News from the Note…
A round up of the day’s news that might be of interest to you.
This is an OPEN THREAD, folks. Chat about any of the stories listed, share links to stories that caught your eye today, and generally have a good time discussing whatever you want.
Billionaire Elon Musk and his DOGE agents were reportedly granted full access to the Treasury’s federal payments system, and nobody knows to what end.
— New York Magazine (@nymag.com) February 1, 2025 at 7:24 PM
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Two top security officials at the US Agency for International Development were put on administrative leave after refusing to allow officials from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to access systems at the agency, multiple sources familiar told CNN
— CNN (@cnn.com) February 2, 2025 at 12:57 PM
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The Department of Government Efficiency, run by President Trump’s billionaire adviser and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, has gained access to sensitive Treasury data including Social Security and Medicare customer payment systems, according to two people familiar with the situation.
— PBS News (@pbsnews.bsky.social) February 2, 2025 at 1:37 PM
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Hours after President Trump imposed stiff tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada would place retaliatory 25% tariffs on more than $100 billion worth of U.S. goods. Follow live updates.
— The New York Times (@nytimes.com) February 2, 2025 at 9:45 AM
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A day after signing steep new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China, President Trump acknowledged what economists, members of Congress and even some of his own aides – in their previous lives – have been saying: Americans may find themselves paying the costs.
— CNN (@cnn.com) February 2, 2025 at 11:39 AM
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The Federal Aviation Administration was using a backup system to send real-time safety alerts to pilots late Saturday because its primary one was “experiencing a temporary outage,” the Transportation Department said.
— The New York Times (@nytimes.com) February 2, 2025 at 9:13 AM
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JUST IN: The Army released the identity of the third crew member aboard the Black Hawk helicopter involved in the deadly airport crash near DCA as Capt. Rebecca Lobach, an aviation officer and past ROTC cadet.
— NPR (@npr.org) February 1, 2025 at 5:41 PM
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Direct talks between the U.S. and Russia about the war in Ukraine that exclude Kyiv are “very dangerous,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press.
— The Associated Press (@apnews.com) February 1, 2025 at 4:58 PM
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The Israeli military said 23 structures were "dismantled" after it uncovered explosives laboratories, weapons and observation posts reut.rs/4aFYYSE
— Reuters (@reuters.com) February 2, 2025 at 1:28 PM
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BREAKING: Education Department workers were placed on leave after attending a diversity training they were encouraged to take during President Trump’s first term, union says, a union official told NBC News.
— NBC News (@nbcnews.com) February 2, 2025 at 3:25 PM
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The city of Minneapolis has agreed to pay $600,000 to settle a lawsuit by a woman who alleged that ex-Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on her neck in January 2020, just as he did four months later when he killed George Floyd.
— NBC News (@nbcnews.com) February 2, 2025 at 9:56 AM
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It was a big party in Punxsutawney this weekend. "This is my favorite holiday," one local says of the fuss-free day, adding, "You don't have to even see your in-laws." This year, Phil saw his shadow.
— NPR (@npr.org) February 2, 2025 at 9:31 AM
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