Thursday, July 9, 2026 Every July, a wave of federal benefit payments resets for the new benefit year — and 2026 brings one of the biggest shifts in years. Between a permanent 25% boost to the old GST/HST credit, a fresh Canada Child Benefit increase, and the largest quarterly OAS bump of the year, millions of Canadian households will see different numbers land in their accounts this month. Here's what actually changed, and what to check in your own CRA account. The GST/HST Credit Has a New Name — and a Bigger Payout The GST/HST credit has officially been replaced by the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) . It's not a new program from scratch — it runs on the same CRA infrastructure and eligibility rules — but the payment amounts are 25% higher, and that increase is locked in for five years. The first CGEB payment went out on July 3, 2026. Under the new structure: A single individual with no children can receive up to roughly $679 per year (about $170 per quart...
Trump Trial Judge Seals the Courtroom to Unleash on MAGA Lawyer
In a dramatic turn of events during Donald Trump’s criminal trial in Manhattan, Judge Juan Merchan suddenly sealed the courtroom on Monday afternoon. The reason? A heated confrontation with Robert Costello, a MAGA-friendly lawyer who played a key role in the attempted backchannel between Michael Cohen and the Trump White House in 2018.
Costello, a former prosecutor, had been reprimanded for outbursts in court whenever he was interrupted or told not to answer a question that had been objected to and sustained. As tensions escalated, Costello began to stare down the judge. Merchan took action, ordering the jury out of the room and addressing Costello directly: “Mr. Costello, I’d like to discuss proper decorum in my courtroom, OK?”.
Despite the warning, Costello continued to push boundaries. When Merchan turned around, he caught Costello staring at him again. Frustrated, the judge ordered security to seal the courtroom and ejected all journalists so he could give Costello a dressing down. When the journalists returned, Costello’s face had turned beet red, and he continued to answer questions from defense lawyer Emil Bove about his minor role in the New York criminal case against the former president.
Costello’s testimony also shed light on Michael Cohen’s behavior after the FBI raided his apartment in search of evidence related to a campaign finance crime. According to Costello, Cohen was “suicidal that day and acting very manic.” Costello had advised Cohen that cooperating with the Southern District of New York and providing truthful information about Donald Trump would resolve his legal problems by the end of the week.
The courtroom drama continues, and the clash between the judge and the MAGA lawyer adds another layer of intensity to Trump’s trial. Stay tuned for further developments as this high-stakes legal battle unfolds.
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