2025-03-01 00:00:37.591

A volatile Oval Office meeting between President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has sent shockwaves through Washington and beyond. Trump launched into a 10-minute tirade against Zelenskyy, drawing sharp criticism from Democrats and some Republicans. Democrats labeled Trump's behavior as "shameful," "disgusting," and an "embarrassment," accusing him of playing into Putin's hands. Some Republicans, however, defended Trump's "America First" approach. The meeting exposed deep divisions over US support for Ukraine, with some Republicans suggesting Zelenskyy should "resign" or "change." While some Republicans criticized the public nature of the confrontation, many staunchly defended Trump's actions, portraying Zelenskyy as disrespectful and demanding a greater contribution from other nations. The incident has sparked intense debate about US foreign policy and the future of the relationship between the US and Ukraine.

2025-02-28 00:07:37.08

Star Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is returning for another NFL season, ending weeks of speculation about his future. Pat McAfee revealed on his ESPN show that Kelce texted him, confirming his return and expressing his desire to return to peak form after a subpar Super Bowl performance. Kelce also addressed the physical toll of consecutive deep playoff runs. His return comes as welcome news to the Chiefs, especially after general manager Brett Veach hinted at his return earlier this week. Kelce's relationship with Taylor Swift has also been a point of public interest, and she was in attendance at several Chiefs games this past season, including the Super Bowl. The 10-time Pro Bowler is looking to bounce back after a season with career lows in receiving yards and touchdown catches.

2025-02-27 08:06:13.037

Jeff Bezos, owner of The Washington Post, announced a major shift in the newspaper's opinion section, narrowing its focus to solely defending personal liberties and free markets. This decision led to the resignation of opinion editor David Shipley. Bezos justified the change by stating that the internet now covers a broader range of opinions, and that the new focus is "right for America." The move has been met with mixed reactions, with some praising it as a modernization and others criticizing it as a capitulation to Donald Trump and a suppression of dissenting viewpoints. Critics point to Bezos's business interests and the potential for retaliation from Trump as motivations behind the change. This is just the latest in a series of changes at the Post under Bezos's ownership, including a decision not to endorse a presidential candidate and a restructuring of the newsroom. The shift has drawn sharp criticism from prominent figures like Marty Baron and Bernie Sanders, who argue that it represents oligarchic control of the media and a move towards a right-wing agenda.

2025-02-27 08:06:13.033

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 drastic cut leaves few USAID projects remaining, intensifying ongoing court battles. The administration detailed its plans in an internal memo and court filings, revealing the scale of its retreat from decades of U.S. foreign aid policy. The memo cited "clearing significant waste" and a need to "use taxpayer dollars wisely to advance American interests." President Trump and Elon Musk, who has been involved in government efficiency efforts, have been vocal critics of USAID, labeling its projects as advancing a liberal agenda and wasteful. A 90-day review of foreign assistance programs resulted in a funding freeze, halting thousands of programs and leading to staff reductions. Widely successful programs combating Ebola and HIV/AIDS in Africa have been affected. Nonprofits owed billions in contract payments described the mass contract terminations as a maneuver to circumvent court orders temporarily lifting the funding freeze. Senator Chris Murphy criticized the administration's actions, while the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition expressed shock at the potential loss in counterterrorism, global health, food security, and competition. The State Department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio reviewed the terminations. The administration stated it eliminated 5,800 of 6,200 multiyear USAID contract awards ($54 billion) and 4,100 of 9,100 State Department grants ($4.4 billion). Despite a court order to unfreeze billions of dollars, the Supreme Court temporarily blocked the order, pending further review. The administration has also filed an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court in another case.

2025-02-27 07:43:45.143

Michelle Trachtenberg, the actress known for her roles in 'Gossip Girl' and 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer', died Wednesday morning at the age of 39. A friend, photographer Amanda de Cadenet, shared on Instagram that Trachtenberg had been recently hospitalized and that they had a FaceTime conversation from her hospital bed. De Cadenet stated that Trachtenberg 'knew death was a high possibility' in the final months of her life. Sources suggest that Trachtenberg underwent a liver transplant within the last year and that her death may have resulted from the body rejecting the transplant. The death is not considered suspicious, and the medical examiner will determine the official cause. Trachtenberg's representative confirmed her death, and her boyfriend, Jay Cohen, asked for privacy. Tributes poured in from fellow actors, including her 'Gossip Girl' co-stars Blake Lively and Ed Westwick, and her 'Buffy' co-stars.

2025-02-27 07:43:45.141

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the Department of Justice will likely release documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, including flight logs from his private jet. The release, expected on Thursday, is delayed due to redactions necessary to protect the identities of over 250 victims. Bondi stated that the documents will include "a lot of flight logs, a lot of names, a lot, a lot of information." While redacted versions of Epstein's contact book and flight logs have previously leaked, complete versions, along with alleged surveillance footage from his residences, have yet to be released publicly. Previously unsealed documents in a defamation lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell named over 170 people with ties to Epstein.

2025-02-27 07:43:04.454

The Trump administration announced the elimination of more than 90% of the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) foreign aid contracts, totaling $60 billion in U.S. assistance worldwide. This drastic cut leaves few USAID projects remaining, intensifying ongoing court battles. The administration detailed its plans in an internal memo and court filings, revealing the scale of its retreat from decades of U.S. foreign aid policy. The memo cited "clearing significant waste stemming from decades of institutional drift" and aimed to "use taxpayer dollars wisely to advance American interests." President Trump and Elon Musk, who headed the Department of Government Efficiency, had previously criticized USAID projects as advancing a liberal agenda and wasteful. A 90-day review of foreign assistance programs led to a funding freeze, halting thousands of programs and resulting in staff layoffs. Successful programs combating Ebola and HIV/AIDS were also affected. Nonprofits and contractors described rapid contract terminations without meaningful review, with a USAID official emailing staff about "MANY more terminations coming." Lawmakers criticized the administration's actions as a maneuver to circumvent court orders temporarily lifting the funding freeze. A coalition of businesses, NGOs, and former officials expressed shock, highlighting concerns about impacts on counterterrorism, global health, and food security. The State Department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio reviewed the terminations. Specifically, 5,800 of 6,200 multiyear USAID contract awards were eliminated ($54 billion), and 4,100 of 9,100 State Department grants were cut ($4.4 billion). While the administration began processing some back payments, the Supreme Court temporarily blocked a lower court order requiring the unfreezing of billions of dollars in aid.

2025-02-27 07:40:28.977

Jeff Bezos, owner of The Washington Post, has narrowed the topics covered by the newspaper's opinion section to focus solely on defending personal liberties and free markets. This decision prompted the resignation of the opinion editor, David Shipley. Bezos justified the change on X (formerly Twitter), stating that viewpoints opposing these pillars will be left to other publications, claiming the internet already covers a broader range of opinions. The move has been met with mixed reactions, with some praising it as a modernization, while others, including former Post editor Marty Baron and Senator Bernie Sanders, criticize it as a move to appease former President Donald Trump and align with billionaire interests, fearing it reflects the dangers of oligarchic media ownership. This is the latest in a series of changes Bezos has implemented at the Post, including the decision not to endorse a presidential candidate in the recent election and a controversial restructuring of the newsroom. The shift in editorial focus has been swiftly met with both support from Trump allies like Elon Musk and Charlie Kirk, and criticism from those who see it as a suppression of diverse viewpoints.

2025-02-27 05:18:00.876

An American Airlines flight aborted its landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport to avoid a collision with another aircraft. This incident follows a recent string of safety incidents, including a deadly midair collision near the same airport, a Medevac jet crash in Philadelphia, a regional airline crash in Alaska, and a Delta plane crash in Toronto. The near-miss at Reagan National involved American Airlines Flight 2246, which was instructed to perform a go-around to maintain separation from a departing plane. A passenger described the experience as terrifying. The FAA is investigating, along with the NTSB. Less than 90 minutes later, a Southwest Airlines flight aborted its landing at Chicago Midway International Airport after a private jet crossed the runway. The FAA is investigating that incident as well. Experts and lawmakers have raised concerns about crowded airspace, especially around Washington, D.C. The incidents highlight a concerning pattern of near-misses and crashes, prompting calls for increased safety measures and investigations into the underlying causes.

2025-02-27 05:15:30.156

Actress Michelle Trachtenberg, known for her roles in "Gossip Girl" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," has died at the age of 36. Her mother found her unresponsive in her Manhattan apartment. Law enforcement sources suggest her death may be related to complications from a liver transplant she received within the last year. Despite health concerns, Trachtenberg was reportedly out with friends just days before her death. Tributes have poured in from fellow actors, including Blake Lively and James Marsters, who praised her talent and spirit. The news has shocked fans and the entertainment industry.

2025-02-26 19:21:49.015

Actress Michelle Trachtenberg, known for her roles in Gossip Girl, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Ice Princess, has died at the age of 39. She was found unresponsive in her New York City apartment. While the cause of death is yet to be determined, police have stated it is not considered suspicious. The New York Post reports she recently underwent a liver transplant. Trachtenberg began her career as a child actor, appearing in numerous commercials and television shows before landing prominent roles in Harriet the Spy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Ice Princess. Her role as Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl brought her widespread recognition. In 2021, she made allegations of physical abuse against Buffy creator Joss Whedon. Tributes have poured in from former co-stars, including Ed Westwick and Rosie O'Donnell.