• Fri, January 31, 2025

by: CounterPunch

Ignorant and Free Doesn't Work

If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." - Thomas Jefferson, 1816 I think

by: cnbctv18

Reform, perform and transform are strong pillars of India's governance model, says President Murmu

Get the latest Business News, Live Share & Stock Market Updates, Top News from India and across world. Read Top Business News and updates on financial, economic and banking news on CNBCTV18.

by: justthenews

Marco Rubio says Trump's interest in acquiring Greenland from Denmark is 'not a joke'

This is not a joke," Rubio said "The Megyn Kelly Show" on SiriusXM. "This is in our national interest and it needs to be solved."

by: STAT

How to protect HHS, FDA, NIH, and other health agencies from political interference

When politicians subordinate scientific institutions to electoral interests, they undermine immediate public health efforts and inflict lasting damage on institutional credibility.

by: Politico

Hey, where's that Trump-proofing money already?

Democrats — newly sensitive to perceptions of being soft on crime — this week faced criticism from Republicans who noted that the legislation doesn't explicitly prohibit nonprofits from using the money to help undocumented immigrants with criminal histories.

by: Time

What Historians Hope to Learn From Trump Releasing JFK, RFK, and MLK's Assassination Files

What experts on John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr and Bobby Kennedy assassinations hope to learn from files expected to be declassified

by: WFAE

Trump wants to cut the federal workforce. Who they are and what that means

by: CNN

How Trump calling immigration an 'invasion' could help him stretch the law

No longer just campaign trail rhetoric, President Donald Trump's insistence that immigration to the United States amounts to an "invasion" may be critical to unlocking extraordinary powers as the administration carries out his deportation agenda.

by: Slate

The D.C. Air Disaster Is a Flashing Warning Sign About DOGE

Musk had Trump fire the FAA leader as soon as he got into office, because the FAA leader had investigated and fined one of Musk's companies, Starlink.

by: Richmond

AG Miyares directs VCU, UVA to halt medical care for minors' gender transition

VCU says it has "suspended gender-affirming medication and gender-affirming surgical procedures for those under 19 years old in response to clear guidance from the state."

by: Reuters

Exclusive: US seeks to block Hezbollah ally from naming Lebanon finance minister

The unusually direct U.S. intervention in Lebanon's sectarian politics appears aimed at capitalizing on shifts in the power balance.

by: PBS

Trump says he's placing tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China starting Saturday

President Donald Trump said Friday he would place 25 percent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10 percent tariffs on goods from China effective on Saturday, raising the specter of swift price increases for U.

by: RealClearPolitics

White House: We Will Reverse Biden's "Deterioration In Hiring Standards For Aviation Safety"

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt declared that the Trump administration will reverse the "deterioration in hiring standards and aviation safety standards and protocols" implemented by the Biden administration: KAROLINE LEAVITT: The president,

by: foxbaltimore

Retired agents say a Patel 'shake up' is what the FBI needs to improve public trust

Patel's nomination is viewed as part of Trump's strategy to reform the bureau. He has promised to reduce the FBI's presence in Washington, redistribute agents across the country, and focus on tackling violent crime. "We let good cops be cops," Patel said during his confirmation hearing.

by: WFAA8

'A lot of fear going on' | Texas immigrant community on edge during Trump's first weeks

Across the state, immigrants are changing their daily habits as the Trump administration orders at least 1,200 daily arrests of undocumented people.

by: ABC

Trump 2nd term live updates: WH sidesteps question on hiring disabled federal workers

Two U.S. officials confirmed the Pentagon is readying to send more troops to the southwestern border and a complement of 500 Marines to Guantanamo Bay as part of the plan to use the U.S. naval base in Cuba to house some deported migrants.

by: MSN

Federal funding pause attempt jeopardized Stanislaus Regional Transit's budget

RTA, said the recent attempt to freeze federal funding and reimbursements jeopardized 20 percent of the company's overall budget.

by: MSN

Venezuela frees 6 Americans after meeting between President Maduro and Trump's envoy

Six Americans who had been detained in Venezuela in recent months were freed by the government of President Nicolás Maduro after he met Friday with a senior Trump administration official. U.S. President Donald Trump and his envoy for special missions,

by: Richmond

Documents: City rejected 2 bids to upgrade switchgear that caused Richmond-region water crisis

Records show officials in 2017 declined two bids from contractors who offered to upgrade the water treatment plant's switchgear — the component that failed during a power outage on Jan.

by: PBS

US aid agency is in upheaval during foreign assistance freeze and staff departures

Trump administration changes have upended the U.S. agency charged with providing humanitarian aid overseas, with senior officials put on leave, contractors laid off and a sweeping freeze imposed on foreign assistance.

by: CNN

The latest on Trump's presidency

President Donald Trump continues to advance his agenda with executive actions ahead of a deadline to impose tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico this weekend. Follow for live updates.

by: Reuters

Slovakia bans Georgian volunteer, 9 others, from entry as Fico ramps up coup plot accusations

Slovakia on Friday banned a Georgian military volunteer who has been fighting in Ukraine and nine other people from entering the country, saying he was involved in an opposition plot to overthrow the government.

by: ABC

Trump 2nd term live updates: Trump takes executive action on aviation after crash

President Donald Trump has begun his second administration with a series of controversial moves and decisions.

by: Reuters

Exclusive: US seeks to block Hezbollah ally from naming Lebanon finance minister, sources say

Washington is pressuring top Lebanese officials not to allow Hezbollah or its allies to nominate the country's next finance minister, five people with knowledge of the matter said, in an attempt to limit the Iran-backed group's sway over the state.

by: MSN

Second federal judge orders temporary pause to Trump administration efforts to freeze funding

A second federal judge on Friday ordered a temporary pause in Trump administration efforts to freeze federal funding in the latest twist over the spending of trillions of dollars in grants and loans.

by: MSN

LULAC protests President Donald Trump's immigration plans

Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan joined members of the The Skating Club of Boston to offer condolences and support to families of the skaters and coaches killed in the crash of American Eagle Flight 5342. Musk pushes out top Treasury official over effort to access US government payment system: report

by: MSN

Donald Trump Could Be Forced to Get Public's Input on Plan to Fire People

Unions are asking the court to protect the right to comment on President Donald Trump's plan to reclassify government employees.

by: MSN

America's tech titans sense a profound shift in the United States: Steve Forbes

The Big Money Show' panel discusses why top tech CEOs are suddenly betting big on Donald Trump and Elon Musk's influence on politics.

by: MSN

Dr. Scott Gottlieb: RFK Jr. didn't know the fundamentals of the programs he's going to administer

Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb joins 'Squawk Box' to share his thoughts on the confirmation hearing of RFK Jr., what kind of power and authority the HHS Secretary holds, and more.

by: MSN

Donald Trump Can Reshape Census Bureau After Director's Sudden Resignation

Robert Santos, who prioritized inclusivity and outreach to underserved communities during his tenure, has decided to resign as director of the U.S. Census Bureau.

by: MSN

Democrats want Trump to reveal who he's giving security clearances to without background checks

Democrats and other critics are now demanding that the White House disclose the list and details of the people Trump allowed to skip background checks and gain access to the country's most sensitive secrets.

by: MSN

Thousands of datasets from Data.gov have disappeared since Trump's inauguration. What's going on?

Since President Trump was sworn into office, almost three thousand datasets have disappeared from Data.gov, the U.S. government's repository of open data. According to 404 Media, online archivist communities discovered since Trump took office on Jan.

by: MSN

What's in Remaining JFK, MLK, RFK Assassination Files

What experts on John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr and Bobby Kennedy assassinations hope to learn from files expected to be declassified

by: MSN

Trump's Federal Funding Freeze: Can I Sue US Government Over Cuts?

It is unclear whether the pause will still take effect, given the administration's apparent U-turn and the legal challenges it faces.

by: MSN

Immigration rhetoric picks up in Arizona. What to know in Trump's Week 2

The administration has mobilized military units to head to the southern border and increased immigration raids in cities. What to know in Arizona.

by: MSN

'8th pay commission...salary increase...' - Budget 2025 session speech by President has music to ears for govt employees

In her Budget session address, President Murmu said that the government employees are also significant representatives of the middle class. With this, she mentioned the much-awaited 8th pay commission,

by: MSN

India Budget 2025: Budget and Model Code of Conduct: Everything You Should Know - Pre Budget

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed the centre to refrain from announcing any scheme for the national capital in the union budget 2025 citing the model code of conduct (MCC) enforced i

by: MSN

Trump blames FAA 'diversity hires' for Washington air collision that killed 67

An American Airlines flight from Wichita in Kansas was landing at Washington Reagan National Airport when it collided with a military helicopter, crashing into the Potomac river in the worst US aviation disaster in more than 20 years.

by: MSN

Contrast in defense secretaries highlights Trump's failure to take staffing government seriously

Rachel Maddow looks at the impressive list of accomplishments and credentials of former Secretary of Defense General Lloyd Austin, who served under President Biden, and the relatively meager experience of cable news personality Pete Hegseth,

by: MSN

India News Live Today January 31, 2025: Kinnar Akhara head expels Mamta Kulkarni, Laxmi Naarayan Tripathi for 'treason'

Stay informed with our live blog covering India's latest in politics, economy, crime, and general news. Get real-time updates on political developments, financial trends, crime reports, and important events across the country.
  • Sat, February 1, 2025

by: Newsday

President Donald Trump's early moves to control spending test authority of Congress

A 1974 law requires the president to spend the appropriations passed by Congress or seek its permission to suspend funding.

by: CNN

Elon Musk spent more than $290 million on the 2024 election, year-end FEC filings show

Elon Musk spent a total of more than $290 million on the 2024 election, new federal filings show, boosting President Donald Trump and Republicans in a staggering effort that has helped to secure unprecedented access for the world's richest person in the new administration.

by: MSN

Paul Lisnek on President Trump's second week in office, the deadly plan crash in DC. and more

WGN Political Analyst Paul Lisnek joined WGN Evening News to discuss several big stories from the week. This week's topics include President Trump's second week in office, the politics surrounding the deadly plane vs.

by: MSN

Air Traffic Control Offices Are in Chaos in Trump's New Administration

Sources say air traffic control offices have been in a state of Trumpian despair since he took over - and that was before the plane crash near D.C.

by: MSN

Air traffic controllers were initially offered buyouts and told to consider leaving government

Air traffic controllers were initially offered buyouts and told to consider leaving government - Just a day before a deadly midair collision at Reagan National Airport outside Washington, D

by: MSN

Budget 2025: Broadband connectivity for all government schools, health centres

While presenting the Union Budget today, the Finance Minister said broadband connectivity will be extended to all government secondary and primary schools to "ensure better access to digital learning resources".

by: MSN

Aadhav Arjuna joins Vijay's TVK after controversial exit from Thirumalvalan's party

Aadhav Arjuna joined Vijay's Thamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam after his suspension from VCK, stating he sought Thirumavalavan's blessings and aimed to achieve a decade's work in ten months.

by: MSN

War of words breaks out between KCR and CM Revanth Reddy

Ignorant and Free Doesn't Work

If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." - Thomas Jefferson, 1816 I think
The article "Ignorant and Free Doesn't Work" by Eve Ottenberg, published on CounterPunch, discusses the detrimental effects of ignorance on democracy and freedom. Ottenberg argues that an uninformed populace is easily manipulated by those in power, leading to a decline in democratic values and freedoms. She highlights how media, education, and political leaders often fail to educate the public adequately, instead promoting misinformation or trivial distractions. The piece critiques the notion that freedom can coexist with widespread ignorance, asserting that true liberty requires an informed citizenry capable of critical thinking and active participation in governance. Ottenberg calls for a revival of civic education and media literacy to combat the spread of ignorance, which she sees as a threat to both individual freedoms and the collective democratic process.

Read the Full CounterPunch Article at:
https://www.counterpunch.org/2025/01/31/ignorant-and-free-doesnt-work/

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