Emerging Topics in U.S. News
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20th 2025
Updated 23:59 ET
41 articles
TRUMP, UKRAINE, RUSSIA, WAR
The United States is opposing calling Russia the aggressor in the war with Ukraine in a Group of 7 statement being drafted to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, three senior officials from countries involved said on Thursday.
The American
Continued at New York Times...
23
PATEL, SENATE, KASH, FBI
The vote is in, and Kash Patel is the new director of the FBI in another huge win for Donald Trump.
🚨 #BREAKING: Kash Patel has been CONFIRMED as FBI Director by the U.S. Senate
The Deep State is COOKED! 🔥
CONGRATS Director @Kash_Patel pic.twitter.com/Ycds1p9KU6
Continued at Red State...
23
TRUMP, FEDERAL, BLACK, MONTH
Hundreds of workers were informed that their terminations had been rescinded.
Federal employees scramble as some terminations across agencies are rescinded
Elon Musk speaks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Feb. 11, 2025.
Elon Musk speaks
Continued at ABC...
15
ADAMS, MAYOR, REMOVE, HOCHUL
Dozens of corrections facilities across New York state have ceased visits as the safety of personnel grow after another riot erupted inside an upstate prison.
"Visitation in all DOCCS facilities is cancelled until further notice," the NYS Department of Corrections
Continued at Fox News...
15
HAMAS, HOSTAGES, BIBAS, BODIES
Hamas releases the bodies of four Israeli hostages, including mother and young sons
toggle caption Abdel Kareem Hana/AP
TEL AVIV, Israel — Hamas has handed over what it said are the bodies of four Israeli hostages, including a mother and her two young sons
Continued at NPR...
14
MCCONNELL, MITCH, ANNOUNCES, SENATE
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is announcing on Thursday that he won't seek reelection next year, ending a decades-long tenure as a power broker who backed conservative causes but ultimately ceded ground to the fierce GOP populism of President Donald Trump.
McConnell,
Continued at Newsmax...
11
NATIONS, TRUMP, USA, CANADA
Hockey revenge rematch looms with US-Canadian ties on thin ice
Watch: Leavitt jokes about US beating 'our soon-to-be 51st state, Canada'
Canada and the US will battle it out on the rink Thursday evening in a championship game that promises to be about more
Continued at BBC...
10
TRUMP, RAND, MUSK, GOVERNMENT
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) offered his “admittedly a little tardy” endorsement of President Donald Trump and his cabinet Thursday and praised the president’s nominees, many of whom he said he would have chosen himself.
“A few people may have noticed that I resisted
Continued at Breitbart...
10
CONGESTION, TRUMP, PRICING, NEW
The Issue: The federal Transportation Department revoked its approval of NY’s congestion-pricing scheme.
The editorial board’s points about the MTA’s perpetual fiscal woes and ongoing mismanagement hit the mark (“Big Win for the Little Guy,” Editorial, Feb.
Continued at New York Post...
8
TRUMP, KNOX, GOLD, FORT
I'm not happy with Boeing, Trump says over Air Force One
US president says he is looking for alternatives because it is taking Boeing too long to build the new planes
Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BBC News.
The contract
Continued at BBC...
6
CPAC, VANCE, JD, TRUMP
Speaking at the opening session of the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) on Thursday morning, Vice President JD Vance touted the Trump administration’s success in its first month of restoring "safety and prosperity" to the American people, which
Continued at Fox News...
5
IRS, SEASON, TAX, 000
The thousands of layoffs scheduled to begin at the IRS on Thursday could disrupt tax-filing season, according to a report from Politico.
The outlet reported that 6,000 IRS employees are expected to be let go as part of a larger push by the Department of Government
Continued at Newsmax...
5
CHINA, TRUMP, FOREIGN, WORLD
President Donald Trump's restrictions on foreign aid and targeting of a key agency funding programs around the world may be offering an opening to America's biggest adversary — China.
From the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development to
Continued at Newsmax...
4
EXPLODE, TERROR, BUSES, ISRAEL
Israel foiled a plot Thursday by Palestinian terrorists to blow up several buses after some of the explosives blew up prematurely on empty buses, alerting authorities to the overall plan.
The Jerusalem Post reported:
Several buses exploded in various locations
Continued at Breitbart...
4
TRUMP, POLL, APPROVAL, GOVERNOR
President Donald Trump has endorsed Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., for governor of Florida, should the congressman decide to run. Trump's support comes as a recent poll shows Donalds leading in a hypothetical GOP primary, The Hill reported.
"Byron Donalds would
Continued at Newsmax...
4
KLUWE, MAGA, CHRIS, ARRESTED
Former NFL punter Chris Kluwe made national headlines more than a decade ago for his vocal support of same-sex marriage while playing for the Minnesota Vikings.
This week, the Orange County native garnered attention closer to home when he railed against a
Continued at LA Times...
4
CARTELS, MEXICO, FIGHT, INVASION
Mexico warns the US not to 'invade our sovereignty' in fight against cartels
toggle caption Marco Ugarte/AP
MEXICO CITY—Mexico's president is warning the United States against any violation of its territory.
The warning comes after the U.S. classified six
Continued at NPR...
3
JAMES, BOND, AMAZON, FRANCHISE
What will Amazon do with James Bond?
2 hours ago Steven McIntosh Entertainment reporter
Getty Images
The closing credits of 2021's No Time To Die, the most recent film in the 007 series, ended with a familiar message: "James Bond will return." But for the
Continued at BBC...
3
MEDICAID, TRUMP, FRAUGHT, CUT
Republican proposals to cut Medicaid could be politically fraught
toggle caption J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Medicaid is under threat — again.
Republicans, who narrowly control Congress, are pushing proposals that could sharply cut funding to the government health
Continued at NPR...
3
DEI, CONTRACTS, CANCELS, HUD
The Department of Housing and Urban Development has canceled $4 million in DEI contracts, declaring the initiatives wasteful and part of a broader effort to cut unnecessary spending, Breitbart reported.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Continued at Newsmax...
3
PLANE, PASSENGERS, TORONTO, 000
Delta Air Lines said on Wednesday that it was offering $30,000 to each passenger who was aboard the flight from Minneapolis that crashed and flipped upside down this week while trying to land in Toronto.
All 80 people — 76 passengers and four crew members
Continued at New York Times...
3
JUDGE, TRANS, BAN, MILITARY
A federal judge in D.C. peppered Justice Department lawyers with hypothetical questions and video game references as she presided over the second day of oral arguments about the Trump administration's attempt to restrict or ban transgender U.S. service members
Continued at Fox News...
3
TRUMP, DOGE, SAVINGS, RETURNING
DOGE saved far less than claimed. And, Trump blames Zelenskyy for Russia's invasion
Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start
Continued at NPR...
3
AGENCIES, WORRY, TRUMP, INDEPENDENT
Why Congress shields some agencies from presidential control President Trump has claimed power over independent regulators in a new order. NPR asks Jane Manners, law professor at Temple University, why Congress shields some agencies from presidential control.
Law
Continued at NPR...