Pelican Press

I am MAGA Man: Trump’s version of the ideal American is pro-Putin and anti-truth I am MAGA Man: Trump’s version of the ideal American is pro-Putin and anti-truth Behold me, the Ideal MAGA Man – President Donald Trump’s preferred version of an American. I shall become a model member of the society he’s trying to build on the wreckage of the one he’s presently tearing down. Through his words and actions, and the behavior of those around him, I have sketched this new version of myself, and will endeavor to be all the things He (I should capitalize “He” when referring to Trump, right?) wants us to be. Fortunately, because I’m white and a man, I have a considerable head start. I would think that’s an unfair advantage, but “caring about others” thinking doesn’t align with the Ideal MAGA Man. So I’ll push that from my mind and focus on how great it is that I’m white and a man while also spending considerable time complaining online about how I’m actually the victim here. To be a truly Trumpian American, you must bow down to the king President Donald Trump waves to supporters in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Feb. 17, 2025. An equally important step toward being the perfect Trump-merican is, of course, obsequiously idolizing God-King President Donald “Amazing” Trump, greatest president of all time (many are saying this), stablest of geniuses, golfer extraordinaire and the only human capable of bringing peace and prosperity not just to the world but to the entire universe. As Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday following talks with Russia about ending the war in Ukraine, talks the Ukrainians were not invited to: “The only leader in the world who can make this happen, who can even bring people together to begin to talk about it in a serious way, is President Trump. He’s the only one in the world that can do that right now.” Opinion: Trump’s first month is shock and ‘aww (expletive)!’ But how is your life better? Rubio got the phrase “only leader in the world” into that short interview four times, setting a shining example for people like me who aspire to true Ideal MAGA Man-ness. A REAL AMERICAN has no need for government services Beyond the pro-level tush-snogging, a Trump-merican man must have his act fully together and never admit otherwise. That means I have no psychological issues whatsoever, no need for any form of government assistance, no need for an education system to teach my children things, and certainly no reliance on Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid. I couldn’t care less about getting mail or having roads to drive on, because I forge my own path in life and will carry the mail on my broad, manly shoulders and take it where it needs to go, stopping only to laugh at sad liberals and/or migrants in shackles. I don’t need some “government” – the thing Trump’s amazing and heroic best-at-everything friend Elon Musk is presently ripping apart – to do things for me. I’m fine. Elon Musk holds a chainsaw during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center at the National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md., on Feb. 20, 2025. No, seriously, I’m fine. I’ve got it all together and there’s nothing weak or vulnerable about me. I don’t need to talk to anyone, thank you very much. I’m a rock, and everyone loves me, especially my dad, who definitely hugged me enough. Opinion: Mark Zuckerberg wants more ‘masculine energy’? Sounds like somebody’s insecure. Where was I? Oh, yeah, becoming the Ideal MAGA Man. All MAGA Americans must be huge fans of Vladimir Putin The next step in the transformation is to be zealously patriotic to the vision of America set out by President Trump, which includes disliking U.S. allies and ABSOLUTELY LOVING Russian President Vladimir Putin. Opinion: Musk, RFK Jr. drive off FDA inspectors, preserving my right to eat tainted meat I realize the Russian president/dictator hasn’t appeared in many U.S.A.-loving Chevy truck commercials featuring Bob Seger’s classic song “Like A Rock,” but I’m sure that will change soon. And if it doesn’t, I will applaud Trump for using the full force of the government to run Chevrolet out of business and lock up its executives for not being loyal to American/Trump values. Activists in Berlin wear masks on Feb. 20, 2025, to protest, from left, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, far-right Alternative for Germany party candidate Alice Weidel, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Nothing can get in the way of us becoming the perfect MAGA versions of ourselves. So we must purchase our “We Love Putin!” T-shirts and embrace the Nazi-ish extremist far-right ******* party supported by Musk and Vice President JD Vance. It’s the (new) American way. What would Jesus do? Who knows? Just do what Trump does. I will espouse a deep Christian faith while rarely, if ever, going to church and consistently flouting the teachings of Jesus Christ. In fact, I will teach myself to hate anyone different from me, loudly mock others and actively oppose the meek inheriting anything. I will consider criticism from the pope and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops a badge of honor and applaud when Trump orders the term “hypocrisy” erased from all U.S. dictionaries and textbooks. Ideal MAGA Man has no need for truth. Or facts. Or reality. President Donald Trump holds up a ****** outside the St. John’s Church across from the White House on June 1, 2020. Hundreds of peaceful protesters had gathered outside the White House that day, and there had been no reports of ******** conduct. About 6:30 p.m., law enforcement officers suddenly began using force to clear the area to make way for Trump’s walk to the church. They fired pepper spray and rubber bullets as they punched and pushed protesters, journalists and even priests. Lastly, as the final phase in the Ideal MAGA Man evolution, I hereby swear on a Trump-branded ****** that I will stop believing in the truth. Only Trump’s word is inviolable, so help me Trump. For example, on Thursday, Trump spoke of how popular he thinks he is, saying: “I had an approval rating today of 71 and another one of 69. I have not heard of those numbers before.” Someone who’s not an Ideal MAGA Man might suggest the reason the president had never heard of those numbers is because they don’t exist and, in fact, several polls released last week showed that he has underwater approval ratings of 45% (Gallup and Washington Post/Ipsos), 47% (CNN) and 44% (Reuters). Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don’t have the app? Download it for free from your app store. But I will not speak such blasphemy, for I am Ideal MAGA Man. I believe what President Trump – the only leader in the world who could have the greatest approval ratings ever – tells me, and nothing else. That is what our leader wants from us. Ask no questions, entertain no facts, display absolute loyalty, love thy dictators and rest assured the glories of American prosperity will wash down off his gold-tipped loafers unto us all. Now I have become MAGA, destroyer of common sense. Follow USA TODAY columnist Rex Huppke on Bluesky at @rexhuppke.bsky.social and on Facebook at facebook.com/RexIsAJerk You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump’s version of the perfect American is a pro-Putin toady | Opinion Source link #MAGA #Man #Trumps #version #ideal #American #proPutin #antitruth Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Pope Francis Has ‘Mild’ Kidney Failure And Remains In Critical Condition, ******** Says In Latest Update – Forbes Pope Francis Has ‘Mild’ Kidney Failure And Remains In Critical Condition, ******** Says In Latest Update – Forbes Pope Francis Has ‘Mild’ Kidney Failure And Remains In Critical Condition, ******** Says In Latest Update ForbesPope still in critical condition with signs of ‘mild’ kidney failure, ******** says CNNPope Francis is conscious and receiving supplemental oxygen following a respiratory crisis The Associated PressPope Francis has peaceful ninth night in the hospital vaticannews.va Source link #Pope #Francis #Mild #Kidney #Failure #Remains #Critical #Condition #******** #Latest #Update #Forbes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

George Mills wins British indoor 3,000m title with championship record George Mills wins British indoor 3,000m title with championship record George Mills broke a championship record to win the men’s 3,000m at the British Indoor Athletics Championships in Birmingham. Mills finished 0.17 seconds clear of James West to claim victory in a time of seven minutes 40.16 seconds. The 25-year-old was watched by his father, former England footballer Danny Mills, as he broke the previous championship record by almost 10 seconds. His performance has qualified him for the European Indoor Championships. “I came here to do a job – that was to first of all qualify for the European Indoor Championships and put my name in the hat again for worlds and obviously, to win,” Mills told BBC Sport. “Delighted to do that. “When I go to races now in these championships, I’m going to win medals, so that’s what I’m aiming to do. “I really give everything to this sport and I just want to be the best athlete I can.” In the women’s 3,000m, Hannah Nuttall earned victory ahead of Laura Muir, who was second. Nuttall beat Muir by more than half a second after overtaking her late on to finish in a time of 8:49.49. Both will also feature at the European Indoor Championships. “I did think today I could potentially come out with the win if I had my best possible race but to actually execute it and do it is another thing,” said Nuttall. “I thought I’ll just follow her [Muir] and see what I have left in the tank at the end; I had another gear and when I went past her and she didn’t have anything left. “The nerves the last few days have been off the scale.” Elsewhere, 17-year-old Otis Poole won with a best jump of 2.20m despite only receiving an invitation to compete earlier that day. Poole’s previous personal best jump was an attempt of 2.09m. And Scot Neil Gourley triumphed in the men’s 1500m, setting a championship record of 3:38.84. Georgia Hunter Bell won the women’s event in 4:13.23. The European Indoor Championships take place in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, from 6 to 9 March. Source link #George #Mills #wins #British #indoor #3000m #title #championship #record Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pope Francis remains in critical condition Pope Francis remains in critical condition Pope Francis, battling double pneumonia, remains in a critical condition for a second day running and his prognosis is still guarded, the ******** says. The pope, 88, was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on February 14 after experiencing difficulty breathing for several days and subsequently had pneumonia diagnosed in both lungs. The ******** first described his condition as critical on Saturday, reporting that Francis had needed supplemental oxygen and blood transfusions that day after a “prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis”. “The condition of the Holy Father remains critical; however, since last night he has not experienced further respiratory crises,” the ******** said on Sunday. Blood tests also indicated a “mild renal insufficiency, which is currently under control,” it said. “The complexity of the clinical picture, and the necessary wait for the pharmacological therapies to show some effect, require that the prognosis remains guarded,” it said. The statement described the pope as “alert and well-oriented” and said he was receiving “high-flow oxygen therapy” through a tube under his nose. In a written message for his usual Sunday prayer in St Peter’s Square, which the pope was unable to read out for a second consecutive week, Francis said he was continuing “confidently” with his treatment in hospital. He thanked his doctors and people who have sent him messages of support. Archbishop Rino Fisichella, a senior ******** official, told participants at a Mass in St Peter’s Basilica on Sunday morning they should make their prayers for Francis “stronger and more intense”. The Diocese of Rome, which the pope leads, held a special Mass on Sunday evening to pray for Francis, so that he will have “the strength necessary to get through this moment of trial”. Double pneumonia is a serious infection that can inflame and scar both lungs, making it difficult to breathe. The ******** has described the pope’s infection as “complex”, saying it is being caused by two or more microorganisms. Francis, who has been pope since 2013, has suffered bouts of ill health in the past two years. He is particularly prone to lung infections because he developed pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed. Near the ******** on Sunday morning, pilgrims expressed concern for the pope’s condition. Outside Gemelli hospital, groups of people were gathering to pray near a statue of the late Pope John Paul II, who was treated at the facility many times during his long papacy. People were leaving flowers and notes for Francis, and lighting candles at the base of the late pope’s memorial. In a statement on Saturday evening, the ******** said the pope had needed blood transfusions because tests showed he had a low platelet count, which is associated with anaemia. Platelets are cell fragments in our blood that form clots and stop or prevent bleeding. In a briefing on Friday, two of his doctors said the pope was highly vulnerable because of his age and general frailty. Dr Sergio Alfieri, a senior member of the Gemelli staff, said there was a risk the lung infection could spread to his bloodstream and develop into sepsis, which “could be very difficult to overcome”. Source link #Pope #Francis #remains #critical #condition Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘We wanted to find out the true risk’ ‘We wanted to find out the true risk’ Bird poop on your lettuce might not be as risky as you think. Researchers at the University of California, Davis found that small bird droppings aren’t much of a food safety risk for crops, pushing back against long-held fears that wildlife near farms could spread harmful pathogens such as E. coli, as reported on Phys.org. This is good news for farmers and anyone who loves leafy greens, showing that not all bird poop means trouble for your food. Since a major E. coli outbreak shook the leafy greens industry in 2006, growers have been under pressure to eliminate natural habitats near farms to keep wildlife away from crops. But the research, published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, suggests that not all bird droppings are created equal — and size matters more than species. “We wanted to find out the true risk of wild birds to food safety,” said the study’s lead author, Austin Spence. “If it’s the size of a quarter, don’t harvest near that. If it’s a tiny white speck, it’s very low risk and probably fine,” Spence added. The study found that pathogens are much more likely to survive in the larger droppings of big birds such as turkeys, while tiny droppings from smaller birds such as sparrows and bluebirds dry out quickly and don’t provide a hospitable environment for bacteria. This finding is a big deal for farmers, who often lose crops because of overly cautious food safety rules. Knowing that small bird droppings carry minimal risk means growers can cut down on unnecessary waste and feel more confident keeping wildlife-friendly practices on their farms. Researchers even estimate that farmers could harvest up to 10% more of their fields by skipping no-harvest zones around low-risk droppings. Watch now: Ecologist shares why she remains hopeful in the face of climate doom and gloom At the same time, farmers are finding easy, eco-friendly ways to protect their crops without relying on harsh chemicals. They can bring in helpful bugs to keep pests in check instead of using pesticides. They can also place orange peels to keep pests out of their gardens. Research from the University of California suggests that integrating more natural pest control methods can improve crop yields while reducing the environmental impact of farming. What’s most encouraging is that farmers can prioritize food safety without giving up conservation efforts. “There have been no studies to date that suggest habitat removal improves food safety,” said Daniel Karp, a professor at UC Davis. In fact, the U.S. Department of Agriculture notes that conservation efforts on private lands not only support healthy ecosystems but also lead to more productive, sustainable farms. The findings show that protecting crops and supporting wildlife can work together. Even bird droppings can shift how we think about balancing food safety with sustainable farming. Sometimes, doing less is all it takes to get better results for our food and the environment. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Source link #wanted #find #true #risk Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Mikaela Shiffrin gets historic 100th World Cup win one month after return to skiing – The Athletic Mikaela Shiffrin gets historic 100th World Cup win one month after return to skiing – The Athletic Mikaela Shiffrin gets historic 100th World Cup win one month after return to skiing The AthleticShiffrin claims historic 100th World Cup win BBC.comMikaela Shiffrin earns 100th World Cup win of her career with slalom success The GuardianFrom 0 to 100 wins in 278 ski races: Mikaela Shiffrin’s 10 most notable World Cup victories The Associated PressMikaela Shiffrin gets her 100th World Cup victory, extending her record USA TODAY Source link #Mikaela #Shiffrin #historic #100th #World #Cup #win #month #return #skiing #Athletic Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Van driver hunt continues after fatal Manchester tram ****** Van driver hunt continues after fatal Manchester tram ****** BBC A 3-year-old girl was killed while she was walking near the site of the ****** Police are continuing to search for a driver who fled the scene after a three-year-old girl was killed in a ****** between a van and a tram in Manchester city centre. Officers are understood to know who the offender is and are actively looking to bring him into custody. After colliding with the tram on Saturday morning, the van ended up on the pavement where it hit the girl, officers said. She was given emergency treatment by first responders and taken to hospital, where she died from her injuries. Roads were closed following the collision near Manchester Art Gallery Two air ambulance crews also rushed to the scene after the ******, which happened just before 10:00 GMT. GMP said the ****** was being treated as an isolated incident with no wider threat to the community. Roads were temporarily closed around the scene near Manchester Art Gallery, while tram services also experienced major disruption. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) said it was supporting the police with the investigation. Manchester City Council added it would make sure the family had its “full support”. Councillor Pat Karney told BBC North West Tonight: “I can’t imagine the pain and grief that this family’s going through.” Following public remarks on the safety of the junction, he said “it would be totally inappropriate to have a debate about it at this stage – we’re actually thinking about the family”. “We are in a legal process so the police will make their investigation and then in the course of time, there will be a coroner’s report and any recommendations about the future of that junction will come to the council,” he said. “Obviously we’ll take that very seriously.” Source link #Van #driver #hunt #continues #fatal #Manchester #tram #****** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

ULTIMATE CAPTAIN’S RANKING: Caitlin Bassett ranks every leader this season and analyses what makes them tick ULTIMATE CAPTAIN’S RANKING: Caitlin Bassett ranks every leader this season and analyses what makes them tick Ahead of the new season, The West ***********’s Caitlin Bassett has ranked every club’s captains and analyses what makes them great. Source link #ULTIMATE #CAPTAINS #RANKING #Caitlin #Bassett #ranks #leader #season #analyses #tick Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Full transcript of “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Feb. 23, 2025 Full transcript of “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Feb. 23, 2025 On this “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” broadcast, moderated by Margaret Brennan: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s Middle East envoy Sen. John Curtis, Republican of Utah Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Democrat of Maryland Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former FDA commissioner Click here to browse full transcripts from 2025 of “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.” MARGARET BRENNAN: I’m Margaret Brennan in Washington. And this week on Face the Nation: The president’s mission to shrink the federal work force intensifies and his foreign policy dealmaking reaches a critical juncture. Speaking before a crowd of conservative supporters this weekend, President Trump touted his dramatic efforts to reshape the federal government. (Begin VT) DONALD TRUMP (President of the United States): It’s all about common sense. Over the past month, we have confirmed an all-star team of warriors, patriots, visionaries and put the America first agenda into action. (End VT) MARGARET BRENNAN: Late Friday, the purge of the federal work force struck the Pentagon at the top during a critical moment for our national security, as the new administration seeks peace talks to end Russia’s war in Ukraine and as a fragile truce between Israel and ****** hangs in the balance. We will speak with Trump’s top negotiator and envoy Steve Witkoff. Meanwhile, here at home, the president takes aim at Democratic governors who oppose his agenda. (Begin VT) PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: You better do it because you’re not going to get any federal funding. GOVERNOR JANET MILLS (D-Maine): We will see you in court. GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL (D-New York): New York hasn’t labored under a king in over 250 years. (CHEERING) GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL: We are not – we sure as hell are not going to start now. (End VT) MARGARET BRENNAN: We will ask New York Governor Kathy Hochul how she’s picking her battles with the new administration. Plus: (Begin VT) WOMAN: the People would like to know, what you, Congressman, and your fellow congressmen are going to do to rein in the megalomaniac in the White House. (CHEERING) (End VT) MARGARET BRENNAN: Lawmakers facing some heat from voters over Trump’s push to slash the federal work force led by Elon Musk. Maryland Democrat Chris Van Hollen and Utah Republican John Curtis will be here. And, finally, with bird flu measles and other illnesses on the rise and big changes ahead for America’s public health agencies, we will get a reality check from former Trump FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb. It’s all just ahead on Face the Nation. Good morning, and welcome to Face the Nation. Millions of federal workers are waking up to renewed pressure this morning. Elon Musk ordered them late Saturday to describe the top five things they accomplished last week, or risk losing their jobs. That demand was issued formally in an e-mail yesterday from the Office of Personnel Management. But top leaders in agencies such as the FBI and the State Department have instructed their staff to avoid responding for now. Just a day earlier, the Trump staff shakeup hit the Pentagon with the ouster of the nation’s highest-ranking military officer, General C.Q. Brown, and other senior leaders at the Navy, Army and Air Force. For more on that impact of the shakeup, we begin this morning with our senior national security correspondent, Charlie D’Agata. Charlie, so it’s the president’s prerogative to choose his advisers, sure, but what’s the impact of firing his top adviser? And when will we get a new one? CHARLIE D’AGATA: Well, Margaret, you, first of all, have to look at what’s going on at the moment right? What’s the immediate impact? This position as the chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff is in charge, as it sounds, of everybody and planning forward. We have the crisis in the Middle East that’s still unfolding. We have got the crisis at the border where more and more active-duty troops are being sent to. Guantanamo is getting built up. And then you have got Ukraine and the future of NATO. So this comes at a critical time. And the dismissal of C.Q. Brown will have immediate ramifications. In terms of how long it’s going to take to replace that, well, there will be a sort of Senate hearing. A person has already been put forward, as we’re about to speak about. But, in addition to that, the other top head to come out of that was Admiral Lisa Franchetti. She’s CNO, chief naval officer, in charge of the Navy. That’s a big one. MARGARET BRENNAN: The highest-ranking woman. CHARLIE D’AGATA: The highest-ranking woman, and unprecedented in that role. And she was the first to become a fleet commander. There are many firsts in Admiral Franchetti’s career. And we have profiled her when she became fleet commander. Very highly thought of among her – among personnel at the DOD, including young women who aspire to those sort of levels. C.Q. Brown, again, very highly regarded. They – there was no reason given for the dismissal of these two individuals. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. CHARLIE D’AGATA: We do know that Secretary Hegseth has actually name- checked C.Q. Brown, saying that he’s criticizing him for his DEI programs and saying that… MARGARET BRENNAN: Right. . CHARLIE D’AGATA: … was he given that promotion because he was ******? He says, we will never know. He also took aim at Admiral Franchetti, suggesting she is a DEI hire herself, by virtue of the fact that she is a woman. Also, in addition to that, there’s a – the state in command of the Air Force who was also removed, so a lot of changes. And you mentioned the word purge. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. CHARLIE D’AGATA: And that’s exactly what it is at the – from the very top. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, who is this nominee, or I guess, of – in the process of becoming the nominee, to step into the role? CHARLIE D’AGATA: It’s a good question. And there are a lot of people inside the DOD who are asking who this nominee is, retired Lieutenant General Dan Caine. He just retired recently as a three-star rank. That’s kind of important, because this is the first time, at least in my knowledge – it might be corrected – the first time a three-star general was promoted to that position and kind of… MARGARET BRENNAN: Right, and not the head of a combatant command. CHARLIE D’AGATA: Exactly, not the head of a combatant command, like CENTCOM or EUCOM, not in charge of one of the armed services branches. MARGARET BRENNAN: Big promotion. CHARLIE D’AGATA: Well, yes, some might call it a leapfrog. If he is to be accepted into this role, he will automatically be given that fourth star. But, more importantly, there are certain rules and regulations, that he would have been the first, because he didn’t have that combatant command and because he wasn’t in charge of one of the armed forces. But from – we have been asking around. And I know people who know him personally. They say, look, he’s a stand-up guy, nicest man you want to meet. There had been some questions about whether or not he was sort of political. I know that President Trump had said that he had met the guy and said that he loves him, as in he loves Trump. According to my sources, that conversation didn’t take place. He doesn’t own a MAGA cap. He didn’t put one on. So he’s been described as apolitical. And he’s somebody who may not have the experience, but has the character to lead the force. But I think what we have to look at here, right… MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. CHARLIE D’AGATA: … we have got Defense Secretary Hegseth, and then we have this individual, two relatively inexperienced people at the very highest level of the DOD. MARGARET BRENNAN: At a time of global instability and a lot of change here at home. Charlie, thank you. CHARLIE D’AGATA: Thank you. MARGARET BRENNAN: We turn now to Trump’s clash with Democratic governors. Joining us now from Albany, New York, is the governor, Kathy Hochul, good morning to you, Governor. GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL (D-New York): Good morning. MARGARET BRENNAN: I know you were just here in Washington, and you met privately with President Trump. In the past, you’ve said the relationship doesn’t have to be adversarial. Was your meeting with him adversarial? And what was your top message? GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL: It wasn’t an adversarial meeting, but I was very clear, especially after I found that the Trump administration had ended a program that was put in place, congestion pricing, by the duly elected members of our legislature, representing the voice of the people, and with a tweet, he claims that he is the king, and, therefore, he has the power to destroy it. And I have a problem with that characterization, because we labored under a king 250 years ago, and, as I said, we’re not going back there. So I wanted to take my case to him directly and let him see the benefits of this program, because our city is paralyzed with gridlock. And we had a path forward to be able to make the city move again, and it’s working. I wanted to just have that opportunity to convey that. But I don’t know that we’re very persuasive on that front, but that’s OK. The people in my state need to know I’m willing to take the fight wherever I have to. MARGARET BRENNAN: So, just to explain for our audience, congestion pricing, you’re talking about this $9 toll you put on people driving into Lower Manhattan below 60th Street. Your fellow Democrat Phil Murphy of New Jersey says he doesn’t like this policy, actually asked President Trump to stop it. President Trump’s office says this is discriminatory against working-class people. How do you respond to that? GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL: I respond this way. With all due respect to the state of New Jersey, they do not tell us in New York what to do, nor does Washington, when it comes to policies that we believe are going to reduce congestion, move along vehicles. Emergency vehicles are moving faster. Air quality is improving. So I have arguments that are important, but no one else should be able to second-guess us, because that’s not how our system of laws and states was set up. I’m the governor of New York. I will deal with the internal issues before me without interference from New Jersey or, indeed, the federal government. MARGARET BRENNAN: So this is going to the courts? GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL: Oh, yes, it’s going to the courts, and I believe we will be victorious in the courts, and this program will continue. MARGARET BRENNAN: You know, this is not the only standoff between the state and federal government and the tension here. I know you were in Washington with other governors who were meeting with the president this week. Federal funds account for about 40 percent of your state’s budget. President Trump is threatening to withhold federal funds to governors in order to force compliance with his agenda. Here’s what he said to the governor of Maine. Take a listen. (Begin VT) DONALD TRUMP (President of the United States): Is Maine here, the Governor of Maine? GOVERNOR JANET MILLS (D-Maine): Yes, I’m here. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Are you not going to comply with it? GOVERNOR JANET MILLS: I will comply with state and federal laws. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Well, I’m – we are the federal law. Well, you better do it. You better do it, because you’re not going to get any federal funding at all if you don’t. (End VT) MARGARET BRENNAN: That was about transgender athletes on girls sports teams. Are you Democratic governors going to start to work together on this? Is there legal pushback? GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL: What he is doing is – they’ve described it as flooding the zone. They’re attacking California when it comes to FEMA dollars. They’re filing lawsuits in Illinois. They’re going after Maine on this, and they’re coming after programs that have been duly put in place in the state of New York. What they’re trying to do is create this theater of all kinds of activity that is trying to be a distraction to us. And when someone floods the zone in a football game, what you need to have is the defenders be very disciplined, smart, but also stand their ground. And that’s exactly what New York governors, the governor of New York will do, in cooperation with our governors. We’re not going to sit idly by and let our rights be attacked. We’ll work with you when there’s common ground, no doubt about it. Let’s build great projects and infrastructure. There’s areas where we’re going to work with you on immigration and getting the violent criminals off our streets. We do not dispute that. But don’t think that you can just come in and bully us around and not expect a reaction from governors. MARGARET BRENNAN: You know that, when it comes to your state, there’s been a lot of focus on Manhattan and the Department of Justice because of Eric Adams and the ongoing legal issues he has. In the past week, four deputy mayors resigned. Seven federal prosecutors resigned after the Trump Justice Department moved to dismiss those five counts of federal corruption indictments against – against Mayor Adams. You know the allegation is that the dismissal of the charges was in – related to a quid pro quo around immigration compliance. Did you discuss this case at all with the president when you were in the room with him one on one? GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL: No, I did not. In fact, it’s – we’re waiting for the decision by a judge on whether he’s going to accept those – the recommendation for a dismissal. So that’s still in litigation. But I will say this. We are not allowing the Trump administration to interfere in the operations of our city. And the legal problems that the mayor is facing because of the Trump administration, and the phrasing they have used, and, indeed, an interview that was done by one of his representatives on national television, saying that he’s basically got the mayor under his control, that’s concerning. And I have to be able to put in safeguards. Of course, everyone says I had the option to remove him. I still hold that option to remove him. It is an extraordinary power. And I know there’s a lot of people disappointed and angry and want something done immediately, but I will always stand on the fact that we are a nation of laws. And one individual, the governor of New York, should not use her voice and her will to override the will of the voters. We have an election in a few months for – in a primary. I’m going to let the voters decide, but I’m also going to be very cognizant. I need to keep an eye on this situation, especially the way the Trump administration has telegraphed that they want to get into our operations, and I have to be the firewall to stop that. MARGARET BRENNAN: So, having said that, does that mean you do believe there was a quid pro quo understanding with Eric Adams? GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL: I am going by what the perception could be. I cannot let the integrity of the administration in the city of New York be undermined by perception that the Trump administration actually created. They created this perception. The reality, I will never know. But as long as there’s the faith of New Yorkers that has been undermined by what the Trump administration doing is trying to give the appearance of holding the city hostage, those are – but that’s exactly what they’re trying to do. Again, they’re trying to create chaos. But we have to be smart as Democrats and as leaders and parse through all this and just go do what’s right. That will always be my North Star. MARGARET BRENNAN: Governor Hochul, thank you for your time this morning. Face the Nation will be back in one minute. Stay with us. (ANNOUNCEMENTS) MARGARET BRENNAN: Joining us now is President Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff. He is in Miami Beach this morning. Good morning to you, sir. I have… STEVE WITKOFF (U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East): Good morning, Margaret. Thanks for having me. MARGARET BRENNAN: I have a lot to get to with you. I want to start on the ******** first. You have said you are headed there this week to work on a hostage deal. I know Prime Minister Netanyahu has changed his negotiating team. Will we get to phase two of this hostage deal? And can we get that American citizen ***** Alexander out any time soon? STEVE WITKOFF: So, I – we – we will get to stage two – or phase two. And I’m very focused on that, and I think it’s going to happen. I’m going there probably Wednesday evening. I will spend five days there as soon as I arrive, making – going to various countries, including Qatar, Egypt, Israel, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. And, as to ***** Alexander, he’s front and center for us. I know his parents. We talk all the time. He’s critical. It’s one of President Trump’s most important objectives is to get all Americans home. And we’re going to be successful in getting ***** home, I believe. MARGARET BRENNAN: So, in that second phase, talking about what comes next for Gaza becomes part of that. For that day after, do ****** leaders need to leave Gaza? Are you discussing that? And, if so, where would they go? STEVE WITKOFF: So, Margaret, the – the May 27 protocol agreement signed last May 27 sets forth that the phase two negotiation is much about two things, A, a permanent cease-fire, a cessation of all violence, and, in addition to that, the fact that ****** cannot be allowed to come back into the government. And I think the way you square that circle is that ****** has to go. They’ve got to leave. MARGARET BRENNAN: Physically? STEVE WITKOFF: And we’re going to – the negotiation will be around that. I would say physically. That’s correct. MARGARET BRENNAN: Where would they go? Has any country offered to take them in? STEVE WITKOFF: Well, I think – I think the ****** is in the details, and we’ve had a lot of discussions around it. I’m not at liberty to have that discussion, that specific discussion today, but we’ve got some ideas, and that will be part of the negotiation. MARGARET BRENNAN: You’ve been quoted as saying that when you went to Gaza and you personally saw the devastation there, you couldn’t understand why anyone would say – stay, but it doesn’t mean you can’t have some sort of right to return, if that’s the policy that works for people. Does the Trump administration support Palestinians’ right to return? STEVE WITKOFF: Well, Margaret, first of all, what I would say is this. President Trump is one of the most sensible human beings you’re ever going to meet. He is – he understands that it makes no sense to endorse old policy prescriptions that have not worked. And what has not worked in Gaza are all of these old policy prescriptions. So, he’s come up with a new notion. And the new notion is, let’s create a better opportunity for these – for people who have lived in Gaza to have a better life for themselves, better upside, better aspirations for what can happen for their children and so forth. The May 27 protocol talked about Gaza as if it was a five-year reconstruction plan. We’ve been talking in the Trump administration about a 15-year horizon, perhaps even 20 years. And now, all of a sudden, The Wall Street Journal printed an article yesterday agreeing with that math. There is a much – level-setting the facts suggest that nobody can really live there in a safe environment for probably at least 15 years. So, effectively, we need – effectively, people have been under this misassumption. When you’re under a misassumption about facts, you’re not going to make decisions correctly. We’re making decisions based on a real set of facts. And so there’s a lot of work that has to be done there. There’s tons of demolition. There’s artillery shells all over the place that could explode at any moment. This is a much longer project, and people don’t belong living there right now. MARGARET BRENNAN: But they could return? STEVE WITKOFF: That’s – that’s – again, goes to the ****** in the details. MARGARET BRENNAN: Got it. STEVE WITKOFF: I’m not sure that anyone has a problem with people – with people returning. We’ve had these discussions around that. I just think the fundamental issue today is how we get phase two done and then develop a reconstruction plan for Gaza. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. STEVE WITKOFF: And for that, you’ve got to have a real set of facts. And we’ve been operating prior to the Trump administration coming in under facts that are just not accurate. MARGARET BRENNAN: I want to also ask you about Russia. You are a very trusted adviser to President Trump, and he sent you to speak face to face with Vladimir Putin. FOX reported you sat with Putin for 3.5 hours. You said that you spent a lot of time talking, developing a friendship and a relationship with Putin, and that’s how you helped bring this U.S. citizen Marc Fogel home. Can you take us inside that room? Did you have a translator? Did you have a notetaker? Were you talking in English? What happened? STEVE WITKOFF: There was a translator. And, in fact, there were two translators. And I – to me, the assignment was trust-building and speaking behalf – on behalf of my boss, the president of the United States, Donald J. Trump. And I had no expectation as to how long the meeting was going to last. I was intent on carrying a message from the president to President Putin. I had been advised that the president – that President Putin had something for me to transmit back to the president. And the meeting ended, I looked at my watch, and it was close to 3.5 hours that we were in there. And, hopefully, that that suggests that a lot of good things got accomplished. I think that President Trump believes – and I believe because he believes it – that trust-building begins with good, proper communication. And we had really good – we just had a great discussion, me and President Putin. And now it will be up to President Putin and President Trump to work something out. And I think they’re going to be successful. MARGARET BRENNAN: Did you have an intelligence officer or anyone else with you? That’s an extraordinary amount of face time with Putin. STEVE WITKOFF: I had – it was just me. MARGARET BRENNAN: It was just you. The head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund – I know you know him – Kirill Dmitriev, told Reuters that… STEVE WITKOFF: Yes. MARGARET BRENNAN: … afterward, they expect a number of American companies to return to Russia this year. Is he right to expect that? Did you discuss lifting U.S. sanctions off of Russia? STEVE WITKOFF: We – we did not have that specific discussion at – at the meeting you’re referring to. But I think that – that, obviously, there would be an expectation that, if we get to a peace deal, that you would be able to have American companies come back and do business there. And I think that everybody would believe that that would be a positive, good thing to happen. MARGARET BRENNAN: After the end to the war and concessions were made by Russia? STEVE WITKOFF: Well, that’s what everybody wants. MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. STEVE WITKOFF: And what everybody wants, the – the beginning of that, Margaret, is – is – would be a – would be a temporary cease-fire. But – but the long-term goal would be an end to this. The – we’ve had a – – you know, close to a million-and-a-half deaths. And so, you know, President Trump, the – his – his agenda is to end this carnage. It just didn’t belong to happen – it didn’t need to happen. And it doesn’t need to continue, not, you know, another day. So we’re on it, at his direction. And I think there is – you’re going to see some – some real positive developments in the near-term future. MARGARET BRENNAN: Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, thank you for joining us. We’ll be back in a moment with a lot more Face the Nation. Stay with us. (ANNOUNCEMENTS) MARGARET BRENNAN: Stay tuned for our next half-hour, including an interview with Utah Republican Senator John Curtis. We will be right back. (ANNOUNCEMENTS) MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome back to FACE THE NATION. We return to our conversation with Utah Republican Senator John Curtis. Good to see you here in person, Senator. SENATOR JOHN CURTIS (R-UT): It’s nice to be in person. Good morning. And lots to talk about today. MARGARET BRENNAN: Absolutely. I want to get your perspective on the decision by the president on Friday to dismiss not only the chair of the Joint Chiefs but also five other senior military officers. The former chair of the Joint Chiefs, General Martin Dempsey, released a statement saying, “trust should be based on leadership, integrity and performance. To relieve a senior officer not for a lack of one of those qualities but for a real or perceived disagreement in their beliefs harmfully politicizes the military profession.” Are you concerned that’s what’s happening here? SENATOR JOHN CURTIS: You know, I think we have to stop and look what happened really last November. And one of my colleagues describe it this way, it was a stop the car moment. Those of us who have had young kids and been on family vacations know what a stop the car moment is. It’s, kids, you’re so disruptive, we’re stopping the car. And I think in many ways the American people said, stop the car. We want dramatic change. We’re unhappy with what’s happening at the border, we’re unhappy with the economy, we’re unhappy with so many things. You keep promising that you’re going to cut spending, and you don’t. Stop the car. And so people really shouldn’t be surprised that this is a stop the car moment. We don’t get to go to Disneyland until we figure this out. And I think that’s what people are seeing right now in Washington. MARGARET BRENNAN: But you think part of the public frustration, or that there was correct to be frustration, with the leadership at the Pentagon or the president’s top military adviser? SENATOR JOHN CURTIS: Look, we elected a commander in chief last November. This is his discretion. They want change. The people want change. We all knew what we were getting with President Trump, right? Nobody should be really surprised at the – at these dramatic shocks to the system. The system needs a shock. And I think you’re – what you’re seeing as a result of that. MARGARET BRENNAN: There is concern, though, at a time of geopolitical risk, as our Pentagon correspondent was suggesting there, that, you know, carrying the institutional knowledge with you through a transition, we’re still at the beginning of the Trump administration, certainly, that there could be a hiccup there or some complication. I mean, General Caine is – or Lieutenant General Caine is a – is a three star. He’s retired. It’s not clear if he needs a congressional waiver or not to take this job because he didn’t run a combatant command. Do you know how complicated it will be to get him in place, or how long? SENATOR JOHN CURTIS: So, listen, yes, it – I don’t. And I’m not overly worried about that. MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. SENATOR JOHN CURTIS: I’ll come back to this, the American people have asked for change. They’ve lost – lost confidence in so many things. They want to see dramatic change. That – that was a stop the car moment. And what happened at the Pentagon was a stop the car moment. Let’s make some change. We’ve tried subtle changes. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. SENATOR JOHN CURTIS: We’ve tried the easy changes. We’ve tried working around the edges. And I think the American people are saying, it didn’t work. Let’s – let’s do something more dramatic. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, we’ve certainly seen dramatic. You had the video at the Conservative Political Action Committee of Elon Musk wielding this shiny chainsaw. SENATOR JOHN CURTIS: Yes. MARGARET BRENNAN: It’s celebrating this Department of Government Efficiency idea. Yesterday, federal employees also received an e-mail, I’m sure you’ve heard, telling them to reply by midnight Monday to a message with five bullet points of what they accomplished in the last week. Elon Musk tweeted, failure to do so would result in firing. Utah has 33,000 federal employees. Is that how they should be treated? SENATOR JOHN CURTIS: So, listen, let’s go back to $36 thousand – trillion of debt. And we have to do something dramatic. Now, to answer your question, I don’t believe so. You know I just published an op-ed to DeseretNews.com – deseret.com, and I talk about my experience as mayor and having to do similar things. If I could say one thing to Elon Musk, it’s, like, please put a dose of compassion in – in this. These are real people. These are real lives. These are mortgages. We – it’s a false narrative to say we have to cut, and you have to be cruel to do it as well. We can do both. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, it’s not just about efficiency, though. I mean the president himself has characterized this as getting rid of bad people. SENATOR JOHN CURTIS: You know, I regret that narrative. We all know, you know, thousands, millions of federal workers who are good people, who work hard. But the reality of it is, we have 3 million federal workers. Not all of them do. Many aren’t coming to work. In my work – business – MARGARET BRENNAN: Working from home, you mean? SENATOR JOHN CURTIS: Working from home. Let’s hope they’re working from home. We don’t know. That’s why the e-mail. What are you doing? It’s not unusual, in a corporate setting, to have people report and explain what they’re doing, especially if they’re working from home. So, I don’t think this is a request that is that difficult. I would ask my employees to let me know what they’re doing. But I will double down on the fact of, we don’t need to be so cold and hard and let’s put a little compassion and, quite frankly, dignity in this as well. MARGARET BRENNAN: Right. And in that op-ed you said, “sometimes it is the worst day of someone’s life to receive a notice like this.” SENATOR JOHN CURTIS: It is. Yes, going back to my experience as mayor, we did have to let some people go. We did a lot through attrition. But every single person we let go, I met with personally. I looked them in the eye. I told them why we had to do it. How can we then help you transition to the next thing. We can do both things. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, that’s not happening at all right now, as you know. At these department agencies – some of them, they’re just getting locked out of systems. People don’t even know who to ask. They can’t ask HR. And HR says, I don’t know, if they can’t get ahold of them at all. SENATOR JOHN CURTIS: Yes. But – but also – I’ll also come back to this, stop the car moment. Like, this is not a normal moment. We have tried. We’ve tried for years to do this gracefully. We’ve tried for years to do this slowly. And we have failed consistently. And the American people said, enough. We’re tired of this. You have to make these changes. MARGARET BRENNAN: So, do you believe the president has the unilateral authority to cancel funds appropriated by Congress? SENATOR JOHN CURTIS: Well, what we’re seeing play out is the wrestle between the three branches of government. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. SENATOR JOHN CURTIS: We’ll find out. And this is the beauty of the system. MARGARET BRENNAN: You don’t have a point of view? SENATOR JOHN CURTIS: Well, listen, I – I believe in the Constitution, right? I believe this is how we test the Constitution. And people have said, oh, this is a constitutional crisis. And I say exactly the opposite, it’s proving to work. We have the court’s playing in it. We have Congress who will play in it. We have the ability – I think we hold a lot of responsibility for what’s happening right now. We could solve the budget as Congress, we could solve the border, and we haven’t. And both parties, when Congress doesn’t do their job, and the White House, have a tendency to try to solve it. Let’s let this play out by the Constitution and – and then, Congress, let’s step up, right? We need to do – I’ll be the first to say, we – this is a problem that Congress is, in many cases, has given the American people. MARGARET BRENNAN: The pushback has been relatively quiet. You’re gently doing that by saying, be more compassionate. Senator Murkowski was telling constituents the other day, I can’t be the only one speaking out. SENATOR JOHN CURTIS: So, listen – MARGARET BRENNAN: Are Republican lawmakers going to be more forceful? SENATOR JOHN CURTIS: Well, listen, I don’t know what you want me to be more forceful on. Stop the car. Like, fix this. That’s what Utahans are telling me. MARGARET BRENNAN: No, in terms of the congressional role here, the check that Congress is supposed to put on the executive. SENATOR JOHN CURTIS: Yes. But I also think that’s a stop the car moment. Congress has failed in these – in these things. And the – and the people have said, fix it. So, Donald Trump is trying to fix it with the tools that he has. The courts will push back if he steps out of line. We’ve seen that. We know that. We saw that with President Biden as well. And that’s the beauty of the system. I works. Now, it’s very – it’s – the – the people back home are impatient. If you were to walk on the streets of Utah, they would say, stop the car, John. Like, we – this is not good. You have promised, your colleagues have promised, for decades that you would fix these things, and you haven’t. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, we’ll see if the fiscal problems are fixed in the near term. Senator, it’s going to be up to you and your fellow lawmakers. We’ll be right back. (ANNOUNCEMENTS) MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re joined now by Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen. Good to have you here. I want to refer back to the interview we just did with the president’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff. You watched the Middle East closely. I know you were just meeting with Arab leaders when you were in – in Europe last week. He said that it is not realistic to have Palestinians remain in Gaza while it is rebuilt. Egypt and Jordan are working on plans for that to be possible. Does – does that proposal have any chance of surviving, or is this idea of moving them away for 15 years going to happen? SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN (D-MD): So, the good news in what Steve Witkoff said was that he expected us to get to phase two of the discussions. MARGARET BRENNAN: (INAUDIBLE). SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: The very bad news was, he did not disavow this outrageous idea that Donald Trump put on the table of cleaning out 2 million Gazans. That is ethnic cleansing by another name. And Arab countries are right now working very hard to put together a plan to show that you can deal with the governance, security and reconstruction, and that you don’t need to, you know, have 2 million people pushed out of Gaza in order to do it. It is tough. It will have to be done in stages. And they have identified areas in Gaza, few areas in Gaza, that have not been obliterated where you can begin to phase the reconstruction and at least get people housing, temporary housing, as you rebuild in other areas. MARGARET BRENNAN: But how does that survive if the United States’ most powerful player is saying, that’s not what we want to do? SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: Well, this is a big problem. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: Because when Trump made those statements, what he did was fueled even more the far, far right in Israel. The Ben-Gvir, the Smotriches who are just celebrating because their idea all along has been to move 2 million Palestinians out of Gaza. They also want to move Palestinians out of the West Bank into places like Jordan and Egypt. So, in addition to being a reprehensible idea for moral and legal reasons, it would also totally destabilize the region, which is why the Arab countries are working so furiously to put together a plan that addresses these issues and has a future horizon that provides security to both Israelis and Palestinians and self-determination for both Israelis and Palestinians. MARGARET BRENNAN: We are also hearing that the president is closing in on this deal with Ukraine in regard to its mineral resources that can be used for all sorts of valuable technology. What security guarantees are you comfortable with the U.S. giving to Ukraine as part of any of this? SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: Well, I think this is all negotiable. But what you should not do, Margaret, is begin your negotiation with Putin by, number one, adopting the Putin narrative, saying that Ukraine started this war, which is just a big lie. And you shouldn’t begin by giving up certain key cards. So, for example, American guarantees or a future for Ukraine in NATO. However you settle this in the end is a matter of negotiation. But it’s terrible negotiating to give up those cards up front, as – as Trump has done. MARGARET BRENNAN: It was extraordinary to hear Steve Witkoff describe his meeting with Vladimir Putin, as he did for us. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: I would just say that this is not America first. This is America in retreat. And China and Russia and our adversaries are celebrating every moment of this as our allies are scared to death. And this is not just rhetoric. This is reality. And so – MARGARET BRENNAN: This is what you heard at Munich last week? SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: Yes, well, and I think, you know, European allies and others from around the world who believe in freedom and democracy, they’re wondering whether this is just rhetoric or whether this is a real shift. My warning to them is, I think this is reality. I think Trump is much closer ideologically to Putin and other autocrats around the world than he is to democratic countries. MARGARET BRENNAN: An extraordinary statement to digest. But I want to ask you about what – what’s happening here at home, because you sit on some powerful committees. The administration did have some legal wins this past week. USAID, a federal judge said that they can put on administrative leave thousands of USAID employees. Another district court denied a request from unions to stop the firing of federal employees. Are Democrats too knee-jerk to say that all this is unlawful? SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: No, this is unlawful. In many of these cases, judges found that the plaintiffs did not have standing, but other parts of their opinion clearly indicated that Elon Musk did not have the authority to do what he’s doing. So, we just talked about the great betrayal of the Ukrainian people. What we’re witnessing now is the great betrayal of the American people. Canada – Trump said he was going to lower prices. Right now what he’s doing is slashing important public services that help every American in order to finance a tax cut for the super rich, for Elon Musk and the billionaires. MARGARET BRENNAN: So, there was this e-mail that went out yesterday to federal employees. We know that at the FBI and the State Department management inside those agencies has – have told employees, don’t respond to the personnel e-mail saying respond with your five bullet points. Can people working at the State Department feel safe not responding? Are they putting their jobs at risk? SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: I don’t think so because what we are witnessing are ******** actions by Elon Musk. And a number of courts, as you know, have issued temporary restraining orders on their efforts to seize important private information, but also on their overall conduct. So, what the head of management at the State Department said is, Elon Musk doesn’t have the authority to require State Department employees to answer these questions. That has to happen in the chain of command. MARGARET BRENNAN: Even though the president says he wants him to be more aggressive? SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: So, the reality is, we don’t – we don’t know what the president meant. But as you pointed out, you’ve got Elon Musk taking a chainsaw to the federal government and important services. And there’s no article four in the Constitution that gives Elon Musk that authority. And the way that he’s been sort of, quote, delegating his authority is – there – is ********. And the actions he’s taking are ******** and we need to shut down this ******** operation. MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Van Hollen, thank you for your insight today. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: Thank you. MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll be back in a moment. (ANNOUNCEMENTS) MARGARET BRENNAN: We turn now to Dr. Scott Gottlieb. He’s a former FDA commissioner and current Pfizer board member. Welcome back, Dr. Gottlieb. DOCTOR SCOTT GOTTLIEB (Former FDA Commissioner and Current Pfizer Board Member): Thanks a lot. MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ve seen these troubling measles outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico. Nearly 100 people sickened. It looks like most of those who have been infected were unvaccinated and the outbreak area has one of the highest vaccination exemption rates in the state. How concerned are you, though, that this could spread? DOCTOR SCOTT GOTTLIEB: Very concerned. I think this will spread. There’s been 100 cases that have been identified so far. There’s probably many more than that. So, I think that this is going to get into the hundreds of cases and could take many months to try to fully snuff out. And when you have that kind of a concentration of measles within a community, it’s going to inevitably spread outside that community. When you look around the country, there’s a lot of parts of the country, states that have relatively low vaccination rates when it comes to MMR right now. You look at Idaho, about 80 percent oof children have been vaccinated for MMR. Alaska and Wisconsin at about at 84 percent. Minnesota, 87 percent. States like Florida, Colorado, Oklahoma, Georgia, Utah, around 88 percent. Iowa, I think, is at 89 percent. And herd immunity is achieved at a vaccination rate of between 93 and 95 percent. And even within those states, it’s not like the low vaccination rates are distributed evenly across the states. There’s pockets of under vaccination as communities have relatively low vaccination rates. And so, when you have this much virus spreading in that portion of Texas and New Mexico, I think that there’s some inevitability that you’re going to see cases exported into other states where there’s low vaccination rates. And you could see a continuous spread across the country. Even at a low level we could get some endemic spread. And the risk to the United States right now is that a virus that has been largely extinguished from circulation in the U.S. could return and just continue to spread even at a low level. And the U.S. could be at risk of losing its measles elimination status, which would have more profound implications on things like travel advisories that could be initiated from other countries. And so, beyond just the public health impact of this, which I think is quite substantial, there could be some economic impacts as well. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. DOCTOR SCOTT GOTTLIEB: And, finally, when you look at that outbreak in Texas, 27 percent of people have been hospitalized. And there’s been four cases where children have contracted measles that have been vaccinated. So, those were probably kids who only had one dose of the vaccine. But there’s a lot of people who are at risk of this beyond just the people who have chosen to forgo the vaccine. MARGARET BRENNAN: That’s terrifying, Doctor. And kids are usually vaccinated, as any parent knows, around one year old roughly. The MMR vaccine, though, this is the vaccine against measles, is particularly scrutinized. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is now the HHS secretary, has accused it of causing issues in children. He wrote the forward to a book questioning vaccines, saying measles is “a disease that is rarely life threatening and a vaccine that is largely unnecessary but carries real risks.” He is now the HHS secretary. How does he restore confidence in a vaccine that he previously denigrated? DOCTOR SCOTT GOTTLIEB: Well, look, I think it’s going to be difficult. And as best I can tell, he hasn’t spoken to this outbreak. I think you captured the essence of the argument from Mr. Kennedy, as well as people within his anti-vacs movement, that they believe this vaccine isn’t effective. That’s not true. It’s highly effective. And that measles itself isn’t a bad illness. And I think there’s been some statements that actually getting measles has certain long-term advantage, which is just patently false. This is a very dangerous virus. And as I said, about 27 percent of the kids who have been infected in that west Texas outbreak and the New Mexico outbreak have been hospitalized. So, this is going to be a quite serious illness with long-term consequences. Herd immunity is achieved at 93 to 95 percent. We’re well below that in most parts of the country. Texas actually has a high vaccination rate and I think Texas local public health officials are doing a good job to try to get control of this outbreak. But now that it’s stretched into the hundreds of cases, it’s going to be very difficult. This has been a vaccine that’s been studied extensively. The links between – the alleged links between MMR vaccine and autism have been the subject of some of the most – the largest studies ever undertaken. There were two studies done in Denmark, each with about 500,000 children enrolled in those studies. There were also a number of studies that were commissioned by the CDC and the NIH also looking at this in the United States. And so, this is one of the most extensively studied questions, the purported link between MMR and autism. And I think the reality is sometimes we have to accept no for an answer. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. DOCTOR SCOTT GOTTLIEB: That there just is no link between the MMR vaccine and autism. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes, and those studies were brought up by Dr. Cassidy, Senator Cassidy, in the hearing, and Mr. Kennedy would not affirm them. Senator Cassidy still voted for him, though. But I want to ask you about another issue. Our correspondent, Camilo Montoya-Galvez, has learned the Trump administration is preparing plans to use a health authority, known as Title 42, which you remember was used during the pandemic, to restrict migrant entries across the southern border. Now they want to invoke it on the basis of other diseases like TB. Is that warranted right now? Is TB that much of a problem? DOCTOR SCOTT GOTTLIEB: Well, look, I – I think from a policy standpoint, the administration has done a good job shutting down flows across the border. So, I’m not sure why they’re reaching for a public health measure to try to provide an additional provision, an additional tool. They seem to have done a good job with the law enforcement that they’re doing at the border. Just from the objective standpoint of TB and the risk of TB being transported across the border, TB incidents rates are high in the countries where immigrants are coming from, but they’re not exceedingly high relative to other countries. So, you look at a country like Mexico. The – the incidents of TB is about 30 cases per 100,000 people. In Venezuela, where there’s a lot immigrants coming from, it’s about 45 per 100,000. That compares to about 10 per 100,000 in a country like England. But you look at a country like India, the incidents is about 200 per 100,000. In South Africa it’s about 500 per 100,000. So, there’s a lot of countries around the world where people come in from all the time where the incidents of TB is much higher than what – what it is in the countries where people are coming across the border from. Now, you can argue that people coming in the country from South Africa or India going through regular check points where they might undergo some screening, but I think just purely from an objective public health standpoint, there’s probably parts of the world where we have immigrants coming in – MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. DOCTOR SCOTT GOTTLIEB: That provide a larger risk of the transmission of TB than across the border. MARGARET BRENNAN: Can you give us some perspective on the thousands of employees who are being dismissed from federal health agencies? Should the public be concerned? DOCTOR SCOTT GOTTLIEB: Look, I don’t – I don’t think they should be concerned. I think that there have been steps taken to try to re-adjudicate some of those initial dismissals, at least within the public health context when you look across HHS, and I’m most familiar with FBA where they’re hiring back a number of employees. And I think they could hire back fully half of the employees that were initially dismissed at the FDA. And they’ve tried to preserve things like review functions and inspectors at FDA. They didn’t do it perfectly because of the way they went about this. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. DOCTOR SCOTT GOTTLIEB: They riffed the probationary employees. So, they did caught some employees that I think are in critical functions. They seem to be hiring them back. MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. DOCTOR SCOTT GOTTLIEB: You know, just objectively, they look at this and they say, well, the number of people hired has gone up a lot in recent years and they want to reduce head count. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. OK. DOCTOR SCOTT GOTTLIEB: And so I think we need to be more judicious about who they target. MARGARET BRENNAN: Dr. Gottlieb, I’m sorry, I’ve got to leave it right there. We’ll be right back. (ANNOUNCEMENTS) MARGARET BRENNAN: Thank you for watch. Until next week. For FACE THE NATION, I’m Margaret Brennan. (ANNOUNCEMENTS) Face The Nation Transcripts More More Source link #Full #transcript #Face #Nation #Margaret #Brennan #Feb Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Sudan’s military continues its field advances, lifting RSF siege of a crucial city Sudan’s military continues its field advances, lifting RSF siege of a crucial city CAIRO (AP) — Sudan’s military on Sunday broke a more than year-long siege on the crucial city of Obeid, restoring access to a strategic area in the south-central region and strengthening crucial supply routes in its nearly two years of war against a notorious paramilitary group, officials said. The military also kicked the Rapid Support Forces from its last stronghold in the White Nile province in another setback to the notorious group, military spokesman Brig. Gen. Nabil Abdullah said in a statement. Sudan was plunged into chaos in April last year when simmering tensions between the military and the RSF exploded into open warfare across the country. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. The fighting, which wrecked the capital, Khartoum, and other urban areas has been marked by atrocities including mass ***** and ethnically motivated killings that amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, especially in the western region of Darfur, according to the United Nations and international rights groups. Abdullah, the spokesman, said military troops in the al-Sayyad axis managed to reopen the road to the city of Obeid and break the RSF siege on the city which serves as the provincial capital of North Kordofan province. The city hosts a sprawling airbase and the military’s 5th Infantry Division known as Haganah. A commercial and transportation hub, Obeid is located on a railway linking Khartoum to Nyala, the provincial capital of South Darfur province. It was besieged by the RSF since the onset of the ongoing conflict in April 2023. Finance Minister Jibril Ibrahim hailed the military’s advances in Obeid as a “massive step” to lift the RSF siege on el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur province, as well as delivering humanitarian aid to the Kordofan area. Sunday’s RSF defeats were the latest in a series of setbacks for the notorious group that started in September when the military launched an offensive aiming at recapturing the Great Khartoum area — Khartoum and its two sister cities of Omdurman and Khartoum North, or Bahri. The military has since captured strategic areas including its own main headquarters and is now close to recapturing the Republican Palace which RSF fighters stormed in the first hours of the war in an attempt to kill military chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan. The RSF has also suffered multiple battlefield setbacks elsewhere in the country. It lost control of the city of Wad Medani, the capital of Gezira province, and other areas in the province. The military also regained control of the country’s largest oil refinery. The developments on the ground have given the military the upper hand in the war, which is approaching its 2-year mark with no peaceful settlement on the horizon. International mediation attempts and pressure tactics, including a U.S. assessment that the RSF and its proxies are committing genocide, have not halted the conflict. The RSF and its allies meanwhile signed a charter that paved the way for the establishment of a parallel government to challenge the military-backed administration. The move has raised concerns about a potential split of the country. Cholera spreading to another city Cholera has spread to Rabak, the provincial capital of White Nile province, killing at least 8 people and sickening dozens more, according to health authorities in the province. The disease first hit Kosti, another White Nile city, before reaching Rabak, the health ministry said. At least 58 people died from cholera in Kosti between Thursday and Saturday, according to the health ministry. About 1,300 others were diagnosed with the disease, it said. An anti-cholera vaccination campaign in Kosti and Rabak reached 67% of its targeted people in the last two days, according to the ministry. The outbreak was blamed mainly on contaminated drinking water after Kosti’s water supply facility was knocked out during an attack by the RSF, the health ministry said. The facility was later fixed as part of the government’s efforts to fight the disease. Cholera is a highly contagious disease that causes diarrhea leading to severe dehydration and can be fatal if not immediately treated, according to the World Health Organization. It’s transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated food or water. Cholera outbreaks are not uncommon in Sudan. The disease killed more than 600 and sickened over 21,000 others in Sudan between July and October last year, mostly in the country’s eastern areas where millions of people displaced by the conflict were located. Source link #Sudans #military #continues #field #advances #lifting #RSF #siege #crucial #city Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

American Airlines flight diverted to Rome after bomb threat, sources say – Reuters American Airlines flight diverted to Rome after bomb threat, sources say – Reuters American Airlines flight diverted to Rome after bomb threat, sources say ReutersAmerican Airlines flight diverted to Rome over ‘possible security issue’ ABC NewsAmerican Airlines flight from JFK diverts, escorted to Rome by fighters after bomb threat on board: report New York Post Breaking: American Airlines Flight AA292 from New York to Delhi, Makes Emergency Landing in Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport, Passengers Stranded as Security Checks Intensify Travel And Tour World American Airlines flight from New York to Delhi lands safely in Rome after reported security issue NBC Philadelphia Source link #American #Airlines #flight #diverted #Rome #bomb #threat #sources #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Jim Jordan derides critics of federal workforce cuts Jim Jordan derides critics of federal workforce cuts Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan on Sunday mocked those raising alarms about the mass firings of thousands of federal workers. Jordan, citing an article from The Washington Post which led with the firing of a locksmith from Yosemite National Park, said on “Fox News Sunday”: “That’s the best you can do?” The Washington Post article in question last week cited the example of the dismissal of “the sole employee with the keys and the institutional knowledge needed to rescue visitors from locked restrooms.” Jordan added: “The real question is, how do visitors get locked in restrooms? This is how ridiculous some of this is.” The Post article did go on to catalog some broader issues at the nation’s national parks, such as issues for visitors at Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park and the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania. “It’s chaos everywhere,” the Post quoted a former seasonal park ranger at Alaska’s Denali National Park and Preserve. The Republican representative, a former chair of the House Freedom Caucus, defended the mass firings, saying that President Donald Trump is simply following through on his campaign promises. “I think American voters like the intensity and the focus they have seen from 30-something days of this administration, going about doing the things he told the voters they are going to do, the things they were elected to do,” Jordan said. Reports of firings have circulated widely in recent days. The U.S. Forest Service has seen 3,400 workers cut from their workforce, meaning wildfire prevention will be curtailed as the West grapples with a destructive fire season that has destroyed millions of acres in California. The Pentagon plans to fire 5,400 civilian employees this week as the largest federal agency seeks to eliminate 8 percent of its civilian workforce. The cuts — which could eventually extend to around 50,000 people — will gut the roster of civilians who have only been employed for one or two years and are still considered “probationary,” meaning the terminations aren’t tied to performance. Among others, the Department of Education, Office of Personnel Management, Department of Veterans Affairs, Small Business Administration, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the General Services Administration have also initiated layoffs. The VA, for instance, announced late Thursday the dismissal of more than 1,000 employees. The layoffs are expected to intensify in the coming days and weeks, according to officials in the White House and across agencies, as additional agencies finalize workforce reduction plans. A Republican senator echoed Jordan’s defense of the Trump administration’s latest actions. “I would tell you that the majority of the American people want to make sure their tax dollars are being used correctly. I don’t want anybody to lose their job. That’s the last thing we want,” Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “But at the same time, any time you’re trying to secure this country, which a national security risk we have right now is our national debt. We have to make changes and we have to make it quickly.” But another Republican senator urged “compassion” for members of the federal workforce. “If I could say one thing to Elon Musk it’s: Please put a dose of compassion in this,” Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday. “These are real people. These are real lives. These are mortgages. It’s a false narrative to say we have to cut and be cruel to do it as well.” Source link #Jim #Jordan #derides #critics #federal #workforce #cuts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

I think I found that ultimate simplification app I think I found that ultimate simplification app I seem to be perpetually engaged in trying to simplify my life. Forgive me a moment’s therapy but the biggest bugbear in my life right now is that I have to run three separate Google Mail accounts in three separate Chrome tabs. As a result, my web browser is cluttered and complex. Send me a postcard if you know of a solution for this. But today’s Homescreen Hero is related to note-taking, not email management. Sure, I’ve used Evernote, Todoist, and Google Tasks, but haven’t stuck with them for long enough to feel the benefit. And yet, I won’t give up trying to find the elusive app that will solve all my organizational problems. That’s where Notion enters the frame. Notion offers an impressive range of features for organizing notes, docs, tasks, and projects, but what is more notable about this app is its incredible AI tools. You can ask questions, draft thoughts, brainstorm ideas, and much more. The comprehensiveness and capabilities of this app blew me away. Homescreen heroes This is part of a regular series of articles exploring the apps that we couldn’t live without. Read them all here. My Notion experience is still in its infancy but I’m thoroughly enjoying the journey so far. Even though I’ve only scratched the surface of what I can do with it, I’m certain you could use it too. (Image credit: Future) One of the areas that I found Notion to be the most helpful was in interpreting images and PDFs. Oftentimes, these types of files contain a lot of unnecessary information that I haven’t got time to read or interpret. For example, I was recently sent a PDF brochure outlining the details of an event. It included dates, times, and information about what to expect at the event. I didn’t have time or desire to read it all, so I uploaded it to Notion and asked it to summarize the document. After double-checking the results with the original, I was amazed at how accurately and concisely Notion had fulfilled the request. Notion is also ideal for helping with creative processes such as injecting ideas into a brainstorming space. Simply upload an image of a design or an idea and ask Notion to improve upon it or suggest ideas for how it could be more compelling. This is a simple example. In reality, the possibilities of what Notion can achieve for you are only limited by your imagination. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. (Image credit: Future) Notion will also let you track to-dos, write notes, create documents, and manage projects with collaborators in one connected workspace. I also love its ability to convert handwritten notes into digital text. My tests showed that it was far from perfect but it did provide a fantastic starting point for transferring information over from my handwritten notes and doodles. Notion also includes a Try Again feature, which was helpful for the times when it didn’t quite get it right. Not only have I saved so much time since beginning to use the app but my productivity has gone through the roof. I also love the fact that all my work is synced across my phone and laptop, helping to provide organic workflows that are not limited by having to use a specific device. It’s worth noting that I didn’t utilize the app in a collaborative team context but I can imagine how helpful it would be, especially with integration to third-party apps like Slack. (Image credit: Future) Notion offers four separate pricing plans but I’ll just draw your attention to the Free and Plus packages. Free is for individuals who want to organize their own lives and manage personal projects. It provides a collaborative workspace, Slack integration, and the ability to invite up to 10 guests. Small teams and professionals will require the Plus package, which costs $8.75 / £8.50 per seat per month. It unlocks unlimited file uploads, up to 100 guests, and synced databases with 3rd party apps, alongside many other features. If you’re not sure whether the investment is worth it, give the free version a whirl and you’ll quickly see its benefits. You can download the Notion app on iOS or Android. Source link #ultimate #simplification #app Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Musk email to government workers sparks confusion across US agencies Musk email to government workers sparks confusion across US agencies Officials at multiple US government departments offered staff conflicting guidance on how to respond to a Saturday email touted by Trump adviser Elon Musk requesting they list their accomplishments from the past week. The guidance marks notable public disagreement between Trump appointees who manage thousands of bureaucrats and Musk who – as the head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) – has been leading an outside effort to aggressively reduce government spending. Some heads of agencies encouraged staff to comply while others requested employees wait for further guidance on how to appropriately respond. President Donald Trump has yet to comment on the email. The message sent to millions of federal employees Saturday evening came after Musk posted on his social media platform X that government staff would “shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week”. In a copy of the email obtained by the BBC, employees were asked to respond explaining their accomplishments from the past week in five bullet points – without disclosing classified information – before midnight on Monday. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the federal government’s human resources agency, confirmed the email was authentic. The message did not mention whether declining to comply would be considered a resignation, despite Musk’s social media assertion that “failure to respond will be taken as a resignation”. Newly confirmed FBI director Kash Patel told his employees in a separate email later Saturday that they should “pause any responses”. “FBI personnel may have received an email from OPM requesting information,” Patel wrote in a message obtained by CBS News. “The FBI, through the Office of the Director, is in charge of all of our review processes, and will conduct reviews in accordance with the FBI procedures.” The state department sent a similar message to its employees, saying its leadership would respond on behalf of the agency. “No employee is obligated to report their activities outside of their Department chain of command,” an email from Tibor Nagy, acting undersecretary for management, said. In a sign that the OPM email may have come as a surprise to many agencies, a senior figure at the Department of Justice wrote to staff on Saturday evening to say: “Media reports indicate the email was distributed to employees throughout the federal government.” The message added, “at this point, we have no reason this message is spam or malicious”. Later on Saturday evening, a follow-up email was sent clarifying that the OPM message was “legitimate” and that “employees should be prepared to follow the instructions as requested”. The DoJ message also came with a warning to staff: “Do not include any sensitive, confidential, or classified information in your response. Should you have any questions about the contents of your response please contact your supervisor.” “If we receive additional guidance or information, I will update all employees, as necessary.” Other departments, including the Department of Defense, the Internal Revenue Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration requested that employees wait for further guidance, according to media reports. OPM did not immediately respond to the BBC’s inquiries about whether some staff might be exempt. The request also poses logistical questions. Federal law prohibits some of the roughly 3 million federal workers from accessing email outside their working hours. Other government employees, such as those at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, were placed on leave in the last month. Some Republican members of Congress defended Musk and his broader efforts on Sunday. Congressman Mike Lawler, a New York Republican, described Musk’s efforts as a “comprehensive, forensic audit of every department and agency in the federal government” and told ABC that the Doge chief was trying “to find efficiencies across the board”. But Senator John Curtis, a Republican representing Utah, criticised Musk’s methods, though said he supported the ultimate goal of Doge’s efforts. “If I could say one thing to Elon Musk, it’s like, please put a dose of compassion in this. These are real people. These are real lives. These are mortgages,” Curtis said in an interview with CBS. “I don’t think this is a request that is that difficult. I would ask my employees to let me know what they’re doing. But I will double down on the fact of we don’t need to be so cold and hard,” he added. Source link #Musk #email #government #workers #sparks #confusion #agencies Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Liverpool look every inch the champs in caning Man City Liverpool look every inch the champs in caning Man City Undaunted by playing at the home of the champions Manchester City, Liverpool have produced a performance which identified the next winners of the Premier League as they moved 11 points clear at the top. A 2-0 win at the Etihad on Sunday extended Liverpool’s lead over second-placed Arsenal and consigned four-time defending champions City to another humbling defeat in an ever-worsening season. On Wednesday, a 3-1 loss to Real Madrid sent Pep Guardiola’s team crashing out of the Champions League. Back to domestic matters on Sunday, and City were powerless to slow down Liverpool’s march towards the title. First-half goals from Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai put Arne Slot’s team on course for a victory that leaves them in complete command of the title race after 27 games. This latest defeat was City’s eighth in the league this season and 14th overall. The most games City had lost under Guardiola in any of his previous eight seasons was 12 in the 2019-20 campaign, which was the last time they failed to win the league. Then, as now, it was Liverpool that led the way, with the Merseyside club now looking set to win a record-equalling 20th league title. City, meanwhile, face a fight just to secure a top-four finish and a return to next season’s Champions League. They are fourth in the standings, above Newcastle on goal difference and just two points ahead of eighth-placed Aston Villa. Arsenal’s surprise 1-0 loss to West Ham on Saturday had given Liverpool the opportunity to strengthen their grip on the title race. They went ahead through Salah’s deflected effort from a well-worked corner routine in the 14th minute, which was his 30th of an outstanding campaign. The Egyptian then turned provider in the 37th to set up Szoboszlai, whose low shot wrong-footed City goalkeeper Ederson and rolled into the bottom corner. Earlier on Sunday, Newcastle had scored four goals in 11 minutes against Nottingham Forest, but still had to withstand a late fightback to seal a 4-3 win. A first-half goal spree — including two more for Alexander Isak — gave Newcastle a 4-1 lead at the break at St James’ Park. But Forest, who’d led after six minutes, mounted a comeback that provided a nervous finale. The win moved Newcastle up to fifth and boosted their hopes of a top-four finish and Champions League qualification. Third-placed Forest led through Callum Hudson-Odoi’s opener in the sixth, but Newcastle powered back with Lewis Miley’s goal in the 23rd, sparking a remarkable spree. Jacob Murphy put the home team ahead two minutes later and Isak struck from the penalty spot in the 33rd. A minute later the Sweden striker scored his second to take his total for the season to 21 and join Erling Haaland on 19 league goals. Only Salah, with 24, has scored more this season. Forest’s fightback began in the 63rd through Nikola Milenkovic and in the 90th, Ryan Yates made it 4-3 but the defeat was Forest’s third in four games, meaning they missed out on the chance to move to within three points of second-placed Arsenal. Source link #Liverpool #inch #champs #caning #Man #City Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Back from the brink of extinction’ ‘Back from the brink of extinction’ Great news has emerged from Victoria, Australia, as a once-extinct fish, the olive perchlet, has been released back into the wild for the first time since the species’ last sighting in 1929. Shenandoah Bruce, program manager of North Central Catchment Management Authority, told ABC Mildura-Swan Hill News they “released 200 olive perchlets into Cameron’s Creek in Gunbower National Park.” After being bred in captivity, the population has come “back from the brink of extinction” as part of a much larger effort to return the species to the wild across wetlands. The deterioration of wetlands and the introduction of invasive species are some of the reasons the tiny olive perchlet’s population dwindled toward extinction. Sam Fawke of the Victoria Fisheries Authority, which worked to breed the fish, said the fish played an essential role in the food chain. “If we see these species across the board disappear, a lot of them are these small-bodied species, then we’re going to see a major effect for the rest of those food webs,” he told ABC. Researchers said the species eats smaller aquatic pests and is a food source for water birds, meaning their population maintains balance within the wetlands. Watch now: Ecologist shares why she remains hopeful in the face of climate doom and gloom Now, with the species back in the wetlands, the ecosystem is bound to thrive, especially since the fish have been released into protected areas under the conservation of Gunbower National Park.Each wild animal plays a vital role in preserving the environment. If one disappears, so does a food source for another species, which could cause an imbalance due to too much or too little of a different species. With a previously obsolete species back from extinction to revitalize a disproportionate ecosystem, there’s more hope to be found. “Now that we know olive perchlet thrive in surrogate wetlands and we have a backup population, we can now target more wild sites for releases,” said Fawke. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Source link #brink #extinction Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Aston Martin in 'better place' as they launch 2025 F1 car says Fernando Alonso – BBC.com Aston Martin in 'better place' as they launch 2025 F1 car says Fernando Alonso – BBC.com Aston Martin in ‘better place’ as they launch 2025 F1 car says Fernando Alonso BBC.comGALLERY: Check out all the angles of Aston Martin’s new AMR25 car formula1.comAston Martin reveal AMR25 for 2025 F1 season ESPNAston Martin AMR25: Team reveal 2025 Formula 1 challenger ahead of track debut in Bahrain Sky SportsAston Martin’s last pre-Newey F1 car matters more than you think The Race Source link #Aston #Martin #039better #place039 #launch #car #Fernando #Alonso #BBC.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sarah Wells: Financial burnout is real, and it’s a growing problem. Here’s how to spot signs and fight back! Sarah Wells: Financial burnout is real, and it’s a growing problem. Here’s how to spot signs and fight back! In an era defined by relentless pressures and the demand to achieve more with diminishing resources, a subtle yet pervasive phenomenon is taking hold: financial burnout. Here’s how to fight back. Source link #Sarah #Wells #Financial #burnout #real #growing #problem #Heres #spot #signs #fight Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

After 9 months on the run, a French fugitive who staged a deadly escape faced court in Romania After 9 months on the run, a French fugitive who staged a deadly escape faced court in Romania BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A notorious French fugitive who staged a deadly escape last year appeared in a Romanian court Sunday after a nine-month international police hunt culminated in his arrest in Bucharest. Mohamed Amra, sporting dyed red hair possibly meant to disguise his identity, flashed a big smile at onlookers as he was escorted by police in and out of the courthouse. Ten other people in Amra’s entourage were arrested overnight, suspected of participating in the preparation and execution of his escape last year and helping him hide once he was on the run, Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau said Sunday. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. Two guards were killed when armed assailants helped Amra escape from a prison convoy in Normandy in May. Interpol issued a notice for his arrest. French investigators alerted counterparts in other countries when they suspected Amra had left France, and Romanian police identified him and arrested him Saturday near a shopping center, the prosecutor said. Romanian judicial authorities will decide whether to hand him over to French justice. ″Despite the change of his hair color, the identification of the suspect was confirmed using facial recognition and fingerprint comparison,″ the prosecutor said. Nicknamed ‘’The Fly,” the 30-year-old Amra fled after being sentenced for burglary in the Normandy town of Evreux. He was also under investigation for an attempted organized ********* and a kidnapping that resulted in death, prosecutors said. The Paris prosecutor said Amra had connections with Marseille’s organized crime syndicates and was suspected of heading a drug trafficking network. Source link #months #run #French #fugitive #staged #deadly #escape #faced #court #Romania Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Zelensky says he’d step down ‘if it brings peace’ – The Hill Zelensky says he’d step down ‘if it brings peace’ – The Hill Zelensky says he’d step down ‘if it brings peace’ The HillZelenskyy ready to exchange presidency for peace ABC NewsZelensky Offers to Step Down, if Ukraine Can Join NATO The New York Times Source link #Zelensky #hed #step #brings #peace #Hill Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Zelenskiy would quit presidency if it means peace Zelenskiy would quit presidency if it means peace Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says he is willing to give up his position if it means peace in Ukraine, adding that he could exchange his departure for his country’s entry into the NATO military alliance. “If (it means) peace for Ukraine, if you really need me to leave my post, I am ready,” an irritated-looking Zelenskiy said when asked during a press conference whether he was ready to leave his post if it meant securing peace. “I can exchange this for NATO (membership), if that condition is there, immediately,” the president added. US President Donald Trump has pushed for elections to take place in Ukraine, having branded Zelenskiy a “dictator”, an apparent reference to the Ukrainian leader’s official five-year term running out in 2024. Russia has cited this in the past to assert that he is an illegitimate leader. Ukrainian legislation prohibits holding elections during a state of martial law, which Ukraine declared the day Russia invaded in February 2022. Trump also falsely claimed that Zelenskiy has an approval rating of four per cent. “I am not going to be in power for decades, but we will not allow Putin to be in power over the territories of Ukraine either,” Zelenskiy said on Sunday, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. A poll released this week put Zelenskiy’s approval ratings at 63 per cent, and he made reference to this when talking about Trump’s claims on Sunday, calling his false statements “dangerous”. “I believe it’s not a mistake, it’s misinformation that has an impact,” Zelenskiy said. Zelenskiy said earlier this week Trump was in a “disinformation bubble”, angering the US President and his team. On Sunday, he sought to justify the earlier comments. “(The information) about four per cent of Ukrainians supporting me is one of the signals spread by the Russians, that’s why I said it was a disinformation attack, I didn’t say it was President Trump,” Zelenskiy said on Sunday. Trump’s criticism of Zelenskiy came as relations between the two leaders deteriorated sharply in recent weeks. Zelenskiy opposes the idea of elections in a full-scale war, a position backed by his major domestic political opponents. The Ukrainian president also said he wanted to see Trump as a partner for Ukraine and more than a simply a mediator between Kyiv and Moscow. “I really want it to be more than just mediation… that’s not enough,” he told a press conference in Kyiv. Trump has said Ukraine should give the US $US500 billion ($A787 billion) in critical raw materials as payback for aid which Kyiv has already received from the previous Joe Biden administration. Zelenskiy declined to sign a detailed US proposal last week that would have seen Washington receiving 50 per cent of Ukraine’s critical minerals, which include graphite, uranium, titanium and lithium, the latter a key component in electric car batteries. He has said he wants to do a deal, but that it should offer security guarantees for Ukraine in return. On Friday, he said US and Ukrainian teams were working on a deal and Trump said he expects a deal will be signed soon. On Sunday, Zelenskiy said at the press conference that he rejected the idea that Ukraine owed the US $US500 billion ($A787 billion). “There cannot be (any) format which makes us debtors for the old (aid given).” Zelenskiy said earlier this week that Washington had supplied his country with $US67 billion ($A105 billion) in weapons and $US31.5 billion ($A49.6 billion) in direct budget support throughout the nearly three-year war with Russia. “I will not sign what 10 generations of Ukrainians will be repaying,” Zelenskiy said of the minerals deal. Ukraine’s economy minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said on Sunday the 18 per cent of Ukraine under Russian occupation contained about $US350 billion ($A551 billion) of critical raw materials, adding that Ukraine is conducting additional geological research to update decades-old information. Source link #Zelenskiy #quit #presidency #means #peace Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump envoy Steve Witkoff describes 3.5-hour meeting with Putin in Moscow Trump envoy Steve Witkoff describes 3.5-hour meeting with Putin in Moscow Washington — Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, described on Sunday a three-and-a-half hour meeting he had with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month, part of what he said was a “trust-building” assignment given to him by President Trump. Witkoff traveled to Moscow to bring home Marc Fogel, an American who had been serving a 14-year sentence in Russia for traveling with medical **********. Russia freed Fogel on Feb. 11. Witkoff told a conference last week that he met with Putin before leaving the country with Fogel. Appearing on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Witkoff said there were two translators at the meeting with Putin, and he was the only U.S. official present. He said he was “intent on carrying a message from the president to President Putin” and that he was told that the Russian leader “had something for me to transmit back to the president.” “The meeting ended, I looked at my watch and it was close to three and a half hours that we were in there. And hopefully that suggests that a lot of good things got accomplished,” Witkoff said. A real estate investor and friend of Mr. Trump’s who has taken an outsized role in his foreign policy, Witkoff noted that Mr. Trump believes that “trust-building begins with good, proper communication.” “We just had a great discussion, me and President Putin, and now it will be up to President Putin and President Trump to work something out, and I think they’re going to be successful,” Witkoff said. In addition to his trip to Moscow, Witkoff also joined Russian and U.S. representatives at a meeting in Saudi Arabia last week, where the officials agreed to begin working toward an end to the war in Ukraine and related economic opportunities, though no Ukrainian officials were present. Witkoff said he did not discuss lifting American sanctions on Russia during his meeting with Putin, but he noted that if a peace deal is reached, “there would be an expectation” that American companies could return to the country to do business. Meanwhile, Mr. Trump has argued that Ukraine should give something to the U.S. in return for the American aid the country has received, pointing to U.S. interest in Ukraine’s rare minerals. And the president has escalated a public feud with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in recent days, calling Zelenskyy a “dictator.” Preparations are underway for a meeting between Mr. Trump and Putin, Russia’s deputy foreign minister told state media on Saturday. Witkoff said the president’s agenda is “to end this carnage,” adding that the war in Ukraine “didn’t need to happen, and it doesn’t need to continue.” “So we’re on it at his direction,” Witkoff said. “And I think there is, you’re going to see some real positive developments in the near-term future.” More Kaia Hubbard Kaia Hubbard is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital, based in Washington, D.C. Source link #Trump #envoy #Steve #Witkoff #describes #3.5hour #meeting #Putin #Moscow Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

I-40 reopens after wrong-way ****** in Downtown Nashville I-40 reopens after wrong-way ****** in Downtown Nashville NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A portion of Interstate 40 was closed Sunday morning after a ****** involving a vehicle driving the wrong direction, according to officials. Authorities said around 5:30 a.m., a pickup truck driving in the wrong direction entered the eastbound lanes of the interstate and hit a semi-truck head-on near mile marker 209. At least 2 injured after shooting in North Nashville Tennessee Department of Transportation reported the two left lanes and left shoulder were closed as crews worked to clear the scene. The interstate fully reopened at 7:30 a.m. Officers said several people were injured, but no one was taken to the hospital. Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find today’s top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Source link #I40 #reopens #wrongway #****** #Downtown #Nashville Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Musk says federal workers will lose jobs unless they explain their work – Axios Musk says federal workers will lose jobs unless they explain their work – Axios Musk says federal workers will lose jobs unless they explain their work AxiosThe latest on Trump’s presidency as Musk threatens more cuts to federal workforce CNNMusk’s demand that fed employees list their accomplishments roils workforce: ‘Mass civil disobedience’ Fox NewsTrump Administration Live Updates: News on Elon Musk and Federal Work Force The New York TimesKey agencies, including some led by Trump loyalists, refuse to comply with Musk’s latest demand The Associated Press Source link #Musk #federal #workers #lose #jobs #explain #work #Axios Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pope’s condition ‘remains critical’, ******** says Pope’s condition ‘remains critical’, ******** says Pope Francis remains in a “critical” condition, but “has not presented any further respiratory crises”, the ******** said in a statement on Sunday. He is still receiving high-flow oxygen therapy and underwent blood transfusions. He had also experienced “mild” kidney problems, but “continues to be alert and well oriented”, the statement said. The Pope was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on 14 February after experiencing breathing difficulties for several days, where he was first treated for bronchitis before being diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs. The new statement comes after the ******** said on Saturday that the Pope had experienced a respiratory crisis and was in a “critical” condition. Earlier on Sunday, the Pope issued a statement asking Catholics to pray for him after he was unable to deliver the traditional Angelus prayer in person for the second week running. The ********’s statement on Sunday said that in the morning, the Pope “participated in the Holy Mass, together with those who are taking care of him during these days”. The pontiff is particularly susceptible to pneumonia, an infection of the lungs that can be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi, after he contracted pleurisy as a young man and underwent a partial lung removal. The leader of the Roman Catholic church has been admitted to hospital multiple times during his 12-year tenure, including being treated for bronchitis at the same hospital in March 2023. From Argentina, Pope Francis is the first Latin American, and first Jesuit, to lead the Roman Catholic Church. Source link #Popes #condition #remains #critical #******** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]