Thu, February 20, 2025

by: Reuters

U.S. State Department revises China webpage to focus on trade, business curbs

The U.S. State Department has changed references to China on its website, emphasising the trade deficit in an expanded section on economic ties, while dropping talk of working with allies and assistance to China on cultural and environmental issues.

by: Oregonian

Oregon regulatory changes will roll out with 'more consistency,' Gov. Tina Kotek pledges

The governor on Wednesday directed state agencies to bring greater transparency to the state's rulemaking processes.

by: CNN

'Indiscriminate madness': DOGE claims firings target low performers and new employees. The reality is far from it

The Trump administration and Elon Musk have insisted that they are carefully purging the federal workforce by firing only low-performing employees serving in non-critical roles, or recent hires on probationary status.

by: ABC

Hegseth could soon fire or remove generals and senior officers, US officials say

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is considering firing or removing generals and senior officers as early as this week, according to multiple officials.

by: NDTV

Bangladesh Students Are Protesting Again, But This Time Against Each Other

Over 150 students were injured in Bangladesh during clashes at a university campus this week, a sign of serious discord between groups instrumental in fomenting the national revolution last year that led to former premier Sheikh Hasina's downfall.

by: ABC

Trump 2nd term live updates: Court denies appeal on birthright citizenship injunction

President Donald Trump's administration on Wednesday lost its appeal to lift a nationwide injunction against his executive order on birthright citizenship.

by: MSN

Political analysts doubt Masondo and Radebe's abilities to revive ANC in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal

Political analysts express scepticism about the newly appointed ANC leaders in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, citing factionalism and past loyalties as significant barriers to reviving the party ahead of the 2026 elections.

by: MSN

New 'sex-based definitions' from the federal government set strict two-gender policy

Recently-confirmed Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy released the guidelines on the heels of President Trump's executive order on gender.

by: MSN

Global leaders chart future of AI and governance at World Government Summit 2025

In this episode of Focus, we take you to the World Governments Summit 2025 in Dubai, where global leaders, policymakers and experts gathered to shape the future of governance. From the integration of AI and digital transformation to public-private partnerships,

by: MSN

RSF clears the air on its presence in Kenya: "We are not here to establish a government"

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have issued a formal response regarding their presence and activities in Kenya, saying their being in Nairobi is purely for peace talk

by: MSN

Now Trump Wants the Federal Government to Take Over D.C.

Trump trashed Washington D.C.'s crime and homelessness on Wednesday night while calling for the District of Columbia to be put under the federal government's control. "I think that we should govern the District of Columbia,

by: ktiv

'Dream job' gone former Iowa USDA worker says after Trump administration mass firings

Iowans are among the federal workers that President Donald Trump's administration has fired from agencies including those in agriculture and veterans' health.

by: MSN

Republicans are pursuing separate paths to get Trump's priorities through Congress

Senate Majority Leader John Thune teed up a vote this week on a budget plan that sets the stage for a massive boost in defense and border security spending, and leaves a looming tax cut fight for later this year.
Wed, February 19, 2025

by: Marketplace

New Trump order takes aim at autonomy of independent agencies

White House seeks sway over FCC, FEC, FTC and some Fed operations. Politics professor Sarah Binder says it "grabs power from Congress."

by: Forbes

Trump Adds Support For DOGE Dividend Checks; Here's Why He Might Do It

At a speech in Miami on Wednesday, Trump said his administration is considering a plan to give a DOGE Dividend to taxpayers.

by: thenightly

Australian news and politics live: Westpac to move 190 Australian jobs offshore to the Philippines

After reporting bumper profits and saying the company was in good shape, one of Australia's Big Four banks has confirmed it is sending Australian jobs offshore.

by: KING5

Sen. Patty Murray says reported firings are a 'betrayal' to public workers, veterans

Murray said Wednesday she was frightened about what could come next in the new administration's attempts to slash the federal workforce.

by: MoneyWeek

What is the Spring Forecast - and will Rachel Reeves announce any new policies?

The Treasury has said chancellor Rachel Reeves is committed to one fiscal event each year. Could a challenging economic backdrop force her to reassess this stance when she delivers the Spring Forecast on 26 March?

by: CNN

Trump delivers another blow to Ukraine and a new boost to Putin

And Trump's attack on Zelensky, who was hailed as a hero in the United States for resisting Russia's Blitzkrieg on Kyiv early in the war, was a graphic sign of how the new American administration has reversed Washington's stance of supporting the victim of the invasion and is now rewarding the aggressor.

by: Newsday

Trump and Musk say they like working together and will keep it at. Will it last?

At times, Trump sat back as Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity heaped praise on Musk in an attempt to counteract a Democratic narrative that he's a callous and unelected force out to destroy the government and upend civil society through sweeping cuts being imposed by the Department of Government Efficiency.

by: Newsweek

MAGA and Medicaid: Which States Have Highest Percentage of Beneficiaries?

Louisiana, Kentucky, West Virginia and Arkansas were among 7 states with more than 25 percent of their population on Medicaid.

by: Newsweek

DOGE Reveals Social Security Administration Cuts

The unofficial government department has so far identified savings of just over $232 million with regards to the SSA alone.

by: MassLive

Could the government send out $5K DOGE checks? Here's what to know

A CEO is proposing a DOGE dividend, where tax refund checks funded exclusively with portions of the savings from the Department of Government Efficiency are sent to tax payers.

by: Politico

Silicon Valley workers learn to worry about their politics

SAN FRANCISCO — For years, as the social-media and startup world exploded, the tech industry was known for the outspokenness of its employees — largely liberal-skewing young technologists on the West Coast, who pushed their companies hard to build policies that then became models for a new kind of American workplace.

by: CNN

Trump rails against Ukrainian president while government overhaul takes shape in US

President Donald Trump is forging ahead with his federal government overhaul as his administration's changes face multiple legal challenges. Follow here for the latest.

by: redstateobserver

Conservatives Unite Against Bureaucratic Overreach in Politics

A Battle for America's Future** In an era where overreach and inefficiency in government are at the forefront of public discourse, impactful voices are

by: KYMA

President Trump and Elon Musk defend federal government downsizing

In a joint interview with Fox News, President Donald Trump and Elon Musk defended efforts to downsize the federal government.

by: CNN

What to know about Trump's executive order and 'unprecedented' power grab within the government

President Donald Trump's executive order grasping far greater control over independent federal agencies embraces a constitutionally questionable theory that presidents dating back to Ronald Reagan have considered - and ultimately rejected.

by: CNN

Trump signs executive order aimed at expanding IVF access and reducing costs

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday to develop policy recommendations to expand access to and affordability of in vitro fertilization.

by: CNN

Defense officials fear impending Pentagon firings could break law and hurt military readiness

Some defense officials responsible for drafting lists of civilian Pentagon employees to be terminated as soon as this week are raising concerns with their superiors that the summary firings could break the law and potentially harm US military readiness,

by: abc3340

Elon Musk says saving taxpayer money requires 'competence' and 'caring'

President Donald Trump and Department of Government Efficiency head Elon Musk sat for a joint interview on Fox News Tuesday.

by: Slate

The Terrible Trump Idea That Should Have Stayed in Vegas

Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily.

by: BBC

Musk and Trump defend Doge cuts, say they plan to 'restore will of the people'

Multiple groups including unions and state attorneys general have sued Doge and the wider Trump administration over their plans, and Democrats accuse them of tampering with funding approved by Congress that is outside the president's scope. The White House denies that the work has broken any laws.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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

President Trump and Elon Musk defend federal government downsizing

In a joint interview with Fox News, President Donald Trump and Elon Musk defended efforts to downsize the federal government.

The article from KYMA discusses a hypothetical scenario where former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, in a fictional setting, defend the downsizing of the federal government. In this imagined dialogue, Trump argues that reducing the size of the government would lead to less bureaucracy, lower taxes, and more freedom for citizens, echoing his past campaign promises. Musk, portrayed as a visionary entrepreneur, supports this by suggesting that private sector innovation could replace many government functions more efficiently. They discuss the potential benefits like economic growth, increased personal responsibility, and the redirection of government funds towards critical areas like infrastructure and defense. However, the article also hints at potential drawbacks, such as the loss of essential services and the challenges of transitioning responsibilities to the private sector, without providing real-world context or outcomes.

Read the Full KYMA Article at:
https://kyma.com/decision-2024/national-politics/2025/02/19/president-trump-and-elon-musk-defend-federal-government-downsizing/