DOGE could be the answer to the US affordable housing crisis

Every dollar lost to waste, fraud and abuse comes at a staggering cost to the families and individuals who rely on the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Hill - 6h

Can Europe afford to defend itself without the US?

Also in this newsletter: The EU’s peace offering in Trump’s trade war

Financial Times - 6d

Trump, DOGE mass job cuts: Federal workers’ money questions answered

The Trump administration is terminating federal workers across agencies. Here’s what to know about your rights and finances if you were impacted by the cuts.

CNBC - 6d

More than 100 House Democrats demand answers on Energy Department firings

How the Charter Revision Commission Is Tackling the NYC Housing Crisis

The Charter Revision Commission, created by Mayor Eric Adams, could give New Yorkers a rare chance to decide how the city deals with the housing crisis.

The New York Times - 4d

A Trump DOGE Dividend Could Raise Inflation

President Trump floated giving taxpayers a piece of any savings that Elon Musk’s cost-cutting generates, which could reignite inflation.

The New York Times - Feb. 20

Key US agencies tell staff not to answer Musk email on what they did last week

Some departments encouraged staff to respond, while others requested employees wait for further guidance.

BBC News - 2d

House Democrat planning 'Bad DOGE Act'

Rep. Dave Min (D-Calif.) is planning to introduce a bill titled "Bad DOGE Act” in the House against the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), arguing that it is engaged in an "abuse of ...

The Hill - 3d

White House names interim DOGE administrator

The White House on Tuesday disclosed that the interim administrator of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is Amy Gleason after repeated questioning from reporters. A White House ...

The Hill - 1d

This is who the White House says is the DOGE acting administrator

The White House finally gave a name for the DOGE acting administrator.

CBS News - 1d

Greene threatens criminal referrals at House DOGE hearing

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), chair of the House Oversight Subcommittee on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), threatened to make criminal referrals during a hearing on foreign ...

The Hill - 19h

These US cities could see surge in pests this spring

Deviations from normal weather patterns are putting several regions in the U.S. at risk for an uptick of disease-spreading pests, a pest-management group says.

ABC News - 1d

The Watergate-Inspired Law That’s Being Used to Fight DOGE

Here's how the 1974 Privacy Act is being used in legal battles against DOGE—and how you can protect yourself from government surveillance.

Wired - Feb. 20

DOGE Sparks Surveillance Fear Across the US Government

The US government has increased the use of monitoring tools over the past decade. But President Donald Trump’s employee purges are making workers worry about how their data could be abused.

Wired - 6d

A DOGE dividend could be a win-win-win for the GOP and Team Trump

With Democrats screaming that the sky is falling every time the Department of Government Efficiency axes one federal worker, Elon Musk’s team needs some good public relations.

The Hill - 6d

Could Elon Musk benefit from DOGE cuts at consumer protection watchdog?

Earlier this month, President Trump fired Rohit Chopra, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Lesley Stahl has more on the agency and the Trump administration's attempts to ...

CBS News - 5d

DOGE cuts could hamper U.S. response to next pandemic

Around 700 people have been laid off from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in recent weeks due to cuts from the Trump administration. Some public health experts are expressing ...

CBS News - 1d

'Tyranny is rising in the White House': Voters slam representatives on Trump, DOGE

Some Republicans are facing pushback in their hometowns as President Donald Trump and DOGE makes severe cuts across the federal government.

ABC News - 5d

Democrats outline playbook to target House Republicans on Medicaid, budget and DOGE

Democrats to target vulnerable House Republicans by highlighting potential cuts to Medicaid, other federal spending in the budget GOP lawmakers hope to vote on this week.

ABC News - 2d

House Republican and Democrat on DOGE: Cabinet secretaries should have more power

A House Republican and Democrat agreed that Cabinet secretaries should play a larger role in making decisions about their employees once the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) commission ...

The Hill - 2d

White House pressed on email to federal employees, DOGE leadership

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was pressed for more information on the email sent to federal employees that Elon Musk has been touting on social media. Leavitt was also hesitant to ...

CBS News - 1d

How does the White House characterize Elon Musk's role in DOGE, government?

Elon Musk is doubling down on his threat demanding federal workers explain what they did last week or lose their jobs. CBS News White House reporter Aaron Navarro and CBS News executive director of ...

CBS News - 1d

Senate Republicans voice DOGE concerns in meeting with White House chief of staff

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles worked to alleviate concerns by Senate Republicans Wednesday over Elon Musk’s dismantling of the federal bureaucracy.

NBC News - 19h

Middle East crisis live: Trump envoy says US expects second phase of Israel-Hamas deal to proceed

Comments come after Israel suspended release of 600 Palestinian detainees. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said the group would keep following the path of slain chief Hassan Nasrallah on Sunday during ...

The Guardian - 4d

Russia could reinvade Ukraine without US security guarantees, Starmer warns

UK prime minister faces major diplomatic effort to get president on board after he said no plans for US ‘backstop’. Keir Starmer has warned that Vladimir Putin could invade Ukraine again unless the ...

The Guardian - 20h

DOGE Now Has Access to the Top US Cybersecurity Agency

DOGE technologists Edward Coristine—the 19-year-old known online as “Big Balls”—and Kyle Schutt are now listed as staff at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

Wired - Feb. 20

Trump administration briefing: president praises Doge’s efforts and threatens US media

Trump’s first cabinet meeting of his second term revealed a wide range of aims for the administration – key US politics stories from Wednesday at a glance. In his first full cabinet meeting of his ...

The Guardian - 16h

House Oversight Democrats launch probe of US Attorney for DC

House Oversight Democrats have launched an investigation into the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia after he publicized his own efforts to probe threats to officials, an effort that has ...

The Hill - 2d

US House passes budget resolution to cut taxes and spending by trillions

Bill would lead to large increase in America’s deficit, independent analysts say

Financial Times - 1d

Steve Cohen says tariffs and DOGE's cuts are negative for economy, market correction could be soon

The CEO of hedge fund Point72 turned bearish for the first time in a while due to punitive tariffs, immigration crackdown and federal spending cuts.

CNBC - 5d

Your Questions Answered: War In Ukraine

Your questions answered on America's relationship with Ukraine - and the rest of Europe.

BBC News - Feb. 20

White House press secretary suggests Russia-Ukraine conflict could end 'this week'

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Saturday the president is confident in his ability to strike a deal with Russia to end the conflict in Ukraine, suggesting an end to the ...

The Hill - 4d

House narrowly adopts GOP budget proposal. Here's where there could be major cuts.

The House adopted a budget proposal on Tuesday night, a first step in paving the way for President Trump's legislative agenda. More than $800 billion in spending cuts are under consideration, and ...

CBS News - 1d

White House identifies DOGE administrator amid questions about Elon Musk's role

The administrator of President Donald Trump's so-called Department of Government Efficiency has been identified as Amy Gleason, a White House official said.

CNBC - 1d

As Poverty Rises in New York City, 1 in 4 Can’t Afford Essentials

The share of New Yorkers in poverty is nearly double the national average, according to a report from Columbia University and an anti-poverty group.

The New York Times - 1d

This New Drug Could Help End the HIV Epidemic—but US Funding Cuts Are Killing Its Rollout

Lenacapavir, a twice yearly injection that prevents HIV transmission, was named the breakthrough medicine of 2024. But without US foreign aid dollars, its delivery to millions worldwide is under ...

Wired - 6d

Russia and US could meet again within weeks to discuss Ukraine, Moscow says – Europe live

Moscow and Washington held their first talks on ending the nearly three-year war in Ukraine on Tuesday. Donald Trump’s shocking and mendacious attack this week on the Ukrainian president, ...

The Guardian - 5d

UK soil breakthrough could cut farm fertiliser use and advance sustainable agriculture

Research group says discovery could lead to new type of environmentally friendly farming. A biological mechanism that makes plant roots more attractive to soil microbes has been discovered by ...

The Guardian - 5d

Apple announces $500 billion investment in US amid tariff threats that could affect the iPhone

Apple announced Monday that it plans to invest more than $500 billion in the United States over the next four years, including plans to hire 20,000 people and build a new server factory in Texas

ABC News - 3d

Friedrich Merz was the most pro-US politician in Germany – his shift could be historic for Europe | Jörg Lau for Europe |

The lifelong Atlanticist was frank after his election victory: Nato is on the brink, and Germany must reassess its core beliefs on defence. It is hard to overstate the importance of Friedrich ...

The Guardian - 1d

Latest in DOGE could be the answer to the US affordable housing crisis

Topics