Trump sits down again with Hannity after ordering release of JFK files - live
President’s Oval Office chat with Fox host bound to hold more surprises
Trump signs order to declassify JFK, RFK, and MLK assassination files
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Donald Trump sits down for a second time Thursday night with Fox News host Sean Hannity after he announced earlier he’s ordering the declassification and release of all remaining records relating to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Robert F Kennedy Sr, and the Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr.
The White House, meanwhile, announced that Trump’s pick to be the FBI director, Kash Patel, will face down the Senate Judiciary Committee next Thursday when he appears for a confirmation hearing before the panel led by Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley.
The hearing and subsequent Senate votes will determine whether Patel, a former prosecutor and public defender who gained prominence as a vociferous defender of the president, will replace former director Christopher Wray.
Wray, who Trump named to lead the bureau in 2017 after he fired then-director James Comey, resigned just before the 45th president was sworn in as the 47th president on Monday.
Earlier in the day, a federal judge temporarily blocked Trump’s sweeping executive order to unilaterally redefine the 14th Amendment and deny citizenship to certain American-born children of immigrants, calling it “blatantly unconstitutional.”
Trump also addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, via video link — his first major speech to a global audience since taking office on Monday.
After prepared remarks, the president engaged in a brief Q&A session with business leaders, giving freewheeling answers covering energy, the war in Ukraine, tariffs and Canada.
On Wednesday night, Trump appeared on Fox News with Sean Hannity for his first TV interview since returning to the White House.
Trump reflected that it was “sad” that his predecessor, Joe Biden, did not pardon himself before leaving office, hinting that he could be placed under investigation, and also suggested he could shut down the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Trump signs executive order declassifying JFK, RFK, MLK assassination files Trump threatens business leaders with tariffs and demands lower oil prices in World Economic Forum speech Trump’s birthright citizenship order temporarily blocked by federal judge Trump pardons anti-abortion activists who blockaded clinic entrancesDonald Trump announced Thursday he would pardon anti-abortion activists convicted of blockading abortion clinic entrances.
The president called it “a great honor to sign this.”
“They should not have been prosecuted,” he said as he signed pardons for “peaceful pro-life protesters.”
Among the people pardoned were those involved in the October 2020 invasion and blockade of a Washington clinic.
In the first week of Trump’s presidency, anti-abortion advocates have ramped up calls for Trump to pardon protesters charged with violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, which is designed to protect abortion clinics from obstruction and threats. The 1994 law was passed during a time when clinic protests and blockades were on the rise, as well as violence against abortion providers, such as the murder of Dr. David Gunn in 1993.
AP24 January 2025 02:00
Kash Patel hearing set for Friday as Trump returns to Fox for a second consecutive nightDonald Trump’s controversial nominee to be FBI director, Kash Patel, will face down the Senate Judiciary Committee next Thursday when he appears for a confirmation hearing before the panel led by Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley. The hearing and subsequent Senate votes will determine whether Patel, a former prosecutor and public defender who gained prominence as a vociferous defender of the president, will replace former director Christopher Wray.
Wray, who Trump named to lead the bureau in 2017 after he fired then-director James Comey, resigned just before the 45th president was sworn in as the 47th president on Monday. Trump had indicated a desire to fire Wray because the former New Jersey US Attorney had failed to stop criminal investigations into his conduct.
Trump, who on Wednesday met with Fox News host Sean Hannity for his first television interview since returning to the White House, will appear on the right-wing host’s eponymous program Thursday evening when the second half of the interview is aired.
Andrew Feinberg24 January 2025 01:56
Are the penny’s days numbered under Trump?According to a comment his new advisory board made on X, one of Elon Musk’s first goals in his new role as Donald Trump’s advisor may be to eliminate the penny.
Graig Graziosi reports.
Oliver O'Connell24 January 2025 01:30
Trump abruptly cancels DOJ program to hire young lawyers from top colleges — it’s a mystery why...The Trump administration canceled a Justice Department recruiting program for young lawyers at prestigious colleges and revoked recent job offers, according to a report.
President Donald Trump scrapped the Attorney General’s Honors Program that had been in place since 1953, sources familiar with the cancellation told the Washington Post. The department’s website describes the program as the “nation’s premier entry-level federal attorney recruitment program,” attracting candidates from top law schools across the country.
The reason for tossing out the program wasn’t immediately clear.
Kelly Rissman reports from New York.
Oliver O'Connell24 January 2025 01:00
Elon Musk’s battle with Wikipedia is part of his war on truthIo Dodds writes:
When Elon Musk makes a claim, it’s often wise to mentally add a little note on the end: citation needed.
After volunteer editors updated Musk’s Wikipedia page to reflect his “alleged Nazi salute” at Trump’s inauguration, the world’s richest person demanded an immediate boycott of the non-profit foundation.
Musk has been skirmishing with Wikipedia for a while — in October 2024 he offered a $1 billion donation to change the site’s name to “Dickipedia”— but this latest attack fits into a long and worrying pattern of Musk trying to control what people see and hear about him and his businesses.
“He is the world’s leading free speech hypocrite,” Seth Stern, director of advocacy at the Freedom of the Press Foundation, tells The Independent. “And his actions with respect to Wikipedia are further evidence of that.
Musk tolerates free speech — as long as he likes the viewpoint or agrees with the political perspective, notes Stern.
Read on...
The likely reason why Elon Musk is mad at WikipediaElon Musk is angry at Wikipedia for reporting on his alleged ‘Nazi salute’. But his attacks are part of a long and troubling history of trying to suppress information he finds inconvenient, writes Io Dodds
Oliver O'Connell24 January 2025 00:30
Bloomberg pledges over $20m to plug gap in UN’s climate budget after Trump pulled outThe pledge will cover 22 percent of the nearly $100 million budget previously provided by America. The other funders were not identified.
Julia Musto reports.
Oliver O'Connell24 January 2025 00:00
Federal employees given deadlines to name DEI colleaguesEmails sent to government employees and obtained by NBC News accused staffers of hiding information about those on the schemes by using “coded or imprecise language.”
Mike Bedigan reports from New York.
Oliver O'Connell23 January 2025 23:30
State Department freezes nonbinary passport applicationsSecretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered the US State Department to immediately suspend all applications for passports with the “X” gender marker, a third option introduced by the agency under the Biden administration for nonbinary, intersex and other gender nonconforming persons.
An internal email first reported by The Guardian documented the move. It orders the suspension of any passport applications for persons who did not mark either “male” or “female” in the gender section.
John Bowden reports from Washington, D.C.
Oliver O'Connell23 January 2025 23:10
New forces being deployed to El Paso and San Diego to secure southern borderActive-duty military troops will begin arriving in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego this evening. Defense officials say this is the first batch of the new forces being deployed to secure the southern border.
The Pentagon announced on Wednesday that about 1,500 troops were being sent to the border this week, as the department scrambles to put in motion President Donald Trump’s executive order demanding an immediate crackdown on immigration.
U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details on troop movements, said they expect additional troops to be ordered to deploy in the next few days as defense and homeland security leaders iron out requests for more support.
The officials said it’s not yet clear how many more service members will be tapped in the near future, but they would include active duty, National Guard, and Reserves and come from land, air, and sea forces. Other defense and military officials this week estimated that the additional number deployed could be in the thousands.
AP23 January 2025 22:55
Full story: Rubio set to visit Panama on first official tripThe secretary will embark on a swing through Central America within the coming days, Politico first reported on Wednesday, including Panama, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. His trip comes as President Donald Trump has threatened an international dispute over control of the Panama Canal.
John Bowden reports.
Oliver O'Connell23 January 2025 22:40
Newer1 / 6Older
Bruno Fernandes' 92nd-minute goal to beat Rangers in the Europa League gave manager Ruben Amorim a much-needed win and put his boss in Manchester United's record books
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Ferries have also been cancelled in yellow, amber and red weather warnings as wind top 100mph
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Dozens of flights have been cancelled at Belfast airports this morning as high winds from Storm Éowyn begin to batter Northern Ireland.
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Storm Eowyn is set to bring near 100mph winds
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Alejandro Garnacho produced his best attacking performance for Ruben Amorim as Man United took a giant step towards Europa League qualification against Rangers.
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Southport killer Axel Rudakubana was referred to Prevent three times before he murdered three children in July last year
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McRae’s racy rollout for ’So Close To What’ continues.
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Fans of James Bond actor Daniel Craig are in for a treat as another one of his high-impact films airs on TV this weekend which aims to leave fans on the edges of their seats
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Always one to indulge in nostalgia, Paul McCartney crafted one of The Beatles' most jovial ballads with 'Rocky Raccoon', fuelled by the stars if his childhood.
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Dozens of flights have been cancelled at Belfast airports this morning as high winds from Storm Éowyn begin to batter Northern Ireland.
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