Jeff Bezos is muzzling the Washington Post's opinion section.  That's a death knell  —  'I couldn't be more sad and disgusted,' says former top editor Martin Baron  —  Owners and publishers of news organizations often exert their will on opinion sections.  It would be naive to think otherwise.

First measles death is reported in the West Texas outbreak that's infected more than 120 people  —  A person who was hospitalized has died from measles in West Texas, the first death in an outbreak that began late last month.  Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center spokesperson Melissa Whitfield confirmed the death Wednesday.

F.D.A. Cancels Meeting of Vaccine Experts Scheduled to Advise on Flu Shots  —  The cancellation plays into fears among scientists who worry that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will use his position as health secretary to sow doubts about vaccines.  —  A panel of scientific experts that advises …

Trump and Musk's slash-and-burn tactics are a sticking point in talks to prevent a shutdown  —  Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democratic appropriator, urged Republicans to help stop Trump from usurping Congress' spending powers and not to “follow Elon towards a shutdown.”

Trump administration cutting 90% of USAID foreign aid contracts, documents show  —  The Trump administration said Wednesday it is eliminating more than 90% of the U.S. Agency for International Development's foreign aid contracts and $60 billion in overall U.S. assistance around the world.

DOGE Staffers at HUD Are From an AI Real Estate Firm and a Mobile Home Operator  —  Elon Musk's men at HUD come from the real estate sector.  They have access to vast stores of personal and financial data—and control over who can access which HUD systems.  —  On February 10 …

In Trump's Washington, a Moscow-Like Chill Takes Hold  —  A new administration's efforts to pressure the news media, punish political opponents and tame the nation's tycoons evoke the early days of President Vladimir V. Putin's reign in Russia.  —  She asked too many questions that the president didn't like.

Justice Department tells judges it can't comply with court-ordered deadline to release frozen aid funding  —  In court filings, the DOJ contends it will take “weeks” to free the funding that a federal judge ordered to be released almost two weeks ago.  —  The Trump administration …

Trump Press Sec Seethes at Media over Musk as More Bad Econ News Hits … At Tuesday's media briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that the White House will now decide who attends briefings, an effort to insulate President Trump from tough scrutiny.

Musk claims DOGE ‘restored’ Ebola prevention effort.  Officials disagree.  —  USAID's initiatives to fight Ebola and other diseases have been gutted, current and former agency officials said  —  Elon Musk on Wednesday acknowledged that the U.S. DOGE Service “accidentally canceled” …

Social Security Administration Could Cut Half Its Workforce  —  Sources tell the Prospect that a meeting called for a 50 percent reduction in an agency that millions rely on for benefit implementation.  —  There are more than 1,200 Social Security field offices across the country.

The Supreme Court is in “radical agreement” that a bizarre DEI rule needs to go  —  The proper term for a Supreme Court session where the justices hear verbal presentations by lawyers is an “oral argument,” but Wednesday's hearing in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services hardly qualified as an argument.

VA pauses billions in cuts lauded by Musk as lawmakers and veterans decry loss of critical care  —  The Department of Veterans Affairs has temporarily suspended billions of dollars in planned contract cuts following concerns that the move would hurt critical veterans' health services …

Democrats Need to Clean House  —  The problem with the party goes way beyond the $10 words.  —  At the University of Chicago's Institute of Politics last week, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was nearly apoplectic about the diversity spectacles at the recent Democratic National …

Musk's Ex-Twitter Workers Win Severance Over ‘Fork in the Road’ Email  — Ex-employees prevail in challenges to ‘Fork in the Road’ email  — Billionaire has Trump's support using similar tactics at DOGE  —  Former Twitter employees are scoring early victories in legal challenges …

Implementing the President's “Department of Government Efficiency” Cost Efficiency Initiative  —  By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:  —  Section 1.  Purpose.  This order commences a transformation …

Who Is the Anonymous Data Expert Telling Elon Which Cuts to Make?  —  Conservatives have used DataRepublican to spread misinformation about federal agencies.  She's been working at a tech firm that's battled the CFPB … The account, and its alleged findings of mismanaged government agency spending …

US government spending has not slowed under Trump so far, data shows  —  The U.S. government spent more during President Donald Trump's first month in office than it did during the same period a year ago, in a sign his cost-slashing effort has yet to reduce the nation's heavy fiscal obligations, a Reuters analysis of federal data shows.

Dozens of DOGE ‘receipts’ saved no money and killed contracts meant to boost efficiency  —  Many of the receipts published by Elon Musk's DOGE aren't receipts at all — they're negotiated deals with vetted vendors who might do future government work.  —  Take a quick look at the Department …

Following executive orders, 'The President's Own' Marine Band scraps concert  —  The canceled collaboration with Equity Arc was to feature high-school musicians of color who competed for spots to perform with the U.S. Marine Band.  —  There is perhaps no band closer to the president's ear …

Trump faces Truth Social backlash over AI video of Gaza with topless Netanyahu and bearded bellydancers  —  Users of president's own social media site criticise video showing reimagined Gaza featuring Trump and Israeli PM sipping cocktails  —  Donald Trump is facing a backlash …

DOGE barrels toward a fresh round of firings, the most widespread yet  —  Records show a Department of Labor component that enforces equal employment opportunity laws is developing a plan to reduce its workforce by 90 percent.  —  Elon Musk's U.S. DOGE Service is barreling toward a fresh round of firings …

DOJ has abruptly broadened its view of Trump's Jan. 6 pardons.  A judge wants answers.  —  A Trump-appointed judge grilled a Justice Department prosecutor on the department's change in position.  —  Three weeks ago, the Justice Department was emphatic: Donald Trump may have pardoned Kentuckian Dan Wilson …

Elon Musk's business empire is built on $38 billion in government funding  —  Government infusions at key moments helped Tesla and SpaceX flourish, boosting Musk's wealth  —  Elon Musk and his cost-cutting U.S. DOGE Service team have been on a mission to trim government largesse.

Decline of Christianity in the U.S. Has Slowed, May Have Leveled Off  —  Findings from the 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study  —  Table of Contents Table of Contents  —  Findings from the 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study  —  Pew Research Center conducts the Religious Landscape Study …