The ACTUAL NEWS: Thursday, January 30th 2025 Recap
Today in History; Tragic Crash at DCA, False Narratives, New Executive Orders, and Other National and Global News
TODAY IN HISTORY
1649: Charles I, King of Great Britain and Ireland (1625–1649)—whose authoritarian rule and conflicts with Parliament provoked the English Civil War—was executed in London.
1847: San Francisco, previously known as Yerba Buena (a plant name meaning "good herb"), was officially given its current name.
1911: American trumpeter Roy Eldridge, one of the great creative musicians of the 1930s, was born in Pittsburgh.
1912: Barbara Tuchman, one of the foremost popular historians in the United States in the second half of the 20th century and a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, was born.
1931: The American silent romantic-comedy film City Lights had its world premiere, which is considered by many to be Charlie Chaplin's crowning achievement in cinema.
1933: President Paul von Hindenburg appointed Adolf Hitler as Chancellor of Germany.
1945: The greatest maritime disaster in history occurred when the German ocean liner Wilhelm Gustloff was sunk by a Soviet submarine, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 9,000 people.
1948: Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi, revered as the father of his country and internationally esteemed for his doctrine of nonviolent protest (satyagraha) to achieve political and social progress, was assassinated.
1972: A demonstration by Roman Catholic civil rights supporters in Londonderry (Derry), Northern Ireland, turned violent when British paratroopers opened fire, killing 13 and injuring 14 others (one of the injured later died). This event, known as Bloody Sunday, sparked an upsurge in support for the Irish Republican Army.
1995: Flooding forced the evacuation of more than 100,000 people from low-lying areas of the Netherlands.
2011: California became the first state to celebrate Fred Korematsu Day, honoring the Japanese American activist who was convicted in 1942 of violating an exclusion order requiring him to relocate. His legal appeals were denied, but the ruling was eventually overturned in 2018.
QUICK ACTUAL NEWS
NATIONAL
An American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter collided just outside Washington, D.C. last night and plunged into the Potomac River. Sixty-four people were on the plane, which was coming from Wichita, Kan., including U.S. and Russian figure skaters returning from a training camp. The military aircraft carried a crew of three. There were no survivors. Emergency responders searched the cold and murky waters for survivors until the morning, before transitioning to a recovery operation. Meanwhile, Reagan National Airport was closed until 11 a.m. ET.
President Donald Trump said on Thursday that air traffic control systems "have not been built properly," speaking in the wake of the deadly midair collision. "They spent a lot of money renovating a system, spending much more money than they would have if they had bought a new system for air traffic controllers, meaning the computerized systems. There are certain companies that do a very good job. They didn't use those companies," Trump said. In his press briefing at the White House, Trump blamed diversity policies and Democrats without providing evidence. Afterward, he signed a memorandum claiming that the “Biden and Obama administrations” were at fault. Lastly, U.S. President announced that he had appointed a former senior aviation official as the acting head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Why was it needed? Because the head of the FAA was “pushed” out by Elon Musk on January 20th for not offering "complete freedom" to SpaceX regarding their rocket launches.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday also stated that he would soon decide whether to exclude Canadian and Mexican oil imports from the 25% tariffs he plans to impose on Saturday on the countries' products.
The new U.S. border czar is expected to meet with Canada’s top public safety official on Friday, just hours before President Donald Trump has promised to levy new tariffs on Canada unless it helps address the flow of migrants and fentanyl across the border (which Canada did), according to two U.S. sources familiar with the planning. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will chair the meeting of the Council on Canada-U.S. Relations and deliver remarks tomorrow.
U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly looking to strike a deal with El Salvador to deport members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to the Central American country, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the discussions.
The U.S. Treasury Department said on Thursday that it was withdrawing from a global body of central banks and regulators devoted to exploring ways to police climate risk in the financial system.
Former Sen. Bob Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for bribery and corruption charges.
A U.S. judge has temporarily blocked federal prison officials from transferring a transgender woman to a men's facility and denying her access to gender-affirming care in accordance with an executive order issued by President Donald Trump, her lawyers said on Thursday.
The U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed Doug Burgum, the former governor of North Dakota, as President Donald Trump's Secretary of the Interior.
Native American leaders and Democratic lawmakers are accusing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents of harassing tribal members during President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren described the experiences of his citizens as "traumatizing," while U.S. Congressional Democrats urged Trump to halt ICE's targeting of Native Americans during immigration raids.
The U.S. Justice Department said on Thursday that it was investigating the release by an upstate New York sheriff's office of an immigrant living in the U.S. illegally, in what appears to be its first use of a new policy targeting state and local agencies that do not comply with President Donald Trump's directives.
The Trump administration ordered federal agencies to scrub mentions of "gender ideology" in contracts, job descriptions, and social media accounts in line with an executive order mandating the government to recognize only two sexes.
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Wednesday that it plans to rescind a climate rule adopted by the administration of former President Joe Biden, which required states to measure and set declining targets for greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles using the national highway system.
A decades-old U.S. government ban on federally licensed firearms dealers selling handguns to adults under the age of 21 was ruled unconstitutional by a U.S. appeals court on Thursday, citing recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings expanding gun rights.
Meta agreed to pay Trump $25 million to settle a lawsuit he filed in 2021 over his suspension from Facebook and Instagram after the January 6th riot.
The Federal Reserve kept interest rates steady. Jerome Powell, the Fed chair, offered no hints about future rate cuts.
President Donald Trump has spoken with Gov. Kathy Hochul about stopping congestion pricing, but no decision has been made yet, a source told 1010 WINS on Thursday, amid reports that the Trump administration is considering ending the tolling program.
Moments before fire erupted below transmission towers near Altadena, Calif., high-voltage power lines in the area faulted, new data shows.
GLOBAL
Secretary Pete Hegseth and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte discussed the alliance in a call on Wednesday, including “building a stronger, more lethal NATO Alliance” and raising allied defense spending, the Pentagon said. The two officials also discussed the importance of “expanding the defense industrial base capacity on both sides of the Atlantic,” according to a Pentagon statement released on Thursday.
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino on Thursday ruled out discussing control over the Panama Canal in a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is set to visit the Central American country in his first official trip abroad this weekend.
President Donald Trump's interest in buying Greenland is "not a joke," Secretary of State.
Marco Rubio said in an interview on Thursday, adding that acquiring Greenland was in U.S. national interest and needed to be resolved. Rubio told Sirius XM’s The Megyn Kelly Show that Trump wants to buy Greenland and had not ruled out military coercion to acquire it, so as "not to take leverage off the table".
"We are going to require a commitment from these seemingly hostile Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty U.S. Dollar or, they will face 100% Tariffs," Trump said on Truth Social in a statement nearly identical to one he posted on Nov. 30.
A Russian drone struck a multi-story apartment building in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy early on Thursday, killing nine people and injuring 13, including a child, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
A 99-year-old Holocaust survivor said on Thursday he would return his federal order of merit award to the German state in protest over a parliamentary vote in which support from the far-right was used for the first time to secure a majority.
Angela Merkel criticized the leader of her Christian Democrats (CDU), Friedrich Merz, for drawing on support from the far-right to pass a motion in parliament, in a statement on Thursday.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Thursday he would meet U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss issues, including immigration, in an effort to influence policy that could impact a large number of Filipinos in the United States.
U.S. President Donald Trump's military deportation flight to Guatemala on Monday likely cost at least $4,675 per migrant, according to data provided by U.S. and Guatemalan officials. This is more than five times the $853 cost of a one-way first-class ticket on American Airlines from El Paso, Texas, the departure point for the flight, according to a review of publicly available airfares.
Israel urged Australia to do more to halt an "epidemic of antisemitism" in the country as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government was doing all it could to combat attacks, which he said include domestic terrorism.
There is "almost nothing left" of Gaza, and rebuilding the war-ravaged enclave could take 10 to 15 years, U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff told Axios in an interview at the end of his trip to the region on Thursday.
Japan and the United States are in the final stages of planning a meeting between Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and President Donald Trump in Washington on February 7, the Asahi newspaper reported on Thursday, citing sources from both nations.
Brazilian and U.S. officials agreed on Wednesday to discuss regularly how Washington will deport migrants from Brazil, as some leaders in Latin America have balked at what they see as poor treatment of their citizens on repatriation flights.
Syria's newly appointed president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, said on Thursday he will form an inclusive transitional government representing diverse communities that will build institutions and run the country until it can hold free and fair elections.
PHOTO(S) OF THE DAY
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent out a memo directing staff to "give preference to
communities with marriage and birth rates higher than the national average".
Please tap on the image to enlarge, then scroll left.
Please read this story from the Ukrainian war zone which depicts Russian morals an ways of conducting the war.
Please tap on the image to enlarge, then scroll left.
DECENCY IN ACTION




VIDEO QUICK NEWS
Patel Hearing
Welch: "Can you say the words Joe Biden won the 2020 election?" Patel: "Joe Biden was president." Welch: "There is a difference! I can say Donald Trump won. I don't like saying it, but I must say it."
RFK Jr Hearing Alsobrooks: "You said 'we should not be giving Black people the same vaccine schedule that is given to whites'. Can you please explain what you meant?" RFK Jr: "There's a series of studies (...)" Alsobrooks: "What different schedule would you say I should've received?"
Trump commented on the shortage in the FAA, somehow connecting it to DEI.
Trump in reference to the tragic crash at DCA: "I plan to visit, not the site. What's the site, water?"
Trump signed an executive order, claiming that the Biden and Obama administrations, along with DEI, are responsible for the tragic crash. It is difficult to imagine HOW.
Sanders: "The key point here is that what Trump did is illegal and unconstitutional. The power of the purse rests with Congress and not with the executive."
Gegseth: "Diversity is not our strength."
Reid Hoffman on AI's Future: Challenges, Opportunities, and the Role of Regulation

Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, recently shared his insights on the future of artificial intelligence (AI) during a talk at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). The conversation centered on his book Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future, where Hoffman delves into the growing impact of AI on society and its potential to reshape human existence. He presents AI as a “superagency” — a powerful, accessible tool that could revolutionize everything, but also pose challenges.
AGI: A Superintelligent Force?
A key topic in the conversation was Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), which Hoffman describes as a computer capable of performing tasks at the human level across various fields. According to Hoffman, AGI will have the ability to complete complex tasks autonomously, from start to finish, and eventually surpass human intelligence. This raises pressing questions: What if AI becomes superintelligent? Will it replace humans as the dominant cognitive race? Or will it simply evolve into a tool that serves us in unprecedented ways?
Hoffman acknowledges that this is a perplexing issue. If AGI surpasses human capabilities, there’s the potential for AI to be either an existential threat or an incredible tool to enhance human progress. The idea of AI becoming smarter than us isn’t just a hypothetical; it’s a question that policymakers and tech leaders must seriously consider.
The Need for Regulation
Hoffman’s stance on regulation reflects a balanced approach. In the U.S., he applauded President Biden’s Executive Order on AI, which was the result of thorough research and discussions involving stakeholders at all levels. Hoffman emphasized the importance of regulation in ensuring that AI developments are safe, ethical, and beneficial. He pointed out that even if AI technologies like self-driving cars were to work well, there should still be regulation to prevent unintended consequences.
If Hoffman were in charge, he would first focus on ensuring protections against high-impact threats such as terrorism, hacking, and cyber-attacks, which AI can exacerbate. After that, the question would be what parts of AI are working well and what might need adjustment. Regulatory frameworks must be adaptable, as each generation experiences AI differently, and public perceptions of AI continue to evolve.
Open Source AI: Threat or Opportunity?
The open-source nature of AI raises another key issue. Hoffman believes open-source AI can be both a blessing and a challenge. While it allows anyone to build upon existing technologies and learn from others’ mistakes, it also makes it easier for bad actors to exploit AI for harmful purposes. However, Hoffman sees this as an opportunity, not a threat, provided the right regulatory measures are in place to safeguard against misuse.
China’s Role in AI Development
The conversation also touched on the global dynamics of AI development, particularly with China. Hoffman noted that while the U.S. has implemented protectionist measures to safeguard its AI industry, these don’t prevent other nations, like China, from advancing. He pointed to DeepSeek, a Chinese company that has successfully created an AI model resembling OpenAI’s, illustrating the growing competitiveness in the global AI race. Hoffman emphasized that in the past, AI development required huge capital investments, but the nature of the industry is changing, and innovation is becoming increasingly accessible.
Rethinking the Fear of AI Replacing Humans
As AI continues to grow, much of the public discourse centers around the fear that AI will replace human jobs. However, Hoffman urges a shift in focus. Instead of fearing displacement, we should think about how workers can transition into roles that involve using AI. He advocates for a forward-thinking conversation about navigating the changes AI brings, rather than simply fearing its consequences.
AI’s Potential in the Energy Sector
In a notable anecdote, Hoffman mentioned the recent tanking of (nuclear) energy companies’ shares after DeepSeek’s developments in AI. Drawing a parallel with the energy industry, he said there is infinite demand for energy at a certain price, and similarly, AI has the potential to spark growth if leveraged correctly. With major tech companies, or “hyperscalers,” committing to green and clean energy, AI can be harnessed to drive American innovation in energy, just as it can revolutionize other sectors.
My Take
One of the most pressing issues in today’s world is the role of AI in spreading disinformation. Hoffman believes that AI could become part of the solution, but only if proper safeguards and accountability measures are put in place. With AI now a tool that can rapidly spread both information and misinformation, it is essential that we develop frameworks for ensuring AI helps, rather than harms, public discourse.
As AI technology evolves, the challenge lies not just in how it develops but in how humanity adapts to it.
Given the current climate, one has to ask: Can AI, which is now one of the powerful sources of disinformation, actually become part of the solution?
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Meta surpassed analyst expectations for both sales and net income. During the company’s earnings call, CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared his belief that Meta AI would become the leading personalized AI assistant this year, expressing optimism about the company’s prospects under the Trump administration.
OpenAI and its largest investor, Microsoft, are investigating whether Chinese AI startup DeepSeek stole OpenAI’s technology to develop its new, groundbreaking model that caused a $1 trillion loss in U.S. stock market value this week.
At least 10 30-second commercial slots for Super Bowl LIX have been sold for $8 million each, up from $7 million last year. Brands are investing record-breaking sums in hopes their ads will have the same lasting impact as Temu's jingle did last year. With over 123 million viewers last year, making it the most-watched U.S. broadcast ever, companies are optimistic about even higher viewership this year, fueled by the Taylor Swift effect and the Kansas City Chiefs aiming for their third consecutive Super Bowl win.
Data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress revealed that only 67% of eighth-graders and 60% of fourth-graders scored at a basic or higher reading level. Average reading scores in the U.S. have been declining since 2017.
Logitech is set to release a device featuring a motion sensor that allows employers to discreetly track whether employees are in the office.
That’s it from me for now. Thank you so much for reading.
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Thank you, Olga, for all your extensive efforts to keep us informed with the facts and the truth! I love your format of using historical facts along with today's news. You have no idea how much it is all appreciated!