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A federal judge ruled on Thursday that the Trump administration must immediately rehire tens of thousands of probationary federal employees who were terminated from multiple agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Energy, Agriculture, Interior, and Treasury.
California District Court Judge William Alsup stated that the Trump administration had “unlawfully” executed a mass firing of probationary workers through a directive issued by the Office of Personnel Management, describing the actions as a “gimmick” and a “sham.”
It’s the latest legal blow dealt to Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s attempt to drastically reduce the federal workforce.
Meanwhile, in the latest salvo in the president’s trade war against U.S. allies, Trump threatened a 200 percent tariff on European alcohol, singling out wines and champagnes from France, if the EU taxed American whiskey.
The president told reporters on Thursday: “I’m not going to bend at all.”
On Capitol Hill, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has said that Democrats cannot support the Republican spending bill passed by the House of Representatives earlier this week as a government shutdown looms on Friday.
The White House is gloating over what they see as an inevitable victory in the funding bill battle, according to reporting by Politico.
“They’re 100 percent gonna swallow it,” one White House official told the outlet.
Texas child being treated for cancer — a US citizen — is deported with undocumented parents
Gustaf Kilander has the story.
Oliver O’Connell13 March 2025 20:00
White House responds to ruling on fired federal workers
The White House has responded to the ruling by a California judge ordering the reinstatement of fired probational workers at federal agencies.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “The Trump Administration will immediately fight back against this absurd and unconstitutional order.”
Here’s a quick guide to the role of courts in regard to executive orders.
Oliver O’Connell13 March 2025 19:55
Watch: Trump says Denmark is ‘very far away’ from Greenland, suggests building up U.S. troops there
Oliver O’Connell13 March 2025 19:50
Bad news for Trump in new polling
His overall approval rating is down to 42%, with 53% disapproving of how he is doing.
There is also high disapproval of his efforts on the economy (54%), what is happening to the federal workforce (54%), trade relations with Mexico (56%), and trade relations with Canada (58%).
Further, disapproval of his approach to the Ukraine-Russia conflict is also high (55%), and 62% think supporting Ukraine is in the U.S. national interest. 58% of voters disapprove of the way President Trump handled the recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, while 35% approve.
Some 60% to 33% of respondents oppose eliminating the Department of Education, and 57% to 35% of respondents think children should not be allowed to attend schools or childcare facilities if they are unvaccinated.
Oliver O’Connell13 March 2025 19:45
Democratic Rep angrily calls out missing ‘genius’ at DOGE hearing
The Connecticut Democrat criticized the committee’s GOP leadership, accusing it of following whatever President Donald Trump and Musk tell them to do, rather than acting independently. The hearing considered two resolutions put forth by Democrats, including one by Larson, asking for information into DOGE’s plans.
Oliver O’Connell13 March 2025 19:40
Trump and Hochul to meet about energy, infrastructure and congestion pricing
President Donald Trump will meet at the White House on Friday with New York Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul.
The president stated they would discuss various topics, including the construction of an underground pipeline that may run through a small section of New York state and potentially reduce energy prices.
Earlier the president wrote on Truth Social:
If New York, Connecticut, and New England had their Pipelines, savings from Heating alone would go down $2,300 per family — When you add Air Conditioning, and other things, you would have a $5,000 savings per family. All we need is a simple approval from New York. Every other State in New England, plus Connecticut, wants this, in order to help the Environment, and save BIG money. We only need the final approval from New York State, whose people all want it. Otherwise, we’ll have to use other authorities. New York State has held up this project for many years, but we won’t let that happen any longer. We will use federal approval!
Hochul expressed her desire to continue their previous conversation regarding infrastructure and Penn Station, as well as to raise concerns about energy in light of the tariffs.
Additionally, she mentioned, “he knows I want to talk about congestion pricing.”
Oliver O’Connell13 March 2025 19:36
BREAKING: Trump asks Supreme Court to let him enforce executive order redefining birthright citizenship
Petitions to the nation’s high court on Thursday calls on the justices to limit three nationwide injunctions issued in courts across the country to apply only to the states that sued and won.
Oliver O’Connell13 March 2025 19:24
Fox News’ Greg Gutfeld comes up with novel reason for inflation
…it won’t surprise you that much if you watch as much Fox News as we are required to here.
Oliver O’Connell13 March 2025 19:20
Trump could kill the US market for French wines, industry expert warns
A threatened 200% tariff would deal “a hammer blow” to the multibillion-dollar French alcohol export industry and impact hundreds of thousands of people in France, according to the president of France’s Federation of Exporters of Wines and Spirits.
“Not a single bottle will continue to be expedited if 200% tariffs are applied to our products. All exports to the United States will come to a total, total, halt,” Gabriel Picard says.
Picard concedes Europe had no choice but to respond to Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminum imports but that the EU shouldn’t have threatened to retaliate against U.S.-produced whisky and wines.
Full story: Buttigieg announces he won’t run for Senate or governor — does a White House run beckon?
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg revealed Thursday that he will not run for governor or the open Senate seat in Michigan, clearing the way for a potential White House bid in 2028.
“I care deeply about who Michigan will elect as Governor and send to the U.S. Senate next year, but I have decided against competing in either race,” Buttigieg wrote on X Thursday morning.
Gustaf Kilander has the story.
Oliver O’Connell13 March 2025 19:00
