Thu, February 6, 2025

by: thenightly

Australian news and politics live updates: AFP shut out of Laos methanol deaths probe, Trump on Gaza

Follow for live updates on what is happening in politics in Australia and abroad and for all the biggest breaking news stories.

by: Politico

God, Trump and pancakes

During Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, it was revealed that BRAD PITT is a ninth cousin to the 44th president. The link is EDWIN HICKMAN, who died in Virginia in 1769, the Guardian reported in 2009. Obama is a direct descendant of Hickman's son JAMES HICKMAN, through the president's mother, ANN DUNHAM.

by: thenightly

Australian news and politics live updates: AFP offer to help Laos on methanol deaths rejected, Trump on Gaza

Follow for live updates on what is happening in politics in Australia and abroad and for all the biggest breaking news stories.

by: PBS

What you need to know about impoundment, and how Trump vows to use it

It's a concept that's normally dry, esoteric and distanced from Americans' everyday lives, yet the heart of the matter is a key question of American democracy.

by: lex18

Justice Department sues Illinois and Chicago over immigration laws

The Department of Justice is suing Illinois and Chicago over their immigration laws, claiming they endanger public safety and conflict with federal statutes.

by: Washingtonian

Spoons Are Becoming a Symbol of Feds' Resistance to Trump and Musk

Federal workers have a new response to the Trump administration's "Fork in the Road" push to convince them to resign: spoons. During a meeting with a former Tesla engineer Wednesday, employees at the General Services Administration's Technology Transformation Services office "rained down spoon emojis in the chat that accompanied the video meeting,

by: RealClearPolitics

Scott Jennings: America Elected Trump To Be A Sledgehammer, And Elon Musk Is His Instrument Of Destruction

CNN commentator Scott Jennings said Wednesday night about Elon Musk and DOGE's role in the Trump administration: SCOTT JENNINGS, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: So, it's not illegal, not illegal. You don't like the politics of it.

by: wusf

Hundreds protest for immigration and LGBTQ rights in downtown Tampa

The demonstration was part of a nationwide movement opposing recent decisions from the Trump administration to crack down on immigration and LGBTQ individuals.

by: RealClearPolitics

Mary Katharine Ham: We're Told Waste And Fraud Is A Small Percentage, Also It's The End Of Democracy If We Start Auditing It

OutKick Columnist' Mary Katharine Ham defended Elon Musk's efforts to investigate government spending and inefficiency: MARY KATHARINE HAM: There is an old saying, 'that a hit dog hollers.' The dog is hollering right now.

by: CNN

The latest on Trump's presidency as he continues government restructuring

Lawmakers and world leaders are reacting to President Donald Trump's comments that the US "will take over" the Gaza Strip as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with lawmakers. Follow for live updates.

by: Island

US withdrawal from UNHRC, a boon to political repression and ultra-nationalism

by: MSN

Gov. Kim Reynolds testifies at U.S. House government efficiency hearing

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt discusses USAID funding media outlets.

by: MSN

Trump can delete Elizabeth Warren's failed experiment once and for all

Rohit Chopra's departure as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau should not be just the end of his tenure but the beginning of the end for the CFPB itself.

by: MSN

Meet the 'nerd army' of Elon Musk: Here is how the 'Muskrats' are shaking up US government agencies and the education system too

Elon Musk's handpicked young tech experts, known as the "Muskrats" or "nerd army," are targeting US bureaucracy, with a special focus on the Education Department. Comprising talented individuals from top companies like Tesla,

by: ABC

Trump 2nd term live updates: US government vessels can transit Panama Canal for free

As President Donald Trump's second administration continued its swift recasting of the federal government and American foreign policy, the president and his top diplomat issued a stunning proposal, saying the U.S. would "take over" the Gaza Strip, "level the site" and rebuild it.
Wed, February 5, 2025

by: IJR

'So Pathetic': Long-Time Dem Operative Says Dems Fear Trump's Success As They'll Have Nothing To Sell To The Public

A long-time Democratic Party operative appeared Wednesday on Fox Business to criticize Democratic leaders and said the party fears that President Donald Trump will enjoy success implementing policies that are popular.

by: Reuters

State Dept says US government vessels can now transit Panama Canal without fees

The U.S. Department of State said on Wednesday American government vessels can now transit the Panama Canal without charge fees.

by: Reuters

US top diplomat Rubio will not attend G20 meeting in South Africa

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will not attend an upcoming G20 meeting in South Africa, the top U.S. diplomat said on Wednesday, days after President Donald Trumpthreatened to cut off funding to the African country.

by: ABC

Republicans block Musk from congressional subpoena as DOGE continues to access government data

Congressional Democrats are continuing their push for answers as Elon Musk continues to dismantle and disrupt government services.

by: komonews

Worker buyouts just 'peanuts' in crusade to cut government spending: expert

The federal government has congressionally approved buyout authority that's capped at $25,000. Trump's plan allows workers who resign before Thursday to keep getting paid through September. Kamarck said the average federal worker would hit the $25,000 limit allowed for buyouts within a few months.

by: RealClearPolitics

WH: Federal Government Canceling Subscriptions "Subsidizing" Politico

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed Wednesday that the U.S. government, including USAID, will no longer be spending "more than $8 million... essentially subsidizing subscriptions to Politico.

by: Crikey

World leaders slam Trump's Gaza takeover plan

US President Donald Trump has suggested America 'take over' Gaza to widespread condemnation, and China is bristly about the Australian government's DeepSeek ban.

by: ABC

Trump 2nd term live updates: White House won't rule out military deployment in Gaza

As President Donald Trump's second administration continued its swift recasting of the federal government and American foreign policy, the president and his top diplomat issued a stunning proposal, saying the U.S. would "take over" the Gaza Strip, "level the site" and rebuild it.

by: krtv

CIA offers employee buyouts as Trump aims to shrink government

The CIA became the first national security agency to reportedly offer employees buyouts amid President Trump's plan to shrink the federal workforce.

by: CNN

Trump and Musk are moving to smother these three pieces of the government

Donald Trump ran his presidential campaign promising to abolish entire federal agencies and departments, but it's not quite so easy for a president to simply end an organization that was created and funded each year by Congress,

by: scrippsnews

CIA begins offering employees buyouts as Trump aims to shrink federal government

The CIA became the first national security agency to reportedly offer employees buyouts amid President Trump's plan to shrink the federal workforce.

by: Newsweek

US Trade Deficit Widens Significantly Ahead of Trump Tariffs

The U.S. trade deficit hit near-record levels in late 2024 as America's trading partners prepare to navigate Trump's tariffs.

by: BBC

Starmer and Badenoch clash over Chagos Islands deal at PMQs

The Tory leader says "when Labour negotiates, our country loses"; the prime minister questions whether Badenoch has been "properly briefed" on UK security.

by: Newsweek

US Treasury says Musk and DOGE Have Read-Only Access to Payments System

The Treasury Department has defended DOGE's access to its payment system, explaining they only have "read-only access."

by: MSN

Elon Musk's dad says he set up call between his son and Cyril Ramaphosa amid land reform drama

President Donald Trump's threat to cut funding to the country. Musk had publicly accused his post-apartheid government of anti-white racism, and now Musk's ally, Trump, said he would cut more than $400 million (R7.6 billion) in funding to the country.

by: STAT

No, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren aren't top recipients of pharmaceutical industry donations

A quirk in the website OpenSecrets has given RFK Jr. a chance to misleadingly portray Sen. Bernie Sanders as receiving big money from big Pharma.

by: thenightly

Jim Chalmers has reassured big business leaders he wants to slash red tape in a second term Labor government

Jim Chalmers has reassured big business leaders he wants to slash red tape, boost productivity and sieze the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence in a second term Labor government.

by: Sky

Palestinians 'must' live in Gaza and West Bank, Lammy says to Trump's plan of Gaza takeover

Foreign Secretary David Lammy has given his response to US President Donald Trump's suggestions that Palestinians could be removed from Gaza and a "Riviera" of the Middle East built instead.

by: MSN

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju takes dip in Triveni sangam, says 'don't do politics on historic moment'

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju took a holy dip in Prayagraj's Mahakumbh Triveni Sangam on Wednesday, and urged not to do 'politics' on historic moment.Posting a video on X, he wrote "Maha Kumbh comes once in 144 years i.

by: NewsNation

What is USAID, and why might the Trump administration shut it down?

The agency's future is uncertain amid changes under the Trump administration and a freeze imposed on billions of dollars in foreign assistance.

by: MSN

"Handcuffed and humiliated": Congress leader Pawan Khera slams US deportation of Indians

Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera on Wednesday expressed sadness to see pictures of Indians getting "handcuffed and humiliated" while being deported from the US. His statement comes after reports claimed that US was using military planes to deport migrants to India.

by: fox13now

Congress asks Trump to explain what Elon Musk and DOGE are doing at federal agencies

Senior members of House oversight committees have asked President Trump to explain why Elon Musk and members of the Department of Government Efficiency are trying to access government agencies.

by: CNN

Trump says US 'will take over' Gaza and Palestinians should leave

CNN's Fareed Zakaria discusses President Donald Trump's comments that the United States "will take over" Gaza — possibly with the help of American troops — while the Palestinians who live there should leave, a stunning proposal that would dramatically reorient the Middle East and subject a population of more than a million to further displacement.

by: KPBS

DOGE is making major changes to the federal government. Is it legal?

Tue, February 4, 2025

by: Newsweek

CIA Offers Buyouts to Entire Workforce in Intelligence Agency First: Report

The CIA on Tuesday has become the first intelligence agency to offer buyouts to its entire workforce, The Wall Street Journal reported. The buyouts are reportedly the latest attempt by the Trump administration to slash federal spending and purge employees who did not align ideologically with the president.

by: thenightly

Australian news and politics live updates: Anti-Semitism crisis top of list as Parliament returns

Stay up to date with world politics, breaking news, views and opinion as The Nightly provides live updates throughout the day.

by: thenightly

Australian news and politics live updates: Trump meets Netanyahu for vital talks, Oscar Jenkins' fate

Stay up to date with world politics, breaking news, views and opinion as The Nightly provides live updates throughout the day.

by: WPLG

The Latest: Netanyahu and Trump to meet at the White House

As President Trump prepares to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump's Middle East envoy said that a three to five-year timeline for reconstruction of Gaza is not a viable post-war plan for the battle-torn territory.

by: MSNBC

Federal employee unions sue Trump over Musk data meddling

On Monday night's episode of "The ReidOut with Joy Reid," Joy referred to Musk's power grab as a "coup" that has put millions of Americans' private data at risk, and she asked Sen. Andy Kim of New Jersey how Democrats intend to fight back:

by: KPBS

What is the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE?

by: Newsweek

Trump and Musk Find Unexpected Ally in Push to Shut Down USAID

Trump signed an executive order imposing an unprecedented freeze on foreign assistance, effectively shutting down many of USAID's programs.

by: MSN

Trump's Fight to Take Control of Spending From Congress

Follow The Big Take DC podcast today. Trump says the president should be able to decide how to spend taxpayer money - not Congress. Part of his plan? Impoundment: A controversial maneuver that could wrest control of trillions of dollars in federal spending away from Congress.

by: MSN

U.S. government officials privately warn Musk's blitz appears illegal

The billionaire's DOGE team has launched an all-out assault on federal agencies, triggering numerous legal objections.

Trump and Musk's moves to ax USAID are 'flatly illegal,' experts say. It doesn't mean it won't happen.

As head of DOGE, Elon Musk is making moves to scrap federal agencies like USAID. Legal experts say that power belongs with Congress.

The article from MSN discusses the controversial moves by former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk to potentially dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Legal experts argue that such actions would be "flatly illegal" under current U.S. law, which does not grant the executive branch the authority to unilaterally abolish or significantly alter the structure of federal agencies like USAID without Congressional approval. Despite this, there's a concern that Trump, if re-elected, might attempt to bypass these legal constraints through executive orders or by influencing Congress. The discussion around these moves highlights the tension between executive power and legislative oversight, with critics pointing out that even if these actions are illegal, the political will to enforce legal boundaries might be lacking, potentially leading to significant changes in U.S. foreign aid policy.

Read the Full MSN Article at:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-and-musk-s-moves-to-ax-usaid-is-flatly-illegal-experts-say-it-doesn-t-mean-it-won-t-happen/ar-AA1yu6yn