The ACTUAL NEWS: Thursday, February 6th 2025 Recap
"Today in History" and the Latest National and Global News
TODAY IN HISTORY
46 BCE: Julius Caesar's forces dealt the final blow to the supporters of Pompey the Great at the Battle of Thapsus.
1840: Māori leaders signed the Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi) with Great Britain. This agreement, which was intended to protect Māori rights, became the immediate basis for the British annexation of New Zealand.
1862: Union naval Commodore Andrew Foote, leading a flotilla of ironclads, captured Fort Henry in Tennessee, a strategic Confederate position during the American Civil War.
1919: A German constitutional assembly convened to establish the Weimar Republic.
1952: Elizabeth II ascended to the throne of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland following the death of her father, King George VI. She became the longest-reigning British monarch in history in 2015.
1993: American tennis player Arthur Ashe, the first black man to win a Grand Slam championship, died from AIDS-related pneumonia, likely contracted through a tainted blood transfusion during coronary bypass surgery.
2018: SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket had its first test flight, carrying a Tesla automobile owned by SpaceX founder Elon Musk.
2023: An earthquake, followed by a severe aftershock, struck Turkey and Syria. Known as the Kahramanmaraş earthquake, the disaster claimed the lives of over 50,000 people.
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NATIONAL
The Justice Department accused the acting FBI director of “insubordination” for refusing to disclose the identities of agents involved in the investigation of the January 6th attack.
On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed an executive memo ordering a review of funding for all non-governmental organizations that rely on federal dollars.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who met with President Trump yesterday, spoke with reporters and confirmed that he and border czar Tom Homan maintain frequent communication. During his conversation with the President, Abbott discussed various topics, including Texas' progress on securing the border, with 56 miles of border wall completed and an additional 18 miles under construction. He also mentioned his offer to transfer 4,000 state jail cells for migrant detention. Abbott confirmed that he requested "reimbursement of $11 billion for Texas' border security efforts" and stated he would return to Washington to continue advocating for this reimbursement.
The FCC announced it will review a complaint regarding CBS News' "60 Minutes" interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. FCC Chair Carr made the transcript public and invited comments on the complaint. CBS provided the unredacted video and transcript to the FCC and posted the transcript on its website. You can watch the full unedited interview on our YouTube.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated on Wednesday that the Pentagon is prepared to explore all options for Gaza, a day after President Donald Trump expressed interest in the U.S. taking control of and redeveloping the Gaza Strip.
The Republican-led U.S. Senate, in an attempt to overcome party divisions over President Donald Trump's agenda, will begin moving forward as early as next week on a $300 billion, four-year plan to fund his border security and military priorities. (Reuters)
In a lawsuit filed in Washington, D.C. federal court, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) asked U.S. District Judge John Bates to block what they described as "DOGE's imminent plan" to access the Labor Department's information systems.
The inaugural director of the U.S. AI Safety Institute, Elizabeth Kelly, announced her departure from the role on Wednesday via a LinkedIn post. This move leaves the future direction of the nascent government body under President Donald Trump uncertain.
The U.S. Department of Energy, led by Energy Secretary Chris Wright, will focus on increasing energy production rather than pursuing net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. This shift aligns with President Donald Trump's priorities, who has dismissed climate change as a hoax and seeks to further boost the country’s record-high oil and gas output.
Staff from at least seven U.S. intelligence agencies have received deferred resignation offers from the Trump administration, signaling that the push to reduce the federal workforce, supported by Elon Musk, is now affecting national security personnel previously considered insulated from such cuts.
Australia’s defense minister will visit the Pentagon on February 7, marking the first meeting between U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and a foreign counterpart, according to multiple sources familiar with the planning.
The Department of the Air Force has appointed longtime procurement official William Blauser as the acting director of the U.S. Space Force’s Space Development Agency (SDA). This announcement, made on February 5, follows the sudden removal of former SDA Director Derek Tournear, who was placed on administrative leave for unspecified reasons related to “past contracting activities.”
The top Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee, Senator Maria Cantwell, has requested that U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy bar Elon Musk from participating in efforts to reform air traffic control. Cantwell cited conflicts of interest, noting that Musk-led SpaceX had been fined by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and had worked to remove the FAA's previous head, Mike Whitaker. "It is a clear conflict of interest," Cantwell said.
President Donald Trump is facing increasing pressure from U.S. hospitals and generic drugmakers to exempt medical goods from his new tariffs on Chinese imports. They, along with big pharma lobbyists, argue that such trade barriers will lead to medicine shortages and higher prices in the United States.
President Donald Trump has met with leaders of U.S. Steel and FedEx on Thursday, according to ABC News, citing sources. Nippon Steel's bid to acquire U.S. Steel was blocked last month by then-President Joe Biden, citing national security concerns.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to announce a reduction in arrivals at Washington Reagan National Airport to address safety concerns following a deadly collision between a helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet that killed 67 people, according to an email reviewed by Reuters.
Donald Trump has announced plans to create a "White House Faith Office," which will be led by far-right televangelist Paula White.
Trump Media and Technology Group announced on Thursday that it has applied for trademarks for six investment products tracking bitcoin and the U.S. manufacturing and energy sectors. The trademarks include Truth.Fi Bitcoin Plus ETF, Truth.Fi Made in America ETF, and Truth.Fi U.S. Energy Independence ETF.
The U.S. Department of Justice sued Illinois and the city of Chicago on Thursday, accusing them of obstructing the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies and seeking a court order to overturn sanctuary laws.
Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy organization, has called for a federal investigation into whether U.S. President Donald Trump violated laws regarding gift solicitation by promoting a meme coin. The organization filed its complaint with the Department of Justice and the U.S. Office of Government Ethics on Wednesday, urging the federal agencies to recommend halting the sale of the $Trump meme coin.
The U.S. Treasury Department has agreed temporarily not to allow Elon Musk’s government efficiency agency access to its payment systems while a judge hears arguments in a lawsuit alleging that Musk illegally searched them.
West Virginia’s attorney general announced on Thursday that he has filed a lawsuit against New York state over a new law requiring fossil fuel companies to contribute $75 billion over 25 years into a state fund for damage caused by climate change.
The Trump administration has placed over 100 employees working on environmental justice programs at the Environmental Protection Agency on leave and is pursuing staff reductions in similar programs at the Justice Department, according to sources (Reuters).
A unit of Harvard University’s Law Library has announced the release of an archive containing more than 300,000 government data sets, aiming to protect vital public information at a time when President Donald Trump’s administration is removing it from the web.
About 60,000 U.S. federal employees have accepted a buyout offer from President Donald Trump’s administration, a source told Reuters on Thursday, ahead of a deadline that has been extended to at least Monday.
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission lawyers may be exempt from a demand by the Trump administration to submit a list of staff who are still on probation, according to a memo seen by Reuters. This suggests they may be granted a reprieve from any mass firings.
The U.S. Supreme Court declined on Thursday to suspend a dispute over California's standards for vehicle emissions and electric cars, even as President Donald Trump's administration considers policy shifts related to pending litigation at the nation's highest judicial body.
The U.S. Justice Department under President Donald Trump is disbanding an initiative launched after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine to enforce sanctions and target oligarchs close to the Kremlin. A memo from Attorney General Pam Bondi, issued on Wednesday during a series of orders on her first day in office but not previously reported, stated that the effort, known as Task Force KleptoCapture, will end as part of a "shift in focus and funding toward combating drug cartels and international gangs".
GLOBAL
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio oversaw the seizure of a Venezuelan government plane in the Dominican Republic on Thursday. U.S. authorities "determined that there is a basis to file a civil forfeiture action to recover the aircraft, based on violations of U.S. sanctions, export controls, and money laundering," the State Department said in a statement.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem plans to visit a migrant detention site at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as the Trump administration intensifies enforcement efforts, a department spokesperson said on Thursday.
Major Middle Eastern powers rejected President Trump’s surprise proposal for the U.S. to take control of Gaza, redevelop the area, and permanently relocate Palestinians, citing the challenges of a plan that breaks with decades of U.S. and international policy toward the region.
The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale of military-related design and construction services to Kuwait for an estimated cost of $1 billion, the Pentagon said on Thursday. The principal contractor for the sale will be selected from approved vendors, likely through competitive acquisitions, the Pentagon added in a statement.
The U.S. delegation to a major artificial intelligence summit in Paris next week will not include technical staff from the country’s AI Safety Institute, two people familiar with Washington’s plans for the event and a third source briefed on the matter told Reuters.
Panama President José Raul Mulino said on Thursday that the U.S. was spreading "lies and falsehoods" after the State Department claimed U.S. government vessels would be able to pass through the Panama Canal without paying.
President Donald Trump has placed holds on tens of billions of dollars in congressionally approved spending for projects across the U.S., ranging from Iowa soybean farmers adopting greener practices to a Virginia railway expansion, a Reuters analysis found.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to sanction the International Criminal Court for targeting the United States and its allies, such as Israel, a White House official said.
Trump’s sudden announcement on Gaza surprised senior members of his administration. There were no meetings about it.
Jordan raises red flags: U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to resettle Palestinians from Gaza in Jordan is seen as a recipe for radicalism that could spread chaos throughout the Middle East, jeopardize the Kingdom’s peace with Israel, and even threaten the country’s very survival.
Ukrainians are appealing to conservative American Christians to help keep military aid flowing. A large Ukrainian delegation has attended the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington.
Ukraine announced on Thursday that it had received its first batch of French Mirage 2000 fighter jets, along with U.S.-made F-16s from the Netherlands, as European allies work to strengthen Kyiv's position in its war with Russia.
"The U.S. must take the first step in improving ties with Russia after years of failing to listen to the Kremlin and pursuing misguided policies," said Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov. "It’s wrong to base foreign policy on the need to come to an agreement with the White House at any price."
Malaysia views any proposal for the forced displacement of Palestinians as ethnic cleansing and a violation of international law, the foreign ministry said on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump proposed a U.S. takeover of Gaza.
Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka raised concerns that the mass deportation of criminals from the U.S. posed a safety risk to Pacific Island states in a meeting with the Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus chairman, according to Fiji’s government on Thursday.
China filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization on Wednesday against U.S. President Donald Trump's new 10% tariff on Chinese imports and his cancellation of a duty-free exemption for low-value packages, arguing that these actions are "protectionist" and violate WTO rules.
Hegseth stated that the use of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay as a waypoint for moving high-threat illegal aliens is a "plan in motion." "We're ramping up for the possibility of expanding mass deportations because President Trump is dead serious about removing illegal criminals from our country," he said. "The Department of Defense is not only willing but proud to partner with DHS to defend the sovereignty of our southern border and advance that mission."
Russia's foreign intelligence service released an English-language video on Thursday, urging "true American patriots" who care about world peace to contact them via secure communication in response to efforts by the CIA to recruit Russians back in 2023.
A group of 17 Republican state attorneys general alleged that top U.S. asset managers, including BlackRock and State Street, were making improper or inadequate disclosures about their investments in China.
PHOTO OF THE DAY
This morning, former Vice President Kamala Harris visited the Palisades to assess the burn area and the scale of the situation. The photo was shared by Lindsey P. Horvath (LA County Board of Supervisors) on X.
VIDEO QUICK NEWS
Hegseth welcomes Netanyahu to Pentagon
Meanwhile in Panama, anti-US protests erupt in response to Secretary Rubio’s visit to the Panama Canal
Netanyahu on Trump's idea to take over Gaza: "The best idea I've heard lately."
Trump at National Prayer Breakfast talks about the tragic crash at DCA: "Did you ever see, you go to a driving range in golf and you're hitting balls, hundreds of balls, thousands of hours. I never see a ball hit another ball. Balls going up all over the place. You never see 'em hit, it was amazing that could happen."
Comer: “Musk is very transparent. He tweets multiple times per hour.”
Lieu shames Republicans for politicizing the recovery efforts for the devastating California wildfires.
Raskin answers a question on a possibility of impeachment
Austrian MEP Waitz reports on anti-fascist protests across Europe.
Leavitt: "What Trump and Musk are trying to do is run the government as a profitable business."
Trump to offer HIMSELF to build a $100M ballroom at the White House.
National Prayer Service at the Capitol
Press Pool Notes
Trump cited his revived EO for a National Garden of American Heroes, praised the memory of Billy Graham, mourned those lost in the DCA crash, recalled the attempt on his life, called for a new air traffic control system, made an appeal to bipartisanship, and discussed the importance of religion.
The president mourned the DCA disaster: As one nation, we take solace in the knowledge that their journey ended not in the cold waters of the Potomac, but in the warm embrace of a loving God.
Trump recalled the first attempt on his life, citing divine intervention. God did that, he said of the moment he turned his head to look at his favorite chart thus missing the bullet.
Joked the president of that assassination attempt, it didn't affect my hair. The lawmakers laughed.
Trump called for a new air traffic control system saying, lets spend less money and build a great system.
He recalled COVID and how people couldn't go to Church for a very long time but added that it is starting to come back.
Trump celebrated that the army had the best recruitment numbers they've had in 15 years.
He said bipartisanship is doable citing some of his Cabinet nominees who received Democratic votes in the Senate. He said unity is possible: You did it with Marco Rubio.
National Prayer Service at Washington Hilton
Press Pool Notes
Rev. Paula White introduced President Trump as "the people's president," and "the greatest champion, of any president that has ever been, of religion."
Presidential Commission on Religion: Trump said, "I will be creating a brand-new presidential commission on religious liberty. It's going to be a very big deal." He condemned the conviction of elderly, pro-life activist Paulette Harlow under the previous administration whom he recently pardoned. Harlow is present, and Trump quipped, "you enjoy your life."
Executive Order on 'Anti-Christian Bias': Trump said he would sign (which he later did) an EO ordering Attorney General Pam Bondi "to eradicate anti-Christian bias" inside the federal government.
New Faith Office: He said he will create a faith office in the White House and announced that it will be led by Rev. Paula White.
Reflecting on the failed attempt on his life, the president said, "it was God who saved me." At this, Trump received a standing ovation.
"As the Bible says, blessed are the peacemakers," Trump told the crowd earlier, "and in the end, I hope my greatest legacy when it is all finished will be as a peacemaker and a unifier. I hope that's going to be true. "
Federal Grant Holds Under Trump Administration Impact Key Projects Across the U.S.
The Trump administration has placed holds on U.S. government grants to states and local communities as part of its initiative to significantly reduce federal spending. This move has affected numerous projects nationwide, including several major initiatives:
Environmental Clean-Up: Approximately $130 million in funding has been paused for Ohio projects, including replacing a 1888 coal plant with a solar power installation and battery backup system, as well as updating brownfields and landfills in Cleveland.
Long Bridge Rail: A $2.3 billion project that would add two additional railroad tracks linking Virginia to Washington, D.C. This bridge, which serves up to 1.3 million Amtrak passengers and 4.5 million Virginia Railway Express commuters, operates at 98% capacity during peak hours.
Farmer Conservation: Over $3 billion set aside in the Inflation Reduction Act for agricultural and forest landowners to adopt conservation practices has been temporarily halted. Thousands of farmers who had applied for reimbursements for soil maintenance, such as planting cover crops or restoring wetlands, are affected.
Microporous in Danville: A $1.35 billion plant by Tennessee-based Microporous, intended to produce battery separators and create over 2,000 jobs, has faced delays. This plant was expected to revitalize Danville, which has struggled since the decline of the tobacco and textile industries.
These projects, along with many others, are currently stalled due to the administration's review of federal funding.
OFAC Sanctions Network Involved in Iranian Oil Shipments to China
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on an international network facilitating the shipment of Iranian crude oil worth hundreds of millions of dollars to China. The shipments were made on behalf of Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff (AFGS) and its front company, Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars. The sanctions target entities and individuals in China, India, the UAE, and several vessels. The Iranian regime uses oil revenues to fund destabilizing activities, including its nuclear program, ballistic missile production, and support for terrorist groups like Hamas, Hizballah, and the Houthis.
Ben Stiller Factchecks Fabricated Claims About USAID and His Ukraine Visit
A fabricated video posted on X (formerly Twitter) falsely claimed that USAID, a U.S. government agency responsible for foreign aid, spent millions to send various actors to Ukraine to generate support after Russia's invasion. The video accused USAID of funding actor Ben Stiller's trip to Ukraine as well as Angelina Jolie, Sean Penn and other celebrities.
Stiller refuted the claims in a tweet, stating, "These are lies coming from Russian media," and clarified, "I completely self-funded my humanitarian trip to Ukraine. There was no funding from USAID and certainly no payment of any kind."
The video was shared by several high-profile figures, including Elon Musk, who amplified it to 2.8 million views, and Donald Trump Jr., whose post garnered hundreds of thousands more views. The video was said to be from E! News, but both E! News and AFP FactCheck debunked the claim, with the latter revealing that the video was fabricated. Despite denials from Stiller, E! News, and fact-checkers, the video continued to circulate, even being shared by former Trump lawyer Sydney Powell, who labeled USAID as "a big slush fund." Stiller countered Powell’s claim with another denial, stating, "Totally false. Untrue."
Russia's Intelligence Service Responds to CIA Recruitment Efforts
Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) released a video on Thursday targeting "true American patriots," inviting them to communicate securely in response to CIA recruitment efforts aimed at Russians. The CIA had previously stated that the war in Ukraine presented a rare chance to recruit agents within Russia, releasing a 2023 video calling on Russian officials to expose a corrupt system. The SVR mocked the CIA's recruitment attempts, dismissing them as "clumsy."
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Today, reggae legend Bob Marley would have celebrated his 80th birthday.
Tesla sales in Germany dropped significantly last month, mirroring similar declines across other European countries, as CEO Elon Musk becomes more involved in global politics.
West Point is disbanding clubs for women and minorities following President Trump’s executive order aimed at curbing DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore revealed designs for the replacement of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, which was destroyed last year after being struck by a container ship.
Professional Golfers' Association Commissioner Jay Monahan said on Thursday that President Donald Trump has brought the PGA and Saudi-backed LIV Golf closer to a deal to reunify the game. "We asked the president to get involved for the good of the game," Monahan and player directors Adam Scott and Tiger Woods said in a statement. "We are grateful for his leadership, which has brought us closer to a final deal."
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That’s it from me for now. Thank you so much for reading.
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