Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner resigned, citing a need to maintain the administration’s confidence amid calls for privatization from Elon Musk. This follows Musk’s assertion that Amtrak’s financial performance is unacceptable and requires privatization to improve. Despite record ridership and ticket revenue in fiscal year 2024, Amtrak remains unprofitable, a situation it attributes to insufficient federal funding and mandated long-distance service. Amtrak’s board expressed its commitment to working with the current administration to build a better passenger rail system.
Read More
The USDA is eliminating two programs totaling $1 billion in funding for schools and food banks to purchase food from local sources. This decision, attributed to a shift toward “fiscally responsible initiatives,” cancels $660 million for the Local Food for Schools program and $420 million for the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement. The funding cuts significantly impact schools already facing high food costs, forcing reductions in fresh produce and local sourcing. The termination affects numerous schools and farmers nationwide, jeopardizing both school nutrition and local economies.
Read More
Demonstrators in Budapest protesting restrictions on assembly clashed with police, prompting condemnation from the EU’s equality commissioner. Organizers of Budapest Pride, denouncing the actions as fascist, maintained their commitment to the upcoming march. This event highlights increasing tensions between the ruling Fidesz party and its critics, fueled by recent legislative attacks on freedoms and dissent. The rising popularity of the opposition Tisza party suggests a potential shift in Hungarian politics ahead of the 2025 elections.
Read More
The EU’s new military program, projected to exceed $800 billion by 2030, prioritizes bolstering Europe’s defense industrial base through increased intra-European procurement. This initiative strategically excludes the U.K. while including South Korea and Japan as partners. The program’s impetus stems from a recognition of Russia as a threat and broader geopolitical concerns, including shifting American strategic focus. This shift reflects a desire for greater European autonomy in defense matters.
Read More
Germany’s recent update to its travel advice for US-bound citizens underscores a growing concern among international travelers regarding the current political climate in the United States. The updated advice, which strongly discourages non-essential travel, follows reports of German citizens being detained in the US under questionable circumstances. This situation highlights a broader trend of arbitrary detentions and difficulties faced by foreign nationals attempting to enter or transit through the US.
The sheer economic impact of such a shift in travel patterns is staggering. The US tourism industry contributes trillions of dollars annually to the national economy. A significant decrease in international tourism, fueled by negative travel advisories and real-world experiences of arbitrary detention, could have devastating consequences, potentially crippling a major sector of the American economy.… Continue reading
Rep. Glenn Ivey’s public call for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s resignation marks the first such demand from a Democratic lawmaker, stemming from party divisions over the handling of a Republican funding bill. Ivey criticized Schumer’s decision to allow the bill’s passage as a surrender of crucial leverage against the administration’s actions, including federal job cuts. This sparked intense debate within the party, with some members advocating for more aggressive resistance, while others, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, publicly supported Schumer. Despite this support, criticism from prominent Democrats like Nancy Pelosi and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez highlights the significant internal conflict within the party.
Read More
During a Fox News interview, Donald Trump expressed strong negative opinions about Canada, referring to it as “one of the nastiest countries” to deal with and suggesting it should be the 51st U.S. state due to perceived economic imbalances. He criticized Canada’s trade practices, particularly its dairy tariffs, and Prime Minister Trudeau’s government for dishonesty in negotiations. Trump further stated his indifference towards the outcome of the Canadian election, claiming that his primary goal is eliminating the significant U.S. trade deficit with Canada. He also criticized Canada’s low defense spending within NATO.
Read More
Trump’s firing of both Democratic commissioners at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has sparked a firestorm of controversy. The sheer audacity of the action, coupled with the apparent lack of legal basis, has left many questioning the state of American democracy. The timing, so close to potential legal battles against major corporations like Meta and Amazon, further fuels suspicions of politically motivated interference.
The immediate reaction across the political spectrum has been one of outrage and disbelief. Many have pointed out the perceived hypocrisy, noting previous difficulties faced by the Biden administration in similar situations. This disparity highlights a disturbing trend of seemingly arbitrary power imbalances, leading some to label the act as a blatant violation of law and democratic norms.… Continue reading
A French researcher, visiting the U.S. for a conference, was denied entry and subsequently deported after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) allegedly found concerning messages on his phone. French officials expressed serious concern, citing the researcher’s affiliation with the CNRS and the seemingly arbitrary nature of the expulsion. Conflicting reports suggest the messages were characterized as either expressing personal opinions critical of Trump administration policies or as “hate and conspiracy messages,” even potentially involving terrorism accusations, though these charges were later dropped. The researcher’s electronic devices were seized prior to his deportation.
Read More
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt falsely claimed during a press briefing that Judge James Boasberg, who temporarily blocked Trump’s deportation of migrants, was a “Democrat activist” appointed by Barack Obama. NBC News correspondent Garrett Haake corrected Leavitt, noting Boasberg’s appointment by George W. Bush. Leavitt deflected by citing the number of injunctions against President Trump, framing the judge’s actions as part of a broader effort to obstruct the administration’s agenda. This instance marks Leavitt’s third fact-check from PolitiFact in just two months.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood