Everyone's talking about the droid design in Star Wars Outlaws

AFP
US Senate approves Vought as White House budget director
The US Senate on Thursday confirmed Russell Vought as director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the entity at the center of a contentious effort to freeze federal funding for aid programs.OMB subsequently issued a terse notification saying the freezing of aid order had been "rescinded," but White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced soon afterward that it remained in place -- and only the memo from the budget office was taken back.
Reuters
Trump administration sued by government workers over cuts to USAID
The largest U.S. government workers' union and an association of foreign service workers sued the Trump administration on Thursday in an effort to reverse its aggressive dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development. The lawsuit, filed in Washington, D.C. federal court by the American Federation of Government Employees and the American Foreign Service Association, seeks an order blocking what it says are "unconstitutional and illegal actions" that have created a "global humanitarian crisis." Those actions include President Donald Trump's order on January 20, the day he was inaugurated, pausing all U.S. foreign aid.
NBC News
GOP tension grows on Trump agenda bill as Senate diverges from House's path
As the House struggles to begin work on "one big, beautiful bill" to advance President Donald Trump's agenda, Senate Republicans are starting a two-bill path.
NBC News
Anxiety mounts as U.S. government workers face buyout deadline
The future of millions of federal workers was plunged into another day of chaos Thursday as they faced fresh uncertainty over an unprecedented program pushing financial incentives in exchange for quitting their jobs.
TODAY
Dating experts break down micro-mances — and how the buzzy term can boost your bond
Dating experts explain micro-mances and how mini displays of affection can improve relationships over time.
Politico
Russ Vought confirmed as White House budget chief
Democrats fought the OMB nominee's confirmation, elevating a little-known agency head to the national spotlight amid larger anxieties about the fate of congressional spending authority.
Yahoo Finance
Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq futures stall as Amazon disappoints, jobs report looms
Investors took in Amazon earnings, with the all-important jobs report on deck.
Politico
Court’s pause of federal worker ‘buyout’ gives Trump administration more time to get more applications
OPM said more than 60,000 had accepted the offer.
NBC News
Trump's battle for America's attention: From the Politics Desk
President Donald Trump is looking to reshape the GOP’s relationship with the tech industry amid his battle for Americans’ attention.
Reuters
US Senate confirms Trump budget director pick Vought
The Republican-led U.S. Senate confirmed President Donald Trump's nominee Russell Vought as budget director on Thursday, placing the reins of government funding in the hands of hardline conservative who has advocated for reducing Congress's power over taxpayer dollars. The Senate voted 53-47 to confirm Vought after a marathon overnight session during which Democrats denounced him as dangerous far-right ideologue and blasted Republicans for rubber-stamping Trump's nomination. Vought, who also headed the Office of Management and Budget during Trump's first presidential term, raised concerns among members of both parties by criticizing a 1974 law preventing presidents from unilaterally blocking congressionally approved funding, a practice known as "impoundment".
USA TODAY
Senate confirms Russell Vought to lead the Office of Management and Budget
Russell Vought, 48, the architect of Project 2025, will lead the Office of Management and Budget, where he will oversee the president's budget.
NBC News
Evangelical leaders at odds over Trump's crackdown on immigration, international aid
While the president has had broad support among evangelicals, one pastor was trying "to seek clarity," taking issue with policies targeting missionary aid and non-violent immigrants.
CBS News
Super Bowl menu ideas and recipes
From burgers, hot dogs, tacos, BBQ and wings, to salsas and cocktails, here are some tempting recipes and full menus from top chefs, cookbook authors and restaurateurs to go with watching the Big Game!
AFP
US cuts task forces on foreign influence, Russian sanctions
The Justice Department is scaling back policing of foreign interests operating in the United States, ending criminal enforcement of a law used to snare bad actors seeking to influence politics and elections on behalf of foreign governments.Bondi -- who previously registered herself under FARA for work she did with Qatar -- said she was limiting criminal enforcement of the law to "alleged conduct similar to more traditional espionage by foreign government actors."
AFP
Big Tech's AI spending rattles markets
E-commerce giant Amazon reported strong earnings Thursday but, like its big tech peers Microsoft and Google, saw its stock price fall on concerns over high AI investment costs.However, Amazon's shares dropped more than 5 percent in after-hours trading, mirroring reactions to Microsoft and Google's results - strong profits overshadowed by concerns about AI spending.
Reuters
Trump's Ukraine, Russia envoy meets Ukrainian ambassador
Ambassador Oksana Markarova, writing on Facebook, said this was her first meeting with Kellogg since his appointment, though the two had met before. "We held a thorough discussion with the special envoy and his team and my colleagues," Markarova wrote. Ukraine has been trying to establish close relations with the new administration under Trump, who has said he wants to bring a quick end to the nearly three-year-old war with Russia.
CNN
Plans to move SS United States from Philly to Gulf of Mexico are back on hold – again
After a series of delays, everything finally seemed set. The SS United States looked like it was ready to make its last voyage – from Philadelphia to the Gulf of Mexico. But wouldn’t you know it: Yet another postponement for the majestic ship. And a new date for departure has not been set yet.
CNN
Senators grill investigators on the midair collision between an American Airlines plane and a Black Hawk military helicopter
Investigators trying to determine what caused last week’s deadly midair collision between a US military Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines plane near Washington, DC, briefed lawmakers Thursday on what they’ve learned after combing through data from both aircraft and air traffic control.
Reuters
US Federal Election Commission chair says Trump removed her from office
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Federal Election Commission Commissioner and Chair Ellen Weintraub said on Thursday she received a letter from President Donald Trump removing her from office. Since taking office on January 20, Trump has embarked on a massive government makeover, firing and sidelining hundreds of civil servants and top officials at agencies in his first steps toward downsizing the bureaucracy and installing more loyalists. "There's a legal way to replace FEC commissioners-this isn't it," she said in a post on X, which had the letter attached.
NBC News
Trump administration sues Illinois and Chicago over immigration policies
The Trump administration sued the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago, alleging that their sanctuary city policies are blocking federal authorities from enforcing immigration laws.

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