Trump claims Elon Musk’s endorsement was crucial to his Pennsylvania victory and expresses disappointment over Musk’s subsequent opposition to the bill’s electric vehicle mandate cuts. Musk countered on X, prioritizing the bill’s overall size and alleged “pork” over specific provisions, asserting his concern is about national debt, not Tesla’s interests. Despite prior claims of political disengagement, Musk’s continued involvement has coincided with a significant drop in Tesla’s stock price. This suggests a correlation between Musk’s political actions and Tesla’s financial performance.
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The Trump administration is scrambling to rehire thousands of federal employees dismissed during a previous staff-slashing initiative, reversing course on firings at numerous agencies including the FDA and IRS. This chaotic rehiring process, driven by a combination of court orders and administrative reversals, is complicated by many employees’ reluctance to return or having already secured new positions. The administration is employing various stopgap measures, including reassignments and overtime requests from existing staff, to address critical staffing shortages across multiple agencies. This personnel upheaval is causing significant stress and impacting essential services, particularly at agencies like the National Weather Service and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The situation highlights the significant disruption caused by the initial firings and the administration’s subsequent efforts to mitigate the damage.
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In commemoration of Journalist’s Day, Ukraine acknowledged the significant sacrifices made by its media professionals. At least 125 Ukrainian and foreign journalists have been killed, 42 injured, and 31 remain held captive by Russia since the full-scale invasion began. The Verkhovna Rada expressed gratitude for their crucial role in exposing war crimes and countering Russian disinformation. This tragic toll underscores the extreme dangers faced by journalists covering the ongoing conflict.
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The Trump administration is preparing to significantly cut federal funding to California, potentially beginning as soon as Friday. This action, targeting the University of California and California State University systems, is reportedly due to disagreements over state policies and alleged antisemitism on campuses. The move is unprecedented and has drawn swift condemnation from California Democrats, who have vowed legal challenges. While some Republican representatives express concerns, they emphasize the need for justification of funding requests.
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In response to Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb, Russia launched a massive overnight attack on Kyiv, involving over 400 drones and 40 missiles. The attack, one of the largest of the war, resulted in at least four deaths, including three emergency workers, and widespread damage to residential buildings and infrastructure. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted a significant number of projectiles, but the assault caused extensive damage and casualties. The Kremlin justified the attack as a necessary response to perceived Ukrainian aggression, framing the conflict as an existential threat to Russia’s future.
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The White House dismissed Elon Musk’s criticism of President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” as an “unfortunate episode,” attributing Musk’s attacks to dissatisfaction with the bill’s lack of desired policies. The previously close relationship between Trump and Musk deteriorated after Musk publicly denounced the bill as “outrageous” and “pork-filled,” prompting Trump to accuse Musk of “Trump derangement syndrome” and suggest self-interest motivated his objections. This public spat escalated with mutual accusations and escalating rhetoric, culminating in Musk alleging Trump’s involvement in the Epstein files. The White House ultimately downplayed the conflict, stating that the President is focused on the bill’s passage.
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Following a disagreement over Trump’s proposed tax and immigration bill, Elon Musk asserted that the former president would have lost the 2024 election without his support. Trump publicly expressed disappointment with Musk’s criticism, hinting at potential government contract terminations. This exchange followed a 90-minute phone call between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping focused on trade policy. The two countries are expected to resume stalled tariff negotiations soon.
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Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national mistakenly deported from Maryland, has been returned to the U.S. to face federal charges. A federal grand jury indicted him for conspiracy to transport undocumented immigrants, allegedly as part of a larger ring trafficking drugs, weapons, and people, including children and women. The indictment also alleges his involvement with MS-13 and abuse of women during transport. His return follows a court order and months after the Trump administration acknowledged the deportation error.
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The University of Michigan employed private investigators from City Shield to conduct extensive surveillance of pro-Palestinian student groups, including following, recording, and eavesdropping on students on and off campus. These tactics, which involved intimidation and even physical threats, resulted in at least $800,000 in university spending and were used to support charges against students, most of which were later dropped. The university denies targeting students based on beliefs, but the surveillance escalated following police raids and has created a chilling effect on free speech. This extensive security operation, including undercover and overt measures, cost the university millions of dollars.
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The escalating feud between Elon Musk and Donald Trump reached a new peak with Musk publicly endorsing a call for Trump’s impeachment and replacement by Vice President JD Vance. This follows Musk’s vocal opposition to Trump’s spending bill and accusations of governmental overreach. Trump retaliated with attacks on Musk’s business dealings and subsidies, further intensifying the conflict. The exchange culminated in Musk’s dramatic threat to decommission SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.
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John Q. Hosedrinker