The ACTUAL NEWS: Monday, March 10th 2025 Recap
"Today in History" and the Latest National and Global News
QUICK HITS
Earlier today, I joined a Zoom meeting with James Appathurai, Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Innovation, Hybrid, and Cyber at NATO, and several other experts on Russian hybrid warfare, organized by the Council on Foreign Relations.
Here are some takeaways:
NATO: “The main intention of the Russian shadow fleet is to control and be able to shut down critical infrastructure, energy infrastructure in particular. Cyber, sabotage, direct targeting – Ukraine currently experiences the full spectrum.”
Comment on cutting cyber operations against Russia by the Trump administration:
NATO: “From our point of view, intelligence cooperation between NATO and the US has not been affected.”
Max Boot, CFR: “The message we send to Putin is that we won’t oppose him, which is outrageous.”
Q: "What constitutes a declaration of war? If hybrid activity crosses the line and triggers Article 5?"
NATO: "The basic policy position is that a hybrid attack can ultimately trigger Article 5, but it's up to the allies to invoke it. One ally's view is not the same as another ally's. It's a political decision every time."
In short – the US could veto anything anti-Russian.
TODAY IN HISTORY
1793: In Paris, on the proposal of Georges Danton, the National Convention decreed the establishment of the Revolutionary Tribunal.
1864: The Red River Campaign began in the American Civil War, lasting for several months before Confederate troops under General Richard Taylor defeated the Union forces.
1876: Alexander Graham Bell's “liquid” transmitter design permitted the first transmission of speech by Bell to his assistant, Thomas Watson.
1933: Soon after Adolf Hitler became chancellor, the first concentration camp in Germany opened at Dachau, where at least 32,000 people would die from disease, malnutrition, physical oppression, and execution.
1949: American citizen Mildred Gillars, who earned the nickname “Axis Sally” as a radio propagandist for the Nazi government during World War II, was convicted of treason and served 12 years in prison.
1969: James Earl Ray pled guilty to murdering American civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., and was sentenced to 99 years in prison.
2006: NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter entered Mars orbit and began searching for signs of water on the planet.
2017: South Korean politician Park Geun-Hye's presidency ended as the country's Constitutional Court upheld her impeachment, making her the first democratically elected president of South Korea to be removed from office.
QUICK ACTUAL NEWS
NATIONAL
The Trump administration plans to close the enrollment period for Obamacare health insurance plans on December 15, one month earlier than the current deadline, according to a press release from the agency overseeing the program.
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has directed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to revise its food safety guidelines to strengthen oversight of food ingredients deemed safe.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on Monday that it will not take action against compounding pharmacies making copies of Novo Nordisk's weight-loss drug, Wegovy, until a federal court issues a ruling in a lawsuit against the agency.
A federal judge in Texas denied the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) motion to stay its lawsuit against Comerica Bank, according to a court order filed on Monday. The consumer watchdog agency, largely shut down by the Trump administration, had earlier asked the court to pause its enforcement action against the bank. This is one of several high-profile lawsuits the agency has sought to dismiss or delay under new leadership.
The U.S. government agency responsible for weather forecasts is planning another round of mass layoffs as part of President Donald Trump's initiative to reduce the size of the U.S. civil service, according to a Reuters' source familiar with the plan.
NASA announced it is eliminating its chief scientist position and closing an office that studies policy matters related to space and technology, as part of a layoff that will affect 23 employees.
Republicans, who control the U.S. House of Representatives, plan to vote on Tuesday on a six-month stopgap funding bill to keep the government operational through September 30, when the current fiscal year ends.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appointed new leadership at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Sunday, as the agency struggles to meet President Donald Trump's goal of large-scale deportations of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally.
National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard announced on Monday that President Donald Trump had ordered the revocation of security clearances and restricted access to classified information for several officials from the Biden administration. Those affected include former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and former Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. Also named were New York Attorney General Letitia James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, both of whom prosecuted Trump. Gabbard added that former President Biden is no longer receiving the President's Daily Brief.
A U.S. judge ruled on Monday that a former chief of Russian state oil and gas company Rosneft cannot plausibly claim ownership of a $300 million superyacht seized by U.S. authorities in 2022.
The Dow dropped 890 points as stocks tumbled, with growing concerns about the economic damage from ongoing trade disputes.
The Trump administration launched a new app on Monday that allows immigrants in the U.S. illegally to "self-deport" instead of facing potential arrest and detention, furthering President Donald Trump's deportation efforts.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright warned on Monday that the surge in U.S. power demand growth is "a train wreck waiting to happen," stressing the need for significant investments and regulatory changes to address the issue.
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Monday to hear a challenge by a Christian therapist on free speech grounds against a Colorado law banning "conversion therapy" aimed at changing a minor's sexual orientation or gender identity.
The U.S. agency enforcing labor rights for private-sector workers has decided to abandon its legal defense of a law preventing the president from removing appointees at will, as President Donald Trump seeks to remove a Democratic member.
Trump announced on Sunday that his administration is in talks with four different groups about the potential sale of Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok, stating that all options are on the table.
Trump also said on Sunday that a government shutdown "could happen" if the House of Representatives cannot gather enough votes to pass a temporary funding bill, but he remains optimistic that the measure will be approved.
The Space Rapid Capabilities Office quietly launched prototype payloads on a satellite two years ago to help operators track when the spacecraft is being observed by China’s space surveillance network. This capability is now being explored for the rest of the Space Force.
On March 7, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth added to a directive he issued last week, instructing the department’s roughly 760,000 civilian employees to submit five bullet points summarizing their weekly achievements by noon Eastern time every Tuesday.
The Trump administration has canceled more than 80% of all programs at the U.S. Agency for International Development following a six-week review, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on Monday.
President Trump announced on Monday that the arrest of a Palestinian graduate student who had been active in pro-Palestinian protests at New York's Columbia University would be followed by others. The student, detained as part of Trump’s crackdown on certain anti-Israel protesters, has been moved to a federal jail for migrants in Louisiana, according to a detainee database.
Court-martial proceedings began on Monday for Jack Teixeira, a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard facing military charges after already being sentenced to 15 years in prison for leaking classified U.S. national security documents online.
The head of a key Justice Department task force combating drugs and organized crime was fired on Friday.
The Department of Veterans Affairs will begin mass layoffs as early as June, according to a memo reviewed by Reuters, as President Donald Trump's efforts to dramatically reduce the size of the federal government continue through politically sensitive agencies.
White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett expressed hope on Sunday that a dispute with Canada over allegations that fentanyl is being trafficked across the U.S.-Canada border could be resolved by the end of March. Note: Canada is the victim of the proven unprovoked tariff war, not the aggressor.
GLOBAL
Mark Carney won the Canadian Liberal Party’s leadership election yesterday with over 85 percent of the vote. In a speech last night, Carney addressed trade tensions with the United States, saying Canada was enduring “dark days brought on by a country we can no longer trust.” He pledged to “keep our tariffs in place until the Americans show us respect and make credible, reliable commitments to free and fair trade.”
The United States was not invited to the NATO summit on Ukraine in Paris on March 11, according to AP. The meeting will focus on creating an international security force for Ukraine, with the French and British plans for Ukraine being presented during the first part of the talks.
Today, Zelenskyy held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh regarding the Russia-Ukraine war. Riyadh had previously hosted talks between Washington and Moscow last month and is set to host talks between Washington and Kyiv tomorrow. Neither Zelenskyy nor Trump will attend these talks.
Donald Trump is reportedly pressuring Volodymyr Zelenskyy to step down in exchange for renewed U.S. military aid to Ukraine, according to BILD.
The U.S. and China are in early-stage discussions about a potential "birthday summit" in June between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing sources.
Starting today, Beijing is imposing a new 10% tariff on U.S. goods, including soybeans, pork, and beef, and a 15% tariff on items such as chicken, corn, and cotton in response to DJT’s second round of 10% levies on Chinese goods.
On March 20, China will hit Canadian rapeseed oil and pea imports with a 100% tariff and impose a 25% tariff on pork and some seafood imports in retaliation for Canada’s August 2024 duties on Chinese aluminum, electric cars, and steel.
On Wednesday, the U.S. is set to impose 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum from the EU. The Trump administration does not seem to be engaging in talks to avert trade conflict with the European Union, according to the EU's trade chief.
The Canadian province of Ontario will charge 25% more for electricity to 1.5 million Americans in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war.
American defense companies have increased their dominance in the global arms trade, buoyed by European nations purchasing U.S. jet fighters and missiles. The U.S. accounted for 43% of global weapons exports over the past five years, up from 35% in the previous five-year period, according to new data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
France, Germany, Italy, and the UK jointly endorsed a five-year plan for Gaza’s postwar reconstruction proposed by Arab countries, calling it “realistic” and praising its pledges for a “swift and sustainable improvement” in the territory’s living conditions. Israel and the United States rejected it last week.
Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Israel is sending a delegation to Qatar today to discuss a potential extension of the Gaza ceasefire. Israel’s energy minister said on Saturday that the country was cutting its remaining electricity supplies to Gaza, aiming to “ensure the return of all the hostages.”
Two active-duty U.S. soldiers stationed in Washington state, along with one former soldier in Oregon, were arrested on March 6, accused of passing classified information, including weapons documents and hard drives, to contacts in China as recently as December, according to federal court documents.
“NASA is critical to national security. China intends to lead the world in space, and if that’s not a concern to you, it should be: The United States can boost its position by reinvigorating NASA as part of a three-tiered effort to win the 21st-century space race,” writes retired Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula, dean of the Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.
Romanian election authorities have banned pro-Russian Georgescu from running in a May redo of the country’s presidential election, stating that his regulatory violation in the first round last November due to Russian meddling disqualifies him. He is set to appeal the ban.
Myanmar has announced plans to hold an election in December 2025 or January 2026, according to the country’s junta leader. This will be the first vote since the military government seized power in a 2021 coup.
Critics, such as Human Rights Watch, have raised doubts about the credibility of the vote, given the government’s detentions and the dissolution of opposition parties.
Tehran has said it would consider talks with Washington about “concerns regarding any potential militarization of Iran’s nuclear program,” according to the country’s mission to the United Nations on X. It added that Iran would continue its “peaceful” nuclear activities. Trump recently sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei seeking nuclear talks, but Khamenei said he would reject talks aimed at restricting the country’s missile program and regional influence.
President Donald Trump's hostage envoy Adam Boehler's direct meetings with Palestinian militant group Hamas on the release of hostages in Gaza were described as a "one-off situation" that has “not borne fruit” as of now, according to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday.
Israel and Hamas have signaled they are preparing for the next phase of ceasefire negotiations, with mediators continuing talks to extend the fragile 42-day truce that began in January.
Greenland is holding an election of great interest to the U.S.: President Trump has said he would acquire Greenland “one way or the other,” and the outcome of tomorrow’s general election could make that possibility more realistic, depending on which party dominates the polls. Should the mineral-rich island ever decide to sever ties with Denmark, which granted Greenland its independence in 1953 but still controls its foreign policy and security, it could open the door for a new international partnership with the U.S. Although a recent poll showed that 85% of Greenlanders rejected the idea of becoming part of the U.S., Prime Minister Múte B. Egede stated that the country is not for sale but “open for business.”
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said on Saturday that the country’s willingness to accept deportees from the United States was “affected” by a “tremendous commotion” after Washington canceled Chevron’s license to operate in the country. Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa criticized Maduro’s stance on Sunday as “abandoning” his people, adding that Ecuador would accept its own nationals but not those from other countries.
Germany plans to reach out to France and Britain about the sharing of nuclear weapons.
The United States has informed its NATO allies of its decision to cease participation in the planning of future military exercises in Europe. This will affect exercises still in the planning or conceptual stages as the U.S. shifts its focus to the Indo-Pacific region.
President Donald Trump’s team has ordered the termination of vital support for F-16 fighter jet jamming equipment in Ukraine. This could deprive the Ukrainian Air Force of its most important air countermeasures.
The United States vetoed a Group of Seven (G7) proposal to establish a joint task force to tackle sanctions evasion related to Russia's 'shadow fleet,' as reported by Bloomberg on March 8.
The United States is open to exploring critical minerals partnerships with Congo, according to a statement from the State Department to Reuters on Sunday, following contact from a Congolese senator proposing a minerals-for-security deal.
One of Russia’s largest companies, Russian Railways, has entered freefall—its net profit plunged by 88% in 2024. TASS reported on March 7 that Russian Railways’ net profit dropped from 118.3 billion rubles in 2023 to just 13.9 billion rubles in 2024.
North Korea announced on Saturday that it is building its first nuclear-powered submarine. The announcement came amid concerns from U.S. and South Korean officials that North Korea may be receiving technological assistance from Russia. The submarine, with a displacement of 6,000-7,000 tons and armed with nuclear missiles, will be capable of launching missiles directly from beneath the water, making it nearly invisible to adversaries. While Kim Jong Un develops such high-tech weapons, North Korean soldiers continue to gain combat experience in Ukraine, supporting Russia in its military operations. Some believe Russia may have provided North Korea with the necessary technologies for the nuclear reactor.
The Trump administration rescinded a waiver on Saturday that had allowed Iraq to pay Iran for electricity, as part of President Trump’s "maximum pressure" campaign against Tehran, according to a State Department spokesperson.
German election winner Friedrich Merz’s conservatives and the Social Democrats (SPD) concluded preliminary talks on forming a coalition government on Saturday, pledging to get tough on illegal migration, support industry, and boost the economy.
Pope Francis is showing a “good response” to his treatment for double pneumonia, and his overall condition is gradually improving, according to the Vatican on Saturday. Francis, 88, has been in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for more than three weeks with a severe respiratory infection requiring continuously evolving treatment.
CARTOONS OF THE DAY
POSTS OF THE DAY
RECOMMENDED READS
NEWS CLIPS - NO COMMENTARY
FULL SPEECH: Justin Trudeau gives final speech as Liberal Party leader
FULL SPEECH: Carney addresses Canadians as new Liberal leader and PM-designate
Canada's FM urges Mark Carney to send 'clear' message to Trump
Musk talks about his priorities to “make the US government more efficient”
Musk blames Ukraine for the “cyber attack on X”
US oil tanker Stela Immaculate servicing the US Navy rammed by Solong cargo ship, carrying highly toxic chemical, at 18mph on the coast of Britain. The ship, contracted by the US DoD, was at anchor and fully loaded, preparing to unload jet fuel and other products to service the US military
Zelenskyy has arrived in Saudi Arabia
Duffy: USDOT no longer celebrates months, immutable racial differences, or the Green New Scam
DJT reacts to a question on whether Putin disrespects him
ACTUAL NEWS Weekly Recap | March 9th 2025
ICYMI
At least six separate incidents at Tesla locations this month have resulted in property damage and/or arrests, according to CBS.
Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are preparing to leave the International Space Station. NASA will launch a SpaceX capsule with their replacements on Wednesday, nine months after Williams and Wilmore embarked on what was originally intended to be a one-week mission. The two crews will spend a week together before Williams and Wilmore head back to Earth.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq led sharp losses among major U.S. stock indexes on Monday, plunging 4% to a near six-month low due to concerns that U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policies could trigger an economic slowdown.
Two men accused of being part of a Russian organized crime group faced trial in the U.S. on Monday for what prosecutors say was an unsuccessful attempt, backed by Tehran, to assassinate an Iranian dissident living in New York. Although prosecutors have not named the target, court documents suggest that the individual is expected to testify at the trial. Masih Alinejad, a journalist who fled Iran in 2009, has revealed she was the target of both this alleged murder plot and a previous attempt by Iranian intelligence to kidnap her and bring her back to Iran. Alinejad has been vocal about women’s protests against mandatory head coverings and has highlighted the deaths of Iranians during the 2019 protests. "I am very excited to join the public trial as a witness to testify against those hired by the Islamic Republic to kill me," Alinejad said in an interview on Friday. "It’s like I’ve been given a second life."
More than 1,000 people, including possibly children, are feared dead following fierce fighting over the weekend in Syria’s coastal northwest, according to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
CBS called on the Federal Communications Commission on Monday to reject a complaint regarding a 60 Minutes interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, asserting that the agency has no legal authority to regulate broadcast news editorial decisions.
Elon Musk acknowledged the challenges of running his businesses "with great difficulty" while working with the Trump administration. His comments came after Tesla lost $130 billion in stock market value during a broad selloff on Wall Street, leaving the electric car maker’s shares at their lowest levels since October.
TODAY'S COVER PHOTO
That's all from me for now. Thank you for reading.
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