The ACTUAL NEWS: Tuesday, January 28th 2025 Recap
Today in History; Deportations to Include Military Base, Changes at the Pentagon, Federal Aid "On Pause," and Other National and Global News
TODAY IN HISTORY
814 Charlemagne, ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, died at Aachen (Germany).
1871 The French capital, Paris, fell following a four-month siege during the Franco-German War.
1915 Congress created the U.S. Coast Guard by combining the Revenue Cutter Service with the U.S. Lifesaving Service.
1958 Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, whose father founded the company LEGO in Denmark, filed for a Danish patent (later granted) for a toy building block that became hugely popular around the world.
1986 U.S. space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff from Florida, killing all seven aboard, including a schoolteacher who had been chosen as the first American civilian to travel in space.
QUICK ACTUAL NEWS
NATIONAL
Trump Still Plans Tariffs on Canada and Mexico U.S. President Donald Trump still plans to make good on his promise to issue tariffs on Canada and Mexico on Saturday, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday.
Trump Administration Offers Resignations to Federal Workers The Trump administration said Tuesday it is offering incentives for nearly all civilian federal workers to resign and warned of plans to shrink the size of the government. The "deferred resignation program" would allow federal employees to remain on the payroll through Sept. 30 but not have to work, according to an email sent to federal employees and seen by Reuters. Federal buyouts are generally capped at $25,000. The email gives federal employees until Feb. 6 to decide whether to take part.
Investigation Ordered into General Mark Milley Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has ordered an investigation into General Mark Milley, immediately revoking his security clearance and pulling his security detail. Milley could face demotion in retirement, and a second portrait of him has been removed, according to Fox News.
Trump Fires Two Democratic EEOC Members U.S. President Donald Trump has fired at least two Democratic members of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces federal laws banning workplace discrimination, in an unprecedented move likely to spur legal challenges.
Medicaid Payments Blocked in 50 States for Most of the Day New York State Attorney General James said on Tuesday that healthcare providers were blocked from the Medicaid payment portal after the Trump administration announced a federal funding pause, even as the White House claimed the program was exempted. When asked whether state aid regarding Medicaid was affected, the White House spokesperson replied, “I will get back to you.”
Democratic AGs Seek to Block Financial Freeze A group of Democratic state attorneys general said they plan to ask a court on Tuesday to block the Trump administration's sweeping directive to temporarily freeze federal loans, grants, and other financial assistance.
LGBTQ+ Youth Welfare Project Canceled The Trump administration has canceled a recent five-year project to help states better serve LGBTQ+ youth in the child welfare system and has halted the submission process for almost all new funding from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
U.S. Department of Education Investigates Denver Schools The U.S. Department of Education said on Tuesday it is investigating the Denver school system for allegedly discriminating against women and girls by converting a female bathroom to all-gender.
U.S. Seeks to Drop Case Against Virginia The U.S. Justice Department sought on Tuesday to withdraw from an ongoing voting rights case against Virginia over the state's removal of names from voter rolls just before the November election. The department’s motion for dismissal, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, does not end the case, as private plaintiffs, including voting rights groups, are still challenging Virginia’s actions.
California Denies Trump’s Water Claim California on Tuesday denied President Donald Trump's claim that the U.S. military entered the state to release more water in the wake of deadly wildfires. In a Truth Social post late on Monday, Trump wrote: "The United States Military just entered the Great State of California and, under Emergency Powers, TURNED ON THE WATER flowing abundantly from the Pacific Northwest, and beyond."
Trump Signs Military Executive Orders President Donald Trump signed multiple executive orders on the night of Jan. 27 that could reshape the management and composition of the military, with provisions addressing diversity measures, transgender service members, and troops who were discharged for refusing COVID vaccinations.
Senate Armed Services Committee Sets 2025 Goals The new chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee has two goals as he takes the gavel in 2025: boost defense funding by about $200 billion in the Republican’s reconciliation package and pass a sweeping acquisition reform proposal in the next defense policy bill, he told Breaking Defense in an exclusive interview.
The End of the Biden Era New U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy signed an order on Tuesday directing U.S. regulators to rescind landmark fuel economy standards introduced under President Joe Biden, which aim to drastically reduce fuel consumption in cars and trucks.
Air Force to Reduce Maintenance Specialties A new Air Force memo lays out how the service aims to condense its list of more than 50 aircraft maintenance job specialties down to seven, starting in 2027.
Air Force to Continue Tuskegee Airmen Training The Air Force is set on “faithfully executing” President Donald Trump’s executive orders and will continue to teach new recruits about the Tuskegee Airmen and Women Air Force Service Pilots, Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said Jan. 27, after several days of uproar.
Defense Secretary Hegseth Reshapes Pentagon New Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth vowed to reshape the Pentagon and implement President Donald Trump’s agenda as he began his first official day on the job on Jan. 27. He also indicated he would not try to fire Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., whom he has previously criticized.
Buckley Space Force Base in Colorado The U.S. military announced on Tuesday that it will allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain migrants at Buckley Space Force Base in Colorado, further expanding the Pentagon's role in President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
Space Force Drops In-Space Servicing Funding The Space Force this year decided against including any new money in its initial fiscal 2026 budget request for in-space servicing mobility and logistics, according to two former senior government officials who had been involved in the process, despite strong support for such an investment from lawmakers and officials then serving in the Biden administration.
Air Force Faces Pilot Shortage The U.S. Air Force needs to address its dwindling number of fighter pilots if it wants to remain combat-ready, according to a recent report by a Washington aerospace think tank. A Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies report released this month examining the service’s “pilot crisis” recommends the Air Force grow and train its active component combat air forces, retain experienced pilots in the Air Force reserve component—such as the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve—and increase the production of fighter aircraft to bolster its battle capabilities.
Appeals Court Blocks Airline Fee Disclosure Rule A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday blocked the Biden administration's 2024 rule requiring upfront disclosure of airline service fees, saying the Transportation Department (USDOT) had not complied with procedural rules.
Senate Blocks ICC Sanctions Effort U.S. Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked a Republican-led effort to sanction the International Criminal Court in protest of its arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister over Israel's campaign in Gaza.
Trump Considers Massive Cuts to Foreign Aid Field hospitals in Thai refugee camps, landmine clearance in war zones, and drugs to treat millions suffering from diseases such as HIV are among the programs facing the chop as President Donald Trump contemplates massive cuts to U.S. foreign aid.
Poll Shows Negative View of Trump’s Executive Orders Americans have a dim view of some of President Donald Trump's early barrage of executive orders, including his attempt to do away with so-called birthright citizenship and his decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found.
OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Gov for U.S. Agencies Microsoft-backed artificial intelligence (AI) bellwether OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Gov, a tailored version of ChatGPT designed for U.S. government agencies, it said in a blog post on Tuesday. OpenAI said the agencies can deploy ChatGPT Gov in their own Microsoft Azure commercial cloud and will have access to many of the features and capabilities of ChatGPT Enterprise, including custom GPTs.
GLOBAL
Poland Accuses Russia of Attempting Election Interference A senior member of the Polish government accused Russia on Tuesday of attempting to recruit Poles on the dark net to influence Poland's presidential election campaign. The European Union and NATO member state has warned before of the danger of Russian interference in the mid-May election, but Moscow has repeatedly denied meddling in foreign elections.
Support for Germany's Conservative Bloc Falls Support for Germany's conservative bloc fell by three points in the days after its chancellor candidate said he would push through a migration crackdown with the backing of the far right, according to a survey published four weeks before a federal election.
Trudeau and Tusk Reaffirm Commitment to Transatlantic Security Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and Polish PM Donald Tusk reaffirmed their commitment to transatlantic security and underlined the importance of providing military, financial, humanitarian, and other support for Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against Russia’s unjustifiable war of aggression. Trudeau emphasized that supporting Ukraine will continue to be a priority for Canada, particularly in the context of its 2025 G7 Presidency.
Zelenskyy Discusses Bilateral Matters with Netanyahu Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday he had a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss bilateral matters. "We also discussed maintaining close contact with partners, particularly the United States and President Trump," he said on X.
Doomsday Clock Moves Closer to Midnight Atomic scientists on Tuesday moved their "Doomsday Clock" closer to midnight than ever before, citing Russian nuclear threats amid its invasion of Ukraine, tensions in other world hot spots, military applications of artificial intelligence, and climate change as factors underlying the risks of global catastrophe.
Scotland to Launch Landmark Rocket with £20 Million Investment A landmark Scottish rocket launch is set to solidify the UK as a European leader in the space sector, following a £20 million government investment in UK launch company Orbex to build and launch a rocket from the shores of Scotland. Tech Secretary Peter Kyle announced the investment today (29th January) at Brussels’ European Space Conference, positioning Britain as a leading international partner and cooperator in Europe’s access to space. The investment will help fund Orbex’s rocket Prime, the first UK-manufactured and UK-launched orbital rocket. Prime is set to take off from late 2025 at Scottish spaceport SaxaVord, one of two licensed vertical launch spaceports in Europe. It will catalyze the UK’s position as a leading small satellite manufacturer and global space leader, and support 140 highly paid jobs in the region as part of the government’s Plan for Change.
U.S. Senators Alarmed by China's Influence on Panama Canal A bipartisan group of U.S. senators on Tuesday expressed alarm at China's influence on the Panama Canal, which President Donald Trump has vowed the United States would take back. "Chinese companies are building a bridge across the canal – at a slow pace so as to take nearly a decade – and control container ports at either end," Senate Commerce Committee chair Ted Cruz said at a hearing on the canal's role in U.S. trade and national security.
Marco Rubio’s Trip to Counter China in Central America U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's trip to Central America, including Panama, is partially about countering China, a State Department spokesperson told Fox Business, as President Donald Trump is pushing to "take back" the Panama Canal.
Trump Renames Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America Mexicans and Cubans have expressed indignation and amusement at Trump’s order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Google said it would display “Gulf of America” in its maps for U.S. users as soon as government sources make the update. Users in Mexico will continue to see the gulf’s original name, while the rest of the world will see both.
EU to Lift Some Sanctions on Syria The European Union will lift some sanctions on Syria after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad.
BMW, Tesla Join Lawsuit Against EU Tariffs on Chinese-Made EVs BMW and Tesla have joined Chinese firms in opposing the EU’s new duties on imported electric vehicles (EVs). Tesla did not immediately comment, while BMW said the EU tariffs don’t strengthen European competitiveness and instead harm “globally active companies.”
Trump’s Freeze on Foreign Aid Affects Humanitarian Programs The Trump administration's freeze on U.S. foreign aid globally has included a stop-work order to a program run by aid group Action Against Hunger, which helps severely malnourished children in refugee camps in Ethiopia, two sources said on Tuesday.
Europe Faces Heat-Related Deaths Due to Rising Temperatures Hotter temperatures could lead to 2.3 million additional heat-related deaths in European cities by 2099 without “stringent” new preventive measures, an article published yesterday in Nature said. The researchers said their projections debunked assertions that global warming could be a net lifesaver in Europe by reducing cold-related deaths.
EU Strengthens Trade Agreements with South America and Mexico The European Union is strengthening trade agreements with South America and Mexico in response to growing tensions with the U.S. On Monday, Europe’s top diplomat emphasized the need for Europe to “close ranks” as the Trump administration threatened more tariffs. She asserted that Europe is both an "economic heavyweight" and a "geopolitical partner," signaling it would not succumb to pressure or bullying.
Diplomatic Tensions with Colombia Amid Trump Administration During the diplomatic debacle between Trump and Colombia, there were no Situation Room meetings or calls to de-escalate—just threats and counterthreats.
Countries Seek Lobbyists with Trump Administration Connections Denmark, Panama, and other countries are shopping for D.C. lobbyists with connections to the Trump administration.
African Leaders and Global Banks Promise $35 Billion for Electricity Access Leaders of African nations and global banks promised $35 billion to expand electricity access across the continent.
Sweden Investigates Sabotage of Undersea Cable Sweden is investigating damage to an undersea communications cable. The authorities boarded a ship and said they suspected “gross sabotage.”
New Zealand Eases Visa Requirements for Remote Workers It will let newly arrived foreigners work for overseas employers for up to nine months.
U.S.-India Leaders Discuss Fair Trade and Military Ties The February date floated on a call yesterday between U.S. and Indian leaders would make Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi one of the first foreign leaders to visit Trump’s White House. They discussed the importance of “fair” trade relations and growing military ties, a White House readout of the call said. Trump met several times with Modi during his first term, but has also criticized the Indian government’s tariffs.
Turkish Forces Kill Kurdish Fighters in Syria and Iraq Turkish forces killed 13 Kurdish fighters in Syria and two in Iraq, Turkey’s defense ministry said yesterday. Some of those killed in Syria belong to a militia with which the United States has cooperated in its efforts against the self-declared Islamic State; Ankara has voiced hopes that Washington will reverse that support under Trump.
Turkey’s Main Opposition to Announce Presidential Candidate Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) will name its presidential candidate for the next election in the coming months, its leader said on Tuesday in what he called a move to counter a judicial crackdown on his party.
Venezuela to Hold Regional and Parliamentary Elections The government announced it will hold regional and parliamentary elections on April 27. Opposition leader María Corina Machado called for a boycott, potentially splitting the opposition. Machado has led boycotts of past votes, though she supported the candidate in Venezuela’s July 2024 election that the opposition—and the United States along with several other countries—said won.
Direct Flights Between India and China to Resume Direct flights will resume between India and China after nearly five years, as part of a diplomatic thaw.
French Police Investigate Death Threats Against Judges in Marine Le Pen’s Case French police have opened an investigation into death threats against a judge and two prosecutors involved in a corruption trial of far-right leader Marine Le Pen in which she could be barred from contesting the 2027 presidential election, police and judicial sources said.
Serbian PM Resigns Amid Anti-Corruption Protests Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic on Tuesday announced his resignation, becoming the highest-ranking official to leave since anti-corruption protests spread across the country. Belgrade has seen daily anti-government protests since a roof collapsed in November at a railway station in Novi Sad, Serbia's second-largest city, killing 15 people.
Space Force Breaks Ground on New 'Space Campus' in Qatar The Space Force broke ground on a new ‘Space Campus’ at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar—a move officials say will boost space operations and capabilities in the Middle East. “This complex will soon become a beacon for the vital space systems and operations that underpin U.S. CENTCOM’s mission of promoting stability, security, and partnership across the region,” Col. Frank Brooks, deputy commander of Space Forces Central, said according to a Jan. 24 press release.
UK Upgrades Warship Combat Systems Threat detection systems on Royal Navy warships have been upgraded. More than 200 UK jobs will be supported through a new contract to boost the Royal Navy’s warship combat systems and increase their ability to track, analyze, and respond to threats in combat.
Denmark and France Back International Border Integrity Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Tuesday following a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron that political leaders in Europe and beyond have given full backing to maintaining respect for international borders.
Israeli Forces Fire at Lebanese Civilians Israeli forces fired toward people in Lebanon trying to return to southern border towns. The people had defied Israeli warnings not to return yet. (NYT)
UNRWA Ban Implementation in Israel Could Be Disastrous Implementation of a ban on the U.N. Palestinian relief agency UNRWA in Israel—set to start on Thursday—will be disastrous, the UNRWA chief told the Security Council on Tuesday, as the United States accused it of being "irresponsible and dangerous."
U.S. Secretary of State Issues Waiver for Humanitarian Assistance U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a waiver on Tuesday for life-saving humanitarian assistance during a 90-day pause in foreign aid while Washington undertakes a review, according to a State Department memo seen by Reuters.
Netanyahu Invited to White House for February 4 Meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been invited to a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on Feb. 4, the prime minister's office said in a statement on Tuesday.
UNMASKING MUSK
Elon Musk's former friend, now a tech and science multibillionaire, has shared his experience with Musk and offered insights into his psyche and motivations. I recommend you reading it.
Please tap to enlarge the image, then scroll left.
PHOTO(S) OF THE DAY
Deportations visualized – shackles, handcuffs, and overpriced, unnecessary military planes that were pulled away from protecting Taiwan and Alaska (NORTHCOM) to do this instead.
Pictures: by Air Force
VIDEO QUICK NEWS
Caroline Kennedy, a member of the famed U.S. political family, urged senators on Tuesday to reject her cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination to lead the top U.S. health agency, calling him a "predator" and his healthcare views "dangerous."
White House Spox on lying from the podium
Pritzker: “White House is either lying to us or they’re critically incompetent.”
Miller as excuse for firing fed employees: “Overwhelmingly the career federal service is far left.”
Trump announces tariffs on all semi-conductors and pharmaceuticals imported from Taiwan
Joe Rogan claims he is apolitical
Poland and Canada Forge Nuclear Power Agreement
Poland and Canada have signed a pact to enhance cooperation in nuclear energy, with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcing the deal on Tuesday. Poland is transitioning away from coal and has selected Westinghouse Electric, a Canadian company, to build its first nuclear plant on the Baltic Sea coast, though financing is still being finalized. The country is also moving forward with plans for a second plant and is exploring small modular reactors (SMRs), with the goal of deploying 24 SMR units by 2030. Tusk highlighted the importance of energy diversification in Poland’s ambition to lead in modern technologies, including artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, to become a key hub for data centers in Europe.
EU-US Discuss Shared Global Priorities in First Call with New U.S. Administration
On Tuesday, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held their first phone call since the Trump administration took office. The call focused on the war in Ukraine, Iran’s influence, and challenges posed by China. Both officials agreed on the need for maximum pressure on Moscow for a just peace in Ukraine and addressed Iran's destabilizing role and Syria's political transition. Kallas emphasized Europe’s increased defense investment and energy diversification in light of U.S. demands for NATO members to spend 5% of their GDP on defense.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Tax season has arrived. Starting yesterday, the IRS began accepting and processing 2024 federal income tax returns and will continue to do so through April 15 (with some exceptions).
Workers at a Whole Foods in Philadelphia voted to unionize, marking the first union at the grocery chain, which is owned by Amazon.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 lost almost $1 trillion in value yesterday after DeepSeek’s release of its low-cost R1 “reasoning” model, which led to the realization that U.S. tech giants pouring billions into AI could be left behind by a scrappy Chinese competitor. Experts say this may trigger a series of executive orders signed by President Trump to curb the export of chips used for AI, aiming to slow down the growth of the Chinese competitor.
Military service members charged at least $500,000 on gambling, drinking, nightclubs, and online games to their government travel charge cards in 2023 without triggering alarms among finance officials, an inspector general report found. One Air Force cardholder, investigators discovered, managed to use his card for a five-month gambling spree that went undetected by their base finance office or commander.
Starbucks has rolled out in-store changes across approximately 11,000 North American locations as part of CEO Brian Niccol's turnaround plan to address declining sales. The updates include baristas engaging more warmly with customers, asking if they’re staying or leaving, offering ceramic mugs and free refills for hot or iced coffee and tea (excluding cold brew and specialty drinks), and reintroducing condiment bars and Sharpie messages on to-go cups. A stricter policy has also been implemented, requiring customers to make a purchase to use restrooms, get free water, or hang out. This has sparked criticism from baristas, unions, and the National Coalition for the Homeless. These changes follow Starbucks' first annual sales decline since 2020, and Niccol hopes they’ll encourage customers to stay longer and buy more. A quarterly sales drop is expected, and corporate layoffs are planned for March.
Payments giant Visa and Elon Musk's X are partnering to offer direct payment solutions to customers of the social media app, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.
That’s it from me for now. Thank you so much for reading.
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