• Thu, February 20, 2025

by: NPR

Trump claims expanded power over independent agencies

The executive order would affect agencies like the SEC and FDIC, but it excludes the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors and Open Market Committee.

by: Alternet

Legal expert wanrs Trump's 'shock and awe' approach is 'undermining' his own agenda

Donald Trump promised to bring "shock and awe" to the United States' federal government if he won the 2024 election, and his first month back in the White House has been extremely turbulent. Trump issued countless executive orders after beginning his second presidency,

by: RealClearPolitics

Tapper: Trump Calling Zelensky A Dictator Is More Than Just Upending The Normal Way Of Doing Things, He's Breaking With Facts

We begin today with President Trump seeming to upend the domestic and a global world order. Let's start with the global world order. This morning President Trump sending shockwaves throughout Europe when he called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a quote dictator,

by: britishhorseracing

Racing and Politics in 2025: A busy start to the year

The new year is always busy when it comes to political engagement and 2025 has been no exception.

by: WLRN

Speed vs. accountability: The call to fix FEMA and the high stakes for Florida

President Trump has pledged to reform FEMA, while suggesting it should be done away with. Two Floridians who used to lead the agency told WLRN they support the process — but caution federal emergency management is needed.

by: CNN

Military families rocked by Trump's federal government cuts

The Trump administration's swift, sweeping cuts to the federal workforce is set to derail the livelihoods of potentially thousands of military families.

by: Sky

Farage says Zelenskyy is not a dictator and Trump 'should not be taken literally'

Donald Trump has called the Ukrainian president a "dictator", and the US leader's ally Nigel Farage has remained silent on the controversial remarks until now.

by: WVXU

Analysis: Red states like Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana could be hurt most by Trump's cuts

The numbers clearly show how states like Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana won't be spared from the Trump/Musk budget-cuts.

by: Yahoo

'Zero Day' Review: Robert De Niro Can't Save This Dull Dad TV Political Thriller

An all-star cast fails to elevate this lackluster conspiracy drama with no point of view The post 'Zero Day' Review: Robert De Niro Can't Save This Dull Dad TV Political Thriller appeared first on TheWrap.

by: Newsweek

Trump Says DOGE Could Give 20% of Savings Directly to Taxpayers: Live Updates

President Donald Trump said he was considering a plan to Americans with savings from DOGE. Follow Newsweek's live blog for updates.

by: Reuters

Trump administration can continue mass firings of federal workers, US judge rules

The Trump administration can for now continue its mass firings of federal employees, a federal judge ruled on Thursday, rejecting a bid by a group of labor unions to halt President Donald Trump's dramatic downsizing of the roughly 2.

by: WXYZ

Trump administration is considering 'dividend' checks from money generated by DOGE

The Trump Administration is considering having the so-called Department of Government Efficiency give some of its savings to the American people.

by: BBC

Elon Musk and Javier Milei wield chainsaw on stage at conservative conference

by: KING5

Jayapal: There will be 'direct consequences' to the country because of Trump administration layoffs

Jayapal discussed the federal layoffs, criticized the Trump administration's plans and her efforts to protect the trans community in an interview with KING 5.

by: News4Jax

Musk waves a chainsaw and charms conservatives talking up Trump's cost-cutting efforts

Billionaire Elon Musk has created a buzz waving a chainsaw in the air at a conservative gathering outside Washington.

by: News4Jax

Dr. Mehmet Oz holds millions from companies that he'd wield power over if confirmed, report shows

Dr. Mehmet Oz holds millions of dollars worth of shares in health insurance, fertility, pharmaceutical and vitamin companies.

by: Newsweek

Kash Patel's Confirmation Tightens Trump's Control of Government

The Senate voted to confirm Kash Patel as FBI director on Thursday, tightening President Donald Trump's control of the federal government. Why It Matters. Patel was among a handfu

by: CNN

Trump wants to 'abolish' the IRS and replace it with tariffs. Can it work?

No one wants to pay taxes, and practically every American dislikes the IRS. But, as the saying goes, the only guarantees in life are death and taxes. So the IRS is here to stay.

by: CNN

Trump overhauls government and upends foreign policy on Ukraine

President Donald Trump and his administration continue with their government overhaul efforts and foreign policy agenda on Ukraine. Follow for live updates.

by: MSN

Farage steps back as Reform UK owner and 'hands over membership' as party 'prepares for Government'

Nigel Farage has stepped back from his role as owner of Reform UK after the party's new constitution came into force. The Clacton MP will remain as party leader - however, the party is now "non-profit,

by: MSN

Yogi Government's power-packed budget: A vision for infrastructure, education, and AI in 2025-26

The Yogi government, on Thursday, presented a historic Budget of Rs 8.08 lakh crore for the financial year 2025-26 in the state assembly, marking the largest budget in Uttar Pradesh's history. Finance Minister Suresh Khanna described the Budget as a significant step toward the state's economic growth and social welfare.

by: MSN

US official says Trump's frustration with Zelenskyy is 'multifold' and blasts 'insults' from Ukraine

A top White House official said Thursday that President Donald Trump's increasingly tough criticism of Volodymyr Zelenskyy reflects the administration's growing frustration with what they see as the Ukrainian leader creating roadblocks to finding an endgame to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

by: MSN

Be 'less callous': Fox News host begs Trump and Musk to spare veteran friend from layoffs

Many right-wing media outlets are vigorously defending the mass layoffs of federal government employees being pushed by the Trump administration and the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency,

by: MSN

What is the two-child benefit cap and will the government scrap it?

The two-child benefit cap could be back on the government's agenda after it refused to ditch the controversial policy when it came into power. Questions about scrapping or tweaking the policy have been raised repeatedly at sessions of the government's child poverty taskforce,

by: MSN

Government rejects claims of using citizen data for elections

Government Spokesperson, Mustafa Baitas dismissed claims that the government is using data from social program beneficiaries for electoral purposes, calling it "irrelevant." In his weekly press briefing,

by: MSN

Judge rules Trump administration can move ahead on mass government layoffs

A federal judge Thursday refused a group of government employee unions' request to block the Trump administration from moving ahead with plans to dramatically reduce the federal workforce. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that federal law mandates the unions bring their challenge before the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA),

by: MSN

One month into President Donald Trump's second term, the world is feeling the effects

President Donald Trump took the oath of office one month ago. It set off a dizzying series of executive orders and changes to the federal government.

by: MSN

Indiana bill banning people who are homeless from street camping dies in House. Here's why

HB 1662 would have banned the homeless from street camping on public property. The bill did not have enough support to pass the House this session.

by: MSN

B.C. government to make announcement about food security

Food prices in Canada declined for the first time since May 2017, although overall inflation in January rose slightly compared to December, Statistics Canada said this week.

by: MSN

Trump and Elon Musk cutting programs that 'actually help' Americans

President Trump says he wants to balance the budget and pass $4.5 trillion in tax cuts. NBC News' Garrett Haake, former Ohio Governor John Kasich, former Biden 2020 campaign senior advisor Alencia Johnson and New York Times reporter Jeremy Peters join Ana Cabrera to break down Trump and Elon Musk's government shakeup.

by: MSN

Trump and Musk's sweeping government cuts affecting Gettysburg National Military Park

Digging into Elon Musk's claims that people over 150 years old are collecting Social Security Astronauts Who Have Been in Space for 8 Months Push Back on Trump's Claim They Were 'Abandoned' The #1 burger chain in the US is not Five Guys or McDonald's, according to customers. See the top 20.

by: MSN

What's next for NYC Mayor Eric Adams as a judge weighs dismissing his corruption case?

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is in a state of legal and political purgatory. The first-term Democrat is waiting on a judge to rule on a Justice Department request to dismiss a federal indictment charging him with accepting lavish travel perks and illegal campaign contributions from foreign interests seeking to buy his influence.

by: MSN

Reform UK has one thing Tories and Labour have proved time and time again they don't have

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)

by: MSN

Far-right and the Bibby Stockholm: How a Government-funded agency scare migrants

Protests outside asylum accommodation and rising right-wing extremism in Britain were used in a Government campaign to reduce illegal Kurdish migration to the UK

by: MSN

Trump and Musk's DOGE purge sees 6,700 IRS staff fired weeks before tax season as Zelensky feud continues: Live

Trump and Musk's DOGE purge sees 6,700 IRS staff fired weeks before tax season as Zelensky feud continues: Live - President oversees more layoffs after igniting row with attacks on Ukraine President V

by: MSN

Trump enjoys DOGE and immigration win after controversial executive order

Despite having his bid for birthright citizenship blocked again, Donald Trump has been successful in another action against immigration, after eliminating federal benefits for undocumented people

by: MSN

Trump and Musk's DOGE purge sees 6,700 IRS staff fired during tax season

The mass firing of IRS employees will impact those who have been working at the agency for less than a year, and will leave the agency 6,000 short during their busiest season

by: MSN

'That's Just a Fact': Fox News Host and Senate Majority Leader Thune Agree Trump Is Wrong About Ukraine

"Frankly, I don't have any question about this. Putin and Russia are very clearly the aggressor in this conflict," Sen. Thune told Kilmeade The post 'That's Just a Fact': Fox News Host and Senate Majority Leader Thune Agree Trump Is Wrong About Ukraine first appeared on Mediaite.

by: MSN

USA 'very weak and vulnerable' in negotiations with Kremlin, says former diplomat

Former diplomat Boris Bondarev, who worked for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs until his resignation over the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, said that the US is negotiating from a 'weak' side due to President Trump's behaviour showing he wants to 'make this deal as soon as possible'.

by: MSN

Trump Says Federal Government Should Govern D.C.

President Donald Trump said that the federal government should govern D.C. to make it safe.

by: MSN

Telangana government to introduce two separate bills on BC quota in Assembly

HYDERABAD: The state government has decided to hold special Assembly sessions from March 1 to 5 to introduce two separate BC Reservation Bills to provide 42 per cent quota to BCs in politics, employment and education.

by: MSN

Federal workers in Philadelphia join nationwide protests over layoffs and funding freeze

Federal workers and supporters gathered on Wednesday evening near Independence National Historical Park in protest of recent shake-ups to the federal workforce, including layoffs. The protest, organized by the Federal Unionists Network,

by: MSN

Labour and Conservatives unite to say 'Zelensky is not a dictator'

Labour and Tories unite to say 'Zelensky is not a dictator' following Donald Trump's attack on the Ukrainian President, amid talks with Russia. Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy say they 'take a different view'.

by: MSN

'Depressed and heartbroken': Up to 1,000 IRS workers in Ogden expected to be fired

As many as 1,000 IRS workers in Ogden are expected to be fired through May as part of the Trump administration's moves to cut the federal workforce.

by: MSN

Trump Approval Rating Declines In February: 'Unpopular Domestic And Foreign Policy Ideas'

President Donald Trump saw his approval rating decline in February, dropping from early high marks received after his Jan. 20 inauguration. What Happened: Now in the White House for nearly a month, Trump has made several decisions and announcements,

by: MSN

Trump backs Musk proposal to return billions of dollars in DOGE savings to taxpayers because 'the numbers are incredible'

Donald Trump has endorsed a plan to distribute stimulus checks funded by savings from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency.

by: MSN

Musk misreads Social Security data, millions of dead people not on benefits: Experts

President Donald Trump and Elon Musk are falsely implying that millions of dead Americans are receiving Social Security benefits, experts told ABC News.

by: MSN

EU deals new blow to Russia as sanctions on aluminium and Shadow Fleet approved

The European Union agreed on new sanctions against Russia on Wednesday as the bloc continues to maintain pressure on Moscow. European foreign ministers voted unanimously to ban the purchase of Russian aluminum and imposed additional sanctions on Vladimir Putin's secret fleet,

Trump claims expanded power over independent agencies

The executive order would affect agencies like the SEC and FDIC, but it excludes the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors and Open Market Committee.

The article from NPR, published on February 19, 2025, discusses former President Donald Trump's ongoing legal and political battles concerning his influence over independent agencies. It highlights Trump's efforts to challenge the autonomy of these agencies, which include the Federal Reserve, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission, among others. Trump has argued that these agencies should be more directly accountable to the executive branch, a stance that has led to significant legal scrutiny and debate over the separation of powers. Critics argue that Trump's actions threaten the independence necessary for these agencies to function effectively without political interference. The piece also covers reactions from current administration officials, legal experts, and members of Congress, who are divided on the issue, with some defending the traditional independence of these bodies while others support Trump's push for greater executive control.

Read the Full NPR Article at:
https://www.npr.org/2025/02/19/nx-s1-5302481/trump-independent-agencies