So Much For Transparency

2.27.25

Ally Sammarco Feb 28

Happy Thursday evening, readers, and welcome back to another edition of Today’s American News, your source for news and analysis on the circus that is American politics and entertainment.

UK premiere Starmer visit to DC had cordiality but not consequence… Starmer had high hopes to secure American commitment to Ukrainian security guarantees in his first visit to the U.S. as prime minister, but his trip was metaphorically doomed before it began. Trump’s team was adept enough to display the Union Jack in advance of this arrival and, as Politico noted, inept enough to display the globally historic symbol upside-down. Like his French counterpart’s visit earlier this week, Starmer displayed reverence for American values alongside an American president who lacks them. His visit was a disappointment inflicted entirely by Donald Trump and MAGA cronies, but symbolism matters and we hope other leaders continue to show up on our shores.

(UK prime minister Keir Starmer shows off the empty hands he will take home to Britain following his visit to DC. Trump pretends to listen as he daydreams of Russian aluminum and more tax cuts for America’s ultra-wealthy. At least it’s another man next to him, he thinks to himself. Vance, having finished his broccoli at dinner last evening, attends a big boy meeting. Little Marco questions his life choices.

Not pictured: Elon Musk, reading emails from federal workers about how they serve the American people and becoming increasingly giddy about firing these public servants anyhow. Photo credit: Reuters.)

To our European friends: This is not a drill. You’re on your own, with only the voices and prayers of decent Americans who share your values of international order, democracy, decency and truth. Your “boots on the ground” to protect peace – the ones Starmer pledged during his visit – will be met with indifference and schemes of corporate greed from across the pond. Canada is still with you at least. They are and will remain an independent country.

Don’t kid yourselves on the heels of America voting at the United Nations with Russia, North Korea, and a who’s-who of the world’s most repressive regimes. Even China and Iran took a more reasoned approach than the once-Shining City upon a Hill. The MAGA regime in Washington has shown you who they are. Do as the great Maya Angelou advised and believe them.

(Source: United Nations. Monday’s roll call vote on a Europe-backed resolution calling for peace in Ukraine.)

Meanwhile in America, another consolation from still-functioning courts… NPR reports “A federal judge in San Francisco says the Trump administration likely broke the law by firing thousands of probationary employees — typically those in their first or second year in a job. U.S. District Judge William Alsup ordered a partial halt to the firings after a hearing on Thursday afternoon. His order covers the Veterans Affairs Department, the National Park Service, the Small Business Administration, the Bureau of Land Management, the National Science Foundation and other agencies whose firings impact the civic groups that sued the Trump administration.” To the litigation teams fighting the good fights on behalf of hardworking public servants, we salute your patriotism.

Trump made a mockery of the Epstein Files release… Pam Bondi released "Phase 1" of the Jeffrey Epstein files, comprising over 100 pages of flight logs, a heavily redacted address book, and an evidence list tied to the late financier and convicted sex offender. The documents, mostly recycled previously public information, sparked major pushback from both the right-wing and left-wing (which is rare), criticizing the drop as underwhelming. The other complaint? The release was not actually to the American people…only to a small group of conservative influencers who were invited to the White House today. So much for transparency.

Today’s Buzz

Gene Hackman, wife, dog found dead by authorities in New Mexico home… “Hackman, 95, was found dead Wednesday in an entryway, and his 65-year-old wife, Betsy Arakawa, was found in a bathroom next to a space heater, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office detectives wrote in a search warrant affidavit. There was an open prescription bottle and pills scattered on a countertop near Arakawa.” He left this world quietly but his 40-year career in entertainment – embodied in The Hollywood Reporter’s tribute – lives on in perpetuity.

Today’s Furry Friend

If a baby pig can remain resilient through seemingly insurmountable odds and actively demand a better tomorrow, so can we. Enjoy.

We admit this evening’s update was dreadful, but sugarcoating ignores the stakes in times like these. Tomorrow is Friday, folks. We are grateful that evening in and evening out, you trust Today’s American News to boil down the chaos, no matter how dire.