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@ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...2yrs2Y
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@ISIDEWITH submitted…2wks2W
Trump administration plans to reduce USAID staff from over 10,000 to fewer than 300 employees worldwide, with only 12 staff remaining in the Africa bureau and 8 in AsiaThe reorganization is being led by Elon Musk, described as a close Trump ally, since January 20All directly hired USAID employees globally are being put on leave, with thousands of overseas personnel being recalledThe administration aims to merge USAID with the State Department under Marco Rubio, though this may require congressional approvalUSAID managed over $40 billion in fiscal 2023, providing aid to approximately 130 countriesTwo-thirds of USAID's current 10,000+ employees work outside the United StatesFormer USAID head J. Brian Atwood warns that "a lot of people will not survive" these changesTop aid recipients in 2023 included Ukraine, Ethiopia, Jordan, DR Congo, Somalia, Yemen, and AfghanistanOnly staff designated for "mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs" will continue workingTermination notices have already begun being distributed to agency workers
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@ISIDEWITH asked…2yrs2Y
On February 24 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War that began in 2014. The invasion caused Europe’s largest refugee crisis since World War II, with around 7.1 million Ukrainians fleeing the country and a third of the population displaced. It has also caused…
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@ISIDEWITH submitted…6 days6D
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent discussed potential AI implementation at the IRS during an appearance on Fox News' The Ingraham Angle.Bessent indicated he would wait for Elon Musk's DOGE assessment before making final decisions about the agency's future.Department of Government Emergency staff were observed entering IRS headquarters in Washington on Thursday.Having been in his position for just three weeks, Bessent expressed that government employees need to recognize taxpayer priorities over personal comfort.The Treasury Secretary outlined three primary goals for the IRS: collections, privacy, and customer service.Bessent acknowledged that none of these three areas are currently performing optimally.He revealed that the IRS currently operates on 12 different IT systems using COBOL, an outdated programming language from the 1980s.The Treasury Secretary committed to a major IT upgrade at the agency.When asked about potentially merging or reducing the IRS, Bessent deflected to discussing technological modernization.The discussion suggests a significant technological overhaul of the IRS may be imminent.
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Elon Musk and his "DOGE" team offered to upgrade America's air traffic control system following a major airline crashTransportation Secretary Sean Duffy supported the initiative, criticizing current "1960s, World War II technology"The announcement comes after a collision between an American Airlines jet and Army helicopter over the Potomac RiverRecent NOTAM system failure highlighted existing technical vulnerabilities in air traffic controlCongressional response split along party lines - Republicans supportive, Democrats expressing serious concernsChronic controller shortage dates back to Reagan's 1981 firing of striking workers, worsened by COVID-19Details about DOGE team's specific role and planned changes remain unclearControllers currently use outdated radar-based systems despite long-running NextGen modernization effortsInvestigation revealed consolidated controller positions at Reagan National Airport on day of crashMilitary helicopter training schedules during peak passenger times questioned by Transportation Secretary
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Jon Stewart criticized Democrats for repeatedly using Chuck Schumer as their spokesperson against Trump, calling his performances ineffective and monotonous.Stewart mocked Schumer's response to Trump's trade war threats, particularly his simplistic explanation about Mexican imports like Corona beer and avocados.The former Daily Show host expressed frustration at Schumer's basic observation that "guacamole is made of avocados" as a response to complex trade policy issues.Stewart sarcastically highlighted the Democrats' poor strategic choice in selecting Schumer to counter Trump, whom he described as "one of the most savvy presidential media manipulators in history."The comedian ridiculed Schumer's appearance and presentation style, particularly mocking his use of reading glasses positioned low on his nose.Stewart's criticism centered on the Democratic leadership's judgment in repeatedly choosing an "uninteresting" and "monotone" spokesperson.The commentary addressed Trump's threats of tariffs against Canada and Mexico, though focused more on the Democratic response than the policy itself.Stewart used hyperbole to emphasize his point, stating that Schumer's speaking makes him "want to bomb Canada."The piece highlighted the perceived disconnect between Democratic messaging strategy and effective opposition to Trump's policies.Stewart's criticism suggested a broader frustration with Democratic leadership's media strategy and public presentation.
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@ISIDEWITH asked…13yrs13Y
On June 26, 2015 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the denial of marriage licenses violated the Due Process and the Equal Protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. The ruling made same sex marriage legal in all 50 U.S. States.
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