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New York Post
an hour ago
- Business
- New York Post
Sean Duffy recounts spat with Elon Musk over cutting air traffic controllers: 'The Senate confirmed me'
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy opened up on the latest episode of 'Pod Force One' about his dispute with tech mogul Elon Musk over the billionaire's push to slash headcount in his department. Duffy told The Post's Miranda Devine in the new episode, out Wednesday, that he drew a red line at the prospect of firing so-called 'safety-critical positions,' including air traffic controllers. Every week, Post columnist Miranda Devine sits down for exclusive and candid conversations with the most influential disruptors in Washington. Subscribe here! 'I get along well enough with Elon,' Duffy began. 'He has a number of equities that come through DOT,' referring to Musk's SpaceX and Tesla companies. However, Duffy emphasized that 'Elon — or no one else — is the Secretary. I am. The Senate confirmed me.' 4 Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told 'Pod Force One' that he took issue with Elon Musk's push to cut the headcount at his department. Ron Sachs – CNP for NY Post 'I think it might not have been intentional, might have been ham-handed [like] some of the requests that were made by [the Department of Government Efficiency], but my position was, we are not going to fire air traffic controllers.' 'Safety critical positions are not going to be fired within the Department of Transportation. We can do things more efficiently … but we are not going to fire air controllers. And so we had a little back and forth, [but] we got along very well after that. I think the papers made it a bigger deal than it was.' Duffy told Devine the dispute with Musk took place before the Jan. 29 midair collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and a regional jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport which killed 67 people. 'Elon is an amazing innovator. He's creative. And again, there's a lot to learn from him, but I run this department, and again, I didn't want someone on the outside trying to tell me to fire people,' the secretary explained. 'Had I done that, had I actually fired controllers, oh, my—think what the liberal media would do to me. I would be slaughtered. We didn't, thank God, but [this] is why, throughout government, you have to make sure that the secretaries are the ones who are driving the policy.' 4 Elon Musk had clashed with multiple cabinet officials during his quest to shrink government bloat. AP 4 Duffy told The Post's Miranda Devine that he drew a red line over Musk cutting 'safety critical positions' like air traffic controllers. Ron Sachs – CNP for NY Post 4 Duffy praised Musk as an 'amazing innovator' — but stressed that he alone makes decisions about his department. Ron Sachs – CNP for NY Post Up until the end of May, Musk was the driving force behind the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a cost-cutting initiative across the federal bureaucracy. During that time, Musk clashed with numerous cabinet officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, with former Trump White House strategist Steve Bannon claiming last month that Musk shoulder-checked Bessent 'like a rugby player.' Full Episode In early June, Musk and Trump had an epic falling-out over the One Big Beautiful Bill Act with the South Africa-born billionaire warning the legislation was 'utterly insane and destructive.' The space and electric car guru had been incensed that the megabill was projected to dramatically increase the national deficit, venting that it 'undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing.' 'I don't know if Elon was concerned about being able to access critical minerals from China, and if he was angry at the president for going after China and putting tariffs on China that can affect the critical minerals that he makes batteries with. I don't know if it was EV subsidies,' Duffy mused. 'I don't know what happened internally, but I would tell you this, the president couldn't be more generous and couldn't have been nicer to him.'
New York Post
an hour ago
- Politics
- New York Post
DOT chief Sean Duffy charges predecessor Pete Buttgieig lowered standards for air traffic controllers in bombshell claim during ‘Pod Force One' appearance
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy charged on the latest episode of 'Pod Force One' that his predecessor, Pete Buttigieg, lowered the requirements to be considered a 'well-qualified' air traffic control candidate, leading to spiking dropout rates at the Federal Aviation Administration Academy in Oklahoma City. Officially, candidates who score above 85% on the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) exam are considered 'well-qualified' — or 'best-qualified' with a score of 90% or higher — and prime choices to be FAA-certified controllers. However, under Buttigieg, Duffy told The Post's Miranda Devine, 'they lowered the standard from 85% to 80% to be best qualified … to get these young people into the academy. Advertisement 4 Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told 'Pod Force One' that his predecessor Pete Buttigieg lowered the requirements for air traffic controllers. Ron Sachs – CNP for NY Post Every week, Post columnist Miranda Devine sits down for exclusive and candid conversations with the most influential disruptors in Washington. Subscribe here! 'Well, what happened was, they had a substantial washout rate, 30%-plus,' Duffy went on, 'because they couldn't do the work.' Advertisement 'And then it took so long, if they go — if, Miranda, you take the test, you pass it, you got an 82%, it might take you two years to get your seat in the academy,' the secretary continued. 'Well, if you're 22 years old, you're gonna go find a different job. You're not gonna stick around.' A spokesperson for Buttigieg told The Post on Tuesday when asked for comment on Duffy's claims: 'If he had any proof to back up what he said, it seems like they'd provide it.' 4 Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy knocked his predecessor over air traffic controller training standards. Ron Sachs – CNP for NY Post Buttigieg himself has also vehemently denied lowering the standards to become a certified air traffic controller. Advertisement 'To be abundantly clear: we did not change the rigorous standard for becoming a certified air traffic controller,' Buttigieg wrote on X on Feb. 2. 'Those claiming otherwise are mistaken or lying. We did increase funding & training, and grew the ATC workforce after years of declining numbers, including under Trump.' Reps for the FAA and Department of Transportation did not immediately respond to requests for comment. 4 Buttigieg has denied lowering the 'rigorous' standards for becoming an air traffic controller. Denver Post via Getty Images Advertisement Duffy acknowledged to Devine that while the ATSA exam is 'the best indicator' known for determining who may be up for the job of directing the nation's air traffic, 'they haven't really figured out the best test to do this.' 'It's a tough job,' the DOT chief said. 'And by the way, it's really hard to figure out who's going to be good at it. You could get a baker and a candlestick maker that are great at it, and someone else with a math degree that just doesn't figure it out.' Earlier this year, Duffy moved to aggressively ramp up recruitment of air traffic controllers to address workforce shortages that have dogged the agency for nearly three decades. 4 Sean Duffy is hoping to significantly expand the workforce of air traffic controllers, who tend to have a high burnout rate. Ron Sachs – CNP for NY Post The issue made national headlines after 67 people were killed Jan. 29 in a midair collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and a regional jet over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Full episode Advertisement 'We're getting kids, young people, into the academy much faster,' Duffy said. 'So in two months after you take the entrance exam, we're getting you into the academy. And what we're doing is, if you're at 98% on that test [or] 94 [%], you are going to take the top slots as slots become available. So we're getting the best scores in the academy first. And what we've done with that is we've lowered the washout rate, which means we can get more young people into towers.' The secretary added that academy graduates could be fully certified in as little as one year 'if they're in a not-so-busy airspace,' and stressed that 'it's going to take us time to see the fruits of our hard labor right now, but we're well on our way to filling the gaps in air traffic control.' The FAA has said that its goal is to hire 8,900 new air traffic controllers by the end of 2028.
New York Post
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Prince Andrew's foul-mouthed rant at builders revealed after confronting them during horse ride
Prince Andrew allegedly spewed out a foul-mouthed rant at builders after speed bumps were installed outside his home. The disgraced Duke of York, whose expletive-filled tantrums have been widely documented, furiously marched toward a group of builders to confront them outside of Royal Lodge, The Sun reports. 'What the f–k are you doing now?' Andrew allegedly ranted at the men, who put the traffic-slowing bumps across the sprawling Windsor Great Park estate. Advertisement 6 Prince Andrew allegedly spewed out a foul-mouthed rant at builders after speed bumps were installed outside his home. News Licensing / MEGA Andrew's rage appeared to spiral when he found out that one of the speed bumps had been installed on his route out of his 31-room mansion, for which he had recently won his yearslong fight to stay. 'The worker was just going about his job when Andrew, on one of his regular rides round the estate, came along and looked down from up high and said, 'What the f–k are you doing now?' Advertisement 'Andrew likes to drive his car out of Royal Lodge quite fast and is obviously a bit peeved as one of the speed humps is right by the gate out of the park.' The Post has reached out to Andrew's reps for comment. Andrew's brother, King Charles, is the Ranger of Windsor Great Park. The 4,800-acre estate runs from Windsor Castle to Virginia Water. 6 Andrew allegedly marched toward a group of builders to confront them outside of Royal Lodge. W8 Media / Advertisement 6 The disgraced Duke of York's expletive-filled tantrums have been widely documented. Mirrorpix / MEGA 6 Speed bumps were installed to improve safety across the estate. W8 Media / Andrew's temper tantrums were documented in 2022, when the former working royal allegedly shouted at a female gardener working on the estate for cutting the trees in the wrong way. The staffer was left 'shaken and upset' over the ordeal, and no longer tends the duke's garden. Advertisement Follow The Post's royal family live blog for the latest pics, news, exclusive details and more It's not the first time the duke's alleged rude behavior has been brought to light. In his new book, 'Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York,' author Andrew Lownie alleges that the scandal-scarred royal called a palace staffer working in the royal household a 'f–king imbecile' for not referring to the late Queen Mother by her full title. 6 The duke recently won a yearslong fight to remain at the Royal Lodge after several eviction attempts from King Charles. W8Media / MEGA 6 The former working royal has been living at Royal Lodge since 2004. News Licensing / MEGA Lownie added that Andrew can be 'unbelievably cruel' to staffers behind closed doors, and claimed that the duke's catchphrase for royal staff was, 'I want this done and I want this done now. Do it!' In a further blow to Andrew, Lownie recently suggested that the duke has no future within the royal fold and is 'annoyed' over the lack of his royal status.
The Star
6 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Cambodians in Japan call for peace back home: Envoy
PHNOM PENH: The Cambodian ambassador to Japan has shared how Cambodians living in Japan rallied in a show of unity to support frontline soldiers and displaced civilians on Aug 3. They also called for Thailand to respect the July 28 ceasefire. Dozens of Cambodians from across Japan marched to the Thai embassy in Tokyo, calling for an end to the border dispute. The spontaneous protest, which was not organised by the Cambodian embassy in Japan, drew participants from all walks of life. 'We did not expect the participation of so many Cambodians who were not announced by the embassy,' Cambodian ambassador to Japan Tuy Ry was visiting the Wat Phnom Thma Kambor refugee camp in Oddar Meanchey province's Banteay Ampil district on Aug 11. He shared his surprise at the number of Cambodians who took part in the march. 'They came from all sides out of their own hearts, wanting to show that Cambodians love Cambodians, Cambodians have one heart, Cambodians of all political trends, all classes, do not take sides. Now is the opportunity for Cambodians to unite as one,' he said. On Aug 11, ambassador Ry and Meas Kim Heng, secretary of state at the foreign ministry, led a delegation on a field visit to displacement camps in Banteay Ampil district, Oddar Meanchey province, and Srey Snam district, Siem Reap province. Hong Raksmey 'The protesters condemned Thailand for initiating attacks on Cambodian troops and accused the Thai military of deploying F-16 jets to drop bombs, releasing chemical fumes and using internationally banned cluster munitions,' he told The Post. They also called for the immediate release of 18 detained Cambodian soldiers. 'I believe that there was surprise and interest from the international community,' Ry noted. 'Cambodian people abroad have the same spirit, showing one Cambodian heart,' he added. The ambassador voiced strong support for the Cambodian government's stance on demanding Thailand's full adherence to the ceasefire and backed the use of Asean monitoring mechanisms to ensure compliance. He also urged national and international NGOs visiting the refugee camps in Banteay Ampil to bear witness to the 'difficult situation of peace-loving Cambodians' displaced by the conflict. 'Living in the refugee camp is not as comfortable as at home,' he noted. 'When they heard about the ceasefire agreement, they wanted to go home,' he said. The ambassador paired a diplomatic push with material aid. On Aug 13, embassy representatives visited troops in the Preah Vihear military operation area, delivering 100 ICOM radios, 20 power banks, 100 kilogrammes of garlic, 100 large water bottles, 100 cartons of purified water and a tonne of rice. The same day, they met with 700 refugee families at Wat Oudorkiri Toul Andet camp in Kulen district, distributing aid worth 100,000 riel ($25) per family. On Aug 14, the delegation plans to visit 101 wounded soldiers at 16 Makara Hospital in Preah Vihear. Cambodians in Japan raised more than $22,426 for the effort, while ESEA-Japan and local Cambodians contributed over $12,000, bringing the total to $34,180. According to Ry, the aid package for Preah Vihear troops totalled over 34 million riel ($8,680), support for displaced families reached 70 million riels ($17,500) and assistance for injured soldiers amounted to 32 million riels ($8,000). He also voiced his support for Prime Minister Hun Manet's nomination of US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his role in defusing tensions along the Cambodia–Thailand border. 'I would like to emphasise that the generous contributions of Cambodian philanthropists in Japan, together with the officials and staff of the Cambodian embassy in Japan and the ESEA team of the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, reflect the virtues and unity of Cambodians — our one heart, our love for the nation, and our deep respect and gratitude for the brave heroes who have worked tirelessly to defend Cambodia's sovereignty and territorial integrity from Thailand's aggression,' he said. 'All the philanthropists also expressed their condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers, who bravely and selflessly sacrificed their lives in service to the nation and in defence of Cambodian territory,' he added. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
New York Post
10 hours ago
- Health
- New York Post
Texas woman claims US Marine got her pregnant, then spiked her drink with abortion pills after she refused to ‘get rid of it': lawsuit
A Texas woman claims a US Marine got her pregnant and then secretly spiked her hot chocolate with abortion pills — ending her pregnancy without her consent after she refused his repeated demands to 'get rid of it,' according to a federal lawsuit. Liana Davis filed the wrongful death suit Monday, accusing Christopher Cooprider, 34, of dissolving at least 10 misoprostol pills into a drink he gave her at her Corpus Christi home on April 5 while she was eight weeks pregnant with his child, according to the lawsuit obtained by The Post. Liana Davis accused Christopher Cooprider of dissolving at least 10 misoprostol pills into a drink he made for her at her Corpus Christi home on April 5 while she was eight weeks pregnant with his child. Getty Images Advertisement Within 30 minutes of drinking the hot chocolate, Davis began 'hemorrhaging and cramping,' while Cooprider allegedly fled the scene and stopped responding to texts, the suit — filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas — claimed. 'I am gushing blood. Please hurry,' Davis texted him around 12:30 a.m. Instead, Davis's disabled mother had to take an Uber to watch her three sleeping children while a neighbor rushed the bleeding woman to the hospital. Her unborn baby, whom she had already named Joy, did not survive, documents said. Advertisement The lawsuit also alleges Cooprider ordered the abortion pills without Davis' knowledge or consent from Aid Access, an international online pill provider founded by Dutch physician Dr. Rebecca Gomperts. Both Aid Access and Gomperts were also named as defendants in the lawsuit. The alleged drink spiking followed a months-long campaign by Cooprider, a Marine pilot in training who was temporarily stationed in Corpus Christi, to pressure Davis into an abortion after she told him she might be pregnant in late January, according to the suit. 'We're not in love,' he texted her after the pregnancy was confirmed. 'It would be messed up to bring a child into the world without both parents raising them,' he said, the suit claimed. Cooprider continued to tell David to 'get rid of it' after her pregnancy test came back positive — causing her stress. Advertisement 'Every time you say 'get rid of it,' it's like an electric shock,' she wrote, according to the lawsuit. 'I literally feel like I'm going down the steepest hill on a roller coaster when I read that.' The lawsuit also alleges Cooprider ordered the abortion pills without Davis' knowledge or consent from Aid Access, an international online pill provider founded by Dutch physician Dr. Rebecca Gomperts. AP Cooprider even brought abortion pills to Davis' house several times to ask her to 'kill' her unborn baby, the suit said. He would leave the pills behind, hoping Davis would change her mind, she alleged. Despite several heated text exchanges, Cooprider failed to convince Davis to have the abortion. The Marine even threatened to testify against her in a custody battle for her three children with an ex-husband, Davis claimed. Advertisement By April, Cooprider appeared to change his tune, proposing that they have a 'trust-building' night where they'd drink warm tea and reconnect. Instead, three days later, he allegedly served her the poisoned hot cocoa. When Davis returned home from the hospital, she found the open box of abortion pills, which she handed over to Corpus Christi police. Despite the allegations, Corpus Christi police said there is no active investigation into Cooprider, NBC reported. The lawsuit seeks Cooprider, Aid Access, and Gomperts to pay undisclosed damages for the wrongful death of Davis's unborn child.
