President Donald Trump said on Feb. 19 that he loves the idea of his administration returning 20 percent of the savings identified by DOGE as checks to U.S. taxpayers.  |
- President Donald Trump loves the idea of sending U.S. taxpayers checks funded by a portion of the savings achieved by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
- Within the first month of President Donald Trump's second term, the administration faces a flood of more than 70 lawsuits challenging his actions. We've put together a breakdown of the key cases that have led to court orders blocking the president's actions.
- The president and Elon Musk took on thorny questions in a side-by-side interview with Sean Hannity. Here are six takeaways from the session.
- Delta Airlines is offering $30,000 to each of the 76 passengers aboard the plane that flipped upside down while landing at Toronto's Pearson Airport earlier this week.
- After the news: Three lessons learned from visiting Antarctica.
|
☀️ It's Thursday. Thank you for reading Morning Brief. |
|
|
Former President Donald Trump with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York on Sept. 27, 2024. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP) |
U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traded harsh accusations over the Russia–Ukraine war and how Zelenskyy is faring nearly three years into the conflict. Trump said on social media that Zelenskyy "talked the United States of America into spending $350 Billion Dollars to go into a War that couldn't be won, that never had to start." The president said Zelenskyy "will never be able to settle" the war without the United States and Trump. A day earlier, a U.S. delegation met with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia to discuss a peace settlement in the Ukraine conflict and the improvement of U.S.–Russia relations more broadly. Ukrainian representatives were not present, and Zelenskyy has sought to distance himself from the meeting and its outcomes. Trump added that Zelenskyy is faring poorly in Ukrainian public opinion polls and called the Ukrainian leader a dictator, as Kyiv continues to postpone the country's regular election schedule. Under normal circumstances, Zelenskyy would have been up for reelection last spring, but Ukrainian law does not allow elections during a state of martial law. The government has extended its martial law status continuously since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. "[Zelenskyy] refuses to have Elections, is very low in Ukrainian Polls, and the only thing he was good at was playing [President Joe Biden] 'like a fiddle,'" Trump wrote. "A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left." Zelenskyy said on the same day that Trump was being swayed by disinformation and was undermining efforts to isolate Russia diplomatically. "We saw this disinformation," Zelenskyy told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday. "We understand it comes from Russia."
"I would like Trump's team to have more truth, because all of this certainly does not benefit Ukraine. It helps bring [Russian President Vladimir Putin] out of isolation. And I think that Putin and the Russians are very pleased that issues are being discussed with them," Zelenskyy said. (More)
|
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk holds a stuffed Air Force One toy after stepping off Marine One upon arrival with the U.S. president on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Feb. 19, 2025. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images) |
President Donald Trump said on Feb. 19 that he loves the idea of his administration returning 20 percent of the savings identified by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to U.S. citizens. "I love it," Trump said on Wednesday. "I think it's a great idea. It could be a lot." "It could also give the taxpayer incentive to go out and report things," the president added. Trump said he would also consider using another 20 percent of the savings to pay down the federal government's debt. The comments came during a summit hosted by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund in Miami, Florida, with global financiers and tech leaders. Businessman James Fishback originally made the proposal on Feb. 18 in a post on the social platform X, calling it a "DOGE dividend." "President Trump and @ElonMusk should announce a 'DOGE Dividend'—a tax refund check sent to every taxpayer, funded exclusively with a portion of the total savings delivered by DOGE," Fishback, the CEO of Azoria Partners investment firm, wrote. DOGE leader Elon Musk said he would discuss the idea with Trump, responding to Fishback in an X post, "Will check with the president." According to Fishback's analysis, if DOGE succeeded in the significant task of cutting federal spending by $2 trillion, 20 percent, or $400 billion, returned to American taxpayers would be roughly $5,000 for each of the country's 79 million tax-paying households. (More) More Politics |
- An appeals court on Wednesday upheld an order blocking President Donald Trump's executive order ending birthright citizenship for children born to illegal immigrants.
- President Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday requiring federal agencies to work with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to cut regulations that contradict the administration's agenda.
- The White House said in court filings that Musk is not a DOGE employee and does not have the authority to make decisions. Musk can only advise Trump and communicate the president's directives, a White House official said.
- Right-to-work laws, visa programs, and the federal minimum wage were among the topics on senators' minds as they vetted former Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.) for the role of labor secretary on Feb. 19. Here are five takeaways from the hearing.
- President Donald Trump said The Associated Press (AP) will remain barred from the Oval Office and Air Force One until it adopts the official renaming of the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America in its coverage.
|
New York Governor Kathy Hochul addresses the media following President Trump's efforts to kill New York's congestion pricing in New York City on Feb. 19, 2025. (Alex Kent/Getty Images) |
The U.S. Department of Transportation terminated the approval for New York City's congestion pricing program, ending the scheme that charges drivers a toll when entering Manhattan below 60th Street. The decision rescinds a Nov. 21, 2024, agreement that had allowed tolls, according to a statement from the department. In a letter to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy expressed concern that the toll structure ran counter to the principle of maintaining toll-free federal-aid highways. "New York State's congestion pricing plan is a slap in the face to working-class Americans and small business owners," he said in a statement. "Commuters using the highway system to enter New York City have already financed the construction and improvement of these highways through the payment of gas taxes and other taxes. But now the toll program leaves drivers without any free highway alternative, and instead, takes more money from working people to pay for a transit system and not highways. It's backwards and unfair." Hochul said on Wednesday afternoon that public transit is "the lifeblood" of New York City and "critical" to the city's economic future. "Broadway shows are selling out and foot traffic to local businesses is spiking. School buses are getting kids to class on time, and yellow cab trips increased by 10 percent. Transit ridership is up, drivers are having a better experience, and support for this program is growing every day," she said in a statement. "We'll see you in court," she added. MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said in a statement that the MTA is suing the Trump administration over the move in the Southern District of New York. According to Duffy's letter, the toll authority was ended for two primary reasons. The first is that the plan provides no toll-free option for many drivers traveling in the affected zone. The second is that the rate was designed largely to raise revenue for public transit, rather than strictly to cut back on traffic congestion. Because of these issues, officials concluded that the pilot fell outside the scope of what is permitted under the deal with the department. (More) More U.S. News |
- A federal judge said on Wednesday that he would rule at a later date on a government motion requesting the dismissal of charges against New York City mayor Eric Adams, after he asked questions about what he described as an unusual situation.
- The Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature has voted to override Gov. Laura Kelly's veto of a bill banning gender-reassignment procedures for minors, making Kansas the latest state to enact restrictions on transgender surgeries and related procedures for children.
- Federal Reserve officials expect that interest rate cuts will be paused until monetary policymakers observe more progress on inflation, according to minutes from the January policy meeting.
- Federal prosecutors have charged seven Chilean citizens in connection with a nationwide burglary spree targeting the homes of professional athletes.
|
| SPONSORED CONTENT: |  | Ivermectin and other essential medications should be easy to access, and at All Family Pharmacy, they are. Skip the red tape and restrictions. Order online, get a doctor's prescription, and have your meds shipped straight to your door, quick and easy. No insurance needed, no hassle, just simple, reliable healthcare. Visit AllFamilyPharmacy.com and stock up today! | |
The U.S. Department of State has designated several Mexican drug cartels and transnational criminal gangs as global terrorist organizations. The terrorist designations include the Sinaloa Cartel, the Gulf Cartel, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, the United Cartels, the La Nueva Familia Michoacana organization, and the Northeast Cartel. MS-13, the El Salvador-based gang known as Mara Salvatrucha, and Venezuela's Tren de Aragua were also designated as terrorist organizations, a notice on the Federal Register states. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said these groups contain individuals who "have committed or have attempted to commit, pose a significant risk of committing, or have participated in training to commit acts of terrorism that threaten the security of United States nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States." "I have determined that no prior notice needs to be provided to any person subject to this determination who might have a constitutional presence in the United States, because to do so would render ineffectual the measures authorized in the Order," Rubio wrote. President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Jan. 20, the day he took office, that called on officials to evaluate whether criminal cartels or transnational gangs could be designated as terrorist groups. During Trump's first term in office, he considered designating those groups as terror organizations but ultimately did not. (More) More World News: |
- Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek has shared data with the Beijing parent firm of the popular Chinese app TikTok, South Korean officials told The Epoch Times days after suspending downloads of the chatbot's app.
- The Chinese communist regime's health authorities have released January infectious disease data amid an ongoing wave of respiratory infections. Medical professionals told The Epoch Times that the regime is underreporting the outbreaks.
- Brazil's prosecutor general charged former President Jair Bolsonaro for his alleged involvement in plotting a coup to overturn his 2022 election loss. The prosecutor alleges the coup included a plan to poison Bolsonaro's successor and current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and shoot dead Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
- Elon Musk's social media platform X is challenging a ruling from a Berlin judge that requires the platform to release data ahead of Germany's upcoming national election.
- The U.S. Air Force sent two B-52 bombers on a high-profile "force projection" overflight across the Middle East on Feb. 17, in a bid to send a clear warning to adversaries and reinforce deterrence against escalating threats.
- A British couple, who were on a motorcycle journey around the world before they were arrested last month in Iran, have been charged with espionage.
|
✍️ Opinion: It All Comes Down to Accounting by Jeffrey A. Tucker 🍵 Health: The connection between our emotions and the health of our internal organs, particularly the digestive system, is both an important and intriguing topic. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, emotions are not merely psychological experiences. They are closely linked to organ function. 🍿 Documentary: The Miracle and Wonder of Prayer examines medical studies and research to ask the critical and timeless question: does prayer actually work? (Watch free on Gan Jing World) 🎵 Music: Georges Bizet - L'Arlesienne, Suite No. 1, Prelude (Listen)
📷 Photo of the Day: Pro-surfer Seth Moniz of Hawaii rides a wave on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, on Feb. 18, 2025.👇
|
Brian Bielmann/AFP via Getty Images |
The Ocean Adventurer expedition ship sails in Mikkelsen Harbor, off the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. (Goldilock Project/Shutterstock) |
There's really no place on earth like it. Yes, Antarctica is the highest, driest, coldest, darkest, windiest continent on earth. But it's more than that. This vast, frozen place captures and stretches the imagination. So, here are three primary lessons from the southernmost stretches of the world: The World is Endless (Almost)—Our conception of the globe can be very small. You can step on a plane in New York, then stride out onto the jet bridge in Hong Kong, literally on the other side of the world, on the same day. And of course, many people rarely leave their own little neighborhood. But a trip to Antarctica drives home the utterly massive scale of the earth. You can sail for days and days—past peaks laden with snow, glaciers; and island after island, some with thousands of penguins on them—without ever seeing a permanent human settlement. It's an International Community (and Everybody Gets Along)—Antarctica has no permanent residents, and no indigenous peoples. The Antarctic Treaty was originally signed by 12 nations back in 1959. Today, 58 countries are party to it. The treaty reserves the whole continent for scientific pursuits and sets aside national land claims. The number of workers at the research stations varies—the smallest houses have perhaps 200 workers, while McMurdo Station, the largest U.S. base, swells to perhaps 1,000 in the summer. There, scientists carry out experiments and testing in various fields—climate, glaciology, marine biology, and others. You Can Still Feel Like an Explorer—When you're headed to the ultimate south, you feel like you're sailing off the map. Explorers Shackleton, Amundsen, Scott all had the polar fever and explored beyond it. And the beauty of it is that, in Antarctica, you can too. Read the full article by our colleague Tim Johnson here. |
|
|
Thanks for reading. Have a wonderful day. |
|
|
Copyright © 2025 The Epoch Times, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: The Epoch Times. 229 W. 28 St. Fl. 7 New York, NY 10001 | Contact Us Our Morning Brief newsletter is one of the best ways to receive the most up-to-date information. Manage your email preferences here or unsubscribe from Morning Brief here. |
|
| |
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon