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Who must follow the new SNAP work rules? What you need to know

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Some of the approximately 42 million low-income Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are running out of time to prepare for new work requirements.

The nation’s largest nutrition assistance program became a flashpoint during a 43-day government shutdown in 2025, which was eventually ended with funding restored, but not before a series of lawsuits that have brought the program under new scrutiny. SNAP was already broken long before the stalemate. But when President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill was passed in July 2025, it outlined tougher regulations and billions of dollars in funding cuts.

New work requirements were added to prevent “fraud and waste,” according to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, but the U.S. Congressional Research Service said in an April 7, 2025, report that SNAP fraud is “rare,” and that available data and reports show that many overpayments can result from unintentional mistakes.

Critics have warned against the changes, saying they would weaken vital social safety nets. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that about 3.5 million people lost benefits between July 2025 and February 2026, and local politicians, including New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani, are pushing to pass legislation to close the gap.

States were given a grace period to enact these rules before beneficiaries began to see potential reductions in benefits. June 1 is the deadline for work requirements in several populous states, including New York and California, meaning more Americans will be covered by the provision.

Here’s what you need to know about the new SNAP work requirements.

New SNAP work requirements

President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” passed in July, aims to cut SNAP funding by an estimated $186 billion by 2034, according to the Congressional Budget Office. It also added new restrictions to the program, including expanded work requirements.

Under the bill, non-disabled adults (referred to in government documents as able-bodied adults without dependents or ABAWD) who wish to receive SNAP benefits for more than three months in a three-year period must meet work requirements if:

  • No documented medical or circumstantial exemption. (physical or mental health, pregnancy, age, assistance from other programs, membership in a designated Indian group).
  • Ages 18-65 (up from the previous maximum age of 55).
  • Do not have any dependents under the age of 14 (previously the dependent age was 18).
  • Veterans, people under the age of 24 who have recently aged out of foster care, or people who are homeless. Previously, these groups were exempt from labor requirements.

To meet the work requirement, non-exempt individuals must:

  • Work at least 20 hours per week/80 hours per month in paid employment or earn at least $217.50 per week before taxes.or
  • Perform at least 80 hours of unpaid work per month (services can be exchanged for non-monetary payments, such as performing building maintenance to reduce rent). Pre-approval and verifiable proof of business hours required. or
  • Participate in an approved education or training program for at least 80 hours per month. This includes college courses, certificate programs, SNAP employment and training programs, local job readiness courses, and similar initiatives. Participating in a drug or alcohol treatment program is also important.or
  • Perform a certain amount of community service or volunteer work based on state-specific guidelines. This may include volunteer and work experience programs with local nonprofits and public service organizations such as food pantries, parks, and libraries. Hours are calculated by dividing your SNAP benefits by your state’s minimum wage. New York State Example: If you receive $300 in SNAP and the state minimum wage in your area is $16, you must complete 18 hours of community service or volunteer work each month. ($300 ÷ $16.00 = 18 hours).

Who receives SNAP benefits?

SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, is offering the card, known as Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT), to about 12% of Americans for a limited time to help purchase basic groceries. Many of the beneficiaries are the elderly, people with disabilities, and children.

To qualify, households must be below 130% of the poverty line. That means their income is no more than 30% below the federal poverty guidelines ($15,960 per single person in 2026). $27,320 for a three-person household. $38,680 for a five-person household.

In 2025, the monthly cap for a one-person household will be $298, but it could rise to as much as $785 for a three-person household and $1,183 for a five-person household, according to the USDA. There are special additional rules for households with elderly or disabled people.

SNAP benefits are determined by the state and funded by the USDA. To maintain eligibility, recipients must recertify periodically. Benefits are typically only provided for three months out of a 36-month period unless additional work-related requirements apply. Approved recipients will have a limited timeline to access benefits.

Who will Karen Bass run against? L.A. mayoral election updates

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It’s coming Wednesday, June 3, to find out who will join incumbent Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in the November runoff. Will she run against her outspoken critic and former reality TV star Spencer Pratt, or progressive Los Angeles City Council member Nitya Raman?

Early results Wednesday morning showed Mr. Bass leading with about 35% of the vote, followed by Mr. Pratt (30%) and Mr. Raman (22%), according to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder and County Clerk.

This is followed by Adam Miller with nearly 4% and Lei Huang with nearly 2.8%. Election officials are expected to continue counting votes and providing updates in the coming days.

In a post to

Paris Barraza is a reporter covering Los Angeles and Southern California for the USA TODAY Network. please contact her pbarraza@usatodayco.com.

Why was Scott Pelley fired? Explaining the ’60 Minutes’ controversy

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Longtime correspondent Scott Pelley has been fired from CBS News after a heated meeting with 60 Minutes’ new executive producer Nick Bilton.

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Scott Pelley is at the center of the CBS outrage.

The longtime correspondent for “60 Minutes” was fired from CBS News after a highly publicized private spat. Anchor’s departure came after a heated staff meeting. The New York Times and Status reported Monday based on leaked audio in which he can be heard accusing network editor-in-chief Bari Weiss of “murdering” the news show and lying to the newly hired executive producer, former technology journalist Nick Bilton.

CBS News fired the “60 Minutes” correspondent of more than 20 years after the exchange was reported by the media, USA TODAY reported. Perry, 68, did not receive any severance or other benefits effective immediately.

In a termination letter obtained by USA TODAY, Mr. Bilton told Mr. Perry that he hoped they could work out a “path forward together” following the “misconduct,” but that “you have made it clear that you are not interested in such a path.”

Perry, who has been with the network for nearly 40 years and appeared on “60 Minutes” for more than 20 years, has since publicly accused the network’s leadership of forcing bias on “60 Minutes,” pandering to politicians and “trying to curry favor with the Trump administration.”

USA TODAY has reached out to CBS for comment. A representative for Mr. Perry could not be reached.

The New York Times and Status reported that the staff meeting was aimed at introducing Mr. Bilton, a former Times technology columnist and investigative journalist, who was chosen to lead “60 Minutes” in late May.

In a tense exchange during the meeting in which the New York Times reported that Mr. Perry called Mr. Bilton’s qualifications “frivolous,” the broadcast journalist questioned Weiss’s commitment to the prosperity of the news program, saying she was “killing ’60 Minutes'” and that she was “brought in to kill it.”

In his termination letter, Bilton criticized Perry, saying the anchor had “hijacked” the meeting by “ambushing” him.

“You hijacked my first meeting with my staff to disrespect me, my qualifications, and my intentions in a manner that was extremely disrespectful and disrespectful,” Mr. Bilton told Mr. Perry in the memo. “Yesterday’s staged display of hostility, which took place in front of your staff rather than in an internal, private conversation, demonstrated that you have no interest in contributing to the future success of the program.”

“60 Minutes” producer Nick Bilton says Scott Pelley’s “antipathy” led to his firing

He said Perry’s “antipathy,” or hostility, toward the show’s future was clear, adding, “And I’m listening to you.”

“I’m here to provide top-notch news programming, not make headlines about newsroom drama, and I want to work with people who share this goal,” Bilton added.

Who is Nick Bilton? Journalist once wrote for ‘The Idol’

Mr. Bilton is a former technology columnist for the New York Times and previously worked in research and features at Vanity Fair. He also hosts a technology podcast, co-hosts “The Nick, Dick and Paul Show,” and is the author of “American Kingpin: The Epic Hunt for the Criminal Mastermind Behind the Silk Road” and “Hatching Twitter: A True Story of Money, Power, Friendship, and Betrayal.”

In addition to his journalism career, Bilton also works as a screenwriter and filmmaker. He wrote and directed the 2021 TV movie “Fake Famous,” a documentary about social media influencers, and was a staff writer on the 2023 drama “The Idol,” starring Sam Levinson.

This journalist has never worked in broadcast journalism or led a newsroom before. But he told the New York Times in a joint interview with Weiss that his nontraditional path could be an asset. “Bringing insiders into the company doesn’t change anything,” he says.

Mr. Bilton’s hiring coincided with mass layoffs at “60 Minutes.” Longtime senior leaders such as executive producer Tanya Simon and executive editor Dragan Mihailovic, as well as correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, were fired from their roles on the show. In public statements, Alfonsi and Vega claimed that the firings were politically motivated.

Contributors: Greta Cross and Edward Segarra, USA TODAY

State court oral arguments to watch in June

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monthly, state court report Preview upcoming oral arguments in prominent or interesting state court cases.

In June, each state’s highest court will take up a wide range of issues, including an Ohio law that prohibits cities from regulating tobacco products, Delaware’s ban on firearms for adults under 21, and Oklahoma’s effort to eliminate property taxes on homeowners.

Can Oklahoma voters eliminate property taxes on owners’ home bases? — June 2

Brooks vs. ReynoldsOklahoma Supreme Court

The Oklahoma Supreme Court will decide whether a citizen-led proposal to eliminate property taxes for homeowners by 2029 should move forward to collect signatures. The plaintiffs, who include residents on school boards, fire chiefs and local law enforcement, argue that if approved by voters in November, the bill would have a “devastating impact” on Oklahoma by reducing more than $1.5 billion in annual revenue and impacting many government services, especially schools. They argue that the law violates the state constitution, including the tax flat clause that gives incentives to homeowners and certain provisions governing property taxes.

Supporters of the initiative counter that the ballot measure is authorized by another state constitution provision that allows the Legislature to exempt homesteaders from property taxes. They argue that because this article does not explicitly exclude laws enacted through the initiative of the people, it should be interpreted in favor of the initiative of the people, regardless of any ambiguity. The parties also dispute whether subsequent property tax-related reforms invalidate this provision.

See the discussion here.

Can digital tools address California’s court reporter shortage? — June 3

Domestic Violence Appeals Project v. Contra Costa County Superior CourtCalifornia Supreme Court

The California Supreme Court will consider whether a state law that prohibits electronic recording of most types of civil proceedings violates the California Constitution’s due process, equal protection, and separation of powers protections when there are no court-provided reporters to transcribe proceedings and litigants cannot afford to hire private court reporters. The legal aid group’s petition comes amid a widespread shortage of court reporters in the state.

The petitioners, supported by numerous court groups, argue that banning electronic recording in these situations would not only “severely impair” the ability of trial courts to fulfill their obligation to “ensure indigent litigants have full access to the judicial system” recognized in California Superior Court precedent, but also impede the ability of appellate courts to review lower court proceedings. California courts are trying to hire new reporters, and trial courts in Los Angeles, Santa Clara and Contra Costa have directed their clerks to use electronic recordings, regardless of statute, if a judge determines that a hearing involves fundamental rights. But the appellants argue that the law’s broad relief is needed to ensure that low-income litigants have unfettered access to verbatim records in all civil cases, without relying on judges’ discretion.

See the discussion here.

Can Ohio cities regulate vaping? — June 9th

City of Columbus vs. StateSupreme Court of Ohio

The Ohio Supreme Court will consider whether a state law that prohibits cities from regulating tobacco products violates the 1912 Ohio “Home Rule” Amendment, which gives local governments the power to govern so long as their rules do not conflict with “general” state law. Within days of Columbus approving the ban on flavored tobacco sales, the Legislature passed the bill, which ultimately overcame two vetoes from the governor into law. as state court report As covered by , the dispute is part of a trend in states seeking to thwart local efforts to restrict e-cigarette use, especially among young people.

An intermediate court sided with more than 20 Ohio cities challenging the ordinance. The committee determined that because the bill does not contain any affirmative regulations or rules, it is not a “general law” that can block local ordinances under the Home Rule Clause. On appeal, the state argues that the Ohio high court should uphold the 1912 term’s meaning as a law that operates uniformly across the state, like this statute, and abandon the established four-part review of general law used by intermediate courts.

A number of public health groups, including the American Medical Association and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, filed court briefs highlighting the “important role” cities in Ohio and other states have played in protecting against the harms of tobacco.

See the discussion here.

Can Wyoming freeze primary voters’ right to change party? — June 10

malcolm vs grayWyoming Supreme Court

The Wyoming Supreme Court is set to hear a challenge to a law passed in 2023 that would limit so-called “crossover voting.” It prohibits voters from declaring or changing their party affiliation within 96 days of the state’s primary election, a deadline set before candidates can apply to run in the primary. A coalition of voters, former candidates, and retired state legislators is challenging changes based on provisions in the Wyoming Constitution that require “open, free, and equal” elections, protect the “unfettered exercise of suffrage,” and limit the terms of “political rights.”

The parties are asking the high court to resolve what test should be applied to the bill. Plaintiffs argue that the trial court correctly recognized the right to vote as fundamental, but erred in adopting a permissive standard of election image similar to a rational basis test. They argue that the letter and “spirit” of state constitutional provisions require rigorous scrutiny, pointing to the Wyoming Superior Court’s statement in a recent abortion ban decision that states fundamental rights invite rigorous scrutiny unless clear constitutional language says otherwise. The Wyoming Secretary of State countered that a rational basis was appropriate because participation in a political party’s nomination process is different from the fundamental right to vote in a general election. He also argues for another state constitutional provision that requires lawmakers to “ensure the purity of elections” and allows a deadline for new party registration to prevent “party raids.”

Listen to the discussion here.

Can Delaware restrict youth gun ownership? — June 10

Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security v. BarneyDelaware Supreme Court

The Delaware Supreme Court will consider whether a state law enacted last year that prohibits adults under 21 from purchasing or possessing firearms and ammunition, with limited exceptions, violates the state’s constitutional right to “keep and bear arms.” The trial court sided with the plaintiffs (the youth, the state National Rifle Association affiliate, and the shooting club) in finding violation. Consistent with the way the Delaware High Court has previously evaluated state constitutional restrictions on gun rights, the trial court applied an intermediate level of scrutiny to this law.

On appeal, all parties challenge the trial judge’s application of that test. The state and the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, a legal group, argue that the court erred in concluding that the law placed a greater burden on older adolescents’ right to self-defense than is reasonably necessary to reduce the disproportionate rate of gun violence in this age group.

Plaintiffs argue that the test itself is wrong following a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling. New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen They argued that gun laws must have historical similarities to satisfy the Second Amendment. They argue that the Delaware high court should adopt its originalist approach to ensure that the state’s constitutional right to arms retains at least as much protection as the federal right. bridge It effectively lifted the floor of Congress through a test that largely ignored government regulations. The states countered that this logic “erroneously confuses the rights granted under each constitution with the means courts use to protect them,” pointing out that federal courts apply: bridge The results are mixed.

See the discussion here.

Was Washington’s transfer of transgender women to male prisons unconstitutional and cruel? — June 23

About Amber Kim’s personal detentionWashington Supreme Court

The Washington Supreme Court will consider whether the state’s transfer of a transgender woman from a women’s prison to a men’s prison violates the state constitution’s provisions against “cruel punishment.” Amber Kim’s petition says that after she revealed she was transgender, corrections officials placed her in a women’s facility to ensure her safety and well-being, but a nonviolent violation forced her back to a men’s prison. She was kept in solitary confinement for nearly two years because she feared she would be sexually assaulted or harassed if she joined the male population.

Kim argues that the intermediate court misapplied the state Supreme Court’s cruel confinement review by denying her petition. That is, whether the conditions of confinement “create an objectively significant risk of serious harm or otherwise deprive the appellant of a fundamental need for human dignity” and are “not reasonably necessary to achieve a legitimate penal purpose.” Kim argues that the harm she would suffer from indefinite solitary confinement, suppression of gender identity, and avoidance of important features such as safety showers in the general prison population would, if properly balanced, “significantly outweigh” the state’s interests. Former correctional officers filed a court brief in support of Kim, citing data showing that transgender women in men’s prisons are “at least 10 times more likely to be sexually assaulted than the average adult prisoner.”

The state responded that Kim’s facility safely houses many other transgender women, that she continues to receive gender-affirming care there, and that correctional staff led by the department’s gender responsive administrator, who is a transgender woman, regularly reviews Kim’s custody status.

See the discussion here.

Sarah Kessler is an advisor and contributing editor. state court report.

Recommended citation: Sarah Kessler, State Court Oral Arguments to Watch for in June, Sᴛᴀᴛᴇ Cᴏᴜʀᴛ Rᴇᴘᴏʀᴛ (June 1, 2026), https://statecourtreport.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/state-court-oral-arguments-watch-june-2

Who will be the next winner after Spirit Airlines? the answer is already obvious

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Spirit Airlines’ closure is reshaping the U.S. airline industry as competitors gain routes, customers and pricing power.

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  • JetBlue Airways and Frontier Airlines are aggressively adding seats, but Spirit Airlines is only replacing about one-fifth of its summer seats.
  • The disappearance of ultra-low-cost airlines is expected to increase average airfares for consumers.
  • At some smaller airports, routes previously served only by Spirit have ceased altogether.

Cruising Altitude is a weekly column about air travel. Have a suggestion for a future topic? Fill out the form or email us at the address at the bottom of this page.

Now that Spirit Airlines is gone, other companies are already rushing to pick up some of the passengers.

When the pioneering ultra-low-cost airline abruptly shut down on May 2, the foundation was laid for a realignment of the U.S. airline industry.

Most other U.S. airlines have not only stepped in to help the Spirit’s stranded passengers. The closure also created an opportunity for airlines to acquire new routes and customers on a more permanent basis, and ultimately increase fares (more on this later).

“I don’t know if there was enough time to fully assess how Spirit’s failure would affect the rest of the airline industry, but this definitely suggests increased industry concentration,” said Brett House, an economics professor at Columbia Business School.

While it’s still too early to say exactly what post-Spirit flight in the U.S. will look like in the long term, some trends are already emerging as to which companies are likely to benefit most. Here’s how the industry consolidation is shaping up so far.

Two airlines growing stronger

Shortly after Spirit’s closure, JetBlue Airways and Frontier Airlines took aggressive moves to fill the yellow gap that suddenly appeared in the sky. (Maybe there’s a color theory joke here about blue, green, and yellow all shuffling together, but I digress.)

JetBlue and Frontier had sought to merge with Spirit (separately) in recent years, but Spirit shareholders rejected Frontier’s proposal in favor of JetBlue’s more favorable one, and it was subsequently blocked by the Biden administration.

In the past few weeks, both airlines have tried to make up for some of Spirit’s lost capacity.

JetBlue was able to seriously strengthen its position in Fort Lauderdale, adding nine routes previously served by Spirit at the airport and increasing its capacity share at the hub, where it competed most directly with Spirit, from 22% to 37%, according to aviation analysis firm OAG.

“Over the past year, we’ve increased our daily departures from Fort Lauderdale by more than 75%, and we’re not stopping there. At key moments, we’re stepping up for the communities that have been part of our history since day one and adding services our customers need,” Daniel Schultz, JetBlue’s senior vice president of revenue, network and corporate planning, said in an email. “Our growth in Fort Lauderdale is intentional and built for the long term. We see great opportunity for FLL going forward, and we will continue to invest where JetBlue can make the biggest difference.”

Nevertheless, Fort Lauderdale still experienced a decline in overall production capacity after Spirit’s exit. According to OAG, Spirit and JetBlue combined to send about 638,000 seats out of the airport in April, and JetBlue’s service will approach 426,000 seats by September.

Frontier is also making big moves to grab market share from the former Spirit, according to Cirium, another aviation data analytics company. Cirium said Frontier added 425,000 seats on its former Spirit routes over the summer.

“We have been opportunistically deploying our capabilities in the wake of Spirit’s closure, which has created an opportunity to grow our presence in many markets and introduce more customers to Frontier,” Josh Friar, Frontier’s vice president of network and operational design, told me in an email. “We currently fly on more than 100 routes previously served by Spirit, and are positioned to be the new value airline of choice.”

Still, a big yellow hole remains in this country’s sky.

Spirit’s closure removed 5 million seats from the airline’s network this summer, and competitors only backfilled about 1 million of those seats, according to Cirium.

Higher price for travelers

For consumers, the most frustrating aspect of Spirit’s closure will likely be higher airfares overall. Even if you’ve never flown on a low-cost airline, Spirit’s mere presence has forced other airlines to sell cheaper tickets.

“At the end of the day, it’s going to be negative for consumers,” House said. “Spirit’s exit will make the U.S. airline industry more concentrated and less competitive. … That means, on average, fares will be higher than they would otherwise be.”

However, it remains to be seen whether and to what extent these high prices will drive travelers out of the market. Part of Spirit’s struggles in recent years have been that travelers have become more willing to spend more on travel and pay for more premium aviation experiences. That left the ultra-low-cost carrier struggling to attract passengers with a model focused on bare-bones experiences and lowest prices at a time when travelers were looking for something different.

I’ll be interested to see if sales of other airlines’ basic economy tickets increase as former Spirit customers disperse to other airlines. Still, Frontier and other smaller, ultra-low-cost carriers like Breeze, Avero and Allegiant remain and may be poised for further growth.

“Continued availability of low-fare service across the United States is essential to ensuring consumers have access to affordable flights,” Frontier’s Fryer said. “Beyond the value-driven aviation options offered by low-fare airlines, their presence in the market fosters competition among airlines and reduces the overall cost of aviation for consumers.”

According to AAA, all of this is not only because more Americans are planning to travel this year, but also because oil prices are soaring. As a result of these price hikes and Spirit’s losses, the average domestic airfare this summer is $510, according to data from airline ticket trading website Going. For comparison, the average price for domestic airfare in summer 2025 was $432.

Some small airports stranded

Spirit competes directly with other airlines on many routes, but a handful of smaller airports are now completely closed.

According to OAG, eight of Spirit’s 121 routes are operated exclusively by the carrier, and five of those routes remain out of service.

Those routes are:

  • Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) − Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)
  • ACY – Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)
  • Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL) – San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
  • Arnold Palmer Regional Airport (LBE, near Pittsburgh) − Orlando International Airport (MCO)
  • Key West International Airport (EYW) − FLL

It’s unclear whether other airlines will eventually backfill these routes.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and can be reached at zwichter@usatoday.com.

Trump meets Paxton at the White House after winning Texas Senate Republican primary

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President Donald Trump met with Texas Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton at the White House on Tuesday night.

The meeting comes as Mr. Paxton seeks to solidify Republican support ahead of the November general election after securing the president’s support in a tight party runoff in late May, ultimately defeating incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn.

A photo posted by Paxton on social media shows the Republican candidate standing behind the president at his resolute desk in the Oval Office. In another photo, Paxton is seen posing with the president and Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick with political artwork of his Democratic challenger, state Rep. James Talarico.

“It was an honor to be with President Trump and Dan Patrick today to protect Texas and save America,” Paxton said in the post.

President Trump shares Talarico’s ‘artwork’

President Donald Trump shared an autographed “work of art” with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick during a visit to the Oval Office, according to XPost.

Patrick shared a side-by-side image of Talarico, who has lost a tooth, and Alfred E. Newman, the longtime MAD Magazine mascot known for his signature smile.

“@realDonaldTrump knows how to draw like no one else,” the post read.

Many of the comments on this post did not find this image funny. “As a lifelong Republican, there is nothing more embarrassing for the Republican Party,” one person wrote.

Trump fully supports Paxton, hosts Texas rally for Paxton

Mr. Trump endorsed Mr. Paxton in the final stages of the Republican runoff, with early voting already underway. The president’s endorsement sent shock waves not only in Texas but also on Capitol Hill.

As reported by USA TODAY, the president’s relationship with Senate Republicans was already contentious, but the president’s endorsement of Paxton over the only Senate Republican vote further heightened tensions.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Paxton’s support would make the race in Texas more expensive for Republicans because Paxton’s support is more vulnerable to a Democratic upset than Cornyn’s.

Democrats are celebrating Mr. Paxton’s victory over Mr. Cornyn and believe their candidate, state Rep. James Talarico, could flip the seat. Recent polls after the Republican runoff elections show Talarico leading Paxton 47% to 44% in the U.S. Senate race, just outside the poll’s margin of error.

As the results of the vote are almost finalized, some Republicans are divided on whether to support Paxton, torn between party loyalty and the ongoing controversy surrounding him.

Trump also spoke publicly to Lara Trump on Fox News’ “My View” and said publicly that he plans to campaign for Paxton in Texas.

“I think Ken Paxton is absolutely going to destroy him (Talarico),” President Trump said on Fox News. “I’m going to go ahead and hold a rally for him.”

Mateo Rosiles is a Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and local Texas newspapers. Do you have any news tips for him? Email us at mrosiles@usatodayco.com.

What is PSSD? A 23-year-old woman stated that discontinuing SSRIs resulted in sexual dysfunction

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WASHINGTON — In a lively ballroom at a luxury hotel, Laura Friedman, 23, sat on stage and talked about her sex life. Specifically, sexual dysfunction.

The Vanderbilt University senior explained that after stopping antidepressants, she completely lost sensation in her genitals and experienced what she called “chemical castration.”

She also loses her sense of emotional connection. “I can’t feel the love for my mother. It’s the hardest thing on earth.”

Mr. Friedman’s talk about the “overmedicalization” of mental health riveted the audience at an event hosted by the MAHA Institute, an enthusiast group for Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement.

Other young people who accompanied Friedman said they also faced unexpected challenges from psychiatric medications and SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, a type of antidepressant).

SSRIs can be life-changing for people suffering from mental health issues. There are several types of antidepressants, but health care providers usually make SSRIs the first choice because they tend to have “fewer and milder side effects than other options,” according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Friedman was clearly reluctant to participate and had no intention of becoming a spokesperson for post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD), a condition not officially recognized in the United States. People like Friedman are sounding the alarm.

“I think it’s obvious that I don’t want to be here,” she said. “It feels so humiliating and dehumanizing to share this to a group of strangers, to the press, and inevitably to the Internet. So much so that I am literally sexually dysfunctional and emotionally lobotomyd. This is the complete opposite of who I have always been.”

But she was there to make a certain point. She doesn’t want PSSD to happen to anyone else.

SSRIs have been a major issue in the MAHA movement, including at an event where speakers argued that these drugs are being overprescribed.

According to a 2024 study published in the journal Pediatrics, monthly antidepressant medication rates among young people increased by 66.3% from January 2016 to December 2022 as depression rates rose.

Speakers at the event called for greater emphasis on non-drug treatments for depression, including psychotherapy and lifestyle changes such as improved sleep hygiene, exercise and diet.

But when talk therapy alone doesn’t work (or you don’t have access to this type of support), antidepressants can be an important option for people suffering from depression, OCD, anxiety, and other mental health conditions, but antidepressants should always be closely monitored by a doctor.

What do you need to know about PSSD? Here’s what the experts say.

What is PSSD?

Although the manifestation of sexual dysfunction after SSRIs varies from patient to patient, doctors who study the condition say it is primarily defined by the onset or persistence of sexual dysfunction after SSRI use.

“Most of us expect that if we take a drug and experience side effects, we can stop the drug and the side effects will go away, but the opposite is true,” explains Dr. Kenneth Peters, chief of urology at Corewell Health in southeastern Michigan and medical director of the Beaumont Center for Women’s Urology and Pelvic Health.

Peters said side effects such as genital numbness, difficulty getting an erection and difficulty reaching orgasm may increase even more after the drug is stopped.

And it’s not necessarily just sexual side effects. Peters said some patients may lose interest in things they used to love, struggle with emotional connection, or experience physical symptoms such as changes in bladder or bowel function.

“As a clinician, this is surprising,” he says.

According to Dr. Irwin Goldstein, chief physician, co-founder and director of the San Diego Society of Sexual Medicine, for many years the explanation for this change was the original mood problem for which SSRIs were prescribed. However, he explained that his research has discovered physiological changes in people who experience PSSD, including neurological function and tissue damage.

Peters points out that people who have stopped non-psychiatric medications for skin health or hair loss have also reported similar problems.

In 2019, PSSD was approved by the European Medicines Agency, a regulatory authority similar to the US Food and Drug Administration. Peters explained that similar recognition does not exist in the United States, and there are no formal diagnostic criteria.

How MAHA is involved in the SSRI debate

Shortly after RFK Jr. became health secretary, President Donald Trump directed his administration to assess the “threat” posed to children by prescribing SSRIs, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and stimulants.

An executive order aimed at ending “over-reliance on drugs and treatments” has sparked panic among people who rely on SSRIs and other psychiatric drugs to manage their mental health.

“Literally, I wouldn’t be alive today without my SSRIs,” one user posted on X in response to the executive order. “If they take away these drugs it will cause a mass tragedy,” another X user wrote.

President Kennedy, for example, has shared conspiracy theories that falsely link antidepressants to school shootings, while promoting the idea that he is focused on “gold standard science.”

But is there a way to balance raising awareness of PSSD while making SSRIs available to people who need them? Experts think so.

“We don’t want to eliminate drugs; we want to make that clear,” Goldstein said. “But we don’t want to cause this PSSD issue. This is a separate bad condition.”

How common is PSSD?

Approximately 1 in 6 Americans takes SSRIs. Goldstein said the percentage of people who develop PSSD appears to be very small, but difficult to estimate.

“Not everyone who takes drugs will experience these problems,” he says. “It could be 1%, it could be 4%. We just don’t know what to make of it.”

But Goldstein said the state shouldn’t lose credibility just because the percentage is small, missing or not publicly recognized.

Peters went a step further and said it’s dangerous not to listen to patients who are going through this kind of experience. In an international survey on PSSD he conducted with Corewell Health, the majority of participants said they sought medical care for their symptoms, but more than 50% of the clinicians they consulted ignored them, he said.

Are there treatment options?

For some people, symptoms of PSSD subside within months or years, but for others they can be “forever,” Peters said, adding that there is no formal treatment.

“I think most patients get their medical information from subreddit accounts, where people who have tried millions of different things talk about their experiences,” he said, adding that people have researched everything from hormone manipulation to electrical stimulation. Health-related subreddits can help many people feel heard, but it’s important to remember that not all health information on social media or the internet at large can be trusted.

While a solution is a long-term goal, he and Goldstein hope that short-term research can identify people most at risk for PSSD.

“The issue is funding,” Peters said, adding that most of the PSSD research that exists is funded by patients. He hopes the grant he’s applying for from the National Institutes of Health will lead to further research.

In the meantime, experts and advocates are calling for more information about the potential risks to be shared with patients prescribed these drugs.

“We also don’t need to scare people away from taking something that could potentially save their lives,” Peters said.

Silver fell 1.96% on June 3, 2026

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How much is silver worth per ounce today?

As of 12:05 PM ET on June 3, 2026, the spot price of silver is $73.44 per oz., according to the latest market data. This is a decline of 1.96% and $1.47 from the previous closing price of $74.91.

One year ago, silver was trading at $34.68 per ounce. This means that the price has increased by 111.80% in the last 12 months.

Key levels to look out for this week:

52 week low: $34.51

52 week high: $117.39

Silver is trading 37.44% below its 52-week high. The stock is 112.82% above its 52-week low.

What is the historical price of silver?

today 1 week ago 1 month ago 1 year ago
$73.44 $77.43 $75.58 $34.68

A week ago, silver was trading at $77.43 per ounce. Since then, the price has fallen by 5.14%.

A month ago, silver was trading at $75.58 per ounce. Since then, the price has fallen by 2.82%.

USA TODAY is an independent publisher and not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or trading advice. We recommend that you seek independent advice from a qualified professional regarding any specific financial decisions you may make. Trading commodities, futures, and options involves significant risk of loss. Individual investment results may vary. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Prices change rapidly and unpredictably due to factors such as supply/demand, weather, and geopolitical events. Our company assumes no responsibility for any loss or damage arising from the use of the information.

What is driving the price of silver today?

The price of silver is driven by inflation expectations, central bank policy, global economic conditions, and investor demand. The strength of currencies, especially the US dollar, can influence daily prices, as well as physical and industrial demand. For more on the market, read the latest investment news on USA TODAY Money.

What does XAG/USD mean?

XAG/USD is the ticker symbol used to track the spot price of silver in US dollars.

XAG stands for 1 troy ounce of silver and USD stands for US dollar. The estimated price tells you how many dollars it costs to purchase one ounce.

Prices are usually quoted per troy ounce, which is slightly heavier than a standard ounce.

Spot prices reflect real-time market transactions and serve as a benchmark for futures contracts, ETFs, and retail bullion prices.

how to invest in silver

Investing in silver can be done by buying physical coins or bars, buying ETFs that track its price, or investing in mining stocks. Be sure to weigh costs, storage needs, and risk tolerance before making a decision. The retail price of a coin or bar typically includes a premium over the spot price.

Disclaimer: This USA TODAY Money article was automatically generated using live market data from Alpha Vantage. If you think we made a mistake or have feedback, please use this form.

Who won the California gubernatorial election? Too close to call

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California’s crowded 2026 gubernatorial race captivated the nation, but the state’s jungle primary system left many wondering which candidates would appear on the November ballot, and many still have questions the morning after the primary.

As of the morning of June 3, the California gubernatorial race was still too close to call, even though Democratic candidate and climate change activist Tom Steyer continued to fall behind the two leading candidates, Republican Steve Hilton, a Fox News contributor and small business owner, and Democrat Xavier Becerra, a former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.

While the California Secretary of State’s office continues to receive and count late-arriving mail and submitted ballots, major news organizations are opting to suspend campaigning because these late votes could significantly swing the race in the days after primary night.

Unlike other states, California holds open primaries, with the top two candidates advancing to the general election ballot in November.

Going into California’s primary night, people wondered if the Republican candidate could be barred from this November’s election, but as the night wore on, that possibility seemed less likely as Mr. Steyer fell further behind the two leading candidates.

The California Secretary of State’s Office reported as of Wednesday morning that Mr. Hilton had received more than 1.38 million votes, Mr. Becerra had received more than 1.26 million votes, and Mr. Steyer had received more than 979,000 votes.

Either way, both the Hilton and Becerra camps took victory laps late on the first night.

Remarkably, Hilton’s success highlights the aspirations of Californians Calling for change as state faces housing and affordability crisis It became the focus of this year’s gubernatorial election.

“Looks like real change is coming to California,” Hilton said in a June 3 social media post. “If someone is going to take this state back, that’s the plan. Change is coming. We’re heading to Sacramento.”

In a late-night preliminary speech, Hilton emphasized that his campaign started as a “handful of rebels” who believed California had “gone off the rails” and that his leadership would “get it back on track.”

“You see the struggle in your eyes. The struggle of small business owners. The struggle of working class Californians,” Hilton said in his speech. “Young people who don’t see a future in California and think they have to move elsewhere to pursue their dreams of owning a home.”

Meanwhile, Becerra, who had been leading in the polls until the night of the primary, ultimately fell short of expectations, receiving the second-most votes out of more than 60 candidates.

Regardless of his performance, Mr. Becerra remained unfazed by it, celebrating his possible victory in a late speech intended to energize voters on opening night.

“The California dream is alive tonight,” Becerra said in his speech. “Tonight, the people of our great state of California, the greatest country on earth, spoke loud and proud.”

“And while I’m not taking anything for granted, there are still plenty of ballots left to be counted, but it looks like we’re on track for November,” he added.

However, Mr. Steyer did not stop campaigning and announced that he had chosen to wait until the Secretary of State had finished receiving the ballots.

“We’re going to wait until all the votes are counted,” Steyer said at a campaign party in San Francisco. “We’re going to give democracy time to work.”

Things didn’t go well for Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, the other major Republican candidate, who was seen as a strong candidate for governor in early polling results. As of Wednesday morning, Bianco’s campaign had fallen significantly behind with 566,679 votes. Like Mr. Steyer, Mr. Bianco’s campaign did not budge, choosing to wait for more votes to be counted.

On the night of the primary, Democratic candidates San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former U.S. Representative Katie Porter, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced they were withdrawing from the race. All three candidates received less than 5% of the state’s vote in unofficial voting.

“While the gubernatorial campaign ends tonight, our mission has just begun,” Mahan’s campaign told X. “We’ve proven that a better California is possible because we’re doing it right here in San Jose.”

Noe Padilla is a Northern California reporter for USA Today. To contact him, npadilla@usatodayco.comX Follow him at @1NoePadilla or Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social.. Sign up for the TODAY Californian newsletter or follow TODAY Californian on Facebook.

Gold price today on June 3, 2026

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How much is gold worth per ounce today?

As of 8:05 AM ET on June 3, 2026, the spot price of gold is $4,464.08 per oz., according to the latest market data. This was down 0.36% or $16.25 from the previous close of $4,480.33.

One year ago, gold was trading at $3,384.71 per ounce, which represents a 31.89% increase in price over the past 12 months.

Key levels to look out for this week:

52 week low: $3,267.56

52 week high: $5,477.79

Gold is trading 18.51% below its 52-week high. The stock is still 36.62% above its 52-week low.

What is the historical price of gold?

today 1 week ago 1 month ago 1 year ago
$4,464.08 $4,521.76 $4,611.53 $3,384.71

A week ago, gold was trading at $4,521.76 per ounce. Since then, the price has fallen by 1.28%.

A month ago, gold was trading at $4,611.53 per ounce. Since then, the price has fallen by 3.20%.

USA TODAY is an independent publisher and not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or trading advice. We recommend that you seek independent advice from a qualified professional regarding any specific financial decisions you may make. Trading commodities, futures, and options involves significant risk of loss. Individual investment results may vary. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Prices change rapidly and unpredictably due to factors such as supply/demand, weather, and geopolitical events. Our company assumes no responsibility for any loss or damage arising from the use of the information.

What is driving the price of gold today?

The price of gold is driven by inflation expectations, central bank policies, global economic conditions, and investor demand. The strength of currencies, especially the US dollar, can influence daily prices, as well as physical and industrial demand. For more on the market, read the latest investment news on USA TODAY Money.

What is XAU/USD?

XAU/USD is the ticker symbol used to track the spot price of gold in US dollars.

XAU stands for 1 troy ounce of gold and USD stands for US dollar. The estimated price tells you how many dollars it costs to purchase one ounce.

Prices are usually quoted per troy ounce, which is slightly heavier than a standard ounce.

Spot prices reflect real-time market transactions and serve as a benchmark for futures contracts, ETFs, and retail bullion prices.

how to invest in gold

Investing in gold can be done by buying physical coins and bars, buying ETFs that track the price of gold, or investing in mining stocks. Be sure to weigh costs, storage needs, and risk tolerance before making a decision. The retail price of a coin or bar typically includes a premium over the spot price.

Disclaimer: This USA TODAY Money article was automatically generated using live market data from Alpha Vantage. If you think we made a mistake or have feedback, please use this form.

Jimmy Kimmel responds to Donald Trump’s threat on late-night show

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Jimmy Kimmel is undaunted by President Donald Trump’s latest threats against late-night TV.

The comedian was responding to the president suggesting he was going to go after late-night hosts and take credit for canceling Stephen Colbert’s “The Late Show.”

“Shouldn’t the President of the United States be focused on more important things, like finding Milli Vanilli’s replacement for Coachella from Hella on July 4?” Kimmel joked on his June 2 show about the wave of artists dropping out of the Great American State Fair.

“I think Captain Cancleroux might be upset because our show won a Peabody Award on Sunday night,” he continued. “I wasn’t going to mention it because I’m not him, but on Sunday we won the Peabody Award, but it wasn’t the FIFA Peabody Award. It was the real deal.”

In a post on Truth Social on June 1, President Trump boasted that he had “taken out a lot of bad political leaders and pundits” in the past two weeks, including “really stupid Stephen Colbert on CBS,” and suggested other late-night TV hosts would be next. “Three limping late-night talk show hosts remain, including low-rating Bill Maher and his fake ‘Laughter Machine,'” he wrote.

“I don’t know if you’re going to say we’re limping when you hurt your ankle like this, honey,” Kimmel quipped while showing a photo of President Trump’s foot. “Look! It’s like a balloon animal made of sausage links and put on shoes.”

Mr. Trump regularly threatens all late-night TV hosts who have told jokes about him, and Mr. Kimmel is one of Mr. Trump’s most vocal critics. The president also celebrated the cancellation of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” which CBS claimed was due to financial rather than political reasons.

However, the day after Colbert’s last show, Trump posted on Truth Social that “Colbert’s firing from CBS was the ‘beginning of the end’ for a talentless, mean, overpaid, unfunny, and very poorly rated late night TV host. Other less talented hosts will soon follow. May they all rest in peace!”

In April, President Trump called for Kimmel to be fired after the comedian joked that first lady Melania Trump was a “pregnant widow.” But ABC took no action against the comedian, defending the comments as a “very light joke” about “the age difference and the look of joy on her face every time we were together.”

On May 31, Kimmel received a Peabody Award on his late night show. In his speech, he joked that he felt “pretty stupid” accepting the award, saying: “You don’t get an award for telling jokes about the president in America.”

“We have a constitutionally guaranteed right to criticize and satirize our leaders,” he continued. “This is a right that many of us take for granted.”

$500 Social Security cut?

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good morning! I’m Daniel de Visé from Daily Money.

We’ve reported a lot about the projection that the Social Security Trust Fund will be depleted by 2032. Now, Medora Lee reports, a new report estimates how much the average beneficiary stands to lose if the program runs out.

What will older Americans do with their homes?

The oldest Americans own more than one-third of the homes in the United States. Over the next few years, Medora reports, they will need to figure out how to transfer these properties to their heirs.

Do weight loss drugs reduce cancer risk?

Researchers have found that people who take the popular weight loss drug have a lower risk of cancer. Does that mean the drug actually reduces cancer risk?

As Ken Alltucker reports, it’s not that simple.

📰 Other stories you can’t miss 📰

Daniel de Visse covers personal finance for USA TODAY. Daily Money breaks down complex consumer and financial news. Subscribe here.

Harley-Davidson faces new ‘woke’ DEI allegations, calls for boycott

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Nearly two years after Harley-Davidson announced it would scale back its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, activist Robbie Starbuck is back in action, accusing the iconic motorcycle company of breaking its promise to eradicate “wokeness.”

Starbucks led a consumer boycott in 2024 over a variety of “woke” crimes, from hosting LGBTQ+ boot camps to supporting gay and transgender equality laws, and calling on do-or-die Harley buyers to switch brands.

“Harley-Davidson said in a video on social media platform

His main concern is the leadership of Artie Starrs, who took over as Harley-Davidson’s new CEO in October.

“Are you going to bring in a CEO who projects a masculine identity for the brand after a very turbulent period where the brand collapsed and was now seen as weird and woke and weak? The brand’s pro-American identity. Well, maybe not so much,” Starbucks said before accusing Starz of sponsoring an LGBTQ+ golf tournament with a Pride group that raised money for San Francisco Pride and launching anti-racism training when it ran Top Golf. In addition to being an educator, he also serves as the CEO of Pizza Hut.

Starbucks also questioned Starz’s selection of Marcus Fisher, former CEO of Minneapolis-based advertising agency Carmichael Lynch, as chief brand officer, who encouraged increased transgender representation.

“Is this the person who can turn around a brand that has an awakening problem?” Starbucks said.

USA TODAY has reached out to Harley-Davidson for comment.

Starbucks says ‘woke’ allegations will continue

Starbucks was at the forefront of a wave of social media backlash against corporate America’s work on DEI and gay and transgender people in the wake of the 2020 police killing of George Floyd.

He started by targeting heartland companies such as farm equipment maker John Deere and rural retail chain Tractor Supply, whose shoppers tend to be male, rural, and politically conservative, but then expanded his campaign to the nation’s largest companies, including Ford, Lowe’s, and Walmart.

Harley-Davidson was also an early target. “Let’s eliminate the causes of social problems and discord,” Starbuck told the company at the time. “We don’t need a DEI department anymore. No more training for woke people, no more donating to woke causes, no more donating to Pride parades.”

After a two-week social media onslaught, Harley-Davidson responded. The company issued a statement saying it was “saddened by the negative feedback on social media,” said it had not had a DEI department for several months, had no hiring openings, and had stopped pursuing spending goals related to supplier diversity. Going forward, Harley-Davidson also pledged to no longer participate in benchmark metrics used by the Human Rights Campaign to measure how friendly company policies are to LGBTQ+ people.

But on Monday, Starbucks warned the company on X: “You have a lot of explaining to do. We thought you might have learned your lesson from last time.”

When USA TODAY asked for examples of “woke” activities within Harley-Davidson, Starbuck said he would address them immediately. “We have a lot of work to release in the coming weeks,” he told X.

This is Starbucks’ first campaign in a while. When Donald Trump took office for a second term and issued a series of far-reaching executive orders sweeping the federal government and the private sector toward diversity efforts, Starbuck said he began working behind the scenes, negotiating directly with business leaders to reform DEI efforts and making sure companies weren’t reversing concessions they had won.

“We try to be fair to companies by giving them time to correct course after pledging to eliminate woke policies, but Harley-Davidson’s recent adoption makes it clear that they haven’t learned their lesson,” Starbuck told USA TODAY in a statement. “At the end of the day, I’m a megaphone for consumers who feel left behind by brands chasing far-left brownie points. At some point, consumers have to leave behind companies that continue to make decisions that go against their values. For Harley, that time is now. They don’t have another chance.”

Can Americans receive Social Security while living abroad?

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As more Americans move outside the United States, it’s important to know whether they can count on their Social Security benefits.

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A record number of Americans will move abroad in 2025, and the nonpartisan Brookings Institution predicts a steady flow of immigrants will continue this year. In other words, the United States has more people leaving the country than entering the country, creating negative net immigration.

If you’re one of the hundreds of thousands of people who have decided to build a life in a new country, but you receive Social Security in the United States, you may have questions about your benefits. For example, you may wonder whether you will continue to receive benefits, and if so, whether those benefits will change if you leave the continental United States. Here, we answer those questions and more.

Depends on where you’re moving

According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), the U.S. Treasury Department prohibits payments to residents of Cuba or North Korea. If you currently live in one of these countries and have enough credit to qualify for Social Security benefits, you can receive any payments that SSA has withheld when you move to a country where SSA is allowed to send money.

While sending money to Cuba and North Korea is a no-no, SSA generally cannot send money to people residing in these countries unless they qualify for an exception.

  • Azerbaijan
  • belarus
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • tajikistan
  • turkmenistan
  • uzbekistan

If you don’t qualify for an exception, SSA will hold your payment until you move it to a country where it can be remitted.

The reality for most immigrants

The vast majority of migrants do not move to North Korea or Tajikistan. Rather, it is likely to land in places like Costa Rica, Greece, Spain, and Thailand. If that’s the case, you can rely on your Social Security benefits just as you would if you still lived in the United States.

Basic eligibility requirements for US citizens

The rules for receiving Social Security benefits while living abroad are the same as if you were in the United States.

  • Be a U.S. citizen or meet certain residency requirements.
  • Earn the required 40 credits (typically equivalent to 10 years of study).
  • Must be of minimum age to receive benefits.

How to receive payments

There are several ways to receive rewards abroad. They include:

  • US bank account: By linking your US bank account to your new international account, you can access your deposited funds whenever you need them.
  • International direct deposit: It is available in most countries and is a safe way to ensure your funds reach you. With this shipping method, there is no risk of your check being lost or stolen as the currency is automatically converted to the destination country’s currency. International deposits typically arrive on the same schedule as payments in the United States.
  • Payment by check: If direct deposit isn’t available in your country, SSA can also mail you a check, but this method isn’t ideal. Not only do you face the risk of loss or theft, you may also experience international mail delays and your bank may charge you a fee to cash a U.S. government check.

Considering you’ve probably spent years planning for retirement, it’s good to know that you have options if you choose to relocate, and that Social Security is still available when you need it.

The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The Motley Fool is a USA TODAY content partner providing financial news, analysis and commentary designed to help people take control of their financial lives. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

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View primary results for Montana House and Senate elections

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June 2nd was a crowded election day, with primary elections held across the country.

The winners of Montana’s U.S. House and Senate primaries will be on the ballot in November’s midterm elections. The midterm elections come as President Donald Trump and the Republican Party seek to maintain control of the U.S. Capitol. One notable race is Montana’s 1st Congressional District, which is open after Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke announced he would not seek a fourth term due to health reasons.

According to the Associated Press and CNN, here are the results of primary races held in Montana on June 2 ahead of the fall contest:

Montana House Primary Results

District 1

  • Republican: Aaron Flynt (50% of the vote) defeated Christy Jacobsen (23.6% of the vote), Al Olszewski (19.8% of the vote), and Ray Curtis (6.6% of the vote) with an estimated vote count of 95%.
  • Democrats: This race had not yet been called as of early Wednesday morning. Sam Forstag leads with 37.3% of the vote and an estimated 91% of votes counted.

district 2

  • Republican: Incumbent Rep. Troy Downing won uncontested.
  • Democrats: Brian Miller (55.8% of the vote) defeated Sam Ruz (26.9% of the vote) and Jonathan Windy Boy (17.2% of the vote) with an estimated 94% vote count.

Montana Senate Primary

One of Montana’s two Senate seats is vacant after Republican Sen. Steve Daines, 63, announced he would not seek reelection in the November midterm elections. Shortly after Daines resigned, Trump endorsed Montana U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme.

  • Republican: Kurt Alma (76.3% of the vote) defeated Lee Calhoun (14.1% of the vote) and Charles Walking Child (9.6% of the vote) with an estimated vote count of 95%.
  • Democrats: Alani Bankhead (43.7% of the vote) defeated Riley Neal (32.9% of the vote), Michael Black Wolf (13.2% of the vote), Christopher Kehoe (6.4% of the vote), and Michael Hammer (3.9% of the vote) with an estimated vote count of 91%.

Michael Jackson’s Netflix documentary contains shocking revelations

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Here’s what we learned about the pop star’s 2005 trial ‘Michael Jackson: The Verdict’ from child pornography and lewd nickname allegations.

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As Michael Jackson biopics continue to rack up box office success, a creepy new documentary series is set to revisit one of the icon’s darkest chapters.

“Michael Jackson: The Verdict” (available on Netflix) is a three-part documentary that examines Jackson’s 2005 criminal trial in which he was accused of sexually abusing 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo. The singer was ultimately acquitted of all charges, with jurors claiming there was insufficient evidence.

“Verdict” features interviews with lawyers, journalists and people close to Jackson. Also included is sheriff’s footage of Arvizo’s interviews with officers and law enforcement agents who raid Jackson’s Neverland Ranch home in California.

USA TODAY has reached out to Jackson’s estate for comment.

Here are some of the most shocking revelations in the new movie.

Michael Jackson allegedly gave boys degrading nicknames

Vincent Amen, one of the documentary’s main characters, worked for Jackson in 2002 and was tasked with caring for the Alvizo family, who returned to the Neverland Ranch to weather the media storm.

At one point, Amen pulls out a series of old Polaroid photos he had kept from Neverland. All featured Gavin’s mother Janet and younger brother Starr. Janet captioned one of the photos: “Dear Michael, we are grateful that you are our family. Nothing can undo what God has put together. We love you.”

Starr, meanwhile, handwritten another caption, writing: “I love you, Dad, Michael. Your son, Blowhole.”

“These are the nicknames Michael gives the boys,” Amen says.

Mr. Jackson and his close friend allegedly ordered child pornography.

At the end of episode 1, Amen explains how many of his associates had their homes searched following Jackson’s arrest. Ms. Jackson’s longtime friend and assistant Frank Cascio (also known as Frank Tyson) is said to have cleaned the house of everything that came from the Neverland Ranch.

Amen claims Tyson gave her a Nike bag as a gift. Suspicious about what was inside, Armen apparently filmed himself opening the bag, which the documentary says contained an obscene and illegal magazine.

“I flipped through it and there was a Sharpie going around the video ordering section,” Amen said. “Someone wanted these videos and circled what they wanted. These videos are of children naked. Some are with families, some are just naked children.

“I confronted Frank,” Amen continues. “I said, ‘Frank, what is this magazine? … There’s a circle around a video of naked children.’ He says, ‘That’s just a phase that Michael and I went through.’ He circled the video he wanted and I ordered it. That was the stage we went through. ”They were watching it together. When I heard that, I couldn’t believe it. ”

According to the title card at the end of episode 1, Tyson could not be reached for comment from the filmmakers.

Jackson allegedly spent “several days” with teenage boys during Neverland attack

Jackson was not in Neverland when his home was raided by the FBI, sparking a media uproar about his mysterious whereabouts. According to investigative journalist Diane Dimond, who reported on the incident, the pop star was allegedly hiding out in Las Vegas in hopes of blowing up.

“Sources told me that he would hole up in this villa, wear colorful dashiki muumu clothes, open the door, leave just enough to bring in food, and then slam the door,” Dimond claims in the documentary. “And he’s throwing wild parties. There were cigarette burns on the leather couches and chairs, empty liquor bottles on every table. And this is where Michael Jackson was staying for several days, entertaining a group of young teenage boys who all spoke German.”

Jackson’s drug abuse after his arrest was said to be “astronomical”

Jackson turned himself in to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department two days after the Neverland attack. The singer was photographed but released on $3 million bail.

In the days and weeks that followed, “he was under extreme stress,” defense attorney Mark Geragos said in the documentary. “All of a sudden, what was theoretical became reality. I just watched him collapse, literally collapse. The substance intake was just astronomical. There was a time when I actually saw him on the floor in the fetal position, and I thought, ‘What should I do?’ I mean, I don’t want his death to be in my hands because of my inaction.

“It was a scary time for him and for everyone around him,” Geragos continues. “We were really concerned about whether he would be able to withstand the challenge both physically and mentally.”

“Verdict” provides a glimpse into the juror’s contradictory thinking

Most of the second episode focuses on Gavin’s testimony during the trial. On the witness stand, Jackson’s lawyer, Tom Mesereau, said the boy was belligerent and upset, and Tom Mesereau reportedly tried to poke holes in Gavin’s testimony and continued to scream at the boy.

“He’s a kid, and I really wanted to hear what he had to say,” Melissa Herold, also known as Juror No. 8, said in the document. “But when Mr. Mesereau stands up and puts everything in order, he’s like, ‘Oh, sure, that makes more sense.'”

In “Verdict,” Herald and others in the courtroom recall how prosecutors presented Bashir’s documentary in its entirety as evidence. Many of the jurors seemed upset by Gavin’s appearance in the film. A section featuring Jackson’s music had some people shaking their heads and dancing in their seats.

“Would I let my children sleep in the same room as someone so famous? No,” Herold said. “But I thought Martin Bashir was trying to trap Michael Jackson into saying the wrong thing to cover up the fact that it wasn’t there.”

Jackson was said to have been ‘terrified’ by the judge’s threats.

The documentary details how Jackson was hospitalized after falling in the shower the night before Gavin’s testimony, and how Jackson’s security chief, Kelly Anderson, was allegedly given painkillers “enough to calm an elephant” in the series.

Because he was late for court the next day, the judge revoked Jackson’s bail and ordered that a warrant be issued for his arrest if he did not arrive at court within an hour. Jackson and his team raced down the highway at speeds of 90 miles per hour to get to the courthouse on time.

“Michael was frightened, upset and beside himself,” Jackson family attorney Brian Oxman said in the documentary. “He thought his whole life was evaporating.”

Jackson allegedly received death threats and lashed out about his accusers.

In episode 2, Anderson details the chaos of accompanying Jackson to court day after day. Despite major safety concerns, the singer preferred to keep his car windows open to greet fans.

“We did a threat assessment and found out there were some idiots saying they were going to kill him,” Anderson said in the film. “When you put yourself out there to people who say they’re going to kill you, they obviously can. But he was like, ‘But the fans.’

Anderson also said she saw Jackson furious on the drive back to Neverland. The Grammy winner is said to have called Bashir a “devil” who was part of a “conspiracy” to destroy him. Jackson is also said to have punched the car seat multiple times after Gavin’s testimony, enraged that the boy had accused him of such “terrible behavior.”

Is Transfer by Death Deed Right for Your Home? Things to Consider

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Experts say America’s oldest residents still own more than a third of the country’s homes, but they need to face their own mortality and quickly decide how to transfer their assets to their heirs.

Baby boomers and older adults make up only 18% of the U.S. population, but they control an astounding 34.1% of the value of the housing stock, accounting for 29.6 million homes and a total home value of $13.8 trillion, according to an analysis of census data by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

With so much at stake, estate planning experts are urging seniors to think carefully about the most efficient way to transfer what is often their largest and most valuable asset to their heirs. Over the past few decades, Transfer on Death Deeds (TODDs) have gained popularity for their simplicity and low cost, but depending on where you live, they may not be available to everyone. Additionally, because estate planning is always very personal, experts say TODD may not be right for everyone.

“Every family is different,” says Los Angeles-based attorney Michael Chua. “They need to look at their assets and decide whether to use a TODD or a trust.”

What is Todd?

A TODD is a simple document that allows real property, such as a home or land, to be transferred to a designated beneficiary upon the property owner’s death. These are easy and inexpensive to do, and all you need to do is fill out a form, sign it, and record it in the county where the property is located.

Importantly, this allows you to avoid lengthy and potentially costly probate and quickly transfer your property to your heirs.

Missouri first adopted TODD in 1989. According to NOLO.com, a legal self-help platform and publisher, more than 30 states currently offer TODD or a version of it.

Is TODD too good to be true?

Experts say TODD may be suitable for many Americans who don’t have large or complex estates.

“It’s perfect for smaller properties,” said Don Ford, an attorney with Ford & Bergner LLP. “They avoid probate and are less complex than trusts.”

Corey Krueger, managing partner at Hensley & Krueger, said simple real estate without diversified assets can also benefit. He says that if you only have a home and financial accounts (such as brokerage accounts, 401(k)s, checking accounts, savings accounts, etc.), just naming the TODD for your home and the beneficiary for your other financial accounts is enough and could save you a lot of money.

Lawyers say there is no cost to adding a beneficiary to a financial account, and setting up a TODD can cost hundreds of dollars, much less than a trust. Setting up a trust can cost thousands of dollars, plus ongoing management fees.

But TODD has some significant drawbacks, real estate lawyers said.

“TODD is a targeted measure and is only intended for transfer in case of death. It does not take into account anything else,” Chua said. For example, if the mother is alive but incapacitated, the heirs legally own nothing and have no right to manage the home.

“TODD assumes that nothing will happen to mom and dad and that if they die side by side, the house will belong to one child, so there will be no conflict,” he says.

Also, if your heirs have unpaid debts, TODD cannot protect your home from creditors. Because TODD transfers property to an individual, “the house is in that individual’s name and creditors can go after it,” Krueger said.

Who should not use TODD?

Experts say families with large estates and various assets should probably consider trusts, especially if they value flexibility. Trusts also avoid probate but allow for changes in your life.

Trusts allow you to plan for incapacity. Lawyers say they can name a successor or co-trustee to manage the trust and its assets for their benefit.

A trust can specify detailed inheritance instructions and conditions that cover situations such as multiple beneficiaries, specific percentages for each heir, or the death of a beneficiary. You can also update it to account for changes in your life situation, such as divorce, marriage, or childbirth.

Essentially, “TODD is a surgical tool for the very specific purpose of avoiding probate, but it’s not very useful outside of that,” Chua said. “Trusts are a whole toolbox that can address many issues that can arise.”

Medora Lee is USA TODAY’s money, markets and personal finance reporter. Please contact us at mjlee@usatoday.com. Subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday.

View New Mexico Governor, House, and Senate primary election results

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New Mexico voters cast their ballots on Tuesday, June 2, in the U.S. House, Senate, and gubernatorial primaries.

The election comes in a month packed with races to set the ballot for the fall midterm elections. And the stakes are high. Republicans want to maintain a narrow majority in Congress, while Democrats are keen to flip seats in the midterm election cycle.

According to the Associated Press and CNN, the results of the New Mexico primary held ahead of the November midterm elections are as follows:

New Mexico House of Representatives Primary Election Results

District 1

  • Republican: Ndidiamaka Okpaleke won uncontested.
  • Democratic Party: Incumbent Congresswoman Melanie Ann Stansbury won uncontested.

district 2

  • Republican: Greg Cunningham (84.6% of the vote) defeated Jose Orozco (15.4% of the vote) with an estimated vote count of 97%.
  • Democratic Party: Incumbent Congressman Gabriel Vazquez won uncontested.

district 3

  • Republican: Martin Ruben Zamora won uncontested.
  • Democratic Party: Incumbent Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez won uncontested.

New Mexico Senate Primary Results

  • Republican: Larry E. Marker won uncontested.
  • Democratic Party: Incumbent Senator Ben Ray Luján (84.2% of the vote) defeated Matt Dodson (15.8%) with an estimated vote count of 97%.

New Mexico gubernatorial primary election results

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, who has served since 2019, is not seeking reelection because the state restricts governors from serving more than two consecutive terms.

  • Republican: With an estimated vote count of 97%, Greg Hull (47% of the vote) defeated Doug Turner (36.9% of the vote) and Duke Rodriguez (16.1% of the vote).
  • Democrats: Deb Haaland (72.3% of the vote) defeated Sam Bregman (27.7% of the vote) with an estimated vote count of 97%.

Exclusive Patriot Front leaked documents show growing presence

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One of the nation’s largest white supremacist groups is rapidly expanding, adding hundreds of members in 49 states over the past two years. Internal documents leaked to USA TODAY show an organized recruiting effort facilitated by a step-by-step manual and a network of fight clubs where members meet to register new employees.

The files, provided by sources within Patriot Front, offer a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the group as it accelerates its growth. Known for its highly choreographed rallies, including lines of identically dressed men wearing blue shirts, chinos, and white face coverings holding American flags, the group has used disciplined optical techniques to increase its reach and profile nationwide.

A USA TODAY analysis of the group’s 72-page roster and other documents it obtained revealed the following:

  • As of early 2026, the group has more than 540 members and covers every state except Hawaii.
  • Since its establishment in 2018, it has approximately doubled in size every year, and over the past two years has seen a rapid increase in more than half of new members.
  • It is affiliated with dozens of “active clubs” known for young white supremacists to practice mixed martial arts and meet together.
  • The group closely controls its propaganda and marketing, following several guides that members must strictly follow.

And the Patriot Front has plans to continue growing rapidly.

In internal communications provided in the leak, the Texas-based group’s leader, 27-year-old Thomas Rousseau, urges members to get more involved, stay healthy and continue his relentless campaign of white supremacist propaganda. He is calling for 600 members by July 4, 2026.

“This is a chosen and dedicated people, far exceeding their domestic contemporaries,” Rousseau wrote. “These teams need dedicated members. Members who are willing to work for the cause, not just fight.”

This secret organization portrays itself as simply patriotic and fighting for “traditional” American values. But the documents obtained by USA TODAY provide new evidence of the intentions and future direction of the organization, which, as one of its applicants wrote, “works to secure a future for white children.”

“White supremacists are tired of seeing their homeland raped and pillaged by foreign invaders,” another Patriot Front candidate wrote in his application for membership.

USA TODAY is not identifying the source of the documents due to concerns for their personal safety. The Patriot Front did not respond to requests for comment. Indeed, the group publicly shies away from violence, and documents provided to USA TODAY include instructions for members to specifically avoid violent or aggressive confrontations.

“Suggestions or actions that might suggest, encourage, or advocate active violence by members themselves, or that encourage violence in others, are prohibited,” one document reads.

Dozens of Patriot Front members arrested while protesting the 2022 Pride Parade in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, have been charged with conspiracy to commit a riot. Five people were ultimately convicted. Other members are facing criminal damage charges for allegedly defacing the Pride mural at Olympia Washington and a monument in Richmond, Va., commemorating Arthur Ashe, the first black man to win singles tennis championships at Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and the Australian Open.

“The Patriot Front is the most active white supremacist group we track,” said Jeff Tyshauser, a senior research analyst at the Southern Poverty Law Center who has studied the organization since its founding. “What you have is internal documents of a very secretive white supremacist group, and the more we can get some documents about what’s going on within that group, the better we can inform the community about what’s going on inside this hate group.”

A new frontier: active clubs

One of the documents provided to USA TODAY is a list of “active clubs” across the country affiliated with the Patriot Front. Some clubs are listed in multiple states, for a total of at least 23 clubs across 32 states.

Clubs are essentially small groups of young men who organize online, meet in person for meetups, and train, spar, practice mixed martial arts, and other outdoor activities in the gym or outdoors.

The document suggests that the Patriot Front is appealing to these groups and seeking to forge alliances with them. It lists current club leaders and friendly Patriot Front members, as well as contacts within the club to approach.

The extremist group was founded days after a deadly 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, by former members of the neo-Nazi group Vanguard America.

Members of the group participate in demonstrations several times a year, which typically draw at least 100 participants. Recent rallies have made headlines in Washington, D.C., Kansas City, Des Moines and other cities, including a Memorial Day weekend protest in Virginia Beach. At these protests, Patriot Front members wear matching chinos, blue button-down shirts, and white face gaiters. They carry American flags as well as banners and flags with the group’s logo.

“No one has rebranded themselves as successfully as the Patriot Front,” said Carla Hill, vice president of investigations and research at the Anti-Defamation League’s Center on Extremism, which monitors the group. “They’re very good at optics. They have everything planned out in advance, they dress alike, their colors are consistent. Everything is planned out.”

Documents provided to USA TODAY reveal how organized and disciplined Patriot Front leaders are regarding their “optics.”

A multi-page PDF distributed internally tells Patriot Front members exactly how to behave in public, what shirts to wear at protests (work shirts with two breast pockets, rather than dress shirts with only one breast pocket), how to identify themselves online, and exactly how to share posts about their activities.

The document often reads more like a corporate compliance manual than the vitriolic platform of a more “traditional” white supremacist hate group.

The General Guidelines for Conduct state that “activists are at all times representatives of the organization, and in no circumstances are there exceptions for ‘personal’ or ‘informal’ situations.”

Tischauser, who authored a report last year linking the Patriot Front to the Active Club Network, said the Patriot Front has a reputation among white supremacists as a breeding ground for “Federal Bureau of Investigation” agents. As a result, the group has forged a new path in its recruitment efforts, he said. It is said to be an active club.

“The Patriot Front needs to use active clubs to get them involved in the movement,” he said. “It provides them with plausible deniability, and it also provides them with a path to an American conservative movement that doesn’t feature patriots.”

Patriot Front’s nationwide propaganda efforts exposed

You may have seen Patriot Front stickers, flyers, and banners in your neighborhood without even realizing it.

This propaganda is not far from what we see from brands that emphasize American patriotism. Using the fixed colors of red, white, and blue and incorporating the Patriot Front logo, flyers often use patriotic rhetoric like “America First” to appeal, along with images of strong-jawed, broad-shouldered white men.

Other examples use slogans like “Take America Back” and “Not Stolen. Conquered” to get closer to the Patriot Front’s true white supremacist ideology. The group is also openly anti-Semitic, with members holding banners at events that read “Zionist Opposition to Government.”

The Patriot Front has been responsible for distributing thousands of pieces of propaganda in recent years, and documents provided to USA TODAY show how organized and controlled the effort is.

The document includes guides on how and where to put up large posters promoting the group, including guides on how to make graffiti stencils and how to mix flour and water to make a flour paste to stick the posters on.

Another document details how to make Patriot Front banners, right down to how to tie the knots that secure the canvas.

Significantly, the document claims that members of the Patriot Front will only use propaganda containing slogans, logos, and images created by the group’s innermost leadership and approved by Rousseau himself.

“They’re trying to attract the widest possible audience, so they’re sending a patriotic message in that direction,” says researcher, author, and scholar JM Berger, co-author of a seminal 2020 study on Patriot Front propaganda efforts. “They’re trying to get people just by saying, ‘Hey, would you like to join the Nazi party?'” They’d say, “No.”

“Our mission is a radical reset of this country as we see it today – a return to the traditions and virtues of our forefathers,” the Patriot Front website says.

Although the word “white” does not appear in the manifesto, leaked messages and years of research on Rousseau and several other members of the group have allowed experts to establish the Patriot Front’s true goals across the board.

Despite all the restrictions on propaganda, conduct, and propaganda, researchers have known for years what Patriot Front leaders and members actually think and want. The leak of thousands of internal messages and audio and video recordings between Patriot Front members released by media group Unicorn Riot in 2022 revealed a true picture of the group’s inner workings.

And the leak to USA TODAY provides further evidence of the group’s careful misrepresentation, SPLC researchers said.

“I have no doubt that the Patriot Front is a white supremacist group trying to build a white ethnic state,” he said. “Leaked messages show that Patriotic Front members worship Hitler, joke about the Holocaust, use racial slurs, and are very willing to psychologically traumatize non-white groups. They are very comfortable being white supremacists in private.”

Will Carless covers extremism and emerging issues for USA Today and is host of Extremely Normal.

Will your monthly income be reduced by $500? That’s what Social Security recipients face.

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Social Security recipients will lose an average of $500 a month in benefits if the program’s trust funds are depleted within seven years, as predicted, according to a new analysis.

For the past 16 years, the cost of Social Security’s retirement program has exceeded the amount it receives from payroll taxes, forcing it to draw down its trust fund reserves to make up the shortfall. If nothing changes, the retirement trust fund will be depleted in 2032, according to the Social Security Administration Board.

At that point, everyone’s benefits could fall by 24%, the Committee for a Responsible Budget estimates. Nationally, this equates to an average loss of $500 a month, more than the average retired household spends on groceries each month, the report said. According to the 2024 Consumer Expenditure Survey, households with people 65 and older spent an average of $5,251 on home food in 2024, or $438 per month. Adjusted for inflation, this figure would be worth $461 in 2026, according to the CRFB.

“No state is immune from the potentially devastating impact of bankruptcy,” the CRFB warned in its report.

How many people will be affected?

Nearly 70 million Americans, or about 1 in 5 people, receive Social Security benefits. This includes retirees, surviving spouses, and dependents.

The CFRB estimates that between 10% and 23% of each state’s population will be affected.

Which states will be the largest?

Beneficiaries in 29 states will see an even steeper reduction than the average $500, according to the CRFB.

According to that, the top 10 losers are as follows:

  • Connecticut $556
  • New Jersey $554
  • New Hampshire $553
  • Delaware $549
  • Maryland $541
  • Washington $531
  • Minnesota $530
  • Massachusetts $527
  • Michigan $523
  • Utah $523

Which states will affect the most people?

According to the CRFB, 10 to 23 percent of each state’s population will be affected by Social Security benefits cuts.

The states with the highest percentage of residents facing benefit cuts are:

  • Maine 22.9%
  • West Virginia 22.4%
  • Vermont 22.0%
  • Delaware 21.1%
  • Montana 21.0%
  • New Hampshire 21.0%
  • South Carolina 20.6%
  • Wisconsin 20.2%
  • Michigan 19.8%
  • Pennsylvania 19.8%

How might the state’s economy be affected?

If Social Security benefits were cut by the current 24%, the CFRB estimates it would amount to $345 billion this year, or 1.1% of gross domestic product (GDP).

According to the CFRB, the impact on individual states ranged from 0.2% to 1.9% of GDP, with 40 states experiencing cuts of more than 1% of GDP. States with aging populations and low per capita incomes will be hardest hit, the report said.

The top 10 most affected states are:

  • West Virginia 1.9%
  • Mississippi 1.8%
  • Vermont 1.8%
  • South Carolina 1.7%
  • Maine 1.7%
  • Michigan 1.6%
  • Montana 1.6%
  • Arkansas 1.6%
  • Alabama 1.6%
  • Idaho 1.5%

“With less than seven years until Social Security is projected to fail, policymakers need to enact program changes as soon as possible to protect against this scenario,” the CFRB said.

Medora Lee is USA TODAY’s money, markets and personal finance reporter. Please contact us at mjlee@usatoday.com. Subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday..