Senate spares Biden humiliating US default by raising debt ceiling

A RAPPER is taking aim at a US chain store in protest at its Pride Month merchandise through his song which has topped the charts. Forgiato Blow, a Donald Trump supporter, released the track in the wake of protests over the range.

Prominent displays this year have included onesies and rompers for newborn babies along with apparel for children of all ages. Female-style swimsuits that can be used to “tuck” male genitalia led to a backlash on social media.

However, according to the firm, which has 2,000 stores in the US, there has been an increase in confrontations between customers and employees, and incidents of merchandise being thrown on the floor. Its value fell $10billion (£8billion) in 10 days at the end of May.

Forgiato Blow, real-name Kurt Jantz, styles himself as the “Mayor of MAGAville” and in the accompanying video wears a red baseball hat in support of the former president.

In the video, surreptitiously filmed in a Target store, he and fellow rappers ride around in trolleys and explore merchandise. The lyrics include: “They’re targeting your kids … this agenda gotta stop and you know we’re gonna win.”

In a recent interview Blow had claimed his song was being unfairly restricted on iTunes. Last week, Target confirmed that, in some of its stores in Southern states, it has moved Pride merchandise from the front to the back due to “volatile circumstances” and confrontations involving shoppers.

An employee at a store in Arkansas said: “We had swimsuits in the front but now they are in a random area in the back. We started shifting the merchandise.” Pride Month is held in June

US Editor

REPUBLICANS and Joe Biden both claimed victory yesterday as the US avoided a catastrophic default by agreeing to raise the debt ceiling.

It followed weeks of negotiations and the deal was sealed just days before the country was set to run out of money to and Target rolled out its Pride Collection at the start of May, including 2,000 products such as clothing, books, music and home furnishings. The items include “gender fluid” mugs and books for children aged two to eight titled

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In a statement Target said: “Since introducing this year’s collection, we’ve experienced threats impacting our team members’ sense of safety and wellbeing while at work,

“Given these volatile circumstances, we are making adjustments to our plans, including removing items that have been at the centre of the most significant confrontational behaviour.”

However, Gavin Newsom, the California governor, has accused Target of “selling out the LGBTQ+ community to extremists.” He said recently: “This isn’t just a couple of stores in the South. There is a systematic attack on the gay community happening across the country. Wake up America. This doesn’t stop here. You’re black? You’re Asian? You’re Jewish? You’re a woman? You’re next.” Rachelle Lefevre, who starred in the

films, attacked Target for moving its Pride merchandise. She said: “I came in here two days ago and my seven-year-old, who’s non-binary, saw it and said, ‘Look, Mom, it’s Pride look, they’re going to celebrate me’. I can’t bring them here any more, at least for the entire month.”

It follows a backlash against Bud Light, after brewer Anheuser-Busch promoted the beer with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

A Target insider told Fox News it was “terrified of a Bud Light situation” and that staff were in a “very difficult position”, adding: “It’s the first time in our company’s history that they question Target’s commitment.” pay its bills on Monday. The last time the US came as close to default was 2011.

The new Fiscal Responsibility Act will extend the government’s ability to borrow while cutting federal spending.

It was passed by 63 votes to 36 in the Senate and went to Mr Biden to sign.

Mr Biden said: “No one gets everything they want in a negotiation but make no mistake, this bipartisan agreement is a big win for our economy and the American people.” The US spends more money than it collects from tax so it borrows through government bonds.

Eighty years ago it placed a limit on how much debt could be built up, and that ceiling has been raised more than 100 times. It is currently $31.5trillion (£25.3trillion). This year, Republicans sought spending cuts in return for agreeing to raise it. They argued that Mr Biden was recklessly overspending ahead of the 2024 election.

Mr Biden wants to address the debt with tax increases on the wealthy and corporations, while Republicans have ruled out tax increases.

Kevin McCarthy, the Republican House Speaker, said it was a big victory but hardliners on the Right argued that he had made too many concessions on spending cuts.

The deal was nearly derailed as some Republicans were angered at military spending rising less than inflation.

However, a commitment was made to have a separate bill which would include providing money for Ukraine’s defence against the Russian invasion.

Janet Yellen, the US Treasury secretary, said: “This legislation protects the full faith and credit of the United States and preserves our financial leadership, which is critical to our economic growth and stability.”