President Trump's administration is significantly downsizing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), cutting approximately 1,500 jobs, leaving only around 200 employees. Layoff notices were issued Thursday, with employee access to systems ending Friday. The CFPB's mission is being drastically reduced, focusing primarily on mortgage-related issues while scaling back...
Wisconsin Elections Commission's meeting on uncounted Madison ballots turned contentious. Chair Ann Jacobs, a Democrat, clashed with Republican Commissioner Bob Spindell, silencing him when he attempted to discuss Milwaukee election issues. The commission is investigating former Madison City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl for failing to count 200 absentee ballots....
A draft federal budget proposal suggests drastic cuts to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), potentially slashing discretionary spending by one-third. This includes eliminating programs like Head Start and significantly reducing funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and...
Over 1,400 employees, nearly 88% of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), were terminated Thursday. This follows a court ruling allowing terminations after individual assessments. The agency's focus will shift from supervision to addressing "tangible harm to consumers," deprioritizing areas like medical debt and student loans. Critics...
French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged the historical injustice of France imposing a massive indemnity on Haiti after its independence in 1825. He announced a joint French-Haitian historical commission to examine their shared past, but stopped short of directly addressing Haitian calls for reparations. The indemnity, initially 150 million...
A proposed Russia-Ukraine peace deal, contingent on Russia's control of five Ukrainian territories, including Crimea and annexed regions, has sparked debate. While France initiated talks and emphasized a swift, secure peace respecting Ukraine's rights, Kyiv rejects any territorial concessions. Concerns remain about a premature truce without security guarantees...
The Trump administration is seizing control of Pennsylvania Station's renovation from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), escalating tensions between the federal government and New York's transportation agency. This follows the administration's halting of New York's congestion pricing program. The aging station desperately needs an overhaul, but competing interests...
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is selling its Washington, D.C. headquarters, a 1968 building needing over $500 million in repairs. HUD cites staff occupying only half the space and aims to reduce taxpayer burden. The move aligns with the Trump administration's broader effort to...
Fear among liberal donors intensified after reports surfaced that the Trump administration may revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status. This action, seen as retaliation for Harvard's defiance, fueled concerns among left-leaning philanthropists and nonprofits about potential attacks on their assets and tax exemptions. Since Trump's return to power, these groups...
The Supreme Court agreed to hear arguments in May regarding President Trump's executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants. Three district courts have blocked the order nationwide. The administration sought to limit the injunctions' scope, allowing the policy to take effect in some areas....
