Asthmatic respiratory crisis indicates the pope struggled to maintain a sufficient oxygen level when breathing on his own, according to medical experts.
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Today's Political News Compilation - Monday, February. 17, 2025
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Elon Musk’s DOGE seeks access to taxpayer data at IRS: AP sources
WASHINGTON (AP) — Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is seeking access to troves of sensitive taxpayer data at the IRS, two people familiar with the inner workings of the plan who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly told The Associated Press on Monday.If successful, Musk and his group would have access to millions of tightly controlled files that include taxpayer information, bank records and other sensitive records. The people who spoke to the AP and requested anonymity said DOGE is specifically seeking to access the IRS’ Integrated Data Retrieval System
, which enables employees “to have instantaneous visual access to certain taxpayer accounts,” according to the IRS website.
Advocates fear that the potential unlawful release of taxpayer records could be used to maliciously target Americans, violate their privacy and create other ramifications.
Harrison Fields, a White House spokesman, said in an emailed statement that “waste, fraud, and abuse have been deeply entrenched in our broken system for far too long. It takes direct access to the system to identify and fix it.” ...
READ THE FULL STORY - AP
Social Security head steps down over DOGE access of recipient information: AP sources
The Social Security Administration’s acting commissioner has stepped down from her role at the agency over Department of Government Efficiency requests to access Social Security recipient information.
apnews.com
Academic unions plan demonstrations outside HHS building, at med schools, to protest Trump research cuts
The science community is organizing to protest President Trump's directive to cap facilities and administrative costs associated with grants that go to research institutions.
The anti-Musk protest movement is expected to ramp up with Congress on recess
President Donald Trump's billionaire top lieutenant, Elon Musk, is the focus for thousands of Democratic activists launching a massive protest campaign this week.
apnews.com
Raskin says DOJ made "deeply corrupt bargain" in move to drop charges against NYC mayor
Rep. Jamie Raskin said the Justice Department made a "deeply corrupt bargain" in its move to drop charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
www.cbsnews.comTrump begins firings of FAA staff just weeks after fatal DC plane crash
The Trump administration has begun firing several hundred Federal Aviation Administration employees, upending staff on a busy air travel weekend and just weeks after a fatal midair collision near Washington.
apnews.com
Federal workers with 'exceptional' reviews fired for 'performance' issues
President Donald Trump’s administration has started the mass firing of workers who are new to the civil service or have recently switched jobs.
www.nbcnews.com
Trump comments on Zelenskyy's role in Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations
In an exchange with reporters Sunday, Trump said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “will be involved” in the negotiations. Trump offered no further explanation.
apnews.com
U.K., Sweden say troops could head to post-war Ukraine as Trump fuels a European "collective security" drive
Britain and Sweden have become the first European nations to say they could send troops to help secure Ukraine after an end to the war there.
www.cbsnews.comJustice Department's independence is threatened as Trump's team asserts power over cases and staff
Pam Bondi had insisted at her Senate confirmation hearing that as attorney general, her Justice Department would not “play politics.”
apnews.com
Rep. Dan Crenshaw says Europe should be "uncomfortably aggressive" to counter Russia
Rep. Dan Crenshaw said European leaders need to have a "much stronger message" toward Russian President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine.
www.cbsnews.com'No kings on Presidents Day' rings out from protests against Trump and Musk
Protesters against President Donald Trump and his policies organized demonstrations in all 50 states for the second time in two weeks.
apnews.com
Analysis: Trump offers key concessions to Putin ahead of Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia | CNN Politics
Vladimir Putin is riding high ahead of critical US-Russia talks Tuesday in Saudi Arabia on ending the Ukraine war.
www.cnn.comTop Russian and American officials will hold talks on ending the Ukraine war without Kyiv
The Kremlin says senior American and Russian officials will hold talks on improving their ties and negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine.
apnews.com
Israel to set up government agency to displace Palestinians from Gaza
Israel announces new agency for ‘voluntary departure’ from Gaza as US senators visiting Israel push back on Trump’s plan
Department of Homeland Security preparing to fire hundreds of senior leaders this week
The firings are a move not to reduce the size of the workforce but to get rid of people the administration sees as not on board with its goals.
www.nbcnews.com
Emboldened by Trump support, Netanyahu says Israel will 'finish the job' on Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's threat was the latest indicator that Israel is considering a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities.
www.usatoday.com
'Criminal' migrants are 'not welcome,' according to new multimillion-dollar ad from DHS
The Department of Homeland Security launched a multimillion-dollar ad Tuesday directed at those who try to come to the United States illegally, saying: Don’t try it.
Presidents Day protests: See photos from demonstrations across the nation
Protestors across the country took to the streets Monday to repudiate the actions of Elon Musk and the Trump administration. See the photos.
www.usatoday.com
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Pope remains in 'critical' condition after 'respiratory crisis'
Pope Francis is "more unwell than yesterday", the Vatican says, adding his prognosis "remains guarded".
Continue reading...French prisoner 'The Fly' arrested nine months after deadly van ambush
Two prison officers were killed and three others injured when a vehicle carrying Mohamed Amra was ambushed in May 2024.
Continue reading...Family of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas says new returned body is hers
It comes as a six hostages and over 600 Palestinian prisoners are exchanged on Saturday.
Continue reading...California asks US government for billions in fire relief funds
Governor Gavin Newsom said the requested funds will help in immediate and long-term recovery work.
Continue reading...Trump administration fires workers at NIH Alzheimer's research center
The center's incoming director was among those terminated.
Continue reading...One dead in stabbing in French city of Mulhouse
President Emmanuel Macron said there was "no doubt it was an Islamist terrorist attack".
Continue reading...Trump says Starmer and Macron 'haven't done anything' to end Ukraine war
Trump's criticisms come as the UK and French leaders prepare to visit the White House next week.
Continue reading...US, Russian officials to meet again within 2 weeks to discuss Ukraine war: Russia
U.S. and Russian officials will meet again within two weeks to discuss ending the war in Ukraine after re-establishing diplomatic relations this week, Russia says.
Continue reading...Multiple injuries reported in shooting at Pennsylvania hospital: Law enforcement
Multiple people have been injured in a shooting at a Pennsylvania hospital on Saturday, according to law enforcement sources briefed on the matter.
Continue reading...Former British PM reveals which Trump department is perfect 'playbook' for conservative revolution
EXCLUSIVE: Former United Kingdom Prime Minister Liz Truss is ready to bring the "conservative revolution" home from the 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference, telling Fox News Digital her plan to "Make the West Great Again."
World leaders took center stage at CPAC this week, telling the crowd of American conservatives they’re ready to see President Donald Trump’s agenda on the world stage. Truss, the shortest-serving prime minister in British history, said world leaders are envious of Trump’s second term and his Department of Government...
Continue reading...World leaders took center stage at CPAC this week, telling the crowd of American conservatives they’re ready to see President Donald Trump’s agenda on the world stage. Truss, the shortest-serving prime minister in British history, said world leaders are envious of Trump’s second term and his Department of Government...
USAID workers send message to Trump on boxes while leaving office for last time
Sacked United States Agency for International Development (USAID) staffers left their Washington, D.C., offices for the last time on Friday, with some carrying boxes scrawled with messages that seemed to be directed at President Donald Trump, who is slashing the agency's workforce.
Thousands of staffers were notified weeks ago of their pending dismissals, while a federal judge on Friday cleared the way for the Trump administration to follow through with the mass layoffs as it aims to eliminate waste throughout the federal bureaucracy.
"We are...
Continue reading...Thousands of staffers were notified weeks ago of their pending dismissals, while a federal judge on Friday cleared the way for the Trump administration to follow through with the mass layoffs as it aims to eliminate waste throughout the federal bureaucracy.
"We are...
DOGE takes a chainsaw to federal spending with 7 major victories this week: 'Got to be done'
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) spent another week slashing hundreds of millions in spending by the federal government, while dodging various legal attempts to block its cost-cutting efforts.
Here are some of DOGE's big wins this week:
On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, an Obama appointee, shot down a request from several federal labor unions, including the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), to pause the mass firings of federal workers by the Trump administration.
NTEU and four other labor unions...
Continue reading...Here are some of DOGE's big wins this week:
On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, an Obama appointee, shot down a request from several federal labor unions, including the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), to pause the mass firings of federal workers by the Trump administration.
NTEU and four other labor unions...
Wisconsin Democratic governor proposes replacing 'mother' with 'inseminated person' in state law
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, is facing backlash for introducing a budget recommendation that changes the word "mother" to "inseminated person," and "paternity" to "parentage" in certain parts of state law.
The Evers administration's budget recommendation for the 2025-2027 fiscal period advises several other gendered terms be changed, as well. References to "wife" or "husband" are changed to "spouse" in the proposal. In other places, the word "father" is changed to "parent," and "mother" is swapped out for the phrase "parent who gave birth...
Continue reading...The Evers administration's budget recommendation for the 2025-2027 fiscal period advises several other gendered terms be changed, as well. References to "wife" or "husband" are changed to "spouse" in the proposal. In other places, the word "father" is changed to "parent," and "mother" is swapped out for the phrase "parent who gave birth...
'Not American': Dem governors lash out at Elon Musk's 'cruel' DOGE efforts
Democrats proved on Thursday during a press conference about protecting Medicaid that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has become an inevitable policy discussion under President Donald Trump's second term.
Ahead of the National Governors Association’s winter meeting in Washington, D.C., this week, Democratic and Republican governors huddled within their respective parties to strategize and discuss policy. Democratic governors held a press conference on Tuesday, sounding the alarm on Trump’s threat to Medicaid and signaling a...
Continue reading...Ahead of the National Governors Association’s winter meeting in Washington, D.C., this week, Democratic and Republican governors huddled within their respective parties to strategize and discuss policy. Democratic governors held a press conference on Tuesday, sounding the alarm on Trump’s threat to Medicaid and signaling a...