ACTUAL NEWS: Tuesday, March 25th 2025 Recap
- Olga Nesterova
- Mar 25
- 12 min read
"Today in History" and the Latest National and Global News
QUICK HITS
Customs officials reported 3,254 egg-related interceptions at the US-Mexico border in the first two months of the year, a 116% increase from last year. This rise comes as US egg prices soar due to an avian flu outbreak, which has led to the slaughter of 168 million birds. With prices reaching over $8 per dozen, some shoppers are crossing into Mexico to buy eggs for as low as $2. While most people surrender eggs voluntarily at the border, hidden eggs can result in $300 fines.
President Trump on tomorrow's DOGE meeting on defunding PBS and NPR: "I'd love to do it, they spent more money than any other network of its type that was ever conceived, it is a very biased view. It would be an honor for me. I can't imagine DOGE wouldn't (recommend to close it)."
Sen. Kelly: DOD policy prohibits discussion of even 'controlled unclassified information' on unsecured devices. Are you both aware of that?
DNI Gabbard: I haven't read that policy
CIA Director Ratcliffe: I'm not familiar with the DOD policy
Tim Miller: "There was a covert CIA operative named in the thread, right?"
Jeffrey Goldberg: "Yes, and I withheld her name... I didn't put it in the story because she's under cover. But, I mean, the CIA Director put it into the chat."
Later, President Trump met with U.S. ambassadors at the White House.
Each ambassador introduced themselves and expressed their gratitude, saying, “Dear President, thank you for the honor to serve the best President and administration in history.”
CNN: Will you change any practices used for national security communications?
Trump: We have the strongest national security now. We are shooting ships and planes—they fall right into the water. There was no classified material.
Waltz: There are journalists in this city who discredit this president. We are reviewing how The Atlantic editor managed to get in. The world owes President Trump immense gratitude for all he is doing for world security. Thank God for the President and his leadership. Instead of talking about hoaxes, talk about the successes.
Trump: We had a lot of successes in this area. It should've been done by Biden, but he was incompetent and didn’t know what he was doing. We killed the most dangerous (Houthis) and sent a letter to Iran. The Atlantic made up a lot of stories. (Points to Waltz)—he is a very good man and will continue what he is doing.
Later, Trump added, "I don't know anything about Signal. It's used by many, but someone can sneak in. That is the price you pay unless you're seated in the Situation Room without phones. But they're making a lot of stories because of the greatest two months we had in history."
Interesting fact: CBS News obtained an internal NSA bulletin from February 2025 warning staff not to use the Signal app for sensitive information, citing vulnerabilities to Russian hackers. These documents were sent before the Houthi chat scandal involving Jeffrey Goldberg.
TODAY IN HISTORY
451: According to tradition, Venice was founded.
1305: The Arena (or Scrovegni) Chapel, containing frescoes by Giotto, was consecrated in Padua, Italy.
1306: Robert the Bruce was crowned King of Scotland at Scone. He later freed Scotland from English rule, winning the decisive Battle of Bannockburn (1314) and confirming Scottish independence in the Treaty of Northampton (1328).
1655: Dutch mathematician and astronomer Christiaan Huygens discovered Titan, the largest moon of Saturn.
1807: The British Parliament abolished the slave trade in the British West Indies.
1911: A fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City killed 146 people, prompting the creation of health and safety legislation.
1957: The Treaties of Rome were signed, establishing the European Community and the European Atomic Energy Community.
1965: Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights activists completed their march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, after two previous attempts were halted by local police.
1975: King Faisal of Saudi Arabia was assassinated by his nephew.
2002: A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck the Hindu Kush region of northern Afghanistan, causing more than 1,000 deaths.
QUICK ACTUAL NEWS
NATIONAL
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday emphasized that Congress holds the authority to eliminate entire district courts, underscoring its influence over the federal judiciary. His remarks come as the White House pushes back against what it calls "activist" judges obstructing President Donald Trump’s agenda.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday against the law firm Jenner & Block, with a White House official stating that the firm has weaponized the government and legal system.
The Justice Department has refused to disclose details about two deportation flights carrying Venezuelan immigrants, despite a federal judge’s request.
A Korean American Columbia University student, a legal permanent U.S. resident involved in pro-Palestinian protests, has won a temporary reprieve from deportation. A judge ruled on Tuesday that federal immigration officials cannot detain her while she fights the Trump administration’s efforts to remove her from the country.
The Trump administration is citing a 1952 law to justify the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a leader of the Columbia protests. However, the law was previously ruled unconstitutional—by none other than Trump’s sister.
A liberal candidate in next week’s Wisconsin Supreme Court election has raised $24 million, setting a new record for a judicial contest.
Paul Atkins, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, has disclosed personal assets valued at over $328 million, held jointly with his wife, according to a Reuters analysis of newly released ethics documents.
President Donald Trump has nominated Susan Monarez, the acting director of the CDC, for the agency’s top role. Monarez, an infectious disease researcher, has publicly endorsed COVID-19 vaccines.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s views on measles have drawn sharp criticism from public health leaders. However, his advocacy on other issues, such as improving infant formula and eliminating artificial food dyes, has gained traction in both government and industry.
Citing health risks, West Virginia has banned foods containing most artificial food dyes and two preservatives.
Teachers' unions, the NAACP, and other organizations have filed lawsuits against President Trump’s executive order to dismantle the Department of Education.
As he advocates for cease-fires in Ukraine and the Middle East, President Donald Trump continues to lament his lack of a Nobel Peace Prize.
John Phelan has been confirmed as the next Secretary of the Navy, with the Senate approving his nomination in a 62-30 vote on March 24. Phelan, a businessman and co-founder of MSD Capital, will oversee the Navy and Marine Corps.
Hill Air Force Base in Utah has shuttered one of its two day care centers, impacting service members, civilian employees, and their families. The closure follows a hiring freeze imposed by the Trump administration.
The U.S. Air Force’s decision to select Boeing’s F-47 as the winner of its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) competition has sparked concerns about funding for stealthy aerial refueling tankers, a program previously considered vital to the NGAD initiative.
A federal appeals court has ruled that the Trump administration can pause refugee resettlement while litigation over the freeze continues. However, refugees who were conditionally approved for entry by January 20 will remain exempt from the suspension.
A federal judge on Tuesday demanded that the Trump administration justify its refusal to issue passports that reflect the gender identities of transgender and nonbinary Americans.
The Trump administration plans to freeze $120 million in federal family-planning grants this year, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing sources familiar with the matter.
Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz has urged Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to investigate whether China is covertly working to prevent Congress from extending its authority to auction wireless spectrum.
A senior Justice Department official under President Donald Trump allegedly directed a prosecutor to destroy notes from a meeting about potentially dismissing corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams, according to newly public court filings.
Texas and New Mexico health officials reported a rise in measles infections, with total cases reaching 370—an increase of 19 over the past four days. The outbreak is one of the largest in the U.S. in the past decade.
Boeing announced on Tuesday that it has increased production of a critical component for Patriot air defense missiles—the seeker that identifies and tracks incoming threats—to meet growing U.S. and allied demand.
CBS has urged the Federal Communications Commission to dismiss a complaint alleging "news distortion" in a 60 Minutes interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, arguing there is no evidence to support the claim.
A new Reuters/Ipsos poll finds that a majority of Americans believe the U.S. president should always comply with federal court rulings, even as the Trump administration continues to criticize judges who block its efforts to reshape the government.
GLOBAL
U.S. Vice President JD Vance announced on Tuesday that he will visit Greenland this week as part of a high-profile U.S. delegation to the territory, which President Donald Trump has suggested Washington should acquire.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has accused the United States of applying "unacceptable pressure" on Greenland.
The U.S. Department of Commerce added six subsidiaries of Inspur Group—China’s leading cloud computing and big data service provider—to its export restriction list on Tuesday, along with dozens of other Chinese entities, according to government postings.
A network of companies linked to a secretive Chinese tech firm has been attempting to recruit recently laid-off U.S. government workers, according to job advertisements and a researcher who uncovered the campaign.
The United States has imposed sanctions on three Iranian intelligence officers for their alleged role in the disappearance of former FBI Special Agent Robert Levinson, the Treasury and State Departments announced on Tuesday.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to the Caribbean later this week to discuss energy security, illegal immigration, and the dismantling of transnational criminal networks, State Department officials said Tuesday.
European Union trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič met with top U.S. trade officials on Tuesday in an effort to prevent steep tariffs on EU goods, which could take effect as early as next week.
NATO will launch a major exercise at the end of the month to test allied air forces’ ability to operate in a contested environment, officials announced on March 24.
Turkey sees an opportunity to strengthen bilateral ties and increase engagement with the Trump administration, Turkish Ambassador to the U.S. Sedat Önal said on March 21 at an Atlantic Council event in Washington, D.C. He emphasized that greater U.S.-Turkey cooperation could play a critical role in addressing conflicts such as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
Turkish authorities have arrested more than 1,100 people, including journalists, amid protests over the imprisonment of a political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The United Nations plans to withdraw about a third of its international personnel from Gaza, as Israeli strikes continue to target its facilities.
Israeli settlers in the West Bank assaulted the Palestinian director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land before Israeli authorities detained him, witnesses reported.
Both Hamas and the United States have responded positively to a new Egyptian truce proposal, which would see Hamas release five Israeli hostages per week, while Israel would begin implementing the second phase of a ceasefire after the first week, two unnamed security sources told Reuters. However, an unnamed Israeli official told The Times of Israel yesterday, "We haven’t heard of any new proposal."
UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed ceasefire efforts in Gaza during a phone call on Tuesday, Emirati state news agency WAM reported. The call came as Israel resumed its military offensive in the enclave last week.
The U.S. government has removed bounties on three senior Taliban officials following a visit to Afghanistan last week by a senior Trump adviser, the Taliban's interior ministry announced. During the visit, the Taliban freed a U.S. detainee. Among the officials removed from the bounty list is acting Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, a member of the Haqqani network, which was responsible for several large-scale attacks during the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban takeover in 2021, Haqqani has at times criticized the group's hardline policies.
Peruvian President Dina Boluarte has called for general elections to be held on April 12, 2026, expressing hope that the vote will bring stability to the country.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom warned on Tuesday that treatment of minorities in India is worsening. The commission recommended targeted sanctions against India’s external intelligence agency over alleged involvement in assassination plots against Sikh separatists.
Indonesia remains committed to its coal-to-clean energy transition plan despite the U.S. withdrawing as a donor, a senior official said yesterday. Washington had pledged more than $2 billion in grants, loans, and guarantees toward the $20 billion initiative, which continues to receive backing from nine other countries, including co-leads Japan and Germany.
The United Kingdom has sanctioned three former Sri Lankan military commanders and a former Tamil Tigers rebel commander for human rights abuses committed during the country’s 1983-2009 civil war. The sanctions cite extrajudicial killings, torture, and sexual violence. A 2011 UN panel found "credible allegations" of serious violations by both sides, though the Sri Lankan government has largely denied the accusations and refused to cooperate with investigators.
Mozambique's opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane announced that he has reached an agreement with President Daniel Chapo to end months of post-election violence. Mondlane, who claims he rightfully won the October election, said the deal aims to de-escalate tensions following protests that have left hundreds dead. President Chapo had previously engaged with other opposition leaders earlier this month but had not included Mondlane in those discussions.
On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met with Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tîlvăr at NATO Headquarters in Brussels.
On Wednesday, March 26, 2025, Secretary General Rutte will visit Warsaw, Poland, where he will meet with President Andrzej Duda, Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski.
UKRAINE UPDATE
Black Sea Ceasefire Takes Effect Amid Controversial U.S.-Russia Agreement
The 30-day ceasefire in the Black Sea and the ban on strikes against energy infrastructure take effect today.
Kyiv included a clause on prisoner releases, while Moscow added one on lifting sanctions. However, strikes against civilian targets are not prohibited. Essentially, this agreement places restrictions on Ukraine, as it had been targeting Russian energy infrastructure, whereas Russia can still legally strike civilian targets in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russian demands have surfaced, and it is astonishing that the U.S. negotiated the deal under these terms. The agreement between the U.S. and Russia to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea will only take effect after several sanctions-related conditions are met, including:
Lifting sanctions on Rosselkhozbank and other financial institutions involved in international trade in food (including fishery products) and fertilizers, as well as restoring their access to SWIFT and opening necessary correspondent accounts.
Removing restrictions on trade finance transactions.
Lifting sanctions on companies that produce and export food and fertilizers, as well as eliminating restrictions on insurance companies handling these cargoes.
Ending restrictions on port services for vessels and sanctions on Russian-flagged ships involved in the food and fertilizer trade.
Removing restrictions on the supply of agricultural machinery to Russia and other goods used in food production.
"There are no questions about our territories. It doesn't matter what Russia says," President Zelensky stated regarding Russian claims to occupied regions. He also voiced concern over the U.S. engaging in discussions with Russia about Ukrainian territories without Ukraine’s participation.
"We have had no agreements on territories," he asserted.
Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry insists that the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is a Russian facility and cannot be transferred to Ukraine or any other country. It is a lie.
CARTOONS OF THE DAY
POSTS OF THE DAY
NEWS CLIPS - NO COMMENTARY
Trump: I think Greenland is gonna be something that maybe is in our future
Rogan: I don't go to Canada anymore
Duffy: Thanks to the leadership of POTUS, we have the opportunity to finally overhaul our air traffic control system and replace it with new, state-of-the-art technologies that will be the envy of the world.
Raskin and Moscowitz have a humorous chat on the emojis used in the private chat on Houthi strikes
Zelenskyy on the 30-day ceasefire in Black Sea
Russian political “blogger” on state tv commenting on Witkoff’s statements
ICYMI
Tech companies—including Meta, Google, and OpenAI—have urged the Trump administration to allow them to train their AI models on copyrighted material.
United Airlines is raising prices and cutting amenities at its airport lounges, which have become increasingly crowded in recent years.
Genetic testing company 23andMe has filed for bankruptcy after struggling to recover from a 2023 data breach that exposed customer information.
Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind Sesame Street, is laying off 20% of its workforce to address a $40 million budget shortfall. The financial strain follows HBO Max’s decision to stop airing the show in 2026, ending an agreement that provided Sesame Workshop up to $35 million annually for early access to episodes. With Sesame Street losing younger viewers to shows like Bluey and Peppa Pig, the nonprofit is in talks with streaming platforms such as Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime while seeking additional donor funding. The upcoming 56th season will emphasize humor, music, and animation to better engage 3-year-olds.
South Korea’s Hyundai plans to invest approximately $21 billion in the U.S., including $5.8 billion for a steel plant in Louisiana.
Warren Buffett will award $1 million to an employee who won his company’s March Madness bracket challenge—made easier this year to increase the chances of a winner—by correctly predicting 31 of the 32 first-round games in the men’s tournament.
The FDA has approved a lab-grown blood vessel despite concerns over potentially fatal ruptures.
WORTH READING
TODAY'S COVER PHOTO
Prince William rode a tank in army uniform near Russia’s border, joining UK troops in Estonia
That's all from me for now. Thank you for reading.
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