Sat, February 8, 2025

[ Sat, Feb 08th 2025 ]: BBC

Who's who in German elections and why this vote is important

The frontrunner in the race to run Germany is Friedrich Merz, whose Christian Democrats (CDU) are up to 10 points ahead in the polls. He was chosen as candidate for chancellor ahead of Markus Söder, the leader of their sister party in Bavaria the Christian Social Union.

[ Sat, Feb 08th 2025 ]: cnbctv18

Delhi CM News LIVE Updates: Historic verdict, Delhi people have short-circuited politics of short-cuts, says PM Modi

The exit polls predicted that the BJP is likely to form a government in Delhi after 27 years. The poll of polls predicted 41 seats for BJP, 29 for AAP and nil for Congress.

[ Sat, Feb 08th 2025 ]: MSN

Trump's stupefying conspiracy theory about Politico sums up MAGA 2.O

No, Politico and The New York Times aren't being funded by USAID or other agencies in the federal government. Here's why Trump and Musk are saying it is.

[ Sat, Feb 08th 2025 ]: cnbctv18

Delhi Elections 2025: Political reactions pour over BJP makes historic comeback

As per the latest data from the Election Commission of India (ECI), out of total 70 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has claimed victory in 39 seats and is leading in 14 constituencies. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has won 17 seats and is leading in 5 constituencies.

[ Sat, Feb 08th 2025 ]: Slate

Why a U.S. Attorney Has Become a Major Character in the DOGE Drama

Martin, a Trump appointee, has stumbled into an incredible amount of power; he decides whether to prosecute any federal crime charged in the nation's capital. And he has already been busy—firing some 30 prosecutors who worked on the Jan. 6 cases, investigating Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and helping the Oath Keepers return to Washington.

[ Sat, Feb 08th 2025 ]: Newsday

Donald Trump shunned Project 2025 as a candidate, but is adopting its ideas in office

On the presidential campaign trail, candidate Donald Trump consistently distanced himself from Project 2025, a conservative think tank initiative that proposed swee

[ Sat, Feb 08th 2025 ]: cnbctv18

ECI Delhi Election Results 2025 LIVE: BJP set to return to power after 27 years; leads in 18 seats, wins 30

The exit polls predicted that the BJP is likely to form a government in Delhi after 27 years. The poll of polls predicted 41 seats for BJP, 29 for AAP and nil for Congress.

[ Sat, Feb 08th 2025 ]: Reuters

Trump dismisses US Archivist, moves to shake up Kennedy Center

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday dismissed Colleen Shogan, the Archivist of the United States, and announced plans to shake up the board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in his latest moves to upend institutions in Washington.

[ Sat, Feb 08th 2025 ]: MSN

Moses Wetang'ula dismisses court ruling on dual role as Speaker, Ford Kenya leader: "Non-binding"

National Assembly speaker Moses Masika Wetang'ula, through his legal advisor, Benson Milimo, dismissed the High Court's ruling on his dual role as non-binding.

[ Sat, Feb 08th 2025 ]: cnbctv18

ECI Delhi Election Results 2025 LIVE: BJP ahead in 45 seats, poised to form govt in Delhi after 26 years; AAP leads in 21

The exit polls predicted that the BJP is likely to form a government in Delhi after 27 years. The poll of polls predicted 41 seats for BJP, 29 for AAP and nil for Congress.

[ Sat, Feb 08th 2025 ]: MSN

This is what Donald Trump's executive orders inviting Afrikaners as US refugees said

United States President Donald Trump signed an executive order inviting Afrikaners as refugees to the United States. South Africans slammed the order.

[ Sat, Feb 08th 2025 ]: MSN

A federal judge won't immediately block DOGE access to the US Labor Department

A federal judge said Friday he would not immediately block Elon Musk's team from accessing systems at the Labor Department, which has investigated companies owned by the billionaire adviser to President Donald Trump.

[ Sat, Feb 08th 2025 ]: MSN

Federal judge blocks Elon Musk's DOGE from accessing sensitive US Treasury Department material

A federal judge early Saturday blocked Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency from accessing Treasury Department records that contain sensitive personal data such as Social Security and bank account numbers for millions of Americans.

[ Sat, Feb 08th 2025 ]: Firstpost

Why the win in Delhi is important for Modi's BJP

The BJP is all set to break AAP's dominance in Delhi and is on course to end its 27-year wait to return to the national capital. For the Narendra Modi-led party, this poll battle was crucial for a number of reasons: it was a matter of prestige,

[ Sat, Feb 08th 2025 ]: Reuters

Trump signs order to cut funding for South Africa over land policy, ICJ case

President Donald Trump signed an executive order to cut U.S. financial assistance to South Africa, the White House said on Friday, citing disapproval of its land policy and of its genocide case at the International Court of Justice against Washington's ally Israel.

[ Sat, Feb 08th 2025 ]: CNN

Latest on Trump's presidency as federal judge temporarily blocks putting USAID workers on leave

President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak with Panamanian President Raúl Mulino and is meeting with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday as he continues to move ahead with reshaping the federal government.

[ Sat, Feb 08th 2025 ]: MSN

"AAP will form govt with huge majority...People voted for politics of honesty": Manish Sisodia

Manish Sisodia, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate from the Jangpura constituency, expressed confidence in the party's success ahead of the results, and asserted that the party has to do a lot more work for Delhi.
Fri, February 7, 2025

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: Newsweek

Half a Million Tons of Food Risks 'Going to Waste' as USAID Shut Down

More than 500,000 tons of food risks "going to waste" as a result of the Trump administration suspending most overseas aid for 90 days according to Hearst Newspapers, which cites emails it has reviewed from "an international food agency."

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: Mediaite

Pete Hegseth Lashes Out at Former Fox News Colleague and Other 'Trump Haters'

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth slammed his former Fox News colleague Jennifer Griffin on Friday night for reporting the news. Griffin, Fox's chief national security correspondent, tweeted a letter from Democratic members of the House Appropriations Committee to Hegseth inquiring about renovations to the secretary's government residence.

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: ABC

Trump 2nd term live updates: Trump terminates Biden access to classified information

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

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: PBS

Capehart and Continetti on Trump pushing the limits of executive power

Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart and Mathew Continetti from the American Enterprise Institute join Geoff Bennett to discuss the week in politics, President Trump and his allies making quick progress on their goal of "deconstructing the administrative state,

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: PBS

Courts and Congress struggle to keep up with Trump as he reshapes American government

Courts and Congress are struggling to keep up with the break-neck pace as the Trump administration dramatically reshapes the American government, national politics and international order. The president promised more cuts and further political payback,

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: ABC

What to know about Elon Musk's government dismantling and the fight to stop him

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency group has made swift work of the billionaire's goal to curtail the government. Here are some of the direct actions.

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: ABC

Trump 2nd term live updates: Trump calls on USAID to be closed down

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

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: scrippsnews

Signage for USAID removed and covered at its DC headquarters

Workers removed signage for the United States Agency for International Development at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Friday. References to the agency outside of the building were also covered with black tape.

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: WTHR

HOWEY: Musk and constitutional disorder

These are emerging dictatorial powers replacing the lawful order that has served Americans well for nearly 250 years.

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: ABC

Trump 2nd term live updates: Trump says Gaza plan a 'real estate transaction'

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

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: lex18

Elon Musk polls X followers on reinstating DOGE staffer accused of racist posts

Elon Musk is polling his X followers about reinstating a DOGE staffer accused of making racist posts in the past.

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: RealClearPolitics

Bill Gates: I'm A "Little Disappointed" In Elon Musk, He's "Been Nice To Me At Times, And Mean To Me At Times"

Microsoft founder Bill Gates joins CNN's Anderson Cooper and discusses Elon Musk's role in President Donald Trump's government: ANDERSON COOPER: We wanted to get a different perspective on the fight over the U.

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: CNN

Latest on Trump's presidency as he meets with Japan's PM and moves to overhaul government

President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak with Panamanian President Raúl Mulino and is meeting with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday as he continues to move ahead with reshaping the federal government.

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: Politico

How Trump's Immigration Blitz Will Change Maternal Health Care

Trump has so far not deported more people than the Biden or Obama administrations did, but the PR blitz around his deportations is distinct. As a result, immigrants across the country are changing their routines, keeping children home from school and skipping doctor's appointments.

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: RealClearPolitics

Turley: Democrats Are Breathing Into Paper Bags, The "Terror Alert" In Washington Is Quite Astonishing

On FOX News 'The Ingraham Angle,' GMU Law professor Jonathan Turley talked about Elon Musk's work and the response from Washington D.C. about his spending cuts: LAURA INGRAHAM: Joining me now, Jonathan Turley,

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: Nathan Burkes

The Intersection of Politics and Technology: Elon Musk's Subpoena and the House Democrats' Response

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: Oregonian

Upheaval in Washington, D.C., disrupts Northwest humanitarian work

The Trump administration's crackdown on foreign aid and immigration is disrupting humanitarian work around the world, including relief efforts led by organizations and contractors in Portland and across the Northwest.

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: CNN

Trump's overhaul of the federal government faces legal challenges

President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak with Panamanian President Raúl Mulino and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday as he continues to move ahead with reshaping the federal government. Follow here for the latest live news updates.

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: Slate

I'm a Government Worker. We're Still Terrified Friday Is D-Day.

Here's what I will do: I will do my job as best as I know how. I will read each new directive from my political leadership and clack away at my keyboard to implement it as best as I can. And I will polish my résumé and apply for other jobs and hate myself for doing so.

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: PBS

How the courts have (so far) pushed back on Trump's attempts to expand presidential power

Now the question is whether the court rulings are a mere speed bump or an insurmountable roadblock for the Republican president.

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: ABC12

Trump signs executive orders targeting ICC and 'anti-Christian bias'

President Donald Trump signed a pair of executive orders Thursday, one targeting the International Criminal Court and a second on "anti-Christian bias."

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: CNN

'Second American Revolution': The team behind DOGE's government overhaul

As Musk's team barrels its way through the government seeking access to sensitive information, questions are arising about the people behind DOGE

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: RealClearPolitics

Jesse Watters: Trump Campaigned On Cutting Government And He Won, This Is Just The Tip Of The Iceberg

FOX News host Jesse Watters gives his take on Democrats' reactions to DOGE's changes to the federal government on 'Jesse Watters Primetime.'

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: MLive

After Jan. 6, rioters say they lost jobs, homes and relationships, but regrets are few

Jan. 6 participants told MLive that the day of protest and violence shifted the course of their lives. After being pardoned, most say they did nothing wrong.

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: MSN

Cocaine 'no worse than whiskey' and should be legal - says man likely to get rich from it

Use precise geolocation data and actively scan device characteristics for identification. This is done to store and access information on a device and to provide personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. List of Partners (vendors)

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: MSN

Anti-DEI bills clear both the Mississippi House and Senate

And the Mississippi legislature is joining in on taking action. However, that comes with its fair share of passionate debate. The House version of a DEI ban would impact the state's public schools from K-12 up to universities.

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: Newsday

Protests and a New Zealand leader's absence overshadow a day marking the founding treaty with M?ori

The bill's architect, David Seymour, met with protests at Waitangi marae — a MÄ?ori meeting house — during speeches by political leaders on Wednesday, as he made a fresh pitch for the law. The measures are widely derided and prompted tens of thousands of people to march on Parliament in Wellington last November.

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: MassLive

Northeastern prof: America is in a constitutional crisis. And it can get worse | John L. Micek

As Elon Musk and his lieutenants look to cut spending and trim the ranks of the federal bureaucracy, sidestepping powers normally reserved for Congress, that crisis is more than just underway.

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: MSN

Kent Politics Podcast: Kent and Medway miss out on priority list for devolution and local government reorganisation

On this week's Kent Politics Podcast our reporters discuss the news Kent and Medway won't be on the priority list for devolution and local government reorganisation. Local government leaders have expressed disappointment and want answers about why the county was unsuccessful in its bid to be among the first areas to get a Mayor and see the shape

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: MSN

DOGE's biggest fans, Trump's trade war begins, and China hits back: Politics news roundup

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency is here, and defense contractors can't wait for the "revolution" to reach the Defense Department. So far, his focus has been on other areas, but they're betting that Musk — himself a defense contractor through SpaceX — slashes a lot of red tape.

[ Fri, Feb 07th 2025 ]: MSN

Elon Musk's D.O.G.E is giving the CIA and NSA nightmares now

The Intersection of Politics and Technology: Elon Musk's Subpoena and the House Democrats' Response

The Intersection of Politics and Technology: Elon Musk's Subpoena and the House Democrats' Response

In recent political developments, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has found himself at the center of a controversy involving a subpoena issued by the House Judiciary Committee. This situation underscores the complex interplay between technology, business, and politics, particularly when it involves high-profile figures like Musk.

Background of the Subpoena



The subpoena in question was issued in connection with an investigation into the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) handling of privacy issues related to Twitter, which Musk acquired in October 2022. The House Judiciary Committee, led by Republicans, sought to examine whether the FTC was overstepping its bounds in its regulatory actions against Twitter, especially post-acquisition by Musk.

The Subpoena's Content



The subpoena demanded documents and communications related to Twitter's privacy practices, its compliance with FTC orders, and any interactions with the FTC since Musk's acquisition. This was part of a broader inquiry into potential regulatory overreach by federal agencies, a common theme in recent political discourse.

House Democrats' Absence



Interestingly, during the session where this subpoena was discussed, several House Democrats were notably absent. This absence has sparked discussions on several fronts:

  • Political Strategy: Some speculate that the Democrats' absence might be a strategic move to avoid giving the subpoena more visibility or legitimacy, especially if they believe the investigation might not yield significant findings or could be politically motivated.

  • Focus on Other Issues: Democrats might be focusing their legislative efforts on other pressing matters, such as economic recovery, climate change, or social justice reforms, which they consider more critical at this juncture.

  • Concerns Over Privacy: There's also a possibility that Democrats are wary of delving into an investigation that could set precedents for how privacy and corporate oversight are handled, potentially affecting future regulatory frameworks.

Implications for Musk and Twitter



For Elon Musk, this subpoena represents more than just a legal obligation; it's a spotlight on his management of Twitter, particularly concerning privacy and data security:

  • Regulatory Scrutiny: Musk's acquisition of Twitter has already placed the company under intense regulatory scrutiny. The subpoena adds another layer of complexity to how Twitter navigates its compliance with existing and future regulations.

  • Public Perception: Musk's actions and responses to such legal challenges can influence public and investor perception, affecting both his personal brand and the companies he leads.

  • Legal Precedents: The outcome of this subpoena could set legal precedents regarding how tech companies are regulated, especially in terms of privacy and data protection.

    Broader Implications



    This event highlights several broader issues:

  • Tech Industry Regulation: It underscores the ongoing debate about how much regulatory power government agencies should have over tech giants, especially in areas like privacy and data security.

  • Political Use of Subpoena Power: The use of subpoenas by Congress to investigate regulatory bodies or private companies can be seen as a tool for political leverage, influencing how businesses operate under the shadow of potential investigations.

  • Corporate Accountability: There's an increasing call for accountability from tech moguls like Musk, where their business decisions are scrutinized not just for profit but for their societal impact.

    Conclusion



    The subpoena issued to Elon Musk by the House Judiciary Committee, and the subsequent absence of House Democrats, paints a vivid picture of the current political and regulatory landscape surrounding technology companies. As this situation unfolds, it will likely contribute to the evolving narrative on how tech leaders, regulatory bodies, and political entities interact in the digital age. This case serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between innovation, privacy, and governance in the tech sector.