JD Vance wants Elon Musk’s DOGE staffer who resigned over racist posts reinstated; Trump meets Japan PM: Live

JD Vance is pushing for the reinstatement of Marko Elez, the DOGE staffer who resigned yesterday after racist posts he made were uncovered.

The vice president said he didn’t think “stupid social media activity should ruin a kid’s life,” and attacked journalists who uncover such stories. He was responding to a poll on X posted by Elon Musk.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s buyout offer to federal employees has been temporarily blocked, giving hundreds of thousands of workers more time to decide whether to take eight months of pay in exchange for their resignation or early retirement.

Elsewhere, the president has signed an executive order issuing sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) and is being sued by unions representing United States Agency for International Development (USAID) workers.

Thousands of USAID employees are imminently expected to lose their jobs as Musk steers far-reaching cuts across government agencies.

The president is looking forward to the Super Bowl in New Orleans on Sunday by praising some of the big game’s star players.

“Two great Quarterbacks in this game,” Trump posted on Truth Social on Friday. “Also, an unbelievable running back, and the absolute best tight end in football (Ever!). Incredible coaching!”

Key Points

• Watch LIVE: Trump and Japanese Prime Minister hold press conference

• Vance wants DOGE staffer who resigned over racist posts reinstated

• Donald Trump praises NFL stars ahead of Super Bowl Sunday

• Trump’s resignation offers are blocked by judge hours before buyouts were set to expire

• President sued by USAID workers union for shutting down global aid agency

• Trump imposes sanctions on International Criminal Court

Trump plans to ‘quickly and very surgically’ remove ‘corrupt’ FBI agents from bureau

20:02 , Alex Woodward

After the Justice Department earlier today agreed not to publish the names of FBI agents involved in January 6 cases, Donald Trump said he plans to “quickly and very surgically” purge many of them from the bureau.

“Some of them were corrupt, no doubt about that,” he said. “Those people are gone, or they will be gone.”

Watch: Trump says DOGE can get Americans’ personal information because of of poor security

19:58 , Oliver O’Connell

Full story: Trump calls Gaza takeover plan a ‘real estate transaction’ as he previews new tariffs

19:55 , Oliver O’Connell

President Donald Trump on Friday continued to push his plan for the United States to take control of the Gaza Strip and threatened a host of new tariffs against American allies to be rolled out at a press conference next week.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office during a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Trump said he’d be announcing the trade actions — which amount to a unilateral tax increase on Americans — as part of his program for ensuring what he has called “reciprocal” trade with American allies.

Andrew Feinberg reports from the White House.

Trump calls Gaza takeover plan a ‘real estate transaction’ as he previews new tariffs

Ishiba says being able to import U.S. LNG ‘wonderful’

19:55 , Oliver O’Connell

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said it was “unfortunate” that the previous Biden administration didn’t allow Japan to buy liquified natural gas, during the White House press conference alongside President Donald Trump.

He says the Trump administration allowing them to import LNG again is “wonderful.”

They also want to buy bioethanol, ammonia, and other energy items “at a reasonable price.”

Watch: Trump says he agrees with Vance on DOGE staffer who resigned over racist posts

19:42 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump says Japan will drop bid to purchase US Steel and instead invest in company

19:38 , Oliver O’Connell

Speaking at a joint press conference at the White House, President Donald Trump, standing beside Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, said that rather than purchasing US Steel, a Japanese conglomerate will instead invest in the company.

Trump also said that all trade will be done in “fairness and reciprocity.”

He added that the U.S. has over a $100 billion trade deficit with Japan, which Japan has pledged to close by importing American liquified natural gas.

Trump said the two nations were working on a joint venture linked to Alaska oil and gas.

Taliban tell Trump they want to reset relationship with US

19:35 , Oliver O’Connell

The Taliban have signalled their willingness to start afresh with the US administration of Donald Trump but claimed ownership of the military equipment and vehicles the American and Nato forces left behind.

Abdul Qahar Balkhi, the Taliban’s spokesperson for the foreign ministry, spoke to CBS News on Wednesday and said that the group controlling Afghanistan was ready to establish a new diplomatic chapter on engagement with the US.

“We would like to close the chapter of warfare and open a new chapter,” Mr Balkhi.

Arpan Rai has the story.

Taliban say they can reset ties with Trump – but don’t expect to get Humvees back

Full story: Vance wants Musk to rehire DOGE staffer who quit after racist social media posts exposed

19:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Vice President J.D. Vance wants to rehire a staffer with Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency who quit after his openly racist social media posts were exposed.

Marko Elez, a 25-year-old programmer, posted his support for a “eugenic immigration policy” and called to “normalize Indian hate,” among other racist statements uncovered by The Wall Street Journal on Thursday.

“Just for the record, I was racist before it was cool,” Elez posted on his X account in July, according to WSJ’s review of archived posts.

Alex Woodward reports.

J.D. Vance wants DOGE staffer to get his job back after racist social media posts

Watch LIVE: Trump and Japanese Prime Minister hold press conference

19:03 , Oliver O’Connell

Indonesia halts development of ‘Trump Community’

18:55 , AP

Indonesian authorities have halted development of a tourism project linked to U.S. President Donald Trump.

The project, covering over 3,000 hectares, is a collaboration between Trump’s business partner, Indonesian billionaire Hary Tanoesoedibjo, and the Trump Organization.

Tanoesoedibjo attended Trump’s inauguration in Washington last month.

Read on…

Indonesia halts development of ‘Trump Community’ on tourist island

Zelensky to Trump on rare earths and minerals: ‘Let’s do a deal’

18:47 , Oliver O’Connell

President Donald Trump, who campaigned claiming he could bring about a rapid end to Russia’s war on Ukraine, said on Monday he wanted Ukraine to supply the U.S. with rare earths and other minerals in return for financially supporting its war effort.

In an exclusive interview with Reuters on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded: “If we are talking about a deal, then let’s make one. We are only for it.”

Last autumn, Ukraine proposed opening its critical minerals to investment from allies, presenting a “victory plan” aimed at putting it in the strongest position for negotiations and compelling Moscow to engage in talks.

Zelensky said less than 20 percent of Ukraine’s mineral resources, including about half its rare earth deposits, were under Russian occupation.

Rare earths are crucial in producing high-performance magnets, electric motors, and consumer electronics. Zelensky suggested that Moscow could share these resources with its allies, North Korea and Iran, both of whom are staunch enemies of the U.S.

“We need to stop Putin and protect what we have — a very rich Dnipro region, central Ukraine,” he said.

Zelensky told Reuters that Ukraine has Europe’s largest reserves of titanium, which is essential for the aviation and space industries, and uranium, which is used for nuclear energy and weapons.

Many of the titanium deposits were marked in northwestern Ukraine, far from the fighting.

Ukraine has rapidly recalibrated its foreign policy approach to align with the transactional worldview of President Trump, Ukraine’s most important ally.

However, Zelenskiy emphasized that Kyiv was not proposing “giving away” these vital resources, but instead was interested in offering a mutually beneficial partnership to develop them jointly: “The Americans helped the most, and therefore the Americans should earn the most. And they should have this priority, and they will. I would also like to talk about this with President Trump.”

Reporting by Reuters

Trump criticizes controversial NFL rule ahead of Super Bowl Sunday

18:35 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump has criticized the NFL’s controversial kickoff rule ahead of his attendance at the Super Bowl on Sunday.

On Friday, the president praised the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles via his Truth Social account. He also shared his thoughts on the NFL’s dynamic kickoff rule implemented last year to decrease injuries by limiting high-speed collisions and incentivizing returns.

Amber Raiken reports.

Donald Trump criticizes controversial NFL rule ahead of Super Bowl Sunday

Hearing set for restraining order filed USAID workers

18:30 , Alex Woodward

Just now: There will be a hearing on USAID workers’ motion for a temporary restraining order at 3 p.m.

Here’s what you need to know about the case:

Government workers union sues Trump for shutting down USAID

Not just the Super Bowl…

18:27 , Oliver O’Connell

USAID nameplate being covered up

18:21 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump expects to speak with Zelensky next week

18:18 , Oliver O’Connell

President Donald Trump said that he expects to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky next week and wants to discuss the security of their assets, such as rare earths.

Amid Trump immigration raid fears, Latino churches lock their doors

18:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Bishop Ebli De La Rosa, overseeing Church of God of Prophecy congregations across nine southeastern states, is bracing for the worst.

His motto, he says, is “to prepare for the worst and pray for the best,” as the Trump administration’s rescission of policies protecting immigrants in sensitive locations, including churches, has put dozens of his pastors at risk.

Continue reading…

Latino churches lock their doors amid Trump immigration raid fears

Trump asked about TIME magazine’s Elon Musk cover

18:08 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump was also asked about TIME’s new cover showing Elon Musk sitting behind the Resolute desk from the Oval Office.

The president, who was thrilled to be named TIME Person of the Year in December, asked whether the publication was still in business.

Perhaps in an attempt to mollify the president should the cover infuriate him, Musk posted on X:

Trump was also asked whether Musk, given his role at the center of the administration, might take questions from the media.

The president responded: “Sure. He’s not shy. Elon is not shy.”

Trump teases ‘reciprocal tariffs’ to be announced next week

18:03 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump has teased an announcement next week on reciprocal tariffs to match those imposed on U.S. goods abroad.

The president told the press this lunchtime:

I’ll be announcing that next week, reciprocal trade so that we’re treated evenly with other countries. We don’t want anymore, any less. So I’ll be announcing that next week, and many other things having to do, not even with trade, but other things. But I’ll be talking about reciprocal trade sometime next week, we’ll have a news conference, and we’ll lay it out.

The move would fulfill a Trump campaign promise to impose tariffs on American imports equal to the rates that trading partners impose on American exports. It was not immediately clear which countries would be affected, as details of the proposal were not known.

Trump told Republican lawmakers of his plans during budget discussions at the White House on Thursday, sources told Reuters. Trump and top aides have said they plan to use higher tariffs on foreign imports to help pay for extending Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, which independent budget analysts say could add trillions of dollars to the U.S. debt.

Increased tariffs could offset some of that cost, though they have only accounted for about 2% of annual revenues in recent years.

Trump triples down on Gaza ‘real estate transaction’

17:57 , Andrew Feinberg

Asked about his statements about taking ownership of Gaza earlier this week that were condemned around the world, especially in the Middle East, Donald Trump tripled down on his plan.

It’s been very well received where, basically the United States would view it as a real estate transaction, where we’ll be an investor in that part of the world. And no rush to do anything. We would need anybody there. It would be supplied and given to us by Israel. They’ll watch it in terms of security. We’re not talking about boots on the ground or anything, but I think we’ll the fact that we’re there, that we have an investment there, I think would go a long way to creating peace. We don’t want to see everybody move back and then move out in 10 years. This has been going on for 50 years. Much more than that. We just want to see stability that would be having us have that particular piece in that particular location. I think it would show great stability and would lead to great stability in the area for very little money, very little price, and we wouldn’t need soldiers at all; that will be taken care of by others, and the investments are taken care of by others also.

So, for no investment. I mean, virtually no investment whatsoever. It would bring stability to the area, and others can invest in it later on but we’re no rush on it. It’s absolutely no rush.

Melania and Ivanka Trump actively promoted USAID — now the president calls it a massive ‘fraud’

17:55 , Oliver O’Connell

President Donald Trump’s administration is working to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development — the very agency that the president’s wife and daughter promoted seven years ago.

The president has threatened to end USAID, which provides humanitarian assistance around the globe. Earlier this week, Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency and Trump’s “First Buddy,” took aim at the agency, calling it a “criminal organization.”

Kelly Rissman reports.

How Melania and Ivanka promoted federal agency Trump now calls a massive ‘fraud’

Trumps says Musk ‘doing a great job’ finding ‘fraud and corruption’

17:53 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump took questions from the press ahead of his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

On Elon Musk’s attacks on USAID, the president said:

Elon is doing a great job. He’s finding tremendous fraud and corruption and waste. You see it with the USAID, but you’re going to see it even more so with other agencies and other parts of government. He’s got a staff that’s fantastic. He’s wanted to be able to do this for a long time, and everybody else knew it was existent but I think never so much when you look at USAID. That’s a, that’s a fraud. The whole thing is a fraud, very little, very little being put to good use.

Every single line that I look at in terms of events and transactions is either corrupt or ridiculous, and we’re going to be doing that throughout government. And I think we’re going to be very close to balancing budgets for the first time in many years. I think we’re going to be very close to in addition to monies coming in from tariffs, etc, etc. But he’s doing a very good job. I’m very happy with it.

DOJ agrees not to release names of agents who worked on Jan 6 cases

17:48 , Oliver O’Connell

The Department of Justice has agreed not to release the names of FBI agents who worked on the January 6 cases and the Trump investigations. The order, following a lawsuit from FBI employees, applies to the whole of government — not just the Justice Department — and will stick while the case plays out.

Following days of resistance, the acting head of the FBI turned over a list of the names of FBI employees who worked on those investigations to the DOJ.

Emil Bove, a former defense lawyer for President Donald Trump who now holds a senior role at the Justice Department, had demanded the information from the FBI as part of what he called a review of misconduct surrounding the probes, which led to nearly 1,600 criminal cases against Trump supporters for their actions during the Capitol riot.

Here’s the background to the case from Alex Woodward:

FBI agents file class action suit against Trump’s DOJ over ‘retribution’

In pictures: Trump welcomes Ishiba to Oval Office

17:35 , Oliver O’Connell

ANALYSIS: Critics say the Trump administration is on a ‘lawbreaking spree.’ Can the courts stop him?

17:27 , Oliver O’Connell

Alex Woodward writes:

President Donald Trump’s unprecedented power grabs within his first three weeks in office have provoked an opposite and equal reaction in the form of an avalanche of lawsuits.

Now, how far the president can plunge the United States into a constitutional crisis could depend on a handful of federal judges.

Americans should be prepared for the administration to ignore them, “unless and until there’s real enforcement, either by law enforcement or by the Supreme Court,” says Ty Cobb, a former White House counsel during Trump’s first administration.

“The real question is, will Trump honor those orders?” Cobb tells The Independent.

Read on…

Critics say Trump is on a ‘lawbreaking spree.’ Can the courts stop him?

Hegseth says dumbest phrase in military history is ‘diversity is our strength’

17:10 , Oliver O’Connell

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth chided past celebrations of the U.S. military’s diversity in a broad address to Pentagon staff on Friday.

In it, he also promised a tough approach to NATO and accountability over the war in Afghanistan.

“I think the single dumbest phrase in military history is our diversity is our strength,” Hegseth told the audience, adding that under his watch, “We will treat everyone with fairness.”

The official motto of the United States, “E pluribus unum,” celebrates diversity as a strength. The Latin phrase translates to “out of many, one.”

Neo-Nazi group sued by Springfield, Ohio, for relentless ‘campaign of hate and harassment’ over Haitian migrants

17:05 , Oliver O’Connell

The Ohio city that became a flashpoint of the immigration debate during the 2024 presidential election after Donald Trump amplified false rumors of Haitian immigrants “eating the pets” is suing a neo-Nazi group for unleashing a “campaign of hate and harassment” against residents who defended the city’s migrant population.

Justin Baragona reports.

Springfield, Ohio, sues neo-Nazi group for ‘campaign of hate and harassment’

16:55 , Oliver O’Connell

Vance wants DOGE staffer who resigned over racist posts reinstated

16:51 , Oliver O’Connell

After Elon Musk posted a poll on X asking whether Marko Elez, the DOGE staffer who resigned after racist posts advocating eugenics were uncovered, should be reinstated, JD Vance chimed in.

The vice president posted on X:

Here’s my view:

I obviously disagree with some of Elez’s posts, but I don’t think stupid social media activity should ruin a kid’s life.

We shouldn’t reward journalists who try to destroy people. Ever.

So I say bring him back.

If he’s a bad dude or a terrible member of the team, fire him for that.

Musk has also said that the journalist who uncovered Elez’s posts should be “fired immediately.”

Here’s what you need to know about the scandal that broke yesterday:

Staffer for Musk’s DOGE quits over racist social media posts that advocated eugenics

Fetterman reveals which way he’ll vote on RFK Jr and Tulsi Gabbard

16:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman, who has shown an increasing willingness to break with his party in recent months, has revealed that he will not be supporting the nominations of two of Donald Trump’s most controversial cabinet nominees: Robert F Kennedy Jr and Tulsi Gabbard.

Kennedy is the president’s choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services and Gabbard has been tapped as America’s next Director of National Intelligence but both have endured fiery confirmation hearings in front of the Senate’s committees this month and been dogged by unease about some of their controversial past statements and policy positions.

Joe Sommerlad reports.

John Fetterman reveals which way he’ll vote on RFK Jr and Tulsi Gabbard

Democratic lawmaker says she became ‘voluntarily sterile’ over Trump policies

16:35 , Oliver O’Connell

A Michigan state legislator became “voluntarily sterile” to avoid navigating a pregnancy under President Donald Trump’s second term, she revealed.

Democratic state Rep. Laurie Pohutsky told a crowd in Lansing on Wednesday: “Just under two weeks ago, I underwent surgery to ensure that I would never have to navigate a pregnancy in Donald Trump’s America,” Pohutsky said. “I refuse to let my body be treated as currency by an administration that only sees value in my ability to procreate.”

Kelly Rissman has the story.

Democratic lawmaker says she became ‘voluntarily sterile’ over Trump policies

Federal health employees brace for layoffs as White House orders HHS to rank workers

16:25 , Oliver O’Connell

Employees at the Department of Health and Human Services are bracing for layoffs across the vast public health agency, as Donald Trump’s administration instructs federal health officials to rank their essential workers and those who are deemed less essential.

Agencies like the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could be forced to cut a certain percentage of employees under the directive, gutting critical public health agencies under the sprawling cabinet-level department.

Leaders were also asked to justify why certain employees should be retained.

Alex Woodward reports.

Federal health workers brace for layoffs as White House instructs HHS to rank workers

COMMENT: A British Trump tribute act could snatch power in the UK – and wreak similar chaos

16:10 , Oliver O’Connell

Alan Rusbridger writes:

The return of Trump has brought a slew of outrageous statements and a bold bid to reshape America. We may be shocked – but without a constitution to protect us, British politics is vulnerable to its own version of extremism.

Read on…

Could a Donald Trump tribute act sweep to power in the UK – and wreak similar chaos?

Nearly 11,000 migrants deported to Mexico since Trump took office

15:55 , Oliver O’Connell

Since January 20, when U.S. President Donald Trump assumed office, Mexico has taken in almost 11,000 deported migrants from the United States, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Friday.

She added that the figure included about 2,500 non-Mexicans.

Earlier this week, Sheinbaum struck a deal with Trump to pause the threatened tariffs on Mexican goods in exchange for deploying thousands of National Guard troops to the northern border with the United States to further reduce the flow of migrants heading to the U.S.

During her regular morning press conference, Sheinbaum stated that Mexico has also repatriated deported migrants to Honduras using both flights and ground transportation. She stressed that the repatriations were not forced.

“It’s voluntary,” she told reporters. “We will accompany them so they can go to their home countries.”

January jobs report: Unemployment drops and wages rise – but hiring is lower than expected

15:46 , Oliver O’Connell

The first job report of Donald Trump’s second presidency suggested that he inherited a labor market that is solid but unspectacular – but experts have warned his policies could change that.

U.S. employers added just 143,000 jobs last month, but the jobless rate slipped to 4% to start 2025 and the government revised November and December payrolls higher. January job creation was down from 307,000 in December and 263,000 in November. Economists had expected about 170,000 new jobs in January.

Read on…

January jobs report: Unemployment drops and wages rise – but hiring falls

Here’s the White House spin from press secretary Karoline Leavitt:

“Today’s jobs report reveals the Biden economy was far worse than anyone thought, and underscores the necessity of President Trump’s pro-growth policies. During his first weeks in office, President Trump declared a national energy emergency to Make America Energy Dominant Again, pledged to cut ten regulations for every new regulatory action, and outlined a plan to deliver the largest tax cut in history for hardworking Americans. President Trump is delivering on his promise to restore our broken economy, revive small business optimism, create jobs, and ignite a new Golden Age for America.”

Iran’s supreme leader says proposed talks with U.S. ‘not intelligent, wise or honorable’

15:40 , Oliver O’Connell

Iran’s supreme leader asserts that negotiations with America “are not intelligent, wise or honorable” following President Donald Trump’s proposal for nuclear talks with Tehran, the Associated Press reports.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also indicated that “there should be no negotiations with such a government,” but he refrained from explicitly ordering against engagement with Washington.

On Wednesday, Trump said he would like to establish a verified nuclear peace agreement with Iran. Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, said it would be straightforward.

“Verifying [our nuclear program] is an easy task, they have come and verified every time they wanted to do so and they can come verify a hundred more times,” Pezeshkian said during a televised meeting with foreign ambassadors in Tehran.

He also said that Iran is not seeking a nuclear weapon as the mass killing of innocent people is prohibited in the Islamic Republic’s doctrine.

In 2018, during his previous term in office, Trump withdrew the U.S. from Tehran’s 2015 nuclear pact with world powers and reinstated sanctions that have severely impacted the country’s economy.

On Wednesday, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran is ready to give the U.S. a chance to resolve disputes between the two countries.

With reporting from agencies

Bad news for turtles…

15:22 , Oliver O’Connell

What will Trump and Japan’s Ishiba discuss in first meeting?

15:20 , Oliver O’Connell

According to a senior Trump administration official, President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will discuss training exercises and enhancing cooperation in defense technology and equipment, foreign investment, and energy, during their White House meeting today.

Additionally, they will address topics such as cybersecurity, space initiatives, and collaborative business ventures within the fields of artificial intelligence and semiconductors.

The same official said that the Trump administration continues to support trilateral efforts involving the U.S., Japan, and South Korea.

Ishiba is the second foreign leader to visit Trump after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week.

With reporting from Reuters

Awkward Rubio clip resurfaces from 2016 Republican primaries

15:10 , Joe Sommerlad

The future secretary of state rebuking the future president here for treating the Middle East as one big property venture.

At least one of them remains entirely consistent in their outlook.

Vance to visit France and Germany

14:58 , Oliver O’Connell

The White House has announced that Vice President JD Vance will undertake his first international trip next week, leading the U.S. delegations to the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris, France, and the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany.

The vice president will deliver remarks at each event and will hold bilateral meetings with world leaders.

Trump revels in chaos of shutting down USAID

14:55 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump took to Truth Social this morning to gloat about his push to shut down USAID and the reaction of the left in one of his trademark all-caps screeds.

The president wrote:

USAID IS DRIVING THE RADICAL LEFT CRAZY, AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE WAY IN WHICH THE MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT, SO MUCH OF IT FRAUDULENTLY, IS TOTALLY UNEXPLAINABLE. THE CORRUPTION IS AT LEVELS RARELY SEEN BEFORE. CLOSE IT DOWN!

He then attacked Eugene Robinson of The Washington Post for defending the work of USAID.

Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post is INCOMPETENT! So sad to see him trying to justify the waste, fraud, and corruption at USAID with his pathetic Radical Left SPIN. He should be fired immediately!!!

Why Trump has forced Americans to stockpile Prosecco

14:50 , Joe Sommerlad

U.S. imports of Italian wine – 90 percent of it Prosecco – reportedly skyrocketed by 41 percent in November, following Trump’s election, far exceeding expected consumer demand. Why?

Why Donald Trump has made Americans stockpile Prosecco

Dozens of countries speak out against Trump’s ICC sanctions

14:35 , Oliver O’Connell

On Friday, dozens of countries warned that U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposition of sanctions on the International Criminal Court could “increase the risk of impunity for the most serious crimes and threaten to erode the international rule of law.”

“Sanctions would severely undermine all situations currently under investigation, as the Court may have to close its field offices,” stated the 79 countries, which represent about two-thirds of the court’s members.

With reporting from Reuters

Exclusive: Texas lawmaker explains why he’s moving to impeach Trump

14:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Representative Al Green announced this week he wants to introduce impeachment articles against President Donald Trump – and now, the lawmaker says he won’t lobby a single person to push it through.

Green, a firebrand Democrat from Texas, spoke on the House floor on Wednesday announcing he plans to “bring articles of impeachment against the president for dastardly deeds proposed, and dastardly deeds done.”

If successful, Trump would be the first president to be impeached three times – after he already became the first president to be impeached twice during his first term.

Here’s what Green had to tell Katie Hawkinson.

Democrat explains why he’s trying to impeach Trump – even if others won’t back him

TIME unveils new cover: ‘Inside Elon Musk’s war on Washington’

14:20 , Oliver O’Connell

In a move that will likely infuriate Donald Trump, TIME has revealed its latest cover — a picture of Elon Musk sitting behind the Oval Office’s Resolute Desk for the cover story “Inside Elon Musk’s war on Washington.”

Analysis: Democrats lost the optics war with Biden. They haven’t learned a thing

14:10 , Joe Sommerlad

Democrats failed to recognize the seriousness of Joe Biden’s physical frailty until it was too late – and already appear to be making the same mistake by foregrounding older lawmakers like Chuck Schumer and Maxine Waters as the face of the resistance to Trump, writes Andrew Feinberg.

Dems lost the optics war with Biden. They’re making the same mistakes all over again

Trump getting excited for Super Bowl

13:50 , Joe Sommerlad

Here’s what we’ve had from the president on Truth Social so far this morning.

His first post of the day literally just reads:

“BALANCED BUDGET!!! DJT”

The second sees him getting excited about the Super Bowl in on Sunday and promoting his pre-game interview with Fox’s Bret Baier:

“Two great Quarterbacks in this game. Also, an unbelievable running back, and the absolute best tight end in football (Ever!). Incredible coaching! If they would only get rid of that really weird looking new Kickoff ‘deal,’ which actually makes football more dangerous, they would be doing everybody, especially the fans, a big favor. ANYWAY, IT WILL BE A GREAT GAME!!! I’ll be doing the interview, before the game, at 3:00 P.M. There hasn’t been one in four years (Gee, I wonder why?).”

Trump hosting Japanese PM on Friday

13:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Before jetting home to Mar-a-Lago and then on to New Orleans for the Super Bowl on Sunday, the president will be holding a bilateral meeting with Shigeru Ishiba at the White House today.

Ishiba, over for a three-day visit, will be hoping to conjure some of the same chemistry that his late predecessor Shinzo Abe enjoyed with Trump during his first term and will seek familiar reassurances from the American on regional stability in Asia.

“We have a lot of topics to discuss,” Ishiba told Japanese MPs this week.

“I hope to set priorities and get results in the limited time we have.”

Judge accuses Trump of ‘ignoring’ law in rebuke of citizenship order

13:10 , Joe Sommerlad

A federal judge has once again blocked Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to redefine the Constitution’s birthright citizenship clause, delivering a powerful rebuke from the bench to accuse the president of treating the rule of law as an “impediment to his policy goals.”

District Judge John C Coughenour, who was appointed by Ronald Reagan, issued a preliminary injunction on Thursday that blocks the order from taking effect nationally while the legal case plays out in Washington state.

Alex Woodward reports.

Judge accuses Trump of ‘ignoring’ law in rebuke of birthright citizenship order

Marco Rubio forced into embarrassing walk back on Panama Canal claim

12:50 , Joe Sommerlad

The Secretary of State has been forced to admit that his claim that Panama would allow American ships to use its canal for free is not true.

Alexander Butler has the details.

Marco Rubio forced into embarrassing walk back on Panama Canal claim

Trump cabinet members talk tech infrastructure and ‘weaponization’ of justice on Sean Hannity’s show

12:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Sean Duffy and Pam Bondi were both on the Fox News big beast’s primetime show last night, with the former reporting that Elon Musk had promised to upgrade America’s outmoded air traffic control tech infrastructure within a year and the latter hinting darkly about the upcoming persecution of Justice Department employees by the new administration.

House Democrats urge security investigations into Elon Musk’s team

12:10 , Joe Sommerlad

The opposition have begun pushing for investigations into possible national security threats posed by Musk’s unvetted Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee sent a letter on Thursday urging deputy inspectors general at a number of federal agencies to investigate possible security breaches by the billionaire’s team.

The Tesla, SpaceX and X CEO is in charge of DOGE, an advisory panel tasked with finding severe cuts to the federal budget that has already led the charge to nearly fully dismantle the aforementioned United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

USAID is just one of the agencies Democrats are calling for security investigations in relation to, as well as the Treasury, the Office of Personnel Management, the Department of Education, the General Services Administration and the Small Business Administration.

Gustaf Kilander has the latest.

House Democrats urge security investigations into Elon Musk’s team

First of Trump’s ‘high threat’ deportees arrive at Guantanamo Bay

11:54 , Joe Sommerlad

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth posted footage on X of shackled immigrants being led from a military helicopter at the Cuban naval base, with a Department of Defence statement subsequently claiming that all 10 deportees were part of “Tren de Aragua,” a transnational organized crime group with roots in Venezuela that was recently designated as a terrorist organization by the White House.

First of Trump’s ‘high threat’ US deportees arrive at Guantanamo Bay

Watch: Tom Homan threatens activists who warned of immigration raid with prosecution

11:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Trump’s border czar has hit out after details of a recent ICE operation appeared to be leaked to its targets.

Trump received golden pager gift from Netanyahu amid White House visit

11:10 , Joe Sommerlad

It has emerged that the president received a golden beeper from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to the White House on Tuesday – in an apparent nod to the deadly attack on Hezbollah operatives last year that also killed children and healthcare workers.

Trump reportedly received the gift from Netanyahu on the same day he claimed the U.S. plans to “take over” Gaza.

The golden pager’s screen reads: “Press with both hands.”

Below the device, which is mounted on a wooden background, is a plaque that reads: “To President Donald J. Trump, Our greatest friend and ally. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.”

Katie Hawkinson has more.

Trump received morbid gift from Netanyahu during White House visit

Trump jokes about a third term – for the third time since inauguration

10:50 , Joe Sommerlad

This is already getting more than a little eerie.

Here’s Gustaf Kilander on the president’s most recent hint about attempting to alter the Constitution to stay in power.

Trump jokes about a third term – for the third time since his inauguration

Trump DOJ ending task force targeting Kremlin oligarchs with sanctions

10:30 , Joe Sommerlad

The president’s administration is ending a task force focused on enforcing sanctions against Russian oligarchs, which was formed in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 to target wealthy businessmen with close ties to Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin to exert pressure in the hope of bringing the war to an end.

It was one of a raft of orders issued by new Attorney General Pam Bondi on her first day in office on Wednesday.

A memo stated that the group, called Task Force KleptoCapture, would come to an end as the agency’s focus moves on to going after drug cartels and international gangs.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

Trump DOJ ending task force targeting Kremlin oligarchs with sanctions

Trump’s resignation offers are blocked by judge hours before buyouts were set to expire

13:50 , Joe Sommerlad

A federal judge has temporarily blocked Donald Trump’s government buyout offer, giving hundreds of thousands of federal workers more time to decide to take eight months of pay in exchange for their resignation or early retirement.

Hoping to reduce the workforce by 5 to 10 percent, the Office of Personnel Management sent an email, entitled “Fork in the Road,” to much of the federal workforce – with some exceptions – last week offering to pay them through September 30 if they agreed to resign by Thursday.

However, hours before the original deadline was set to expire, District Judge George O’Toole Jr. temporarily blocked it, saying the court needed time to review the legality offer.

Ariana Baio reports.

Trump’s buyout offers are blocked by judge hours before deadline

USAID to be hacked from 14,000 workers to just 294 as Trump team shreds humanitarian agency

10:10 , Joe Sommerlad

Here’s more from Alex Woodward on the hacking and slashing of the poor old United States Agency for International Development, which has been branded a “criminal organization” by Elon Musk and targeted for death by a thousand cuts.

USAID workforce to be slashed to just 294 employees: report

Iran denounces ‘bullying’ U.S. after first Trump sanctions target its ships

09:50 , Joe Sommerlad

Tehran has accused Washington of acting illegitimately and bullying it after Donald Trump’s administration began imposing sanctions on its ships in order to stifle its oil trade.

The U.S. blacklisted three ships, an Indian master, shipowners and managers on Thursday, according to TradeWinds, in the first targeting of Iranian shipping under Trump.

The listing came after the new president signed an executive order calling for the revival of his first-term policy of imposing “maximum pressure” on Iran.

Trump announces sanctions on International Criminal Court for ‘targeting’ U.S. and Israel

09:30 , Joe Sommerlad

The president has signed an executive order issuing sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

The president’s order accuses the ICC of “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel” and imposes visa and financial sanctions on anyone working on court probes of U.S. citizens or allies.

Gustaf Kilander has more.

Trump announces sanctions on International Criminal Court for ‘targeting’ US, Israel

Project 2025 architect confirmed as head of powerful Office of Management and Budget

09:10 , Joe Sommerlad

The Senate yesterday confirmed Russell Vought to lead the powerful Office of Management and Budget, welcoming an official who has plotted the massive expansion of Donald Trump’s power into one of the most influential positions in the government.

Vought, the architect of the controversial right-wing playbook Project 2025, was confirmed on a party-line vote of 53-47.

With the Senate chamber full, Democrats repeatedly tried to speak as they cast their “no” votes to give their reasons for voting against Vought. But they were relentlessly gavelled into silence.

The vote came after Democrats had exhausted their only remaining tool to stonewall a nomination – holding the Senate floor throughout the previous night and day with a series of speeches in which they warned that Vought was Trump’s “most dangerous nominee.”

Project 2025 architect Russell Vought confirmed to head of powerful Budget Office

Donald Trump sued by USAID workers union for shutting down global aid agency

08:50

Good morning!

Donald Trump is being sued by unions representing United States Agency for International Development (USAID) workers, following an unprecedented attack against the humanitarian agency, which supports dozens of life-saving missions in more than 100 countries.

Thousands of USAID employees are imminently expected to lose their jobs as Trump’s administration, under Elon Musk’s guidance, makes visceral cuts across government agencies.

Here’s Alex Woodward’s report.

Government workers union sues Trump for shutting down USAID

Americans stockpile eggs as stores are left with empty shelves amid bird flu outbreaks

08:30 , Oliver O’Connell

With fewer shells on shelves, customers are scrambling for new ways to get their egg fix.

Due to the bird flu outbreak, there are millions fewer hens, meaning way fewer eggs. Frustrated shoppers across the country have even started posting videos of empty shelves where eggs once lay.

Kelly Rissman reports.

Americans stockpile eggs as stores are left with empty shelves amid bird flu outbreak

Indiana looks to add 33 counties from Illinois that voted to leave the state

08:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Indiana has looked at adding 33 counties from Illinois that signaled they want to leave the state – which could lead to whole new maps of the U.S.

Indiana House Republicans have listed embracing the counties from neighboring Illinois as one of their top 2025 legislative session priorities. House Speaker Todd Huston said Thursday that Republicans are considering the proposal after roughly a third of counties in the Prairie state voted to break away.

If successful, it will drastically alter the map for Illinoisans.

Rhian Lubin reports.

Indiana looks to add 33 counties from Illinois that voted to leave the state

Staffer for Musk’s DOGE resigns over racist social media posts

07:30 , Oliver O’Connell

One of the two staffers for Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency who was granted access to the US Treasury’s sensitive payment system has resigned from his post after the White House was asked about his history of racist social media posts, including advocating for repealing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that Marko Elez, a 25-year-old programmer who was brought into government service by the world’s wealthiest man, had a profile on X (formerly Twitter), the social media site owned by Musk, featuring posts in which he said he supported a “eugenic immigration policy” and made other racist statements.

Andrew Feinberg has the latest from Washington, D.C.

Staffer for Musk’s DOGE quits over racist social media posts that advocated eugenics

Report: USAID to be hacked from 14,000 workers to just 294 as Trump team shreds humanitarian agency

06:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Only 294 employees with the United States Agency for International Development have been deemed essential among 14,000 global staff members, according to CBS News.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reportedly said that crucial health and humanitarian aid will continue, following threats from Donald Trump and Elon Musk to dissolve the entire agency, but the administration intends to decimate its size, including limiting staff to only 12 people in Africa.

Alex Woodward reports.

USAID workforce to be slashed to just 294 employees: report

ICYMI: Trump says he’s ordering attorney general to target ‘anti-Christian bias’

05:30 , Oliver O’Connell

President Donald Trump on Thursday said he’s ordering Attorney General Pam Bondi to stand up a “task force” to “eradicate anti-Christian bias” within the United States and prosecute instances of “anti-Christian violence and vandalism.”

Speaking at a bipartisan National Prayer Breakfast at the Washington, DC Hilton hotel, Trump said the task force will be ordered to “immediately halt all forms of anti-Christian targeting and discrimination within the federal government,” including at the Department of Justice, the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, D.C.

Trump rails against ‘anti-Christian bias’ and appoints new task force

Democrats lost the optics war with Joe Biden. They’re making the same mistakes all over again

05:00 , Andrew Feinberg

When the complete history of Donald Trump’s return to power from political exile is written, one of the most important players in the four-year drama that began with his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden and ended with his defeat of Biden’s handpicked successor may be a recalcitrant German Shepherd.

On November 28, 2020, then-President-elect Biden injured himself while playing with his dog, Major, at his Delaware home. According to statements issued to the press pool traveling with him at the time, Biden was taken for a CT scan that showed hairline fractures in his foot, an injury that required the use of a walking boot.

Whether it was out of vanity or stubbornness, Biden didn’t wear the boot for long, so the fracture never healed properly, leaving him with a shuffling, arthritic gait that made him look exactly like the oldest president ever to serve in the nation’s highest office.

Read more:

Dems lost the optics war with Biden. They’re making the same mistakes all over again

Pam Bondi uses her first day in office to ban federal funds from heading to ‘Sanctuary Cities‘

04:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Hours after she was sworn in, Attorney General Pam Bondi directed the Justice Department to pause all federal funding for sanctuary cities, according to a report.

Among several directives issued Wednesday, Bondi charged the DOJ with identifying and evaluating funding agreements with nongovernmental organizations that provide support to undocumented immigrants, Fox News Digital first reported.

She also tasked the department with investigating instances of sanctuary jurisdictions obstructing law enforcement and “directing they be prosecuted, when necessary,” the outlet wrote.

Kelly Rissman has the details.

New AG Pam Bondi bans federal funds from heading to ‘Sanctuary Cities‘ on first day

Texas lawmaker explains why he’s trying to impeach Trump – even if fellow Democrats aren’t backing him

04:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Representative Al Green announced this week he wants to introduce impeachment articles against President Donald Trump — and now, the lawmaker says he won’t lobby a single person to push it through.

Green, a firebrand Democrat from Texas, spoke on the House floor Wednesday announcing he plans to “bring articles of impeachment against the president for dastardly deeds proposed, and dastardly deeds done.” If successful, Trump would be the first president to be impeached three times — after he already became the first president to be impeached twice during his first term.

In the House speech, Green condemned Trump’s call for the U.S. to “take over” Gaza. Trump said that the U.S. would “own it” and “level the site” to “create economic development” as he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who later praised the idea.

Read more:

Democrat explains why he’s trying to impeach Trump – even if others won’t back him

Money for projects will go to communities with high birth rates, says Trump transport sec

03:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has instructed his agency to focus their work and programming on communities with higher birth and marriage rates.

Duffy, who was confirmed by the Senate last week in a 77-22 vote, is a former Wisconsin congressperson, reality TV star and father to nine. Now, he has issued a memo ordering that all “DOT-supported or -assisted programs and activities…give preference to communities with marriage and birth rates higher than the national average.”

Katie Hawkinson reports from Washington, D.C.

Secretary Duffy says DOT is prioritizing communities with high birth rates

Trump’s resignation offers blocked by judge hours before buyouts set to expire

03:00 , Oliver O’Connell

A federal judge temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s government buyout offer, giving hundreds of thousands of federal workers more time to decide to take eight months of pay in exchange for their resignation or early retirement.

Hoping to reduce the workforce by 5 to 10 percent, the Office of Personnel Management sent an email, entitled “Fork in the Road,” to much of the federal workforce – with some exceptions – last week offering to pay them through September 30 if they agreed to resign by Thursday.

However, hours before the original deadline was set to expire, District Judge George O’Toole Jr. temporarily blocked it, saying the court needed time to review the legality offer.

Ariana Baio reports.

Trump’s buyout offers are blocked by judge hours before deadline

Liz Cheney takes a swipe at Elon Musk’s citizenship in online feud

02:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Former congresswoman Liz Cheney took a jab at billionaire political adviser Elon Musk after he amplified a post on X that correlated Cheney’s disdain for President Donald Trump to her time working in the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Ariana Baio reports.

Liz Cheney takes a swipe at Elon Musk’s citizenship as pair trade blows on X

Trump sued by USAID workers union for shutting down global aid agency: ‘Profound moral stain’

02:21 , Alex Woodward

Unions representing United States Agency for International Development workers are suing Donald Trump and his administration following an unprecedented attack against the global aid agency, which supports dozens of life-saving missions in more than 100 countries.

Thousands of USAID employees are imminently expected to lose their jobs as Trump’s administration, with Elon Musk’s guidance, makes visceral cuts across government agencies.

A lawsuit filed by government employee unions on Thursday seeks to block Trump’s “unconstitutional and illegal actions” that “have systematically dismantled” the agency, creating a “humanitarian crisis” and imperiling national security while jeopardizing thousands of jobs.

Read more:

Government workers union sues Trump for shutting down USAID

Judge accuses Trump of ‘ignoring’ law in stunning rebuke of birthright citizenship order

02:00 , Oliver O’Connell

A federal judge has once again blocked Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to redefine the constitution’s birthright citizenship clause, delivering a powerful rebuke from the bench to accuse the president of treating the rule of law as “impediment to his policy goals.”

District Judge John C. Coughenour, who was appointed by Ronald Reagan, issued a preliminary injunction on Thursday that blocks the order from taking effect nationally while the legal case plays out in Washington state.

Alex Woodward reports on the latest developments.

Judge accuses Trump of ‘ignoring’ law in rebuke of birthright citizenship order

Two universities face probes in Trump crackdown on transgender athletes

01:30 , AP

The Trump administration is investigating potential civil rights violations at two universities and a high school sports league that allowed transgender athletes to compete on women’s teams, the Education Department said Thursday.

The agency is opening reviews at San Jose State University, the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Read on…

San Jose State and Penn face inquiries in Trump crackdown on transgender athletes

Indiana looks to add 33 counties from Illinois that voted to leave the state

01:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Indiana has looked at adding 33 counties from Illinois that signaled they want to leave the state – which could lead to whole new maps of the U.S.

Indiana House Republicans have listed embracing the counties from neighboring Illinois as one of their top 2025 legislative session priorities. House Speaker Todd Huston said Thursday that Republicans are considering the proposal after roughly a third of counties in the Prairie state voted to break away.

If successful, it will drastically alter the map for Illinoisans.

Rhian Lubin reports.

Indiana looks to add 33 counties from Illinois that voted to leave the state

Senate confirms Russell Vought as White House budget director

00:43 , Gustaf Kilander

The Senate has confirmed Russell Vought as the next head of the Office of Management and Budget after a vote along party lines.

Democrats were unified in their opposition to Vought, noting his connections to Project 2025.

They have also criticized his willingness to cut programs that help the middle class and his rejection of the 2020 election results.

AOC claps back after MAGAworld runs wild with claims she is worth $30 million

00:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez fiercely pushed back on allegations that she uses her political position for monetary gain as well as a longtime false accusation that she is a multimillionaire.

MAGA-backers on the internet have been going wild with claims the New York rep for parts of Queens and the Bronx is worth $30 million despite being paid a congressional salary of just $174,000 per year.

Ariana Baio has the story.

AOC claps back after MAGAworld runs wild with claims she is worth $30 million

Trump announces sanctions on International Criminal Court for ‘targeting’ U.S. and Israel

00:07 , Gustaf Kilander

President Donald Trump has announced sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) for its supposed “targeting” of the U.S. and Israel.

Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, accusing the ICC of “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel.”

The order puts visa and financial sanctions on people working on ICC probes of U.S. citizens or allies.

Read more:

Trump announces sanctions on International Criminal Court for ‘targeting’ US, Israel

ICYMI: Google becomes the latest tech giant to fall in line with Trump

00:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Google has ditched its diverse hiring targets in the wake of President Donald Trump’s order to put an end to diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.

On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order directing the termination of all “radical and wasteful government DEI programs and preferencing” in the federal government. Google, a federal contractor, has now become the latest tech company to change its practices, joining the likes of Meta and Amazon.

Kelly Rissman has the story.

Google becomes latest tech giant to fall in line with Trump by ending DEI policies

NCAA changes transgender policy

Thursday 6 February 2025 23:30 , AP

The NCAA changed its participation policy for transgender athletes on Thursday, limiting competition in women’s sports to athletes assigned female at birth only.

The move came one day after President Donald Trump signed an executive order intended to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports. The order gives federal agencies latitude to withhold federal funding from entities that do not abide by Title IX in alignment with the Trump administration’s view, which interprets “sex” as the gender someone was assigned at birth.

Read on…

NCAA changes transgender policy to limit women’s competition to athletes assigned female at birth

DOGE subcommittee announces first hearing

Thursday 6 February 2025 23:10 , Oliver O’Connell

The House Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) will hold its first hearing on February 12 at 10 a.m.

Environmentalists sue after feds allows new drilling permits in San Joaquin Valley

Thursday 6 February 2025 23:00 , Oliver O’Connell

A slew of health and environmental groups are suing the Bureau of Land Management over its approval of permits for new oil and gas drilling on Central California’s public lands – which is home to some of the country’s most polluted cities.

A complaint filed in the U.S. Eastern District Court of California claims that the federal agency’s decision is at the expense of public health, the environment and the law. It adds that the bureau had never analyzed the harms of its good approvals on nearby communities.

Julia Musto reports.

Environmental groups sue over California oil and gas permits

Republican’s wild claim that US spent ‘$15 million for condoms for the Taliban’ stuns CNN anchor

Thursday 6 February 2025 22:50 , Oliver O’Connell

CNN anchor Boris Sanchez was left flabbergasted when a Republican member of the Congressional DOGE Caucus repeatedly insisted that the United States had set aside millions of dollars in foreign aid to purchase condoms for the Taliban.

Justin Baragona has the story.

CNN anchor stunned by GOP rep’s claim that US spent millions on condoms for Taliban

Trump imposes sanctions on International Criminal Court

Thursday 6 February 2025 22:43 , Oliver O’Connell

President Donald Trump on Thursday authorized economic and travel sanctions against individuals involved in International Criminal Court investigations of U.S. citizens or U.S. allies, including Israel, reiterating an action he took during his first term.

The move coincides with a visit to Washington by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who, along with his former defense minister and a leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, is wanted by the ICC for the war in the Gaza Strip.

It remains unclear how quickly the U.S. will announce the names of those sanctioned. During the first Trump administration in 2020, Washington imposed sanctions on then-prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and one of her top aides in response to the ICC’s investigation into alleged war crimes by American troops in Afghanistan.

The ICC did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters. The sanctions include freezing any U.S. assets of the designated individuals and prohibiting them and their families from entering the United States.

With reporting from Reuters

Watch: Trump mocks Biden for signing with Hollywood talent agency

Thursday 6 February 2025 22:40 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump mocks Biden for signing with Hollywood talent agency: ‘You got to be kidding’

Americans stockpile eggs as stores are left with empty shelves amid bird flu outbreaks

Thursday 6 February 2025 22:30 , Oliver O’Connell

With fewer shells on shelves, customers are scrambling for new ways to get their egg fix.

Due to the bird flu outbreak, there are millions fewer hens, meaning way fewer eggs. Frustrated shoppers across the country have even started posting videos of empty shelves where eggs once lay.

Kelly Rissman reports.

Americans stockpile eggs as stores are left with empty shelves amid bird flu outbreak

Trump’s view on transgender athletes resonates among some candidates running for IOC president

Thursday 6 February 2025 22:20 , AP

Whether to allow transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports already was a key debate among Olympic leaders before U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that puts pressure on them before the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

In a speech before signing the document on Wednesday, Trump said he wants the International Olympic Committee to change everything “having to do with this absolutely ridiculous subject.”

Outgoing IOC President Thomas Bach, who had a tense meeting with Trump during his first term in the White House, has avoided taking a strong stance on the subject, but many of the seven candidates running to replace him this year have.

Continue reading…

Trump’s view on transgender athletes resonates among some candidates running for IOC president