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Greg Clugston
SRN Correspondent Greg Clugston keeps you informed about all the news coming from the White House.
FCC to investigate Disney, ABC TV over “DEI discrimination”
President Trump’s Federal Communications Commission is opening an investigation into the Walt Disney Company and its ABC TV network. In a letter to Disney’s CEO, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr said the investigation will see whether the company is “promoting invidious forms of DEI discrimination.” He said he has “significant concerns” about Disney’s practices. The Trump administration has taken aggressive action against the media by shutting down Voice of America and limiting AP’s White House coverage. The FCC currently has open investigations into ABC, CBS, and NBC News.
Listen DownloadTrump says he’s considering a third term in office
President Trump says he’s considering ways to serve a third term. The president told NBC News that he’s “not joking” about exploring ways to overcome the U-S Constitution, which limits presidents to two terms in office. He talked about it later with reporters aboard Air Force One, saying “I have had more people ask me to have a third term.” The 22nd Amendment says no one can be elected president more than twice.
Listen DownloadTrump angry with Putin, threatens more sanctions
Historic White House tree to be cut down
Social Security Admin backtracks on part of new ID plan
The Social Security Administration is partially backtracking on its plan to require in-person identity checks. The SSA recently announced that it would require all new and existing beneficiaries to travel to a Social Security field office to verify their identity. After a public outcry, the agency made some changes to that plan. It now says people applying for Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare, or Supplemental Security Income who are not able to use the agency’s website, can complete their claim over the phone. But other SSA applicants will still be required to verify their identities at a field office.
Listen DownloadTrump pulled UN ambassador pick to boost House GOP
President Trump pulled the nomination of his pick for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations — even though his nominee wasn’t controversial. There was no scandal and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s nomination was expected to easily win Senate confirmation. Her nomination was withdrawn because of math. Republicans barely have a majority in the House and need more breathing room to pass the president’s agenda. So the White House decided to keep Stefanik in Congress, even though her nomination advanced out of committee. Donald Trump wrote on social media that it’s “essential” his party maintains “every Republican seat.”
Listen DownloadTrump says U.S. needs Greenland for “international security”
President Trump continues to talk about the United States taking control of Greenland. As Vice President Vance and a U-S delegation visited an American military base in Greenland on Friday, the president once again said the U-S needs the island for “international security.” During his visit, the vice president said military force would not be necessary, insisting that the people of Greenland will want to partner with the U-S.
Listen DownloadTrump to end collective bargaining with federal labor unions
President Trump is ordering the end of collective bargaining with most federal labor unions. Citing a 1978 law, the president said he has the authority to end collective bargaining with federal unions in agencies because of their role in safeguarding national security. The executive order affects most of the federal government, however police and firefighters will be exempt. The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents more than 800-thousand government workers, said it is “preparing immediate legal action.”
Listen DownloadWhite House withdraws UN Ambassador nomination
The White House has withdrawn President Trump’s nominee to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. The decision to pull Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s nomination was not made based on her ability to win confirmation. She had already won approval from the foreign relations committee and was seen as among the least controversial Cabinet picks. The White House decided to withdraw Stefanik’s nomination because Republicans need her in the House, which has an extremely tight majority, to help pass the president’s agenda.
Listen DownloadAppeals court upholds order to rehire thousands of federal workers
An appeals court is upholding a judge’s order requiring the Trump administration to rehire thousands of federal workers. The government argued that judges can’t “micromanage” federal worker policies. But a split 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel turned back the emergency motion. At issue was a lower court judge’s order requiring the Trump administration to rehire thousands of probationary workers who were let go in mass firings. The judge found legal problems with the way the firings were carried out.
Listen DownloadTrump defends Signal chat group, bashes journalist
President Trump announces 25% tariffs on auto imports
The Atlantic released entire Signal chat among Trump officials
Greenland not happy about Friday’s U.S. delegation visit
U.S. says Russia, Ukraine agree to Black Sea partial ceasefire
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to expand their partial ceasefire to include the Black Sea. The United States announced the agreement as it wrapped up three days of talks with Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Saudi Arabia. The White House said the two sides have “agreed to ensure safe navigation [and] eliminate the use of force” in the Black Sea. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy praised the talks as the early “right steps” toward a peaceful settlement of the 3-year-old war. GC, Wash.
Listen DownloadTrump downplays mistaken sharing of military plans with journalist
President Trump is downplaying the sharing of Yemen attack plans to a group chat that included a journalist. Democrats and Republicans alike criticized the incident as a serious national security breach, but the president called it “the only glitch in two months” of his administration. He claimed on NBC News that it didn’t turn out to be a “serious” matter and he expressed confidence in his national security adviser. Earlier this month, the editor-in-chief for The Atlantic received details of a U-S military attack in a secure messaging app two hours before the airstrikes began.
Listen DownloadTrump national security team mistakenly texted war plans to a journalist
Trump national security officials mistakenly texted war plans to a magazine editor. The editor-in-chief for The Atlantic reports that he received war plans for military strikes in Yemen two hours before the March 15th attack. Jeffrey Goldberg was included in a group chat in a secure messaging app. The National Security Council said the text chain “appears to be authentic” and was looking into how a journalist’s number was added to the chain in the Signal group chat. President Trump, when asked, said he was unaware of the incident.
Listen DownloadJudge blocks DOGE from accessing sensitive information
Trump asks Supreme Court to halt judge’s order to rehire fired workers
The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to halt a lower court ruling that orders the rehiring of thousands of federal workers. Some 16-thousand probationary employees were let go in mass firings across several agencies as a result of President Trump’s orders to slash the size of the government. A California-based judge found the firings didn’t follow federal law, and he ordered reinstatement offers be sent as a lawsuit plays out. But in an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court, the administration argued the ruling should be put on hold because the judge didn’t have the authority to reinstate the workers.
Listen DownloadSocial Security ID changes raise questions, concerns
Questions are being raised about the Social Security Administration’s plan to require in-person identity checks. Starting March 31st, the Social Security Administration will end its phone identification service. The change will require anyone who needs to verify their bank information to do it online or visit an agency field office in person. To complicate matters, many Social Security field offices across the country will also be closing. Critics say the plan will hurt older beneficiaries in remote areas and people with limited internet access. According to the Trump administration, the change is aimed at reducing fraud.
Listen DownloadVital Education Dept functions shifting to other agencies
President Trump is shifting some of the Education Department’s vital functions to other federal agencies. As the administration dismantles the Education Department, the president announced that federal student loans will be handled by the Small Business Administration. He claimed the loans “will be serviced much better” than in the past, even though the SBA is cutting more than 40 percent of its workforce as it takes over tens of millions of student loans. The White House also said programs for students with disabilities will shift to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Listen DownloadTrump pressures the Fed to lower interest rates
White House condemns Tesla vandalism as “despicable”
The White House condemns the rising vandalism of Tesla cars and showrooms. Attacks on Elon Musk’s electric car company are cropping up and have been on the increase since the CEO became a controversial adviser in the Trump administration. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says the attacks are “despicable” and that Democrats have remained largely silent. President Trump has said Tesla vandalism amounts to “domestic terror.”
Listen DownloadTrump proposes a U.S. takeover of Ukraine’s power plants
President Trump is proposing a takeover of Ukrainian power plants. The president made the offer during a Wednesday phone call with Ukrainian President Zelensky as a way to ensure the power plants’ security. The president held calls this past week with both the Russian and Ukrainian leaders seeking a ceasefire and ultimate end to the war.
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