Tag Archives: Trump administration

The Associated Press reports: A doctor from Lebanon who arrived at the Boston airport was deported over the weekend without explanation, despite having a U.S. visa and a job teaching at Brown University. A judge had ordered she not be sent back until there was a hearing, but government lawyers said customs officials did not get word in time. Dr. …

Axios reports: The Trump administration says it ignored a Saturday court order to turn around two planeloads of alleged Venezuelan gang members because the flights were over international waters and therefore the ruling didn’t apply, two senior officials tell Axios. The administration’s decision to defy a federal judge’s order is exceedingly rare and highly controversial. The White House welcomes that …

The New York Times reports: For more than 80 years, Voice of America transmitted the news into countries, many of them authoritarian, where reliable sources of information about the outside world were often hard to come by. Now those broadcasts — long viewed as an important part of U.S. efforts to promote democracy and transparency overseas — are flickering out. Hours …

The Associated Press reports: The Trump administration has transferred hundreds of immigrants to El Salvador despite a federal judge’s order temporarily barring the deportations under an 18th century wartime declaration targeting Venezuelan gang members, officials said Sunday. Flights were in the air at the time of the ruling. U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg issued an order Saturday evening blocking …

The Guardian reports: Silicon Valley has played a sizable part in the early days of Donald Trump’s new administration, but another familiar face in the MAGA-verse is beginning to emerge: businessman Erik Prince, oft-described by his critics as a living “Bond villain”. Prince is the most famous mercenary of the contemporary era and the founder of the now defunct private …

The Hill reports: U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) officials said several members of DOGE arrived unannounced with FBI agents on Saturday but were denied access to the building after being approached by their counsel. “They were met at the door by the Institute’s outside counsel who informed them of USIP’s private and independent status as a non-executive branch agency. Following …

“Tonight, a DC trial judge supported Tren de Aragua terrorists over the safety of Americans. TdA is represented by the ACLU. This order disregards well-established authority regarding President Trump’s power, and it puts the public and law enforcement at risk. The Department of Justice is undeterred in its efforts to work with the White House, the Department of Homeland Security, …

From the State Department’s official G7 transcript: QUESTION: If I can follow up. Mr. Secretary, I know that we’re not speaking about Canada becoming the 51st state at this meeting, but I’m asking you now: Do you consider what the President has said about Canada becoming the 51st state – is he serious? SECRETARY RUBIO: I’ll tell you how that …

From Trump’s latest post on Truth Social: Today, I have ordered the United States Military to launch decisive and powerful Military action against the Houthi terrorists in Yemen. They have waged an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism against American, and other, ships, aircraft, and drones. Joe Biden’s response was pathetically weak, so the unrestrained Houthis just kept going. …

The Washington Post reports: Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said Friday that the Trump administration will aggressively investigate people in U.S. spy agencies who leak information to the public, citing recent stories on national security topics in The Washington Post and other news outlets. Gabbard, who coordinates the work of 18 U.S. intelligence agencies, said in a statement that …

Chapel Hill’s NPR affiliate reports: The State Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services received a letter from the United States Department of Agriculture earlier this month stating it will no longer receive funding for the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program. The nonprofit Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina is one of seven food banks that receives funding through …

The New York Times reports: The Trump administration is considering targeting the citizens of as many as 43 countries as part of a new ban on travel to the United States that would be broader than the restrictions imposed during President Trump’s first term. A draft list of recommendations developed by diplomatic and security officials suggests a “red” list of …

The Hill reports: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said she will skip the annual White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner slated for late April this year. “I will not be in attendance at the White House Correspondents’ dinner and that’s breaking news for the Sean Spicer Show,” Leavitt said during her Friday appearance on the show hosted by Sean …

Mediaite reports: Leo Terrell, former Fox News contributor who now heads the Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, shared a wild post by white nationalist Patrick Casey this week declaring President Donald Trump can “revoke someone’s Jew card.” Terrell shared the Wednesday post by Casey, who was once the executive director of Identity Evropa – a now defunct “alt right …

The Daily Beast reports: Vice President J.D. Vance took aim at protesters at a manufacturing event in Bay City, Michigan, where he touted President Donald Trump’s economic agenda. Vance, who was speaking at Vantage Plastics, had little sympathy for people outside the venue who were carrying signs with messages like “Protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.” In fact, he suggested …

The New York Times reports: President Trump’s administration has officially expelled South Africa’s ambassador to the United States, a spokesman for the South African president said on Saturday, calling the decision “regrettable.” The ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, received an expulsion letter from the State Department, said Vincent Magwenya, the spokesman for President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa. The move comes during …

The New York Times reports: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the shuttering of the Office of Net Assessment, a small, often secretive and sometimes opaque office that for more than 50 years has helped the Pentagon’s most senior leaders think about the future of war. The office costs about $10 million to $20 million a year — a fraction of …

Fast Company reports: Poppers have always operated in a legal gray zone. Now the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is cracking down on their production. This week, many major poppers brands began wiping their websites and social media presences. On Friday, Double Scorpio, a popular isobutyl nitrite brand, posted a statement on its website. “Double Scorpio has stopped all operations …

Peter Montgomery reports at Right Wing Watch: The religious-right group Family Research Council promoted an excited letter to supporters Thursday saying that President Donald Trump’s dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education could be a “game-changer” for FRC’s efforts to “bring faith and the Bible back to public schools.” FRC President Tony Perkins’ letter showcases such a two-front strategy to …

The Daily Beast reports: Elon Musk threw a tantrum after his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was dealt a series of legal setbacks, immediately calling for the impeachment of federal judges. “Without judicial reform, which means at least the absolute worst judges get impeached, we don’t have real democracy in America,” Musk said on X. He reacted after federal agencies …