Wed, February 19, 2025

[ Wed, Feb 19th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Wed, Feb 19th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Wed, Feb 19th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Wed, Feb 19th 2025 ]: 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,

[ Wed, Feb 19th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Wed, Feb 19th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Wed, Feb 19th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Wed, Feb 19th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Wed, Feb 19th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Wed, Feb 19th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Wed, Feb 19th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Wed, Feb 19th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Wed, Feb 19th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Wed, Feb 19th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Wed, Feb 19th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Wed, Feb 19th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Wed, Feb 19th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Wed, Feb 19th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Wed, Feb 19th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Wed, Feb 19th 2025 ]: 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".

[ Wed, Feb 19th 2025 ]: 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,

[ Wed, Feb 19th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Wed, Feb 19th 2025 ]: 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

[ Wed, Feb 19th 2025 ]: 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".

[ Wed, Feb 19th 2025 ]: 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,
Tue, February 18, 2025

[ Tue, Feb 18th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Tue, Feb 18th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Tue, Feb 18th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Tue, Feb 18th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Tue, Feb 18th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Tue, Feb 18th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Tue, Feb 18th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Tue, Feb 18th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Tue, Feb 18th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Tue, Feb 18th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Tue, Feb 18th 2025 ]: 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,

[ Tue, Feb 18th 2025 ]: Newsweek

Steve Bannon Escalates Feud With Elon Musk: 'Parasitic Illegal Immigrant'

The former Trump adviser accused the Tesla CEO of using his influence to push an agenda that disregards American traditions.

[ Tue, Feb 18th 2025 ]: AOL

Analysis-France's latest pensions battle could ignite fresh political crisis

President Emmanuel Macron braved strikes and street protests to force through a deeply unpopular reform in 2023 raising France's retirement age by two years to 64, saying it was the only way to keep the generous but costly pension system afloat.

[ Tue, Feb 18th 2025 ]: KPBS

White House says Elon Musk is not in charge of DOGE - legally, anyway

[ Tue, Feb 18th 2025 ]: MSN

DOGE sued by taxpayer groups and unions over access to IRS files

The plaintiffs expressed concerns about letting the U.S. DOGE Service, led by Elon Musk, see sensitive information such as net worth and income.

[ Tue, Feb 18th 2025 ]: Sky

England's top judge condemns Starmer and Badenoch comments on Gaza family coming to UK on Ukraine scheme

The Labour and Conservative leaders spoke out in PMQs against an immigration tribunal allowing a Gazan family to come to the UK under the Ukraine scheme.

[ Tue, Feb 18th 2025 ]: BBC

US Social Security boss steps down after reportedly clashing with Doge

Michelle King left because of a reported disagreement over Elon Musk-led Doge staffers accessing sensitive data.

[ Tue, Feb 18th 2025 ]: MSN

Mahakumbh stampede: UP governor expresses grief over tragic incident on Mauni Amavasya, pays tribute to the deceased

Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel addressed the joint session of both houses of the state legislature and the first session of 2025 on Tuesday. During her speech, she expressed grief over the stampede which occurred.

[ Tue, Feb 18th 2025 ]: MSN

"We Americans will show you how to negotiate"

The negotiations between Washington and Moscow in Riyadh come just days after US Vice President J.D. Vance and other senior officials harshly criticized the European Union. Trump's special representative,

[ Tue, Feb 18th 2025 ]: MSN

'It's nonsense!' Morning Joe uses bed bug analogy as he flips out on Elon Musk

MSNBC's Joe Scarborough pummeled Elon Musk's claims about the federal budget and the sweeping cuts imposed by his Department of Government Efficiency. Donald Trump's billionaire benefactor and his DOGE workforce have gained access to Social Security databases and other government financial systems,

[ Tue, Feb 18th 2025 ]: MSN

Republicans consider cuts and work requirements for Medicaid, jeopardizing care for millions

Republicans are weighing billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid, threatening health care coverage for some of the 80 million U.S. adults and children enrolled in the safety net program. The signing up of millions of additional Americans for taxpayer-funded health care coverage like Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act's

[ Tue, Feb 18th 2025 ]: MSN

Politics LIVE: John Healey set for major speech as Europe debates make-or-break decision

Follow our politics live blog below as John Healey takes questions about the future of UK and European defence amid Donald Trump's Ukraine chaos.

[ Tue, Feb 18th 2025 ]: MSN

Ulster Unionists say recent decisions by UK government and courts are helping the IRA rewrite history

Former members of the security forces and their families must be treated with fairness and justice after the government "opened pandora's box" on legacy.

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,

The article from MSN discusses the perspective of Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian opposition figure, on the potential implications of a deal between the U.S. and Russia regarding Ukraine. Kara-Murza, who is currently imprisoned in Russia, warns that any agreement that might be seen as a concession to Russia could lead to increased repression within Russia and further aggression towards Ukraine. He argues that such a deal would embolden the Russian regime, allowing it to continue its oppressive policies internally and its expansionist ambitions externally. Kara-Murza's comments were made in the context of Switzerland's role in international diplomacy, highlighting the complexities of negotiating with Russia under its current leadership.

Read the Full MSN Article at:
https://www.msn.com/en-xl/politics/government/switzerland-kara-murza-us-russia-deal-on-ukraine-will-bring-more-repression-and-aggression/vi-AA1zivf9