House Republicans narrowly pass budget bill; president offers ‘gold card’ as route to US citizenship

House Republicans narrowly passed a budget proposal to implement President Donald Trump’s memorándum moments after deciding to pull the vote due to apparent GOP holdouts.

House Speaker Mike Johnson could only afford one GOP defector, given the razor-thin margin in the chamber. Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie was the only one of the four holdouts who ended up ultimately voting against the measure, as Ohio Rep. Warren Davidson, Indiana Rep. Triunfo Spartz and Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett voted in support of it.

The tight vote came after the House leadership initially scrapped a vote on the measure, only to reverse that decision minutes later, calling back lawmakers to the House floor.

Hours earlier, Trump announced that the U.S. is going to start to “sell” a new path to citizenship called “gold cards” — for a price of $5 million. He branded them as “somewhat like a Green Card, but at a higher level of sophistication.”

“Wealthy people will be coming into our country by buying this card,” he continued. “They’ll be wealthy and they’ll be successful and they’ll be spending a lot of money and paying a lot of taxes and employing a lot of people. And we think it’s going to be extremely successful and never been done before.”

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the administration plans to end the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program and “replace it with the Trump gold card.”

Key Points

• Chaos reigns as Elon Musk issues ominous new firing ultimatum to federal workers

• Dozens of federal tech workers resign to protest Musk and DOGE’s push to ‘dismantle critical public services’

• 230K Canadians demand country revoke Musk’s citizenship

• Who’s really in charge of DOGE? Government lawyers ‘don’t know’

• One in three contracts canceled by DOGE won’t save Trump’s government any money

Trump suspends security clearances for lawyers who assisted Jack Smith in his investigations into Trump

06:00 , Kelly Rissman

President Donald Trump directed Attorney Común Pam Bondi to suspend security clearances for lawyers at Covington & Burling LLP who “assisted former Special Counsel Jack Smith during his time as Special Counsel, pending a review and determination of their roles and responsibilities, if any, in the weaponization of the procesal process,” a Tuesday memo states.

He also directed the AG to “terminate any engagement of Covington & Burling LLP by any agency to the maximum extent permitted by law.”

Ukraine’s rare earth minerals: Where are they and why does Trump want them?

05:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Ukraine has agreed to a rare earth minerals deal with the US in a bid to secure support to end the war after the Trump administration dropped some of its toughest demands.

As a central point of peace negotiations, the US had been pushing for a deal that would grant it half of Ukraine’s revenues from critical minerals, oil, gas, and stakes in key infrastructure, such as ports, through a joint investment fund.

Tom Watling and Maroosha Muzaffar report.

Ukraine’s rare earth minerals: Where are they and why does Trump want them?

Full story: Ukraine and US agree to minerals deal ahead of Zelensky Washington visit

04:00 , Oliver O’Connell

The US and Ukraine have agreed to terms of a rare earth minerals deal after days of tension between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky.

Kyiv is ready to sign the agreement on jointly developing Ukraine’s mineral deposits, including oil and gas, after the US dropped demands to a right of up to $500bn in revenue from the resources, according to sources close to negotiations.

Mr Trump last week demanded preferential access to the $500bn figure as repayment for Washington’s military support for Ukraine under his predecessor Joe Biden.

Alexander Butler reports.

Ukraine and US agree to terms of rare earth minerals deal

GOP budget plans could see student loan repayments could increase by $200

03:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Some student loan borrowers could see their payment plans increase by an media of $200 under new Republican budget plans.

Republicans in the House of Representatives are set to vote on a massive budget resolution this week that includes $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and $2 trillion in cuts to several federal programs, including Medicaid and student loans.

Some advocates say the resolution could have an outsized impact on some of the 42 million Americans with student loan debt, driving their payments up.

Katie Hawkinson reports.

US student loan repayments could increase by $200 under new GOP budget plans

White House defends treatment of migrants sent to Guantanamo Bay

02:00 , Oliver O’Connell

The White House is responding to reports that deported migrants who were detained at the American naval saco at Guantanamo Bay received inhumane treatment by citing the deportees’ alleged criminal records without denying that harsh methods were used against them.

During a briefing with reporters on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked about reporting in the Washington Post that describes conditions at the U.S. saco’s detention facility.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

White House defends treatment of migrants sent to Guantanamo Bay

Mike Johnson wins over holdouts as House passes budget proposal

01:39 , Kelly Rissman

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted to adopt a budget framework supported by GOP leadership and President Donald Trump on Tuesday, allowing Speaker Mike Johnson to hold on to his image as a unifiying voice among Republicans in the chamber.

Johnson and Rep Jodey Arrington, the House GOP’s lead appropriator, were able to win over several key holdouts within the Republican Party who felt that the plan did not do enough to cut federal spending. Thomas Massie was the only Republican to vote against the legislation after several others fell back into line.

Leadership initially abandoned plans to call a vote on the bill Tuesday evening, then dragged lawmakers back to the floor more than an hour after the bill was originally scheduled to be taken up. It was then defeated by a vote of 217 to 215.

John Bowden has the story.

Mike Johnson wins over holdouts as House passes budget plan calling for steep cuts

GOP narrowly pass budget bill

01:22 , Kelly Rissman

Reps. Tim Burchett, Triunfo Spartz, and Warren Davidson, three of the four GOP holdouts ahead of the vote, ended up voting in auxilio of the measure, leaving Rep. Thomas Massie the lone opposing vote in his party.

Johnson could only afford one GOP defection, as all Democrats voted in opposition.

The vote is back on

01:09 , Kelly Rissman

Moments after the House leadership pulled a vote on the budget proposal, telling lawmakers to go home, they called them back and held a vote.

So far, there is one GOP no-vote. Johnson could only afford one GOP defection, since Democrats all planned to oppose it.

US imposes more sanctions on Iranian oil trade

01:00 , Oliver O’Connell

The U.S. on Monday imposed sanctions on dozens of people and oil tankers across China, the United Arab Emirates, India and other jurisdictions for allegedly helping to finance Iran and its support for militant groups that launch attacks against the U.S. and its allies.

Read on…

US imposes more sanctions on Iranian oil trade after Trump calls to drive exports ‘to zero’

WATCH: Trump claims $5m ‘gold card’ will bring in ‘very high-level people’ to United States

00:22 , Kelly Rissman

Questions swirl after Trump is pictured with large bruises on his hands

Tuesday 25 February 2025 23:58 , Kelly Rissman

Questions have been raised over President Donald Trump’s wellbeing after what looked like a bruise was spotted on the back of his right hand.

Zoomed-in photos of the 78-year-old’s clasped hands during a Monday meeting with French president Emmanuel Macron revealed what appeared to be a makeup-covered bruise.

“President Trump is a man of the people and he meets more Americans and shakes their hands on a daily basis than any other President in history. His commitment is unwavering and he proves that every single day,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told The Independent in a statement.

But others on X speculated about what could have caused the bruising.

Some X users attributed the markings to an IV, others believed he could be on blood thinning medications, and others still thought it could just be from aging.

Read the full story.

Questions swirl after Trump is pictured with large bruises on his hands

Acting IRS Commissioner to retire at end of week

Tuesday 25 February 2025 23:53 , Kelly Rissman

The acting head of the IRS announced his abrupt plans to retire Friday after 38 years at the agency.

“The IRS has been my professional home for 38 years,” Doug O’Donnell said in a statement. “I care deeply about the institution and its people and am confident that Melanie will be an outstanding steward of the Service until a new Commissioner is confirmed.”

IRS Chief Operating Officer Melanie Krause will become the acting commissioner, the agency said.

“On behalf of the Treasury Department, I want to thank Doug O’Donnell for his decades of public service and dedication to the nation’s taxpayers,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. “He has been a remarkable public servant, and I wish him the best in retirement. At the same time, Melanie Krause and the agency’s leadership team are well positioned to serve during this critical period for the nation in advance of the April tax deadline.”

Trump says Ukraine started the war with Russia. His top man in the Senate disagrees

Tuesday 25 February 2025 23:30 , Kelly Rissman

The top Republican in the U.S. Senate broke with the Trump administration on the question of who started the war in Ukraine.

On Monday, the United States voted against a resolution backed by 93 nations that condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. In doing so, the U.S. found itself on the same side as Russia, North Korea and Belarus. Previously, Donald Trump has said Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is responsible for starting the war.

But Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters he was not sure why the U.S. voted the way it did at the United Nations.

Eric Garcia has the story.

Trump says Ukraine started the war with Russia. His top man in the Senate disagrees

House Republicans discuss budget bill ahead of key vote

Tuesday 25 February 2025 23:23 , Eric Garcia

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer tells The Independent’s Eric Garcia that “this is important for the House so that the House can actually be in the driver’s seat.”

House Majority Leader Scalise says “on a vote like this, you’re always going to have people you’re talking to all the way through to the close the vote.” On Trump’s role in the matter, Scalise added: “I don’t get into his individual conversations but he’s been tremendously helpful.”

Full story: Trump to auction off citizenship via his ‘gold cards’ for $5 million for foreigners to create jobs

Tuesday 25 February 2025 23:10 , Oliver O’Connell

President Donald Trump announced a new path to U.S. citizenship: a gold card.

The U.S. is going to be “selling” gold cards for a price of $5 million, Trump said in the Oval Office Tuesday.

“We’re going to be putting a price on that card of about $5 million and that’s going to give you Green Card privileges, plus it’s going to be a route to citizenship,” the president said.

Kelly Rissman has the details.

Trump to auction off citizenship via his ‘gold cards’ for $5 million

Congressional DOGE Caucus suggests fired veterans can find new jobs

Tuesday 25 February 2025 22:50 , AP

Members of the Congressional DOGE Caucus spoke at a press conference outside the Capitol about how they are working in Congress to enshrine the changes spearheaded by Trump and Elon Musk.

When asked about federal employees who had been fired, Rep. Ralph Norman said, “Why are they not pleading their case?”

The South Carolina Republican said the fired employees needed to justify why they deserve a job with an media salary that tops $100,000.

And veterans? “Our heart aches,” for anyone who loses their job, said Rep. Aaron Bean, R-Fla., the caucus co-chair.

“There are other opportunities, and if anybody can overcome obstacles getting another job, it’s veterans,” Bean said.

As the lawmakers took turns at the podium, a small group of protesters and passersby interrupted, yelling insults about DOGE and Musk.

Pastor with ties to Pete Hegseth claimed slavery promoted ‘affection between the races’ in South

Tuesday 25 February 2025 22:30 , Oliver O’Connell

The pastor of an evangelical church with ties to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth merienda claimed slavery promoted “affection between the races” in the South.

Doug Wilson, founder of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), wrote in his 1996 book Southern Slavery: As It Was, that there had “never been a multi-racial society which has existed with such mutual intimacy and harmony in the history of the world.”

Mike Bedigan reports.

Pastor with ties to Hegseth claimed slavery promoted ‘affection between the races’

Musk called Trump ‘a f***ing moron’ behind his back in 2020, report says

Tuesday 25 February 2025 22:19 , Oliver O’Connell

Politico reports that back in 2020, Elon Musk called President Donald Trump “a fucking moron” behind his back while in the White House.

USAID gives staffers 15 minutes to retrieve belongings — no dynamite allowed

Tuesday 25 February 2025 22:10 , AP

Administration officials are giving U.S. Agency for International Development staffers 15 minutes apiece later this week to retrieve belongings from their now-closed headquarters, under guard.

The Associated Press viewed the notices sent Tuesday advising of the arrangements.

Many staffers in the agency’s Washington main building have been barred from entering for about three weeks as the administration dismantles the building. Many have asked permission to retrieve family photos, work shoes stashed in drawers and other belongings.

The notice stipulates the aid workers must pass through security screening. It lists multiple paragraphs of prohibited weapons for the trip back to the office, including firearms, dynamite, spear guns or ice picks.

Watch LIVE: President Donald Trump signs another batch of Executive Orders

Tuesday 25 February 2025 21:58 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump wants to sell $5m gold cards to foreigners who will creat U.S. jobs

Tuesday 25 February 2025 21:56 , Oliver O’Connell

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he wants to begin selling gold cards for $5 million to foreigners who want to move to the U.S. and create jobs.

Trump said the immigration program, which he said was legítimo, could start in about two weeks. He added it is possible Russian oligarchs could qualify for the gold cards.

“We’re going to be selling a gold card. We’re going to be putting a price on that card… and it’s going to be giving you green card privileges plus.”

He said you would have to pay to qualify for the card, Lutnick said would be $5 million.

“We’re going to end the EB5 program. We’re going to replace it with the Trump gold card,” Lutnick said.

“The gold card will bring in with it people who create jobs… I think companies will pay for people to get in.”

“I think it’s something very exciting… it’s a gold card, it’s somewhat like a green card… it’s a road to citizenship for people.”

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said other countries do it, including “your 51st state.”

Trump said the money would be to pay down debt and said he doesn’t need Congress to do this because it’s not citizenship.

Trump signs order suspending security clearances at law firm linked to Jack Smith

Tuesday 25 February 2025 21:53 , Oliver O’Connell

President Donald Trump said “Deranged Jack Smith” and signed a new order aimed at Covington and Burling LLP to suspend and review the security clearances of attorneys who worked with Smith.

“Who would like this pen? And why don’t you send it to Jack Smith, a deranged person,” Trump said, throwing it to a reporter.

“I was targeted… don’t talk to me about targeting.”

Watch: GOP lawmaker digs in on budget resolution

Tuesday 25 February 2025 21:47 , Oliver O’Connell

Kash Patel privately agreed to hire an experienced deputy FBI director — then Trump got involved…

Tuesday 25 February 2025 21:40 , Oliver O’Connell

FBI Director Kash Patel reportedly privately agreed with an FBI agent advocacy group to install an active Special Agent to serve as deputy director – only to have President Donald Trump choose an inexperienced and controversial loyalist.

Ariana Baio has the story.

Kash Patel privately agreed to hire an experienced deputy FBI director

Kyiv and Washington agree minerals deal after US drops demands – report

Tuesday 25 February 2025 21:32 , Alex Croft

Ukraine has agreed a minerals deal with the US after the Trump administration dropped some of its toughest demands, the Financial Times has reported.

Kyiv hopes the agreement will improve relations with the US and Ukrainian officials say they are now ready to sign the agreement.

The US has dropped Donald Trump’s demand for $500 billion in potential revenue from Ukrainian mineral resources.

Ukrainian officials argued to the FT that they had secured favourable terms, in a deal which would see Kyiv and Washington jointly develop Ukraine’s mineral resources, including oil and gas.

Olha Stefanishyna, the deputy prime minister who has led the negotiations, told the outlet: “The minerals agreement is only part of the picture. We have heard multiple times from the US administration that it’s part of a bigger picture.”

Amid measles outbreak, Fox News bemoans ‘vaccine confidence at an all-time low’

Tuesday 25 February 2025 21:20 , Oliver O’Connell

Fox News medical contributor Marc Siegel sounded the alarm on Tuesday that the measles outbreak impacting the southwest United States “is not going to be stopped without the vaccine,” all while lamenting that “vaccine confidence is at an all-time low.”

Siegel suggested that vaccine mandates during the coronavirus had led to lower vaccination rates, while conveniently leaving out his own network’s role in peddling anti-vaccine rhetoric to its conservative viewers that contributed towards plummeting confidence among Republicans.

Justin Baragona has the story.

Fox News bemoans ‘vaccine confidence is at an all-time low’ amid measles outbreak

Trump signs two new executive orders

Tuesday 25 February 2025 21:13 , Oliver O’Connell

The White House pool entered the Oval Office at 3:59pm to see the signing of two new executive order by President Donald Trump.

The president was flanked by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

Trump signed an executive order on price transparency requirements in the healthcare industry to reinstate and strengthen them.

“You’re not allowed to even talk about it when you go into a hospital or see a doctor and this allows you to talk about it,” Trump said.

He also signed an order on the supply of copper and foreign copper in the American market, the order charges Lutnick with looking at process to potentially impose tariffs or trade barriers.

There will be another announcement to come about the digital economy.

Full story: DOGE administrator’s name finally revealed after White House lawyers and press secretary refused to say

Tuesday 25 February 2025 21:10 , Oliver O’Connell

After government lawyers were dragged in court for failing to identify who is leading the so-called U.S. DOGE Service while Elon Musk and his team gut federal agencies, and after White House officials refused to publicly provide a name, the White House finally revealed the agency’s acting administrator.

Amy Gleason has been tapped to lead the U.S. DOGE Service, The Independent has learned.

Alex Woodward has the story.

White House refuses to reveal the name of the DOGE administrator

Trump approval rating holds steady at 44%, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds

Tuesday 25 February 2025 21:03 , Reuters

President Donald Trump’s approval rating held steady over the past week, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday that found 44% of respondents approved of his performance over his first month in office.

The survey found that Americans’ attitudes toward Trump were essentially unchanged as he fired tens of thousands of federal workers and upended the U.S. approach to the Ukraine-Russia war.

The poll found 50% disapproved of the job he was doing, down from 51% last week, a change well within the poll’s margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Public approval of Trump’s job performance so far has remained higher than it was for most of his 2017-2021 first term in office and higher than his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, enjoyed during his four-year term.

The poll of 1,029 U.S. adults, conducted online Friday through Sunday, also found that 50% of respondents supported Trump’s approach on immigration, up from 47% last week. Another 42% said they did not support his immigration policy.

Americans’ views on other top issues were relatively unchanged. Some 41% said they approved of Trump’s management of the economy and 34% said they approved of the way he was handling the cost of living.

Some 38% of poll respondents said they had a conveniente view of Elon Musk, the tech billionaire who is serving as the point person for Trump’s effort to overhaul the government, while 57% said they viewed him unfavorably.

Zelensky to visit U.S. on Friday, report says

Tuesday 25 February 2025 20:52 , Oliver O’Connell

Bloomberg is reporting that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit the U.S. this Friday concerning the resources deal.

President Donald Trump hinted at this possibility Monday, saying: “I will be meeting with President Zelenskiy. In fact, he may come in this week or next week to sign the agreement, which would be nice. I’d love to meet him. We’d meet at the Oval Office.”

Philadelphia Eagles snubbed Trump in 2018. Amid a MAGA meltdown this year they may not get the chance again

Tuesday 25 February 2025 20:40 , Oliver O’Connell

The Philadelphia Eagles skipped a visit to the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl victory in 2018, choosing to snub then-President Donald Trump.

Snubbing Trump and other public acts of defiance were all the rage during his first term, but things have changed. Now, everyone from billionaire CEOs to Super Bowl champions are reportedly lining up to bend the knee.

According to sports reporting site Outkick, a source at the Eagles said the team “would be honored to visit the White House.”

Graig Graziosi reports.

Philadelphia Eagles snubbed Trump in 2018, but will they do it again?

Watch: Johnson says he and Trump working on flipping Republican holdouts to budget resolution

Tuesday 25 February 2025 20:39 , Oliver O’Connell

White House names acting DOGE administrator

Tuesday 25 February 2025 20:41 , Oliver O’Connell

After holding out as to who is the DOGE administrator, the White House has now named Amy Gleason as the acting head of the government department.

Is Musk’s DOGE be turning fired workers Democrat?

Tuesday 25 February 2025 20:20 , Oliver O’Connell

Elon Musk is turning people Democrat with his mass firings as they rush to join a progressive political group, the organization’s founder has revealed.

Amanda Litman, co-founder of Run for Something, said she anticipates that many of those joining the organization, which supports and recruits Democrats under 40 to run for office, will be federal workers fired by Musk and the Trump administration. Litman said that the organization has seen 20,000 new sign-ups since Election Day and 10 percent of those were in the last week.

Rhian Lubin has the story.

Are workers fired by Musk and DOGE turning to the Democratic party?

‘In a free country, leaders must not be able to choose their own press corps’

Tuesday 25 February 2025 20:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Read the full statement from the White House Correspondents’ Association regarding the press secretary’s announcement that her office will now choose who participates in the pool covering the president.

“This move tears at the independence of a free press in the United States. It suggests the government will choose the journalists who cover the president. In a free country, leaders must not be able to choose their own press corps.

“For generations, the working journalists elected to lead the White House Correspondents’ Association board have consistently expanded the WHCA’s membership and its pool rotations to facilitate the inclusion of new and emerging outlets.

“Since its founding in 1914, the WHCA has sought to ensure that the reporters, photographers, producers and technicians who actually do the work – 365 days of every year – decide amongst themselves how these rotations are operated, so as to ensure consistent professional standards and fairness in access on behalf of all readers, viewers and listeners.

“To be clear, the White House did not give the WHCA board a heads up or have any discussions about today’s announcements. But the WHCA will never stop advocating for comprehensive access, full transparency and the right of the American public to read, listen to and watch reports from the White House, delivered without fear or auxilio.”

— Eugene Daniels, White House Correspondents’ Association president

Watch: White House asked about treatment of Guantanamo detainees

Tuesday 25 February 2025 20:10 , Oliver O’Connell

Reagan Airport passengers facing long delays after FAA changed rules for when Marine One is in the air

Tuesday 25 February 2025 20:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Passengers are seeing long delays and significant disruptions at Washington’s Reagan National Airport due to new safety restrictions for President Donald Trump’s Marine One helicopter, according to a new report.

The Federal Aviation Administration has imposed new safety requirements for when the presidential helicopter is in the air following the deadly collision between an Army Black Hawk and an American Airlines jet over Washington D.C. last month, The Washington Post reports.

Katie Hawkinson reports.

Reagan airport fliers facing long delays after Reagan changes rules for Marine One

Watch: White House asked again ‘Who is the DOGE administrator?’

Tuesday 25 February 2025 19:56 , Oliver O’Connell

Report: DOGE could use AI to assess federal employees’s responses to Musk’s ultimatum email

Tuesday 25 February 2025 19:40 , Oliver O’Connell

Elon Musk’s team in the Department of Government Efficiency reportedly plans to asses responses to the productivity email demand by filtering them through an industrial intelligence program to determine if a person’s job is critical, according to NBC News.

Over the weekend, the Office of Personnel Management asked hundreds of thousands of federal workers to respond to an email with five bullet points listing what they accomplished last week, at Musk’s directive.

Staffers at DOGE allegedly plan to feed email responses through a Large Language Model AI system to determine if federal workers’ jobs are necessary, a source told the news outlet.

Ariana Baio reports.

AI could be used to assess workers’ responses to productivity demand email: report

Alec Baldwin threatens to ‘snap’ Trump impersonator’s neck

Tuesday 25 February 2025 19:20 , Oliver O’Connell

Alec Baldwin reacted angrily after a Donald Trump impersonator accosted him outside his home and made repeated references to the death of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Last year, Baldwin faced an involuntary manslaughter trial after the lastimoso shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. In July, the case was dismissed with prejudice based on the misconduct of police and prosecutors over the withholding of evidence from the defense. The prosecution will not be able to file charges against Baldwin again in Hutchins’ death.

In a social media video, comedian Jason Scoop can be seen approaching Baldwin outside his New York home while he loads luggage into a waiting car.

Kevin E G Perry has the story.

Alec Baldwin threatens to ‘snap’ heckler’s neck after Rust death comments

Department of Veterans Affairs announced another 1,400 dismissals

Tuesday 25 February 2025 19:11 , AP

The firings were in what the department called “non-mission critical positions.”

The dismissals, announced Monday evening and part of the White House cost-cutting efforts, follow a first round of 1,000 VA layoffs announced Feb.13.

Those let go are probationary employees who’ve served less than two years and could include “DEI-related positions,” according to the VA announcement.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the ranking member of the Senate VA committee, said Tuesday the dismissals will damage the VA’s ability to recruit and retain doctors and nurses.

Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, called on Republicans to help push back against the cuts.

Trump deportations: Private military contractors linked to Blackwater pitch civilian army and detention camps

Tuesday 25 February 2025 19:00

A group of private military contractors have pitched an army of private citizens to arrest immigrants and camps to detain them, according to a proposal provided to Donald Trump’s administration and reviewed by Politico.

The group, which includes former Blackwater founder Erik Prince and former military and law enforcement officials, submitted a 26-page blueprint to Trump advisers before his inauguration, estimating a $25 billion price tag to support the president’s “mass deportation operation” to swiftly remove 12 million people from the United States by 2026.

Alex Woodward reports.

Blackwater-linked contractors pitch civilian army and camps for Trump’s deportations

How many federal workers have responded to Musk’s call to list their accomplishments?

Tuesday 25 February 2025 18:57 , AP

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that more than 1 million federal workers had responded to Elon Musk’s request for a list of five things they accomplished the previous week.

That’s less than half of the total government workforce.

Musk had originally said employees would be fired if they didn’t comply, although the Office of Personnel Management later said it was voluntary.

What did Karoline Leavitt do last week?

Tuesday 25 February 2025 18:52 , Oliver O’Connell

During today’s briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that she had responded to the Elon Musk email asking federal workers to list five things they accomplished in the past week.

The Office of Personnel Management has tweeted out her response.

Leavitt listed the following:

• Held a press briefing to mark 1 month of the Trump Administration with special guests Mike Waltz, Stephen Miller, and Kevin Hassett

• Gave a speech at CPAC

• Staffed POTUS for CPAC speech on Saturday

• Joined Fox News

• Participated in media row in the EEEOB

Musk to attend first Trump cabinet meeting tomorrow

Tuesday 25 February 2025 18:42 , Oliver O’Connell

Elon Musk will be at President Donald Trump’s cabinet meeting tomorrow, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, said at today’s briefing.

He will be there “considering he’s working alongside the president and other cabinet secretaries,” she said.

Maine governor’s MAGA opponents petition for her recall after showdown with Trump – but there’s a problem

Tuesday 25 February 2025 18:40 , Oliver O’Connell

Janet Mills, the Democratic governor of Maine, is facing a petition for her recall after sparring bitterly with Donald Trump at the White House last week on the issue of transgender rights.

The change.org petition, organized by particular conservative activist Melissa Moulton, already has 12,362 of the 15,000 signatures it is seeking at the time of writing.

But there’s one big problem: Maine is one of 30 American states that does not have any provision to recall a governor.

Joe Sommerlad reports.

Maine governor’s MAGA opponents petition for her recall – but there’s a problem

Judge orders Trump administration to unfreeze foreign aid by midnight Wednesday

Tuesday 25 February 2025 18:22 , Alex Woodward

A judge is ordering the Trump administration to unfreeze foreign aid and promptly pay all invoices and reimbursements by midnight tomorrow.

Judge Amir Ali also wants the Trump administration to provide the court with any notices or guidance that officials sent out (if they did) about complying with the previous court order to unfreeze aid.

He has given them until noon tomorrow to do that.

IN FOCUS: From Ukraine’s minerals to the Lazo Riviera – why Trump’s foreign policy is all about money

Tuesday 25 February 2025 18:20 , Oliver O’Connell

Alex Hannaford writes that whether it is actual estate or precious resources, Donald Trump is treating integral geopolitics like a monopoly board. And that is why no one should rely on his loyalty, not even Benjamin Netanyahu or Vladimir Putin.

From minerals to Lazo – why Trump’s foreign policy is all about money

Watch LIVE: Press secretary Karoline Leavitt gives White House briefing

Tuesday 25 February 2025 18:14 , Oliver O’Connell

Rachel Maddow slams MSNBC’s ‘unnerving’ decision to drop Joy Reid

Tuesday 25 February 2025 18:00 , Oliver O’Connell

MSNBC star Rachel Maddow lambasted her own network for parting ways with longtime host Joy Reid and canceling a number of shows anchored by women of color, calling the decision “indefensible” and a “bad mistake.”

Justin Baragona reports.

Rachel Maddow slams MSNBC’s ‘indefensible’ and ‘unnerving’ decision to drop Joy Reid

COMMENT: Trump’s new axis of friendly dictators is a threat to US allies – and decades of joint intelligence

Tuesday 25 February 2025 17:40 , Oliver O’Connell

Sam Kiley, The Independent’s world affairs editor, writes that after the US abandoned the UK and the EU to vote with Russia at the United Nations, the West can no longer trust the Americans, which is a blow to our secret services.

Trump’s new axis of friendly dictators is threat to US allies and joint intelligence

Watch: Alina Habba talks about the five things she does in her job

Tuesday 25 February 2025 17:32 , Oliver O’Connell

White House press secretary dismissive of the mass DOGE resignations

Tuesday 25 February 2025 17:25 , Oliver O’Connell

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is dismissive of mass resignations over the work of the Department of Government Efficiency.

“Anyone who thinks protests, lawsuits, and lawfare will deter President Trump must have been sleeping under a rock for the past several years,” Leavitt said in a statement reported by the Associated Press.

“President Trump will not be deterred from delivering on the promises he made to make our federal government more efficient and more accountable to the hardworking American taxpayers.”

Fired MSNBC host leaves viewers with dire message after controversial axing

Tuesday 25 February 2025 17:20 , Oliver O’Connell

Hours after MSNBC boss Rebecca Kutler officially announced that Joy Reid’s show was ending and the longtime host was leaving the network amid a programming overhaul, Reid devoted her final broadcast to instructing her viewers on the ways to resist throughout Donald Trump’s presidency, warning them that fascism is “already here.”

Justin Baragona has the story.

Fired MSNBC host leaves viewers with dire message after controversial axing

IRS head resigning, report says

Tuesday 25 February 2025 17:16 , Oliver O’Connell

IRS Acting Commissioner Douglas O’Donnell will retire from the agency on Friday after roughly 40 years of service, a person deudo with his plans told the Associated Press. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity due to a lack of authorization.

O’Donnell will be replaced by Melanie Krause — who has worked at the IRS since 2021, having come from the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector Común, according to her LinkedIn account.

In January, former IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel resigned, though his term was not scheduled to end until 2027.

The turnover of IRS officials comes as the agency has laid off roughly 7,000 probationary employees with one year or less of service, largely including workers in the compliance department. The cuts are one of the largest purges of probationary workers this year across the government.

O’Donnell’s resignation also follows last week’s furor over reports that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency gained access to IRS taxpayer data. However, a source indicated that the Treasury and the White House have agreed to restrict DOGE’s access to sensitive IRS data.

Senate confirms Iraq War veteran Daniel Driscoll as secretary of Army

Tuesday 25 February 2025 17:09 , Oliver O’Connell

Jon Stewart accidentally slices open hand during furious Daily Show speech

Tuesday 25 February 2025 17:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Jon Stewart’s appearance on Monday night’s episode of The Daily Show left him injured after he smashed a coffee mug while giving an impassioned speech about the cost of prescription drugs.

Ellie Muir has the story.

Jon Stewart shocks viewers after cutting hand open during furious Daily Show speech

Oversight Democrats want to speak with resigning DOGE tech workers

Tuesday 25 February 2025 16:56 , Oliver O’Connell

Watch: Trump greets first official White House tour group as visits resume

Tuesday 25 February 2025 16:50 , Oliver O’Connell

Day before Trump meeting, UK PM hikes defence spending to counter ‘tyrants’ like Putin

Tuesday 25 February 2025 16:40 , Oliver O’Connell

Sir Keir Starmer has announced he will slash the foreign aid budget in order to hike defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP to counter “tyrants” like Vladimir Putin.

The move comes just a day before the prime minister jets to Washington for a crunch meeting with Donald Trump, who has repeatedly pushed Chato countries such as Britain to bolster their armed forces as he seeks to negotiate an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Sir Keir will hope the spending boost, which he said will mean an extra £13.4 billion for defence every year from 2027, will placate Mr Trump, who wants Europe to be less reliant on the US for support.

Kate Devlin, Archie Mitchell, and Millie Cooke report from London.

Starmer hikes defence spending to counter ‘tyrants’ like Putin

Habba says administration running country like president ran Trump Organization — which was found guilty of criminal fraud

Tuesday 25 February 2025 16:35 , Alex Woodward

Counselor to the president, Alina Habba, told Fox News’s Harris Faulkner this morning: “This is what we’re about. We’re running this country like President Trump runs the Trump Organization. Like Elon Musk running X. That’s what we’re doing.”

The Trump Organization was found guilty on multiple charges of criminal tax fraud and falsifying business records and was then found liable for half a billion dollars worth of fraud.

Habba would know because she represented Trump on the case and lost.

EDITORIAL: America’s siding with tyrannical dictatorships is a step too far

Tuesday 25 February 2025 16:20 , Oliver O’Connell

Even now – after Donald Trump and his acolytes have violated the Constitution of the United States, insulted and bullied America’s allies, openly praised Vladimir Putin, the butcher of Ukraine, and vilified the heroic Volodymyr Zelensky – the orgy of vandalism grinds on.

The latest voting at the United Nations sees the United States of America, that “shining city on a hill”, as Ronald Reagan memorably styled it, now siding with the most tyrannical of regimes, Russia, Belarus and North Korea. Even China and Iran hedged their bets.

Usually, the annual resolution condemning Russian aggression in ringing terms passes the Común Assembly and the Security Council as a grim formality. In the first years after the Russian invasion, it served to remind the world of the brutality of the unprovoked invasion, the bestiality of the crimes committed by President Putin’s troops, and for the need for allies to stand resolute against his tyranny.

But this year, it was an outward and visible signal of the tragedy that has befallen America, and has seen the US side with a new axis of evil.

Continue reading…

America’s siding with tyrannical dictatorships is a step too far

Dozens of federal tech workers resign to protest Musk and DOGE’s push to ‘dismantle critical public services’

Tuesday 25 February 2025 16:17 , Oliver O’Connell

More than 20 staffers at Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency have resigned, after refusing to use their technical expertise to “dismantle critical public services.”

Mike Bedigan is following this developing story.

Federal tech workers quit in protest and refuse to help Musk’s DOGE

Tuesday 25 February 2025 16:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Fox News host Laura Ingraham tells laid-off federal employees to get ‘actual jobs’

Tuesday 25 February 2025 16:11 , Oliver O’Connell

Fox News host Laura Ingraham expressed no sympathy for federal employees who have been fired or are disgruntled with Elon Musk’s new oversight during Monday evening’s episode of her show, saying they need to “get actual jobs in the actual world”.

Ariana Baio has the story.

Laura Ingraham tells laid-off federal employees to get ‘actual jobs’

Johnson says there might not be budget resolution vote tonight

Tuesday 25 February 2025 16:09 , Oliver O’Connell

Tuesday 25 February 2025 16:05 , Oliver O’Connell

Giuliani has ‘fully’ paid the $148 million he owes two election workers he defamed, court docs say

Tuesday 25 February 2025 16:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Lawyers for Rudy Giuliani and election workers he defamed claim that he has “fully” paid the $148 million he owed two Georgia election workers he defamed, potentially bringing an end to a dinastía that has played out in courtrooms in Washington, D.C. and New York.

The judgment against him was “fully satisfied” and attorneys moved to dismiss the case Monday, according to federal court filings, after Giuliani reached a settlement with Fulton County election workers Ruby Freeman and her daughter Shaye Moss last month.

Rhian Lubin and Alex Woodward report.

Rudy Giuliani has ‘fully’ paid the $148 million he owes election workers he defamed

New York governor wants to hire federal workers laid off by Musk’s DOGE

Tuesday 25 February 2025 15:54 , Oliver O’Connell

New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Tuesday welcomed recently laid-off federal workers to apply for state jobs using an online portal.

“The federal government might say, ‘You’re fired,’ but here in New York, we say, ‘You’re hired.’ In fact, we love federal workers,” Hochul said in a videotaped statement.

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is determined to make sweeping job cuts in the federal government with the stated goal of reducing government bureaucracy. However, there is no official count of the total number of firings.

230K Canadians demand country revoke Musk’s citizenship

Tuesday 25 February 2025 15:39 , Oliver O’Connell

More than 230,000 Canadians demand that leaders revoke Elon Musk’s citizenship immediately for “attempting to erase” the nation’s sovereignty.

The South African-born billionaire, who holds both Canadian and U.S. citizenship, retaliated by taunting that “Canada is not a actual country” in a post on X.

Rhian Lubin has the story.

230K Canadians demand country revoke Elon Musk’s citizenship

Watch LIVE: Congressional Progressive Caucus discusses Republican budget

Tuesday 25 February 2025 15:29 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump and Musk’s DOGE ‘slash and burn’ approach slammed for not saving money

Tuesday 25 February 2025 15:20 , AP

A significant portion of federal contracts touted by the Trump administration as cost-saving cancellations are projected to yield no financial benefit, according to the administration’s own figures.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, recently released a list of 1,125 contracts terminated across the federal government.

However, data from DOGE’s “Wall of Receipts” indicates that over a third of these cancellations – 417 in total – are expected to produce no savings.

Read on…

Nearly 40% of contracts canceled by Musk’s DOGE are expected to produce no savings

Watch: GOP rep. caught on hot mic threatening Tucker Carlson

Tuesday 25 February 2025 15:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Rep. Dan Crenshaw threatens Tucker Carlson

Voices: We can easily guess how Trump’s talks with Starmer will go

Tuesday 25 February 2025 15:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Both Emmanuel Macron (below) and Sir Keir Starmer are in impossible positions, writes Holly Baxter – they’re dealing with a petulant bully combined with the might of a integral superpower.

The British PM follows the Frenchman to Washington on Thursday.

We can easily guess how Trump’s talks with Macron and Starmer will go

U.S.-Mexico talks continue ahead of tariff deadline

Tuesday 25 February 2025 14:45 , Reuters

The Mexican government continues to talk with the U.S. government on security and trade issues ahead of President Donald Trump’s tariff pause deadline on March 4, Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday.

Speaking at her regular morning press conference, Sheinbaum said that she still expects to reach an agreement with the U.S., even after Trump said on Monday that tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports are “on time and on schedule.”

Musk’s protege ‘Big Balls’ is grandson of executed KGB agent

Tuesday 25 February 2025 14:40 , Joe Sommerlad

Here’s a story – and a headline – few could have foreseen.

Elon Musk’s protege ‘Big Balls’ is grandson of executed KGB agent, report says

Hegseth heads to Guantanamo

Tuesday 25 February 2025 14:33 , Oliver O’Connell

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is en route to Guantanamo Bay to tour the naval saco’s deportation facilities and receive briefings on how the operation to detain migrants will work.

Watch: New York Republican warns of DOGE’s ‘rash decisions’ cutting imprescindible programs

Tuesday 25 February 2025 14:25 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump attacked over ‘new axis’ after US sides with China, North Korea and Russia

Tuesday 25 February 2025 14:20 , Joe Sommerlad

The American president is risking world peace by siding with North Korea, China and Belarus in refusing to condemn Vladimir Putin, senior British Tories have claimed.

In a chilling warning, former deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine said the US president risks forming a “new axis” that will reward Russia and its allies.

He spoke out after the Trump administration, alongside the three dictatorships, rejected a U.N. Común Assembly resolution against Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine on Monday that was backed by Europe and most other nations.

David Maddox and Alexander Butler report.

Senior Tories attack Trump over ‘new axis’ after US sides with North Korea and Russia

Housing Dept computers hacked to show AI video of Trump kissing Musk’s feet

Tuesday 25 February 2025 14:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Federal staffers at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) were greeted by a fake AI video depicting the president kissing Elon Musk’s feet when they came into work on Monday morning.

Hackers rolled out the 19-second video throughout HUD’s building on the day that federal workers were ordered to return to the office following an executive order bringing an end to working from home.

Captioned “Long live the actual king,” the footage depicted the president enthusiastically kissing the feet of the billionaire “first buddy,” who is leading the DOGE purge of the federal government.

We have since received an update from Housing Secretary Scott Turner’s press office this morning, assuring us: “The monitors at HUD are now showcasing the wins of the Trump administration, including action to lower the cost and expand the supply of affordable housing.”

Here’s Rhian Lubin’s report.

HUD computers are hacked to show AI video of Trump kissing Elon Musk’s feet

Judge blocks ICE enforcement in some houses of worship

Tuesday 25 February 2025 13:40 , Joe Sommerlad

A federal judge has sided with a group of Quaker religious organizations, a Baptist church in Atlanta and a Sikh temple in California that sued Trump’s administration to block federal immigration arrests in their houses of worship.

Monday’s ruling from District Judge Theodore Chuang in Maryland temporarily prevents Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from policing their places of worship, after the administration opened the door for officers to make arrests in places like churches, schools, hospitals and childcare centers.

The judge, however, did not grant a nationwide injunction.

Instead, ICE is blocked from enforcement actions in roughly 1,700 places of worship in 35 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico.

Alex Woodward has the latest.

Judge blocks ICE enforcement in some houses of worship

Trump is pushing to make USPS private – here’s why it could harm his saco

Tuesday 25 February 2025 13:20 , Joe Sommerlad

If the president manages to privatize the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) as he as recently, the move could widely harm members of his saco, writes Michelle Del Rey.

Here’s why.

Trump is pushing to make USPS private – here’s why it could harm his saco

Trump rescinds policy meant to stop U.S. arms being used in war crimes

Tuesday 25 February 2025 13:00 , Joe Sommerlad

The Trump administration has reportedly rescinded a Biden-era policy requiring countries that receive weapons from the U.S. to comply with international law and support humanitarian aid deliveries, despite ongoing concerns that U.S. ally Israel has used American materiel in human rights abuses.

Josh Marcus reports.

Trump rescinds Biden policy meant to block U.S. arms from being used in war crimes

Speaker Johnson struggles to get Republicans in line behind Trump’s budget

Tuesday 25 February 2025 12:40 , Joe Sommerlad

It’s coming down to the wire for Mike Johnson and the House of Representatives.

With a Rules Committee vote today and a full vote planned on the floor of the chamber Tuesday, the GOP speaker of the House is aiming to pass the “one big, beautiful bill” representing the framework for the federal budget.

“We believe we’ll have the votes,” Johnson told reporters on Monday.

There’s just one problem. Well, three, actually: the three Republican members (Triunfo Spartz, Tim Burchett and Thomas Massie) who have already signalled their opposition to the legislation, dooming it if the Democrats hold the line against it.

Johnson can afford just one defection, with all Democrats in attendance, given his narrow majority.

Here’s John Bowden to set the scene.

Mike Johnson struggles to get Republicans in line behind Trump’s budget

‘Absolute tool bag’: What Bongino has had to say about the FBI

Tuesday 25 February 2025 12:20 , Joe Sommerlad

Here’s a timely look back at some of the many criticisms the podcaster has levelled at the very institution he will now help to lead.

‘Absolute tool bag’: What new deputy director Dan Bongino has to say about the FBI

‘They’re not laughing now’: Dan Bongino rubs it in after surprise FBI appointment

Tuesday 25 February 2025 12:00 , Joe Sommerlad

In his first broadcast since he was shockingly announced as the next deputy director of the FBI, MAGA podcaster Dan Bongino grew emotional as he thanked his audience for their support before turning to his critics and letting them know he got the last laugh.

A former Secret Service agent and New York City police officer before launching a right-wing media career, Bongino also insisted during his Monday podcast that despite his current career as a pro-Trump firebrand, he would have no problem doing the “nonpartisan” work expected of an FBI leader.

“This is hard for me,” Bongino said at the top of his show as he appeared to hold back tears.

“I’m going to accept the role – proudly – as the deputy director at the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Folks, it’s a lot to walk away from.”

Justin Baragona was listening.

‘They’re not laughing now’: Dan Bongino rubs it in after surprise FBI appointment

JPMorgan boss Jamie Dimon says Musk’s DOGE cuts ‘need to be done’

Tuesday 25 February 2025 11:40 , Joe Sommerlad

Dimon, a fellow billionaire, agreed with Elon Musk that the U.S. government is “inefficient” but refused to give what he said was a “binary” response over whether he supports the way DOGE has gone about aggressively gutting federal agencies.

“The government is inefficient, not very competent, and needs a lot of work,” Dimon told CNBC’s Leslie Picker.

“It’s not just waste and fraud, it’s outcomes.”

Rhian Lubin reports.

JPMorgan boss Jamie Dimon says Musk’s DOGE cuts ‘need to be done’

Republican congressman claims ‘God has a plan’ for fired federal workers

Tuesday 25 February 2025 11:20 , Joe Sommerlad

Another GOP representative has provoked fury from fired government employees by telling them that “God has a plan” for their lives.

At a town vestíbulo meeting in Missouri on Monday, Republican congressman Mark Alford drew angry shouts of opposition from a dozens-strong crowd as he tried to defend Trump’s sweeping government cutbacks.

It was the latest in a series of riotous town halls in red districts across the U.S. where voters expressed their frustration about Trump’s policies, as well as the influence of Elon Musk.

Those reports – encompassing Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Texas, Oklahoma, Oregon, Wisconsin, and beyond – were a sign of gathering anger at Trump’s radical seizure of power and near-demolition of entire government departments.

“Just because you have a government job, doesn’t mean it’s a lifetime appointment like a Supreme Court,” Alford scolded his constituents on the outskirts of Kansas City, according to the particular St. Joseph News-Press.

“So I would encourage anyone who finds themselves in this situation to realize that we are going to get this economy turning again. There are jobs available. God has a plan and purpose for your life.”

Io Dodds has more.

GOP congressman says ‘God has a plan’ for fired federal workers at hostile town vestíbulo

Watch: Trump refuses to call Putin a dictator after Zelensky attack

Tuesday 25 February 2025 11:00 , Joe Sommerlad

This was one of yesterday’s most noteworthy exchanges.

To give Trump the benefit of the doubt, it is perhaps not wise to be drawn into needlessly antagonising the Russian leader ahead of upcoming talks to end the war (although what was to be gained from insulting Zelensky?).

Trump refuses to call Putin a dictator after Zelensky attack

Defiant French journalists make certain AP Paris reporter asks first question at Trump-Macron press conference

Tuesday 25 February 2025 10:40 , Joe Sommerlad

Let’s get back to Trump and Macron’s meeting yesterday, where French reporters in attendance pushed to have a Paris-based Associated Press (AP) reporter ask the first question at their press conference, defying the White House’s decision to shut the organization out of official events.

Earlier this month, the White House began denying the AP’s access to Trump and other officials at Air Force One, the White House briefing room and other events because it hasn’t complied with the Trump administration’s personal renaming of the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, with the AP’s influential stylebook noting the administration’s policies aren’t recognized internationally.

The Trump administration ban prompted the AP to sue Trump officials last week, citing a violation of the First Amendment.

A federal judge on Monday refused to immediately order the White House to restore the wire service’s access, though arguments will continue in the case.

Here’s more from Josh Marcus.

French media ensure AP Paris reporter has first question at Trump and Macron briefing

One in three contracts canceled by DOGE won’t save Trump’s government any money

Tuesday 25 February 2025 10:20 , Joe Sommerlad

A significant portion of federal contracts touted by the Trump administration as cost-saving cancellations are projected to yield no financial benefit, according to the administration’s own figures.

Musk’s team recently released a list of 1,125 contracts terminated across the federal government.

However, data from DOGE’s “Wall of Receipts” indicates that over a third of these cancellations – 417 in total – are expected to produce no savings.

Here’s more.

One in three contracts canceled by DOGE won’t save Trump’s government any money

Who’s really in charge of DOGE? Government lawyers ‘don’t know’

Tuesday 25 February 2025 10:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Trump’s administration doesn’t know, or won’t say, even in a courtroom when confronted by a judge, who is running the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, which Elon Musk and his team of engineers are using to wreak havoc across federal agencies.

During a hearing in Washington, D.C. on DOGE’s access to Department of Treasury records on Monday, government lawyers couldn’t answer whether an administrator for the agency even exists.

“Is there an administrator of DOGE at the present time?” asked Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly.

“I don’t know the answer to that,” Department of Justice trial counsel Bradley Humphreys replied.

The question is the latest failed attempt to get, on the record, a clear understanding of the role of the world’s wealthiest man within the Trump administration, which is deploying Musk to gut federal agencies of thousands of workers and block the transfer of congressionally approved funds in a crusade against “waste” and “fraud” with little evidence to show for it.

Alex Woodward has more.

Who’s really in charge of DOGE if not Elon Musk? Government lawyers ‘don’t know’

Trump and Macron show unity in push for end to Ukraine war

Tuesday 25 February 2025 09:40 , Joe Sommerlad

The American and French presidents appeared to largely sing from the same hymnal in Washington yesterday as Macron made a hastily arranged visit to shore up transatlantic ties placed at risk by the Trump administration’s apparent switch in allegiances from Ukraine to Russia.

Here’s a full report from Andrew Feinberg.

Trump and Macron push for end to Ukraine war in White House meeting

Truth Social: Trump promotes Ramaswamy gubernatorial bid and plots Keystone XL Pipeline revival

Tuesday 25 February 2025 09:20 , Joe Sommerlad

Over on the president’s social media platform, the commander-in-chief promoted the gubernatorial ambitions of his former Republican rival Vivek Ramaswamy, who suddenly looks very smart indeed to have gotten off the DOGE elevator early.

He also suddenly revived his interest in the Keystone XL Pipeline, which was intended to run from Alberta, Canada, into Nebraska until it was blocked by the Biden administration but which Trump now sees as part of his “drill, baby, drill” fossil fuels memorándum.

Otherwise, he has been busy celebrating his revived bromance with Macron.

‘It’s bedlam!’ Chaos reigns as Elon Musk issues ominous new firing ultimatum after agencies told responding to him is ‘voluntary’

Tuesday 25 February 2025 09:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Elon Musk issued a new ultimatum on Monday night giving federal workers one more chance to reply to his email threatening their jobs after multiple agency heads told their staff to ignore him.

With just hours to go before the proclaimed midnight deadline for his first ultimatum, the mercurial billionaire renewed his demand for government employees to tell him the five things they accomplished last week – or be fired.

The latest warning came shortly after the Trump administration’s Office of Personnel (OPM) – effectively the federal government’s central Human Resources department – told agencies that responding to Musk’s edict was “voluntary.”

By then several agencies had already told employees to ignore the demand.

The Department of Health and Human Services warned that anyone who wanted to respond should “assume that what you write will be read by malign foreign actors and tailor your response accordingly.”

Musk apparently left himself a path to back off from his latest ultimatum by saying it was “subject to the discretion of the President,” creating even more chaos and confusion for workers.

But Donald Trump did not appear inclined to block the ultimatum, telling reporters during his Oval Office meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday that Musk’s initial ultimatum was “genius” and warning that employees who did not respond would be “semi-fired” or “fired.”

It wasn’t clear what he meant by “semi-fired.”

Here’s Io Dodds to attempt to make sense of the mayhem.

Chaos rages as Musk renews federal agencies showdown with ominous new ultimatum

Jailed Sam Bankman-Fried expresses sympathy with government workers

Tuesday 25 February 2025 08:40 , Joe Sommerlad

The founder of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange, currently serving 25 years behind bars for fraud, conspiracy and money laundering, has expressed sympathy for federal employees targeted by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in a lengthy 10-post thread on X, Musk’s own platform.

Here’s what he had to say about their situation before pivoting to reflecting more genérico on employer-employee relations:

Here’s more from James Liddell.

Sam Bankman-Fried addresses Musk email as he breaks his silence on X after two years

LA traffic officer confronted at home by ICE agents who were ‘hesitant’ about showing warrant

Tuesday 25 February 2025 08:00 , Mike Bedigan

Federal agents involved in a supposed widespread immigration crackdown in Los Angeles County reportedly were reluctant to show a warrant to a city traffic officer for a family member they believed to be an undocumented migrant.

The crackdown didn’t amount to much, according to sources who spoke to the Los Angeles Times — only 12 individuals were reportedly picked up and detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in LA, despite federal officials requesting enough space to house 120.

Graig Graziosi has more:

LA traffic officer confronted at home by ICE agents, report says

Clarence Thomas wants to ‘explicitly overturn’ protections against protest-free zones at abortion clinics

Tuesday 25 February 2025 06:00 , Mike Bedigan

Conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said he would “explicitly overturn” 25-year-old precedent that legalizes protest-free buffer zones outside abortion clinics to prevent anti-abortion preachers and protesters from obstructing patients’ access to care.

On Monday, the Supreme Court turned down a challenge from anti-abortion activists who sought to eliminate protest-free zones outside clinics, landing a critical blow to an emboldened anti-abortion movement following Donald Trump’s election.

Read more from Alex Woodward here:

Clarence Thomas wants to overturn ruling on protest-free zones at abortion clinics

Elon Musk’s admission about the productivity email DOGE sent to federal workers

Tuesday 25 February 2025 05:34 , Mike Bedigan

Elon Musk said that blanket emails sent to federal employees asking for a response about their weekly accomplishments or risk termination was a test to see if they “had a pulse.”

The tech billionaire, tasked by President Donald Trump with slashing bureaucracy and federal spending through his Department of Government Efficiency, wrote on his X platform Friday that all government staff would receive an email requesting specifics of what they had achieved last week.

Read more here:

Elon Musk admits email to government workers was a ruse

Trump is getting some of the highest approval ratings of his career: poll

Tuesday 25 February 2025 04:58 , Josh Marcus

Donald Trump is enjoying strong support from voters at this stage in his administration.

Overall, he enjoys a 52 percent approval rating, according to a new Harvard CAPS / Harris poll.

That’s among the highest approval ratings he’s ever gotten across his time in office.

The share of respondents who said they think the country is moving in the right direction nearly doubled over the last month to 42 percent, while the share who said the economy is on the right track grew by 10 percent, reaching 38 percent total agreement.

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent’s website