Donald Trump and his team were in contact with top congressional Republicans before his strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, but top Democrats were not told of his plans until after the bombs had dropped, according to multiple people familiar with the plans.

The top two Republicans in Congress, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, were both notified of the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities ahead of time, according to multiple GOP sources.

Summary

G7 foreign ministers issued a tougher statement on China, omitting past reassurances about "one China" policies and emphasizing concerns over Taiwan, China's nuclear buildup, and actions in the South China Sea.

The statement condemned "coercion" against Taiwan and removed language about maintaining stable relations with Beijing.

China strongly opposed the statement, calling it interference. The ministers also criticized China's economic policies and military actions near the Philippines and Vietnam.

The shift follows increased Chinese military pressure on Taiwan and recent U.S.-Japan discussions on regional security.

Summary

The EU warns that Trump-aligned tech leaders, including Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, pose an "existential threat" by pressuring Brussels to weaken its digital regulations.

Trump has threatened tariffs on countries enforcing strict rules on U.S. tech firms, with Musk openly mocking EU governance.

Brussels insists on its right to regulate disinformation and antitrust issues but faces growing U.S. retaliation.

The dispute could escalate into a trade war, with both sides preparing countermeasures.

Summary

A survey of 100,000 Germans found that 94% refuse to buy a Tesla, signaling a major crisis for the company.

Tesla’s German sales dropped 70% in early 2025 after a 41% decline in 2024, despite overall EV sales rising.

Analysts attribute the slump to CEO Elon Musk’s far-right political endorsements, including promoting the AfD party and making Nazi-related gestures. Musk is under European investigation for political meddling.

With Tesla’s reputation plummeting, industry experts predict further losses in Germany’s competitive EV market.

Summary

A campaign finance watchdog filed a formal complaint alleging Elon Musk violated conflict of interest laws by influencing an FAA deal favoring his company, Starlink.

The Campaign Legal Center argues the FAA may cancel Verizon’s $2.4 billion contract due to Musk’s involvement in discussions about awarding Starlink a multibillion-dollar contract, violating federal law prohibiting officials from benefiting financially.

The Transportation Department’s inspector general may investigate, but Musk is unlikely to face penalties under the Trump administration.

Musk denies wrongdoing, claiming transparency, while CLC insists his actions qualify as unlawful participation.

Non-paywall link

Summary

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reversed a 1965 policy barring segregation in defense contractor facilities, contradicting his confirmation claims of not being racist.

He has prioritized eliminating DEI initiatives, canceling military observances like MLK Day and Holocaust remembrances, and purging nonwhite male leaders.

The Pentagon’s anti-DEI campaign mistakenly flagged Enola Gay bomber photos for deletion because of the word "gay."

Critics link Hegseth’s actions to his far-right Christian nationalist beliefs and hiring of 26-year-old Kingsley Wilson, who promotes neo-Nazi theories, as deputy press secretary.

Summary

Federal workers who voted for Trump in 2024 are facing unexpected job losses as the administration implements massive workforce cuts.

Michael Graugnard, an attorney advisor at USDA, was laid off three months into his role despite managerial assurances. While he supports "government efficiency," he didn't anticipate this implementation but doesn't regret his vote.

Similarly, IRS veteran James Diaz criticizes the administration's "chainsaw" approach to cuts. However, others like Ryleigh Cooper, who voted for Trump's IVF promises, now regret their decision after losing her Forest Service job.

The layoffs are part of Trump and Musk's plan that has terminated thousands of federal workers and convinced 77,000 others to resign.

Summary

Elon Musk clashed with Trump’s cabinet in a heated White House meeting over Doge’s aggressive cost-cutting.

Transport Secretary Sean Duffy was enraged by Musk’s attempts to cut air traffic controllers despite a national shortage, accusing him of unjustified layoffs. Duffy presented a spreadsheet showing Musk was not telling the truth, prompting Trump to order MIT graduates be hired instead.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins criticized hospital cuts, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio also confronted Musk.

Trump backed his cabinet, emphasizing a "scalpel rather than hatchet" approach to staffing reductions.

Summary

The Trump administration plans to revoke temporary legal status for 240,000 Ukrainians who fled Russia’s war, fast-tracking them for deportation.

The move is part of a broader effort to strip protections from 1.8 million migrants admitted under Biden’s humanitarian parole programs.

Trump’s policies also target 530,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

Legal challenges are mounting, as affected individuals face uncertain futures. Advocates warn that even U.S. allies, such as Afghans who assisted the military, are now at risk of detention and deportation.

Summary

Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian has joined Frank McCourt’s bid to acquire TikTok’s U.S. operations as a strategic adviser.

McCourt, who calls his bid “The People's Bid,” plans to give users more control over their data. Ohanian’s expertise in social media is expected to help validate and promote the initiative.

Other bidders include investors led by YouTuber MrBeast. ByteDance has not defined assets for sale and may shut down TikTok instead.

The White House is reviewing McCourt’s bid amid national security concerns.

Summary

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called for an "immediate" summit between the US, EU, and Western allies to discuss Ukraine following a heated White House meeting between Trump and President Zelenskyy.

The February 28 meeting ended without agreement on a minerals deal after escalating into a confrontation over US aid and peace deal conditions.

Meloni warned that Western division "makes us all weaker" as European leaders reaffirmed support for Ukraine.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas commented that "the free world needs a new leader," while European allies worry about being excluded from US-Russia negotiations to end the war.