The ACTUAL NEWS: Friday, January 31st 2025 Recap
Today in History; Tragic Crash in Philadelphia, Rubio Headed to Panama, More False Narratives, New Executive Orders, and Other National and Global News
TODAY IN HISTORY
1606: British provocateur Guy Fawkes—one of the Gunpowder Plot conspirators, who sought to blow up Parliament and assassinate King James I for his repression of Roman Catholics—was executed in London.
1943: German Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus surrendered to the Soviet Red Army at Stalingrad (now Volgograd), with his troops surrendering two days later.
1958: Explorer 1, the first artificial space satellite orbited by the United States, marked the country's entry into the space race.
1961: The American film drama The Misfits, directed by John Huston, had its world premiere; it is perhaps best remembered as the final movie of Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable.
1966: The Soviets launched Luna 9, the first spacecraft to make a soft landing on the Moon.
1977: The Pompidou Centre, a French national cultural centre named for former president Georges Pompidou, opened in Paris.
2001: Libyan national Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi was convicted for the 1988 Pan Am flight 103 bombing, in which 270 people were killed; in 2009, the Scottish government released Megrahi from prison after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
2020: The United Kingdom formally left the European Union, more than three years after the country voted for “Brexit.”
QUICK ACTUAL NEWS
NATIONAL
A medical jet carrying at least six people crashed in Northeast Philadelphia near the Roosevelt Mall on Friday, Jan. 31, around 6:30 p.m. The Learjet 55, which had taken off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport and was heading to Missouri, plummeted and exploded shortly after the crash, causing multiple nearby homes to catch fire. The crash occurred near Roosevelt Boulevard and Cottman Avenue. Among those on board was a girl returning to Mexico after receiving treatment for a serious illness in the U.S. All six people on the plane remain unaccounted for. Six people on the ground were also injured, with three hospitalized at Temple University Hospital's Jeanes Campus and three others released. The Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management has closed nearby roads and advised residents to stay away from the flames and keep windows closed.
Aides to Elon Musk, who are overseeing the U.S. government’s human resources agency, have locked career civil servants out of computer systems containing the personal data of millions of federal employees, according to two agency officials. "We have no visibility into what they are doing with the computer and data systems," one of the officials said. "This is raising significant concerns. There’s no oversight, which creates major cybersecurity and hacking risks." Although officials affected by the move can still access functions like email, they can no longer view the extensive datasets that cover all aspects of the federal workforce. Neither Musk, representatives of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), nor the White House responded immediately to requests for comment.
A lawyer representing Elon Musk’s political action committee (PAC) is launching a new law firm, Lex Politica, alongside two attorneys whose clients include Republican U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. The firm adds to a growing network of small conservative law firms that have gained prominence since Donald Trump’s first term and solidified their ties with him and his allies after his reelection. The new firm announced it will represent "candidates, campaigns, and causes at the forefront of the conservative and center-right movement." Lex Politica's founder, Chris Gober, is a lawyer for Musk’s America PAC and also served as its former treasurer. He is partnering with Steve Roberts and Jessica Furst Johnson, who left Holtzman Vogel to join Gober as partners, the trio announced on Friday.
On Friday, Donald Trump announced that any collective bargaining agreements reached with federal workers within 30 days of his inauguration would not be approved, marking the latest move in his effort to reshape the federal workforce. It was unclear how many agreements this new policy would affect, as it refers to them as "lame-duck collective bargaining agreements." These agreements are negotiated between unions and employers to outline pay, working conditions, and other policies.
In another development, the FBI initiated a wide-ranging round of staff cuts on Friday as part of the Trump administration’s plan to quickly overhaul the nation’s leading law enforcement agency, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
The U.S. Department of Defense announced on Friday that it will no longer use official resources, including personnel hours, to host events related to cultural awareness months. The department clarified that service members and civilians are allowed to attend these events in their personal capacity outside of duty hours. The Pentagon emphasized that installations, units, and offices are encouraged to celebrate "the valor and success of military heroes" from all races, genders, and backgrounds. "Our unity and purpose are crucial to fulfilling the Department’s warfighting mission," the statement added.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is considering seeking over $1 billion in reimbursement from Johnson & Johnson for medical costs incurred by federal health agencies on behalf of patients who claim the company’s baby powder and other talc products caused them to develop cancer, a government attorney said on Friday.
The Trump administration is reportedly weighing a proposal to scale back the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and place it under the control of the State Department, two sources familiar with the discussions revealed on Friday. This would represent a significant shift in how Washington allocates foreign aid.
A federal judge temporarily blocked President Trump’s administration from freezing federal grants, loans, and other financial assistance on Friday. The injunction came after Democratic state attorneys general argued that the Republican administration's policy would threaten essential government-funded services.
The Marshall Islands issued a warning to its citizens living in the U.S. not to open their doors to immigration officials without a judicial warrant. This move follows concerns that the community may be targeted in President Trump’s crackdown on undocumented migrants, according to an official.
The U.S. is "hopefully" set to begin transferring migrants to a detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, within 30 days, The Washington Post reported on Friday, citing border czar Tom Homan.
U.S. Air Force F-35s and Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18s conducted combat air patrols in response to Russian military aircraft operating in the Arctic earlier this week, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) reported on January 30. NORAD also deployed two U.S. Air Force F-16s from Alaska to Greenland.
A now-retired Air Force major general was stripped of a star after an inspector general investigation revealed he had engaged in multiple inappropriate sexting relationships—including with an enlisted Airman and congressional staffers—and had an affair with a married woman.
The Trump administration informed top FBI officials that they must retire or face termination in the coming days.
Chevron referred to the "Gulf of America" instead of the Gulf of Mexico in its fourth-quarter press release on Friday, signaling that corporate America is beginning to implement President Trump’s order to rename the ocean basin.
The new head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), appointed by President Trump, has launched an investigation into NPR and PBS, considering the possibility of ending federal funding for public broadcasting. "I am concerned that NPR and PBS broadcasts could be violating federal law by airing commercials," said FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.
Paramount is reportedly in talks with Trump to settle a lawsuit he filed, accusing the company of deceptively editing a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris. Such a settlement would be a significant concession to a sitting president.
Immigrant communities are increasingly fearful of deportation, and schools, churches, and shops are feeling the effects. One minister noted that fewer congregants were attending services.
The Trump administration is seeking to grant U.S. immigration officers access to a database containing information on immigrant minors who entered the United States without their parents, White House border czar Tom Homan told The Washington Post on Friday.
John Harold Rogers, a former senior advisor to the Federal Reserve, was arrested on charges of conspiring to steal Fed trade secrets for China, the Justice Department announced on Friday.
Hedge fund Elliott warned the White House that its support of digital assets, which could undermine the dollar, poses a "dangerous" risk, warning that the crypto bubble could "wreak havoc."
GLOBAL
U.S. President Donald Trump announced new 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico alongside 10% on China are set to begin on February 1. President Trump told reporters on Friday that nothing could be done by Canada, Mexico, and China to prevent the tariffs, adding that something "very substantial" was planned for tariffs on the European Union as well.
On the same day, Trump acknowledged that the cost of tariffs is "sometimes" passed on to consumers. While he conceded that his tariff plans could cause short-term disruptions, he claimed that "he was not concerned about how financial markets would react" to his decision to impose tariffs on February 1.
Trump also stated on Friday that his administration expects to impose tariffs on aluminum, copper, steel, and pharmaceuticals around February 18.
In Sinaloa, northwestern Mexico, some residents have expressed support for Trump’s proposal to send U.S. military forces to target drug cartels, saying that drug-related violence has reached such extreme levels that they would welcome the intervention.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved the re-creation of the Cuba Restricted List on Friday. This list bans certain transactions with companies controlled by or operating for Cuba’s military, intelligence, or security services, according to Rubio.
Japan is reportedly considering offering support for a $44 billion gas pipeline project in Alaska, as part of its effort to strengthen ties with U.S. President Donald Trump and avoid potential trade conflicts, according to three officials familiar with the matter.
The Israeli Ministry of Defense has announced the purchase of $80 million in advanced self-protection systems for Israel’s F-16 fighter jets. This acquisition is part of an ongoing procurement effort following conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. The F-16s will be equipped with cutting-edge technology to ensure optimal protection in complex combat scenarios, the Ministry of Defense said on January 27.
Sweden is providing Ukraine with a record 13.5 billion kronor (approximately $1.23 billion) in funding and military equipment, marking the country’s largest military aid package to date, the government announced on January 30.
On January 29, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met with Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and Minister of Justice, Olha Stefanishyna, at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, followed by a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council.
On Monday, February 3, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will attend an informal meeting of European Union leaders in Brussels and will also meet with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at his official residence in the city.
A pre-dawn stampede at a massive Hindu festival led to the deaths of 30 people, though officials delayed releasing the death toll and appeared to cover up the extent of the tragedy.
CARTOONS OF THE DAY
Please tap on the image to enlarge, then scroll left.
DOCUMENT WORTH READING
Pentagon has informed their resident press (NBC, NYT, NPR) about the need to vacate their permanent office space at the DoD in order to be replaced with OANN, Breitbart, NY Post and HuffPost.
VIDEO QUICK NEWS
White House Press Briefing
Trump's White House welcomes MAGA podcasts one guest at a time, who are given the honor of kicking off the briefings. Per WHCA tradition, this role is usually given to the Associated Press.
White House to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China starting February 1st
Leavitt: “When you’re flying on a plane with your loved ones, do you pray for the plane to land safely or do you pray that the pilot has a certain color of skin? I think the answer is pretty clear and as President Trump said yesterday it is common sense.”
On Mexico
Pete Hegseth on possible military strikes in Mexico: "All options will be on the table."
EO Signing at the Oval Office Question: "With your efforts to reduce the federal workforce, are there any concerns about protecting the public?"
Trump: "Everybody is replaceable. We want them to go to into the private sector. It's our dream to have everybody almost working in the private sector."
Question: "You promised Americans you would try to reduce costs." Trump: "Tariffs don’t cause inflation. Tariffs cause success. There could be some temporary short term disruption. And people understand that."
On Ukraine
Baier: "It's possible that you are going to enforce the sanctions more that are already in place or maybe add more, and is it possible that the weapons are still going to flow to Ukraine in the short-term?"
Kellogg: "I would say that's up to the president.. But I think most people should be very comfortable in the fact that he knows exactly what he is doing. He knows where to apply pressure. Where not to apply pressure. But, more importantly, he will create leverage.. leverage both with Ukrainians and the Russians."
US Economy Outpaces Eurozone Amid Sluggish Growth in Europe
The US economy showed strong growth of 2.3% in Q4 2024, driven by robust consumer spending, while the Eurozone stagnated with 0% GDP growth. The Federal Reserve's decision to maintain interest rates reflects persistent inflation and a stable job market in the US. In contrast, Europe's economic struggles are deepened by Germany's manufacturing crisis and weak performance from France and Italy. The European Central Bank responded by cutting rates to 2.75%. Meanwhile, the US's potential tariffs under President Trump are expected to exacerbate global economic challenges, with ECB President Christine Lagarde warning of a negative global impact.
Protecting Undersea Cables with AI

NATO has developed a new tool to help Allies detect suspicious shipping vessel activity and protect undersea cables and pipelines from potential sabotage.
Known as ‘Mainsail’, the software tool developed by the NATO Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE), flags vessels behaving suspiciously. The CMRE is situated in La Spezia, Italy, and is a world-class NATO scientific research facility with over 60 years of expertise.
Artificial intelligence analyses maritime traffic, allowing authorities to spot vessels that appear to be diverting off-course to potentially damage or gather intelligence about undersea infrastructure.
Damage to the pipelines and cables that carry energy and information across the seabed can be very disruptive. In November and December of 2024 alone, three separate cables carrying internet data and power between five NATO Allies – Estonia, Finland, Germany, Lithuania and Sweden – were severely damaged.
DID YOU KNOW?
Joe Foss: From Fighter Ace to AFL Pioneer and Super Bowl Visionary

Joe Foss, a decorated World War II fighter ace who shot down 26 Japanese planes over Guadalcanal, was no stranger to bold moves. As the first commissioner of the American Football League (AFL), he made a daring proposal in 1963 to NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle for a championship matchup between the two leagues. While Rozelle initially hesitated, Foss’s idea laid the groundwork for what would eventually become the Super Bowl.
Foss’s career was marked by exceptional courage, both in the air and in business. After surviving a harrowing dogfight over Guadalcanal, he became a national hero, receiving the Medal of Honor in 1943 for his aerial feats. He later played a pivotal role in the AFL’s early days and challenged the NFL to expand the sport’s reach. His bold proposal, along with the 1966 AFL-NFL merger, helped create the Super Bowl—now one of the most-watched events in television history.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Florida’s recent winter storm nearly froze more than 1,000 sea turtles to death, and many of them washed up on shore.
NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been aboard the International Space Station since June, performed their first spacewalk together yesterday.
After 17,800 performances and 82,150 gallons of paint, Blue Man Group is coming to an end in New York. The show has run for 34 years.
SoftBank is reportedly in talks to invest up to $25 billion in OpenAI.
Shares of United Parcel Service (UPS) fell sharply by nearly 14% in a single day after the shipping company issued a bleak revenue forecast and announced plans to cut its business with its largest customer, Amazon, by half by next summer.
Apple, the maker of the iPhone, reported its fiscal first-quarter earnings yesterday. While overall sales were strong, reaching $124.3 billion in revenue—surpassing estimates—iPhone sales fell short. iPhone revenue totaled $69 billion, below the expected $71 billion. A significant 11% drop in sales in China, attributed to production issues, was largely responsible for the miss. CEO Tim Cook told CNBC that iPhone sales were stronger in countries where Apple’s AI features are available.
That’s it from me for now. Thank you so much for reading.
Have a peaceful weekend.
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