Members phkrause Posted February 23, 2025 Author Members Posted February 23, 2025 Trump fires Black joint chiefs chair Hegseth accused of promoting diversity US secretary of defense had questioned whether history-making air force general CQ Brown Jr got job because of race https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/21/trump-hegseth-joint-chiefs-cq-brown-jr? Ukraine war briefing: Trump turnaround as he acknowledges Russia invaded Ukraine US president earlier drew criticism after saying Kyiv ‘should have never started’ war; Trump predicts Ukraine will soon sign minerals deal with US. What we know on day 1,095 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/22/ukraine-war-briefing-trump-turnaround-as-he-acknowledges-russia-invaded-ukraine? ps:Wow thank you mr president for coming to that conclusion all by yourself!! They Worked to Prevent Death. The Trump Administration Fired Them. Public health teams are being gutted, imperiling efforts to safeguard organ donation and prevent maternal and infant death. Many workers expressed fear at what would happen to the work they left behind. https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-federal-workers-public-health-hhs? Trump Order Shifts the Financial Burden of Climate Change Onto Individuals One of President Donald Trump’s most damaging strikes at the foundation of U.S. climate policy is buried deep in a sweeping Inauguration Day executive order focused on “Unleashing American Energy.” Half way through the lengthy document is a directive that would obliterate an obscure but critically important calculation the government uses to gauge the real-world costs that climate change is imposing on the U.S. economy. https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-climate-change-social-cost-of-carbon-executive-order? ? Trump's early warning sign Some GOP lawmakers are getting roasted back home over President Trump's swift cuts and firings, as polls show signs his monthlong honeymoon could be wearing off. Why it matters: Out of fear and fervor, Republicans on Capitol Hill have backed Trump's early moves almost unanimously, including an expected clean sweep of Cabinet confirmations. With the narrow House majority, he'll need virtually every GOP member to pass his programs. ?️ The big picture: A series of clashes in GOP congressional districts across the country shows that while Trump is mostly delivering on promises, "the scope and unilateral nature of his early executive actions, as well as his upending of longstanding foreign alliances, is throwing some Republican lawmakers on the defensive," The Wall Street Journal reports (gift link). In a front-pager headlined "At town halls, DOGE is all the rage," The Washington Post reports that the backlash "extends far beyond federal workers in the Beltway, reaching purple districts that will decide control of Congress in 2026 and swing states like Georgia that helped return Trump to the White House." ? Case in point: Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) "was peppered with boos and catcalls throughout a town hall meeting" (photo above) in Roswell, in suburban Atlanta, on Thursday night, "as hundreds of critics jeered the Republican for backing President Donald Trump's agenda," The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Greg Bluestein reports. "The Suwanee Republican's staff ... seemed caught off guard by the massive crowd of hundreds that gathered outside Roswell City Hall." ? Zoom in: Republican members facing sharp questions about DOGE cuts and Musk's involvement include Reps. Glenn Grothman and Scott Fitzgerald of Wisconsin, Rep. Troy Balderson of Ohio, Reps. Kevin Hern and Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma, Rep. Tracey Mann of Kansas, Rep. Nick Begich of Alaska, and Rep. Cliff Bentz of Oregon, according to news reports. Protesters gathered outside GOP offices in Arizona, Iowa, Pennsylvania and New York, per the WSJ. ?️ The other side: Asked by ABC News' Mary Bruce about pushback at town halls, Trump said people "like the job that we're doing. They like the job that Elon is doing — he's doing something that a lot of people wouldn't have the courage to do ... So, it's actually just the opposite. ... People are thrilled. They can't even believe it's happening." And some Republicans are privately brushing off the protests, signaling at least some willingness to continue marching into this firestorm on behalf of the president, Axios' Andrew Solender reports. Many of the people protesting are activists who freely admit they aren't GOP voters. One swing-district House Republican, speaking on the condition of anonymity to share candid thoughts, told Axios they have "zero concerns" about a protest they're expecting outside their office. "It's 2017 all over. They've hated Trump since 2016. Same folks largely," the lawmaker said, although they added, "Most hate [Elon] Musk based on the calls." Watch video on X by the AJC's Greg Bluestein of the raucous Roswell town hall. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 24, 2025 Author Members Posted February 24, 2025 Trump monetizes agenda Image: Axios Visuals. Photos: winred.com President Trump's political operation is profiting from his flurry of executive orders by hawking DOGE gear, T-shirts that say "Make Greenland Great Again" and "Gulf of America," plus black "Dark MAGA" caps worn by Elon Musk. Why it matters: Trump's team is capitalizing on his loyalists' support for his early moves to help build a $500 million war chest. The money will be used to promote his agenda, back midterm candidates and potentially help Trump engage in politics for years to come, Axios' Alex Isenstadt reports. ? Zoom in: Trump's operation has been cashing in on MAGA-themed merchandise since his 2016 campaign. But this fundraising effort is the latest reminder that, for Trump, the campaign never ends. The black "Make America Great Again" caps that Musk frequently wears have become the Trump team's second-best-selling item ever — behind only the red and white MAGA hat, according to a person with direct knowledge of the sales. Trump's team has sold $1.6 million worth of black MAGA caps since the election — nearly twice as much as the red original. Newer items being sold by Trump's operation include DOGE-themed shirts, with an image of Trump, Musk and the "DOGE dog." Those have raked in $111,000 since the election, according to a source familiar with the sales totals. Recently released "Gulf of America" T-shirts raked in $24,000 in the past month. ? Zoom out: The National Republican Congressional Committee, the House GOP's campaign arm, is also tapping into the pro-Trump merch effort. The NRCC is selling its own "Gulf of America" T-shirt, complete with an image of an eagle (with a Trumpian swoop of hair) sipping a beer while sitting on a beach chair. ? Between the lines: Launchpad Strategies, a Republican digital firm co-founded by Trump campaign aide Sean Dollman, has had a key role in producing the merchandise. Ideas can become gear within a few days. After then-President Biden appeared to refer to Trump supporters as "garbage," Trump campaign aides rushed out "GARBAGE" T-shirts. The merchandise is advertised to Trump supporters on Facebook, X and via email. When you buy a cap, shirt, or mug, you're allowing Trump's operation to capture your data — so you can be hit up for donations later. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 24, 2025 Author Members Posted February 24, 2025 ?? Trump puts Ukraine in a vise With tomorrow marking three years since Russia invaded Ukraine, Washington is shifting its pressure from Moscow to Kyiv as the Trump administration tries to end the war. Why it matters: President Trump's dramatic change in U.S. policy toward Russia shocked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and is fueling fears among U.S. allies that the Trump administration will side with Moscow to end the conflict, Axios' Barak Ravid reports. At any other time in the past 80 years, it would have been unimaginable that the U.S. president would be pressing for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin while calling Zelensky a dictator. Trump has cranked up pressure on Zelensky to sign an agreement giving the U.S. and Ukraine equal shares of revenue from mining minerals and other natural resources in Ukraine. A U.S. official involved in the negotiations confirmed a deal could be reached fairly soon. Keep reading. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 24, 2025 Author Members Posted February 24, 2025 ? Science brain drain Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios Employee buyouts, terminations and uncertainty at multiple federal agencies are sparking warnings about an erosion of scientific and technical expertise, Axios' Alison Snyder and Andrew Freedman report. Why it matters: No single country now dominates in every scientific field. The U.S. is in tight competition with China for science and AI leadership. ? The big picture: Axios spoke to four current employees, and four who lost their jobs in recent weeks, who requested anonymity out of fear of retribution. Rocket scientists, ecologists, climate scientists, AI experts, chemists and other highly skilled workers have been affected. Read on. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 24, 2025 Author Members Posted February 24, 2025 Trump and Musk aren’t the first to make deep cuts. Clinton-era Reinventing Government saved billions A new administration swept into Washington and announced plans to shake it up, using corporate know-how and new technology to streamline the federal bureaucracy. It might sound like the controversial cost-cutting push led by billionaire Elon Musk under President Donald Trump. But the biggest effort to overhaul the federal government in modern history actually was 30 years ago under a Democratic administration. Read more. ps:At least it wasn't as chaotic and done with the approval of congress!! Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 24, 2025 Author Members Posted February 24, 2025 Trump’s Russian rapprochement, Mars musing and DOGE dividends. And is the gold gone? It’s Week 5 WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s fifth week in office included a dramatic shift in U.S. policy toward Russia, firing the country’s senior military officer, sitting for a chummy interview alongside bureaucracy-buster Elon Musk and seeking greater authority over independent regulatory agencies. https://apnews.com/article/trump-russia-musk-inflation-fort-knox-ukraine-f4e3b738f8b2cb869fec5bf9718ef1f8? A look at Dan ‘Razin’ Caine, Trump’s pick to be the top US military officer WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s choice to be the top U.S. military officer, retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, endeared himself to the commander in chief through his military call sign, “Razin,” during a meeting in Iraq years ago. Officials who have served with Caine described him Saturday as measured and apolitical. https://apnews.com/article/trump-joint-chiefs-chairman-razin-caine-military-41b3faeaefd4d965dc22b15b0223ec58? Trump's loyalty-first FBI President Trump named bombastic MAGA podcast star Dan Bongino as deputy FBI director — a role that doesn't request Senate confirmation, and typically goes to a senior agent. Why it matters: With loyalist Kash Patel confirmed as FBI director, the bureau can function effectively as Trump's private security force. Bongino served in the NYPD before joining the Secret Service and working in the Presidential Protective Division during the administrations of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. The FBI Agents Association wanted an active-duty agent as deputy. So the pick could intensify "mistrust among the rank-and-file," the N.Y. Times reports. Announcing the appointment on Truth Social last night, Trump said Patel "will be the best ever Director" and said of Bongino: "Working with our great new United States Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and Director Patel, Fairness, Justice, Law and Order will be brought back to America, and quickly." Talking in 2018 about the confirmation battle for Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Bongino said: "My entire life right now is about owning the libs." Keep reading ... Read a 2021 profile of Bongino by The New Yorker's Evan Osnos, "Dan Bongino and the Big Business of Returning Trump to Power ... The Secret Service agent turned radio host is furious at liberals — so he's trying to build a right-wing media infrastructure." Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 24, 2025 Author Members Posted February 24, 2025 White House firings hit vets Photo illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images The Trump administration's big cuts to the federal government are hitting military veterans particularly hard, Axios' Emily Peck writes. Why it matters: Many of those who served in the military derive a sense of purpose and belonging from government work — viewing it as a way to serve their country and help their peers outside of active duty. ?️ The big picture: It's not yet clear how many military vets have been fired, or will be. Last year, veterans made up 28% of the federal workforce, according to federal data — a far bigger share than the 5% in the private sector. About 36% of vets working in civil service, more than 200,000 in total, are disabled or have a serious health condition. The other side: Interior has carved out an exception for vets, E&E News reports. White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said: "President Trump has consistently stood up for our brave men and women in uniform — delivering crucial reforms that improved VA healthcare, decreased veteran homelessness, and enhanced education benefits." Via X ? Musk emails: Multiple agencies and unions have told federal workers not to respond to a new email demanding that they account for their work over the last week — despite Elon Musk's threat they'll lose their jobs if they don't. The Pentagon told employees that only DoD is responsible for "reviewing the performance of its personnel," and it will undertake employee reviews "in accordance with its own procedures." Employees were told to disregard the Office of Personnel Management email. New FBI director Kash Patel told employees not to answer the email. (NBC) Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard instructed employees of the nation's spy agencies to ignore the email, citing the agencies' sensitive and classified work. (WashPost) State Department employees were also told not to respond. (N.Y. Times) Keep reading. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 24, 2025 Author Members Posted February 24, 2025 ? First look: New MAGA alliance Two MAGA-friendly government relations firms are forming an alliance: Miller Strategies, one of the lobbying firms closest to the White House, is partnering with Checkmate Government Relations and Public Affairs, which has state and local muscle, and strong Trump relationships. Why it matters: The firms together have deep experience in federal and state government, GOP politics and campaigns, and high-level government relations and public affairs. Jeff Miller is CEO of Miller Strategies, one of the most powerful firms in Trump-dominated Washington. Ches McDowell, who's close to Don Jr., is managing partner of Checkmate, which was founded in North Carolina and opened a federal practice in Washington after the election. His brother, Rep. Addison McDowell (R-N.C.) — who was endorsed by President Trump — flipped a Democratic seat in November and is one of the youngest members of Congress. Chris LaCivita, co-campaign manager of the Trump campaign, said: "Love to see friends Jeff Miller and Ches McDowell working together." LaCivita's son, Chris LaCivita Jr., based in Richmond, Va., is Checkmate's public affairs director. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 25, 2025 Author Members Posted February 25, 2025 The Trump Administration Keeps Citing an Untrue Stat as It Targets Federal Workers As the administration of President Donald Trump throws one government agency after another into the “wood chipper,” a startling statistic about federal workers keeps coming up: Only 6% of federal employees are working full time in their offices. https://www.propublica.org/article/federal-employees-work-from-home-trump-myth? US refuses to blame Russia for Ukraine war, splitting with European allies in UN votes UNITED NATIONS (AP) — In a dramatic shift in transatlantic relations under President Donald Trump, the United States split with its European allies by refusing to blame Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in votes on three U.N. resolutions Monday seeking an end to the three-year war. https://apnews.com/article/un-russia-ukraine-war-resolution-trump-zelenskyy-cde221e5850196776525403e788c272c? Trump’s Justice Department enforcer is no stranger to complaints about his conduct WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of Manhattan criminal defense attorneys was so concerned about prosecutor Emil Bove’s professionalism that they banded together to send an email to his bosses. https://apnews.com/article/emil-bove-trump-fbi-enforcer-firings-3f85887e92154b14f7e04cfc521a0399? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 25, 2025 Author Members Posted February 25, 2025 Hard truths about Trump budget cuts President Trump, Elon Musk, and their band of DOGE budget-cutters celebrate daily, even hourly targets to cut U.S. spending on everything from foreign aid to FAA personnel, Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen writing in a "Behind the Curtain" column. Trump himself has teased a balanced budget — an impossibility without historic cuts to America's most popular programs, such as Social Security. Why it matters: Their proposed cuts are but drips of water in America's overflowing bucket of debt — $36 trillion and counting. In fact, most days, America racks up more interest on its debt — $3 billion per day! — than DOGE can find in savings. That leaky bucket is the reality of your nation's finances. This column is our attempt to clinically outline the facts about deficits — and efforts to reduce or eliminate them. ? The big picture: Trump and Musk are correct that America is drowning in deficits. Some of it flows from silly spending on stale or even stupid programs. Those make for terrific X dunking: Agencies with more software licenses than employees! A $324,671 USDA grant for "Increasing DEIA Programming for Integrated Pest Management"! A $3 million Education Department contract "to write a report that showed that prior reports were not utilized by schools"! But trimming fat is harder than it looks: 37% of the contract terminations on an initial list on DOGE's "Wall of Receipts" (417 out of 1,125) weren't expected to save any money, usually because it had already been spent. And the only way to truly reduce the deficit is to target the very programs Trump refuses to touch — defense, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. They account for 86% of the budget. That's reality for a country that, across Democratic and Republican administrations, has spent taxpayer money without restraint or care about debt. This is one area where everyone is guilty. Musk and DOGE suck up a lot of attention for doing what former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.) did by needling "the boneheads of both parties," and the late Sen. William Proxmire (D-Wis.) did with his Golden Fleece Award: highlighting the need for radical change, and the absurdity of many U.S. programs. Even Musk critics should applaud him for getting the public to pay attention to massive bugs in the federal system. But the Trump team is also using the guise of budget-cutting to eliminate jobs or areas they disagree with — or that undermine their ambitions. In doing so, they're also usurping the power of Congress — which, under the Constitution, sets U.S. spending priorities and budgets. That's producing court fights. ? State of play: The idea of DOGE is popular. A poll released yesterday by Harvard's Center for American Political Studies and The Harris Poll found 72% of U.S. registered voters polled online support the existence of a federal agency focused on efficiency. Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase CEO, told CNBC in Miami on Monday that while any "bureaucracy pushes back on everything," DOGE "needs to be done," and should be "not just about the deficit. It's about building the right policies, procedures and the government we deserve." So Trump and his aides correctly calculate that both the cuts and the tales of government insanity are popular with the vast majority of Americans. ? Reality check: Of the roughly $7 trillion the U.S. spent in 2024 (as calculated by Axios chief economic correspondent Neil Irwin)... 60% went to mandatory programs — including Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans' benefits, unemployment insurance and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). 13% went to defense. 13% to interest payments. 14% for discretionary spending — leaving Trump not quite $1 trillion. Column continues below. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 25, 2025 Author Members Posted February 25, 2025 ? Part 2: Trump handcuffs Data: Treasury Department. Chart: Jacque Schrag/Axios When you consider where federal money really goes, most DOGE oddities and outrages amount to rounding errors in a sea of government obligations, Jim and Mike write. ? By the numbers: Earlier this month, Trump promised on Truth Social: "BALANCED BUDGET!!!" Here's what would have to happen to deliver that, according to nonpartisan and academic experts: You'd need to eliminate roughly $2 trillion just to make up for the current deficit projection, plus interest on our existing debt. That'd mean massive cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicare and defense. There's also the question of how many times you can spend the same dollar. Trump says he wants tariffs to balance the budget — but he also wants them to eliminate income taxes. And "DOGE dividend" checks would send savings back to taxpayers instead of helping dig the country out of this hole. The backstory: Trump is handcuffed by political reality and his own statements. He was elected on the promise of tax cuts. Those cuts likely would create even bigger deficits, at least in the short term. "Social Security won't be touched," Trump told Fox News' Sean Hannity two weeks ago. "Other than fraud or something we're going to find it's going to be strengthened but won't be touched. Medicare, Medicaid, none of that stuff is going to be touched." ? Case in point: House Republicans have vowed to cut Medicaid in the budget bill that would pay for Trump's tax cuts, border security buildup and other priorities. But Steve Bannon pointed out on his "War Room" podcast: "A lot of MAGA's on Medicaid ... Medicaid is going to be a complicated one. Just can't take a meat ax to it, although I would love to." Michael Tuffin, CEO of AHIP, which represents health insurers, contends that disrupting Medicaid coverage could raise costs elsewhere and weaken chronic-disease prevention. ? We told you over the weekend about the testy town halls that House Republicans are facing back home. One of them, Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.), told CNN's Manu Raju on Monday that the GOP could do a better job of showing "compassion." Administration officials say Trump already has disrupted more in 37 days than most experts thought was possible. That is true. But most of the past month's wall-to-wall coverage has focused on bites that wouldn't add up to the meal that he's promised. Musk told Hannity: "If we don't solve the deficit, there won't be money for medical care." So Musk, who has spent his career defying bearish predictions, is now working his greatest puzzle of all. The bottom line: Neil Irwin reminds us of the old line that the U.S. government consists of a military attached to an insurance company. In big-picture terms, that's pretty true. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 25, 2025 Author Members Posted February 25, 2025 ? Trump-Ukraine decoder ring Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photos: Getty Images President Trump sparked criticism and suspicion last week when he falsely blamed Ukraine for invading Russia. But his offhand remark reflected a belief his advisers say is real: that NATO helped "provoke" the conflict years ago, Axios' Marc Caputo writes. Why it matters: Trump's view of Ukraine is key to understanding why he has turned 80 years of U.S. foreign policy on its ear by criticizing NATO, opposing its expansion there, and cutting European partners out of peace talks. Critics on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean accuse Trump of kowtowing to Russian President Vladimir Putin, embracing the dictator's disinformation, excusing his aggression and putting Ukraine in too much of a vise. ?️ The big picture: Trump's approach to the war represents a rejection of the reflexively pro-European trans-Atlanticism of past presidents — especially Barack Obama, Joe Biden and George W. Bush. It's also rooted in Trump's longstanding desire to normalize ties with Russia. Another sign of how Trump is dramatically changing U.S. policy came yesterday, when the U.S. broke with European allies by declining to support a UN resolution that condemned Russia and demanded it withdraw from Ukraine. Ukraine also is at the heart of strained relations between the U.S. and Russia. It was at the center of Trump's first impeachment in 2019, and played a key role in the investigation of ties between Russia and Trump's campaign that began in 2016. ? Between the lines: Trump advisers, put on the defensive over his comment about who started the Russia-Ukraine war, privately have fumed that the media is focusing too much on Trump's misstatement and too little on how the West antagonized Putin in the years before he invaded Ukraine. Keep reading. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 25, 2025 Author Members Posted February 25, 2025 Immigration The Trump administration is halting its plan to house up to 30,000 undocumented migrants in tents at the military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. A US official said the tents don't meet detention standards because they lack air conditioning or electricity. There also haven't been enough migrants coming to Guantanamo to justify building more tents, officials said. Last week, more than 170 migrants at the naval base were flown to Venezuela, nearly emptying Guantanamo. Since then, 17 migrants have been brought to the detention facility portion of the base — while roughly 1,000 US service members are on site supporting the mission. US-Russia relations The US joined Russia on Monday to vote against a UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russia's war against Ukraine in a stunning shift from years of US policy. The vote saw the US at odds with its longtime European allies and instead aligned with the aggressor in the war on the third anniversary of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin also said Monday that his country is open to economic cooperation with the US, including on energy and mining rare earth minerals. The comments follow discussions between the US and Ukraine, in which President Trump has demanded access to nearly half of Ukraine's mineral resources in exchange for military aid. ps:So we now are on the side of Russia? North Korea? China? Iran? etc.????? Even Israel vote against Ukraine????? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 25, 2025 Author Members Posted February 25, 2025 Trump expresses hope Russia’s war in Ukraine is nearing an endgame as he meets with France’s Macron President Donald Trump expressed hope that Russia’s war in Ukraine is nearing an endgame as he met Monday with French President Emmanuel Macron on the third anniversary of the invasion. Read more. Why this matters: In broad comments on the state of the conflict, Trump said he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin would accept European peacekeepers in Ukraine. Putin said Monday that he has not discussed resolving the conflict in Ukraine in detail with Trump and neither did Russian and American negotiating teams when they met in Saudi Arabia last week. Putin also said Russia does not rule out European countries participating in a peace settlement. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ WATCH: Macron disagrees with Trump over European funding for Ukraine US refuses to blame Russia for Ukraine war, splitting with European allies in UN votes Merz prioritizes Ukraine and US, vows to tackle migration and economy after German election win Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 26, 2025 Author Members Posted February 26, 2025 The White House says it ‘will determine’ which news outlets cover Trump, rotating traditional ones The White House said Tuesday that its officials “will determine” which news outlets can regularly cover President Donald Trump up close — a sharp break from a century of tradition in which a pool of independently chosen news organizations go where the chief executive does and hold him accountable on behalf of regular Americans. https://apnews.com/article/trump-ap-news-outlets-ban-gulf-mexico-25c77f617418dd3ca2791af90b263a59? ? White House will pick press pool The White House will begin deciding which media outlets will have access to certain meetings and events — decisions that the press has made for itself for a century. ✍️ How it works: The White House press office will now decide who's in the rotation of pool reporters who cover the president, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said today. "Legacy outlets who have participated in the press pool for decades will still be allowed to join ... but we will also be offering the privilege to well-deserving outlets, who have never been allowed to share in this awesome responsibility," she said. The independent White House Correspondents' Association has managed the press pool until now. ? Between the lines: The move was an outgrowth of the administration's feud with AP, which sued the White House after it was kicked out of the briefing room and Air Force One for declining to use "Gulf of America" instead of "Gulf of Mexico." AP's lawsuit mentioned its presence in the press pool 52 times. So the White House decided to take over picking the outlets that participate, a White House adviser told Axios' Marc Caputo. ? What they're saying: "In a free country, leaders must not be able to choose their own press corps," WHCA President Eugene Daniels said in a statement. Go deeper ... WHCA statement. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 26, 2025 Author Members Posted February 26, 2025 Trump Fires Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs Of Staff & Senior Military Leaders, Sparking Concerns Over Politicization Of The Pentagon President Donald Trump dismissed several high-ranking military officials, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown , Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Jim Slife . This marks the first time two members of the Joint Chiefs have been removed simultaneously. https://www.newsbreak.com/news/3828102095707-trump-fires-chairman-of-the-joint-chiefs-of-staff-senior-military-leaders-sparking-concerns-over-politicization-of-the-pentagon? Trump prepares to use controversial 1798 ‘Alien Enemies’ law to speed deportations The Trump administration is preparing to invoke a sweeping wartime authority to speed up the president’s mass deportation pledge, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions. https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/politics/trump-controversial-law-speed-deportations Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 27, 2025 Author Members Posted February 27, 2025 A snapshot of the federal workforce that is now under attack from the Trump administration In the first month of his new administration, President Trump has taken drastic steps to reduce the size of the federal workforce, from offering nearly all federal employees a “deferred resignation” buyout to illegally firing senior officials at several agencies. While many of these efforts are being challenged in court, the strategy behind them is clear: Villainize public servants, fire or push them out of their jobs, and then dismantle the federal services they were faithfully executing. By sowing public distrust in those who provide government services, the public’s faith in the goods provided by the government is at risk of eroding too, making it easier for the administration to eliminate core government functions that hundreds of millions of Americans rely on. https://www.epi.org/blog/a-snapshot-of-the-federal-workforce-that-is-now-under-attack-from-the-trump-administration/? Trump's media-control strategy President Trump is setting a new precedent for tight, punitive government control over a free press, Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen write in a "Behind the Curtain" column. Why it matters: Trump and his administration are doing this systematically, gleefully and unmistakably. But as we've written before, this unprecedented shift could set the precedent for future Democratic presidents, too. ? The big picture: Trump frames this as payback for what he calls incompetent, left-wing coverage, and the White House says it's expanding access to new voices and outlets. The White House Correspondents' Association says he's tearing "at the independence of a free press in the United States." The end result is twofold: much tighter control over media, and new tools and tactics to punish critics. Here is what's different today than 38 days ago: Lawsuits. Before taking office, Trump sued ABC News, CBS News and a former Des Moines Register pollster over coverage. This is a new technique for a president or former president — and one getting results. ABC agreed to pay $15 million to Trump's future presidential library instead of fighting in court. CBS also appears to be heading toward settling. Hard to see how this doesn't encourage more lawsuits and entice future presidents pissed off about coverage to do the same. Blacklists. Trump barred AP from the Oval Office and Air Force One for refusing to use "Gulf of America" instead of "Gulf of Mexico" after he made the change by decree. AP, a global newswire that writes the stylebook most U.S. media outlets follow, has been a pillar of White House coverage for more than a century. Denying access, and mandating word choices, are new tactics for a president. Imagine a Democratic president renaming it the Gulf of Obama — and targeting Fox News for refusing to call it that. Fox and the conservative Newsmax were among the outlets protesting AP retribution. Jacqui Heinrich — Fox News senior White House correspondent, and a White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) board member — wrote on X: "This is a short-sighted decision, and it will feel a lot different when a future Democratic administration kicks out conservative-leaning outlets and other critical voices." Stacking the deck. For decades, until yesterday, the White House had little say in the choice of media organizations responsible for covering official actions and trips via what's known as the press pool. In response to AP's suit over access, the White House seized control of this process, formerly run by WHCA. Trump has promised to keep traditional media companies part of the mix. But if the new system holds, he and future presidents could surround themselves with friendly reporters asking friendly questions — and punish those who don't. Shielding Cabinet officials. At the Pentagon, where reporters both work onsite and serve in a rotating pool that travels with the SecDef, a similar purge has unfolded. First, the Pentagon booted NBC News, the N.Y. Times, Politico and NPR from their physical workspace as part of a new "annual media rotation program" — substituting friendly outlets + HuffPost, which had no Pentagon reporter. A week later, CNN was ousted from its workspace. Good riddance, MAGA supporters say. But will a future Democratic president do unto conservative news sources as the Trump administration has done to the legacy media? Behind the scenes: Taylor Budowich, a White House deputy chief of staff intimately involved in this process, told us there's more at play here, and insisted the moves aren't motivated by suppressing dissent. The White House feels access to limited areas like the Oval Office and Air Force One shouldn't be guaranteed to a select few legacy outlets — but instead should be opened up to include both MAGA voices, and other new or niche nonpartisan publications with more domain expertise. Budowich said the goal is to drive a "ratings bonanza" by leveraging the reach of traditional outlets with the fresh approach of some newer media players. "The established process doesn't serve people well," he said. "We want to provide more opportunities ... for those who want to do things differently." A New York Times statement last evening called the White House's move "an effort to undermine the public's access to independent, trustworthy information about the most powerful person in America." The Axios approach: As we wrote a week ago, Axios takes a clinical approach, like a doctor. We simply want to give you the facts and insights to make better decisions and live better lives. But these changes curtail the free press, both now and if Trump or future presidents take it further. Trump allies on X played up efforts by former President Biden to ensure friendly press interactions, including extremely limited press contact and prescreening of reporters' questions, in contrast to Trump's freewheeling sessions. The Biden administration culled the list of "hard pass" holders with permanent credentials — access the Trump team says it's restoring. The bottom line: Tough questions, serious scrutiny, free thought, transparent access to key historical moments. These are decades-long precedents that keep the public informed. Go deeper: "Axios coverage in the Trump era," by CEO Jim VandeHei ... Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 27, 2025 Author Members Posted February 27, 2025 ? Trump's new "gold card" President Trump said yesterday he's planning to offer $5 million "gold card" visas that give wealthy foreigners permanent residency and a path to U.S. citizenship, Axios' Sareen Habeshian writes. Why it matters: The new proposal could replace the existing EB-5 program, which offers green cards to individuals who invest a certain amount — typically $1 million — in a U.S. business. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the program could launch in two weeks. Also yesterday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said migrants in the country illegally must register with the federal government in an effort to "compel them to leave the country voluntarily." Go deeper. ps:I guess unless your wealthy, your not wanted in this country????? Trump administration creates registry for immigrants who are in the US illegally The Trump administration is creating a registry for all people who are in the United States illegally, and those who don’t self-report could face fines or prosecution, immigration officials announced Tuesday. Read more. What to know: Everyone who is in the U.S. illegally must register, give fingerprints and provide an address, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Trump says he will offer ‘gold cards’ for $5 million path to citizenship, replacing investor visas Things to know about the ruling blocking President Trump’s refugee ban New York City is set to close a controversial migrant shelter at the Roosevelt Hotel Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 27, 2025 Author Members Posted February 27, 2025 Federal judge blocks Trump funding freeze, saying it produced a ‘nationwide crisis’ WASHINGTON — A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction Tuesday blocking the Trump administration from implementing the type of sweeping freeze on grant and loan programs proposed in a memo the Office of Management and Budget released in late January. https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/02/25/repub/federal-judge-blocks-trump-funding-freeze-saying-it-produced-a-nationwide-crisis/? A Texas child who was not vaccinated has died of measles, a first for the US in a decade LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — A child who wasn’t vaccinated died in a measles outbreak in rural West Texas, state officials said Wednesday, the first U.S. death from the highly contagious — but preventable — respiratory disease since 2015. https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 27, 2025 Author Members Posted February 27, 2025 Impact Of Donald Trump’s Tax Proposals by Income Group Former President Donald Trump has proposed a wide variety of tax policy changes. Taken together, these proposals would, on average, lead to a tax cut for the richest 5 percent of Americans and a tax increase for all other income groups. https://itep.org/a-distributional-analysis-of-donald-trumps-tax-plan-2024/ The Trump Administration Keeps Citing an Untrue Stat as It Targets Federal Workers As the administration of President Donald Trump throws one government agency after another into the “wood chipper,” a startling statistic about federal workers keeps coming up: Only 6% of federal employees are working full time in their offices. https://www.propublica.org/article/federal-employees-work-from-home-trump-myth? The Trump administration sets the stage for large-scale federal worker layoffs in a new memo Federal agencies must develop plans to eliminate employee positions, according to a memo distributed Wednesday by President Donald Trump's administration that sets in motion what could become a sweeping realignment of American government. Read More. Trump says Zelenskyy is coming to the White House to sign US-Ukraine critical minerals deal President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit the White House on Friday to sign a long-sought minerals deal that will closely tie the two countries together for years to come. Read More. Egg prices could jump another 41% this year, USDA says, as Trump's bird flu plan unveiled The Agriculture Department predicts the current record prices for eggs could soar more than 40% in 2025, as the Trump administration offered the first new details Wednesday about its plan to battle bird flu and ease the cost of eggs. Read More. The National Archives is nonpartisan but has found itself targeted by Trump As President Donald Trump moves to overhaul the federal government with astonishing speed, he has wreaked havoc on one agency long known for its nonpartisanship and revered for its mission: the National Archives and Records Administration. Read More. Trump's next blitz After weeks of haphazard, confusing and sometimes short-lived cuts to the federal workforce, President Trump's appointees will now have a say in how best to slash their agencies. The White House today directed agency heads to come up with a plan for "large-scale reductions in force" — a process not only for firing workers, but eliminating their positions. Agencies have two weeks to submit their plans, White House budget director Russ Vought wrote in a memo that bluntly insulted the "bloated, corrupt federal bureaucracy." ✂️ Between the lines: This could end up being the most significant round of layoffs yet, and putting agencies in charge of their own cuts is a new approach. Trump's efforts so far have relied largely on blunt instruments — like the government-wide "buyout" offer — or spur-of-the-moment actions, often originating with Elon Musk, that have left Trump's own personnel unsure what to do. Musk's email last week, asking every federal worker for five bullet points on what they did last week, caught agency leaders off guard. Workers received conflicting guidance about whether to respond. ? "I think that email perhaps was misinterpreted as a performance review, but actually it was a pulse-check review: Do you have a pulse?" Musk said at today's Cabinet meeting. He said it was an effort to weed out what he believes are large numbers of people on the federal payroll who are either dead or committing identity fraud. Musk added: "We're gonna send another email." Watch the video. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 27, 2025 Author Members Posted February 27, 2025 Trump says Ukraine minerals deal done and Zelensky visiting Friday President Trump confirmed on Wednesday that the U.S. and Ukraine have reached a minerals deal and that he still expects Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to visit the White House on Friday. https://www.axios.com/2025/02/26/trump-zelensky-visit-minerals-deal? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 28, 2025 Author Members Posted February 28, 2025 The hard truths about Trump tax cuts Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios Most politicians agree on three truths: We have a spending problem (too much), a tax problem (too high or too low), and a debt problem (way too much). Yet the typical response is: Make all three worse, Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen write in a "Behind the Curtain" column. Why it matters: This truism sits at the very heart of Republicans' fight over a grand budget deal. They're trying to convince their members, and the American public, that you can take in less money (taxes), spend more on defense — and somehow reduce deficits without touching the programs that cost the most. Washington is a city of magical thinking — both parties practice it. Hence, insane deficits under Presidents Biden, Trump, Obama and Bush. We'll grow our way of it! Even if we never do. Washington is not a city of math thinking. It's too inconvenient to apply common-sense arithmetic. Instead, you get wonky "dynamic scoring," "budget windows" and "future growth." Our favorite new D.C. math: Republicans are backing word and math fog called "current-policy baseline," which allows them to "score" lower taxes as costing nothing. Why? Because they're just extending expiring tax cuts. Make sense? That's the magic of D.C. math. A true tell: The solution is always in a future that never comes. The Trump/Republican budget plan is no different. It's basically a bet that lowering taxes further will juice so much growth that our math problems will ease or even disappear. We walked you through the spending reality in our last column. This is our attempt to explain clinically the reality of the current tax system and how Republicans want to attack it with up to $5 trillion in tax cuts. Let's start with the indisputable facts: Fact 1: Republicans want to cut taxes by a minimum of $4.5 trillion over 10 years (and by a maximum topping $5 trillion). That's mainly extending President Trump's first-term Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 — which cut income taxes for most American families and reduced the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%. Fact 2: Some tax cuts — like encouraging businesses to invest more in equipment and infrastructure — can juice the economy. That's the beating heart of supply-side tax thought. Fact 3: Other tax cuts don't spur growth. Trump wants to exempt tip income and overtime pay from taxation, and loosen a cap on the deductibility of state and local taxes. Those provisions, Axios chief economic correspondent Neil Irwin writes, would shift the tax burden away from specific classes of people (servers, people who put in a lot of overtime, and residents of high-tax states) and leave less room for pro-growth tax cuts. Fact 4: Trump has tossed tariffs into the mix. In his mind, big tariffs mean other nations will pay the cost of running the U.S. government. Business leaders, mainstream economists and many Republican lawmakers view them as destructive to growth, and ultimately borne by U.S. businesses and consumers. The reason: Higher tariffs typically result in higher costs. If foreign aluminum costs 20% more, someone has to eat the costs — either the company, or you. Fact 5: Trump offers conflicting guidance on what he wants in terms of taxes — and any cuts to pay for all of this. He talks of returning more savings to people with tax rebates ... balancing the budget (a mathematical impossibility absent gutting social programs) ... and never touching those actual social programs. Fact 6: You could solve the deficit problem by raising taxes enough to erase it. Republicans hate the idea. But Democrats have long held that higher taxes on rich people and corporations could help wipe out deficits without touching social programs. No shot of that in this Congress. But it's an option! Column continues below. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 28, 2025 Author Members Posted February 28, 2025 ? Part 2: Congress' epic tax fight The tax fight could consume Congress for all of 2025. It's truly epic in scale and complexity, Jim and Mike write. As TD Cowen policy expert Chris Krueger puts it: A behemoth tax bill is impossible — yet inevitable. ? Zoom in: If Republicans fail to move a bill, taxes on American families will rise back to their 2017 levels next year — something every elected Republican views as unacceptable. Figuring out the details, and passing them through narrow congressional majorities, is the hard part. Democrats are likely to vote in lockstep against the legislation, seeing it as primarily benefiting the very wealthy. If the legislation is paired with Medicaid cuts, as House Republicans envision, that would further energize Democratic opposition. How taxes work: The IRS collects around $5 trillion in annual taxes from over 200 million taxpayers. Filers who make less than $50,000 pay little to nothing in income taxes after credits and exemptions. The difference between what we spend and what we take in = our annual deficit. Total annual deficits rolled together over time = total debt ($36.2 trillion today). Republicans have long argued tax cuts juice the economy with growth, creating more taxable income and wealth. Some do; some don't. But keep in mind: Since Trump signed his 2017 taxes into law, deficits are up 248%! So any growth they helped achieve has been swamped by spending. Hence, America's financial jam. The deficit is now running about 7% of GDP — roughly triple the economy's growth rate. Every year that continues, the government will be in a deeper financial hole. The bottom line: Senate Republicans privately predict they'll punt on taxes for a bit and instead ... spend more. They want $340 billion in increased spending for defense border security and deportation efforts, TD Cowen's Krueger writes in his Washington Research Group newsletter. How will they pay for that? Tax cuts and spending cuts. When? later! Neil Irwin contributed reporting. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 28, 2025 Author Members Posted February 28, 2025 Trump administration says it’s cutting 90% of USAID foreign aid contracts The Trump administration said it is eliminating more than 90% of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s foreign aid contracts and $60 billion in overall U.S. assistance around the world, putting numbers on its plans to eliminate the majority of U.S. development and humanitarian help abroad. Read more. Why this matters: The cuts detailed by the administration would leave few surviving USAID projects for advocates to try to save in ongoing court battles with the administration. President Donald Trump and ally Elon Musk have hit foreign aid harder and faster than almost any other target in their push to cut the size of the federal government. Both men say USAID projects advance a liberal agenda and are a waste of money. The Trump administration outlined its plans in both an internal memo obtained by The Associated Press and filings in one federal lawsuit Wednesday. The Supreme Court intervened in that case late Wednesday and temporarily blocked a court order requiring the administration to release billions of dollars in foreign aid by midnight. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ A Project 2025 author carries out his vision for mass federal layoffs WATCH: Senators grapple with potential Medicaid cuts in budget blueprint VA pauses billions in cuts lauded by Musk as lawmakers and veterans decry loss of critical care USAID workers will be given 15 minutes to clear their workspaces as the agency gets dismantled Musk and his ‘humble tech support’ effort get star turn at Trump’s Cabinet meeting Not known for political coverage, Wired takes a leading role in tracking Elon Musk’s team High-level EU-US diplomatic talks are called off as transatlantic tensions rise Trump cuts financial lifeline for Venezuela’s government by ending permit to export oil to US In lawsuit filing, Pentagon says transgender troops can’t serve unless they meet a warfighting need Texas says this doctor illegally treated trans youth. He says he followed the law Republican lawmakers look for ways to weaken state judges After a month of Trump’s pro-oil and gas moves, Dems target his energy emergency Judge dismisses racketeering indictment against New Jersey Democratic power broker Apple will fix iPhone glitch that suggests replacing the word ‘racist’ with ‘Trump’ Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted February 28, 2025 Author Members Posted February 28, 2025 Why the Trump administration may want Ukraine’s minerals The United States could access Ukraine’s critical mineral wealth, including key ingredients for the clean energy transition, under a deal the countries are expected to sign later this week. President Donald Trump, who has pushed for the agreement, has long been critical of a transition to green energies that require the various minerals the U.S. will have access to in this deal. So why go after these minerals? Read more. What to know: Deposits of titanium, which is in high demand, are spread across Ukraine. Titanium is used for making aircraft wings and other aerospace manufacturing, for marine uses, chemical processing and medical devices. Ukraine also has lithium, key to several current battery technologies, and uranium, used for nuclear power, medical equipment and weapons. The country also has graphite and manganese, both used in batteries for electric vehicles. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ France joining the U.S. in seeking access to Ukraine’s minerals; says it’s in talks Economic deal between US and Ukraine will tie the countries together for years. Here’s what it says North Korea appears to have sent more troops to Russia to back its war against Ukraine, Seoul says Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.