted to clarify his comments, stating that he was referring to cutting waste, not the programs themselves. Biden and his campaign seized on the opportunity to attack Trump for suggesting cuts to programs benefiting millions of Americans, particularly older voters.
Former President Donald Trump defended his proposed 10% tariffs, suggesting that tax cuts could offset any resulting price increases for families and calling for an extension of his 2017 tax cuts. He also expressed interest in addressing entitlement programs, including potential cuts, and indicated a lack of concern about the use of cryptocurrencies. Trump's comments come as he emerges as the likely Republican nominee for the 2024 presidential election, with his tariff plan drawing attention and concerns about inflation.
Billionaire investor Stanley Druckenmiller criticized the federal government for reckless spending and warned that tough choices, such as cutting entitlements like Social Security, will be necessary in the future. Druckenmiller expressed disappointment over the additional $56 billion in emergency spending sought by the White House and emphasized the need to support Ukraine amid escalating Russian attacks. He highlighted the growing fiscal deficit, which reached nearly $1.7 trillion, and the staggering U.S. debt of almost $34 trillion. Druckenmiller believes that disciplined stock pickers will be rewarded in the challenging market environment.
A pro-Trump super PAC has launched an attack ad against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, mocking him for eating pudding with his fingers and targeting his previous positions on cutting the social safety net. The ad aired on CNN and Fox and was tweeted out by the Trump campaign account. Trump has recently increased his attacks against DeSantis, who is seen as his biggest potential opponent for the Republican presidential nomination.
Donald Trump released a new attack ad against Ron DeSantis, accusing him of having "dirty fingers" all over senior entitlements, including cutting Medicare and Social Security. The ad is based on a report that DeSantis once ate pudding with his fingers. DeSantis has denied the claim. The governor has been campaigning in key states, but has not yet officially declared his candidacy for president.