4 h. ago Why Trump’s undermining of US statistics is so dangerous | Daniel Malinsky

From the firing of the labor statistics chief to plans for a new census, the president’s moves serve to entrench authoritarianismIn 1937, Joseph Stalin commissioned a sweeping census of the Soviet Union. The data reflected some uncomfortable facts – in particular, the dampening of population growth in areas devastated by the 1933 famine – and so Stalin’s government suppressed the release of the survey results. Several high-level government statistical workers responsible for the census were subsequently imprisoned and apparently executed. Though the Soviet authorities would proudly trumpet national statistics that glorified the USSR’s achievements, any numbers that did not fit the preferred narrative were buried.A few weeks ago, following the release of “disappointing” jobs data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Donald Trump fired the commissioner of labor statistics, Dr Erika McEntarfer, and claimed the numbers were “rigged”. He also announced his intention to commission a...

Politics

26 h. ago Rosie O’Donnell apologizes for suggesting Minneapolis school shooter was Republican ‘MAGA person’

Killer Robin Westman had written a call for President Trump’s death on a firearm magazine

Politics

3 d. ago Scientists breathe new life into climate website after shutdown under Trump

Climate.gov, which went dark this summer, set to be revived by volunteers as climate.us with expanded missionEarlier this summer, access to climate.gov – one of the most widely used portals of climate information on the internet – was thwarted by the Trump administration, and its production team was fired in the process.The website offered years’ worth of accessibly written material on climate science. The site is technically still online but has been intentionally buried by the team of political appointees who now run the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago EPA fires employees who publicly criticized agency policies under Trump

The Environmental Protection Agency has fired at least eight employees who signed a letter criticizing the agency’s leadership under Administrator Lee Zeldin and President Donald Trump

Events

4 d. ago Backlash as White House chooses Robert F Kennedy Jr deputy to run CDC – US politics live

Senators’ fury at developments at US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as Jim O’Neill picked to replace Susan MonarezWhite House picks Kennedy deputy to replace fired CDC chiefPatty Murray, the Washington senator, has called for the Trump administration to provide “immediate answers” about reports that two firefighters were detained by border agents as they were responding to a wildfire in the state.Federal immigration authorities on Wednesday staged an operation on the scene of the Bear Gulch fire, a nearly 9,000-acre (3,600-hectare) blaze in the Olympic national forest, where they arrested two people who were part of a contract firefighting crew, the Seattle Times first reported. The fire is the largest currently burning in the state. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago White House picks Kennedy deputy Jim O’Neill to replace fired CDC chief

Deputy health secretary chosen as agency’s interim director after firing of Susan MonarezWho’s who in the CDC crisis?The White House has chosen a deputy of Robert F Kennedy Jr to serve as the acting head of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a decision that comes as the standoff over the firing of director Susan Monarez has deepened, with Monarez’s lawyers claiming she will not depart unless Donald Trump himself removes her.A White House official confirmed to the Guardian that Jim O’Neill, currently the deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), had been selected to temporarily lead the public health agency, giving Kennedy an ally in his efforts to overhaul US vaccine policy. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Democrats seek ‘immediate answers’ after reported arrests of firefighters by US border agents

Senator Patty Murray calls Trump’s immigration policy ‘fundamentally sick’ after incident in Washington statePatty Murray, the Washington senator, has called for the Trump administration to provide “immediate answers” about reports that two firefighters were detained by border agents as they were responding to a wildfire in the state.Federal immigration authorities on Wednesday staged an operation on the scene of the the Bear Gulch fire, a nearly 9,000 acre blaze in the Olympic national forest, where they arrested two people who were part of a contract firefighting crew, the Seattle Times first reported. The fire is the largest currently burning in the state. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago White House says new CDC director nominee to be announced ‘very soon’ – US politics live

When asked about the firing dispute of Susan Monarez, Karoline Leavitt said Trump had ‘every right’ to fire her and that the director was ‘not aligned’ with his Maha agendaBorder czar Tom Homan said that there will be a “ramp up” of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) operations in Chicago after Labor Day, as well as other Democratic-led cities. He added:You’re going to see a ramp up of operations continue in New York, operations continuing in LA...Portland, Seattle, all these sanctuary cities that refuse to work with ICE, where we know public safety threats are being released every day into this country. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Trump fires Democratic member of Surface Transportation Board ahead of huge rail merger decision

President Donald Trump has fired one of two Democratic members of the U.S. Surface Transportation Board to break a 2-2 tie ahead of the board considering the largest railroad merger ever proposed

Politics

4 d. ago RFK Jr faces calls to quit as CDC chief fired and senior staff resign: ‘an embarrassment’

Susan Monarez’s ousting and four top resignations follow vaccine confusion, leaving US health agencies in turmoilWho’s who in the CDC crisis?It’s been a tumultuous week for US health agencies, with the departure of several top officials, uncertainty around new Covid vaccine restrictions, and even more experts calling for the removal of top health official Robert F Kennedy Jr.The director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Susan Monarez, was fired by the Trump White House after some controversy, and four other top officials also resigned. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Trump fans fire back at Gavin Newsom by sending him free merch with a sinister message

Newsom says that he’s received ‘two dozen’ of the items from the Trump Store

Politics

4 d. ago Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook sues Trump after he ‘fired’ her

Trump’s unprecedented move against the central bank's leadership is an effort to ‘undermine the independence of the Federal Reserve’, Cook’s lawyer said

Politics

5 d. ago MIKEY SMITH: 8 unhinged Donald Trump moments as health chief fired in RFK Jr's anti

RFK's campaign to Make Measles Great Again goes from strength to strength, Trump gets sued by someone he tried to fire illegally and more wild things that happened in Trump World in the last 24 hours

Politics

5 d. ago Fired CDC chief Susan Monarez refuses to step down, defying White House

Susan Monarez says only Trump can remove her as four other senior CDC leaders quit over political interferenceUS politics live – latest updatesA standoff over the firing of the Susan Monarez, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has deepened, with Monarez’s lawyers claiming she will not depart unless Donald Trump himself removes her.Monarez, an infectious disease specialist who was confirmed as CDC chief just a month ago, was fired on Wednesday, according to a statement from the Department of Health and Human Services, which gave no reason for the departure. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Keegan Bradley fires back at Rory McIlroy and ignores Trump after huge Ryder Cup call

United States captain says he doesn't care what Europeans say and talked US President plea after not picking himself

Politics

6 d. ago Trump officials puts Fema staffers on leave for signing open letter criticizing administration – as it happened

This live coverage has ended. You can find all of the latest US politics stories hereLev Menand, a law professor at Columbia law school, said Donald Trump’s attempt to fire Federal Reserve chief Lisa Cook is a “procedurally invalid removal under the statute”.Menand, who authored a book about the Fed’s actions during the coronavirus pandemic, also said for-cause firings are typically related to misconduct while in office, rather than based on private misconduct from before an official’s appointment. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Trump signals he has ‘somebody I like’ to replace Lisa Cook, as Fed governor sues over removal – live

President’s comment comes amid reporting that he wants to quickly nominate a replacement as Cook resists attempt to force her outLev Menand, a law professor at Columbia law school, said Donald Trump’s attempt to fire Federal Reserve chief Lisa Cook is a “procedurally invalid removal under the statute”.Menand, who authored a book about the Fed’s actions during the coronavirus pandemic, also said for-cause firings are typically related to misconduct while in office, rather than based on private misconduct from before an official’s appointment. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Photos of week three of Washington's federal takeover, as troops on patrol start carrying guns

Washingtonians are in their third week of National Guard troops and federal law enforcement patrolling their streets, now carrying firearms and drawing sporadic protests against President Donald Trump's directive.

Culture

6 d. ago Trump urges Democrats to ‘call him’ to send troops to their cities in apparent attempt to legitimize threats of federal takeovers – live

Despite criticism of repeated threats to take over police and send in National Guard, president claims Democratic leaders should demand takeoversLev Menand, a law professor at Columbia law school, said Donald Trump’s attempt to fire Federal Reserve chief Lisa Cook is a “procedurally invalid removal under the statute”.Menand, who authored a book about the Fed’s actions during the coronavirus pandemic, also said for-cause firings are typically related to misconduct while in office, rather than based on private misconduct from before an official’s appointment. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago ‘Trump has no authority’: Lisa Cook’s lawyer vows to sue administration over attempted firing of Fed governor – live

Federal Reserve governor’s lawyer says Trump administration’s effort to fire her ‘lacks any factual or legal basis’Lisa Cook to sue Trump over attempt to fire herLev Menand, a law professor at Columbia law school, said Donald Trump’s attempt to fire Federal Reserve chief Lisa Cook is a “procedurally invalid removal under the statute”.Menand, who authored a book about the Fed’s actions during the coronavirus pandemic, also said for-cause firings are typically related to misconduct while in office, rather than based on private misconduct from before an official’s appointment. Continue reading...

Society