US prosecutor warns of legal risk for anyone hindering Musk’s efficiency effort
US prosecutor warns of legal risk for anyone hindering Musk’s efficiency effort
By Andrew Goudsward
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A federal prosecutor appointed by President Donald Trump asked Elon Musk for information about anyone trying to impede the work of the billionaire’s government efficiency effort, warning of possible criminal sanctions, in a letter posted on platform X on Monday.
Edward Martin, the interim U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., said in the letter any action to threaten or confront employees of Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency “may break numerous laws.”
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“Let me assure you of this: we will pursue any and all legal action against anyone who impedes your work or threatens your people,” reads the letter, which Martin posted on his personal X account.
Musk posted a thank you in response to Martin’s message.
The directive follows reports that career government officials sought to block DOGE employees from gaining access to sensitive information.
The Trump administration removed two top security officials at the U.S. Agency for International Development, a top Musk target, after they tried to stop DOGE representatives from gaining access to secure parts of the building. The security personnel were confronted by members of the U.S. Marshals Service, Reuters reported.
The New York Times reported that a career Treasury Department official unsuccessfully resisted efforts by the DOGE team to gain access to the agency’s payment system.
Martin wrote in his letter, dated Monday, that his staff worked with the DOGE team over the weekend, without specifying the nature of the interaction.
Martin asked Musk to refer “questionable conduct” for potential investigation.
The Trump administration has moved to exert greater control over the Justice Department and its investigations.
Last week the department said it was probing the release by an upstate New York sheriff’s office of an immigrant living in the U.S. illegally, in what appeared to be its first use of a new policy to target state and local agencies that do not comply with Trump’s directives.
Musk, the world’s richest person and the chief executive of Tesla and SpaceX as well as owner of X, is leading an effort to dramatically cut the U.S. government. He has already offered sweeping buyouts to the federal workforce.
Martin, as interim U.S. attorney, oversaw the dismissal of all pending criminal cases tied to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol following a directive from Trump.
He has made several public statements supporting Trump and denigrating his political opponents, breaking with tradition for U.S. attorneys, who typically avoid any statement that could be perceived as political.
(Reporting by Andrew Goudsward in Washington; Editing by Scott Malone and Matthew Lewis)
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Uber wants to make rides easier for people with service animals
Uber wants to make rides easier for people with service animals
Uber rolled out a new set of features on Monday that could remove some friction for people with service animals. The company now lets handlers automatically notify drivers that they ride with a service animal.
In a blog post, Chris Yoon, an Uber Product Manager, wrote that he “joined Uber with a singular mission: to help expand accessibility in rideshare, including for those who rely on service animals.” He says he and other blind travelers often message drivers in advance to let them know about their service animals. Today’s new features can automate that for them if they choose.
Uber
Drivers who consider refusing rides will have to think twice — and then some. If the driver requests a cancelation after learning about the service animal, Uber will automatically send an in-app reminder that doing so is against not only company policy but also the law. Uber says drivers refusing rides with service animals “may permanently lose access to the platform.”
Passengers who opt into the new features will automatically receive a message after a driver cancels, asking what happened and offering additional support. Those who don’t use the feature can contact the company through the app or over the phone.
Uber
Riders can set up the feature through the Uber app. Go to Account > Settings > Accessibility, and tap Service Animal. It will then prompt you to fill out an eligibility form and pick which parts of the feature (like notifying the driver in advance) you want to turn on.
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Trump Names Scott Bessent, the Treasury Secretary, to Lead the Consumer Bureau – The New York Times
Trump Names Scott Bessent, the Treasury Secretary, to Lead the Consumer Bureau – The New York Times
Trump Names Scott Bessent, the Treasury Secretary, to Lead the Consumer Bureau The New York TimesTrump fires Rohit Chopra, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau CBS NewsUS consumer bureau won’t defend Biden-era rules in court after chief was fired Reuters
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Apple AirPods 4 Discounted To Only $100 At Amazon
Apple AirPods 4 Discounted To Only $100 At Amazon
Apple’s newest AirPods are on ***** for the best price yet at Amazon. The AirPods 4, which released in September, have been discounted to only $100 for a limited time. AirPods are always a popular gift idea, so if you’re looking to pick up a pair for Valentine’s Day, there’s never been a better time to buy Apple’s redesigned Bluetooth earbuds.
Amazon also has a deal on the AirPods Pro 4 with active noise cancellation, but if you want ANC, the best deal is the AirPods Pro 2 for $169. The $81 discount matches the all-time best deal at Amazon for the $249 in-ear earbuds.
Check out all three of these great AirPods deals below.
$100 (was $129)
The AirPods 4 feature a slightly revised form factor that makes for a more secure fit in your ears, improved sound quality thanks to revised acoustic architecture, and a new charging case with a USB-C port. The AirPods 4 run for up to five hours on a full charge, and the charging case brings that figure to 30 hours.
With Apple’s H2 chip, iPhones running on iOS 18 can take advantage of numerous high-end features, including Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness modes.
$149 (was $179)
If you like the new design of the AirPods but want active noise cancellation, the AirPods 4 with ANC are on ***** for $149 (was $179). The $20 discount isn’t quite as good as the deal on the regular AirPods 4, but this is still a great price for Apple’s highly rated new Bluetooth earbuds.
The AirPods 4 with ANC can run up to four hours on a full charge when using ANC. The charging case can refuel the battery four times over, elevating the total playback time to 20 hours.
The ANC-enabled model also has a couple of other advanced features not found on the base model.
The case includes wireless charging as well as USB-C wired charging. The base model only supports wired charging. The charging case also has a built-in speaker.
$169 (was $249)
Before you pick up the AirPods 4 with ANC, you’ll also want to check out Amazon’s deal on the AirPods Pro 2. Normally $249, Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 are discounted to only $169, which matches the best price we’ve seen for this high-end in-ear model.
The in-ear design of the AirPods Pro 2 offers better noice cancellation than the open-ear design of the AirPods 4. Apple says the ANC is up to two times better on the Pro 2.
For many, the main consideration when deciding between the two models is whether you prefer earbuds with silicone tips that go inside your ear canals, or the open-ear design of all other AirPods.
The AirPods Pro 2 also have built-in hearing protection and can be used as hearing aids.
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Here are the Republicans to watch on Tulsi Gabbard and RFK Jr.
Here are the Republicans to watch on Tulsi Gabbard and RFK Jr.
Two of President Trump’s most contentious nominees are Tulsi Gabbard, his choice to be the director of national intelligence, and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., his pick to lead the Health and Human Services Department.
After confirmation hearings last week, the Senate is expected to move forward with their nominations soon. But a handful of Republicans who have lingering concerns about them could foil or at least complicate their nomination processes. Here are the Republicans to watch.
Tulsi Gabbard
The Senate Intelligence Committee is planning to vote on Gabbard’s nomination on Tuesday. She cannot afford to lose a single Republican vote on the committee if all members are present.
Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard testifies at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on her nomination to be director of national intelligence on Jan. 30, 2025.
Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Susan Collins
Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Thursday evening she had not made a final decision on Gabbard.
Prior to Thursday’s hearing, Collins said she wanted clarity from Gabbard about her position on a key government surveillance authority, known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Gabbard, who sought to repeal the controversial law that authorizes the U.S. government to collect the communications of foreigners abroad without a warrant, has since reversed her stance. But Collins said last week that Gabbard’s response to her pre-hearing questions were “hedged and unclear.”
Lisa Murkowski
Like Collins, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska is another Republican who has been willing to break with her party on contentious votes. Collins and Murkowski were two of the three Republicans who voted against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s confirmation.
Mitch McConnell
Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was the third Republican who voted against Hegseth and has many opposing views with Gabbard, including the controversial positions she’s taken on Ukraine, Russia and Section 702.
Todd Young
Sen. Todd Young, an Indiana Republican, was among the senators on the Senate Intelligence Committee who appeared unsatisfied with Gabbard’s answers on National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden.
“I think it would befit you and be helpful to the way you are perceived by members of the intelligence community if you would at least acknowledge that the greatest whistleblower in American history — so called — harmed national security by breaking the laws of the land around our intel authorities,” he said at the hearing.
Jerry Moran
Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, expressed concern during the confirmation hearing about how Gabbard would handle Russia.
“I want to make certain that in no way does Russia get a pass in either your mind or your heart, or in any policy recommendation you would make or not make,” he said.
Gabbard told Moran she was “offended by the question,” and said “no country, group or individual will get a pass.” She also vowed to be “completely objective, unbiased and apolitical.”
Moran told Gabbard he was pleased with her answer.
John Curtis
Late Thursday, Republican Sen. John Curtis of Utah, who was sworn into the Senate in January, issued a noteworthy statement on Gabbard’s nomination that indicated he could potentially oppose her.
“With Ms. Gabbard, I have said that it was like having a sheet of music that was missing notes,” he said. “I had hoped that listening to the hearing today that she would fill in those gaps. Frankly, there are many notes still missing and a number of sour notes and awkward silences that simply don’t ring true as a political philosophy on critical national security issues. I leave today’s hearing with more questions than answers. Some of her responses, and non-responses, created more confusion than clarity and only deepened my concerns about her judgement and what that will mean in this vital role.”
Curtis, who is not a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee but attended Gabbard’s confirmation hearing, added that he would “carefully” review her record before making a final decision on his vote.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the nominee to be secretary of health and human services, testifies in front of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee in on Jan. 30, 2025.
Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Senate Finance Committee is scheduled Tuesday to take up the nomination of Kennedy for Health and Human Services secretary. Kennedy underwent two confirmation hearings, one on the Senate Finance Committee, and one on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
Bill Cassidy
Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana was a doctor for three decades, and in that time, he helped vaccinate many children against Hepatitis B. The Republican senator didn’t hide his serious concerns over Kennedy’s positions on vaccines. Kennedy sits on the Senate Finance Committee, which will decide whether to vote Kennedy out of committee.
Kennedy in the past repeated the false accusation that vaccines are tied to autism and has blasted many vaccines as unsafe.
Cassidy made it clear during one of Kennedy’s hearings last week that Kennedy would have to work for his vote. Cassidy told Kennedy he’s been “struggling with your nomination” over his vaccine skepticism. The Republican senator said a friend recently texted him that two children died in a hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, from vaccine-preventable diseases this past month.
“So my concern is that if there’s any false note, any undermining of a mama’s trust in vaccines, another person will die from a vaccine-preventable disease,” Cassidy said.
Cassidy and Kennedy spoke Sunday, according to a source familiar with the situation.
Lisa Murkowski
Moderate Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska is a Republican to watch if or when Kennedy’s nomination advances to the Senate floor.
Murkowski has also voiced hesitation over Kennedy’s past positions on vaccines. Ahead of Kennedy’s confirmation hearings, Murkowksi said she still had concerns.
“Well I’m certainly concerned about it. I know others have other, other points of concerns that they want to drill down on and try to get some commitments, public commitments, from him on,” Murkowski said. “But vaccines are important.”
Susan Collins
Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is another Republican to watch if Kennedy’s confirmation moves forward. Collins, another moderate and the only member of either chamber from New England who is a Republican, is also viewed as a key swing vote.
Collins has challenged Kennedy on his hope to move some funding away from infectious disease research, and pressed Kennedy about his past statements on vaccines. Collins voiced concern that fewer vaccinated children could mean losing so-called herd immunity.
Hundreds of Maine health care professionals last week submitted a letter to Collins, urging her to oppose Kennedy’s nomination, calling him “dangerous.”
Mitch McConnell
Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a polio survivor who still deals with ramifications from the disease he contracted in childhood, is also a Republican to watch on Kennedy.
The Kentucky Republican is a strong advocate of vaccines, and he has warned Kennedy against undermining them.
“The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives and held out the promise of eradicating a terrible disease,” McConnell has said. “Efforts to undermine public confidence in proven cures are not just uninformed — they’re dangerous. Anyone seeking the Senate’s consent to serve in the incoming administration would do well to steer clear of even the appearance of association with such efforts.”
After McConnell voted against Hegseth, Mr. Trump indicated McConnell opposed some of his nominations, saying “of course Mitch is always a no vote, I guess.”
Grace Kazarian and
Alan He
contributed to this report.
Caitlin Yilek
Caitlin Yilek is a politics reporter at CBSNews.com, based in Washington, D.C. She previously worked for the Washington Examiner and The Hill, and was a member of the 2022 Paul Miller Washington Reporting Fellowship with the National Press Foundation.
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BBC flies with Gazan child to Jordan for life-saving treatment
BBC flies with Gazan child to Jordan for life-saving treatment
Two-year-old ************ Habiba al-Askari suffers from a rare disease that has cut off the blood supply to her limbs.
Doctors treating her said she needed to be evacuated to a hospital outside of Gaza to save her life, and some of her limbs.
Jordan has been trying to get Israeli permission to evacuate her for nearly ten days.
The BBC’s special correspondent Fergal Keane travelled with Habiba and her mum on the final stage of her journey to receive treatment in Jordan, after Israel approved their evacuation.
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‘Battlefield Portal’ is Returning to The Next Battlefield With Classic Maps
‘Battlefield Portal’ is Returning to The Next Battlefield With Classic Maps
Battlefield Portal, which was first introduced into Battlefield 2042 will be returning to the next title, DICE has confirmed.
The news came via the YouTuber Flakfire, who had an early online presentation of the Battlefield Labs reveal last week. In Flakfire’s latest video, he said that the developers confirmed the return of Portal, a gamemode which introduces classic maps, weapons, and more into the latest game.
“We had surprising confirming in the briefing that Portal will be making a return with the next Battlefield title,” he said.
“Portal could be one of those slices tested under the Battlefield Labs program,” he theorised.
Battlefield Labs is essentially a Community Test Environment, where players can give feedback of specific features in the next Battlefield game and presumably, future DLC, too.
Flakfire pointed out earlier in the video that those who sign up to the Battlefield Labs program will be under an NDA, whcih presumably will still not stop people from sharing footage and information.
While we currently don’t have the name for the next Battlefield title (unless it’s just Battlefield), it has been confirmed that the game will be for current-generation consoles only, meaning it will release on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X, and PC. According to EA, the game will release later this year.
What remains to be seen is the announcement of a Battlefield Battle Royale, which has been in development at Ripple Effect for the past couple of years and was exclusively reported on by Insider Gaming in early 2024.
What do you think of Battlefield Portal making its return in the next Battlefield game? Let us know down below, and join more discussions in the official Insider Gaming forums.
For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out our review of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 or Everything We Learned From The New Battlefield Game Footage
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Ontario premier says he’s “ripping up” Starlink contract in response to U.S. tariffs
Ontario premier says he’s “ripping up” Starlink contract in response to U.S. tariffs
The leader of Canada’s most populous province of Ontario said Monday that he’s ripping up a contract with Elon Musk’s Starlink internet service in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on Canada.
A senior ********* government official also said that Canada isn’t confident that it can avoid the looming tariffs on Tuesday like Mexico did, because it feels like the goal posts shift more for Canada than Mexico. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, wasn’t authorized to speak publicly.
Trump and ******** President Claudia Sheinbaum said Monday that their planned tariffs were on hold for a month to give time for further negotiations. The statement was confirmed by the White House.
Trump posted earlier on social media that he spoke with ********* Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday morning and would speak with him again in the afternoon. Both Canada and Mexico had plans to levy their own tariffs in response to U.S. actions, but Mexico is holding off for the moment.
Trump says Americans could feel “some pain” with new tariffs set to go into effect
05:56
Ban on American companies
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who said that he was also banning American companies from provincial contracts, signed a ********* $100-million ($68 million) with Musk’s company in November to deliver high-speed internet to remote residents in rural and northern Ontario.
“We’ll be ripping up the province’s contract with Starlink. Ontario won’t do business with people hellbent on destroying our economy,” Ford said.
“President Trump is the only person to be blamed. Maybe Elon Musk can call his buddy? This is one of the ramifications.”
Ford said that U.S.-based businesses would lose out on “tens of billions of dollars” in new revenue as a result of Ontario’s response.
“We just aren’t going to be using American companies,” Ford said. “And no matter if we are building a hospital, if we’re building anything, if we’re building a doghouse I want to make sure we are using Ontario steel, ********* products, ********* wood, Ontario wood, anything.
“I don’t care if it’s a toothpick. We need to purchase from Canada and Ontario.”
Ontario and other provinces already planned to remove American liquor brands from government store shelves. The Liquor Control Board of Ontario sells nearly CA$1 billion ($687 million) worth of American wine, beer, spirits and seltzers every year, Ford said.
“Canada didn’t start this fight with the U.S., but you better believe we’re ready to win it,” said Ford, who called an election for his province last week.
Ford said that he wants a four-year mandate that outlasts Trump’s term.
“He wants to come after us?” he asked. “I’ve yet to hear one American citizen say Canada is the problem.”
Canada and Mexico ordered retaliatory tariffs on American goods in response to sweeping tariffs imposed by Trump. Ford also encouraged businesses to put the ********* flag on products so Canadians know what to buy.
“This is a tax on American citizens. That’s what Donald Trump is doing to his own people,” said Ford, who described Musk as part of the Trump team “that wants to destroy families incomes, destroy businesses. He want to take food off the table of hard-working people and I’m not going to tolerate it.”
Trump responded Sunday, criticizing Canada’s trade surplus with the United States and contending that without that surplus, “Canada ceases to exist as a viable Country. Harsh but true! Therefore, Canada should become our Cherished 51st State. Much lower taxes, and far better military protection for the people of Canada — AND NO TARIFFS!”
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Ballarat community ‘hurting’ a year on from Samantha Murphy’s disappearance
Ballarat community ‘hurting’ a year on from Samantha Murphy’s disappearance
It has been one year since mum Samantha Murphy disappeared, with the Ballarat community warned there would likely be more trauma ahead before questions were answered.
Ms Murphy never came home after going for a run in the forests near her home in Ballarat on February 4 last year, sparking mass volunteer search operations and an extensive police investigation.
A young man, 23-year-old Patrick Orren Stephenson, has been charged with her *******, but he has pleaded not guilty to the alleged killing.
Camera IconSamantha Murphy was last seen on February 4, 2024. Supplied Credit: Supplied
Despite extensive and repeated targeted searches across multiple bushland areas, her body has not been found.
Ballarat Mayor Tracey Hargreaves said on Tuesday that the 12-month mark was an “important landmark” in the case and brought up “a lot of difficult feelings”.
“People are wanting to talk about Samantha and keep these sort of stories front and centre again,” Ms Hargreaves told Sunrise.
“I think our Ballarat community was hurting 12 months ago, a lot, and have been through a lot, and today is kind of a continuation of that as well.”
She said there’d likely be more “traumatic time to come” before any answers were heard in court, and urged the wider community to keep Ms Murphy’s family front of mind after her mother expressed hope her daughter would be found.
“Samantha Murphy’s mother speaking just reminds us that there are families involved that are hurting more than anyone, and Samantha’s close circle of friends and people who knew her personally, I think we need to keep those people in our minds,” Ms Hargreaves said.
“As far as the police are concerned, they are doing absolutely everything they can. We are really confident that they will continue that work.”
Camera IconMs Murphy had gone for a run through the Woowookarung Regional Park. Supplied. Credit: News Corp Australia
Mum’s heartbreaking message ahead of anniversary
Ms Murphy’s mother, Pam Robson, told the Herald Sun ahead of the one-year anniversary of her daughter’s disappearance that she missed her “more than anything”, and that she still had hope she would be found.
“(We) are hoping one day that they find her — she’s got to be out there somewhere,” Ms Robson said.
“We just want to give her a ********.”
Detective Inspector Dave Dunstan said on Sunday that Ms Murphy’s disappearance had an enormous impact on the Ballarat and wider Victorian community.
“As we approach the one-year anniversary, our thoughts are with the Murphy family and all of Samantha’s friends and loved ones,” Inspector Dunstan said.
“Since Samantha’s disappearance, police have worked tirelessly to locate her.
“While nothing can erase their grief and loss, being able to return Samantha to her family has always been incredibly important to us.”
Camera IconSeveral extensive searches were launched for Ms Murphy. NewsWire/Ian Wilson Credit: News Corp Australia
He said the Missing Persons Squad remained committed to doing everything they could to find Ms Murphy, while police still had hope they could find her a year on.
“This year we will continue to conduct searches in the Ballarat area, including searches in areas highlighted by intelligence derived from a number of sources,” he said.
“We also ask people who may be using these areas, particularly in the Enfield State Forest, to be aware of their surroundings and if they believe they may have come across Samantha’s remains to contact police immediately.
“There is nothing we want more than to return Samantha to her family and we remain committed to doing this.”
Ms Murphy last seen a year ago
Ms Murphy was last seen alive on February 4 when she left to go for a morning run through the Woowookarung Regional Park, known as the ********* State Forest.
The 51-year-old mother of three had left her Ballarat home on Eureka St about 7am for a 14km run, but her concerned family called police after she failed to return home.
Extensive searches were launched, with her disappearance officially treated as “suspicious” on February 14.
Mr Stephenson was arrested at a Scotsburn home on March 6 and charged with ******* the following day.
Camera IconPatrick Orren Stephenson was charged with ******* Court sketch: NewsWire/ Paul Tyquin Credit: News Corp Australia
“We’re saying this was a deliberate attack on Samantha,” Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said at a press conference after announcing the arrest.
“He’s been located through a range of investigative outcomes that have come together, and as you are aware, we have been pinging phones and following up on investigation reports from members of the public.
“We have done ground searches, we have done door knocks, so it’s a whole range of information that has come together.”
Ms Murphy’s iPhone was found more than a month later in mud near a dam at Buninyong.
Mr Stephenson pleaded not guilty to ******* in November, and was committed to stand trial at the Victorian Supreme Court.
The trial is now in the “pre-trial” phase, while a directions hearing was booked for February 18.
The trial is expected in 2025, but it’s possible it will be pushed back to 2026.
“Hard for someone so good to be gone”: Mr Murphy
Ms Murphy was described as “kind”, “caring” and “loyal” by her husband Mr Stephenson in April last year.
“You won’t hear a bad word about her, she was a good mother, caring and always providing for everybody,” he told 9 NEWS.
“She was always smiling and happy and we want people to remember Sam for who she was. Anyone who knows her knows what she’s like.”
Mr Murphy teared up, then added: “It’s hard for someone so good to be gone (from) the community.”
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7 Games Leaving Game Pass February
7 Games Leaving Game Pass February
Games come, games go. Find out whats leaving Xbox game pass later this month
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CFPB halts work after Trump appoints Bessent as acting head – The Washington Post
CFPB halts work after Trump appoints Bessent as acting head – The Washington Post
CFPB halts work after Trump appoints Bessent as acting head The Washington PostTrump Names Scott Bessent, the Treasury Secretary, to Lead the Consumer Bureau The New York TimesTrump fires Rohit Chopra, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau CBS News
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Former PlayStation exec Shuhei Yoshida on Switch 2 reveal: ‘I was surprised there weren’t many surprises’
Former PlayStation exec Shuhei Yoshida on Switch 2 reveal: ‘I was surprised there weren’t many surprises’
Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida has said Nintendo’s Switch 2 reveal left him wanting more, even if some of the planned surprises had already been spoiled by leaks.
The popular executive quit Sony last month after 31 years at the company, during which he helped launch the original PlayStation and served as its president of Worldwide Studios between 2008 and 2019.
“I thought the Switch 2 announcement could have been a larger reveal,” Yoshida said in a newly published interview with MinnMax, in which he also described himself as “a huge Nintendo fan” who grew up playing the company’s games.
“I was surprised there were not many surprises,” Yoshida said of the Switch 2 reveal. “The only surprise to me was the mice thing that they showed.”
Nintendo’s reveal trailer showed the Joy-**** controllers attaching to grips then sliding across the ground, much like a mouse would, before detaching from the grips and attaching to the Switch 2 console.
“Well I thought, you know, because the Switch 2 is more powerful and Call of Duty is coming, so people might want to play an FPS with mice, but hopefully because it’s Nintendo they use it in some more weird, amazing way, something that people wouldn’t anticipate,” Yoshida said.
“So I hope the next show, the beginning of April one, they will reveal something that’s still hidden to us about Switch 2,” he added.
Switch 2’s hardware design and numerous product details leaked prior to Nintendo’s official reveal. While Yoshida may not have been aware of it, the leaks actually included claims that the system’s Joy-Cons included mouse functionality.
“A leak is really disappointing right, even if it’s for another company, I feel very sorry when that happens,” Yoshida said. “And as a person, I like to be amazed right, surprised, ‘wow’, so hopefully further leak wouldn’t happen.”
Nintendo has yet to officially confirm a release date or price for Switch 2. However, a Nintendo Direct focusing on the console will be held on April 2.
In another interview last month, Yoshida explained why he believes the popular PS4 From Software title Bloodborne hasn’t been properly brought to PS5, discussed why the PS Vita failed, and said he would have resisted Sony’s push into live service games if he had still been in charge.
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Palantir (PLTR) Q4 earnings 2024
Palantir (PLTR) Q4 earnings 2024
Alex Karp, chief executive officer of Palantir Technologies Inc., during a Bloomberg Technology television interview during the FoundryCon event in Palo Alto, California, US, on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Palantir shares surged more than 10% in extended trading on Monday after the software company reported fourth-quarter earnings and revenue that surpassed Wall Street’s estimates.
Here’s how Palantir did versus estimates from analysts polled by LSEG:
Earnings per share: 14 cents, adjusted vs. 11 cents expected
Revenue: $828 million vs. $776 million expected
Along with the fourth-quarter beat, Palantir offered better-than-expected guidance. The company said it expects revenue of between $858 million and $862 million, ahead of an LSEG estimate of $799 million. For the full year, Palantir forecast sales of $3.74 billion to $3.76 billion, topping the $3.52 billion average estimate.
Palantir is a major provider of software and technology services to defense agencies. CEO Alex Karp attributed much of the company’s growth to its use of artificial intelligence.
“Our business results continue to astound, demonstrating our deepening position at the center of the AI revolution,” Karp said in the earnings release. “Our early insights surrounding the commoditization of large language models have evolved from theory to fact.”
Revenue increased 36% in the quarter from $608.4 million a year earlier. For the full year, sales increased 29%. Karp said in a letter to shareholders that the momentum the company is experiencing across its commercial and government segments is “unlike anything that has come before”
Palantir said its U.S. commercial revenue grew 64% from a year ago to $214 million, while U.S. government revenues rose 45% year over year to $343 million.
“We are still in the earliest stages, the beginning of the first act, of a revolution that will play out over years and decades,” Karp said, adding that the company has “been preparing for this moment diligently for more than twenty years.”
The results follow a massive rally in Palantir’s stock, which soared 340% in 2024. The company joined both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 last year.
Palantir has benefited from the ***** in generative AI following the release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in late 2022. In an interview with CNBC last week, Karp said that Palantir is poised to lead the transformation of American companies, and he asserted that bolstering the U.S. is its “primary objective.”
Karp also responded to recent worries surrounding the ascent of China’s DeepSeek, which pummeled financial markets early last week and spurred fears about the hefty spending megacaps have funneled into AI infrastructure and China’s tech advancements.
“Technology is not inherently good,” he told CNBC’s Sara Eisen in the interview. “We have to acknowledge that, but that also just means we have to run harder, run faster, have an all-country effort.”
WATCH: CNBC’s interview with Palantir CEO Alex Karp
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Trump’s Tariff Turmoil
Trump’s Tariff Turmoil
And, Prime Minister Keir Starmer heads to Brussels to meet EU leaders.
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New Battlefield Game Footage Confirms EA is Haunted by the Same Curse That Plagues Call of Duty
New Battlefield Game Footage Confirms EA is Haunted by the Same Curse That Plagues Call of Duty
It’s a known fact within the gaming industry that the last couple of Battlefield games have been an absolute nightmare. Seriously, EA has dropped the ball with the franchise, and many thought that it would soon meet an end like Concord.
The franchise has struggled in recent years. (Image via EA)
However, EA isn’t giving up so easily. The company has finally given gamers a look at the upcoming Battlefield game, which plans to revive the franchise and bring it back to its glory days. However, there’s one problem: it reminds everyone of the same issues that have plagued Call of Duty for years.
New Battlefield game might prove to be a failure
The future of Battlefield looks disappointing. (Image via EA)
EA has finally dropped a video introducing gamers to the future of Battlefield, which is now being helmed by Battlefield Studios. This team brings together four iconic developers, DICE, Criterion, Motive, and Ripple Effect, who are all working together on the new game.
It’s been confirmed that DICE will be leading the multiplayer side of the new Battlefield, while Criterion will be focusing on enhancing the single-player experience. That’s right, the campaign is back in the next game, and it’s going to be a cinematic experience.
First pre-alpha gameplay footage from the new #Battlefield game pic.twitter.com/M7xNxeNNiu
— Culture Crave (@CultureCrave) February 3, 2025
Unfortunately, looking at the pre-alpha footage of the game suggests that it’s going to follow the same plot point that’s been running rampant in the Call of Duty franchise: glorifications of the U.S. military and making a mess out of the Middle Eastern countries. It’s a boring trope and seems more like military propaganda than anything.
43rd installment of Destroy Syria
— ostertag (@H4MMARSKJ0LD) February 3, 2025
Boring. Same setting. Same shyt. Dead.
— If_Yousayso (@Ifyousay_so) February 3, 2025
Sadly nothing will top bad company 2
— Watts (@jaxonwattss) February 3, 2025
Lowkey bored with these games. They are the same every year
— Acclaimist (@Acclaimist) February 3, 2025
Remember 2042, do not pre-order
— olinnith (@w1LL1sman) February 3, 2025
It’s disappointing to see that the upcoming Battlefield isn’t even trying to innovate on the storyline and bringing us the same old propaganda conflict. Let’s hope the game delivers good gameplay and features to compensate for this.
EA’s Battlefield Labs test program announced
The franchise has suffered a lot of distasteful launches due to technical issues. (Image via EA)
One of the biggest issues in the last couple of Battlefield game launches has been technical problems. These got so bad with the launch of 2042 that it ended up destroying the reputation of the game and the franchise altogether.
Back in September 2024, EA confirmed that the next shooter in the franchise will feature a community testing program to ensure that the launch isn’t a mess. On February 3rd, the publisher revealed its testing plan called Battlefield Labs.
With this program, fans will be able to try out various elements of the next Battlefield game and share their feedback directly with the developers.
Currently, registrations for the program are open. However, the program will initially only admit a few thousand players across North America and Europe and then expand to other territories.
With that said, are you excited for the next entry in EA’s FPS franchise? Let us know in the comments below.
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Syria will need up to five years for elections: Sharaa
Syria will need up to five years for elections: Sharaa
Syria’s Ahmed al-Sharaa says it will take between four and five years to hold presidential elections, the first time he has laid out a timeline for the vote since he was named transitional president last week.
Sharaa, who headed the Islamist rebel group that led a lightning offensive that toppled autocratic President Bashar al-Assad in early December, was declared transitional president on January 30.
“I estimate that the ******* will be between four to five years until elections because there is a need for a vast infrastructure, and this infrastructure needs to be re-established and establishing it needs time,” Sharaa told Syria TV in an interview.
He said Syrian authorities would need to consolidate data on the country’s population to update its electoral data, adding: “Without this matter, any elections held will be doubted.”
Sharaa said Syria would apply international norms on transitional periods, including how they apply to a president during that time. Based on those norms, he said, Syria would “ultimately go to an elected presidency and an elected authority.”
He did not specify which international norms he had reviewed to determine the timeline he set out.
When Sharaa was declared transitional president, he was also empowered to form a temporary legislative council for a transitional ******* and the Syrian constitution was suspended.
He has pledged to embark on a political transition including a national conference to produce an inclusive government.
Sharaa said a preparatory committee would be formed to hold consultations across Syria.
“Then, it will invite those we think represent the Syrian people in general,” he said.
The conference will discuss “all the important problems in Syria” and produce a final statement that would form the basis of a “constitutional declaration,” he said.
Sharaa had said in December that drafting a new constitution could take up to three years.
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A Tokyo Setting Would Be A Nice Change Of Scenery In A Cyberpunk Sequel
A Tokyo Setting Would Be A Nice Change Of Scenery In A Cyberpunk Sequel
ashendafiremyst5d ago
Except that it WAS playable at launch. I played NMS at launch on PS4. I have videos to prove it. I streamed from launch, and know others that did. I absolutely loved it, and platinumed it before pathfinder. Now, I will agree that the updates were needed, and have added to it. Heck, Worlds 2 looks like it’ll be out any day now. (I think it’ll be Worlds 2, he’s emoting planets). Either way, they are a small team, who’s only other game credits were Joe Danger. No Man’s Sky was a beast all of it’s own. Sean has learned from his mistakes.
I played Cyberpunk at launch as well. I beat the game. I didn’t find it too buggy. Then again, I didn’t go out looking for bugs, or really going nuts either. I’m not a Cyberpunk fanatic, so I played through the story, and that’s it. I haven’t gone back and played Phantom Liberty.
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Child ****** victims were on e-scooter, say police
Child ****** victims were on e-scooter, say police
Police believe a teenage boy and his nine-year-old sister were riding an e-scooter when they were fatally struck by a car.
Darcie Casselden and her brother Roman, 16, died at the scene after a collision in Basildon in Essex, at 18:25 GMT on Saturday, and the car drove off.
A man and a woman, both in their 20s, were later arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident on Ashlyns in Pitsea.
Ch Supt Leighton Hammett said: “This has been a hugely emotive incident and I know the family and wider community want to know what happened.”
In an update on Monday evening, Essex Police said it believed Roman and Darcie were riding a privately owned e-scooter at the time.
It added the woman arrested in connection with the incident had been released on police bail, while the man was released under investigation.
Ch Supt Hammett said there had been “a lot of commentary online” about the incident and urged people not to speculate.
Bunches of flowers and messages have been left at the scene [Jodie Halford/BBC]
Achievement Through Football, a charity Roman worked for, has led tributes to him.
Chief executive Stuart Long said the team was “absolutely devastated” by both deaths.
Roman had been involved with the charity for six years before becoming an apprentice last year after leaving school.
“In his quiet, understated way, he was able to get alongside so many families and build genuine trust and bond with young people,” Mr Long said.
“He’s just been such an amazing support.
“Quite often when we employ young people, it’s often about time-keeping and getting them work-ready, but with Roman it was the opposite.
“We had to tell him to come to less sessions… he was out-and-about and so committed to what he did.
“I think that’s why this terrible tragic incident has touched so many people.
“As all the tributes have come forward you realise just how many people’s lives Roman has touched.”
A crowdfunding page set up to help with ******** costs and other support raised more than £26,000 in 24 hours.
Police have appealed for information, particularly CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage as part of their investigation.
Essex Police said the vehicle involved did not stop at the scene [Owen Ward/BBC]
Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
More on this storyRelated internet links
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The Sims And Sims 2 Legacy Editions Are Full Of Bugs, According To Players
The Sims And Sims 2 Legacy Editions Are Full Of Bugs, According To Players
The Sims franchise is turning 25 this year, and EA has re-released both The Sims and The Sims 2 as a part of the celebration. Legacy editions of both games (and all their DLC packs) were released last week.
A more accessible way to play the games that formed the foundation of The Sims franchise is something players have wanted for a long time. But unfortunately, neither re-released game appears to be running particularly well, and players are running into bugs and other issues.
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The Sims & The Sims 2 Legacy Collections – Official Reveal Trailer
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Early iterations of The Sims were a lot different–and arguably, a lot more challenging–than the modern Sims 4 experience, but the issues players are running into with the re-releases have less to do with gameplay differences and more to do with bugs EA clearly did not intend to be a part of the experience. Problems range from graphics issues to the game not loading whatsoever. The Sims subreddit and its official forums are overflowing with posts and comments about problems players are encountering with The Sims Legacy Edition and The Sims 2 Legacy Edition. One player even noted they couldn’t get a refund on Steam because their Sims 4 playtime had been added to their Legacy Edition playtime, making the Legacy Edition unable to be refunded.
In response to the outcry, EA has released a statement addressing the problems players are facing.
“Sul Sul, Simmers!” a community manager wrote on the official Sims forum. “We recognize some fans are currently experiencing various issues with The Sims: Legacy Collection and The Sims 2: Legacy Collection. We are currently investigating these issues and hope to have more information on fixes soon.”
The community manager added that players reporting bugs should include screenshots, video footage, dxdiags, and vulkaninfo.exe files (for The Sims 1) if possible, as that will aid EA in resolving the various issues with both games.
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Trump administration ends temporary deportation protection for 350,000 Venezuelans – The Associated Press
Trump administration ends temporary deportation protection for 350,000 Venezuelans – The Associated Press
Trump administration ends temporary deportation protection for 350,000 Venezuelans The Associated PressTrump Administration Moves to End Protections for Venezuelans in the U.S. The New York TimesSouth Florida’s Venezuelan community outraged by protected status revocation CBS MiamiMiami Republicans trust Trump as new administration reengages with Maduro in Venezuela Miami HeraldTrump admin ends deportation protections for massive number of Venezuelans amid ******** immigration crackdown Fox News
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What is USAID and why does Donald Trump want to end it?
What is USAID and why does Donald Trump want to end it?
Reuters
Seven-year-old Sajad – whose family were displaced after flooding in Pakistan – is among the millions who have been helped by USAID
The future of the US government’s main overseas aid agency has been cast into doubt as the Trump administration plans to merge it with the US Department of State after days of upheaval.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) would continue its function as an aid agency, but the plan involves a significant reduction in its funding and the workforce, CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, reports.
On Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused USAID’s leadership of “insubordination” and said he was now its “acting head”.
US President Donald Trump and one of his top advisers, billionaire Elon Musk, have been strongly critical of the agency.
But the move to shut it down could have a profound impact on humanitarian programmes around the world.
What is USAID and what does it do?
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was set up in the early 1960s to administer humanitarian aid programmes on behalf of the US government around the world.
It employs around 10,000 people, two-thirds of whom work overseas. It has bases in more than 60 countries and works in dozens of others. However, most of the work on the ground is carried out by other organisations that are contracted and funded by USAID.
The range of activities it undertakes is vast. For example, not only does USAID provide food in countries where people are starving, it also operates the world’s gold standard famine detection system, which uses data analysis to try to predict where shortages are emerging.
Much of USAID’s budget is spent on health programmes, such as offering polio vaccinations in countries where the disease still circulates and helping to stop the spread of viruses which have the potential to cause a pandemic.
The BBC’s international charity BBC Media Action, which is funded by external grants and voluntary contributions, receives some funding from USAID. According to a 2024 report, USAID donated $3.23m (£2.6m), making it the charity’s second-largest donor that financial year.
How much does USAID cost the US government?
According to government data, the US spent $68bn (£55bn) on international aid in 2023.
That total is spread across several departments and agencies, but USAID’s budget constitutes more than half of it at around $40bn.
The vast majority of that money is spent in Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and Europe – primarily on humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.
The US is the world’s biggest spender on international development – and by some margin.
To put it into context, the *** is the world’s fourth-largest aid spender. In 2023, it spent £15.3bn – around a quarter of what the US provided.
Why do Donald Trump and Elon Musk want to overhaul USAID?
Trump is a long-term critic of overseas spending and has said it does not represent value for money for American taxpayers. He has singled out USAID for particularly strong criticism, describing senior officials there as “radical lunatics”.
Abolishing the agency would likely enjoy popular support. Opinion polls have long suggested that American voters favour slashing foreign aid spending. According to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, polling data going back to the 1970s has indicated broad support for cuts.
One of Trump’s first actions after returning to office was signing an executive order pausing almost all international spending for 90 days while a review could be carried out.
A memo was then issued by the State Department which halted the vast majority of work being done on the ground. Waivers were later issued for humanitarian programmes, but the announcement upended the world of international development and caused widespread disruption to services.
EPA
Both Elon Musk and Donald Trump have been strongly critical of US overseas spending
Programmes including those providing medication to the world’s poorest and installing clean water supplies had to stop overnight. One veteran humanitarian worker told the BBC the pause was “like an earthquake across the aid sector”.
Tensions between the White House and USAID escalated over the weekend when officials working for Elon Musk – who Trump has tasked with identifying spending cuts in the federal budget – were reportedly denied access to secure financial data at USAID headquarters. Two senior security officials there were placed on leave in the aftermath, according to reports.
On Monday, Musk – who was speaking in a public conversation on X, the social media platform he owns – said: “With regards to the USAID stuff, I went over it with [the president] in detail and he agreed that we should shut it down.”
USAID’s website has gone offline and employees were told to stay at home on Monday – though it remains unclear precisely what the White House’s next move will be.
Later on Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused USAID’s leadership of “insubordination” and said he was now its “acting head”. He added that “a lot of functions” carried out by the agency would continue but that spending “has to be in alignment with the national interest”.
Can Donald Trump shut USAID down?
While it is clear the White House wields significant influence over USAID, that power is theoretically limited.
USAID came into being after Congress passed the Foreign Assistance Act in 1961. That law mandated for a government agency to be set up and tasked with administering overseas spending.
Shortly after, then-President John F Kennedy set up USAID using an executive order. Another law was passed in 1998 which confirmed USAID’s status as an executive agency in its own right.
In short, that means Trump cannot necessarily simply abolish USAID by signing an executive order, and any attempt to do so would almost certainly face strong challenges in the courts and Congress.
Reuters
Among recent USAID-backed responses was sending search and rescue equipment to Turkey after a deadly earthquake
Closing USAID altogether would likely require an act of Congress – where Trump’s Republican Party holds slim majorities in both houses.
One of the options reportedly being considered by the Trump administration is effectively making USAID a branch of the State Department, as opposed to it being a government agency in its own right.
That type of arrangement would not be completely unheard of: in 2020, then *** Prime Minister Boris Johnson merged the Department for International Development with the Foreign Office.
Ministers said at the time that it would ensure international spending supported the government’s wider foreign policy goals – but critics warned it would reduce expertise in the aid sector and damage the ***’s overseas standing and influence.
What would the impact of closing USAID be?
Given the disproportionate amount of funding which comes from the US, any changes to how that money is spent will doubtless be felt around the world.
USAID’s activities range from providing prosthetic limbs to soldiers injured in Ukraine, to clearing landmines and containing the spread of Ebola in Africa. The effects could be truly global.
After the 90-day overseas spending freeze was announced, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said “every dollar” must be “justified” by evidence that it makes the US safer, stronger and more prosperous.
It remains to be seen which parts of USAID’s work meet those criteria as far as the White House is concerned.
Trump has made it clear he wants overseas spending to be closely aligned with his “America First” approach and the international development sector is braced for more shockwaves.
There are also questions about how much the US will spend overseas in years to come, as Musk – empowered by Trump – attempts to cut billions from the government’s budget.
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Wizardry takes home the Grammy for best video game soundrack
Wizardry takes home the Grammy for best video game soundrack
Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord claimed the prize for Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media. Penned by Winifred Phillips, the score for the game is appropriately bombastic, especially when its cover hearkens back to pulp fantasy books of the 1980s.
Wizardry beat out several arguably more recognizable names like Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and Star Wars Outlaws. Older gamers will recognize the Wizardry franchise for perhaps a different reason: it was one of the first RPGs to feature a party system, in addition to being one of the first dungeon crawlers.
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Winnifred Phillips has written music for quite a few other games, some you might have played: LittleBigPlanet 2 and 3, Assassin’s Creed 3: Liberation, and many more. It wasn’t until this year that Phillips won a Grammy for her efforts.
Steam
Digital Eclipse released a full 3D remake of the 1981 game in May 2024 that captures the spirit of the original while still adding in quality of life improvements that make it more accessible to modern players. It also just makes the game itself accessible, as running PC games from the 80s can be an exercise in patience.
This is only the third year that the Grammy for Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media has been awarded. Stephanie Economou and Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla took home the prize in 2023, while Stephen Barton, Gordy Haab, and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor was last year’s winner. Bear McCreary, the composer for the God of War games, has been nominated all three years the award has been given, but hasn’t yet won.
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As markets absorb tariff news, it’s a wake-up call for investors: experts
As markets absorb tariff news, it’s a wake-up call for investors: experts
Trump administration tariffs set to begin on February 4th would affect prices and the availability of some products at grocery stores.
Nick Lachance | Toronto Star | Getty Images
President Donald Trump’s new executive order issuing tariffs on goods entering the U.S. from Canada, China and Mexico sent markets falling early Monday.
By midday, the markets rebounded on news of a one-month pause on Mexico tariffs.
The events are a reminder that two forces drive the markets — underlying fundamentals and sentiment, according to Larry Adam, chief investment officer at Raymond James.
When it comes to fundamentals — the factors that determine a stock’s worth — there’s been no definitive change, Adam said.
But when it comes to sentiment, this may be a wake-up call for investors who came into the year thinking the threat of tariffs was not a realistic risk, he said.
“We’re not changing our forecast,” Adam said, which includes a year-end 6,375 target for the S&P 500. As of Monday afternoon, the index was hovering around 6,000.
More from Personal Finance: How tariffs may impact U.S. consumers The Fed holds rates steady. What that means for you IRS announces the start of the 2025 tax season
The total revenues companies in the S&P 500 receive from Canada and China and Mexico are fairly small, he said, with 1% coming from both Mexico and Canada, and 7% from China.
“It’s not as big to the S&P 500 as it is to the ******* economy,” Adam said of the tariffs’ effects.
For individual investors who are wondering what, if anything, to do next, “this is where the value of an advisor truly shines,” said Cathy Curtis, a certified financial planner and founder and CEO of Curtis Financial Planning, who is also a member of the CNBC FA Council.
“President Trump has consistently used tariffs as a negotiating tool, and we can expect this pattern to continue,” Curtis said she is telling clients.
Curtis said she’s urging clients to focus on the long-term gains they may see by staying the course, rather than overreact based on short-term headlines.
For individuals, the threat of tariffs has implications for both their investment portfolios and everyday household budgets.
Investors may want to rethink their strategy
Even in the face of sudden market volatility and uncertainty, financial advisors say it’s best not to make any sudden moves with your portfolio.
“Reacting to short-term news by trying to time the market is not a winning strategy,” Curtis said.
Still, sudden market volatility may be a wake-up call to some investment strategy adjustments that need to happen, advisors say.
That starts with a gut check to see whether you’re comfortable with your equity allocations in the event of steep losses.
Don’t invest more than you can handle financially or psychologically, CFP Carolyn McClanahan, founder of Life Planning Partners and a CNBC FA Council member, said she advises clients.
It is also important to be mindful of your portfolio’s international exposure, which could be affected by tariffs, said CFP Marguerita Cheng, CEO of Blue Ocean Global Wealth. Cheng is also a member of the CNBC FA Council.
Retirement savers ought to take a look at their target-date funds — investments that automatically adjust to an anticipated retirement date — to make sure they’re not exposed to more international investments than they want, Cheng said.
Current retirees should make sure they have enough money in cash and stable value fund to ensure they can fulfill their required minimum distributions and other immediate needs without having to sell their investments at an inopportune time, she said.
Consumers may feel ‘pain’ from trade war
Consumer prices on everything from produce and liquor to medications and homes may increase with the implementation of tariffs. Consequently, consumer who have faced years of higher prices due to elevated inflation may now want to reassess their household budgets once again.
Meanwhile, Trump on Sunday said Americans could feel “pain” in the trade war.
“I think it’s highly likely that there will be some pain,” said Lee Baker, a CFP and president of Claris Financial Advisors.
To get ahead of those potential cost increases, it helps to evaluate how much you’re spending. Forgoing a vacation, extra items at the grocery store or additional trips in the car can help save money now in the event higher costs hit later, Baker said.
“A little forethought in planning might help you avoid the sticker shock that could come from your grocery bill or particular items that are being threatened with tariffs,” said CFP Douglas Boneparth, president and founder of Bone Fide Wealth.
Baker and Boneparth are both members of the CNBC FA Council.
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Trump moves to end protections for Venezuelans
Trump moves to end protections for Venezuelans
Around 348,000 Venezuelans with Temporary Protected Status could be deported and lose work permits in April, according to a US government notice.
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