The Latest: Johnson attempts to advance Trump's massive tax break bill

Despite risks that President Donald Trump’s multitrillion-dollar tax breaks package could stall due to conservative holdouts, House Speaker Mike Johnson and his GOP leadership team appeared confident that they will be able to stick to their schedule and shore up Republican support for final passage before Memorial Day.

Next steps are highly uncertain. As evening hours set in, the upbeat tone stood at odds with the unwieldy scene at the Capitol. The Rules Committee has been grinding through a marathon session, passing its 18th hour. Another Republican, Tennessee Rep. John Rose, announced his opposition to the GOP bill as Democrats use all available tools to press their opposition.

Here's the latest:

Democrats hold rally denouncing billionaires as GOP negotiates tax and spending plan

House Democrats attended a rally just outside the U.S. Capitol to protest cuts to Medicaid and other social programs as Republicans wrangle the final details of their tax and spending package.

The crowd of about 100 people waved signs denouncing billionaires with images of Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk. A giant inflatable pig had the words “Medicaid is not a piggy bank for billionaires” emblazoned on its side.

“We would have welcomed the opportunity to work with the Republicans on a bill that strengthens our economy and opens opportunities for all Americans,” said Rep. Brad Schneider, whose party has little leverage to stop the Republican tax plan if the GOP remains united. “But that’s not what the Republicans are doing. Instead, they’re pursuing the most partisan path imaginable.”

Most books pulled from Naval Academy library in DEI purge are back

All but a few of the nearly 400 books that the U.S. Naval Academy removed from its library because they dealt with anti-racism and gender issues are back on the shelves after the newest Pentagon-ordered review.

It’s the latest turn in a dizzying effort to rid the military of materials related to diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

Based on the new review, about 20 books from the academy’s library are being pulled aside to be checked, but that number includes some that weren’t identified or removed in last month’s initial purge of 381 books, defense officials told The Associated Press.

A few dozen books at the Air Force libraries — including at the Air Force Academy — also have been pulled out for review, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the process is still ongoing.

▶ Read more about the latest DEI turn