Trump being bought: Steve Bannon, who served as an advisor to Donald Trump in the White House, says Trump was bought-off to change his view that the U.S. should ban the use of TikTok. Trump changed his position on TikTok and started praising TikTok after meeting at Mar-a-Lago with billionaire conservative hedge fund manager Jeff Yass whose 15% ownership stake in TikTok is estimated to be worth $33 billion. Trump also changed his position on Bud Light beer. Trump had called for his supporters to boycott the beer, then changed his position, Trump flip-flopped and told his supporters to buy the beer within hours of a lobbyist for Bud Light brewer Anheuser-Busch announcing they were holding a $10,000-a-plate fundraiser for Trump. Bannon was convicted of defrauding Trump supporters of millions and received a presidential pardon from Trump for his crimes.
Trump wants Social Security, Medicare cuts: In an interview on CNBC, Donald Trump called for cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Trump made it clear he was talking about cuts to benefits in addition to trying to save money by looking for waste and inefficiency. The Trump campaign quickly tried to deny that Trump said what he said. President Biden, speaking in New Hampshire after the Trump interview, declared again that he would never cut Social Security and Medicare benefits and would protect what senior citizens worked all their lives to earn.
Hur testifies: Special Counsel Robert Hur, who investigated President Biden still having classified government documents after his terms as vice president had ended, testified today before the House Judiciary Committee, which is headed by Donald Trump loyalist Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio. Hur, who was appointed to the Justice Department by Trump, defended his report that concluded Biden did nothing wrong. Biden cooperated with Hur’s investigation and, in an interview, explained that his staff members frequently took papers from his desk and put them into cartons to be sent to storage.
Trump’s boxes: In an exclusive interview with CNN, a former Trump employee at Mar-a-Lago told how he helped move up to 15 boxes of documents onto Trump’s private jet that was to fly them to Trump’s golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey. Brian Butler said that the boxes were moved just before FBI agents were due at Mar-a-Lago to search for additional classified government documents that Trump was refusing to return to the government. Butler said he was urged to hire an attorney that was recommended by Trump’s people and for whom Trump would pay.
Inflation in February: Inflation rose by 0.4% in February the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this morning. In January, the increase had been a bit less at 0.3%. Over the last 12 months, the index for prices increased 3.2%. February saw energy costs rise 2.3% while costs of food to be consumed at home remained unchanged. The 3.2% inflation rate for February was slightly higher than January’s 3.1% rate. The Federal Reserve Bank is looking for inflation to be reduced to 2% and may delay making interest rate cuts as a result of inflation remaining above that target.
Chaos in Haiti: Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry has resigned as chaos intensifies in the country. Criminal gangs have taken over and have been attacking government buildings including police stations. Social order was said to be near collapse. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has announced the U.S. is sending an extra $33 million in humanitarian aid to the people of Haiti. An estimated 300,000 people have fled their homes due to the gang violence. Schools are closed displacing an estimated one million children.
