Gas Bandit's Political Thread V: The Vampire Likes Bats
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GasBandit
Staff member
1/ The White House rescinded an order freezing federal grants and loans after facing legal challenges and widespread confusion. The directive, issued Monday by the Office of Management and Budget, instructed federal agencies to “temporarily pause all activities related to obligations or disbursement of all federal financial assistance,” but was blocked by a federal judge on Tuesday. Chuck Schumer said, “Americans fought back and Donald Trump backed off.” However, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted, “This is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze,” clarifying that Trump’s broader efforts to curb certain spending remained intact. The administration framed the freeze as a way to eliminate funding for what it called “woke ideologies,” with Trump defending the move as necessary to “get the most out of every single tax dollar for our great citizens.” The order briefly disrupted funding for Medicaid, housing, and other public services, prompting lawsuits from multiple states. Last year the federal government awarded more than $1.2 trillion in grants, and another $2 trillion in loans. (New York Times / Washington Post / NBC News / CNN / Bloomberg / Wall Street Journal / CNBC / Axios)
5/ Trump cut federal funding for gender-affirming medical care for transgender individuals under 19. The executive order directs agencies to restrict access to puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries by cutting Medicaid and military insurance coverage. “Countless children soon regret that they have been mutilated and begin to grasp the horrifying tragedy that they will never be able to conceive children of their own or nurture their children through breastfeeding,” the executive order says. It also instructs the Department of Health and Human Services to reassess existing guidelines and restrict funding for hospitals and medical schools that provide such care. The order follows Trump’s recent actions to ban transgender troops from serving openly in the military, and for the federal government to only recognize two sexes, male and female. (Wall Street Journal / Associated Press / ABC News / Bloomberg / New York Times / NPR / Washington Post)
poll/ 45% of Americans approve of Trump’s performance as president – down from 47% a week ago – with 70% opposing renaming the Gulf of Mexico, 59% rejecting his birthright citizenship plan, and 48% backing his immigration policies. (Reuters)
The midterm elections are in 643 days.
Notables.
Quick hits of lesser importance.
- EARLIER: A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from enforcing a directive to freeze federal grants, loans, and assistance programs, citing concerns over its legality and potential harm to communities. Nonprofits and 22 state attorneys general sued, calling the policy unconstitutional. (Bloomberg)
- A second federal judge signaled he would block Trump’s federal spending freeze, citing White House contradictions on whether the policy remains in effect. The administration rescinded an OMB memo on the freeze, but courts remain skeptical. A ruling on a broader restraining order is expected soon. (Politico)
- Republican Rep. Rich McCormick defended the White House’s federal aid freeze, saying some kids should work instead of receiving free school meals. He claimed that federal aid discourages self-sufficiency and suggested teens work at McDonald’s or Burger King. (NBC News / USA Today / New York Times)
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved a waiver allowing some humanitarian aid to continue despite the Trump administration’s foreign aid freeze. The memo permitted “lifesaving” assistance, such as food, medicine, and shelter, but excluded programs involving abortion, gender diversity, or transgender surgeries. (Washington Post)
- Elon Musk allies now occupy top roles at the Office of Personnel Management, the federal agency overseeing government hiring. Appointees include individuals with ties to Musk’s companies — xAI, Neuralink, and the Boring Company— as well as Palantir and the NRA. Some new senior officials have limited experience, including a 21-year-old former Palantir employee and a recent high school graduate. Experts warn the staffing shakeup could accelerate Trump’s push to purge civil servants, with one calling the changes “reminiscent of Stalin.” The administration is reportedly using AI and data analysis to identify employees for reclassification under Schedule F, making them easier to fire. (WIRED)
- Trump appealed his 34 felony convictions for orchestrating an illegal conspiracy to influence the 2016 presidential election by falsifying business records. His lawyers claims the prosecution set a “dangerous precedent.” (Associated Press / Politico)
5/ Trump cut federal funding for gender-affirming medical care for transgender individuals under 19. The executive order directs agencies to restrict access to puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries by cutting Medicaid and military insurance coverage. “Countless children soon regret that they have been mutilated and begin to grasp the horrifying tragedy that they will never be able to conceive children of their own or nurture their children through breastfeeding,” the executive order says. It also instructs the Department of Health and Human Services to reassess existing guidelines and restrict funding for hospitals and medical schools that provide such care. The order follows Trump’s recent actions to ban transgender troops from serving openly in the military, and for the federal government to only recognize two sexes, male and female. (Wall Street Journal / Associated Press / ABC News / Bloomberg / New York Times / NPR / Washington Post)
poll/ 45% of Americans approve of Trump’s performance as president – down from 47% a week ago – with 70% opposing renaming the Gulf of Mexico, 59% rejecting his birthright citizenship plan, and 48% backing his immigration policies. (Reuters)
The midterm elections are in 643 days.
Notables.Quick hits of lesser importance.
- Trump plans to order the Pentagon and Homeland Security to prepare Guantanamo Bay as a detention facility for up to 30,000 undocumented migrants. He called the base a place to “contain the worst criminal illegal aliens” who cannot be deported. The military was reportedly unaware of the plan, which would require new infrastructure. (Wall Street Journal / Associated Press / Washington Post / Axios / NBC News)
- Trump signed the Laken Riley Act, requiring the detention of undocumented immigrants accused of certain crimes. The law passed with bipartisan support, including 46 House Democrats and 12 Senate Democrats. It mandates ICE to detain migrants charged with burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting, before conviction. Trump called the law a “landmark” measure that would “save countless innocent American lives.” Critics argue it undermines due process, while ICE warns enforcement could cost up to $27 billion in its first year. (NBC News / New York Times / ABC News / The Hill)
- Trump revoked Biden’s 18-month extension of Temporary Protected Status for over 600,000 Venezuelans, which would have protected Venezuelans until October 2026. The decision immediately reverts TPS protections to their original expiration dates – April and September 2025 – unless Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem extends them. (Associated Press / New York Times / The Guardian / USA Today / Reuters)
- A federal judge sentenced former Sen. Robert Menendez to 11 years in prison for bribery, extortion, and acting as a foreign agent for Egypt. Menendez, once chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was convicted of trading political favors for cash, gold bars, and luxury gifts. Prosecutors called it “possibly the most serious” Senate corruption case ever. (New York Times / Bloomberg / Associated Press / NBC News)
- Trump and Meta settled a lawsuit over his Facebook and Instagram accounts being suspended following the Jan. 6 attack, with Meta agreeing to pay $25 million, mostly for Trump’s presidential library. Trump repeatedly used the platforms to make false claims that he won the 2020 election and alleged widespread election fraud. Meta admitted no wrongdoing, and the lawsuit was one of several Trump had filed against social media companies. (Wall Street Journal)
- Trump officials are discussing tighter restrictions on Nvidia’s H20 chips for China, though no decision is imminent. Nvidia warns further curbs could strengthen China’s AI sector and hurt U.S. firms. The news sent Nvidia shares down nearly 7%. (Bloomberg)
- The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady despite Trump “demanding” the central bank lower them. Fed officials voted unanimously to maintain benchmark rate in target range of 4.25%-4.5%, noting that “inflation remains somewhat elevated.” Consumer prices averaged 2.9% higher in December than a year earlier — nearly a percentage point higher than the Fed’s target rate of 2%. (Bloomberg / NBC News / ABC News)
- Trump blamed Fed Chair Jerome Powell for inflation, criticizing the central bank for keeping interest rates steady. He claimed the Fed’s focus on climate and diversity policies worsened the economy and pledged to cut regulations to lower costs. Powell did not respond to Trump’s remarks. (CNBC)
- Trump will sign an executive order expanding school choice, directing federal agencies to allow public funds for private and religious schools. (CNN / NBC News)
GasBandit
Staff member
1/ Trump blamed diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, Obama, and Biden for the midair collision over the Potomac River that killed all 67 on board. An ongoing investigation has yet to determine the cause of the American Airlines passenger jet colliding with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter on a routine training flight. Trump called the moment “an hour of anguish for our nation,” but then abruptly pivoted to claiming – without evidence – that FAA diversity hiring weakened aviation safety and suggested the helicopter crew and air traffic controllers may have been at fault. “I put safety first, Obama, Biden and the Democrats put policy first, and they put politics at a level that nobody’s ever seen,” Trump said. When asked how he came to the conclusion that diversity had something to do with the crash, Trump replied, “because I have common sense, OK? Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t.” Later in the Oval Office, Trump told reporters “Incompetence might have played a role […] You’re talking about extremely complex things, and If they don’t have a great brain, a great power of the brain, they’re not going to be very good at what they do and bad things will happen.” A preliminary FAA report, meanwhile, found that air traffic control tower staffing was “not normal” for the amount of air traffic and for the time of day. The incident was the first mass casualty event involving a commercial aircraft in the U.S. in at least 15 years. (CNN / ABC News / New York Times / CBS News / Wall Street Journal / NBC News / CNBC / Washington Post / Associated Press / Axios / NPR / Bloomberg / Politico)
2/ Robert F. Kennedy Jr. refused to disavow the debunked link between vaccines and autism during his second Senate confirmation hearing. Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, a physician and chair of the Senate Health Committee, challenged Kennedy on his history of vaccine skepticism and pressed him to unequivocally state that vaccines do not cause autism. Kennedy refused, saying, “If the data is there,” prompting Cassidy to respond: “I know the data is there.” Kennedy also struggled to answer basic questions about Medicare and Medicaid, misstating key details about both programs. He also mischaracterized Medicaid as fully funded by the federal government, despite states sharing the cost. (Washington Post / New York Times / Associated Press / CNN / ABC News / CNBC)
3/ Trump’s nominee for FBI director denied plans for retribution, downplayed past promotion of conspiracy theories, refused to acknowledge that Biden won the 2020 election, and resisted Democratic efforts to portray him as a political loyalist unfit to lead the bureau. During his Senate confirmation hearing, Kash Patel rejected accusations that he had an “enemies list” of officials to target, denied supporting QAnon conspiracy theories despite past comments, and split from Trump by opposing clemency for Jan. 6 rioters who attacked police officers. He repeatedly refused to directly acknowledge that Biden won the 2020 election and declined to say whether he would resign if given an unconstitutional order by Trump. Patel also refused to say whether he would resign if pressured to drop politically sensitive cases. Republican senators, meanwhile, defended Patel, urging him to “teach” the FBI a lesson for past investigations into Trump. (Politico / New York Times / CNN / ABC News / NBC News / Washington Post)
4/ Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence, faced bipartisan scrutiny in her Senate confirmation hearing, over her refusal to label Edward Snowden a “traitor” and her shifting stance on surveillance laws. Gabbard, who previously called for Snowden’s pardon, repeatedly stated that he “broke the law” but also “exposed egregious, illegal and unconstitutional programs.” Senators from both parties pressed her for a clear condemnation, with Sen. Michael Bennet calling her reluctance “not a hard question to answer.” She also defended her 2017 meeting with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and downplayed past comments blaming NATO for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, now acknowledging Putin’s responsibility. Some Republicans, including Sen. Susan Collins, expressed uncertainty about supporting her, while committee chair Sen. Tom Cotton endorsed her nomination. (CNN / Politico / Wall Street Journal / Washington Post / New York Times / NBC News)
5/ Trump promised to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports beginning Feb. 1. He justified his decision, saying: “Number one is the people that have poured into our country so horribly and so much. Number two are the drugs fentanyl and everything else that have come into the country. Number three are the massive subsidies that we’re giving to Canada and to Mexico in the form of deficits.” Trump also suggested the tariffs “may or may not rise with time” and hinted at potential duties on Canadian oil. Canada and Mexico have threatened retaliatory tariffs. Economists warn the tariffs could disrupt key industries like auto manufacturing and energy. (Bloomberg / Wall Street Journal)
6/ The U.S. economy expanded at a 2.3% annual rate in the fourth quarter of 2024 – down from 3.1% in the previous quarter. GDP growth for the year totaled 2.5%, outpacing many global economies but falling short of 2023’s 3.2% rate. Spending on big-ticket items rose over 12%, partly due to concerns over potential tariffs under Trump’s administration. However, business investment declined, and consumer confidence dipped to a four-month low in January. Economists warn that proposed tariffs and policy uncertainty could slow growth in 2025. (NPR / Axios / New York Times / Wall Street Journal)
7/ House Republicans are considering cutting benefits for low-income Americans to offset the cost of Trump-backed tax cuts, which include corporate tax reductions and estate tax repeal for the wealthy. The proposals include slashing Medicaid funding, eliminating the “head of household” tax status for single parents, and removing child care tax credits. The plan also suggests ending income taxes on tips and overtime pay but would eliminate the mortgage interest deduction, which benefits wealthier homeowners. (ProPublica)
8/ Trump directed universities to monitor and report international students involved in pro-Palestinian protests to “prosecute, remove, or otherwise hold to account the perpetrators of unlawful antisemitic harassment and violence.” Trump promised to “cancel the student visas of all Hamas sympathizers on college campuses, which have been infested with radicalism,” and his executive order instructs the State and Education Departments to ensure colleges take action against noncitizens who engage in “unlawful antisemitic harassment and violence.” It also directs the Justice Department to prosecute “terroristic threats, arson, vandalism and violence against American Jews.” (New York Times / Reuters / HuffPost)
The midterm elections are in 642 days.
Notables.
2/ Robert F. Kennedy Jr. refused to disavow the debunked link between vaccines and autism during his second Senate confirmation hearing. Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, a physician and chair of the Senate Health Committee, challenged Kennedy on his history of vaccine skepticism and pressed him to unequivocally state that vaccines do not cause autism. Kennedy refused, saying, “If the data is there,” prompting Cassidy to respond: “I know the data is there.” Kennedy also struggled to answer basic questions about Medicare and Medicaid, misstating key details about both programs. He also mischaracterized Medicaid as fully funded by the federal government, despite states sharing the cost. (Washington Post / New York Times / Associated Press / CNN / ABC News / CNBC)
3/ Trump’s nominee for FBI director denied plans for retribution, downplayed past promotion of conspiracy theories, refused to acknowledge that Biden won the 2020 election, and resisted Democratic efforts to portray him as a political loyalist unfit to lead the bureau. During his Senate confirmation hearing, Kash Patel rejected accusations that he had an “enemies list” of officials to target, denied supporting QAnon conspiracy theories despite past comments, and split from Trump by opposing clemency for Jan. 6 rioters who attacked police officers. He repeatedly refused to directly acknowledge that Biden won the 2020 election and declined to say whether he would resign if given an unconstitutional order by Trump. Patel also refused to say whether he would resign if pressured to drop politically sensitive cases. Republican senators, meanwhile, defended Patel, urging him to “teach” the FBI a lesson for past investigations into Trump. (Politico / New York Times / CNN / ABC News / NBC News / Washington Post)
4/ Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence, faced bipartisan scrutiny in her Senate confirmation hearing, over her refusal to label Edward Snowden a “traitor” and her shifting stance on surveillance laws. Gabbard, who previously called for Snowden’s pardon, repeatedly stated that he “broke the law” but also “exposed egregious, illegal and unconstitutional programs.” Senators from both parties pressed her for a clear condemnation, with Sen. Michael Bennet calling her reluctance “not a hard question to answer.” She also defended her 2017 meeting with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and downplayed past comments blaming NATO for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, now acknowledging Putin’s responsibility. Some Republicans, including Sen. Susan Collins, expressed uncertainty about supporting her, while committee chair Sen. Tom Cotton endorsed her nomination. (CNN / Politico / Wall Street Journal / Washington Post / New York Times / NBC News)
5/ Trump promised to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports beginning Feb. 1. He justified his decision, saying: “Number one is the people that have poured into our country so horribly and so much. Number two are the drugs fentanyl and everything else that have come into the country. Number three are the massive subsidies that we’re giving to Canada and to Mexico in the form of deficits.” Trump also suggested the tariffs “may or may not rise with time” and hinted at potential duties on Canadian oil. Canada and Mexico have threatened retaliatory tariffs. Economists warn the tariffs could disrupt key industries like auto manufacturing and energy. (Bloomberg / Wall Street Journal)
6/ The U.S. economy expanded at a 2.3% annual rate in the fourth quarter of 2024 – down from 3.1% in the previous quarter. GDP growth for the year totaled 2.5%, outpacing many global economies but falling short of 2023’s 3.2% rate. Spending on big-ticket items rose over 12%, partly due to concerns over potential tariffs under Trump’s administration. However, business investment declined, and consumer confidence dipped to a four-month low in January. Economists warn that proposed tariffs and policy uncertainty could slow growth in 2025. (NPR / Axios / New York Times / Wall Street Journal)
7/ House Republicans are considering cutting benefits for low-income Americans to offset the cost of Trump-backed tax cuts, which include corporate tax reductions and estate tax repeal for the wealthy. The proposals include slashing Medicaid funding, eliminating the “head of household” tax status for single parents, and removing child care tax credits. The plan also suggests ending income taxes on tips and overtime pay but would eliminate the mortgage interest deduction, which benefits wealthier homeowners. (ProPublica)
8/ Trump directed universities to monitor and report international students involved in pro-Palestinian protests to “prosecute, remove, or otherwise hold to account the perpetrators of unlawful antisemitic harassment and violence.” Trump promised to “cancel the student visas of all Hamas sympathizers on college campuses, which have been infested with radicalism,” and his executive order instructs the State and Education Departments to ensure colleges take action against noncitizens who engage in “unlawful antisemitic harassment and violence.” It also directs the Justice Department to prosecute “terroristic threats, arson, vandalism and violence against American Jews.” (New York Times / Reuters / HuffPost)
- Trump’s Middle East envoy described Gaza as “uninhabitable” and said rebuilding the region could take 10 to 15 years due to the extent of destruction from Israeli airstrikes and ground operations. (Axios)
The midterm elections are in 642 days.
Notables.- The Defense Intelligence Agency paused observances of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Black History Month, Pride Month, and Holocaust Days of Remembrance in response to Trump’s executive order banning diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. While the pause includes commemorative observances, the memo clarifies that Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth will remain federal holidays. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also ordered the creation of a DEI task force to ensure compliance, stating, “DEI is gone.” (Associated Press / ABC News)
- FCC Chairman Brendan Carr launched an inquiry into whether NPR and PBS stations violated federal rules by recognizing financial sponsors on the air. Carr, a Trump appointee, suggested the findings should influence congressional funding decisions for public broadcasting. (New York Times)
- USDA Inspector General Phyllis Fong was escorted from her office after refusing to accept being fired by the Trump administration. The White House called her a “rogue bureaucrat,” while federal watchdogs argued the dismissals violated the law. Fong had led key investigations, including into Elon Musk’s Neuralink. (USA Today)
- At least five senior FBI officials promoted by former Director Christopher Wray have been demoted or reassigned as part of a broader purge at the Justice Department. The affected officials oversaw cyber, national security, and criminal investigations, though they were not directly involved in Trump-related prosecutions. (CNN)
- The Senate confirmed Lee Zeldin as EPA administrator in a 56-42 vote, putting him in position to carry out Trump’s deregulatory agenda and scale back Biden-era climate policies. Zeldin pledged to uphold the EPA’s mission, but has been tasked with reviewing key environmental regulations, including the 2009 endangerment finding for greenhouse gases and the social cost of carbon metric. (Politico / CBS News / New York Times / Axios)
- Trump and his press secretary falsely claimed the U.S. was sending $50 million in condoms to Gaza. USAID records show no recent shipments of condoms to Gaza, and the International Medical Corps, which received U.S. aid for Gaza, confirmed it didn’t use any funds for contraception. Despite corrections, Trump repeated the claim, using it to justify cuts to aid programs in Gaza. (Washington Post / Rolling Stone / CBS News / Mother Jones)
- A Florida Republican introduced a bill to add Trump’s face to Mount Rushmore, calling it a tribute to his “remarkable accomplishments.” Trump has joked about the idea before, and Fox News commentators voiced support, but the bill has little chance of passing. (HuffPost)
figmentPez
Staff member
Right wingers are falsely claiming that the helicopter pilot in the recent mid-air crash was a transgender woman who crashed on purpose as an act of terrorism.
This doesn't seem like it would be possible, since the pilot would have to have been surrounded by at least three good guys with guns.
--Patrick
Looks like he delays it to march 1.
Or as my wife attempted to explain it to our son yesterday--he used to like to talk about how much money he had not because he liked money, but because of the power that wealth gave him. Now he holds a position of power, irrespective of personal wealth, and he no longer talks about his wealth...because he does not care about having wealth, he cares about having power.
--Patrick
--Patrick
Exclusive: Musk aides lock government workers out of computer systems at US agency, sources say
Alternate headline:
America hit with Nazi cyberterrorist attack.
Alternate headline:
America hit with Nazi cyberterrorist attack.
I'm not gonna lie to you folks, if some 19 year old came bursting into my office and demanded I justify my job to him (apparently one of the people from Musk was a recent high school graduate) I'd probably laugh and then when I realized he was serious, I would physically begin removing them. Very physically.
So taxpayer money gets directed to fired employees while the billionaires end up in control of everything. Do you think any of them are bothered by that outcome?
GasBandit
Staff member
1/ Trump’s Justice Department fired dozens of federal prosecutors and FBI officials involved in the Jan. 6 investigations, initiating a broad review of thousands of agents and staff who worked on cases related to Trump and the Capitol riot he inspired. More than 30 federal prosecutors were dismissed from the D.C. U.S. Attorney’s Office, and at least eight senior FBI executives were fired or pressured to retire. Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove accused the Biden administration of improperly hiring these officials and cited Trump’s executive order to “end the weaponization” of law enforcement. FBI officials were ordered to provide a list of all employees involved in Trump-related investigations. The FBI Agents Association warned that these removals could “severely weaken” the bureau’s ability to address national security threats. Trump denied direct involvement but said, “If they fired some people over there, that’s a good thing.” (Washington Post / Bloomberg / New York Times / NBC News / CNN / Washington Post / Politico / New York Times)
2/ Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker blocked Jan. 6 rioters from state jobs, rejecting Trump’s pardons and calling their actions “infamous and disgraceful.” The move, likely to face legal challenges, is the first direct state opposition to Trump’s executive orders. (NBC News)
3/ The Trump administration ordered the removal of HIV, LGBTQ+, and gender identity-related data from the CDC website. A Jan. 29 memo directed federal agencies to scrub references to “gender ideology,” replace “gender” with “sex,” and take down all outward-facing content promoting DEI initiatives. The CDC removed multiple webpages, including HIV data, resources for at-risk populations, and the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, which tracks health behaviors among teenagers. Scientists, researchers, and public health officials warned that the purge could severely impact disease tracking, HIV prevention, and outreach efforts for marginalized communities. The administration also paused external communications from federal health agencies, limiting transparency about the scope of the removals. Other agencies, including the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Health and Human Services, also deleted webpages containing information on minority health and reproductive rights. The administration also order the U.S. Department of Agriculture and EPA to remove references to climate science and sustainability initiatives. (NBC News / The Atlantic / STAT News / NPR / CNN / Washington Post / Politico / CBS News / The Verge / Gizmodo / Axios)
5/ Trump announced 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10% tariffs on Chinese goods starting Saturday. Canada, Mexico, and China vowed to retaliate, with Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau calling the tariffs “disastrous.” Economists estimate that the tariffs could shrink U.S. economic output and cost American households an average of $830 annually. (Associated Press / CNBC / Axios)
6/ The Trump administration emailed air traffic controllers urging them to quit their jobs a day after a deadly plane crash in D.C. Trump defended the move, blaming diversity hiring for the Army helicopter and American Airlines jet colliding and killing 67 people. The majority of U.S. air traffic control facilities are understaffed, with 285 out of 313 operating below recommended levels. Some locations, including major hubs in New York, are missing nearly 40% of their workforce. (Daily Beast / New York Times / Associated Press)
7/ Trump ordered the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to release large amounts of water from two California dams, citing the need for firefighting resources. Local water managers were given an hour’s notice and warned of potential flooding. Experts questioned the administration’s reasoning, noting that transporting the water to Los Angeles would be nearly impossible and that local reservoirs were already full. Sen. Alex Padilla called the lack of coordination “recklessly endanger[ed] residents downstream.” (Los Angeles Times / SJV Water / Politico)
8/ A Louisiana grand jury indicted a New York doctor for prescribing abortion pills to a minor – the first known criminal case against an out-of-state abortion provider since Roe v. Wade fell. Louisiana issued a warrant, but New York state vowed to block extradition. (Associated Press / New York Times / Washington Post / WAFB)
9/ A federal judge blocked Trump’s attempt to freeze federal aid, ruling that the policy likely violates the Constitution and that the administration’s rescission of the freeze was “in name-only.” The ruling followed lawsuits from 22 states arguing that the freeze violated the separation of powers since only Congress controls federal spending. Although the administration had withdrawn the memo ordering the freeze, McConnell ruled that the policy remained in effect based on a statement from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who said the funding freeze was still being enforced. The judge also cited the 1974 Impoundment Control Act, which bars presidents from unilaterally withholding funds approved by Congress. The ruling expands on an earlier decision by another judge who had temporarily blocked the freeze earlier in the week. (NBC News / Reuters / Politico)
10/ Paramount is in talks with Trump to settle his $10 billion lawsuit against CBS, which accused “60 Minutes” of deceptive editing. The FCC, now led by a Trump appointee, has requested CBS hand over unedited transcripts of the interview. (New York Times / CNN)
2/ Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker blocked Jan. 6 rioters from state jobs, rejecting Trump’s pardons and calling their actions “infamous and disgraceful.” The move, likely to face legal challenges, is the first direct state opposition to Trump’s executive orders. (NBC News)
3/ The Trump administration ordered the removal of HIV, LGBTQ+, and gender identity-related data from the CDC website. A Jan. 29 memo directed federal agencies to scrub references to “gender ideology,” replace “gender” with “sex,” and take down all outward-facing content promoting DEI initiatives. The CDC removed multiple webpages, including HIV data, resources for at-risk populations, and the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, which tracks health behaviors among teenagers. Scientists, researchers, and public health officials warned that the purge could severely impact disease tracking, HIV prevention, and outreach efforts for marginalized communities. The administration also paused external communications from federal health agencies, limiting transparency about the scope of the removals. Other agencies, including the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Health and Human Services, also deleted webpages containing information on minority health and reproductive rights. The administration also order the U.S. Department of Agriculture and EPA to remove references to climate science and sustainability initiatives. (NBC News / The Atlantic / STAT News / NPR / CNN / Washington Post / Politico / CBS News / The Verge / Gizmodo / Axios)
- The Trump administration ordered employees to remove pronouns from email signatures and scrub gender identity references from official materials to comply with Trump’s executive order against “gender ideology.” (ABC News / New York Times / USA Today)
5/ Trump announced 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10% tariffs on Chinese goods starting Saturday. Canada, Mexico, and China vowed to retaliate, with Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau calling the tariffs “disastrous.” Economists estimate that the tariffs could shrink U.S. economic output and cost American households an average of $830 annually. (Associated Press / CNBC / Axios)
6/ The Trump administration emailed air traffic controllers urging them to quit their jobs a day after a deadly plane crash in D.C. Trump defended the move, blaming diversity hiring for the Army helicopter and American Airlines jet colliding and killing 67 people. The majority of U.S. air traffic control facilities are understaffed, with 285 out of 313 operating below recommended levels. Some locations, including major hubs in New York, are missing nearly 40% of their workforce. (Daily Beast / New York Times / Associated Press)
7/ Trump ordered the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to release large amounts of water from two California dams, citing the need for firefighting resources. Local water managers were given an hour’s notice and warned of potential flooding. Experts questioned the administration’s reasoning, noting that transporting the water to Los Angeles would be nearly impossible and that local reservoirs were already full. Sen. Alex Padilla called the lack of coordination “recklessly endanger[ed] residents downstream.” (Los Angeles Times / SJV Water / Politico)
8/ A Louisiana grand jury indicted a New York doctor for prescribing abortion pills to a minor – the first known criminal case against an out-of-state abortion provider since Roe v. Wade fell. Louisiana issued a warrant, but New York state vowed to block extradition. (Associated Press / New York Times / Washington Post / WAFB)
9/ A federal judge blocked Trump’s attempt to freeze federal aid, ruling that the policy likely violates the Constitution and that the administration’s rescission of the freeze was “in name-only.” The ruling followed lawsuits from 22 states arguing that the freeze violated the separation of powers since only Congress controls federal spending. Although the administration had withdrawn the memo ordering the freeze, McConnell ruled that the policy remained in effect based on a statement from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who said the funding freeze was still being enforced. The judge also cited the 1974 Impoundment Control Act, which bars presidents from unilaterally withholding funds approved by Congress. The ruling expands on an earlier decision by another judge who had temporarily blocked the freeze earlier in the week. (NBC News / Reuters / Politico)
10/ Paramount is in talks with Trump to settle his $10 billion lawsuit against CBS, which accused “60 Minutes” of deceptive editing. The FCC, now led by a Trump appointee, has requested CBS hand over unedited transcripts of the interview. (New York Times / CNN)
The east roman empire might count. Still...
Well, i don't remember the germans circa 1920's - early '30s cheering on someone who murdered a rich guy, so maybe the economy isn't that great for poor people nowadays either, albeit for different reasons.
Now the americans voting for the people who mostly caused the current situation because the other side didn't do enough to correct that...
I mean, the whole roman empire splitting itself in 2 because they couldn't stop killing each other over who's in charge kind of beats that, and even is likely the reason why the eastern part was like that in the 1st place.
Forcing people wanting information from a government body to go through a privately owned service feels like it should be a huge conflict of... oh, sorry, I forgot no one cares and nothing matters.
CDC orders mass retraction and revision of submitted research across all science and medicine journals. Banned terms must be scrubbed.
This is the digital equivalent of book burnings.
insidemedicine.substack.com
This is the digital equivalent of book burnings.
BREAKING NEWS: CDC orders mass retraction and revision of submitted research across all science and medicine journals. Banned terms must be scrubbed.
Any unpublished manuscript mentioning certain topics, including gender and "LGBT," must be pulled or revised.
insidemedicine.substack.com
changed that. not fixed, sigh, there's no fixing right now. but
My wife's comment on this: "Jesus was also a fuck of a lot closer to the Equator than anyone who would be getting their electricity from Canada."
--Patrick
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