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The Independent
a day ago
- Business
- The Independent
Kari Lake sends firing plan to Congress that will leave Voice of America with only 18 employees
Less than a week after more than 500 contractors were terminated from Voice of America, U.S. Agency for Global Media senior adviser Kari Lake sent Congress a letter detailing her reduction-in-force plan to eliminate most of the roughly 800 full-time employees remaining at the government-funded news outlet. In her letter sent on Tuesday to Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs chairman James Risch (R-ID), which was obtained and reviewed by The Independent, Lake referenced Donald Trump's executive order in March that called for the reduction of all 'non-statutory components and functions' to be eliminated from the agency, which is the agency that oversees VOA and other state-run media outlets. Noting that the president directed that the agency needed to reduce its 'associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law,' she laid out a firing plan that would bring the number of VOA positions down to just 18, while the entirety of the media agency would have a staff of just 81. The Washington Post first reported on Lake's letter to Congress. According to the plan, which Lake said was developed by career government staffers, Voice of America would have just 11 employees manning the network's broadcast operations, VOA news center and FM programming. Two employees each would handle the Farsi, China and Afghanistan broadcast services, and the network will retain a director. Additionally, roughly 13 people across the media agency will be designated as 'senior executive service,' which includes the VOA director, the agency's CEO and the director of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, which is headquartered in Florida. The media agency will also retain 17 support positions, most of which are designated 'back office support' and entail security, finance and human resources. Another two staffers will handle engineering and transmission. Notably, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting will keep all 33 of its staff, with the agency plan stating that based on Trump's executive order, 'the recommendation is to retain all positions in the Miami, FL and Marathon, FL competitive areas based on the statutory requirements for Cuba broadcasting.' Lake and the media agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Lake – a former TV anchor and twice-failed Arizona political candidate – boasted to The Washington Post last month about how she'd 'continue to scale back the bloat at [the agency] and make an archaic dinosaur into something worthy of being funded by hardworking Americans. She added: 'Buckle up. There's more to come.' With Voice of America being reduced to less than a skeleton staff, especially as it had roughly 1,300 full-time employees and contractors before the president's order, the assumption is that much of VOA's news programming going forward will be filled by MAGA cable channel One America News, which Lake made a deal with last month as a content provider. The majority of VOA's staff have been on paid administrative leave after the president ordered the media agency to be cut down, which was portrayed as part of the administration's push to reduce the federal bureaucracy. Employees of VOA are currently suing the Trump administration, saying the president doesn't have the authority to dismantle the outlet as it was created by Congress. However, while a federal judge issued an injunction in late April that would have allowed the employees to return to work, an appellate court stayed the majority of that ruling, leaving staffers stuck in limbo. Since then, Lake has brought back a couple of dozen VOA employees to keep the network staffed at a 'statutory minimum.' The staffers who have returned to work, however, state that they are 'angry most of the time' and the 'amount of programming that's being produced is not a credible replacement for what was on air before.' Reacting to the new reduction-in-force plan that would eliminate essentially the entirety of Voice of America, the plaintiffs in the current lawsuit seeking to block the president's executive order lamented over the tragedy of the network's impending death. 'It is absurd to slash an agency with a staff of over 1300 down to 80 and say it can still function according to what's mandated by law,' VOA White House bureau chief Patsy Widakuswara. 'And only 17 of those positions are allocated for VOA journalists and broadcast technicians. You can't make staff this size produce content for a global audience of 360 million weekly. It's comical if it weren't so tragic – we're not just losing our jobs and journalism, we are abdicating our voice and influence in the world.' Jessica Jerreat, Voice of America's press freedom editor, said VOA's success and value 'has always been its ability to reach foreign audiences in their own languages with news about US ideals and policy.' Noting that many of its foreign-language broadcasts around the world helped 'break through censorship' and countered 'the spread of Russian disinformation,' Jerreat expressed concern about the void that will now be left. 'The US is a global leader,' she told The Independent. 'That role has been reflected in the languages VOA broadcasts. Cutting those services from 49 to 4 cuts the US off from the global conversation.' Kate Neeper, Director of Strategy and Performance Assessment at the media agency, also bemoaned that Lake's plan 'seeks to end a decades-long mission of providing news and information in repressive media environments around the world, particularly those targeted with propaganda by America's adversaries.' 'It would entirely abandon major world regions where China and Russia have massive media operations, including Africa, Latin America, Russia and Eurasia, and Southeast Asia,' she continued. 'The plan also eliminates every agency function tasked with measuring and evaluating the effectiveness and reach of programming, eliminating the agency's ability to understand its own performance and fulfill mandatory government accountability processes.'
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Glamorous Democratic Rep. is accused of impaired driving after crashing into another car: 'I did nothing wrong'
A California senator has been accused of driving on drugs after crashing into another car just blocks away from the State Capitol in Sacramento. Sabrina Cervantes, 37, left her car behind and was driven to the hospital with minor injuries after the accident on Monday around 1:30pm. Sacramento police arrived to speak with the Democrat about what happened and quickly noticed she was showing signs of intoxication. After further evaluation, authorities cited the lawmaker with a misdemeanor for suspicion of DUI before she was released from the facility, police told KTLA. But the mother-of-three sitting on the Senate Committee on Elections fiercely denied she consumed any mind-altering substances before getting behind the wheel. 'On Monday afternoon, while seeking care in the emergency room after my sedan was t-boned by a large SUV,' she explained in a statement. 'I was accosted by Sacramento Police Department officers, falsely accused of driving under the influence, and involuntarily detained for several hours at the hospital.' She added these allegations have left her stressed and frustrated as someone who holds herself 'to the highest standard.' 'I want to be clear: I did nothing wrong,' she asserted. 'The lab results I sought in the hospital show conclusively I had no alcohol in my system. I expect this to be quickly and justly resolved.' However, police reiterated the fact they are not claiming she was drunk, but on drugs. It is unclear what they believe she consumed. A spokesperson for the department also told KTLA Cervantes' argument that officers treated her unfairly or harshly was not supported by body camera video. 'After reviewing officers' body camera footage, I didn't see any indication Senator Cervantes was accosted by officers,' the representative said. 'Officers conducted a thorough investigation and remained professional and respectful throughout it.' The cause of the accident that sparked this DUI dilemma is still under investigation, although the spokesperson said it seemed that Cervantes' SUV was t-boned, as the politician claimed. Cervantes represents Senate District 31, which embodies portions of parts of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. She assumed the role in December 2024. She previously served on the state's Assembly. She was first elected to the State Legislature in 2016, according to her Senate biography. From 2022 to 2024, she was the Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus. Cervantes is also the first openly gay Latina to represent Western Riverside County in the Legislature, her bio states. She earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of California, Riverside before completing an executive education program at Harvard University. Cervantes' scandal comes months after a Democratic Rhode Island senator was arrested for allegedly drunk driving. Progressive state Rep. Enrique Sanchez, 28, was pulled over in the early morning hours of February 3, after allegedly parking his car in an intersection in Cranston, Rhode Island. Police officers noticed he remained stopped at a traffic light even after the light turned green, as reported by the Rhode Island Current. Officer Chavelle Lopez wrote in the arrest report that Sanchez 'seemed confused' when stopped, initially handing over a red debit card instead of his driver's license before insisting he hadn't been drinking. She noted she could smell 'a heavy odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath' while Sanchez was speaking and observed he had 'bloodshot watery eyes.' Despite the evidence, Sanchez pleaded not guilty to driving while intoxicated in his initial court appearance. He since pleaded not guilty to lesser civil charges of refusing a chemical test and failure to obey traffic control devices. Court documents obtained by Fox News reveal that on February 19, Cranston Magistrate William Noonan suspended Sanchez's license but granted him a limited 'hardship license.' The 'hardship license' allowed him to drive to his day job and the State House between 8am and 8pm - but only after installing an ignition interlock breathalyzer in his vehicle.
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Business Standard
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
US may consider new sanctions on Russia if peace talks stall: Marco Rubio
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday (local time) stated that Russia would be slammed with additional sanctions by Washington if Moscow fails to provide a formal proposal outlining its conditions for a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as reported by Anadolu Agency. Speaking before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio said that such a delay from Russia would show Moscow's real intent to negotiate on the matter. "It's our understanding that the Russians are going to write up terms for what they would require in order to reach a ceasefire that then would allow broader negotiations," Rubio told the Senate Committee as quoted by Anadolu Agency. "We await those terms, and then I'll have a much better understanding about Mr. Putin's calculation once we see what those terms look like," he added. When asked about the possibility of new sanctions, Rubio said such measures are likely if Russia appears unwilling to pursue peace and continues the war effort. "If it is clear that the Russians are not interested in a peace deal and they just want to keep fighting a war, it may very well come to that point," he noted, as quoted by Anadolu Agency. However, Rubio emphasised that US President Donald Trump prefers not to threaten sanctions at this stage, fearing it could derail the diplomatic process. "The president believes that right now, if you start threatening sanctions, the Russians will stop talking," Rubio said as quoted by Anadolu Agency. Rubio added that Trump is "very committed" to ending the conflict and wants to maintain the ability to influence both parties toward a peaceful resolution for as long as possible. Earlier on Monday, US President Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine would "immediately" begin negotiations toward a ceasefire and a potential end to the ongoing war after his two-hour-long call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He disclosed that the Vatican, represented by newly elected Pope Leo XIV, has expressed interest in hosting the negotiations. This proposal aligns with the Pope's offer on May 16 to facilitate peace talks after the recent failure of ceasefire talks in Istanbul, despite the agreement to exchange prisoners between the two nations. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
US may consider new sanctions on Russia if peace talks stall: US Secretary of State Rubio
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday (local time) stated that Russia would be slammed with additional sanctions by Washington if Moscow fails to provide a formal proposal outlining its conditions for a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as reported by Anadolu Agency. Speaking before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee , Rubio said that such a delay from Russia would show Moscow's real intent to negotiate on the matter. "It's our understanding that the Russians are going to write up terms for what they would require in order to reach a ceasefire that then would allow broader negotiations," Rubio told the Senate Committee as quoted by Anadolu Agency. "We await those terms, and then I'll have a much better understanding about Mr. Putin's calculation once we see what those terms look like," he added. When asked about the possibility of new sanctions, Rubio said such measures are likely if Russia appears unwilling to pursue peace and continues the war effort. Live Events "If it is clear that the Russians are not interested in a peace deal and they just want to keep fighting a war, it may very well come to that point," he noted, as quoted by Anadolu Agency. However, Rubio emphasised that US President Donald Trump prefers not to threaten sanctions at this stage, fearing it could derail the diplomatic process. "The president believes that right now, if you start threatening sanctions, the Russians will stop talking," Rubio said as quoted by Anadolu Agency. Rubio added that Trump is "very committed" to ending the conflict and wants to maintain the ability to influence both parties toward a peaceful resolution for as long as possible. Earlier on Monday, US President Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine would "immediately" begin negotiations toward a ceasefire and a potential end to the ongoing war after his two-hour-long call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He disclosed that the Vatican, represented by newly elected Pope Leo XIV , has expressed interest in hosting the negotiations. This proposal aligns with the Pope's offer on May 16 to facilitate peace talks after the recent failure of ceasefire talks in Istanbul, despite the agreement to exchange prisoners between the two nations.
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Business Standard
01-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Billionaire Isaacman set to head Nasa, to focus on moon and Mars mission
Jared Isaacman, the 42-year-old entrepreneur, is set to become the head of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa). Isaacman, the first non-professional astronaut to walk in space, has received approval from a crucial Senate Committee of the US. According to a BBC report, Isaacman is yet to receive a clear vote of the full chamber to lead Nasa, the space agency which has set its eyes on returning to the Moon. The Senate Committee voted 19 to nine before his nomination was sent to the full chamber. It is worth noting that most of the votes against him came from the Democrats. Even though Isaacman is anticipated to win the vote in the full chamber, he is now encountering skepticism, especially for his ties with billionaire Elon Musk. Isaacman was questioned about his plans to send astronauts to Mars, budget cuts, and possible conflicts of interest at his hearing. While he expressed optimism to pursue Nasa's Artemis mission to the moon along with potential missions to Mars, US lawmakers were concerned that he would give up the Artemis mission to focus on expanding the Mars mission and sending astronauts to Mars. Isaacman's plans for Nasa Even before taking charge, the 42-year-old billionaire has expressed his desire to expand the human space flight programme. He said, 'We will prioritise sending American astronauts to Mars, and along the way we will inevitably have the capabilities to return to the Moon.' He said the agency does not have to make a binary decision of moon vs Mars, or Moon has to come first vs Mars. Isaacman, along with Musk and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is among a few new billionaires who are trying to challenge the old order in space. With their focus being majorly on innovation, these new billionaires are aiming to reduce the cost of space travel. Isaacman's appointment to head Nasa could also help the agency, which has often been slammed for its space programmes, which have often been called 'wasteful' and 'over the budget' by several private sector operators. Commenting on the same, Isaacman noted that major contractors are 'incentivised to be economically inefficient', according to the report. Isaacman's arrest During the April 9 confirmation hearing, the Senate discovered that back in 2010, Jared Isaacman was arrested at the Canadian border and returned to Nevada after he was accused of passing bad checks to casinos. Clarifying about the charges against him, he said that the dispute with the casino occurred after a travel reimbursement, which was promised by the resort but was not delivered. He further added that the charges were dismissed and the matter was closed in 24 hours.
