US Marshals Service deputizes Musk’s private security detail: Reports
The U.S. Marshals Service has deputized Elon Musk’s private security team, granting them rights and protections typically reserved for federal law enforcement agents. The move comes amid heightened security concerns following his appointment to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The deputation allows Musk’s team to carry firearms on federal property and make arrests. The full extent of their powers remains unclear.
The Marshals Service typically deputizes law enforcement officers, not private security personnel, raising concerns about the precedent it sets.
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The U.S. Marshals Service reportedly deputized members of Elon Musk’s private security team, according to multiple law enforcement sources. The move granted them certain rights and protections typically reserved for federal law enforcement agents.
However, the number of security personnel granted this status remains unknown.
The move follows heightened security concerns for Musk, who President Donald Trump appointed to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
In recent weeks, Musk publicly referenced threats to his safety. Reports also indicated that his security team sought expanded authority in Washington, D.C.
What powers do deputized security officers have?
The full extent of the powers granted to Musk’s security team remains unclear. Generally, special deputy U.S. Marshals can carry firearms on federal property and may be authorized to detain individuals in certain situations.
However, the specific authorities granted to Musk’s security detail remain unknown.
A law enforcement source told CNN that deputation also means the Marshals Service could be held legally responsible if an incident involving Musk’s security team were to occur.
How unusual is this move?
While the Marshals Service frequently deputizes law enforcement officers to assist in major security operations—such as during a presidential inauguration—deputizing private security officers is rare but not unprecedented.
The agency has deputized security details for high-profile government officials, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, whose protection came from federal law enforcement. However, sources said extending these protections to private security personnel who are not sworn law enforcement officers is unusual.
Why doesn’t Musk have Secret Service protection?
The White House has not issued Musk a Secret Service detail, though Trump could authorize one via executive order.
The Secret Service protects the president, vice president, their families and select high-ranking officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi declined to comment on Musk’s security arrangements. However, he noted that private security officers are not permitted to carry weapons inside federal buildings.
What are the broader implications?
The decision to deputize Musk’s security team has raised concerns among law enforcement officials. They questioned the precedent it sets.
Sources familiar with the situation stated Musk’s security detail has attracted attention due to its size and presence in Washington.
As Musk continues to head the Department of Government Efficiency, which has managed budget cuts across federal agencies, his security situation remains a subject of discussion in both political and law enforcement circles.
Senate passes budget resolution after overnight ‘vote-a-rama’
Washington lawmakers vote to pass a budget proposal after an all-night “vote-a-rama.” And the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas hangs on by a thread after bus explosions in Tel Aviv and a hostage hoax. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Feb. 21, 2025.
Senate passes budget resolution after overnight ‘vote-a-rama’
It was a long night for U.S. senators Thursday, Feb. 20, as they participated in what’s known as a “vote-a-rama” to attempt to pass the Republicans’ $342 billion budget blueprint.
Democrats made it challenging, requiring GOP lawmakers to take a stand on issues such as the war in Ukraine and safeguarding Medicare and Medicaid from cuts. At the same time, Republicans aimed to implement President Donald Trump’s legislative priorities.
The budget plan from Senate Republicans, which narrowly passed 52-48 mostly along party lines early Friday morning, aims to increase funding for immigration enforcement, national security, and energy production. It also proposes offsetting cuts of the same amount over four years. Trump has endorsed a competing plan put forth by House Republicans that is more expansive.
If passed by both chambers, a budget resolution would trigger a process known as budget reconciliation. This process allows the Senate to bypass its filibuster rules and pass legislation with a simple majority vote instead of the 60-vote threshold needed for most measures. Thus, Republicans could pass Trump’s fiscal agenda later this year without needing Democratic help.
Republicans have a 53-47 majority in the Senate and a 218-215 majority in the House, with two seats vacant.
Netanyahu orders West Bank military operation after Israel bus bombings
The explosions followed the Israeli army’s announcement that one of the hostage bodies returned to Israel by Hamas earlier in the day was not who the militant group claimed it was, sparking demands from some Israeli leaders to end the ceasefire.
Straight Arrow News reporter Lauren Taylor has more details about the bus explosions and the hostage whose remains were not returned here.
Israel has increased security measures and suspended bus and train services nationwide following the blasts, which Netanyahu’s office described as an “attempt to perpetrate a chain of mass bus bombings.”
Meanwhile, Hamas accused Israel of delaying the second phase of the ceasefire, stating that discussions have not yet started. The militant group also claimed that Israel has not fully upheld its commitment under the first phase of the ceasefire regarding humanitarian aid in Gaza.
Arab leaders convene to develop post-war strategy for Gaza
Leaders from across the Middle East will gather in Saudi Arabia on Friday, Feb. 21, to seek a unified response to Trump’s proposal to have the U.S. take control of the war-ravaged Gaza Strip and turn it into what he described as the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
The meeting will include Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf Arab nations. It also takes place ahead of a larger Arab summit scheduled for March 4.
Egypt fast-tracked the meetings and insisted it has a long-term plan for Gaza, which the Middle East said it might take five years to implement.
Trump’s proposal last month to not only take over Gaza but also permanently displace Palestinians from the enclave faced immediate opposition from Middle Eastern countries. Egypt and Jordan rejected the idea of accepting nearly two million Palestinian refugees.
Arab nations are developing a plan to fund and manage the reconstruction in Gaza, while also ensuring the Palestinians remain in their homes and maintaining the possibility of a Palestinian state.
Trump has stated that the Israel-Hamas War has severely devastated the 25-mile strip, describing it as uninhabitable.
Federal judge issues warning to Trump, another hands him a win
One federal judge warned Trump about one of his executive orders, while a different judge gave another order a green light.
U.S. District Court Judge Amir Ali stated that the Trump administration continues to withhold foreign aid, despite a court order prohibiting this action. He asserted that the administration must at least temporarily restore funding to programs around the globe.
However, he rejected a request from non-profit groups working with the U.S. Agency for International Development to find Trump administration officials in contempt of his order.
Meanwhile, another district judge said the Trump administration can continue with mass firings of federal employees.
While Judge Christopher Cooper signaled in his ruling that he’s sympathetic to the five labor unions that were seeking a restraining order to temporarily halt the layoffs, he ruled the federal court is not the appropriate venue for their lawsuit. Instead, Cooper said those types of claims should go before the Federal Labor Relations Authority.
The Trump administration and its Department of Government Efficiency have laid off tens of thousands of federal workers and halted funding to various organizations in an effort to shrink the size of the federal government.
In the first four weeks of the new administration, DOGE asserts it has reduced government spending by $55 billion.
US Marshals Service deputizes Musk’s private security detail: Reports
The U.S. Marshals Service reportedly deputized members of Elon Musk’s private security team, giving them the same rights and protections as some federal law enforcement agents.
The tech billionaire who chairs DOGE does not have a Secret Service detail. Until now, his private security guards were limited in what they could do in Washington, D.C.
Multiple outlets reported the move comes over heightened safety concerns for Musk’s safety after he received death threats in recent weeks.
The Marshals Service often deputizes police to bolster security at major events, such as Trump’s inauguration, but it is uncommon to deputize private security officers.
It’s not yet clear exactly what authority Musk’s security will have. Special deputies are usually allowed to carry guns on federal grounds and make arrests.
Canada defeats US in OT To win 4 Nations Face-Off
The U.S. and Canada battled for the championship in the 4 Nations Face-Off on Thursday, Feb. 20. The best NHL players represented their respective countries. Canada prevailed over Thursday night’s championship game.
The U.S. defeated Canada in Montreal during the round-robin last Saturday, Feb. 15, so Thursday’s rematch in Boston was filled with intensity.
Nathan McKinnon put Canada ahead in the first period. The U.S. responded with two consecutive goals from Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson, taking a 2-1 lead.
Canada tied it in the second period, and the game went to overtime. Canada’s Connor McDavid scored the game-winning goal after the U.S. had a couple of chances to win it all.
Canada won the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off tournament 3-2.
Chainsaw-wielding Musk talks waste, DOGE dividend plan at CPAC
Elon Musk appeared at the Conservative Political Action Conference. He discussed various topics, including political alignment, European censorship laws, and efforts to reduce government waste.
Musk proposed that the Department of Government Efficiency’s cuts to government spending go back to the taxpayers, and President Trump supports the idea.
DOGE faced criticism over its interest in inspecting social safety net programs. It led to the resignation of a top Social Security Administration official. Musk emphasized that their actions aimed to save Medicare and Social Security.
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Billionaire businessman and President Donald Trump’s confidant Elon Musk put on a show for a friendly crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Thursday, Feb. 20.
Argentinian President Javier Milei handed an ornate chainsaw to Musk shortly after taking the stage, telling the crowd to “legalize comedy again.”
Newsmax host Rob Schmitt led the South African business mogul through a gambit of agreeable topics. They spoke about how he came to take sides politically, European censorship laws, and his efforts through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to cut waste in government.
“Waste is pretty much everywhere,” Musk told Schmitt. “It’s like being in a room and the wall, the roof and floor are all targets. You can close your eyes and go shooting in any direction. You can’t miss.”
Musk also addressed his recent thought that cuts to spending due to DOGE could go back to American taxpayers.
“It’s money taken, that’s taken away from things that are destructive to the country from organizations that hate you, to you,” he said. “The spoils of battle.”
Musk said Trump is supportive of the idea, though Musk previously stressed that the budget deficit should be the priority.
Schmitt asked Musk about his questions over Fort Knox, which sits adjacent to the U.S. Bullion Depository.
“I think we all want to see it,” Musk said. “This is your gold…We just want to go see it and make sure somebody didn’t spray paint some lead or something.”
DOGE has faced criticism over its interest in inspecting social safety net programs. A top official in the Social Security Administration resigned amid DOGE’s seeking access to data.
“The actions that we have been taking with the support of the president is what will save Medicare, is what will save Social Security,” Musk said. “If the country goes insolvent, if all the money is spent paying interest on debt, there’s no money left for anything…It’s not optional to solve these things. It’s essential.”
Is gold missing at Fort Knox? Trump and Musk want to make sure it’s all there
President Donald Trump said his administration will check whether the nation’s gold reserves are still in Fort Knox. “If the gold isn’t there, we’re going to be very upset,” Trump said Wednesday.
The nation’s gold depository holds 147.3 million ounces of bullion, according to the U.S. Mint. It’s about half of the Treasury’s stored gold.
Aside from gold, the vaults at Fort Knox also housed precious documents like the U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights during World War II.
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President Donald Trump wants to ensure the nation’s 147 million ounces of gold are still housed at Fort Knox. The increased interest in the gold depository comes as Elon Musk puts it in the Department of Government Efficiency’s sights.
“We’re going to go to Fort Knox, the fabled Fort Knox, to make sure the gold is there,” Trump said aboard Air Force One Wednesday, Feb. 19.
The latest movement to audit Fort Knox’s gold reserve has been playing out on X.
Who is confirming that gold wasn’t stolen from Fort Knox?
Maybe it’s there, maybe it’s not.
That gold is owned by the American public! We want to know if it’s still there. https://t.co/aEBXK1CfD6
“Who is confirming that gold wasn’t stolen from Fort Knox?” Musk asked on X Monday, Feb. 17, in response to a post by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah. “Maybe it’s there, maybe it’s not. That gold is owned by the American public! We want to know if it’s still there.”
Musk also posted, “It would be cool to do a live video walkthrough of Fort Knox,” in response to a post from Alex Jones.
“We do an audit every year,” Bessent said during an interview with the “Dan O’Donnell Show” Wednesday, Feb. 19. “So the audit that ended the year Sept. 30, 2024, all the gold is present and accounted for.”
One X post Musk responded to was from Sen. Lee, who asserted he has tried to secure a visit to Fort Knox and has been repeatedly rebuffed.
However, Bessent said the door is open to United States senators.
“Any senator, if they call the Treasury, we’re happy to arrange a visit,” Bessent told O’Donnell. “They can do an inspection.”
Is it true Congress hasn’t had a peek in 50 years?
In 2017, during President Donald Trump’s first administration, then-Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin hosted then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the state’s then-Gov. Matt Bevin at the nation’s gold depository.
“I was given a chance to do something today, which I did that no governor in the history of Kentucky has ever done, and only one president in the history of America has ever done,” Bevin told NewsRadio 840 WHAS after the visit. “I actually went into the gold vaults with Secretary Mnuchin today at Fort Knox.”
Mnuchin said the visit was the first time in 40 years they opened the vault doors at Fort Knox to outsiders.
“I saw tons, literally, of gold,” Bevin said. “And it really is there. Either that or it’s remarkable how much fake gold they have. They let us hold some of the gold bricks. We got to go into one of the vaults; they seal these things, so it was unsealed. While we were there, they cut it open. And then we got to go inside.”
“All I will say is that it is freakishly well-secured, and it takes a very great amount of time to get in there and to get out,” he added. “I can’t go into detail other than to say the gold is safe.”
What’s the history behind the Fort Knox vaults?
Fort Knox’s gold bullion depository was built in the 1930s. It was originally meant to be a centralized location for the nation’s reserve gold after an executive order from President Franklin D. Roosevelt that banned private gold hoarding.
In the past, the vaults have been used to house important pieces of American history. During World War II, the government stashed the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights.
Musk weighs $5,000 DOGE checks for Americans, but says deficit is priority
Elon Musk entertained the idea of a DOGE dividend, which would give $5,000 checks to American taxpayers, funded by savings from government waste reduction. The checks could be distributed in summer 2026, but Musk stresses that balancing the federal budget is DOGE’s top priority.
DOGE has already saved $55 billion and aims to cut $1 trillion from the national deficit, which the Congressional Budget Office projects will reach $1.9 trillion in 2025.
Musk has emphasized urgency of controlling the deficit, suggesting the country is on a trajectory to go bankrupt.
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Elon Musk has floated the idea of a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) dividend, a proposal that would send $5,000 checks to American taxpayers. The payments would be funded by money DOGE expects to save through its efforts to reduce government waste and fraud.
Potential payout in summer 2026
The checks could be distributed to U.S. taxpayers as early as the summer of 2026, following a thorough review by DOGE. While Musk said he will share the dividend idea with President Donald Trump, Musk stressed that balancing the federal budget remains DOGE’s top priority.
Fishback proposed that DOGE takes 20% of the $2 trillion dollars DOGE initially wanted to save, and refund it to 79 million U.S. households as a tax refund check.
The goal, Fishback said, is to compensate taxpayers for the misuse of their hard-earned tax dollars.
Musk responds to the proposal
In response to Fishback’s letter posted on X, Musk said he would “check with the president” about the idea.
However, Musk emphasized DOGE’s priority on budget balancing in a separate post on the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 19, following other discussions on X about the proposed $5,000 payouts.
DOGE’s focus on budget deficit reduction
DOGE’s website said it has saved an estimated $55 billion through fraud detection, renegotiating federal contracts and workforce reductions.
In a Fox News interview, Musk said he has set a long-term goal of reducing the deficit by $1 trillion, stressing that controlling the deficit is vital to prevent the U.S. from going bankrupt.
“The overall goal is to try to get one trillion dollars out of the deficit,” Musk said. “If it’s not under control, America will go bankrupt. This is very important for people to understand. A country is no different than an individual. If an individual overspends, an individual can go bankrupt and so can a country.”
The U.S. deficit outlook
Before President Donald Trump took office, the Congressional Budget Office projected the 2025 deficit would rise to $1.9 trillion. As of this fiscal year, which began in October, the deficit is already at $711 billion.
Here is an excerpt from the report:
“In CBO’s projections, the federal budget deficit is $1.9 trillion this year, and federal debt rises to 118 percent of GDP in 2035. Economic growth slows and inflation declines over the next two years; both remain moderate after 2026.”
A continuing deficit impacts the national debt, which stood at $36.22 trillion in December 2024. Interest payments on that debt have recently exceeded Defense Department outlays, as reported by the Council on Foreign Relations, a political think tank.
The U.S. deficit results from the federal government’s spending exceeding the amount it collects in revenue. In fiscal year 2024, the government spent $1.83 trillion more than it collected.
Social Security knew millions in system were dead, but are not receiving benefits
Millions of deceased individuals are still listed in the Social Security Administration’s system. However, benefits stopped being paid to those listed over 115 years old.
The issue has recently been spotlighted by DOGE in its search for government fraud and waste.
An audit found that missing death records hamper fraud prevention efforts, but the SSA argues the cost of fixing the issue outweighs the benefits.
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Recent findings have placed the Social Security Administration (SSA) under scrutiny, as data reveals that more than 20 million people over the age of 100 are still listed in its system.
3.4 million people are listed as being between 120 and 129 years old.
3.5 million are between 140 and 149 years old.
1.3 million are in their 150s.
Musk captioned the post, saying, “According to the Social Security database, these are the numbers of people in each age bucket with the death field set to FALSE! Maybe Twilight is real and there are a lot of vampires collecting Social Security.”
SSA has known about the issue for years
While these findings are now in the spotlight, they are not new to the Social Security Administration. Inspector general reports from previous years have raised similar concerns, identifying millions of deceased individuals still present in the system.
However, being listed in the database does not mean these individuals are receiving benefits. A Social Security policy implemented in 2015 automatically stops payments to anyone over the age of 115.
“We have millions and millions of people over a hundred years old,” Trump said. “Everybody knows that’s not so. We have a very corrupt country, very corrupt country, and it’s a sad thing to say. But we’re figuring it out. The good thing about Social Security and what I read is if you take all those numbers off because they’re obviously fraudulent or incompetent — if you take those people off Social Security, we have a very competent Social Security.”
Trump suggested the numbers reflect either “fraud or incompetence” within the SSA. Several inspector general reports over the years indicate the issue stems from a lack of updates to the system.
Inspector general’s findings
A 2023 audit found discrepancies between SSA records and Census Bureau data. According to the audit:
The Census Bureau estimated approximately 86,000 U.S. residents were age 100 or older.
The SSA’s database included approximately 18.9 million number holders born in 1920 or earlier, with no death information on their records.
The absence of death records hampers efforts to prevent and detect fraud and misuse, according to the Office of Inspector General.
The inspector general recommended adding death information to the records using three different methodologies. However, the SSA rejected these recommendations.
Former SSA Chief of Staff Scott Frey responded, stating, “While we understand the inspector general’s assumption that these individuals are likely deceased, we do not have death information for these individuals. We found that the possible solutions would have limited or no benefit for the administration of our programs and were too costly to implement.”
Cost and impact of the issue
The SSA previously estimated that updating its system would cost $9 million. The agency argues the update is unnecessary since individuals over 115 years old are not receiving benefits — they simply remain in the system without recorded death dates.
The inspector general’s report found “almost none of the number holders discussed in the report were receiving payments.”
A 2023 audit revealed that out of nearly $8.6 trillion in benefits paid, $72 billion were deemed “improper payments.” However, these account for less than 1% of total payments, with most classified as overpayments to living individuals.
In early January, the U.S. Treasury recovered $31 million in improper government payments, including Social Security funds sent to deceased individuals. Officials estimate hundreds of millions more will be recovered through 2026.
DOGE team to conduct its own review
While the inspector general’s findings did not reveal a substantial percentage of fraud, Trump announced that DOGE would conduct its own audit to further investigate the issue. The Social Security Administration will not be the only agency undergoing review.
Judge denies Democrat-led effort to block Musk, DOGE access
The Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency wins big in court. And President Donald Trump issues an executive order to make in vitro fertilization more accessible and affordable. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025.
Judge denies Democrat-led effort to block Musk, DOGE access
A federal judge has blocked an attempt by 14 states to deny Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing data systems or making personnel decisions at seven federal agencies. In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan said the “possibility” that DOGE could harm the states is “not enough” to halt its activities.
Chutkan, who presided over President Donald Trump’s 2020 election interference criminal case before he was reelected, said the group of Democratic attorneys general that brought the lawsuit “legitimately call into question what appears to be the unchecked authority of an unelected individual and an entity that was not created by congress and over which it has no oversight,” but added they had not linked any of DOGE’s actions to any “imminent harm” in their states.
The court filing described Musk as a White House employee serving as a “senior advisor to the president,” not an employee of DOGE. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reinforced that position when asked by reporters on Tuesday, Feb. 18.
“President Trump is the ultimate decision-maker for this entire administration,” Leavitt said. “Elon Musk, just like everybody else across the federal government, works at the direction of President Trump.”
She added, “DOGE does not have statutory authority. We’ve been very clear about that. Again, DOGE is advising these agencies. It’s ultimately up to the discretion of these secretaries to make these hirings and these firings.”
Leavitt said Trump’s cabinet members ultimately have the power to fire federal employees; DOGE just makes recommendations.
Late last week, a different U.S. district judge also rejected a request to block DOGE from accessing the records of three government agencies.
Trump signs executive order aimed at advancing IVF treatments
Trump signed another executive order to fulfill one of his campaign promises. The order directs the assistant to the president for domestic policy to provide Trump with a list of policy recommendations within 90 days to protect access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and “aggressively reducing out-of-pocket and health plan costs for IVF treatment.”
Straight Arrow News reporter Lauren Taylor looks at how this could impact thousands of American families here.
IVF became a big issue during the 2024 presidential campaign after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are children, and those who destroy or damage them, including IVF providers, could be held liable for wrongful death. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey later signed a bill giving civil and criminal immunity to providers and patients.
Barbara Collura, President and CEO of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, said the White House action looks extremely promising.
Without Ukraine, US and Russia agree to work toward ending war
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, continuing his tour of the Middle East. On Tuesday, he met with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. After that meeting, Rubio said the U.S. and Russia had agreed to start working toward ending the war and improving their diplomatic and economic ties.
Rubio told the Associated Press that the two countries have agreed on three goals: restoring staffing at their respective embassies in Washington, D.C., and Moscow, creating a high-level team to support Ukraine peace talks and exploring closer relations and economic cooperation.
The U.S. and Russia excluded Ukraine from Tuesday’s discussions to end the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that his country would not accept any outcomes from those talks. He also postponed his trip to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, while speaking with reporters at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, Trump directed controversial remarks toward Ukraine.
“Today I heard, ‘Well, we weren’t invited,’” Trump said. “Well, you’ve been there for three years. You should have ended it three years — you should have never started it. You could have made a deal.”
U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday for talks with Zelenskyy and military commanders. Zelenskyy has said any settlement ending the three-year war will require American security commitments to keep Russia at bay.
Arctic air brings dangerous cold to large parts of US
The latest round of winter storms is taking direct aim at the east coast Wednesday, spreading across the Tennessee and Ohio valleys and threatening to dump heavy snow with possible ice build-up in several states. That included Kentucky, where at least 14 people died due to the weekend storm that brought devastating flooding.
The National Weather Service said severe weather could bring up to 10 inches of snow along the Atlantic coast in Virginia and forecasted significant ice accumulations in eastern North Carolina.
NWS meteorologists said the most bitter cold is still to come, with record frigid temperatures likely to hit parts of the country early Thursday and Friday.
This all comes on the heels of a polar vortex that took over from Montana to southern Texas on Tuesday.
Judge to hold hearing over DOJ’s move to drop Eric Adams case
Federal Judge Dale Ho will hold a hearing in New York on Wednesday regarding Trump’s DOJ move to dismiss the criminal case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
This comes after New York Gov. Kathy Hochul met with other Democrats on Tuesday to discuss using her powers to remove Adams, a fellow Democrat. The governor decided to wait to see what the federal judge decided before proceeding and possibly ousting Adams.
Four New York City deputy mayors resigned en masse on Monday, Feb. 17, to protest Adams remaining in office.
The federal judge will request that the Justice Department clarify its reasoning for seeking to terminate the public corruption case against Adams. The DOJ’s action occurred as prosecutors in the Southern District of New York were preparing a broader indictment that would have charged Adams with destroying evidence and lying to the FBI
Adams’ supporters believe Democrats are targeting him because he is helping the Trump administration in its push to remove illegal immigrants from New York City.
Egypt announces first discovery of a royal tomb in more than a century
Egyptian officials announced that searchers had discovered the last of the lost tombs belonging to the kings of Ancient Egypt’s 18th Dynasty
A joint Egyptian-British archaeological mission discovered Thutmose II’s tomb in the Thebes region, west of Luxor and the famous Valley of the Kings. Archaeologists uncovered the entrance and central passage into the tomb, previously known only as “tomb No. C4,” in 2022, and excavation efforts have continued since then.
Scientists previously discovered he mummy of King Thutmose II at a different location during the 19th century. Experts said tomb raiders likely moved it after looting it.
Thutmose II’s tomb was the first royal Egyptian tomb discovered since King Tutankhamun’s final resting place was found in 1922.
Delaware weighs changes to business court after high profile companies leave
A bipartisan group of Delaware lawmakers is attempting to make big changes to the state’s corporate law. The decision follows Tesla moving out of the state while more, like Facebook-parent Meta, explore a move.
Delaware’s business court, better known as the Court of Chancery, dates back to 1792. Since the early 1900s, it’s been the top corporate court in the nation.
Corporations outnumber people 2 to 1 in Delaware, and the state brings in one third of its budget revenue from corporate fees.
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Lawmakers in Delaware proposed changes to the state’s corporate law structure as some high-profile companies look to move out of the state. The bipartisan bill would limit the impact of shareholder lawsuits.
Delaware has long been America’s corporate headquarters. In 2024, a Delaware judge sided with a Tesla shareholder and struck down a $56 billion pay package for CEO Elon Musk. In response, Musk called on other companies to follow Tesla’s lead and leave the state. Tesla reincorporated in Texas in the wake of the decision.
What have Delaware’s leaders said about companies leaving?
Delaware’s newly elected Democratic Gov. Matt Meyer downplayed the concerns about companies leaving the state earlier in February 2025.
“The truth is, in business, companies are always potentially leaving,” Meyer said during an appearance on CNBC on Feb. 4. “They’re always potentially coming. It’s just a matter of what leaders are going to go out and win the business?
“For over 100 years, Delaware has been the incorporation venue of choice for all the leading companies in the world today,” Myer continued. “Nearly 2.2 million entities are registered in Delaware. Over two-thirds of the Fortune 500 companies. Eighty-one percent of U.S. IPOs last year were incorporated in Delaware. We’re leading the way.”
Is Delaware’s status as America’s corporate home threatened?
Delaware’s business court, better known as the Court of Chancery, dates back to 1792. But since the early 1900s, it’s been the top corporate court in the nation.
“You have a large body of precedent that was developed over many years,” Charles Elson, founding director for the Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance, told Straight Arrow News in February 2024. “There’s not that many situations here that haven’t come up before.”
Fees paid by the massive number of businesses incorporated in Delaware account for roughly a third of the state’s budget revenue.
There are a number of states, including Texas and Nevada, that have launched their own business courts to attract some of the biggest corporations in the country.
“But you still haven’t seen a flocking of companies to those jurisdictions because a statute can’t lay out every rule and regulation for corporate conduct. It has to really be interpreted by judges through a common law process,” Elson said.
Proposed bill could disrupt years of case law
The proposed Delaware legislation could override years of precedent.
The law would limit shareholder lawsuits by protecting members of the board and controlling shareholders from legal action due to conflicts of interest.
It reduces shareholder access to records, which could make it harder to gather information for potential lawsuits.
It would also shield directors and controlling shareholders from liability in certain circumstances, specifically in issues related to those conflicts of interest.
“Various studies have showed over the years that by incorporating your company in Delaware, it creates additional value for all shareholders, and so there’s a lot that contributes to that,” Meyer told CNBC. “I know that there’s a temptation to focus on one case, whether it’s Musk or whatever the rationale is for Dropbox or others leaving.”
After a judge rejected Musk’s pay package twice in 2024, Tesla reincorporated in Texas. But the bill’s sponsor, state Senate Majority Leader Brian Townsend, said it wouldn’t have any impact on Musk’s appeal before the Delaware Supreme Court. He said the bill wouldn’t be retroactive.
Townsend told Reuters he’d like to move quickly on the bill. The state’s bar association wasn’t involved in drafting the legislation. Generally, it is involved in action related to corporate law.
White House court filing says Musk is not the official leader of DOGE
The White House said Elon Musk is not technically the Department of Government Efficiency’s leader. A court filing states, “Mr. Musk is not the U.S. DOGE Service Administrator.”
The new information comes from an affidavit in a case brought against Musk by 14 states’ attorneys general to stop him from maintaining control over federal agencies.
Officials at the White House did not say who is the actual administrator for DOGE.
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The Department of Government Efficiency is expanding its reach within the federal government, aiming to conduct a massive overhaul. But one question remains: Who’s really in charge? It turns out Elon Musk isn’t technically leading the department.
What’s in the court filing?
The new information came from an affidavit filed by the White House Monday, Feb. 17 in a case brought against Musk by more than a dozen states’ Democratic attorneys general to stop him from exercising control over federal agencies.
According to the filing signed by Joshua Fisher, director of Office of Administration at the White House, Musk is “not an employee of the U.S. DOGE Service, or the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization,” adding “Mr. Musk is not the U.S. DOGE Service Administrator.”
Fisher instead called him a “non-career special government employee” comparing Musk’s role to Anita Dunn, a long-time adviser to former President Joe Biden.
The judge did, however, not say who the administrator of DOGE actually is.
The filing states Musk can only advise the president and communicate the president’s directives, and has no formal authority to make government decisions himself.
The technical designation in the affidavit does not appear to impact Musk being the key person representing DOGE, which he has touted, appearing alongside Trump to talk about its mission.
What happened at the court hearing?
According to ABC News, during a recent court hearing for the case, the judge had concerns over the department’s unstructured operations.
“DOGE appears to be moving in no sort of predictable and orderly fashion,” Judge Tanya Chutkan said. “This is essentially a private citizen directing an organization that’s not a federal agency to have access to the entire workings of the federal government.”
However, ABC News also reported that Chutkan appears to be leaning toward denying a request to temporarily block DOGE from firing employees or accessing federal department records.
She described the states’ request as “prophylactic,” raising doubts about issuing an order because the plaintiffs could not prove concrete harm stemming from DOGE’s actions.
The judge heard arguments on Monday, Feb. 17, when federal courts were closed for President’s Day, to consider an emergency request by the attorneys general who filed the suit.
The states said their ability to carry out educational and other programs were at risk. They accused the DOGE team of using data collected from agency systems to dismantle initiatives and direct mass firings.
What is Musk saying about DOGE criticism?
Musk responded to criticism of DOGE in a post to X on Monday.
“I love the people. We just want to fix the waste and fraud that is bankrupting the country,” Musk said. “The scrutiny on me is extreme, so it’s not like I could ‘get away’ with something, nor do I have any incentive to do so.”
The judge said she plans to make a ruling on the case sometime Tuesday, Feb. 18.
Elon Musk targets Fort Knox in potential audit of nation’s gold supply
Elon Musk suggested the federal government check into the nation’s gold supply to ensure it is there. Musk wants auditors to look at what is stored at Fort Knox in Kentucky.
Sen. Rand Paul urged Musk to do so, saying the more transparency, the better.
According to the U.S. Treasury, the military installation has more than 140 million ounces of gold, worth roughly $428 billion.
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Elon Musk suggested the federal government check into the nation’s gold supply to ensure it exists. Musk wants auditors to look at what is stored at Fort Knox in Kentucky.
The U.S. stores its large and heavily secured gold reserve at Fort Knox. The public is prohibited from visiting the base.
How did this apparent hunt for gold start?
Musk posted on his social media platform X that he was looking for gold at Fort Knox. He included a picture of a cartoon character but has since deleted the image.
How much gold is at Fort Knox?
According to the Treasury Department, the military installation holds over 147 million ounces of gold, more than any other location in the U.S.
It’s estimated to be worth $428 billion. However, it does not undergo an annual review.
Who ignited Elon Musk’s efforts to audit the nation’s gold supply?
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., appeared on Fox News and urged Musk to do some digging. He said the more sunlight and transparency on the matter, the better.
He said gold still has value in the dollar and that the World Bank and many central banks still hold it.
Musk also wrote that the American public owns gold, and he wants to know if it’s still there. He suggested that it may be, or it may not.
Who is confirming that gold wasn’t stolen from Fort Knox?
Maybe it’s there, maybe it’s not.
That gold is owned by the American public! We want to know if it’s still there. https://t.co/aEBXK1CfD6
Sen. Mike Lee of Utah weighed in, saying he tried to get into Fort Knox but was rejected. The military base didn’t give him a reason despite the fact that he’s a U.S. Senator.