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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MadAboutPolitics.com - Featured News
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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. ...
READ THE FULL STORY - AP
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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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...