Even for this time of divide, Biden and Trump are remarkably different people and politicians.
But let me first start with the lesser-known fact, what they have in common.
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Biden and Trump both:
- Were born in the 1940s, kids in the years rt after WWII.
- Went to private school for HS. (Biden got an on-campus job to help pay)
- Were of age but did not serve in Vietnam. (Biden got student deferrals, Trump a medical deferral for a "bone spur")
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Trump and Biden:
- Both had reputations as not the best students.
- But both were known as standout, even star athletes.
- Both had close family members who were immigrants. (Trump's mother, Biden's grandparents)
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One more odd similarity b/t Biden and Trump: 1987.
- That was the first year Biden ran for president.
- And the first year that Trump flirted with and was asked if he wanted to run.
(See Larry King live - ! - )
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BREAKING: MN Gov. Tim Walz confirms state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot and killed in what he said appears to be politcally motivated assassination.
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Officials confirm Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were also shot and have not finished surgery. They are optimistic, but both are in difficult situations.
The area where this happened is under a "shelter at home" order, as law enforcement searches for the perpetrator.
Finally have a chance to look through the Trump proposal. Here's what's in it.
Overall: $9.4 billion in approved spending that Trump wants clawed back, or rescinded.
Foreign aid: $8.3 billion
Public broadcasting: $1.1 billion
Foreign aid highlights. Trump would like to cut:
- $203 million from U.S. contribs to UN, World Health Org and other intl orgs.
- $361 million from intl peacekeeping activities
- $900 million from global health, incl. HIV/AIDs treatment
- $1.7 billion from econ. support fund
More Trump proposed rescissions:
- $2.5 billion for development assistance
- $460 million for Europe + Central Asia
- $496 million for disaster assistance
- $125 million for USAID operating expenses
- $64 milllion for Instte. for Peace, African Devel Fndtn, Inter-American Fndtn
A thread on new directives for federal workers and hiring from OPM ... as Musk exits and the Trump administration enters next phase for federal workforce.
I'll write this as I read...
NEW today. The Trump administration posted its final federal hiring plan.
It is a 30 page memo.
Title: Merit Hiring Plan
To: Agency + department heads and acting heads
The Trump hiring plan begins w DEI programs, which it calls "immoral".
Agencies must:
- Cease using statistics on race, sex, ethnicity or national origin, or the broader concept of “underrepresentation” in hiring
- Cease sharing info about agency's composition in those areas
NEW. Statement from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (which is a @NewsHour funder) on Lawsuit to Block Firing of CPB Board Members:
“The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is not a government entity, and its board members are not government officers. …
… Because CPB is not a federal agency subject to the President’s authority, but rather a private corporation, we have filed a lawsuit to block these firings.“
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“In creating CPB, Congress expressly forbade ‘any department, agency, officer, or employee of the United States to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over educational television or radio broadcasting, or over [CPB] or any of its grantees or contractors…’.”
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BREAKING here - U.S. team in quake zone told they are fired, per source.
The 3-person disaster assessment team sent to Myanmar for the U.S. received termination notices while staying/sleeping outside — US AID workers were told on an all hands call today, per a source familiar.
I am told these are PSC’s - personal service contractors.
They are still on the ground in Myanmar now. I do not know the date their termination takes effect. But they have been told they are being fired.
I have asked the State Dept for comment.
Also told by this source that the State Dept has begun cancelling awards/aid programs in disaster zones that can be life and death, including food aid. Some programs have been cancelled in *Yemen, Syria, Gaza*. The source said this is contrary to State's waiver policy.