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Category: News
March 4, 2025
Economy
News

Social Security Announces $800 Million in Savings.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced approximately $800 million in savings through recent cost-cutting measures. This development is part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to increase efficiency across federal agencies.

The savings align with President Donald J. Trump’s executive order establishing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which aims to enhance government operations through cutting waste and technology and software modernization.

In a March 3 press release, the SSA detailed its “cost-saving and cost-avoidance” strategies. Key savings were realized through payroll reductions following a hiring freeze and overtime cuts, particularly impacting SSA and Disability Determination Services. These changes accounted for $550 million in savings.

The Information Technology Systems budget saw a $150 million reduction from contract cancellations. Additional savings were achieved by decreasing non-Information Technology Systems travel expenses by $10 million and terminating contracts and grants, yielding another $30 million in savings.

Real estate adjustments also contributed to cost reductions. By eliminating 270,000 square feet of non-public-facing office space, the SSA saved $10.2 million, with plans to downsize an additional 30,000 square feet. Multiple lease terminations further saved $4 million annually. Furthermore, adopting a new security staffing model for field offices is forecasted to save $30 million in the 2025 fiscal year.

So far, under the first month of President Trump’s administration, DOGE has saved American taxpayers billions of dollars.

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The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced approximately $800 million in savings through recent cost-cutting measures. This development is part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to increase efficiency across federal agencies. show more
March 4, 2025
Jack Montgomery
War
World

U.S.-Ukraine Minerals Deal Will Be Signed Today: Report.

The Trump administration and the Ukrainian government are poised to finalize a long-debated minerals deal, despite a tumultuous Oval Office meeting on Friday that led to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky being dismissed from the White House before it could be signed.

Three sources report that President Donald J. Trump has instructed his advisers to prepare an announcement of the agreement during his address to Congress on Tuesday evening. However, they cautioned that the deal remains unsigned and subject to change.

The minerals deal, which grants the U.S. access to revenues from Ukraine’s natural resources while requiring the Ukrainian government to contribute 50 percent of future monetization of state-owned resources to a U.S.-Ukraine reconstruction fund, was halted last Friday after Zelensky started an argument with Vice President J.D. Vance in the Oval Office. President Trump soon was drawn into the confrontation. Following the row, President Trump said he believes U.S. support is emboldening Zelensky to refuse peace negotiations, and he announced a pause in aid.

Within hours, Zelensky appeared to fold under this pressure, posting a statement on social media pledging, “My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.” He added that he was “ready to sign [the minerals deal] in any time and in any convenient format.”

On Monday, Trump signaled his administration’s willingness to proceed with the minerals deal, but he told reporters, “Ukraine should be more appreciative. This country has stuck with them through thick and thin. We’ve given them much more than Europe, and Europe should have given more than us.”

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The Trump administration and the Ukrainian government are poised to finalize a long-debated minerals deal, despite a tumultuous Oval Office meeting on Friday that led to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky being dismissed from the White House before it could be signed. show more
March 4, 2025
News
War
World

Biden’s 2022 Call with Zelensky Reveals History of Ungrateful Behaviour.

A resurfaced phone conversation between former President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recalls tensions over U.S. military support during the early months of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. According to reports, the call took place in June 2022, a few months after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February of that year.

During this call, Biden informed Zelensky about the approval of an additional $1 billion in U.S. military assistance for Ukraine. However, reports indicate that Zelensky quickly moved on to discuss other demands that had not been fulfilled, which reportedly led to Biden expressing frustration at his lack of gratitude. Sources familiar with the conversation claim Biden raised his voice, urging Zelensky to show greater appreciation for American aid.

This call reveals that Zelensky’s disrespectful attitude, seen during his White House visit last week, is nothing new. Zelensky’s behavior led to him being kicked out of the White House after both President Donald J. Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance referred to the Ukrainian leader as disrespectful.

Since early 2022, the U.S. Congress has allocated significant aid for Ukraine, totaling an estimated $175 billion. The exact figures vary depending on how aid is categorized.

This week, President Trump announced he would be pausing aid to Ukraine, which could have severe effects on the country’s ability to continue its war with Russia. Trump believes Zelensky is unwilling to negotiate a compromise peace because he is being emboldened by U.S. support.

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A resurfaced phone conversation between former President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recalls tensions over U.S. military support during the early months of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. According to reports, the call took place in June 2022, a few months after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February of that year. show more
March 4, 2025
News
Politics

Democrats Plan to Disrupt Trump’s Congressional Speech.

Leftist Democrats are expected to launch a variety of attempts to disrupt President Donald J. Trump’s address to Congress on March 4. Members of the party are divided on the level of disruption, however.

Reported tactics include carrying symbolic props like egg cartons to highlight inflation, holding protest signs, and coordinating clothing colors. Additionally, some Democrats have considered leaving the chamber if the president touches on certain topics, such as childhood gender transitions.

Democratic leaders have urged their members to keep any forms of dissent respectful, cautioning that loud disruptions could backfire by galvanizing support for Trump.

One component of the Democratic protest is the Democratic Women’s Caucus, which is calling for members to wear pink, while the Congressional Black Caucus has considered dressing in black.

The White House, meanwhile, has dismissed the Democrats planned stunts, saying, “Democrats behaving like children would be the least surprising news of the night.”

The address, expected to be a significant political event, will commence at 9 PM EST. White House officials have previewed the themes of Trump’s speech, which will highlight achievements both domestically and internationally, as well as plans for further economic development and border security.

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Leftist Democrats are expected to launch a variety of attempts to disrupt President Donald J. Trump's address to Congress on March 4. Members of the party are divided on the level of disruption, however. show more
March 4, 2025
Jack Montgomery
War

Dem Rep Boycotting Trump’s Address to Congress in ‘Solidarity’ with Ukraine.

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) has said he is boycotting President Donald J. Trump’s address before a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, citing “solidarity with our friends in Ukraine.”

The Virginia Democrat, 74, announced in a press release that “Since being elected to Congress, I have never missed a State of the Union address”—although President Trump’s planned address is not a State of the Union—but “we have never seen our democracy so tested… our laws, institutions, and the separation of powers so attacked from within.”

Alongside “solidarity” with Ukraine, Connolly cites solidarity with “federal workers and contractors,” “DC and Capitol Police officers,” and others as the reason he will refuse to hear the American people’s duly elected President.

Last week, President Trump clashed with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, who remains in office beyond his elected term due to marital law, in the Oval Office, after the Ukrainian started an argument with Vice President J.D. Vance over comments related to diplomacy with Russia.

President Trump subsequently announced he would be pausing U.S. aid to Ukraine, having determined that Zelensky will not make peace as long as the American taxpayer is underwriting his war effort. Shortly after this pause was announced, Zelensky appeared to buckle, saying he was “ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.”

Image via Presidential Office of Ukraine.

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Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) has said he is boycotting President Donald J. Trump's address before a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, citing "solidarity with our friends in Ukraine." show more
March 4, 2025
Education
News

Trump Pledges to Cut Federal Funds for Colleges Permitting Antisemitic Protests.

President Donald J. Trump announced on March 4 that his administration will withdraw federal funding from educational institutions permitting illegal protests on their grounds. This announcement follows recent anti-Semitic protests at New York City campuses, including Barnard College and Columbia University.

Trump stated on his social media platform Truth Social, “Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS!”

The administration is also threatening to terminate over $50 million in government contracts with Columbia University. Furthermore, to ensure the protection of Jewish students’ rights, grants exceeding $5 billion connected to the university will be reviewed.

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon declared that unlawful demonstrations have significantly disrupted campus operations, affecting Jewish students’ educational opportunities.

In response, Columbia University expressed willingness to cooperate with the White House to combat anti-Semitism. Earlier in the year, Columbia’s campus hosted significant anti-Israel protests amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Attempts by university leaders to negotiate with encamped protesters were unsuccessful, necessitating police intervention.

Nationwide, similar protests emerged at various colleges from late 2023 through spring 2024. This led to the resignation of four Ivy League presidents amid public and congressional dissatisfaction.

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President Donald J. Trump announced on March 4 that his administration will withdraw federal funding from educational institutions permitting illegal protests on their grounds. This announcement follows recent anti-Semitic protests at New York City campuses, including Barnard College and Columbia University. show more
March 4, 2025
Jack Montgomery
War

Zelensky Folds, ‘Ready to Work Under President Trump’s Strong Leadership’ for Peace.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appears to have capitulated to President Donald J. Trump after he announced a pause on U.S. aid to Ukraine, declaring, “My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.” This follows a fractious meeting in the Oval Office, where Zelensky started an argument with Vice President J.D. Vance and was chastised by Trump for his ingratitude and opposition to a ceasefire.

“None of us wants an endless war. Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians,” Zelensky said in a statement on social media. “We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence. And we remember the moment when things changed when President Trump provided Ukraine with Javelins. We are grateful for this.”

During their row in the White House, President Trump noted that Russia first invaded Ukraine under the Obama-Biden administration and again under Biden-Harris—with no incursions during his first term—and that while Obama merely provided the Ukrainians with “sheets,” he provided them with the Javelin anti-tank missiles that were key to fending off the initial phase of Russia’s 2022 invasion.

“Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was supposed to be. It is regrettable that it happened this way. It is time to make things right,” Zelensky added. He said a rare earth minerals deal with the U.S.—postponed after the Oval Office row—that he was “ready to sign it in any time and in any convenient format.”

READ:

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appears to have capitulated to President Donald J. Trump after he announced a pause on U.S. aid to Ukraine, declaring, "My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts." This follows a fractious meeting in the Oval Office, where Zelensky started an argument with Vice President J.D. Vance and was chastised by Trump for his ingratitude and opposition to a ceasefire. show more
March 4, 2025
News
War
World

Vance Blasts ‘Absurdly Dishonest’ Reporting on His Ukraine Stance.

Vice President J.D. Vance has hit back at allegations he disrespected British and French forces during a recent interview, where he argued a U.S. stake in the Ukrainian economy was a “better security guarantee than 20,000 troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years.” Contrary to the claims of many pro-war politicians and commentators, the Vice President did not reference Britain or France directly, and he confirmed on Monday that he was not alluding to them.

“This is absurdly dishonest,” he said in response to a Westminster journalist sharing a clip of the interview on social media and asserting he was referring to British and French troops. “I don’t even mention the UK or France in the clip, both of whom have fought bravely alongside the US over the last 20 years, and beyond,” Vance stated.

Vance’s initial comments coincided with President Donald J. Trump’s decision to pause military aid to Ukraine. Defending Trump’s pause, Vance suggested that a complete withdrawal of U.S. support to Ukraine could test the commitment of European nations to filling the support gap against Russian aggression.

An Italian newspaper correspondent suggested that Vance’s remarks were unfavorable news for European leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, who have both suggested they might commit troops to Ukraine—although they want U.S. backing.

Vance emphasized that European leaders must realistically assess the situation, noting that public declarations of support for Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky differ from private discussions.

Part of the Trump-Vance strategy includes the rare earth mineral deal President Zelensky was supposed to sign last week before his disastrous meeting at the White House with the American leaders.

Despite the fallout from this meeting, reports suggest Zelensky still wants to sign the deal.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Vice President J.D. Vance has hit back at allegations he disrespected British and French forces during a recent interview, where he argued a U.S. stake in the Ukrainian economy was a "better security guarantee than 20,000 troops from some random country that hasn't fought a war in 30 or 40 years." Contrary to the claims of many pro-war politicians and commentators, the Vice President did not reference Britain or France directly, and he confirmed on Monday that he was not alluding to them. show more
March 4, 2025
Wake Up Right
News

Melania Trump Fights Revenge Porn.

First Lady Melania Trump made her first public appearance since returning to the White House, urging Congress to pass the Take It Down Act—a bill criminalizing the distribution of nonconsensual explicit images, including AI-generated deepfakes.

The details: Melania spoke alongside victims of online abuse, including teens targeted by AI-generated explicit images, to urge Congress to act “with a common goal, to protect our youth from online harm.”

The bill: The Take It Down Act is a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Senators Ted Cruz and Amy Klobuchar, which would criminalize the sharing of nonconsensual intimate images (authentic or AI) with penalties of up to three years in prison. It would also require social media platforms to remove flagged content within 48 hours.

Victims: The First Lady was joined by several victims, including Elliston Berry, who at just 14 years old had a fake image of her face on a naked body circulated online. She told lawmakers:

  • “I felt responsible and ashamed to tell my parents, despite doing nothing wrong.”

Melania swipes at absent Democrats: At the event, the First Lady said: “I must admit, however, I expected to see more Democrat leaders with us here today to address this serious issue. Surely, as adults, we can prioritize America’s children ahead of partisan politics.”

Trump comments: During the event’s live broadcast, President Trump wrote on Truth Social: “Watching our First Lady now, great job!”

Next steps: The bill was passed in the Senate unanimously and will head to the House for approval before arriving on President Trump’s desk.

The last word goes to Melania, who said: “Addressing this issue is essential for fostering a safe and supportive environment for our young people.”

Be sure to subscribe to the Wake Up Right newsletter! 

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First Lady Melania Trump made her first public appearance since returning to the White House, urging Congress to pass the Take It Down Act—a bill criminalizing the distribution of nonconsensual explicit images, including AI-generated deepfakes. show more
March 4, 2025
News
War
World

Trump Pauses Funds to Ukraine.

President Donald J. Trump has paused all military funding to Ukraine after the country’s president showed disrespect at the White House and an unwillingness to broker a ceasefire with Russia. The United States is set to pause and review all military spending on Ukraine, which will affect several key areas of military capability.

Military expert and former Security Service of Ukraine officer Ivan Stupak warned of the possibility of escalated Russian attacks utilizing ballistic missiles like Kinjals and Iskanders if tensions between the U.S. and Ukraine persist.

Ukraine is heavily reliant on sophisticated U.S. air defense systems such as Patriot missiles, which Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has identified as critical in countering Russian airstrikes.

The suspension may also disrupt the maintenance and supply of other essential military equipment, including munitions for HIMARS artillery, spare parts for M1 Abrams tanks, and equipment for F-16 fighter jets.

About 55 percent of the weapons used in the ongoing conflict are produced in Ukraine, with 25 percent sourced from Europe and 20 percent from the United States.

Additionally, the pause in aid potentially includes U.S. intelligence support, which has been pivotal for Ukraine in tracking Russian military movements and targeting.

The move comes after President Volodymyr Zelensky disrespected President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance in the Oval Office, being kicked out of the White House before the rare earth mineral deal could be signed.

President Trump has stated that Zelensky is welcome back only when he wishes to pursue peace and a ceasefire.

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President Donald J. Trump has paused all military funding to Ukraine after the country's president showed disrespect at the White House and an unwillingness to broker a ceasefire with Russia. The United States is set to pause and review all military spending on Ukraine, which will affect several key areas of military capability. show more