Senate parliamentarian blocks Medicaid changes in "big, beautiful bill"

• For Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), it removes a thorny political problem for Republicans, with a handful of GOP members deeply opposed to the provisions.
• But it will also force the Senate to find additional spending cuts to pay for the tax cuts that are the centerpiece of Trump's "one big, beautiful bill."

Zoom in: The parliamentarian also struck down provisions meant to block the use of Medicaid funds for gender-affirming care and to prevent unauthorized immigrants from receiving Medicaid or CHIP coverage.

Driving the news: Democrats seized on the ruling as evidence that their fight against Trump's agenda was having some success.

• "Democrats are continuing to make the case against every provision in this Big, Beautiful Betrayal of a bill that violates Senate rules and hurts families and workers," said Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Budget Committee.

• "Democrats are fighting back against Republicans' plans to gut Medicaid, dismantle the Affordable Care Act, and kick kids, veterans, seniors and folks with disabilities off of their health insurance."

What to watch: Republicans are working to adjust the language on provider taxes to meet the parliamentarian's standards.

• "We'll continue our work and find a solution to achieve the desired results," said one source familiar.