Fisk University president out after 18 months

Associated Press
Trump's Justice Department ends Biden-era task force aimed at seizing assets of Russian oligarchs
The Trump administration's Justice Department has disbanded a Biden-era program aimed at seizing the assets of Russian oligarchs as a means to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. The move to disband Task Force KleptoCapture is one of several moves undertaken by the Justice Department under the new leadership of Attorney General Pam Bondi that presage a different approach toward Russia and national security issues. The department also ended the Foreign Influence Task Force, which was established in the first Trump administration to police influence campaigns staged by Russia and other nations aimed at sowing discord, undermining democracy and spreading disinformation.
Reuters
Republicans say nearing deal on Trump's tax cuts, but not there yet
Congressional Republicans emerged from a five-hour meeting with President Donald Trump on Thursday without having reached an deal on how to extend his sweeping tax cuts, though senior lawmakers said they believed they were close to agreement. Republicans, who hold narrow majorities in the House of Representatives and Senate, have spent weeks trying to agree on a plan to cover the cost of extending the tax cuts -- which nonpartisan analysts say could add another $4 trillion to the U.S.'s existing $36 trillion in debt over the next decade. "We’re really grateful for the president for leaning in and doing what he does best, and that is put a steady hand at the wheel and get everybody working," Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters at the Capitol.
AFP
US ends criminal enforcement of foreign influence law
The US 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, including two allies of President Donald Trump.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."
Reuters
Exclusive-Trump's Paris AI summit delegation to not include AI Safety Institute staff, sources say
The U.S. delegation to a major artificial intelligence summit in Paris next week will not include technical staff from the country's AI Safety Institute, two people close to Washington's plans for the event and a third source briefed on the matter told Reuters. Vice President JD Vance is leading the U.S. contingent to France, which is gathering around 100 countries to focus on AI's potential on February 10 and 11. U.S. attendees will include members of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy: Principal Deputy Director Lynne Parker and Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence Sriram Krishnan, an OSTP spokesperson said.
Associated Press
Judge rules Georgia railroad can seize land as landowners vow to fight
A judge has ruled that a Georgia railroad can buy land against the will of property owners to build a track, rebuffing a challenge that a libertarian group hoped could make it harder to use eminent domain to take property. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Craig Schwall Sr. ruled Tuesday that the Sandersville Railroad could condemn a 200-foot (60-meter) wide strip of property running 4.5 miles (7.3 kilometers) to build a rail line serving a rock quarry and other users. Landowners fighting the railroad had appealed a Georgia Public Service Commission ruling allowing the land taking.
Reuters
Judge orders overnight pause on potential naming of January 6 FBI agents
A U.S. judge on Thursday ordered a brief pause on any public release of the identifies of FBI employees who worked on probes into the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by Donald Trump supporters following a legal challenge by a group of FBI agents. U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb in Washington said the order would last until a court hearing resumes on Friday morning. "If this information were released, I think there's no question it would put a number of FBI agents at significant and immediate danger," Cobb said.
AFP
Rubio renews US hard line with Venezuela plane seizure
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday supervised the seizure of a second aircraft belonging to Venezuela's leftist government in less than a year, showing a hard line despite nascent diplomacy.In September, the United States, under then-president Joe Biden, announced the seizure of a first Venezuelan government airplane in the Dominican Republic that had been used to transport Maduro on international trips.
Associated Press
12 states to sue over DOGE access to government payment systems containing personal data
Democratic attorneys general in several states vowed Thursday to file a lawsuit to stop Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency's from accessing federal payment systems containing Americans' sensitive personal information. A dozen attorneys general, including New York's Letitia James, said in a statement that they were taking action “in defense of our Constitution, our right to privacy, and the essential funding that individuals and communities nationwide are counting on." “As the richest man in the world, Elon Musk is not used to being told ‘no,’ but in our country, no one is above the law," the statement said.
NBC News
Minnesota lawmakers reach power-sharing agreement, ending weekslong stalemate
Minnesota lawmakers settled on a bipartisan power-sharing agreement in the state House, ending a weekslong political stalemate in the narrowly divided chamber.
AFP
India deportation flight likely cost US more than $1 mn
The Trump administration has begun using military aircraft to underscore its determination to deport undocumented migrants. The flight is believed to be the first use of a military aircraft to deport people to India.
AFP
Amazon profits double, but cautious outlook disappoints
E-commerce giant Amazon reported Thursday its fourth-quarter net income nearly doubled to $20 billion, driven by strong holiday sales, but its outlook for the coming quarter came in less than hoped for by analysts.But looking ahead, Amazon expects first-quarter 2025 net sales between $151.0 billion and $155.5 billion, representing growth of five to nine percent, which was less than predicted by analysts.
Associated Press
As Trump pushes the limits of presidential power, the courts push back
A familiar pattern has emerged since President Donald Trump returned to the White House less than three weeks ago: He makes a brash proposal, his opponents file a lawsuit and a federal judge puts the plan on hold. It's happened with Trump's attempts to freeze certain federal funding, undermine birthright citizenship and push out government workers. Now the question is whether the court rulings are a mere speed bump or an insurmountable roadblock for the Republican president, who is determined to expand the limits of his power — sometimes by simply ignoring the laws.
Associated Press
Here's how Rubio's first trip abroad as top US diplomat got overshadowed by foreign policy at home
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio may have hoped to spend his first trip abroad focused exclusively on issues close to his heart: immigration, counternarcotics and curbing Chinese influence in the Western Hemisphere. Instead, the five-nation tour to Central America — a destination he deliberately chose for his maiden voyage as President Donald Trump’s top diplomat — was overshadowed by a massive Washington-centered upheaval in U.S. foreign policy. Just two weeks into his new job, the Miami-born former Florida senator did stay true to his original intent in meetings with the leaders of Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic.
NBC News
Federal judge issues injunction on birthright citizenship, putting it further on hold
The preliminary injunction is the second temporary hold against Trump’s executive order and puts efforts to end birthright citizenship on indefinite pause.
Reuters
US Supreme Court will not pause California emissions case amid Trump policy shifts
The U.S. Supreme Court declined on Thursday to place on hold a dispute over California's standards for vehicle emissions and electric cars even as President Donald Trump's administration considers policy shifts that touch upon pending litigation at the nation's highest judicial body. The justices denied the administration's request to pause further action in the case, as well as two cases concerning which courts may hear challenges to EPA rules.
Reuters
SEC lawyers exempt from Trump list request in possible firing reprieve, memo says
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission lawyers may be exempt from a demand from the Trump administration to send it a list of staff who are still on probation, according to a memo seen by Reuters, in a sign that they may see a reprieve from any mass firings. Republican President Donald Trump has used his early days in office to shrink, purge and remake the U.S. federal government and federal agency heads have been asked to identify employees on probationary periods, or who have served less than two years. The SEC is a key agency, responsible for policing the $110 trillion U.S. capital markets and promoting capital formation.
Associated Press
Amazon reports strong earnings for Q4, but stocks dip due to guidance for the 1st quarter
Amazon on Thursday reported better-than-expected revenue and profits for the holiday shopping period, but its stocks dipped in after-hours trading due to disappointing guidance for the current quarter. The Seattle-based e-commerce and technology company said its revenue for the October-December period totaled $187.8 billion, a 10% jump compared to the same period in 2023. Amazon is the biggest online shopping destination in the U.S. and has long been a beneficiary of consumer spending during the holidays.
Politico
Former Trump Education secretary calls for department to be shuttered as cutting spree looks for next target
Betsy DeVos, Trump’s first secretary of Education, called for it to be abolished entirely on Thursday.
Associated Press
Utah Legislature bans collective bargaining for teachers unions and other public sector jobs
Labor unions that serve teachers, firefighters, police and other public employees in Utah will no longer be able to negotiate on behalf of their workers under a bill that received final legislative approval Thursday. The Republican policy banning collective bargaining for all public sector professions passed the Senate in a 16-13 vote after its sponsors abandoned a proposed compromise that would have removed the outright ban. “If there’s not going to be consensus, then let’s just run it on its face," said Sen. Kirk Cullimore, the bill’s Senate sponsor.
CNN
Rubio walks back State Department’s claim of free Panama Canal transit for US government vessels
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has walked back the assertion of the State Department that Panama “has agreed to no longer charge fees” to US government vessels transiting the Panama Canal after outcry from the Panamanian government.

Latest Stories