From Washington Post: The Trump Lexicon
The Trump Administration has some verbiage that might have folks wondering if those words they keep using mean what they thought they mean.
Author: OT Editors
Group Activity: Kash Patel Confirmation Hearing
Watch and discuss the US Senate hearing that is considering the nomination of Kash Patel to head the FBI
Group Activity: Tulsi Gabbard Confirmation Hearing
Watch and comment on the US Senate hearing to examine the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence
Group Activity: The RFK Jr Confirmation Hearing
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is getting his day before the Senate as President Trump’s selection to head the Department of Health and Human Services.
Group Activity: First Press Briefing of Trump’s Second Term
The debut of Karoline Leavitt as press secretary and the first gathering in the Brady Briefing Room of the Second Trump Term
Memo: All Federal Grant, Loan, and Financial Assistance “Temporarily Paused”
The White House OMB issued a directive to effectively halt all federal funding “temporarily” until further review.
Trump Term Two, Day One, Executive Orders
As promised, the second Donald Trump administration featured a cavalcade of executive orders on a wide swath of MAGA priorities.
Ordinary Times Watchalong: The Inauguration of Donald Trump
Watch and comment to the festivities as America once again does pomp and circumstance around the peaceful transition of power.
SCOTUS Upholds TikTok Ban: Read It For Yourself
In a 20-page unsigned order the Supreme Court ruled that the law requiring TikTok to be banned if not sold can stand.
Reports: Isreal and Hamas Agree To Cease-fire Deal
A multi-phase cease-fire agreement has reportedly been reached between Isreal and Hamas that includes the release of hostages.
No Fighting In the War Room: Pete Hegseth Confirmation Hearing Livestream Edition
The confirmation process for incoming President Trump’s cabinet picks is ramping up, and both parties are focusing on Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth
Group Activity: Do You Know Your Trump Promises?
From the Washington Post, a quick check on how much you remember from the Trump first term as Trump 2.0 looms.
From NY Times: Popular Populations Potpourri
If less is more, just imagine how much more more could be, proffers the NY Times Editorial Board on what to do about immigration, population, and the debate over who and how many Americans there should be.
Meta Ends Fact-checking Program
Changes in Meta protocol in the United States that effectively ends the company’s efforts at fact checking on platforms like Facebook.
The Good Old Days, According to the Data
Whatever the “Good old days” means to someone relies heavily on…
Bashar al-Assad Flees To Moscow, Ending 50 Years of Syrian Dictatorship
With Bashar al-Assad reportedly in Moscow, the 13-year Syrian civil war and 50+ year rule of the al-Assad family dictatorship has ended.
Group Activity: Are You Smarter Than an Eighth-grade Civics Test
“Test your knowledge to see if you know as much about government as these middle-schoolers.”
Linky Friday: Cabinet Shopping, President Trump Style
This is going to be a fun transition for the content creators as President-elect Trump fills out his administration
Paper: Inflation and the 2024 US Presidential Election
“We find this effect is most pronounced among Independents and Democrats, precisely the voters Harris-Walz needed to win the election…”
