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37°
Tuesday, feb 25
Tag:
Donald Trump
Politics
Right-Wing Podcaster Dan Bongino Named FBI Deputy Director
Popular right-wing podcaster - and staunch Trump supporter - Dan Bongino has been named as the FBI deputy director in a surprise move. The former Secret Service agent who went on to become an instructor in Maryland, earned a master's degree from Queens College and an MBA at Penn State University. He will serve under recently appointed FBI Director Kash Patel, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the agency's dozens of field offices. "Great news for Law Enforcement and American Justice! Dan Bongino, a man of incredible love and passion for our Country, has just been named the next DEPUTY…
News
Kim Kardashian Sued: Star Mistakenly ID'd Man's Photo As Death Row Inmate
Reality TV star and business mogul Kim Kardashian is facing a lawsuit over allegations that she falsely identified a New York man as a convicted murderer on Instagram, causing him serious emotional distress. Westchester County resident Ivan Cantu filed the lawsuit against the celebrity on Thursday, Feb. 20, alleging that Kardashian wrongfully posted his photo on Instagram to her 350 million followers, claiming he was a convicted murderer on death row, according to New York-based Sobo & Sobo Personal Injury Attorneys. The case includes six counts, including libel, slander…
Real Estate
Home Sales Plummet, Prices Hit New January Record: How Tariffs Could Drive Costs Higher
Home sales fell in January as prices continued soaring, showing the financial strains potential buyers are facing. Existing-home sales declined 4.9 percent from December 2024 to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.08 million in January, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) said in a news release on Friday, Feb. 21. The median home price climbed 4.8 percent year-over-year to $396,900, the highest amount ever in a month of January. In the Northeast, sales fell 5.7 percent from December to an annual rate of 500,000 homes, though they increased 4.2 percent from January 2024. The m…
Politics
Trump Fires Nation's Senior Military Officer
President Donald Trump announced on social media that he has just fired the nation's senior military officer and named a successor. General Charles Q. Brown Jr., age 62, made history as only the second African American to lead the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Trump appointed retired three-star general John D. Caine to fill Brown's position as he seeks to reshape military leadership. “Today, I am honored to announce my nomination of Lieutenant General Dan ‘Razin’ Caine as the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Friday evening, Feb…
Politics
New Poll Shows Approval Drop In Trump's Handling Of Economy
As economic uncertainty looms, a new poll shows President Donald Trump's approval rating has slipped, with growing numbers of Americans expressing concern over the nation's financial direction. The Reuters/Ipsos poll, which surveyed 4,145 US adults nationwide over a six-day period ending Tuesday, found Trump's overall approval rating at 44 percent, down from 45 percent in a poll conducted Friday, Jan. 24 to Sunday, Jan. 26. His disapproval rating climbed to 51 percent, a notable increase from 41 percent in polling taken just after he returned to the White House on Monday, Jan. 20 to T…
Politics
Senate Confirms Kash Patel, Staunch Trump Loyalist, As FBI Director
New York native Kash Patel will lead the world’s most powerful law enforcement agency. The US Senate confirmed Patel, 44, as FBI director by a vote of 51-49 on Thursday, Feb. 20, with Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) breaking rank to join every Democrat in opposing the move. Patel, a Long Island native from Garden City, rose to national prominence as a fierce loyalist to President Donald Trump while spreading “deep state” conspiracy theories and defending many of the rioters charged for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. He previou…
Politics
$5K
Doge
Rebate Checks For Americans? Musk, Trump Tease Possible Plan
President Donald Trump is floating the idea of a potential $5,000 rebate for American households, following a suggestion from billionaire Elon Musk that taxpayers should benefit from cost-cutting measures at the federal level. Trump’s remarks came Wednesday, Feb. 19 Miami Beach, Florida, after Musk posted on X that he would “check with the President” about a proposal to distribute tax refund checks funded by savings from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The idea was originally suggested by James Fishback, CEO of Azoria Investment, who referred to it as a “DOGE Dividend.…
News
MA Among Best States For Grocery Affordability Based On Income, New Study Says
Inflation and soaring grocery prices are squeezing US households at the beginning of 2025, but a new study says Northeast families are spending less of their income on food than other parts of the country. A study from WalletHub called States Where People Spend the Most & Least on Groceries was released on Thursday, Feb. 13. Despite higher food costs, residents in many Northeast and mid-Atlantic states spend a smaller share of their incomes on groceries compared to others. WalletHub said the cost of groceries has surged more than 25 percent since 2019, straining household…
Politics
White House Valentine's Day Post Playing Off 'Roses Are Red' Poem Sparks Controversy
A Valentine’s Day post from the White House social media accounts sparked controversy after featuring a rhyme about illegal immigration, drawing sharp reactions from both supporters and critics. The post, shared across X, Instagram, and Facebook, reimagined the classic "roses are red, violets are blue" poem with a political twist: "Roses are red, violets are blue, come here illegally, and we’ll deport you." Set against a pink backdrop, the poem was accompanied by images of President Donald Trump and border czar Tom Homan, with the caption “Happy Valentine’s Day” followed by a red heart emo…
Business
Retail Spending Slips As Inflation Climbs In January, Adding To Economic Concerns
After a solid holiday season, US retail sales took a surprising step back to start 2025, snapping a streak of growth and fueling worries about the economy. Retail and food services sales fell 0.9 percent in January, according to Census Bureau data released on Friday, Feb. 14. The decline reversed the trend from December 2024's revised increase of 0.7 percent, signaling that consumers may be feeling the squeeze from rising prices. Economists had predicted only a slight decline, with Dow Jones estimating a 0.2 percent drop, NBC News reported. The sales totals were seasonally adjusted but…
Politics
Poll Shows Shift In Trump's Popularity, Especially Among This Group Of Americans
President Donald Trump’s approval ratings have taken a noticeable dip, according to a new —and one demographic shift stands out. The poll, conducted from Sunday, Feb. 9 to Tuesday, Feb. 11 by Economist/YouGov, found that more Americans now disapprove of Trump (48 percent) than approve (46 percent), marking a reversal from previous weeks. His personal favorability has also declined, with 52 percent of respondents viewing him unfavorably, compared to 46 percent who see him favorably. Biggest Decline Among Younger Adults The most striking shift in Trump’s standing comes from younger ad…
Business
Inflation Climbs To Start 2025, Fueled By Dramatic Egg Price Jump, Fears Over Trump Policies
Inflation unexpectedly accelerated in the first month of 2025, adding political and economic pressure to President Donald Trump's campaign promise of immediate relief to high consumer prices. In January, overall inflation climbed 3.3 percent year-over-year for core items and 0.5 percent monthly, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics released on Wednesday, Feb. 12. That ran slightly ahead of economists' prediction of 3.2 percent inflation, NBC News reported. Core items exclude notably volatile prices for food and energy. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) still inc…
Politics
Another American Hostage To Be Freed Following Teacher's Return From Russia, US Envoy Says
One day after Pennsylvania teacher Marc Fogel returned home from Russian imprisonment, another American hostage is expected to be freed, President Trump’s special envoy for hostages, Adam Boehler, told Fox News. The unnamed hostage is expected to be released on Wednesday, Feb. 12, Boehler, an Albany native and UPenn graduate, said during an interview with Sean Hannity on Tuesday evening, Feb. 11. “It’s another in a stream of hostages. It’ll be unilateral as well. And I can’t release [the person’s name] until the person’s released, obviously it could endanger the hostage release and that I c…
News
Gulf Of America Name Change Activated By Google Maps, FAA
The Gulf of America, the area that has been known for centuries as the Gulf of Mexico, is now being used by the US government and some online platforms. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Google Maps have implemented the controversial name change. The shift follows an official update by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and was reinforced by a proclamation from President Donald Trump, who on Sunday, Feb. 9, declared the date as the first-ever Gulf of America Day. The announcement came directly from US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who posted on social m…
Politics
Trump Wants US Treasury To Stop Making Pennies: Here's Why
President Donald Trump is calling for an end to the production of pennies, arguing that the cost of minting them far exceeds their actual value. As he departed the Super Bowl in New Orleans on Sunday night, Trump took to Truth Social to announce his directive to halt penny production, calling it a "wasteful" government expense. "For far too long the United States has minted pennies which literally cost us more than 2 cents," Trump wrote. "Let's rip the waste out of our great nations budget, even if it's a penny at a time." The financial burden of the penny has long been debated. Acco…
Sports
Eagles Seek Revenge, Kendrick Ignites Halftime, Free Stream Offered: Your Super Bowl LIX Guide
America's biggest unofficial holiday is here and Super Bowl Sunday offers so much beyond what happens on the field inside the Caesars Superdome. The Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs are set to kick off Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9. This showdown is a rematch of the NFL's 2023 championship game when the Chiefs beat the Eagles 38-35 at Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona. The Chiefs have been slight betting favorites at -1.5 on most sportsbooks since the matchup was finalized. That's a reversal from when they were about two-point underdogs in Super B…
Politics
Judge Blocks Trump Birthright Citizenship Ban
A federal judge has issued an indefinite nationwide preliminary injunction blocking President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship, marking a significant legal setback for the administration. US District Judge Deborah Boardman in Maryland ruled Wednesday, Feb. 5, in favor of five pregnant undocumented women who challenged Trump’s executive order. The policy aimed to redefine the 14th Amendment, excluding children of undocumented immigrants from receiving automatic US citizenship at birth. Boardman determined the order directly conflicts with the "plai…
Politics
Trump Wants To Shut Education Department: Here's Why, What It Means
President Donald Trump says he's considering an executive order to dismantle the functions of the US Department of Education, aiming to eventually abolish the agency. This move aligns with his administration's broader strategy to decrease the federal government's size and return control of education policy to the states. The proposed executive order would maintain only those functions required by statute within the department, while other programs would be transferred to different agencies. An agency can't be abolished without Congressional approval. This reflects Trump's campaign pr…
Business
Proposed 25% US Tariff On Canadian Goods Will Be Paused After Earlier Deal With Mexico
Just hours after a similar agreement was reached with Mexico, the United States has agreed to paused planned tariffs on Canadian goods for 30 days. The deal was reached late Monday afternoon, Feb. 3 after President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau concluded their second conversation of the day. "I just had a good call with President Trump," Trudeau said in a statement announcing that Canada is implementing a $1.3 billion border plan "reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increase…
Business
US, Mexico Reach Deal To Delay 25% Tariffs
Mexico and the US have reached an agreement to delay steep tariffs that were set to take effect on Tuesday, Feb. 4. Click here for a new, updated story: Proposed 25% US Tariff On Canadian Goods Will Be Paused After Earlier Deal With Mexico Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced the deal Monday morning, Feb 3. It will pause the 25 percent levies for a month, and follows negotiations between Mexican officials and the Trump administration on border security and drug trafficking. Mexico committed to deploy 10,000 troops dedicated to stopping illegal drugs and migrants from…
Sports
Canadian Hockey Fans Boo US National Anthem After Tariffs Ordered
In a striking display of discontent, Canadian hockey fans booed the US national anthem during NHL games, expressing their displeasure hours after President Donald Trump's newly imposed tariffs on Canadian goods went into effect on Saturday, Feb. 1. This reaction underscores the growing tension between the two neighboring countries. At the Ottawa Senators game against the visiting Minnesota Wild, fans jeered during "The Star-Spangled Banner," signaling their frustration with the US administration's trade policies. Similarly, in Calgary, spectators at a Flames game against the De…
Business
Trump Tariffs Take Effect: Expect To Pay More For These Items, Experts Say
US tariffs on goods from its three largest trading partners -- neighboring nations Canada and Mexico as well as China -- have gone into effect after President Trump signed an order late Saturday afternoon, Feb. 1. Canada and Mexico have been slapped with 25 percent tariffs. The rate for China, America's main economic rival, is 10 percent. Canada also has an adjusted 10 percent rate for energy products, include crude oil. Mexico and Canada account for about 70 percent of US crude oil imports. Now, many economists are warning that American consumers will be paying more for a host of staple i…
Politics
Elon Musk Lieutenants Given Access To US Treasury Department’s Payments System: Report
Representatives from a team led by billionaire businessman and political activist Elon Musk have been granted access to the US Treasury Department’s payments system, a move that could significantly impact federal spending oversight, according to a new report. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent authorized the change late Friday, Jan. 31, giving Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team access to the federal payment system, which manages disbursements for the entire US government, The New York Times says. The decision follows a standoff with David Lebryk, a longtime Treasury …
Business
Trump Vows To Hit Canada, Mexico, China With Tariffs: Here's When, How Much
Donald Trump's months-long threats of implementing tariffs on other countries are apparently hours away from becoming a reality. Click here for a new, updated story - Trump Tariffs Take Effect: Expect To Pay More For These Items, Experts Say White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced at a news conference Friday afternoon, Jan. 31 that both of America's neighbors, Canada and Mexico, will be slapped with 25 percent tariffs on goods. A third nation, China, America's main economic rival, will be hit with 10 percent tariffs. They take effect on Saturday, Feb. 1, and are "for …
Politics
Trump To Federal Workers: Remove Pronouns On Email Signatures
Federal employees across multiple agencies have been directed to remove pronouns from their email signatures. The move stems from an executive order signed by President Donald Trump seeking to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in the federal government, according to internal memos obtained by ABC News. It's also part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to dismantle DEI initiatives in federal agencies. The directive takes effect at the end of the business day Friday, Jan. 31. The measure has sparked concerns among workplace advocates, with som…
News
Fed Pauses Interest Rate Cuts Despite Trump's Push For Immediate Reduction
The Federal Reserve kept its key interest rate in place, pausing further cuts and ignoring a demand by President Donald Trump to immediately drop rates. After three months of reductions, the Fed decided to keep the key interest rate target at 4.25 to 4.5 percent. The Fed announced the decision on Wednesday, Jan. 29, after its first meeting since President Trump returned to the White House. Chair Jerome Powell said the Fed is monitoring inflation and economic stability under the Trump administration. "We remain committed to supporting maximum employment, bringing inflation sustain…
Politics
Trump Calls For End To Income Tax, Offers Buyouts To 2 Million Federal Employees
President Donald Trump is calling for the elimination of federal income tax, advocating for a shift to a tariff-based revenue system. He argues that this approach, which he says previously made the US “richer” and a more “powerful” economy, would mark a pivotal turning point for the nation. "America is going to be very rich again, and it's going to happen very quickly," Trump said during a speech in Florida on Monday, Jan. 27 at the 2025 Republican Issues Conference at the Trump National Doral Miami. "Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich foreign nations, we should be tariffing an…
Business
Arabica Coffee Prices Spike Amid Colombia-US Tariff Dustup
Prices of Arabica coffee hit record highs in the aftermath of threats of tariffs by both the United States and Colombia after a dispute involving migrant deportation flights. Arabica futures hit a record of $3.56 in the Intercontinental Exchange on Monday, Jan. 27, a day after the back-and-forth dustup a day earlier, according to The Wall Street Journal. The previous record of $3.48 was recorded in early December. The US imports about 30 percent of its coffee from Colombia. Colombia agreed to accept the flights after earlier turning back two planes. This prompted President Donald Trump to…
Politics
Trump Justice Department To Investigate January 6 Prosecutors
The Trump administration will investigate prosecutors who oversaw the criminal cases against Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack defendants, according to a brand-new report. Earlier report - Trump Ends All Jan. 6 Cases With Pardons, Dismissals, Commutations, Signs Flurry Of Orders Calling the probe a "special project," Ed Martin, the acting US Attorney for Washington, DC, asked prosecutors to turn over notes, documents, files emails and other information related to the cases in an email on Monday, Jan. 27, the Wall Street Journal reports. Hours after being sworn in to a second non-consecuti…
Politics
Colombia Agrees To Accept Migrant Deportation Flights After Trump Threatens 25% Tariffs
Colombia, one of the United States' key allies in Latin America, has agreed to accept migrant deportation flights after earlier turning back two planes, prompting President Donald Trump to threaten steep sanctions. Trump said Sunday afternoon, Jan. 26 that he would impose "emergency" 25-percent tariffs on Colombian goods after it blocked the flights. But negotiations between the countries led to an agreement late Sunday night and Trump withdrew the tariff threats. “The Government of Colombia has agreed to all of President Trump’s terms, including the unrestricted acceptance of all undocume…
Politics
Trump Threatens 25% Tariffs After Colombia Turns Back Flights Carrying Migrants From US
President Donald Trump says he will impose 25 percent "emergency" tariffs on Colombian goods after the key South American ally refused to allow two two flights from the US carrying migrants to land. Click here for a new, updated story - Colombia Agrees To Accept Migrant Deportation Flights After Trump Threatens 25% Tariffs "The US cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals," Colombia President Gustavo Petro said in a statement on Sunday, Jan. 26. "I deny the entry of American planes with Colombian migrants into our territory. "The US must establish a protocol for the dignifie…
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