The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), formerly led by Elon Musk, has been disbanded after only ten months, despite initially claiming it would save trillions. DOGE’s work, which included deregulation and workforce reshaping, is now carried out through the Office of Personnel Management. The agency’s actions, including firing roughly 300,000 federal workers, significantly impacted the LGBTQ+ community and other vulnerable populations. The elimination of USAID, for example, is estimated to have resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives and cut off access to vital medication and legal support.
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Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has passed away at the age of 111. Fletcher, along with other survivors, pursued a lawsuit against the city of Tulsa alleging complicity in the massacre, which destroyed the Greenwood neighborhood and caused widespread loss of life and property. Despite the ongoing efforts for reparations, a recent court decision dismissed the survivors’ lawsuit. The city has proposed a private trust to fund initiatives in the area, though it would not provide direct payments to survivors or their descendants.
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The Department of Justice, or DOJ, is once again asking judges to authorize the release of grand jury material related to the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell cases. This is a bit of a deja vu moment, as it seems like the same tactics are being employed again. The focus, as before, is on grand jury transcripts and exhibits. However, many people aren’t convinced this is the entire story or even the most relevant information.
The core of the issue, as many see it, isn’t about the grand jury material. It’s about the underlying evidence, witness testimonies, and other crucial documents that the DOJ holds.… Continue reading
Kelly to Hegseth: Pentagon investigation over ‘illegal orders’ video won’t ‘intimidate me’ is a situation that’s really got people talking, and for good reason. It all started with a video from Senator Mark Kelly, where he essentially reminded service members of their duty to uphold the law and not follow illegal orders. That’s a pretty straightforward message, right? But the reaction from some corners, particularly the Trump administration, has been anything but.
The response from the administration, with calls for Kelly’s arrest and even suggestions of execution, is what’s truly alarming. It’s like they’re trying to punish someone for simply stating the obvious – that soldiers aren’t supposed to obey orders that break the law.… Continue reading
In a Friday exit manifesto, Greene criticized the legislature’s inaction during the majority’s first year, specifically regarding healthcare and the failure to address rising costs. She expressed frustration that her bills, mirroring President Trump’s Executive Orders, were ignored. Greene noted the public’s growing skepticism towards political messaging, emphasizing their awareness of personal financial struggles, including debt, rising living expenses, and economic anxieties. She implied that these everyday difficulties contribute to the public’s disillusionment with the political system.
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Ukraine’s leaders have established firm conditions for any peace deal with Russia, including no recognition of Russian land grabs, limitations on its defense forces, or vetoes on future alliances. President Zelensky highlighted the demand for recognition of stolen territory as the primary obstacle in negotiations, emphasizing that borders should not be altered through force. Amid intensive talks in Geneva, Ukrainian, US, and European officials have drafted a “refined peace framework” addressing key issues such as Ukraine’s army size and prisoner exchanges, but the critical matters of territory and NATO membership remain unresolved. The US has also proposed a 10-year security pact and is encouraging unity within Ukraine as the discussions accelerate, aiming to present the final plan to Moscow pending European backing.
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The White House responded to the dismissal of criminal cases against James Comey and Letitia James, asserting the Department of Justice (DOJ) will appeal the ruling. Judge Cameron McGowan Currie dismissed the cases due to the disqualification of interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, whose appointment was deemed legally invalid. White House officials maintain the indictments’ facts remain unchanged, emphasizing the president’s commitment to accountability and correcting alleged weaponization of the justice system. The DOJ is expected to consider an appeal, which would move the case to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, or it could refile the charges with new leadership.
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A 65-year-old woman in Thailand caused a stir at a Buddhist temple when she was found alive in her coffin, ready for cremation. The woman’s brother drove her from Phitsanulok to Bangkok, believing she had died after a two-year illness. Initially, the hospital declined the brother’s offer to donate her organs due to a missing death certificate, leading him to the temple for a free cremation service. However, before the cremation could take place, the temple staff heard knocking, opened the coffin, and discovered the woman alive, prompting them to send her to a nearby hospital, with the temple covering her medical costs.
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As part of its Predator Free 2050 initiative, New Zealand has announced plans to eradicate feral cats by 2050 to protect its native species. Conservation Minister Tama Potaka confirmed that feral cats, described as “stone cold killers,” will be added to the list due to their detrimental impact on birds, bats, lizards, and insects. Proposed eradication methods include poisoned sausage bait and poison spray devices. The decision follows a public consultation that overwhelmingly supported improved feral cat management, with an updated strategy scheduled for release in March, while explicitly excluding domestic pets from the target.
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The highly anticipated “patriotic” T1 smartphone, unveiled in June by the Trump administration, is facing significant delays, with its promised late-August release date unmet. Promised as a “Made in the USA” device, the gold-plated smartphone, marketed with a new wireless service called “Trump Mobile,” has pushed its shipping date back multiple times. The project’s website has removed any specific release date, instead continuing to accept deposits while assuring customers of availability “later this year,” and the promise of full American manufacturing has been walked back. Industry experts have cited the immense challenges of manufacturing smartphones entirely within the United States as a primary cause for the setbacks.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood