Gas Bandit's Political Thread V: The Vampire Likes Bats

The number of Palestinians that have died in this genocide isn’t a random number though. If you want a serious discussion maybe dont reduce what Biden has done in this conflict to 10.
Feel free to replace the 10 with the actual number, and then tell me what that changes in my argument ?


Man real serious discussion topic here just making up fan fiction.
Still haven't even read the title of what i linked, i take it.


How fucking long do you think Israel continues to bomb Gaza after their source of bombs dries up?
Oh, now bombs matter...
 
subhumans
You know, the issue with dehumanizing evil people is that it leads to society assuming their human acquaintances could never do/support those evil things. Or even themselves, because they're just trying to do the "right" thing or those other guys deserve it because they're subhuman etc.

Which is very untrue, and basically behind most popular support of bad things.

If anything they're very human in their behaviour, because not all human behaviour is humane.
 
Feel free to replace the 10 with the actual number, and then tell me what that changes in my argument ?
You're right, if they kill 186,000 palestinians or all palentinians it doesn't matter,

Yeah that changes it quite a bit from 10. Probably why you went with 10.

Still haven't even read the title of what i linked, i take it.
I’ve read it. Don’t exactly see how you believe that this is some kind of silver bullet. Especially since Biden had attempted the exact same thing.

Oh, now bombs matter...
Bombs have always mattered you have just seem to believe that 2,000 pound bombs are infinitely worse than other bombs. Much like how you sleep on Biden trying to ethnically cleanse Gaza but get all upset when Trump tries the exact same thing.
 

Not to change the subject, but the J6 subhumans are already getting arrested again. I seriously think Capitol Police should have wasted most of them that day.
 
Yeah that changes it quite a bit from 10. Probably why you went with 10.
How ?

You forgot to tell me that part.

Also, i like how you didn't use teh number provided by the palestinians, which is much lower, while saying that the accurate numbers change stuff.

I’ve read it. Don’t exactly see how you believe that this is some kind of silver bullet. Especially since Biden had attempted the exact same thing.
Bombs have always mattered you have just seem to believe that 2,000 pound bombs are infinitely worse than other bombs. Much like how you sleep on Biden trying to ethnically cleanse Gaza but get all upset when Trump tries the exact same thing.
So an actual declaration of intent vs Biden actually putting limits to what weapons are given to Israel is the same...

Looks like that fan fiction of mine is getting more and more support from you.
 

GasBandit

Staff member
1/ The Justice Department fired more than a dozen officials who worked on criminal investigations into Trump. Acting Attorney General James McHenry stated the officials could not be “trusted” to “faithfully” implement Trump’s agenda, calling the action “consistent with the mission of ending the weaponization of government.” The firings targeted prosecutors involved in special counsel Jack Smith’s now-dismissed cases against Trump, which addressed classified documents and Jan. 6 election interference. The DOJ did not disclose the names or number of those dismissed. (NBC News / CNN / Washington Post / New York Times / Associated Press / CNBC)

2/ Trump-appointed acting U.S. Attorney Ed Martin ordered a review of Jan. 6 obstruction charges, citing a Supreme Court ruling that narrowed the statute’s scope. Martin instructed his office to hand over all files, documents, and notes related to the use of the federal obstruction statute in charging Capitol rioters. This move followed a Supreme Court ruling that limited the statute’s application, deeming its broader use in these cases excessive. Martin called the use of the statute a “failure” and appointed senior prosecutors to lead a “special project” investigating the matter. (Wall Street Journal / Washington Post)

  • Senate Democrats introduced a resolution condemning Trump’s pardons for violent Jan. 6 rioters, focusing on those who assaulted Capitol Police officers. Trump’s pardons covered all 1,600 defendants, including over 600 charged with assaulting law enforcement. Lindsey Graham criticized the pardons, calling the decision “a mistake” and warned they could encourage future violence, while JD Vance defended Trump’s actions as correcting “unfair” treatment by the DOJ. The Justice Department, meanwhile, removed its online database of Jan. 6 criminal cases following Trump’s pardons for about 1,600 Capitol rioters. (Politico / HuffPost / CNN / New York Times / NBC News)
3/ Trump fired at least 12 federal inspectors general, bypassing legal requirements for congressional notice. On Friday night, Trump dismissed inspectors general from over a dozen federal agencies, including Defense, State, and Energy, claiming “changing priorities” as justification. Federal law mandates 30 days’ notice to Congress before such firings, but no advance notification was given. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley and Democratic leaders criticized the move, warning it undermines government accountability. Trump defended the firings as “a common thing to do,” stating he plans to replace the watchdogs with qualified individuals. (CNN / New York Times / Axios / Washington Post / Politico)

4/ The Trump administration initiated large-scale immigration enforcement operations in Chicago and other cities, leading to nearly 1,000 arrests nationwide. Trump has directed ICE officials to arrest 1,200 to 1,500 people a day. ICE averaged 311 daily arrests last year. The Justice Department confirmed that multiple agencies, including ICE, FBI, DEA, ATF, and U.S. Marshals, participated in the “enhanced targeted operations.” Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove called the operations a necessary response to a “national emergency” caused by “failed immigration policy.” While officials emphasized a focus on individuals with criminal records, “collateral arrests” of undocumented immigrants without records also occurred, raising fears in immigrant communities. Immigrant advocacy groups, meanwhile, filed lawsuits to challenge the raids, citing constitutional violations and accusing the administration of punitive actions against sanctuary cities. The administration, however, defended the raids as necessary to “protect the homeland” and stated that similar operations would continue nationwide. (New York Times / CNN / NPR / NBC News / Washington Post / Associated Press / CBS News / Axios)

  • Secret Service agents investigating a threat against a government official attempted to visit Hamline Elementary School on Chicago’s South Side but were denied entry by staff following district protocols designed to protect immigrant families. Chicago Public Schools initially believed the agents were from ICE, citing identification from the Department of Homeland Security, but later clarified that this was a misunderstanding. Hamline Elementary, a predominantly Latino school with a high number of English learners, implemented a soft lockdown during the encounter, which CPS stated demonstrated its preparedness to safeguard students. (CNN / NBC Chicago / ABC7 Chicago / Chalkbeat Chicago / Axios / Block Club Chicago)
5/ Colombia agreed to accept deported migrants after Trump threatened 25% tariffs, visa sanctions, and trade penalties. After initially denying entry to two U.S. military deportation flights, Colombia said it would accept the deported nationals with “dignified conditions” and offered its presidential plane for transport. “We will receive our countrymen on commercial planes, without them being treated like criminals,” Colombian President Gustavo Petro said. Trump’s retaliatory measures, including tariffs that could have risen to 50%, were paused but “will be held in reserve, and not signed, unless Colombia fails to honor this agreement.” (NBC News / Associated Press / Wall Street Journal)

  • Mexico blocked a U.S. military deportation flight. The flight never departed, but officials said four non-military deportation flights were later accepted. (NBC News)
  • Trump is considering 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada starting February 1 to pressure them on migration, trade, and border security. Both nations warned of economic fallout and prepared retaliation, while officials expressed frustration over unclear U.S. demands and limited dialogue. (Wall Street Journal)
6/ Trump proposed relocating Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring countries, calling for Jordan and Egypt to accept refugees as part of a plan to “clean out” Gaza. The plan was condemned by Jordan, Egypt, and Palestinian leaders, who described it as forced displacement and a violation of international law. Trump suggested the relocation could be temporary or permanent and offered to work with Arab nations to build housing for Palestinians elsewhere. Egypt and Jordan, however, rejected the proposal outright. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said “Egypt’s stance is clear: it cannot be part of any solution that involves the transfer of Palestinians into Sinai.” Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi added: “Our rejection of the displacement of Palestinians is firm and will not change.” (Wall Street Journal / NPR / Axios / Washington Post / The Guardian)

The midterm elections are in 645 days.

✏ Notables.
Quick hits of lesser importance.

  1. The Justice Department will limit federal prosecution of antiabortion protesters under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, reserving cases for “extraordinary circumstances” such as death, serious harm, or significant property damage. Less severe actions, like blocking clinic entrances, will be left to state or local authorities. Chad Mizelle, DOJ chief of staff, said the policy reflects Trump’s directive to end the “weaponization” of law enforcement. The department dropped three pending cases involving antiabortion activists and Trump pardoned 23 protesters convicted under the law, describing them as “peaceful pro-life protesters.” (Washington Post)
  2. An Idaho House committee advanced a resolution urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide, and return marriage regulation to the states. The Republican resolution calls Obergefell an “illegitimate overreach” and seeks to restore marriage as “a union of one man and one woman.” Idaho voters approved a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in 2006, which was invalidated by Obergefell. (New York Times)
  3. The Trump administration ordered the CDC to stop working with the World Health Organization immediately. CDC staff were directed to cease participation in WHO working groups, advisory boards, and other collaborations, including visits to WHO offices. (ABC News)
  4. Trump proposed eliminating FEMA, calling for states to manage disasters directly. While pledging federal aid to wildfire- and hurricane-hit areas, he also pushed reforms like water policy changes, drawing criticism from disaster experts and state leaders. (CNBC / HuffPost / NPR / Bloomberg)
  5. Trump signed an executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and reverting Alaska’s Denali to its former name, Mount McKinley. The updated names will apply to federal use, though other nations, including Mexico, are not required to recognize the new gulf designation. Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski criticized the Denali decision, calling it a disregard for Native Alaskan traditions and their history with the mountain. The Gulf renaming follows months of speculation and pushback from Mexico, whose president said “North America should be renamed ‘Mexican America.’” (CBS News)
  6. Trump reiterated his desire to purchase Greenland, calling it a potential security asset for “the free world,” and suggested that Canada could benefit from becoming a U.S. state. Trump claimed Greenland’s people “want to be with us” and said resistance from Denmark would be “unfriendly.” On Canada, Trump criticized trade policies and proposed statehood as a solution, arguing Canadians would see lower taxes and increased security. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau dismissed the idea, saying it would “not happen.” (NPR)
  7. Pete Hegseth was confirmed as defense secretary in a 51-50 vote, with JD Vance breaking the tie after three Republican senators joined Democrats in opposing the controversial nominee. Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Army veteran, faced criticism for allegations of misconduct, including sexual assault, public drunkenness, and financial mismanagement – all of which he denied. Despite opposition from Republicans like Mitch McConnell, who questioned Hegseth’s qualifications, the Senate approved him following assurances from Republican holdouts. Hegseth pledged to “revive the warrior ethos” and support Trump’s “peace through strength” agenda. (New York Times / NBC News / Washington Post)
  8. The Senate confirmed Kristi Noem as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Noem, the former South Dakota governor, pledged to reinstate Trump-era measures like “Remain in Mexico.” Seven Senate Democrats joined Republicans in supporting Noem. Noem’s confirmation follows those of Marco Rubio as secretary of state and Pete Hegseth as defense secretary. (Politico / Washington Post)
  9. Trump is expected to sign executive orders reinstating a ban on transgender military service and dismantling DEI programs in the armed forces. The executive orders restrict enlisting, medical care, and gender-affirming facilities while eliminating DEI offices in key federal agencies. (NBC News)
  10. Democrats accused Trump of failing to address food prices as promised, with egg costs rising 36.8% in a year. Trump defended his efforts, while VP JD Vance admitted changes would take time. (NBC News / Daily Beast)
  11. Democrats are considering leveraging the debt ceiling to counter Trump’s agenda and push for long-term reforms, reversing the Republican’s traditional use of the debt limit as a negotiating tool. (Washington Post)
  12. The CIA now assesses that COVID-19 “most likely” originated from a laboratory leak in Wuhan, China, but assigns “low confidence” to this conclusion. The updated assessment, based on existing intelligence, was declassified and released under CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who has long favored the lab leak theory. The agency noted that both lab-related and natural origins remain plausible, with no new intelligence tipping the scale definitively. (NBC News / Associated Press / Bloomberg / New York Times / CNN)
  13. Trump revoked security details for Dr. Anthony Fauci, John Bolton, Mike Pompeo, and others, despite ongoing death threats linked to their public roles under his administration. The move is part of Trump’s broader effort to punish perceived disloyalty, with Trump defending the decision as necessary to avoid indefinite government-funded protection. Trump also rescinded the security clearances of 50 former intelligence officials who criticized him in the past, claiming they undermined U.S. institutions. (NBC News / CNN / Rolling Stone)
  14. At a rally for Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany party, Elon Musk called for the country to “move beyond” the “past guilt” over the atrocities of Germany’s Nazi era. Musk’s remarks come days after his stiff-armed Nazi salute during Trump’s inauguration celebrations – and just before International Holocaust Remembrance Day. (New York Times / Politico / Reuters / NBC News / Axios)
Portrait of a president.
Perspectives, insights, and analysis.

  1. Trump’s first week back in office focused on retribution, stripping security from former officials, granting clemency to Jan. 6 rioters, and purging federal agencies of disloyal employees, escalating loyalty demands and fears of authoritarianism. (New York Times)
  2. Trump’s Jan. 6 pardons exposed his dominance over the GOP, with Republicans offering little resistance. Their deference eliminates internal constraints, enabling Trump to consolidate power, pursue retribution, and act unchecked, further eroding accountability. (The Atlantic)
  3. Trump’s first week back was marked by executive overreach, revenge against critics, and chaotic infighting. Actions like pardoning Jan. 6 rioters and revoking security clearances reflect his unchecked power and intent to dominate through distraction and force. (New Yorker)
  4. Trump’s first week back in office focused on “flooding the zone” with executive actions, designed to overwhelm opposition and showcase his administration’s commitment to bold action. Trump signed 52 directives, many drawn from the conservative Project 2025 policy blueprint, including withdrawing from the WHO, revoking DEI initiatives, and attempting to end birthright citizenship. (Washington Post)
  5. Trump’s first 100 hours revealed his autocratic ambitions: pardoning Jan. 6 rioters, revoking birthright citizenship, and sidelining democratic norms. Enabled by a reshaped Supreme Court and Republican loyalty, he’s asserting unchecked power while dismantling constitutional restraints. (The Guardian)
 
Almost all points in the "lesser importance" list should be headlines for weeks and grounds for serious questions.
If you weren't living in a de facto autocracy now, of course.
 

GasBandit

Staff member
Got into the "America is the most free nation" argument with the GF today. Played her the Jeff Bridges rant from Newsroom clip. She got real quiet after that. Then asked me where would be better. I rattled off a couple offhanded countries (New Zealand, Sweden, maybe Ireland). She started looking up what it takes to get work visas there.

Did.. did I just tap a domino I didn't mean to?
 
That reminds me of my wife. I might mention something like an upcoming comic convention featuring the Boy Meets World cast. Just mentioning it, nothing more. Within fifteen minutes she'll have a list of possible travel dates and flight times. I don't WANT to go.

New Zealand is easily my favorite country. When I visited I noticed that Kiwis aren't so wound up. I went to the movies one evening and I was in a packed theater. There were cops in the lobby area but that was to stop shoplifters. Hundreds of people in the theater and not one of them brought a goddamned gun in with them. I also played Dungeons and Dragons there one night, and the table was mostly twenty and thirty-somethings. They were either university students or very early career. Those who weren't students had ONE job instead of three. When I got back Stateside it felt like I was entering a trendy nightclub (way too loud music, overpriced drinks, and territorial douchebros). Americans are a jittery people.
 
If it wasn't for my wife's bed to be close to her family, I'd love to live to NZ too. Easily the best country I've visited, and I've been to quite a few. Norway ranks pretty high too, but the NZ climate is better and life is slightly cheaper.
 
Got into the "America is the most free nation" argument with the GF today. Played her the Jeff Bridges rant from Newsroom clip. She got real quiet after that. Then asked me where would be better. I rattled off a couple offhanded countries (New Zealand, Sweden, maybe Ireland). She started looking up what it takes to get work visas there.

Did.. did I just tap a domino I didn't mean to?
I've been downloading Irish immigration papers for a decade. Just never jumped the gun on it.
 
Got into the "America is the most free nation" argument with the GF today. Played her the Jeff Bridges rant from Newsroom clip. She got real quiet after that. Then asked me where would be better. I rattled off a couple offhanded countries (New Zealand, Sweden, maybe Ireland). She started looking up what it takes to get work visas there.

Did.. did I just tap a domino I didn't mean to?
I would give anything to get out and so would most of the other LGBTQIA+ I know. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth and just run with it if you get the chance. I'm legitimately hoping you can get out.
 
I've looked into foreign postings as well. Texas A&M still has a campus in Qatar but they're phasing it out. Still, I sometimes look to see if there are positions in Kuwait, Oman, and the UAE. Expat life in the Persian Gulf is pretty great.
 

GasBandit

Staff member
I would give anything to get out and so would most of the other LGBTQIA+ I know. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth and just run with it if you get the chance. I'm legitimately hoping you can get out.
I don't know if anything will come of it. Basically anywhere I'd want to go, I could only go if I already had a job lined up, and I am a very odd and specific variety of programmer that kinda limits my options. I'm not saying it's impossible, just unlikely. It might be different if her mom kicks off any time soon.
 

GasBandit

Staff member
1/ The Trump administration ordered a temporary freeze on all federal grants and loans. A memo from the Office of Management and Budget, issued late Monday, directed federal agencies to pause the obligation and disbursement of federal financial assistance to review whether programs comply with recent executive orders targeting initiatives such as diversity, equity, and inclusion, environmental policies, and abortion-related funding. Although the freeze doesn’t apply to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, or direct assistance programs like food stamps and Pell Grants, many other federally funded programs, like healthcare, education, disaster relief, and housing, face potential disruption. The freeze is set to begin Tuesday at 5 p.m. and will remain in place while agencies submit detailed reviews of their programs by mid-February. A lawsuit filed by nonprofit groups seeks an emergency injunction to block the order, and at least 22 state attorneys general plan to sue the Trump administration. The attorneys general, led by Connecticut AG William Tong, called the policy “lawless” and “brazenly unconstitutional.” Republican leaders, meanwhile, largely support the review as a necessary step to align federal spending with conservative priorities, though some expressed concern over the disruption it has caused. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt attempted to clarify the freeze, saying “this is not a blanket pause” and that “individual assistance” like Social Security, Medicare, and food stamps will not be affected by the pause. Leavitt added that the “reason for this is to ensure that every penny that is going out the door is not conflicting with the executive orders and actions this president has taken.” The OMB memo announcing the freeze said: “The use of federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve.” It lists over 2,600 programs under review, including school meals, foreign aid, cancer research, and disaster relief. (CNN / Washington Post / New York Times / Washington Post / NPR / Wall Street Journal / Politico / Axios / CBS News / NBC News / Politico / Associated Press)

2/ Democrats criticized Trump’s federal funding freeze as unconstitutional, calling it a direct attack on Congress’s authority and American families. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the move “a dagger at the heart of the average American family in red states and blue states, in cities, in suburbs, in rural areas.” Senator Patty Murray argued, “Congress holds the power of the purse. That is very clear in the Constitution.” New York Attorney General Letitia James announced lawsuits, stating, “We won’t sit idly by while this administration harms our families.” Democrats warned the freeze undermines bipartisan funding agreements and creates widespread uncertainty for states, nonprofits, and critical programs. (Politico / New York Times / Washington Post)

3/ Trump’s freeze on federal grants and loans disrupted Medicaid operations nationwide, with state officials reporting that the federal portal used for Medicaid reimbursements was inaccessible. The outage, which came hours after the Office of Management and Budget issued a memo halting financial assistance programs for a review, raised concerns about the continuity of payments to the program that serves over 70 million Americans. While the White House stated that Medicaid was excluded from the freeze and payments were still being processed, confusion and panic spread among state Medicaid offices, healthcare providers, and patients. (New York Times / Chicago Sun-Times / The Hill / CBS News / CNBC)

4/ The Trump administration placed dozens of senior U.S. Agency for International Development officials on administrative leave for allegedly attempting to “circumvent” an executive order freezing nearly all U.S. foreign aid for 90 days. Acting USAID Administrator Jason Gray announced the decision in a memo, citing actions that didn’t align with Trump’s mandate. The move affects around 60 top career officials, including the entire leadership of USAID’s global health bureau, leaving many offices without senior management. The aid freeze, which impacts programs addressing poverty, disease, and disaster relief, has drawn criticism from global leaders and aid advocates, who warn of severe consequences for vulnerable communities. (NPR / Politico / New York Times / Washington Post)

5/ Trump fired Jennifer Abruzzo, the general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board, and Gwynne Wilcox, one of its Democratic members, effectively paralyzing the agency responsible for enforcing workers’ union rights. The firings leave the NLRB with only two members, preventing it from issuing rulings on hundreds of pending labor disputes. While Abruzzo’s removal was anticipated, Wilcox’s dismissal was unprecedented and could face legal challenges, as federal law permits board members to be removed only for neglect or malfeasance. (Bloomberg / Reuters / New York Times / Axios)

6/ The Trump administration halted the distribution of HIV medications purchased through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and froze funding for global health programs. Clinics in low-income countries have been instructed to stop disbursing lifesaving drugs already in stock, and PEPFAR’s data systems have been taken offline. The freeze affects treatment for HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, leaving millions of patients without care and disrupting critical global health programs. The administration also suspended technical support to health ministries and aid organizations abroad, sparking fears of increased disease transmission and drug resistance. (New York Times / Reuters)

7/ Trump signed executive orders targeting transgender service members, reinstating a partial ban from his first term and ordering revisions to military policies on medical standards and pronoun usage. The orders reverse Biden-era policies allowing transgender individuals to serve openly and receive transition-related care. Trump argued that gender dysphoria and related medical needs are incompatible with military readiness, saying “A man’s assertion that he is a woman […] is not consistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member.” (Washington Post / NBC News / CBS News / Washington Post / NPR)

8/ ICE plans to target three U.S. cities each week for large-scale immigration operations. Aurora, Colorado, will be the next city targeted after Chicago and New York City, with ICE agents following a directive to arrest 1,200-1,500 migrants daily. Since Jan. 23, nearly 3,600 immigrants have been arrested, including many with no criminal records. (NBC News / Bloomberg / Wall Street Journal)

9/ The U.S. resumed deportation flights to Colombia after Trump threatened tariffs, visa cancellations, and customs delays in response to Colombia’s brief refusal to accept military flights carrying migrants. Colombian President Gustavo Petro initially rejected U.S. deportation flights, citing concerns over “dignified treatment” after reports of migrants being shackled during transit. Colombia’s refusal stemmed from prior commitments under the Biden administration that deportations would respect migrants’ dignity, prompting Petro to offer Colombian planes for deportations while asserting sovereignty. Trump responded with threats of a 25% tariff on Colombian exports, including crude oil, coffee, and flowers, as well as visa revocations for Colombian officials. A late-night agreement allowed deportations to continue, with Colombia deploying its own planes to retrieve 201 migrants from the U.S. While Trump declared victory, Petro claimed to uphold the dignity of returning Colombians, saying “Migrants are not delinquents. They are human beings who want to work and get ahead in life.” (Associated Press / Bloomberg / New York Times)

poll/ Trump’s second term begins with a net approval rating of +7, the lowest for a newly elected president since World War II – except for his own first term. Trump’s approval rating stands at 50%, with 43% disapproving. (ABC News)

The midterm elections are in 644 days.

✏ Notables.
Quick hits of lesser importance.

  1. Trump plans to impose tariffs on foreign-made semiconductors and pharmaceuticals, targeting chips made in Taiwan to encourage U.S. manufacturing. The tariffs could reach up to 100%, affecting companies like Apple, Nvidia, and AMD, which rely on Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC. (PC Magazine / Bloomberg / Washington Post)
  2. Caroline Kennedy urged senators to rejectRobert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination as secretary of Health and Human Services, calling him a “predator” unfit for the role due to his vaccine skepticism and personal behavior. (Washington Post / New York Times / ABC News)
  3. Sen. Thom Tillis assured Danielle Hegseth, Pete Hegseth’s former sister-in-law, that her sworn statement alleging alcohol abuse and abusive behavior could sway Republican senators to oppose Hegseth’s nomination as defense secretary. Tillis, however, provided the 50th vote to confirm Hegseth, with JD Vance breaking the tie. (Wall Street Journal)
  4. Scott Bessent was confirmed as Treasury Secretary. He pledged to reduce the deficit to 3% of GDP while supporting Trump’s tax cuts and trade policies, arguing spending—not taxation—is the primary issue. (Bloomberg)
  5. The Senate confirmed Sean Duffy as Transportation Secretary in a 77-22 vote, with all opposition coming from Democrats protesting Trump’s recent spending freeze directive. (Politico)
  6. Matthew Huttle, pardoned by Trump for Jan. 6 crimes, was fatally shot by an Indiana deputy after allegedly resisting arrest during a traffic stop. Huttle was convicted in 2023 for entering the Capitol during the riot and served six months in prison before his pardon last week. (NBC News / The Guardian / New York Times)
  7. A federal judge lifted travel restrictions barring Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes from entering Washington, D.C., or the Capitol, after Trump commuted his prison sentence and wiped away his supervised release. (NPR)
  8. Senate Democrats introduced a resolution condemning Trump’s pardons of Jan. 6 rioters, focusing on those who assaulted Capitol Police officers. The resolution is symbolic and highlights opposition to Trump’s sweeping clemency for over 1,500 rioters, which Democrats view as an endorsement of political violence. No Republican senators co-sponsored the resolution. The resolution requires unanimous Senate consent, meaning a single senator could block it. (HuffPost)
  9. Google Maps will rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” for U.S. users following Trump’s executive order mandating the change in federal nomenclature. Users in Mexico will still see “Gulf of Mexico,” while international users will see both names. Trump also ordered North America’s tallest mountain, Denali, renamed back to “Mount McKinley,” which Google Maps will also adopt after government updates. Google stated this aligns with its longstanding practice of reflecting official government sources. (Washington Post / CNBC / Engadget)
  10. The Trump administration plans to offer buyouts to federal workers who resign by February 6, allowing them to receive pay through September 30. A senior official called the low rate of full-time office attendance “unacceptable” and emphasized the administration’s commitment to raising workplace standards. (Axios)
 
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