AI Summary Senate Democrats have introduced a bill to expand Social Security Administration (SSA) and Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) benefits by $200 per month for six months, aiming to provide economic relief amid persistently high inflation. The move follows the Oct. 24 announcement of an average cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) of 2.8% in 2026 for the 53 million Americans who receive Social Security retirement benefits an increase of about $56 per month.
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
There was no problem until Donald Trump decided to fire thousands of qualified, capable service members simply because of their gender identity. They wore the uniform. They kept their promises to us. It's time we keep our promises to them. It's one thing for some of my colleagues to disrespect me, but it's another thing entirely to disrespect the people who lay down their lives for this country.
Some of our leaders don't really care about all of those who serve our country. The Trump administration is quietly moving forward with plans to involuntarily discharge more than 4,000 brave Americans not because they can't do the job, but because they're transgender. They make some people uncomfortable. In the past, I would have asked my father what he thought about this. Sadly, I can't do that.
