Author: Robert Jones

In his first three weeks back in office, President Trump has set a dizzying pace of political and social change, issuing dozens of executive directives meant to dramatically remake the federal government and drive the country in a new direction.Mr. Trump has continued his pursuit of an America First agenda through selective trade tariffs. At the same time, he has looked beyond American shores in proposing the forced relocations of Palestinians from Gaza to make way for redevelopment. And a fuller picture has emerged of Mr. Trump’s partnership with Elon Musk, a billionaire private citizen, who is barreling ahead with…

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The…

The past week has left America’s European allies reeling and searching for alternatives after the Trump administration seemingly set itself in opposition to a rules-based system that the U.S. and its trans-Atlantic friends have spent decades building together.Not only did Vice President JD Vance wade into European politics, lambasting its leadership and interfering in Germany’s upcoming election on behalf of its far right, but Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth all but nullified American military support for Ukraine, and President Donald Trump flirted with unilateral peace talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.While the U.S., as the West’s superpower, and most of…

CNN  —  The escalating drive from President Donald Trump and other Republicans against programs to promote greater diversity in education and employment is on a collision course with fundamental changes in the nation’s demographic make-up, particularly among the young. Conservative opponents of diversity initiatives have clearly seized the momentum in the policy debate. In 2023, the six Republican-appointed Supreme Court Justices joined in a decisive ruling to virtually eliminate the consideration of race of college admissions. Since taking office, Trump has followed with a flurry of executive orders to end “diversity, equity and inclusion” programs within the federal government and…

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The…

In English, Zelenskyy reiterated his message to Vice President JD Vance, whom he met with earlier Friday in Munich, saying that if the U.S. pulled out of NATO, “that will be the destroying of NATO.”He predicted that without the threat of U.S. military retaliation, Russia would begin occupying parts of Europe, particularly the former Soviet nations. He added that European NATO members don’t have the military capacity to defend themselves without the U.S.“They will begin from those countries … small countries who’ve been in the USSR, in the Soviet Union,” Zelenskyy said. “But Europe will not answer, because they don’t…

CNN  —  In his nearly four weeks in office, President Donald Trump has unveiled a constant stream of policy priorities in quick succession, from shrinking government, to cutting taxes, to waging a war on diversity initiatives, illegal immigration and transgender rights. His allies in the states are rushing to keep up. The Florida and Tennessee legislatures have passed sweeping immigration packages that will make it easier for state law enforcement and federal immigration officials to coordinate during recent special sessions. Leaders in Ohio and Arkansas are renewing efforts to place work requirements on Medicaid recipients. And Republicans in at least…

Trump’s executive order cutting aid to South Africa stems from his claims of human rights abuses against white farmers. But how accurate are his accusations, and what’s really behind them? Contributors:Herman Wasserman – Journalism professor, Stellenbosch UniversityRedi Tlhabi – Journalist and authorRuth Hall – Political scientistZaid Jilani – Journalist, The American Saga On our radar: As Israeli air attacks take out entire neighbourhoods in the occupied West Bank, hardliners in the Israeli government and media demand the Gaza treatment. Ryan Kohls reports. Fake news, rumours and disinformation in post-Assad Syria Syria’s transition following the fall of Bashar al-Assad is fraught…

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The…

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz and special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff are planning to head to Saudi Arabia to initiate negotiations toward peace between Russia and Ukraine, two sources familiar with the matter told NBC News.Witkoff told Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” that he is traveling to Saudi Arabia with Waltz on Sunday night.The move comes just days after President Donald Trump said he spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the prospect of beginning negotiations to end the war.“We agreed to work together, very…