Sat, February 22, 2025

[ Sat, Feb 22nd 2025 ]: LAist

Elon Musk blurs the line between his government and business roles

The tech titan and President Trump say they will avoid any conflicts of interest, but it's difficult for the public to verify that.

[ Sat, Feb 22nd 2025 ]: Richmond

A look at what made it through the General Assembly, and what didn't

Legislators filed nearly 2,000 bills, plus more than a 1,000 resolutions in the 2025 General Assembly session. Most died. Here's a look at 20 top issues.

[ Sat, Feb 22nd 2025 ]: Vanguard

I'm not in govt for wealth making,title but to serve Nigeria- Okotete

Executive Director (Business Development) at Nigeria Export - Import (NEXIM) Bank, Stella Okotete, has vowed not to give up on Nigeria and President Bola Tinubu despite the setback that trailed her ministerial nomination.

[ Sat, Feb 22nd 2025 ]: Alternet

'Nightmare for all of us': Anxiety grows among Social Security recipients

President Donald Trump was asked at a press conference this month if there were any federal agencies or programs that Elon Musk's newly formed Department of Government Efficiency wouldn't be allowed to mess with.

[ Sat, Feb 22nd 2025 ]: CNN

Trump set to address CPAC as he pursues his agenda at home and abroad

President Donald Trump is pursuing his massive government overhaul at home, while also forging ahead with a pivot in US foreign policy regarding Russia's war in Ukraine and plans for the Middle East.

[ Sat, Feb 22nd 2025 ]: CNN

How a mid-level staffer rose to oversee the Social Security Administration within days

Leland Dudek, a mid-level career employee at the Social Security Administration, posted on LinkedIn that he was placed on administrative leave for cooperating with Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency and asked for help finding another job.

[ Sat, Feb 22nd 2025 ]: Time

Why Germany Is at a Crossroads

The Sunday vote comes amid an economy in the doldrums, big questions over Europe's security posture, and a surging far-right.

[ Sat, Feb 22nd 2025 ]: Reuters

Trump, Musk slashing of government draws backlash, even among some Republicans

President Donald Trump and his adviser Elon Musk's unprecedented and frantic effort to slash the federal workforce, pushing tens of thousands of workers out of their roles, is starting to draw more significant backlash,

[ Sat, Feb 22nd 2025 ]: MSNBC

Sidelined Trump mostly 'decorative' as Musk remains busy wrecking the government, reaping rewards

Rachel Maddow notes that while Donald Trump golfs and performs stunts for TV cameras, Elon Musk is hard at work on the project of dismantling the U.S. government. And even though Musk's behavior is so poorly received it is hurting business for his car company,

[ Sat, Feb 22nd 2025 ]: ABC

Trump 2nd term live updates: Kash Patel sworn in as FBI director

President Donald Trump's administration is continuing its radical effort to cut much of the federal government.

[ Sat, Feb 22nd 2025 ]: News4Jax

New FBI director Kash Patel plans to relocate up to 1,500 employees

New FBI Director Kash Patel has told senior officials that he plans to relocate 1,000 employees at FBI headquarters to field offices around the country and move an additional 500 to a bureau facility in Huntsville,

[ Sat, Feb 22nd 2025 ]: katu

Gov. Kotek calls climate change an existential threat to Oregon

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said climate change is an existential threat to the state, she told KATU's Steve Dunn in an exclusive interview.Dunn interviewed the gove

[ Sat, Feb 22nd 2025 ]: foxbaltimore

Elon Musk takes chainsaw to government, while Congress feels the heat

The Pentagon has temporarily paused a plan that could have resulted in the layoffs of more than 50,000 civilian employees.

[ Sat, Feb 22nd 2025 ]: MSN

Delhi BJP govt gears up for action: Rs 500 LPG, road repairs, and clean drinking water

LPG cylinders for Rs 500, resolving Delhi's dirty water issue, Rs 2,500 financial aid for women from poor families, and road repairs were some of the key agendas discussed in th

[ Sat, Feb 22nd 2025 ]: Time

Exclusive: Alice Weidel on Her Far-Right AfD Party's Rise, Elon Musk's Support, and the German Election

The leading candidate, Friedrich Merz, a conservative who has adopted many of the AfD's hard-line positions on immigration, used his closing statement of the debate to promise his voters that he would never allow the AfD into his government. Under him, he said, the firewall would hold.

[ Sat, Feb 22nd 2025 ]: ABC

Kash Patel confirmed by Senate to be Trump's FBI director

The Senate on Thursday will vote on Kash Patel's controversial nomination to lead the FBI. If confirmed, Patel will be the 18th Cabinet official approved by lawmakers since President Donald Trump's inauguration one month ago.

[ Sat, Feb 22nd 2025 ]: MSN

Don't throw stones at beehive: CM Stalin hits back at Pradhan

CUDDALORE: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday lashed out at the Centre warning it not to throw stones at the beehive and said he will not permit any activities inimical to Tamil language,
Fri, February 21, 2025

[ Fri, Feb 21st 2025 ]: Euronews

Who is Friedrich Merz, the favourite to become Germany's next chancellor?

The 69-year-old CDU leader Friedrich Merz is a major favourite for the German chancellorship after Sunday's snap election. #EuropeNews

[ Fri, Feb 21st 2025 ]: Reuters

Fired and rehired - the dizzying confusion of Trump's government overhaul

By Timothy Gardner, Leah Douglas, Tim Reid and Valerie Volcovici WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal workers responsible for America's nuclear weapons, scientists trying to fight a worsening outbreak of bird flu,

[ Fri, Feb 21st 2025 ]: wtvr

President Trump's first 30 days: Rapid government changes and controversial actions

President Trump has signed 74 executive orders, 20 memoranda and seven proclamations within his first 30 days, according to a Scripps News tally.

[ Fri, Feb 21st 2025 ]: deseret

Utah law would hide direct payments to college athletes from public view

A Utah bill would hide direct payments to college athletes from public view. Schools contend the payments are protected under a federal education privacy law. Disbursements at public universities are generally public records.

[ Fri, Feb 21st 2025 ]: pajiba

The Tyrannical GOP Is Ruthlessly Attacking One Trans Child and Putting Her Life in Danger

When it comes to trans folks, the federal government is doing everything in its power to erase an entire community. The President has signed an executive order defining sex strictly as male or female,

[ Fri, Feb 21st 2025 ]: Newsweek

SNAP Benefits Face Cuts as RFK Jr. Goes After Junk Food

The recently appointed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has signaled his intention to cut "junk" food purchases from being purchased using SNAP benefits.

[ Fri, Feb 21st 2025 ]: Salon

MAGA's not-so-secret weapon: "Major media are a key tool for Trump's destruction of the government"

"The takeover is easy when journalism and massive news orgs. stay the course and pretend everything is normal"

[ Fri, Feb 21st 2025 ]: BBC

Senedd election could be 'most difficult' for Labour

The next Senedd election could be one of the most difficult Labour has faced in Wales, a senior politician from the party has said. Mick Antoniw told Walescast Labour needed to show things would improve in Wales ahead of the vote in May 2026.

[ Fri, Feb 21st 2025 ]: Slate

This Might Be the Fastest Way to Get Elon Musk Out of the White House

These suits will no doubt proceed in the weeks and months ahead, as it falls to the courts to hold Musk accountable for his blatant indifference to the law. But beyond his individual actions, Musk's role raises more fundamental questions.

[ Fri, Feb 21st 2025 ]: Politico

Long-distance relationship

— Like-minded: The friendship is rooted in the shared history of Canada and Ukraine. Under former Prime Minister BRIAN MULRONEY, Canada was the first Western country to recognize Ukraine's independence, and it is home to one of the largest Ukrainian diaspora communities in the world.

[ Fri, Feb 21st 2025 ]: Mint

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta Oath Ceremony LIVE: Rekha Gupta tables 14 CAG reports; Parvesh Verma allotted PWD and flood control

Rekha Gupta announces to table 14 CAG reports in first House meeting of Delhi Assembly. Parvesh Verma has been allotted PWD, legislative affairs, water, and flood control.

[ Fri, Feb 21st 2025 ]: Reuters

Trump is firing federal workers who are not funded by taxpayers

Elon Musk's DOGE team has slashed hundreds of jobs paid for by fees from banks, medical device companies and other forms of funding rather than taxpayer dollars, raising the question of whether the cuts will render hoped for savings.

[ Fri, Feb 21st 2025 ]: Alternet

DOGE's millions: As Musk and Trump gut government, their ax-cutting agency gets cash infusion

While Elon Musk and his underlings demand budget cuts and layoffs across the federal government, funding for their agency — the Department of Government Efficiency — has soared to nearly $40 million,

[ Fri, Feb 21st 2025 ]: LocalSYR

Democrats channel their outrage over DOGE, Ukraine and more in marathon Senate session

The budget resolution from Republicans was on the agenda in the Senate, but the late-night debate encompassed so much more. Democrats used the overnight session that ended early

[ Fri, Feb 21st 2025 ]: Tennessean

The week in politics: Why Tennessee lawmakers formed a bipartisan Israel caucus

An Tennessee-Israel legislative caucus gets formed. The group is bipartisan. A new bill would make it a crime to block the movement of the security detail of the House and Senate speakers. The Senate passes a bill requiring tattoo artists to undergo anti-trafficking training.

[ Fri, Feb 21st 2025 ]: Newsweek

Airbnb Faces Boycott Calls

The calls come after Airbnb's billionaire co-founder, Joe Gebbia has reportedly joined Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

[ Fri, Feb 21st 2025 ]: MSN

German politicians and chancellor candidates face off for one last debate ahead of Sunday's vote

Top German politicians and chancellor candidates faced off one last time in a debate on local broadcaster ZDF ahead of Sunday's federal elections. The war in Ukraine dominated an agenda packed with contentious topics which included immigration and the economy.

[ Fri, Feb 21st 2025 ]: RealClearPolitics

DOGE Bros: Trump and Musk Tell Hannity the 'Bromance' Endures

What would you say you do here, Sean Hannity asked in so many words, and the world’s richest man replied, “Tech support.” The answer was quite

[ Fri, Feb 21st 2025 ]: MSN

Trump's new ban makes scientists shudder

Doesn't signing executive orders give Donald Trump hand cramps? Since his return to the White House, he hasn't stopped. And this time, it's an executive order concerning the dismantling of the federal government's diversity and inclusion (DEI) programs that's causing concern.

[ Fri, Feb 21st 2025 ]: cnbctv18

Delhi BJP government scraps all co-terminus appointments in ex-CM, ministers' offices

According to the official order, all officers, officials, and staff assigned from various departments, organisations, boards, and hospitals in a "diverted capacity" must immediately return to their parent departments.

[ Fri, Feb 21st 2025 ]: Onefootball

SC Freiburg prepare for kickoff on German Federal Election Weekend: "More important than football." | OneFootball

In the always intertwined world of politics and Bundesliga football, SC Freiburg head coach Julian Schuster took an opportunity on Thursday to prove himself Christian Streich's true successor. Streich - actually one of the figures on the board responsible for electing Germany's (largely ceremonial) President - never missed an opportunity to weigh in on the state of German politics.

[ Fri, Feb 21st 2025 ]: CNN

Hegseth could fire some senior generals and admirals soon, sources say

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth could soon move to fire more than half a dozen generals and flag officers, according to two sources familiar with the matter, part of an effort to purge the department of senior leaders perceived as either too political or too close to former Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

[ Fri, Feb 21st 2025 ]: CounterPunch

The Great Trump Media Robbery

After a month in which President Donald J. Trump allowed Elon Musk to launch a hostile takeover of the U.S. government, dispatched his talking dummy J.D.

[ Fri, Feb 21st 2025 ]: ABC

Trump 2nd term live updates: Trump touts work of 1st month, praises Musk and DOGE

The chief counsel of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was fired and escorted out of her office, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.

[ Fri, Feb 21st 2025 ]: CNN

Latest on Trump's presidency: Government overhaul, Patel confirmed and tensions with Ukraine

President Donald Trump and his administration continue with their government overhaul efforts and foreign policy agenda. Follow for live updates.
Thu, February 20, 2025

[ Thu, Feb 20th 2025 ]: ABC

Trump 2nd term live updates: Attorney General Pam Bondi fires chief counsel of ATF

The chief counsel of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was fired and escorted out of her office, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.

[ Thu, Feb 20th 2025 ]: WAtoday

Nationals to break ranks with Liberal colleagues and get election promises costed by treasury

The country party confirmed to WAtoday it would submit its costings to the Treasury next week, marking an embarrassing deviation from alliance partner the WA Liberal's defiant stance against using the agency to cost its commitments.

[ Thu, Feb 20th 2025 ]: Forbes

Majority Of Americans Dislike Musk And Zuckerberg, New Research Shows

New research reveals that most U.S. adults feel unfavorably towards Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. Why? That could be down to social media.

[ Thu, Feb 20th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Thu, Feb 20th 2025 ]: 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.

[ Thu, Feb 20th 2025 ]: 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,

Trump Issued Perhaps His Most Terrifying Executive Order on Tuesday

Having already subdued Congress, Trump has now openly announced that the Führerprinzip governs the executive branch.

The article from Slate, published in February 2025, discusses a hypothetical scenario where former President Donald Trump, upon returning to office, issues an executive order that significantly expands presidential powers. This order, dubbed "King Donald," would allow Trump to bypass Congress in various ways, including the reallocation of federal funds, the unilateral imposition of tariffs, and the ability to fire federal employees at will. Critics argue that this move would effectively dismantle checks and balances, centralizing power in the executive branch to an unprecedented degree. The article explores the potential implications of such an order, including its legality, the reaction from other branches of government, and the broader impact on American democracy. It also touches on the public's response, with some supporters cheering the move as decisive leadership, while opponents see it as a dangerous step towards authoritarianism.

Read the Full Slate Article at:
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/02/king-donald-trump-terrifying-executive-order.html