• Tue, March 18, 2025

by: BBC

Some disability benefit recipients may lose out as government to unveil welfare changes

Liz Kendall will set out how the government intends to reform the health benefits system on Tuesday afternoon, in a move aimed at cutting the growing welfare bill.

by: Snopes

Trump didn't say he would annex Alaska and Greenland on Truth Social

Claim: U.S. President Donald Trump authentically wrote on Truth Social: "After I've annexed Greenland and making it the 52nd State, I will annexe Alaska. The people of Alaska don'

by: Forbes

The Polls And Politics Of Inequality

Is inequality back as a political issue? Senator Bernie Sanders seems to think so. He is leading a "Fighting Oligarchy" tour that has drawn thousands of people.

by: Gizmodo

MAGA's Tesla Embrace Means EV Politics Will Never Be the Same Again

President Donald Trump, the same man who once said that people promoting electric vehicles should "ROT IN HELL," bought his own EV this week. He showed off his new Tesla Model S — red, like the Make America Great Again hats — outside the White House on Tuesday,

by: CounterPunch

Conservatives and Liberals Have a Common Enemy

Don't let the billionaires behind the curtain distract you while they steal your money and your freedom. George W. Bush believed that replacing theocratic

by: LAist

4 things to know about the Alien Enemies Act and Trump's efforts to use it

by: Them

82 House Democrats "Demand" the Government Reject Trump's Anti-Trans Passport Policies

House of Representatives, all Democrats, have submitted a letter opposing the implementation of the Trump administration's anti-trans passport restrictions. After Trump signed a January executive order legally defining gender as male or female as assigned at birth,

by: Newsweek

Fact Check: Has Elon Musk Been 'Demoted' by Donald Trump?

An MSNBC report said Musk had been "demoted" after clashing with a number of President Trump's cabinet secretaries.

by: Mediaite

JUST IN: Elon Musk and DOGE Found By Federal Judge to Have Violated the Constitution 'In Multiple Ways'

A federal judge found that Elon Musk and DOGE may have violated the constitution by moving to shut down USAID. The post JUST IN: Elon Musk and DOGE Found By Federal Judge to Have Violated the Constitution 'In Multiple Ways' first appeared on Mediaite.

by: Slate

Democrats Had a Chance to Take a Stand Here. What Went Wrong?

His answer was no—that Senate Democrats should have taken a stand against Donald Trump's lawlessness and withheld the votes Republicans needed to keep the government from shutting down. Even one single Democrat could have made more of a stink and slowed things down.

by: MLive

Michigan libraries, museums may feel impacts of Trump's latest federal downsizing

Libraries and museums are speaking out about Trump's assault on the Institute of Museum and Library Services and what that could mean for Michigan.

by: RealClearPolitics

Schumer: The Republican Attitude Is "I Made My Money All By Myself, How Dare Your Government Take My Money From Me"

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in a contentious interview on 'The View' said Republicans are "controlled by a small group of wealthy, greedy people" that hate government and believe it is a barrier to people.

by: Reuters

US judge finds Musk's USAID cuts likely unconstitutional, blocks him from making more cuts

A federal judge on Tuesday blocked billionaire Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency from taking any more steps to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development, saying their efforts to close the foreign aid agency likely violated the U.

by: CNN

Germany's Merz wins vote to massively expand borrowing and super-charge military spending

The German chancellor-in-waiting, Friedrich Merz, has won a vote in parliament to allow a huge increase in state borrowing that is set to super-charge the country's military spending.

by: dw

No quotas: How can new Syrian government ensure inclusivity?

The new Syrian government should be representative of all ethnic and sectarian groups if it wants international support. But many Syrians say quotas are a bad idea. So how to ensure the new Syria is inclusive for all?

by: Euronews

Baltics and Poland announce planned withdrawal from landmine treaty

The Ottawa Convention prohibits the production, possession, and transfer of anti-personnel mines. View on euronews

by: BuzzFeed

Non-Political People, Tell Us Why You Don't Care To Engage In Politics

Speaking about or engaging with politics can be overwhelming and frustrating for some, and it can be boring or seemingly pointless for others. So, for those who deflect from talking politics or often tell others you're 'non-political,

by: Insider

We finally learned how many federal probationary workers the White House fired and where they worked

Justice Department filings in a Maryland case provide previously unseen details of the Trump administration's mass firings.

by: Reuters

Explainer-What happens if the Trump administration doesn't comply with a court order?

Several federal judges have claimed the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has failed to comply with court orders regarding foreign aid, federal spending and the firing of government workers,

by: BBC

What does UK benefits overhaul mean for Scotland?

Significant reforms restricting some sickness and disability benefits will be announced at Westminster.

by: Insider

I left my job at the White House and landed a role in the private sector. Here's my advice for federal workers making the switch.

After working in government for years, including as press secretary to the former First Lady, Hannah August pivoted to private sector work.

by: CNN

Federal judge says Elon Musk exceeded his authority and that dismantling USAID was 'likely' unconstitutional

Billionaire Elon Musk appears to have overstepped his executive branch authority with his Department of Government Efficiency, a federal judge said Tuesday as he indefinitely blocked the dismantling of USAID.

by: Newsweek

DOGE Announces 'Major Cleanup' for Social Security

"For the past two weeks, @SocialSecurity has begun a major cleanup of their records. Approximately 3.2 million numberholders, all listed age 120+, have now been marked as deceased. More work still to be done," DOGE said on X early on Tuesday.

by: MLive

Tractor parade at Michigan Capitol: Farmers rally to fight 'burdensome regulations'

Tractors began arriving two miles south of the Capitol building as the sun rose Tuesday morning. State Rep. Jennifer Wortz, bundled up on a brisk morning, hopped on her grandmother's orange Allis-Chalmers tractor to lead a parade of tractors down Washington Avenue toward the Capitol.

by: CNN

Trump set to speak to Putin about Ukraine today

President Donald Trump will speak with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, as the US pushes for a temporary ceasefire agreement in the Ukraine war. Follow for live news updates.
  • Wed, March 19, 2025

by: Reason

Lawn-Sign Liberalism vs. Supply-Side Progressivism

Abundance, by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, Avid Reader Press, 297 pages, $30 At the turn of the 20th century, labor leader Samuel Gompers had many

by: WBTW

Donald Trump will run and win again in 2028, Bannon says

Steve Bannon says that he and others are working on ways for President Trump to seek a third term despite constitutional term limits.

by: Euronews

Police arrest Istanbul mayor and key Erdo?an rival amid crackdown

The government's move to detain Ekrem Ä°mamoÄŸlu comes 24 hours after his university diploma was revoked. View on euronews

by: Firstpost

Why Maharashtra government cannot remove Aurangzeb's tomb

Tensions are high in Maharashtra over calls from some right-wing groups and politicians to raze Mughal ruler Aurangzeb's tomb in the state. However, the grave is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

by: IOL

Government of National Unity: dangerous political misstep for South Africa

The Government of National Unity poses significant risks to South Africa's democratic achievements, potentially empowering right-wing forces and undermining decades of progress

by: Metro

What's in the JFK files that Trump released and can the public view them?

One of the files said JFK's killer, Lee Harvey Oswald, was a poor shot when he tried target firing in the Soviet Union.

by: Mediaite

Chuck Schumer Claims Trump Set Government Shutdown 'Trap' as He Defends Backing Spending Bill

Schumer claimed that Republicans set Democrats a government shutdown "trap" as he defended backing the short-term spending bill that passed Friday.

by: RealClearPolitics

Hillary Clinton: Autocracy Is On The March, The United States "Has Made A Choice To Support Those Who Wage War, Not Peace"

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned about the rise of autocracy in the United States at a pro-democracy event in Berlin on Tuesday. HILLARY CLINTON: Thank you for reminding us of universal values and human rights being at the core of democracy and freedom and peace.

by: LBC

Elon Musk claims 'people want to kill me and hurt Tesla' over billionaire's job for Donald Trump

by: Euronews

DR Congo and Rwanda presidents meet in Qatar for peace talks

Congo and Rwanda reaffirmed their commitment to an immediate ceasefire, but the joint statement does not specify on how it would be implemented. View on euronews

by: Mediaite

'They Basically Wanna Kill Me': Musk Alleges Cloak-and-Dagger Conspiracy Is Trying To Take Him Down

Billionaire White House adviser Elon Musk suggested there is a vast conspiracy against him, the ultimate aim of which is his death and the end of Tesla Motors. The post 'They Basically Wanna Kill Me': Musk Alleges Cloak-and-Dagger Conspiracy Is Trying To Take Him Down first appeared on Mediaite.

by: RealClearPolitics

Sen. Chris Murphy: In 2024, It Looked Like Democrats Were Defending "This Version Of Democracy" That Only Benefits Elites

Monday night on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," after a particularly brutal segment for the Democratic Party, Sen. Chris Murphy said the Democratic party is not taking enough risks, allowing Republicans to take the mantle of "government reform,

by: KTVZ

Senator Ron Wyden visits KTVZ, addresses concerns and challenges facing Oregon, U.S.

Between his two Central Oregon town halls Tuesday, Senator Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, joined Lynsey Harris live on KTVZ News at Five to respond to questions on many people's minds. Wyden said the recently approved federal spending bill and others in the works will be "very damaging,

by: Politico

Scoop: California spreads MAHA fever

Gabriel gained a reputation the past few years as the "Skittles" lawmaker. His 2023 law banned four chemicals (like brominated vegetable oil and red dye 3) from any food sold in the state and his 2024 law exorcised synthetic dyes (like red 40) from school meals.

by: MSNBC

How NASA outsourcing the space program helped enrich Elon Musk

After the end of the space shuttle program, NASA turned to private companies to fill the gap. That isn't working out for the best.

by: Reuters

Trump administration disputes judge's authority as showdown looms

President Donald Trump's administration accused a federal judge on Wednesday of overstepping his judicial authority in demanding more details about flights deporting hundreds of Venezuelan migrants in an escalating confrontation between the executive and judicial branches of the U.

by: CNN

Undocumented mother of four and Time Magazine honoree latest high-profile figure of Trump's immigration crackdown

An undocumented mother of four who works at Target and was honored by Time Magazine has become the latest symbol of the fear and turmoil spreading under the Trump's administration enforcement of its immigration policies.

by: Reuters

Netanyahu coalition jeopardised over ultra-Orthodox exemption from army

One of Israel's most divisive domestic issues has reared itself again to challenge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after a group in the ruling coalition said it would bring the government down unless it exempts ultra-Orthodox Jews from army service.

by: CNN

'A feeling of despair:' Democratic donors grapple with messaging, midterm map and an emboldened Trump

Maggie Kulyk, a progressive donor and activist in the Atlanta area, has a long list of worries about President Donald Trump: His moves to bypass Congress and swiftly slash the size of government, the financial fallout of his steep tariffs and his decision to install Elon Musk,

by: CNN

In Ukraine and Gaza, Trump finds out that ending wars is tougher than it looks

President Donald Trump is finding out that campaign trail bravura over peace deals can't yield quick wins as wars rage.

by: Newsweek

Republican Town Hall Drowned Out by 'Tax the Rich' Chants

Nebraska Republican Mike Flood was heckled at a town hall event he hosted on Tuesday in Columbus, with a section of the crowd at one point chanting "tax the rich" at the House representative. Newsweek contacted Flood for comment on Wednesday outside of regular office hours via telephone and voicemail message.

by: Newsweek

Florida Push for Citizens' Prescription Data Sparks Privacy Concern

The state's insurance regulator has been seeking such information as patient names, dates of birth and prescription details.

by: Newsweek

Mahmoud Khalil Speaks Out From Detention

Detained Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil has denounced his arrest and detention conditions pending possible expulsion from the United States over accusations of supporting Hamas. He also criticized the U.S. treatment of immigrants in custody and what he described as mounting anti-Palestinian racism at the university and elsewhere.

What does UK benefits overhaul mean for Scotland?

Significant reforms restricting some sickness and disability benefits will be announced at Westminster.
The UK government's proposed benefits overhaul, as discussed in the article from MSN, involves significant changes to the welfare system, which could have implications for Scotland. Key points include the introduction of a new Universal Credit system aimed at simplifying the benefits process by merging several existing benefits into one. This reform seeks to make work pay, encourage employment, and reduce welfare dependency. For Scotland, this means potential alignment with UK-wide policies, although Scotland has some devolved powers over social security. The Scottish Government has expressed concerns about the adequacy of Universal Credit in meeting the needs of vulnerable groups, leading to the creation of Scottish-specific benefits like the Scottish Child Payment. There's also mention of ongoing discussions and potential divergence in policy, where Scotland might choose to supplement or modify UK benefits to better suit local needs, reflecting the broader debate on welfare devolution and the balance between UK and Scottish governance.

Read the Full BBC Article at:
https://www.msn.com/en-xl/politics/government/what-does-uk-benefits-overhaul-mean-for-scotland/ar-AA1B8pwm