At the end of time we all sit on a rock and study its formation.


 

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So we drift as the world storms. It is a laugh to see the lakes fill with ducks. I stare at the moon with fascination too.

 


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It is foolish to fall in love and a fool falls the hardest. But love is sweet and tangy so we want it. It sells great to the ladies. The hunks enter the bedroom. The lights turn red and begin pulsating. It is enough to start a man at bingo.


 

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I prefer cats and dogs to most people and worms.

 



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People who meddle in people's lives should spend the rest of it repenting.


 

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People who state what they believe often sound as if they are a trophy winner.


 

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Greatest man that everyone wanted to live..


 

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If life is making you a stress case..


 

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If time is better understood how could that information be actually helpful? According to my thoughts that a person who does very little with their time will find themselves old and crippled from years of that. Plus they won't be able to help anyone do anything if needed. Hence the rolling stone analogy. But is there any real physics involved?


 

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This is a long read: Mostly We love ourselves too often and need reach out much more often. It is a social responsibility and it effects the environment also. Showing posts sorted by relevance for query Trump. Sort by date Show all posts I can change your mind about Trump: Bibliography of Donald Trump Article Talk Read Edit View history Tools Appearance hide Text Small Standard Large Width Standard Wide Color (beta) Automatic Light Dark From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This article is part of a series about Donald Trump Business and personal 45th and 47th President of the United States Incumbent Tenure Policies Appointments (first · second) Presidential campaigns Impeachments Civil and criminal prosecutions COVID-19 pandemic Donald Trump's signature Seal of the President of the United States vte This bibliography of Donald Trump is a list of written and published works, by and about Donald Trump, the 45th and 47th president of the United States. Due to the sheer volume of books about Trump, the titles listed here are limited to non-fiction books about Trump or his presidency, published by notable authors and scholars. Tertiary sources (including textbooks and juvenile literature), satire, and self-published books are excluded. Prior to his 2016 campaign, Trump was already the focus of many books describing his life as a businessman and politician.[1] Biographer Michael D'Antonio observed in Never Enough: Donald Trump and the Pursuit of Success (2015) that Trump "has been a topic of conversation in America for almost 40 years. No one in the world of business – not Bill Gates, Steve Jobs or Warren Buffett – has been as famous as Trump for as long." Almost one year after his inauguration as president, The Guardian noted that more than 4,500 English-language books about Trump had been published since he took office, compared to just over 800 works about Trump's predecessor Barack Obama during his first year in office.[2] This "Trump bump" for the U.S. publishing industry, as The New York Times put it, persisted throughout his time in office.[3] But afterwards, demand for books about his presidency dropped off sharply.[4] Trump's first published book in 1987 was Trump: The Art of the Deal, written by ghostwriter Tony Schwartz.[1][5][6] Trump made a practice of hiring ghostwriters and co-authors to write his books.[7][8][9] In some cases the ghostwriters are credited on the cover, while in other instances, including Time to Get Tough (2011) and Crippled America (2015), Trump makes mention of the writer's contributions in the acknowledgements sections. Works written by Trump himself include self-help books, personal finance books, political policy treatises, and autobiographies.[1][10] "...Schwartz has noted that, during the year and a half that they worked together on The Art of the Deal, he never saw a single book in Trump's office or apartment. Yet Trump has taken authorial credits on more than a dozen books to date, and, given that he's a proven marketing master, it's inconceivable that he won't try to sell more."[11] The Washington Post journalist Carlos Lozada observed that a continuous theme throughout Trump's written works is a focus on Trump himself, such as citing examples from his business in real estate investing and work on television. Parties and individuals discussed in books by Trump are reduced to a zero-sum game, according to Lozada: "Trump's world is binary, divided into class acts and total losers." Trump often makes use of hyperbole to illustrate his points in his works. In other books, Trump repeats the same stories of what he views as key successes from his business career; for example, a tale about a 1980s business deal improving the Wollman Rink in Central Park, New York.[10] Trump's published writings shifted post-2000, from generally memoirs about himself to books giving advice about finance.[10] Posted by Magic V at February 13, 2025 No comments: Email This BlogThis! Share to X Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest Trump's Job Approval Rating at 45%; Congress' Jumps to 29% by Megan Brenan Story Highlights Trump’s ratings similar on immigration, foreign affairs, trade, economy Republicans broadly approve of Trump’s job overall and on issues 12-point, one-month rise in approval of Congress, to 29%, due to GOP WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Less than one month into his second term in office, President Donald Trump’s job approval rating is at 45%, similar to his first post-inauguration reading of 47% in January. Trump’s ratings on several issues that his administration has targeted in the first weeks of his presidency are similar to his overall rating, including on immigration (46%), foreign affairs (44%), foreign trade (42%) and the economy (42%). Meanwhile, slightly fewer Americans, 40% each, approve of the president’s handling of the situations in Ukraine and in the Middle East between the Israelis and Palestinians, as fewer offer opinions of his performance on these two issues. The latest ratings are from a Feb. 3-16 Gallup poll, conducted as Trump continued to sign an unprecedented number of executive orders, memoranda and proclamations addressing a wide array of policy areas, including the six covered in the survey. Republicans Register High Approval of Trump Ninety-three percent of Republicans, 37% of independents and 4% of Democrats approve of Trump’s job performance overall. Republicans also broadly approve of the president’s handling of immigration (92%), foreign affairs (90%), the economy (90%) and foreign trade (89%). Another 80% of Republicans each approve of Trump’s handling of the situations in the Middle East and Ukraine. At the same time, Democrats register single-digit approval ratings of Trump on all six issues measured. Aside from independents’ 40% rating for the president’s performance on immigration, their ratings range from 31% on the economy to 37% on foreign affairs. The 89-percentage-point partisan gap in Trump’s overall job approval rating is among the highest Gallup has measured for any president. The only larger gaps were 90 and 92 points, also for Trump, both in the fall of 2020 as he sought reelection to a second term. The next highest partisan gap in approval was 88 points, for Joe Biden, in October 2021. Trump’s Rating Better Than First Term, Worse Than All Presidents Since 1953 Trump's job approval rating is 15 points below the historical average for all other elected presidents in mid-February since 1953, but it is five points higher than the February reading in his first term. Bill Clinton has the next lowest mid-February rating for a newly inaugurated president -- which, at 51%, is six points higher than where Trump is now. John Kennedy (72%) and Jimmy Carter (71%) were the highest rated at this point in their presidencies. Before Trump's first term, the gap in partisans’ approval of presidents in their first February in office ranged from 21 to 60 points. In 2017, that gap rose to 79 points for Trump, increased further to 84 points in 2021 for Biden and is now a record-high 89 points for Trump. Trump’s current ratings on foreign affairs and the economy are also historically low compared with early-term ratings for other recent presidents. His latest 44% approval rating on foreign affairs, though better than the 38% he earned at the same point in his first term, is lower than those of Biden (56%), Barack Obama (54%) and Clinton (53%) but similar to George W. Bush (46%). Republicans (+8 points) and independents (+7 points) are more likely to approve of Trump’s handling of foreign affairs now than in 2017, while Democrats' ratings of him on the issue are essentially unchanged. Trump’s approval rating on the economy now, 42%, is lower than his 48% reading in February 2017, as well as the first-term February ratings for Biden (54%), Obama (59%) and Bush (53%) on the issue. Clinton’s 45% economic rating in February 1993, however, was similar to Trump’s latest. While nine in 10 Republicans again approve of Trump’s handling of the economy, independents’ approval is now 13 points lower, at 31%, and Democrats’ is eight points lower, at 5%. Republicans Drive Increase in Congressional Job Approval Rating Americans’ approval of Congress has jumped 12 points since early January, to 29%, which is the highest rating since May 2021. Until now, congressional job approval had not risen above 20% in just over two years. The latest jump in Americans’ rating of Congress is mostly owed to a 42-point surge among Republicans, whose improved views are likely the result of their party assuming control of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Senate and the presidency. Currently, 53% of Republicans approve of the job Congress is doing, along with 26% of independents (up nine points) and 5% of Democrats (down 18 points). The last time Republican approval of Congress was higher than now was in August 2005, when Republicans also had control of both chambers and 57% approved of the body. Republicans also had a unified government from 2017 to 2019, and today’s rating of Congress among Republicans is similar to the highest reading during that time -- 50% in February 2017. Republicans’ approval for that Congress ultimately averaged 29%. When Democrats last held the presidency, House and Senate -- from 2021 to 2023 -- their approval of Congress was as high as 61% in 2021 and averaged 40% for that session. Likewise, from 2009 to 2011, with Democratic control of both chambers and the presidency, a high of 63% of Democrats approved of Congress in May 2009. Congressional approval also averaged 40% among Democrats for that session. Each party’s record-high approval rating of Congress was recorded in 2001 in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the U.S., when Americans rallied around their government and institutions. About a month after the attacks, Republicans’ congressional approval was 89%, Democrats’ was 82% and independents’ was 81%. Bottom Line Republicans’ widespread approval of Trump’s overall job performance and his handling of immigration, foreign affairs, foreign trade, the economy, and the situations in Ukraine and the Middle East is not enough to earn him majority-level ratings among all Americans. This is because independents’ approval of the president is weak, and Democrats’ is nearly nonexistent. Trump’s first two job approval ratings have both been below 50% due to relatively low support among independents, similar to his first term but lower than what Biden enjoyed early in his term. Like Trump, Biden registered exceedingly high approval from his party but very low approval from the opposition. Republicans are also pushing overall approval of Congress to its highest point in more than two years, as they seek to enact Trump’s policy agenda. However, history has shown that partisans’ approval tends to fade somewhat after an initial honeymoon period. Posted by Magic V at March 11, 2025 No comments: Email This BlogThis! Share to X Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest Now we see a new start at the better world, perhaps not perfect, but great! Trump says Putin and Zelenskiy want peace; phone calls kick off talks to end Ukraine war By Nandita Bose, Guy Faulconbridge and Tom Balmforth February 12, 20253:37 PM PSTUpdated 2 hours ago Summary Trump says he'll meet Putin soon, likely in Saudi Arabia Hegseth says it is unrealistic to expect Ukraine to return to 2014 borders Bessent, in Kyiv, says mineral deal could serve as 'security shield' for Ukraine No publicly acknowledged peace talks have been held since early months of three-year-old war WASHINGTON/MOSCOW/KYIV, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Donald Trump said both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed a desire for peace in separate phone calls with him on Wednesday, and Trump ordered top U.S. officials to begin talks on ending the war in Ukraine. The conversations came after Trump's defense secretary earlier said Kyiv would have to give up its long-held goals of joining the NATO military alliance and regaining all of its territory seized by Russia, signaling a dramatic shift in Washington's approach to the conflict. Advertisement · Scroll to continue Report this ad After speaking with Putin for more than an hour, Trump said the Russian leader, who launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, wants the war to end and they discussed "getting a ceasefire in the not-too-distant future." "He wants it to end. He doesn't want to end it and then go back to fighting six months later," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "I think we're on the way to getting peace. I think President Putin wants peace, President Zelenskiy wants peace and I want peace. I just want to see people stop getting killed," he added. Advertisement · Scroll to continue Report this ad Trump has long said he would quickly end the war in Ukraine, without spelling out exactly how he would accomplish this. The Kremlin earlier said Putin and Trump had agreed to meet, and Putin had invited Trump to visit Moscow. Trump said their first meeting would "probably" take place soon in Saudi Arabia. In a post on his social media platform, he said Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, national security adviser Michael Waltz and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff would lead negotiations on ending the war. Trump and Zelenskiy spoke after Trump's call with Putin, and Zelenskiy's office said the conversation lasted for about an hour. "I had a meaningful conversation with @POTUS. We... talked about opportunities to achieve peace, discussed our readiness to work together ...and Ukraine's technological capabilities... including drones and other advanced industries," Zelenskiy wrote on X. No Ukraine peace talks have been held since the early months of the conflict, now approaching its third anniversary. Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden, oversaw billions of dollars of military and other aid to Kyiv and had no direct contact with Putin after Russia's invasion. Russia occupies around a fifth of Ukraine and has demanded Kyiv cede more territory and be rendered permanently neutral under any peace deal. Item 1 of 3 U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands as they meet in Helsinki, Finland, July 16, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo [1/3]U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands as they meet in Helsinki, Finland, July 16, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab Ukraine demands Russia withdraw from captured territory and says it must receive NATO membership or equivalent security guarantees to prevent Moscow from attacking again. European powers, including Britain, France and Germany, said on Wednesday they had to be part of any future negotiations on the fate of Ukraine, underscoring that only a fair accord with security guarantees would ensure lasting peace. They said they were ready to enhance support for Ukraine and put it in a position of strength. 'ILLUSIONARY GOAL' Earlier on Wednesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered the new administration's bluntest statement so far on its approach to the war, saying Kyiv could not realistically hope to return to previous borders or join NATO. "We want, like you, a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine. But we must start by recognising that returning to Ukraine's pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective," Hegseth told a meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels. "Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering." Russia in 2014 annexed Crimea, which Ukraine and many Western countries consider to be occupied Ukrainian territory. Hegseth said any durable peace must include "robust security guarantees to ensure that the war will not begin again". But he said U.S. troops would not be deployed to Ukraine as part of such guarantees. Zelenskiy, hoping to keep Trump interested in continuing to support his country, has lately proposed a deal under which the United States would invest in minerals in Ukraine. Trump's Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in Kyiv on Wednesday on the first visit by a member of Trump's cabinet, said such a mineral deal could serve as a "security shield" for Ukraine after the war. Trump also said Rubio and Vice President JD Vance will hold talks about the war on Friday in Munich, where Ukrainian officials were expected to attend an annual security conference. The new diplomacy followed a U.S.-Russia prisoner swap that got under way on Tuesday, which the Kremlin said could help build trust between the two countries. Russia on Tuesday freed American schoolteacher Marc Fogel, who was serving a 14-year sentence in a Russian prison, in exchange for a Russian cybercrime boss imprisoned in the U.S., according to a official. The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here. Reporting by Nandita Bose, Tom Balmforth, Yulia Dysa and Guy Falconbridge; additional reporting by Andrew Gray, Lili Bayer, Katharine Jackson, Doina Chiacu, Kanishka Singh, Steve Holland and Trevor Hunnicutt; Writing by Peter Graff and Simon Lewis; Editing by Jon Boyle, Mike Collett-White and Cynthia Osterman Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Posted by Magic V at February 12, 2025 No comments: Email This BlogThis! Share to X Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest Europe Pro E&E News Search WASHINGTON & POLITICS Congress White House 2024 Elections Supreme Court and Legal Issues Magazine Latest on POLITICO TRANSITION OF POWER Trump’s First 100 Days Tracking Trump’s Cabinet picks Inside Congress Live Trump Criminal Cases 2024 Election Results STATE POLITICS & POLICY California Florida New Jersey New York GLOBAL POLITICS & POLICY NATO Brussels Canada United Kingdom Munich Security Conference POLICY NEWS Food and Agriculture Cannabis Cybersecurity Defense Education Energy and Climate Tax, Finance and the Economy Health Care Labor Sustainability Tech Trade Transportation NEWSLETTERS Playbook Playbook PM West Wing Playbook Inside Congress POLITICO Nightly POLITICO Weekend The Recast All Newsletters COLUMNISTS Alex Burns Victoria Guida John Harris Ankush Khardori Jonathan Martin Michael Schaffer Nahal Toosi All Columnists SERIES & MORE Breaking News Alerts Podcasts Video The Fifty Biden’s Billions Women Rule Matt Wuerker Cartoons Cartoon Carousel POLITICO Live Upcoming Events Previous Events Follow us X Instagram Facebook My Account Log In Congress Live updates Inside Congress newsletter ‘Potty mouth’ Democrats have some new fighting words we can’t put in this headline Profanity isn’t new in politics. But it’s reaching new heights on the left. Rep. Jasmine Crockett speaks. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) dropped an f-bomb in reaction to President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress on Tuesday evening. | Francis Chung/POLITICO By Adam Wren, Mia McCarthy and Lisa Kashinsky 03/09/2025 10:55 AM EDT When Rep. Jasmine Crockett reacted to President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress on Tuesday evening, profanity leaped effortlessly from her lips: “Somebody slap me and wake me the fuck up because I’m ready to get on with it.” Just a few days earlier, when asked of her message to Elon Musk, she told him to “Fuck off.” Ken Martin, the new chair of the Democratic National Committee, took a more Midwestern approach: “Go to hell,” he said, adding later on X: “I said what I said.” Meanwhile, Senate Democrats launched coordinated social media videos fact checking Trump, each of them calling his claims “shit that ain’t true.” 00:08 Top Stories from POLITICO Skip Ad The video player is currently playing an ad. In the earliest weeks of Trump’s second term, Democrats have careened from strategy to strategy to respond to him, often ineffectually. But one unifying thread as they try to invigorate their connection to the American voter has been a reach for profanity. Democrats are cursing up a storm. “Goddamn it, tell me who started that?” said Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, a frequent purveyor of profanity. Cursing is, of course, not new in politics. Among operatives, principals and journalists, it is a familiar way to broker instant bonhomie. Nor is it new for the Democratic Party, particularly when confronting Trump: Former DNC Chair Tom Perez frequently deployed profanity in 2017 in stump speeches, saying, for example, that Trump didn’t “give a shit about health care.” Sen. John Fetterman speaks to reporters. “Goddamn it, tell me who started that?” said Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, a frequent purveyor of profanity. | Francis Chung/POLITICO But the breadth of swearing is unmistakable, newly fashionable among members of a party in the wilderness who are looking for shortcuts to authenticity to channel voters’ rage. In recent days, Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona said he wanted the “intern” at the National Republican Campaign Congressional Committee who posted “racist shit” on X fired. And appraising the landscape of Trump’s America, Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii noted this week that the “stock market is down but at least everything is more expensive and services are getting shittier.” Politics, the late Andrew Breitbart once observed, is downstream of culture. And linguistically speaking, Democrats are up a certain creek. Trump beat them to it, using curses increasingly in his march back to the White House, though for some Democrats it is part of their native tongue. “I mean, I was swearing before Trump, so I can’t really blame it on him,” Gallego told POLITICO. “I’m gonna blame it more on being in the Marines for as long as I was.” Now, Democrats are seeking to bottle up their impolite words and serve them up the maw of an increasingly coarse and foul-tongued populace. “Some of it is genuine, some of it is people trying to seem faux-edgy authentic,” said Lis Smith, the Democratic adviser whose profanity is so legendary that her f-bombs played a hand in earning Amazon’s otherwise wholesome documentary on Pete Buttigieg in 2021 an “R” rating. “If the first time you’ve used a cuss word in public is reading off a script, it’s probably not authentic and not something you should do.” It’s also become part of Democrats’ increased social media strategy. After posting their “shit that ain’t true” videos on social media, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer made one “breaking down the BS Trump told” during his joint address. (The top Senate Democrat didn’t go as far as saying bullshit in the video though — opting instead for “bull.”) It is not always working. Last month, when Democrats joined federal workers at a rally of the American Federation of Government Employees to protest DOGE cuts, the profanities nearly rivaled those gathered. “I don’t swear in public very well, but we have to fuck Trump,” said Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.), adding, “Please don’t tell my children that I just did that.” The awkward formulation — which landed less like a diss and more like a proposition — was roundly mocked. “The key to doing it and doing it well is that you can’t overdo it and you can’t force it,” said Caitlin Legacki, a Democratic campaign veteran. “If elected officials are going to cuss, they have to mean it. If it’s authentic to who they are and how they’re feeling, voters will probably be fine with it and even relate to it. But if it’s not authentic, there’s nothing more cringeworthy.” Chuck Schumer speaks during a press event. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer made a video “breaking down the BS Trump told” during his joint address — but he didn’t go as far as saying bullshit in the video, opting instead for “bull.” | Francis Chung/POLITICO But there is also something more guttural in Democrats’ appeal to a deeply unsettled base. “The truth is that we’re driven by the same things most people are — like anger at honest folks being denied a fair shot – and we need to prove it by showing fight,” said Andrew Bates, who worked for the famously foul-mouthed-in private Joe Biden. “One way to do that is to call out that Trump’s whole campaign was about lower costs right away – his words – but now he’s raising those costs with tariffs that will fund a tax handout for the rich; and yes, that is bullshit and it shows his true colors and we should be eager to say it.” MOST READ aptopix-senate-education-69574.jpg ‘Just do it’: Trump committed to dismantling Education Department as order looms The Real Reason Zelenskyy Doesn’t Wear a Suit Tim Walz has some sharp critiques of the Dem 2024 campaign Kamala Harris sets a deadline for her next move Ontario premier sticks to electricity tariffs despite Trump trade reversal Democrats concede their party can’t just be all talk. “In this existential moment, the Democratic base does want to see their leaders fighting back. But at the end of the day, that means successful legislative and legal maneuvers — not just the occasional f-bomb on a podcast,” said one Democratic speechwriter, granted anonymity to assess the party’s rhetoric. This person, acknowledging “mad as hell” vibes in the party, added, “Some of it is an expression of authentic outrage at Trump smashing Democratic norms and institutions. Some of it is that — between Trump and his acolytes — the bar’s been lowered on how we expect public officials to comport themselves.” Deeper still, some Democrats see a core moral failing in the public profanities. “Democrats who think that vulgarity and dehumanization are reliable, appropriate or beneficial ways to advance their political interests profoundly misunderstand what has happened in our politics and what is required in this moment,” said Michael Wear, Barack Obama’s former faith outreach adviser and the founder, president and CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life, and author of “The Spirit of Our Politics.” “These are not tools that can be used in the service of any political goals. These things promote the very distrust, estrangement and animosity which is the fuel for the reckless, antagonistic politics Democrats — and all of us — ought to reject.” Crockett’s f-bomb got some attention back in her district. She said at the Capitol on Thursday that people called the pastor at her church to “tattle” on her. (Though Crockett added her pastor said he approved her message: “He’s not going to be the one to try to rein me in.”) For now, she is unrepentant. She said her answer was “real” and reflected her frustration with Trump and Musk’s actions. “Like I have a potty mouth, especially when I’m mad,” she said. “We’re working on it. We’re going to pray about it.” Filed under: Congress, Chuck Schumer, Donald Posted by Magic V at March 09, 2025 No comments: Email This BlogThis! Share to X Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest Woke trampling ON JEWS to end: Politics exclusive Alan Dershowitz, ex-RHONY star among contenders for Trump’s antisemitism envoy By Jon Levine Published Dec. 21, 2024, 12:25 p.m. ET Harvard Professor Alan Dershowitz is under consideration to serve as President Trump’s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, people with familiar with matter told The Post. The position, an ambassador-level gig requiring Senate confirmation, is currently held by historian Deborah Lipstadt. “Dershowitz is being considered. . . . People who care about this are pushing it,” said one person close to Trump. Alan Dershowitz, Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law Emeritus at Harvard, speaking at the Jerusalem Post Annual Conference in New York City. 3 Harvard professor Alan Dershowitz has emerged as a contender to be Trump’s President Trump’s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, LightRocket via Getty Images “He’s a brilliant defender of the Jewish people, a fighter, and has enough intellectual integrity to oppose all the lawfare against Trump, even [when he was] a Democrat.” Continue watching This Day in History after the ad Dershowitz, 86, was spotted walking around Mar-a-Lago last week, chitchatting with club members. The longtime lawyer served on Trump’s defense team during his 2020 impeachment trial and regularly defends the president on Fox News. He’s advocacy has even gotten him cancelled in Martha’s Vineyard, where he has a home. Explore More NYPD's top cop abruptly resigns after allegedly demanding underling perform sexual favors Coast Guardsman says White House is 'making sh-t up' after his vessel was tailed by fleet of drones US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, both wearing black masks, attending the dignified transfer of a fallen service member's remains at Dover Air Force Base. Tired Biden forced grieving military families to wait hours — while he napped on Air Force One Dersh, however, could be facing competition from glamorous social media influencer Lizzy Savetsky. Savetsky, 39, has been an outspoken defender of Jewish people online, and was faced with a torrent of online abuse for her pro-Israel stance after she was announced as a star of Real Housewives of New York in 2022, prompting her to ultimately step away from the show. Savetsky was recognized for her work fighting antisemitism by Mayor Adams earlier this week. Savetsky is married to plastic surgeon Ira Savetsky who made headlines (and earned death threats) for offering free plastic surgery to victim’s of Hamas’ Oct 7 attack. Her cause is being championed on the inside by Trump fundraiser Blair Brandt. Grand Marshall Lizzy Savetsky wearing sunglasses and a sash, waving at the 2023 Celebrate Israel Parade in New York City 3 Among other aspirants for the job is former Real Housewives star Lizzy Savetsky. Getty Images Other insiders note that being a beautiful social media star isn’t hurting her chances with Trump. Others in the mix reportedly include career State Department official Ellie Cohanim, who served as the deputy special envoy during the first Trump administration and Brooke Goldstein, founder of the nonprofit Lawfare Project, which specializes in using litigation to fight antisemitism. “[Goldstein] wants it badly. She’s running around telling everybody she was born for this job,” an insider said. Dershowitz, Savetsky and Cohanim declined to comment. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump pointing while delivering remarks at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida on December 16, 2024 3 Dershowitz served on Trump’s defense team during his 2020 impeachment trial and frequently defends him publicly. REUTERS Goldstein told The Post she would be “honored” to receive the appointment and would happily accept the job if offered. The special envoy position was first created in 2004 after Congress passed the Global Antisemitism Review Act. The office “advances U.S. foreign policy on antisemitism” and has an annual budget of $1.75 million. In his first term Trump left the office vacant for two years, before finally naming attorney Elan Carr to the post in 2019. The role will likely be more high profile this time around. Trump made fighting antisemitism a cornerstone of his 2024 presidential campaign, with bold promises to bring peace back to the Middle East and crackdown on antisemitism at home. Posted by Magic V at December 21, 2024 No comments: Email This BlogThis! Share to X Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest USA TODAY Trump, joined by Musk in Oval Office, orders up big cuts in federal workforce Joey Garrison, USA TODAY Tue, February 11, 2025 at 1:37 PM PST5 min read 13.8k Videos cannot play due to a network issue. Please check your Internet connection and try again. Error Code: 400-750 Session Id: m26j65bs (Pls: 1b746780-01d4-4cad-8d1c-aa5f0910a66f) WASHINGTON ― Joined by Elon Musk in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday that seeks to significantly reduce the size of government by instructing heads of federal departments and agencies to undertake plans for "large-scale reductions in force." Trump's newest order directs the federal government to implement a "workforce optimization initiative" created by Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, which has been moving rapidly from one department to another to slash spending and gut programs. "It's not optional to reduce federal expenses, it's essential," Musk, wearing a black MAGA hat and joined by his son, X, said in remarks standing next to Trump, who was seated behind the Resolute Desk. Musk called the federal bureaucracy an "unelected, fourth, unconstitutional branch of government" that must be held accountable. More: 5 ways Elon Musk is working to dismantle the federal government "The people voted for major government reform and that’s what the people are going to get,” Musk said, responding to detractors who call DOGE's involvement a hostile takeover. “That’s what democracy is all about.” Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk joins U.S. President Donald Trump during an executive order signing in the Oval Office at the White House on February 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk joins U.S. President Donald Trump during an executive order signing in the Oval Office at the White House on February 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. Agency heads are ordered to "coordinate and consult with DOGE to shrink the size of the federal workforce and limit hiring to essential positions," the White House said in a summary of the order. "Agency heads shall promptly undertake preparations to initiate large-scale reductions in force, consistent with applicable law," the order reads. It states that "all offices that perform functions not mandated by statute or other law" should be prioritized in the cuts. Musk vows transparency, wants to 'right-size' workforce Trump did not sign the order while reporters were present inside the Oval Office but did so after media members were escorted out, the White House confirmed. "We've already found billions of dollars of abuse incompetence and corruption," Trump said of DOGE's efforts to find wasteful spending, which both Trump and Musk repeatedly called "fraud" during a more than 30-minute exchange with reporters. Their joint appearance marked the first time the billionaire SpaceX CEO has taken questions from reporters in a public setting since he's assumed power in Trump's second term. Musk took several questions from reporters, defending DOGE's accountability and insisting he won't engage in work that poses potential conflicts of interest. Through SpaceX, Musk has billions of dollars in contacts with the Pentagon. "All are actions are fully public," Musk said, adding that observers won't hesitate about flagging conflicts. "It's not like people are going to be shy about saying that. They'll say it immediately." U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as Elon Musk carries his son X on his shoulders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 11, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as Elon Musk carries his son X on his shoulders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 11, 2025. The new order comes as Trump's administration has offered buyouts to nearly all 2.3 million federal employees in a push to drastically reduce the federal workforce. But the offer, which would pay employees through September if they agree to resign, is currently held up in court after a federal judge in Massachusetts extended a pause Monday to hear arguments from both sides in a legal challenge brought by federal employees unions. Posted by Magic V at February 11, 2025 No comments: Email This BlogThis! Share to X Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest A real moment to get to know President Trump: FOX News Penn State wrestler who made beeline for Trump after winning title speaks out Penn State wrestling superstar Carter Starocci made a beeline for President Donald Trump moments after making NCAA history at the organization's wrestling championships in Philadelphia on Saturday. The first five-time Division I champion shared his win – and the contents of his mat-side conversation with the president – with Fox News Monday. California: U.S. Gov Gives Major Tax Break To Go Solar (Up To $30K) SunValue California: U.S. Gov Gives Major Tax Break To Go Solar (Up To $30K) Ad "When I heard he was coming, I kind of figured I was going to go over there and say a few words to my man because I met him before, so having him in the house is always special," he told "Fox & Friends." NCAA WRESTLING CHAMPIONS SHAKE HANDS WITH TRUMP AFTER WINNING TITLE BOUTS Carter Starocci and President Trump greet each other after Starocci made history by becoming a five-time NCAA wrestling champion. Fox News Carter Starocci and President Trump greet each other after Starocci made history by becoming a five-time NCAA wrestling champion. Fox News © X/@whitehouse/ Fox & Friends Screengrab Starocci defeated Northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen, 4-3, to win the 184-pound championship and his fifth NCAA title, the first and possibly last time the feat is ever achieved due to athletes receiving an extra year of eligibility from COVID. Shortly after the match, he approached Trump, shook his hand and snapped a photo with him as he toted his trophy. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP LA TIMES WRITERS SUGGEST WORLD SERIES CHAMPION DODGERS SHOULD SKIP WHITE HOUSE VISIT: 'THANKS, BUT NO' President Donald Trump attends the finals at the NCAA wrestling championship, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Philadelphia. AP Images President Donald Trump attends the finals at the NCAA wrestling championship, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Philadelphia. AP Images © AP Images Starocci said he asked Trump if he enjoyed the match and the two exchanged a few words. "[He told me] 'You're one of my favorite wrestlers to watch in the world. I love your tenacity. I love your interviews.' Then I told him I appreciated his persona as well. I told him the story, too. [I said], 'When I was warming up, they kind of made it a little hard for me because you're the big dog,' and he laughed, and then he gave me like a nice coin to recognize me," he shared. He's arrived at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia forVideo Player is loading. FOX News President Trump welcomed by audience chanting 'USA!' at NCAA wrestling championship Starocci views his victory as a "stepping stone" for himself and for the program. He hopes to medal in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Fox News' Jackson Thompson contributed to this report. Posted by Magic V at March 24, 2025 No comments: Email This BlogThis! Share to X Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest Science and alt religion has been brutal to Christianity and Judaism. Japanese cardinal supports efforts to aid Gaza, but questions plans to bring injured to Japan Sign In John Allen Jr. Staff Categories Videos / Podcast Support Us About Us Contact Us Vance says Trump administration will continue to prioritize religious liberty John Lavenburg By John Lavenburg Feb 6, 2025 | National Correspondent Share Vance says Trump administration will continue to prioritize religious liberty Vice President JD Vance speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington. (Credit: Alex Brandon/AP.) Listen NEW YORK – In touting the accomplishments of the first Trump administration, Vice President JD Vance assured a room full of advocates that the second Trump administration will continue to prioritize advancing religious freedom both domestically and abroad. “You shouldn’t have to leave your faith at the door of your people’s government, and under President Trump’s leadership you won’t have to,” Vance said Feb. 5, noting that the administration “is intent on not just restoring but expanding the achievements of the first four years and certainly of the last two weeks.” Vance, a Catholic, highlighted that in his first term President Donald Trump advanced religious freedom through his foreign policy with China, across Europe, and throughout Africa and the Middle East, including by rescuing persecuted pastors, and bringing relief to faith groups terrorized by ISIS. Domestically, the vice president said that Trump’s first term was “a new high water mark for religious Americans,” with decisive actions to defend religious liberty, combat anti-Semitism, preserve the conscience rights of hospital workers and faith-based ministries as they provided care, and remove barriers for religious organizations and businesses to work with the federal government. As for the current Trump administration, Vance said it has already made important progress through executive orders “to end the weaponization of the federal government against religious Americans,” citing the pardoning of several pro-life protesters who were arrested for blockading abortion entrances, and through an executive order that prevents federal censorship. “Now, our administration believes we must stand for religious freedom not just as a legal principle – as important as that is –but as a lived reality both within our own borders and especially outside of them,” Vance said in a roughly 12 minute long address at the International Religious Freedom Summit, held Feb. 4 and 5 in Washington, D.C. Vance then added that part of protecting religious freedom initiatives means recognizing in foreign policy the difference between the regimes that respect religious freedom and those that do not, which he said the administration stands ready to do. “Both at home and abroad we have much more to do to more fully secure religious liberty for all people of faith,” the vice president concluded. Earlier, Vance spoke about faith as a bedrock of the nation’s culture, noting that it “calls us to treat one another with dignity, to lift up those in need, and to build nations grounded in moral principle.” He also said religious liberty isn’t just about the legal safeguards, but “fostering a culture in which faith can thrive so that men and women can fully appreciate the God given rights of their fellow citizens.” “Church was a place, and still is, where people of different races, different backgrounds, different walks of life came together in commitment to their shared communities, and of course in commitment to their God,” the vice president explained. “It was a place where the CEO of a company and the worker of a company stood equal before their worship of God. It was a place where people united not just in the pews but in acts of service on mission trips, charity drives, and in rallying around one another in times of sickness, or grief, or, of course, in celebration of new life.” “Are these not the kinds of bonds and virtues that lawmakers today should strive to cultivate?” Vance asked. “Well, I’m pleased to say that they certainly were in the first Trump administration, and they will be even more so in the second Trump administration.” Posted by Magic V at February 06, 2025 No comments: Email This BlogThis! Share to X Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest UNSTOPPABLE NEWS FORCE: HomeOpinionCommentary Trump moves to counter hatred of Christians and Jews Left claims it doesn't exist Hatred of Christians and Jews illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times Hatred of Christians and Jews illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times more > Print Commentary By Don Feder - Sunday, February 16, 2025 OPINION: President Trump believes the hand of God saved him from an assassin’s bullet in Butler, Pennsylvania. Now Mr. Trump is extending his hand to persecuted Christians and Jews — not in Africa or the Middle East but right here in America. At the National Prayer Breakfast on Feb. 6, the president announced a task force to combat anti-Christian bias headed by Attorney General Pam Bondi, a passionate defender of First Amendment freedom of religion. “While I’m in the White House, we will protect Christians in our schools, in our military, in our government and in the public square,” Mr. Trump proclaimed. You Might Also Like PAID Berries for Breakfast? Doctor Says These are Aging Seniors (Avoid At All Costs) (thehealthyfat.com) Female Athletes Who Are Dominating 2024PAID Female Athletes Who Are Dominating 2024 (sportsbrief.com) This drew the predictable response from the left. USA Today columnist Chris Brennan insisted, “There is no bias” against Christians. If he went to a circus, he’d miss the elephants. Americans United for Separation of Church and State squawked that the task force would “misuse religious freedom to justify bigotry and discrimination.” Fighting bigotry and discrimination justifies bigotry and discrimination? The group should change its name to Americans United for the Separation of Rhetoric and Reason. TIMESMYView all Trump’s record-breaking start rattles Washington, rankles rivals, but earns raves from voters Editorial Confirm Kash Patel as FBI chief Trump starting task force to combat anti-Christian actions; AG Bondi to lead it In a 2023 survey, 60% of White evangelicals said they faced a lot of discrimination. From May 2020 through November 2024, there were 366 attacks on Catholic churches in 43 states, including arson, vandalism and desecration. The Justice Department’s civil rights division prosecuted more than 50 pro-life activists involved in sidewalk counseling, while 96 violent attacks on pregnancy resource centers and pro-life offices were largely ignored. The FBI’s office in Richmond, Virginia, produced an 11-page memo that suggested a link between traditional Catholics and domestic terrorism. After the bizarre document was leaked, it was hastily withdrawn. Still, it reflected the mindset of federal law enforcement under President Biden. Comparing Mr. Trump and his predecessor, CatholicVote charges: “Our second Catholic President facilitated the persecution and prosecution of Christians who disagreed with his anti-Christian agenda, while the current president stands strong for the safety and religious freedom of Christians everywhere.” While the president moved to counter Christophobia, he also joined the fight against antisemitism. The Department of Justice announced a task force to combat antisemitism in schools and colleges, explaining, “Jewish students have faced an unprecedented barrage of discrimination,” including assault, harassment and intimidation. In testimony before Congress in 2023, the presidents of Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Pennsylvania equivocated on whether calls for genocide violate their codes of conduct on harassment. Claudine Gay, then president of Harvard, absurdly declared, “When speech crosses into conduct, we take action.” In other words, until the pro-Hamas mob begins setting up gas chambers on the quad, Ivy League schools will take a wait-and-see approach. Rep. Elise Stefanik, Mr. Trump’s nominee for ambassador to the United Nations, said the testimony was “pathetic and morally bankrupt.” The president has promised to revoke the visas of foreign students engaged in anti-Jewish demonstrations. Antisemitism has reached epidemic proportions. In the three months after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas atrocities in Israel, there were four times the number of attacks on Jews as in the same period the year before. Jews are 2% of the U.S. population but accounted for 68% of all religion-based hate crimes reported in 2023. I wonder whether moving against this evil constitutes a “misuse of religious freedom to justify bigotry and discrimination.” Better check with the Orwellian Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Crimes against Christians and Jews should not be viewed in isolation but as part of a far-ranging war against faith and religious values. Anti-Christian animus is driven by the awareness that committed Christians uphold biblical values, including normative sexual morality, putting them at odds with abortion on demand, transgenderism and the LGBTQ agenda. Most American Jews aren’t that religious. But those who are the most visibly Jewish — Orthodox Jews and Hasidim — have borne the brunt of antisemitic attacks driven by the left and radical Islam. Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, observes that the worst antisemites are on the left. “They are well-educated and occupy elite seats in our institutions,” Mr. Donohue said. Like Harvard and MIT? At the National Prayer Breakfast, Mr. Trump confessed: “I really believe you can’t be happy without religion, without that belief. Let’s bring religion back; let’s bring God back into our lives.” For the left, those are fighting words, which is why its response to Mr. Trump’s efforts to fight religious discrimination is borderline hysterical. • Don Feder is a columnist with The Washington Times. Posted by Magic V at February 17, 2025 No comments: Email This BlogThis! Share to X Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest News ‘A Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity,’ Speaker Mike Johnson Says of Trump’s Agenda Jacob Adams | February 20, 2025 | Share House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., right, chats with interviewer Rob Finnerty at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Thursday. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., right, answers questions from interviewer Rob Finnerty at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Thursday. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Jacob Adams Jacob Adams is a journalism fellow at The Daily Signal. Send an email to Jacob. Speaking Thursday at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, House Speaker Mike Johnson discussed the midterm elections and the Make America Great Again agenda, promising to secure the border, to prevent the Trump tax cuts from expiring, to “take a blowtorch to the regulatory state,” and to boost energy production in the country. “Now, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” Johnson said, explaining that Republicans need to show that conservative policies are better for the American people. When asked about the 2026 midterm elections, the Louisiana lawmaker promised to buck the trend of the party in power losing control of Congress in off-year elections. “We are going to defy history,” Johnson predicted. The Daily Signal depends on the support of readers like you. Donate now He cited the fact that there are several House Democrats who are facing reelection in congressional districts won by President Donald Trump. “We have a very favorable landscape,” the speaker told the audience at the conference in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. Johnson went on to discuss the historic demographic shift in the presidential election and how Democrats currently appear not to have a leader. freestar “I wish I could explain the Democrats. They’re just enraged by everything,” he said, characterizing the Democratic Party as uninterested in cutting government spending, despite the financial debts the federal government is leaving for future Americans. “I think we need to pay down the credit card,” Johnson said of the mind-boggling $36 trillion national debt. The House speaker praised Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. “What Elon and the team are doing is what Congress has not had the ability to do,” he said, noting that DOGE was exposing massive waste, fraud, and abuse, and that it was time to bring back the American Founding Fathers’ vision of a limited government. “He [Elon Musk] is right over the target,” Johnson declared. The Louisiana lawmaker also touted Trump’s winning the popular vote as well as the electoral vote. He explained that GOP members of Congress see the impressive election victory as a mandate and promised to enshrine Trump’s executive orders into law. freestar “We are going to codify so much of what he is doing so that the next team cannot unwind it,” Johnson said of possible future liberal Democrat presidents. Johnson appeared hopeful at the breadth of policy changes that the unified Republican control of the federal government would be able to accomplish. “Now, we have an opportunity to fix everything,” he said. With respect to foreign policy, the speaker said, it’s important that Ukraine hold a presidential election, which has been postponed since last spring. He also said there was no appetite for additional U.S. funding of Ukraine. He said he had asked Republican leaders to give Trump room to negotiate with the Russians and Ukrainians to end their war. “You’ve got to give him room to operate and do what he does,” Johnson said. Johnson expressed delight at Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., having voted for Kash Patel to be FBI director and appreciation for new Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. “We are very unified,” he said of Republicans in the House and Senate. freestar Johnson contended that it was a power play by Democrats to throw open the border over the past four years in order to bring in potential new Democratic voters. He expressed disappointment that now-former President Joe Biden did not seem to care about the human trafficking and fentanyl smuggling as a result of the open southern border. Johnson, who has already initiated changes in Congress, is poised to become one of the most influential House speakers in American history if he can codify into law key provisions of Trump’s agenda. “Thank God that President Trump is back in the White House,” he said. Reacting to Johnson’s speech, CPAC attendees were impressed. “Speaker Mike Johnson has the best speaking voice and personable nature of any speaker in my lifetime. He has a complete command of vocal, verbal, nonverbal communication like a professional speaker,” Robert Miller said, adding, “I think it was a great speech, and I was happy to hear it.” Calum Crichton from Scotland said Johnson seemed positive about America’s future. freestar “I think he just was very positive about the future. I think that’s really what I take from it. I don’t think America’s had that for a long period of time, particularly for the last four years,” Crichton said. “I think it’s very good that, hopefully, we are no longer fronting that [Russia-Ukraine] war and that it hopefully comes to a peaceful end. I think that’s what’s good for Europe. I think that’s what’s good for the United States,” Joanna Johnson said. “So, again, optimistic about that as well, hopefully coming to close, and so our dollars are America first and that we no longer lose life in war” Moira Gleason contributed to this report. Posted by Magic V at February 22, 2025 No comments: Email This BlogThis! Share to X Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest Here is the news outlet you want, here at MOSTLY. This will be mostly very essential news and here goes! Post See new posts Conversation Aslan Arzuev | Human Rights Center Ichkeria @AslanArzuev Moscow thought Trump was their chance. In reality, Trump is their sentence. Donald Trump didn’t just change U.S. foreign policy—he forced Europe into a brutal, yet inevitable choice. For decades, the U.S. ensured the West’s security while European countries lived in peace and prosperity, without investing in defense. NATO was the guarantee of their security, but who paid for that guarantee? America. Now that’s over. What Trump is doing is not weakness, but an ultimatum. America will no longer be the guardian that protects Europe for free while Europe flirts with Russia, Iran, and China. Europe got used to the U.S. carrying the burden of its security while it did business with Moscow and Tehran, built “strategic autonomy,” and lectured America on morality. Now it will have to pay—not with words, but with money, weapons, and real military power. This is not just about NATO. Trump has proposed that Europe raise military spending to 5% of GDP—that’s $1 trillion a year. This money should go towards purchasing weapons, primarily American-made. What does this mean? It means Trump isn’t leaving Europe unprotected; on the contrary, he’s forcing it to arm itself to the teeth. He demands that Europe stop being a dependent and become a true military power. Britain, Poland, the Baltic States, and the U.S. have been carrying the bulk of Ukraine’s support. Now it’s time for France, Germany, and the entire EU to stop just expressing support and actually engage in the fight. Zelensky already said: Europe needs a unified military force. This is not just an idea—it’s now a necessity. Germany has been afraid to become a military power for years. France spoke of “strategic autonomy” but did nothing. Now they will have to take a stand—either assume leadership or hand it over to Britain, Poland, and the Baltic States, who are ready to build a new European power. Putin lost before he even realized it. Russia hoped America would weaken, that Trump would pull back support for Ukraine, that the West would fall apart. Moscow hoped America was tired. But now, instead of one enemy, Russia will face a military giant assembled from all European countries. Putin wanted to weaken the West—he will get a West that is finally ready to fight. And if Europe does what Trump proposes, the Russian army will be ground to dust. Aslan Arzuev, HRCI February 15, 2025 Posted by Magic V at February 17, 2025 No comments: Email This BlogThis! Share to X Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest If you think that Biden's leftist world was good and Trump's new world already worth fighting against. Hardly anytime has elapsed but: GOP-led states quickly mirror Trump’s policy agenda Arit John By Arit John, CNN 6 minute read Published 7:00 AM EST, Sun February 16, 2025 Floria Gov. Ron DeSantis signs immigration legislation, with state Senate President Ben Albritton and Speaker of the House Danny Perez by his side on February 13, 2025. Floria Gov. Ron DeSantis signs immigration legislation, with state Senate President Ben Albritton and Speaker of the House Danny Perez by his side on February 13, 2025. Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat/USA Today Network/Imagn Images CNN — In his nearly four weeks in office, President Donald Trump has unveiled a constant stream of policy priorities in quick succession, from shrinking government, to cutting taxes, to waging a war on diversity initiatives, illegal immigration and transgender rights. His allies in the states are rushing to keep up. The Florida and Tennessee legislatures have passed sweeping immigration packages that will make it easier for state law enforcement and federal immigration officials to coordinate during recent special sessions. Leaders in Ohio and Arkansas are renewing efforts to place work requirements on Medicaid recipients. And Republicans in at least nine states have moved to create government efficiency task forces inspired by the initiative helmed by billionaire Elon Musk. Across the country, Republican governors and legislatures are taking advantage of the national spotlight – and friendlier regulatory environment – the Trump administration has created to advance longtime conservative policy goals. In State of the State speeches, X posts and press conferences, they’ve described the new administration as a partner they’re eager to support. And they have been eager to portray themselves as loyal allies. For Democrats, it’s a reminder that elections have consequences at both the federal level and the state level, where Republicans have dominated for years. Republican-backed laws, particularly measures passed in the nearly two dozen states where their party controls the governorship and both chambers of the legislature, have been at the center of some of the biggest culture war fights of the last few years, including the 2022 Dobbs decision that ended federal abortion protections and a pending case on gender-affirming care for minors. Democrats have increasingly pitched the need to build their power at the state level as a way to combat Republican gains. “Red states are feeling even more empowered under Trump’s takeover of Washington to push legislation that sows confusion and chaos, from cutting programs families rely on to rolling back fundamental rights,” said Sam Paisley, a spokesperson for the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. “Democrats in state legislatures are the strongest defense against MAGA Republicans’ destruction.” Red states embrace DOGE efforts Republican lawmakers and governors in a handful of states, including Idaho, New Hampshire, Georgia, Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma have created DOGE task forces or new state legislature committees. More than two dozen Republican governors signed on to a letter last month to GOP congressional leaders backing the effort. The American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative group that drafts model legislation, created a government efficiency coalition after its December national meeting. “The charge was essentially, if DOGE gets it right at the federal level, more things are likely going to be state and local responsibilities,” said Jonathan Williams, ALEC’s president and chief economist. “Our ALEC members really answered the call and said, ‘We also want to discuss these government efficiency ideas and partner with those in Washington that are looking to do the same.’” Indiana Republican Gov. Mike Braun signed executive orders last month requiring state employees to work in their offices by July and directing agencies to cut a quarter of regulations by 2029 and look for ways to cut costs. Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, who signed an executive order last week launching a DOGE task force in her state, has described the effort of an extension of the work Iowa began a few years ago. Iowa’s “alignment” process saved the state $217 million in 18 months, Reynolds said last month in her Condition of the State address. “Iowa was doing DOGE before DOGE was a thing,” the governor told a House panel recently. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds speaks during a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing on "Rightsizing Federal Government" in Washington on February 5, 2025. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds speaks during a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing on "Rightsizing Federal Government" in Washington on February 5, 2025. Al Drago/Getty Images Democrats, however, have pushed back on Reynolds’ portrayal of the state’s work and criticized the governor for signing a 2023 bill restricting the powers of Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand, the only statewide elected Democrat. The law limits the auditor’s access to records and prohibits Sand from suing state agencies for documents – disputes must be settled through arbitration. “We’re happy the governor is interested in government efficiency because we’ve been working on this already for six years,” Sand told CNN. “But the administration’s lip service on this issue of government accountability is a day late and a dollar short.” Even in moments when the administration’s agenda has created concerns over budget shortfalls, Republicans have been slow to criticize the approach in Washington. After the Office of Management and Budget briefly paused federal assistance, Louisiana Republican Gov. Jeff Landry and other state leaders asked OMB to “develop a responsible runway to untangle us from any unnecessary and egregious policies without jeopardizing the financial stability of the state.” School choice and immigration Trump has also placed an early emphasis on controversial school choice programs. Last month the president signed an executive order directing various agencies to submit plans on how to expand school choice opportunities. Conservatives also expect the administration will roll back Biden-era regulations on school choice programs. School choice advocates also hope Republicans will include provisions allowing for a tax break for donations to scholarship funds that pay for students to attend private schools. “There’s been a vibe shift, in that it’s clear the Department of Education is going to be accommodating, rather than hostile, as states try to enact and implement these policies,” said Frederick Hess, a senior fellow and director of education policy studies at the conservative American Enterprise Institute. School choice supporters argue vouchers and other programs allow students to attend better schools or institutions that meet their needs. Opponents argue the programs defund public schools, and that private, religious and charter schools aren’t subject to the same level of oversight as public schools. After a brief power struggle between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican legislature, state lawmakers last week approved a series of immigration enforcement bills that will make it a crime for people who have entered the country illegally to enter Florida, as well as increase funding and staffing to make it easier for state officials to coordinate with federal immigration officials. One new law also ends access to in-state college tuition for young adults who lack legal status. “We here in Florida have a responsibility to be strong partners with the Trump administration,” DeSantis said at a press conference Thursday. A protester holds a sign during a special legislative session focused on reforms that support President Donald Trump's policies at the Tennessee Capitol in Nashville on January 29, 2025. A protester holds a sign during a special legislative session focused on reforms that support President Donald Trump's policies at the Tennessee Capitol in Nashville on January 29, 2025. Seth Herald/Reuters In Tennessee, lawmakers passed an immigration enforcement bill this month that would create a new division within the state’s Department of Safety to coordinate with the federal government on immigration enforcement. It would also make it a felony for local officials to adopt so-called sanctuary policies and allow them to be removed from office once convicted. Democrats argued the provision criminalizing “sanctuary city” votes is unconstitutional. The Americans Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee called the legislation “unprecedented” and is challenging it in court. State Rep. Aftyn Behn, a Democrat, advised her national party to do more in states like hers, where Republicans have a supermajority in the legislature that has allowed them to pass legislation that could fuel future court battles. Tennessee GOP House Majority Leader William Lamberth introduced legislation this month that would allow school districts to opt out of educating children who are not in the country legally. Lawmakers have billed the legislation as a chance to overturn a 1982 Supreme Court decision that requires schools to accept all students regardless of legal status. “There needs to be more sense of urgency, and an appetite, for investing in states like Tennessee,” Behn said. Posted by Magic V at February 18, 2025 No comments: Email This BlogThis! Share to X Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest who is the most powerful I assume you’re asking who’s the most powerful player in this mix—whether it’s tied to globalism, diversity, or the Trump admin’s moves. Without more context, I’ll take it broadly: who’s got the most juice in the world right now, as of March 26, 2025? Let’s break it down. If we’re talking nations, the U.S. still holds the top spot, raw power-wise. Military spending’s at $916 billion last year—more than the next nine countries combined, per SIPRI data. The dollar’s the world’s reserve currency, giving Trump’s team leverage to slap tariffs or sanctions and watch others flinch. Energy output’s surging—13 million barrels of oil a day—and tech giants like NVIDIA and SpaceX keep the innovation edge sharp. But China’s closing fast: $18 trillion GDP to the U.S.’s $28 trillion, plus a manufacturing chokehold—90% of rare earths, most of your phone’s guts. Their navy’s ship count outstrips ours now, and the Belt and Road’s got them tentacles in 140+ countries. Trump’s moves might slow them, but Xi’s playing a longer game. Individuals? Trump’s a contender since January. He’s got the U.S. reins, pushing policies that ripple globally—think trade wars or Houthi strikes. His exec orders and border clampdowns shift markets and headlines daily. But Elon Musk’s in the mix too—$300 billion net worth, X’s megaphone, and Starlink basically owning orbit. He’s not just backing Trump; he’s shaping the narrative and tech backbone. Xi Jinping’s no slouch either—total control over 1.4 billion people, a surveillance state, and economic strings worldwide. Putin’s a wildcard with less cash but nukes and oil leverage. Globalism’s power brokers? The WEF crowd—Klaus Schwab types—push the interconnectedness line, but their sway’s wobbling as nations like the U.S. and India turn inward. BlackRock’s Larry Fink moves $10 trillion in assets, but he’s reactive, not directive. Diversity’s got no single kingpin—it’s more a cultural current, steered by academics, NGOs, and HR departments, though it’s losing steam if X’s mood is any gauge. Most powerful, period? The U.S. as a nation still edges out—Trump’s wielding it like a sledgehammer, for better or worse. But China’s the shadow growing on the wall, and Musk might be the X-factor if his tech bets keep paying off. Posted by Magic V at March 26, 2025 No comments: Email This BlogThis! Share to X Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest Real Stuff: Ukraine confirms new Kursk offensive, says it hit Russian command post The apparent escalation comes as both sides fight to improve their battlefield positions before Trump returns to the White House Reading Time: 2 minutes Why you can trust SCMP 0 Listen Further Reading Russia says it captures ‘important logistics hub’ in eastern Ukraine Macron affirms Trump has ‘solid ally’ in France, urges realism from Ukraine over territory Ukraine to ask allies for boost to air defences at Germany meeting, Zelensky says Discover MORE stories on Ukraine war FOLLOW now and stay updated with Swedish navy recovers anchor of tanker suspected of Baltic Sea cable damage Opinion | China-North Korea relations start the new year on a new low Macron affirms Trump has ‘solid ally’ in France, urges realism from Ukraine over territory related topics Ukraine war Ukraine | Russia | War and conflict | Defence | North Korea | Donald Trump A destroyed Russian tank sits on a roadside near the town of Sudzha, in the Kursk region, in August 2024. Photo: AP Reuters Published: 1:29am, 8 Jan 2025Updated: 2:45am, 8 Jan 2025 Ukraine said on Tuesday its forces were “commencing new offensive actions” in Russia’s western Kursk region, in its first substantive remarks two days after Russian reports of a renewed Ukrainian thrust in the area. Ukraine first seized part of the Kursk region in a surprise incursion last August, and it has held territory there for five months despite losing some ground. The Russian defence ministry said on Sunday that Kyiv had launched a new counter-attack. On Tuesday, Ukraine’s general staff, which keeps a tight lid on information out of the area for the security of its operation there, said Kyiv’s military had hit a Russian command post near the Kursk region’s settlement of Belaya. The strike and other recent operations in the region were coordinated with Ukrainian ground forces who “are currently commencing new offensive operations” against Russian troops, it said. The military later edited out any mention of a new attack in the Telegram statement, replacing the phrase with the much vaguer “combat operations”. It provided no explanation. At least 100 North Korean soldiers killed in Ukraine war, says Seoul lawmaker Russia’s defence ministry, which has characterised the Ukrainian counter-attack as bungled over the last two days, said in a statement that its troops had carried out strikes on Ukrainian units in the Kursk region. It listed six locations where it said its forces had defeated Ukrainian brigades, and seven more – including one on the Ukrainian side of the border – where it said it had carried out strikes on Ukrainian troops and equipment. Reuters could not independently verify battlefield reports from either side. The apparent escalation in the fighting in the Kursk region comes at a critical time for Ukraine, whose outnumbered and outgunned troops are struggling to repel Russian advances in the east. Capturing and retaining a slice of Russian territory in the Kursk region has given Ukraine a bargaining chip in potential peace talks, as both sides fight to improve their battlefield positions before Donald Trump’s return to the White House. The US president-elect, who will be sworn in on January 20 – has repeatedly said he will end the nearly three-year-old war quickly, but without saying how. The US-based Institute for the Study of War said geolocated footage from the region published on Sunday and Monday indicated recent Ukrainian advances in three areas northeast of the town of Sudzha. It said Russian forces were trying to attack elsewhere in the region. Russian military bloggers reported fighting in Malaya Loknya, northwest of Sudzha. Ukraine’s offensive in the Kursk region has come at a cost. Late in 2024 Russian forces advanced in eastern Ukraine at the fastest pace since 2022. Their troops control about a fifth of Ukraine’s territory. Western and Ukrainian assessments say Russia also has about 11,000 troops from its ally North Korea fighting with its own forces in the region. Russia has neither confirmed nor denied their presence. Ukraine and the United States say large numbers have been killed, with US Secretary Antony Blinken giving a figure on Monday of more than 1,000 North Koreans dead or wounded. Ukraine’s special forces said on Tuesday they had killed 13 North Korean soldiers, and posted photos on Telegram which they said showed their bodies and ID documents. In a regular update, Kyiv’s general staff said there had been 27 Russian attacks in the Kursk region on Tuesday so far. Posted by Magic V at January 07, 2025 No comments: Email This BlogThis! Share to X Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest A list of companies that have backed down on DEI, including Target, McDonald's, Walmart, and Meta ©Meta Many companies have pulled back or ended DEI programs amid pressure from conservative activists and a new administration. Companies that have withdrawn or toned down DEI initiatives include Target, Meta, and McDonald's. President Trump moved to end DEI initiatives at federal agencies shortly after his return to the White House. The number of companies ending their diversity, equity, and inclusion programs continues to grow. Target is the most recent example, joining companies including Meta and Walmart in announcing the rollback of multiple DEI initiatives. The decision comes days after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to end diversity programs across the federal government and ordered all federal DEI staffers be placed on leave while their departments are disbanded. The move away from DEI policies is part of an ongoing wave of backlash against diversity programs at American companies. Tech companies such as Microsoft, Meta, and Zoom cut DEI programs last year, and law firms, including Winston & Strawn, faced lawsuits for affirmative action. Some DEI initiatives have faced backlash from conservatives and activist groups, including mounting social media campaigns, many led by Robby Starbuck. Starbuck, a prominent conservative activist with a sizable social media following, has argued that these initiatives don't align with the values of companies' largely conservative consumer bases. That said, 61% of Americans support DEI practices, according to a Washington Post-Ipsos poll in April, and companies including Costco and JPMorgan have publicly defended their diversity initiatives. The Human Rights Campaign slammed companies' DEI rollbacks in an August statement to BI. "Decisions to cut DEI initiatives send a clear signal to employees that their employers simply don't care about equality in the workplace. Putting politics ahead of workers and consumers only hurts the same folks that these businesses rely on," wrote Eric Bloem, the nonprofit group's vice president of programs and corporate advocacy. Here are how some companies have cut their DEI programs. See more Google, helmed by CEO Sundar Pichai, will no longer pursue hiring goals tied to representation, BI confirmed. ALAIN JOCARD / AFP Google, helmed by CEO Sundar Pichai, will no longer pursue hiring goals tied to representation, BI confirmed. ALAIN JOCARD / AFP © ALAIN JOCARD / AFP Google has ended hiring targets tied to representation, BI confirmed. The company also said it is evaluating its DEI programs. Target, Meta, and other major US companies have also reduced DEI-related policies and programs. Google will no longer pursue hiring goals tied to representation, Business Insider confirmed. The change makes the tech giant the latest US company to pull back on DEI-related policies. Online protection for $29.99 McAfee Online protection for $29.99 Ad The company is also evaluating its DEI programs and initiatives. "We're committed to creating a workplace where all our employees can succeed and have equal opportunities, and over the last year we've been reviewing our programs designed to help us get there," a Google spokesperson told Business Insider. The spokesperson said the company had updated language in its annual 10-K report to reflect the change. "As a federal contractor, our teams are also evaluating changes required following recent court decisions and executive orders on this topic," the spokesperson added. The Wall Street Journal first reported the change to Google's hiring targets. Business Insider obtained an emailed Q&A with Google's Chief People Officer Fiona Cicconi, which expanded on the plans. Google staff will be "evaluating programs, trainings, and initiatives, and will update them as needed — including those that raise risk, or that aren't as impactful as we'd hoped," read the Q&A. Wireless for $15 Bucks a Month Mint Mobile Wireless for $15 Bucks a Month Ad On his first day in office, President Donald Trump swiftly signed an executive order terminating DEI "mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities" in the federal government. Trump also criticized DEI programs and diversity-related hiring goals at private companies on the campaign trail and since taking office. Google set a goal in 2020 to increase leadership representation of Black+, Latinx+, and Native American+ employees by 30%. It reached that goal in 2022, according to the company's annual diversity report. Google's decision to shift its hiring goals reflects a growing number of companies pulling back on DEI initiatives, beginning before Trump was reelected. Some of the companies that scaled back diversity efforts before his inauguration include Walmart, Ford, John Deere, Tractor Supply Company, and Lowe's. Meta also announced last month it will no longer have a team focused on DEI and Target recently said it will end multiple programs related to DEI. Some companies have defended their DEI programs and policies in recent weeks, including Costco and JPMorgan. Here's the full text of the Google memo obtained by Business Insider: With new U.S. Executive Orders, court decisions, and many companies making changes to their DEl programs in recent weeks, we sat down with Fiona Cicconi to learn how Google is thinking about this.Can you tell us how we're thinking about this across the company?First, I want to be clear: we've always been committed to creating a workplace where we hire the best people wherever we operate, create an environment where everyone can thrive, and treat everyone fairly. That's exactly what you can expect to see going forward. Our users come from all across the US and around the world, and we serve them better when our employees do, too.Every year, we review the programs designed to help us get there and make changes. And because we are a federal contractor, our teams are also evaluating changes to our programs required to comply with recent court decisions and U.S. Executive Orders on this topic. For example, in 2020, we set aspirational hiring goals and focused on growing our offices outside California and New York to improve representation. We'll continue to invest in states across the US — and in many countries globally — but in the future we will no longer have aspirational goals.You mentioned we'll evaluate our programs. Can you share more about that?Melonie Parker and her team will lead on closely and carefully evaluating programs, trainings, and initiatives, and will update them as needed — including those that raise risk, or that aren't as impactful as we'd hoped. She'll work with senior leaders across the company.And is there anything else you want Googlers to know now?While there will be changes, our central Employee Resource Groups will remain, as will our work with colleges and universities, and our work to build products to help all our users and partners. That is all vital work for our business and our Googler community. Posted by Magic V at February 06, 2025 No comments: Email This BlogThis! Share to X Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest Trump Education Department announces 60 more universities under scrutiny over antisemitism By Samuel Chamberlain and Ryan King Published March 10, 2025 Updated March 10, 2025, 5:41 p.m. ET The Department of Education’s civil rights arm warned 60 colleges and universities Monday that they could be next to have federal funding taken away over antisemitic discrimination and harassment on campus. The five dozen named and shamed included six of the eight Ivy League institutions — Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, Princeton and Yale — and local schools Rutgers, Rutgers-Newark, Sarah Lawrence, three branches of the State University of New York, The New School and Wellesley. “The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year. University leaders must do better,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement. 4 “The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year. University leaders must do better,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement. AFP via Getty Images Other prominent Northeastern colleges targeted in the letter were Emerson College in Boston; Lafayette College, Lehigh University, Muhlenberg College and Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania; and Middlebury College in Vermont. “The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year. University leaders must do better,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement. “U.S. colleges and universities benefit from enormous public investments funded by U.S. taxpayers. That support is a privilege, and it is contingent on scrupulous adherence to federal antidiscrimination laws.” Explore More Wendy Williams Wendy Williams taken by ambulance after dropping desperate note from NYC window begging for assistance Elon Musk says X was knocked offline by 'massive cyberattack' that originated in 'Ukraine area' Missing Pitt student's friend gives cops dire account of her last known whereabouts before disappearance Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, institutions of higher education are restricted from receiving federal funds if they participate in or allow discrimination based on race, national origin or other characteristics. 4 Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, institutions of higher education are restricted from receiving federal funds if they participate in or allow discrimination based on race, national origin or other characteristics. Accuracy in Media Monday’s announcement comes three days after the Trump administration’s federal antisemitism task force pulled back $400 million in grants and contracts from Columbia following monthslong Jew-hating demonstrations following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack against Israel by Hamas. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, institutions of higher education are restricted from receiving federal funds if they participate in or allow discrimination based on race, national origin or other characteristics. Shortly after taking office, President Trump signed an executive order instructing the department and key federal agencies to crack down on antisemitism on campuses across the country. On Monday, the department publicly confirmed that 55 additional institutions of higher education are now subject to a probe or monitoring over complaints that had been issued to the department's Office for Civil Rights (ORC). 4 On Monday, the department publicly confirmed that 55 additional institutions of higher education are now subject to a probe or monitoring over complaints that had been issued to the department’s Office for Civil Rights (ORC). Getty Images Following that directive, the Education Department began investigating five universities: Columbia, Northwestern, the University of Portland, Cal-Berkeley, and the University of Minnesota. On Monday, the department publicly confirmed that 55 additional institutions of higher education are now subject to a probe or monitoring over complaints that had been issued to the department’s Office for Civil Rights (ORC). ORC has been working to clear up a backlog of complaints that students have filed detailing antisemitic incidents on campus. The Department of Education warned 60 colleges and universities Monday that they could be next to have federal funding taken away over antisemitic discrimination and harassment. 4 Shortly after taking office, President Trump signed an executive order instructing the department and key federal agencies to crack down on antisemitism on campuses across the country. AFP via Getty Images Meanwhile, the State Department is looking to possibly yank visas to foreign students who have espoused support for Hamas or broken the law during the spate of anti-Israel protests that swept campuses. Over the weekend, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia grad student and head of Columbia United Apartheid Divest (CUAD), with the intent of deporting him. Higher ed is also feeling pressure from the Trump administration on funding. Harvard announced Monday that it is freezing hiring due to concerns about federal funding for research as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) pushes belt-tightening measures across the government. On Tuesday, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that it was slashing some $250 million in funding spanning more than 400 grants to Columbia University in response to concerns about campus policies. “The cancellations are due to Columbia University’s continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students,” NIH said in a statement. A spokesperson for Columbia University told The Post that the school is still reviewing the announcement and will “work with the federal government to restore Columbia’s federal funding.” “We take Columbia’s legal obligations seriously and understand how serious this announcement is and are committed to combatting antisemitism and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff,” the spokesperson added. The full list of schools contacted by the Department of Education include: American University, Arizona State, Boston University, Brown, Cal State-Sacramento, Chapman University, Columbia, Cornell, Drexel, Eastern Washington, Emerson College, George Mason, Harvard, Illinois Wesleyan, Indiana, Johns Hopkins, Lafayette, Lehigh, Middlebury, Muhlenberg, Northwestern, Ohio State, Pacific Lutheran, Pomona College, Portland State University, Princeton, Rutgers, Rutgers-Newark, Santa Monica College, Sarah Lawrence, Stanford, SUNY-Binghamton, SUNY-Rockland, SUNY-Purchase, Swarthmore, Temple University, The New School, Tufts, Tulane, Union College, UC-Davis, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, Cal-Berkeley, Cincinnati, University of Hawaii, UMass-Amherst, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, South Florida, USC, University of Tampa, Tennessee, Virginia, University of Washington, University of Wisconsin, Wellesley, Whitman College, and Yale. Posted by Magic V at March 10, 2025 No comments: Email This BlogThis! Share to X Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest No more smoke and mirrors: Fox Business Alert There's no business like show business, and FOX News Investor group pitches $13B offer to buy Paramount despite Skydance deal Paramount employees are blasting the studio’s decision to roll back their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in a searing letter sent to the company’s co-CEOs, according to one report. "As employees of Paramount Global, we are extremely disappointed — but not surprised — by the senior leadership team's decision to roll back our commitments to DEI. This capitulation reflects the profound hypocrisy in extracting labor from diverse communities, creating content from and for diverse communities, targeting the dollars of diverse communities... while committing to the erasure and exclusion of those very same diverse communities," the employees, who are anonymous, said in the letter posted on LinkedIn by the New York Times’ Benjamin Mullin. Paramount is ending some of its DEI policies. Getty Images Paramount is ending some of its DEI policies. Getty Images © Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images The media conglomerate reportedly informed employees that the company would be backtracking on its DEI policies in a February memo. Paramount is ending their aspirational hiring goals with respect to race, gender and sexuality, per the memo. The memo, which was signed by Paramount co-CEOs Brian Robbins, George Cheeks and Chris McCarthy, also stated that the company would end DEI factors in its employee compensation plan and stop collecting diversity data on its U.S. job applicants. myPlan for just $25/line - Verizon official site verizon.com myPlan for just $25/line - Verizon official site Ad PARAMOUNT, SKYDANCE MERGER WAS A ‘CRAZY DEAL’: CHARLIE GASPARINO "With our business objectives firmly in mind, we will continue to evaluate our programs and approach to ensure that we are widening our aperture to attract talent from all geographies, backgrounds and perspectives. That may mean expanding existing programs while ending others," the memo said. READ ON THE FOX BUSINESS APP The CEOs said that they are pulling back on DEI to be in compliance with Trump's executive orders. Getty Images The CEOs said that they are pulling back on DEI to be in compliance with Trump's executive orders. Getty Images © Jabin Botsford /The Washington Post via Getty Images The CEOs said that the changes were necessary due to the Trump administration’s executive orders abolishing DEI in the federal government and targeting the policies among federal contractors, which the memo states "require changes in the way the company [Paramount] approaches inclusion moving forward." Get Metro® 5G Home Internet - Only $50 per Month metrobyt-mobile.com Get Metro® 5G Home Internet - Only $50 per Month Ad Paramount's DEI changes come as the company finds itself under FCC scrutiny regarding its $8 billion merger with independent studio Skydance. Some Paramount employees did not seem to welcome the changes, however, accusing the CEOs of "continuing to kiss the ring and pay off mob bosses," in their letter, which was addressed to them. TRUMP AND PARAMOUNT SEEKING MEDIATOR, FUELING SETTLEMENT CHATTER IN CBS NEWS LAWSUIT "How, in good conscience, can we continue to market to our global audiences and profit from their cultural contributions, while erasing our own internal commitments to equity for and inclusion of those audiences? How can we continue to attract talent with promises that are walked back the moment they become inconvenient?" the letter stated. Paramount employees blasted the company's decision to step back from DEI. Getty Images Paramount employees blasted the company's decision to step back from DEI. Getty Images © Getty Images The employees also slammed the company, which owns CBS, BET, Comedy Central and MTV, for recent layoffs which they claim has forced them to "say goodbye to countless talented and brilliant colleagues," whom they claim were disproportionately from "underrepresented" demographics. Paramount cut 15% of its US workforce in August 2024. Paramount declined to comment for this story. Posted by Magic V at March 05, 2025 No comments: Email This BlogThis! Share to X Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest TRUMP TEAM IS GREATNESS. President Donald Trump and his negotiating team are “great problem-solvers,” Russia’s sovereign wealth fund chief Kirill Dmitriev, who is in Saudi Arabia for bilateral talks with the United States, told CNN’s Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Matthew Chance on Monday. Talks between the US and Russia over the war in Ukraine are set to begin Tuesday. However, Dmitriev said he has already met with several members of the Trump team in Riyadh. “All I can say is they’re great problem-solvers. And I think President Trump is a great problem-solver,” he said. Dmitriev said that the US negotiators have not yet made direct promises with their Russian counterparts. “I think the promise is: let’s have dialogue, let’s figure out the best solution for our countries, for other countries, for the global community,” he said. He also denied that Russia primarily sought to alleviate the sanctions faced by the country and asserted that the US and Russian economies could both benefit from working together. “I think it’s very important to build bridges. I think US-Russia relations are very important for the world,” he said. More on the Russian negotiator: Dmitriev was tapped by the Kremlin to focus on restoring economic ties between the US and Russia as the two sides attempt to forge a Russia-Ukraine peace agreement, according to sources with knowledge of the appointment. Recently, Dmitriev worked closely with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff Posted by Magic V at February 17, 2025 No comments: Email This BlogThis! Share to X Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest Janitors on the right side of history don't need to double down; Politics exclusive Columbia janitors trapped, attacked by anti-Israel mob say they faced retaliatory harassment for reporting antisemitic conduct as civil rights probe launched By Ryan King Published March 17, 2025 Updated March 17, 2025, 11:59 a.m. ET 526 Comments Columbia University is facing a new federal investigation over allegations from two janitors who claim they were unlawfully forced to scrub off swastikas spray-painted on campus before later being attacked and briefly trapped by an anti-Israel “mob” during the takeover of Hamilton Hall last spring. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), a federal agency tasked with enforcing civil rights laws in the workplace, has opened a probe into complaints from Lester Wilson and Mario Torres, who were forced to fight their way out of Hamilton Hall nearly a year ago, The Post has confirmed. Mario Torres 7 Mario Torres publicly opened up about the trauma he weathered at Columbia University during an interview with the Free Press last year. @TheFP/X Mario Torres 7 Mario Torres had repeated run-ins with anti-Israel agitators throughout last year. Getty Images Both men are making claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, alleging that they faced retaliatory harassment at the institution for “reporting antisemitic and racist conduct.” 00:20 04:41 “We welcome the EEOC’s decision to open an investigation into Mario’s and Lester’s charges of discrimination,” former US Attorney General Bill Barr, whose firm Torridon is representing the two men, told The Post. “Columbia has a legal and moral obligation to protect the civil rights of its students and employees. It must be held accountable when it fails to do so,” Barr, 74, who attended Columbia University and lived through the riots of the late 1960s there, added. Explore More Trump says Biden's autopen pardons are 'void, vacant and of no further force or effect,' vows probe of Jan. 6 House select committee Trump ties for highest approval he's ever had — as more Americans say US is on right track than any time in 20 years: poll Ihsan Ali attempted 'honor killing' arrest Father charged with attempting to 'honor kill' daughter was only worried about his car while he was arrested It is not fully clear when the EEOC commenced the probe, but records seen by The Post show that the agency was working on the investigation last month. Wilson and Torres, who had worked at the school for over five years, were both left injured as well as traumatized from the scourge of anti-Israel unrest that engulfed the Ivy League school and have since been unable to return to work as a result, according to the complaints they filed last October. “Hours after President [Minouche] Shafik issued her statement [that the university had become ‘unsafe for everyone‘], an antisemitic mob assaulted two janitors inside Columbia’s historic Hamilton Hall, calling them ‘Jew-lovers,'” the two complaints for both men recalled of the Hamilton Hall takeover in April last year. “Columbia had indeed become unsafe for everyone, including the two janitors who were trapped inside Hamilton Hall. And for these two men, Columbia had for months been a hostile environment in violation of Title VII,” the complaints added. It all began around November 2023, shortly after the bloody Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel sparked a war. Racist and antisemitic graffiti started to pop up, scrawled all around Hamilton Hall — and the campus’s janitors were forced to clean it up. “Mr. Wilson recognized the swastikas as symbols of white supremacy,” Wilson’s complaint alleges. “As an African-American man, he found the images deeply distressing. He reported them to his supervisors, who instructed him to erase the graffiti.” “No matter how many times Mr. Wilson removed the swastikas, individuals kept replacing them with more.” Wilson lost track of how many swastikas he had to scrub, but his colleague Torres, who is Latino, pegged it in the dozens and eventually reached a point where he had enough, his complaint said. 7 The two maintenance workers argued that Columbia University could’ve prevented the chaos if it had taken action earlier. James Keivom “They were so offensive, and Columbia’s inaction was so frustrating, that he eventually began throwing away chalk that had been left in the classrooms so vandals would not have anything to write with,” Torres’ complaint alleged. “However, Mr. Torres was reprimanded by his supervisor for doing so.” Given the fact that Columbia University requires an electronic ID to gain entrance to Hamilton Hall, which is nestled on the school’s Morningside Heights campus, and the fact that the building was equipped with security feeds, the two janitors felt the authorities could’ve tracked down the perpetrators. They had reported the deluge of antisemitic, sexually obscene and racist graffiti at Hamilton Hall to campus security and concluded there was “no reason to believe” Columbia University “investigated any of the incidents” that had been flagged. In one instance, around Dec. 6, 2023, Torres and Wilson observed masked protesters storm through Hamilton Hall chanting “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and scrawling swastikas as well as other obscene graffiti in the building. Columbia University 7 Rioters at Columbia University barricaded themselves into Hamilton Hall in April last year. Getty Images After Wilson reported that, he was told by campus security that “the trespassers and vandals were exercising their First Amendment rights” and that “nothing could be done,” per the complaint. The antisemitic incidents on campus continued to occur. Eventually, anti-Israel protesters erected encampments in a nod to the wretched conditions that scores of Palestinians endured in Gaza during the war. Wilson’s union informed him in the spring of last year that Columbia University would offer overtime to custodians who agreed to tidy up the encampments. He also witnessed antisemitism in those encampments, the complaint alleged. Mario Torres 7 The maintenance workers fought their way out of Hamilton Hall during the occupation by the anti-Israel mob. Getty Images “He spotted a colleague inside the encampment cleaning the mess within it,” Wilson’s complaint recounted. “He saw and heard members of the encampment shouting ‘Jew-lover’ and ‘Zionist’ at the colleague while he worked to clean up their mess.” He later opted to return to his normal shift, not feeling safe at the encampment on the South Lawn, which is not far from Hamilton Hall. Torres had similarly complained about not feeling safe walking past the encampment on his way to work. Then came the infamous occupation of Hamilton Hall, something that had been done during past protests over the last five decades, such as the demonstrations against the Vietnam War in the late 1960s. Both Torres and Wilson had been working in Hamilton Hall on April 29, 2024, when a swarm of masked demonstrators stormed the building to take it over. “Masked intruders obstructed Mr. Torres’ path at every turn,” Torres’ complaint detailed. “Mr. Torres had no idea that all the while rioters had been zip-tying shut the exits on the ground floor of Hamilton Hall.” “Mr. Torres observed that what had initially seemed like chaos was actually highly coordinated,” the complaint added. “An unmasked woman and a masked man barked orders at the rioters, directing them to different areas of Hamilton Hall.” Columbia University 7 Students caused significant property damage during the riots and left many Jewish students afraid. AP Rioters had moved vending machines and zip-tied doors to barricade the exits and entrances. After deciding he was out of options, Torres decided to battle his way through the mob. ‘”I’m going to get twenty guys up here to f— you up,'” one masked rioter who had “violently” shoved Torres threatened, per the complaint. “Mr. Torres pulled a fire extinguisher, which was within arm’s reach, off the wall to defend himself and replied, ‘I’ll be right here.’” During that confrontation, Torres was repeatedly struck on his back by other rioters. After repeatedly navigating to blocked-off exits, he eventually found a way out that had been blocked by zip ties and a bike lock. Following his pleas, one of the rioters cut the zip ties and let him out. Wilson had been separated from Torres during the havoc and had quickly tried to escape after determining the rioters were taking over. During his scramble to get out, rioters smashed furniture into him and pushed him repeatedly, per the complaint. Hamilton Hall 7 Students took over Hamilton Hall in April last year. Getty Images “He recalls saying, ‘I work here. Let me out,'” the complained alleged. “The rioters responded by laughing at him and mocking him. He remembers being told, ‘You work for the Jews,’ and ‘You’re a Zionist.’ Eventually, someone opened a door and Mr. Wilson was physically pushed out of the building.” Rioters had seized Hamilton Hall not long after defying orders to disperse the encampments in April last year. Eventually, the New York City Police Department intervened and cleared out the building, leading to over 100 arrests. Days earlier, Columbia University had shifted most of its classes to remote learning due to the unrest on campus as conditions reached a boiling point. 526 What do you think? Post a comment. The Post reached out to EEOC for comment. Columbia University declined to comment on the ongoing investigation when asked by The Post. Columbia University has faced intense scrutiny from the Trump administration over its handling of antisemitism on campus, including by having the White House cut over $400 million worth of funding. The Ivy League school is also facing a probe from the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights, alongside dozens of other institutions of higher education. President Trump’s team has also targetted the rioters, with his State Department and Department of Homeland Security searching to see if individuals on foreign student visas espoused support for Hamas or broke the law. Most prominently, Trump’s team has moved to deport Mahmoud Khalil, one of the driving forces behind the Columbia University tumult. The courts have halted Khalil’s deportation Posted by Magic V at March 17, 2025 No comments: Email This BlogThis! Share to X Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest affiliates in that great city of Dallas who doesn't have FOX News Mark Cuban pressed on Kamala Harris' immigration flip-flops: She's 'evolved' FIRST ON FOX: A pro-Trump super PAC has launched a closing message ad against Vice President Kamala Harris in battleground states focusing on illegal immigration, the economy and the Biden-Harris agenda. The 60-second ad, which will be run at high frequency in Michigan and Wisconsin through Election Day, was produced by Preserve America PAC and starts off with Harris being asked on "The View" if she would have done anything "differently" than Biden over the last four years. Save Your Pet's Life: Why Vets Want You To Get Pet Insurance Lemonade Save Your Pet's Life: Why Vets Want You To Get Pet Insurance Ad Before Harris answers, the ad plays clips of Biden being pressed in an interview about poor economic numbers and clips of tens of thousands of illegal immigrants crossing the border as Biden was set to end Title 42. The ad then includes clips highlighting crimes allegedly committed by illegal immigrants in the United States, including the murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in Texas. BIDEN ADMIN FACES MOUNTING PRESSURE TO DISMANTLE MIGRANT PAROLE PROGRAM AMID 'STRESS' ON SMALL TOWNS Former President Trump and VP Kamala Harris Getty Images Former President Trump and VP Kamala Harris Getty Images © Getty Images "It's going to be chaotic for a while," Biden says in a clip after Nungaray's face is shown on the screen. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The ad then shifts to foreign policy, highlighting the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan where 13 U.S. service members were killed. THE FATAL FLAW IN KAMALA HARRIS’ SPEECH, MARRED BY BIDEN’S ‘GARBAGE’ COMMENT Vice President Kamala Harris and President Biden arrive at a campaign event at the IBEW Local Union #5 union hall in Pittsburgh, on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024. AP Newsroom Vice President Kamala Harris and President Biden arrive at a campaign event at the IBEW Local Union #5 union hall in Pittsburgh, on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024. AP Newsroom © AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin "There is not a thing that comes to mind," Harris says at the end of the ad as she answers the initial question from the beginning of the ad. "And I've been a part of most of the decisions that have had impact." The ad closes with the words, "Weak. Reckless. Dangerous. That's the Biden-Harris agenda." Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign rally on Oct. 28, 2024, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Getty Images Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign rally on Oct. 28, 2024, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Getty Images © Getty Images Preserve America PAC has spent over $110 million on ads targeted to Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin starting during the Summer Olympics shortly after Harris entered the race. "After opening our border and ruining our economy, Kamala deserves to be fired and we're working every day to prevent four more years of American ruin," Preserve America PAC senior adviser David Carney told Fox News Digital. Fox News Digital reached out to the Harris-Walz campaign for comment but did not receive a response. Posted by Magic V at October 31, 2024 No comments: Email This BlogThis! Share to X Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest