• Tue, February 18, 2025

by: PBS

Looking to slash Medicaid funding, Republicans consider cutting billions of dollars

Republican lawmakers could try to siphon billions of dollars from the nearly-free health care coverage offered to the poorest Americans.

by: Newsweek

Social Security's COBOL Software Comes Under Scrutiny

Elon Musk's investigation of federal government systems highlighted Social Security's reliance on software developed in the 1950s.

by: Oregonian

Republicans worry Trump's firings of federal workers will hit red states hard

The DOGE push to downsize government employees will hit the coalition that elected Trump,' a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, wrote.

by: scrippsnews

Judge won't place restraining order on Elon Musk and DOGE in state AG case

A federal judge has declined to grant a request for a temporary restraining order against Elon Musk and DOGE. State attorneys general argue his making government changes is unconstitutional.

by: Slate

Meet the Disabled Vets, Cancer Researchers, and Nuclear Techs Fired by Elon Musk "For Cause"

Musk's vulture-capitalist approach to dismantling the federal government may be opening the door to wrongful termination lawsuits.

by: WPLG

Senate GOP pushes ahead with budget bill that funds Trump's mass deportations and border wall

WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans pushed ahead late Tuesday on a scaled-back budget bill, a $340 billion package to give the Trump administration money for mass deportations and other priorities, as Democrats prepare a counter-campaign against the onslaught of actions coming from the White House.

by: CNN

US and Russia discuss Ukraine war as Trump's federal overhaul takes shape

Trump administration and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia for talks on ending the Ukraine war as President Donald Trump continues to forge ahead with his overhaul of the US government. Follow for live updates.

by: MSN

In joint interview, Trump outlines Musk's role as enforcer-in-chief

US President Donald Trump painted Elon Musk as his enforcer-in-chief Tuesday, hailing the tech billionaire's zeal in implementing the blizzard of executive orders the president has issued since returning to office.

by: MSN

Is the US Congress powerless against Elon Musk's D.O.G.E?

by: Slate

I Just Figured Out What Elon Musk's DOGE Really Is

It's how things worked when you went to the Cosa Nostra to ask for protection for you and your family in exchange for some portion of your own resources.

by: CNN

'Good luck with that.' Trump administration terminates privacy officials at agency overseeing government hiring and firing

The Trump administration has quietly fired multiple members of the "privacy team" and other officials from the office that oversees the hiring of federal workers, a move that limits outside access to government records related to the security clearances granted to Elon Musk and his associates,

by: Slate

Is This a Constitutional Crisis? Wrong Question.

The legalists just want to have a big old fight that lands up at the Supreme Court about the unitary executive and big conservative principles, and the monarchic view of the presidency they've been pushing for a very long time.

by: MSN

JFK Presidential Library in Boston Abruptly Closes 'Until Further Notice'

John F. Kennedy Library Foundation posted to its social media pages that it is closing without further explanation.

by: MSN

If Trump and Musk want to root out corruption, I know just where they can start

Jen Psaki explains why President Donald Trump and Elon Musk's pledge to root out corruption rings hollow, as the pair cultivates corruption that serves them.

by: Slate

What Happens Next in the Eric Adams Case? It's Up to One Judge.

Judge Ho will have a hearing on Wednesday to determine whether to accept the DOJ's motion to dismiss the case against the New York City mayor.

by: MSN

Judge denies request to temporarily block DOGE's mass firings, access to data

A federal judge denied an urgent request to temporarily block Elon Musk and DOGE from firing employees or accessing records from a half a dozen government agencies.

by: MSN

Is Elon Musk's Politics Costing Tesla? Questions & Concerns Arise As EV Maker's January Sales Drop

Elon Musk is not just the richest man on earth, but arguably, one of the most influential and powerful people, as he holds a close tie with the government of the biggest economy in the world, the United States.

by: MSN

Trump's firing of 1,000 national park workers raises concerns about maintenance and operating hours

The Trump administration has fired about 1,000 newly hired National Park Service employees who maintain and clean parks, educate visitors and perform other functions as part of its broad-based effort to downsize government.

by: MSN

Judge questions Elon Musk's 'unchecked authority' but won't block DOGE access at federal agencies

A federal judge said 14 states had failed to show DOGE's access to government systems would cause irreparable harm.

by: MSN

White House can't get story straight on Musk and DOGE with Karoline Leavitt and aides tied in knots

After the White House stated billionaire Elon Musk is not technically part of the Department of Government Efficiency team, Donald Trump's minions have been struggling to explain his role during multiple TV showdowns.

by: MSN

Anti-Trump Protesters Drag Elon Musk Dummy Around

A video showing a protester dragging a dummy of Elon Musk at what appears to be Monday's 50501 protest in Washington D.C. has gone viral online. Newsweek has reached out to Musk via an email to X, formerly Twitter,

by: MSN

Judge won't block Musk and DOGE from accessing data, making cuts at 7 agencies

A federal judge on Tuesday declined to stop Elon Musk and the White House's Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, from accessing data systems at seven federal agencies and firing or putting their employees on leave.

by: MSN

White House says Elon Musk is Trump's advisor and not the DOGE administrator

Musk's role could be key in legal fight over DOGE's access to government data as the Trump administration moves to lay off thousands of federal workers.

by: MSN

Moscow to sign new military deal

According to sources cited by Bloomberg, Moscow is close to reaching a deal with the new Syrian government that would allow it to keep some military personnel and equipment in the country. Russian officials plan to maintain a limited military presence in Syria.

by: MSN

White House says Elon Musk is Trump's adviser and not the DOGE administrator

The White House says billionaire Elon Musk is not the administrator of the Department of Government Efficiency team that is sweeping through federal agencies, but is rather a senior adviser to President Donald Trump.

by: MSN

NY Democrats demand RFK Jr. restore cuts to 9/11 survivor program

New York Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand wrote a Monday letter to newly minted Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., urging him to reverse recent cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that impact a program for 9/11 first responders.

by: MSN

Peace on the horizon? How US-Russia talks on Ukraine are shaping up

MailOnline looks at how talks between the Trump administration and Russia are shaping up in Saudi Arabia, as they attempt to agree on a deal to end the war in Ukraine. The move has sparked strong reactions from Zelensky and European leaders.

by: MSN

As U.S. and Putin negotiate, intel shows he's not interested 'in a real peace deal,' sources say

Intelligence from the U.S. and close allies shows Russian President Vladimir Putin still wants to control all of Ukraine, sources said.
  • Wed, February 19, 2025

by: NDTV

Amid Language Row, Udhayanidhi Stalin's "Will Lose Mother Tongue" Warning

The battle between Tamil Nadu's DMK and the BJP - over the 'imposition of Hindi' - ramped up Tuesday after Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin raged that "states that had accepted Hindi today stand to lose their mother tongue".

by: Reuters

Trump says Musk will not take part in space-related government decisions

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he will not let billionaire Elon Musk take part in any space-related government decisions, when the president was asked about Musk's potential conflicts of interest amid his drive to cut government spending.

by: scrippsnews

Judge rejects request to block Elon Musk, DOGE from accessing government data

A federal judge has declined to grant a request for a temporary restraining order against Elon Musk and DOGE. State attorneys general argue his making government changes is unconstitutional.

by: Tuko

Meru Politician Forcefully Ejected from Kithure Kindiki's Karen Meeting: "Aende, Aende"

Politician Edwin Kiongozi attended Deputy President Kithure Kindiki's event in Karen and attempted to sit at a reserved seat, causing tension among the attendees.

by: ABC

Trump 2nd term live updates: Trump falsely claims Ukraine started war with Russia

As Elon Musk's DOGE continues to target federal agencies like the Social Security Administration and Internal Revenue Service, the world's richest man has now set his sights on U.S. gold reserves at Fort Knox.

by: Couriermail

'Needs to stop': Elon Musk and Donald Trump speak out in joint interview with Fox News

Elon Musk has sat down for a joint television interview with Donald Trump, in which he defended his role as head of the US President's sweeping cost-cutting initiative within the nation's government.

by: WPLG

Americans' confidence in air travel safety dips slightly after Washington plane crash: AP-NORC poll

A new poll finds Americans' confidence in air transportation and the federal agencies tasked with maintaining air safety has slipped a little from last year.

by: abc7NY

Meet Dale E. Ho, the second-year judge weighing the future of NYC Mayor Eric Adams' corruption case

Ho, an Ivy League-educated former civil rights lawyer and law professor, has shown no signs of being a rubber stamp - one way or the other - in a case with serious implications for Adams' future as mayor.

by: dailymemphian

Why Elon Musk chose Memphis for xAI facility

At the end of a product-release broadcast on X, Elon Musk explained why xAI chose the Bluff City and the former Electrolux building in Southwest Memphis.

by: Click2Houston

The Latest: Trump signs executive order to study how to expand IVF

Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order meant to expand access to and reduce costs of in vitro fertilization.

by: Politico

Florida Man keeps returning. Republicans follow.

Trump's properties also continue to be a draw for political events. Last month, House Republicans spent their policy retreat at Trump National Doral near Miami. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans held their winter meeting at the Breakers Palm Beach, also joining the president for dinner at Mar-a-Lago.

by: MSN

A comprehensive look at DOGE's firings and layoffs so far

Thousands of federal government employees have been shown the door in the first month of President Donald Trump's administration as the White House and its Department of Government Efficiency fire both new and career workers,

by: MSN

Are the DFB demands of the new government misplaced?

The list of demands from the German football association ahead of the German election are compelling, but how effective could they be in the context of federalism and their own image? As Germany's federal election draws near,

by: MSN

What Trump's latest 'unconstitutional' move means for the US

The White House's latest order was signed to bring independent government agencies under full control of the president.

by: MSN

They had glowing reviews before getting fired from their government jobs. Now they're planning to fight back.

Trump's administration has fired thousands of workers across federal agencies. Some of them told BI that they're not going down without a fight.

by: MSN

Musk calls himself 'Tech-Support' for Trump, slams US bureaucracy for "fighting against people's will"

Tesla CEO and DOGE Head, Elon Musk, opened up on the delay in the implementation of the executive orders signed by US President Donald Trump, blaming the US bureaucracy for it and said they are "fighting against the will of the people".

by: MSN

Switzerland: Kara-Murza: US-Russia deal on Ukraine will bring more repression and aggression

The agreement that Russia and the United States could reach on Ukraine in talks that begin on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia could lead to greater repression of the Russian political opposition and future aggression by Moscow against other European countries,

by: MSN

Egypt's five-year plan for Gaza reconstruction includes safe zones and independent Palestinian agency

Gaza Details of an Egyptian plan for the reconstruction of Gaza were revealed on Tuesday, with sources involved in the process telling The National that the proposal includes the creation of safe zones within the territory during a five-year rebuilding period.

by: MSN

Trump and Musk awkwardly called 'two brothers' as they seek to justify DOGE cuts in joint Fox News interview

Trump and Musk awkwardly called 'two brothers' as they seek to justify DOGE cuts in joint Fox News interview - The president has previously been trolled with claims that he is only a co-president - or

by: MSN

"BJP, Congress and CPI(M) are together against me": Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday slammed the opposition for deliberately preventing her from speaking in the State Assembly.She accused the BJP, Congress, and CPI(M) of ganging up against her,

'Good luck with that.' Trump administration terminates privacy officials at agency overseeing government hiring and firing

The Trump administration has quietly fired multiple members of the "privacy team" and other officials from the office that oversees the hiring of federal workers, a move that limits outside access to government records related to the security clearances granted to Elon Musk and his associates,
The article from CNN, published on February 18, 2025, discusses the abrupt dismissal of the entire privacy team at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). This action has raised significant concerns about the protection of personal data for millions of federal employees. The team was responsible for ensuring compliance with privacy laws and safeguarding sensitive information. The firings come at a time when cybersecurity threats are increasingly sophisticated, and the move has sparked worries about potential vulnerabilities in government data systems. Critics argue that this could undermine trust in the government's ability to protect personal information, especially given OPM's history of data breaches. The reasons behind the dismissals remain unclear, with no official statement from OPM providing a clear rationale for such a drastic measure.

Read the Full CNN Article at:
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/18/politics/opm-privacy-team-fired/index.html

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