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

House Democrat Smacks Down Trump's Double Standard On Protests Amid Tesla Backlash

(Huff Post) Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) ripped Donald Trump on Wednesday after the president said he’d label violence against Tesla dealerships as “domestic terrorism” as the company faces backlash over billionaire Elon Musk’s cost-cutting crusade. Trump, who praised Tesla electric vehicles alongside Musk outside the White House earlier this week, vowed that protesters who target the company with violence would be caught and “go through hell” as a result. “So, Trump thinks that if you try to kill cops to overthrow the government and change an election that’s not domestic terrorism, but somehow having a protest in front of a Tesla dealership is?” said Moulton.

LetMyPeopleVote

Russia says it does not want a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine

(Financial Times) Russia does not want a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine and is pushing for a long-term peace settlement that will take into account its interests and concerns, a senior aide to Vladimir Putin has said. Yuri Ushakov, the Russian president’s foreign policy adviser, told state television on Thursday that the 30-day ceasefire proposed after talks between the US and Ukraine this week was “nothing other than a temporary breather for Ukrainian troops”.

douglas9

Trump's FBI Moves to Criminally Charge Major Climate Groups

(New Republic) The FBI is moving to criminalize groups like Habitat for Humanity for receiving grants from the Environmental Protection Agency under the Biden administration. Citibank revealed in a court filing Wednesday that it was told to freeze the groups’ bank accounts at the FBI’s request. The reason? The FBI alleges that the groups are involved in “possible criminal violations,” including “conspiracy to defraud the United States.”

LetMyPeopleVote

Trump threatens 200% tariff on E.U. booze over tax on U.S. whiskey

(NBC News) President Donald Trump threatened on Thursday to impose 200% tariffs on alcohol from the European Union in response to the region's retaliatory tariffs on the U.S., further escalating tensions between two longtime trading partners. In a post on his Truth Social platform, the president claimed that the E.U. was "formed for the sole purpose of taking advantage of the United States" while calling it "one of the most hostile and abusive taxing and tariffing authorities in the World." Trump claimed the protectionist move "would be great for the Wine and Champagne businesses in the U.S."

KS Toronado

Toon Tune Up Thursday

BumRushDaShow

Trump whines about who signed deal to allow Canada to supply energy to the US - it was him

(The Independent) President Donald Trump took to social media to whine about who negotiated a deal allowing Canada to supply energy to the U.S. — but, it turns out, he made the deal. Amidst the trade tariffs back-and-forth with Canada and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who suspended the province’s 25 percent electricity surcharge on three U.S. states Tuesday, Trump fumed on Truth Social: “Why would our Country allow another Country to supply us with electricity, even for a small area?” “Who made these decisions, and why?” the president demanded.

Dennis Donovan

Trump has united the free world against a grave threat

(Public Notice) In his own twisted way, Donald Trump has become a unifying figure. He’s more politically divisive than ever, but his outright attacks on liberal democracy everywhere have managed to rally America’s traditional allies against a common threat — one he sees when he looks in the mirror.

BumRushDaShow

Education Department cuts agency that compiles 'Nation's Report Card' and measures student performance

(ABC News) The Department of Education's far-reaching layoffs have decimated a small statistical agency considered to be the "authoritative and trusted source" of information on the education system in the United States, four former employees familiar with the situation told ABC News. Since the 1860s, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has collected and analyzed data on education across the country, which has been used by policymakers and the public to measure academic success, teacher productivity and crime and safety in schools, among other topics.

Jim__

Study shows widespread H5N1 bird flu infection in cattle

(Phys.org) Scientists are sounding alarms about a genetic mutation that was recently identified in four dairy cow herds, nearly one year after H5N1 bird flu was first reported in Texas dairy cattle. The change is one that researchers have dreaded finding because it is associated with increased mammal-to-mammal transmission and disease severity.

Tanuki

War crime sympathizer Hegseth to "relax" rules of war

The US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, is expected in the coming weeks to start a sweeping overhaul of the judge advocate general’s corps as part of an effort to make the US military less restricted by the laws of armed conflict, according to two people familiar with the matter. The changes are poised to have implications across the military. In Trump’s first term, Hegseth privately and publicly as a host on Fox and Friends appealed to Trump to pardon US soldiers accused of committing war crimes, including Gallagher, who was accused of murdering a captive Islamic State fighter in Mosul.

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Putin Rejects Immediate Cease-Fire in Ukraine

3 min ago - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday he didn’t support an immediate cease-fire in Ukraine, calling for more discussion on a permanent end to the war as Moscow’s army made rapid gains toward expelling Kyiv’s forces from its Ku ... (MSN.com)

Democratic Rep. Ral M. Grijalva Of Arizona Dies From Complications From Cancer Treatment

8 min ago - WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic U.S. Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva of Arizona, who championed environmental protection during his 12 terms in Congress, died Thursday from complications from cancer treatments, his office said. Grijalva, who was 77, h ... (Huff Post)

Pentagon to unveil cuts alongside fiscal 2026 budget request

37 min ago - Posted March 13, 2025 at 12:32pm Pentagon leaders plan to roll out their recommended cuts to military spending alongside their budget request for fiscal 2026, the Defense Department indicated in a newly released letter to Congress. The letter, addre ... (Roll Call)

Democrats Mock GOP Whining About 'Decorum' After Their Party 'Incited An Insurrection'

1 hr ago - Mar 13, 2025, 01:24 PM EDT “We will not take a lecture on decorum from a party that incited an insurrection,” Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.) said at a press conference during an annual retreat outside of Washington for House Democrats. Several ... (Huff Post)

Nearly 100 protesters arrested after sit-in at Trump Tower in NYC to demand release of Mahmoud Khalil

1 hr ago - Nearly 100 protesters were arrested Thursday following a sit-in at Trump Tower in Manhattan to demand the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist detained over the weekend by federal immigration agents. The organization Jewish Voice for Pea ... (NBC)

Marjorie Taylor Greene Urges DOJ Probe Into Tesla Protests--A Possible House Rules Violation

1 hr ago - Mar 13, 2025,12:23pm EDT Updated Mar 13, 2025, 12:24pm EDT Topline Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) may have violated House ethics rules on Wednesday by calling on the Department of Justice and FBI to investigate protests against Tesla–a comp ... (Forbes)

Federal judge orders reinstatement of workers at multiple agencies, unions say

2 hrs ago - Afederal district court judge ordered the reinstatement of probationary workers fired from several agencies Thursday in a move that broadens relief he granted in a previous order, according to unions and organizations who brought the case. During a h ... (https://fedscoop.com)

'Where's Elon Musk?' Democratic Rep angrily calls out missing 'genius' at DOGE hearing

2 hrs ago - Thursday 13 March 2025 12:18 EDT A House committee hearing turned explosive when Connecticut Congressman John Larson blasted “genius” Elon Musk for not showing up to a hearing concerning the cuts he was overseeing through the Department of ... (The Independent)

Trump asks Supreme Court to allow him to end birthright citizenship

2 hrs ago - Published 3:00 PM EDT, Thu March 13, 2025 CNN — President Donald Trump’s administration asked the Supreme Court in a series of emergency appeals Thursday to allow him to move forward with plans to end birthright citizenship, elevating a f ... (CNN Politics)

Azerbaijan and Armenia strike deal to end decades-long conflict

2 hrs ago - Caucasus neighbours agree final two terms of draft peace treaty over disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region Agence France-Presse Thu 13 Mar 2025 12.45 EDT Azerbaijan and Armenia have successfully wrapped up peace talks aimed at resolving their decades-long ... (The Guardian)

NPR Walks Back Ban on Anchor's Pride Appearance - After Mass Email Mishap

2 hrs ago - Mar 13th, 2025, 7:09 am National Public Radio (NPR) abruptly reversed its decision to ban longtime anchor Ari Shapiro from attending a corporate LGBTQ Pride event — after a misfired email exposing the conversation was sent to NPR staff and jour ... (MEDIAite)

Trump pushes annexation of Greenland during meeting with NATO secretary

3 hrs ago - 03/13/25 1:48 PM ET President Trump on Thursday expressed confidence the United States would annex Greenland, even suggesting the head of the NATO alliance could be a key player in facilitating the acquisition. “I think it will happen,” Tr ... (The Hill)

Brother of Trump's GSA leader tried to buy prime federal property

3 hrs ago - Investigations Brother of Trump's GSA leader tried to buy prime federal property The proposal to buy a parcel in Silicon Valley prompted a complaint to the inspector general. The GSA says it rejected the offer and its acting administrator followed et ... (Washington Post)

Trump White House has asked U.S. military to develop options for the Panama Canal, officials say

3 hrs ago - March 13, 2025, 9:57 AM EDT / Updated March 13, 2025, 1:23 PM EDT WASHINGTON — The White House has directed the U.S. military to draw up options for increasing the American troop presence in Panama to achieve President Trump’s goal of “ ... (NBC News)

Judge orders Trump admin to hand over records detailing 'parameters of DOGE's and Musk's authority'

4 hrs ago - Mar 13th, 2025, 10:52 am A federal judge in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday ordered Elon Musk and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to turn over documents and answer a series of questions regarding “DOGE’s and Musk ... (Law & Crime)

Technology secretary Peter Kyle asks ChatGPT for science and media advice

4 hrs ago - Peter Kyle, the science and technology secretary, has asked ChatGPT for advice on a range of work-related issues, including why British businesses are not adopting artificial intelligence and what podcasts he should appear on. Information provided to ... (The Guardian)

Protesters take over Trump Tower in NYC to demand release of Mahmoud Khalil

4 hrs ago - A sit-in at New York City's Trump Tower is underway as protesters gathered to demand the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist detained over the weekend by federal immigration agents. The organization Jewish Voice for Peace livestreamed t ... (NBC)

Top IRS lawyer pushed aside as DOGE seeks records and 20 percent staff cuts

4 hrs ago - The Trump administration on Thursday removed the Internal Revenue Service’s top lawyer and rolled out plans to downsize nearly 20 percent of the agency’s staff as billionaire Elon Musk’s U.S. DOGE Service seeks access to sensitive taxp ... (Washington Post)

Mahmoud Khalil and anonymous student plaintiffs sue Columbia University and the U.S. House Committee ...

4 hrs ago - Adam Steinbaugh ‪@adamsteinbaugh.bsky.social‬ Follow Mahmoud Khalil and anonymous student plaintiffs sue Columbia University and the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, arguing that congressional pressure has caused the u ... (Adam Steinbaugh, via Bluesky)

Tens of thousands of fired federal workers must be reinstated immediately, judge rules

5 hrs ago - 03/13/2025 12:35 PM EDT A federal judge on Thursday ordered federal agencies to reinstate tens of thousands of probationary employees who were fired amid President Donald Trump's turbulent effort to drastically shrink the federal bureaucracy. U.S. Di ... (Politico)