to the defense budget that passed yesterday interesting for what's in it and for what is not in it the house passed the national defense authorization act by an overwhelming majority yesterday

the fund spending bill had strong bipartisan support in both chambers with House Democrats

joining Republicans after the bill was stripped of far-right Republican demands that originally

had targeted issues like abortion

access and diversity programs. They're not in the bill. The NDA authorized

886 billion dollars in spending an increase of about 3% from last year. It includes a 5.2% pay raise for

troops. That's the largest increase in years. And it extends a measure to help Ukraine through

the end of 2026, authorizing 300 million dollars for the next

two fiscal years, though of course that's a fraction of the 61 billion dollars in assistant

President Biden has asked Congress to approve.

Also in the NDAA, a provision barring future presidents from unilaterally withdrawing

from NATO without approval from the Senate or an act of Congress.

The legislation was spearheaded by Virginia Senator Tim Kane

and Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida.

Concerns have grown in recent years surrounding whether United States might withdraw from NATO during another Trump presidency.

With this legislation, no president will be able to solely decide to leave that alliance.

So Joe, fascinating budget here because of what's not in it.

All the noise about abortion access, the Tommy Tuberville of it all.

And then this provision, a bipartisan provision co-sponsored

by Marco Rubio effectively to stop Donald Trump potentially from pulling out of

NATO.

Eddie I of course, you are connected with Princeton, Professor at Princeton, and so you have more information

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