1 week ago Trump administration briefing: Democrats denounce education department ‘shutdown’

Education secretary ordered to take ‘all necessary steps’ to dismantle department; US rejects Mexico’s request for water – key US politics stories from Thursday at a glanceDonald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday that instructs the US education secretary, Linda McMahon, to start dismantling the education department, seemingly attempting to circumvent the need to obtain congressional approval to formally close a federal department.The administration may eventually pursue an effort to get Congress to shut down the agency, Trump said at a signing ceremony at the White House on Thursday, because its budget had more than doubled in size in recent years but national test scores had not improved. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Trump administration briefing: judge incredulous at deportations defense; Doge workers break into building

White House denies violating judge’s order with Venezuela flights; Elon Musk’s Doge workers break into non-government agency – key US politics stories from Monday at a glanceThe Trump administration claimed to a federal judge on Monday that it did not turn around the deportation flights of hundreds of suspected Venezuelan gang members over the weekend despite his specific instructions because that was not expressly included in the formal written order.The administration also said that even if James Boasberg, the chief US district judge in Washington, had included that instruction in his formal order, his authority to compel the planes to return disappeared the moment the planes entered international airspace. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Trump administration briefing: US president to speak to Putin this week; Democrats train fire on Musk

Russian president ‘accepts the philosophy’ of US’s Ukraine ceasefire terms, says US envoy; Musk’s popularity falls – key US politics stories from Sunday at a glanceUS president Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff said on Sunday that he expected the US president to speak with Vladimir Putin this week, adding that the Russian president “accepts the philosophy” of Trump’s ceasefire and peace terms.Witkoff told CNN that discussions with Putin over several hours last week were “positive” and “solution-based”. He declined to confirm when asked whether Putin’s demands included the surrender of Ukrainian forces in Kursk; international recognition of Ukrainian territory seized by Russia as Russian; limits on Ukraine’s ability to mobilise; a halt to western military aid; and a ban on foreign peacekeepers. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump administration briefing: Democrats divided as funding bill passes; president rails against justice department

Democrats dismayed after some help Republicans avert government shutdown; Trump vents about prosecutions while taking DoJ victory lap – key US politics stories from Friday at a glanceThe US Senate averted a government shutdown just hours before a Friday night deadline after 10 Senate Democrats joined nearly all Republicans to clear a key hurdle that advanced the six-month stopgap bill.The vote deeply dismayed Democratic activists and House Democrats who had urged their Senate counterparts to block the bill, which they fear would embolden Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s overhaul of the US government. Continue reading...

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2 w. ago Trump administration briefing: Judge reinstates some fired workers, more tariff threats on EU

Judge says it is a ‘lie’ that employees at federal agencies had performance issues; Trump mulls EU alcohol tariff – key US politics stories from Thursday at a glanceA federal judge in California has granted a preliminary injunction to reinstate thousands of fired probationary workers at federal agencies as part of a lawsuit filed by the American Federation of Government Employees.The ruling by the judge William H Alsup applies to fired probationary employees at the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, Department of the Interior and the Department of the Treasury. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Cautious Zelenskyy keeps cards close to his chest after Ukraine ceasefire proposal

Ukrainian president would not be drawn on details of proposed deal and also steered clear of criticising Trump at press briefingAs journalists filtered out of the presidential administration in central Kyiv on Wednesday afternoon after a 30-minute press conference with president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the general consensus was that he had not said anything that would immediately make for a dramatic headline.That, it seems, was the point. Eager to show the White House that Ukraine is onboard for negotiations and not an obstacle to Donald Trump’s desire to bring peace, Zelenskyy seems to be trying to erase the memories of the nightmare meeting in the White House two weeks ago. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Trump administration briefing: education department to be halved as Trump walks back Canada tariffs

Education secretary Linda McMahon describes layoffs as ‘significant step towards restoring greatness’ – key US politics stories from Tuesday at a glanceThe US Department of Education intends to lay off nearly half of its workforce, the department has announced. The layoffs of 1,300 people were announced by the department on Tuesday and described by the education secretary, Linda McMahon, as a “significant step toward restoring the greatness of the United States education system”.In a post on X, McMahon said: “Today’s [reduction in force] reflects our commitment to efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers.” Continue reading...

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2 w. ago Trump administration briefing: Mahmoud Khalil’s detention, ‘Trumpcession’ fears and gutting USAid

From cries of ‘McCarthyism’ over Palestinian activist’s detention to fears over a ‘Trumpcession’ – key US politics stories from Monday at a glanceThe Trump administration’s decision to have immigration authorities arrest pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil for alleged support of Hamas is an attack on free speech, the American Civil Liberties Union warned on Monday.“This arrest is unprecedented, illegal, and un-American,” said Ben Wizner, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump administration briefing: US backs Russia ahead of G7, Republican spending bill boosts defense

US has reportedly rejected Canadian proposal to tackle Russian ‘shadow fleet’, Republican bill trims everything aside from defense – key US politics stories from Saturday at a glanceThe US has reportedly rejected a Canadian proposal to establish a task force that would tackle Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers and pushed to soften language on Moscow ahead of a G7 foreign ministers meeting this week.In negotiations to agree a joint statement on maritime issues, the US is pushing to strengthen language about China while watering down wording on Russia, the reports said. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump administration briefing: defending Putin, Columbia cuts and Doge’s power over EPA spending

From Donald Trump’s latest remarks to actions taken against crucial government agencies – key US politics stories from Friday at a glanceDonald Trump has said he finds it it “easier” to work with Russia than Ukraine and that Vladimir Putin was “doing what anybody would do” after Russia launched a massive missile and drone strike on Ukraine days after the US cut off vital intelligence and military aid to Kyiv.“I’m finding it more difficult, frankly, to deal with Ukraine. And they don’t have the cards,” Trump said in his latest attack on Kyiv. “In terms of getting a final settlement, it may be easier dealing with Russia. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump administration briefing: Trump changes tack on tariffs – again – as US plans to close consulates

Trump shelves Canada-Mexico tariffs; Musk says he is not to blame for mass firings of federal workers – key US politics stories from Thursday at a glanceDonald Trump has performed another reversal on tariffs, delaying duties on many goods from Canada and Mexico again. Trump said the reversal has “nothing to do” with turbulence in the stock market in recent days, as investors weighed his economic plans. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 fell 1.8% on Thursday. “I’m not even looking at the market,” he claimed.It was also a day where the focus fell on the power wielded by Elon Musk and the president’s plans for US consulates in Europe. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump administration briefing: trade turmoil, Zelenskyy peace offer and British fury at Vance

As the world awaits Donald Trump’s first key speech to Congress in second term, here are the key US politics stories from Tuesday at a glanceIn Donald Trump’s first address to Congress since returning to the White House – and his first major speech in a chilling six weeks in office – the president claimed a mandate justifying his sweeping executive orders, despite having won the popular vote by 1.5 points – the smallest margin for any successful presidential candidate since Richard Nixon in 1968.Trump’s second term has already seen him initiate sweeping mass layoffs of federal employees, and mobilize officers from nearly every federal law enforcement agency and the US military to carry out his campaign promise of mass deportations. He has rattled Europe and other American allies with his pursuit of a peace deal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine on terms preferential to Moscow. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump administration briefing: Vance defends US position on Ukraine; tariffs hit Canada, Mexico and China

China and Canada retaliate after tariffs come into effect – key US politics stories from Monday at a glanceDonald Trump has paused military aid to Ukraine following his clash with the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, last week, according to US media reports.Vance told Fox News in an interview recorded before the announcement on Monday that giving Washington an economic interest in the future of Ukraine will serve as a security guarantee for the country that Russia invaded in February 2022. “If you want real security guarantees, if you want to actually ensure that Vladimir Putin does not invade Ukraine again, the very best security guarantee is to give Americans economic upside in the future of Ukraine,” Vance said in the interview. “That is a way better security guarantee than 20,000 troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years,” he added. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Trump administration briefing: Israeli hostage to visit White House; Russia admires US foreign policy

Eli Sharabi expected to meet Donald Trump on Tuesday; Kremlin says US views now ‘largely’ coincide with Moscow’s own foreign policy vision – key US politics stories from Sunday at a glanceThe freed Israeli hostage Eli Sharabi has been invited to meet Donald Trump on Tuesday in Washington, his brother Sharon has said.When Sharabi and two other hostages, Or Levy and Ohad Ben Ami, were released on 8 February after nearly 500 days in captivity, their physical condition outraged Israelis, which Trump echoed. Sharabi has since told Israeli media of the severe hunger and violence he endured in captivity. Continue reading...

Events

last month Trump administration briefing: clash with Zelenskyy shakes Washington – and the world

A tense and angry exchange between Trump and Zelenskyy played out with the media in the front row – key US politics stories from Friday at a glanceAn extraordinary day in Washington with US military support for Ukraine now hanging in the balance and talks over a minerals deal collapsing following a disastrous White House summit.US president Donald Trump received the Ukrainian president on Friday to discuss a controversial mineral resources deal that Trump had said was the first step toward a ceasefire agreement that he is seeking to broker between Russia and Ukraine. Continue reading...

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