ACTUAL NEWS: Wednesday, March 19th 2025 Recap
- Olga Nesterova
- Mar 19
- 9 min read
"Today in History" and the Latest National and Global News
QUICK HITS
President Trump said on Fox that the U.S. hopes to expand trade with Russia, including deals on "very big forms of rare earth."
"I would commend President Putin for all he did today on that call to move his country close to a final peace deal," Steve Witkoff said after the 1.5-hour phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
President Trump, in an interview on FOX News, shared that Putin told him that he wants to see him as his friend rather than an enemy. "He said it very strongly", added Trump.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he wouldn't mind if the Liberal Party won the upcoming Canadian election, saying: "I'd rather deal with a liberal than a conservative."
Same as Kremlin preferred Harris over Trump. Same bloody Russian playbook which in order to be understood, needs to be flipped upside down.
The Trump administration has removed an explicit ban on "segregated facilities" like waiting rooms, restaurants and drinking fountains for federal contractors, a memo issued by the U.S. General Services Administration showed. The memo stated that "when issuing new solicitations or contracts," civil agencies should no longer include the provision and clause about the "Prohibition of Segregated Facilities."
Powell projects GDP growth of 1.4% this year.
It was:
2.8% in 2024
2.5% in 2023
1.9% in 2022
5.8% in 2021
TODAY IN HISTORY
1452: Frederick III became the last Holy Roman Emperor to be crowned by a pope, Nicholas V.
1560: In the Conspiracy of Amboise, French Huguenot aristocrats failed to overthrow the Roman Catholic House of Guise.
1687: While on an expedition to find the mouth of the Mississippi River, French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, sieur de La Salle, was murdered by his men in what is now Texas. La Salle had previously claimed a large region around the river for Louis XIV of France, naming it Louisiana.
1911: The first International Women's Day was observed.
1918: U.S. President Woodrow Wilson signed the Standard Time Act, which established Daylight Saving Time in the United States; the legislation also gave the federal government oversight of the country's time zones.
1920: Józef Piłsudski was named marshal of Poland.
1931: Nevada legalized gambling, paving the way for casinos in the state, most notably in Las Vegas.
1982: Argentine forces mobilized after a dispute between Argentine workers and British scientists on British-controlled South Georgia Island, leading to Argentina's invasion of the Falklands two weeks later.
1996: One of the worst fires in the history of the Philippines swept through a Manila discotheque, killing 159 of the 400 people in the nightclub, which was intended to hold no more than 35.
2003: U.S. President George W. Bush ordered airstrikes on Baghdad, launching the Iraq War to oust dictator Saddam Hussein, who was believed (wrongly) to be manufacturing weapons of mass destruction.
QUICK ACTUAL NEWS
NATIONAL
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced on Tuesday that it is reviewing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s HIV prevention division for potential overlap with other agencies but has not yet made a final decision on its future.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday condemned recent violent attacks on Tesla property, stating that the Department of Justice has already charged several perpetrators. “The swarm of violent attacks on Tesla property is nothing short of domestic terrorism,” Bondi said in a statement.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Tuesday threatened to withhold federal transit funds from New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority over concerns about crime and safety on the New York City subway system, as well as other issues.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the U.S.-funded news outlet established during the Cold War to reach audiences under Communist rule, announced on Tuesday that it has sued the Trump administration to block the termination of its federal grant.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order shifting responsibility for disaster preparedness to state and local governments, deepening his efforts to overhaul the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The White House has appointed Calley Means, an ally of U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as a White House adviser and "special government employee," Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
In response to a request from the Heritage Foundation, the U.S. government on Tuesday released documents related to Prince Harry’s 2020 visa application. However, large portions were redacted, with officials citing privacy concerns and stating there was no evidence of special treatment.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday fired two Democratic commissioners from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, in a move that raises concerns about the independence of regulatory agencies. The White House confirmed the dismissals of Commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, first reported by Reuters, but declined further comment.
On Wednesday, the White House defended President Trump’s decision to remove the two Democratic FTC commissioners, stating that “the time was right” for their departure.
A U.S. judge warned on Wednesday that the Trump administration could face consequences if found to have violated his order temporarily blocking the deportation of hundreds of Venezuelan migrants. However, he granted the government additional time to explain the expulsions.
A U.S. judge ruled on Wednesday that Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil must remain in the United States for now. However, he transferred Khalil’s challenge to the legality of his arrest during pro-Palestinian protests to a court in New Jersey.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has suggested that poultry farmers allow bird flu to spread through their flocks to identify birds that may have natural immunity.
Republicans have appointed J.D. Vance to lead the party’s fundraising efforts, marking what appears to be the first time a vice president has taken on this role.
The White House is preparing to withhold $175 million in federal funding from the University of Pennsylvania over its transgender policies, escalating the Trump administration’s broader conflict with elite universities.
As expected, the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on Wednesday. However, policymakers signaled that they still anticipate lowering borrowing costs by half a percentage point by the end of the year, citing slowing economic growth and an eventual decline in inflation.
President Trump hosted top oil executives at the White House on Wednesday as he outlined plans to boost domestic energy production amid falling crude prices and looming trade tensions. Energy Secretary Chris Wright later told reporters that the meeting did not include discussions about taking over Ukraine’s power plants, dismissing a question from the press.
The U.S. government-funded Radio Free Asia informed hundreds of U.S.-based employees on Wednesday that they will be placed on unpaid leave at the end of the week after the Trump administration announced it was terminating the outlet’s grant funding.
U.S. lawmakers and human rights advocates warn that the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle government-funded media organizations—including Voice of America and Radio Free Asia—are a significant blow to Washington’s global influence, especially as China seeks to expand its own.
Cuban state-run media on Wednesday praised the Trump administration’s move to defund U.S.-backed news outlets long regarded as a key part of Washington’s efforts to counter Communist narratives in Cuba.
Seven Democratic U.S. senators on Wednesday demanded that the Trump administration reinstate all employees dismissed from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention since Trump took office.
A U.S. judge on Wednesday denied a request to temporarily block President Trump’s cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency from further efforts to take over the U.S. Institute of Peace.
GLOBAL
Swiss drugmaker Roche has scrapped its global diversity workforce targets, while fellow Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis is ending its use of diverse hiring panels in the U.S. Both companies are acting to avoid potential penalties under recent U.S. executive orders.
At least 10 U.S. airstrikes targeted areas in Yemen, including Saada province and Hodeidah, Yemen's Houthi media reported early Wednesday. The strikes hit regions controlled by the Iran-aligned Houthis, who announced last week they were resuming attacks on Red Sea shipping in support of Palestinians in Gaza.
President Donald Trump's plan to revive U.S. shipbuilding by imposing massive fees on China-linked vessels docking at American ports is driving up U.S. coal inventories and creating uncertainty in the already struggling agricultural sector. Exporters are now facing difficulties in securing ships to transport goods abroad.
Germany has approved a historic spending initiative. The lower house of Parliament passed a bill loosening government borrowing limits and unlocking a $547 billion fund to bolster its military and revitalize its ailing economy. The country’s center-right Christian Democratic Union and the center-left Social Democratic Party collaborated on the deal, which was spearheaded by Friedrich Merz, widely seen as Germany’s chancellor-in-waiting. While Germany has narrowly avoided recession in recent years, economists warn that persistent infrastructure challenges and a manufacturing slowdown have left its economy stagnant.
The U.S. has ended funding for efforts to track thousands of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. Officials or contractors may have also deleted a key database documenting the cases.
Several U.S. national security agencies have halted a coordinated effort to counter Russian sabotage, disinformation, and cyberattacks, easing pressure on Moscow.
During a call today, President Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that "the U.S. could be very helpful in managing Ukraine’s electrical supply and nuclear plants with its expertise in energy and utilities." He added that "American ownership of those plants would be the best protection for Ukrainian energy infrastructure."
Russian reports claim that over 337 Ukrainian drones struck Moscow, Kursk, Belgorod, Oryol, Lipetsk, Bryansk, and Ryazan in what is described as the largest drone attack to date. The strikes also targeted oil refineries in the Moscow area, including the city's largest refinery, which supplies up to 50% of its diesel and gasoline consumption.
Israel’s renewed attacks on Gaza have killed more than 400 people, according to the enclave’s health authority, marking one of the deadliest days of the war. In a televised address, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled that further attacks were imminent. "This is only the beginning," he declared.
The U.S. State Department announced Wednesday that a proposal to extend the ceasefire in Gaza remains on the table, but the opportunity to implement it is "closing fast." A spokesperson said the plan would secure the release of five living hostages, including American Edan Alexander, in exchange for a substantial number of Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.
Canada is strengthening its military defenses in the Arctic as global competition over the region intensifies, with the U.S., Russia, and China all seeking to expand their influence.
Italy and Spain are opposing a proposed €40 billion aid package for Ukraine.
Serbia’s government and Prime Minister Miloš Vučević have resigned following mass protests. President Aleksandar Vučić has stated he will call early elections in June unless a new government is formed within 30 days. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to counter state media propaganda.
NATO fighter jets intercepted two long-range U.S. heavy bombers during PLANNED intensive Arctic drills, amid rising tensions between the alliance and Moscow. The B-52H Stratofortress aircraft participated in NATO's Tower Citadel EXERCISES alongside Dutch, Danish, and Swedish fighter jets on Monday.
Canada's Prime Minister Carney and Council members discussed the status of U.S. tariffs on Canada, retaliatory counter-tariffs, and support measures for affected Canadian businesses and individuals. The Prime Minister emphasized the need to engage with U.S. counterparts based on mutual respect and underscored Canada's strategic priorities: reinforcing Arctic security, diversifying trade partnerships, and building the strongest economy in the G7.
CARTOON OF THE DAY
POSTS OF THE DAY
NEWS CLIPS - NO COMMENTARY
EU: Russia spends 40% of its federal budget on defense. The era of peace dividend is long gone. The era of spheres of influence and power competition is fully back. All while US shifts its attention toward the Indo-Pacific
WH blames the “activist judge” for refusing to succumb to “presidential authority”
This is sad.
Angus shares his message for Trump
Steve Bannon: Trump will run in 2028.
Ukrainian soldier call his mom upon POW exchange
Trump: Canada is “nasty” to deal with
Zelenskyy on Putin’s plans in Ukraine for the next few months
Zelenskyy: If Putin wants peace, why is he demanding us to weaken our army?
Witkoff: I believe Putin is shooting his own drones over Ukraine 🤡
Musk blames “bigger powers” for Tesla fires
GOOD TO KNOW
Turkish government announced that it will never recognize Crimea as Russian territory
Kaja Kallas on EU defense and partnerships with Canada, Australia, Japan, and the UK, plus more on Ukraine:
ICYMI
Law firm Paul Weiss stated in a court filing on Wednesday that a former executive facing criminal bribery charges has dismissed the firm as his defense counsel due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent executive order targeting it.
Under the EU Digital Markets Act, major tech companies, or "gatekeepers," are prohibited from favoring their own services over those of third parties in search rankings. The European Commission found that Alphabet (Google) has violated this rule by prioritizing its own services in Google Search, giving them preferential treatment on Google Play, and imposing excessive fees.
Lawmakers in Mexico City have banned traditional bullfighting but approved a modified version that does not harm the animals.
Turkish authorities have arrested the mayor of Istanbul on charges related to corruption and terrorism. A leading opposition party had been considering him as its presidential candidate.
NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who had been in orbit since June, have safely returned to Earth, splashing down off the Florida Panhandle.
Google has agreed to acquire cybersecurity startup Wiz for $32 billion, marking the largest deal in its history.
TODAY'S COVER PHOTO
New York City, NY
Protesters chant outside the headquarters of News Corp, the owner of Fox News, in Manhattan, NYC
Photograph: Gina M Randazzo/Zuma Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock
That's all from me for now. Thank you for reading.
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