The Supreme Court, in a surprise 5-4 decision, rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to halt a lower court order mandating nearly $2 billion in foreign aid payments. Justice Amy Coney Barrett sided with the Chief Justice and the liberal justices, defying expectations and drawing sharp criticism from conservative commentators. This ruling, a significant blow to the administration’s efforts to freeze USAID funding, stems from a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a blanket freeze on foreign assistance. Barrett’s decision was based in part on her previous opinions regarding administrative stays, which were cited by lower courts in related cases. The administration must now pay the $2 billion for already-completed work.
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President Trump’s public acknowledgment of Elon Musk as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) directly contradicts the administration’s previous legal claims. The administration had previously asserted that Musk held no authority within DOGE, instead naming Amy Gleason as its leader. This contradiction, highlighted by plaintiffs in ongoing lawsuits, significantly weakens the government’s defense against allegations of DOGE’s unlawful actions. Trump’s statement provides compelling new evidence supporting the plaintiffs’ assertion that Musk is the de facto head of DOGE.
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Democratic Representative Al Green’s removal from President Trump’s address for protesting Medicaid cuts sparked accusations of a double standard. This follows prior incidents where Republican Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert disrupted President Biden’s State of the Union address without consequence. Conversely, Green was forcibly removed after shouting his protest, prompting widespread criticism online regarding the disparate treatment of lawmakers. The differing responses highlight perceived partisan bias in enforcing decorum rules during presidential addresses.
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Representative Al Green (D-TX) dramatically interrupted President Trump’s address to Congress, protesting proposed Medicaid cuts and the Republican budget resolution. His actions, involving a cane and shouted objections, drew both criticism and praise, with some Democrats expressing regret at not joining his protest. While Trump’s speech didn’t explicitly mention Medicaid cuts, the budget resolution passed by House Republicans paves the way for significant reductions in social programs. Green’s protest highlighted the Democrats’ opposition to these cuts, even amidst internal divisions regarding the appropriate response.
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Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok, analyzed publicly available data to assess the likelihood of Donald Trump being a “Putin-compromised asset,” concluding a 75-85% probability. Grok cited Trump’s extensive financial ties to Russia, his consistent refusal to criticize Putin, and leaked Kremlin documents suggesting Putin’s support for Trump’s 2016 campaign as key factors. The chatbot, designed to be “maximally truth-seeking,” weighed these factors against alternative explanations. This assessment raises questions about the implications of such AI-driven analyses of political figures and their potential impact.
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President Trump’s recent address to Congress provided new evidence in an ongoing lawsuit against the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). During the speech, Trump explicitly stated that Elon Musk heads DOGE, a claim directly used in a new court filing by lawyers representing plaintiffs. This filing emphasizes the need for expedited discovery to clarify Musk’s actual role and DOGE’s structure, particularly in relation to Acting Administrator Amy Gleason. The White House’s conflicting statements regarding Musk’s position, ranging from “overseeing” DOGE to being a “senior advisor,” fuel the ongoing legal battle surrounding the department’s authority and operations.
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President Trump delivered a nearly two-hour address to Congress, his longest yet, covering topics ranging from personnel firings to trade disputes and praising private sector initiatives. Senator Sanders walked out, denouncing the speech as containing “the big lie”—false claims about Social Security recipients—and criticized the lack of focus on working-class issues. Sanders further condemned the administration as a “government of, by, and for the billionaire class,” highlighting proposed budget cuts to Medicaid. He concluded by urging Americans to unite against oligarchic power.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson’s chief of staff, Hayden Haynes, was arrested for drunk driving after his vehicle struck a Capitol Police vehicle following President Trump’s address to Congress. Capitol Police confirmed the arrest and issued a citation. Speaker Johnson publicly expressed his continued support for Haynes, citing their longstanding relationship and Haynes’ reputation. The case will be prosecuted by the D.C. Office of the Attorney General, rather than the U.S. Attorney’s Office, a distinction noted given recent controversies involving the interim U.S. attorney.
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During his address to Congress, President Trump highlighted the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) budget cuts, specifically citing $8 million allegedly spent on “making mice transgender” and $40 million for “improving the social and economic inclusion of sedentary migrants.” He lauded Elon Musk’s leadership of DOGE while simultaneously imposing surprise 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada, sparking trade war concerns. The speech was punctuated by Rep. Al Green’s expulsion for protesting Medicaid cuts and contrasting statements on law and order alongside pardons for January 6th rioters, including those who assaulted police officers. Democrats repeatedly interrupted with chants of “January 6th.”
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President Mulino strongly denounced President Trump’s claim that the U.S. was “reclaiming” the Panama Canal following the sale of a Chinese-owned port company’s stake to a U.S. consortium. Panama insists the transaction was purely private and that China never held influence over canal operations, rejecting any notion of U.S. “reclaiming” the waterway. Mulino further refuted suggestions of U.S. pressure influencing the sale, emphasizing Panama’s sovereign control over the canal. The $23 billion deal, involving CK Hutchison Holdings and BlackRock, still requires Panamanian government approval.
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John Q. Hosedrinker