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    Trump Backs Off Powell Firing Talk As Markets Rally

    By
    Patrick Houck
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    0
    The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    President Donald Trump made clear he has “no intention” of dismissing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, despite recent public criticisms that had unsettled financial markets. Tuesday’s clarification comes after Trump had labeled Powell a “major loser” and suggested his “termination cannot come fast enough.”

    The president’s assurance appeared to calm investor fears about the central bank’s independence, triggering a significant market rebound Tuesday that extended into Wednesday morning.

    The S&P 500 rose by 3%, and the Nasdaq increased by 3.7%, reflecting investor relief over the reduced likelihood of political interference with the Federal Reserve. European markets also responded positively, with the Stoxx Europe 600 up 1.9% and Germany’s DAX gaining 2.8%.

    Despite the president’s recent criticisms, including calls for more aggressive interest rate cuts, Trump emphasized that he never intended to remove Powell from his position. He expressed a desire for the Fed to act more decisively in lowering interest rates but acknowledged Powell’s role would continue until his term concludes in May 2026.

    “I would like to see him be a little more active in terms of his idea to lower interest rates…but, no, I have no intention to fire him,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal:

    U.S. stock futures and the dollar rallied following Trump’s remarks. Gold futures dropped, pulling back from record highs.

    Trump’s softer tone on Powell came after he lashed out at the Fed chair, writing on social media last week, “Powell’s termination cannot come fast enough!”

    But on Tuesday, Trump played down recent comments by Kevin Hassett, the director of the National Economic Council, that the administration was studying whether the president could fire Powell.

    “This is a perfect time to lower interest rates. If he doesn’t, is it the end? No. It’s not,” Trump said.

    Trump also addressed trade policy, signaling that tariffs on Chinese goods — currently set at 145% — could be “substantially” reduced, though not fully eliminated. The hint at a possible easing of trade tensions, combined with his reaffirmation of the Fed’s independence, fueled the global market rebound. (RELATED: Trump Softens Tariff Stance On China)

    While the immediate market reaction has been positive, analysts warn that ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the Federal Reserve — along with the prospect of slow-moving trade negotiations between the world’s two largest economies — could continue to weigh on financial markets in the weeks and months ahead.

    READ NEXT: Jury Issues Decisive Verdict In Onetime Republican Star’s Years-Long Legal Battle

    White House Denies Reports It’s Seeking New Defense Secretary

    By
    Patrick Houck
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    2

    White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt didn’t mince words Monday, firing back at an NPR report claiming the administration is quietly searching for a new secretary of defense.

    In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Leavitt dismissed the story as “fake news” and reaffirmed that President Trump has full confidence in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth — echoing remarks she made earlier during an appearance on Fox News.

    At the center of the controversy are revelations that Hegseth shared sensitive details about a planned U.S. airstrike in Yemen through a private Signal chat. According to a New York Times report published Sunday — later corroborated by The Wall Street Journal — the previously unreported March 15 exchange included Hegseth’s wife, brother and personal attorney.

    Hegseth allegedly disclosed the timing of F/A-18 Hornet aircraft departures for an operation targeting Houthi terrorists. The Signal group, titled Defense | Team Huddle, was reportedly used for both personal and professional updates — but in this instance, it included highly sensitive operational information.

    The incident follows a previous misstep involving another Signal chat, where a conversation between top administration officials — including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance — was accidentally shared with a prominent liberal journalist from The Atlantic.

    The Pentagon inspector general’s office has launched an inquiry to assess whether the use of a platform like Signal violated protocols for handling certain information.

    Despite the growing pressure, the administration has shown no public sign of backing away from Hegseth. In addition to Leavitt’s denial of the NPR story, Trump himself has brushed off concerns over Hegseth’s Signal chats.

    The White House may be banking on a unified public front to contain the fallout.

    READ NEXT: Trump Cabinet Member Robbed

    Federal Judge Finds Probable Cause To Hold Trump In Contempt

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    7

    A federal judge said Wednesday that he has found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in contempt for failing to return two planes deporting migrants to El Salvador last month.

    In the 48-page opinion, Judge Boasberg said the court had ultimately determined that the Trump administration’s actions on the March 15 deportation flights, which took place after he issued a bench ruling ordering their immediate return to U.S. soil, demonstrate a “willful disregard” for the court that is sufficient for the government to be found in criminal contempt.”

    U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ordered the Justice Department in a filing Wednesday to answer additional questions by April 23 if they want to “purge” the contempt.

    Fox News reports:

    That would involve identifying the individuals responsible for what he described as “contumacious conduct,” and by “determining whose ‘specific act or omission’ caused the noncompliance,” Boasberg said. 

    The Justice Department could then request that the contempt be prosecuted by an attorney for the government and, should they decline to prosecute the matter, could “appoint another attorney to prosecute the contempt.”

    “The Court does not reach such conclusion lightly or hastily; indeed, it has given Defendants ample opportunity to rectify or explain their actions,” the judge continued. “None of their responses has been satisfactory…”

    “As this Opinion will detail, the Court ultimately determines that the Government’s actions on that day demonstrate a willful disregard for its Order, sufficient for the Court to conclude that probable cause exists to find the Government in criminal contempt,” Boasberg said Wednesday.

    This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

    Trump Holds ‘Productive’ Call With New Canadian Prime Minister

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0

    President Donald Trump said he held an “extremely productive call” with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday. 

    “I just finished speaking with Prime Minister Mark Carney, of Canada. It was an extremely productive call, we agree on many things, and will be meeting immediately after Canada’s upcoming Election to work on elements of Politics, Business, and all other factors, that will end up being great for both the United States of America and Canada,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account. 

    It was the first time the two leaders have spoken.

    On Thursday, Carney said the “old relationship” with the U.S. “is over” while vowing to engage in a renegotiation over a trade agreement.  

    Carney, 60, won the Liberal leadership this month with 86% of the vote after former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stepped down.

    In an address to reporters in Ottawa on Thursday, Carney offered a blunt rebuke to the Trump administration as it prepares to slap a 25 percent tariff on foreign car imports — a move the prime minister said won’t go unanswered.

    “The old relationship we had with the United States, based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military co-operations, is over,” Carney said.

    He continued: “What exactly the United States does next is unclear. But what is clear is that we, as Canadians, have agency. We have power. We are masters in our own home. We can control our destiny. We can give ourselves much more than any foreign government, including the United States, can ever take away.”

    He added: “We can deal with this crisis best by building our strength right here at home. It will take hard work. It will take steady and focused determination from governments, from businesses, from labour, from Canadians. We will need to dramatically reduce our reliance on the United States. We will need to pivot our trade relationships elsewhere. And we will need to do things previously thought impossible at speeds we haven’t seen in generations.”

    Carney vowed a “broad renegotiation” of Canada’s trade and security ties with the U.S., marking a sharp departure from the conventional diplomacy that has long defined cross-border relations.

    “We will fight back with everything we have to get the best deal for Canada. We will build an independent future for our country, stronger than ever,” Carney said, promising “retaliatory trade actions” designed for “maximum impact in the US and minimum impacts in Canada.”

    GOP Congressman Moves To Impeach Judge

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    4

    Georgia Republican Rep. Andrew Clyde formally introduced his articles of impeachment against a Rhode Island judge who previously ordered the Trump administration to unfreeze federal funds. 

    The articles, first shared with Fox News Digital, charge Chief U.S. District Judge John James McConnell Jr. with abuse of power and conflicts of interest, stating he “knowingly politicized and weaponized his judicial position to advance his own political views and beliefs.”  

    If McConnell is found guilty of such charges, the articles read, he should be removed from office. 

    McConnell is currently overseeing a lawsuit brought by 22 states and the District of Columbia that challenges the Trump administration’s move to withhold federal grant funds. After McConnell ordered the administration to comply with a restraining order, the government appealed to the First Circuit – which refused to stay the orders. 

    “The American people overwhelmingly voted for President Trump in November, providing a clear mandate to make our federal government more efficient,” Clyde told Fox News Digital. “Yet Judge McConnell, who stands to benefit from his own injunction, is attempting to unilaterally obstruct the president’s agenda and defy the will of the American people. Judge McConnell’s actions are corrupt, dangerous, and worthy of impeachment.”

    McConnell has also come under fire from Trump supporters and conservatives in recent weeks after a 2021 video resurfaced in which he warned that courts must “stand and enforce the rule of law … against arbitrary and capricious actions by what could be a tyrant or could be whatnot.” 

    The articles cite that video, claiming McConnell “has allowed his personal, political opinions to influence his decisions and rulings,” and that he has demonstrated a “bias that would warp his decision” in the federal freeze case. 

    In a statement, Clyde said “judicial activism” is “the Left’s latest form of lawfare.”

    Clyde’s impeachment resolution follows a similar move by Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, who earlier filed articles of impeachment against U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg.

    Report: Trump To Sign Order To Shutter Dept. Of Education

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    3
    President Donald Trump signs Executive Orders, Monday, February 10, 2025, in the Oval Office. (Official White House photo by Abe McNatt)

    An administration official told NewsNation White House correspondent Libbey Dean that Trump will sign an executive order Thursday afternoon that directs McMahon to begin dissolving the Education Department

    The executive order, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, has been in the works since before Trump was sworn into office in January.

    The draft of the order recognizes that the president does not have the authority to abolish the department and that it would likely take 60 votes in the Senate, where Republicans hold only 53 seats, The Washington Post reported.

    But it directs McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Education Department” based on “the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law,” according to the Journal.

    “The experiment of controlling American education through Federal programs and dollars—and the unaccountable bureaucrats those programs and dollars support — has failed our children, our teachers, and our families,” the draft order reportedly reads.

    The official White House schedule was updated Thursday morning with Trump signing unspecified executive orders at 2 p.m. EST.

    The Post also noted that the draft was labeled “pre-decisional,” citing a personal familiar with the matter who cautioned that its details could change before it is final.

    McMahon was confirmed Monday to lead the Education Department. That evening, she foreshadowed the executive order in a letter in which she described her goal of making education a matter for the states.

    “My vision is aligned with the President’s: to send education back to the states and empower all parents to choose an excellent education for their children,” she wrote. “As a mother and grandmother, I know there is nobody more qualified than a parent to make educational decisions for their children.”

    This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

    Famed Dem Strategist Predicts Trump Admin Will ‘Collapse’ Within 30 Days

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    13
    President Donald Trump takes questions after signing Executive Orders, Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok) President Donald Trump signs Executive Orders, Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)

    A stunning claim…

    Longtime Democrat strategist James Carville suggested the Trump Administration will “collapse” within 30 days as the public reacts to the sweeping actions from the executive branch.

    “I believe that this administration, in less than 30 days, is in the midst of a massive collapse and particularly a collapse in public opinion,” Carville said during a conversation with Mediaite’s Dan Abrams about the Trump administration’s unprecedented recent actions.

    Abrams asked Carville to clarify what he meant, to confirm that Carville believes the administration will crumble shortly.

    “It’s collapsing right now. We’re in the midst of a collapse,” Carville replied. “This is the lowest approval, not even close, that any president has ever had at a comparable time.”

    The Trump administration has made drastic moves to slash federal spending through Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has caused concern across the country. Thousands of federal workers are out of work as DOGE is examining various federal agencies, potentially gaining access to sensitive information.

    Carville noted Trump has already dropped in approval ratings from one “pretty damn good poll” and believes it will be “easy pickings” in about six weeks. The mentioned poll showed Trump’s approval rating dropping from the low 50s to the upper 30s.

    Carville’s comments follow previous ones he’s made predicting the Trump administration would collapse. He joined Fox News’s “Hannity” last week to say Democrats don’t need to be aggressive in combating Trump because his poll numbers predict a “collapse is already underway.”

    Air Traffic Controllers May See Pay Raises As Trump Admin. Seeks To Boost Enrollment

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1
    Image via Pixabay

    The Trump administration is taking serious steps to boost recruitment numbers for air traffic controllers, including a 30% pay hike.

    Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy made the announcement during a press conference at the air traffic controller’s academy in Oklahoma on Thursday. He argued that the pay structure and the technology air traffic controllers are forced to use are outdated.

    “Currently, students are paid $17.61 an hour. By the way, you might be able to go to Walgreens and make that, right? So we’re going to bump it up to $22.84 an hour,” Duffy said. 

    “And again, I think making sure people have a wage that can allow them to live while they’re going through school. But the real incentive is, again, three years out of this academy, and you’re certified, on average, $160,000 a year. So you can be 24 years old, 23 years old, making a great salary, as an air traffic controller.”

    Duffy noted that the pay increase plan will require Congress to approve “billions” in additional funding for the DOT.

    Elon Musk also sent out a request for retired air traffic controllers to return to work.

    The announcement comes after a string of air travel disasters in recent weeks, though few of them were blamed on air traffic control.

    In late January, an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines passenger jet collided over the Potomac River, killing all 67 people on board.

    A Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis to Toronto‘s Pearson International Airport experienced a severe incident upon landing last Monday. The aircraft overturned on the runway, resulting in injuries to eight individuals, one critically.

    Most recently, a Southwest airliner narrowly avoided a collision with a Flexjet business jet on a runway in Chicago. The Southwest plane was coming in for landing as the Flexjet, allegedly ignoring instructions from air traffic control, crossed the landing strip.

    Pilots in the Southwest plane were able to take off again quickly enough to avoid a collision.

    Attorney General Confirms Plans To Release ‘Some’ Epstein Files As Early As Today

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    2
    By Ralph Alswang, White House photographer - https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/clinton-epstein-maxwell/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=143417695

    Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News host Jesse Watters she will release files related to deceased child sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein on Thursday.

    On Wednesday’s Jesse Watters Primetime, Bondi committed to letting the public in on exactly what she has her hands on – as long as no victim information is compromised.

    Watters asked, “When can we see them, and what’s taking so long to release them?”

    “Jesse, there are well over – this will make you sick – 200 victims,” Bondi responded. “So we we – well over. Over 250, actually. So we have to make sure that their identity is protected and their personal information. But other than that, I think tomorrow – the personal information of victims. Other than that, I think tomorrow. Just, breaking news right now, you’re going to see some Epstein information being released by my office.”

    Watters noted Epstein had his homes “wired” and asked if the public could expect audio or video recordings along with flight logs. Bondi replied:

    “What you’re going to see, hopefully tomorrow, is a lot of flight logs, a lot of names, a lot of information,” Bondi responded. “It’s pretty sick what that man did – along with his co-defendant.”

    Epstein’s “co-defendant” is Ghislaine Maxwell, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role trafficking underage girls for Epstein to assault.

    Epstein killed himself in 2019 while in federal custody awaiting trial for another sex-trafficking case. It has been alleged that numerous celebrities and politicians — including former President Bill Clinton and Britain’s Prince Andrew — were among those who attended his parties.

    On Monday, Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R) sent a letter to newly sworn-in FBI Director Kash Patel calling for the complete flight logs from Epstein’s private jet and helicopter, records belonging to Epstein’s partner Ghislaine Maxwell, and video footage from Epstein’s Palm Beach, Florida residence.

    The Tennessee Republican has long advocated for the release of the Epstein documents, arguing that making the full set of records public will expose the complex network behind global human and sex trafficking.

    “This will give us insight into this web of human and sex traffickers that has just spread like wildfire across the globe, and it will help us to begin to get accountability for the victims of this horrendous trade,” she said.

    Read:

    file_1749-1Download

    During his campaign, President Donald Trump promised the declassification of the files. The House’s Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets is scheduled to hold its first public hearing on March 26.  

    Trump Admin. To Direct Agency Leaders To Brace For ‘Large-scale Reductions In Force’

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    2
    By The White House - https://www.flickr.com/photos/202101414@N05/54325633746/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=159707159

    The Trump administration will direct heads of agencies across the federal government to prepare to initiate “large-scale reductions in force” and develop reorganization plans by mid-March, Fox News reports. 

    Fox News Digital obtained the memo that will be sent Wednesday to agency heads by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought and acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Charles Ezell. The memo directs them to prepare to eliminate roles and submit plans for reorganization by March 13. 

    Notably, the memo states that government positions “necessary to meet law enforcement, border security, national security, immigration enforcement, or public safety responsibilities” are exempt from the order, as well as officials nominated and appointed to positions requiring presidential appointment or Senate confirmation, officials in the Executive Office of the President and U.S. Postal Service workers. 

    The memo is titled “Guidance on agency RIF and Reorganization Plans Requested by Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Workforce Optimization Initiative.” 

    Read:

    opm_omb-guidance-on-doge-workforce-eo-2.26.25Download

    The memo points to the president’s February executive order, which directed agencies to “eliminate waste, bloat and insularity” in order to “empower American families, workers, taxpayers, and our system of Government itself.” 

    The memo provides guidance to agency heads about the reduction-in-force and reorganization plans, along with instructions for how those plans should be submitted to OMB and OPM. 

    “President Trump required that ‘Agency Heads shall promptly undertake preparations to initiate large-scale reductions in force, consistent with applicable law,’” the memo states, noting that agencies have to submit reorganization plans “no later than March 13, 2025.”

    The reorganization plans, according to the memo, should provide “better service for the American people; increased productivity; a significant reduction in the number of full-time equivalent positions by eliminating positions that are not required; a reduced real property footprint; and reduced budget topline.” 

    President Trump said during Wednesday’s White House Cabinet meeting that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin has floated cutting the agency’s workforce by up to 65 percent.

    This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

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