Trump shuts down Voice of America and other U.S. broadcasts
Donald Trump has given a gift to the dictators of the world by effectively shutting down the Voice of America, the international news service started by the U.S. in 1942. He signed an order pulling funding from Voice of America as well as related news services Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia, and Middle East Broadcasting. Voice of America employees were told they were being placed on leave. Various dictators have tried to prevent the people of their totalitarian countries from being able to listen to Voice of America and other U.S. broadcasts and learn the truth. They often used high-powered radio transmitters to broadcast noise in attempts to drown out the U.S. broadcasts.
Trump indicates he wants to give Putin some of Ukraine’s assets
 Donald Trump told reporters late yesterday that he’ll be talking with Russian President Vladimir Putin tomorrow about dividing up Ukraine’s assets. Trump indicated that Ukrainian land and power plants are among the assets he’d be prepared to offer Russia as inducements to end the war that Putin started when he invaded Ukraine. Trump made his comments on Air Force One while flying back to Washington from spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Trump also said that the government of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy was partially responsible for starting the war.
Severe weather kills at least 39
A severe weather system that hit states in the central and eastern parts of the U.S. from Friday through yesterday is blamed for causing at least 39 deaths. Hundreds of homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed by at least 87 tornadoes. The severe weather came amid the Trump Administration’s continued firings of personnel from the National Weather Service. A severe winter storm is expected to hit tomorrow in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan.
Trump Administration violates court order and deports Venezuelans
The Trump Administration has defied a federal court order and gone ahead with the deportation of about 200 Venezuelans. Judge James Boasberg ruled that the administration did not have the authority to proceed with the deportations, while the Trump Administration claimed that the judge did not have the power to stop it. The Trump Administration flew the Venezuelans back to Venezuela, claiming that they were members of gangs. Judge Boasberg had ruled that the Trump Administration could not invoke the Alien Enemies Act from 1798 as a justification for the deportations since the act requires that the U.S. be at war in order for it to be used.
Musk’s cuts to staff at top-secret nuclear agency
An investigation by The New York Times has found that Elon Musk and his people have gotten rid of about 150 employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration. The agency does top-secret work involving nuclear weapons and reactors. The Times found that many of the employees who are no longer with the agency were scientists and not just administrative workers as claimed by Musk’s people. Workers at the agency are required to have the highest level of security clearances.
New U.S. airstrikes in Yemen
The U.S. staged new airstrikes today against targets in Yemen, according to reports from Yemen. This followed strikes by the U.S on Saturday on Houthi rebels that the U.S. said have been firing on U.S. and other ships. Reports said that at least 53 people were killed in Yemen by the U.S. Reuters reported that a U.S. official said the strikes may continue for the next few weeks. The Houthis have said their attacks have been to show solidarity with Palestinians who are under attack from Israel.
