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Today's Political News Compilation - Thursday, February. 13, 2025
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Trump seems to question well-known part of Sen. Mitch McConnell’s life — his childhood polio battle
By BRUCE SCHREINERUpdated 6:03 PM CST, February 13, 2025
President Donald Trump seemed to question a well-documented part of Sen. Mitch McConnell’s life — his childhood battle with polio — after the Kentucky Republican opposed vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s confirmation Thursday as the nation’s top health official.
Trump attacked McConnell’s mental acuity and said he had “no idea” if the senator had polio. The Oval Office barrage exposed the icy relationship between the Republican president and the former Senate GOP leader. They worked in tandem on tax cuts and judicial appointments during Trump’s first term, but their relationship soured after McConnell blamed Trump for “disgraceful” acts in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack and the president made personal comments about McConnell and his family.
McConnell’s office did not immediately respond to the president’s attack Thursday. Earlier, the senator referred to himself as a survivor of childhood polio and talked about the life-saving impact of vaccines, in explaining his opposition to Kennedy’s confirmation as Trump’s health secretary.
“I will not condone the re-litigation of proven cures, and neither will millions of Americans who credit their survival and quality of life to scientific miracles,” McConnell said in the statement.
READ THE FULL STORY - AP
Order to drop New York Mayor Adams' case roils Justice Department as high-ranking officials resign
Danielle Sassoon, a Republican serving as interim U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced her resignation in an email to her staff.
apnews.com
Republicans push to repeal D.C.'s governing power, but city supporters push for statehood
Republican lawmakers introduced a bill to strip D.C. of its governing power, but city officials want statehood instead.
www.usatoday.com
Vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is sworn in as Trump's health chief after a close Senate vote
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been sworn in as President Donald Trump’s health secretary. The Senate on Thursday confirmed him, voting 52 to 48.
apnews.com
US could send troops to Ukraine if Russia doesn’t seek peace with Kyiv, Vance says | CNN Politics
Vice President JD Vance warned on Thursday that the United States could send troops to Ukraine and hit Russia with further sanctions if Vladimir Putin doesn’t negotiate a peace deal in good faith.
www.cnn.comIncluding people without legal status in census has had little impact on House seats, study finds
Republicans are trying to exclude people who are in the U.S. illegally from the numbers used to portion out congressional seats among the states.
apnews.com
Zelenskyy protests US, Russia negotiating over Ukraine's head after Trump's call with Putin
Ukraine and key European nations demanded a role in any negotiations to end Russia's war on the country, after President Donald Trump announced they would begin.
State Department halts plan to buy $400M worth of armored vehicles from Musk's Tesla
The State Department had been in talks with Elon Musk’s Tesla company to buy armored electric vehicles, but the plans have been put on hold by the Trump administration after reports emerged about a potential $400 million purchase.
apnews.com
Analysis: Drama over Adams case raises questions about Trump administration’s ‘weaponization’ of justice | CNN Politics
Call it the Thursday afternoon massacre.
www.cnn.comFourth federal judge blocks Trump’s birthright citizenship order
A federal judge in Boston has blocked an executive order from President Donald Trump that would end birthright citizenship for the children of parents who are in the U.S. illegally.
apnews.com
Europe must invoke 'snapback' sanctions on Iran, US lawmakers say, as Trump resumes 'maximum pressure'
A bipartisan group of lawmakers in Congress is urging European countries party to a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran to trigger harsh United Nations sanctions
House and Senate committees move forward on dueling budget plans
The House is pursuing one massive package, while the Senate plans to divide its work into two.
www.cbsnews.comJudge orders Trump administration to temporarily allow funds for foreign aid to flow again
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to temporarily lift a three-week funding freeze that has shut down U.S. aid and development programs abroad.
apnews.com
DOGE software approval alarms Labor Department employees
Elon Musk’s DOGE subordinates received approval to use software at the Labor Department that could be used to transfer large amounts of data, two employees said.
www.nbcnews.com
Trump 2nd term live updates: Federal judge has temporarily halted Trump's foreign aid freeze
The Trump administration has begun mass layoffs across multiple federal agencies, a move expected to affect thousands of employees, sources familiar told ABC News.
Thousands of probationary employees fired as Trump administration directs agencies to carry out widespread layoffs | CNN Politics
The Trump administration broadened its effort to terminate thousands of probationary workers on Thursday, instructing agencies on a call to move forward with the layoffs.
www.cnn.comTrump administration begins sweeping layoffs with probationary workers, warns of larger cuts to come
The Trump administration is intensifying its sweeping efforts to shrink the size of the federal workforce by ordering agencies to lay off all probationary employees who had not yet gained civil service protection.
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Rep Darrell Issa nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., announced Monday in a post on X that he was nominating President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
"Today I will nominate @realDonaldTrump for the Nobel Peace Prize. No one deserves it more," Issa declared in the tweet.
Fox News Digital reached out to Issa's office on Tuesday to request a comment from the congressman regarding why he decided to nominate the president for the award.
TRUMP SAYS ZELENSKYY CAN ‘COME BACK WHEN HE IS READY FOR PEACE’ AFTER FIERY WHITE HOUSE EXCHANGE
"Not since Ronald Reagan has an...
Continue reading..."Today I will nominate @realDonaldTrump for the Nobel Peace Prize. No one deserves it more," Issa declared in the tweet.
Fox News Digital reached out to Issa's office on Tuesday to request a comment from the congressman regarding why he decided to nominate the president for the award.
TRUMP SAYS ZELENSKYY CAN ‘COME BACK WHEN HE IS READY FOR PEACE’ AFTER FIERY WHITE HOUSE EXCHANGE
"Not since Ronald Reagan has an...
Zelenskyy says Ukraine 'ready' for peace negotiations, calls Trump meeting 'regrettable'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called his meeting at the White House last week "regrettable" on Tuesday and said he is ready to pursue peace under President Donald Trump's leadership.
Zelenskyy made the concession in a lengthy statement posted to social media on Tuesday, saying Ukraine "is ready to come to the negotiating table." He added that last week's meeting "did not go the way it was supposed to be," and he said "it is time to make things right."
"My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a...
Continue reading...Zelenskyy made the concession in a lengthy statement posted to social media on Tuesday, saying Ukraine "is ready to come to the negotiating table." He added that last week's meeting "did not go the way it was supposed to be," and he said "it is time to make things right."
"My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a...
Vance visits Capitol Hill to urge senators to confirm Elbridge Colby for Pentagon No. 3 post
Vice President JD Vance visited Capitol Hill to offer a message of support for his "friend," Elbridge "Bridge" Colby, President Donald Trump's contentious nominee for the Pentagon’s No. 3 spot, undersecretary of defense for policy.
"In so many ways, Bridge predicted what we would be talking about four years down the road, five years down the road, 10 years down the road. He saw around corners that very few other people were seeing around," Vance said in opening remarks Tuesday at Colby's confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services...
Continue reading..."In so many ways, Bridge predicted what we would be talking about four years down the road, five years down the road, 10 years down the road. He saw around corners that very few other people were seeing around," Vance said in opening remarks Tuesday at Colby's confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services...
'She's really this dumb': House Dem ripped after calling Trump 'enemy of the United States'
Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett was ripped by conservatives on social media this week after claiming President Donald Trump is "occupying the White House" and is an "enemy to the United States."
"Unfortunately, we have someone that is occupying the White House, and as far as I’m concerned, he is an enemy to the United States," Crockett said on MSNBC on Sunday. "I don’t know what it’s going to take to get people to wake up."
The Texas congresswoman also suggested that Trump is a "dictator" in her cable news appearance.
Conservatives on social...
Continue reading..."Unfortunately, we have someone that is occupying the White House, and as far as I’m concerned, he is an enemy to the United States," Crockett said on MSNBC on Sunday. "I don’t know what it’s going to take to get people to wake up."
The Texas congresswoman also suggested that Trump is a "dictator" in her cable news appearance.
Conservatives on social...
Watch: What did we learn from Meghan's new Netflix show?
The BBC's Daniela Relph takes a look at the Duchess of Sussex's new lifestyle series, 'With love, Meghan'.
Continue reading...Who is Elissa Slotkin? Michigan senator to counter Trump's congressional address
The Democratic response to President Donald Trump’s first joint congressional address of his second presidency will be delivered by a freshman Michigan senator who built an extensive national security background before entering politics less than a decade ago.
Elissa Slotkin will deliver the Democratic rebuttal to Trump just two months into her tenure in the U.S. Senate, having narrowly defeated Republican Mike Rogers to win an open battleground seat — despite Trump carrying the state. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., praised Slotkin as...
Continue reading...Elissa Slotkin will deliver the Democratic rebuttal to Trump just two months into her tenure in the U.S. Senate, having narrowly defeated Republican Mike Rogers to win an open battleground seat — despite Trump carrying the state. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., praised Slotkin as...
See who Melania Trump invited to President Trump's speech to Congress
President Trump's speech to a joint session of Congress is taking place Tuesday night and guests invited by first lady Melania Trump will be in attendance. Melania Trump has invited "everyday Americans" to the address, according to the White House, including an American who was recently released from a Russian prison and the family of one of Mr. Trump's supporters who was killed in an assassination attempt on the president.
Marc Fogel, a schoolteacher from Pennsylvania who was released from a Russian prison in February as part of a prisoner swap...
Continue reading...Marc Fogel, a schoolteacher from Pennsylvania who was released from a Russian prison in February as part of a prisoner swap...
Woman bitten by alligator in Florida
A woman was bitten on the elbow by an alligator while she was boating in Florida, officials said.
Continue reading...Americas at risk of losing measles elimination status, U.N. agency warns
Measles outbreaks across North America are threatening the region's status of having officially eliminated the virus, officials from the Pan-American Health Organization warned, potentially undoing a hard-fought victory to wipe out community transmission.
The U.N. agency pointed to a 4.5-times increase in reported measles cases this year across North and South America, compared to the same period last year.
More than 97% of cases across the region so far this year have been in the U.S. or Canada. Cases have also been reported in Mexico and...
Continue reading...The U.N. agency pointed to a 4.5-times increase in reported measles cases this year across North and South America, compared to the same period last year.
More than 97% of cases across the region so far this year have been in the U.S. or Canada. Cases have also been reported in Mexico and...
Trump's tariffs draw vows of retaliation from Canada, China and Mexico
President Trump's imposition of blanket 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Canada and Mexico drew swift vows of retaliation from the United States immediate neighbors on Tuesday. China, which was hit with a second 10% tariff on U.S. exports since Mr. Trump took office, bringing the total levy to 20%, immediately announced its own reciprocal measures — deliberately targeting America's agricultural sector.
Below is a look at the measures being imposed or planned by Canada, China and Mexico, and the rhetoric coming from officials in those countries...
Continue reading...Below is a look at the measures being imposed or planned by Canada, China and Mexico, and the rhetoric coming from officials in those countries...
GOP rebels fire warning shot in shutdown showdown: No DOGE, no deal
FIRST ON FOX: A group of conservative lawmakers in the House and Senate is warning Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., against agreeing to restrict the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in a spending bill as the government shutdown deadline of March 14 inches closer.
"[W]e are deeply concerned about recent reports of Democrats’ demands for a government funding agreement that would perpetuate the unsustainable status quo of wasteful spending," Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and House Freedom Caucus Chairman...
Continue reading..."[W]e are deeply concerned about recent reports of Democrats’ demands for a government funding agreement that would perpetuate the unsustainable status quo of wasteful spending," Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and House Freedom Caucus Chairman...
Trump urged by 'fiscal responsibility' group to show he's 'serious' about $36T debt
EXCLUSIVE: Ahead of President Donald Trump's congressional address on Tuesday night, the Concord Coalition launched their new "fiscal responsibility" advocacy group, Concord Action, designed to pressure Congress to tackle America’s $36 trillion debt crisis.
Former Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux, D-GA, the new executive director and president, in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital urged Trump to show he is serious about tackling America's debt crisis.
"I'd like to hear that he's really serious about putting everything on the table and putting...
Continue reading...Former Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux, D-GA, the new executive director and president, in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital urged Trump to show he is serious about tackling America's debt crisis.
"I'd like to hear that he's really serious about putting everything on the table and putting...
Trump to make 'full-throated' case during primetime speech: former presidential speechwriters
President Donald Trump, six weeks into his second tour of duty in the White House, vows to "TELL IT LIKE IT IS!" when he heads to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to deliver a primetime address to Congress and the nation.
The president will tout his domestic and international accomplishments, spotlight what the Trump administration has done for the economy, make a renewed push for Congress to pass additional border security funding and detail his plans for peace around the globe, according to details from the White House that were shared first with Fox News...
Continue reading...The president will tout his domestic and international accomplishments, spotlight what the Trump administration has done for the economy, make a renewed push for Congress to pass additional border security funding and detail his plans for peace around the globe, according to details from the White House that were shared first with Fox News...
EU weighs $840 billion plan to 'rearm Europe' after US pauses Ukraine aid
The European Union has a new plan to spend $840 billion more on its own defense after President Donald Trump paused aid to Ukraine and peace negotiations hit a wall.
"I do not need to describe the grave nature of the threats that we face, or the devastating consequences that we will have to endure if those threats would come to pass," EU Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen told reporters on Tuesday.
She said she had written a letter to the heads of state of all European governments outlining a "set of proposals" to "rearm Europe."
"A new era is...
Continue reading..."I do not need to describe the grave nature of the threats that we face, or the devastating consequences that we will have to endure if those threats would come to pass," EU Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen told reporters on Tuesday.
She said she had written a letter to the heads of state of all European governments outlining a "set of proposals" to "rearm Europe."
"A new era is...