2025-03-01 00:00:37.572

A meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House devolved into a shouting match after Vice President JD Vance called Zelensky "disrespectful." The argument disrupted discussions on security guarantees and a minerals deal. Trump later accused Zelensky of "gambling with World War 3" on Truth Social, stating Zelensky disrespected the U.S. in the Oval Office and should return when ready for peace. Meanwhile, a California judge halted the Trump administration's mass firing of probationary federal employees, a setback to their downsizing efforts under Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. Zelensky, in an interview with Fox News, expressed hope in salvaging his relationship with Trump, emphasizing the importance of U.S.-Ukraine ties and the American people's support. He also addressed Trump's closeness to Putin, stating a desire for stronger U.S. support for Ukraine. Further, Senator Lindsey Graham called for Zelensky's resignation, a suggestion Zelensky rejected. The incident sparked a backlash from UK politicians, with some comparing Trump's actions to bullying. Trump's former national security advisor, HR McMaster, criticized Trump and Vance for pressuring Zelensky while seemingly coddling Putin.

2025-02-28 17:48:48.198

In early February, John Schwarz, a mindfulness and meditation facilitator, proposed a 24-hour nationwide "economic blackout" on February 28th, urging people to boycott major chains like Amazon and Walmart. His call, initially expecting minimal participation, went viral, garnering millions of views and celebrity support. While experts doubt its effectiveness in significantly impacting major corporations, the boycott taps into widespread public anger towards the American economy and corporate power. The movement, though uncoordinated, reflects a desire for collective action outside the traditional political arena. The boycott's reasons are diverse, encompassing high prices, corporate power, political grievances, and opposition to the rollback of DEI policies. Schwarz formed "The People's Union" to organize further action. The boycott coincides with a more organized effort to target Target, which has faced backlash for scaling back its DEI initiatives. This has led to decreased foot traffic at Target, although this may be due to various factors. While boycotts are often short-lived and hard to sustain, they can raise awareness, pressure companies, and damage reputations. The Bud Light boycott is cited as a recent example of a successful, albeit right-wing, campaign. Ultimately, while the success of Schwarz's boycott remains uncertain, it highlights the potent combination of social media, public frustration, and the potential for consumer action to influence corporate behavior.

2025-02-27 08:10:53.969

Former CBS News reporter Catherine Herridge revealed photos of confidential files seized by the network, including sensitive reporting on COVID-19 origins and Hunter Biden. She described the network's actions as a "journalistic rape" and an "attack on investigative journalism." The incident led to a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing and the files' return after pressure from SAG-AFTRA. Herridge's reporting on Hunter Biden's laptop, presented to CBS executives before the 2020 election, was never aired until after the 2022 midterms. Separately, Joe Rogan claimed Kamala Harris's team lied about him refusing to make time for her. Meanwhile, Trump is suing CBS News and Paramount for $20 billion, claiming deceptive edits of a "60 Minutes" interview with Harris made her appear more concise. The parties have agreed to use a third-party mediator to resolve the dispute.

2025-02-27 07:40:28.983

Nvidia announced a phenomenal fourth-quarter profit and sales surge, fueled by the massive demand for its Blackwell AI chips. Revenue reached $39.3 billion, a 12% increase from the previous quarter and a staggering 78% year-over-year growth. Adjusted earnings per share hit 89 cents, exceeding analyst predictions. Nvidia's CEO, Jensen Huang, attributed the success to the increasing importance of compute power in AI, stating that "demand for Blackwell is amazing." Data center sales were a key driver, reaching $35.6 billion, a 93% year-over-year increase. This growth is partly linked to a new AI infrastructure project involving OpenAI, Oracle, SoftBank, and Nvidia, which aims to invest up to $500 billion. Nvidia's CFO, Colette Kress, highlighted the exceptional performance of Blackwell sales, exceeding expectations at $11 billion in the fourth quarter. Large cloud service providers accounted for roughly 50% of data center revenue. Nvidia's market capitalization has soared to over $3 trillion, making it the second-largest company on Wall Street. The company's success has significantly contributed to the recent record highs of the S&P 500, despite economic concerns. While acknowledging uncertainty regarding potential tariffs, Nvidia remains optimistic about future growth, projecting $43 billion in revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2026. The company also addressed the impact of DeepSeek's new AI model, acknowledging its innovation while emphasizing its compliance with export controls. Huang highlighted the "next wave" of AI, including agentic AI, physical AI, and sovereign AI, with Nvidia positioned at the center of these developments.

2025-02-27 07:40:09.214

Nvidia announced a massive surge in fourth-quarter profit and sales, exceeding Wall Street's expectations. Revenue reached $39.3 billion, a 12% increase from the previous quarter and a staggering 78% year-over-year growth. This success is largely attributed to the high demand for their Blackwell chips, crucial for powering artificial intelligence systems. Data center sales were a key driver, reaching $35.6 billion, a 93% increase year-over-year. Nvidia's CEO, Jensen Huang, highlighted the "amazing" demand for Blackwell chips, emphasizing the role of AI in driving this growth. He also predicted continued growth, forecasting $43 billion in revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2026. The company's success has propelled its market value to over $3 trillion, making it the second-largest company on Wall Street. Despite concerns about inflation and potential economic challenges, Nvidia's performance, along with other AI-related companies, has significantly contributed to the recent record highs of the S&P 500. The company acknowledged potential impacts from tariffs but stated they are awaiting further clarification from the administration. The emergence of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company, briefly impacted Nvidia's stock, but the company ultimately viewed DeepSeek's advancements as positive for the industry. Nvidia's future outlook remains positive, with Huang predicting a "next wave" of AI development in areas such as agentic AI, physical AI, and sovereign AI.

2025-02-27 07:40:09.209

The Trump administration announced the elimination of more than 90% of the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) foreign aid contracts, amounting to $60 billion in overall U.S. assistance worldwide. This significantly reduces U.S. development and humanitarian aid abroad, leaving few USAID projects for advocates to fight for in ongoing court battles. The administration detailed its plans in an internal memo and federal lawsuit filings. The Supreme Court temporarily blocked a lower court order requiring the administration to release billions in frozen foreign aid. The memo cited "clearing significant waste stemming from decades of institutional drift" and a desire to "use taxpayer dollars wisely to advance American interests." President Trump and Elon Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency, have been strong proponents of these cuts, viewing USAID projects as advancing a liberal agenda and wasteful spending. A 90-day review of foreign assistance programs led to the near-immediate cutoff of funds, halting thousands of programs and resulting in forced leave and firings of USAID staff. Successful programs credited with saving millions of lives through disease containment efforts were also affected. Nonprofits owed billions in contract payments described the mass contract terminations as a maneuver to circumvent court orders. A Democratic Senator called the administration's actions an attempt to bypass Congress and the courts. A coalition of businesses and NGOs expressed shock and concern over the lack of transparency and the potential impact on counterterrorism, global health, and food security. The State Department said Secretary Marco Rubio reviewed the terminations. Specifically, the administration eliminated 5,800 of 6,200 multiyear USAID contract awards ($54 billion) and 4,100 of 9,100 State Department grants ($4.4 billion). While the administration claimed to be processing some back payments, the Supreme Court temporarily stayed a lower court order to unfreeze billions of dollars in aid.

2025-02-26 19:24:50.798

President Donald Trump convened his first official Cabinet meeting of his second term, where he discussed several controversial issues. A memo was issued detailing plans for mass layoffs of federal workers, with the EPA potentially cutting up to 65% of its workforce. An agreement on natural resources and the reconstruction of Ukraine was confirmed, with President Zelensky set to visit the White House to sign it. Trump also confirmed that 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods would be levied on April 2nd. The Senate confirmed Jamieson Greer as the new US Trade Representative. Trump reiterated that there would be no cuts to entitlement programs like Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid. The administration is moving forward with plans for large-scale layoffs across agencies, following an executive order. Trump stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin will have to make concessions to end the war in Ukraine, but declined to specify what those concessions would be. He also stated that he will not make extensive security guarantees to Ukraine, suggesting Europe take on more responsibility. Trump refused to comment on preventing China from taking Taiwan by force, but expressed optimism about his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping and the possibility of increased Chinese investment in the US. He also unveiled a "gold card" plan to replace the EB5 visa program, selling residency and a path to citizenship for a $5 million fee. The meeting also included discussion of Elon Musk's directives to federal workers, with some Cabinet members expressing disagreement. Musk defended his actions, stating that an email requesting a work update was a "pulse check," not a performance review, and claimed that some federal employees may be deceased or fictional. A legal battle is ongoing regarding the firing of a federal official who investigates whistleblower complaints. The Justice Department argued that the courts have no authority in this matter, leading to a clash with the judge overseeing the case. A White House official stated that if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says an agreement on resources has not been finalized, then it does not make sense for him to visit Washington, DC. Zelensky responded that they would make conclusions after talking to Trump.

2025-02-26 19:17:14.886

NEW YORK (AP) — Michelle Trachtenberg, a former child star who appeared in the 1996 “Harriet the Spy” hit movie and went on to co-star in two buzzy millennial-era TV shows — “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Gossip Girl” — has died. She was 39. Police responded to a 911 call shortly after 8 a.m. at a 51-story luxury apartment tower in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood where officers found Trachtenberg “unconscious and unresponsive,” according to an NYPD statement. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene. No foul play was suspected and the New York Medical Examiner is investigating the cause of death, police said. Representatives for Trachtenberg did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Her death was first reported by the New York Post. Trachtenberg was 8 when she began playing Nona Mecklenberg on Nickelodeon’s “The Adventures of Pete & Pete Nona” from 1994 to 1996 and then starred in the title role in the film adaptations of “Harriet the Spy” and “Inspector Gadget,” opposite Matthew Broderick. “Michelle comes off as genuine because she really is a genuine kid. Everyone can identify with her,” said Debby Beece, president of Nickelodeon Movies in 1996. In 2000 Trachtenberg joined the cast of “Buffy,” playing Dawn Summers, the younger sister of the title character played by Sarah Michelle Gellar between 2000 and 2003. Trachtenberg thanked Gellar for speaking out against Joss Whedon in 2021, following abuse allegations made against the “Buffy” showrunner. “I am brave enough now as a 35-year-old woman to repost this,” she wrote on social media, and alluded to “his not appropriate behavior” she experienced as a teenage actor. In 2001, she received a Daytime Emmy nomination for hosting Discovery’s “Truth or Scare.” Trachtenberg went on to recurring roles on “Six Feet Under,” “Weeds” and “Gossip Girl,” where she played the gang’s scheming nemesis, Georgina Sparks. As if to cement herself in millennial culture, Trachtenberg made a cameo in Fall Out Boy’s music video for the “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race” alongside Seth Green. Her other credits included “Ice Princess” in 2005 — playing a math prodigy and aspiring figure skater — and the 2004 teen sex comedy “EuroTrip.” She co-starred with Zac Efron and Leslie Mann in 2009’s “17 Again.” For “Killing Kennedy,” the 2013 film in which she played the wife of Lee Harvey Oswald, around 80% of Trachtenberg’s dialogue was in Russian. She had learned the language from her mother growing up. Other credits included supporting roles in the films “Mysterious Skin” in 2004 and “Black Christmas” in 2006. She also starred on the NBC medical series “Mercy” (2009–2010) opposite Taylor Schilling. More recently, she hosted the true-crime docuseries “Meet, Marry, Murder” on Tubi. ___ Associated Press Writer Michael R. Sisak contributed to this report.