On February 17th, the 50501 Movement and Political Revolution are collaborating on a nationwide “Not My President’s Day” of action against President Trump’s policies. This follows a successful February 5th series of protests across 80 cities, with tens of thousands of participants. The “day of action” encourages diverse participation, including protests, contacting representatives, and volunteer work. Future coordinated protests are anticipated, demonstrating a sustained commitment to opposing the current administration’s agenda.
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The hastily launched doge.gov website, intended to showcase Elon Musk’s government efficiency initiatives, suffers from a critical security vulnerability. Its database, accessible and editable by the public, has already been exploited, resulting in unauthorized entries appearing on the live site. This unsecured system, hosted on Cloudflare Pages rather than government servers, raises serious concerns about data integrity and the website’s overall reliability. The vulnerability highlights the risks associated with rapid deployment of government websites without adequate security measures.
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Danielle Sassoon’s resignation, along with other officials, following an order to drop the Eric Adams case is a stark illustration of the current political climate. The sheer audacity of the order itself raises serious questions about the integrity of the process, leaving many wondering about the motivations behind it. Replacing those who resigned with loyalists seems inevitable, highlighting a concerning trend of prioritizing political allegiance over adherence to the law.
The alternative to resigning – refusing the order – presents a compelling counterfactual. What would have happened if Sassoon and her colleagues had chosen defiance? Would they have faced immediate dismissal, a drawn-out legal battle, or perhaps something far more severe?… Continue reading
A Russian drone strike targeted Chernobyl’s protective shield, causing a fire that was quickly extinguished. While radiation levels remain stable, the attack damaged the $1.6 billion structure designed to contain radioactive materials from the 1986 disaster. Experts, though expressing concern over the reckless act, currently believe the radiation risk is minimal due to an underlying concrete sarcophagus. The incident raises international security concerns and undermines ongoing efforts to decommission the damaged reactor.
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In a recent interview, Pentagon chief Hegseth outlined the U.S.’s position on potential Ukraine peace negotiations, emphasizing that Ukraine’s NATO membership and return to its pre-2014 borders are currently unrealistic. He clarified that these statements, which reportedly caused dismay in Europe, are assessments of the current situation, not fixed policy, and do not preclude future NATO membership. Hegseth stressed that the President, not himself, will make final decisions and that deploying U.S. troops in Ukraine or invoking Article 5 is not currently being considered.
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Judge Amy Berman Jackson issued a temporary restraining order, blocking President Trump’s dismissal of Hampton Dellinger, head of the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), pending a February 26th hearing. Dellinger’s firing, lacking stated cause, violates a 1978 law requiring justification for removal. This case tests the limits of presidential power over independent agencies, particularly concerning the OSC’s role in protecting whistleblowers and enforcing the Hatch Act. The Trump administration’s argument that the congressional law is unconstitutional challenges established legal precedent regarding independent agency heads.
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A Texas judge ordered Dr. Margaret Daley Carpenter to stop providing abortion pills via telemedicine to Texas residents and pay over $100,000 in penalties. This action directly challenges state “shield laws” designed to protect providers offering abortion care, a legal battle stemming from the overturning of Roe v. Wade. The case, likely headed to the Supreme Court, highlights the growing interstate conflict over abortion access. New York Governor Kathy Hochul refused an extradition request from Louisiana, where Carpenter faces similar charges, further escalating the legal dispute.
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Following two calls with President Trump on Wednesday, President Zelensky expressed his preference for face-to-face meetings prioritizing a joint US-Ukraine plan to pressure Russia before any talks with Putin. While Trump reportedly denied prioritizing Putin, Zelensky noted the situation was “not very pleasant,” emphasizing Ukraine’s crucial role and the need for European partner inclusion in any negotiations. Trump, having also spoken with Putin, reported progress toward ending the war but the extent of Ukrainian involvement in any resulting peace process remains uncertain, despite planned meetings between US officials and Ukrainian representatives. Kyiv believes American strength can compel Russia towards peace.
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Canadian Ambassador Stéphane Dion condemned U.S. President Trump’s threats to invade Greenland, citing violations of international law and the UN Charter. These threats, coupled with Trump’s renewed desire for Canada to become a U.S. state and the announcement of 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, underscore a strained relationship. Canada and European nations are collaborating on a unified response to these aggressive trade tactics, emphasizing that trade wars harm all parties involved. Dion highlighted the importance of strengthening Canada-Europe ties for trade diversification in light of unreliable U.S. trade policies.
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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s speech to Ukraine’s Western backers declared that the U.S. cannot prioritize European security due to domestic threats, effectively shifting the responsibility for Ukraine’s defense and future peace-keeping efforts to European nations. Hegseth ruled out Ukraine’s NATO membership and U.S. military involvement in any future peacekeeping operations, raising serious concerns about America’s commitment to Article 5 of the NATO treaty. This announcement has prompted significant unease among NATO allies, questioning the alliance’s future strength and the reliability of the collective security guarantee. French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu described the situation as “a real moment of truth” for NATO.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood