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Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, instructing U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin demolition of the Department of Education, and appears to be trying to avoid Congress’ approval to formally close the federal department.
The progressive wing of the House Democrats’ Caucus has denounced Trump’s orders as an unconstitutional attempt to circumvent Congress’ approval to implement his political agenda.
The majority of the education sector’s budget consists of federal grants and loan programs, including a $18.4 billion Title I program that funds low-income K-12 schools, and a $15.5 billion Idea program that covers the cost of education for students with disabilities.
The White House said these programs and federal student loan payments are not affected by the order. It was not immediately clear what spending the administration could cut without cutting these initiatives.
How has the sector already been affected by Trump’s efforts to shrink states? The move comes after steps to reduce departmental authority by nearly halving the workforce and setting up a series of layoffs that have cancelled dozens of grants and contracts.
Israel adds to victims of child death on strike in Gaza
Medical officials on Palestinian territory said yesterday that at least 91 people were injured in Israel’s third day’s attack on Israeli strikes, but the majority of the deaths were women and children.
The timing of the strike appears to have increased the proportion of women and children victims, with many sleeping when missiles collide overnight or early in the morning. Among those who were tug alive from the kawara rub on Thursday was a moon girl whose parents and siblings were killed.
The first wave on Tuesday crushed a two-month hiatus in hostilities, killing more than 400 people, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The deaths included 183 children and 94 women, Palestinian officials said.
Meanwhile, what is happening in Israel? Tens of thousands of Israelis took them to the city, calling for a new ceasefire in Gaza, protesting what they say was an attack on the country’s democracy by Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing governing coalition.
Elon Musk’s daughter says his gesture was “undetectedly a Nazi salute.”
Elon Musk’s eldest son, Vivienne Jenna Wilson, spoke publicly about her father in January, saying that he “definitely gave a Nazi salute,” and he was part of the White House, who was “as evil as cartoons.”
Wilson, 20, speaks to teenage Vogue, said what her father was doing in the federal government was “shit.”
“Nazi salute was insane. Honey, we’re going to call it a fig. We’re going to call it a Nazi salute for what it is,” Wilson said. “That shit was definitely a Nazi salute.”
Meanwhile, Musk’s Company X has sued the Indian government over content removal laws that social media platforms describe as censorship.
What else did Wilson say? She opposed attacks on the transgender community by her father and Trump. For example, an executive order prohibiting trans people from the military and participating in women’s sports. “As a trans woman, I’m afraid of losing access to guaranteed medical care,” Wilson said.
In other news…
The New Mexico clinic raised doubts when Betsy Arakawa passed away, claiming that the classical pianist rang them on February 12th.
British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that he faced “serious consequences” if he violates the Ukrainian peace agreement.
A district judge banned the Trump administration from deporting Indian academics from Georgetown University after scholars were accused of ties with Hamas.
The Sudanese army recaptured the presidential palace in the capital Khartoum with a highly symbolic battlefield victory over paramilitary swift support forces in the Sudanese civil war.
Today’s Statistics: Glacier Meltdowns Risk Risk for 20 billion people Food and Water Supply
Retreating the glacier threatens the food and water supply of 2 billion people around the world, a UNESCO report warns amid “unprecedented” melting rates. Two-thirds of the world’s irrigated agriculture could be affected by the climate crisis.
Don’t miss this: Is the US targeted at Venezuelan body art?
The Trump administration claims that tattoos prove membership in the Tren de Aragua gang, and appears to be using so-called evidence to expel Venezuelan scores to El Salvador. However, relatives describe the tattoo as a tribute to God, family and soccer club Real Madrid.
Climate check: evidence of microplastic accumulation in bird lungs
Researchers analyzed the lungs of 51 species of birds in China and discovered microplastics in all birds. “The most surprising result was the extensive contamination of all the species we sampled, regardless of body size, habitat preference, or feeding habits,” said Shane Dubay, an assistant professor at the University of Texas Arlington, who was part of the research team.
The Last Things: Big Star, Little Shine – Does anyone actually watch the Apple TV+ show?
According to news sites, Apple TV+ is losing $1 billion a year. The second-most seen show on the service is Ted Lasso, a dormant sitcom currently in two years that hasn’t announced a new episode. But if Apple starts to hit — being sold properly shows people actually want to see — all of this can change with a heartbeat, writes Stuart Heritage. “After all, how difficult is it to find a next retirement?”
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