ACTUAL NEWS: Monday, March 17th 2025 Recap
- Olga Nesterova
- Mar 17
- 13 min read
"Today in History" and the Latest National & Global News
QUICK HITS
I have been sharing official White House statements and social media posts on a daily basis. All required fact checks, yet about a week ago, something changed—nowadays, statements depict a fiction, making it impossible to dissect facts from fiction.
Here are some examples from today’s briefing and statements shared with the press:
White House Briefing
The White House commented on the flights involving what they claim are members of Venezuelan gangs. They stated that these flights took off after a judge issued an order, claiming they could do so because the order was “verbal” and not yet “written.”
The fact is, of course, that we can agree there is no place for terrorists of any kind on US soil, yet we have no idea who exactly was deported, nor is anyone willing to provide a simple list of names.
Last night, President Trump tweeted the following:
It is, in fact, very rich coming from someone who allegedly offered pardons for $2 million by the end of the first term.
Today, the White House commented on President Trump’s tweet regarding pardons issued by President Biden.
Yesterday, a French member of the European Parliament shared a statement questioning whether the current United States deserves to keep the Statue of Liberty.
Today, the White House responded: "It’s thanks to the US that the French are not speaking German right now."
Shall we recall the contribution of the French that led to the United States becoming a country in the first place?
Aside from the briefing, the White House shares statements that are questionable, to say the least.
In short: these are bogus.
It is a difficult time to be a reporter, just as it is difficult to be a consumer of news. Yesterday, I was joined by Stephen Anderson, Senior Political Correspondent for an independent outlet—FRWD AXIS News—where we discussed the current state of affairs in Washington, DC, the funding bill, geopolitical threats against other nations, and more. If you missed it, please watch the replay.
TODAY IN HISTORY
180: Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, who became a symbol in the West of the Golden Age of the Roman Empire, died at the age of 58.
1776: British General William Howe evacuated Boston after a successful siege by American revolutionaries led by General George Washington.
1861: In Turin, Italy, after more than 10 years of revolution led by figures such as Giuseppe Garibaldi, a parliament assembled and officially proclaimed the unified Kingdom of Italy.
1921: British activist Marie Stopes and her husband opened the first birth control clinic in England—a London facility called the Mothers' Clinic for Constructive Birth Control.
1938: Poland issued an ultimatum to Lithuania in an attempt to settle the territorial dispute over the city of Vilnius.
1958: The first solar-powered satellite, Vanguard 1, was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The small satellite—weighing less than four pounds—stopped transmitting in 1964.
1969: Golda Meir became the fourth prime minister of Israel.
1992: Nearly 69 percent of white South African voters backed F.W. de Klerk's reforms—which included the repeal of racially discriminatory laws—and effectively endorsed the dismantling of apartheid.
2000: A fire broke out at the headquarters of the doomsday cult Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God in Kanungu, Uganda. It eventually led to the discovery of more than 775 bodies, many of which had been poisoned; the cult's leaders were believed to have killed their followers after a promised apocalypse did not occur.
TODAY: St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, died on this day in 461, according to legend, and now his feast day is widely celebrated in Ireland and the United States.
QUICK ACTUAL NEWS
NATIONAL
The Trump administration announced on Monday that it plans to permanently allow U.S. poultry and pork processing plants to operate at faster speeds, raising concerns among advocacy groups over worker health and food safety.
A Texas midwife has been arrested for allegedly providing illegal abortions, marking the first time someone has been criminally charged under the state's near-total abortion bans.
President Donald Trump’s top federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C., has launched a new effort to investigate election fraud cases, according to an internal email seen by Reuters. Interim U.S. Attorney Ed Martin, who has echoed Trump’s false claims of a stolen 2020 election, announced the creation of a Special Unit for Election Accountability and called for volunteers to staff it. However, it remains unclear how much authority his office will have.
On Monday, President Donald Trump revoked Secret Service protection for Hunter Biden and Ashley Biden, the children of former President Joe Biden. "Hunter Biden has had Secret Service protection for an extended period of time, all paid for by the United States taxpayer," Trump stated in a post on Truth Social.
Trump has nominated Republic Airways CEO Bryan Bedford to lead the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amid heightened scrutiny following recent airline crashes. Bedford, a veteran pilot and industry leader with over 30 years of experience, previously led two other carriers and oversaw a major expansion of Republic Airways.
The Federal Aviation Administration is reinstating 132 employees who were fired on February 14 after a federal judge in Maryland ordered their return, according to the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union. The workers, initially dismissed as part of Elon Musk’s government downsizing initiative, will receive back pay and are set to resume duties on March 20.
The head of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission warned 20 major law firms on Monday that their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring policies might be illegal.
A U.S. House committee has requested the Department of Homeland Security turn over documents related to the federal response to major Chinese cyberattacks. House Homeland Security Chair Mark Green and two subcommittee chairs asked DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to provide records detailing the government’s handling of "Salt Typhoon," deemed the largest telecommunications hack in U.S. history, and "Volt Typhoon," which targeted critical infrastructure.
The Trump administration invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport migrants on Saturday, according to government lawyers in a court filing. A presidential proclamation citing the act was used to transfer 137 alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang to El Salvador. However, a U.S. judge later ordered a temporary halt to the policy. Deportation planes were in the air when the ruling was issued, and though the judge verbally instructed them to turn around, they did not comply. The White House press secretary stated that the migrants had already been removed from U.S. territory by the time of the order.
A federal judge has given the Trump administration a Tuesday deadline to provide details on Venezuelan migrants it deported despite a court order halting such removals, escalating a legal battle over presidential authority.
U.S. authorities said Monday they deported a Rhode Island doctor to Lebanon last week after discovering "sympathetic photos and videos" of Hezbollah’s former leader and militants in her phone’s deleted folder.
Government cuts led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have reached the agency managing the U.S. nuclear arsenal.
DOGE’s latest report claims federal cost savings of $105 billion, though receipts provided show only $8.8 billion. The agency’s website lists $660 million in canceled real estate leases and $10.3 billion in terminated federal grants.
Critics warn that DOGE’s cost-cutting measures could destabilize the Social Security Administration, as current and former officials express concern over its impact.
DOGE has moved to terminate over 800 federal office leases, but a government agency has reversed more than 100 of these terminations.
The Senate confirmed billionaire investor Stephen Feinberg as deputy secretary of defense on March 14, solidifying the Pentagon’s leadership as the administration prepares for sweeping military changes.
Officials in Washington have underestimated the threat of drones in U.S. airspace, despite repeated sightings of mysterious drone swarms over sensitive military sites, former NORAD and NORTHCOM commander Glen VanHerck warned.
On March 15, SpaceX’s Transporter-13 rideshare mission launched dozens of small satellites into orbit, including several funded by U.S. military and intelligence agencies. Among the 74 payloads was a National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) technology demonstrator, consisting of two cubesats designed for an undisclosed research mission. The mission also included small satellites from defense-funded commercial startups.
U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said Monday he has sought assistance from Elon Musk’s DOGE team for several issues, including reviewing retail center lease renewals and combating counterfeit postage.
The Securities and Exchange Commission is considering revising or eliminating regulations proposed under the Biden administration that required investment advisors holding custody of cryptocurrency and other assets to meet stricter standards, the agency’s interim chief said Monday.
President Donald Trump has rescinded an executive order issued by former President Joe Biden that required federal contractors to pay a minimum wage of $17.75 an hour.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, facing backlash from his party over his decision not to block a Republican spending bill, has postponed public book tour events this week "due to security concerns", according to venue officials.
The Trump administration has requested an extension on two deadlines in U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel’s lawsuit against a U.S. national security panel, seeking additional time to finalize merger discussions, according to a court filing Monday.
New economic projections from the Federal Reserve this week will offer insight into how policymakers view the impact of Trump administration policies, which have added uncertainty to a previously strong economic outlook.
GLOBAL
President Donald Trump said on Saturday that General Keith Kellogg's role has been narrowed from special envoy for Ukraine and Russia to only Ukraine after Russian officials sought to exclude him from talks aimed at ending the war.
Trump's adviser, Waltz, stated, “An attempt to drive Russia out of every inch of occupied Ukrainian territory could lead to WWIII.”
Tulsi Gabbard on U.S.-Russia relations: "We have two leaders of two great countries who are very good friends and very focused on how we can strengthen shared objectives and interests."
President Zelenskyy spoke with Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney, with one of the key topics being increasing pressure on Russia. Carney shared his vision for intensifying sanctions against Moscow, particularly through all-out measures targeting the shadow tanker fleet and the banking sector. Zelenskyy and Carney also discussed humanitarian aspects of security guarantees for Ukraine, including post-war recovery and economic support. Additionally, they explored the development of bilateral relations, with Canada expressing interest in military-industrial and defense cooperation. Zelenskyy highlighted Ukraine’s significant wartime advancements in electronic warfare systems, long-range missiles, and drones, noting the country’s readiness for joint production.
Canada's new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has invited Zelenskyy to the G7 summit in Canada this June.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron held a phone call to align their positions. Zelenskyy thanked France for its support and joint efforts toward achieving lasting peace. They reviewed the outcomes of a recent online meeting of leaders supporting Ukraine, highlighting the growing number of contributing countries. Additionally, they addressed the U.S. proposal for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, which Ukraine agreed to, while emphasizing that Russia must stop imposing conditions for its implementation.
Irish mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor used a St. Patrick's Day visit to President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday to criticize Ireland's immigration policies, drawing a rebuke from the country’s prime minister. McGregor, dressed in a green pinstripe suit, met with Trump and senior administration officials. Just last week, Trump had hosted Ireland’s prime minister for a more traditional celebration of the nations' close ties."Our government has long since abandoned the voices of the people of Ireland,"
McGregor said in the White House press briefing room. "The illegal immigration racket is running rampant in the country." Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin condemned McGregor’s comments, while Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris stated that McGregor was not representing Ireland during his visit. "Conor McGregor's remarks are wrong and do not reflect the spirit of St. Patrick's Day or the views of the Irish people," Martin, whose coalition government was re-elected last November, said on social media.
Finland has refused to sell eggs to the United States. Finnish authorities, approached by the U.S. for assistance, declined the request due to bureaucratic hurdles.
The U.S. has withdrawn from a multinational group created to investigate leaders responsible for the invasion of Ukraine, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.
More than 1,000 journalists at Voice of America were placed on administrative leave, and grants for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia were curtailed over the weekend. A Trump executive order mandated that their parent entity, the U.S. Agency for Global Media, be reduced to its minimum legal functions, deeming it and other targeted agencies “unnecessary.” Reporters Without Borders condemned the move as “a departure from the United States’ historic role as a defender of free information” and called for its reversal.
More than 100,000 people participated in a rally in Belgrade on Saturday, according to a conservative government estimate, while an independent monitor put attendance at 325,000. Protests that began in response to a train station collapse last November have evolved into broader expressions of discontent with the government of President Aleksandar Vučić. Serbia’s prime minister announced his resignation in January but remains in office.
The U.S. Air Force is collaborating with Japan on a test program to establish a joint maintenance center for repairing aircraft operated by both nations, aiming to create a “deterrent effect that will make adversaries think twice,” a top general said.
NATO will request alliance members to raise their military capability targets by 30% as the organization seeks to bolster its force posture, according to the commander overseeing defense planning for the 32-nation alliance.
U.S. Air Force U-2 Dragon Lady spy planes have been flying along the southern border, Air Force and defense officials disclosed.The U-2 is capable of collecting high-resolution imagery, signals intelligence (SIGINT), and measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT) from altitudes exceeding 70,000 feet.
The U.S. military carried out strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen for the second consecutive day on March 16, just hours after U.S. Air Force fighters helped repel a drone attack by the Houthis in retaliation for an earlier round of U.S. strikes.
A senior official in Ethiopia’s Tigray region dismissed warnings of renewed conflict on Friday, stating that the federal government “will not attempt to resolve the region’s challenges through force.” Last week, a dissident faction of Tigray’s main political party seized parts of the regional capital, Mekelle, and the second-largest city, Adigrat, sparking fears of a return to civil war in Africa’s second-most populous country.
Beijing has unveiled a list of measures aimed at boosting domestic consumption, including wage increases, pensions, and medical benefits. However, it placed the responsibility for implementation on local governments without immediately providing significant new funding. Top Chinese officials have sought to rebalance the economy away from reliance on exports.
President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that Chinese President Xi Jinping may visit the United States "in the not-too-distant future" for talks, as economic tensions between the two powers escalate.
India and New Zealand have agreed to begin negotiations on a free trade agreement, Indian Prime
Minister Narendra Modi announced today. An Indian foreign ministry official stated that the deal could be finalized by the end of the year. Previous negotiations collapsed a decade ago. India “will play a pivotal role” in New Zealand’s goal of doubling its exports over the next decade, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said.
At least 19 people were killed as President Donald Trump launched large-scale military strikes against Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis on Saturday in response to their attacks on Red Sea shipping. Trump warned that “hell will rain down” on the Houthis if they do not cease hostilities.
Trump has authorized U.S. military commanders in the Middle East to carry out attacks without requiring White House approval, Politico reported.
Iran will respond to President Donald Trump's invitation to talks after thorough scrutiny, the foreign ministry said on Monday, accusing Washington of failing to match actions with words. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian rejected Trump’s letter and public calls for nuclear talks, dismissing them as deceptive and coercive.
Iran informed the United Nations Security Council on Monday that President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials had made “reckless and provocative statements,” leveling “baseless accusations” and threatening the use of force against Tehran.
"The Trump administration and the White House were consulted by the Israelis on their attacks in Gaza tonight," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated in an interview. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he had ordered the attack early Tuesday, saying Israel would "act against Hamas with increasing military strength.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that President Donald Trump is "far more prepared" for his second term, with a clear roadmap, speaking in a podcast interview weeks before reciprocal tariffs planned by Washington take effect.
President Donald Trump’s tariff hikes will dampen economic growth in Canada, Mexico, and the United States while driving up inflation, the OECD forecast on Monday, as Trump vowed to proceed with a new wave of levies in early April.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke by phone with President Donald Trump, discussing efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine and restore stability in Syria, Erdoğan’s office said Sunday.
The U.S. has expelled South Africa’s ambassador, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced, calling the envoy a “race-baiting politician” who despises Trump.
Ecuadorian officials have expressed interest in hosting a U.S. military base, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the matter.
CARTOONS OF THE DAY
Not cartoons, but worth exploring..
POSTS OF THE DAY
RECOMMENDED READS
NEWS CLIPS - NO COMMENTARY
REPLAY: New Canadian PM Mark Carney and Emmanuel Macron in Paris for talks • FRANCE 24 English
Canada, Europe planning defense 'without US at the centre' for first time since WWII • FRANCE 24
Musk: There are “14 magic money computers at the DOD, State Dep etc that send money out of nothing”
Trump Admin turns Voice Of America into state TV
Trump Admin removes NBC - the only camera feed - from Kennedy Center Board meeting
German FM Baerbock: Germany will allocate another €3B to help Ukraine, in total €7B in 2025
Miller: If a district court judge is involved in foreign policy, there’s no democracy
Conor McGregor takes questions from reporters at the White House briefing room
Concept of the plan: apartment buildings on federal lands
ICYMI
A nightclub fire in North Macedonia killed at least 59 people and injured more than 150. Fireworks during a concert set the club’s roof ablaze.
The Vatican released the first image of Pope Francis since he was hospitalized more than a month ago.
U.S. Commerce Department bureaus informed staffers in recent weeks that the Chinese artificial intelligence model DeepSeek is banned on their government devices, according to a message seen by Reuters and two people familiar with the matter.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that his administration will make public around 80,000 pages of files related to former President John F. Kennedy on Tuesday morning.
Forty-two people have died as severe storms and tornadoes swept across the U.S. On Monday, winter storm watches and warnings were in effect for 8 million people. However, the impact was less severe compared to the devastating storms over the weekend.
TODAY'S COVER PHOTO
Statue of Liberty, New York, New York
That's all from me for now. Thank you for reading.
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