Schumer's Spineless Surrender

ALSO: Billionaire wrestling lady livid that universities partnered with org that promotes educational opportunities for students of color…

Ally Sammarco Mar 15

Happy Friday, readers! The weekend is here and we are here for it. Thanks again for making Today’s American News your source for news and analysis on the circus that is American politics and entertainment.

Senate passes funding bill, keeping government open but leaving Dems divided… Politico reports, “The Senate passed a seven-month funding patch in time to avert a government shutdown… The Senate voted 54-46 on the House-passed bill, almost entirely along party lines… Democrats spent days agonizing over how to manage the politics of this moment… The Democratic base clamored for Democrats to force Republicans back to the table and pass the shorter-term stopgap bill. Ultimately, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer decided it wasn’t worth risking a shutdown scenario that could empower [Donald] Trump and [Elon] Musk to make more cuts to government agencies, and potentially fire federal workers. House Democratic leadership balked, with Schumer’s fellow New Yorker, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, refusing to say at a press conference whether he still had confidence in his colleague’s leadership. Schumer’s decision also split his own leadership team.”

Trump delivers wildly inappropriate, hyper-partisan speech at Justice Department… CNN has key takeaways from the speech and reports “President Donald Trump excoriated the Justice Department prosecutors who investigated him and vowed to use it to target his own enemies in a campaign-style speech at the department’s historic Great Hall on Friday. The hour-long speech served as both a victory lap for beating the two federal criminal cases brought against him by the Biden administration, and as a condemnation against any officials – some of whom have been fired from the DOJ – who touched those cases. Trump is a departure from how previous presidents have dealt with the Justice Department. White Houses in the past have typically limited interactions with the department so that its work would not appear political… Trump’s public airing of grievances was unprecedented. He took the opportunity to instead criticize the courts, rail against both his political enemies and the media, and threaten retribution.”

Billionaire wrestling lady livid that universities partnered with org that promotes educational opportunities for students of color… NPR reports, “The U.S. Department of Education has launched investigations into 52 universities in 41 states, accusing the schools of using ‘racial preferences and stereotypes in education programs and activities.’ On Friday, the department's Office of Civil Rights said that 45 schools, particularly their graduate programs, violated the 1964 Civil Rights Act by partnering with The PhD Project, a nonprofit that helps students from underrepresented groups earn doctoral degrees in business. The program focuses on supporting Black, Latino and Native American students.” THIS is how the Trump Administration is spending its time and using their brains – punitive action against institutions of higher education 53 days into Trump’s presidency, based on the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which they would oppose were it before Congress today but which they are say protects white students from a university working with an organization that supports opportunity for non-white students.

Today’s American News is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, become a free or paid subscriber.

Twice in one day, courts block mass firings of probationary federal workers… CBS News reports, “A judge in Maryland has blocked for now the mass firings of probationary federal workers and ordered thousands of fired probationary workers to be reinstated, marking the second decision of its kind in a day. The order from U.S. District Judge James Bredar came late Thursday in a lawsuit filed by 19 states and the District of Columbia against multiple federal agencies alleging the mass firings are illegal.” Bredar noted in the order that the Trump Administration had failed to provide proof that the employees were let go for performance or other individualized reasons, as it originally contended to the court. “On the record before the Court, this isn't true,” the judge wrote. “At least 24,000 probationary employees have been terminated since President Trump took office, the lawsuit alleges.”

Today’s Buzz

Get your tickets early for these big 2025 concern tours… The Hollywood Reporter writes, “Get ready, because 2025 is set to be another year packed with memorable live concerts and tours from some of your favorite musical artists. Whether you prefer pop, rock, country or rap, artists from all genres are hitting the road in the new year, including Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar and SZA, Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny, Blackpink, Usher, Post Malone, Ed Sheeran, Zayn Malik, Coldplay, Katy Perry, Shakira, Billy Joel and Gracie Abrams.” Sadly, Taylor Swift will not be on tour this year.

Beyoncé is among the artists on tour this year. Photo credit: WIREIMAGE

Have a great weekend from us here at Today’s American News. Thanks for allowing us to help make sense of the chaos. Check back in on Monday!

Today’s American News is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, become a free or paid subscriber.