Month: January 2025

Cockpit recordings have been recovered from the jet involved in a collision just outside of Washington, DC, a German far-right party is participating in mainstream politics for the first time since World War Two and researchers are studying nuclear weapons at an underground facility in Nevada.

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Today's episode of Up First was edited by Denice Rios, Ryland Barton, Gisele Grayson, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas, Claire Murashima and Chris Thomas. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent and our technical director is Stacey Abbott. Our executive producer is Kelley Dickens.

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Ryan Knutson and Molly Ball round up the week’s news including nomination hearings, inspectors general firings and the airplane crash in D.C. Plus, they speak to WSJ’s Washington coverage chief Damian Paletta about the administration's freeze on potentially trillions of dollars in government financial assistance.

Further Listening:

- Trump 2.0: A Fast Start to a Second Term 

- Trump’s Immigration Overhaul 

Further Reading:

- White House Budget Freeze Tried to Flip Script on Busted Budget Process 

- Trump Blames DEI, Democrats for Deadly Plane Crash 

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The fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria will reshape the wider region. Our correspondent says few countries have as much to gain from a stable Syria as Turkey. How will it use its leverage (09:25)? Donald Trump’s enthusiasm for cryptocurrencies will change America’s economy. And remembering Italian hermit Mauro Morandi (17:30). 

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Alabama

• Dr. Eric Mackey sends memo re: ICE agents and student/school response
• Protestors in Albertville want to resist any ICE raids in that area
• Congressman Aderholt calls Albertville protests dangerous rhetoric
• A Montgomery man is charged with using charity to steal $ from the county
• Montgomery museum leaders are taking down controversial billboard
• Governor Ivey releases $40M in transportation funds for 24 projects

National

• 28 bodies pulled from Potomac following airplane collision at DC airport
• Trump orders assessment of aviation safety due to downgrade in standards from prior administration
• Pam Bondi is voted out of committee to become next US attorney general
• 3 more confirmation hearings occurred on Thursday for FBI, DNI, and HHS
• Final part of interview with producer of "Covid Collateral" documentary

In this edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” Hanson cuts through the hysteria surrounding Donald Trump's decision to end the security details for Mike Pompeo, John Bolton, and Anthony Fauci, highlighting their financial standings and Trump's stance on their protection: 

Donald Trump said, when he was pressed about this, “aren't you worried that you may be culpable if any of them are harmed, since, supposedly, right-wingers don't like Fauci and the Iranians are mad at Bolton and Pompeo?”

And he said, “do we give security details forever?” 

“Donald Trump will do more to keep Pompeo and Bolton safe by confronting Iran. And he already has told Iran that they are going to be held responsible, not just for threatening Bolton's life or Pompeo's, but his life.”

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