Democratic Underground: Forums for U.S. Liberals and Democrats

Trump Abruptly Changes Tune on Canada After Prime Minister's Threat

Donald Trump pulled a 180-degree turn Friday when speaking about Canada, after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that the country’s relationship with the U.S. was “over.” In a post on Truth Social Friday morning, Trump dropped his stupid schtick of calling Canada’s leader its “governor,” as part of his ongoing campaign to have it become the “fifty-first state.” Instead, he issued a surprisingly deferential statement about our northern neighbors. “I just finished speaking with Prime Minister ...

riversedge

Dow sinks more than 700 points. Stocks are on track for their worst quarter since 2023

Story by John Towfighi, CNN • 43m US stocks plunged Friday and a broad selloff gripped Wall Street as investors digested slightly stubborn inflation data and weakening consumer sentiment while wrestling with continued tariff anxiety. The Dow tumbled 715 points, or 1.7%. The broader S&P 500 fell 1.9% and the Nasdaq Composite slid 2.6%. All three major indexes were on track to close the week in the red. The S&P 500 is down 5% since this year and on track for its first losing quarter sinc ...

riversedge

Vance says Denmark has 'not done a good job' at keeping Greenland secure as Trump pushes for U.S. ownership

President Donald Trump said this week that the U.S. “would go as far as we have to” to take ownership of territory." March 28, 2025 Updated March 28, 2025, 2:23 PM CDT By Alexander Smith, Rebecca Shabad and Molly Hunter Vice President JD Vance sharply criticized Denmark and other European allies during his visit to Greenland on Friday, as the Trump administration continues to push U.S. ownership of the semi-autonomous territory. Speaking to servicemembers at Pituffik Space Base ...

demmiblue

Musk's xAI buys social media platform X for $45 billion

March 28 (Reuters) - Elon Musk said on Friday that his xAI has acquired X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter, in an all-stock transaction for $45 billion, including debt. "xAI and X's futures are intertwined. Today, we officially take the step to combine the data, models, compute, distribution and talent," Musk said in a post on X, adding that the combined company would be valued at $80 billion. The billionaire's AI startup, which was launched in 2023, recently raised $6 ...

MayReasonRule

I'm Suing DOGE

The First Amendment Coalition (FAC) and MSW Media have filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the U.S. DOGE Service for its failure to respond to FOIA requests Allison Gill Mar 28, 2025 Since President Donald Trump’s inauguration, Musk and DOGE have sought to remake the federal government through layoffs at dozens of agencies and have attempted to completely eliminate others, such as USAID. Yet DOGE itself, from how it is staffed to how it makes its decisions and carries out ...

Dennis Donovan

DOGE Plans to Rebuild SSA Codebase In Months, Risking Benefits and System Collapse

(Wired) The so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is starting to put together a team to migrate the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) computer systems entirely off one of its oldest programming languages in a matter of months, potentially putting the integrity of the system—and the benefits on which tens of millions of Americans rely—at risk. Under any circumstances, a migration of this size and scale would be a massive undertaking, experts tell WIRED, but the expedited deadline runs the risk of obstructing payments to the more than 65 million people in the US currently receiving Social Security benefits.

BeyondGeography

Investment advisor sees 'pure chaos' in auto industry from tariffs

(The Fly) After speaking to auto industry experts from the U.S., Europe, and Asia, Wedbush Securities concluded President Trump’s 25% tariff on all cars and parts made outside the U.S. “would send the auto industry into pure chaos.” The move will raise the average price of cars between $5,000 on the low end and $10,000-$15,000 on the high end, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Wedbush believes every auto maker in the world will have to raise prices selling into the U.S. while the supply chain logistics of the tariff announcement is “hard to even put our arms around at this moment.”

In It to Win It

"We made a mistake": GOP Rep. Bacon suggests limiting Trump's presidential tariff powers

(Salon) President Donald Trump’s metastasizing tariffs are forcing some Republicans to fall out of line. With broad tariffs on Canada and Mexico set to kick in next week and a recently announced duty on most imported vehicles, Republicans in Congress worry massive price increases on everyday goods may trigger a backlash against the party. Some GOP lawmakers are even ready to rein in the president's power to implement tariffs, citing the economic uncertainty that spooked investors earlier this month.

Wednesdays

4 Days Until Florida 1st and 6th Districts Special Elections!

Donald Trump’s recent appointments have triggered a number of key special elections that could change everything for Democrats. The GOP holds one of the slimmest House majorities in history – meaning Hakeem Jeffries only needs three more seats to win a House majority. We can’t let this opportunity slip through our fingers.

douglas9

Trump order aims to outlaw most government unions on 'national security' grounds

(GovExec.com) President Trump on Thursday signed an executive order purporting to outlaw collective bargaining across two thirds of the federal government, citing a little-used provision of federal labor law relating to national security issues. A fact sheet announcing the policy document says that Trump cited a rarely used provision of the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act allowing the president to exclude agencies and agency subcomponents from collective bargaining rules if the rules “cannot be applied to that agency or subdivision in a manner consistent with national security requirements.”

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Private groups work to identify and report student protesters for possible deportation

6 min ago - When a protester was caught on video in January at a New York rally against Israel, only her eyes were visible between a mask and headscarf. But days later, photos of her entire face, along with her name and employer, were circulated online. “Mo ... (AP)

Pete Hegseth Brought Wife to High-Level Foreign Meetings Where 'Sensitive Information Was Discussed': Report

15 min ago - Mar 28th, 2025, 9:55 pm Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth brought his wife to at least two meetings with foreign military leaders where “sensitive information was discussed,” according to The Wall Street Journal. Hegseth has faced criticis ... (MEDIAite)

Justice Sotomayor warns about arbitrary power' as she defends the rule of law

42 min ago - Published 8:25 p.m. ET March 28, 2025 | Updated 8:44 p.m. ET March 28, 2025 WASHINGTON − Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor on Friday stressed the importance of an independent judiciary and the rule of law, warning in comments at a law schoo ... (USA Today)

Canadian Lawmaker Spots 'Something Deeper' Brewing Amid Trump's Trade War

1 hr ago - Story by Ben Blanchet • 5h Canadian lawmaker Charlie Angus................ Angus, when asked by Ben Meiselas of the MeidasTouch Network if Trump is “scared” by how Canada and the EU have responded to his plans of further tariffs, spot ... (msn)

Noem's vow to 'eliminate' FEMA raises alarms

1 hr ago - 11h Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s vow to “eliminate” the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is raising the alarm from experts on disaster assistance, who say it could leave vulnerable communities at risk. Noem thi ... (msn/The Hill)

Emotional Education Department 'clap-outs' celebrate departed federal employees

1 hr ago - March 28, 2025, 6:56 PM Dozens of emotional Department of Education employees took part in a final "clap-out" in Washington, D.C., after losing jobs amid the Trump administration's agency restructuring. The administration slashed about 50% of the de ... (ABC News)

Trump says the US will help in Asia quake. A former official says the system is now in 'shambles'

2 hrs ago - Updated 6:27 PM EDT, March 28, 2025 WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday that the U.S. was going to help with the response to Southeast Asia’s deadly earthquake. But the effects of his administration’s deep cuts in for ... (AP)

Construction start 'imminent' on migrant deportation site next to Fort Bliss

2 hrs ago - Published 5:52 p.m. ET March 28, 2025 | Updated 6:23 p.m. ET March 28, 2025 Work to begin building a new, massive migrant deportation site at El Paso's Fort Bliss is imminent, the U.S. Secretary of the Army said. U.S. Secretary of the Army Daniel P. ... (USA Today)

DHS considers axing disaster and counterterrorism grants that help sanctuary cities

2 hrs ago - 03/28/25 5:57 PM ET The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will consider axing billions of dollars in grants for programs that seek to prevent terrorism or help communities respond to disasters based on immigration policy in the recipient areas. H ... (The Hill)

'Heartless and dangerous': Proposal to automate VA call centers part of aggressive layoff plan, sources say

3 hrs ago - Updated 5:26 PM EDT, Fri March 28, 2025 CNN — The call centers that America’s military veterans rely on to schedule appointments and arrange medical care may no longer have a live voice on the other end of the line because the agents who ... (CNN Politics)

Elon Musk Set to Visit Central Intelligence Agency Next Week

3 hrs ago - March 28, 2025 at 5:22 PM EDT Elon Musk is set to visit the Central Intelligence Agency on Monday, the latest stop on a tour through the US government's spy apparatus that's provoked alarm from some Democrats and intelligence experts. Musk is visitin ... (Bloomberg)

US Naval Academy ends race consideration in admissions

3 hrs ago - March 28, 2025 4:45 PM EDT Updated 12 hours ago March 28 (Reuters) - In a policy reversal in line with President Donald Trump's views, the U.S. Naval Academy will no longer consider race as a factor in admissions as the elite military school had long ... (Reuters)

The race for UN ambassador is on again, but some potential choices already saying no

4 hrs ago - 03/28/2025 04:41 PM EDT The White House is eager to replace Rep. Elise Stefanik as its nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and at least two ex-Trump administration officials with diplomatic experience are in the mix. Some prominent pot ... (Politico)

'Upended Supreme Court precedent': Appeals court judge slams colleagues' pro-Trump ruling

4 hrs ago - March 28, 2025 4:31PM ET A Washington, D.C. federal appeals court has cleared the way for President Donald Trump to fire members of the National Labor Relations Board and Merit Systems Protection Board, Politico legal reporter Kyle Cheney said on soc ... (Raw Story)

FCC is investigating Disney and ABC for DEI initiatives

5 hrs ago - March 28, 2025, 4:21 PM EDT / Source: CNBC The Federal Communications Commission has alerted the Walt Disney Company and its ABC unit that it will begin an investigation into the diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at the media giant. The FCC, th ... (NBC News)

Collision warning sounds in cockpit of Delta plane due to close call with Air Force jet near Reagan National Airport

5 hrs ago - By Alexandra Skores and Aaron Cooper, Updated 12:17 AM EDT, Sat March 29, 2025 A close call between a Delta Air Lines Airbus A319 taking off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and a US Air Force T-38 jet, often used by the military for ... (cnn)

Elon Musk is Quitting

6 hrs ago - Elon Musk may be getting out of DOGE. On Thursday, Musk said he plans to step down from his role in the spring. The head of Tesla and X owner said he plans on stepping away in May during a Fox News interview with six members of his Department of Gove ... (Yahoo, Asbury Park Press)

Columbia University's interim president steps down and returns to former post

7 hrs ago - NEW YORK (AP) — Columbia University’s interim president Katrina Armstrong has resigned, returning to her post running the New York school’s medical center. Armstrong’s return to her former job as CEO of Columbia University’s ... (AP)

Trump threatens Iran with "bad things" unless it accepts nuclear deal

7 hrs ago - 9 hours ago - Barak Ravid ............... ............. Why it matters: Trump's comments came after Iran responded to the letter the president sent the country's supreme leader three weeks ago, which threatened military action if no deal is reac ... (axios)

JD Vance Warns There's 'Very Strong Evidence' China, Russia Want Greenland

9 hrs ago - Vice President JD Vance criticized Denmark on Friday for what he called an "underinvestment" in Greenland, saying there was "very strong evidence" that Russia and China want the island and access to its resources. Vance's remarks at Pituffik Space Ba ... (Newsweek)