Donald Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk have begun initiating the mass layoff of federal employees as the new administration strives to shrink the government’s workforce, with Musk saying he wants to “delete entire agencies” in the interest of achieving greater efficiency and reducing bureaucracy.
Meanwhile, the president’s controversial nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F Kennedy Jr, looks set to be confirmed by the Senate today.
His choice for Education Secretary, Linda McMahon, will also have her first committee confirmation hearing a day after Trump ranted about closing that very department.
Trump will host Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House later today as the latter prepares to further cut levies on American goods in the hope of escaping the U.S. president’s salvo of tariffs, with trade arms sales and China expected to be on the agenda.
On Wednesday, the president held calls with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as he turned his attention to resolving the war between their countries, after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed Ukraine’s goal of regaining all territory invaded by Russian troops as “unrealistic”.
Key Points
- Mass firings start inside agencies as Donald Trump and Elon Musk work to slash federal payroll by thousands
- 'Today is the big one': Trump to hold news conference on reciprocal tariffs at 1 p.m.
- Trump's health secretary pick RFK Jr set to be confirmed by Senate
- President to host Indian PM Narendra Modi at White House
- Linda McMahon set for first confirmation hearing after Trump rants about shutting Department of Education
- Trump says he spoke to Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky on ‘immediately’ starting Ukraine talks
Patel nomination advances to full Senate vote
16:31 , Oliver O'ConnellThe Senate Judiciary Committee just voted to advance Kash Patel's nomination to be FBI Director to the full Senate, 12-10.
The vote was along party lines, with all Republicans voting to advance the nomination and all Democrats voting against it.
RFK Jr confirmed to lead Trump's health department
16:30 , Oliver O'ConnellRobert F Kennedy Jr is confirmed as Health and Human Services Secretary and will be sworn in at the White House this afternoon.
Notably, Senator Mitch McConnell voted against Kennedy’s confirmation.
Trump demands ‘Radical Left Reuters’ return a $9 million government contract. He’s the one who paid it out in the first place
16:24 , Oliver O'ConnellDonald Trump is raging about the $9 million that “Radical Left Reuters” received to supposedly study “large scale social deception,” demanding that it immediately “give the money back” even though it was awarded during his first administration and was given to a company that operates seperately from the news agency.
The president’s Thursday morning social media tirade comes hours after DOGE chief Elon Musk peddled a misleading claim on X (formerly Twitter) that Reuters engaged in a “total scam,” sharing a post that alleged the news organization had been paid millions of dollars from the government for a “social engineering” program.
Justin Baragona has all the details.
Trump demands ‘Radical Left Reuters’ return the $9 million that he first paid out
Musk denies claim government buying $400m worth of Tesla Cybertrucks
16:20 , Oliver O'ConnellElon Musk has denied that the U.S. government will purchase $400m worth of Tesla Cybertrucks.
The billionaire jumped on X to deny the allegations, as it was widely reported on Wednesday that the Trump administration intended to spend $400m on “armored” Tesla electric vehicles in one of the State Department’s biggest contracts of 2025.
Madeline Sherratt reports.
Elon Musk denies that State Dept is buying $400M worth of Tesla Cybertrucks
Watch: Hegseth asked if peace deal will be forced on Ukraine
16:16 , Oliver O'ConnellREPORTER: Can you give a guarantee that no deal will be forced on Ukraine that they do not want to accept?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 13, 2025
HEGSETH: That's not ultimately my decision. President Trump -- I've got the Truths right here that he posted -- called both, in case we missed it, Vladimir Putin and… pic.twitter.com/a5iW5ok9DY
Watch: Hegseth rejects idea negotiations are concession to Putin
16:12 , Oliver O'ConnellREPORTER: You have focused on what Ukraine is giving up. What concessions will Putin be asked to make?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 13, 2025
HEGSETH: Um. I would start by saying the arguments that have been made that somehow coming to the table right now is making concessions to Vladimir Putin, I just reject that at… pic.twitter.com/8KqMe7ohG3
For context, here’s The Independent’s world affairs editor, Sam Kiley, on how the Trump administration has left Ukraine with little room to negotiate.
Trump’s just sabotaged Ukraine’s bargaining power with Russia - whose side is he on?
Watch: Democratic Senator Tina Smith decides not to run for re-election
16:08 , Oliver O'ConnellI’ve decided not to run for re-election to the Senate in 2026.
— Senator Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) February 13, 2025
This job has been the honor of a lifetime. For the rest of my term, I’ll work as hard as I can for Minnesotans and our country.
Thank you so much, Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/3sWVib8nKJ
Only 75,000 workers have accepted Trump’s buyout
16:05 , Oliver O'ConnellAbout 75,000 federal workers have accepted President Donald Trump’s buyout program, which is far short of the White House’s goals for the effort to cull the federal workforce.
On Wednesday, a federal judge lifted a pause on the program, which allowed federal employees to be paid until September 30 if they resign by a specific date. While the original deadline was February 6, that was pushed back as the legal wrangling continued. The White House closed the offer Wednesday evening.
Gustaf Kilander reports from Washington, D.C.
75,000 workers have accepted Trump’s buyout — far short of White House projections
Federal firings are so chaotic workers are being let go ‘in error’ — then axed again
15:50 , Oliver O'ConnellThe Trump administration’s attempts to drastically and rapidly reduce the federal workforce have led to internal chaos with some workers being informed they were mistakenly sent a termination email only to be then told they were actually fired.
Ariana Baio reports.
Federal firings are so chaotic workers are being let go ‘in error’ — then axed again
Today's tariffs will not go into immediate effect, report says
15:45 , Oliver O'ConnellI’m told the new tariffs President Trump announces today will NOT go into effect today. There will be a time delay of some months, possibly an April 1 start date. That’s still TBD. This will be a presidential memorandum today not an executive order, and USTR will be tasked with…
— Eamon Javers (@EamonJavers) February 13, 2025
McMahon 'ready to enact' Trump's vision for Education Department
15:42 , Oliver O'ConnellEducation Secretary nominee Linda McMahon, the first-term Trump cabinet secretary and WWE founder, is answering questions from senators as part of her confirmation process to lead the Department of Education.
Asked about Donald Trump’s calls for her to shut down the department, she told lawmakers “I am ready to enact” the president's vision on education.
McMahon says the Trump plans to downsize of the department “will certainly require congressional action.”
She adds that it is “not the president's goal to defund the programs, it only to have it operate more efficiently.”
Former Trump advisor accused president of 'surrendering' to Putin
15:30 , Oliver O'ConnellDonald Trump’s former national security advisor and foe, John Bolton, has accused the president of “surrendering” to Vladimir Putin.
It is unconscionable to allow Russia to assault Ukraine’s sovereignty, recruit enemies like North Korea to aid in their fight, and then sell out the Ukrainians by conceding the loss of their territory and NATO security guarantees or membership. By making these and others…
— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) February 13, 2025
Experts warn Trump's onslaught on checks and balances is ushering in a new age of political corruption
15:25 , Oliver O'ConnellAndrew Feinberg writes:
In just a few days, Donald Trump appeared to lay waste to decades-long American efforts to crack down on public and private corruption within the U.S. and abroad with a series of actions that experts are calling a clear signal that malfeasance by politicians and corporate actors will be tolerated if not encouraged.
Continue reading...
Trump is ushering in a new age of political corruption, experts warn
Zelensky 'will not accept' peace agreement without Ukraine at talks
15:15 , Athena Stavrou
Volodymyr Zelensky has said he will not accept any peace agreement that does not include Ukraine in talks.
The Ukrainian president spoke to journalists on Thursday, following a call between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.
"We cannot accept it, as an independent country, any agreements (made) without us," Mr Zelensky said as he visited a nuclear power station in western Ukraine.
"I articulate this very clearly to our partners. Any bilateral negotiations about Ukraine, not on other topics, but any bilateral talks about Ukraine without us, we will not accept."
US and India moving toward new defense framework
15:10 , Andrew FeinbergA senior administration official says the US and India are “moving towards signing a new defense framework” that will include “a number of new procurements” that could bring down the trade deficit between the two countries.
“Those talks are ongoing and are moving in a positive direction,” the official added.
Modi and Trump to discuss boosting India's imports of U.S. tech and energy exports
14:57 , Andrew FeinbergIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to be the fourth foreign leader hosted by Donald Trump at the White House since he returned to office last month.
He'll arrive this afternoon for a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office, followed by a joint press conference alongside Trump in the East Room and a private dinner for the two leaders.
According to a senior White House official, Trump and Modi will discuss "key areas of defense, trade, energy, infrastructure and regional partnerships," including ways to boost India's purchase of American-made military technology and American energy exports.
Trump, the official said, is "focused on unleashing American energy to the rest of the world, and will prioritize India as a key importer of America's natural resources to power their economy."
NYC Mayor Eric Adams ‘considered running for reelection as Republican’
14:50 , Joe SommerladThe Democrat finally decided to stick with his party after talking to Bronx Republican Party chairman Mike Rendino about his options on Monday, according to reports.
Those conversations had ramped up after Trump’s Justice Department announced it was dropping its corruption case against Adams.
Here’s more from Rhian Lubin.
New York Mayor Eric Adams considered running for reelection as a Republican: Report
Trump to hold news conference on reciprocal tariffs at 1 p.m.
14:48 , Oliver O'ConnellPresident Donald Trump will host an Oval Office news conference on reciprocal tariffs at 1 p.m.
He wrote on Truth Social:
NEWS CONFERENCE ON RECIPROCAL TARIFFS TODAY, 1:00 P.M., THE OVAL OFFICE. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!
Clearly excited, the president earlier wrote:
THREE GREAT WEEKS, PERHAPS THE BEST EVER, BUT TODAY IS THE BIG ONE: RECIPROCAL TARIFFS!!! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!
What you missed on Truth Social this morning...
14:39 , Oliver O'ConnellPolitico and The New York Times have once again been the subject of Donald Trump’s ire this morning, and Reuters was also mentioned in a pair of Truth Social posts from the president.
Trump first wrote:
DOGE: Looks like Radical Left Reuters was paid $9,000,000 by the Department of Defense to study ‘large scale social deception,” GIVE BACK THE MONEY, NOW!
He then added:
DOGE: Why was Politico paid Millions of Dollars for NOTHING. Buying the press??? PAY BACK THE MONEY TO THE TAXPAYERS! How much has the Failing New York Times paid? Is this the money that is keeping it open??? THEY ARE BUYING THE PRESS!
The payments to Politico and the Times are for subscriptions to their content for government departments and employees.
The Reuters payment is to Thomson Reuters Special Services LLC, a division of the wider company that provides data analysis tailored to client needs. According to a contract summary posted by Elon Musk, the project appears to be a study on large-scale social deception for Active Social Engineering Defense, commissioned by DARPA.
Reuters was paid millions of dollars by the US government for “large scale social deception”.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 13, 2025
That is literally what it says on the purchase order! They’re a total scam.
Just wow. https://t.co/GGxoVQSwN8
You can read all about DARPA’s preparations to defend the U.S. from malicious cyber attacks from the nation’s adversaries here — but here’s what that scary “social engineering” phrase refers to:
We call attacks on humans “social engineering” because they manipulate or “engineer” users into performing desired actions or divulging sensitive information. The most general social engineering attacks simply attempt to get unsuspecting internet users to click on malicious links.
Trump is disappearing migrants into Gitmo’s ‘black box,’ lawsuit says
14:30 , Joe SommerladLuis Alberto Castillo Rivera’s family didn’t know where he was until government images showed him being loaded into a U.S. military plane bound for Guantanamo Bay.
Tilso Ramon Gomez Lugo’s sister recognized her brother in the same images.
A coalition of attorneys and civil rights groups – including the ACLU and Center for Constitutional Rights – and families of several detained immigrants are now suing the Trump administration for access to offer legal assistance.
Here’s Alex Woodward on Trump’s plans to detain as many as 30,000 immigrants at the notorious military prison drawing international scrutiny from civil rights and humanitarian groups.
Trump is disappearing immigrants into Guantanamo’s ‘legal black hole,’ lawsuit says
Analysis: ‘What do Republican doctors really think of RFK Jr? I asked them’
14:10 , Joe SommerladHere’s Eric Garcia on what the nation’s physicians had to say about the man likely to be directing American public health policy very soon.
What do Republican doctors really think of RFK Jr? I asked them
Five bombshells from Caroline Kennedy’s open letter about RFK Jr
13:50 , Joe SommerladTrump’s health secretary-designate was the subject of a scathing open letter late last month from his cousin, a former U.S. ambassador to Australia and Japan, who accused him of “cheating his way through life”.
Here’s a reminder of what else she had to say from Alex Croft.
'He cheats his way through life': Five bombshells from Caroline Kennedy's open letter
Artists resign from Kennedy Center after Trump elected chairman
13:30 , Joe SommerladShonda Rhimes and Ben Folds have stepped down from their positions at the Kennedy Center amid a wave of resignations after Trump was elected chair of the iconic institution’s board.
The board of the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts voted on Wednesday to confirm Trump’s appointment.
“It is a Great Honor to be chairman of The Kennedy Center, especially with this amazing Board of Trustees,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“We will make The Kennedy Center a very special and exciting place!”
Soon after, Grey’s Anatomy showrunner and Shondaland CEO Shonda Rhimes resigned as treasurer to the board.
Singer-songwriter Ben Folds resigned as artistic adviser to the National Symphony Orchestra, a position he has held since 2017.
Here’s more from Shahana Yasmin.
Shonda Rhimes and Ben Folds resign from Kennedy Center after Trump elected chairman
State Department to buy $400m ‘armored’ Teslas from Musk
13:10 , Joe SommerladElon Musk was blasted on Wednesday following revelations that the Trump administration plans to spend $400 million on "armored” Teslas in what’s reportedly the State Department’s biggest contract of 2025.
The five-year contract, which did not specify the Tesla model to be “armored,” was listed in the government’s procurement forecast for 2025 and was first reported by Drop Site News.
The contract was revealed even as the tech billionaire and Trump “best buddy” is deeply embedded in the same federal government granting the contract as Musk peruses Treasury Department pay systems and can presumably examine information about rival contractors in what would appear to be a glaring conflict of interest.
The contract is due to be finalized in the fourth quarter and is currently in the “planning” phase, according to the document.
Rhian Lubin has more.
State Department to buy $400m ‘armored’ Teslas from Elon Musk
Mass firings start inside agencies as Trump and Musk work to slash federal payroll by thousands
12:55 , Joe SommerladTrump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk have begun initiating the mass layoff of federal employees as the new administration strives to shrink the government’s workforce, with Musk saying he wants to “delete entire agencies” in the interest of achieving greater efficiency and reducing bureaucracy.
Elon Musk calls for US government to 'delete entire agencies'
Watch: Jimmy Fallon mocks Musk for bringing son X to Trump’s Oval Office press conference
12:30 , Joe Sommerlad
Jimmy Fallon mocks Musk for bringing son X to Trump’s Oval Office press conference
Pam Bondi says Trump’s Justice Department is suing New York over immigration policies: ‘It stops today’
12:10 , Joe SommerladThe new U.S. Attorney General announced yesterday that the Department of Justice is suing the state of New York, Governor Kathy Hochul and state Attorney General Letitia James as Trump’s administration targets so-called “sanctuary” jurisdictions in his anti-immigration campaign.
“New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens. It stops and it stops today,” Bondi said during a press conference in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.
Bondi announced the action as having “filed charges” against the state’s top officials, though it was not immediately clear what actions the Justice Department is taking, and there were no corresponding court filings in New York or Washington, D.C.
Alex Woodward reports.
Trump’s Justice Department is suing New York over immigration policies
DOGE launches official website
11:50 , Joe SommerladAs concerns grow about Elon Musk’s huge power over the federal bureaucracy, potential conflicts of interest and his seeming lack of accountability to anyone other than Donald Trump, his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has officially launched its website, offering at least the appearance of transparency to the American taxpayer who did not vote for Musk.
NEWS: The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has officially launched their website, increasing transparency and better informing people.
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) February 13, 2025
It includes details of cost savings (launching in a couple days), workforce info, regulations info and more.
DOGE website:… pic.twitter.com/NNOLrwHIO7
Judge won’t stop Trump’s federal worker resignation plan
11:40 , Joe SommerladA federal judge has dissolved a restraining order that blocked Trump’s administration from offering “deferred resignations” to tens of thousands of government employees, opening the door for the administration to resume the so-called “buyout” plan in the president’s efforts to gut the federal workforce.
A temporary order from Massachusetts District Judge George O’Toole had blocked the administration from making an offer that officials claimed would place them on paid leave through September 30 with no expectation of working in that time.
A lawsuit from unions representing roughly 800,000 workers argued that they were forced into an “arbitrary, unlawful, short-fused ultimatum,” with a looming deadline to respond to an email blasted to virtually every federal employee.
The American Federation of Government Employees and other unions argued that the Office of Personnel Management lacked authority to implement the program.
On Wednesday, O’Toole lifted his restraining order, arguing that the unions do not have legal standing to challenge the administration’s directive and that his court lacked jurisdiction to act.
Here’s the latest from Alex Woodward.
Trump again up early to rage about government 'waste'
11:30 , Joe SommerladHere’s the latest early morning Truth Social post from the president:
“DOGE: Looks like Radical Left Reuters was paid $9,000,000 by the Department of Defense to study ‘large scale social deception.’ GIVE BACK THE MONEY, NOW!”
He follows that with two more dispatches on random topics:
“THREE GREAT WEEKS, PERHAPS THE BEST EVER, BUT TODAY IS THE BIG ONE: RECIPROCAL TARIFFS!!! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”
“GREAT TALKS WITH RUSSIA AND UKRAINE YESTERDAY. GOOD POSSIBILITY OF ENDING THAT HORRIBLE, VERY BLOODY WAR!!!”
Watch: U.S. should ‘mind its own business’ in international affairs, says Elon Musk
11:20
US should ‘mind its own business’ in international affairs, says Musk
In pictures: Pete Hegseth visits Nato headquarters in Brussels
11:00 , Joe SommerladThe former Fox News weekend presenter has been posing for pictures in Belgium with the North Atlantic military alliance’s secretary general Mark Rutte as the group convenes a meeting of defense secretaries, with Ukraine very much on everbody’s mind.
Vance visiting Dachau concentration camp memorial on eve of big Zelensky meeting
10:40 , Joe SommerladVice President JD Vance will visit Dachau on Thursday, making a stop at one of the most powerful symbols of the Second World War on the eve of his critical talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about the three-year Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Vance, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is due to sit down on Friday with Zelensky on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference to discuss Trump’s intensifying push for Ukraine and Russia to begin negotiations to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since 1945.
But first Vance is stopping at the solemn memorial that is a powerful reminder of Nazi atrocities.
VP Vance is visiting the Dachau concentration camp memorial on eve of his big meeting with Zelenskyy
Analysis: Trump has just sabotaged Ukraine’s bargaining power with Russia – whose side is he on?
10:20 , Joe SommerladU.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told Nato defence ministers on Wednesday that the Trump administration won’t support membership of the alliance for Ukraine, or most of its peace talks platform, leaving Volodymr Zelensky little room to negotiate, writes Sam Kiley.
Trump’s just sabotaged Ukraine’s bargaining power with Russia - whose side is he on?
John Bolton: ‘Trump has effectively surrendered to Putin before the negotiations have even begun’
10:10 , Joe SommerladThe president’s estranged ex-national security adviser had a brutal assessment to offer of his actions yesterday in conversation with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins.
Bolton: President Trump has effectively surrendered to Putin before the negotiations have even begun. The positions that Hegseth announced, which I'm sure I'd be stunned if Trump didn't convey them directly to Putin and their phone call constitute terms of a of a settlement that… pic.twitter.com/7GYhz5rkbu
— Acyn (@Acyn) February 13, 2025
Bolton: This is a palpable harm to American national security, because what Hegseth and Trump did today was not only blow up the NATO position on Ukraine, they blew up a thing called the Belovezha Accords… So it means that not only is unprovoked aggression by Russia against… pic.twitter.com/mgU2bO2awJ
— Acyn (@Acyn) February 13, 2025
Bolton: If you're going into a negotiation, you don't announce what's acceptable to you before it begins and give away positions pic.twitter.com/1jgyy71Ds0
— Acyn (@Acyn) February 13, 2025
British military chiefs rage over fears Trump will sell out Ukraine
10:00 , Joe SommerladSir Keir Starmer faces a possible diplomatic breach with Trump over the president’s shock talks with Putin on the Ukraine war.
After learning of Trump’s plan to meet Putin in Saudi Arabia to discuss the issue, U.K. Defence Secretary John Healey said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky must have a say.
And British defence figures are said to have reacted furiously to claims Kyiv will be forced to give up land to Russia in a peace deal, saying of the U.S. administration’s stance: “The bastards are going to do this.”
The robust British response could mark the first major test in relations between the Labour government and Trump’s White House.
Here’s more from Millie Cooke.
British military chiefs rage over fears of Trump sell out of Ukraine
Recap: Trump says he spoke to Putin on ‘immediately’ starting Ukraine talks
09:40 , Joe SommerladThe president revealed yesterday that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had spoken and agreed to “immediately” open negotiations on how to end the war on Ukraine, which Putin launched with an unprovoked invasion nearly three years ago.
In a statement posted to his Truth Social platform, Trump said he had had “a lengthy and highly productive phone call” with the Russian leader, during which they discussed “Ukraine, the Middle East, Energy, Artificial Intelligence, the power of the Dollar, and various other subjects.”
Trump said both he and Putin – who ordered the invasion of Ukraine and claimed it was an effort to rid the former Soviet satellite of so-called “Nazis” in its western-aligned government – “want to stop the millions of deaths taking place” as a result of the war the Russian started.
He also said he and Putin had “agreed to work together, very closely” and to host each other for official visits, with another meeting mooted in Saudi Arabia.
He added that he and Putin both agreed to “have our respective teams start negotiations immediately” on talks to end the war.
The president continued by announcing that the U.S. negotiating team for the yet-to-be commenced talks will consist of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, White House National Security Adviser Michael Waltz and Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff.
Trump later added that he had spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky too, saying that he likewise wanted peace and expressing hope for the latter’s upcoming meeting with JD Vance and Rubio.
I just spoke to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine. The conversation went very well. He, like President Putin, wants to make PEACE. We discussed a variety of topics having to do with the War, but mostly, the meeting that is being set up on Friday in Munich, where Vice…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) February 12, 2025
This answer at the White House was not encouraging, however, given that it was Ukraine that was invaded and left with little choice but to defend itself, a fact Trump blithely brushed over.
REPORTER: Do you view Ukraine as an equal member of this peace process?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 12, 2025
TRUMP: Ummmm ... it's an interesting question. I think they have to make peace. That was not a good war to go into. pic.twitter.com/zKHEyCQmXd
Here’s the latest from Andrew Feinberg.
Trump says he spoke to Putin about ‘immediately’ starting talks on ending Ukraine war
Linda McMahon set for first confirmation hearing after Trump rants about shutting Department of Education
09:20 , Joe SommerladThe president’s choice for Education Secretary, former WWE boss Linda McMahon, will have her first committee confirmation hearing today, a matter of hours after Trump interrupted Tulsi Gabbard’s swearing-in ceremony to rant about closing that very department.
Here’s Andrew Feinberg on that little episode.
Trump says he wants Education department shuttered ‘immediately’ in Oval Office rant
RFK Jr set to be confirmed by Senate on Thursday
09:00 , Joe SommerladTrump’s controversial nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F Kennedy Jr, looks set to be confirmed by the Senate on Thursday, despite several Republicans expressing deep scepticism about his views on vaccines.
Kennedy’s past comments on chemical additives in food and indulgence of conspiracy theories have also provided grounds for concern but he nevertheless looks set to win the day and assume control over a sprawling department that Trump has invited him to “go wild” with.
Here’s Gustaf Kilander and Katie Hawkinson with a timely reminder of some of the wild anecdotes that have emerged about RFK Jr’s personal life, from brain worms to dead whales and bears.
RFK Jr’s controversies: From dumping a bear in Central Park to a brain-eating worm
Donald Trump to host Indian PM Narendra Modi at White House
08:40 , Joe SommerladGood morning!
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet with his “friend” Donald Trump at the White House today as he prepares to further cut levies on American goods in the hope of escaping the U.S. president’s salvo of tariffs.
Modi's trip to Washington D.C. comes amid growing anger in India over the humiliating deportation by the Trump administration of over a 100 undocumented Indian migrants last week.
Foreign policy experts believe that Modi and Trump will talk immigration, trade, arms sales and the regional threat posed in Asia by rival superpower China.
Modi got matters off to a warm start by praising Tulsi Gabbard after she was confirmed by the Senate as America’s new Director of National Intelligence yesterday.
Met USA’s Director of National Intelligence, @TulsiGabbard in Washington DC. Congratulated her on her confirmation. Discussed various aspects of the India-USA friendship, of which she’s always been a strong votary. pic.twitter.com/w2bhsh8CKF
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 13, 2025
Here’s more from Alisha Rahaman Sarkar.
Canada’s new fentanyl czar has a goal — to totally stop the drug from entering the US
07:30 , APThe man appointed by the Canadian government to help stop fentanyl from entering the United States said his goal is to totally eliminate the drug crossing the border.
“Getting the number to zero is a goal and should be our goal,” Kevin Brosseau, a former member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and a former national security and intelligence adviser, said Wednesday.
Continue reading...
Canada’s new fentanyl czar says goal is to totally stop the drug from entering the US
JFK’s killing has fascinated America for 60 years. But will any new info come out of classified files release?
06:30 , Oliver O'ConnellPresident Donald Trump has ordered the declassification of all files related to the 1963 assassination of then-president John F. Kennedy - and FBI officials say they have found thousands more pages of docs ready for the public.
But should the world expect much from them?
The answer is murky, at best, as Katie Hawkinson reports.
Everything we know about the JFK files set to be declassified under Trump
Apple bends the knee and switches to ‘Gulf of America’
05:30 , Oliver O'ConnellApple Maps has renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America," falling in line with an executive order Donald Trump issued demanding the name change.
Trump said just before his inauguration he wanted to change the name, and quickly did so after he took office. The president's rationale for changing the name was that the U.S. does more work on the gulf than any other nation, and thus he declared flatly: “It's ours."
Trump flew over the gulf in Air Force One on Super Bowl Sunday and proclaimed the day "Gulf of America Day." The U.S. Geographic Names Information System officially changed the name of the gulf on Sunday.
Apple changed the gulf's name on Tuesday.
Graig Graziosi has the story.
Apple bends the knee and switches to ‘Gulf of America’ after Trump’s order
How did paper straws draw so much ire, culminating in Trump's executive order?
04:30 , Julia MustoPaper straws are “out” under the Trump administration, as he sucked the air out of the push for a more eco-friendly drink experience.
But, why does he hate them when some have been promoting them as a planet-saving alternative?
President Donald Trump, who has been pushing against the straws for years, has said that they don’t work” and signed an executive order on Monday to reverse federal purchasing policies that encourage paper straws and restrict plastic ones.
Paper straws have been a quick fix to a much larger issue, and the Biden administration’s previous steps to transition away from plastic at a federal level were a part of that. People have claimed that biodegradable straws are better for wildlife, in addition to helping reduce plastic pollution.
Here is the truth behind the paper vs. plastic debate and why they are the center of a political storm:
Why does Trump hate paper straws and what’s their environmental benefit?
GOP leaders worried — red states have a lot to lose from medical research funding cuts
03:30 , Oliver O'ConnellRepublican Sen. Katie Britt is one of President Donald Trump’s biggest supporters. She shepherded the Laken Riley Act, Trump’s first big piece of anti-immigration legislation, through the Senate, and famously delivered the response to Joe Biden’s final State of the Union address.
But last week, the Trump administration dropped a tactical nuke on her state when the National Institutes of Health announced that it would cap the amount of indirect costs that research institutions can charge the government at 15 percent.
That’s because plenty of people in her state rely on jobs funded by the NIH. Alabama received 99 awards worth more than $42 million for 2025 alone.
Eric Garcia reports from Washington, D.C.
Red states have a lot to lose from NIH funding cuts. Their leaders are worried
First Lady announces White House tours to resume
02:30 , Oliver O'Connell
Public tours of the White House will resume on February 25.
First lady Melania Trump made the announcement:
“The President and I are excited to reopen the White House to those interested in the extraordinary story of this iconic and beautiful landmark. There is much to learn about the American Presidency, the First Families who have lived here, and our Nation’s rich history from a firsthand experience at the White House. This opportunity is unique among nations around the globe — a tradition we are honored to continue for the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come each year,” she said.
Tours must be requested through a member of Congress.
For more information: www.WhiteHouse.gov/Visit.
If your bank rips you off, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau gets your money back — say goodbye to that
02:00 , Oliver O'ConnellEarlier this month, an X user posed a simple question to Elon Musk after the Donald Trump-appointed government slasher threatened the existence of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
"What is the deal with the CFPB?" Scott G asked.
Musk had just posted "CFPB RIP," seemingly an indication that the bureau was on the billionaire’s hit list.
"I'm genuinely curious @elonmusk," Scott wrote. "I've used the CFPB after my bank was giving me the run around and I had a bunch of fraud charges that they wouldn't refund me, after telling me they found them as fraudulent. Within a week I had my money back. So explain to me how this doesn't benefit us as American citizens?"
Graig Graziosi reports.
Elon Musk is killing the agency protecting Americans from bad banking
Elon Musk savaged as SpaceX gets new $40m defense contract amid his cutting of federal spending
01:51 , Rhian LubinElon Musk prompted yet another heavy backlash online after it was revealed that his rocket company SpaceX was still receiving multi-million dollar contracts from the U.S. government amid his crusade to slash trillions of federal funding.
“You'll never believe who is still getting new government contracts while all the contracts at the Department of Education and USAID and other agencies are being nuked from orbit,” attorney and researcher Will Stancil wrote on X.
Stancil shared a screenshot that appeared to confirm that Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) was awarded a NASA contract worth just shy of $39 million on Tuesday.
Mike Bedigan reports.
Elon Musk savaged as SpaceX gets new $40m defense contract amid federal cuts
Full story: Trump confirmed as chairman of Kennedy Center as part of plan to end ‘woke’ performances
01:30 , Oliver O'ConnellThe board of Washington’s John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts voted on Wednesday to confirm President Trump as its chairman.
“It is a Great Honor to be Chairman of The Kennedy Center, especially with this amazing Board of Trustees,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “We will make The Kennedy Center a very special and exciting place!”
Josh Marcus has the full story.
Trump website monitoring ‘government waste’ is a placeholder about a made-up architectural firm
01:15 , Rhian LubinA Trump administration website dedicated to “tracking government waste” links to a blank, placeholder web design template for a fictional architecture firm.
The site, waste.gov, which was reportedly created last week, appears to be part of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) campaign to purge agencies and cut federal spending.
So far, however, the site has remained almost indistinguishable from a sample WordPress page, 404media reported, noting the irony that the template speaks about the architecture firm having a “diverse” clientele, meaning it likely wouldn’t comply with White House orders striking diversity, equity, and inclusion work from the federal government.
Josh Marcus reports.
Trump website monitoring ‘government waste’ is a placeholder about a made-up company
Karoline Leavitt: Nobody has right to ask Donald Trump questions
Inside the committee that will look at the nation’s biggest secrets
00:45 , Oliver O'ConnellA new Republican-led task force in the House intends to investigate and release formerly classified information related to several major events that have spurred conspiracy theories that have lingered across the U.S. such as the assassination of former president John F. Kennedy Jr., the September 11 terrorist attacks and the prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein.
The task force, called the “Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets,” will be led by controversial Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna – a staunch ally of President Donald Trump.
Ariana Baio takes a look at what they hope to achieve and when you might hear anything from them.
What is the task force looking to de-classify ‘federal secrets’?
Judge won’t stop Trump’s federal worker resignation plan
00:30 , Alex WoodwardA federal judge has dissolved a restraining order that blocked Donald Trump’s administration from offering “deferred resignations” to tens of thousands of government employees, opening the door for the administration to resume the so-called “buyout” plan in the president’s efforts to gut the federal workforce.
A temporary order from Massachusetts District Judge George O’Toole had blocked the administration from making an offer that officials claimed would place them on paid leave through September 30 with no expectation of working in that time.
A lawsuit from unions representing roughly 800,000 workers argued that they were forced into an “arbitrary, unlawful, short-fused ultimatum,” with a looming deadline to respond to an email blasted to virtually every federal employee.
Alex Woodward has the details.
Courts may try to use the Administrative Procedure Act to slow Trump down — what is it?
00:00 , Oliver O'ConnellA nearly 80-year-old federal law, passed in response to a fast-moving, powerful Democratic administration, is now throwing a wrench into Donald Trump’s plans to rapidly slash spending and roll back Biden-era policies.
Many of the Republican’s signature actions so far have faced court challenges, and it doesn’t take long in these complaints to find mention of the 1946 Administrative Procedure Act.
Josh Marcus has the details.
How the obscure Administrative Procedure Act could stop Trump’s government overhaul
Full story: Trump’s Justice Department is suing New York over immigration policies
Wednesday 12 February 2025 23:45 , Oliver O'ConnellU.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the Department of Justice is suing the state of New York, Governor Kathy Hochul and state Attorney General Letitia James as Donald Trump’s administration targets so-called “sanctuary” jurisdictions in his anti-immigration campaign.
“New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens. It stops and it stops today,” Bondi said during a press conference in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.
Alex Woodward reports.
Trump’s Justice Department is suing New York over immigration policies
DOGE staffer accused of racist posts was ‘mistakenly’ given power to alter federal payments system
Wednesday 12 February 2025 23:30 , Oliver O'ConnellA 25-year-old former staffer for Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency “mistakenly” gained access to alter a sensitive federal payments database within the Treasury Department, according to a new report.
Senior Treasury officials said Marko Elez was “mistakenly” and “briefly” granted “read/write” privileges to the secure system on February 5, according to sworn declarations reviewed by Politico.
Katie Hawkinson reports.
DOGE staffer was ‘mistakenly’ given power to alter federal payments system
Even though it could cost them millions, red-state leaders applaud end of Department of Education
Wednesday 12 February 2025 23:15 , Oliver O'ConnellLeaders in red states are welcoming the idea of shutting down the Department of Education despite the fact that it might cost them millions, and in some cases billions, in federal funding.
They’re preparing plans for when the Trump administration brings about the removal of the department and are sharing their confidence that they will be able to step in and fill the void.
President Donald Trump has been arguing for the removal of the agency for years, and he’s now reported to be looking at taking executive action to gut the department while pushing lawmakers to conduct the final execution. Trump cannot remove the department without an act of the legislative branch.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Bondi pushes back on Elon Musk's attacks on federal judges
Wednesday 12 February 2025 23:05 , Oliver O'ConnellPam Bondi also pushed back on Elon Musk’s calls for judicial impeachments in her brief presser, saying, “That will not happen now. These are federal judges with lifetime appointments…” and said she believes their decisions blocking Trump EOs will be struck down by higher courts.
— jake rosen (@JakeMRosen) February 12, 2025
Watch: Trump adds Reagan portrait to Oval Office
Wednesday 12 February 2025 23:02 , Oliver O'ConnellNEW: Ronald Reagan portrait in Oval Office ...
— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) February 12, 2025
Trump: "How's the Oval Office looking? A little different look, right?" pic.twitter.com/kw3lDjM5KN
Federal judge clears way for Trump's 'deferred resignation' plan for federal workers
Wednesday 12 February 2025 22:58 , Oliver O'ConnellA federal judge has ruled that Donald Trump's administration can implement its federal worker buyout program as the Republican president aims to overhaul and downsize the U.S. government, delivering a setback to unions attempting to halt the plan.
U.S. District Judge George O'Toole in Boston rejected a request from unions representing over 800,000 federal employees for an order to block the program's implementation. The unions have called the administration's "deferred resignation" offer to federal civilian employees as unlawful.
Read the judge’s full order here
The original deadline for the buyout deal was midnight on Monday before O’Toole’s original delay.
It is unclear whether there is a new deadline or not.
With reporting from wire services
DOJ files lawsuit against New York officials for failing to enforce immigration laws
Wednesday 12 February 2025 22:50 , Oliver O'Connell
In her first press conference as Donald Trump’s attorney general, Pam Bondi told reporters on Wednesday that the Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against New York State officials for allegedly failing to enforce federal immigration laws.
The lawsuit, which also names New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, and the state's DMV head Mark Schroeder, targets a "green light law" that allows people who are living in the country illegally to obtain driver's licenses in New York, Bondi stated.
Bondi noted that this law hinders the state's ability to collaborate with federal immigration enforcement.
The department has not yet released a copy of the lawsuit or any documents that provide further details.
This lawsuit follows closely on the heels of the Justice Department's action against Illinois regarding immigration enforcement.
"We did it to Illinois. Strike one. Strike two is New York, and if you're a state not comply with federal law? You're next," Bondi said.
With reporting by Reuters
Who is Anna Paulina Luna, the GOP lawmaker tasked with revisiting JFK files and Epstein’s list?
Wednesday 12 February 2025 22:40 , Oliver O'ConnellThe Republican congresswoman tasked with revisiting “federal secrets” surrounding the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. — and Jeffrey Epstein’s so-called “client list” — is among a new class of GOP insurgents and Donald Trump loyalists who recently floated a bill to put Trump’s face on Mount Rushmore.
Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus who was elected to the House in 2022, has repeatedly pushed for “transparency” in federal government — specifically, to dive into conspiracy theories surrounding unidentified flying objects, the origins of COVID-19, and the September 11 attacks, all of which will be at the center of her task force.
Alex Woodward reports.
Meet Anna Paulina Luna, the GOP lawmaker revisiting JFK files and Epstein’s list
Trump warns diplomats could be fired for not aligning with policy in new executive order
Wednesday 12 February 2025 22:38 , Oliver O'ConnellPresident Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing Secretary of State Marco Rubio to revise guidelines regarding hiring, discipline, and other workplace rules for the Foreign Service, ensuring that the workforce aligns with the president’s foreign policy.
The order also warns career diplomats may be fired if they fail to comply.
“Failure to faithfully implement the President’s policy is grounds for professional discipline, including separation,” the order states.
With reporting from AP
With rant on closing Department of Education ‘immediately’, Trump hijacks Tulsi Gabbard’s swearing-in
Wednesday 12 February 2025 22:30 , Oliver O'ConnellPresident Donald Trump used a swearing-in ceremony for Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard as a jumping-off point for a nearly hour-long question-and-answer session with reporters that included a call for shuttering the Department of Education post haste and a return to years-old grievances about the method by which American aircraft carriers launch their fighter aircraft.
Andrew Feinberg reports.
Trump says he wants Education department shuttered ‘immediately’ in Oval Office rant
Recap: Trump and Putin to begin talks on ending Ukraine war ‘immediately’
Wednesday 12 February 2025 22:20 , Oliver O'ConnellDonald Trump said he and Russian president Vladimir Putin agreed by phone to begin negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine and will “work together, very closely”.
Announcing a huge shift in US foreign policy via social media, the US president said the leaders are to meet in person and their respective teams will start talks “immediately”.
Trump also spoke at length with Volodymyr Zelensky, which the Ukrainian president’s aide described as a “good conversation.”
But it came as US defense secretary Pete Hegseth ruled out Nato membership for Ukraine – the stance agreed by Britain, Europe, and Joe Biden – and suggested Kyiv should abandon hope of a return to its pre-2014 borders.
Alastair Jamieson reports.
Trump and Putin to begin talks on ending Ukraine war ‘immediately’
Brazil suggests steel quotas and dialogue with U.S. on trade
Wednesday 12 February 2025 22:08 , Oliver O'ConnellBrazil's Vice President Geraldo Alckmin on Wednesday urged “caution” and stated that the South American nation would seek dialogue with the United States following President Donald Trump's decision to impose a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports.
Speaking to reporters in Brasilia, Alckmin expressed that Brazil was open to dialogue and would reach out to the Trump administration, suggesting that quotas could serve as a viable alternative.
The South American country is one of the largest sources of U.S. steel imports; however, Alckmin noted that overall, the U.S. maintains a trade surplus with Brazil, emphasizing that this indicates that Latin America's largest economy is “not the problem.”
With reporting from Reuters
Trump 'may' sign reciprocal tariffs executive order ahead of Modi meeting
Wednesday 12 February 2025 22:02 , Oliver O'ConnellPresident Donald Trump said that he may sign an order on Wednesday to impose reciprocal tariffs on every country that charges duties on U.S. imports.
“I may do it later on, or I may do it tomorrow morning, but we'll be signing reciprocal tariffs,” Trump said to reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday.
At the White House briefing earlier in the day, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president could announce his plan before he meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“I do believe it will come before the prime minister’s visit tomorrow,” Leavitt told reporters.
She added, “I will let the president discuss the details on the reciprocal tariff front, but this is something he believes strongly in.”
COMMENT: As America intervenes, the fate of Ukraine – and the rest of Europe – hangs in the balance
Wednesday 12 February 2025 22:00 , Oliver O'ConnellMary Dejevsky writes:
We are witnessing in real time the magnitude of the changes radiating out of the United States – and the aftershocks will be felt across Europe.
Read on...
As America intervenes, the fate of Ukraine – and Europe – hangs in the balance
Watch: Democrat lawmaker calls out GOP for lecturing on fiscal responsibility while planning to raise debt ceiling
Wednesday 12 February 2025 21:52 , Oliver O'Connell.@Rep_Stansbury "Literally while we've been sitting here for the last almost two hours getting lectured on fiscal responsibility, literally the Republicans just released their plan to raise the debt limit, while we were sitting here, and they want to raise it by $4 trillion." pic.twitter.com/E5zf6E0J7M
— CSPAN (@cspan) February 12, 2025
House Republicans pitch budget blueprint extending Trump tax cuts, lifting debt ceiling
Wednesday 12 February 2025 21:44 , Oliver O'ConnellDespite controlling both the Senate and House of Representatives, congressional Republicans are finding it difficult to advance President Donald Trump’s tax-cut agenda.
On Wednesday, House Republicans revealed a plan to cut taxes by $4.5 trillion over ten years, raise the debt ceiling by $4 trillion, and identify $2 trillion in mandatory spending cuts over 10 years. The plan did not specify which programs would be affected, but it may impact Medicaid, Social Security, and Medicare.
House Republicans hold a narrow majority of 218-215, divided among lawmakers from Democratic states who are pushing for a larger federal tax deduction for state and local tax payments, hardliners insisting on corresponding spending cuts, and centrists worried about the potential negative impacts of those cuts in their home districts.
These divisions may hinder the caucus's ability to secure the near-unanimity needed to pass a measure extending the 2017 tax cuts, which were a significant legislative achievement of Trump's first presidential term.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has frequently depended on Democratic support to pass legislation over the past year, expressed confidence in his ability to secure the votes.
With reporting from Reuters
Musk’s four-year-old son tells Trump crowd ‘shut your mouth’ as he interrupts speech
Trump faces uphill battle to fulfill campaign promise to cut costs as inflation rises to 3% in January
Wednesday 12 February 2025 21:25 , Oliver O'ConnellAnnual inflation increased to 3 percent from 2.9 percent in January, according to a Wednesday report from the Labor Department.
The price of groceries, gas, and used cars are increasing with the rise in inflation, which could push the Federal Reserve to delay any interest cuts and severely hamper President Donald Trump’s ability to fulfill his campaign promise of bringing down prices.
The numbers reveal that following inflation’s steady decline in 2023 and for large parts of last year, it has been above the Federal Reserve’s goal of two percent for about the last six months.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Trump faces uphill battle to fulfill promise to cut costs as inflation rises to 3%
Gabbard wants to refocus intelligence community by empowering great patriots
Wednesday 12 February 2025 21:17 , Oliver O'ConnellAfter she was sworn by Attorney General Pam Bondi in the Oval Office before President Donald Trump, newly-minted director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard made brief remarks:
Mr. President, first and foremost, I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for the trust that you have placed in me to fulfill this critical position as director of national intelligence at any time, but specifically during this time.
Unfortunately, the American people have very little trust in the intelligence community, largely because they've seen the weaponization and politicization of an entity that is supposed to be purely focused on ensuring our national security.
So I look forward to being able to help fulfill that mandate that the American people delivered to you very clearly in this election to refocus our intelligence community by empowering the great patriots who have chosen to serve our country in this way and focus on ensuring the safety, security and freedom of the American people.
As you said, Mr. President, this is what I've dedicated my life to, and it is truly humbling to be in this position to serve in your administration help to rebuild that trust and ultimately to keep the American people safe.
Last thing I'll mention is that in your National Prayer Breakfast speech, you made a statement about your legacy of wanting to be remembered as a peacemaker. I know that I can speak for many of my fellow service members who are here today, veterans, Medal of Honor recipients, how deeply that resonates with us.
For those who volunteer to put their lives on the line when duty calls, but to have a president, commander in chief, who recognizes the cost of that sacrifice and ensuring that war is the last resort, not the first. So thank you for your leadership. On behalf of my friends here and all who wear the uniform, we're grateful.
Trump says he will likely meet with Putin in Saudi Arabia
Wednesday 12 February 2025 21:12 , Oliver O'ConnellGiving details of his phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump says they spoke for an hour and that Putin “wants peace,” almost three years after he invaded Ukraine.
"I think I could say with great confidence: he wants to see it end," Trump said of the conflict.
The president added that a proposed meeting between him and Putin would likely take place in Saudi Arabia.
NEWS: Trump and Putin will meet, likely meet in Saudi Arabia the 1st time, he tells us in Oval. pic.twitter.com/PD1T2MNdtq
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) February 12, 2025
Asked about defense secretary Pete Hegseth’s comments in Brussels about it being unlikely that Ukraine becomes a member of NATO, Trump said: “I'm ok with that,” adding: “I don't think it's practical.”
The U.S. will still send aid to Ukraine, said Trump, "but we want it secured," Trump said.
"I'm ok with that," Trump says of taking Ukraine’s membership in NATO off the table. "I don't think it's practical."
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) February 12, 2025
He says he knows Hegseth made a statement today saying that he thinks it's unlikely or impractical. "I think probably that's true," Trump said.
US will still… pic.twitter.com/0NJuiiZSKD
Watch: Trump makes remarks at Oval Office swearing-in of Tulsi Gabbard
Wednesday 12 February 2025 21:06 , Oliver O'Connell"There's nobody like her for the job," President Donald Trump says of Tulsi Gabbard before Attorney General Pam Bondi administers the oath of office, making Gabbard the director of national intelligence.
"There's nobody like her for the job," Trump, in Oval, says of @TulsiGabbard. Pam Bondi administered the oath for Gabbard as director of national intelligence. Trump told @PamBondi she's doing "a fantastic job after about three or four days." pic.twitter.com/QpCPrGszXR
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) February 12, 2025
AP reporter denied access to Oval Office for second day
Wednesday 12 February 2025 21:04 , Oliver O'ConnellBreaking: For the second day in a row, the AP reporter on pool duty who tried to attend a POTUS event was blocked from entering the Oval Office. The reporter was there to cover the swearing-In ceremony for Tulsi Gabbard.
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) February 12, 2025
Watch: Zelensky says America's strength together with Ukraine and allies 'enough to push Russia to peace'
Wednesday 12 February 2025 21:00 , Oliver O'ConnellI had a long and detailed conversation with President Trump. I appreciate his genuine interest in our shared opportunities and how we can bring about real peace together.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 12, 2025
We discussed many aspects—diplomatic, military, and economic—and President Trump informed me about what… pic.twitter.com/flmigxqtbl
Who owns the Gulf of Mexico? How can Trump rename it?
Wednesday 12 February 2025 20:55 , Oliver O'ConnellPresident Donald Trump followed through on his promise to rename the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America."
Trump issued an executive order shortly after taking office to rename the gulf, and in February, the federal Board on Geographic Names formally changed the name of the body of water to the “Gulf of America.” Trump also ordered Denali — the highest mountain in North America — to return to its previous moniker, Mount McKinley.
On Super Bowl Sunday, Trump flew over the gulf in Air Force One and declared it the first-ever “Gulf of America Day.”
Graig Graziosi has the details.
Who owns the Gulf of Mexico? What to know about Trump renaming it
