Gabbard slashing intelligence office workforce by 40%, cutting budget by more than $700 million
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
4 minutes ago
- The Independent
Trump set to join DC police for patrols tonight as he pushes crackdown on crime
President Trump will hit the streets of Washington, D.C., on Thursday night to join patrols as part of his administration's extraordinary federal takeover of law enforcement in the capital. 'I'm going to be going out tonight with the police and with the military, of course,' Trump said Thursday in an interview with radio host Todd Starnes. Earlier this month, the president put the Washington police force under federal control and began surging federal agents and National Guard troops to the city for a crackdown on what he said was rampant crime, even though statistics show a sharp recent decline.
Reuters
5 minutes ago
- Reuters
US to rule on biofuel waivers, but big oil refiners may need to wait, sources say
Aug 21 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's administration is expected to rule on a growing backlog of requests from small oil refiners seeking relief from U.S. biofuel laws as early as Friday, but will delay a decision on whether larger refiners must compensate by boosting their own biofuel blending, according to two sources familiar with the planning. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday will announce decisions on some of the 195 pending small refinery exemption requests that date back as far as 2016, the sources said. The rulings will not be a sweeping win for small refiners, and will include some partial denials of waivers, according to one of the sources briefed on the decisions. The administration is also expected to issue a supplemental rule as early as next week to seek public comment on whether larger refiners should make up for the exempted gallons in a process known as reallocation, the source said. How the administration deals with exemption requests and the reallocation issues will have consequences for the oil and agricultural industries, and impact the price of commodities from gasoline and renewable diesel to soybeans and corn, along with the companies that produce them. In the past, widespread exemptions without reallocation have sent renewable blending credit prices lower, denting prices for corn-based ethanol and soybean-based biofuel. The EPA and White House did not respond to requests for comment. The U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard requires refiners to blend biofuels like ethanol into the fuel pool or by the tradable credits, known as RINs, from refiners who do. Small refiners can petition the EPA to receive an exemption if they can show financial hardship. The EPA has a mounting backlog of such requests going back years - the result of political indecision and legal wrangling across multiple administrations. Both the agriculture and the oil industries are keen for resolution. Granting exemptions without forcing other refiners to make up the difference increases the supply of credits and puts downward pressure on their prices. Farm and biofuel groups have lobbied the EPA to limit the number of exemptions and to force other refiners to make up for exempted gallons. The oil industry is strongly opposed to reallocation, arguing it creates an uneven playing field and imposes burdensome regulatory costs. The EPA said earlier this year that it would force larger refiners to make up for future exempted gallons, but was silent on how it would treat exempt gallons from the dozens of backlogged requests. The supplemental rule will include various options in a bid to test how the market may respond, the sources said.
Reuters
5 minutes ago
- Reuters
US labor, advocacy groups urge states to reject Tesla's $29 billion Musk pay
Aug 21 (Reuters) - A coalition of U.S. labor unions and progressive advocacy groups urged state financial officers overseeing public pension funds to oppose fresh pay awards for Tesla (TSLA.O), opens new tab CEO Elon Musk, warning the excessive cost poses risks to workers' retirement savings. A mix of labor unions and liberal advocacy groups, including the American Federation of Teachers and MoveOn, urged state officials to press asset managers to reject Musk's new pay plans and push for stronger board independence at the EV maker, in a letter exclusively shared with Reuters. Many states manage pension funds for teachers and other employees, which are among the largest U.S. investors. Tesla and Musk did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The appeal comes amid a legal saga over Musk's record pay package. In January last year, Delaware Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick voided Musk's 2018 package, then valued at about $56 billion, calling it an "unfathomable" award by a conflicted board. Tesla this month granted Musk 96 million new shares valued at about $29 billion as a good-faith interim payment while his 2018 pay package remains under appeal. The Tesla board said to shareholders that retaining Musk is essential, as his leadership is critical for the company's transition from an EV maker to a robotics and AI-focused firm. In June last year, Tesla shareholders ratified the payout and approved relocating the company's legal home to Texas, but the court case remained unresolved, with McCormick later allowing for appeals that could extend for months. The groups urged officials to oppose any new pay package and to vote against directors who fail to show independence from Musk. "Shareholders in Tesla shouldn't be taking dilutions so that the wealthiest man in the world can be handed additional Tesla shares," some of the advocates said via email. Tesla has not yet published a proxy outlining the ballot items at the next annual meeting, but the groups expect the issue to be included.
