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How Donald Trump dominates the news, both positively and negatively

How Donald Trump dominates the news, both positively and negatively

The Associated Press, not exactly a White House favorite, has shot itself in the foot. The following retraction is nothing short of humiliating: “The Associated Press has withdrawn its story about U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard saying President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin ‘are very good friends.’ Gabbard was talking about Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The AP will publish a corrected version of the story.” TRUMP ACCUSES BIG MEDIA OF ‘ILLEGAL’ REPORTING, VIRTUALLY ABOLISHES VOICE OF AMERICA Whoa! How do you run that piece in the first place without having it nailed down? The wire service, you may recall, is suing the Trump administration for ousting its reporters from the White House pool over its refusal to refer to “Gulf of America.” So, this unforced error puts the White House in I-told-you-so mode. On Monday, when Trump was at the Kennedy Center, an NBC reporter tried to ask a question, Trump asked, “Who are you with?” After the journalist identified himself, the president said: “I don’t want to talk to NBC anymore. I think you’re so discredited.”  The Trump team later posted the exchange with “mic drop” emojis. The point is that Trump dominates the news no matter what he does. And, as I’ve been saying for the 35 years I’ve known him, even a torrent of negative publicity helps him because his media detractors are playing on his turf. While Trump was visiting the Kennedy Center, he “floated” the idea of personally hosting the annual awards show. And who’s going to stop him, since he’s purged the Democratic board members? ELON MUSK, LIGHTNING ROD, WHO CALLS AN OPPONENT ‘TRAITOR,’ BECOMES A HIGH-PROFILE TARGET The ratings, he said, would skyrocket. And he’s right about that. As the New York Times notes, a younger Trump dreamed of becoming a Broadway producer. He now says the Kennedy Center will concentrate on producing “Broadway hits.” And by the way, Trump released 80,000 pages of JFK assassination files yesterday and has asked for no redactions. The president can make news on the slightest whim, just by posting on Truth Social. He just went after Judge James Boasberg, who ordered the deportations of mostly Venezuelan gang members to be stopped while planes were still in the air:    “This judge, like many of the Crooked Judges’ I am forced to appear before, should be IMPEACHED!!!” WE DON’T WANT VICIOUS, VIOLENT, AND DEMENTED CRIMINALS, MANY OF THEM DERANGED MURDERERS, IN OUR COUNTRY.” The posting drew a rare rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts: “For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision. The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose.” DONALD TRUMP, FACING TERRIBLE COVERAGE, SOFTENS TONE AND TACTICS FOR ELON MUSK’S DOGE CRUSADE The president is also renewing his habit of going after journalists personally. Ashley Parker had a highly successful career at the New York Times and Washington Post–she’s also an MSNBC analyst–who recently joined the Atlantic. She asked Trump for an interview.  After dismissing the liberal Atlantic as a “Third Rate Magazine,” Trump posted: “Ashley Parker is not capable of doing a fair and unbiased interview. She is a Radical Left Lunatic, and has been as terrible as is possible for as long as I have known her. To this date, she doesn’t even know that I won the Presidency THREE times. If you have some other reporter, let us know, but Ashley is not capable or competent enough to understand the intricacies of High Level politics.” Parker is restrained, not radical, and in bringing up the 2020 election, Trump is asking her to accept something that has never been proven in court or by his own attorney general. A magazine spokesperson said, “Atlantic reporters are diligent and fair and continue to pursue stories of importance to the public.” And then there is, you know, the actual job of the presidency. Trump reported yesterday on his 90-minute phone call with Vladimir Putin. They “stressed the need for improved bilateral relations between the United States and Russia” – no surprise there. “The leaders agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as technical negotiations on implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire and permanent peace….  “They further discussed the need to stop proliferation of strategic weapons and will engage with others to ensure the broadest possible application. The two leaders shared the view that Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel.” And: “The two leaders agreed that a future with an improved bilateral relationship between the United States and Russia has huge upside,” including “enormous economic deals and geopolitical stability.” It seems to me that Trump got next to nothing. A 30-day pause in attacks on energy plants and infrastructure, that’s about it. Everything else is subject to negotiations, which gives the Kremlin more time to keep attacking Ukraine and lock in further territorial gains. A real cease-fire seems a long way off. But whether Trump is on the attack or being attacked, he is driving the news every day, even inserting himself into culture and sports topics. Keep that in mind when the ratings-driven president hosts the Kennedy Center honors.

Texas lawmaker proposes bill targeting furries; measure seeks to ban ‘non-human behavior’ in schools

Texas lawmaker proposes bill targeting furries; measure seeks to ban ‘non-human behavior’ in schools

A Texas lawmaker has introduced a bill to ban “non-human behavior” in public schools, such as barking, meowing and other animal-like practices commonly used by furries. The Forbidding Unlawful Representation of Roleplaying in Education, or FURRIES Act, was proposed in the state’s House last week by GOP Rep. Stan Gerdes. “No distractions. No theatrics. Just education,” Gerdes wrote on X. “Texas schools are for educating kids, not indulging in radical trends. Let’s keep the focus where it belongs—on preparing students for success in life.” Under the proposal, students would be prohibited from engaging in various animal behaviors, including using a litter box, licking themselves, making animal noises like barking, meowing, or hissing or otherwise pretending to be an animal. OKLAHOMA BILL WOULD BAN ‘FURRIES’ FROM SCHOOL, REQUIRE PARENT, ‘ANIMAL CONTROL’ TO PICK-UP RULE-BREAKERS Allegations of litter boxes being set up in school bathrooms have repeatedly been debunked by schools across the country in recent years following false claims that circulated online. Students would also be barred from wearing items that were not designed for human use, including animal ears, whiskers, tails, collars, leashes or other accessories typically used for pets. Fur is also prohibited, but the bill specifies that natural human hair and wigs are not included in the ban on fur. The legislation would require students to present themselves as humans. They also would not be allowed to start organizations or clubs related to non-human behavior and would be prohibited from promoting the idea that non-human behaviors are socially acceptable. There are some exceptions to the ban on animal accessories and non-human behaviors, including dressing up for Halloween or other school dress-up events related to human history, although this would be limited to five days per school year, as well as theater performances and dressing up as a school mascot. TEXAS LAWMAKERS CONSIDERING BILL TO BAN GENDER CHANGES ON BIRTH CERTIFICATES Students who fail to comply could be removed from class, suspended or expelled. The measure also allows for students to be transferred to a juvenile justice alternative education program. Teachers would be required to report violations to the Texas attorney general, and school districts that do not enforce the restrictions could face fines starting at $10,000 for the first offense and $25,000 for additional violations. The proposal has the backing of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and the state’s House Speaker, Dustin Burrows, both of whom are Republicans. “If you have a child in a public school, you have one expectation: your children’s going to be learning the fundamentals of education — reading and writing and math and science,” Abbott said during a recent meeting with pastors in Austin, citing the furry issue as a motivating factor to allow private school choice vouchers. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “If they’re being distracted by furries, those parents have a right to move their child to a school of their choice,” he continued. Gerdes called his bill “common sense” as he thanked Abbott and Burrows for backing the proposal. “I’m grateful that our leadership is taking this issue seriously and ensuring that Texas schools remain places of learning, not roleplaying,” Gerdes said on X. “This is common sense. Let’s get it passed.”

Israeli air strikes on Gaza: beginning of a “larger campaign”?

Israeli air strikes on Gaza: beginning of a “larger campaign”?

Quotable Mouin Rabbani, Middle East analyst, breaks down Israel’s latest airstrikes on Gaza. Read more Mouin Rabbani, a Middle East analyst, discusses the new wave of Israeli air strikes on Gaza, and whether this is a one off or the beginning of a larger campaign. Published On 18 Mar 202518 Mar 2025 Adblock test (Why?)

Judge says Musk and DOGE ‘likely violated’ constitution in USAID shutdown

Judge says Musk and DOGE ‘likely violated’ constitution in USAID shutdown

A federal district judge in Maryland has found that Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) appear to have breached the United States Constitution through their efforts to dismantle an agency dedicated to distributing foreign aid. Judge Theodore Chuang issued the preliminary ruling on Tuesday, in response to a complaint filed by 26 employees and contractors for the US Agency for International Development (USAID). “The Court finds that Defendants’ actions taken to shut down USAID on an accelerated basis, including its apparent decision to permanently close USAID headquarters without the approval of a duly appointed USAID Officer, likely violated the United States Constitution in multiple ways,” Chuang wrote in his decision. Not only were the plaintiffs harmed, he added, but the “public interest” was also. DOGE and Musk “deprived the public’s elected representatives in Congress of their constitutional authority to decide whether, when and how to close down an agency created by Congress”, Chuang said. Advertisement As a result of that finding, the judge approved a temporary injunction that would prevent DOGE and Musk from continuing with USAID-related staff cuts, contract cancellations, building closures and the destruction of USAID materials. “The restrictions will assist in maintaining the status quo so as to delay a premature, final shutdown of USAID,” Chuang wrote. It was a significant blow to Musk, whose role in the government has been ambiguous – but who has wielded significant power due to his close relationship with US President Donald Trump. A tech billionaire and one of the wealthiest men in the world, Musk is considered a “special government employee”, a temporary role often given to outside advisers. In that role, however, he has led DOGE in a vast campaign to restructure the federal government, through downsizing its workforce, ending contracts and attempting to shutter entire agencies. USAID was one of the first in DOGE’s crosshairs. Upon taking office for a second term on January 20, Trump issued a presidential order calling for a 90-day freeze on all foreign aid – a central part of USAID’s work. Established in 1961 by an act of Congress, USAID had become the US’s primary arm for distributing foreign assistance abroad. But under Trump’s order, only aid that aligned with the president’s foreign policy would be allowed to continue. Musk became the face of the campaign to close USAID entirely. “USAID is a criminal organization,” he wrote on his social media platform X on February 2, without offering proof. “Time for it to die.” Advertisement Later that day, Musk posted another message on X: “We spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper. Could [have] gone to some great parties. Did that instead.” By the end of February, the agency’s headquarters in Washington, DC, was effectively closed, with employees given only 15 minutes to collect their belongings. An estimated 1,600 workers were fired, and another 4,700 were put on leave. Secretary of State Marco Rubio eventually announced that 83 percent of all USAID contracts had been cancelled. To justify the cuts across government, Musk and Trump have repeatedly accused departments and agencies of having perpetrated “waste” and “fraud”, without offering proof. Given that USAID was established as an independent agency under Congress’s Foreign Assistance Act, Judge Chuang ruled that Musk’s actions “likely violates the constitutional principle of Separation of Powers”. As part of Tuesday’s injunction, Chuang required DOGE to restore USAID employees’ access to electronic systems and called for the department to restore any deleted emails. Trump allies, however, quickly slammed Chuang – an appointee of former President Barack Obama – for his temporary injunction. Musk reposted a social media message from conservative commentator Charlie Kirk which accused Chuang of partisanship. “Indeed”, Musk wrote in a one-word reply. Adblock test (Why?)

Venezuela will face ‘severe, and escalating sanctions’ if it doesn’t accept its citizens, Rubio says

Venezuela will face ‘severe, and escalating sanctions’ if it doesn’t accept its citizens, Rubio says

Venezuela will face “severe, and escalating sanctions” if it refuses to accept its citizens who have been deported from the United States, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday.  The tough warning comes as the Trump administration seeks to ramp up deportations of Venezuelans living illegally in the U.S. and to need a temporary residency program for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans, which could pave the way for them to lose their legal status.  ‘WEAPONIZED MIGRATION’: US FACES DEADLY CONSEQUENCES WITH MADURO IN POWER, VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION WARNS Many of those with protected status migrated to the U.S. amid Venezuela’s economic collapse under the authoritarian rule of President Nicolas Maduro. “Venezuela is obligated to accept its repatriated citizens from the U.S. This is not an issue for debate or negotiation,” Rubio wrote on X. “Nor does it merit any reward. Unless the Maduro regime accepts a consistent flow of deportation flights, without further excuses or delays, the U.S. will impose new, severe, and escalating sanctions.” The threat came days after Richard Grenell, President Donald Trump’s special envoy tasked with securing the release of six U.S. citizens imprisoned in Venezuela, said the Maduro government had agreed to accept repatriation flights. Maduro agreed to accept his citizens after initially refusing to do so.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE In February, Trump ended a permit to export oil to allow Chevron to export oil from Venezuela to the U.S. In doing so, Trump noted that Maduro’s government had not met benchmarks to promote free and fair elections. The Trump administration is fighting to deport Venezuelan gang members back to their country. Over the weekend, 238 Venezuelan gang members were flown to a high-security prison in El Salvador despite a federal judge’s order temporarily blocking the deportations. During an interview on Fox News Radio, Rubio thanked El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele for accepting the migrants.  “Venezuela should be taking them, but they refuse to take them. And so, we are fortunate to have a friend like President Bukele who, as part of my meeting with him said we will take them for a fraction of what it costs you guys to house them in your own prison system,” he said. “I think it was a very helpful thing that El Salvador did for us and President Bukele, and we’re grateful to him for it. And frankly, I feel like we should continue to do it,” he added.