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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia and Ukraine Are Both Still in This War for the Long Haul
On the morning of June 1, in what it called Operation Spiderweb, Ukraine launched over 100 drones from the backs of trucks it had used to smuggle them inside Russia. With the trucks positioned near several Russian airfields thousands of miles apart, the drones attacked and successfully destroyed a third of Russia's bomber fleet. The operation suggests that Ukraine learned a lesson from the 'failure' of its 2023 offensive: Keep it secret—even from the U.S., according to the latest reporting, so as to not raise expectations or risk word of the operation being leaked. Indeed, while the strike does hold implications and lessons for how drones could be deployed in future wars, Kyiv's successful maintenance of operational security is what many observers found most impressive. As WPR columnist and European security expert Ulrike Franke observed, 'One could argue that this attack, is actually less of a drone story, than a covert operation story. … [T]he impressive bit is pulling this off.' In many ways, the operation's combination of surprise and tactical ingenuity shared similarities to Ukraine's surprisingly successful counteroffensive in 2022, when Kyiv utilized deception and precision force deployment to push back Russian forces and retake the city of Kharkiv. After this weekend's attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that Operation Spiderweb was over a year in the making. Given that timeframe, the attack may have been part of his much-touted 'Victory Plan' unveiled in October. As he explained on social media, the purpose of the operation was to demonstrate that 'Europe, together with America, has better weapons than Russia. We also have stronger tactical solutions.' That demonstration, and the losses Russia incurred, are in Zelenskyy's view, 'what will push [Moscow] toward diplomacy.' When combined with the successful signing of a mineral deal with Washington as a means of ensuring continued U.S. material support to Ukraine, it seems that Zelenskyy's October plan is indeed starting to come together. To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter. Unfortunately, there is another way to view the operation, one that is more sobering. Simply put, Zelenskyy's military and diplomatic coup should not lead to inflated expectations. The operation did prove that Ukraine can stand up to Russia and can inflict great harm, if more evidence was even needed. It further demonstrated that Ukraine will not go down without a fight—and that it has a lot of fight left. But we've been here before. Ukraine's successful counteroffensive in October 2022, which rolled back much of Russia's initial gains, was followed by the battlelines stabilizing and largely stalling into trench warfare. The Wagner mutiny of June 2023, which led to speculation about the possibility of regime change in Moscow, was followed by Russian President Vladimir Putin consolidating power and control over the Russian military. The sinking of substantial portions of Russia's Black Sea fleet, which led to a Russian naval withdrawal in 2024, didn't alter the dynamics on the ground. Similarly, this operation is not likely to bring the Russians to the bargaining table with a sincere interest in striking a deal to end the war. The war will instead rage on. In fact, all reports indicate that Russia can weather these heavy losses to its air capability. As Franz-Stefan Gady of the International Institute for Strategic Studies noted, 'For all its complexity, creativity, and audaciousness, the raid's immediate impact on Russian operations in Ukraine is likely to be limited.' Russia uses only a few of its bombers to carry out cruise missile attacks, so these losses, while not trivial, will not impede its ability to continue those operations. Moreover, as the Wall Street Journal recently reported, Putin has the Russian economy retooled for war, so much so that reaching peace could lead to more economic disruptions than continuing the fighting. As a February report from the Center for European Policy Analysis put it, the Russian economy is 'addicted to war.' Indeed, Russia launched a drone attack of its own against Kharkiv almost immediately after Operation Spiderweb, and according to U.S. President Donald Trump, Putin promised to retaliate against Ukraine in a phone conversation they held earlier this week. Russia can sustain its strategy of trying to punish Ukraine into submission. It may not be able to win outright, but that doesn't mean it will lose. But as the attack illustrates, Ukraine can also inflict damage. Some commentators and policymakers, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance, point to Russia's long-term advantages in personnel and material as proof that Ukraine cannot win a long war. Yet the U.S. has yet to cut off its support for Kyiv. Even if it does, European nations have agreed, under prodding from the Trump administration, to shift their focus from supporting a postwar peacekeeping force to stepping up their wartime material support to Kyiv. As Dmytro Kuleba recently wrote—in a reference to Trump's assertion during his infamous Oval Office meeting with Zelenskyy that Kyiv 'doesn't have the cards' to defeat Russia—'Ukraine could certainly hold better cards, but the country is not so desperate that it must fold now.' In other words, Ukraine is also poised to sustain its war effort. But if this attack isn't enough to turn the tide, what could do so? What would actually constitute a turning point in the conflict? Some think that, as the invasion is for all intents and purposes 'Putin's war,' only his death or removal from power will end it. But it seems that support for the war, at least within the key decision-making circles of the Russian government, extends beyond Putin himself. Putin's delusions of grandeur, predicated on a desire to recreate the Russian Empire, may be his principal reason for carrying on with the war. But Russian interest in controlling, dominating or even annexing all of Ukraine, coupled with distrust of the West, are not limited to him. Another possibility is that, like the last great wars of Europe, a major outside power directly enters the war and throws its weight into massively tipping the balance of power. But that also seems unlikely. The U.S. under Trump may not abandon Ukraine, but it is inconceivable that it would enter the war on its behalf or countenance its European allies to do so. Hence, we're sadly still on the path for this to become at worst a version of the Iran-Iraq War and at best a frozen conflict along the lines of the Korean War. In short, the ebbs and flows of the battlefield are unpredictable and punctuated. One side can seem to be working against the tide, and then suddenly gain a novel tactical victory, as Ukraine did this past weekend. But in a war of attrition of the kind in which Ukraine and Russia remain embroiled, material and strategic capacity matters more than tactical ingenuity. And what Ukraine's successful strike last weekend showed above all is that both nations still have the capacity to sustain the war for the long haul. Paul Poast is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago and a nonresident fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. The post Russia and Ukraine Are Both Still in This War for the Long Haul appeared first on World Politics Review.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump Has His Eyes on a Bigger Prize Than the U.S.-Ukraine Mineral Deal
U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy finally reached a deal, or at least the 'framework' of a deal, on developing Ukraine's critical mineral reserves. While the details need to be finalized by later agreements, Zelenskyy and Trump agreed to an arrangement whereby the U.S. and Ukraine would jointly manage a fund financed by revenues from Ukraine's minerals as well as its hydrocarbons, with the proceeds expected to be reinvested in Ukraine. Trump was clearly interested in securing this deal, largely as a way for the U.S. to, in his words, 'recoup' the costs of the military aid it has supplied to Ukraine since Russia's all-out invasion of the country three years ago this week. But it was Zelenskyy who initially floated a mineral deal as part of the 'Victory Plan' proposal he put forward in October. Overall, the agreement appears to be, in the words of Kyiv School of Economics President Tymofiy Mylovanov, 'A victory for Zelensky, but also a victory for Trump.' Perhaps most notable about the agreement is that it came after Trump seemed to pivot U.S. support from Ukraine to Russia on questions about the war. On Monday, the U.S. voted against a United Nations General Assembly resolution condemning the Russian invasion and calling for Moscow to return the Ukrainian territory it currently occupies. That followed two weeks in which the Trump administration had made clear that it was looking to revise, retrench or even, some fear, revoke U.S. security guarantees to Europe. And all of that was on top of a slew of public insults and criticisms leveled by Trump toward Zelenskyy, who responded in kind. The diplomatic whiplash is a lot to process, and observers are right to be disoriented. While confusing, the events of recent weeks reveal much about the Trump administration's general approach to foreign policy, its support for Ukraine specifically and its stance on the war in Ukraine as a whole. To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter. With respect to Trumps's general approach to foreign policy, it is important to keep in mind that public pronouncements by leaders, especially leaders like Trump, are made in what international relations scholar Austin Carson—drawing on the language of sociologist Erving Goffman—calls the 'frontstage.' The statements made in this realm are not necessarily intended for the counterparts of direct negotiations, but rather are a way to communicate with other audiences. In this case, these audiences might be other countries, such as the European nations that are also supporting Ukraine, or the other key party in the conflict, Russia. But there is often also a domestic audience being addressed, and these statements can be a way to 'look tough' to one's base, something that is particularly important to Trump. In short, public declarations in the frontstage are often simply posturing, and that may very well be the case here, too. This is in contrast to the real work happening 'backstage'—in this case, the negotiations over the deal, about which we the general public only receive limited information. In general, with negotiations, we see photos of talks. We hear summaries of discussions held by the parties. But we don't actually see what is happening behind the scenes. Sometimes what happens in the backstage can spill over to the frontstage. That could explain Trump's above-mentioned tirade against Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian president apparently turned down an initial draft mineral rights agreement presented by Trump administration officials because it did not include explicit security guarantees by the United States. While the ideal for Zelenskyy when it comes such security guarantees is NATO membership, the U.S. position—as expressed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a recent interview—is that the economic linkage created by the minerals deal is sufficient to ensure Washington's commitment to securing Ukraine. Regardless, Zelenskyy's initial refusal to sign the deal drew Trump's ire. This relates to the Trump administration's approach to supporting Ukraine. Trump has a long and complicated history with Ukraine, going back to his first term as president. In 2019, Ukraine's military was fighting Russian-backed separatist forces in the Donbas region in a low-intensity conflict that Moscow fomented on the heels of its 2014 annexation of Crimea. At the time, Trump attempted to use the continued flow of U.S. military assistance as leverage to get Zelenskyy to authorize an investigation into Joe Biden's activities in Ukraine when Biden was still vice president. Trump hoped to use the investigation to smear Biden, who was then widely expected to be the Democratic candidate—that is, Trump's opponent—in the 2020 presidential election. While the aid was never cut off, the attempt to use congressionally authorized funds for personal political gain was the basis for Trump's first impeachment, and that has evidently colored his views on Zelenskyy and Ukraine ever since. Following Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Trump—by then no longer president—initially questioned the utility of supporting Ukraine militarily. He eventually shifted his stance to proposing that the U.S. provide aid but be 'paid back,' perhaps by converting the aid to loans. As for the war in Ukraine, in addition to being obsessed with the idea of being 'repaid,' Trump is fixated on being seen as being the one to broker an end to the conflict. He made it a central campaign issue in last year's election. Indeed, one of his more effective campaign lines was to point out that Russia did nothing new, in terms of aggression toward its Ukraine and its other neighbors, when Trump was president. Since his return to the White House, he has repeated his claim that Russia would never have launched its all-out invasion had he, and not Biden, been president in 2022. While that counterfactual is impossible to prove or disprove, Trump went further during last year's presidential campaign, boldly asserting that he would get Ukraine and Russia on the phone and have the conflict over 'in 24 hours' were he to win the election. That clearly didn't happen, and as president-elect, Trump acknowledged that reaching a 'fair deal' was 'complicated.' Nevertheless, he wants a deal badly. This is likely why he and others in his administration are refraining from criticizing Russia and have even begun to instead criticize Ukraine. While some find that unconscionable, it is likely an attempt by Trump to get Russia to see the U.S. as an 'honest broker,' even as Washington continues to provide direct financial and military support to Ukraine. Anything that seems to hold up a broader deal to end the conflict, including Zelenskyy standing firm against what he sees as a one-sided offer on Ukraine's mineral wealth, frustrates Trump. And when he's frustrated, he lashes out. Of course, all the back and forth with Ukraine means nothing if Russia isn't also invested in the negotiations. The need for Trump to position himself as impartial, even while the U.S. actively supports Ukraine, likely explains why the U.S. voted against the U.N. resolution. But even being seen as an honest broker isn't enough to reach a deal if one side doesn't actually want one. And as I wrote last week, 'it is increasingly likely Trump will find that Russia, and specifically Putin, is not really interested in a deal regardless of what is offered and who is at the table.' In the above-mentioned interview, Rubio himself acknowledged that it is not yet clear if the Russians are truly interested in ending the war. Putin has a particular fixation with Ukraine and sees domination of the country as central to his mission of restoring Russia's grandeur as a great power. Yes, he was concerned about NATO expansion, but not because he saw NATO as a threat. Instead, he saw NATO membership for Ukraine as impeding his neo-imperial designs. Given Putin's mindset, a deal to end the war is not only unlikely, but probably impossible. Nevertheless, like many other observers before and since, I argued just ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion that the war will likely end in a settlement rather than in a clear victory by one side over the other. That scenario has only grown more likely as we now enter a fourth year of fighting, with the battlelines largely static for the past two and a half years. While the U.S.-Ukraine deal is a positive step forward, it remains to be seen whether it is a step along the path that will lead to that ultimate deal to end the war. Paul Poast is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago and a nonresident fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. The post Trump Has His Eyes on a Bigger Prize Than the U.S.-Ukraine Mineral Deal appeared first on World Politics Review.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump and Zelensky meet and an 'economic blackout' day of protest: Morning Rundown
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy are scheduled to meet today at the White House. The deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife have been ruled 'suspicious.' And what to know about today's 'economic blackout' protest. Here's what to know today. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with President Donald Trump today at the White House for the first time since the U.S. began direct negotiations with Russia to secure an agreement that would end the yearslong war in Ukraine. Trump has signaled that the two counties have made an agreement, which would be signed today, granting the U.S. significant ownership of Ukraine's rare earth minerals. The deal would be a form of repayment for the nearly $66 billion in military assistance the U.S. has provided Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022, creating an 'economic partnership' between the two has some of the world's largest reserves of titanium and iron ore, but many of the minerals are in areas now controlled by Russian troops. Russia has proposed a similar deal that would give the U.S. ownership of rare earth minerals in Russian-controlled Ukrainian territory, an idea that both Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have signaled interest in. In September, Zelenskyy presented Trump with a 'Victory Plan' to help end the war. The two leaders last met in December in Paris. But this month, U.S. officials initiated peace talks with Russian negotiators in Saudi Arabia, and a war of words between Trump and Zelenskyy ensued. This week, however, Trump struck a more conciliatory tone about today's meeting. Read the full story here. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said there is 'value' in Trump's pursuit of a Ukrainian mineral rights deal. A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to rescind a memo directing the mass firings of federal workers. The Trump administration can go ahead with plans to fire dozens of officers from the CIA and other intelligence agencies who had temporary jobs working on diversity programs, a federal judge ruled. A judge ordered at least one DOGE employee to testify and provide documents in a lawsuit against the Trump administration. Transgender service members will be removed from the military, the Pentagon said. As Robert F. Kennedy Jr. downplays the measles outbreak in Texas and DOGE's cuts to efforts to combat some viruses, the consequences could be 'politically perilous.' Extending Trump's 2017 tax cuts will cost an estimated $4.6 trillion over a decade. But Senate Republicans want to use a different calculation that would make the estimate $0. Here's how. New Mexico authorities are investigating the 'suspicious' deaths of actor Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 65, after they were found dead in their home, along with their dog. Preliminary findings from the medical examiners found no signs of external trauma, the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office said. The cause of death has yet to be determined. Sheriff Adan Mendoza said that there are no obvious signs of foul play but that investigators are not ruling anything out. A man who identified himself as the subdivision's caretaker called 911 on Wednesday to report finding their bodies, call audio showed. Arakawa's body was found on the floor of a bathroom. Hackman was found dead in a mudroom near a kitchen. Both bodies showed 'obvious signs of death,' and Arakawa's body showed signs of 'body decomposition,' according to a search warrant. Here's what else we know. Hackman's gruff but soulful turns in classics such as 'The French Connection,' 'The Conversation' and 'Unforgiven' made him one of the most respected performers in Hollywood. Read more about the Oscar-winning actor's life and legacy. Arakawa was Hackman's steadfast companion for decades. She was also an accomplished pianist and co-owned a business in Santa Fe, where they lived. Read more about her life. A call for people to refrain from buying anything for one day has gained steam in the past few weeks. And today's the day for action — or rather, inaction. The day of protest, first shared about a month ago by Chicago-area meditation and mindfulness educator John Schwarz, calls on shoppers to halt nonessential purchases online and in stores. If people must spend, they should buy from small and local businesses. 'For too long, corporations have treated the American people like an endless source of profit,' Schwarz said in a video posted this week, explaining the reason for the protest. The call for a 'blackout' comes as the prices of essentials continue to rise, the housing market remains frozen and credit card debt has reached a record high. Some political organizations have encouraged consumers to avoid companies that have rolled back their DEI programs. Here's what else to know about the no-buy day. Tonight is the best chance for skywatchers to see the 'planet parade,' in which all seven planets apart from Earth can be seen at once. A string of recent plane crashes and near-collisions have made travelers nervous, but an NBC News analysis of federal data shows that incidents and deaths on flights have not been rising compared to previous years. Hamas is willing to cede political power and governance of the Gaza Strip but would not disarm unless an independent Palestinian state is achieved, a senior political official from the group said. The anticipated release of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case devolved into anger and disappointment, with conservative figures alleging FBI agents were hiding files. San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will not return this season after suffering a stroke in November. 'Cruel.' 'Devastated.' 'Without reason.' Thousands of federal employees have been let go as part of a swift and decisive downsizing by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. But who are the people who have lost their jobs? They're not just a number. NBC News has received dozens of stories from workers and compiled them into a digestible and engaging piece to give insight into the expertise being lost across so many sectors. They're everyday people who work to support veterans, take care of our national parks and even combat the spread of bird flu. These stories will, unfortunately, continue. I hope to keep sharing them and the impact their losses will have on us at home and abroad. — art director Almost all of the NBC Select editorial team tested this point-and-shoot digital camera from Camp Snap. At just $65, it won't take breathtaking photos, but the vintage aesthetic, limited controls and ease of use stood out. Plus, the Select team spoke to experts about how to take care of more than 23 fabric types, including cashmere, denim, fleece, leather and more. newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week. Thanks for reading today's Morning Rundown. Today's newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Robinson. If you're a fan, please send a link to your family and friends. They can sign up here. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Zelenskyy to meet with Trump at the White House amid peace talk efforts and possible minerals deal
President Donald Trump will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday for their first meeting since the United States began direct negotiations with Russia to secure an agreement that would end the yearslong war in Ukraine. Zelenskyy's visit is expected to focus in large part on a potential U.S.-Ukraine deal on the European country's rare-earth minerals, which are used to make a variety of tech products. Trump previewed the visit during a gathering of his Cabinet members Wednesday, signaling the two countries had made progress on an agreement that would grant the U.S. a significant ownership stake in Ukraine's rare-earth minerals as a form of repayment for Washington's continued support of Kyiv since Russia invaded in February 2022. 'We're going to be signing an agreement, which will be a very big agreement,' Trump said. Zelenskyy last met with Trump in December, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, ahead of an event celebrating the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Months earlier, the two met in New York. The Ukrainian Embassy in Washington said that was where Zelenskyy first presented Trump a "Victory Plan" that included the exchange of the country's "natural resources and critical metals." U.S. officials initiated peace talks with Russian negotiators this month in Saudi Arabia, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio leading the U.S. delegation. It was the first time Russian and American officials had met in person during the Trump administration with the express intent of bringing an end to the war in Ukraine. Trump has long accused Zelenskyy of taking undue advantage of the U.S. and goading then-President Joe Biden into spending billions of U.S. dollars on a war that 'couldn't be won.' The minerals agreement, Trump argues, would serve as reimbursement for the nearly $66 billion in military assistance the U.S. has provided Ukraine over the past three years, and it could create an 'economic partnership' between the two countries. 'The minerals agreement will provide the basis for a more sustainable future relationship between the United States and Ukraine and thus stimulate the long-term prosperity that will help the Ukrainians rebuild their country,' Trump said Wednesday. Ukraine has some of the world's largest reserves of titanium and iron ore. Many of the minerals, however, are in areas controlled by Russian troops, according to U.S. officials. Russia has proposed a similar deal that would give the U.S. ownership of rare-earth minerals and valuable metals in Russian-controlled Ukrainian territory, an idea un which both Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have signaled interest. Zelenskyy this month rebuffed the initial U.S. offer on rare-earth minerals, saying it did not include strong enough security guarantees for Ukraine. The rejection, paired with Zelenskyy's insistence that Ukrainian officials be involved in U.S.-Russia talks to end the war, drew Trump's fury. After Zelenskyy accused Trump of living in a Russian 'disinformation bubble,' Trump maligned him as a 'dictator without elections,' arguing without evidence that Zelenskyy decided to postpone elections as Ukraine battles Russia because of low popularity numbers. Trump later told Fox News that Zelenskyy would hamstring his efforts to negotiate an end to the war. 'I don't think he's very important to be at meetings, to be honest with you. He's been there for three years. He makes it very hard to make deals,' Trump said. He struck a more conciliatory tone Thursday at a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. 'We're going to get along really well,' Trump said of Zelenskyy. 'I have a lot of respect for him. We've given him a lot of equipment and a lot of money, but they have fought very bravely, no matter how you figure.' Both Starmer and Macron, who was at the White House on Monday, reaffirmed their support for Zelenskyy during their meetings with Trump. Starmer praised Trump on Thursday for creating a 'tremendous opportunity to reach a historic peace deal' but cautioned him against negotiating an agreement that favors Russia. 'It can't be peace that rewards the aggressor,' Starmer said. 'We agree history must be on the side of the peacemaker, not the invader.' Macron said at a joint news conference with Trump that any peace agreement must include strong security guarantees for Ukraine. 'Peace must not mean a surrender of Ukraine. It must not mean a ceasefire without guarantees. This peace must allow for Ukrainian sovereignty and allow Ukraine to negotiate with other stakeholders regarding the issues it affects,' Macron said. This article was originally published on
NBC News
28-02-2025
- Business
- NBC News
Trump and Zelensky meet and an 'economic blackout' day of protest: Morning Rundown
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy are scheduled to meet today at the White House. The deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife have been ruled 'suspicious.' And what to know about today's 'economic blackout' protest. Here's what to know today. Trump and Zelenskyy to meet amid peace talk efforts and possible minerals deal Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with President Donald Trump today at the White House for the first time since the U.S. began direct negotiations with Russia to secure an agreement that would end the yearslong war in Ukraine. Trump has signaled that the two counties have made an agreement, which would be signed today, granting the U.S. significant ownership of Ukraine's rare earth minerals. The deal would be a form of repayment for the nearly $66 billion in military assistance the U.S. has provided Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022, creating an 'economic partnership' between the two nations. This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. Ukraine has some of the world's largest reserves of titanium and iron ore, but many of the minerals are in areas now controlled by Russian troops. Russia has proposed a similar deal that would give the U.S. ownership of rare earth minerals in Russian-controlled Ukrainian territory, an idea that both Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have signaled interest in. In September, Zelenskyy presented Trump with a 'Victory Plan' to help end the war. The two leaders last met in December in Paris. But this month, U.S. officials initiated peace talks with Russian negotiators in Saudi Arabia, and a war of words between Trump and Zelenskyy ensued. This week, however, Trump struck a more conciliatory tone about today's meeting. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said there is 'value' in Trump's pursuit of a Ukrainian mineral rights deal. A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to rescind a memo directing the mass firings of federal workers. The Trump administration can go ahead with plans to fire dozens of officers from the CIA and other intelligence agencies who had temporary jobs working on diversity programs, a federal judge ruled. A judge ordered at least one DOGE employee to testify and provide documents in a lawsuit against the Trump administration. Transgender service members will be removed from the military, the Pentagon said. As Robert F. Kennedy Jr. downplays the measles outbreak in Texas and DOGE's cuts to efforts to combat some viruses, the consequences could be 'politically perilous.' Extending Trump's 2017 tax cuts will cost an estimated $4.6 trillion over a decade. But Senate Republicans want to use a different calculation that would make the estimate $0. Here's how. Deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife are ruled 'suspicious' New Mexico authorities are investigating the 'suspicious' deaths of actor Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 65, after they were found dead in their home, along with their dog. Preliminary findings from the medical examiners found no signs of external trauma, the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office said. The cause of death has yet to be determined. Sheriff Adan Mendoza said that there are no obvious signs of foul play but that investigators are not ruling anything out. A man who identified himself as the subdivision's caretaker called 911 on Wednesday to report finding their bodies, call audio showed. Arakawa's body was found on the floor of a bathroom. Hackman was found dead in a mudroom near a kitchen. Both bodies showed 'obvious signs of death,' and Arakawa's body showed signs of 'body decomposition,' according to a search warrant. Here's what else we know. Hackman's gruff but soulful turns in classics such as 'The French Connection,' 'The Conversation' and 'Unforgiven' made him one of the most respected performers in Hollywood. Read more about the Oscar-winning actor's life and legacy. Arakawa was Hackman's steadfast companion for decades. She was also an accomplished pianist and co-owned a business in Santa Fe, where they lived. Read more about her life. The push for one-day 'economic blackout' A call for people to refrain from buying anything for one day has gained steam in the past few weeks. And today's the day for action — or rather, inaction. The day of protest, first shared about a month ago by Chicago-area meditation and mindfulness educator John Schwarz, calls on shoppers to halt nonessential purchases online and in stores. If people must spend, they should buy from small and local businesses. 'For too long, corporations have treated the American people like an endless source of profit,' Schwarz said in a video posted this week, explaining the reason for the protest. The call for a 'blackout' comes as the prices of essentials continue to rise, the housing market remains frozen and credit card debt has reached a record high. Some political organizations have encouraged consumers to avoid companies that have rolled back their DEI programs. Here's what else to know about the no-buy day. Read All About It Tonight is the best chance for skywatchers to see the 'planet parade,' in which all seven planets apart from Earth can be seen at once. A string of recent plane crashes and near-collisions have made travelers nervous, but an NBC News analysis of federal data shows that incidents and deaths on flights have not been rising compared to previous years. Hamas is willing to cede political power and governance of the Gaza Strip but would not disarm unless an independent Palestinian state is achieved, a senior political official from the group said. The anticipated release of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case devolved into anger and disappointment, with conservative figures alleging FBI agents were hiding files. San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will not return this season after suffering a stroke in November. 'Cruel.' 'Devastated.' 'Without reason.' Thousands of federal employees have been let go as part of a swift and decisive downsizing by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. But who are the people who have lost their jobs? They're not just a number. NBC News has received dozens of stories from workers and compiled them into a digestible and engaging piece to give insight into the expertise being lost across so many sectors. They're everyday people who work to support veterans, take care of our national parks and even combat the spread of bird flu. These stories will, unfortunately, continue. I hope to keep sharing them and the impact their losses will have on us at home and abroad. — Chelsea Stahl, art director NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified Almost all of the NBC Select editorial team tested this point-and-shoot digital camera from Camp Snap. At just $65, it won't take breathtaking photos, but the vintage aesthetic, limited controls and ease of use stood out. Plus, the Select team spoke to experts about how to take care of more than 23 fabric types, including cashmere, denim, fleece, leather and more. here.
