"This is the most deeply immoral piece of legislation I have ever voted on in my entire time in Congress,” said Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT). “[W]e're debating a bill that’s going to cut healthcare for 16 million people. It's going to give a tax break to…massively wealthy people who don't need any more money. There are going to be kids who go hungry because of this bill. This is the biggest reduction in…nutrition benefits for kids in the history of the country.” Murphy continued: “We're obviously gonna continue to offer these amendments to try to make it better. So far not a single one of our amendments…has passed, but we'll be here all day, probably all night, giving Republicans the chance over and over and over again to slim down the tax cuts for the corporations or to make life a little bit…less miserable for hungry kids or maybe don't throw as many people off of healthcare. Maybe don't close so many rural hospitals. It's gonna be a long day and a long night.” “This bill is a farce,” said Senator Angus King (I-ME). “Imagine a bunch of guys sitting around a table, saying, ‘I've got a great idea. Let's give $32,000 worth of tax breaks to a millionaire and we’ll pay for it by taking health insurance away from lower-income and middle-income people. And to top it off, how about we cut food stamps, we cut SNAP, we cut food aid to people?’... I've been in this business of public policy now for 20 years, eight years as governor, 12 years in the United States Senate. I have never seen a bill this bad. I have never seen a bill that is this irresponsible, regressive, and downright cruel.” “When I worked here in the 70's,” King said, “I had insurance as a…junior staff member in this body 50 years ago. Because I had that insurance that covered a free checkup, I went in and had my first physical in eight years…and the doctors found a little mole on my back. And they took it out. And I didn't think much of it. And I went in a week later and the doctor said, ‘You better sit down, Angus. That was malignant melanoma. You're going to have to have serious surgery.’… And I had the surgery and here I am. If I hadn’t had insurance, I wouldn’t be here. And it’s always haunted me that some young man in America that same year had malignant melanoma, he didn’t have insurance, he didn’t get that checkup, and he died. That’s wrong. It’s immoral.” Senator King continued: “I don’t understand the obsession and I never have…with taking health insurance away from people. I don’t get it. Trying to take away the Affordable Care Act in 2017 or 2018 and now this. What’s driving this? What’s the cruelty to do this, to take health insurance away from people knowing that it’s going to cost them…up to and including…their lives.” In fact, the drive to slash health insurance is part of the Republicans’ determination to destroy the modern government. Grover Norquist, a lawyer for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and one of the key architects of the Republican argument that the solution to societal ills is tax cuts, in 2010 described to Rebecca Elliott of the Harvard Crimson how he sees the role of government. “Government should enforce [the] rule of law,” he said. “It should enforce contracts, it should protect people bodily from being attacked by criminals. And when the government does those things, it is facilitating liberty. When it goes beyond those things, it becomes destructive to both human happiness and human liberty.” Norquist vehemently opposed taxation, saying that “it’s not any of the government’s business who earns what, as long as they earn it legitimately,” and proposed cutting government spending down to 8% of gross domestic product, or GDP, the value of the final goods and services produced in the United States. The last time the level of government spending was at that 8% of GDP was 1933, before the New Deal. In that year, after years of extraordinary corporate profits, the banking system had collapsed, the unemployment rate was nearly 25%, prices and productivity were plummeting, wages were cratering, factories had shut down, farmers were losing their land to foreclosure. Children worked in the fields and factories, elderly and disabled people ate from garbage cans, unregulated banks gambled away people’s money, and business owners treated their workers as they wished. Within a year the Great Plains would be blowing away as extensive deep plowing had damaged the land, making it vulnerable to drought. Republican leaders insisted the primary solution to the crisis was individual enterprise and private charity. When he accepted the Democratic nomination for president in July 1932, New York governor Franklin Delano Roosevelt vowed to steer between the radical extremes of fascism and communism to deliver a “New Deal” to the American people. The so-called alphabet soup of the New Deal gave us the regulation of banks and businesses, protections for workers, an end to child labor in factories, repair of the damage to the Great Plains, new municipal buildings and roads and airports, rural electrification, investment in artists and writers, and Social Security for workers who were injured or unemployed. Government outlays as a percentage of GDP began to rise. World War II shot them off the charts, to more than 40% of GDP, as the United States helped the world fight fascism. That number dropped again after the war, and in 1975, federal expenditures settled in at about 20% of GDP. Except for short-term spikes after financial crises (spending shot up to 24% after the 2008 crash, for example, and to 31% during the 2020 pandemic), the spending-to-GDP ratio has remained at about that set point. The national debt is growing because tax revenues have plummeted. Tax cuts under the George W. Bush and Trump administrations are responsible for 57% of the increase in the ratio of the debt to the economy, 90% if you exclude the emergency expenditures of the pandemic, and have left the United States with a tax burden nowhere close to the average of the 38 other nations in the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), all of which are market-oriented democracies. And those cuts have gone primarily to the wealthy and corporations. Republicans who backed those tax cuts now want more. They are trying to force through a measure that will dramatically cut the nation’s social safety net while at the same time increasing the national debt by $3.3 trillion over the next ten years. “There are two ways of viewing the government's duty in matters affecting economic and social life,” FDR said in his speech accepting the 1932 Democratic nomination for president. “The first sees to it that a favored few are helped and hopes that some of their prosperity will leak through, sift through, to labor, to the farmer, to the small business man.” The other “is based upon the simple moral principle: the welfare and the soundness of a Nation depend first upon what the great mass of the people wish and need; and second, whether or not they are getting it.” The Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill takes wealth from the American people to give it to the very wealthy and corporations, and Democrats are calling their colleagues out. “This place feels to me, today, like a crime scene,” Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) said on the floor of the Senate. “Get some of that yellow tape and put it around this chamber. This piece of legislation is corrupt. This piece of legislation is crooked. This piece of legislation is a rotten racket. This bill cooked up in back rooms, dropped at midnight, cloaked in fake numbers with huge handouts to big Republican donors. It loots our country for some of the least deserving people you could imagine. When I first got here, this chamber filled me with awe and wonderment. Today, I feel disgust.” — Notes: https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2010/11/18/nbsp-government-percent-fm/ https://www.fdrlibrary.org/great-depression-facts https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/historical-tables/ Bluesky: You’re currently a free subscriber to Letters from an American. If you need help receiving Letters, changing your email address, or unsubscribing, please visit our Support FAQ. You can also submit a help request directly. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription.
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2025/07/01
June 30, 2025
Amazon - Amazon’s Biggest Prime Day Event Yet: An Extended 4 Days of Exceptional Savings and Deep Discounts from Top Brands
Amazon's Biggest Prime Day Event Yet: An Extended 4 Days of Exceptional Savings and Deep Discounts from Top Brands
Prime members can shop millions of deals across more than 35 categories including apparel, beauty and home, with up to 50% off select products from Levi's, ELEMIS, and Shark; plus save up to 50% on select Amazon Devices, including Echo, Ring, Kindle, Fire TV, eero, Blink, and Fire tablet products
Save on summer favorites including sandals starting at $5, up to 35% off travel essentials, and premium brands like Dyson and YETI; and discover deals on products trending on social including medicube skincare, CIDER apparel, SOJOS sunglasses, and grace & stella skincare
Start the school year strong with back-to-school styles starting at $3; up to 40% off dorm room essentials; major tech deals including up to 40% off select Samsung Chromebooks; can't-miss deals on Beats headphones and Oura Ring 4 smart rings; and stackable savings exclusively for Prime for Young Adults members with up to 10% cash back during Prime Day
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced its biggest Prime Day event ever, offering members more days than ever to shop millions of deals worldwide starting July 8 at 12:01 a.m. PDT. This year's extended shopping event will offer some of the hottest deals of the summer across popular categories and top brands like Away, Breville, Bissell, Kiehl's, and Milk Makeup. New this year, Prime members can shop Today's Big Deals—daily deal drops featuring deep discounts across themes like Summer Savings and Premium Deals. During the drops, members can discover exciting deals from popular brands like Ninja, Sony, and Too Faced—while supplies last. Prime members can also access incredible summer deals including up to 30% off lawn and garden items, outdoor toys and games starting at $5, and pool and beach must-haves starting at $8; plus, stock up on grocery and household essentials with up to 30% off Frito-Lay snacks, Prime Hydration and Alani Nu sports drinks, Dawn Powerwash, and Tide evo. Fresh deals will appear as often as every 5 minutes during select periods, allowing Prime members to check back often and discover new offers. Join Prime today to access this 4-day shopping event, plus year-round perks including unlimited fast, free delivery, streaming entertainment, and exclusive member savings. Visit amazon.com/prime to begin your Prime journey with a 30-day free trial.
Amazon Prime Day 2025
"We're excited for Prime members to experience our biggest Prime Day yet, with more days than ever and millions of deals from brands customers are eager to shop this season–from trending products and newly discovered brands to tried and true favorites," said Carmen Nestares, vice president of North America Marketing and Prime Tech. "Prime members can shop with confidence knowing they're accessing some of our best deals of the summer from brands they love to products they need. This extended 4-day event showcases why Prime continues to be the best membership in retail, combining exceptional savings with the convenience of fast free delivery and exclusive benefits all in one membership."
Find School Essentials and Savings from Kindergarten to Campus
Prime members can get a head start on back-to-school shopping with exceptional deals on a wide selection of classroom and campus must-haves. Amazon's Back to School and Off to College Shops feature school supplies and dorm décor, with items organized by price point to fit every budget.
- Thousands of items on deal: Discover thousands of school and college deals at 30% off or more, with new offers added throughout the event.
- Deep discounts on tech must-haves: Shop deals on top-rated student laptops including up to 40% off select Samsung Chromebooks and up to 30% off select ASUS laptops; save up to 35% off select Samsung tablets; plus, shop special savings on Amazon device bundles like the Echo Dot Kids bundle with Echo Glow and Fire 7 Kids tablet bundle with 12 months of Kids+ and a backpack.
- Exclusive dorm savings: Get 20% off when you spend $100 or more on dorm room essentials from Amazon brands.
- Budget-friendly first-day styles: Make a great impression with back-to-school apparel starting at just $3, plus savings on fashion accessories and shoes including sandals from $5, and up to 30% off select JanSport backpacks.
- Young adult extra savings: Prime for Young Adults members can amplify Prime Day savings by stacking a total of 10% cash back on Prime Day deals within eligible categories. The introduction of cash back is part of a new, exclusive offer which enables young adult members to earn 5% cash back every day, with an additional 5% cash back bonus during Prime Day as part of a limited-time offer. Eligible young adults ages 18-24 can sign up for a six-month $0 trial by visiting amazon.com/youngadult.
More Days to Discover Deals
With 4 full days to shop, Prime members have more time than ever to explore and save. Here's an early look at some of the exciting offers coming this Prime Day:
- Save up to 50% on select devices such as Echo Buds, Echo Pop, Echo Show 8, eero Max 7 mesh wifi system, Fire HD 10 tablet, Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Fire TV Omni Mini-LED, Kindle Colorsoft, and Ring Battery Doorbell
- Save 40% across all Amazon Haul products on day one of Prime Day, with deals continuing throughout the event; plus, enjoy Amazon Haul's everyday savings of 5% off orders over $50 and 10% off orders over $75
- Save up to 50% on select Levi's apparel
- Save up to 50% on floorcare from Shark
- Save up to 50% on select Zappos styles from brands including Crocs, Steve Madden, and Merrell
- Save up to 50% on NCAA, NFL, NBA, NHL, and NASCAR officially licensed league gear
- Save up to 50% on pickleballs, footballs, and games from Franklin
- Save up to 45% on select floorcare and air purifiers from Dyson
- Save up to 40% on select TVs from Samsung, Sony, LG, and Hisense
- Save up to 40% on select oral care from Philips Sonicare and Waterpik
- Save up to 40% on select chargers and speakers from Anker
- Save up to 40% on select floorcare from Bissell, iRobot, Tineco, and Eufy
- Save up to 40% on select kitchen essentials from Vitamix, Our Place, and Bentgo
- Save up to 40% on select premium cosmetics from Tarte, Urban Decay, and IT Cosmetics
- Save up to 40% on select styles from Vans and CIDER; and shoes and apparel from Columbia
- Save up to 40% on Disney, Star Wars, and Marvel toys, apparel, and home goods
- Save up to 35% on Korean beauty favorites from medicube, Anua, and COSRX
- Save up to 35% on outdoor and lawn equipment from Greenworks
- Save up to 30% on select baby products from Owlet and Philips Avent
- Save up to 30% on premium skincare from Clinique, Kiehl's, and Sunday Riley; and haircare from Color Wow, Olaplex, and Living Proof
- Save up to 30% on toys from Barbie, Hasbro Gaming, Play-Doh, and Melissa & Doug
- Save up to 30% on premium fragrances from Armani Beauty, Viktor&Rolf, and Calvin Klein
- Save up to 30% on select products from Liquid I.V. and Vital Proteins; and supplements from Lemme, OLLY, and MaryRuth Organics
- Save up to 30% on pet supplies from Greenies, Pet Honesty, and Purina
- Save up to 30% on home furnishings from Ashley Furniture and mattresses from Zinus
- Save up to 30% on Nest security cameras from Google
- Save up to 25% on travel essentials from Away
- Save up to 25% on select beverages from poppi and CELSIUS
- Save up to 25% on select Shopbop styles from brands including Madewell, Lioness, and FRAME
- Save up to 25% on coffee must-haves from Nespresso
- Save up to 25% on select Ray-Ban and Oakley sunglasses
- Save up to 25% on select skincare from Youth To The People and La Roche-Posay
- Save up to 20% on Pampers products
- Save up to 20% on men's grooming products from Jack Black, Gillette, and Dove
- Save up to 20% on select skincare from Laneige, Paula's Choice, and Salt & Stone; and suncare from Supergoop!, EltaMD, and Sun Bum
- Save up to 20% on top beauty brands including Sol de Janeiro, Dyson, and CeraVe; and haircare from Oribe, Kerastase, and K18
- Save up to 20% on preloved luxury deals from What Goes Around Comes Around and Rebag
Shop Small on Prime Day
More than 60% of sales in Amazon's store come from independent sellers—most of which are small and medium-sized businesses—this Prime Day new deals from small businesses are dropping all the time at amazon.com/primedaysmallbusiness. Members in the U.S. can shop amazing small business deals, including up to 30% off select products from BeautyStat and Sweet July, 24% off select products from THE FRONTAL QUEEN, and 20% off select products from Donna's Recipe, Phlur, and The Lip Bar. Members can support and discover small businesses by looking out for the small business badge and visiting the small business storefront at amazon.com/supportsmall.
"The beauty of Prime Day is in the anticipation and excitement it generates. Customers are actively seeking new brands to try, and as a small business, it has become a moment for customer acquisition. We begin planning for it at the start of each year," said Ron Robinson, Founder, BeautyStat Cosmetics.
Unlock More Value as a Prime Member
From necessities to entertainment, Prime members can find exclusive savings across Amazon's services and products. Check out these special Prime Day opportunities:
- Fill your cart this Prime Day at Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market: At Amazon Fresh, Prime members can stock up on fresh produce, dairy, meat, seafood, everyday pantry and household essentials, and all your favorite brands while enjoying exclusive discounts. Enjoy $20 off when you spend $75+ in-store. Prime members can stack these Prime Day offers with existing Prime benefits for even more value. Terms apply. At Whole Foods Market, Prime members receive an additional 10% off on hundreds of in-store sale items on top of always-on Prime-exclusive discounts on select popular products. Members can also get three months free of Amazon's grocery subscription service, offering unlimited free delivery and convenient pickup options on $35+ orders from Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and local grocery retailers on Amazon.com.
- Access savings on healthcare with Amazon One Medical: Prime members can save $30 off their first year of One Medical membership, reducing the annual cost to just $69 (regularly $99 for Prime members). Membership covers 24/7 on-demand virtual care, including Urgent Video Chats, "Treat Me Now" messaging consultations for acute concerns, prescription management, and access to easily schedule same and next-day in-person or remote appointments through the One Medical app. Scheduled in-person and remote visits are billed to insurance (most major plans accepted) and not included in the cost of membership.
- Earn more with Prime Visa and Prime Store Card: Prime cardmembers earn 10% back or more on exclusive deals with Prime Card Bonus and unlimited 5% back year-round at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods Market with an eligible Prime membership (in-store code required for Prime Store Card at Whole Foods Market)—all with no annual credit-card fees. As an extra Prime Day perk, Prime cardmembers can earn a total of 7% back on eligible Amazon.com purchases from July 8 through 11 when they choose No-Rush Delivery. Eligible Prime membership required, subject to availability, see terms.
- Treat yourself with a Prime Day meal: During the Prime Day event, Prime members can use the code "PRIME50" to enjoy 50% off on a Grubhub+ delivery order of $25 or more to save up to $20. The code can be entered during checkout or automatically applied by clicking the promo banner when shopping Grubhub on Amazon.com, the Amazon Shopping app, or the Grubhub app. More information can be found at amazon.com/grubhub+. Additional fees and terms apply.
- Discover additional Prime Day deals with Buy with Prime: Prime members can save big during Prime Day with discounts up to 40% on select products when they shop directly from participating brands' websites like Wyze, Steve Madden, bareMinerals, IZOD, JLab, and HeyDude, using Buy with Prime, which gives U.S.-based Prime members the option to use the convenient shopping benefits of Prime—like fast, free delivery, a trusted checkout experience, and easy returns—on participating brands' websites.
- Save big on select music merch with Amazon Music: During Prime Day, Prime members shopping for apparel, CDs, and vinyl can enjoy an additional 20% off select items on top of the already discounted Prime Day price when purchasing from the Amazon Music app.
- Claim free games and save on the Amazon Luna Controller with Prime Gaming: Starting July 8 at 12:01 a.m. PDT and available throughout the month, Prime members can claim Marvel's Midnight Suns, STAR WARS Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II, and Amnesia: The Dark Descent. Prime members can also claim Football Manager 2024 from July 8 at 12:01 a.m. PDT until 11:59 p.m. PDT on July 11. Plus, from July 8 through 11, customers can save 28-50% on the Amazon Luna controller and select Fire TV device and Luna controller bundles. See this blog post for full details.
- Book a great deal with Amazon travel deals: Save on summer vacation with up to 30% off base rates and earn 15% back in an Amazon.com gift card for customers who Reserve on Amazon from Avis, 20% off coach fares from Amtrak, up to 20% off select hotels and accommodations from Pure Michigan (Visit Michigan), save 20% off or more on select hotels from Visit Myrtle Beach, and save up to $1,200 per room on Carnival Cruise Line. Find out more about Prime Day Travel Deals here.
Navigate Prime Day like a Pro
Prime members can use Amazon's generative AI-powered shopping features to find great deals that match their needs and interests:
- There are millions of customers in the U.S. with Early Access to Alexa+. Just ask Alexa+ for deal recommendations tailored to you and to notify you about new deals on items in your cart or on your wish list.
- Ask Rufus questions like "What Prime Day deals should I shop?" to get immediate, personalized recommendations tailored to your shopping history.
- Set up your Interests today by selecting categories you're passionate about–from golfing to cooking to music–and instantly see relevant deal recommendations appear in your feed.
- Browse AI-powered Shopping Guides to quickly compare products across categories, read summarized reviews, and identify which upcoming deals to shop.
- Add items to your Lists to stay up to date when your saved products go on sale.
- Check your Buy Again section to spot items that you regularly purchase on deal.
About Prime
Prime is savings, convenience, entertainment, and shopping innovation all in one membership. More than 200 million paid Prime members around the world enjoy access to Amazon's enormous selection, exceptional value, and fast delivery. In the U.S., we offer more than 300 million items with free Prime shipping, including tens of millions of the most popular products available with Same Day or One-Day Delivery. Anyone can join Prime for $14.99 per month or $139 per year, or start a free 30-day trial if eligible at amazon.com/prime. Additionally, young adults can try Prime for Young Adults with a six-month $0 trial at amazon.com/youngadult, then pay a discounted rate of $7.49 per month or $69 per year for a membership. Qualifying government assistance recipients and income-verified customers can get Prime Access for $6.99 per month at amazon.com/getprimeaccess. For more information about Prime, including discounted memberships, visit aboutamazon.com/prime.
About Amazon
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth's Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth's Best Employer, and Earth's Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.
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