Latest news with #85thAnnualPeabodyAwards
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Van Jones Says Trump Should Fire, Prosecute DOGE Staffers: If He's 'Smart'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Van Jones, political analyst and former special adviser to ex-President Barack Obama, said that "if Donald Trump is smart," he would fire, investigate and prosecute employees of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) who worked under billionaire Elon Musk. Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for comment Thursday night. Why It Matters The public quarrel between Musk and Trump over the spending bill that Trump named the "big, beautiful bill" escalated on social media Thursday, drawing national attention to the high-stakes battle touching on issues of trust in public institutions, government funding and political polarization. The remarks arrived amid a broader public dispute involving Musk, DOGE and the Trump administration that has been taking place throughout the president's second term, with heightened scrutiny over DOGE's access to sensitive taxpayer information. What To Know While speaking with CNN's Anderson Cooper on Thursday, Jones said, "Those DOGE employees, the people that [David] Axelrod was just talking about, are very dangerous. If Donald Trump is smart, the first thing he's going to do is fire, investigate and prosecute all of Elon's people who are all throughout government with their laptops downloading data right now." "I don't think that what they're doing is legal," Jones said. "A lot of them don't have the proper clearances and I think that if you investigate, you'll find they've uploaded data into servers ... that are the wrong thing to do. So, I think there should definitely be an investigation there." DOGE's processes are not known to Newsweek at the time of publication. Jones added that in the short-term, Trump should go after DOGE, and long term, he should focus on the Republican Party in general as Musk holds hundreds of millions of dollars to potentially drop in close elections. Meanwhile, numerous DOGE-affiliated staffers at federal agencies resigned in protest after Musk's decision to slash government roles and entire programs. These resignations followed growing unease about DOGE's role in accessing sensitive government data, with critics warning of "potential security breaches" and advocates arguing for innovation and efficiency. DOGE's pursuit of access to IRS taxpayer data, in particular, further heightened concerns. There were growing fears that DOGE staff working within government agencies could potentially obtain information unrelated to their immediate operational needs, increasing risk for exposure or misuse of tax records. DOGE has also been embroiled in numerous lawsuits related to its pursuit of access to both public and government data. Van Jones poses for a portrait during the 85th Annual Peabody Awards at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, on June 1 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by) Van Jones poses for a portrait during the 85th Annual Peabody Awards at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, on June 1 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by) What People Are Saying Trump posted to Truth Social on Thursday: "I don't mind Elon turning against me, but he should have done so months ago. This is one of the Greatest Bills ever presented to Congress. It's a Record Cut in Expenses, $1.6 Trillion Dollars, and the Biggest Tax Cut ever given. If this Bill doesn't pass, there will be a 68% Tax Increase, and things far worse than that. I didn't create this mess, I'm just here to FIX IT. This puts our Country on a Path of Greatness. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" Musk posted to X on Wednesday: "This spending bill contains the largest increase in the debt ceiling in US history! It is the Debt Slavery Bill." David Axelrod, former Obama adviser on CNN Thursday, when asked if Musk got played by Trump in part: "Well, I mean Trump is president and that's what he wanted. Musk has actually suffered financially as a result of this, and it could be worse if Trump really leans in. I mean he lost, Tesla lost 14 percent of its value today because of this exchange between Trump and Musk. So, I don't know if he got played." "But Donald Trump, like I said, he's not a sentimentalist. He uses people, he uses everybody. And I think he used ... Musk, but I think Musk used him as well." Axelrod went on to point out that Musk does wield his own power through X, his wealth and the following he has built for himself. What Happens Next Musk has left his position in Washington, D.C., leading DOGE as the initiative's future is immediately unclear. Meanwhile, Trump has handed down a deadline to Senate Republican leaders to get the spending bill passed and on his desk before July 4th.
New York Post
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Pablo Torre fires back at Bill Simmons after Bill Belichick-Jordon Hudson reporting shade
Pablo Torre heard what Bill Simmons said loud and clear. The former ESPN personality fired back at Simmons after The Ringer founder claimed Torre is 'pretending' to be a journalist amid his recent exposés into the Bill Belichick-Jordon Hudson relationship. 'Dear @BillSimmons: Since you have such a strong public opinion about my work… I happen to have a few questions for you, specifically,' Torre tweeted Monday. 'Unless you're afraid of @pablofindsout and someone just 'pretending to be a journalist,' of course. Thanks, Pablo.' 4 Pablo Torre discussing the Belichick-Hudson drama on his podcast. @pablofindsout/X This battle between former ESPNers stems from Torre's recent deep dives into the polarizing relationship between the 73-year-old North Carolina football coach and his 24-year-old girlfriend. Torre has reported in recent weeks on his 'Pablo Torre Finds Out' podcast that the Tar Heels banned Hudson from their facilities, which the program later denied, along with allegations of Hudson trying to work her way into a commercial while showing up in a bikini. He even went as far as to rent the Airbnb that Hudson and Belichick occupied when Ring camera footage of a shirtless Belichick emerged in 2023, and talked to the owners, with Belichick being labeled a 'creepy old guy' whom the male owner wondered if he potentially was a 'freaking coke dealer.' Simmons, who rooted for Belichick's Patriots teams, said on a recent 'Rewatchables' of the 1978 film 'Heaven Can Wait' that he believes Torre spent a little too much time on the topic. 4 Bill Simmons ripped Pablo Torre on a recent 'Rewatchables.' @RingerMovies/YouTube 'Pablo Torre would've done a long podcast about ('Heaven Can Wait' character) Leo Farnsworth trying to practice with the team, and then done a media tour about it afterwards,' Simmons said on May 27. 'I've never seen anybody dine on a stupider story for a week and a half while pretending you're a journalist. What the f–k was that? Seriously. ''Belichick's dating a girl. Oh, let me do nine shows about it. Settle the f–k down … You don't need to do a media tour about a f–king podcast.' 4 Belichick and Hudson. VAIL FUCCI When co-host Van Lathan noted how the world has been talking about the pair, especially after the disastrous 'CBS News Sunday Morning' interview, Simmons backed off a little. 'That's fine,' Simmons said. 'Maybe do two shows about it.' Belichick and Hudson will continue to be in the spotlight while the Tar Heels head toward their Sept. 1 opener against TCU. 4 Pablo Torre at the 85th Annual Peabody Awards. Getty Images for Peabody Awards The June 1 date that lowered Belichick's buyout from $10 million to $1 million just passed, allowing him more financial flexibility if he deems it's time to move on. Torre could potentially have more coming out about the two, having previously said last week marked a deadline for the school to respond to public records requests. He indicated he would be open to potential legal action if they did not comply.
