France Far-right Leader Cancels US Speech After ‘Nazi Gesture’ By Ex-Trump Aide  —  France's far-right leader Jordan Bardella said Friday he had cancelled his speech at a right-wing meeting in Washington after a “gesture alluding to Nazi ideology” by conservative firebrand Steve Bannon.

Inside DOGE's Dumbest Cut Yet  —  Andrew had meant to spend yesterday soaking in the sights and sounds at CPAC, but found himself tied up reporting our lead story below.  So he missed Vice President JD Vance's culture-war ruminations, Steve Bannon's calls for a third Trump term in 2028 …

I cannot describe how strange Elon Musk's CPAC appearance was  —  So here's a literal transcript, instead. … Elon Musk spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Thursday, giving a strange and often inarticulate on-stage interview to Newsmax presenter Rob Schmitt.

MAGA takes aim at the hawks  —  Trump loyalists are sending a message to the GOP's foreign policy traditionalists.  —  Top allies of President Donald Trump are in an escalating clash with the Republican Party's once-powerful defense hawks, viewing them as key obstacles standing …

Trump expected to take control of USPS, fire postal board, officials say  —  The move threatens to upend trillions of dollars in ecommerce business and the 250-year-old Postal Service.

Justice Dept. to Drop Discrimination Case Against Elon Musk's SpaceX  —  The Justice Department had sued SpaceX in 2023, accusing the company of violating federal law by refusing to hire refugees and people granted asylum in the United States.  —  The U.S. Justice Department said Thursday …

US consumer sentiment plunges over tariff and inflation fears  —  Inflation is picking up again and President Donald Trump said this week it's all his predecessor's fault.  But no matter who Trump blames for inflation, America's economic mood is now souring — and Trump is getting the heat for it.

Paramount Is Starting to Fight Back Against Trump in ‘60 Minutes’ Lawsuit  —  The CBS News owner's legal strategy has revolved around arguments challenging the President's insistence that it should stay in federal court in Texas, in addition to raising the specter of discovery and arbitration.

Trump and Elon's ‘Pointless Bloodbath’ at the FAA Is Even Worse Than You Think  —  The Trump administration fired several FAA lawyers tasked with helping keep reckless and drunk pilots out of the skies — and officials are baffled  —  Late last week, just as Presidents' Day weekend was starting …

Senate G.O.P. Passes Budget Resolution, and Punts on Tough Questions  —  Approval of the Republican budget plan left major questions about tax cuts and spending reduction for another day.  —  The budget plan that Republicans pushed through the Senate early Friday was a necessary …

Why Gen Z men love Trump's reign of destruction  —  Trump's appeal to the demographic might not have to do with his policies.  —  Many Americans are disturbed by President Donald Trump's trampling of the Constitution and nuking of the federal government.  But one group seems to love what Trump is doing: young men.

AOC shows how to fight back and stand strong  —  🗣️ 🫶 🪧 With corporate outlets obeying in advance, supporting independent political media is more important right now than ever.  Public Notice is possible thanks to paid subscribers.

Texas Measles Outbreak Nears 100 Cases, Raising Concerns About Undetected Spread  —  Some private schools have shut down because of a rapidly escalating measles outbreak in West Texas.  Local health departments are overstretched, pausing other important work as they race to limit the spread of this highly contagious virus.

Trump adviser says he expects Zelenskiy to sign minerals agreement  —  White House national security adviser Mike Waltz said on Friday he expects Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to sign a minerals agreement with the United States as part of efforts to end the Ukraine war.

Here Are the Digital Clues to What Musk Is Really Up To  —  Watching Elon Musk and his band of young acolytes slash their way through the federal government, many observers have struggled to understand how such a small group could do so much damage in so little time.

Elon Musk's private security detail gets deputized by US Marshals Service  —  The US Marshals Service has deputized members of Elon Musk's private security detail, giving them certain rights and protections of federal law enforcement agents, three law enforcement officials familiar with the matter told CNN.

He Took Musk's Resignation Offer.  He Was Fired Anyway.  —  A TOP-RANKING REGIONAL FEMA OFFICIAL who took Elon Musk's resignation deal was fired thirteen days later by the Trump administration, raising questions about the integrity of the program that the White House put together to off-ramp tens of thousands of federal employees.

Singer of Canadian anthem at 4 Nations Face-Off changes lyric to protest Trump's 51st state remarks  —  The anthem singer who performed the Canadian anthem prior to the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game Thursday night changed a lyric in “O Canada” as a response to U.S. President Donald …

Hundreds of Philly IRS workers laid off on Thursday, union says  —  Around 400 Philadelphia IRS workers are expected to be laid off on Thursday, Feb. 20, union leader Alex Jay Berman confirmed  —  Hundreds of Philadelphia IRS employees were laid off on Thursday as part of the Trump administration's efforts …

Military families rocked by Trump's federal government cuts  —  The Trump administration's swift, sweeping cuts to the federal workforce is set to derail the livelihoods of potentially thousands of military families.  —  The turmoil within the military community caused by the recent firings …

Rep. Cory Mills Is Under Investigation for Alleged Assault, Police Say  —  The Florida lawmaker, who intends to run for the Senate, is being investigated by D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department for an incident reported at a residential address.  — Copy

Patel tells FBI he will ‘always have your backs’ amid removal of senior executives and support staff  —  In a message to the agency's workforce this morning, newly confirmed FBI Director Kash Patel struck a conciliatory tone, saying that he will “always have your backs,” and that he is committed …