Google has removed references to Black History Month, Women’s History Month, LGBTQ+ holidays, and other cultural events from its calendars, citing the unsustainable nature of manually maintaining hundreds of global events. This decision follows Google’s rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and its adoption of names for geographical locations mandated by executive orders. Users must now manually add these events to their calendars. While Google maintains it continues to celebrate cultural moments elsewhere, the calendar change has sparked user criticism.
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Representative Joe Wilson has proposed the “Freedom First Lend-Lease Act” to provide Ukraine with weapons, aiming to deter Russian aggression and support President Trump’s approach. This act, modeled after the World War II Lend-Lease program, would circumvent congressional delays and provide military aid without direct taxpayer expense. The previous Lend-Lease Act expired in September 2023, and while current aid continues, this new bill seeks to ensure a consistent flow of weaponry to Ukraine. Support for Ukraine remains strong among some congressional leaders, though the bill’s ultimate fate and the details of the Trump administration’s broader strategy remain uncertain.
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President Trump and Elon Musk’s shutdown of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), including its Food for Peace program, has left Kansas farmers with a surplus of sorghum, a key component of the aid program. The closure eliminates a crucial export market for Kansas sorghum, impacting the state’s agricultural industry and potentially jeopardizing global food security. Concerns exist regarding the loss of export markets and the economic consequences for grain elevators and farmers struggling with excess inventory. Despite allegations of waste and fraud within USAID, the shutdown has prompted bipartisan calls to reinstate the program due to its significant impact on both domestic agriculture and international humanitarian aid.
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Zelensky’s proposal to swap seized Ukrainian territory with Russia for a Russian region, specifically Kursk, presents a complex and fascinating strategic gambit. It’s not a straightforward land-for-land exchange, but rather a carefully calculated move designed to expose the true priorities of the Russian regime.
The core of the proposal lies in its inherent asymmetry. Kursk, while possessing some strategic value, pales in comparison to the territories currently occupied by Russia in Ukraine, including Crimea. This imbalance immediately puts the onus on Russia to justify any potential refusal.
A refusal to accept the offer would paint Russia into a corner. It would openly demonstrate a prioritization of maintaining control over illegally seized Ukrainian land over the welfare of its own citizens in Kursk.… Continue reading
Two lawsuits filed within a week challenge President Trump’s dismissals of Biden-appointed officials. Hampton Dellinger, the former head of the Office of Special Counsel, and Gwynne A. Wilcox, a former National Labor Relations Board employee, allege unlawful termination, citing violations of established removal procedures and a century of legal precedent protecting independent agency officials. Both lawsuits contend that the dismissals were politically motivated and without proper cause. The plaintiffs argue these actions undermine the independence of crucial government agencies and jeopardize their ability to fulfill their statutory mandates.
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False claims circulated online alleging that USAID provided over $8 million to Politico. However, official government records reveal USAID only paid Politico $44,000 for subscriptions to E&E News. Over the past decade, Politico received approximately $34.3 million from various federal agencies, primarily for subscriptions to its publications. This misinformation was amplified by prominent figures, including the White House Press Secretary and Donald Trump himself.
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False claims circulated online alleging that USAID funneled over $8 million to Politico. In reality, publicly available records reveal USAID provided only $44,000 for subscriptions to Politico’s E&E News publication. While Politico received over $34 million from various federal agencies since 2014, this primarily covered subscriptions to its publications, a common practice among government agencies and members of Congress. Politico itself refuted these claims as “misinformed” and “flat-out false.”
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Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth faced protests during a visit to U.S. European Command headquarters, with approximately two dozen military families booing and chanting “DEI” in response to his recent policies. These policies include a ban on certain books in DOD schools and a halt to gender transition procedures for service members. The protest, considered highly unusual, highlights the significant backlash against the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the military. Hegseth’s confirmation itself was controversial, marked by protests and a tie-breaking vote in the Senate.
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Internal divisions within the Republican Party threaten President Trump’s legislative agenda, as evidenced by a contentious budget debate. The House Freedom Caucus proposed a two-bill approach featuring significant spending cuts and increased border security funding, contrasting with Speaker Johnson’s single-bill plan. This disagreement highlights a struggle between prioritizing aggressive, wide-reaching changes versus phased policy implementation. Key figures like Speaker Johnson and Senator Graham advocate for a single comprehensive bill, while the Freedom Caucus champions a more incremental strategy. The narrow Republican majorities in both congressional chambers further complicate the process, making compromise crucial for the President’s fiscal goals.
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Following a lawsuit by Doctors for America, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order compelling the Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, and FDA to reinstate previously removed webpages and data. The judge found that the agencies’ actions, taken in compliance with President Trump’s executive order on gender ideology, likely violated federal law guaranteeing public access to information. This removal of vital health information, the judge argued, disproportionately harmed underprivileged Americans seeking healthcare. The agencies were ordered to restore the websites by 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, pending further litigation.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood