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Voices, The Peoples News No. 2025-02-20

Jagādhri V buy Gabapentin no prescription oices, The Peoples News

February 20, 2025
Published by Jedi Selman Since March 2000 to Inform and Educate

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This daily Voices, The Peoples News is posted through the blog function of www.MPEN-Ohio.net

# Indigenous
Utah Bill Would Disenfranchise Rural Native Residents, Critics Warn. The proposal comes despite the vast majority of Utah voters being confident in the current vote-by-mail system.
https://truthout.org/articles/utah-bill-would-disenfranchise-rural-native-residents-critics-warn/

# Border / Immigration / Migrants / Gangs / Drugs
Trump administration designates Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. Trump has promised an all out attack on the drug trade.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/19/latin-american-cartels-terrorist-organizations-020847

These soldiers risked their lives serving in Afghanistan, now they plead with Trump to bring their sister to the U.S. Trump’s executive orders have blocked entrance to the country for thousands of Afghans, including those who worked with the U.S. military and their relatives. Two brothers hope permission comes quickly for their sister and her husband, who they say are in danger.
https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/19/trump-refugee-executive-order-afghan-allies/

Trump’s Appeal On Birthright Citizenship Order Rejected By Court
https://www.axios.com/2025/02/20/trump-birthright-citizenship-order-blocked-court-appeal

Trump orders end to taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal foreign nationals. Order directs agencies to cut taxpayer-funded benefits, enhance eligibility verification systems
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/trump-signs-executive-order-ending-federal-benefits-for-undocumented-immigrants/3487384

DeSantis signs immigration enforcement agreements with federal agencies
https://www.thecentersquare.com/florida/article_2a309a7a-ef0f-11ef-9d20-d7170abe9e0e.html

Panama sends 97 U.S. deportees to migrant camp after they refused to be repatriated
https://newrepublic.com/post/191740/trump-lutnick-cut-social-security-medicaid-medicare

# DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency]
Democrats say Trump’s DOGE agenda is anti-democratic, despite fulfillment of campaign promise. Elections have consequences: “President Trump campaigned on the fact that he’s going to bring bold reforms to the executive branch,” Mike Davis said. Obstructionists are feigning surprise at those voted-for reforms.
https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/all-things-trump/democrats-claim-trumps-doge-agenda-antidemocratic-despite-campaign

The Incompetence of DOGE Is a Feature, Not a Bug. A series of mistakes by DOGE shows just how arbitrary and destructive this slash-and-burn strategy can get.
https://www.wired.com/story/doge-incompetence-mistakes-feature-not-bug/

Soros-funded group wages hidden legal battle on DOGE
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/watch/1998417/

# Economy / Finance / Trade / Banks / Taxes
Trump considering sending 20 percent of DOGE savings to US citizens and 20 percent to US debt. US president’s proposal comes amid scepticism of claimed savings from Elon Musk’s cost-cutting drive.
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025/2/20/trump-says-he-could-give-to-20-of-doge-savings-back-to-americans

Social Security Clarifies Beneficiary Payment Interruptions and DOGE’s Role at Agency. DOGE personnel now working at SSA do not have the authority to alter benefit payments or change agency systems. Their role is strictly limited to read-only access, meaning they can review records but not modify them
https://www.newsweek.com/social-security-warning-issued-benefits-interruption-2032594

Trump’s commerce secretary is raising the alarm on Social Security. “We have almost $4 trillion of entitlements, and no one’s ever looked at it before. You know Social Security is wrong, you know Medicaid and Medicare are wrong. So he’s gonna cut a trillion and we’re gonna get rid of all these tax scams that hammer against America and we’re gonna raise a trillion dollars of revenue.”
https://newrepublic.com/post/191740/trump-lutnick-cut-social-security-medicaid-medicare

Millions of Americans to lose Social Security benefits – the exact ‘limits’ IRS looks at: The main things the IRS looks at is your marital status and income level, plus any interest you might have if you own municipal bonds, and half your annual Social Security benefit. For example, if you earn under $25,000 a year and are not married, the IRS is not eligible to tax any of your Social Security.
https://www.newsbreak.com/the-us-sun-513995/3820349313298-millions-of-americans-to-lose-social-security-benefits-the-exact-limits-irs-looks-at0

# Education / Schools
Trump has a constitutional obligation to eliminate the Department of Education. The U.S. Department of Education was established by an act of Congress, and eliminating the agency would require another act of Congress.
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/faqs-the-us-department-of-education-and-the-trump-administration/

Legislative committee endorses prosecution of librarians who lend books deemed harmful to children
https://www.newsbreak.com/news/3821362243032-legislative-committee-endorses-prosecution-of-librarians-who-lend-books-deemed-harmful-to-children-bill-would-also-subject-employees-of-schools-universities-and-museums-to-potential-jail-time

# Energy / Pipelines / Mining / Oil
Texas offshore oil terminal gets federal approval. The terminal continues an oil export infrastructure buildout that pushes growth in U.S. oil production as momentum fades on a phase-out of fossil fuels.
https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/20/texas-gulf-coast-oil-loading-terminal-trump/

Trump administration moves to speed up fossil fuel projects with emergency permits
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/19/trump-fossil-fuel-climate

# Environment / Climate / Infrastructure / EPA / BLM
Trump administration seeks to dismantle key environmental law
https://www.ehn.org/trump-administration-moves-to-dismantle-key-environmental-law-2671182849.html

Interior Department fires thousands as federal layoffs expand
https://apnews.com/article/doge-firings-layoffs-federal-government-workers-musk-d33cdd7872d64d2bdd8fe70c28652654

# FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency]
Morrisey: Federal aid ‘required’ for WV flood recovery, stays mum on Trump plan to dismantle FEMA
https://westvirginiawatch.com/2025/02/18/morrisey-federal-aid-required-for-wv-flood-recovery-stays-mum-on-trump-plan-to-dismantle-fema/

# General News
New transparency task force could pursue declassification on these incidents shrouded in secrecy. From the JFK assassination to Russia collusion and the 9/11 files to Jeffrey Epstein, here are several batches of documents the new House Oversight transparency task force could pursue.
https://justthenews.com/accountability/new-transparency-task-force-could-pursue-declassification-these-incidents-shrouded

# Gov / Politics
‘The Man Who Would Be King’ … Republicans Happily Roll Over as Trump Declares Himself King. Donald Trump made the stunning announcement while trying to roll back congestion pricing in New York.
https://newrepublic.com/post/191718/republicans-donald-trump-king-congestion-pricing

GOP Senators Are Having to Literally Beg Trump for Their Own Money. Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s spending freeze has sent Republicans scrambling.
https://newrepublic.com/post/191718/republicans-donald-trump-king-congestion-pricing

J.D. Vance Met With German Neo-Nazi Party Leader Alice Weidel. Vance also gave a speech in Munich, hypocritically scolding Europe’s leaders for many actions Trump has engaged in.
https://truthout.org/articles/j-d-vance-met-with-german-neo-nazi-party-leader-alice-weidel/

Trump’s Attack on Zelensky Signals New World Order Taking Shape
https://www.livemint.com/global/trumps-attack-on-zelensky-signals-new-world-order-taking-shape-11740030980336.html?showGiftPopup=true

President Trump signed an executive order to give the president greater power over independent regulatory agencies, government entities Congress set up to be shielded from White House control.
https://www.npr.org/2025/02/19/nx-s1-5302481/trump-independent-agencies

Trump’s 6’6″ Congress Whisperer Says “There’s No Desire To Contain” The President
https://2paragraphs.com/2025/02/james-carville-launches-strange-plan-to-stop-trump-do-nothing-and-obey-patrick-swayzes-immortal-words/

Trump to sign executive order instructing agencies to hunt down regulations that violate Constitution. It’s the latest action in Trump’s quest to dramatically expand his authority over the federal government.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/20/trump-order-review-federal-regulations-00205143

Trump signs late-night executive order abolishing handful of federal advisory boards
https://www.axios.com/2025/02/19/trump-federal-advisory-committees

Trump equal opportunity commission puts employers ‘on notice’ to stop ‘anti-American bias’
https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2025/02/20/812554.htm

MAGA Cheers on ‘King’ Trump Dropping Pretense of Democracy
https://www.thedailybeast.com/lawrence-odonnell-rages-at-utterly-insane-image-of-trump-as-king/

Trump’s New World Order Leaves Future of European Security in Question: Officials in European countries have expressed alarm recently amid a significant shift in U.S. policy regarding the war in Ukraine.
https://thedebrief.org/trumps-new-world-order-leaves-future-of-european-security-in-question/

Trump Threatens to Blow Apart Entire G7 to Protect Putin
https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-threatens-blow-apart-entire-144610329.html

Federal Judge Sounds The Alarm Over Trump’s Power Grab
https://www.yahoo.com/news/supreme-court-justice-sounds-alarm-110804875.html

Elon Musk issues chilling warning supported by Donald Trump about future of US presidency
https://www.irishstar.com/news/us-news/elon-musk-us-president-trump-34715310

Despite DOGE budget cut crusade, Trump has already spent $10.7 million of taxpayer money on golf trips: report
https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-gold-trips-taxpayer-money-doge-b2701045.html

# Gov / Politics / Global
European leaders are scrambling to respond to President Trump’s first moves to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, shocked to find themselves on the outside of high-stakes talks about the continent’s security and grappling with a potential retreat of U.S. forces from Europe.
https://www.aol.com/trump-stuns-europe-opening-ukraine-224409207.html

Hamas claims it is ready to free all remaining hostages in one swap if Israel agrees to permanent cease-fire.
After the completion of the first phase, 58 hostages will remain in Gaza.
https://www.courthousenews.com/hamas-says-ready-to-free-all-hostages-at-once-in-gaza-truce-phase-two/

# Law Enforcement / ATF / FBI / CIA
The Senate has confirmed Kash Patel’s as FBI director, tightening Trump’s control of the government.
https://www.newsweek.com/kash-patel-confirmation-tightens-trump-control-2033989

# Legal / DOJ / ICJ / International Criminal Court [ICC]
How Trump’s Apparatchik Told a Judge: We Are the Masters Now
https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-trumps-apparatchik-menacingly-told-a-judge-we-are-the-masters-now/

The courts must decide between Elon Musk and the First Amendment
https://thehill.com/opinion/judiciary/5151124-elons-musk-sues-critics-first-amendment/

# Media
Musk Talks Over Trump as Hannity Blanks President in Awkward Fox Interview
https://www.yahoo.com/news/elon-musk-talks-over-trump-141551413.html

# Medicare / Medicaid
‘Outrageous Lies’: Claiming Fraud, Trump Floats Kicking Millions Off Social Security. “They are laying the groundwork for denying benefits to anyone they want to punish or deem unworthy—or indeed, any one of us,” said the president of Social Security Works.
https://www.commondreams.org/news/trump-social-security-fraud

# Medical / Health News
Kennedy promises shake-up at HHS, vows to question health standards
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-BCMG198Yc

Musk furious as critics push back at DOGE’s blind destruction of S&T research funding. Researchers warn that without stable funding, critical advancements in fields such as neuroscience, diabetes, autism, and pandemic preparedness could be derailed. The loss of research grants and institutional support could drive top talent out of the U.S., diminishing the nation’s leadership in scientific innovation.
https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Musk_furious_as_critics_push_back_at_DOGEs_blind_destruction_of_S_and_T_funding_999.html

Generals, senior officers at DOD could soon be fired: US officials
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5156006-hegseth-defense-budget-cuts-what-to-know/

# Military / DOD / General News
Pete Hegseth orders Pentagon to prepare for 8 percent budget cuts for the next five years
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2025/02/19/white-house-eyes-8-cut-to-defense-budget-to-boost-trump-priorities/

Trump administration orders Pentagon to identify $50 billion in cuts
https://san.com/cc/trump-administration-orders-pentagon-to-identify-50-billion-in-cuts/

# Social Media / Internet
Poised to Take Over TikTok, Oracle Is Accused of Clamping Down on Pro-Palestine Dissent. Oracle, which has secret partnerships with Israel, has told employees to love the country or work elsewhere.
https://theintercept.com/2025/02/18/oracle-tiktok-israel-palestine-gaza/

# Technology / Artificial Intelligence / Cybersecurity
DOGE Now Has Access to the Top US Cybersecurity Agency. DOGE technologists Edward Coristine—the 19-year-old known online as “Big Balls”—and Kyle Schutt are now listed as staff at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
https://www.wired.com/story/doge-cisa-coristine-cybersecurity/

USDS Engineering Director Resigns: “I do not believe that DOGE can continue to deliver the work of , based on their actions so far,” wrote Anne Marshall in a LinkedIn post on Wednesday.
https://beamstart.com/news/usds-engineering-director-resigns-this-17400093621
USDS: United States Digital Service
https://www.usds.gov/

Google Ad-Tech Users Can Target National Security ‘Decision Makers’ and People With Chronic Diseases. Google enables marketers to target people with serious illnesses and crushing debt—against its policies—as well as the makers of classified defense technology, a WIRED investigation has found.
https://www.niemanlab.org/reading/google-ad-tech-users-can-target-national-security-decision-makers-and-people-with-chronic-diseases/

# Veterans / VA
As federal cuts continue, DOGE just fired a veteran who served four tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
https://www.newsweek.com/he-served-four-tours-iraq-afghanistan-doge-just-laid-him-off-2033503

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Voices, The Peoples News No. 2025-02-19

Voices, The Peoples News

February 19, 2025
Published by Jedi Selman Since March 2000 to Inform and Educate

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This daily Voices, The Peoples News is posted through the blog function of www.MPEN-Ohio.net

# Indigenous
Leonard Peltier Is Released After Nearly 50 Years in Prison. The 80-year-old activist, who always maintained his innocence, will serve the rest of his sentence in home confinement.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/leonard-peltier-native-american-activist-released-prison-biden-commute-rcna192253

# Border / Immigration / Migrants / Gangs / Drugs
Deportation fears create ripple effects across undocumented migrants, legal immigrants and entire communities
https://www.yahoo.com/news/deportation-fears-create-ripple-effects-134141468.html

Trump administration cuts off access to legal services for unaccompanied migrant children
https://immigrantjustice.org/press-releases/trump-administration-ends-legal-services-funding-unaccompanied-immigrant-children

Texas border reinforced with National Guard deputized under Title 8. 300 Texas Military Department soldiers were sworn in Friday. They can apprehend and detain individuals who cross illegally. Illegal crossings in South Texas have dropped dramatically
https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/immigration/border-coverage/texas-border-national-guard-title-8/

ICE agents are arresting migrants showing up for their immigration hearings and readying them for deportation. Multiple immigration attorneys have reported witnessing clients being arrest in or around courthouses
https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/ice-arrest-immigration-hearings-court-b2700382.html

3 migrants beat the Trump administration in court. They got deported the next day
https://politicalwire.com/2025/02/19/3-migrants-who-beat-trump-in-court-were-deported/

President Donald Trump’s White House social media team is coming under fire for a dehumanizing social media post that shows immigrants in chains being deported along with audio of the shackles and aircraft.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/disgusting-trump-white-house-slammed-100929029.html
Video: https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/1891922058415603980?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1892011125530604001%7Ctwgr%5E20617b055e7dbbd042842a29afd612be063b3989%7Ctwcon%5Es3_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffpost.com%2Fentry%2Fwhite-house-deportation-asmr_n_67b59e2ce4b04083cc996831

# DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency]
The 50-Year-Old Law That Could Stop DOGE in Its Tracks—Maybe
https://www.wired.com/story/privacy-act-doge-lawsuits/

Yet another company investigating Elon Musk’s activity was just purged by DOGE. Elon’s team has just sacked more than a dozen FDA employees who were reviewing his Neuralink project. Trump has effectively granted Musk the power to dismantle any and all opposition to his schemes from regulatory bodies?
https://wegotthiscovered.com/politics/yet-another-company-investigating-elon-musks-activity-was-just-purged-by-doge/

Social Security Battle Heats up As DOGE Eyes Federal Cuts. GOP Rep. Eyes Medicare, Social Security For DOGE Cuts: ‘We Can Move The Retirement Age Back’
https://www.mediaite.com/tv/gop-rep-eyes-medicare-social-security-for-doge-cuts-we-can-move-the-retirement-age-back/amp/

I Just Figured Out What Elon Musk’s DOGE Really Is. A protection racket should have been obvious all along.
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/02/elon-musk-doge-trump-mafia-dahlia-lithwick.html

Elon Musk’s DOGE group just published classified info about a US spy agency to a public website. An easy search shows that DOGE’s database provides details on the National Reconnaissance Office, the federal agency that designs, builds and maintains U.S. intelligence satellites.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/elon-musk-doge-posts-classified-data_n_67ae646de4b0513a8d767112

# Economy / Finance / Trade / Banks / Taxes
Social Security Head Resigns as DOGE Seeks Sensitive Data: SSA has data on everyone who has a Social Security number, everyone who has Medicare, and low-income Americans who have applied for Social Security’s means-tested companion program, Supplemental Security Income,” Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works said in a statement. “It has our bank information, our earnings records, the names and ages of our children, and much more.”
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/social-security-chief-quits-elon-musk-doge-meddling-1235270811/

UH-OH: Trump Just Publicly Abandoned 1 Of His Biggest ‘Day One’ Promises. “I will immediately bring prices down starting on Day 1,” he said on Aug. 15, according to video resurfaced by progressive media outlet MeidasTouch, which also found him saying two days later: “Starting the day I take the oath of office, I will rapidly drive prices down.”
https://www.yahoo.com/news/uh-oh-trump-just-publicly-091834188.html

Trump says tariffs on automobiles, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors likely to start at 25%
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/18/trump-auto-tariffs-25-percent-april/79101169007/

Trump abdicated power to Musk. And now a 25-year-old may get access to your tax return.
https://fortune.com/2025/02/17/elon-musk-doge-access-tax-information-irs-every-american-trump/

Social Security Checks Face Multiple Hidden Deductions. The answer isn’t as straightforward as one might hope.
https://www.irmaacertifiedplanner.com/is-it-mandatory-to-have-medicare-deducted-from-social-security/

# Education / Schools
Trump administration asked to end racial segregation, CRT trainings in Illinois school
https://www.chalkboardnews.com/issues/cultural-issues/article_1efe0010-ee0c-11ef-bdaa-8796c1f6aec3.html

# Employment / Labor / Unions
President Donald Trump’s administration targeted on Tuesday bank regulators, rocket scientists and tax enforcers for dismissal, as a federal judge gave the green light for its unprecedented remaking of the U.S. civil service, at least for now.
https://www.fidelity.com/news/article/top-news/202502182030RTRSNEWSCOMBINED_KCN3F31DA-OUSBS_1

Trump’s mass firing of probationary employees illegal, not performance-based, lawyers say
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/18/trump-mass-firings-federal-workers-illegal/79070972007/

# Energy / Pipelines / Mining / Oil
Greenland’s rapidly melting ice and landslide-prone fjords make the oil and minerals Trump covets dangerous to extract
https://theconversation.com/greenlands-rapidly-melting-ice-and-landslide-prone-fjords-make-the-oil-and-minerals-trump-covets-dangerous-to-extract-249985

Texas pipeline project will expand natural gas supply despite climate concerns
https://www.dailyclimate.org/texas-pipeline-project-will-expand-natural-gas-supply-despite-climate-concerns-2671180350.html

Feds Approve Another Deepwater Oil Export Terminal Off Texas. An export infrastructure buildout will enable further growth in American oil production as momentum fades on a phase-out of fossil fuels, even as global temperatures continue to break records.
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/19022025/texas-deepwater-oil-export-terminal/

# General News
Elon Musk’s Business Empire Scores Benefits Under Trump Shake-Up
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/11/us/politics/elon-musk-companies-conflicts.html

Trump’s view of the world is becoming clear: America’s allies come second to its own interests. The US is sending a message to its allies: he’s putting American interests first – not theirs. And this means dealing with Russia. So, how will Europe respond?
https://theconversation.com/trumps-view-of-the-world-is-becoming-clear-americas-allies-come-second-to-its-own-interests-250144

Firing civil servants and dismantling government departments is how aspiring strongmen consolidate personal power – lessons from around the globe
https://theconversation.com/firing-civil-servants-and-dismantling-government-departments-is-how-aspiring-strongmen-consolidate-personal-power-lessons-from-around-the-globe-249089

# Gov / Politics
Trump Is Gutting Efforts to Combat Foreign Election Interference. The administration is undercutting the agency charged with preventing foreign actors from meddling in US elections.
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/02/trump-cisa-foreign-election-interference/

The Trump Administration Is Going After Our Elections Too. Government employees have long protected the ballot from attacks. The president is preparing to fire many of them.
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/02/trump-doge-layoffs-project-2025-election-security-cisa-firing.html?pay=1739981863389&support_journalism=please

Trump’s Incompetence Is Botching His Own Deregulation Spree. Turns out that when you paralyze government agencies, it only makes it harder to undo Biden-era regulations.
https://newrepublic.com/article/191673/trump-civil-service-incompetence-deregulation

Trump Expands Power With New Executive Order Attacking Constitution. Donald Trump’s latest executive order is his most blatant power grab—asserting authority over independent agencies.
https://newrepublic.com/post/191697/trump-expands-power-executive-order-agencies

Trump signs order to claim power over independent agencies. The action is likely to face court challenges and test a once-fringe legal theory.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/18/trump-order-power-independent-agencies-00204798

Russia and US agree to work toward ending Ukraine war in a remarkable diplomatic shift
https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-riyadh-talks-trump-putin-rubio-0c3beebfef5839e9d509ff58239a6bc5

Former USAID official warns China is already looking to fill void left by paused programs
https://www.voanews.com/a/china-may-fill-aid-void-left-by-usaid-shutdown-but-its-own-challenges-could-limit-it/7965690.html

Trump Grilled on Elon Musk’s ‘Billions of Dollars in Contracts’ With Agencies He’s Regulating. President Donald Trump said he was unaware of any “conflicts of interest” between Elon Musk’s business interests and the government agencies he’s regulating during a Tuesday press conference.
https://www.mediaite.com/tv/im-just-hearing-about-it-trump-grilled-on-elon-musks-billions-of-dollars-in-contracts-with-agencies-hes-regulating/

# Gov / Politics / Global
The Transatlantic Alliance in the Age of Trump: The Coming Collisions
https://www.csis.org/analysis/transatlantic-alliance-age-trump-coming-collisions

# Law Enforcement / ATF / FBI / CIA
Trump administration terminates Arizona US District Attorney
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-breaking/2025/02/18/gary-restaino-us-attorney-arizona-terminated-trump/79069090007/

Trump’s firing spree rises to SCOTUS as watchdog gov’t attorney challenges termination
https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/021925_scotus_firing/trumps-firing-spree-rises-scotus-as-watchdog-govt-attorney-challenges-termination/

# Legal / DOJ / ICJ / International Criminal Court [ICC]
Trump terminates ‘all remaining Biden Era US Attorneys’ in chilling vow to ‘clean house immediately’
https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5152413-trump-firing-biden-era-us-attorneys/

# Media
Louis DeJoy announces plans to step down as Postmaster General!
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/dejoy-announces-plan-to-step-down-as-postal-service-chief

Postmaster General’s Resignation Opens Door for Trump’s Privatization Plan: A January report revealed that parts of the organization are preparing to go private as they expect Trump to continue his brutal purge of the US civil service.
https://www.tag24.com/politics/us-politics/us-postal-service-privatization-could-be-on-the-table-after-postmasters-resignation-3361358

# Medicare / Medicaid
Republicans Consider Cuts and Work Requirements for Medicaid, Jeopardizing Care for Millions
https://apnews.com/article/medicaid-cuts-work-requirements-congress-republicans-90ec1119f1d95de067c76f79eec7fa87

# Medical / Health News
Missouri bill would create registry of pregnant women
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5151439-missouri-bill-registry-pregnant-women-abortion/

RFK ‘s plan to make America healthy again? Round up people with mental health conditions in camps
https://www.salon.com/2025/02/19/rfk-s-plan-to-make-america-healthy-again-round-up-people-with-mental-health-conditions-in-camps/

RFK Jr. Names First Targets in Chilling Speech as Health Secretary. ‘Nothing … off limits’ in his pursuit to reduce chronic disease: His first remarks to the department since being confirmed comes as Washington reels from mass firings and funding cuts.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/18/kennedy-lays-out-hhs-plan-00204675

Pain Clinics Exploited Opioid Dependency to Earn Millions From Ineffective Shots. Chronic pain patients received medically unnecessary injections from Pain MD as part of a decade-long fraud scheme.
https://truthout.org/articles/pain-clinics-exploited-opioid-dependency-to-earn-millions-from-ineffective-shots/

Trump, RFK Jr. go after SSRIs in executive order. Immediately following Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation as health secretary, President Donald Trump instructed his administration to assess the “threat” posed to children by the prescription of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, stimulants and weight-loss drugs.
https://www.aol.com/trump-rfk-jr-ssri-comments-170330755.html

# Military / DOD / General News
US military and defense contractors hit with Infostealer malware. Lockheed Martin and Boeing among those affected. The malware can exfiltrate victim’s data. Researchers discovered thousands of infected devices
https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/us-military-and-defense-contractors-hit-with-infostealer-malware

Leaders of the House Armed Services Committee ask military services to list potential funding cuts
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2025-02-18/house-armed-services-military-cuts-trump-musk-16873528.html

Army used majority of soldiers’ food funds on other expenses, report says
https://www.military.com/daily-news/investigations-and-features/2025/02/14/over-151-million-taken-soldiers-paychecks-food-costs-spent-elsewhere-army.html

Data Breach Prompts Coast Guard to Take Personnel and Pay System Offline
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/02/17/data-breach-prompts-coast-guard-take-personnel-and-pay-system-offline.html

US Coast Guard paychecks delayed by cyberattack. Over 1,000 personnel have been affected
https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/us-coast-guard-paychecks-delayed-by-cyberattack

# NASA
Musk Ignores Astronauts’ Protests to Take Shot at Biden: ‘Left Up There for Political Reasons’: Musk’s SpaceX in September launched a Crew Dragon capsule to rescue the pair, and it docked at the space station, but NASA opted to stall its return.
https://nypost.com/2025/02/18/us-news/elon-musk-says-stranded-astronauts-were-left-up-there-for-political-reasons-by-biden/

Trump Enacts Brutal Cuts at NASA. NASA? More like NADA.
https://futurism.com/trump-brutal-cuts-nasa

# Security / Surveillance
Donald Trump Making ‘Sweeping Cuts’ to Homeland Security: The Trump administration plans to dismiss hundreds of senior Department of Homeland Security officials this week to reshape the nation’s third-largest agency by removing individuals perceived as not aligning with its objectives.
https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-sweeping-cuts-homeland-security-what-know-2032647

# Technology / Artificial Intelligence / Cybersecurity
RedMike (Salt Typhoon) Exploits Vulnerable Cisco Devices of Global Telecommunications Providers
https://www.recordedfuture.com/research/redmike-salt-typhoon-exploits-vulnerable-devices

Trump continues federal purge, gutting cyber workers who combat disinformation. Roughly half a dozen employees at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency who previously worked to counter election-related disinformation have been put on administrative leave.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/07/trump-guts-cyber-workers-00203087

Trump’s workforce blitz comes for CISA: Trump administration is poised to announce another round of large scale layoffs at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and those familiar with the move fear it will unintentionally gut the agency’s top technical talent.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/weekly-cybersecurity/2025/02/18/trumps-workforce-blitz-comes-for-cisa-00204634

# Transportation / Travel
Trump begins firings of FAA staff just weeks after fatal DC plane crash. The impacted workers include personnel hired for FAA radar, landing and navigational aid maintenance, one air traffic controller told The Associated Press. The air traffic controller was not authorized to talk to the media and spoke on condition of anonymity.
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2025/02/trump-begins-firings-of-faa-air-traffic-control-staff-just-weeks-after-fatal-dc-plane-crash/

‘Unprecedented in Our 53-Year History’: Southwest Airlines Announces Its First Mass Layoffs Ever. The airline is eliminating 15% of its corporate workforce, including many in senior leadership positions.
https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/southwest-airlines-is-laying-off-15-of-its-workforce/487248

# Veterans / VA
Military Health System Beneficiaries Urged to Download Old Medical Records by April 1. The Department of Defense plans to decommission the online portal patients use to access old military health information and recommends patients download their digital medical records if they want to retain copies.
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/02/18/military-health-system-beneficiaries-urged-download-old-medical-records-april-1.html

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Attention Readers:

Due to the nature of independent content, Voices, The Peoples News cannot guarantee content validity.

Voices, The Peoples News No. 2025-02-17

Voices, The Peoples News

February 17, 2025
Published by Jedi Selman Since March 2000 to Inform and Educate

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This daily Voices, The Peoples News is posted through the blog function of www.MPEN-Ohio.net

# Archaeology
Sunken City Dated 3400 Years Old Emerges From a Reservoir, Identified as the Hub of a Bronze Age Empire
https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/sunken-city-dated-3400-years-old-emerges-from-a-reservoir-identified-as-the-hub-of-a-bronze-age-empire/ar-AA1za0Gf

China’s Great Wall’s oldest section has been discovered and with it, has pushed back the origin of the Great Wall by 300 years.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/china-s-great-wall-s-oldest-section-discovered-pushing-back-origin-by-300-years/ar-AA1zbIGN

# Border / Immigration / Migrants / Gangs / Drugs
Trump Can’t Be Allowed to Hide the Dangers of His Deportation Agenda at Guantanamo Bay. The US government has begun to shuttle immigrants from the United States to Gitmo, post photos of them in shackles, and lock them away.
https://www.thenation.com/article/society/trump-guantanamo-bay-migrant-detention/

‘A human rights disaster’: immigrants sent into Guantánamo black hole despite no proof of crime. Homeland security chief Kristi Noem claims the US is shipping ‘criminal alien murderers’ to the Cuba naval base – but the immigrants’ true stories remain enigmatic
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/14/trump-guantanamo-bay-migrants

Guantanamo before. Is Trump’s approach different? The US has held migrants at Guantanamo before, with fewer than 100 in recent years. How does Trump’s approach differ?
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/11/the-us-held-migrants-at-guantanamo-before-is-trumps-approach-different

Texas CBP officer arrested for human smuggling: A Customs and Border Protection officer was arrested in El Paso on criminal charges. related to his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to smuggle undocumented noncitizens for financial gain and alleged drug trafficking activity.
https://www.oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/assets/pr/2025/dojpr-021025-cbp-officer-arrested-el-paso-charged-alien-smuggling-and-drug-trafficking.pdf

Trump’s Next Fight With Mexico: Designating Drug Cartels as Terrorists. Move would give U.S. new tools to fight fentanyl trade while exposing businesses to stiff penalties
https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/trumps-next-fight-with-mexico-designating-drug-cartels-as-terrorists-a46aeb4c

The Need for Course Correction: The Risks of Treating Drug Cartels as Terrorist Threats
https://www.justsecurity.org/107770/cartels-foreign-terrorism-designation/

People from Afghanistan, Iran, China and other countries flown out as Trump’s deportation effort intensifies
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/14/us-trump-deportation-panama

U.S. Deports African & Asian Migrants To Panama in diplomatic breakthrough
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-deportations-panama-african-asian-migrants/

Trump’s Huddled Masses: The trench warfare in sanctuary cities and states to protect innocent families from Trump’s ICE raids
https://prospect.org/justice/2025-02-17-trumps-huddled-masses/

# DEI [Department of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion]
Obama library, begun with lofty DEI goals, now plagued by $40M racially charged suit, ballooning costs. The Black-owned firm claims it was accused of underperforming in the project because of race
https://www.foxnews.com/us/obama-center-subcontractor-hired-under-dei-initiative-now-suing-40m-racial-discrimination-lawsuit

# DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency]
Elon Musk’s DOGE ‘requests access to IRS taxpayer data,’ sparking privacy fears. US tax office has detailed financial data about millions of Americans, US media reported.
https://tribune.net.ph/2025/02/17/elon-musks-doge-pushes-for-access-to-irs-system-raising-privacy-concerns

DOGE scores big court win, allowed access data on 3 federal agencies: Unions and nonprofits attempted to stop Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing records at the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
https://www.aol.com/doge-scores-big-court-win-180711251.html

Elon Musk in hot water as billionaire is sued by 14 states over ‘unchecked power’ at DOGE. Unlike other legal action taken against DOGE this month, the lawsuit seeks to tackle DOGE as an entity rather than focus on individual cuts it has made to specific agencies or government departments.
https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-doge-lawsuit-14-states-2031205

Elon Musk’s mass government cuts could make private companies millions. Defense and tech firms – including Musk’s own – await potential contracts as Doge decimates US agencies
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/feb/16/elon-musk-doge-government-privatization

Federal government has wasted trillions. Trump and Musk are saying, ‘Enough!’
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2025/02/17/trump-musk-doge-government-waste-national-debt/78518870007/

Musk and Trump Are Cutting Popular Programs. That’s Deliberate.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/musk-trump-cutting-popular-programs-110000287.html

Elon Musk tightens grip on gov’t, sparking ‘coup’ accusations. Tech billionaire has upended the federal bureaucracy in the two weeks since US President Donald Trump took office.
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025/2/4/elon-musk-accused-of-coup-running-shadow-govt-as-doge-tightens-grip

# Economy / Finance / Trade / Banks
Threat of a trade war has Canadians and Americans in border towns on edge
https://www.npr.org/2025/02/06/nx-s1-5271589/threat-of-a-trade-war-has-canadians-and-americans-in-border-towns-on-edge

Trump suggests he might impose auto tariffs on April 2
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/14/trump-auto-tariffs-april-00204436

Trump’s trade war could spiral into a debt war that sends interest rates soaring, former White House official warns
https://fortune.com/2025/02/15/trump-trade-war-debt-treasury-market-interest-rates-dedollarization/

U.S. Government Cancels Millions in Foreign Aid, Including $39 Million for Nepal
https://www.newsbreak.com/nepyork-288847545/3815589849338-u-s-government-cancels-millions-in-foreign-aid-including-39-million-for-nepal

# Education / Schools
Colleges, K-12 schools ordered by Trump administration to abolish DEI or face funding cuts
https://www.gazettextra.com/news/nation_world/colleges-k-12-schools-ordered-by-trump-administration-to-abolish-dei-or-face-funding-cuts/article_932045ac-ad49-59e9-9fe9-520fbe14d285.html

Schools serving military service members’ kids are pulling books on civil rights history after Trump’s DEI threats
https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/military-schools-order-remove-dei-books-b2699252.html

The Columbia Network Pushing Behind the Scenes to Deport and Arrest Student Protesters. For some members of the WhatsApp group, speaking out for Palestine and criticizing Israel are tantamount to supporting Hamas.
https://theintercept.com/2025/02/15/columbia-alumni-israel-whatsapp-deport-gaza-protesters/

# Employment / Labor / Unions
More federal workers to be fired in ‘effort to cut government spending.’
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/17/fired-federal-workers-performance-language-doge/78886104007/

Trump warned of ‘dangerous’ federal job cuts in the FAA after four crashes. Trump’s administration began mass firings of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees on Friday, a move that comes just weeks after a fatal midair collision in Washington, D.C., and as concerns mount over air traffic control staffing shortages.
https://www.newsweek.com/trump-administration-mass-firings-faa-air-traffic-control-2032269

# Energy / Pipelines / Mining / Oil
A Third Generation Driller Transitions from Oil and Gas to Geothermal
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/17022025/third-generation-oil-driller-transitions-to-geothermal/

# Food General News
‘Hitting ranchers hard’: Farmers union leader blames Trump for ‘disastrous consequences’
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-hitting-ranchers-hard/

Many American farmers agree with Trump’s cuts. But those policies hurt farms most.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/opinion-trump-federal-funding-pause-161353823.html

Trump Responds to Potential EU Food Imports Ban By Doubling Down On Tariffs
https://www.mediaite.com/tv/i-dont-mind-trump-responds-to-potential-eu-food-imports-ban-by-doubling-down-on-tariffs/

Trump defiant as EU threatens US food ban: ‘They’re just hurting themselves!’ ‘That’s alright. I don’t mind. Let them do it,’ Trump says when asked about European countries saying they will ban US food imports in response to his tariffs
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/trump-defiant-as-eu-threatens-us-food-ban-they-re-just-hurting-themselves/3484295

Strengthening food stamp work requirements: Republican SNAP Proposals Could Take Food Away From Millions of Low-Income Individuals and Families
https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/republican-snap-proposals-could-take-food-away-from-millions-of-low-income

# General News
‘As an American I’m terrified’: Canadians take to social media to warn Americans of our northern neighbor’s wartime preparations
https://wegotthiscovered.com/social-media/as-an-american-im-terrified-canadians-take-to-social-media-to-warn-americans-of-our-northern-neighbors-wartime-preparations/

Elon Musk allows ‘biggest waste ever’ after failing to stop Donald Trump PR stunt. Donald Trump spent potentially millions of dollars on a trip to the Daytona 500 as Elon Musk and his DOGE program continue to lay off thousands of federal employees
https://www.irishstar.com/sport/other-sports/donald-trump-daytona-musk-doge-34690797

Haunting nuclear map lays bare where 75% of US population would perish in WW3
https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Singer_11-03-15.pdf

Hundreds of air traffic control service employees getting fired.
https://san.com/cc/hundreds-of-faa-employees-fired-nuclear-workers-told-to-return-reports/

Judge calls rare hearing on a holiday in case against Musk’s DOGE
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2025/feb/17/elon-musk-doge-irs-donald-trump-ukraine-europe-us-marco-rubio-politics-live

A timeline of activities of a cultlike group tied to the killing of a Border Patrol agent
https://apnews.com/article/vermont-border-patrol-shooting-youngblut-lasota-zizians-8d3522fae8338cabf9f890aab054c0b4

MAGA rioter says plot to murder FBI agents covered by Trump pardon
https://www.rawstory.com/capitol-riot-pardons-2671167608/

Major agency yanks several non-white history pieces from museum: report
https://www.rawstory.com/dei-2671158947/

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and Donald Trump’s Friendship Dates Back Decades as 30-Year-Old Photo Resurfaces
https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/sean-diddy-combs-donald-trumpsfriendship-dates-back-decades-30-year-photo-resurfaces.html/

The Man Madison Warned Us Against. He authored the Constitution to forestall the rise of a despotic president. We’ll soon see if those safeguards suffice. Trump’s tweets, on the other hand, are pernicious and dangerous, not because he’s mastered that medium but because he deliberately peddles lies and slanders. Nor has he taken power at a time of crisis; rather, he’s claimed this to be a time of national emergency that presumably justifies his power grabs, though that emergency is not visible to the naked eye.
https://prospect.org/politics/2025-02-17-trump-man-madison-warned-us-against/

# Gov / Politics
‘Attacking your allies is crazy’: American soldier feels forced to reassure Europe a U.S. military invasion won’t happen. If there’s one thing we don’t need right now, it’s a war over Greenland. https://wegotthiscovered.com/politics/attacking-your-allies-is-crazy-american-soldier-feels-forced-to-reassure-europe-a-u-s-military-invasion-wont-happen/

‘Backhanded compliment’: Lawyer vows fierce fight as he’s put on Trump retribution list. “It is the combination of the single-minded revenge focus, coupled with the unchecked use of executive power that makes this particularly dangerous.”
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-retribution-2671167810/

Auchincloss: Trump ‘replacing the rule of law with the law of the ruler’
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5147993-auchincloss-trump-rule-of-law/

From legal settlements to business ventures, mega corporations are making deals with President Donald Trump and the Trump family
https://usaherald.com/dol-wins-15m-judgment-against-home-care-agency/

Griffin and other conflicted judges must publicly recuse themselves from Supreme Court election case
https://ncnewsline.com/2025/02/17/griffin-and-other-conflicted-judges-must-publicly-recuse-themselves-from-supreme-court-election-case/

House Republicans plot impeachment against judges blocking Trump, DOGE
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5146332-house-republicans-impeachment-judges-trump-musk-doge/

Republicans hope to jam through defense, border funding boost ahead of shutdown fight. Senate Republicans have the ambitious goal of jamming through funding boosts for defense and border security, separately from the appropriations process ahead of a mid-March deadline to prevent a government shutdown.
https://thehill.com/business/budget/5146835-senate-republicans-border-defense-funding/

Senators Britt and Cruz Introduce Bill to Protect Military Installations from Foreign Adversaries
https://calhounjournal.com/senators-britt-and-cruz-introduce-bill-to-protect-military-installations-from-foreign-adversaries/

Republicans have always been wary of women voting or even engaging in politics, while Democrats are welcoming of women. Republican activists and candidates are often surprisingly open about their craving to strip women of their voting rights.
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/politics/the-gop-s-taliban-has-a-new-message-for-women-opinion/ar-AA1z86Sb?apiversion=v2&noservercache=1&domshim=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1&batchservertelemetry=1&noservertelemetry=1

Trump actions could change the presidency. Executive Orders Mean Real Damage to U.S. Economy, Communities, and Clean Energy Gains
https://www.nrdc.org/media/trumps-executive-orders-mean-real-damage-us-economy-communities-and-clean-energy-gains

Trump administration cuts reach FDA employees in food safety, medical devices and tobacco products
https://apnews.com/article/fda-job-cuts-trump-hhs-kennedy-cdc-nih-76dee97eee8209b2605fadac34427aab

The Vast Dangers of Trump’s War On Information. With dramatic cuts to departments and efforts to restrict access to certain research, the administration is reshaping a vast data-driven world in its autocratic image.
https://newrepublic.com/article/191563/trump-musk-war-information-data

Trump-Musk Scandal at USAID Takes Unnerving Turn With Vile Leaked Memo. Can Trump and his top advisers really just act with total impunity? Or is there, just maybe, a price to be paid for starving poor people and un-indicting a corrupt mayor?
https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-musk-scandal-usaid-takes-110000546.html

# Gov / Politics / Global
Top Russian officials set to hold talks with US in Saudi Arabia
https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-us-saudi-talks-0c7f21c2125c97fd0a1f6459eebeb65b

‘Sometimes it does take a threat’: Canada’s Conservative leader puts Trump on notice. Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative leader, is facing an electorate worried about Trump’s vow to annex Canada.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/17/world/americas/trump-canada-pierre-poilievre.html

China anger as US amends wording on Taiwan independence. The United States has “gravely backpedaled” on its position on Taiwan and sent the wrong message to “separatist forces” on the island, ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said.
https://apnews.com/article/china-taiwan-us-statement-independence-8374f7675d25a747f00364617b1bc970

Israel’s Netanyahu signals he’s moving ahead with Trump’s idea to transfer Palestinians from Gaza
https://www.newsitem.com/ap/international/israels-netanyahu-signals-hes-moving-ahead-with-trumps-idea-to-transfer-palestinians-from-gaza/article_c86af49a-a95a-547f-952e-d02dd66ed8e3.html

# Law Enforcement / ATF / FBI / CIA
Bondi orders federal inmate transferred for execution. Bondi this week directed the Federal Bureau of Prisons to transfer inmate George John Hanson, 60, so that he can be executed for his role in the kidnapping and killing of a 77-year-old woman in Tulsa in 1999.
https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/oklahoma-donald-trump-pam-bondi-b2698840.html

Democratic lawmaker: Prosecutors are ‘refusing to do a drug deal for Donald Trump.’ “When you see prosecutors in New York refuse to do a drug deal for Donald Trump, that’s what honor looks like,” said Swalwell.
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-justice-department-2671157718/

# Legal / DOJ / ICJ / International Criminal Court [ICC]
‘Sharp departure from established procedures’: Trump DOJ slapped down by US appeals court after trying to block lower judge’s order to let Biden ethics enforcer keep his job
https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/sharp-departure-from-established-procedures-trump-doj-slapped-down-by-us-appeals-court-after-trying-to-block-lower-judges-order-to-let-biden-ethics-enforcer-keep-his-job/

Trump administration blasts ‘unprecedented assault’ on its power in first Supreme Court appeal. Appointed by former President Joe Biden, Dellinger’s five-year term was set to expire in 2029. He sued after receiving an email on Feb. 7 informing him that Trump had fired him from the watchdog role, “effective immediately.”
https://www.voanews.com/a/trump-administration-turns-to-us-supreme-court-in-bid-to-fire-agency-head/7977407.html

# Media
‘Your Country is Under Assault!’ MSNBC Hosts Melt Down Over Elon Musk — Say They’re ‘Thoroughly Concerned About How We Survive’
https://www.mediaite.com/news/your-country-is-under-assault-msnbc-hosts-melt-down-over-elon-musk-say-theyre-thouroughly-concerned-about-how-we-survive/

# Medical / Health News
DOL Wins $15M Judgment Against Home Care Agency. The court granted summary judgment, ordering the company to pay $15 million in unpaid wages and damages.
https://usaherald.com/dol-wins-15m-judgment-against-home-care-agency/

NHS admin issues putting patients off seeking care, research finds
https://thecareruk.com/patients-put-off-seeking-care-due-to-dysfunctional-nhs-admin-warn-healthcare-experts/

NIH funding cuts could cost me my life, and that of millions of others
https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/5145665-nih-cancer-research-halted/

Trump administration cuts thousands of HHS jobs, including CDC disease investigators
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2025/02/cdc-to-lose-one-tenth-of-workforce-under-trump-administration-job-cuts/

RFK Jr. Got to Work Gutting CDC Staff on Day 1. Members of the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) were told on Friday that they were among nearly 1,300 layoffs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
https://www.yahoo.com/news/rfk-jr-got-gutting-cdc-150013816.html

# Military / DOD / General News
US special forces landing in Mexico to train marine infantry. Mexican Sen. Alejandro Moreno Cardenas explains the mission of American military instructors landing in Mexico this week.
https://www.borderreport.com/video/us-special-forces-landing-in-mexico-to-train-marines/10450939/

# Science / Science Engineers
Elon Musk faces exile from 365-year-old Royal Society scientific institution over his political behavior. The announcement comes after more than 2,700 scientists signed an open letter, penned by biologist Stephen Curry, accusing Musk of breaching the society’s code of conduct.
https://fortune.com/europe/2025/02/17/elon-musk-faces-exile-from-365-year-old-royal-society-scientific-institution-over-his-political-behavior/

# Technology / Artificial Intelligence / Cybersecurity
FDA cuts hit AI division, even as Trump invests in the technology. The office has a strained relationship with Musk’s company Neuralink
https://www.statnews.com/2025/02/16/fda-layoffs-center-for-devices-radiological-health-cdrh-artificial-intelligence-doge/

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Attention Readers:

Due to the nature of independent content, Voices, The Peoples News cannot guarantee content validity.

Voices, The Peoples News No. 2025-02-16

Voices, The Peoples News

February 16, 2025
Published by Jedi Selman Since March 2000 to Inform and Educate

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This daily Voices, The Peoples News is posted through the blog function of www.MPEN-Ohio.net

# Border / Immigration / Migrants / Gangs / Drugs
Colorado organization claims federal agents are illegally arresting immigrants outside courthouses
https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/federal-agents-are-illegally-arresting-immigrants-outside-courthouses/73-f2d76cbe-cc56-4bf8-bd71-0992eef565c9

Justice Department fires 20 immigration judges from backlogged courts amid major government cuts
https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-court-judges-fired-firings-d35eed0f685739c4a19d4c8baf39113a

# Chemicals / Herbicides / Pesticides / Bugs
Agricultural pesticide exposure linked to childhood cancers, study says
https://usrtk.org/healthwire/pesticide-exposure-linked-to-childhood-cancers/

Social network attacking pesticide critics shuts down
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/10/v-fluence-pesticide-critics

# DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency]
Internal DOGE documents lay out plans for ‘Phase 3’ to begin on Wednesday: Internal documents contain bullet points on how to force workers out of their jobs while avoiding legal entanglements down to how to phrase employee dismissals in emails and phone calls. The report notes the nation is currently in the midst of “Phase 2” which will give way to the first elements of “Phase 3” on Wednesday which will be in effect until July.
https://www.rawstory.com/doge-musk-government/

Pennsylvania ‘Iron Mountain’ mine drawing attention of Elon Musk, the Department of Government Efficiency
https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/business/money-report/company-ripped-by-elon-musk-that-stores-government-records-in-a-mine-may-actually-get-a-boost-from-doge/4109417/?os=icxa75gdubaevcfca9&ref=app

# Economy / Finance / Trade / Banks
President Trump Wants to Eliminate the IRS: President Trump’s Cease and Desist to IRS Protects Middle Class Families and Small Businesses from IRS Audits and Weaponization
https://waysandmeans.house.gov/2025/01/23/president-trumps-cease-and-desist-to-irs-protects-middle-class-families-and-small-businesses-from-irs-audits-and-weaponization/

Metals Crucial to Clean Energy Are Getting Caught Up in the US–China Trade War. After a Chinese export ban, can the US get gallium and germanium from Canada—or will tariffs get in the way?
https://www.tradebriefs.com/archive/GfaSz1C.html

Banks Get Their Pro-Merger Regulator. The new head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau wants ever-bigger banks, which isn’t great for the rest of us.
https://www.levernews.com/banks-get-their-pro-merger-regulator/

# Education / Schools
Republican state Rep. Andy Hopper of Decatur has filed a bill to abolish the Texas Education Agency, stating that it is a bloated bureaucracy that isn’t accountable to taxpayers.
https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article300329229.html#storylink=cpy

# Employment / Labor / Unions
Here are the agencies purging federal workers
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5147209-agencies-purging-federal-workers-explained/

Federal Workers’ Unions Are Waging the Fight of Their Lives. With the White House and Elon Musk’s DOGE working to dismantle the government, civil service employees are finding ways to push back.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/16/federal-workers-trump-musk-firings/78728081007/

‘We’re under attack by billionaires’: Fired federal workers speak out on terminations. USA TODAY spoke to federal workers fired from the departments of Education, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture and Transportation who said they were shocked, angry and emotionally distraught by the terminations.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/16/federal-workers-trump-musk-firings/78728081007/

Elon Musk’s dream comes true: The federal board that protects workers does not exist, at least for now
https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/15/business/nlrb-trump-musk-workers/index.html

Federal workers forced to return to offices with no desks –– and plenty of chaos:
https://www.rawstory.com/federal-workers-2671162220/

Nissan CEO speaks out as struggling company set to shutter plants & slash 9,000 jobs after merger talks with Honda end
https://www.the-sun.com/motors/13535821/honda-nissan-eliminate-jobs-no-merger-plants/

# Energy / Pipelines / Mining / Oil
Trump administration lays off as many as 2,000 Energy Department employees
https://san.com/cc/trump-administration-lays-off-as-many-as-2000-energy-department-employees/

# Environment / Climate / Infrastructure / EPA / BLM
“We Feel Terrorized”: What EPA employees say about the decision to stay or go under Trump. 300 career employees at the Environmental Protection Agency have left. Those who remain face a painful decision: resign or work for an administration that plans to radically reshape the EPA while reversing environmental protections.
https://www.propublica.org/article/epa-workers-resign-trump?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=propublica-youtube

Fired National Park Service workers left feeling angry, betrayed
https://ftw.usatoday.com/2025/02/national-park-service-employees-speak-out-layoffs-trump-cuts

# Food General News
House GOP eyeing $230B in cuts, includes SNAP reductions
https://san.com/cc/house-gop-eyeing-230b-in-cuts-includes-snap-reductions/

# General News
If Democrats Don’t Champion the Civil Service, Who Will? With the federal workforce facing an onslaught by Trump and Elon Musk, its employees—and the populace it so dutifully protects—desperately need defenders.
https://qoshe.com/new-republic/bryce-covert/if-democrats-dont-champion-the-civil-service-who-will/180728534

Pope Francis’s Stunning Rebuke of JD Vance Exposes MAGA’s Dark Soul. The vice president took a stab at theology to defend the administration’s rank cruelty. Then a higher authority weighed in.
https://newrepublic.com/article/191427/pope-francis-jd-vance-maga-dark-soul

Musk Gets More Government Cash While Pushing Education Cuts. The kicker? His companies already take in $8 million a day in public funds.
https://www.levernews.com/musk-just-scored-more-government-cash-while-pushing-education-cuts/

# Gov / Politics
Trump vs. the Courts: Will He Drive Us Over the Constitutional Cliff? It’s about to be a constitutional crisis, if it’s not already. And we’re only three weeks in. Buckle up.
https://newrepublic.com/article/191450/trump-courts-judiciary-constitutional-cliff

What the Hell Happened to Democrats in Detroit? Trump won Michigan by around 80,000 votes—and urban Wayne County accounts for virtually all of it. Yes, the explanation starts with the Arab American vote. But it hardly ends there.
https://newrepublic.com/article/190894/detroit-wayne-county-trump-democrats-arab-american-vote

‘Quoting Napoleon’: Critics rage as Trump makes ‘most un-American statement ever uttered’
https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trumps-post-sparks-napoleon-dictator-comparisons-critics-2031828

President Trump takes steps that indicate an openness to corruption
https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-green-lights-bribery-corruption-091656308.html

Trump administration cuts US efforts to support democracy at home and abroad
https://www.npr.org/2025/02/16/nx-s1-5297844/the-trump-administrations-funding-cuts-are-impacting-pro-democracy-organizations

Trump’s betrayal of Ukraine has emboldened Putin and pulled the rug from under Nato allies. The ramifications of the president’s appeasement of Russia will be felt widely, not least in the alliance he recklessly undermined
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/15/donald-trumps-betrayal-of-ukraine-has-emboldened-vladimir-putin-and-pulled-the-rug-from-under-nato-allies

# Gov / Politics / Global
Zelenskyy characterizes US security support as unreliable, calls for creation of ‘Armed Forces of Europe.’ The United States can no longer be relied on to ensure security in Europe, which is at risk of being pulled apart by Russia, Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy said in a speech on Saturday at the Munich Security Conference.
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/europe/2025-02-15/munich-security-conference-day-two-16840211.html

# Law Enforcement / ATF / FBI / CIA
‘Vexatious litigant’: Lawyer devises ‘radical’ plan that could stop Trump in his tracks. Judges, Coale argues, can cut through the time-wasting by ruling the filer is a “vexatious litigant” — and dismissing their claims out of hand.
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-executive-order-2671162929/

# Legal / DOJ / ICJ / International Criminal Court [ICC]
Trump Won His War on the Justice Department. The once-independent agency has been forced to embrace a change of mission—serve the president’s exclusive interests, and carry out his revenge on the American people.
https://newrepublic.com/article/191430/trump-bondi-justice-corruption-roberts

# Media
USPS slammed for ‘ignoring’ mail issues as customers watch packages ‘bounce around different facilities for weeks.’ THE United States Postal Service has been slammed by customers for “ignoring” their mail problems amid thousands of missing packages.
https://www.the-sun.com/news/13549858/usps-ignoring-mail-issues-packages-indiana/

# Medical / Health News
We Are About to Learn What a Post-Truth Approach to Public Health Feels Like. Trump and Musk are slashing global vaccination efforts, funding for medical research and access to health information.
https://truthout.org/articles/we-are-about-to-learn-what-a-post-truth-approach-to-public-health-feels-like/

Atlanta-based Centers for CDC to lose nearly 1,300 employees under Trump administration job cuts
https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2025/02/14/cdc-lose-one-tenth-workforce-under-trump-administration-job-cuts/

Obamacare Outreach Funding Cut by 90 Percent. The Trump administration on Feb. 14 cut funding for an outreach program under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that helps people sign up for health insurance coverage
https://www.kff.org/quick-take/a-90-cut-to-the-aca-navigator-program/

# Military / DOD / General News
Army redirecting millions collected from soldier BAS pay meant for food services elsewhere: The money is collected in what amounts to a tax on troops — taken from their Basic Allowance for Subsistence payments, roughly $460 per month that is automatically deducted from the paychecks of service members
https://www.military.com/daily-news/investigations-and-features/2025/02/14/over-151-million-taken-soldiers-paychecks-food-costs-spent-elsewhere-army.html

# Science / Science Engineers
Elon Musk Built His Wealth on Taxpayers Money—Now He’s Destroying the Future of Science
https://www.newsbreak.com/inquisitr-news-522568/3814340416998-elon-musk-built-his-wealth-on-taxpayers-money-now-he-s-destroying-the-future-of-science

# Technology / Artificial Intelligence / Cybersecurity
Musk’s DOGE team raises major cyber security concerns
https://www.kulr8.com/news/national/musks-doge-team-raises-major-cyber-security-concerns/article_5df98884-9664-5938-9e2c-1c710182b72c.html

# Veterans / VA
VA is latest dept to face budget cuts under Trump: The President extends these tax breaks largely for the rich all while maliciously cutting programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other crucial programs. Destructive cuts to these programs hurt millions of veterans and their families who depend on them for their health, safety, and economic well‑being.
https://democrats-budget.house.gov/resources/reports/president-trumps-extreme-budget-cuts-hurt-veterans

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Attention Readers:

Due to the nature of independent content, Voices, The Peoples News cannot guarantee content validity.

Voices, The Peoples News No. 2025-02-15

Voices, The Peoples News

February 15, 2025
Published by Jedi Selman Since March 2000 to Inform and Educate

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This daily Voices, The Peoples News is posted through the blog function of www.MPEN-Ohio.net

# Border / Immigration / Migrants / Gangs / Drugs
Democratic senators press Hegseth for cost and troop impact of immigration operations. The Pentagon has estimated its southern border operations will cost almost $1 billion in the next eight months and does not yet have an estimate for new operations at Guantanamo
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2025-02-14/pentagon-border-costs-senators-hegseth-16834177.html

# DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency]
What Is the Point to the DOGE Chaos? The Answer Is Hiding in Plain Sight. It’s not really about efficiency. They’re after something else.
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/02/elon-musk-trump-doge.html

DOGE charged with slashing trillions from federal spending, has doubled its budget already, report claims
https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/elon-musk-doge-trump-budget-b2697914.html

DOGE discussing Housing Department layoffs. New details on potential layoffs emerge as the Department of Government Efficiency takes on HUD.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/14/doge-housing-department-layoffs-00204372

IRS Hit With Surprise From Elon Musk’s DOGE, Fueling Privacy Fears Amid Budget Cuts And Layoffs Due To Trump Plans
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/02/14/irs-tax-doge-musk/

Senator Chris Murphy Details Why DOGE Targeting Federal Agencies Is Just About ‘Making Elon Musk Rich’
https://www.mediaite.com/politics/senator-chris-murphy-details-why-doge-targeting-federal-agencies-is-just-about-making-elon-musk-rich/

Elon Musk targets programs for ‘poorest children on earth’ while getting billions in federal contracts. “Elon loves corporate welfare for himself, rugged individualism for the poor,” wrote a top adviser for Sen. Bernie Sanders.
https://www.commondreams.org/news/elon-musk-hypocrisy-federal-contracts

# Economy / Finance / Trade / Banks
Trump orders up a plan for more tariffs, even as inflation heats up
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/trumps-tariff-plan-would-raise-inflation-and-cost-u-s-jobs-economist-mark-zandi-says

US Judge Extends Order to Block DOGE From Treasury Department Data
https://www.courthousenews.com/federal-judge-extends-order-barring-unauthorized-doge-access-to-treasury-payment-system/

‘The damage is already done’: Why Ken Griffin thinks Trump’s tariffs are chipping away at American exceptionalism
https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2025/02/12/ken-griffin-takes-donald-trump-to-task-on-tariffs/

Gillibrand wants answers on planned closure of White Plains Social Security regional office
https://westfaironline.com/latest-news/trump-administration-targets-social-security-hudson-valley-offices-affected/

Trump Kicks Off Global Chaos With New Tariff Announcement
https://newrepublic.com/post/191518/donald-trump-global-trade-war-new-tariffs

# Education / Schools
Department of Education warns that public schools must remove DEI policies or lose federal funding
https://srnnews.com/china-will-play-along-to-the-end-with-u-s-its-top-diplomat-says/

# Employment / Labor / Unions
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., ordered that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau cannot terminate more employees, providing a major reprieve to staff at the agency, who have been bracing for mass layoffs. More than 100 workers have already been fired this week.
https://www.npr.org/2025/02/14/nx-s1-5297870/cfpb-doge-trump-musk-federal-workforce

# Energy / Pipelines / Mining / Oil
Hundreds of Americans have been hit with surprise electric bill surcharges following a policy change by President Donald Trump. The sudden increase stems from a pause in federal energy assistance programs, such as LIHEAP. Low-income families and seniors are among the most affected.
https://www.upexciseportal.in/hundreds-of-americans-hit-with-surprise-electric-bills-after-trumps-policy-change/#google_vignette

Chevron announced Wednesday it’s laying off 15% to 20% of its workforce — meaning up to 9,000 jobs
https://www.scrippsnews.com/business/company-news/chevron-second-largest-oil-company-in-the-us-slashing-thousands-of-jobs

More than 100 federal workers fired at Portland-based Bonneville Power Administration
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKIgNrd6vM8

# Environment / Climate / Infrastructure / EPA / BLM
Federal department slashes millions in contracts, including $230K for ‘Brazilian forest and gender consultant’
https://www.aol.com/federal-department-slashes-millions-contracts-055810521.html

KY Senate approves bill removing state protections for wetlands, groundwater, small streams
https://kentuckylantern.com/2025/02/14/ky-senate-approves-bill-removing-state-protections-for-wetlands-groundwater-small-streams/

US Forest Service fires 3,400 workers, Park Service cuts 1,000
https://www.outdoorlife.com/conservation/interior-department-fires-thousands-forest-service-workers/

Warning as threat levels for three US volcanoes are elevated
https://www.newsbreak.com/daily-mail-560402/3812372480205-warning-as-threat-levels-for-three-us-volcanoes-are-elevated

Yosemite National Park is on the verge of a ‘catastrophic’ staffing shortage thanks to Trump’s hiring freeze. According to reports, hundreds of seasonal job offers have been clawed back and layoffs are looming.
https://www.theinertia.com/news/yosemite-national-park-hiring-freeze-trump-adminstration/

# FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency]
Exclusive-US global disaster response teams unable to deploy following USAID shutdown, sources say
https://www.tbsnews.net/worldbiz/usa/us-global-disaster-response-teams-unable-deploy-following-usaid-shutdown-sources

# General News
White South Africans gather in support of Trump and his claims that they are victims of racism
https://www.newsmax.com/world/globaltalk/trump-south-africa-white-afrikaners/2025/02/15/id/1199195/

# Gov / Politics
House Republican Budget Blueprint Clears First Big Hurdle
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/02/13/congress/house-gop-budget-markup-00204041

Mass firings have rocked multiple agencies as President Trump and Elon Musk ramp up plans to drastically slash and reshape the federal work force
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/14/us/politics/energy-department-layoffs.html

Many Trump Administration Personnel Actions Are Unlawful
https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-budget/many-trump-administration-personnel-actions-are-unlawful

‘Obvious illegality’: Trump’s firing of US watchdogs violated federal law as he kicked ‘longtime public servants’ to the curb without properly telling Congress, suit says
https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/obvious-illegality-trumps-firing-of-us-watchdogs-violated-federal-law-as-he-kicked-longtime-public-servants-to-the-curb-without-properly-telling-congress-suit-says/

‘Presidential crime spree’: Legal expert unloads on Trump’s ‘outrageous’ scandals
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-crime-2671158735/

60 years of progress in expanding rights is being rolled back by Trump − a pattern that’s all too familiar in US history
https://theconversation.com/60-years-of-progress-in-expanding-rights-is-being-rolled-back-by-trump-a-pattern-thats-all-too-familiar-in-us-history-248526

Elon Musk’s attacks on a group long backed by the GOP prompt Republican shrugs. A funding freeze is pushing the National Endowment for Democracy and groups it supports toward shutdown.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/13/national-endowment-democracy-musk-funding-017146

Elon Musk’s 4-year-old son X irks President Donald Trump at White House, ‘want to shush your mouth’
https://www.livemint.com/news/us-news/elon-musks-4-year-old-son-irks-donald-trump-in-front-from-camera-says-want-to-shush-your-mouth-watch-11739410335699.html

14 states sue to block Musk’s DOGE actions, claim unconstitutional abuse of power
https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/14-states-sue-to-block-elon-musks-doge-actions-claim-unconstitutional-abuse-of-power/

GOP Proposes $4.5 Trillion Tax Giveaway to the Rich While ‘Ransacking’ Food Stamps and Medicaid. “House Republican leadership put a giant bullseye on Medicaid, with the intent to strip Americans of their healthcare benefits to pay for tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations.”
https://www.nationofchange.org/2025/02/13/gops-4-5-trillion-tax-giveaway-slashing-medicaid-and-food-stamps-to-fund-the-wealthy/

‘Full-Scale Authoritarian Takeover’: Vance and Musk Take Aim at Federal Judges. “We must push back hard against these next leaps down the pathway to tyranny,” said one Democratic in the House.
https://www.commondreams.org/news/musk-vance-judges

Corporate Media Failing to Call This What It Is: A Coup. If this is not a coup d’etat, I don’t know what is. It is not “taking sides” to say so. Rather, it is accurately describing the dire emergency America now faces.
https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/corporate-media-failing-to-call-this-what-it-is-a-coup?utm_source=Common+Dreams&utm_campaign=a9c5008719-Week+In+Review%3A+Sat.+2%2F8%2F2_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0<59f0163267-600473715

# Gov / Politics / Global
‘This Is Not Acceptable!’ German Defense Minister Fumes at JD Vance For Comparing European Allies to Authoritarian Regimes
https://www.mediaite.com/politics/this-is-not-acceptable-german-defense-minister-fumes-at-jd-vance-for-comparing-european-allies-to-authoritarian-regimes/

Hamas releases 3 more hostages, Israel frees over 300 Palestinian prisoners under ceasefire deal
https://apnews.com/video/hamas-frees-3-hostages-israel-releases-hundreds-of-prisoners-as-ceasefire-holds-ap-explains-ae0751d9a3ae4a4c98c526c77697b465

China will ‘play along to the end’ with U.S., its top diplomat says
https://www.ournationalconversation.org/httpswww-usnews-comnewsworldarticles2025-02-15china-will-play-along-to-the-end-with-u-s-its-top-diplomat-says/

# Legal / DOJ / ICJ / International Criminal Court [ICC]
Judge Who Made Life Hell for Trump Will Oversee Case on Elon Musk. A major lawsuit against Elon Musk just got assigned to his new nightmare: Judge Tanya Chutkan.
https://newrepublic.com/post/191559/judge-tanya-chutkan-case-lawsuit-elon-musk

Trump Justice Department Moves to Complete ‘Openly Corrupt Legal Bailout’ of Eric Adams. “The Adams case confirms that as long as Bondi is in office, the rule of law will be subordinate to Trump’s personal motivations.”
https://www.commondreams.org/news/trump-justice-department-eric-adams

# Medicare / Medicaid
Steve Bannon Has Dark Warning for Republicans Planning to Cut Medicaid. Donald Trump’s ex-adviser warned many MAGA voters rely on the program.
https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/steve-bannon-maga-medicaid-b2698723.html

‘The first time didn’t work’: Georgia and Arkansas scale back Medicaid work requirements
https://arkansasadvocate.com/2025/02/14/the-first-time-didnt-work-georgia-and-arkansas-scale-back-medicaid-work-requirements/

# Medical / Health News
RFK Jr. Just Kneecapped the CDC on His First Day. The purging of federal workers continues.
https://newrepublic.com/post/191579/robert-f-kennedy-jr-cdc-infectious-disease-research

Florida senator files to have the state’s ‘Free Kill’ law repealed. Many families have never heard of it until they try to sue for medical negligence after their loved one dies. If you are over the age of 25, not married and have no children under the age of 25, your loved ones are barred from suing for medical negligence.
https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/politics/lawmakers-make-another-push-repeal-floridas-free-kill-law/77-dbb01eb5-5888-459d-bfcf-9bd47d851abf

Trump administration slashes funding for ObamaCare outreach program
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5146096-trump-administration-funding-slashed-obamacare-navigators/

# Military / DOD / General News
US Army bans transgender people from enlisting
https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/military/us-army-transgender-policy-gender-care/

# NATO
Musk’s DOGE Sets NASA as Next Target
https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/nasa-elon-musk-next-target-doge-latest-mission-big-questions-spacex-13862869.html

# NOAA
For-Profit Companies Can’t Easily Replace NOAA’s Weather-Forecasting Prowess. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/26/trump-presidency-gut-noaa-weather-climate-crisis

NOAA’s vast public weather data powers the local forecasts on your phone and TV – a private company alone couldn’t match it
https://theconversation.com/noaas-vast-public-weather-data-powers-the-local-forecasts-on-your-phone-and-tv-a-private-company-alone-couldnt-match-it-249451

Trump officials signal potential changes at NOAA, the weather and climate agency
https://www.npr.org/2025/02/15/nx-s1-5297183/noaa-national-weather-service-trump

# Nuclear
Energy Department scrambles to rehire nuclear bomb experts fired in major DOGE screw up: Reports
https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/doge-screw-up-nuclear-experts-fired-b2698732.html

# Other Interesting Things
Scientists are baffled after discovering a mysterious radioactive ‘blip’ deep under the Pacific Ocean
https://www.sciencealert.com/mysterious-radioactive-anomaly-discovered-deep-under-the-pacific-ocean

# Science / Science Engineers
‘A scary time to be a scientist’: “Above and beyond the stalling of progress, we’re going to see this hollowing out of the workforce that’s been working on this research,” Lane-Fall said.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/15/trump-medical-research-funding-maternal-mortality#:~:text=Not%20only%20could%20the%20cuts,%2C%E2%80%9D%20Lane%2DFall%20said.

# Security / Surveillance
Trump administration fires over 400 DHS employees as mass firings continue
https://www.livemint.com/news/us-news/donald-trump-administration-fires-over-400-dhs-employees-in-effort-to-cut-federal-workforce-11739582487231.html

# Sports
Donald Trump blamed for American disgrace: This isn’t the first time non-Americans have disrespected the anthem recently. Crowds at sporting events across Canada have taken to booing the American anthem before NHL games, amid tensions between the two countries.
https://www.newsbreak.com/the-comeback-1601133/3811384772082-donald-trump-blamed-for-american-disgrace

# Technology / Artificial Intelligence / Cybersecurity
A ‘Musk-led consortium’ of investors say they’ll withdraw $97.4 billion bid to buy OpenAI—if it stays non-profit
https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-sam-altman-openai-chatgpt-ai-f024aca265ad8ee9f30b699a0c74066c

# Veterans / VA
Republicans advance plans to raise military spending by $100B amid concerns budget cuts affect veterans
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2025-02-14/congress-defense-spending-budget-cuts-veterans-16832927.html

Democratic lawmakers, veterans and union leaders rally against VA staff cuts
https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2025/02/13/protestors-demand-va-oppose-trump-efforts-to-trim-federal-workforce/

# Weather
US to get 10th and ‘most severe’ polar vortex as arctic blast plunges most of country into ‘extreme cold’
https://www.yahoo.com/news/very-cold-weather-coming-us-134945013.html

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Attention Readers:

Due to the nature of independent content, Voices, The Peoples News cannot guarantee content validity.

Voices, The Peoples News No. 2025-02-14, PM

Voices, The Peoples News

February 14, 2025, PM
Published by Jedi Selman Since March 2000 to Inform and Educate

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This daily Voices, The Peoples News is posted through the blog function of www.MPEN-Ohio.net

# Border / Immigration / Migrants / Gangs / Drugs
Hundreds from Army, Navy, Marine Corps surge to Guantanamo Bay for migrant detention operation
https://www.navycrf.com/2025/02/13/hundreds-from-army-navy-marine-corps-surge-to-guantanamo-bay-for-migrant-detention-operation/

# DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency]
Elon Musk’s DOGE Website Is Already Getting Hacked. The DOGE.gov website is such a coding disaster that pretty much anyone can take over. At 6:30 a.m. ET on Friday, the website’s homepage contained a box seen by Newsweek with “This is a joke of a .gov site” written in large letters, while screenshots show the text previously read “THESE “EXPERTS” LEFT THEIR DATABASE OPEN – roro.”
https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-doge-website-hacked-2031139

DOGE’s Illegal Takeover Pulls From Fascist Playbooks. When we see a parallel government taking shape, we should not refrain from calling fascism what it is.
https://truthout.org/articles/doges-illegal-takeover-pulls-from-fascist-playbooks/

# Economy / Finance / Trade / Banks
Trump Calls For New Tariffs on Friends and Foes Alike. US President Donald Trump inked plans Thursday for sweeping “reciprocal tariffs” that could hit both allies and competitors, in a dramatic escalation of an international trade war that economists warn could fuel inflation at home.
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250213-president-trump-says-us-reciprocal-tariffs-to-be-announced-thursday

Trump’s tariffs could spur push to rewrite North America trade pact. The Trump administration is trying to rewrite numerous trade rules to extract concessions from allies and adversaries alike.
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025/2/14/trumps-tariffs-could-spur-push-to-rewrite-north-america-trade-pact

# Education / Schools
TN’s Expanded School Voucher Program Purposely Leaves Out Undocumented Kids. Tennessee lawmakers are also crafting a bill to challenge a Supreme Court ruling that protects undocumented students.
https://truthout.org/articles/tns-expanded-school-voucher-program-purposely-leaves-out-undocumented-kids/

New Utah law would allow for Nazi and Confederate flags to be shown in schools but not Pride flag
https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/utah-pride-flag-ban-schools-government-property-b2698466.html

# Employment / Labor / Unions
Thousands of Probationary Staff Fired at Seven Agencies Including VA, Education
https://www.newsweek.com/federal-layoffs-live-thousands-probationary-staff-fired-7-agencies-including-va-education-2031547

# Environment / Climate / Infrastructure / EPA / BLM
Green Groups Were Lying Low. But Now They Have a Battle Plan. After a quiet few weeks, environmental and progressive organizations are unveiling strategies to fight the Trump administration.
https://newrepublic.com/post/191474/environmental-protest-climate-trump-sunrise

Trump’s DEI Purge Sweeps Up Race-Neutral Environmental Justice Program. The administration’s indiscriminate attacks on so-called ‘DEI’ will also harm his own base.
https://prospect.org/environment/2025-02-14-trumps-dei-purge-sweeps-up-race-neutral-environmental-justice-program/

# General News
Arkansas committee advances bill to abolish state library and PBS oversight boards
https://arkansasadvocate.com/2025/02/14/arkansas-committee-advances-bill-to-abolish-state-library-and-pbs-oversight-boards/

# Gov / Politics
Here’s How Much Money Trump Has Made Off the Presidency So Far. Donald Trump has turned the presidency into a total grift.
https://newrepublic.com/post/191543/how-much-money-trump-made-presidency

Trump made up to $160 million from foreign countries as president. When it came to foreign conflicts of interest, Trump and his company pledged to pause foreign business. They did not.
https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/trump-made-up-to-160-million-from-foreign-countries-as-president/

The US is now all-but-certain to become a dictatorship. Republican majorities today are letting Trump steal their remaining powers: redirecting and withholding government money (the ‘Power of the Purse’), ignoring existing laws, giving consent for nearly anyone he nominates, no matter how outrageous.
https://www.reddit.com/r/changemyview/comments/1igun9r/cmv_the_us_is_now_allbutcertain_to_become_a/

Capitol agenda: Johnson’s new budget plan, Dems’ shutdown dilemma. Democrats are signaling they don’t want to use their major leverage point to rein in President Donald Trump’s war on the federal government.
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/02/11/congress/democrats-shutdown-johnson-budget-nominees-00203505

Pay Less Attention to That Man in Front of the Curtain. Musk’s machinations and Trump’s daily outrages are meant to be mesmerizing—and paralyzing. But there are plenty of ways to fight back effectively—starting with not panicking.
https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/trump-musk-democrats-fight-back/

Democrats push for tougher resistance to Trump as anger mounts. “This guy is doing some crazy s‑‑‑,” added a second Democrat who is also involved in planning efforts. “This isn’t jamming through a nominee. This is when it starts to be alarming.”
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5141657-democrats-push-stronger-response-trump/

Where Are Trump’s Talks With Putin Headed? There Are Some Clear Hints. Looks like Trump is getting played. Trump administration is giving its blessing to key items on President Vladimir Putin’s wish list — even before a potential settlement of the conflict.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/in-phone-call-with-putin-trump-abruptly-ends-u-s-efforts-to-isolate-russia

Pete Hegseth Crumbles When Asked What Russia Is Conceding to Ukraine. Pete Hegseth played right into Vladimir Putin’s hand with his alarming confession.
https://newrepublic.com/post/191512/pete-hegseth-russia-ukraine-negotiations

Trump Rages at Mitch McConnell in Crazed Rants—Showing How He Cows GOP. As Trump unleashes wildly unhinged attacks on McConnell for opposing his nominees, veteran congressional observer Norm Ornstein explains what this shows about Trump’s ability to terrorize his party.
https://thedsrnetwork.com/trump-rages-at-mitch-mcconnell-in-crazed-rants-showing-how-he-cows-gop

The Roberts Court obeyed in advance. Trump’s wrecking ball is a Constitutional unravelling of the Roberts’ Court’s own making. Trump administration exceeded its art. II powers, diminished the role of Congress, and challenged the authority of the judiciary. Waving away his campaign pledge to lower the cost of groceries, Trump focused instead on maximal cruelty and political retribution dispersed with a wrecking ball.
https://sabrinahaake.substack.com/p/the-roberts-court-obeyed-in-advance

How John Roberts Teed Up Elon Musk’s War on the Court. The mogul seems bent on pushing the Trump White House into a nuclear confrontation with the federal judiciary. He has the chief justice to thank. “Hamilton foresaw, and Chief Justice Marshall confirmed, the role of the judicial branch to say what the law is. But judicial independence is undermined unless the other branches are firm in their responsibility to enforce the court’s decrees.”
https://newrepublic.com/article/191528/elon-musk-judicial-crisis-roberts

Elon Musk, The richest man on Earth is setting himself up as dictator of the United States. An unelected individual, whose sole qualification for office is spending about $44.2 billion on the last election—who is in fact ineligible to run for president—is making wildly illegal budget, staffing, and policy decisions throughout the government
https://prospect.org/politics/2025-02-13-elon-musk-general-secretary-of-doge/

GOP’s $4.5 trillion tax giveaway: Slashing Medicaid and food stamps to fund the wealthy
https://www.nationofchange.org/2025/02/13/gops-4-5-trillion-tax-giveaway-slashing-medicaid-and-food-stamps-to-fund-the-wealthy/

Trump’s blitz to expand his power is direct threat to democracy, experts say. Executive actions aims to test limits of president’s authority and perhaps win backing from conservative supreme court
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/07/trump-executive-actions-democracy

Trump family and library have raked in whopping $80 million since White House return
https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-family-net-worth-library-white-house-b2698434.html

Trump signs executive order to block federal money for schools, universities with COVID vaccine mandates
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/02/14/trump-presidency-news/

President Trump sounds the same. His White House — so far — couldn’t be more different
https://apnews.com/article/trump-second-term-emboldened-policies-staff-drama-5720d654e953a39303c38a0513b35f57

# Law Enforcement / ATF / FBI / CIA
A North Carolina Judge Just Acknowledged an Undeniable Truth: The Death Penalty Is Racist. Sometimes, what is right in front of you is the hardest to see, and the truth is hidden in plain sight.
https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/judge-finds-race-plays-a-significant-role-in-death-sentences-in-three-north-carolina-counties

Trump Shockingly Purges U.S. Attorneys With Unprecedented Move. Donald Trump continues to get rid of potential opponents.
https://newrepublic.com/post/191516/donald-trump-purges-us-attorneys-firing

More Than a Dozen States File Lawsuit Against Elon Musk and DOGE. The states argue that anyone with the “expansive authority” being flexed by Musk needs to be formally nominated and confirmed by the Senate.
https://apnews.com/article/doge-musk-trump-lawsuit-states-fbb9695bcffaa96470752d56da20da57

# Legal / DOJ / ICJ / International Criminal Court [ICC]
Raskin Condemns Trump DOJ’s ‘Illegal Intimidation’ of Anti-Corruption Division. “It’s time to do your job and stop this outrageous sabotage of justice in the interests of naked political corruption,” said the lawmaker.
https://www.commondreams.org/news/raskin-condemns-trump-doj-s-illegal-intimidation-of-anti-corruption-division

Donald Trump and his authoritarian plan to accrue power suffered another week of setbacks in court.
https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-constitution-courts-lawsuits-796543ab4a3d5589f47fd66fd9d6bfef

Pennsylvania governor sues Trump administration to release federal funds
https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/pennsylvania-gov-josh-shapiro-sues-trump-administration-to-release-over-3-billion-in-federal-funds/

USAID workers sue Musk and DOGE for unconstitutional ‘government takeover’
https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5144185-states-elon-musk-doge-lawsuit/

Class action lawsuit filed to block DOGE from accessing Treasury records
https://fedscoop.com/treasury-doge-payments-system-trump-lawsuit/

Trump administration eyes canceling leases for space used by US judiciary
https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-gsa-terminate-office-leases-f8faac5e2038722f705587c8dd21ab26

# Medical / Health News
Trump administration to fire thousands at health agencies. As many as 200,000 US workers slated to be affected by mass terminations as Musk leads crusade to slash spending
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/14/federal-worker-layoffs-trump-musk

Trump orders agencies to plan for ‘large-scale’ job cuts. Trump promised voters he would lower costs and keep them safer; instead, he’s already killing jobs and risking countless lives.
https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/trump-doge-order-shrink-federal-workforce-health-agencies/739876/

Half of CDC “disease detectives” terminated. DOGE takes aim at US disease surveillance. Entire first-year class of the Epidemic Intelligence Service must be out by 5 p.m., sources say. Also: a major CDC contractor “just let go,” and others may follow.
https://insidemedicine.substack.com/p/news-half-of-cdc-disease-detectives?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

# Military / DOD / General News
Mystery Tiltrotor Aircraft Spotted At Mojave Air And Space Port Identified. Hyundai subsidiary Supernal is using the full-scale technology demonstrator to support work on its electrically-powered S-A2 design.
https://www.twz.com/air/mystery-tiltrotor-aircraft-identified

Drones Over U.S. Bases May Be Threatening Spy Flights: NORTHCOM Commander. Gen. Gregory M. Guillot asked Congress for more authority to defend against drone incursions.
https://defensescoop.com/2025/02/13/drone-incursions-us-military-bases-norad-northcom-counter-small-uas/

# NASA / Space
Elon Musk’s Efficiency Crew Sets Its Sights on NASA: What’s the Buzz All About? With NASA aiming to boost its budget from $24.875 billion to $25.4 billion and Musk’s SpaceX holding sizable contracts, the move has sparked debates over potential conflicts of interest.
https://opentools.ai/news/elon-musks-efficiency-crew-sets-its-sights-on-nasa-whats-the-buzz-all-about

# Nuclear
‘National security crisis’ as Trump fires multiple nuclear weapons safety officials
https://newrepublic.com/post/191564/trump-fires-rehires-nuclear-weapons-agency-staff

# Social
President Trump continues to sign executive orders, one targeting those experiencing homelessness in DC. The order was reported by The Washington Post and could include directives to clear homeless encampments, clean graffiti and for prosecutors to pursue harsher penalties for violent crimes.
https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/local-news/washington-dc/trump-executive-order-public-safety-homelessness/

# Space
Musk’s double standard: SpaceX wins government contract while public services face deep cuts. A $38.85 million contract awarded to Elon Musk’s SpaceX sparks outrage as his government office slashes funding for health care, education, and social programs.
https://www.nationofchange.org/2025/02/13/musks-double-standard-spacex-wins-government-contract-while-public-services-face-deep-cuts/

# Veterans / VA
Protestors demand VA oppose Trump efforts to trim federal workforce
https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2025/02/13/protestors-demand-va-oppose-trump-efforts-to-trim-federal-workforce/

Area 51 veterans getting cancer as DOD denies they were there. Air Force vets say they were exposed to radiation near Area 51, many are now suffering from severe health issues, including deadly cancers. DOD refuses to acknowledge their service on the secretive range
https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/military/area-51-veterans-cancer-dod-denies-they-were-there/

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Attention Readers:

Due to the nature of independent content, Voices, The Peoples News cannot guarantee content validity.

Voices, The Peoples News No. 2025-02-14, AM

Voices, The Peoples News

February 14, 2025, AM
Published by Jedi Selman Since March 2000 to Inform and Educate

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Alert: Warning about zip ties attached to rims of vehicles. If something is
placed on your vehicle, you should address the concerns at a safe location and remember to always wear proper protection when removing a foreign
object from your vehicle. Sadly, some people are lacing things these days
with drugs that can harm you. (Please read this article on this PAGE!)
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This daily Voices, The Peoples News is posted through the blog function of www.MPEN-Ohio.net

# Border / Immigration / Migrants / Gangs / Drugs
Texas backed Trump and his hard-line border stance. But immigration car chases have killed dozens of people in the state
https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/texas-operation-lone-star-trump-b2697948.html

# Business / Industry / Corporations
Chevron Announces Layoffs Affecting Up to 8,000 Workers: ‘Stronger Long-Term Competitiveness.’ The layoffs play into the oil producer’s goals to cut costs by up to $3 billion by the end of 2026. Chevron is reportedly offering employees a buyout from now through the Spring
https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/why-oil-gas-giant-chevron-is-laying-off-up-to-8000-workers/487059

# DEI [Department of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion]
FCC Launches Investigation Into Comcast For Alleged Violation Of President Donald Trump’s Orders Regarding DEI Initiatives. The investigation, led by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), was initiated following a directive from the Trump administration
https://sustainabilitymag.com/articles/comcast-under-federal-investigation-for-dei-initiatives

# DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency]
Lawsuit describes Musk’s DOGE teams overseeing the killing of hundreds of USAID programs abroad, colleagues abandoned in violence in Congo as DOGE ends assistance programs
https://www.thespec.com/news/world/united-states/usaid-staffers-describe-colleagues-abandoned-in-violence-in-congo-as-doge-ends-assistance-programs/article_2c4d7f36-76b0-5ed6-a60b-d9813688ced3.html

Treasury Officials Admit Musk’s Racist DOGE Minion Had Power to Alter Payments
https://www.yahoo.com/news/treasury-officials-admit-musk-racist-153723526.html

# Economy / Finance / Trade / Banks
Trump moves to slap tariffs on nearly every nation, boosting trade war
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/13/trump-tariffs-trade-war/78415322007/

Tariffs starting to impact inflation in the US, but could also ignite a global trade war and add to America’s rebounding inflation problem.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/13/economy/new-us-trump-tariffs/index.html

As More Trump Tariffs Loom, Americans Are Starting to Worry. The wide range and uneven application of import tariffs by President Donald Trump is causing unease among consumers and businesses.
https://www.usnews.com/news/economy/articles/2025-02-13/as-more-trump-tariffs-loom-americans-are-starting-to-worry

‘Highway robbery’: NYC comptroller accuses Musk of stealing $80m from city bank account. The Trump administration snatched back from the city’s bank account $80 million appropriated by Congress to help house migrants
https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/elon-musk-doge-new-york-fema-b2697262.html

Homeowners Shocked: Insurance and Taxes Now Bigger Than Mortgage Payments
https://www.realtor.com/advice/finance/insurance-and-taxes-now-cost-more-than-mortgages-for-many-homeowners/

President Donald Trump announced on Thursday (13 February) that the US will levy significant import taxes on any country that imposes its own taxes on American goods, starting a process that experts say could lead to a global trade war. Trump frequently describes tariffs as if they are paid by foreign countries, they are taxes paid by American consumers
https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-reciprocal-tariff-trade-war-b2697916.html

S&P Global warns of “unprecedented” U.S. World Bank withdrawal risk
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/business/sp-global-warns-of-unprecedented-us-world-bank-withdrawal-risk/articleshow/118216060.cms

Senate Republicans say they won’t support tax bill that doesn’t make Trump cuts permanent
https://thehill.com/business/budget/5143370-senate-republicans-trump-tax-cuts/

Treasury Secretary Suggests Musk Will Turn AI Loose at IRS: ‘We’ll See Where That Takes Us’
https://www.mediaite.com/tv/treasury-secretary-suggests-musk-will-turn-ai-loose-at-irs-well-see-where-that-takes-us/

Trump administration has set up a “tip line” for companies to snitch on employees of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) who are doing their jobs despite a work stoppage order.
https://www.rawstory.com/russ-vought-cfpb/

U.S. House GOP releases budget that raises debt limit by $4 trillion, extends tax cuts
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/house-republicans-release-blueprint-for-tax-relief-spending-cuts-after-tense-talks-34ed4e82

# Education / Schools
‘Not quite certain’: Linda McMahon says schools teaching Black history might be defunded
https://www.rawstory.com/linda-mcmahon-black-history/

Educators sound alarm on programs tangled up in Education Department shutdown. Educators are concerned about funding for disabled and low-income students.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuVVLxXLJ5A

Trump Education nominee Linda McMahon says shutting down DOE would ‘require congressional action’
https://rollcall.com/2025/02/13/linda-mcmahon-education-secretary-trump/

# Employment / Labor / Unions
‘Hundreds of thousands’ potentially affected by new round of Trump firings: Mass firing of federal workers began Thursday in a major escalation of President Donald Trump’s purge of government personnel
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-firing-2671154181/

# Energy / Pipelines / Mining / Oil
Lifting the Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) Ban Is Essential: President Trump rescinded the pause on liquified natural gas (LNG) exports within days of his inauguration. The pause had halted new permits to further investigate the environmental and economic effects of industry expansion in the United States.
https://dcjournal.com/lifting-the-lng-ban-is-essential/

# Environment / Climate / Infrastructure / EPA / BLM
EPA chief says he will seek return of $20 billion in clean-energy grants awarded by Biden. In a major reversal, the new head of the Environmental Protection Agency said he will try to rescind $20 billion in grants awarded by the Biden administration for climate and clean-energy projects.
https://apnews.com/article/green-bank-epa-zeldin-climate-clean-energy-191b394cda251ef772867369f61f07b7

Forest Service fires 3,400 people after ‘deferred resignation’ deadline passes
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/13/forest-services-fires-3400-employees-00204213

Trump wants states to clean up forests to stop wildfires. But his administration cut off funds
https://apnews.com/article/wildfire-firefighters-trump-federal-hiring-freeze-b9e12f2a439d9e40da099b3e6075f832

How Trump’s Federal Funding and Hiring Freezes Are Leaving America Vulnerable to Catastrophic Wildfires
https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-funding-freeze-wildfire-season

# Food General News
Cutting SNAP benefits: U.S. House Budget Committee asks to cut $230 billion of funding. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, currently helps to feed more than 40 million low-income Americans.
https://www.americanprogress.org/article/budget-committee-republicans-are-moving-to-take-away-food-and-health-care-from-americans/

USAID’s foreign aid comes from US farms. Now $450 million of food is left to rot.
https://www.newsweek.com/half-million-tons-food-risks-going-waste-usaid-shut-down-2027861

U.S. farmers face uncertainty from USAID foreign aid freeze
https://www.marketplace.org/2025/02/12/usaid-farmers-food-foreign-aid/

# General News
Actors Equity Condemns Trump-Run Kennedy Center for Canceling Children’s Musical ‘Finn’: ‘Beyond Appalling.’ “It is disturbing to see the new leadership of this institution move so swiftly to suppress viewpoints they do not agree with,” the guild writes
https://www.thewrap.com/actors-equity-kennedy-center-finn-tour-canceled/

VA secretary tapped to temporarily lead 2 federal oversight offices
https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2025/02/12/va-secretary-tapped-to-temporarily-lead-2-federal-oversight-offices/

# Gov / Politics
‘Genuine threat’: Backlash hits Tulsi Gabbard as ‘Putin’s girlfriend’ confirmed to Cabinet. Tulsi Gabbard confirmed as intelligence head despite fears of pro-Russia stance. Senate approves nomination of former Democrat as Mitch McConnell is sole Republican to vote against Trump pick
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/12/tulsi-gabbard-confirmed

‘Playing with fire’: Trump warned new plan could spark crash that ‘rages out of control.’ Dayen talks to experts who believe that a mass selloff of government real estate at the moment is like “playing with fire” and could be a domino that sends the market for commercial real estate into a downward spiral.
https://www.newsbreak.com/raw-story-2096750/3810031277379-playing-with-fire-trump-warned-new-plan-could-spark-crash-that-rages-out-of-control

Donald Trump ‘makes it legal’ for US firms to bribe foreign officials in business deals under new order. The US president issued an executive order on Monday directing the Department of Justice to cease enforcing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which bars the bribery of foreign officials
https://www.irishstar.com/news/us-news/donald-trump-makes-legal-firms-34668688

House committee supports resolution calling for federal purchase of Greenland
https://www.newsbreak.com/kfyr-1982231/3811100930843-house-committee-supports-resolution-calling-for-federal-purchase-of-greenland

The betrayal of Ukraine is also a betrayal of America’s friends and allies in Europe. The US has sold Ukraine down the river – and shown Britain what ‘America first’ means in practice
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/14/donald-trump-ukraine-uk-america-first-superpower-west

# Gov / Politics / Global
Putin has waited for this moment for 3 years, as Zelensky is left in the cold
https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/13/europe/analysis-trump-putin-ukraine-zelensky-intl-latam/index.html

‘The rules have changed’: America’s allies signal panic after latest ‘stunning shift’
https://www.rawstory.com/us-europe-security-conference/

Zelensky unsure of Russian participation in Munich talks with JD Vance. President Volodymyr Zelensky says he “doesn’t know” of any planned meetings with Russian officials while in Munich, despite US President Donald Trump pushing for peace talks between the warring nations.
https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/zelensky-ukraine-russia-munich-peace-talks-trump-b2698279.html

Russia claims Trump, Putin talk brought world from ‘brink of Apocalypse,’ EU warns of ‘dirty tricks’
https://www.allsides.com/news/2025-02-13-1100/politics-russia-claims-trump-putin-talk-brought-world-brink-apocalypse-eu-warns

Russian state TV and Kremlin insiders laughing at Trump’s concessions to Putin over Ukraine: Insiders Say Trump Has Given Putin Greenlight to Expand the War
https://www.yahoo.com/news/laughing-kremlin-insiders-trump-given-122927902.html

Ukraine says it will not accept US-Russia peace deal reached without Kyiv
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg051z21zno

# Legal / DOJ / ICJ / International Criminal Court [ICC]
Federal prosecutors resign after being told to drop charges in NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ corruption case
https://www.npr.org/2025/02/13/nx-s1-5297120/eric-adams-federal-prosecutors-resignations

GOP drafts impeachment articles against federal judges blocking Trump orders. Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., is threatening to file articles of impeachment against a federal judge who blocked President Donald Trump’s federal funding freeze.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/impeachment-threat-hits-judge-blocked-173942936.html

Republican senators introduce bill to protect U.S. Supreme Court justices
https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_4d27e1fa-ea50-11ef-9f3c-6fb6806d98d7.html

# Medicare / Medicaid
House Republicans are putting cuts to Medicaid at the top of their list of budget cuts to help pay for their wide-ranging agenda that spans tax cuts, energy production and border security.
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5144053-republicans-put-healthcare-cuts-front-and-center-to-advance-agenda/

As states mull Medicaid work requirements, two scale theirs back. Ohio is reapplying to the Trump Admin for permission to impose work, drug testing, and/or education requirements for adult Medicaid health coverage
https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2025/02/14/as-states-mull-medicaid-work-requirements-two-scale-theirs-back/

Health insurance for millions could vanish as states put Medicaid expansion on chopping block. As the feds consider cuts to Medicaid, some states are already moving to end or shrink their expanded Medicaid programs.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-02-health-millions-states-medicaid-expansion.html#google_vignette

Reducing federal dollars for Medicaid expansion could cut millions from the rolls. Maintaining coverage could cost states $626 billion over the next decade.
https://stateline.org/2025/02/13/reducing-federal-dollars-for-medicaid-expansion-could-cut-millions-from-the-rolls/

# Medical / Health News
Infant deaths continue to rise as more abortion bans are put in place, studies find
https://www.salon.com/2025/02/13/infant-continue-to-rise-as-more-abortion-bans-are-put-in-place-studies-find/

Medical researchers in limbo as Congress approves cuts to funding from National Institutes of Health
https://www.americanprogress.org/article/how-cuts-to-nih-research-funding-would-hurt-states/

# Military / DOD / General News
Trump’s Gitmo Prisoners Aren’t Who He Says They Are: U.S. Claims Immigrants Held at Guantanamo Are “Worst of the Worst.” Their Families Say They’re Being Unfairly Targeted.
https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-administration-migrants-guantanamo-bay

Trump is back to criticizing US aircraft carrier engineering in what could be a warning sign for the US Navy
https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-back-criticizing-us-aircraft-001802553.html

Fact check: Musk, Trump deceive about a Trump-era Pentagon contract for ‘social deception’ defense. neither Musk nor Trump, who made a Thursday post amplifying Musk’s claim, noted that the contract began under Trump in 2018.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/13/politics/musk-trump-reuters-pentagon-defense-contract-fact-check/index.html

Pete Hegseth Reportedly Invited Conspiracy Theorist Who Vowed to ‘Overthrow’ Democracy On First Overseas Trip
https://www.mediaite.com/politics/pete-hegseth-reportedly-invited-conspiracy-theorist-who-vowed-to-overthrow-democracy-on-first-overseas-trip/

Trump Proposes Cutting U.S. Defense Budget ‘In Half’ — And ‘De-Nuking’ Agreement With China, Russia
https://www.mediaite.com/trump/trump-proposes-cutting-u-s-defense-budget-in-half-and-de-nuking-agreement-with-china-russia/

# NATO
NATO is in disarray after the US announces that its security priorities lie elsewhere
https://www.yahoo.com/news/nato-disarray-us-announces-security-122656717.html

# NASA / Space
Acting NASA chief says DOGE to review space agency spending as hundreds take buyout: administrator Janet Petro said on Wednesday that Elon Musk’s government efficiency panel planned to examine the space agency’s spending, and noted hundreds of agency employees had accepted a government buyout proposal. “We are going to have DOGE come.
https://unusualwhales.com/news/elon-musks-doge-team-will-be-arriving-at-nasa-to-review-payments-at-the-us-space-agency#google_vignette

# Nuclear
Video: Chernobyl nuclear plant’s protective shield torn open by Russian drone. Zelensky confirmed that a fire caused by the strike has been extinguished, with radiation levels remaining stable and under constant monitoring.
https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/chernobyl-nuclear-power-plant-zelensky-russia-b2698196.html?ap=1

# Technology / Artificial Intelligence / Cybersecurity
Massive online data breach sees 2.7 billion records leaked. The records were primarily comprised of WiFi and network device information
https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/massive-online-data-breach-sees-2-7-billion-records-leaked-heres-what-we-know

Elon Musk sets May 10 deadline for $97.4 billion ‘all cash’ OpenAI bid, requests access to company records, letter of intent. Musk’s next move is all about bidding to the tune of nearly $97 billion to reclaim OpenAI, a company he once championed but is now suing.
https://www.techi.com/lon-musk-battle-to-buy-openai-legal-strategy/

# Veterans / VA
Veterans Affairs lays off over 1,000 employees
https://www.medicaleconomics.com/view/va-terminates-more-than-1-000-employees

Trump and Musk Are Going to War Against Military Veterans. The president’s new executive order gives Musk and DOGE carte blanche and sets limits on hiring veterans and transitioning active duty military personnel
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/trump-musk-military-veterans-war-doge-1235266086/

This Watchdog Agency Shielded Troops and Veterans from Fraud. Musk and Trump Just Gutted It. The dismantling of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will hurt military troops and families who count on the agency’s mission to rein in predatory lenders and prevent fraud, lawmakers and veterans advocates say.
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/02/13/watchdog-agency-shielded-troops-and-veterans-fraud-musk-and-trump-just-gutted-it.html

The SHOCKING Reason Behind Donald Trump & Musk’s VA Cuts – And It’s Not About Savings! Trump and Musk’s Plan for Veterans? Less Help, More Chaos. Are They Making It Worse on Purpose?
https://www.inquisitr.com/the-shocking-reason-behind-donald-trump-musks-va-cuts-and-its-not-about-saving

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Attention Readers:

Due to the nature of independent content, Voices, The Peoples News cannot guarantee content validity.

Voices, The Peoples News No. 2025-02-13

Voices, The Peoples News

February 13, 2025
Published by Jedi Selman Since March 2000 to Inform and Educate

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~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This daily Voices, The Peoples News is posted through the blog function of www.MPEN-Ohio.net

# Border / Immigration / Migrants / Gangs / Drugs
Trump’s Dark New Guantánamo Plan Is Confusing His Entire Staff. Staff members across government agencies are struggling to plan Trump’s detention camp for immigrants.
https://newrepublic.com/post/191490/trump-guantanamo-plan-immigrants-confusing-staff

Fact Check: DOJ memo targets undocumented immigrants with death penalty, but only for capital crimes. A memo from Pam Bondi asked prosecutors to pursue the death penalty for groups including immigrants illegally residing in the U.S. for certain crimes.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/pam-bondi-memo-death-penalty/

U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced the Department of Justice has filed civil charges against the state of New York, citing the state’s failure to comply with federal law in enforcing immigration laws.
https://www.hpenews.com/news/national/bondi-files-charges-against-new-york-governor-attorney-general-citing-immigration/article_293134c2-14da-5d3d-adf0-b8f6d1c9638a.html

ICE Wants to Know If You’re Posting Negative Things About It Online. ICE wants to hire contractors to monitor social media for threats. Those who criticize the agency could be pulled into the dragnet.
https://theintercept.com/2025/02/11/ice-immigration-social-media-surveillance/

# DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency]
DOGE—tasked with trimming federal spending—has more than doubled its budget already, disclosures show
https://fortune.com/2025/02/12/elon-musk-doge-doubles-budget-government-spending-cuts/

Elon Musk, DOGE could access your personal info. Will this impact tax refunds and Social Security? A large volume of information on the private lives of millions of Americans will be available to Musk and his associates unless the courts thwart the billionaire businessman from gaining access to the Treasury Department’s payment and data systems.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/13/elon-musk-doge-confidential-data-access-conflicts/78394553007/

Judge won’t halt Trump, Musk federal worker buyout program. U.S. District Judge George O’Toole had extended the time frame for federal employees to decide whether to take the unusual offer, which gives employees eight months of pay and benefits if they wish to depart government.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5141890-federal-judge-blocks-fork-in-the-road-program/

Elon Musk calls for US government to ‘delete entire agencies.’ ‘If you don’t remove the roots of the weed, then it’s easy for the weed to grow back’
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/13/elon-musk-doge-delete-agencies

Besides Elon Musk, who else is running DOGE? DOGE has several young engineers with minimal work experience. Musk’s deputy is known for his shrewd cost cutting plans. Several tech titans are reportedly helping DOGE
https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/elon-musk-who-else-is-running-doge/

Elon Musk’s DOGE has access to these federal agencies. Despite its name, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency group is not a formal part of the federal government — it’s an outside commission set up to advise President Trump on areas where money can be saved.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/agencies-elon-musk-doge-access-031438773.html

Elon Musk Threatens to Double Down and ‘Delete Entire Agencies’
https://www.wavy.com/news/politics/ap-elon-musk-calls-for-us-government-to-delete-entire-agencies/

‘Who the Hell Voted for… Big Balls?!’ CNN Panel Melts Down Over Musk Hires. Former Clinton adviser rages at Musk’s teenage DOGE hire. Paul Begala, a Democratic strategist, criticized the teenage adviser working for Elon Musk known by a controversial nickname
https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/elon-musk-doge-edward-coristine-b2697352.html

# Economy / Finance / Trade / Banks
Treasury was ‘fully aware of the risks’ posed by DOGE access to payment systems, court filing says
https://therecord.media/treasury-fully-aware-of-risks-posed-by-doge-access-to-database

“DOGE” Access to Treasury Payment Systems Raises Serious Risks
https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-budget/doge-access-to-treasury-payment-systems-raises-serious-risks

House Republicans unveil blueprint to extend $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and lift the debt ceiling
https://apnews.com/article/house-republicans-budget-blueprint-trump-tax-cuts-ff2bddf31f4e7cb0928139072392a091

‘People are just flipping out’: Billions in federal funding remain frozen despite court orders to keep the taps open
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4297238/posts

Elon Musk Drops Bombshell on Social Security: ‘Magnitude of Fraud is Staggering’
https://247wallst.com/personal-finance/2025/02/12/elon-musk-drops-bombshell-on-social-security-magnitude-of-fraud-is-staggering/

Survey finds majority of Americans in favor of 2 groups getting a social security increase
https://www.newsweek.com/americans-want-increase-social-security-benefits-two-groups-2029134

Trump drew the line at Social Security cuts in proposed budget, Medicaid on the chopping block
https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-drew-line-social-security-180804190.html

House Republicans have released their budget plan, and in order to pay for massive tax cuts for the wealthy, they are planning to slash funding for Medicaid and food stamps.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/republicans-reveal-budget-plan-to-take-wrecking-ball-to-medicaid/ar-AA1yVzl2

# Education / Schools
Dept. of Education cancels scholarships for special education students
https://www.kare11.com/video/news/local/breaking-the-news/dept-of-education-cancels-scholarships-for-special-education-students/89-af7e91af-3b95-4f86-8b9f-215be7797129

# Employment / Labor / Unions
Federal Workers’ Unions Are Waging the Fight of Their Lives
https://www.yahoo.com/news/federal-workers-unions-waging-fight-110000858.html

NTEU files lawsuit to protect merit-based civil service. Under the order, agency leadership would be instructed to identify which jobs to place into a new category, in the process, make them easier to be fired arbitrarily.
https://www.nteu.org/schedulef

If Democrats Don’t Champion the Civil Service, Who Will? With the federal workforce facing an onslaught by Trump and Elon Musk, its employees—and the populace it so dutifully protects—desperately need defenders.
https://newrepublic.com/article/191422/democrats-defend-federal-workers-doge

# Environment / Climate / Infrastructure / EPA / BLM
Earthquake island: How 10,000 tremors in two weeks left Santorini deserted by the majority of its residents
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/santorini-island-earthquakes-greece-deserted-b2696328.html

Emergency declared on a second Greek island as a string of earthquakes persists
https://apnews.com/article/greece-earthquake-santorini-amorgos-emergency-2e1873887b706af3b1756f0c4fdf4feb

Emergency declared on a second Greek island as a string of earthquakes persists. The emergency measure announced on the island of Amorgos follows a similar decision for nearby Santorini on Feb. 7 after thousands of unusual tremors were registered in an undersea area near the two islands, as well as the islands of Ios and Anafi
https://www.djournal.com/news/nation-world/emergency-declared-on-a-second-greek-island-as-a-string-of-earthquakes-persists/article_401765bd-90d3-5ab1-9156-3dc6515a30c8.html

The Point of No Return: Inside the Catastrophic Melting of Greenland’s Ice Sheet. The Greenland Ice Sheet is collapsing at a pace that cannot be ignored. A newly published study in The Cryosphere confirms that this process is no longer a distant concern but an unfolding event driven by conditions that have now been quantified
https://www.abovethenormnews.com/2025/02/12/the-point-of-no-return-inside-the-catastrophic-melting-of-greenlands-ice-sheet/

Yellowstone’s Northeast Magma Reservoir: A Growing Concern. Recent research published in Nature has revealed new details about Yellowstone’s magma reservoirs, raising important questions about its future activity. The findings indicate that the volcanic system is not static and that significant changes are occurring deep below the surface.
https://www.abovethenormnews.com/2025/01/02/yellowstones-northeast-magma-reservoir-a-growing-concern/

Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano is once again spewing lava into the air. Visitors have flocked to watch the molten spectacle since Kilauea increased volcanic activity starting in December
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/12/hawaii-kilauea-volcano-lava-eruption

Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupts for 9th time with 330-foot lava fountains. One of the world’s most active volcanoes, Kilauea has seen eruptions off-and-on for nearly two months since Dec. 23.
https://www.kcra.com/article/hawaii-volcano-eruption-kilauea/63775070#:~:text=Island%20of%20Hawaii.-,Kilauea%2C%20one%20of%20the%20world’s%20most%20active%20volcanoes%2C%20has%20been,have%20been%20threatened%20by%20lava

# Food General News
Coca-Cola’s CEO said the company might use more plastic packaging in the U.S. if tariffs imposed by the Trump administration make aluminum cans too expensive.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/feb/12/coca-cola-says-trump-tariffs-could-force-it-to-increase-use-of-plastic-in-us

# Gov / Politics
The U.S. just hit its lowest score ever on an international corruption measure
https://fortune.com/2025/02/12/united-states-corruption-bribery-federal-government-transparency-international-ranking/

Presidents May Not Unilaterally Dismantle Government Agencies. The decision is up to Congress. Unilateral moves to dismantle USAID, to mothball the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau , or, if Trump’s advisers have their way, to disassemble the Education Department are beyond the president’s constitutional authority.
https://www.newsbreakapp.com/n/0yssfAqW?s=a3&share_destination_id=MjUxNTI2Njg4LTE3Mzk0NTE0NDk5NTk=&pd=0H1Na41Y&hl=en_US

‘This is just staggering’: CNN national security analyst alarmed by Trump’s Russia plans
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-putin-2671144141/

Republicans release plans to advance Trump’s agenda. It includes $4.5 trillion to extend tax cuts. Senate is moving ahead with its own narrower plan focusing on border security
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/house-republicans-release-blueprint-for-tax-relief-spending-cuts-after-tense-talks-34ed4e82

Federal officials held a news conference after a jury convicted longtime former Illinois House Speaker of 10 corruption-related charges.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_1bcafcd2-e98d-11ef-9c11-cba2f90a5dd9.html

Trump is waging war against his own government. One federal employee who spoke with NBC News said the government workforce feels like it’s being attacked regularly with “psychological warfare.”
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-waging-war-government-rcna190316

Hegseth’s Ukraine bombshell and Trump’s Putin call leave NATO reeling
https://www.axios.com/2025/02/13/nato-ukraine-hegseth-trump-putin

Trump vs. the Courts: Will He Drive Us Over the Constitutional Cliff? It’s about to be a constitutional crisis, if it’s not already. And we’re only three weeks in. Buckle up.
https://www.semafor.com/article/02/12/2025/a-clash-between-trump-and-the-courts-may-be-around-the-corner

Trump’s illegitimate power grab brings US closer to dictatorship. Experts warn president’s blatant violations of law could upend US government’s system of checks and balances
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/13/trump-vance-constitutional-crisis

Legal showdown looms as Trump tests limits of presidential power. The whirlwind of unilateral action on his campaign promises has pushed the limits of presidential power – and prompted legal challenges from Democrats, unions and legal groups.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c70kd686k2do

Trump Is Bullying Jordan and Egypt to Help in Ethnic Cleansing of Gaza. It Isn’t Working. Even with Jordan and Egypt refusing to take in expelled Palestinians, Trump is charging on with his real estate development plan.
https://theintercept.com/2025/02/11/trump-jordan-egypt-gaza-palestinians/

Trump’s Gaza Comments Aren’t Receiving a Warm Welcome in the Middle East. Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia are on the forefront of the opposition.
https://carnegieendowment.org/posts/2025/02/trump-gaza-plan-displacement-egypt-jordan-saudi-response?lang=en

# Gov / Politics / Global
Egypt reportedly releases details on plan to rebuild Gaza; there’s no mention of ‘cooperation’ with the US
https://thetruestory.news/en/world/story/eafa834e-e999-11ef-b5ca-a8a1590471b5

# Law Enforcement / ATF / FBI / CIA
Private Prison CEO on Trump Deportation Surge: “One of the Most Exciting Periods in My Career”: CoreCivic CEO Damon Hininger could barely contain his excitement about the Laken Riley Act and Trump’s anti-immigration executive orders.
https://theintercept.com/2025/02/11/corecivic-private-prison-trump-immigrant-detention/

# Legal / DOJ / ICJ / International Criminal Court [ICC]
‘Videos are immutable and represent the truth’: Jan. 6 footage disappears from public database, prompting lawsuit and order from judge to stop
https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/videos-are-immutable-and-represent-the-truth-jan-6-footage-disappears-from-public-database-prompting-lawsuit-and-order-from-judge-to-stop/

“It isn’t an accident that we’re here now”: How the Supreme Court encouraged Trump to defy the law
https://www.yahoo.com/news/isn-t-accident-were-now-153006770.html

# Medical / Health News
Young researchers mobilize to protest Trump administration’s science policies. D.C. demonstration and a later ‘Stand Up for Science’ event take shape
https://www.statnews.com/2025/02/13/resistance-organizing-to-trump-executive-orders-on-science/

12-Year Old Relative Of Vice President JD Vance Denied Heart Transplant Because She Hasn’t Received The COVID Vaccine
https://www.livemint.com/news/us-news/us-news-vice-president-vance-s-12-year-old-relative-denied-heart-transplant-for-not-being-covid-vaccinated-covid-flu-11739407796187.html

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirmed by Senate as U.S. health secretary
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/robert-kennedy-jr-confirmed-senate-trumps-health-secretary/story?id=118778553

# Military / DOD / General News
Factbox-Elon Musk’s US Department of Defense contracts: The contracts include:
https://www.aol.com/news/factbox-elon-musks-us-department-233959244.html

Military Effort to Scrub Diversity Programs Leads to Dead Websites and Confusion
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/01/24/military-effort-scrub-diversity-programs-leads-dead-websites-and-confusion.html

Airman Promotion Test to Tech Sergeant Delayed as Air Force Combs Documents for Subjects Banned by Trump
https://www.yahoo.com/news/pentagon-purge-references-women-minorities-200605319.html

Pentagon Purge of References to Women, Minorities in Docs Delays Air Force Enlisted Promotions
https://www.yahoo.com/news/pentagon-purge-references-women-minorities-200605319.html

# Military / General News / Global
Germany says its warships were sabotaged as concerns mount that Russia is waging a hybrid war. The Emden, a corvette-class warship designed for operations in the Baltic Sea, had its maiden voyage called off after employees at the shipyard discovered “dozens of kilos of metal shavings” in the ship’s gearbox.
https://www.newsweek.com/report-german-nato-warship-sabotage-attempt-2029876

# NATO
NATO allies insist Ukraine and Europe must be part of peace talks
https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2025/02/13/nato-allies-insist-ukraine-and-europe-must-be-part-of-peace-talks/

# Science / Science Engineers
Are we in a biomedicine brain drain? Trump policies spark fears of brain drain, threatening to undermine U.S. dominance in biomedicine. Scientists express alarm and, in some cases, seek a way out
https://www.statnews.com/2025/02/12/trump-cuts-medical-research-brain-drain-young-scientists-see-better-opportunity-abroad/

# Space
Elon Musk savaged as SpaceX gets new $40m defense contract amid his cutting of federal spending
https://www.aol.com/elon-musk-savaged-spacex-gets-004849838.html

# Technology / Artificial Intelligence / Cybersecurity
Trump plans to nominate GOP insider Sean Cairncross as national cyber director
https://www.cybersecuritydive.com/news/trump-nominate-cairncross-cyber-director/739940/

DOGE Has Started Gutting a Key US Technology Agency. At least dozens of workers at the Technology Transformation Service were fired on Wednesday, a day after similar sudden cuts at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
https://aitopics.org/doc/news:3A27E971

Former Palantir and Elon Musk Associates Are Taking Over Key Government IT Roles. The chief information officers of at least three major government agencies have been replaced by Silicon Valley executives, including from Palantir and Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
https://osae.org/aws/OSAP/pt/sd/news_article/585053/_PARENT/layout_details/false

US investigates potential national security risks posed by internet routers
https://www.wdsu.com/article/tp-link-routers-us-national-security-risk/63237740

China’s Salt Typhoon Spies Are Still Hacking Telecoms—Now by Exploiting Cisco Routers.
https://www.wired.com/story/chinas-salt-typhoon-spies-are-still-hacking-telecoms-now-by-exploiting-cisco-routers/

Salt Typhoon, a Chinese state-sponsored cyber espionage campaign, has targeted critical U.S. telecommunications infrastructure, exposing vulnerabilities and compromising sensitive data. This sophisticated operation underscores the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures and heightened awareness among security leaders to protect against evolving threats.
https://www.wwt.com/blog/understanding-salt-typhoon-why-security-leaders-should-take-notice

A team Microsoft calls BadPilot is acting as Sandworm’s “initial access operation,” the company says. Sandworm (aka Seashell Blizzard) has an initial access wing called “BadPilot” that uses standard intrusion tactics to spread Russia’s tendrils around the world.
https://www.darkreading.com/threat-intelligence/microsoft-russian-sandworm-apt-exploits-edge-bugs-globally

# Veterans / VA
VA secretary tapped to temporarily lead 2 federal oversight offices
https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2025/02/12/va-secretary-tapped-to-temporarily-lead-2-federal-oversight-offices/

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Attention Readers:

Due to the nature of independent content, Voices, The Peoples News cannot guarantee content validity.

Voices, The Peoples News No. 2025-02-12

Voices, The Peoples News

February 12, 2025
Published by Jedi Selman Since March 2000 to Inform and Educate

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~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This daily Voices, The Peoples News is posted through the blog function of www.MPEN-Ohio.net

# Indigenous
Lawmakers advance bill requiring SD schools to teach Native American history, culture
https://southdakotasearchlight.com/briefs/lawmakers-advance-bill-requiring-sd-schools-to-teach-native-american-history-culture/

# Border / Immigration / Migrants / Gangs / Drugs
Coast Guard intercepts ‘overloaded’ boat filled with migrants, ships them straight back home
https://www.aol.com/overloaded-boat-packed-132-haitian-192019547.html

# Chemicals / Herbicides / Pesticides / Bugs
# Children / Youth
House kills bill to participate in summer food program for kids. Wyoming elected officials have again declined an opportunity to participate in a federal program to assist income-qualified children with summer food needs.
https://www.wyomingnewsnow.tv/news/state/house-kills-bill-to-participate-in-summer-food-program-for-kids/article_44a7a06f-f5ae-5d1a-b6e3-12f8969af079.html

# DEI [Department of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion]
There is a DEI dilemma taking place across Corporate America
https://www.npr.org/2025/02/03/nx-s1-5281168/corporate-america-dei-trump-diversity-business-stakeholder-capitalism

# DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency]
Tomi Lahren: The Swamp Is Freaking Out About DOGE Because They Know The Grift Is Over
https://radio.foxnews.com/2025/02/11/tomi-lahren-the-swamp-is-freaking-out-about-doge-because-they-know-the-grift-is-over/

Elon Musk Asked Four Times If There Are Any Conflicts of Interests Between His Businesses and DOGE. Companies owned by Musk currently have billions of dollars worth of contracts with the federal government. Critics of the world’s richest man exerting such influence over federal spending as an unelected official have argued that he has clear conflicts of interest, but the Trump administration has insisted it will be fine for Musk to police himself on these matters.
https://www.mediaite.com/politics/elon-musk-asked-four-times-if-there-are-any-conflicts-of-interests-between-his-businesses-and-doge/

DOGE order triggers firings at Small Business Administration (SBA) of employees prematurely fired Friday. Federal workers who mistakenly got termination notices last week got real ones Tuesday just hours after the president’s executive order.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/11/sba-employees-fired-by-doge-twice-00203750

‘Most consequential data breach in U.S. history’: Musk-led DOGE takeover of Treasury systems presents ‘national security threats,’ lawsuit says
https://democracyforward.org/updates/doge-payment-system-data-challenge/

DOGE’s access to Treasury data risks US financial standing and raises security worries, experts warn. Experts in the financial and digital privacy worlds warn that the U.S. financial system is delicate and complicated and could be harmed by unilateral moves.
https://apnews.com/article/treasury-trump-doge-summers-yellen-ab340462d45dbcd601c2736926e49014

Elon Musk’s DOGE office budget more than doubles from $6.5 to $14.4 million
https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/elon-musk-s-doge-office-budget-more-than-doubles-from-6-5-to-14-4-million/ar-AA1yQj7x?cvid=9CDB6EE8D5F24834893120486C9F5DCE&ocid=winp1taskbar&apiversion=v2&noservercache=1&domshim=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1&batchservertelemetry=1&noservertelemetry=1

Musk cuts based more on political ideology than real cost savings so far
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/musk-cuts-based-more-political-ideology-than-real-cost-savings-so-far-2025-02-12/

Musk recruited young DOGE army through online chat groups and Discord servers, report claims. The Department of Government Efficiency is seeking ‘hardcore engineers,’ one message in a chat group read
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/elon-musk-doge-recruiting-discord-b2695586.html

# Economy / Finance / Trade / Banks
Consumer protection bureau closed. “At its core, it’s a law enforcement agency,” Rohit Chopra, the former director of the CFPB, told NPR. “It takes big financial institutions to court who cheat consumers, whether it’s a credit reporting agency or a large bank or a credit card giant.”
https://www.npr.org/2025/02/10/nx-s1-5292123/the-trump-administration-has-stopped-work-at-the-cfpb-heres-what-the-agency-does

Dozens of CFPB Workers Fired in After-Hours Blitz: Some affected employees of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau were notified with an email that addressed them as [EmployeeFirstName][EmployeeLastName], [Job Title], [Division].
https://www.wired.com/story/dozens-of-cfpb-workers-terminated-in-after-hours-firing-blitz/

The CFPB work freeze is putting Big Tech regulations ‘on ice’
https://www.thetechstreetnow.com/tech/the-cfpb-work-freeze-is-putting-big-tech-regulations-on-ice/5627811266702761624/5627811266702761624/

Consumers are boycotting major retailers. Here’s what they plan for ‘blackout’ on Feb. 28
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/02/12/consumer-boycott-feb-28-target-walmart-amazon/78385303007/

Musk Claims Billions Lost to Social Security Payment Fraud. Elon Musk has ignited controversy by alleging massive fraud within U.S. federal entitlement programs, including Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/has-elon-musk-blown-the-whistle-on-biggest-fraud-in-us-history-claims-over-100-billion-lost-in-entitlement-scams/articleshow/118153075.cms?from=mdr

# Education / Schools
Musk’s ‘Doge’ guts nearly $1bn in US education department’s research office
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/11/doge-education-department-cuts-trump

Education Dept. will shield federal student aid data from Musk’s DOGE – for now
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/11/doge-student-loan-data-00203689

GOP could raise student loan bills to pay for Trump’s tax cuts. Among plans being floated by House Republicans are new taxes on college scholarships, a hike in taxes on university endowments and an end to student loan repayment plans.
https://san.com/cc/gop-could-raise-student-loan-bills-to-pay-for-trumps-tax-cuts/

Kentucky stands to lose nearly $2 billion dollars in funding if President Donald Trump abolishes the federal Department of Education. Kentucky receives a substantial funding to support academic interventions in school.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/education/article299695214.html

Senate Bill calls for removal of content in public libraries
https://www.newsbreak.com/kfyr-1982231/3804292079951-senate-bill-calls-for-removal-of-content-in-public-libraries

# Employment / Labor / Unions
Federal Workers Launch New Lawsuit to Fight DOGE’s Data Access. The Electronic Frontier Foundation filed the complaint on behalf of US federal workers, arguing that DOGE’s data access is illegal and should be cut off.
https://fedscoop.com/opm-email-server-lawsuit-amended-complaint-musk-doge/

# Environment / Climate / Infrastructure / EPA / BLM
‘Arctic meltdown’ is accelerating global warming, already changing Earth in unimaginable ways
https://phys.org/news/2025-02-arctic-meltdown-global.html

# Food General News
Kansas delegation introduces bill to continue USAID food program under USDA
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/republicans-try-to-save-usaid-food-program-86751fc4

Border Patrol agents at CVG intercept nine pounds of unsafe and illegal food additive tianeptine
https://nkytribune.com/2025/02/border-patrol-agents-at-cvg-intercept-nine-pounds-of-unsafe-and-illegal-food-additive-tianeptine/

Central Georgia farmers concerned over potential consequences from Chinese tariffs. As the trade war between the U.S. and China gains momentum, Georgia consumers are starting to feel the effects in all areas of the state’s economy. Whether it’s food, cars, clothes or electronics, prices are on the rise.
https://www.macon.com/news/business/article300069129.html#storylink=cpy

# Gov / Politics
Musk pressed on ‘hostile’ government takeover: ‘They’re going to get what they voted for’: New Trump Order Entrenches Musk-Led ‘Shadow Government.’ President Donald Trump’s latest executive order “gives Elon Musk, an unelected, hyper-partisan billionaire, unfettered authority over this country’s civil service,” warned one advocacy group.
https://www.commondreams.org/news/trump-musk-takeover

Chris Hayes: Trump Wants ‘to Rule Us, Not Represent Us,’ But Americans ‘Are Going to Have Something to Say About It’
https://www.yahoo.com/news/chris-hayes-trump-wants-rule-040309395.html

Mike Johnson Caves to Trump and Trashes Separation of Powers. The House speaker doesn’t seem to care too much that there are supposed to be three equal branches of government.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/mike-johnson-caves-trump-trashes-174931125.html

Trump Signs Order on DOGE as Elon Musk Stands Next to Him Watching. Donald Trump has signed an executive order giving DOGE even more power over the federal government.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-signs-executive-order-greenlighting-211158819.html

‘Senile insanity’: Ukrainians outraged at Trump’s Russia comment. Ukrainians in Kyiv were left bewildered and frustrated on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump suggested their country “may be Russian someday”.
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250211-senile-insanity-ukrainians-outraged-at-trump-s-russia-comment

As Musk tries to slash trillions from federal spending, Trump publicly states desire for more military money. ‘We want to raise defense spending. I think we have to have it,’ the president told Fox News in a recent interview
https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-musk-doge-cuts-military-spending-b2696498.html

GOP Congressman calls for Trump to ignore court orders: ‘Take a page out of Andrew Jackson’s playbook’
https://www.mediaite.com/tv/gop-congressman-calls-for-trump-to-ignore-court-orders-take-a-page-out-of-andrew-jacksons-playbook/
Andrew Jackson’s Playbook: 15 Strategies for Success
https://ulpress.org/products/andrew-jacksons-playbook-15-strategies-for-success

‘Crystal Clear’ Polling Shows Voters Oppose Trump’s Tax Cuts for Rich. “Voters are clear about what they want: lower prices, better jobs, vital programs protected and expanded, and for the wealthy to pay their fair share in taxes.”
https://www.commondreams.org/news/trump-tax-rich-people

Hackers are hijacking government software to access sensitive servers. Trimble warns Cityworks is being abused in RCE attacks. Trimble said it observed cybercriminals abusing a deserialization vulnerability in its Cityworks product to engage in Remote Code Execution (RCE) and deploy Cobalt Strike beacons on Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) servers. The company released a patch to address the issue
https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/hackers-are-hijacking-government-software-to-access-sensitive-servers

Mike Johnson to Courts: ‘Step Back’ From Trump’s Dismantling. The House speaker said he agreed with Vice President JD Vance that courts were infringing on the Trump administration’s authority.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mike-johnson-courts-step-back_n_67ab73e7e4b0c52db9aad16d

Murphy: Trump ‘attempting to seize control of power, and for corrupt purposes’
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5135948-trump-murphy-democracy-crisis/

Supreme Court Justice Sounds Alarm Over Trump’s ‘Monarchy’ Power Grab
https://www.alternet.org/judge-2671142052/

# Gov / Politics / Global
King Charles at risk of getting dragged into Canada row as Trump literally comes for his crown: King Charles could be dragged into Trump-Canada row, says Andrew Marr. The monarch risks being exposed in the row due to his role as Canada’s head of state, raising questions about whether he should stay silent as its people come under fire from the US president
https://www.the-independent.com/news/uk/home-news/king-charles-trump-canada-tariffs-starmer-b2695414.html

We’ll bring hygge to Hollywood’: Danes jokingly petition to buy California as Trump seeks Greenland
https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/ap-well-bring-hygge-to-hollywood-danes-petition-to-buy-california-as-trump-seeks-greenland/

King Abdullah rebuffs Trump’s push for Jordan to take in displaced Palestinians. Egypt also rejects idea, saying it planned to present vision of reconstruction in Gaza for Palestinians to remain on land
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/11/trump-jordan-egypt-palestinians

# Law Enforcement / ATF / FBI / CIA
Former Federal Prosecutor Warns How Trump Admin Just Made America Less Safe. Bad actors now have free rein to engage in white-collar crime, while political adversaries can openly exploit the U.S. system, he cautioned.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/andrew-weissmann-donald-trump-actions_n_67ac68bae4b0bb79219f7b24

# Legal / DOJ / ICJ / International Criminal Court [ICC]
Musk calls for annual firing of judges after blocked DOGE access at Treasury
https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/musk-calls-impeach-judge-doge-access-blocked/

Jan. 6 video evidence has ‘disappeared’ from public access, media coalition says. Attorneys for a group of news organizations, including NPR, said in a legal filing on Tuesday that evidence used at the sentencing of a rioter charged in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol had “disappeared” from an online government platform.
https://www.npr.org/2025/02/11/nx-s1-5293447/jan-6-evidence-captiol-riot-donald-trump

# LGBTQ / Gender
The Department of Education took another step Tuesday in advancing the Trump administration’s new transgender policy for sports by asking the NCAA and a key high-school sports organization to restore titles, awards and records it says have been “misappropriated by biological males competing in female categories.”
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/feb/11/department-education-asks-ncaa-high-schools-erase-/

NASA HQ verbally orders employees to purge workspaces of LGBTQI+ symbols
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/nasa-verbally-orders-employees-to-purge-workspaces-of-lgbtqi-symbols

# Media
STORE SHUTDOWN USPS to close all branches for 24 hours next week – but Amazon and FedEx parcels will still arrive. Branches will close for a single day in what will be the fourth temporary shutdown of the year so far
https://www.the-sun.com/money/13496366/us-postal-service-branches-close-presidents-day-2025/

MSNBC Cuts Airtime on Elon Musk’s Oval Office Address: ‘Irony Died While He Was Talking’
https://www.yahoo.com/news/msnbc-cuts-airtime-elon-musk-004715302.html

# Medicare / Medicaid
GOP leaders downplay Medicaid cuts as they seek $2T in savings. Medicaid Is Safe, Johnson Assures, As House Whittles Budget Bill. As Republicans look to shave $2 trillion from a reconciliation bill, the House speaker noted savings are possible “if you eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse.”
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/medicaid-is-safe-johnson-assures-as-house-whittles-budget-bill/

Moving past repealing Obamacare, Republicans still plan major health care cuts
https://ktvz.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2025/02/10/moving-past-repealing-obamacare-republicans-still-plan-major-health-care-cuts/

# Medical / Health News
NIH cuts target Georgia’s biomedical sector, risking research, jobs, experts say
https://thecurrentga.org/2025/02/10/nih-cuts-target-georgias-biomedical-sector-risking-research-jobs-experts-say/

Health agencies to restore web pages. Judge orders HHS to reverse health web page, data blackout
https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/physician-group-sues-reverse-agencies-health-webpage-data-blackout

Judge orders HHS, CDC, FDA to restore deleted webpages with health information
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/judge-orders-hhs-cdc-fda-restore-deleted-webpages-health-information/

100-year-old heart drug made from foxglove may help ‘dissolve’ clumps of spreading cancer cells
https://newatlas.com/cancer/cardiac-drug-circulating-cancer-cells/

Critical health and science research is on the chopping block as Trump actions trigger shutdowns and confusion. These funding reductions threaten to slow or halt critical health and science research, including studies on cancer, vaccines, and HIV prevention. The potential decline in scientific progress could have long-term negative effects on public health and environmental policies, hindering efforts to address pressing global challenges
https://illuminem.com/illuminemvoices/critical-health-and-science-research-is-on-trumps-chopping-block-shutdowns-and-confusion-everywhere

The US states looking to ban abortion pills, punish women who seek termination
https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/abortion-pills-mifepristone-donald-trump-roe-v-wade-b2696075.html

The criminalization of abortion and surveillance of women in a post-Dobbs world
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-criminalization-of-abortion-and-surveillance-of-women-in-a-post-dobbs-world/

# Military / General News
Donald Trump Fires Military Academy Board Members for All Military Branches
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2025-02-11/trump-fires-service-academy-boards-16795113.html

This Ad-Tech Company Is Powering Surveillance of US Military Personnel. In a letter to a US senator, a Florida based data broker says it obtained sensitive data on US military members in Germany from a Lithuanian firm, revealing the global nature of online ad surveillance.
https://www.wired.com/story/rtb-location-data-us-military/

Tankers Flood Airspace Off The California Coast For China-Focused Air Combat Exercise. The latest Bamboo Eagle exercise reflects plans for ever-larger air combat exercises as part of preparations for a high-end fight with China.
https://www.twz.com/air/tankers-flood-airspace-off-the-california-coast-for-china-focused-air-combat-exercise

# NOAA
NOAA imposes limits on scientists, sparking concerns over global forecasts. NOAA plays a critical role in weather forecasting, climate research and fisheries management. Limiting international collaboration could hinder efforts to track natural disasters, enforce environmental protections and maintain scientific integrity. Scientists fear the agency is being sidelined, echoing concerns from Trump’s first term.
https://www.dailyclimate.org/noaa-scientists-face-restrictions-on-foreign-collaboration-2671126410.html

# Planetary
Earth grew an extra, never-before-seen ‘radiation belt’ after last year’s supercharged solar.
https://sciencereader.com/earths-magnetic-field-spawns-unexpected-radiation-belts/

Alaska Volcano Observatory sees 50-50 chance of eruption near Anchorage soon. Hundreds of earthquakes have been detected beneath Mount Spurr in the past week, increasing the odds of an eruption
https://alaskabeacon.com/2025/02/07/alaska-volcano-observatory-sees-50-50-chance-of-eruption-near-anchorage-soon/

Scientists discover Earth’s inner core isn’t just slowing down — it’s also changing shape: The planet’s inner core was previously thought of as a hard, solid sphere. But a new study has found that its edges are softer than realized and actually changing shape as they press against the liquid iron and nickel in Earth’s outer core.
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/science-technology/earths-inner-core-isnt-just-slowing-down-it-may-be-changing-shape

# Security / Surveillance
Chinese cranes at U.S. ports raise national security concerns
https://www.axios.com/2024/09/17/chinese-cargo-cranes-secruity-risks

Investigation by Select Committee on the CCP, House Homeland Finds Potential Threats to U.S. Port Infrastructure Security from China
https://selectcommitteeontheccp.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/selectcommitteeontheccp.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/Joint%20Homeland-China%20Select%20Port%20Security%20Report-compressed.pdf

# Social
Elon Musk claims some recipients of Social Security checks are 150 years old. “Anyone who is 150 years old and still receiving Social Security should be in the Guinness Book of World Records, or either dead, in my opinion,” Elon Musk says in the video. Simply put, Musk says that it is nearly impossible to live beyond 150 and that anyone who did would be an anomaly.
https://www.livemint.com/news/us-news/elon-musk-reacts-to-claim-of-150-year-olds-receiving-social-security-us-they-should-be-in-guinness-or-probably-dead-11739323342784.html

# Technology / Artificial Intelligence
Amazon has more than 750,000 robots working in its fulfillment centers. Here are some of the things they can do, transporting packages around busy workspaces, sorting and consolidating items into storage systems, and making fit-to-size packaging
https://www.businessinsider.com/how-amazon-uses-robots-sort-transport-packages-warehouses-2025-2#:~:text=Robots%20now%20perform%20a%20variety,fit%2Dto%2Dsize%20packaging

An Adviser to Elon Musk’s xAI Has a Way to Make AI More Like Donald Trump. A researcher affiliated with Elon Musk’s xAI startup is researching a method to alter the politics of Grok and better align the chatbot with conservatives.
https://cedirates.com/news/an-advisor-to-elon-musks-xai-has-a-way-to-make-ai-more-like-donald-trump/

MIT builds swarms of tiny robotic insect drones that can fly 100 times longer than previous designs
https://news.mit.edu/2025/fast-agile-robotic-insect-could-someday-aid-mechanical-pollination-0115

# Veterans / VA
House Republicans Pass Flagship Veterans’ Package with Overwhelming Bipartisan Support
https://veterans.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=6585

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Attention Readers:

Due to the nature of independent content, Voices, The Peoples News cannot guarantee content validity.

Voices, The Peoples News No. 2025-02-11, PM

Voices, The Peoples News

February 11, 2025, PM
Published by Jedi Selman Since March 2000 to Inform and Educate

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This daily Voices, The Peoples News is posted through the blog function of www.MPEN-Ohio.net

# Border / Immigration / Migrants / Gangs / Drugs
South Florida contractor reeling after ICE raid at job site
https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/south-florida-contractor-reeling-after-ice-raid-at-job-site/

Military planes are being used for deportations to expedite the process quickly and efficiently, with little concern for costs, as part of Donald Trump’s national emergency on illegal immigration.
https://www.livemint.com/news/us-news/why-donald-trump-is-using-costly-military-planes-for-deportation-of-illegal-immigrants-11738788683228.html

Venezuela sends 2 planes to US to return migrants, signaling a potential improvement in relations
https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2025-02-10/venezuela-sends-2-planes-to-us-to-return-migrants-signaling-a-potential-improvement-in-relations

Two flights carrying U.S. deportees heading to Venezuela, alleged gang members aboard
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/two-flights-carrying-us-deportees-heading-venezuela-venezuela-govt-says-2025-02-10/

# DEI [Department of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion]
PBS Caves To Trump, Ousts Staffers: ‘We Have Closed Our DEI Office’
https://www.mediaite.com/news/pbs-caves-to-trump-ousts-staffers-we-have-closed-our-dei-office/

Trump’s War on DEI Is Decimating HUD’s Homelessness Response Infrastructure While Evicting Key Personnel from Their Positions. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides technical assistance to communities and agencies working to end homelessness across the nation – including Bucks County.
https://buckscountybeacon.com/2025/02/trumps-war-on-dei-is-decimating-huds-homelessness-response-infrastructure-while-evicting-key-personnel-from-their-positions/

# DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency]
The Washington Post has identified more than 30 people working for or closely with it by examining the internal directories of multiple agencies and interviewing numerous federal workers, virtually all of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/elon-musk-s-doge-has-swept-into-14-federal-agencies-here-s-what-to-know/ar-AA1yExBD?apiversion=v2&noservercache=1&domshim=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1&batchservertelemetry=1&noservertelemetry=1

A tidal wave of resistance is coming for Elon Musk. Elon Musk is on a tear through the federal government, and by the time you read this, who knows what he could be up to. He could be sitting at the Resolute Desk with President Trump locked in a broom closet.
https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/5134262-musk-government-power-grab/

Thune And Johnson Vow To Take DOGE Spending Cuts To The Next Level
https://www.axios.com/2025/02/11/elon-musk-doge-spending-cuts-johnson-thune

# Economy / Finance / Trade / Banks
For every $1 the CFPB spends, it has returned $2.80 to American consumers. Over 14 years, the agency has spent $7.5 billion and returned $21 billion to Americans in the form of “monetary compensation, principal reductions, canceled debts, and other consumer relief.”
https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/twelve-years-of-protecting-consumers-and-honest-businesses/

# Education / Schools
President Trump Expands Education Freedom with Groundbreaking Executive Order. The new Executive Order has made this year’s National School Choice Week one for the ages. The Order contains many noteworthy provisions
https://alec.org/article/president-trump-expands-education-freedom-with-groundbreaking-executive-order/

Trump May Be Considering An Executive Order That Would Be ‘Giving Up On Our Future.’ President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to sign an executive order that could start the process of dismantling the Department of Education, a move that would have devastating long-term effects on millions of children.
https://www.aol.com/trump-may-considering-executive-order-175422264.html

# Food Recalls
Tuna cans sold at Trader Joe’s, Walmart and Costco recalled due to contamination risk, due to the cans posing a botulism risk.
https://www.eatingwell.com/costco-trader-joes-canned-tuna-recalled-8789604

# General News
Thousands of investors in Trump’s memecoin lost $2 billion in just weeks while the family and its partners racked up $100 million in trading fees
https://fortune.com/2025/02/11/trump-memecoin-traders-2-billion-dollar-loss-family-100-million-fees/

# Gov / Politics
Trump and Musk Only Know How to Do Two Things With Their Power. Trump and Musk can’t imagine a government that actually does positive things for citizens. So they either weaponize it or destroy it.
https://newrepublic.com/article/191373/trump-musk-cfpb-destruction-doj-weaponization

Trump says Ukraine has ‘essentially agreed’ to allow the US access to $500B in rare earth minerals for continued support
https://www.eenews.net/articles/trump-demands-500b-in-rare-earths-from-ukraine-for-continued-support/

With firings and lax enforcement, Trump moving to dismantle government’s public integrity guardrails
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/trump-firings-dismantle-federal-government-public-integrity-guardrails-20250211.html

Trump’s Rage at Canada Just Got Worse—and Putin Is Quietly Celebrating. As Trump’s threats toward Canada grow more worrisome, an expert in international relations explains why the Trump-Musk duo is doing exactly what Vladimir Putin has long hoped for—on multiple fronts.
https://newrepublic.com/article/191376/trumps-rage-canada-just-got-worseand-putin-quietly-celebrating

America’s Abandonment of the Poor. Five years since the pandemic began, the ravages it exposed persist.
https://newrepublic.com/article/189425/americas-abandonment-poor

Trump Makes Shocking Statement Ahead of Vance-Zelenskiy Meeting. Hours before JD Vance was set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Donald Trump revealed his true thoughts on Ukraine.
https://newrepublic.com/post/191381/trump-ukraine-russia-vance-zelenskiy-meeting

# Gov / Politics / Global
Thousands of Danes organizing to buy California from the U.S. Danes have launched a satirical petition to “buy California.” The comedic campaign comes after President Donald Trump’s remarks about the U.S. buying Greenland from Denmark.
https://san.com/cc/200000-people-sign-satirical-petition-for-denmark-to-buy-california-from-the-us/

# Legal / DOJ / ICJ / International Criminal Court [ICC]
Trump Throws Tantrum as Massive New York Fraud Judgment Looms. Remember that fraud case against Donald Trump? It hasn’t magically disappeared yet. The president used to call New York his home, but in his post, he said it “is the most corrupt State in the Union.”
https://newrepublic.com/post/191383/trump-tantrum-new-york-fraud-judgment

DOJ Moves to Drop Eric Adams Charges
https://time.com/7216461/eric-adams-trump-justice-department-bribery-charges-dismissed/

# Media
Trump Insists He’s “Brilliant” in Interview That Goes Off the Rails. Trump also took the opportunity to throw Vice President JD Vance so far under the bus you could hear the bones crunch.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-insists-brilliant-interview-goes-144812310.html

# Medical / Health News
Indiana Doctors Sue to Protect Reports That Could ID Abortion Patients. “We are once again in court defending our patients and their right to privacy,” the two doctors said.
https://www.commondreams.org/news/indiana-terminated-pregnancy-reports-lawsuit

# Military / General News
Secret Military Files Reveal Pentagon’s Terror Attacks on U.S. Soil: Dubbed Operation Northwoods, the Cold War-era plan hatched by the Joint Chiefs of Staff proposed sparking violent incidents and blaming Cuba, all to trigger war within the Caribbean nation and force out its leader.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/secret-military-files-reveal-pentagon-s-terror-attacks-on-u-s-soil/ar-AA1yM2gm?ocid=msedgdhp

Trump Purges Boards of West Point and Other Service Academies ‘Infiltrated by Woke Leftist Ideologues’
https://www.axios.com/2025/02/10/trump-military-academy-visitors-boards-purge

What’s wrong with US shipbuilding? A top Trump advisor called it an ‘absolute mess’ as Musk’s DOGE eyes military waste
https://www.yahoo.com/news/whats-wrong-us-shipbuilding-top-224202106.html

Pete Hegseth Torched for “F**king Racist” Move on Recruitment. Military leaders warned that Hegseth’s decision could seriously hurt the Army.
https://newrepublic.com/post/191394/pete-hegseth-army-recruitment-racist

# Military / General News / Global
USAID packages found among Hezbollah weapons cache in Lebanon: Israeli soldier
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/new-york-post/20250211/281736980163484?srsltid=AfmBOoqDhXlpz23sHETt2cHS8WVeY_6aF_9FiIP3kEyYHkM8rXHG4jun

# NASA / Space
Trump Orders NASA to Purge All Mentions of Women in Leadership On Its Websites
https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-orders-nasa-purge-mentions-120008493.html

Trump’s anti-DEI executive orders could jeopardize safety of Nasa crews. Cuts to federal workforce due to Trump’s orders are adding to pre-existing staffing concerns at agency, sources say
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/11/trump-dei-nasa-executive-order

NASA employees asked to implement these massive changes in work communication after Trump’s executive order
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/global-trends/us-news-nasa-employees-remove-pronouns-from-email-trump-dei-policies-nasa-employees-asked-to-implement-these-massive-changes-in-work-communication-after-trumps-executive-order/articleshow/118013613.cms?from=mdr

# Social Media / Internet
DeepSeek Pushes CCP Censorship, Propaganda on a Global Scale. Since the Chinese company’s chatbot surged in popularity, researchers have documented how its answers reflect China’s view of the world. Some of its responses amplify propaganda Beijing uses to discredit critics.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/31/technology/deepseek-chinese-propaganda.html

# Sports
Trump plans to raise taxes on sports team owners — who have a whopping collective net worth of nearly $1T
https://nypost.com/2025/02/10/business/trump-plans-to-raise-taxes-on-sports-team-owners-worth-869-billion/

# Transportation / Travel
US Travel Industry Faces Billions In Losses As Canadians Cancel Trips. According to the U.S. Travel Association, which advocates for the American travel industry, a 10 per cent dip in inbound travel from Canada could translate to $2.1 billion US in lost spending and jeopardize 14,000 American jobs.
https://travelnoire.com/canadians-boycotting-us-travel

# Veterans / VA
Senate Dems Want VA to Keep Veteran Data Out of DOGE’s Hands: Sen. King joins group trying to protect veterans’ personal info from DOGE
https://www.meritalk.com/articles/senate-dems-want-va-to-keep-veteran-data-out-of-doges-hands/

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