The Cruelty Isn't the Point.  It's the Pleasure.  —  Over the years, we've piled up some indelible images of gutless Republican surrender to Trump.  Ted Cruz's face of pure pain as he phone-banked for Trump in 2016.  Mitt Romney's rueful smile at dinner with Trump after that election.1 And now …

After ceding power of the purse, GOP lawmakers beg Trump team for funds  —  Republican senators are asking Cabinet secretaries and other Trump officials to let money flow back into their states.  —  Republican senators find themselves in an unusual position these days …

One confirmed dead in Marana Regional Airport crash Wednesday morning  —  KGUN 9 has a crew on scene  —  MARANA, Ariz. (KGUN) — A crash has occurred at Marana Regional Airport, 11700 W. Avra Valley Road, Wednesday morning, KGUN 9 has confirmed with airport personnel.

DOGE Says It's Saved $55 Billion; Data Show Much Less  — Cost-cutting effort itemizes about $8.6 billion in savings  — Data includes error that inflates value of DOGE savings so far  —  The federal cost-cutting effort dubbed the Department of Government Efficiency says it has saved $55 billion …

Trump's approval rating slips as Americans worry about the economy  —  U.S. President Donald Trump's approval rating has ticked slightly lower in recent days as more Americans worried about the direction of the U.S. economy as the new leader threatens a host of countries with tariffs, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found.

NYC congestion pricing axed as Trump pulls approval of hated toll  —  Congestion pricing, we hardly knew ye.  —  New York City's spectacularly unpopular congestion pricing scheme is on death row as the Trump administration will announce Wednesday it is pulling its approval of the toll …

The DOGE Brain Drain Has Begun  —  THREE DAYS AFTER the National Institutes of Health abruptly announced it would place a strict, low cap on the money it sends to universities and research institutions for the administrative costs of scientific research, the University of Iowa made an abrupt announcement of its own.

How Americans view Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg  —  Americans' views of two prominent tech executives - Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg - tilt more negative than positive.  Musk is a deeply polarizing figure, with Republicans largely viewing him favorably and Democrats largely unfavorably.

Migrants, Deported to Panama Under Trump Plan, Detained in Remote Jungle Camp  —  The group of unauthorized migrants, which includes children, were bused to the camp late Tuesday night.  “It looks like a zoo, there are fenced cages,” said one of the detainees.

Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies  —  By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:  —  Section 1.  Policy and Purpose.  The Constitution vests all executive power in the President and charges him with faithfully executing the laws.

Trump Media Group Sues Brazilian Judge Weighing Arrest of Jair Bolsonaro  —  The lawsuit came hours after the justice received an indictment of Brazil's former president, who is an ally of President Trump.  —  President Trump's media company sued a Brazilian Supreme Court justice on Wednesday …

Oops: Trump-Musk Cuts Just Wrecked an NIH Org Championed by GOPers … With co-Presidents Donald Trump and Elon Musk now inflicting deep cuts on federal agencies that sponsor medical research, thousands of scientists, researchers, and medical professionals are getting fired.

A Frustrated Trump Wants His New Air Force One Planes Pronto  —  Among the ways being discussed to force faster delivery of two presidential planes are relaxing security clearances for Boeing workers and even purchasing a temporary luxury plane and retrofitting it.

As measles outbreak rages in Texas, RFK Jr. pushes anti-vaccine message  —  The largest measles outbreak Texas has seen in over 30 years is sweeping through the western part of the state.  According to information released yesterday by the Texas Department of State Health Services, 58 cases have been confirmed throughout five counties.

Why Democrats Won't Throw a Real Punch  —  Faced with existential threats from the right, the Democratic leadership remains timid; faced with demands for justice from the left, it goes on the attack.  —  Bluesky  —  Pocket  —  A relative of mine—an older gent with a penchant for salty language …

RFK 's plan to make America healthy again?  Round up people with mental health conditions in camps  —  Robert F. Kennedy wants to replace standard psychological care with unpaid labor on “wellness farms”  —  Robert F. Kennedy's “make America healthy again” motto is meant to convey …

‘It makes no logical sense’: A Mass. immigration judge is among more than 20 fired by Trump administration  —  In December, the Biden administration appointed Kerry Doyle to serve as a judge on Massachusetts' newest immigration court, which opened last year in Chelmsford to help ease the state's growing backlog of cases.

Musk's X in Talks to Raise Money at a $44 Billion Valuation  — Valuation is the same as Musk's 2022 Twitter acquisition  — Billionaire has recently tapped private markets for big sums  —  Elon Musk's X is in talks to raise money from investors at a $44 billion valuation, according to people familiar with the matter.

Tens of millions of dead people aren't getting Social Security checks, despite Trump and Musk claims  —  The Trump administration is falsely claiming that tens of millions of dead people over 100 years old are receiving Social Security payments.  Over the past few days …

USDA says it accidentally fired officials working on bird flu and is trying to rehire them  —  In a statement, an Agriculture Department spokesperson told NBC News that officials are “working to swiftly rectify the situation.”  —  The United States Department of Agriculture on Tuesday acknowledged that …

Musk and Trump Are Causing the Dumbest Imperial Collapse in History  —  Empires have fallen before.  But it's never been this purely idiotic.  —  Demonstrators march holding posters during a rally to protest President Trump's politics, on Presidents Day, February 17, 2025, in Los Angeles.

Tesla's law firm drafts Delaware bill that could salvage Musk pay package … A law firm that represents Tesla and Elon Musk has written proposed legislation that would alter Delaware corporate law, according to a person directly familiar with the drafting of the bill who asked to remain unnamed in order to speak about the matter.