A man walks to the Earle Cabell Federal Building in downtown Dallas, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)2025-02-24T21:01:18Z Federal employees across the country, many of whom have worked from home since the COVID-19 pandemic, were back at agency offices Monday under President Donald Trumps return-to-office mandate.Billionaire Elon Musk, who is leading Trumps Department of Government Efficiency scouring government agencies for suspected waste, delivered a warning Monday to workers on his platform X.Starting this week, those who still fail to return to office will be placed on administrative leave, Musk wrote.Lee Zeldin, Trumps new administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, said Monday on X, formerly Twitter, Full-time, COVID-era remote work is DONE under @POTUS leadership.In a video he posted, Zeldin said average attendance at EPA headquarters on Mondays and Fridays last year was less than 9% of employees.Our spacious, beautiful EPA headquarters spans two city blocks in D.C. across five buildings, Zeldin said. But our hallways have been too vacant, desks empty and cubicles filled with unoccupied chairs. It appears at least some federal agencies are not prepared for all remote workers to return to the office. In an email to U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid employees on Friday obtained by The Associated Press, agency officials noted that some regional offices in Boston, Chicago, New York and San Francisco were not ready for workers to return. The message also noted that employees who live more than 50 miles from regional offices in some major cities would not be required to return to the office Monday. We should treat it like the first day of school plan a little time in your calendar to get oriented, find your way around, and figure out how to connect in the conference rooms, etc., the email said. There will, no doubt, be some who get lost or are late to class or have to scramble to find a seat because of a snafu. The email also noted that while some workers would begin reporting to offices Monday, others would begin relocating back to offices in phases through April and beyond.Mike Galletly, president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 4016, said the information technology workers he represents at the U.S. Department of Agriculture across the country have been struggling to comply with the back-to-office mandate.For my bargaining unit members, its been a whole lot of work scrambling to find hardware for people, monitors, docking stations, Galletly said. You have an office that up until this month normally seated four people. Now they have to seat eight people. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is directing its remote employees to return to offices, even if they were hired into a remote role.Federal workers with the department received the formal notice Monday in an email that was sent to employees who work more than 50 miles from a regional office. It says they will need to report to an office by April 28.The federal government employed more than 3 million people as of November of last year. That accounted for nearly 1.9% of the nations entire civilian workforce, according to the Pew Research Center. -Murphy reported from Oklahoma City, Okla. SEAN MURPHY Murphy is the statehouse reporter for The Associated Press in Oklahoma City. He has covered Oklahoma news and politics since 1996. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

President Donald Trump gives a thumbs-up as he waits to greet France's President Emmanuel Macron before a news conference at the White House, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)2025-02-24T19:15:31Z WASHINGTON (AP) A federal judge was hearing arguments Monday afternoon in The Associated Press lawsuit against three staff members of President Donald Trump, whose administration has barred the news agency from presidential events.The AP is appearing in federal court in Washington over its emergency motion to undo the administrations move to shut its journalists out of the Oval Office, Air Force One and other areas where the outlet has long operated as part of the White House press pool.The dispute stems from the news agencys refusal to conform to Trumps renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The AP says it is adhering to the Gulf of Mexico terminology because its audience is global and the waters are not only in U.S. territory, but it is acknowledging Trumps rechristening as well. AP says the issue strikes at the very core of the U.S. Constitutions First Amendment, which bars the government from punishing speech. The White House says access to the president is a privilege, not a right. MATT SEDENSKY Sedensky is a national writer for The Associated Press. twitter mailto

A performance that took place at the White House National Governors Association Dinner over the weekend is raising questions across social media.Video circulating online shows the U.S. Army Chorus filing into the dinner while singing "Do You Hear the People Sing?" from Les Misrables. Specifically, they sang the reprise version, promising, "Even the darkest night will end / And the sun will rise."Les Misrables is, of course, a story about one mans quest for redemption, set against a backdrop of injustice and revolution. The poor are oppressed and abused by the wealthy ruling class, and the government is seen as the enemy."Will you join in our crusade? / Who will be strong and stand with me?" the lyrics ask. "Somewhere beyond the barricade / Is there a world you long to see?"People horrified by the current administrations sweeping changes in just a month after taking power were quick to hope that this was a bold display of resistance from the choir. After all, its literally a song about a revolution against the government. (@) "Oh my gosh! #Resistance takes on many forms. The military choir choose to sing a revolutionary song from Les Misrables to make a point to all in attendance. This is so amazing! Keep fighting the good fight in whatever way you can America" (@) "They picked Les Misa musical about standing up to tyranny. They protested you at your own event and you were too stupid to get it." (@) But others werent so certain. For one thing, Donald Trump himself has used this song at his rallies in the past (to the fury of the musicals creators). And we know he has spent years claiming to be the one standing against the establishment, and that his base eats it all up without a moment of critical consideration. (@) Theres also the fact that this was the reprise of the song from the end of the musical after the revolution failed. "I mean, the rebellion does not end well in Les Mis," one redditor pointed out. "[The song choice] could even be 'go ahead and rise up, we will just cut you down' kind of messaging from the government."So the intention behind the performance remains unclear. But choosing it certainly caused a stir, and resulted in a lot of people across social media pointing out the potential irony, if nothing else. (@) "Going to lose my mind. Apparently the White House chose Do You Hear the People Sing? to be performed at the Governors Ball. You know, the Les Mis song famously calling for a peoples revolution in 1800s France? About overthrowing the government? Through violent populism??" (@) do you hear the people sing is a protestagainst government tyranny as it was set during the paris uprising of 1832 and not for nothing but i believe a general knowledge of les mis and its themes should be required for kennedy center board membership" (@) "the irony of singing les mis a week after he called himself the king is wild" (@) "These people think theyre cultured enough to run the Kennedy Center yet think having 'Do You Hear the People Sing?' sung at them is a compliment." (@) "i was filled with so much hope when i found out about how 'do you hear the people sing' was sung at the white house governors ball thinking 'wow its crazy that none of them understand what this song means'. until i found out that they think theyre the revolutionaries"

Antoni Porowski's life is simply fab.The Queer Eye host has been serving up succulent dishes and bringing queer joy to people around the world since the show premiered on Netflix back in 2018.Now, the handsome star is branching out beyond the Fab 5 by hosting his own culinary show No Taste Like Home on National Geographic. Porowski joins A-list stars at various places across the globe to see how food ties into their rich lineage."Storytelling through food is something I was taught the power of not only growing up, but on nine seasons and hopefully counting of Queer Eye. This is an evolution or extension of that," Porowski tells PRIDE. See on Instagram Not only has Porowski helped countless amounts of people step into their own confidence throughout the years, but the TV host is also prioritizing his own physical and mental health with a few simple lifestyle regimens."Eight hours of sleep and a lot of water! I know it sounds basic, but it's true. It's moderation and having a lot of fiber and clean protein. You gotta balance it out and switch it up."The model is showing off a diverse range of meals on No Taste Like Home alongside celebrity guests like Florence Pugh, Issa Rae, Awkwafina, Justin Theroux, Henry Golding, and more. Porowski hopes the personal stories shared will encourage fans to tap more into their own ancestries."I just hope it inspires people to look at their own lives and the dishes that shaped you. I know none of it would be possible without Queer Eye. That show has taught me to lean into being myself. Despite how terrifying it is in these times, it gave me the confidence to start thinking out of the box." See on Instagram Political unrest is causing major discourse for the LGBTQ+ community in the United States, but the reality star is continuing to live out and proud, especially after traveling the world."Despite the dumpster fire that the United States is in right now, I still feel safe being able to be who I am, but there are a lot of people in this country who don't feel safe. When you travel the globe, you realize where it's literally illegal [to be gay]. I'm trying to keep my peace in these times."No Taste Like Home With Antoni Porowski airs Sunday nights on National Geographic, with episodes available the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. To see the full interview, check out the video at the top of the page.

Pedro Pascal has issued a powerful rebuke against anti-transgender bigotry, condemning recent policies aimed at stripping rights from the transgender community as vile and pathetic. In an Instagram post over the weekend, the The Last of Us star shared a photo of a message seen on a building that read: A world without trans people has never existed and never will. Pascal captioned the imageSource

A new civil lawsuit has been filed against celebrity drag performer Shangela, accusing the entertainer of sexual assault. The complaint, filed Monday in the New York Supreme Court, was obtained by Out. The lawsuit, brought by Eric Poff, alleges that the incident occurred in October 2017 after Poff, then a production assistant on Hurricane Bianca: From Russia with Hate, met Shangelawhose legalSource

Businessman Mark Cuban speaks after attending meetings at the White House, March 4, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)2025-02-24T17:49:05Z WASHINGTON (AP) Conservatives from across the country filled a ballroom a few blocks from the White House and lamented that the United States is abandoning the ideals that forged a great nation. Some attendees donned red hats with various inscriptions mocking President Donald Trump and his Make America Great Again movement. It was the largest gathering to date of the Principles First Summit, expanded upon Trumps second term to welcome independents and center-left Democrats under a shared pro-democracy, anti-authoritarian aim.This is not a time to bend the knee, to play along, said Heath Mayo, the Yale-educated attorney who founded Principles First five years ago for self-identified politically homeless conservatives. This is a time for stiffening your spine, standing up and getting ready for a long fight.Yet three days of conversations and recriminations still left 1,200 attendees without a clear roadmap to loosen Trumps grip on the conservative movement and Americas national identity. There was not even consensus on whether to fight within Republican spheres at all, migrate to the Democratic Party or find a different path altogether. It makes you feel better to know that youre not alone and that youre not crazy, said Jeff Oppenheim, a retired U.S. Army colonel from Austin, Texas. The question is how to translate that into action in a political system thats very difficult to influence, because its structured in a way that two parties have complete control. Mark Cuban, the entrepreneur and Shark Tank co-host who was one of then-Vice President Kamala Harris most prominent surrogates last fall, got a rousing ovation when he took the stage but vowed that he would not run for the White House. He dismissed the Democratic Party, profanely, as unable to sell its own message. Im not here to throw him under the bus, Cuban said of Trump, praising the Republican presidents ability as a marketer who convinced voters he could help them. Democrats, Cuban said, make their critiques of Trump moot because they cant sell worth s. Trumps allies mocked the gathering in advance as full of RINOs, or Republicans in name only. White House communications director Steven Cheung called it the Cuck Convention on his government account. The word cuck, which describes a man who likes to watch his wife have sex with other men, was frequently used during the campaign to insult and emasculate rivals.Trump has far greater control of the Republican Party in his second term, with allies across Congress and the loyalty of most of the partys base. But his few remaining rivals within the party argue there are still ways to break his hold. Former U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a frequent Trump target who was among the people to receive a preemptive pardon from President Joe Biden, pointed to Republicans narrow 218-215 majority in the House and said lawmakers are privately nervous as recent town halls show voter anger over billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk and his sweeping moves to fire federal workers, shut down agencies and limit federal services. Kinzinger urged critics to ratchet up pressure in public settings because critical town hall audiences, he argued, offer the most uncomfortable moments of a politicians job.Right now, Republican members of Congress fear one person: Donald Trump. They dont fear you, Kinzinger said. When they start fearing you, thats when they start having a different calculus.Julie Spilsbury, a councilmember from Mesa, Arizona, wants to maintain her place in Republican ranks. Like more than two dozen attendees and speakers interviewed by The Associated Press, Spilsbury cast her 2024 ballot for Harris for president. But she also publicly endorsed the Democratic nominee, saying it was a matter of character and integrity. She now faces an ongoing recall effort by Trump backers in Mesa. If youre looking for something you can do, send me $10 for her retention campaign, Spilsbury told fellow conference attendees. When Asa Hutchinson, the former Arkansas governor who ran in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a centrist Democrat, offered carefully measured assessments of Trumps opening weeks, they got mixed or muted responses. Especially tepid was the reaction when Hutchinson said he believes Trump when the president says he will respect court decisions in the many early challenges to his executive actions.But roars rang out for the police officers who tried to protect the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and their unyielding assessments of Trump and his pardon of 1,500 supporters who breached the seat of Congress, including many who violently attacked law enforcement.We need to hold on to the outrage and hold on to the anger and set aside the fear, insisted Michael Fanone, a former Washington officer who was attacked by rioters. Asked whether he would accept an invitation to talk to Trump, Fanone said the president is incapable of being convinced he is wrong and dismissed him with a profanity. Fanone and his fellow officers later were accosted in an upstairs lobby by Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, freshly freed from prison by Trumps pardon. The following day, Principles First leaders received an emailed bomb threat specifically mentioning Fanone, his mothers address and other potential targets. The summit space was evacuated as Washington police and Secret Service agents swept the area and found no bomb, allowing the conference to conclude Sunday evening. Organizers blamed the threat on Tarrio, who denied the claim in a post on his social media. Maria Stephan, a progressive at her first Principles First gathering, called the evacuation emboldening given the weekends themes.Yet Rich Logis of Broward County, Florida, offered caution as a former MAGA acolyte whose red hat now reads: I LEFT MAGA. Another wave of converts, Logis argued, is coming if Trump continues to impose tariffs, cut public services and impose policies that hurt Americans broadly.Everyone has to find their own breaking point, Logis said. Our job is to be there talking to people as they find it. BILL BARROW Bill Barrow covers U.S. politics. He is based in Atlanta. twitter mailto

The U.S. Department of the Treasury building is seen in Washington, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)2025-02-24T16:22:22Z WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. on Monday imposed sanctions on dozens of people and oil tankers across China, the United Arab Emirates, India and other jurisdictions for allegedly helping to finance Iran and its support for militant groups that launch attacks against the U.S. and its allies.The U.S. Treasury and the U.S. State departments sanctioned more than 30 people and ships, including the heads of Irans National Iranian Oil Co., and the Iranian Oil Terminals Co., for their role in brokering the sale and transportation of Iranian oil. The sanctioned ships move crude oil valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars, according to the Treasury. This is the second round of sanctions imposed on Iranian oil sales since President Donald Trumpissued the National Security Presidential Memorandum 2, which calls for the U.S. to drive Irans export of oil to zero. It also states that Iran can never be allowed to acquire or develop nuclear weapons. At the time of the memos signing in February, Trump said from the Oval Office that hopefully were not going to have to use it very much. We will see whether or not we can arrange or work out a deal with Iran, the president said. We dont want to be tough on Iran. We dont want to be tough on anybody, Trump added. But they just cant have a nuclear bomb.Trump added that hes given his advisers instructions to obliterate Iran if it assassinates him. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the U.S. will use all our available tools to target all aspects of Irans oil supply chain, and anyone who deals in Iranian oil exposes themselves to significant sanctions risk. During his confirmation hearing, Bessent criticized the Biden administrations sanctions policies and called for the U.S. to have a more muscular sanctions regime and to be more aggressive in targeting Iran and Russian entities and oil. An October 2024 U.S. Energy Information Administration report estimates that Iran brought in $253 billion in oil revenues during both Joe Biden and Trumps presidencies, between 2018 to 2024.State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce in a statement said that as long as Iran devotes its energy revenues to financing attacks on our allies, supporting terrorism around the world, or pursuing other destabilizing actions, we will use all the tools at our disposal to hold the regime accountable. FATIMA HUSSEIN Hussein reports on the U.S. Treasury Department for The Associated Press. She covers tax policy, sanctions and any issue that relates to money. twitter mailto

If you werent hyped for Masters of the Universe before, theres a really good chance youre going to be now."After several months of intense training, Im thrilled to share that were officially in production on #MastersOfTheUniverse," star Nicholas Galitzine wrote on Instagram Monday morning. "Our director Travis Knight has assembled the most incredible ensemble cast and created a stunning tapestry of Eternia and its surrounding world."After promising "more to come," he added that the picture in question is a "sneak peek at the Sword of Power." And its almost cute the way he pretended for one instant that what fans would be interested in from the photo he shared was a sword, rather than the sneak peek at the bod behind it.See on InstagramOpinions have previously been split about the Red, White & Royal Blue star bulking up for the role of Prince Adam aka He-Man for this live-action take on a popular cartoon/toy line. And when pictures from set leaked earlier this month, people seemed even more divided.Fans of Masters of the Universe itself are likely still withholding judgement until more is known about the actual story to be presented in the film, but fans of Galitzine? Well, they are seated after this mesmerizing drop. (@) "I BEG YOUR FINEST PARDON?!" (@) "Eternia is in really good hands. Good arms. Good shoulders" (@) "it's the vein for me" (@) "No one is looking at that damn fork" (@) "gonna need a full pic of him in that bra and booty shorts pls" (@) "stanning male actors is so. like what do you mean you got me excited to watch HE-MAN a superhero who has a blonde BOB" (@) "yall were shitting on big nicholas galitzine but LOOK AT THE MATERIAL"Now, not to be too much of a total downer, but as some people pointed out on social media, we don't actually know for sure that this is a picture of Galatzine himself in character. It's not uncommon for big feature films to do promotional shoots with body doubles of their actors, sometimes even transposing their faces onto the bodies later.But we also don't know it's not Galitzine. So unless we ever explicitly hear otherwise, thirsting over He-Man's muscles and, um, sword is exactly what the actor's fans need to tide them over until the movie hits theaters next summer.

Yellowjackets is one of the best and queerest shows on television, period. Weaving together two timelines in the lives of a group of soccer players who crash-landed in the woods and were forced to survive, and the traumatized and dangerous adults they became the show has quickly solidified itself as must-watch Sapphic programming. The series not only features queer love, but a cast stacked with LGBTQ+ folks, allies, and forever favorites like Melanie Lynskey, Christina Ricci, Jasmin Savoy Brown, and Liv Hewson. While this show alone is enough to make them forever queer faves, it turns out that for many of the cast, this is just their latest foray into presenting LGBTQ+ rep on the big and small screen.So if you're just as obsessed with Yellowjackets as we are, here are all the times they starred in queer roles (and where to watch them).Melanie Lynskey - Shauna (adult)There is a reason that Melanie Lynskey is an absolute queer icon. Not only is she a proud pusher of the homosexual agenda" every chance she gets, but she has also starred in several queer roles some of which were roots for an entire generation of Sapphics.Lynskeys breakout role was in the 1994, Peter Jackson-directed film Heavenly Creatures. She starred opposite Kate Winslet and depicted the true story of Pauline Parker and her friend Juliet Hulme whose ill-fated romance and obsession led to murder in the 1950s. In 1999 Lynskey starred alongside Clea Duvall and Natasha Lyonne in the lesbian classic But I'm a Cheerleader. Lynskey played Hilary, a teen going through conversion therapy. Of course, Lynskey made an appearance in The L Word. She popped up in season five of the beloved lesbian series as Clea Mason who flirted with Alice. Aw, what could have been?She also starred in the quirky lesbian short film, The Nearly Unadventurous Life of Zoe Cadwaulder which sees her as a young woman who overcomes her phobias and finds her Sapphic soulmate. Jasmin Savoy Brown - Taissa (teen)Out and proud IRL, Jasmin Savoy Brown has also made a career of representing queer characters on the screen specifically in the horror genre.Brown plays, reoccurring fan-fave, Mindy Meeks-Martin in the Scream franchise. Mindy first appeared in Scream 5 as the horror movie expert who lays out the rules of survival, returned in 6 with an ill-fated romance, and is set to come back again (and hopefully survive) the upcoming seventh entry in the franchise. But before that Brown starred in Sound of Violence as a queer young woman with synesthesia. As a child, she witnessed the murder of her parents by a serial killer, and as a result, she experiences pleasure at the sound of human pain.Tawny Cypress - Taissa (adult)Tawny Cypress, who plays Browns adult counterpart is also out and proud in real life. While Taissa is her first fictional queer role on screen, she did lend her IRL queerness to the documentary Queer for Fear where she discussed Mary Shelley, queer mother of horrors contributions to the genre. Liv Hewson - Teen Van (teen)Nonbinary, Australian actor Liv Hewson is staying busy with their role in Yellowjackets and the upcoming feminist mystery series He Had it Coming on the way, but Van isn't their only queer role. They rang in the holiday season in 2019 with Let it Snow. Lauren Ambrose - adult Van (adult)Before Lauren Ambrose starred in Yellowjackets and made us fall in love with the VHS-slinging adult version of Van, she starred as Claire in Six Feet Under which saw the youngest sibling of that family exploring her bisexuality in college.Christina Ricci - adult Misty (adult)While so far Christina Riccis character, Misty, hasnt been depicted as queer (but it's Yellowjackets so chances are good that will change) she has always been a Sapphic fave, both for her queer-coded roles in Gold Diggers: The Secret of Bear Mountain and Now and Then when she was a teen, but for her incredible and heartbreaking portrayal of Selby Wall, the real-life lover of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in 2003s Monster. Oh, and there was that one time she kissed Ashley Greene on her short-lived series Pan-Am. Juliette Lewis - Natalie (adult)Were still not over how things ended for adult Natalie in the season two finale, in large part to just how incredibly Juliette Lewis played that role. The same can be said of her portrayal in Sacred Lies: Singing Bones in which she played Harper a telemarketer with a passion for with solving "Jane Doe" crimes on the side and for making out with with a CSI tech played by Orange is the New Blacks Kimiko Glenn.Ella Purnell - JackieWhile shippers will never forgive the show for not making Jackie and Shauna canon, one thing is clear: Ella Purnell is the literal voice of Sapphic geeks everywhere. Not only did she lend those dulcet tones to the role of nonbinary alien teen Gwyn in Star Trek: Prodigy, but as the bi character Jinx in Arcane. Nia Sondaya - AkilahAkilah is quickly becoming one of the most intriguing characters in season three. With her connection to nature, and seeming heel turn she may be the last domino to fall into total chaos. We love to see it. We also loved to see actress Nia Sondaya as a lesbian teen in love and on the run in the Netflix original Heart Shot.Steven Krueger - Ben ScottBefore Steven Krueger was closeted gay Coach Ben on Yellowjackets, he had a breakout role in the vampire series The Originals as Josh Rosza a tourist turned vampire sire and lover to lead vampire baddie Marcel. Initially, he was supposed to have a minor role but he quickly became a fan-fave and was promoted to one of the leads. Sarah Desjardins - Callie SadeckiBefore Sarah Desjardins starred as Callie on Yellowjackets she played the role of Hope on the sci-fi YouTube series Impulse who initially struggled with and then embraced her lesbian identity.

A couple in Indonesia has been sentenced to public flogging for engaging in gay sex, highlighting the countrys ongoing criminalization of same-sex activity in certain regions. The two individuals, aged 24 and 18, were convicted under the strict Sharia law that governs the Aceh province, where homosexuality is prohibited and punishable by harsh penalties. The sentencing, which includes 85 and 80Source

Gay Surf Week, an all-inclusive retreat centered around surfing and wellness, is gearing up for an exciting year ahead. Set to take place in Costa Rica at Surf Synergy | All-Inclusive Surf & Wellness Camp, the 2025 Gay Surf Weeks are designed to provide a joyous and inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ individuals looking to embrace their love for surfing while connecting with a like-minded community.Source

Conservative commentator Dan Bongino speaks at the Conservative Political Action Committee annual conference in National Harbor, Md., March 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)2025-02-24T23:02:23Z NEW YORK (AP) The popular right-wing podcaster Dan Bongino has built a career of unleashing sometimes inflammatory rants against the media, Democrats and the federal government.Now, the 50-year-old former New York police officer and U.S. Secret Service agent will return to the government he has so often criticized as President Donald Trumps selection for deputy FBI director. He said Monday hell soon leave his daily show to take on the new role.Bongino, who will serve under FBI Director Kash Patel, does not have any experience at the premier federal law enforcement agency. Nonetheless, he has strong opinions about how it should be run.A sampling of Bonginos podcast commentary from the past year reveals hes a loyalist to Patel and wants to see sweeping changes, from clearing the bureau of anyone he views as inappropriately political to redirecting investigations away from domestic extremism. Heres a closer look at how Bongino views the FBI, in his own words: He thinks Patel is the only viable leaderEven before Trump nominated Patel for FBI director, Bongino was one of his loudest advocates, arguing on his podcast that Patel was the only potential candidate who could go in there and clean that mess up.Kash knows where the bodies are buried, Bongino told his listeners last November. And hes got shovels, man. Hes ready to rock and roll. Thats why theyre so terrified.Like Patel, Bongino says the FBI needs to expose political weaponization within the agency and move agents out of the nations capital to chase criminals elsewhere in the country. In January, Bongino urged his millions of listeners whom he refers to as his Bongino Army to call their senators on Patels behalf.We dont get this guy in at the FBI, youre never going to get any answers at all, the podcaster said.He often criticizes FBI employees, past and present In Bonginos words, Patels predecessor Christopher Wray was incompetent, awful and potentially corrupt. Andrew McCabe, the former acting director of the FBI who was a key figure in the bureaus Trump-Russia investigation, is an absolute buffoon. And former FBI general counsel Andrew Weissmann, who served on special counsel Robert Muellers team during Trumps first term, is an absolute tool bag.The podcaster isnt shy about bashing past FBI leadership, sometimes crudely. He views them as having compromised the agencys morals to unfairly target conservatives.Bongino has also extended some harsh words toward the current FBI ranks. Earlier this month, after Trumps border czar Tom Homan accused the FBI of leaking information about planned immigration raids, Bongino called the supposed leakers stupid and said they would be caught and go to jail.Do you know how hard it was for me in my last line of work, how hard it was for me to listen to these stupid Obama speeches about big government? Bongino said of his time as a Secret Service agent under President Barack Obama. But I always took my job as serious as a freaking stroke. Because I swore to do a job, not to be a politician. Hes ready for sweeping changes immediatelyBongino said in December the Republican trifecta in the U.S. government is fleeting and thats one reason why he wants FBI reform to happen quickly, within the next two years.What changes would he like to see? For one, he wants agents fired if they were involved in investigations into Trump.If you swore to uphold the Constitution of the United States as an FBI agent and engaged in a tyrannical investigation against Donald Trump with partisan intent and not the Constitution in mind, you do not deserve your job, he said on his podcast earlier this month.The Justice Department has already demanded a list from the FBI of the thousands of agents who participated in investigations into the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, a move some within the bureau see as a possible precursor to mass firings.Bongino also has argued the FBI has placed too much focus on domestic intelligence-gathering and as a result dropped the ball on serious criminals and overseas threats. He has suggested federal law enforcement wasted time investigating Jan. 6 rioters and anti-abortion activists. These are threats to the United States? he said on a podcast last December. Grandma is in the gulag for a trespassing charge on January 6th. He has also criticized the Department of Justice and former Attorney General Merrick Garland for directing the FBI to respond to harassment and threats directed toward school boards and educators.We are going to make the FBI great again, because if we dont have an FBI breaking up counterterror plots trying to kill us and theyre worried about Moms for Liberty and pro-lifers, then we got a problem, folks, Bongino said on his podcast earlier this month, referring to the conservative parental rights group. He may be motivated by a personal connectionBongino frequently laments how he doesnt feel he can trust the FBI and says the agency has lost its credibility.Whatever the FBI says these days, I tend to believe the opposite, he said in January after Wray said in an interview that the agency wasnt tracking any specific or credible threats to Trumps inauguration.But the new deputy directors interest in reforming the FBI may hold more personal significance than some realize. In March, Bongino said an FBI representative used to visit his high school when he was a teenager. All I wanted to be was an FBI agent. That is it, man. I, like, adored these guys, man, he said. What happened to this agency?___Associated Press Artificial Intelligence Product Manager Ernest Kung contributed to this report.___The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about APs democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. ALI SWENSON Swenson reports on election-related misinformation, disinformation and extremism for The Associated Press. twitter

Theres a Zombie Outside, a new meta-horror film from director Michael Varrati, is set to haunt audiences when it arrives on digital platforms on March 4 via Gravitas Ventures. The films official trailer, which was released today, provides a glimpse of the eerie and complex narrative that blends zombie horror with a deep exploration of identity and media. Written and directed by VarratiSource

Employees of a security firm, LEAR Asset Management, drag Post Falls resident Teresa Borrenpohl out of a town hall meeting on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Post Falls, Idaho. (Hailey Hill/Coeur D'Alene Press via AP)2025-02-24T18:21:25Z BOISE, Idaho (AP) A Republican-hosted legislative town hall meeting in northern Idaho descended into chaos after three plainclothes security workers forcibly removed a woman who was heckling the speakers. The incident Saturday at Coeur dAlene High School, first reported by the Coeur dAlene Press, drew widespread attention after videos of the turbulence were posted online. Now more than $120,000 has been raised for Teresa Borrenpohls legal costs, and the police chief has asked to have the security firms business license revoked. The city attorneys office also dismissed a misdemeanor battery citation against Borrenpohl in the interest of justice, Coeur dAlene Police Chief Lee White said Monday, and detectives are reviewing video to determine whether the security officers violated any laws. Roughly 450 people attended the legislative town hall hosted by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee, said the organizations chairman Brent Regan. All of them were told that security officers were present, and that anyone who refused to respect the rights of others would be removed from the event. Still, videos show cheers and jeers were erupting throughout the crowd at times including when one lawmaker mentioned legislation that he said protected doctors from being forced to do abortions. Women are dying, one person in the audience shouted. And doctors are leaving our state! another yelled. A moderator tried to quiet the crowd, scolding people for popping off with stupid remarks. Thats when Borrenpohl, a Democratic legislative candidate who has run unsuccessfully in the deeply Republican region, began to shout as well. Is this a town hall, or a lecture? she asked, others in the audience echoing the question. By that point, Borrenpohl had been warned at least three times to stop interrupting the speakers, said Regan. Were trying to respect the rights of the 450 people that were there to listen. One person cant stand up to bring a halt to the whole event, Regan said. Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris, who was in plain clothes but wearing his badge on his belt, approached Borrenpohl. He introduced himself and told her to leave or she would be escorted out. Then the sheriff stepped back and began recording on his cellphone as three unidentified men approached and began grabbing Borrenpohl. Tonya Coppedge, who was sitting behind Borrenpohl and shot video of the disruption on her cellphone, said the men refused her repeated requests to identify themselves. One of the men bent Borrenpohls wrist into a flexed position, and later Borrenpohl bit one of the men on the hand as he continued to grab her, Coppedge said.They were not very kind to her it was pretty violent and traumatic, Coppedge said.Alicia Abbott, a friend of Borrenpohls who organized a GoFundMe on her behalf, said Borrenpohl has bruises from the incident. She suggested Borrenpohl was wrongly detained.Who were these people to detain Teresa in the first place? Abbott asked. This is not the first time weve seen this kind of security presence in public meetings or town halls. If theyre going to be detaining people, do they even have knowledge of the law? Are they trained to safely remove people? The men worked for the private security company LEAR Asset Management, based in Hayden, Idaho. Messages left for CEO Paul Trouette were not immediately returned. The men appeared to have violated Coeur dAlene City ordinances, which require security personnel to wear uniforms with the word Security clearly marked in letters no less than 1-inch tall on the front of the uniform.White, the police chief, told The Associated Press, said he had requested the revocation of companys business licenses and the security agent licenses from the individuals who were involved.Organizers arranged for extra security at the event after one of the lawmakers told them he had been facing death threats, Regan said. Rep. Jordan Redman, a Republican, had recently been threatened with bombings by an individual on social media, and so KCRCC notified the sheriff and arranged for security, Regan said. The Coeur dAlene Police Department also had officers stationed in the parking lot outside.On Monday, Kootenai County Undersheriff Brett Nelson released a statement saying the agency will have a complete and independent investigation of the incident conducted by an outside agency. ___Bellisle reported from Seattle. REBECCA BOONE Rebecca is a correspondent based in Idaho. twitter mailto MARTHA BELLISLE Bellisle is a global investigative reporter for The Associated Press, based in Washington state. She reports on a range of topics, including police accountability, police training and mental health. She also has covered the Winter Olympics. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Cynthia Erivo and Lena Waithe have once again sparked rumors about their relationship after a joint appearance at the NAACP Image Awards on February 22, reigniting engagement speculation that has swirled around the two for weeks. Erivo, who was nominated for Entertainer of the Year and Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for her role in Wicked, arrived at the event alongside Waithe.Source

Members of the Dwaima family stand on the rubble of their home, which was leveled by an Israeli airstrike during the Israel-Hamas war, in the Tal al Hawa neighborhood in Gaza City, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)2025-02-25T05:13:09Z BEIT LAHIYA, Gaza Strip (AP) When night falls over northern Gaza, much of the cityscape of collapsed buildings and piled wreckage turns pitch black. Living inside the ruins of their home, Rawya Tambouras young sons get afraid of the dark, so she turns on a flashlight and her phones light to comfort them, for as long as the batteries last.Displaced for most of the 16-month-long war, Tamboura is back in her house. But it is still a frustrating shell of a life, she says: There is no running water, electricity, heat or services, and no tools to clear the rubble around them.Nearly 600,000 Palestinians flooded back into northern Gaza under the now month-old ceasefire in Gaza, according to the United Nations. After initial relief and joy at being back at their homes even if damaged or destroyed they now face the reality of living in the wreckage for the foreseeable future. Some people wish the war had never ended, feeling it would have been better to be killed, Tamboura said. I dont know what well do long-term. My brain stopped planning for the future.The six-week ceasefire is due to end Saturday, and its uncertain what will happen next. There are efforts to extend the calm as the next phase is negotiated. If fighting erupts again, those who returned to the north could find themselves once again in the middle of it. A massive rebuilding job has no way to startA report last week by the World Bank, U.N. and European Union estimated it will cost some $53 billion to rebuild Gaza after entire neighborhoods were decimated by Israels bombardment and offensives against Hamas militants. At the moment, there is almost no capacity or funding to start significant rebuilding.A priority is making Gaza immediately livable. Earlier in February, Hamas threatened to hold up hostage releases unless more tents and temporary shelters were allowed into Gaza. It then reversed and accelerated hostage releases after Israel agreed to let in mobile homes and construction equipment.Humanitarian agencies have stepped up services, setting up free kitchens and water delivery stations, and distributing tents and tarps to hundreds of thousands across Gaza, according to the U.N.President Donald Trump turned up the pressure by calling for the entire population of Gaza to be removed permanently so the U.S. can take over the territory and redevelop it for others. Rejecting the proposal, Palestinians say they want help to rebuild for themselves.Gaza Citys municipality started fixing some water lines and clearing rubble from streets, said a spokesperson, Asem Alnabih. But it lacks heavy equipment. Only a few of its 40 bulldozers and five dump trucks still work, he said. Gaza is filled with over 50 million tons of rubble that would take 100 trucks working at full capacity over 15 years to clear away, the U.N. estimates. Families try to get by day by dayTambouras house in the northern town of Beit Lahiya was destroyed by an airstrike early in the war, so she and her family lived in the nearby Indonesian Hospital, where she worked as a nurse.After the ceasefire, they moved back into the only room in her house that was semi-intact. The ceiling is partially collapsed, the walls are cracked; the surviving fridge and sink are useless with no water or electricity. They stack their sheets and blankets in a corner.Tamboura said her 12-year-old son lugs heavy containers of water twice a day from distribution stations. They also have to find firewood for cooking. The influx of aid means there is food in the markets and prices went down, but it remains expensive, she said.With the Indonesian Hospital too damaged to function, Tamboura walks an hour each day to work at the Kamal Adwan Hospital. She charges her and her husbands phones using the hospital generator. Many of Tambouras relatives returned to find nothing left of their homes, so they live in tents on or next to the rubble that gets blown away by winter winds or flooded during rains, she said.Asmaa Dwaima and her family returned to Gaza City but had to rent an apartment because their home in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood was destroyed. It was only weeks after returning that she went to visit their four-story house, now a pile of flattened and burned wreckage. I couldnt come here because I was afraid. I had an image of my house in my mind its beauty, and warmth. ... I was afraid to face this truth, the 25-year-old dentist said. They dont just destroy stone, they are destroying us and our identity.Her family had to rebuild the house once before, when it was leveled by airstrikes during a round of fighting between Israel and Hamas in 2014, she said. For the time being, they have no means to rebuild now.We need to remove the rubble because we want to pull out clothes and some of our belongings, she said. We need heavy equipment There are no bricks or other construction tools and, if available, its extremely expensive. Desperation is growingTess Ingram, a spokesperson with UNICEF who visited northern Gaza since the ceasefire, said the families she met are grieving the lives that they used to live as they begin to rebuild. Their desperation, she said, is becoming more intense.Huda Skaik, a 20-year-old student, is sharing a room with her three siblings and parents at her grandparents house in Gaza City. Its an improvement from life in the tent camps of central Gaza where they were displaced for much of the war, she said. There, they had to live among strangers, and their tent was washed away by rain. At least here they have walls and are with family, she said.Before the war interrupted, Skaik had just started studying English literature at Gazas Islamic University. She is now enrolled in online classes the university is organizing. But the internet is feeble, and her electricity relies on solar panels that dont always work.The worst part is that were just now grasping that we lost it all, she said. The destruction is massive, but Im trying to remain positive. ___Khaled reported from Cairo.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump, left, claps as Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk prepares to depart after speaking at a campaign event at the Butler Farm Show, on Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)2025-02-25T05:02:04Z Nearly 40% of the federal contracts that the Trump administration claims to have canceled as part of its signature cost-cutting program arent expected to save the government any money, the administrations own data shows.The Department of Government Efficiency run by Elon Musk last week published an initial list of 1,125 contracts that it terminated in recent weeks across the federal government. Data published on DOGEs Wall of Receipts shows that more than one-third of the contract cancellations, 417 in all, are expected to yield no savings.Thats usually because the total value of the contracts has already been fully obligated, which means the government has a legal requirement to spend the funds for the goods or services it purchased and in many cases has already done so.Its like confiscating used ammunition after its been shot when theres nothing left in it. It doesnt accomplish any policy objective, said Charles Tiefer, a retired University of Baltimore law professor and expert on government contracting law. Their terminating so many contracts pointlessly obviously doesnt accomplish anything for saving money. Dozens of them were for already-paid subscriptions to The Associated Press, Politico and other media services that the administration said it would discontinue. Others were for research studies that have been awarded, training that has taken place, software that has been purchased and interns that have come and gone. An administration official said it made sense to cancel contracts that are seen as potential dead weight, even if the moves do not yield any savings. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. In all, DOGE data says the 417 contracts in question had a total value of $478 million. Dozens of other canceled contracts are expected to yield little if any savings. Its too late for the government to change its mind on many of these contracts and walk away from its payment obligation, said Tiefer, who served on the Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan.Tiefer said DOGE appeared to be taking a slash and burn approach to cutting contracts, which he said could damage the performance of government agencies. He said savings could be made instead by working with agency contracting officers and inspectors general to find efficiencies, an approach the administration has not taken.DOGE says the overall contract cancellations are expected to save more than $7 billion so far, an amount that has been questioned as inflated by independent experts.The canceled contracts were to purchase a wide range of goods and services.The Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded a contract in September to purchase and install office furniture at various branches. While the contract does not expire until later this year, federal records show the agency had already agreed to spend the maximum $567,809 with a furniture company.The U.S. Agency for International Development negotiated a $145,549 contract last year to clean the carpet at its headquarters in Washington. But the full amount had already been obligated to a firm that is owned by a Native American tribe based in Michigan. Another already-spent $249,600 contract went to a Washington, D.C., firm to help prepare the Department of Transportation for the recent transition from the Biden to the Trump administration.Some of the canceled contracts were intended to modernize and improve the way government works, which would seem to be at odds with DOGEs cost-cutting mission.One of the largest, for instance, went to a consulting firm to help carry out a reorganization at the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, which led the agencys response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The maximum $13.6 million had already been obligated to Deloitte Consulting LLP for help with the restructuring, which included closing several research offices.___Foley reported from Iowa City, Iowa. RYAN J. FOLEY Foley covers state and national news for The Associated Press and is based in Iowa City, Iowa. A 20-year AP veteran, hes known for investigative reporting and using open records laws to obtain information. twitter mailto

A Chinese military helicopter flies close to a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic (BFAR) aircraft above Scarborough shoal on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Joeal Calupitan, File)2025-02-24T10:56:38Z BANGKOK (AP) Chinese authorities said they began live-fire exercises in the Gulf of Tonkin on Monday, only days after Vietnam announced a new line marking what it considers its territory in the body of water between the countries. Chinas Maritime Safety Administration said the exercises would be focused on the Beibu Gulf area, closer to the Chinese side of the Gulf of Tonkin, and would run through Thursday evening. It gave no further details, but the drills follow an announcement last week by Vietnam establishing a baseline used to calculate the width of its territorial waters in the Gulf of Tonkin. State-run Vietnam News reported that the baseline was in compliance with the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea and would provide a robust legal basis for safeguarding and exercising Vietnams sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction. Vietnam has not publicly responded to the Chinese drills. China and Vietnam have long had a maritime agreement governing the Gulf of Tonkin, but have been locked in competing claims in the nearby South China Sea over the Spratly and Paracel Islands and maritime areas. China has been been growing aggressive in pursuing those claims, and in October assaulted 10 Vietnamese fishermen near the Paracel Islands, three of whom suffered broken limbs. China claims almost the entire South China Sea as its own, though it has not publicly released exact coordinates of its claim other than a map with 10 dashed lines broadly demarcating what it calls its territory. In addition to Vietnam, Chinas claims overlap with those of the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan, while Indonesia has also figured in violent confrontations with the Chinese coast guard and fishing fleets in the waters around the Natuna Islands.Tensions have been particularly high with the Philippines, with regular confrontations between the two countries. Most recently, a Chinese navy helicopter flew within 10 feet (3 meters) of a Philippine patrol plane last week over the South China Sea, near the hotly disputed Scarborough Shoal off the northwestern Philippines.Leaders in Australia and New Zealand also said China should have given more warning before its navy conducted an unusual series of live-fire exercises in the seas between the two countries, forcing flights on Friday and Saturday to divert on short notice. Political leaders from both countries emphasized that China didnt breach international law, but said they had only been given a couple hours notice rather than the usual 12 to 24 hours. DAVID RISING Rising covers regional Asia-Pacific stories for The Associated Press. He has worked around the world, including covering the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Ukraine, and was based for nearly 20 years in Berlin before moving to Bangkok. twitter mailto

This is a display of iPhone 16s in an Apple Store in Pittsburgh on Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)2025-02-25T06:00:08Z Apple shareholders on Tuesday are expected to reject an attempt to pressure the technology trendsetter into scrapping its corporate programs designed to diversify its workforce.The proposal drafted by the National Center for Public Policy Research a self-described conservative think tank urges Apple to follow a litany of high-profile companies that have retreated from diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives currently in the crosshairs of President Donald Trump.It comes a month after the same group presented a similar proposal during Costcos annual meeting, only to have it overwhelmingly rejected. A similar outcome is expected during Apples annual meeting despite the strident objections of critics. Just as Costco does, Apple has steadfastly stood behind diversity and inclusion efforts that its management contends good business sense. But the National Center for Public Policy Researchs proposal has attacked Apples diversity commitments for being out of line with recent court rulings and said the programs expose the Cupertino, California, company to an onslaught of potential lawsuits for alleged discrimination. The group estimated about 50,000 Apple employees could file cases against Apple without detailing how it arrived at that figure. Its clear that DEI poses litigation, reputational and financial risks to companies, and therefore financial risks to their shareholders, and therefore further risks to companies for not abiding by their fiduciary duties, the National Center for Public Policy Research says in its proposal. The specter of potential legal trouble was magnified last week when Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a federal lawsuit against Target alleging the retailers recently scaled-back DEI program alienated many consumers and undercut sales to the detriment of shareholders. In its rebuttal to the anti-DEI proposal, Apple said its program is an integral part of a culture that has helped elevate the company to its current market value of $3.7 trillion greater than any other business in the world. We believe that how we conduct ourselves is as critical to Apples success as making the best products in the world, the company said in its statement against the proposal. We seek to conduct business ethically, honestly, and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.In its last diversity and inclusion report issued in 2022, Apple disclosed nearly that three-fourths of its global workforce consisted of white and Asian employees. Nearly two-thirds of its employees at that juncture were men.Other major technology companies for years have reported employing mostly white and Asian men, especially in high-paid engineering jobs a tendency that spurred the industry to pursue what have been largely unsuccessful efforts to diversify. MICHAEL LIEDTKE Liedtke has been covering technology and wide range of other business topics for The Associated Press since the turn of the century. twitter mailto

Karla Sofia Gascn, the first openly trans actor nominated for an Oscar, is set to attend the 95th Academy Awards on March 2 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Sources confirm that Netflix will cover the costs for Gascn, who is nominated for Best Actress for her performance in the Spanish-language musical Emilia Prez. While details of her attendance are still being finalizedSource

President Donald Trump listens during a meeting with France's President Emmanuel Macron in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. (Ludovic Marin/Pool via AP)2025-02-24T21:36:24Z WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump said Monday that his tariffs on Canada and Mexico are starting next month, ending a monthlong suspension on the planned import taxes that could potentially hurt economic growth and worsen inflation.Were on time with the tariffs, and it seems like thats moving along very rapidly, the U.S. president said at a White House news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron.While Trump was answering a specific question about the taxes to be charged on Americas two largest trading partners, the U.S. president also stressed more broadly that his intended reciprocal tariffs were on schedule to begin as soon as April.The tariffs are going forward on time, on schedule, Trump said.Trump has claimed that other countries charge unfair import taxes that have come at the expense of domestic manufacturing and jobs. His near constant threats of tariffs have already raised concerns among businesses and consumers about an economic slowdown and accelerating inflation. But Trump claims that the import taxes would ultimately generate revenues to reduce the federal budget deficit and new jobs for workers. Our country will be extremely liquid and rich again, Trump said. In a interview with Fox News late Monday, Macron said he hoped he had convinced Trump to avoid a possible trade war, noting the difficulty of taking on a traditional ally such as Europe while simultaneously using tariffs to challenge Chinas industrial might. We dont need a trade war, Marcon said. We need more prosperity together.Most economists say the cost of the taxes could largely be borne by consumers, retailers and manufacturers such as auto companies that source globally and rely on raw materials such as steel and aluminum that Trump is already, separately, tariffing at 25%.Still, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum appeared confident Monday that her administration would reach agreements with the U.S. government before the deadline set by Trump. We would need to be reaching important agreements this Friday, Sheinbaum told reporters Monday morning before Trumps remarks. On all of the issues there is communication and what we need is to complete this agreement, I believe were in a place to do it.If necessary, she said she would seek to speak directly with Trump again. In high-level discussions between both governments, Mexico has insisted that the U.S. also take a hard look at the drug distribution and consumption in its own country rather than pointing only at production in Mexico, Sheinbaum said.Companies like Walmart have warned about uncertainty, while the University of Michigans latest consumer sentiment index plunged by roughly 10% over the past month in part due to fears about tariffs and inflation worsening. In the 2024 presidential election, voters backed Trump on the belief that he could cool inflation that had spiked to a four-decade high in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic during President Joe Bidens time in office. But Trump has persistently threatened tariffs and kept up those calls even as Macron, standing beside him, had previously suggested that talks on trade had produced some common ground.We want to make a sincere commitment towards a fair competition where we have smooth trade and more investments, Macron said at the news conference, according to a translation of his French remarks.Macron said the idea is to help the U.S. and Europe both prosper, saying that further talks would be carried out by their respective teams to flesh out their ideas.Investors, businesses and the broader public are still trying to determine whether Trump is merely threatening tariffs as a negotiating tool or if he sincerely backs the tax hikes as a way to offset his planned income tax cuts.Despite talks the Trump administration has held with Canadian and Mexican officials, the U.S. president signaled Monday that he would end the 30-day suspension of tariffs that were initially set to take effect in February. Trump plans to tax imports from Mexico at 25% as well as most goods from Canada, with energy products such as Canadian oil and electricity being tariffed at a lower 10%. Trump is placing tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods with the stated goal of pressuring them to do more to address illegal immigration and the smuggling of illicit drugs such as fentanyl. While relatively little fentanyl comes from Canada, the country announced a czar to address the issue and appease Trump in addition to existing measures. Mexico has relocated 10,000 members of its National Guard to the border with the United States in addition to existing measures.Trump also plans to impose new tariffs to match the rates charged by other countries. Set to begin as soon as April, the tariffs could be higher than what other countries would charge as subsidies, regulatory barriers and the value added tax which is akin to a sales tax common in Europe would be included in the calculations.The possibility of retaliatory tariffs planned by Canada, Mexico and Europe could lead to a broader trade conflict that sabotage growth. In February, the Yale University Budget Lab estimated that the Canadian and Mexican tariffs could depress average U.S. incomes by $1,170 to $1,245 a year. __Sanchez contributed reporting from Mexico City. JOSH BOAK Boak covers the White House and economic policy for The Associated Press. He joined the AP in 2013. twitter mailto

People walk outside St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)2025-02-25T05:43:57Z VATICAN CITY (AP) Thousands of people gathered in St. Peters Square Monday evening to pray for an ailing Pope Francis, expressing sorrow for his suffering, hope for his recovery and gratitude for his efforts to steer the Catholic Church in new directions.The 88-year-old Francis has pneumonia in both lungs and remains in critical condition despite showing a slight improvement after 11 days in the hospital.As Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vaticans No. 2, led prayers for 45 minutes on a chilly, rainy night, the faithful fingered rosary beads while hoping for Francis recovery. The Vatican issued a dose of optimism earlier in the evening, delivering a more upbeat health bulletin than in recent days.Still, the mood was mostly grim in the monumental square, with many of the roughly 4,000 assembled understanding they may be in Rome for Francis final days. Crowds sat under umbrellas on folding chairs or stood by the vast colonnades as they reflected fondly on the pontiffs legacy. To see him suffer hurts, said Robert Pietro, a Romanian seminarian who stood at the prayer holding a small, fragrant candle in tribute. But we also pray in thanksgiving for what he has done for the Church. Roberto Allison, a priest from the Mexican state of Guadalajara, said members of his community had come together to show appreciation for all that we have learned from him. Stopping to deliver personal blessings to some at the end of the ceremony, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco said the crowds diversity many world languages could be heard spoken was a big sign of comfort for the Catholic Church.The Argentine pope, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, has been hospitalized at Romes Gemelli hospital since Feb. 14 and doctors have said his condition is touch-and-go, given his age, fragility and preexisting lung disease.But in Mondays update, they said he hadnt had any more respiratory crises since Saturday, and the supplemental oxygen he is using continued but with a slightly reduced oxygen flow and concentrations. A couple of Catholic tourists from Chicago, who arrived holding umbrellas well before the service started, said they prayed for the pope at daily Mass earlier at St. Peters Basilica, and decided to come back. Like many, they found it hard to process they may be in Rome for Francis final days.No one knows the day and time, but its a historic moment nonetheless, said Edward Burjek. It felt the same for Hatzumi Villanueva of Peru. She was particularly fond of former pope St. John Paul II but said that Francis, as the first Latin American pope, draws a bit closer.We came to pray for the pope, that he may recover soon, for the great mission hes sharing with his message of peace, said Villanueva, who praised his empathy for migrants.Francis papacy has also emphasized the defense of the environment and partial openness to LGBTQ+ rights.Outside of the Vatican, Romans, pilgrims and even non-Catholics said they were offering special prayers for the hospitalized pope. We are all sorry, said Raniero Mancinelli, who has tailored ceremonial clothing for Francis and the two previous popes in his shop just outside the Vaticans walls. Elisabetta Zumbo carried a 5-foot-long cross down a cordoned-off section of the street leading to St. Peters as she prepared to lead a group of 34 pilgrims from the northern Italian city of Piacenza. With the rain pouring down, she pledged her group would pray intensely for the pope.There is a lot of emotion and a lot of sadness, Zumbo said.Nearby, a couple from London visiting St. Peters with their son said that even though theyre not Catholic, they felt close to the pontiff being there in his home in the monumental basilica.___AP videojournalist Paolo Santalucia contributed from Rome.___Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, right, participates in a welcome ceremony with Saudi Arabia's Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, at the Pentagon in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)2025-02-25T00:40:38Z WASHINGTON (AP) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday that he was replacing the top lawyers for the military services because he didnt think they were well-suited to provide recommendations when lawful orders are given.Speaking at the start of a meeting with Saudi Arabias defense minister, Hegseth refused to answer a question about why the Trump administration has selected a retired general to be the next Joint Chiefs chairman, when he doesnt meet the legal qualifications for the job.President Donald Trump on Friday abruptly fired the chairman, Air Force Gen. CQ Brown Jr., and Hegseth followed that by firing Navy Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the chief of naval operations, and Air Force Gen. James Slife, the vice chief of the Air Force. He also said he was requesting nominations for the jobs of judge advocate general, or JAG, for the Army, Navy and Air Force. He did not identify the lawyers by name. The Navy JAG, Vice Adm. Christopher French, retired about two months ago, and there was already an ongoing effort to seek a replacement. The Army JAG, Lt. Gen. Joseph B. Berger III, and Air Force JAG, Lt. Gen. Charles Plummer, were fired. The removals which came without any specified reasons in terms of their conduct sent a new wave of apprehension through the Pentagon. And they added to the broader confusion over the changing parameters of Elon Musks demand that federal employees provide recent job accomplishments by the end of Monday or risk getting fired, even though government officials later said the edict is voluntary. Throughout the Pentagon on Monday, military and civilian workers juggled their routine national security duties with a growing unease that anyone could be next on the firing block.Hegseth has defended Trumps firing of Brown, saying it was not unusual and the president deserves to pick his own team. The defense chief argued that other presidents made changes in military personnel. Trumps choice of retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan Caine is unusual. Caine would have to come back onto active duty, but he does not meet the legal requirements for the top post. According to law, a chairman must have served as a combatant commander or service chief. Those requirements can be waived by the president. Historically, Pentagon leaders have deliberately shifted top admirals and generals into a job as service chief for even a brief period of time in order to qualify them for the chairmans post. In recent decades, a number of three-star and four-star officers have been fired, but Pentagon leaders have routinely made clear why they were ousted. Those reasons included disagreements over the conduct of the Iraq or Afghanistan wars, problems with the oversight of Americas nuclear arsenal and public statements critical of the president and other leaders.Brown, a history-making fighter pilot and only the second Black general to serve as chairman, is the first in that post to be fired in recent history. Hegseth made it clear before he took the secretarys job that he thought Brown should be fired, and he questioned whether Brown got the job because he was Black. Hegseth has also repeatedly argued that military officers would be reviewed based on meritocracy. Its unclear, however, how Franchetti, Slife and the lawyers were evaluated and what meritocracy they were found to lack.As a result, Pentagon workers are left to decipher whether the officers were fired due to political reasons or because of their race or gender. Hegseth has laid out a campaign to rid the military of leaders who support diversity and equity in the ranks. And there have been persistent threats from the Trump administration that military officers advocating diversity and equity or so-called wokeism could be targeted.Hegseth has said that efforts to expand diversity and equity have eroded the militarys readiness. LOLITA C. BALDOR Baldor has covered the Pentagon and national security issues for The Associated Press since 2005. She has reported from all over the world including warzones in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. twitter mailto

Sheep look for water in a dry pond used by local farms for their livestock, in Contrada Chiapparia, near the town of Caltanissetta, central Sicily, Italy, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)2025-02-25T03:00:06Z BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) An annual United Nations conference on biodiversity that ran out of time last year will resume its work Tuesday in Rome with money at the top of the agenda.That is, how to spend whats been pledged so far and how to raise a lot more to help preserve plant and animal life on Earth.The talks in Colombia known as COP16 yielded some significant outcomes before they broke up in November, including an agreement that requires companies that benefit from genetic resources in nature say, by developing medicines from rainforest plants to share the benefits. And steps were taken to give Indigenous peoples and local communities a stronger voice in conservation matters.But two weeks turned out to be not enough time to get everything done. A bumblebee flies between poppy flowers near the buildings of the banking district in Frankfurt, Germany, May 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File) A bumblebee flies between poppy flowers near the buildings of the banking district in Frankfurt, Germany, May 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More The Cali talks followed the historic 2022 COP15 accord in Montreal, which included 23 measures aimed at protecting biodiversity. Those included putting 30% of the planet and 30% of degraded ecosystems under protection by 2030, known as the Global Biodiversity Framework. Montreal was about the what what are we all working towards together? said Georgina Chandler, head of policy and campaigns for the Zoological Society London. Cali was supposed to focus on the how putting the plans and the financing in place to ensure we can actually implement this framework. They eventually lost a quorum because people simply went home, said Linda Krueger of The Nature Conservancy, who is in Rome for the two days of talks And so now were having to finish these last critical decisions, which are some of the the nitty gritty decisions on financing, on resource mobilization and on the planning and monitoring and reporting requirements under the Global Biodiversity Framework. Deforestation is visible near the areas of several wood pellet production companies in Pohuwato, Gorontalo province, Indonesia, Oct. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Yegar Sahaduta Mangiri, File) Deforestation is visible near the areas of several wood pellet production companies in Pohuwato, Gorontalo province, Indonesia, Oct. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Yegar Sahaduta Mangiri, File) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More The overall financial aim was to achieve $20 billion a year in the fund by 2025, and then $30 billion by 2030. So far, only $383 million had been pledged as of November, from 12 nations or sub-nations: Austria, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Province of Qubec, Spain, and the United Kingdom.Participants will discuss establishing a global financing instrument for biodiversity intended to effectively distribute the money raised. And a big part of the talks will be about raising more money. Completely off track on larger financial goal A group of men and a woman carry bananas and fish from the port, in Leticia, Colombia, Oct. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia, File) A group of men and a woman carry bananas and fish from the port, in Leticia, Colombia, Oct. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia, File) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Chandler and Kruger both said the finance points at Colombias talks were particularly contentious. Its really about how do we collect the money and how do we get it distributed fairly, get it to the ground where its needed most, so that thats really the core issue, said Kruger. Oscar Soria, chief executive of The Common Initiative, a think tank specializing in global economic and environmental policy, was pessimistic about raising a great deal more money.We are completely off track in terms of achieving that money, Soria said. Key sources of biodiversity finance are shrinking or disappearing, he said.What was supposed to be a good Colombian telenovela in which people will actually bring the right resources, and the happy ending of bringing their money, could actually end up being a tragic Italian opera, where no one actually agrees to anything and everyone loses, Soria said. Antelope run as they migrate through national parks and surrounding areas in South Sudan, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga, File) Antelope run as they migrate through national parks and surrounding areas in South Sudan, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga, File) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Susana Muhamad, Colombias former environment minister and the COP16 president, said shes hopeful of a good message from Rome.That message is that still, even with a very fragmented geopolitical landscape, with a world increasingly in conflict, we can still get an agreement on some fundamental issues, Muhamad said in a statement. And one of the most important is the need to protect life in this crisis of climate change and biodiversity. Global wildlife populations have plunged on average by 73% in 50 years, according to an October report from the World Wildlife Fund and the Zoological Society of London.Biodiversity is basically essential to our livelihoods and well-being, Chandler said. Its essential to the the air we breathe, the water we drink, rainfall that food systems rely on, protecting us from increasing temperatures and increasing storm occurrences as well. Fishermen push a boat in the Aleixo Lake amid a drought in Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, Sept. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Edmar Barros, File) Fishermen push a boat in the Aleixo Lake amid a drought in Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, Sept. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Edmar Barros, File) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Chandler said deforestation in the Amazon has far-reaching impacts across South America, just as it does in the Congo Basin and other major biodiverse regions worldwide. We know that has an impact on rainfall, on food systems, on soil integrity in other countries. So its not just something thats kind of small and isolated. Its a widespread problem, she said. A cormorant gets a running start to take off from the calm waters of Northeast Harbor, Maine, at sunrise on Oct. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File) A cormorant gets a running start to take off from the calm waters of Northeast Harbor, Maine, at sunrise on Oct. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More ___The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. STEVEN GRATTAN Grattan reports on the Amazon rainforest and deforestation around Latin America for The Associated Press. He is based in Bogota, Colombia. twitter instagram mailto

The air traffic control tower at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is pictured, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va., near the wreckage of a mid-air collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet in the Potomac River. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)2025-02-25T05:12:24Z Tens of thousands of planes take off, land and perform touch-and-goes at the Marana Regional Airport in southern Arizona every year. Without an air traffic control tower, its a calculated dance that requires communication by pilots.Two small planes collided in midair over one of the runways on the outskirts of Tucson last week. One hit the ground and caught fire, sending up a plume of black smoke. The remains of two people were found in the charred wreckage. The other plane was able to land, with those occupants uninjured.The collision was the latest aviation mishap to draw attention in recent weeks. The circumstances vary widely with each case, however, and experts who study aviation accidents say they dont see any connection between them.Chatter over the airwaves has provided some clues about what happened in Arizona. A chief flight instructor who was in the air with a student that day heard the commotion over the radio: One plane was attempting a touch-and-go when another clipped its propeller while attempting to land. Erwin Castillo, who works for IFLY Pilot Training, recalled hearing one pilot scream: Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! He just hit us. It will be up to federal investigators to determine what caused the crash, a detailed process that will take months.While some observers suggest having a control tower may have made a difference, experts say not having a tower doesnt mean the airport is any less safe; pilots just have a different set of communication procedures to follow. How many airports in the US have control towers?Of the 5,100 public airports across the country, only about 10% have towers staffed by people who direct the flow of traffic. These are the busiest of airports, with complex operations and large volumes of commercial flights.For the airports without control towers, pilots rely on radio communications and the principle of see and avoid to ensure they can maneuver safely. The concept is drilled into pilots from Day 1 of their training and its applicable regardless of the kind of airspace theyre in, said Mike Ginter, a retired Navy aviator and senior vice president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Associations Air Safety Institute. He likened it to being behind the wheel of a car and practicing all the safety rules learned in drivers ed. You dont have to tell the state police that youre getting ready to drive to the supermarket to get groceries. You just go out, and you look both ways before you turn, and you turn on your turn signal and you drive, he explained, saying there are basic tenets of safety that are ingrained in pilots.The system has worked well, considering the sheer number of planes coming and going daily from small airports and the roughly 26 million hours of flight time logged by general aviation pilots. What prompted regulation of the friendly skies? It was a summer day in 1956 when two commercial flights left Los Angeles within minutes of each other one en route to Chicago and the other to Kansas. Flying under visual flight rules, the planes collided over the Grand Canyon in Arizona, killing all 128 people aboard. The crash site is now a National Historic Landmark.Even though U.S. air traffic had more than doubled since the end of World War II, it was this disaster that helped to fuel efforts to overhaul aviation safety.Legislation was introduced in 1958 to create an independent federal agency that would provide for the safe and efficient use of national airspace. The bill was signed within months and the first Federal Aviation Agency administrator was appointed. Responsibilities evolved, and the agency became the Federal Aviation Administration as air traffic control systems were being modernized. Are new control towers being planned?Through the FAA, airports can apply for federal grants to modernize and build air traffic control towers that are staffed by private companies and contract workers, rather than FAA staff.Nearly 180 airports nationwide are eligible for funding under the program, with most looking to upgrade existing towers some that date back to the 1940s and others that were meant to be temporary. A review of funding awarded through the program over the past four fiscal year shows a handful of airports were awarded money specifically for site studies, environmental work and construction of new towers. That includes airports in Bend, Oregon; Boulder City, Nevada; and Mankato, Minnesota.In the case of Marana, the airport was first accepted into the program in 2019 but the coronavirus pandemic stalled efforts to get a tower built by the five-year deadline. Airport officials have said they now are on track to complete the project by 2029. Will federal job cuts affect air traffic safety?U.S. President Donald Trump issued a memo in late January to top transportation officials, ordering an immediate assessment of aviation safety following the midair collision of an Army helicopter and commercial passenger jet over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. Sixty-seven people were killed.Trump raised questions about hiring practices within the FAA, suggesting previous Democratic administrations had shifted away from merit-based hiring.Some FAA jobs have been eliminated as Trump streamlines the federal workforce and looks to ferret out waste and curb spending, but less than 1% of the agencys more than 45,000 workers were probationary employees targeted as part of the job cuts, federal officials have said. In addition, the administration has said no air traffic controllers or critical safety personnel were fired as part of the effort. But labor and industry groups say even without cuts, air traffic control towers were already understaffed.Trump has said that he would support legislation aimed at modernizing the nations air traffic control system. In a letter sent to members of Congress last week, the industry group Airlines for America pushed for emergency funding for critical air traffic control technology and infrastructure as well as air controller staffing and training.___Associated Press writer Sejal Govindarao in Phoenix contributed to this report.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., arrives to talk to reporters after a closed-door meeting with fellow Republicans to find agreement on a spending bill, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. The current stopgap measure lasts through March 14. After that, without congressional action, there would be a partial government shutdown. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)2025-02-25T12:04:42Z WASHINGTON (AP) House Speaker Mike Johnson will try against the odds to muscle a Republican budget blueprint to passage this week, a step toward delivering President Donald Trumps big, beautiful bill with $4.5 trillion in tax breaks and $2 trillion in spending cuts over stiff opposition from Democrats and even some Republicans.With almost no votes to spare in Johnsons bare-bones GOP majority, the speaker is fighting on all fronts against Democrats, uneasy rank-and-file Republicans and skeptical GOP senators as he works to keep the package on track. Votes set for Tuesday evening are in jeopardy, and the outcome is uncertain.Were going to get everyone there, Johnson, of Louisiana, said at an event at the start of the week, half-joking that he had a prayer request involved.The package, if approved, would be a crucial part of the budget process as Trump pushes the Republicans who control Congress to approve a massive bill that would extend tax breaks, which he secured during his first term but are expiring later this year, while also cutting spending across federal programs and services. Slashing government is not always popular at homeBut Republicans are running into a familiar problem: Slashing federal spending is typically easier said than done. With cuts to the Pentagon and other programs largely off limits, much of the other government outlays go for health care, food stamps, student loans and programs relied on by their constituents.Its all unfolding as billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk is tearing through federal agencies with his Department of Government Efficiency firing thousands of workers nationwide, and angry voters are starting to confront lawmakers at town hall meetings back home. While we fully support efforts to rein in wasteful spending and deliver on President Trumps agenda, it is imperative that we do not slash programs that support American communities across our nation, wrote Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, and several other GOP lawmakers in the Congressional Hispanic Conference. Democrats protest tax cuts for wealthyDemocrats in the House and the Senate are vowing to fight the whole process. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York was planning to gather lawmakers on the Capitol steps in protest during Tuesdays session.This is not what people want, said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., during a rules debate ahead of planned votes.We all know that trickle-down economics, he said about the 2017 tax breaks that flowed mainly to the wealthy, dont work. Trump has signaled a preference for the big bill but also appears to enjoy a competition between the House and the Senate, lawmakers said, as he pits the Republicans against each other to see which version will emerge on a path toward approval.Senate Republicans, wary that Johnson can lift his bill over the finish line, launched their own scaled-back $340 billion package last week. Its focused on sending Trump money his administration needs for its deportation and border security agenda now, with plans to tackle the tax cuts separately later this year. Im holding my breath. Im crossing my fingers, said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who said he is rooting for the Houses approach as the better option. I think a one-shot is their best opportunity. The House GOP faces pitfalls aheadJohnson, whose party lost seats in last Novembers election, commands one of the thinnest majorities in modern history, which means he must keep almost every Republican in line or risk losing the vote.Already, several lawmakers have objected to the package either because it cuts too much or because it doesnt cut enough. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., center, departs a news conference joined from left by Rep. Abraham Hamadeh, R-Ariz., and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., after discussing work on a spending bill, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., center, departs a news conference joined from left by Rep. Abraham Hamadeh, R-Ariz., and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., after discussing work on a spending bill, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More The most conservative Republicans warn it will pile onto the nations $36 trillion debt load, because the cost of the tax breaks, at least $4.5 trillion over the decade, outweighs the $2 trillion in spending cuts to government programs.More moderate Republican lawmakers worry that the enormous budget cuts being eyed some $880 billion to the committee that handles health care spending, including Medicaid, for example, or $230 billion to the agriculture committee that funds food stamps will be too harmful to their constituents back home. GOP leaders are trying to convince lawmakers that the details will be debated in the weeks to come and that this weeks vote is just a first step.The budget is being compiled during a lengthy process that first sends instructions to the various House and Senate committees, which will then have several weeks to devise more detailed plans for additional debate and votes.The committees need time to go work to find savings, said Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. But we cant even get to that if we dont get through the budget. So, weve got to get the first step done later this week.Ten House GOP chairmen of the committees involved issued a joint statement in a show of force to push the package forward.The Houses one big beautiful bill delivers on the entirety of President Trumps policy agenda, they wrote in a letter obtained by The Associated Press. We must meet this historic moment with the bold action it requires. Rep. Jodey Arrington, the Republican chairman of the House Budget Committee, told reporters he recognizes the tension between Republicans who want more cuts and those from politically competitive districts who have a higher level of sensitivity to some of the spending reforms.Arrington said with economic growth assumptions, from 1.8% as projected by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office to 2.6% as projected by House Republicans, the package would generate about $2.6 trillion in savings over 10 years and would ensure the plan helps reduce the deficit. Some fiscal advocacy groups view the GOPs economic projections as overly optimistic.___Follow the APs coverage of the U.S. House of Representatives at https://apnews.com/hub/united-states-house-of-representatives. MATT BROWN Brown is a reporter covering national politics, race and democracy issues. twitter instagram mailto

Redefining Luxury at SeaSince 2021, Virgin Voyages has been redefining the cruising experience, introducing a much-needed innovative approach to the high seas. With its fleet of "Lady Ships," an homage to founder Sir Richard Branson and the Virgin brand's British roots, this award-winning cruise line caters exclusively to adults, offering a modern, sophisticated sanctuary for travelers 18+. Among the fleet is Resilient Lady, which set sail in May 2023. The Mykonos Moons to Spanish Sunrises itinerary, sailing later this year from October 19 to 26, starts in Athens and takes travelers to breathtaking island destinations such as Mykonos, Sicily, and Palma de Mallorca, as well as the Spanish cities Valencia and Barcelona.Capable of carrying up to 2,770 passengers, this 110,000-ton vessel spans 17 decks of luxurious accommodations and amenities. With 86% of cabins featuring a balcony and 93% offering ocean views, this cruise invites travelers to unwind and savor the Mediterranean in unparalleled style. Furthermore, Virgin Voyages goes beyond the typical cruise experience, embracing sustainability at every turn. The company has banned single-use plastics across its fleet, replacing straws, bottled water, condiment packets, and takeaway cups with recyclable and reusable alternatives. Guests, or "Sailors" as Virgin calls them, enjoy complimentary access to filtered still and sparkling water, tea, coffee, and soft drinks throughout the ship. Additionally, the fleet is designed with state-of-the-art energy-efficient technology, reflecting Virgin Voyages' commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.For those who seek a more refined seascape rather than an EDM-fueled extravaganza often marketed towards gay travelers, Virgin Voyages strikes the perfect balance between vibrant entertainment, serene retreats, and inclusivity for all within the LGBTQ+ community. Whether you're new to cruising or ready to "pop your Virgin cherry," Resilient Lady offers an unforgettable voyage.Life onboard: Cutting-edge amenities and entertainmentLife aboard Resilient Lady is a vibrant mix of indulgence, creativity, and adventure. From the moment you step aboard, the ships energy is palpable, offering something for every kind of traveler. Days are filled with a dizzying array of activities, from fitness classes to nostalgic board games and tastings. For solo travelers, the ship makes it easy to connect, starting with a dedicated solo Sailor meetup on the first day. Its a friendly way to break the ice, and attending workshops or classes throughout the voyage offers even more opportunities to meet like-minded adventurers.Signature experiences, like the Grog Walka uniquely Virgin take on a pub crawland the incredibly popular bungee fitness classes are just two examples of the creative programming. The Virgin Voyages App is your best friend here, helping you navigate the lineup and secure spots for all bookable activities.The drag shows are not to be missed. These lively performances offer a delightfully raunchy spectacle.Music pulses throughout the ship, reflecting Sir Richard Bransons Virgin Music roots. Whether its hearing Lady Gagas Born This Way on numerous occasions while soaking in the hot tub or discovering new tracks at Voyage Vinyl, the onboard record shop with personal listening stations, the soundtrack to your week is expertly curated and inclusively joyful.For nightlife, the Red Room offers trailblazing theatrical performances with its transformational stage setups, while The Manor nightclub dazzles with its glittering entrance and high-energy vibes. Richards Rooftop, an exclusive sundeck reserved for Rockstar Sailors, offers a charming experience with daily complimentary champagne and cocktails during Richards Sunset Hour from 56 PM. Karaoke enthusiasts can book a private session at The Groupie, while live music fills the air throughout the ship in intimate bars and lounges.With its hydrotherapy pools, mud rooms, and quartz beds, wellness lovers will find their sanctuary at Redemption Spa. For grooming, The Dry Dock offers blowouts and hair treatments designed to leave you looking your best, Stubble and Groom provides upscale barber services, and The Tune Up delivers luxurious manicures and pedicures; theres nothing quite like indulging in a soothing foot soak at the end of the day while soaking in the breathtaking views of the endless ocean. For the adventurous at heart, Squid Ink, the first tattoo studio at sea, offers a chance to leave with more than memories. Whether youre considering a custom design, permanent makeup, or a piercing, the studio features resident tattoo artists and occasional guest artists for a truly unique experience. Rates start at $200.With so much to explore, its no surprise that many Virgin guests are eager to returnthis is a boat where youll never run out of things to do!Your home at sea: A closer look at the cabinsThe cabins aboard Resilient Lady redefine comfort at sea, blending sleek modernity with thoughtful design and a touch of nautical tradition. With crisp white walls, wooden accents, and carefully considered feng shui, the spaces feel both stylish and functional. For those opting for a sea-facing terrace, the addition of a private balcony with two chairs, a small table, and a custom-designed hammockhandwoven by artisans from Yellow Leaf Hammocks, a social enterprise empowering women in Thailandwas a personal highlight of my trip. Swinging by the sea, listening to the waves, and gazing at the endless horizon felt like pure bliss.Practicality meets innovation with intuitive features throughout the cabin. Built-in sensors conserve energy when you leave and enter by closing or opening the blinds and adjusting the temperature, lighting options offer customizable modes, from photo shoot to in the mood and a wearable bracelet replaces the traditional keycard, granting access to your room as well as any onboard purchases.The bathroom, though compact, is cleverly designed with a rain shower, wall-mounted Red Flower shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, as well as a clothesline for drying swimwear. Other thoughtful inclusions are face cloths, wall-mounted glass holders for toothbrushes, and a box of facial tissues. Robes and slippers are not included in standard cabins, but there is plenty of storage, including wardrobes, drawers, baskets, and hooksideal for keeping your belongings organized. A lifejacket is also neatly stored in the closet.Daily housekeeping can be requested using the cabins intuitive indicator system, located inside the closet area. The tidy room button, marked by a spilled drink icon, turns blue when pressed, while the do not disturb button lights up red. The room itself features a transitional bed that converts between a bed and a sofa, a vanity desk with an ottoman, ample US/USB outlets, a 43 4K flat-screen TV, and daily replenished still and sparkling water.By the first night, settling in feels effortless. With smart storage solutions and thoughtful touches like the signature ocean scent that subtly fills the air, the cabins on Resilient Lady offer a cozy yet functional retreatperfect for unwinding after a day of Mediterranean adventure.Dining like a rock star: The culinary experienceDining aboard Resilient Lady is a refreshing departure from the standard cruise experience. Instead of a single large dining room, Virgin Voyages offers more than 20 unique eateries, each delivering its own vibe, menu, and atmosphere. While they welcome walk-ins, reservations via the Virgin app are highly recommended, as popular spots fill up quickly. Whether you're craving Korean BBQ at Gunbae or elevated Mexican flavors at Pink Agave, the dining experience feels more like a curated journey through world-class restaurants than a typical cruise offering.For plant-based cruisers like myself, Razzle Dazzle is a standout. This vibrant venue features a menu focused on vegetarian and vegan fare but also offers what Virgin calls "naughty" options for those seeking meat or fish. The Test Kitchen is a must-visit for those who love adventure on their plate. This multi-course experience takes you through experimental and artfully presented dishes, each a surprise. This restaurant invites you to slow down (allow yourself at least 2 hours to dine here) and savor every bite, making it one of the highlights of the culinary offerings onboard.Upstairs in The Galley, the ships main food market, guests can enjoy a variety of quick-service options, from sushi and tacos to freshly made soups and salads and comforting diner classics like burgers and fries. While the dessert selection here is extensive, it would benefit from a couple more vegan-friendly options. Even so, the market remains an excellent spot for casual dining without making a reservation. This is also where tea, coffee, and soft drinks like juices and sodas are easily accessible throughout the day.If you don't get your sugar fix upstairs at The Galley, head down to deck seven, and you'll find Lick Me 'Til I Scream offering a rotating selection of delicious ice creams and sorbets in cups or cones. Flavors change frequently, so if you spot one you're interested in, don't waitit might not be available the next day. There's always at least one vegan option available, typically a refreshing sorbet.Virgin's commitment to sustainability extends across its culinary program, too, with all seafood and produce responsibly sourced to ensure both quality and environmental impact. Whether indulging in Mediterranean-inspired small plates at The Dock House or creating a custom pizza at The Pizza Place, dining on Resilient Lady sets a new standard for thoughtful and inclusive culinary experiences.And when it comes to drinks, Resilient Lady delivers some of the best bars at sea. From the cozy Draught Haus, where you can enjoy craft beers and artisanal brews, to Sip, an elegant Champagne-focused lounge, there's something for every mood. Whether you prefer a classic cocktail by the pool at Gym & Tonic or a nautically themed drink at Loose Cannon, you'll never be far from a perfectly crafted beverage.Ports of call: What to see and do at each stopVirgin Voyages offers Shore Thingsa curated selection of land excursions easily booked through the app. Vetted for quality and convenience, these experiences ensure peace of mind as you plan your adventures. The ship boards in Piraeus, a port city near Athens, making it a great idea to arrive in Athens at least a day early to avoid any last-minute travel stress. Conveniently, you can check in your luggage at the port and explore before officially boarding. For those wanting to maximize their time, consider a scenic drive and walking tour of Athens, complete with airport pickup, before heading to the ship.While Virgins Shore Things offers a wide variety of options, the more popular ones can sell out, or you might crave something a bit more unique. Below are some excursions I explored in other ports.MykonosThe Resilient Lady docks in the celebrity-favorite, sun-soaked island of Mykonos on October 20, giving you 12 hours to explore this iconic island. I opted for a 4-hour Private Jeep Tour with WCM Mykonos Tours, a family-run company that ensures a personal touch to your adventure. The pickup was seamless, with our friendly driver, Dimitris, waiting at the port and holding a sign with my name. The Jeep was clean, spacious, and perfect for up to four guests, making it an excellent option for families or friends at $524. Our tour began at the Armenistis Lighthouse, offering panoramic views of the Aegean Sea and a serene start to the day. We then visited the Bay of Ftelia, known for its tranquil beaches and windsurfing spots. At ersini Beach, I took the opportunity to ground myself on the soft Greek white sand and even went for a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear waters. Fokos Beach was another highlight, a secluded gem far from the bustling crowds. Dimitris tailored the trip perfectly, allowing ample time to soak in the natural beauty at each stop. The tour also included a visit to Paleokastro, home to the ruins of a Venetian castle, and Ano Mera village, where we paused for a picturesque lunch stop (food not included). Along the way, Dimitris shared fascinating insights into Mykonos, from the history behind its iconic white homes with blue accents to quirky details like how door colors signify family tradesred for farming and blue for anglers. The Jeep was ideal for navigating the steep dirt roads, taking us to hidden spots not easily accessible.The tour ended around 2 p.m., with the option to be dropped off directly at the ship. Instead, I opted to be dropped off at Mykonos Old Town to wander its labyrinthine streets and enjoy some shopping before making my way back to the ship. The walk from Old Town to the port is both easy and scenic, with a quick ferry ride offering more opportunities to soak in the charm of this enchanting destination. This was my second time visiting Mykonos but my first in the off-season, which felt like a dreamfewer crowds, cooler temperatures, and a uniquely magical atmosphere.SicilyWhen Resilient Lady docks in Sicily on October 22, it's your opportunity to soak in the irresistible allure of this culture-soaked island. Like many, I fell under Sicily's spell after season two of The White Lotus. To explore the dreamy locales up close, I chose the Private White Lotus On Land Tour with Discover Messina Sicily. This tour isn't just for White Lotus fans; it's for anyone eager to experience Sicily's undeniable charm. The 7-hour Catania shore excursion began at 8:30 a.m., when our guide, Sara (a delightfully knowledgeable, tour-certified local), whisked us from the Catania cruise port in a sleek Mercedes. At $960 for up to four guests, the price includes seamless transport and peace of mind. With most of the tour centered around Taormina, a fair distance from Catania, Discover Messina Sicily's guarantee to get you back before the ship departs is worth its weight in gold. The highlights of the tour are plentiful. Taormina enchants with its dramatic Greek-Roman Amphitheater, picturesque streets, and jaw-dropping views of the Ionian Sea. Castelmola, a quaint hilltop town, offers a quirkier vibe. Don't miss Bar Turrisi, a cheeky caf with risqu dcor inspired by the male anatomy. Sip a strong espresso and explore the nearby charming souvenir shops selling Sicilian keepsakes.One unforgettable stop is the iconic San Domenico Palace, now a Four Seasons hotel and one of the world's most famous properties, set on the site of a 14th-century convent. Fans of The White Lotus will recognize it as the backdrop for much of season two. While access to the grounds is restricted to guests, with plenty of notice, you can book a Mediterranean-inspired lunch at Anciovi, offering jaw-dropping views as stunning as the food, or a spa treatment at their Botanica Spa, which recently launched a package for non-guests. Inside, the hotel exudes unparalleled elegance, with Dolce & Gabbana sun loungers framing its 69-foot infinity pool that appears to blend seamlessly with the Ionian Sea. The lush gardens are a masterpiece in themselves, perfect for a quiet stroll before returning to reality. Afterward, Discover Messina Sicily ensures a seamless ride back to the ship, leaving you inspired and craving more Sicilian magic, and by the time you're back on board, you'll be plotting your returnbecause once you've sipped almond wine and stood atop Mt. Tauro, Sicily leaves a mark you can't quite shake.Palma de MallorcaOn October 24, guests will arrive at the sunny Balearic gem of Palma de Mallorca, where a visit to UM Beach House is the perfect way to embrace Mediterranean bliss. This chic beach club balances laid-back vibes and authentic European style. With both a stunning pool and a small oceanfront access point for dips in the Mediterranean, it's ideal for those who love the sea but not the sand. After days on the cruise, it's a chance to truly feel grounded while basking in breathtaking surroundings.UM Beach House is more than just a spot to swimtheir cocktails and food are exceptional. The Coffee Break is perfect for coffee and Bailey's fans and comes highly recommended, and their strawberry-flavored summer daiquiris are a must-try. Their burgers and tacos (with vegan options available) are equally stellar. Arrive early to snag a prime spot and enjoy the chill vibe before the music ramps up around 3:30 PM, as locals begin to gather.After soaking in the Med and poolside vibes, explore Palma's treasures before heading back to the boat. Snap Instagram-worthy shots at the magnificent Cathedral of Santa Maria (more commonly referred to as La Seu), stroll the charming streets of the Old Town, or shop for artisanal trinkets at local boutiques. This mix of relaxation and exploration ensures your Palma stop becomes a standout memoryone where you truly lived the Mediterranean dream. Pro tip: Bumper in at least 15 minutes for Ubers to arrive on this island!Mainland Spain: Valencia & BarcelonaResilient Lady wraps up its journey with two unforgettable stops in mainland Spain. First up is Valencia on October 25, a city celebrated for its futuristic City of Arts and Sciences, vibrant street art, and delicious paella. I had my heart set on a Sidecar Tour, but it was sold out, so I opted instead for an adventure to Plaza de la Virgen. This historic square, with its iconic Turia Fountain and Basilica of the Virgin, is perfect for a morning stroll. Nearby, the El Carmen neighborhood boasts colorful murals and charming cobblestone streets, while the stunning Gothic La Lonja de la Seda is a UNESCO gem worth visiting. For a unique coffee break, Caf de las Horas near Plaza de la Virgen is a must. With its eclectic vibe, featuring chandeliers, ornate mirrors, and plush seating, its a cozy and whimsical spot to unwind.On October 26, the cruise concludes its journey with a final stop in Barcelona, where the citys architectural wonders, like Antoni Gaud's Sagrada Famlia and Park Gell, await. With an afternoon flight, I didnt have time to explore, but I recommend staying longer to fully immerse yourself in this cultural gem. Whether strolling down La Rambla, savoring tapas in the Gothic Quarter, or soaking in Mediterranean views from Montjuc, Barcelona promises an unforgettable finale to your adventure.The price of paradise: costs and inclusionsEmbarking on the Mykonos Moons to Spanish Sunrises voyage aboard Resilient Lady, set to sail from Piraeus (Athens), Greece, to Barcelona, Spain, from October 19-26, 2025, promises to be a transformative weeklong experience, offering a blend of luxury, style, and thoughtful inclusions. Prices start at approximately $1,710 per person (or $2,990 for two sharing) for an Insider cabin. Perfect for solo travelers or duos eager to explore every corner of the ship and its ports, this cozy yet stylish option ensures you have a private retreat without the feeling that you overindulged.For those who dream of morning stretching and evening stargazing with uninterrupted views of the horizon, the Sea Terrace cabins, starting at around $3200 per person (or $3,732 for two sharing), feature private outdoor spaces with a signature handwoven hammocka haven for relaxation.For the ultimate indulgence, the Rockstar and Mega Rockstar Quarters, starting at $8968 for two sharing, offer Tom Dixon-designed suites, marble-clad bathrooms, and exclusive access to the ship's most coveted areas, such as Richard's Rooftop. This private sundeck includes complimentary champagne and cocktails during Richard's Sunset Hour from 56 PM each day. No matter your choice, every voyage includes Wi-Fi, gym access, a range of fitness classes, all dining (with many menus crafted by Michelin-starred chefs), gratuities, and world-class entertainment developed in partnership with well-known brands like famed Brooklyn nightclub House of Yes and Weiner Entertainment Group. With complimentary soda, water, teas, and drip coffee, this adult-only, all-inclusive experience is designed to create lifelong memories at sea.The packing list: Essentials for your Mediterranean adventureLet's start with the most importantyour skin. Add a little holiday glow with Daybird's 4-in-1 Serum Skin Tint. Non-comedogenic (so it won't clog your pores), it's a serum, moisturizer, sheer tint, and mineral SPF 50 all in one. Made with clean, vegan ingredients, it comes in three shades featuring dermatologist-approved skincare actives. It's fragrance-free, great for sensitive skin, and leaves a natural, dewy finish.Terns' Mayday is a lifesaver. Sunburn can sneak up on you faster than you think when lounging on the balcony hammock. This marine-biologist-founded brand's gel cream soothes and repairs sunburnt or irritated skin with its high concentration of Sirenas Complex. It provides an instant cooling sensation while enhancing your skin's natural defenses.For wrinkle-free shirts and tees, grab a can of deCrease. No irons are in the room for safety reasons, but this non-flammable aerosol works wonders. Just spray, stretch, and watch wrinkles disappear. It's skin-safe, eco-friendly, and available in two sizes: 8.8oz or 3.4oz.While hot water is always available in The Galley, there's no kettle in the room. This sleek 370ml travel kettle is compact, lightweight, and brews a fresh cup of tea in under five minutesperfect for starting your day with green tea or winding down with chamomile on your balcony.For peace of mind, the Scout Travel Smart Luggage Tag is unbeatable. It combines your digital contact info (accessible via QR code), a luggage finder using Apple's Find My technology, and an 85dB motion alarm. Waterproof, USB-C rechargeable, and FAA-compliant, it lasts 2-4 months per charge and even notifies you at 20% battery. Attach it to your suitcase for ultimate security. Magware's 3-piece Magnetic Cutlery Set is compact, lightweight, and made to last. These magnetically connected utensils are perfect for storing in your pool bag and accompanying to-go boxes from The Galley. They're also ideal for when you return home for everything from desk lunches to camping, eliminating the need for single-use plastics.This Rumpl stuffable pillowcase is a versatile travel essential. Use it to store extra clothes and avoid overweight baggage fees, or pack it empty and fill it with T-shirts or other soft items to create a comfy pillow. It's a clever way to save space while making room in your suitcase for souvenirs.For first-time cruisers, take note: Virgin Voyages keeps it casualno formal suits are needed. Comfortable walking shoes, like lightweight Vessi slip-ons, are perfect for exploring. A reusable water bottle, such as my go-to, Larq, will keep you hydrated by using the many refillable stations. These Saxx swim shorts hold up against chlorine and salt water and are the perfect length for the "hoochie daddies." The Runway track, boxing ring, and fitness classes mean workout gear is essential. And for Scarlet Night, pack something redsuch as this Orlebar Brown chic floral short and shirt set or Simkhai's fiery red dress to steal the show.The packing list: Essentials for your Mediterranean adventureA great first step is to watch the safety video in your room as soon as you arrive. Its quick, convenient, and spares you the hassle of lining up for a traditional safety drilla huge perk for seasoned cruisers.If youre planning on indulging in spa or salon treatments, visit on the first day to take advantage of special discounts before the ship even sets sail. Whether its a pedicure, manicure, or a last-minute haircut, its the perfect way to start your trip feeling polished and relaxed.For those eyeing the onboard tattoo parlor, plan ahead. Its popular with passengers wanting to commemorate their journey. Booking your session for the final evening ensures you can enjoy the pools and hot tubs without worrying about wetting your fresh ink.While Wi-Fi is reliable throughout the ship, deck 15 often has a stronger connection. Basic Wi-Fi is included, which works well for messaging and checking emails, but for remote workers needing to send large files or join video calls, premium Wi-Fi is available for $40 per day.Virgins approach to cruising is all about unwinding. While you wont find rock climbing walls, miniature golf, or water slides, the focus on relaxation is a welcome change. The absence of turn-down service or roaming photographers also means fewer interruptionsperfect for those seeking a laid-back vibe.While it might initially seem confusing, navigating the ship is a breeze. Simply check the interior elevator colors: purple for forward, red for middle, and blue for back.Keep in mind that movies available on the TV in your cabin change throughout the week. If something catches your eye early on, dont wait to watch itit might not be available later.Leave your drone at home, as they arent allowed onboard to ensure everyones privacy.The onboard currency across all Virgin Voyages ships is the U.S. dollar, but with your Virgin bracelet serving as your payment method for any additional purchases or casino transactions, theres no need to carry around cash. The in-room safe secures cash and valuables but carry some Euros for port stops.Why Virgin Voyages deserves a spot on your bucket listVirgin Voyages stands out for its ability to combine contemporary style, inclusivity, and thoughtfully curated experiences, making it an exceptional choice for travelers of all kinds. Whether you're a family, a solo adventurer, a couple, or a group of friends, Resilient Lady's chic design creates a welcoming environment that feels both modern and intimate. While it isn't a gay cruise per se, it's undeniably one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly options, fostering a sense of community and belonging. The diverse passenger mix, spanning all ages 18+, enhances the experience, offering an opportunity to connect with like-minded travelers. With no kids onboard, the pools and hot tubs often feel refreshingly serene, particularly early in the morning, during port days, and evenings. And lots of conveniently placed hand sanitizing stations make it easy to feel at ease, especially for germ-conscious travelers like myself.Every detail is crafted to make your journey effortless, from the all-inclusive dining to the absence of tipping, allowing you to simply relax and enjoy. With free Wi-Fi, beautifully designed public spaces, and a genuinely friendly and diverse crew, Virgin Voyages ensures an atmosphere of ease and comfort. For those craving a mix of relaxation and adventure, Resilient Ladys Mykonos Moons to Spanish Sunrises strikes the perfect balance. The delicious cuisine, dynamic entertainment, and unforgettable port stops come together to create a transformative journey that unquestionably deserves a top spot on your 2025 travel bucket list.Virgin Voyages provided the author with the opportunity to experience this Mediterranean cruise, which sets the new standard for all-inclusive, eco-conscious, unforgettable port stops, and undeniably chic travel.

Hoang Phuc Nguyen, a Vietnamese pilgrim, prays for Pope Francis at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, in Rome, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 where Pope Francis is hospitalised since Friday, Feb. 14. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)2025-02-25T07:44:59Z ROME (AP) Pope Francis was well enough to meet with the Vatican secretary of state to approve new decrees for possible saints and make some major governing decisions that suggest he is getting essential work done and looking ahead despite being hospitalized in critical condition with double pneumonia.The audience, which occurred Monday, signaled that the machinery of the Vatican is still grinding on even though doctors have warned the prognosis for the 88-year-old Francis is guarded.Decisions on saints and a formal meeting of cardinals The Vaticans Tuesday noon bulletin contained a series of significant decisions, most importantly that Francis had met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra, the so-called Vatican substitute or chief of staff. It was the first known time the pope had met with Parolin, who is essentially the Vatican prime minister, since his Feb. 14 hospitalization.During the audience, Francis approved decrees for two new saints and five people for beatification the first step toward sainthood. Francis also decided to convene a consistory about the future canonizations.Francis regularly approves decrees from the Vaticans saint-making office when he is at the Vatican, albeit during audiences with the head of the office, not Parolin. But the calling of a consistory, which is a formal meeting of cardinals, was also significant and forward-looking, given his illness. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State during a rosary prayer service held for the health of Pope Francis in St Peters Square at The Vatican, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State during a rosary prayer service held for the health of Pope Francis in St Peters Square at The Vatican, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More No date was set for the meeting. But it was also at a banal consistory to set dates for canonizations on Feb. 11, 2013, that Pope Benedict XVI announced, in Latin, that he would resign because he couldnt keep up with the rigors of the papacy. Francis has said he, too, would consider resigning if he found himself in that situation, after Benedict opened the door and became the first pope in 600 years to retire. Giovanna Chirri, the reporter for the Italian news agency ANSA who was covering the consistory that day and broke the story because she understood Latin, said she didnt think Francis would follow in Benedicts footsteps, even if some would want it.I could be wrong, but I hope not, she told The Associated Press. As long as hes alive, the world and the church need him.Francis English biographer, Austen Ivereigh, said it was possible and that all that matters is that Francis be wholly free to make the right decision. The pope has always said that the papacy is for life, and he has shown that there is no problem with a frail and elderly pope, Ivereigh said. But he has also said that should he ever have a long-term degenerative or debilitating condition which prevents him from fully carrying out the exercise of the papal ministry, he would consider resigning. And so would any pope. Catholic worshippers gather during a prayer of the Rosary for Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) Catholic worshippers gather during a prayer of the Rosary for Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Hoang Phuc Nguyen, a Vietnamese pilgrim, prays for Pope Francis at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, in Rome, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 where Pope Francis is hospitalised since Friday, Feb. 14. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Hoang Phuc Nguyen, a Vietnamese pilgrim, prays for Pope Francis at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, in Rome, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 where Pope Francis is hospitalised since Friday, Feb. 14. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Francis ideas about resignation Francis has said that if he were to resign, he would live in Rome, outside the Vatican, and be called ''emeritus bishop of Rome rather than emeritus pope given the problems that occurred with Benedicts experiment as a retired pope. Despite his best efforts, Benedict remained a point of reference for conservatives before he died in 2022, and his home inside the Vatican gardens something of a pilgrimage destination for the right.Francis has also written a letter of resignation, to be invoked if he became medically incapacitated.In addition to the audience with Parolin, the Vatican released Francis message for Lent, the period leading up to Easter, in yet another forward-looking sign. In a subsequent bulletin, Francis named a handful of new bishops for Brazil, a new archbishop for Vancouver and modified the law for the Vatican City State to create a new hierarchy. Francis recently named the first-ever woman to head the city-state, Sister Raffaella Petrini, who takes over March 1. In the announcement Tuesday, Francis specifically empowered her to lead and to tell her priestly deputies what to do.Many if not all of these decisions were likely in the works for some time. But the Vatican has said Francis has been doing some work in the hospital, including signing documents, and regardless there is no provision in the Catholic Church to transfer full papal power except in the case of a resignation or death of a pope. The only other outsider who is known to have visited the pope, other than his personal secretaries and medical personnel, is Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Meloni, who visited Feb. 19.The pope slept well People attend a rosary prayer service held for the health of Pope Francis in St Peters Square at The Vatican, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) People attend a rosary prayer service held for the health of Pope Francis in St Peters Square at The Vatican, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More On Tuesday morning, the Vaticans typically brief morning update said: The pope slept well, all night.The previous evening, doctors had said he remained in critical condition at Romes Gemelli hospital with double pneumonia but reported a slight improvement in some laboratory results. In the most upbeat bulletin in days, the Vatican said Francis had resumed work from his hospital room, calling a parish in Gaza City that he has kept in touch with since the war there began.Doctors have said the condition of the Argentine pope, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, is touch-and-go, given his age, fragility and pre-existing lung disease before the pneumonia set in.But in Mondays update, they said he hadnt had any more respiratory crises since Saturday, and the flow and concentration of supplemental oxygen has been slightly reduced. The slight kidney insufficiency detected on Sunday was not causing alarm at the moment, doctors said.Allies and ordinary faithful hopeful Francis right-wing critics have been spreading dire rumors about his condition, but his allies have cheered him on and expressed hope that he will pull through. Many noted that from the very night of his election as pope, Francis had asked for the prayers of ordinary faithful, a request he repeats daily.Im a witness of everything he did for the church, with a great love of Jesus, Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga told La Repubblica. Humanly speaking, I dont think its time for him to go to Paradise.At Gemelli on a rainy Tuesday morning, ordinary Romans and visitors alike were also praying for the pope. Hoang Phuc Nguyen, who lives in Canada but was visiting Rome to participate in a Holy Year pilgrimage, took the time to come to Gemelli to say a special prayer for the pope at the statue of St. John Paul II outside the main entrance.We heard that he is in the hospital right now and we are very worried about his health, Nguyen said. He is our father and it is our responsibility to pray for him.___Giovanna dellOrto contributed.___Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. TRISHA THOMAS Thomas covers events throughout Southern Europe, Italy, and the Vatican for The Associated Press based in Rome. twitter instagram mailto

This photo provided by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections shows death row inmate Richard Glossip on Feb. 19, 2021. (Oklahoma Department of Corrections via AP, File)2025-02-25T15:09:11Z WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court on Tuesday threw out the murder conviction and death penalty for Richard Glossip, an Oklahoma man who has steadfastly maintained his innocence and averted multiple attempts by the state to execute him.The justices found that Glossips trial violated his constitutional rights because prosecutors did not turn over evidence that might have bolstered his defense.Glossip is entitled to a new trial, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote for five justices.Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented, voting to uphold the conviction and death sentence, while Justice Amy Coney Barrett would have allowed a state appeals court to decide how to proceed. Justice Neil Gorsuch did not take part in the case, presumably because he participated in it at an earlier stage when he was an appeals court judge.The justices heard arguments in October in a case that produced a rare alliance in which lawyers for Glossip and the state argued that the high court should overturn Glossips conviction and death sentence because he did not get a fair trial. The victims relatives had told the high court that they want to see Glossip executed. Oklahomas top criminal appeals court had repeatedly upheld the conviction and sentence, even after the state sided with Glossip.Glossip was convicted and sentenced to death in the 1997 killing in Oklahoma City of his former boss, motel owner Barry Van Treese, in what prosecutors have alleged was a murder-for-hire scheme. Glossip has always maintained his innocence. Another man, Justin Sneed, admitted robbing Van Treese and beating him to death with a baseball bat but testified he only did so after Glossip promised to pay him $10,000. Sneed received a life sentence in exchange for his testimony and was the key witness against Glossip.In 2023, state Attorney General Gentner Drummond, a Republican, said new evidence persuaded him that Glossips trial was not fair. Drummond has said he does not believe Glossip is innocent and has suggested he could face a new trial. If Glossip were to be tried again, the death penalty would be off the table, Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Zemp Behenna has said.Among Drummonds concerns are that prosecutors knew Sneed lied on the witness stand about his psychiatric condition and his reason for taking the mood-stabilizing drug lithium. Drummond, a Democrat, also has cited a box of evidence in the case that was destroyed, including motel receipts, a shower curtain and masking tape that Glossips attorney, Don Knight, said could have potentially proven Glossips innocence.At least five justices voted last year to block efforts to execute Glossip while his case played out.That was just the latest reprieve for a death row inmate who has eaten three last meals and been married twice while awaiting execution. Oklahoma has set execution dates nine times for Glossip.The court faced two legal issues, whether Glossips rights were violated because the evidence wasnt turned over and whether the Oklahoma court decision upholding the conviction and sentence, reached after the states position changed, should be allowed to stand. The justices issued their most recent order blocking Glossips execution last year. They previously stopped his execution in 2015, then ruled against him by a 5-4 vote in upholding Oklahomas lethal-injection process. Glossip avoided execution then only because of a mix-up in the drugs that were to be used.Glossip was initially convicted in 1998 but won a new trial ordered by a state appeals court. He was convicted again in 2004.___Follow the APs coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court at https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court.

This May 18, 1969 photo provided by NASA shows Earth from 36,000 nautical miles away as photographed from the Apollo 10 spacecraft during its trans-lunar journey toward the moon. (NASA via AP)2025-02-25T15:27:18Z CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) Scientists have finally given the all-clear to Earth from a newly discovered asteroid. After two months of observations, scientists have almost fully ruled out any threat from the asteroid 2024 YR4, NASA and the European Space Agency said Tuesday. At one point, the odds of a strike in 2032 were as high as about 3% and topped the worlds asteroid-risk lists. ESA has since lowered the odds to 0.001%. NASA had it down to 0.0027% meaning the asteroid will safely pass Earth in 2032 and theres no threat of impact for the next century. But theres still a 1.7% chance that asteroid could hit the moon on Dec. 22, 2032, according to NASA. The worlds telescopes will continue to track the asteroid as it heads away from us, with the Webb Space Telescope zooming in next month to pinpoint its size. Its expected to vanish from view in another month or two. Discovered in December, the asteroid is an estimated 130 feet to 300 feet (40 meters to 90 meters) across, and swings our way every four years.While this asteroid no longer poses a significant impact hazard to Earth, 2024 YR4 provided an invaluable opportunity for study, NASA said in a statement.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Shoppers at the Walden Galleria in Buffalo, NY, stop by the Starbucks kiosk on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)2025-02-25T16:06:48Z NEW YORK (AP) Starbucks is making cuts to its menu, with some of the coffee giants less popular beverages set to take their final bow next week.In an announcement Monday, Starbucks outlined plans to remove a selection of its drinks including several blended Frappuccino beverages, the Royal English Breakfast Latte and the White Hot Chocolate starting on Tuesday, March 4.These items arent commonly purchased, can be complex to make, or are like other beverages on our menu, Starbucks wrote. The Seattle-based company added that simplifying its menu would allow it to focus on fewer, more popular items, executed with excellence. Starbucks says these cuts will reduce wait times, improve consistency and make way for innovation. The chain says it will continue to introduce a handful of other new items and seasonal specials, such as its Cortado beverage introduced last month and a new Iced Cherry Chai set to debut in the spring. The menu changes arrive amid wider restructuring at the Seattle-based company. Starbucks also said that it would be laying off 1,100 corporate employees globally this week with CEO Brian Niccol citing needs to operate more efficiently. Niccol joined the chain as CEO in August. Beyond next weeks menu cuts, Starbucks says that additional beverages and food will also exit its menu in the coming months representing a roughly 30% reduction by the end of the 2025 fiscal year in the U.S. But heres a list of the drinks that are set to be removed on March 4, which the company shared with The Associated Press: 1. Iced Matcha Lemonade2. Espresso Frappuccino3. Caff Vanilla Frappuccino4. Java Chip Frappuccino5. White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino6. Chai Crme Frappuccino7. Caramel Ribbon Crunch Crme Frappuccino8. Double Chocolaty Chip Crme Frappuccino9. Chocolate Cookie Crumble Crme Frappuccino10. White Chocolate Crme Frappuccino11. White Hot Chocolate12. Royal English Breakfast Latte13. Honey Almondmilk Flat White RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Mohamed Amra, nicknamed ''The Fly", is escorted by armed police officers at the Henri Coanda international airport in Otopeni, Romania, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, before being extradited to France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)2025-02-25T14:33:40Z BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) A notorious French fugitive who staged a deadly escape that killed two guards last year was being extradited Tuesday to France from Romania, an official said, days after his arrest in Bucharest ended a nine-month international manhunt.Mohamed Amra, nicknamed The Fly, was arrested near a shopping center in Bucharest on Saturday after being identified by Romanian police, despite the 30-year-old having dyed his hair red, possibly to evade detection. The Bucharest Court of Appeal approved his extradition request on Sunday.An official at Romanias Ministry of Internal Affairs, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the legal case was still ongoing, confirmed to The Associated Press that Amra was handed over to French authorities for extradition Tuesday at an airport near Bucharest where he arrived in handcuffs, flanked by armed police officers. The high-profile search for Amra began last May, when armed assailants ambushed a prison convoy in Normandy, killing two guards and seriously wounding three others in the process of aiding his escape.Amra fled after being sentenced for burglary in the Normandy town of Evreux. He was also under investigation for an attempted organized homicide and a kidnapping that resulted in death, French prosecutors said. The international police organization Interpol issued a notice for his arrest, while French investigators alerted counterparts in other countries after they suspected Amra had left France. After his arrest on Saturday, French President Emmanuel Macron hailed his capture a formidable success and praised European colleagues who had ended the long cross-border hunt.Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau has said that Amra had connections with Marseilles organized crime syndicates and was suspected of heading a drug trafficking network.As of Monday night, 25 people had been detained in multiple countries suspected of some role in his escape or the aftermath, the Paris prosecutor said.___McGrath reported from Sighisoara, Romania.

A venture capital-backed AI performance monitoring system for factory workers is proposing what appears to be dehumanizing surveillance of factories, where machine vision tracks workers hand movements and output so a boss can look at graphs and yell at them about efficiency.In a launch video demoing the product, Baid and Mohta put on a skit showing how Optifye.ai would be used by factory bosses.The YC deleted video for sweatshop startup Optifye pic.twitter.com/vCJvm2HTce Adam Lerman (@AdamLerman5) February 25, 2025Ugh, its workspace 17. Workspace 17 is the bottleneck. The worst performing workspace here, one of the bosses says, while watching a video of a man making clothing in a factory. Hey number 17, whats going on man? You are in red, he says. I have been working all day, the person playing the worker says. Working all day? the line boss replies. You havent hit your hourly output even once today. And you have 11.4% efficiency, this is really bad!Its just been a rough day, the worker replies. Rough day? the boss says, looking at a calendar full of red days. More like a rough month.Optifye.ai, launched by Duke University computer science students Vivaan Baid and Kushal Mohta, is backed by Y Combinator, according to the companys site. On their Y Combinator company profile, they write that both of their families run manufacturing plants, where theyve been exposed to factory working conditions since they were children. I've been around assembly lines for as long as I can remember, Baid wrote.Mohta wrote, My family also runs several manufacturing plants in various industries, which has given me unrestricted access to assembly lines since I was 15.They hope to sell cameras to factory owners to use on assembly lines, their website says, and use computer vision to tell supervisors who's working and who's not in real-time.Y Combinator deleted its recent Linkedin and X posts congratulating the company on launching.On their Y Combinator profile, Baid and Mohta outline who gets what out of installing micromanaging AI surveillance on assembly lines. Owners gets accurate real-time factory, line, and worker productivity metrics, production heads get line-wise and worker-wise metrics, shopfloor supervisors get to identify who/what is causing inefficiency in the line and fix the problem on the go. For the workers? They get the tantalizing benefit of being held accountable for good or bad performance.Worker surveillance is already happening across industries. After the rise of remote work, companies started tracking workers productivity based on mouse movements, so workers started using mouse jigglers so they could walk away from their computers and use the bathroom in peace. In Amazon warehouses, workers are tracked and punished for not meeting grueling expectations and bathroom breaks are timed, resulting in more injuries and less safe working conditions. Optifye.ais approach and pitch, however, stands out because of the way its founders seem to embrace cruelty to workers in the name of productivity.Optifye.ai and Y Combinator did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Elon Musk, left, receives a chainsaw from Argentina's President Javier Milei, right, as they arrive speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)2025-02-25T16:02:30Z WASHINGTON (AP) More than 20 civil service employees resigned Tuesday from billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency, saying they were refusing to use their technical expertise to dismantle critical public services.We swore to serve the American people and uphold our oath to the Constitution across presidential administrations, the 21 staffers wrote in a joint resignation letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press. However, it has become clear that we can no longer honor those commitments.The employees also warned that many of those enlisted by Musk to help him slash the size of the federal government under President Donald Trumps administration were political ideologues who did not have the necessary skills or experience for the task ahead of them.The mass resignation of engineers, data scientists and product managers is a temporary setback for Musk and the Republican presidents tech-driven purge of the federal workforce. It comes amid a flurry of court challenges that have sought to stall, stop or unwind their efforts to fire or coerce thousands of government workers out of jobs. Follow live updates on President Donald Trump and his new administration. In a statement, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was dismissive of the mass resignation. Anyone who thinks protests, lawsuits, and lawfare will deter President Trump must have been sleeping under a rock for the past several years, Leavitt said. President Trump will not be deterred from delivering on the promises he made to make our federal government more efficient and more accountable to the hardworking American taxpayers. The staffers who resigned worked for what was once known as the United States Digital Service, an office established during President Barack Obamas administration after the botched rollout of Healthcare.gov, the web portal that millions of Americans use to sign up for insurance plans through the Democrats signature health care law. All had previously held senior roles at such tech companies as Google and Amazon and wrote in their resignation letter that they joined the government out of a sense of duty to public service.Trumps empowerment of Musk upended that. The day after Trumps inauguration, the staffers wrote, they were called into a series of interviews that foreshadowed the secretive and disruptive work of Musks Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.According to the staffers, people wearing White House visitors badges, some of whom would not give their names, grilled the nonpartisan employees about their qualifications and politics. Some made statements that indicated they had a limited technical understanding. Many were young and seemed guided by ideology and fandom of Musk not improving government technology. Several of these interviewers refused to identify themselves, asked questions about political loyalty, attempted to pit colleagues against each other, and demonstrated limited technical ability, the staffers wrote in their letter. This process created significant security risks. Earlier this month, about 40 staffers in the office were laid off. The firings dealt a devastating blow to the governments ability to administer and safeguard its own technological footprint, they wrote.These highly skilled civil servants were working to modernize Social Security, veterans services, tax filing, health care, disaster relief, student aid, and other critical services, the resignation letter states. Their removal endangers millions of Americans who rely on these services every day. The sudden loss of their technology expertise makes critical systems and Americans data less safe.Those who remained, about 65 staffers, were integrated into DOGEs government-slashing effort. About a third of them quit Tuesday.We will not use our skills as technologists to compromise core government systems, jeopardize Americans sensitive data, or dismantle critical public services, they wrote. We will not lend our expertise to carry out or legitimize DOGEs actions. The slash-and-burn effort Musk is leading diverges from what was initially outlined by Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign. DOGE, a nod to Musks favorite cryptocurrency meme coin, was initially presented as a blue-ribbon commission that would exist outside government. After the election, however, Musk hinted there was more to come, posting to his social media site, X, Threat to democracy? Nope, threat to BUREAUCRACY!!! He has leaned aggressively into the role since. Last week he stood on stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference gathering outside Washington, where he boasted of his exploits and hoisted a blinged-out, Chinese-made chainsaw above his head that was gifted by Argentinian President Javier Milei. This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy, Musk bellowed from the stage. Still, Musk has tried to keep technical talent in place, with the bulk of the layoffs in the Digital Service office focused on people in roles like designers, product managers, human resources and contracting staff, according to interviews with current and former staff.Of the 40 people let go earlier this month, only one was an engineer an outspoken and politically active staffer name Jonathan Kamens, who said in an interview with the AP that he believes he was fired for publicly endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, on his personal blog and being critical of Musk in chats with colleagues.I believe that Elon Musk is up to no good. And I believe that any data that he gains access to is going to be used for purposes that are inappropriate and harmful to Americans, Kamens said. U.S. Digital Service veterans, who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisal, recalled experiencing a similar sort of shock about how government processes worked that Musk and his team are discovering. Over time, many developed an appreciation for why certain things in government had to be treated with more care than in the private sector.Move fast and break things may be acceptable to someone who owns a business and owns the risk. And if things dont go well, the damage is compartmentalized. But when you break things in government, youre breaking things that belong to people who didnt sign up for that, said Cordell Schachter, who until last month was the chief information officer at the U.S. Department of Transportation.USDS was established over a decade ago to do things like improving services for veterans, and it helped create a free government-run portal so tax filers did not have to go through third parties like TurboTax. It also devised systems to improve the way the federal government purchased technology.It has been embroiled in its fair share of bureaucracy fights and agency turf wars with chief information officers across government who resented interlopers treading in their agencys systems. USDS power across government stemmed from the imprimatur of acting on behalf of the White House and its founding mission of improving service for the American people.___AP video journalist Rodrique Ngowi contributed from Boston.___Contact APs global investigative team at [emailprotected] or https://www.ap.org/tips/. BRIAN SLODYSKO Slodysko is an investigative reporter for the Associated Press based in Washington, D.C. mailto BYRON TAU Tau is an investigative reporter in the Washington, D.C. bureau of the Associated Press. He focuses on reporting stories about national security, law enforcement, technology and government accountability. He can be reached on Signal at byrontau.01 twitter mailto

AP Illustration / Annie Ng2025-02-25T15:04:50Z LONDON (AP) No matter your ailment, there are plenty of TV doctors waiting to treat you right now on a selection of channels and streamers.Whether its Noah Wyle putting on his stethoscope for the first time since ER, Morris Chestnut graduating to head doctor, Molly Parker making her debut in scrubs or Joshua Jackson trading death for life on a luxury cruise, new American hospital dramas have something for everyone.Theres also an outsider trying to make a difference in Berlin ER, as Haley Louise Jones plays the new boss of a struggling German hospitals emergency department. The shows doors slide open to patients Wednesday on Apple TV+.These shows all contain the DNA of classic hospital dramas and this guide will help you get the TV treatment you need.Berlin ER Haley Louise Jones and afak engl in Berlin ER (Apple TV+ via AP) Haley Louise Jones and afak engl in Berlin ER (Apple TV+ via AP) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Dr. Suzanna Zanna Parker has been sent to run the Krank, which is only just being held together by hardened and authority-resistant medical staff and supplies from a sex shop. The result is an unflinching drama set in an underfunded, underappreciated and understaffed emergency department, where the staff is as traumatized as the patients, but hide it much better. From former real-life ER doc Samuel Jefferson and also starring Slavko Popadi, afak engl, Aram Tafreshian and Samirah Breuer, the German-language show is not for the faint of heart. Jones says she eventually got used to the blood and gore on the set. Its gruesome in the beginning, highly unnerving. And then at some point, its just the most normal thing in the world, she explains. Thats flesh. Thats the rest of someones leg, you know, lets just move on and have coffee or whatever.As its set in the German clubbing capital, the whole city seems to live at a frenetic pace and the staff deals with the pressure by partying. The music, the lighting and the pulse of the drama also rubs off on the audience. When I saw it the first time I was sitting there, my heart was racing, says Jones of watching the program. I knew what was coming, but I just, you know, my body just reacted. And I think that really says a lot.Would she agree to be treated by Dr. Parker? Jones reckons it depends on what day you catch her.DIAGNOSIS: This is Going To Hurt gets the ER treatment side effects include breathlessness and heartbreak.The Pitt Noah Wyle, Mackenzie Astin and Rebecca Tilney in The Pitt (Warrick Page/MAX via AP) Noah Wyle, Mackenzie Astin and Rebecca Tilney in The Pitt (Warrick Page/MAX via AP) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Emergencies are often against the clock, but in The Pitt, they are on a timer. Attached to a bomb.Each episode shows an hour of Dr. Michael Robinavitchs emergency room shift on one of the worst days of his life. After avoiding all doctor roles since the finale of ER in 2009, Wyle pulls on the navy hoodie of a weary Dr. Robby this time in Pittsburgh.Initially an idea for a ER reboot with producer John Wells, the show morphed into a fresh take on the challenges medical professionals face in the wake of the world-shifting pandemic.It felt a little sacrilegious to try to walk back into that arena prematurely, says Wyle. It was really only thoughtfully, soberly, cautiously and meticulously that we attempted it again. Robby is calm and competent in showing his medical students how its done, while keeping his own mental health crisis hidden. Not that there are many places to hide: Wyle explains that they are setting themselves apart from other hospital dramas by turning up the lights, cutting the mood-telegraphing music and showing the real dimensions of the department.All of those kind of lend themselves to doing something different, he says. Rattling the cage, you know, trying to put a new spin on an old form.Joining him in Maxs The Pitt are co-stars Tracy Ifeachor, Katharine LaNasa, Patrick Ball and Supriya Ganesh.As for his own medical knowledge, Wyle says there are procedures he feels adept at least pretending to do. With the amount of time hes spent playing a doctor, he could have earned his own degree by now.Ive been doing this long enough, he says. So Im either the worst student or one of the best doctor actors around.DIAGNOSIS: With front-line workers against the clock, it has a similar pathology to both ER and 24. Watson Morris Chestnut in Watson (Colin Bentley/CBS via AP) Morris Chestnut in Watson (Colin Bentley/CBS via AP) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Also in Pittsburgh, youll find The Holmes Clinic for Diagnostic Medicine, where its still life-and-death, but your heart rate can afford to slow a little.Its run by Dr. John Watson, former colleague of Sherlock Holmes, the famous sleuth who has bequeathed the funding for the medical center.Chestnut he plays the lead doc-tective, as he puts it, leading a team trying to solve medical mysteries while avoiding old foe Moriarty (Randall Park) Watson is still dealing with a traumatic brain injury from their last encounter.And Chestnut is no stranger to the long words and Latin terms that accompany hospital dramas. Chestnut was a nurse in ER, a former army doc in Nurse Jackie and a pathologist in Rosewood. More recently, he was the ruthless and talented neurosurgeon Barrett Cain on The Resident. Luckily, his Watson has a better beside manner and uses cutting-edge science to help puzzle out a unique selection of patients, alongside his staff, played by Eve Harlow, Inga Schlingmann and Peter Mark Kendall.The Sherlock mythology is provided by show creator, Arthur Conan Doyle fan and ex-Elementary writer Craig Sweeny, who brings a case-of-the-week style to the program. Chestnut reckons its this literary twist on the medical mystery formula that sets it apart from House MD, whose lead character was more of a Sherlock.And he wouldnt hesitate to be treated by Dr. Watson because he wants to understand you as a person and truly cares about his patients.DIAGNOSIS: More tests needed to confirm if Elementary or House is the leading condition.Doc Molly Parker in Doc (Peter H. Stranks/Fox via AP) Molly Parker in Doc (Peter H. Stranks/Fox via AP) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Over her 30-year career, Molly Parker has never played a doctor before. In Doc, based on a true story, she jumped right in with the top job, chief of internal medicine, at Minneapolis Westside Hospital. A car crash causes the overachieving, work-centric Dr. Amy Larsen to lose eight years of her memory, turning her into a patient with a traumatic brain injury. Parker portrays both versions of Larsen through Foxs debut season the career woman in flashback and the mother learning to trust again in the present.The focus of the show is on feelings over physical ailments, as Larsen has to deal, all over again, with the loss of her son.What I liked about this is that it has all the elements of that genre, like it has the high stakes and the mystery illness and the romantic love triangle, explains Parker, who stars alongside Anya Banerjee, Jon-Michael Ecker, Amirah Vann and Omar Metwally. But at the center of it is this woman who is going through this really profound grief.Parker has learned not to diagnose yourself on the internet, a deeper respect for health care workers and that playing a doctor is not easy.The most you can do is sort of try to get the words right sometimes, she says with a smile, admitting she still cant pronounce the name of one particular drug.Its, like, so important in the entire season, Parker adds, and I said it wrong every single time.DIAGNOSIS: For fans of Greys Anatomy, where complications come from relationships rather than infections.Doctor Odyssey Kate Berlant and Joshua Jackson in Doctor Odyssey (Ray Mickshaw/Disney via AP) Kate Berlant and Joshua Jackson in Doctor Odyssey (Ray Mickshaw/Disney via AP) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More An honorable mention goes to Dr. Max Bankman of Doctor Odyssey, who set sail at the end of 2024 and is finishing up Season Ones maiden voyage March 6 on ABC.Joshua Jackson, who previously portrayed real-life man of malpractice Christopher Duntsch in Dr. Death, is on board as the accomplished and smiley new head of a luxury cruise liners medical team. Doctor Odyssey comes from super producer Ryan Murphy and is set in the same world as his 9-1-1 franchise, with an upcoming crossover episode starring Angela Bassett.Philippa Soo and Sean Teale complete the ships medical threesome contending with a surprisingly frequent number of bizarre illnesses and accidents that befall the guest stars (episode one: a broken penis). Jackson acknowledges the cases are absurd and fun and wild and over-the-top, much to the amusement of his brother, who runs an actual ER.But that is the appeal, he says, for viewers to exhale and find welcome relief from the stress of real life.To have this, you know, pretty bauble in the middle of your week to just come in and go on an adventure, Jackson explains. The stakes are high, the relationships are intense. Everythings very dramatic. And 42 minutes later, you realize youre just in the most beautiful place in the world.Unfortunately, his own medical skills remain more Dr. Death than Dr. Bankman.I could really, really, deeply mess somebody up, he says. I have just enough terminology and jargon to sound like I know what Im doing, but none of the practical skills.Jackson wouldnt hesitate to put his own health in the hands of Dr. Bankman, though, citing the miracles hes able to perform weekly on The Odyssey.DIAGNOSIS: Call 9-1-1 for a therapeutic trip on The Love Boat.

Star Wars is a massive global franchise that has come quite a long way in terms of representation and progress since it began in 1977, but it has so much further to go.Its likely little surprise that Star Wars isnt exactly breaking new ground when it comes to queer representation. Even for those not all that interested in the franchise, the fanbase or, at least, parts of the fanbase has become notorious for going after the shows, creators and actors for any ounce of diversity. The Acolyte, which was released in 2024, was a prime example, and many ofThe Acolytes actors have spoken out about the racismthey experienced from viewers and online.Queerness, be it in terms of relationships on screen or gender identity, has received similar treatment from Star Wars audiences, and it seems Disney which owns the franchise through its subsidiary, Lucasfilm is largely bowing down to that section of the fanbase. There has been very little queer representation whatsoever in the Star Wars shows and movies, and what little there has been hasnt been all that revolutionary.Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker had the franchises very first queer kiss on screen when two unnamed women kissed in the background of the films final celebration scene. This ended up getting plenty of pushback from both sides. There was significant homophobic backlash to the decision from viewers who were furious that Star Wars would have any queer characters whatsoever, but queer audiences were unhappy as well. For many LGBTQ+ viewers, this quick kiss between background characters no one knew felt like a way toappease queer fanswithout the franchise really sticking its neck out.The Acolyte is perhaps the Star Wars project that has had themost queer representationto date, but even that was minimal at best. The main characters, Osha and Mae, had two mothers, Mother Aniseya and Mother Koril, but the show never clarified whether they were romantically involved. It did suggest a queering of family structure Aniseya created the girls using the Force, and Koril carried them yet their relationship remained ambiguous, given their roles in the coven and limited screen time.The Acolyte also made reference to they/them pronouns, although that felt nearly as much like a throwaway as the kiss in The Rise of Skywalker had. The use of the pronouns came when protagonist Osha was asking about a character shed just met andsaid, Is he, or they, with us? As the kiss in The Rise of Skywalker had, this caused backlash from those who decried its supposed woke agenda and from the queer community for being alow-stakes form of representation. Still, this was progress in Star Wars, and its worth noting that the actor who plays Osha and Mae, Amandla Stenberg, is nonbinary.Oddly, Star Wars has had one genuinely solid queer story arc on screen, but it seems to have flown under the radar for the most part, perhaps because it was in an animated show, which may reach a different demographic. In Star Wars: Tales of the Empire, which also came out last year, anonbinary Jedi survivor of Order 66 the event that wiped out nearly all the Jedi alive at the time was being hunted by the Inquisitors. The character, who wasnt named in the episode but had a legitimate storyline, used exclusively they/them pronouns, which was reinforced throughout the episode.There is also a minor character, Djovi Resmia, who uses they/them pronouns inStar Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, another animated show. This show is targeted to a significantly younger audience, which may also explain why it hasnt gotten the same heat as representation in other Star Wars movies and shows has.Star Wars movies and shows are therefore disappointingly far behind in terms of queer representation, which is only all the more frustrating in light of how progressive the books are. In fact, the canon Star Wars books Queens Hope, Brotherhood and The Secrets of the Clone Troopers have all cemented Sister as a canonically trans clone trooper, and the Ahsoka novel featured a plotline in which Kaeden Larte developed feelings for Ahsoka Tano. These are just a few examples, but Star Wars books are consistently more diverse than the movies and shows in myriad ways.Queer representation in Star Wars may seem inconsequential to some, but the truth is, this matters far beyond just the damage it does to the fans. Because it is such a massive franchise, Star Wars can be considered a litmus test of the cultural climate. The franchises hesitancy to depict queer stories on screen and the intense backlash to any diversity in the shows and movies suggest a broader cultural hostility to queerness, particularly when it comes to representation on screen.This issue with Star Wars is also part of a larger Disney trend of pulling back from representation, especially queer representation. This was most recently clear with Disneys animated kids show Win or Lose, whichremoved a trans storyline from the showentirely. This example is particularly disappointing because rather than not including representation in the first place, Disney was actively removing it. In addition to depriving trans kids the opportunity to see themselves on screen, this decision sent a major message about Disneys stance on trans people and representation on screen.TheStar Wars Celebrationis taking place in Japan this April, and several new shows and movies are expected to be announced. Unfortunately, it doesnt seem likely that any upcoming Star Wars project will suddenly shift the franchises approach to queer representation. It may be quite some time before Star Wars movies and shows accurately reflect the fanbase, which has only become queerer and more diverse with time.The post Queer representation in Star Wars has so much further to go appeared first on News Is Out.

Roberta Flack, the iconic R&B singer best known for hits like The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and Killing Me Softly With His Song, has passed away at age 88. Her representatives confirmed her death in a statement released on February 24, 2025, noting that Flack died peacefully at home surrounded by her family. We are heartbroken that the glorious Roberta Flack passed away this morning,Source

Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw is helping MAGA implode by getting caught on a hot mic threatening former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.In an exchange with a journalist, while having his mic removed after being interviewed by conservative British news channel GB News, the camera was still rolling, and Crenshaw called Carlson the worst person and said hed never met the right-wing pundit in person, Politico reports. If I ever meet him, Ill fking kill him, the Texas congressman can be heard saying. (@) Before the candid moment, Crenshaw was critical of Carlsons opposition to U.S. aid to Ukraine and said the political commentator and known conspiracy theorist doesnt know what hes talking about.Carlson defender Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) took to X (formerly Twitter) to ask Crenshaw if he had threatened her friend, to which he responded, Lol, no.Steven Edginton, the journalist who interviewed Crenshaw, shared the now-deleted clip, writing on X that he kept the receipts.Then, Carlson escalated things with a veiled threat himself. Why dont you come sit for an interview and well see how you do? Ill send you my address, he wrote on X, noting that he tried to laugh the remark off, but Crenshaw just doubled down, saying, "No seriously, I would kill him (@) MAGA seems to be divided about whos side they are on, but the rest of the internet was popping popcorn and watching the MAGA fallout and taking the opportunity to roast both men. Dan Crenshaw and Tucker Carlson are both reprehensible human beings, so, one person posted, while someone else wrote, I don't condone violence but if Dan Crenshaw ever meets Tucker Carlson, I want that shit on video, in 4K, with subtitles, and a goddamn bag of popcorn.Keep scrolling to see the funniest reactions to the this MAGA dust up! (@) "Dan Crenshaw and Tucker Carlson are both reprehensible human beings, so..." (@) "What's up with this Dan Crenshaw Tucker Carlson dust up??" (@) "Authorities have investigated the threat made by Dan Crenshaw and have assured Tucker Carlson he has nothing to worry about as the Congressman has never followed through with a campaign promise." (@) "The irony is Republicans are up in arms because Dan Crenshaw wants to kill Tucker Carlson, not that he wants to kill everyone on Medicaid." (@) "Dan Crenshaws PR guy when he says on camera he would kill Tucker Carlson" (@) "Tucker Carlson isnt worth defending. And if you think Dan Crenshaw was actually threatening him, youre an abject moron. But I figured that anyway, because thats who makes up Tuckers audience." (@) "Just found out Dan Crenshaw is 57. It all makes sense now." (@) "I don't condone violence but if Dan Crenshaw ever meets Tucker Carlson, I want that shit on video, in 4K, with subtitles, and a goddamn bag of popcorn." (@) "Two things can be true at the same time: Dan Crenshaw sucks. Tucker Carlson also sucks." (@) "Dan Crenshaws Public Relations manager after he sees all the videos on X of him saying he would kill Tucker Carlson." (@) "Nobody: Dan Crenshaw:" (@) "Dan Crenshaw v Tucker Carlson" (@) "But why are we acting like in 2025 that Dan Crenshaw threatening Tucker Carlsons life will bring any sort of consequences? This is the timeline we are currently living in.. This shit is like WWE.. No consequences.. just pure entertainment for clicks and rage engagement." (@) "Wasn't on for most of yesterday. Missed the whole @DanCrenshawTX wanting to kill Tucker Carlson thing." (@) "Tag someone who threatened to kill Tucker Carlson today. cc: @DanCrenshawTX"

Ayo Edebiri, the breakout star of The Bear, is stepping into a new role as both the screenwriter and a potential lead in the upcoming live-action Barney movie. Edebiri is set to write the screenplay for the highly anticipated film, which will be co-developed and produced by A24, 59% Productions, and Mattel Films. The project promises to breathe new life into the beloved purple dinosaur franchiseSource

Roberta Flack, the iconic R&B singer best known for hits like The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and Killing Me Softly With His Song, has passed away Monday morning (Feb. 24) at age 88. Her representatives confirmed her death in a statement released on February 24, 2025, noting that Flack died peacefully at home surrounded by her family. We are heartbroken that the glorious Roberta FlackSource

Elon Musk gestures during the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)2025-02-25T18:52:19Z WASHINGTON (AP) The turmoil that enveloped the federal workforce over the last few days is unlikely to cease anytime soon as the U.S. governments human resources agency considers how to fulfill Elon Musk s demands.The Office of Personnel Management told agency leaders Monday that their employees did not have to comply with a Musk-inspired edict for workers to report their recent accomplishments or risk getting fired. But later that evening, OPM sent out another memo suggesting that there could be similar requests going forward and workers might be sanctioned for noncompliance.Agencies should consider whether the expectation for employees to submit activity and/or accomplishment bullets should be integrated into the agencys Weekly Activity Report, wrote acting director Charles Ezell. He added that agencies should consider any appropriate actions regarding employees who fail to respond to activity/accomplishment requests. OPM originally sent employees an email over the weekend with the subject line what did you do last week? Recipients were asked to respond with approx. 5 bullets of what you accomplished. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that more than 1 million employees had responded, which would be less than half of the estimated 2.4 million people in the federal workforce, according to U.S. statistics. She said the idea for the request came from Musk, who used similar management tactics at his own companies, and she said that the administration was working as one unified team. Federal workers faced conflicting directions on whether to respond. One employee, who requested anonymity out of fear of retaliation, was told to expect guidance that the request was optional. But when that never came, the employee sent in bullet points to avoid possible repercussions. Musk continued to press the issue on X, his social media platform, and criticized people in the administration that stood in his way. The email request was utterly trivial, as the standard for passing the test was to type some words and press send! he wrote. Yet so many failed even that inane test, urged on in some cases by their managers.He also approvingly shared the news that unemployment numbers were rising in Washington, saying the DC swamp is actually draining.The billionaire entrepreneur, who serves as President Donald Trump s most powerful adviser, also suggested that hes being held back from even more dramatic reductions in government spending.I will do whatever I can, he wrote in response to calls for deeper cuts. There are limitations place(d) upon me.Musk is facing a growing backlash that has extended from outraged Democrats to skeptical Republicans who fear political fallout in their own districts. About half of Americans say its a bad thing that Trump has given Musk a prominent role in his administration, according to CNN polling from last week. Only a third saw it as a good thing.Another survey by The Washington Post and Ipsos found that Americans are divided on whether Musk is mainly cutting wasteful spending or necessary programs, with about a third following into each camp. Another quarter said theyre not sure. Rep. Lisa McClain, a Michigan Republican, said Tuesday that her party was only delivering what voters asked for in the last election.We got our marching orders. We listened to the American people, she said. And told us they wanted change. And buckle up, because thats exactly what were giving them.Alina Habba, a former member of Trumps personal legal team who now serves as a counselor in the White House, told reporters that the government workforce needed to get on board with the presidents goals.If youre not on an America First agenda, youre not here, she said.Habba also suggested that employees could face more demands to explain their jobs.If you struggle to do that for a week, theres no excuse for that, she said. You can have an extra day to answer that, but you better be able to answer that. Leavitt, the White House press secretary, is one of three administration officials who face a lawsuit from The Associated Press on first- and fifth-amendment grounds. The AP says the three are punishing the news agency for editorial decisions they oppose. The White House says the AP is not following an executive order to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America._____Associated Press writers Josh Boak and Linley Sanders in Washington contributed to this report. CHRIS MEGERIAN Megerian covers the White House for The Associated Press. He previously wrote about the Russia investigation, climate change, law enforcement and politics in California and New Jersey. twitter mailto

Los Angeles Dodgers' Teoscar Hernandez runs to first on a single during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, in Goodyear, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)2025-02-25T18:46:55Z NEW YORK (AP) The Los Angeles Dodgers owe $1.051 billion in deferred pay to eight players from 2028-46 following Tanner Scotts $72 million, four-year contract and Teoscar Hernndezs $66 million, three-year deal.Los Angeles high payment point is $100.95 million in both 2038 and 39, according to details obtained by The Associated Press.Major League Baseball proposed during collective bargaining on June 21, 2021, to put an end to the practice, but the players association rejected the change.The Dodgers have gone out and done everything possible, always within the rules that currently exist, to put the best possible team on the field and thats a great thing for the game. That type of competitive spirit is what people want to see, baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said last week.By the same token, he added, its clear that we have fans in some markets that are concerned about the ability of the team in their market to compete with the financial resources of the Dodgers. And I think if weve been consistent on one point it is we try to listen to our fans on topics like this and I have heard people on this, believe me, I get a lot of emails about it. Scotts contract includes $21 million in deferred money and Hernndezs $23.5 million.Hernndez is owed a total of $32 million in deferred pay from the team. He already was due $8.5 million as part of his $23.5 million, one-year deal for 2024, to be paid in 10 equal installments each July 1 from 2030-39. Ohtani, Betts, Snell and Freeman among others owed deferredLos Angeles also owes deferred payments to two-way star Shohei Ohtani ($680 million from 2034-43), outfielder/infielder Mookie Betts ($115 million in salaries from 2033-44 and the final $5 million of his signing bonus payable from 2033-35), left-hander Blake Snell ($66 million from 2035-46), first baseman Freddie Freeman ($57 million from 2028-40), catcher Will Smith ($50 million from 2034-43) and utilityman Tommy Edman ($25 million from 2037-44).Its just how you account for it, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said when Snell was introduced. Were not going to wake up in 2035 and (say): Oh my God, thats right. We have this money due. Well plan for it along the way. Dodgers deferred obligations reach peak in 2038 and 2039The Dodgers deferred obligations total $4 million each in 2028 and 29, $7.2 million annually from 2030-32, $17.2 million in 2033, $90.2 million in 2034, $98.95 million a year from 2035-37, $100.95 million in 2038 and 39, $98.75 million in 2040, $93.75 million annually from 2041-43, $20.75 million in 2044 and $7.25 million a year in 2045 and 46.Los Angeles must fund the deferred money in an amount equal to its present-day value by the second July 1 following the season in which it is earned, according to MLBs collective bargaining agreement.Hernndez received a $23 million signing bonus payable on Feb. 1 as part of the deal announced by the World Series champions on Jan. 3.His agreement includes salaries of $10 million this year, $12 million in 2026 and $14.5 million in 2027. The Dodgers will defer $7.5 million from this year and $8 million in each in 2026 and 27, and that $23.5 million will be paid in 10 equal installments each Dec. 1 from 2030-39.Scotts deferred money is due in a dozen $1.75 million payments each Dec. 1 from 2035-46.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Creative pranksters targeted a federal building this week with an AI-generated video highlighting the resentment over Elon Musks growing power within the U.S. government.On Monday morning, TV screens throughout the Department of Housing and Urban Development building in Washington, D.C., began looping a video clip showing Donald Trump kissing, sucking on, and essentially caressing Musks (two left) feet."LONG LIVE THE REAL KING," read a large, all-caps text overlay across the screen.According to a Bluesky post from independent journalist Marisa Kabas, the video looped for about five minutes before it was shut down."Building staff couldnt figure out how to turn it off so sent people to every floor to unplug TVs," she wrote. (@) Its still unclear who pulled off the prank, or how, but the likely message behind it requires little interpretation. Musk has spent the last several weeks bulldozing various federal agencies, laying off employees en masse and making public claims of widespread corruption using misinterpreted data that many Americans dont think he should ever have been allowed access to in the first place.That an unelected billionaire has been given so much power in Trumps administration (and has extended some of that power to similarly unelected young adults) has been extremely contentious. Drawing attention to that in a federal building on the day government employees lost the option to work from home, at least partially by Musks demand makes sense."Staff have viewed this as a sign of resistance that has brought a lot of joy," an anonymous HUD employee told NBC News.Meanwhile, HUD spokesperson Kasey Lovett lamented to The Independent that it was "another waste of taxpayer dollars and resources." Presumably, whatever taxpayer resourceswere drained by employees walking around shutting off TVs for five minutes will bounce back more quickly than those created by the tax cuts Trump wants to give billionaires.Online, MAGAs echoed Lovett, calling for whomever enabled the video to be fired. Some even suggested this was grounds for lifetime imprisonment or dismantling HUD entirely super normal responses to the egregious "crime" of insulting an elected official.Other responses were more mindful of exactly why this is happening to begin with. (@) "Looks like somebody at HUD found a great answer for Elon's what did you do this week? questionnaire." (@) "Maybe having 20 year old racist nerds fire competent IT staff was a bad idea." (@) "Hearing that nobody knew how to turn off the videos or TVs, so folks had to manually unplug every screen. Feels like an apt metaphor for these horrifying times. In not funny news, HUD will cut 84% of staff from a key office that focuses on solving homelessness." (@) "This would be the moment I'd tell Elon to gather all his inside sunglasses and his petite Nazis with their swoop bangs and get the hell outta my sight forever." (@) "VEEP was a documentary and this insurrectionist presidency is an abomination and global embarrassment."

Michigan State Representative Josh Schriver, a Republican from Oxford, announced plans to introduce a resolution urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision, which legalized same-sex marriage across the United States. Schrivers office confirmed in a news release that the resolution will be unveiled on Tuesday, following the Michigan House session.Source

President Donald Trump, right, shakes the hand of France's President Emmanuel Macron during a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. (Ludovic Marin/Pool via AP)2025-02-25T20:21:43Z PARIS (AP) The meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President Donald Trump was a spectacle of thigh-patting, prolonged hand-holding and other touch-heavy displays that have become a signature of their public appearances.It was another chapter in a relationship where physicality has often spoken louder than words as the two men have engaged in an unusual degree of touch since their first meeting early in Trumps first term.At the rendezvous Monday at the White House, Macron executed his signature maneuver: praise laced with correction. Calling Trump Dear Donald four times in a single news conference, he underscored their shared goals, particularly on Ukraine. But when Trump declared that Europe would get their money back for supporting Kyiv, Macron gently corrected him, explaining that allies had given more than loans. A smiling Macron patted Trumps forearm and thigh and countered: We provided real money.When Trump mused about government employees who dont even exist, Macrons eyebrows lifted in an expression that flickered between curiosity and skepticism. But when Trump turned to him and proposed a visit to Fort Knox to see if the gold is there, because maybe someone stole the gold, Macron laughed. It was a moment of shared bonhomie, with Macron instinctively mirroring his American counterparts demeanor.As Trump pivoted to praising Elon Musk and floated the idea of withholding pay from federal employees who failed to respond to an inquiry from Musks Department of Government Efficiency, Macrons expression shifted again, his amusement fading into something more measured. The politics of touch Theirs is a relationship best understood not in words, but in gestures.Perhaps the most revealing moment came when Trump became irked by Macron slipping into French. Trump cut him off with a compliment: That is the most beautiful language, followed by a firm thigh pat. An unfazed Macron then placed his hand atop Trumps.Nothing sums up their connection better than a prolonged, almost 30-second handshake in 2017, when Macron acknowledged he wanted to prove he was no pushover. With their knuckles turned white and jaws clenched, Trump tried to pull away, only to find Macron holding firm.That first grip battle set the tone for the relationship that followed part power play, part theater.When Trump visited Paris for Bastille Day in 2017, Macron turned a day of national pride into a grand Franco-American showcase, dazzling Trump with a military parade and a carefully staged series of handshakes. One particularly revealing moment saw Trump yanking Macron off balance, clinging to his hand even as they greeted their wives.Gestures have become more refined over timeNow their physical exchanges are more refined. The handshakes still linger a second too long and look like something between camaraderie and control.At one point on Monday, Trump slapped Macrons arm half-friendly, half-assertive before seizing his hand. They burst into hearty laughter.Hes a smart customer, Trump said, after suggesting Macron had once twisted a conversation they had at the Eiffel Tower by speaking in French, which Trump could not understand. Their hands remained clasped, a near-fist-like grip stretching just past the moment of comfort. Then, as if recalibrating the balance, Macron placed a hand on Trumps thigh.Macron and Trump have perfected the political pas de deux. And in the high-stakes world of diplomacy, sometimes a well-placed pat says more than words ever could. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site