The USDA conditionally licensed Zoetis’ avian flu vaccine for chickens, aiming to combat the devastating outbreak impacting egg prices. This conditional license, granted due to the vaccine’s demonstrated safety and efficacy, offers a potential solution to the ongoing crisis. While the US historically prioritized eradication through culling, the vaccine’s approval signals a potential shift in strategy, given the virus’s increasing spread and severity. The high cost of eggs is expected to persist into 2025, driven by the outbreak and broader inflation.
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Texas is experiencing its worst measles outbreak in nearly 30 years, with 48 confirmed cases, mostly among children under 18 in Gaines County. The surge is linked to low vaccination rates within a close-knit community, exacerbated by a decade-long increase in vaccine exemptions. While 2,000 vaccine doses have been sent from the CDC, they are currently prioritized for partially vaccinated individuals, and the state has not requested federal assistance. The outbreak has spread to neighboring counties in Texas and even to New Mexico.
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Trump and Musk’s drastic federal spending cuts, achieved through sweeping job and regulatory reductions, have prompted accusations of illegal actions and disregard for congressional and judicial authority. Multiple lawsuits allege violations of federal law, including the illegal firing of inspectors general and unauthorized access to sensitive government data. Judges have issued temporary injunctions against some of these actions, leading to attacks on the judiciary by Trump and Musk, further escalating concerns about threats to democratic processes and the rule of law. These actions, fueled by Musk’s substantial campaign donations to Trump, have raised serious questions regarding conflicts of interest and the abuse of executive power.
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The Dallas Police Department (DPD) has announced it will not cooperate with ICE on immigration enforcement, focusing instead on community outreach to combat misinformation and fear. These meetings, organized by the DPD’s Latino Community Outreach Program, aim to reassure immigrant residents that reporting crimes will not lead to deportation, except in cases involving outstanding warrants. Interim Chief Igo stressed the DPD’s commitment to public safety and city ordinances, not immigration enforcement. Further outreach events are planned throughout Dallas and surrounding areas to build trust and provide legal resources to the immigrant community.
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Despite President Trump’s public denials, his administration has rapidly implemented a significant portion of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 policy blueprint. As of the article’s publication, 32% of the plan’s objectives were underway or completed, with some agencies, like USAID, showing near-total completion. This swift action prioritizes easily enacted targets such as LGBTQ+ rights and DEI initiatives, often reversing Biden-era policies. Furthermore, the administration’s actions are exceeding the scope of Project 2025 in some cases, such as illegally withholding funding from the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
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Behind-the-scenes at the Munich Security Conference, the US pressured Ukraine to immediately sign a proposed mineral resources deal in exchange for a meeting with Vice President JD Vance, threatening to cancel the meeting otherwise. Kyiv refused to sign the US’s proposed version of the agreement, rejecting proposed amendments. Despite this refusal, the meeting proceeded as planned after the US dropped its demand. The initial US request was interpreted by Ukraine as a figurative expression of urgency, but proved to be a literal precondition for the meeting. Zelenskyy’s refusal to sign under pressure ultimately led to constructive dialogue.
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European leaders will convene in Paris on Monday to coordinate their response to the Trump administration’s exclusion of Europe from U.S.-Russia talks on ending the war in Ukraine. The meeting, including key EU members, the UK, and NATO, aims to address European security concerns arising from potential peace deals negotiated without Ukrainian or European input. Zelenskyy has firmly rejected any agreement excluding Ukraine, while concerns persist that a deal could undermine Kyiv and broader European security. Discussions will likely focus on formulating a unified European approach, potentially including a joint envoy and exploring the possibility of contributing peacekeeping troops to secure a future ceasefire.
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Ukraine and the UAE formalized an economic partnership agreement on Monday, establishing free trade. President Zelenskyy’s subsequent trip to Turkey and Saudi Arabia is unrelated to concurrent U.S.-Russia talks in Riyadh, though he intends to inquire about their progress. While Zelenskyy supports European involvement in future negotiations to pressure Russia for peace, both Moscow and Washington have rejected this proposal, citing differing priorities for their bilateral discussions. The Kremlin emphasized that its focus is on rebuilding U.S.-Russia relations and laying the groundwork for potential Ukraine negotiations.
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Donald Trump’s alleged confidential plan for Ukraine involves a staggering $500 billion “payback,” far exceeding the reparations imposed on post-WWI Germany. This isn’t merely about controlling critical minerals; it encompasses a vast swathe of Ukrainian assets, from ports and infrastructure to oil and gas reserves and the broader resource base. The proposed agreement, leaked and described as a pre-decisional contract, reads like a blueprint for the US’s economic colonization of Ukraine, binding the country to potentially unachievable financial obligations in perpetuity. The document, marked “Privileged & Confidential,” has understandably caused panic in Kyiv.
The core of the plan centers around a joint US-Ukrainian investment fund, ostensibly designed to prevent “hostile parties” from profiting from Ukraine’s reconstruction.… Continue reading
Intercepting Hamas communications, Channel 12 revealed that early 2024 humanitarian aid intended for Gaza citizens was diverted to Hamas leaders. These recordings, reportedly shared with the US, detail Hamas’s close ties to UNRWA and internal disputes over aid distribution. Junior operatives complained of aid shortages while facing threats and violence from superiors for raising concerns. The intercepted conversations exposed deep resentment towards the Hamas leadership for prioritizing self-interest over the needs of its own people.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood