Unbiased Updates™ Archives

Rubio leads US delegation to Saudi Arabia for Russia-Ukraine peace talks

February 17, 2025
Possible peace talks aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine are set to commence this week under the leadership of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. And a deadly polar vortex is expected to drive wind chills below 50 degrees in parts of the U.S. this week. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Feb. 17, 2025.

Rubio leads US delegation to Saudi Arabia for Russia-Ukraine peace talks

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio continues his tour of the Middle East on Monday, Feb. 17, with a stop in Saudi Arabia. While there, he’s expected to meet with Russian officials to discuss ending the Ukraine war.

Rubio leads a delegation that includes National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. The trip has heightened concerns worldwide over the Trump administration’s apparent attempts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine without including Ukraine or Europe in the talks.

In an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Sunday, Feb. 16, Rubio dismissed those concerns.

“Ultimately, look, if at any point in time, there’s an opportunity to continue the work that President Trump started last week, to begin to create an opening for a broader conversation, that it would involve Ukraine and would involve the end of the war, and would involve our allies all over the world, particularly in Europe, we’re going to explore it, if that opportunity presents itself,” Rubio said.

He added, “Ultimately, it will reach a point when you are — if it’s real negotiations, and we’re not there yet, but if that were to happen, Ukraine will have to be involved because they’re the one that were invaded, and the Europeans will have to be involved because they have sanctions on Putin and Russia as well, and- and they’ve contributed to this effort. We’re just not there yet. We really aren’t, but hopefully we will be, because we’d all like to see this war end.”

On Sunday, Feb. 16, Trump told reporters he expects to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia “very soon” to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, but didn’t give any specifics.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the United Arab Emirates on Monday. It comes after he told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Ukraine “will never accept any decisions between the United States and Russia” if Ukraine does not participate in negotiations.

The UAE has been proposed as a potential location for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, as it is home to a significant number of Russian and Ukrainian expatriates who have relocated there since the war began, along with the country’s prior efforts in prisoner exchanges.

European leaders gather for emergency summit amid Trump-Putin peace talks

European leaders are meeting in Paris on Monday for an emergency summit to discuss “European security” as U.S. peace talks with Russia move forward without them.

French President Emmanuel Macron will host the “informal meeting,” which will include leaders from the U.K., Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark, as well as the presidents of the European Council, the European Commission and NATO.

The European diplomatic efforts follow Trump’s “lengthy” phone call with Putin last week, during which he announced that negotiations to end the Ukraine war would start “immediately.” When asked if Europeans had a role in talks between Russia and Ukraine, Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, said over the weekend, “I’m [from] a school of realism. I think that’s not gonna happen.”

Netanyahu signals support for Trump’s plan to remove Palestinians from Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled he’s on board with Trump’s plan to remove the Palestinian population from Gaza, calling it “the only viable plan to enable a different future” for the war-torn enclave.

Netanyahu met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Israel on Sunday before Rubio moved on to Saudi Arabia. Netanyahu said he and Trump have a “common strategy” for Gaza, saying “the gates of hell would be open” if Hamas doesn’t release dozens of remaining hostages who were taken when the militant group attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

This week marks 500 days of the war.

Israel and Hamas are currently in the first phase of a ceasefire, though the second phase is in doubt since talks have yet to begin. Israel’s security cabinet is meeting Monday to discuss the second phase.

Negotiators will also be in Cairo this week as mediators aim to broker a lasting peace deal in the Gaza Strip.

Polar vortex to bring ‘life-threatening cold’ to parts of US

Harsh weather moves west after pummeling the eastern U.S. over the weekend, killing at least 10 people. Nine deaths were in Kentucky, where heavy rain led to flooding.

The National Weather Service warned that the storm system would bring “life-threatening cold” to the Rockies and northern Plains. Northeastern Montana is expected to experience the worst of it, with temperatures set to dip as low as 45 degrees below zero and wind chills down to 60 degrees below zero.

Forecasters said not only will this be the 10th polar vortex event this season, but it will also be the coldest. Places like eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota will see wind chills between -40 and –50 degrees.

The dangerous cold will then move back toward the east later this week. According to the NWS, “sub-zero wind chills will likely extend as far south as Texas, Arkansas, and western Tennessee and Kentucky.”

Hundreds of FAA employees fired, nuclear workers told to return: Reports

While federal workers are out of the office on Monday for President’s Day, it appears some will not return to work when offices reopen on Tuesday, Feb. 18. The union representing Federal Aviation Administration employees said several hundred probationary workers started receiving layoff notices on Friday, Feb. 14.

They could be barred from FAA facilities come Tuesday.

The move is part of the Trump administration’s goal of shrinking the federal workforce. The union represents workers who install, inspect and maintain air traffic control communications, radio and computer systems, as well as develop flight procedures.

These reported firings come as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Elon Musk’s SpaceX team members will visit the FAA’s air traffic control command center in Warrenton, Virginia, on Monday to learn about the current system.

As Straight Arrow News reported last week, the federal government employs at least 200,000 probationary workers. These workers have been on the job for less than one year and have little protection against firing.

At the same time, the Trump administration has halted the firings of hundreds of federal employees who work for the nation’s nuclear program. The Associated Press reported that up to 350 employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) were abruptly laid off on Thursday, Feb. 13, as part of the Department of Government Efficiency’s purge of the Department of Energy.

However, by late Friday night, the acting administrator of the NNSA issued a memo rescinding all but 28 of the firings.

Trump attends Daytona 500; Byron wins after hours of rain delays

This year’s Daytona 500 is over after two weather delays delayed the race by three-and-a-half hours.

Trump was present for the start of this year’s race. He led drivers on two laps around the track in his heavily armored presidential limousine, known as “The Beast.”

William Byron walked away the winner for the second consecutive year with a smooth final lap, while others crashed. Byron is now the fifth driver to win back-to-back Daytona 500s and the first since Denny Hamlin in the 2019/2020 season.
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Ukraine says Russian drone hit Chernobyl amid talks of ending war

February 14, 2025
All eyes are on Munich as an American delegation attempts to make progress in ending the war between Russia and Ukraine. And after infernos devastated homes and businesses in Southern California, heavy rain could cause another potential disaster in the region. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Feb. 14, 2024.

Russian drone hit Chernobyl amid talks of ending war: Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a Russian drone with a high-explosive warhead hit the protective confinement shell of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the Kyiv region Friday, Feb. 14. It comes as Russian and U.S. leaders are set to meet in Munich, Germany, to begin talks of ending the war in Ukraine.

Radiation levels at Chernobyl have not increased, according to Zelenskyy and the U.N. Atomic Agency.

Last night, a Russian attack drone with a high-explosive warhead struck the shelter protecting the world from radiation at the destroyed 4th power unit of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

This shelter was built by Ukraine together with other countries of Europe and the world,… pic.twitter.com/mLTGeDYgPT
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 14, 2025

Meanwhile, at least one Ukrainian official has denied President Donald Trump’s claim that Ukraine will participate in a joint meeting between U.S. and Russian representatives.

On Thursday, Feb. 13, Trump told reporters U.S., Russian and Ukrainian officials will have a sideline meeting at the annual Munich Security Conference to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.

However, the Kyiv Post reported that one of Zelenskyy’s top advisors, Dmytro Lytvyn, released a statement indicating that this is not being considered.

“Ukraine’s position remains unchanged,” Lytvyn said. “Ukraine must first speak with America. Europe must be part of any serious conversation for a genuine and lasting peace. Only a coordinated, unified position should be on the table for talks with the Russians. We don’t meet with Russians at an empty table.”

Russia, which is not officially attending the annual forum in Germany, has not commented on the apparent meeting either.

Ukraine’s president will attend the conference and meet with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday.

Rubio’s arrival was delayed Thursday night when his plane had to turn back to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland due to a mechanical issue. While he was able to get on a different plane, it’s unclear if the delay will impact his ability to attend the meeting with the Ukrainian leader.

Earlier this week, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, stating that he spoke by phone with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Zelenskyy. He mentioned that both leaders wanted peace and an end to the war and killing.

Multiple federal prosecutors resign after NY mayor corruption case dropped

The top federal prosecutor in New York and two senior federal prosecutors in Washington have resigned after declining to follow a Justice Department order to dismiss the corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Danielle Sassoon stepped down as acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York on Thursday. Her resignation followed a memo sent on Monday, Feb. 10, by Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, instructing prosecutors in Manhattan to abandon the five-count indictment

Bove previously stated that the Biden administration rushed through Adams’ indictment in September 2024 after Adams criticized Biden’s “failed immigration policies.”

NBC News reported that on Thursday, multiple sources said that Justice Department officials tried to move Adams’ case to the agency’s Public Integrity Section in Washington, which oversees all federal public corruption cases. John Keller, the acting head of the Public Integrity Section, refused to drop the case and resigned, along with three other section members.

Kevin Driscoll, the acting head of the department’s criminal division, which oversees federal criminal cases nationwide, also refused to drop the charges and resigned.

Trump denied instructing the Department of Justice to order the dismissal of the criminal prosecution of Adams. In December 2024, after getting elected, Trump said he believed Adams had been treated “very unfairly.”

14 states file lawsuit challenging DOGE’s constitutionality

Attorneys general from 14 states have filed a lawsuit challenging the authority of Elon Musk and the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The suit claims that the organization possesses virtually unchecked power regarding access to sensitive government data.

DOGE is responsible for eliminating billions of dollars in what Trump considers excessive government spending.

The lawsuit, led by the state of New Mexico, asserts that DOGE has “undermined federal agencies, accessed sensitive data and caused significant harm to state and local governments, federal employees and the American public.”

The AGs are seeking a court order to prevent Musk and DOGE from mandating changes in the disbursement of public funds, canceling government contracts and taking actions to dismantle agencies

In a video call to the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Thursday, Feb. 13, Musk called on the U.S. to “delete” entire agencies to cut spending and restructure priorities.

Winter storm brings new dangers to fire-ravaged Southern California

The strongest storm of the winter continues to pound Southern California on Friday. While experts indicated that the worst of the rain has passed and the flooding is beginning to recede, the area remains unsafe.

Current concerns include the potential for dangerous mud, rockslides and debris flows, especially in the Los Angeles area, where massive wildfires last month charred homes and buildings.

By the time the storm fully exits the area Friday, up to three inches of rain is expected to have fallen in most coastal and valley areas, with up to six inches anticipated in the foothills and mountains.

Forecasters said while scattered showers are still expected throughout Friday, the area will start to dry out over the weekend.

TikTok returns to Google Play, Apple app stores

After nearly a month, TikTok has returned to the Apple and Google Play app stores. The popular social media app was removed from stores last month when a law banning the app in the U.S. took effect.

Under the law, Apple and Google cannot host TikTok as long as ByteDance, a China-based tech company, controls it. However, sources told media outlets Attorney General Pam Bondi sent the tech giants letters Thursday saying the Trump administration will not prosecute them for hosting the app.

The Biden administration passed a law banning the app on Jan. 19, citing national security concerns that the Chinese government could have access to Americans’ sensitive information.

When Trump took office, he promptly signed an executive order postponing the ban’s enforcement until April 5. This gave his administration time to find an American buyer for the app.

Trump has also said he would “like the United States to have a 50% ownership” of TikTok in a “joint venture.”

Experts said about 52% of TikTok downloads are from the Apple App Store and 48% from Google Play.

Caught on camera: Humpback whale swallows kayaker, spits him out

Here’s a whale of a tale that would be pretty unbelievable if it weren’t caught on camera.

A kayaker got a brief glimpse of what Jonah must have experienced when he was briefly gobbled up by a humpback whale while on the water around Chile’s southernmost Patagonia region.

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A post shared by FactsofHealth™ (@factsofhealth)

Adrian Simancas, 24, was paddling through the icy waters of the Strait of Magellan with his dad last Saturday, Feb. 9, when the whale suddenly surfaced, snatched him up and quickly spat him back out.

Wildlife experts said the whale was not trying to eat Simancas. They said it was likely looking to snack on krill or fish and Simancas was just in the way.
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Hamas says it will release Israeli hostages on Saturday as planned

February 13, 2025
A federal judge rules the Trump administration’s deferred resignation program can move forward, affecting about two million government workers. And there are major developments regarding the war between Russia and Ukraine. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025.

Hamas says it will release Israeli hostages on Saturday as planned

Hamas announced early Thursday morning, Feb. 13, it will release Israeli hostages this weekend as planned, resolving a major dispute that threatened the ceasefire in Gaza.

The terror group said mediators from Egypt and Qatar will work to “remove all hurdles,” and Hamas indicated it will release three more Israeli hostages on Saturday, Feb. 15.

Hamas had threatened to delay the hostages’ release, claiming Israel violated terms of the ceasefire.

President Donald Trump said “all hell would break out” if Hamas did not release the hostages, and Israel threatened to renew its offensive if the hostages were not freed as planned.

Mass firings begin as Trump admin looks to slash federal workforce: Reports

Multiple media outlets reported Thursday morning that mass firings of federal government employees began less than 24 hours after Trump signed an executive order giving Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) more power over the federal workforce.

CNN and Politico reported that probationary employees at the Department of Education and Small Business Administration were terminated on Wednesday, Feb. 12. These are the first mass firings under the new Trump administration, which is looking to shrink the federal workforce dramatically.

It also comes as a federal judge ruled the administration’s deferred resignation program can proceed. This news comes after about 75,000 employees have accepted the offer, allowing them to leave their jobs but be paid through the end of September.

Also Wednesday, five unions sued the Trump administration to block the possible firing of hundreds of thousands of additional federal employees who refuse to accept buyouts.

In a complaint filed in Washington, D.C. federal court, the unions accused the White House and others in the executive branch of undermining Congress’ role in creating and funding a federal workforce, violating separation of powers principles.

This workforce issue started when Trump began his new administration by demanding that federal employees who work remotely return to the office. He believes many employees are not producing and are taking advantage of the system.

NATO allies say Ukraine must be part of peace talks between US and Russia

Several NATO allies stressed that Ukraine and Europe must not be cut out of any peace negotiations after the Trump administration signaled it’s planning face-to-face talks with Russia on ending the war in Ukraine without involving them.

It also comes as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Ukraine should give up hopes of joining NATO or winning all of its territory back from Russia.

“We want, like you, a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine,” Hegseth told NATO allies during a meeting Wednesday. “But we must start by recognizing that returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective. Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering.”

He added, “The United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement. Instead, any security guarantee must be backed by capable European and non-European troops.”

On Wednesday, Trump said he and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to begin negotiations immediately to end the war. In a post on his Truth Social platform, the president said he and Putin have decided to “work together very closely” to swiftly end the conflict in Ukraine, including visiting each other’s countries.

Trump later spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump said the conversation went well and that Zelenskyy wanted to make peace.

Zelenskyy posted on X that they “talked about opportunities to achieve peace” and “discussed our readiness to work together at the team level.”

On Thursday morning, the Wall Street Journal reported that Chinese officials had floated a proposal to the Trump team to hold a summit between Trump and Putin and facilitate peacekeeping efforts after an eventual truce. However, the Journal said a White House official said that option was “not viable at all.”

So, what happens next? On Friday, Feb. 14, Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead a delegation to the Munich Security Conference to meet with Zelenskyy.

Senate to vote on RFK Jr., Linda McMahon nominations Thursday

On Thursday, the Senate will confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s pick for health secretary. The Senate cleared a major procedural hurdle to his nomination on Wednesday.

Senators voted 53-47 along party lines to end debate on Kennedy’s nomination, teeing him up for a final vote.

Since his nomination, Kennedy has faced scrutiny from both sides of the aisle over his previous stances on health matters, most notably on the effectiveness of vaccines. One senator even pressed him on whether he was a conspiracy theorist.

For his part, Kennedy vowed to make America healthy again through nutrition and food choices as well as address obesity rates and other health problems.

A confirmation hearing will also be held Thursday for Trump’s education secretary pick, Linda McMahon.

She could soon lead the federal Department of Education despite several former WWE employees and current and former education officials raising concerns about her suitability for the position.

Critics questioned her lack of education experience. Also, there was a lawsuit alleging McMahon was involved in turning a blind eye to child sex abuse during her tenure as a WWE executive and how she might implement executive orders on gender issues and school choice.

So far, no Republicans have objected to McMahon leading the DOE, giving her a clear path to confirmation. The hearing also comes amid reports that Trump plans to dismantle the federal education department completely.

Department of Justice sues New York, local leaders

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Wednesday the justice department is suing New York state over its policy of not cooperating with the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration. The lawsuit targets New York’s “green light law,” which grants driver’s licenses to people in this country illegally.

“New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens,” Bondi said. “It stops and it stops today.”

In addition, the law bars questions about a person’s immigration status and bans the state Department of Motor Vehicles from sharing information with law enforcement or federal agencies unless directed to be a judge.

Bondi added, “If you don’t comply with federal law, we will hold you accountable. We did it to Illinois; strike one. Strike two is New York, and if you are a state that’s not complying with federal law, you’re next, get ready.”

The lawsuit names New York’s Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, Democratic Attorney General Letitia James and the head of the DMV. Mark Schroeder, saying from vehicle stops to border crossings to executing arrests and searches, immigration authorities depend on these records to assess in real-time the situations they face and the people they encounter.

Hochul’s press secretary issued a response saying Hochul “supports deporting violent criminals who break our laws, believes that law-abiding families should not be targets and will coordinate with federal authorities who have a judicial warrant.”

James also said, “Our state laws, including the green light law, protect the rights of all New Yorkers and keep our communities safe.”

Reports Thursday indicated that Gov. Hochul and Trump agreed to meet next week when she travels to Washington for the National Governor’s Association meeting.

Musk’s X to pay $10M to settle Trump lawsuit: Reports

X, the social media platform owned by close Trump ally Elon Musk, agreed to pay to settle a lawsuit from the president over being kicked off the platform, then known as Twitter, following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots.

According to reports from the Wall Street Journal and New York Times, court filings from this week show that both parties filed a motion to dismiss the appeal and pay their own costs. X agreed to pony up about $10 million. A judge granted the dismissal on Monday, Feb. 10.

Last month, Meta settled a similar lawsuit for $25 million regarding the suspension of Trump’s Facebook account after Jan. 6.

9 elephants trumpet happiness after move to new home

A herd of elephants in Australia literally trumpeted the end of their move to a new home. It was a move that was years in the making.

The herd, comprised of one adult male Asian elephant, five adult females and three two-year-old calves, seemed happy with their new digs after making the 25-mile trip from the zoo in the heart of Melbourne to the Werribee Open Range Zoo.

The animals’ new enclosure is ten times bigger than their former home.

The move took nearly two years of planning, three convoys of specially made air-conditioned trucks, a police escort and synchronized traffic lights to make it happen.
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Trump signs order giving Musk’s DOGE more power over federal workforce

February 12, 2025
President Donald Trump gives Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency more power as the shrinking of the federal government continues. And Americans battle winter storms with severe weather expected to hit the Midwest, snow up the mid-Atlantic and heavy rain in fire-weary Southern California. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025.

Trump signs order giving Musk’s DOGE more power over federal workforce

President Donald Trump gave Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) more power to reshape the federal government. With Musk in the Oval Office, the president signed an executive order Tuesday, Feb. 11, directing federal agencies to “coordinate and consult” with DOGE to cut jobs and limit hiring.

According to a summary released by the White House, each agency will be ordered to “undertake plans for large-scale reductions in force” and limit hiring to only “essential positions.”

“What we’re talking about here, we’re really just talking about adding common sense controls that should be present, that haven’t been present,” Musk told reporters.

Good compilation of @DOGE discussion https://t.co/uPm9zlcIj4
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 12, 2025

Trump added, “We’re trying to do is reduce government. We have too many people. We have office space. It’s occupied by 4%. Nobody’s showing up to work because they were told not to. And then Biden gave him a five-year pass some of them, 48,000 of them gave him a five-year pass that for five years you don’t have to show up to work.”

The move came as DOGE faces various lawsuits from labor unions and Democratic state attorneys over moves to slash the federal workforce, cut government spending and force employees working remotely back to the office.

Judge orders federal health websites be restored

A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restore U.S. health agencies’ websites after they were abruptly taken offline in response to an executive order telling them to scrub the websites of “gender ideology extremism.”

The temporary restraining order is in response to a lawsuit by the medical advocacy group Doctors for America. The group said the CDC and FDA’s sudden removal of websites hampered doctors’ and researchers’ ability to fight disease.

The pages that are now set to be revived include information for patients about HIV testing, HIV prevention medication, guidance on contraceptives, data that shows vulnerability to natural disasters and emergencies and an action plan for improving enrollment of underrepresented populations in clinical trials.

Netanyahu threatens to end ceasefire if hostages aren’t returned Saturday

Concerns over whether the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza will hold are growing after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it will be “terminated” if Hamas does not return Israeli hostages by Saturday afternoon, Feb. 15.

Hamas was set to release three Israeli hostages being held in Gaza in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners this Saturday but announced this week the release would be delayed if Israel does not “fulfill its obligations.” Hamas accused Israel of violating the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

Netanyahu has demanded all nine living Israeli hostages supposed to be released during phase one of the ceasefire deal be released in the next few days, or fighting will resume in the decimated Gaza Strip. The new demand comes after Trump warned Monday, Feb. 10, “all hell is going to break out” unless Hamas releases all remaining hostages from Gaza by Saturday.

Netanyahu did not specify whether he was demanding the release of all 76 remaining hostages or just the three due to be freed on Saturday.

Jordan’s king agrees to take in 2,000 displaced Palestinians

Jordan’s King Abdullah II doubled down on his opposition to Trump’s plan to permanently displace and relocate Palestinians from Gaza during a meeting with the president at the White House on Tuesday.

Last week, the president expressed interest in a U.S. takeover of the enclave, saying he would redevelop the area, which has been gutted and reduced to rubble by war, and turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” Part of that plan would include permanently relocating Palestinians, with Trump saying Egypt and Jordan should take in the roughly two million refugees.

Before the meeting with Abdullah, Trump threatened to withhold U.S. aid to Jordan if the country did not accept them. Despite Abdullah’s immediate dismissal of the proposal last week, he did make some concessions during Tuesday’s meeting at the White House.

“I think one of the things that we can do right away is take 2,000 children that are either cancer children or in very ill state to Jordan as quickly as possible and then wait for, I think, the Egyptians to present that plan on how we can work with the president to work on Gaza challenges,” Abdullah told Trump in front of a room full of reporters and Republican lawmakers.

After the meeting, Abdullah posted on social media that the “unified Arab position” is that “rebuilding Gaza without displacing the Palestinians and addressing the dire humanitarian situation should be the priority for all.” He added that he believes Trump can bring stability, peace and prosperity to the region.

Trump reiterated Tuesday he’s “99% sure” the U.S. will work out an agreement with Egypt to offer permanent refuge to displaced Palestinians.

Millions of Americans under winter storm advisories

Millions of Americans are under alert as two winter storms bring snow, freezing rain, and arctic cold across the country.

More than 26 million people from Missouri to West Virginia face winter weather advisories, warnings of light snow, travel hazards and slick roadways. Alerts focused on the central plains, the Midwest, the Ohio Valley and the mid-Atlantic include winter storm warnings, winter storm watches and extreme cold and freeze warnings.

Chicago expects three to six inches of snow, and Omaha, Nebraska, will receive about five inches. St. Louis also expects one to four inches of snow, and it is bracing for a wintry mix with freezing rain.

A third storm, a low-pressure system spinning in the Pacific, is forecast to drop precipitation from Hawaii into California. Flooding, mudslides and debris flow are possible in the fire-ravaged Los Angeles area, where too much rain too fast could lead to even more disasters. Forecasters expect nearly two inches between Wednesday and Friday, Feb. 14.

NASA moves up return date for Boeing Starliner astronauts stuck at ISS

NASA said two astronauts stuck in space for months longer than they were supposed to would hopefully return sooner than the agency expected.

Tuesday, Feb. 11, NASA announced it adjusted its schedule to bring astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams back to Earth as early as March 12. That’s a couple of weeks sooner than previously announced.

NASA and SpaceX are accelerating the target launch and return dates for the upcoming crew rotation missions to and from @Space_Station.#Crew10 launch now is targeted for March 12, pending mission readiness and completion of flight readiness: https://t.co/MhBNJCL80F pic.twitter.com/ZZs9NltVI5
— NASA Commercial Crew (@Commercial_Crew) February 11, 2025

Wilmore and Williams have been stranded on the International Space Station since June 2024. What was supposed to be a 10-day trip turned into an indefinite stay after the Boeing Starliner capsule was deemed too unsafe to bring them home.

The empty capsule returned to Earth in September, and NASA announced that SpaceX would retrieve the astronauts on its next mission, which was initially scheduled for this month. However, that plan was pushed back after NASA said in December that mission teams needed more “time to complete processing” on the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule the astronauts will travel home in.

Now, NASA said it is switching the capsule that will be used for the next set of astronauts to be flown to the space station. This ripple effect pushes up the date when Wilmore and Williams can make their return voyage.
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Trump gives Hamas ultimatum amid threats to delay hostage release

February 11, 2025
President Donald Trump gives Hamas an ultimatum when it comes to the additional release of Israeli hostages. And new details are available about a deadly plane crash on the tarmac of the airport in Scottsdale, Arizona. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025.

Trump gives ultimatum as Hamas threatens to delay Israeli hostage release

President Donald Trump issued a vague but thinly veiled warning to Hamas after the terror group announced it would delay the release of the remaining Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip. It puts the already tenuous ceasefire deal in danger of collapsing.

“Saturday at 12 o’clock, and if they’re not if they’re not here, all hell is going to break out,” Trump told reporters Monday, Feb. 10.

Hamas said it will not release the hostages who were scheduled to be freed this Saturday, Feb. 15, under the terms of the current ceasefire deal “until further notice,” claiming Israel had already violated the agreement.

In a post on X, a Hamas spokesperson said Israel delayed allowing displaced Palestinians to return to the Gaza Strip and denied humanitarian relief to the enclave, ravaged by more than 15 months of war.

Hamas later clarified this weekend’s hostage exchange, which would see three more Israeli hostages freed in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, would still go through if Israel “fulfill[s] its obligations.”

Relatives of some of the hostages gathered in Tel Aviv after the delay was announced, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of purposely sabotaging the six-week ceasefire deal.

Trump has gone to bat for the key U.S. ally, saying if Hamas does not return not just the hostages set to be released this Saturday but all the hostages still being held in Gaza, “all bets are off and let hell break out.”

When asked what that means, the president refused to elaborate.

“You’ll find out, and they’ll find out, too,” he told reporters. “Hamas will find out what I mean. You’re going to find out what I mean. These are sick people, and they’ll find out what I mean Saturday at 12 o’clock.”

Trump added it’s ultimately Israel’s decision what happens if the hostages are not returned this Saturday, saying Israel can “override” his ultimatum.

What happens this weekend could restart the war between Israel and Hamas. As of now, the war might resume in early March if no agreement is reached on the more complicated second phase of the ceasefire, which calls for the return of all remaining hostages and an indefinite extension of the truce.

Trump may cut aid if Jordan, Egypt don’t take displaced Palestinians

Trump is set to meet with Jordan’s King Abdullah II on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after threatening to revoke aid to Jordan and Egypt if they refuse his demand to take in most Palestinian refugees from Gaza permanently. The U.S. provides both countries with millions of dollars of military and economic aid every year.

Trump received immediate pushback from the two allies after floating the idea last week as he announced his hopes the U.S. could ultimately take over the Gaza Strip, somewhat like a real estate venture, and redevelop it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”

He doubled down on that plan Monday, saying Palestinians would not be allowed to return to the Gaza Strip as part of his plan for the U.S. to take ownership of the war-torn 25-mile territory.

In an interview with Fox News host Bret Baier that aired on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 9, Trump reiterated he believes a deal could be reached with Egypt and Jordan to take in displaced Palestinians permanently.

At least 1 dead after private jet collision on Arizona runway

At least one person died, and others are injured after a plane crash on the tarmac at the Scottsdale, Arizona, airport late Monday afternoon. The city of Scottsdale released a statement saying the Learjet’s main landing gear failed as the plane landed.

The jet was coming in from Austin, Texas, with four people on board when it skidded off the runway and crashed into a Gulfstream jet parked in a nearby ramp with one person on board.

TMZ reported that Motley Crue lead singer Vince Neil owns the Learjet. They said Neil was not on board, but his girlfriend was, and she was reportedly sent to the hospital with several broken ribs.

So far, the person who died has not been identified.

Jet Pros, which owns the Gulfstream, released a statement confirming no injuries on its aircraft.

The collision comes less than a month after the deadly crash of a medical flight in Philadelphia and the midair collision of an American Airlines passenger jet and U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport. More than 70 people died as a result of those crashes.

EU vows retaliation if Trump imposes tariffs on steel, aluminum

European Union Chief Ursula von der Leyen vowed Tuesday that U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum “will not go unanswered.”

In a statement, von der Leyen said, “The EU will act to safeguard its economic interests.” She added the U.S. can expect harsh countermeasures from the 27-nation group.

On Monday, Trump imposed 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports to the U.S., which will take effect on March 4.

Diplomats said EU trade ministers will hold an unscheduled video conference on Wednesday, Feb. 12, to discuss the organization’s response to impending tariffs.

Judge extends pause on Trump’s federal employee buyout offer

A federal judge extended the pause on the Trump administration’s plan to offer tens of thousands of federal employees a “deferred resignation” buyout until the president responds to “the issues presented.”

Initially, U.S. District Judge George O’Toole Jr. temporarily halted the administration’s plan until Monday. However, he said the delay would continue after Monday’s hearing until he rules on a preliminary injunction.

Three federal employee unions, with the support of 20 Democratic attorneys general, filed a lawsuit arguing the Office of Personnel Management’s deferred resignation offer is an “unlawful ultimatum” to force the resignation of government workers under the “threat of mass termination.”

During Monday’s hearing, a DOJ lawyer framed the offer as a “humane off-ramp” for federal employees before Trump enacts sweeping changes to “rebalance and reorganize the federal workforce.”

Before the pause, deferred resignation offered full pay and benefits until September for any federal employee who accepted by Feb. 6, with no obligation to work after they received the agreement. The Trump administration moved to get federal workers working remotely from home to go back to the office.

Sam Altman rejects Elon Musk’s offer to buy OpenAI

A group of investors, led by Elon Musk, has offered about $97.5 billion to buy the non-profit behind OpenAI, a company that Musk helped launch a decade ago.

Musk, his AI start-up xAI and a group of investment firms want to take control of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. ChatGPT’s success has created a significant revenue stream for OpenAI.

Last year, it announced plans to change its corporate structure. The matter is now in federal court in California.

no thank you but we will buy twitter for $9.74 billion if you want
— Sam Altman (@sama) February 10, 2025

Musk’s lawyer said the buyers want OpenAI to return to its original charitable mission. However, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman quickly rejected Musk’s offer, saying on Musk’s social media platform X, “No thank you, but we will buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you want.”

Musk and Altman started OpenAI together in 2015, but a power struggle led to a feud, and Musk left in 2018.

Super Bowl sets viewership record with big boost from streaming

Super Bowl LIX wasn’t just a big win for the Philadelphia Eagles. A record 126 million people tuned into the big game this year, according to preliminary numbers — which saw a big boost thanks to streaming services.

This marks the third straight year the Super Bowl set a viewership record.

According to Fox Sports, its game broadcast averaged 111.5 million viewers, while its free streaming service, Tubi, drew 13.6 million viewers. Another 800,000 watched on NFL digital platforms.

The Super Bowl viewing record comes after the regular season saw an average 2% drop in viewership. However, viewership did grow on NBC and Amazon Prime Video, the home to Thursday Night Football, particularly among younger audiences.
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Trump to announce new 25% tariffs on steel, aluminum

February 10, 2025
President Donald Trump turns his attention to the steel industry, preparing to levy new tariffs. And the Philadelphia Eagles are Super Bowl champions after crushing Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Feb. 10, 2025.

Trump to announce new 25% tariffs on steel, aluminum

President Donald Trump said he would announce new 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports to the U.S., including from trade partners Canada and Mexico, on Monday, Feb. 10.

It’s similar to a move he made during his first administration. In 2018, he announced 25% tariffs on steel and 10% on aluminum, but he lifted them for Mexico and Canada a year later.

When previewing the new levies during an interview on Air Force One en route to the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 9, Trump did not say how expansive they would be or when they might go into effect. It’s also unclear if the new steel and aluminum tariffs will be in addition to those already on exports from countries like China.

The president said he believes he is leveling the playing field regarding trade.

“I’ll be announcing, probably Tuesday or Wednesday at a news conference, reciprocal tariffs and very simply, it’s if they charge us, we charge them,” he added.

Trump told reporters that the tariffs would go into effect “almost immediately,” but he would not provide any more details, saying they would be available during the official announcement.

Also, during his flight from South Florida to New Orleans, Trump signed an executive order declaring Feb. 9 “Gulf of America Day” as he flew over the body of water. Last month, he signed an order officially renaming the Gulf of Mexico.

Trump becomes first sitting president to attend Super Bowl

The president made history Sunday, becoming the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl.

Trump watched the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Kansas City Chiefs from a suite after flying in with some of his closest Republican allies in Congress, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and South Carolina Sens. Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott.

Many celebrities were on hand, including pop superstar Taylor Swift — rooting for her boyfriend, the Chiefs’ Travis Kelce. Actors Kevin Costner, Paul Rudd, and Anne Hathaway were among other A-listers spotted throughout the game.

While the president predicted the Chiefs would score a three-peat before the game, the Eagles dominated. They routed the Chiefs 40-22, intercepting quarterback Patrick Mahomes twice and sacking him six times.

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Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts threw for two touchdowns and ran one in himself, earning Super Bowl MVP honors.

In Philadelphia, thousands of fans took to the streets, and things got out of control. In celebration, fans carried off a toppled traffic light pole, swarmed a trash truck and climbed on top of it.

Award-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar headlined the halftime show with appearances from SZA and Hollywood star Samuel L. Jackson.

There was also a bit of controversy. Police detained one of the performers among the 400-member cast on the field. That person could face criminal charges after unfurling a combination of the Sudan-Palestinian flag with “Sudan” and “Gaza” written on it.

New Orleans police said in a statement that they were “working to determine applicable charges in this incident.” The performer stood on a car, used as a prop for Lamar’s performance, and held up the flag.

The NFL said the performer had the flag hidden beforehand, and “no one involved with the production was aware of the individual’s intent.”

Trump’s serious about wanting Canada as 51st state

During an exclusive interview with Fox News during the Super Bowl pre-show, Trump pushed forward on his previous comments about the U.S. taking over Canada.

“[Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau] said that your wish for Canada to be the 51st state is a quote, real thing. Is it a real thing?” Fox News anchor Bret Baier asked.

“Yeah, it is,” Trump said. “I think Canada would be much better off being a 51st state because we lose $200 billion a year with Canada, and I’m not going to let that happen. It’s too much. Why are we paying $200 billion a year, essentially, in subsidy to Canada? Now, if they’re a 51st state, I don’t mind doing it.”

In the interview, Trump defended the work of billionaire Elon Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency. DOGE has drawn criticism from Democrats as Musk moves to shut down government agencies that the Trump administration believes are unnecessary and waste taxpayer money. His administration has offered buyouts to thousands of federal workers.

Last week, Musk and Trump attempted to put thousands of workers from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on leave. However, on Friday, Feb. 7, a judge temporarily blocked that effort.

Trump said Musk has “been terrific” and will target the Department of Education and the military next. He expects Musk to find “billions” of dollars of abuse and fraud in the Pentagon.

This comes as a new poll out Sunday from CBS News showed 53% of Americans approve of the job Trump is doing in his first couple of weeks in office, while 47% disapprove.

Federal court blocks Venezuelan migrants from being sent to Guantánamo Bay

A federal court has blocked the Trump administration from sending three Venezuelan immigrants to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, for detainment.

In a legal filing, lawyers for the men, who are currently being held in New Mexico, said they “fit the profile of those the administration has prioritized for detention in Guantánamo” since they were being held on charges of connections with the gang Tren de Aragua.

However, they asked a U.S. district court for a temporary restraining order blocking their transfer, saying the U.S. government has created uncertainty surrounding legal process and counsel availability.

Holding immigrants in Guantánamo is a key aspect of Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration in the U.S.

Last Wednesday, Feb. 5, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said federal agents arrested more than 8,000 people. Trump has said his administration plans to house up to 30,000 migrants suspected of being in the country illegally at the Guantánamo military base in Cuba.

Vought shuts down Consumer Financial Protection Bureau operations

The new Office of Management and Budget director, Russell Vought, has wasted no time in his new position, taking aim at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

In a weekend e-mail, Vought told the agency’s employees to cease all supervision and examination activity, pause all pending investigations, not issue any public communications and put a hold on enforcement actions.

He also instructed them not to approve or issue any new rules. Vought later posted to X that he had notified the Federal Reserve that the CFPB will not receive its next funding stipend because he does not believe it’s necessary to carry out the bureau’s duties.

“The bureau’s current balance of $711.6 million is in fact excessive in the current fiscal environment. This spigot, long contributing to CFPB’s unaccountability, is now being turned off,” he said.

Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who helped create the bureau in 2008, fired back on X, saying Vought is “giving big banks and giant corporations the green light to scam families.”

Staff and contractors at the CFPB were told the Washington headquarters is now closed this week, and they are to work from home.

The National Treasury Employees Union, representing employees in the CFPB, filed two lawsuits against the closure on Sunday. One said Vought telling CFPB employees to stop working is unlawful, and another said three DOGE-affiliated staffers were allowed into the bureau’s internal communications system and that Vought instructed CFPB employees to give the DOGE team “access to all non-classified CFPB systems.”

Trump orders Treasury Department to stop minting new pennies

Trump directed the Treasury Department to stop making new pennies. In a post on his Truth Social platform Sunday night, the president said it costs the U.S. twice what one penny is worth to make one.

The one-cent coins fell in the crosshairs of Elon Musk’s DOGE last month. The U.S. Mint reported losing $85.3 million in the 2024 fiscal year on the 3.2 billion pennies it produced.

It might not stop with pennies, either. The Mint also loses money on nickel, with each of the five-cent coins costing nearly 14 cents.
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Legal battles brew over Trump executive orders

February 7, 2025
President Donald Trump started his new term with a flurry of executive orders, some of which are now facing lawsuits. And as crews remove more wreckage from the Potomac River after the deadly plane and helicopter crash last week, investigators are getting some answers. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Feb. 7, 2025.

Legal battles brew over Trump executive orders

It’s been just over two weeks since President Donald Trump took office, and he has already signed more than 50 executive orders to reshape the federal government. Now, many of them are facing legal pushback.

On Thursday, Feb. 6, a federal judge temporarily blocked Trump’s offer to buy out federal workers. The workers were told to return to the office while court proceedings over its legalization played out.

Initially, federal employees had until 11:59 p.m. Thursday to decide whether to take the buyout offer. That deadline has now been extended to Monday, Feb. 10, and it might be pushed back even further.

The buyout would allow federal workers to leave their jobs while still receiving benefits through the end of September. Federal unions have strongly urged members not to accept the package, questioning its legality and the Trump administration’s ability to follow through on its promises.

The White House said at least 40,000 federal employees have already opted into the deferred resignation program.

The American Federation of Government Employees, the largest union of U.S. government workers, has filed a lawsuit seeking a federal court to stop the shutdown of USAID. The union argues that the president cannot shut down an agency enshrined in congressional legislation. This comes after the Trump administration presented a plan Thursday to cut USAID staffing worldwide to dismantle the agency dramatically.

The plan would employ fewer than 300 USAID workers out of thousands. The administration believes that USAID is fraught with unnecessary spending on projects and causes that Americans are unaware of.

Meanwhile, another lawsuit is brewing over the Treasury Department’s decision to allow Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffers access to the federal government’s massive payment and collections system. A group of retirees and union members said the move violates federal privacy laws because it gives DOGE access to the data stored in the system.

Those challenging the Trump administration’s decision want an order barring DOGE from accessing the data and requiring the return of any harvested data.

Another executive order facing pushback is Trump’s decision to end birthright citizenship in the U.S. Birthright citizenship occurs when a child is born in the United States and automatically becomes an American citizen regardless of the child’s or parents’ nationality or because at least one of their parents was a U.S. citizen at the time of the person’s birth.

Several lawsuits are now on the books, challenging the order. This week, federal judges in Maryland and Washington state issued nationwide preliminary injunctions blocking the order from taking effect. The Department of Justice has appealed the Washington decision.

A pair of federal judges have also temporarily blocked a federal aid funding freeze, which the Trump administration directed in response to his executive orders.

Additionally, two judges blocked the transfer of three transgender women prisoners to a male prison after a Trump executive order affecting transgender inmates. It said the federal Bureau of Prisons is now required to ensure that “males are not detained in women’s prisons.”

Trump sanctions International Criminal Court over Israel investigation

Trump signed another executive order Thursday. The new order imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel, a close U.S. ally.

The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was at the White House this week, for alleged war crimes over his military response in Gaza after the Hamas terror attack on Israel in October 2023.

The attack left more than 1,200 Israelis dead and around 250 taken hostage in Gaza. Israel then unleashed a ground and air response, which the Hamas-run health ministry said has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, including children.

Neither the U.S. nor Israel are members of or recognize the ICC.

Trump’s order said the U.S. would impose “tangible and significant consequences” on those responsible for the ICC’s “transgressions.” These could include blocking property and assets and not allowing ICC officials, employees and their families to enter the U.S.

FBI turns over list of Jan. 6 investigators to Justice Department

Acting Director Brian Driscoll emailed employees Thursday to inform them that the FBI has given the Justice Department the names of employees who worked on cases related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. This follows a back-and-forth between bureau leaders who sought to protect identities and the DOJ. The FBI complied by providing the names through a classified system to protect employees from being publicly identified.

Earlier this week, the bureau withheld the names of thousands of workers and identified them based only on their employee ID numbers, job titles and roles in the Jan. 6 investigations.

Several FBI employees and the agency’s union sued the Justice Department, asking a judge to ensure their names were not released outside the DOJ. They said they fear for their safety if their identities are made public.

Search underway in Alaska for missing plane carrying 10 people

The search continues in Alaska for a Cessna aircraft carrying 10 people that went missing Thursday afternoon.

Alaska state troopers said the plane, operated by Bering Air, was headed from Unalakleet to Nome. The Norton Sound Inlet separates both cities in western Alaska. Crews are conducting ground and air searches as weather and visibility permit to find the missing aircraft.

The plane’s disappearance comes as investigations continue into two recent deadly U.S. aviation incidents. A medical transportation plane crashed in Philadelphia last Friday, Jan. 31, killing the six people on board and another person on the ground, and last Wednesday, Jan. 29, a passenger plane and an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided midair, killing 67 people.

Black Hawk wreckage from deadly midair collision removed from Potomac River

Workers pulled the wreckage of the Black Hawk involved in last week’s deadly midair collision with a passenger jet from the Potomac River on Thursday. Crews also removed additional parts of the American Airlines plane, most of which was pulled from the river earlier this week.

The National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the cause of the crash, said it is still looking for the helicopter’s right engine and tail rotor.

NTSB, in coordination with SUPSALV, recovered the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk today. Additional information in today's investigative update for the Jan. 29 mid-air collision near DCA: https://t.co/C01PwrsmIF pic.twitter.com/gfsgRh7lgN
— NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) February 7, 2025

After a closed-door briefing by the NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz told reporters that the helicopter was flying with its safety system turned off. Cruz chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, which oversees the airline industry.

He said senators were told the helicopter’s automatic dependent surveillance broadcast system was turned off. The system provides detailed information to track airplane locations.

Military aircraft are allowed to fly with that system off. However, since the crash involved a training flight, Cruz said, “Unless there was a compelling national security reason for turning it off, that does not seem justified.”

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy told reporters investigators had not confirmed whether the helicopter was equipped with that technology.

Americans gear up for Super Bowl weekend

It is Super Bowl weekend. Come Sunday, Feb. 9, millions of Americans will gather with friends, family members and neighbors to watch the biggest NFL game of the year — along with all the commercials and the Kendrick Lamar halftime show.

As for Super Bowl LIX itself, AFC champions the Kansas City Chiefs and star quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be going for their third straight Super Bowl championship. They’ll face off against the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year Saquon Barkley and NFC champions, the Philadelphia Eagles.

Kickoff is around 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday in New Orleans.

For those making it an all-day event, the annual Puppy Bowl is back.

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The three-hour made-for-TV event is a miniature football game dogs play on a 20 by 30-foot field. The pups, all between three and six months old, score touchdowns when they cross the goal-line with a toy in their mouth.

The goal of the show is to encourage pet adoption. This year’s Puppy Bowl pits Team Ruff against Team Fluff and will feature 142 rescue puppies from 80 shelters across 40 states.
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Trump bans transgender athletes from women’s sports

February 6, 2025
President Donald Trump signs an executive order prohibiting transgender women and girls from competing in female sports, claiming the war on women’s sports is over. And the State Department claims Panama is willing to waive fees on American ships using the Panama Canal, despite the Panamanian government saying otherwise. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025.

Trump bans transgender athletes from women’s, girls’ sports

President Donald Trump followed through on another campaign promise Wednesday, Feb. 5. He signed an executive order banning transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports.

“With this executive order, the war on women’s sports is over,” Trump said.

He added, “This will effectively end the attack on female athletes at public K-12 schools and virtually all U.S. colleges and universities. I don’t think we missed anything, but if we do, we’ll make it up very quickly with an order.”

The order rolls back Biden administration guidance on Title IX, a civil rights law that prevents sex-based discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal funding

“We're putting every school receiving taxpayer dollars on notice that if you let men take over women's sports teams or invade your locker rooms, you will be investigated for violations of Title IX and risk your federal funding.” –President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/MUd6FAetWr
— President Donald J. Trump (@POTUS) February 6, 2025

The current measure, dubbed “No Men in Women’s Sports,” is the fourth executive order Trump has signed involving transgender people since taking office just over two weeks ago. Critics said the order addresses a problem that simply is not there.

“First of all, the numbers, they don’t exist,” said activist and former professional cyclist Kristen Worley. “Understand that there’s 0.01% gender variant people living in our society as a whole, so it’s a very tiny, tiny group of people that he’s actually targeting, and certainly the numbers in terms of gender performance are filled with inaccuracies as well.”

However, supporters of the order pointed to a trans swimmer at the University of Pennsylvania and a trans volleyball player at San Jose State as examples of men who transitioned to women and then dominated women’s sports.

The executive order also stipulates that the Trump administration will work with sports governing bodies, including the International Olympic Committee, to ensure that guidance is followed in noneducational settings.

Democratic senators protest Vought’s nomination with overnight speech marathon

Democratic senators held the floor overnight Wednesday into Thursday to protest Russell Vought’s nomination to lead the Office of Management and Budget.

Republicans have the majority in the Senate, so they have consistently confirmed Trump’s nominees, even without Democratic approval. Vought was set to be confirmed for the job Wednesday night, but Democrats vowed to slow the process dramatically.

Democrats have warned about Vought’s ties to Project 2025, a conservative push to reshape the federal government. Trump has denied following its guidelines.

We're holding the Senate floor all night to fight back against Trump’s nomination of Russell Vought.

America saw how bad OMB’s illegal, incompetent funding freeze was.

We want Americans to hear EVERY HOUR how bad the dangers are that he poses to their daily lives as OMB head. pic.twitter.com/ksJ2VG7nJX
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 6, 2025

Things came to a head after the OMB released a memo last week freezing federal funding. While the memo was rescinded not long after, Democrats said it was a warning sign for how Vought, who at least one Democratic senator has called Trump’s “most dangerous nominee,” would run the office, which plays a key role in enacting the president’s agenda.

Senate Democrats began what they said would be a 30-hour protest Wednesday afternoon. Despite the protest, the full Senate will vote to confirm Vought as budget director Thursday evening.

Vought previously held this position during Trump’s first term. Republican Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota said he has a good working relationship with Vought and expects it to continue.

Panama denies US claim government vessels can transit canal for free

Hours after the State Department announced that American ships would be allowed to sail through the Panama Canal for free, Panama said that was not true.

In a post on Wednesday, the State Department said Secretary Marco Rubio had agreed with Panamanian leadership to allow the move, saving the federal government millions of dollars a year. Rubio had visited Panama this week.

The Panama Canal Authority said it sets the tolls and other fees for crossing the canal and “has not made any adjustments to them.” The authority added that it is open to dialogue with the U.S.

Before taking office, Trump demanded that Panamanian authorities either lower fees for American ships using the Panama Canal or return its control to the U.S.

‘Sanctuary city’ mayors to testify before House committee

“Sanctuary city” mayors will testify before House lawmakers in an upcoming hearing on immigration policies, according to House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky.

Comer launched a probe into sanctuary policies, which allow a jurisdiction to limit its cooperation with federal immigration enforcement officials when it comes to the Trump crackdown on illegal immigration. Mayors in major cities such as Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia have said they will not help.

This comes as newly confirmed Attorney General Pam Bondi hit the ground running on her first day in office Wednesday, ordering a pause in federal funding from the Justice Department for sanctuary cities. Straight Arrow News reporter Lauren Taylor has the details here.

The mayors of Boston, Chicago, Denver and New York City, among others, will appear before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on March 5 to discuss sanctuary policies.

New bird flu variation found in US dairy cattle

Testers have discovered a second bird flu variation in American dairy cows for the first time.

The Department of Agriculture announced the new strain on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Until recently, all dairy herd detections in the U.S. had been infected with a form of bird flu known as B3.13.

This new version, D1.1, was previously detected only in wild birds and poultry, but has now spread to cows.

It’s also the strain that’s been linked to a deadly human case in Louisiana last year after the victim was exposed to infected birds.

Humans infected with D1.1 have experienced more severe symptoms than those with the previous bird flu strain. However, the CDC said the risk to the general public remains low, and there is no evidence of the spread of D1.1 from human to human.

AI ‘digitally unrolls’ 2,000-year-old scrolls burned in Vesuvius eruption

Using artificial intelligence, X-rays and CT scans, researchers have deciphered some words on an ancient scroll burned by lava from Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D.

The rolled-up papyrus scrolls were found in a mansion in Herculaneum, an ancient town near Pompeii, in the mid-1700s. Researchers attempted to unfurl them for more than two centuries to see what was inside and what they said.

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The few scrolls they could open contained philosophical writing in ancient Greek. Others were so severely damaged by the lava that they were illegible — until now.

On Wednesday, specialists at Oxford University in London announced a significant breakthrough. Technicians used a massive machine called a synchrotron to create a powerful X-ray beam that could look inside a fragile scroll without damaging it. The Oxford scholars are now continuing to decipher the text on this scroll.
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Trump proposes US ‘take over’ Gaza strip

February 5, 2025
In a curveball for the Middle East, President Donald Trump offers to put America right in the middle of a decades-long conflict over the Gaza Strip. And the president’s most controversial cabinet pick, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., narrowly advances to a full Senate vote. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025.

Trump proposes US will ‘take over’ Gaza strip

Trump proposed the U.S. “take over” the Gaza strip, insisting Palestinians be permanently resettled elsewhere. The president made those remarks after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday, Feb. 4.

The president’s comments came as Hamas said talks on a second phase of the ceasefire deal with Israel have begun, focusing on shelter, relief and reconstruction in the devastated Palestinian enclave.

Trump’s remarks to take over the long-disputed area of Gaza followed a proposal that Palestinians should leave their homes and “permanently” resettle elsewhere as they “have no choice.” The president previously suggested either Jordan or Egypt take them in.

“I don’t think people should be going back to Gaza,” Trump said Tuesday. “I think that Gaza has been very unlucky for them. They’ve lived like hell. They lived like you’re living in hell. Gaza is not a place for people to be living. And the only reason they want to go back, and I believe this strongly, is because they have no alternative.”

In his proposal for a U.S. takeover of the enclave, Trump said the U.S. would develop the area, create thousands of jobs and turn Gaza into “something the entire Middle East can be proud of.” He even suggested it would become the “riviera of the Middle East.”

Israel, a key U.S. ally, has long sought control of the 25-mile strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea. During Tuesday’s joint press conference, Netanyahu didn’t reject the idea.

“I mentioned again tonight our three goals, and the third goal is to make sure that Gaza never poses a threat to Israel again,” Netanyahu said. “President Trump is taking it to a much higher level. He sees a different, he sees a different future for that piece of land that has been the focus of so much terrorism, so much so many attacks against us, so many so many trials and so many tribulations. He has a different idea. And I think it is worth paying attention to this.”

Egypt, Jordan and other U.S. allies in the Middle East have cautioned Trump that relocating Palestinians from Gaza would threaten stability in the region, risk expanding the conflict and undermine a decades-long push for a two-state solution.

Last week, Egypt’s president and Jordan’s king dismissed Trump’s calls to resettle Palestinians in their countries.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry issued a sharply worded reaction to Trump’s proposal, saying their long call for an independent Palestinian state was a “firm, steadfast and unwavering position.” Saudi Arabia has been in negotiations with the U.S. over a deal to diplomatically recognize Israel in exchange for a security pact in the region.

The prime minister of Australia, another U.S. ally, also reiterated his country’s commitment to a two-state solution in Gaza.

First migrant flight lands at Guantánamo Bay

The first military flight carrying migrants to Guantánamo Bay arrived Tuesday night. The move is part of the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration.

The plane took off from El Paso, Texas, with 10 migrants on board. All prisoners are suspected members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

The U.S. has used Guantánamo’s high-security prison facility to hold al-Qaida members since the war on terror began in the fall of 2001.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that only the “worst of worst” illegal immigrants convicted of violent crimes will be housed there.

The migrants will not share space with the 15 detainees remaining at the facility, including alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed.

Approximately 200 U.S. Marines were recently dispatched to Guantánamo to bolster security, help set up the infrastructure and increase the site’s capacity. Defense officials said that number will rise to 500 in the coming days.

Gunman kills 10 at adult education center in Sweden

Swedish authorities believe the attacker who opened fire at an adult education center in Orebro acted alone. The shooting left 11 people dead Tuesday, including the suspected gunman, who is believed to have taken his own life.

Police said six people remain hospitalized. Five of the hospitalized victims suffered from gunshot wounds, two of which remain in intensive care.

Police have not identified the shooter and do not yet know the motive for the shooting, but said they’ve ruled out anything “ideological.”

Remains of all 67 killed in jet and helicopter collision recovered

Crews recovered the remains of all 67 people killed last week when an American Airlines passenger jet collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C. Authorities have positively identified all but one person.

Crews will now focus solely on clearing the wreckage.

In an update Tuesday afternoon, the National Transportation Safety Board said it recovered several parts of the airplane, including the right wing, part of the left wing and substantial portions of the forward cockpit and cabin.

The NTSB will lead the investigation into the crash as questions mount about what caused the mid-air collision.

Once the plane’s wreckage is fully removed, crews will turn their attention to the remnants of the Black Hawk. They expect to complete all removal operations sometime next week.

Pam Bondi confirmed as new US attorney general

The nation has a new attorney general. On Tuesday, the Senate approved Pam Bondi as the next head of the Justice Department by a vote of 54-46.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., was the only Democrat to join all 53 Republicans in voting yes.

Bondi is the former attorney general of Florida. She is expected to bring sweeping changes to a department that Trump believes was weaponized against him during the Biden administration.

Now, all eyes turn to the president’s pick for Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. His nomination made it out of the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday by a 14-13 margin, with every Democrat voting against him.

Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy pushed Kennedy over the top after the nominee, who has made headlines for his activism as a lawyer and vaccine skeptic, assured the senator he would not move to eliminate the nation’s childhood vaccination program and vowed to collaborate with Cassidy to “make America healthy again.”

The full Senate will next vote on the Kennedy nomination, which could occur as soon as this week.

Waffle House charges more for eggs as bird flu drives costs higher

The price of eggs keeps increasing, and now, it’s impacting prices at one of America’s favorite breakfast chains. Waffle House is adding a 50 cent per egg surcharge to its meals as the nation grapples with the largest bird flu outbreak in a decade.

The chain, known for offering breakfast 24-7, said the resulting egg shortage has led to a dramatic price increase, which it is passing on to customers.

U.S. egg prices are more than double what they were in the summer of 2023. The average price for a dozen eggs in the U.S. hit $4.15 in December — not quite as high as the $4.82 record set two years ago, but the Department of Agriculture said egg prices will likely jump another 20% this year.

Waffle House said it will continue to monitor prices and get rid of the additional charge when it can.
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China hits back at US with tariffs of up to 15% on American goods

February 4, 2025
China is not backing down in the tariff war with the Trump administration. And crews continue to remove the wreckage from an American Airlines jet that plunged into the Potomac River last week after a midair collision with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.

China hits back at US with tariffs of up to 15% on American goods

China responded to President Donald Trump’s newly imposed tariffs with some of its own. China’s finance ministry said Tuesday that starting next Monday, Feb. 10, it will impose additional tariffs of 15% on coal and liquefied natural gas imports from the U.S. and 10% higher duties on American crude oil, farm equipment, and certain cars.

China’s announcement came just minutes after Trump’s additional 10% tariff on all Chinese goods took effect.

At the same time, Trump paused the 25% tariffs he promised to impose on Canada and Mexico for 30 days. Straight Arrow News reporter Lauren Taylor has the details of that pause here.

Trump has not yet spoken to Chinese President Xi Jinping about the tariffs but is expected to do so in the next few days. In addition to the tariffs against the U.S., China has also filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization.

El Salvador offers to house violent U.S. criminals and deportees of any nationality

As the U.S. continues its crackdown on undocumented immigrants, El Salvador has offered the Trump administration an unprecedented deal.

After meeting with El Salvadorian President Nayib Bukele, Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained the details of the offer.

“He has agreed to accept for deportation any illegal alien in the United States who is a criminal from any nationality, be they MS-13 or Tren de Aragua, and house them in his jails,” Rubio said. “And he’s also offered to do the same for dangerous criminals currently in custody and serving their sentence in the United States even though they’re U.S. citizens or legal residents.

We have offered the United States of America the opportunity to outsource part of its prison system.

We are willing to take in only convicted criminals (including convicted U.S. citizens) into our mega-prison (CECOT) in exchange for a fee.

The fee would be relatively low for… pic.twitter.com/HTNwtp35Aq
— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) February 4, 2025

El Salvador’s president said in a post on X, “We have offered the United States the opportunity to outsource part of its prison system. We are willing to take in, only convicted criminals, including convicted U.S. citizens, into our mega-prison in exchange for a fee. The fee would be relatively low for the U.S. but significant for us, making our entire prison system, sustainable.”

It’s unclear when such a transfer might begin or if it would even be legal.

The stop in El Salvador was part of a larger tour of Central America for Secretary of State Rubio. Before heading there, Rubio was in Panama, seeking assurances on curbing China’s influence over the Panama Canal.

Rubio is also scheduled to visit Costa Rica, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic this week.

Large pieces of American Airlines jet pulled from river; more remains found

Salvage crews continued Tuesday to remove the wreckage of an American Eagle passenger jet in the Potomac River near Washington, D.C.

On Monday, Feb. 3, the first day of operations, they removed an engine and large portions of the plane’s fuselage from the water.

Investigators said the plane broke apart into three pieces in the river. Officials said the remains of the jet must be removed from the crash site to recover all 67 victims who died in the mid-air collision between Flight 5432 and an Army Black Hawk helicopter last Wednesday night, Jan. 29.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by USACE Baltimore District (@usacebaltimore)

So far, officials have positively identified 55 victims. They vowed to recover everyone. Searchers found additional remains during recovery efforts Monday, but they have not yet been identified.

Once the jet’s wreckage is cleared, crews will start working to remove what remains of the helicopter. They will haul both aircraft to a National Transportation Safety Board hangar for a lengthy investigation into what caused the deadly crash.

Trump reportedly weighing plan to dismantle the Department of Education

Trump could soon sign an executive order directing Acting Secretary of Education Denise Carter to dismantle the Federal Department of Education, according to multiple reports citing sources briefed on drafts circulating among top administration officials.

The proposed order is expected to require Carter to submit a proposal to break up the department and for Congress to pass legislation to get rid of it.

It’s unclear when the president will officially make the order, but at least one White House official has said it’s expected sometime this month.

Trump creates US sovereign wealth fund, could buy into TikTok

The president has signed an executive order that outlines plans to establish a government-run sovereign wealth fund. It would serve as an economic development account and might be used to buy into TikTok as a partner.

The popular social media app operates under a 75-day period during which its owner, ByteDance, is supposed to break away from its Chinese influence.

In addition to TikTok, the fund would be used to pay for infrastructure projects in the U.S., including at airports and highways.

Elon Musk creates confusion over IRS’ free tax filing program

Tax season is here, and several Americans are banking on the IRS’ new Direct File system to make life easier. However, they might find themselves confused about a recent social media post by Department of Government Efficiency Chair Elon Musk.

Musk shared a user’s post about the free program on his platform X and said, “That group has been deleted.”

That group has been deleted https://t.co/TICeriaLlA
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 3, 2025

That led to concerns that Americans would not be able to use the new tool to file their 2024 taxes. However, the Direct File has not been “deleted” and is still available, at least for this tax season.

Musk was referring to 18F, a government agency that worked on technology projects, including the IRS’s Direct File program. Last year, the IRS announced it would make the free electronic tax return filing system permanent.

Tax Day this year is Tuesday, April 15.
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