The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 700 civilians had been killed in 48 hours.
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Political News Compilation - Weekend Updates - Feb. 15 & 16 , 2025
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Trump moves with dizzying speed on his to-do list. But there are warning signs in his first month
By WILL WEISSERT, JOSH BOAK and LINDSAY WHITEHURSTUpdated 9:02 AM CST, February 15, 2025
WASHINGTON (AP) — As President Donald Trump approaches the first-month mark in his second term, he has moved with dizzying speed and blunt force to reorder American social and political norms and the economy while redefining the U.S. role in the world.
At the same time, he has empowered Elon Musk, an unelected, South African-born billionaire, to help engineer the firing of thousands of federal employees and potentially shutter entire agencies created by Congress.
Those efforts have largely overshadowed Trump’s crackdowns on immigration and the U.S.-Mexico border, and his efforts to remake social policy by wiping out diversity, equity and inclusion programs and rolling back transgender rights.
The president has also imposed scores of new tariffs against U.S. trade partners and threatened more, even as economists warn that will pass costs on to U.S. consumers and feed inflation. ...
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Justice Department fires 20 immigration judges from backlogged courts amid major government cuts
A union official says the Trump administration has fired 20 immigration judges without explanation amid sweeping moves to shrink the size of the federal government.
apnews.com
'We're under attack by billionaires': Fired federal workers speak out on terminations
Hanna Hickman, a now-terminated worker for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, told ABC News the last four days have been a roller coaster.
Mapping Elon Musk's support for far-right politics across the world
The world’s richest man is trying to sway politics on six continents.
www.nbcnews.comFinnish leader urges Europe to firm up Ukraine's hand for U.S.-sought talks with Russia to end war
Finland’s president has urged the rearming of Ukraine and putting “maximum pressure on Russia” in the run-up to possible peace negotiations sought by the U.S.
apnews.com
Major storm in Eastern US brings bring severe flash floods
Major storm in the east bringing snow, ice, flooding rain, severe thunderstorms.
Trump tours Boeing plane to highlight aircraft maker's delay in delivering a new Air Force One
President Donald Trump has toured a Boeing airplane to check out new hardware and technology features and highlight the aircraft maker's delay in delivering updated versions of the Air Force One presidential aircraft.
apnews.com
European leaders plan emergency summit as US and Russia prepare for Ukraine peace talks
Donald Trump said earlier this week he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed talks could start "immediately" after their phone call.
www.bbc.com
McConnell tests the strengths and limits of his power opposing a trio of Trump's Cabinet nominees
No longer in charge, Sen. Mitch McConnell has been speaking his mind. The long-serving former Republican leader rejected President Donald Trump’s more high-profile Cabinet nominees.
apnews.com
‘Salute and execute’: A new generation of military veterans takes center stage as Trump remakes US foreign policy | CNN Politics
At the start of his first term, President Donald Trump filled several top jobs with retired generals — high-ranking veterans who served in leadership positions during the post-9/11 wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
www.cnn.com
Fired federal workers say 'cold and cruel' cuts upended their lives
Fired workers worried about making rent and paying student loans. Many talked about going into government work because they value public service.
www.usatoday.com
IRS will lay off thousands of probationary workers in the middle of tax season
The IRS will lay off thousands of probationary workers in the middle of tax season, according to two sources familiar with the agency’s plans, and cuts could come as soon as next week.
apnews.com
McConnell's mental acuity targeted by Trump after ex-Senate leader joins Dems against Cabinet nominees
The GOP's recent and longest-serving Senate party leader has stood in opposition to his conference multiple times, demonstrating the party’s significant transformation in the age of Trump.
Trump administration’s mixed messaging on foreign policy leaves world guessing
Different narratives from senior US officials on the future of Ukraine have sown confusion in Europe - but was that perhaps the point?
www.bbc.com
Trump bars federal funding to schools with COVID vaccine mandates
The executive order applies to students and not to teachers or staff.
Hungary's transformation into an 'electoral autocracy' has parallels to Trump's second term
U.S. conservatives have looked to Hungary's Viktor Orbán as an inspiration for a right-wing America, and the prime minister has become a close ally of President Donald Trump.
apnews.com
Thousands of probationary federal health agency workers fired by letter this weekend. Here's what it said.
The move comes amid a government-wide effort to cut probationary workers by the Department of Government Efficiency task force led by billionaire Elon Musk.
www.cbsnews.comUS presented Ukraine with a document to access its minerals but offered almost nothing in return
Zelenskyy says he directed his ministers not to sign off on a proposed agreement to give US access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals because the document was too focused on U.S. interests.
apnews.com
Netanyahu to convene security cabinet after release of 3 hostages
Hamas militants released three more Israeli hostages on Saturday as part of the ceasefire agreement.
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South Korea's impeached president Yoon released from detention
Yoon Suk Yeol still faces trial on insurrection charges for his failed attempt to impose martial law.
Continue reading...CDC will research widely debunked link between vaccines and autism
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is initiating expanded research into understanding autism and potential links between vaccines and autism, a source familiar with the CDC’s planning said, NBC News reported.
The CDC is one of the agencies that operates under the umbrella of the Department of Health and Human Services, the federal agency that President Donald Trump picked Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead. The Senate confirmed him to the post in a 52-48 vote last month.
The possibility of a link between vaccines and autism has been...
Continue reading...The CDC is one of the agencies that operates under the umbrella of the Department of Health and Human Services, the federal agency that President Donald Trump picked Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead. The Senate confirmed him to the post in a 52-48 vote last month.
The possibility of a link between vaccines and autism has been...
All HHS workers given $25,000 voluntary buyout offer, source says
All employees in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services were notified Friday of the option to voluntarily resign in exchange for a $25,000 payment, a source familiar with the situation told CBS News.
The department-wide email offered a "voluntary separation incentive payment," the source said. Employees have been given until a deadline of March 14 to reply.
Friday's offer is part of the Trump administration's efforts to slash the size of federal workforce and shrink the government's budget through mass layoffs and financial cuts. That...
Continue reading...The department-wide email offered a "voluntary separation incentive payment," the source said. Employees have been given until a deadline of March 14 to reply.
Friday's offer is part of the Trump administration's efforts to slash the size of federal workforce and shrink the government's budget through mass layoffs and financial cuts. That...
JD Vance says he was confronted by pro-Ukrainian protesters while walking with toddler daughter
Vice President JD Vance said Saturday he was confronted by pro-Ukrainian protesters while he was out walking with his 3-year-old daughter.
"Today while walking my 3 year old daughter a group of ‘Slava Ukraini’ protesters followed us around and shouted as my daughter grew increasingly anxious and scared," Vance posted Saturday afternoon on X.
"I decided to speak with the protesters in the hopes that I could trade a few minutes of conversation for them leaving my toddler alone," he continued. "Nearly all of them agreed."
Vance said it was a...
Continue reading..."Today while walking my 3 year old daughter a group of ‘Slava Ukraini’ protesters followed us around and shouted as my daughter grew increasingly anxious and scared," Vance posted Saturday afternoon on X.
"I decided to speak with the protesters in the hopes that I could trade a few minutes of conversation for them leaving my toddler alone," he continued. "Nearly all of them agreed."
Vance said it was a...
They lost 52 soldiers fighting alongside the US. Now they feel threatened by Trump
Danes, who have been loyal allies of Washington, are blindsided by Trump's insistence on taking over Greenland.
Continue reading...Actor Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa died of natural causes one week apart
The 95-year-old actor's Alzheimer's means it is "quite possible" he was unaware of his wife's death, say officials.
Continue reading...Pope Francis responding well to treatment, Vatican says
The 88-year-old prayed on Saturday morning in the chapel of the papal suite at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, the Vatican said.
Continue reading...Your pictures on the theme of 'monochrome'
Images on the theme of "monochrome" sent in by our readers.
Continue reading...India's rap rebel makes a comeback after battling addiction
Yo Yo Honey Singh, who transformed Indian hip-hop, has made a comeback after a long battle with drug abuse.
Continue reading...Tesla facilities face wave of attacks as Elon Musk delves into politics
As Elon Musk attempts to drastically cut the federal workforce and delves further into the corridors of American power, the Tesla CEO's electric carmaker facilities have come under fire — literally, NBC News reported.
There have been at least 10 acts of vandalism against Tesla vehicles, dealerships or charging stations in recent weeks, according to police and local reports, underscoring the backlash Musk has faced since taking on an unprecedented role in the federal government.
On Jan. 29, a 40-year-old woman threw a molotov cocktail at a...
Continue reading...There have been at least 10 acts of vandalism against Tesla vehicles, dealerships or charging stations in recent weeks, according to police and local reports, underscoring the backlash Musk has faced since taking on an unprecedented role in the federal government.
On Jan. 29, a 40-year-old woman threw a molotov cocktail at a...
Canadians show their displeasure with President Trump
President Trump took aim at dairy and lumber imports from Canada, but the U.S.'s northern neighbor is fighting back. Ed O'Keefe reports on the latest in the tumultuous trade war.
Continue reading...Migrant deported in chains: 'No-one will go to US illegally now'
Indian deportee tells BBC about his risky journey and how Trump’s tactics are spreading fear.
Continue reading...Not so demure any more: The rise of 'free the nipple' fashion
Stars like Charli XCX have made see-through outfits all the rage at big events, but not everyone's a fan.
Continue reading...DHS administering lie detector tests to employees in effort to find leakers
The Department of Homeland Security is administering polygraph tests to its personnel to determine who may be leaking information to the media about its ongoing immigration raids, an agency spokesperson confirmed to CBS News Saturday.
On Feb. 18, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said DHS would start polygraphing employees in order to crack down on these leaks.
In a video posted to social media Friday, Noem wrote that the department had "identified two leakers of information here at the Department of Homeland Security who have been telling...
Continue reading...On Feb. 18, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said DHS would start polygraphing employees in order to crack down on these leaks.
In a video posted to social media Friday, Noem wrote that the department had "identified two leakers of information here at the Department of Homeland Security who have been telling...