Donald Trump has announced that former Secret Service agent turned far-right podcaster Dan Bongino will serve as deputy director of the FBI under the bureau’s new director Kash Patel.
Bongino, 50, an ex-New York City police officer, has been a familiar presence in right-wing media in recent years, hosting his own Fox News show between 2021 and 2023.
The Trump administration meanwhile plans to fire 2,000 employees from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and place all but a select few on administrative leave as of midnight on Monday, after a judge cleared the way for Trump and right-hand man Elon Musk to do so.
USAID, the agency that provides humanitarian assistance globally, notified employees on Sunday that all direct-hire personnel – with the exception of employees responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs – would be placed on leave.
Musk caused a further stir over the weekend by sending out an ultimatum email to federal workers, asking them to justify their roles or risk losing them, prompting a confused reaction from those in charge of the departments concerned.
French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Trump at the White House on Monday.
Key Points
- Donald Trump announces far-right podcaster Dan Bongino as FBI deputy director
- Trump administration will fire 2,000 USAID workers
- French President Emmanuel Macron visiting White House today
- Elon Musk email demanding workers justify their jobs sparks widespread confusion
- Trump administration officials insist Ukraine ‘provoked’ Russia
Musk threatens federal staff who refuse to return to the office
13:15
,
Joe Sommerlad
Here’s Elon’s latest DOGE pronouncement, resuming his attack on employees who work from home:
Those who ignored President Trump’s executive order to return to work have now received over a month’s warning.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 24, 2025
Starting this week, those who still fail to return to office will be placed on administrative leave. https://t.co/7XRj6W21eX
While we're back on Musk, here’s James Liddell with more on his subsequent moves to downplay his weekend email.
John Oliver compares DOGE department to viral Willy Wonka experience
12:55
,
Joe Sommerlad
The Last Week Tonight host began his show yesterday by concentrating on Musk and DOGE and comparing the department’s “stark disconnect between marketing and reality” to the notorious Glasgow Willy Wonka experience, which went viral around the world last year after its shoddiness left Scottish children bitterly disappointed and their parents angry.
Lara Trump debuts Fox Show with Karoline Leavitt, Tulsi Gabbard and Pam Bondi
12:35
,
Joe Sommerlad
The president’s ever-busy daughter-in-law made her debut on Fox this weekend and called in a few favors from the administration for her opening episode, interviewing Trump’s press secretary, director of national intelligence and attorney general.
Leavitt: I look forward to it and relish the opportunity to bring the truth and facts to the podium… The President speaks the truth.. pic.twitter.com/Tny2GYppyk
— Acyn (@Acyn) February 23, 2025
Lara Trump: What you feel is the greatest threat to the American people safety?
— Acyn (@Acyn) February 23, 2025
Gabbard: …specifically the threat of radical Islamist terrorism here within our country is higher than it's ever been before not only because of Biden's open borders but because of his and his… pic.twitter.com/91psTHz00a
Bondi: What Elon Musk has done is remarkable… The waste, fraud, the abuse from within the justice department doling out billions of dollars is going to stop pic.twitter.com/BJWmQkOCkH
— Acyn (@Acyn) February 23, 2025
Trump claims Apple’s $500bn investment represents ‘faith in what we are doing’
12:34
,
Joe Sommerlad
He’s not sounding any less mad writing in all caps like this – and “without witch”?
Which witch?
APPLE HAS JUST ANNOUNCED A RECORD 500 BILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THE REASON, FAITH IN WHAT WE ARE DOING, WITHOUT WITCH, THEY WOULD'NT BE INVESTING TEN CENTS. THANK YOU TIM COOK AND APPLE!!!
— Trump Posts on (@trump_repost) February 24, 2025
Thousands of migrants return home after Trump’s crackdown on asylum
12:15
,
Joe Sommerlad
Migrants who once risked their lives traversing the jungles of the Darien Gap in search of asylum in the U.S. are now returning to their home countries.
After Trump’s crackdown on asylum policies, many migrants, primarily from Venezuela and Colombia, have abandoned their attempts to reach North America.
According to authorities, this has resulted in a “reverse flow” of migrants.
Speedboats are now transporting them from Panama back to Colombia, navigating the dense jungle rivers near the border.
Senator calls Musk a ‘d***’ for federal worker email scheme
11:55
,
Joe Sommerlad
I think it’s fair to say Minnesota Democrat Tina Smith was not impressed by the billionaire’s email antics over the weekend.
Who is Dan Bongino?
11:35
,
Joe Sommerlad
Here’s Madeline Sherratt with a profile of the man Trump has just announced as his new deputy FBI director.
Analysis: At CPAC, Trump blocks out everyone else with no clear MAGA successor
11:15
,
Joe Sommerlad
The president is triumphant and conservatives have every reason to celebrate now, writes Eric Garcia after attending the four-day right-wing jamboree.
Trump brags of ‘liberating’ America in meandering CPAC speech
10:55
,
Joe Sommerlad
The president described the chaotic first month of his new administration as nothing short of liberating the United States from the tyranny of a Democratic-led government that had pushed too far to empower minorities and encourage immigration as he spoke to an adoring crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday.
Speaking at the end of the fourth and final day of the annual event in Maryland, Trump bragged about the narrow election victory in last year’s election, which he called “too big to rig” and said his win over Vice President Kamala Harris had “achieved the great liberation of America.”
“We're liberating our country right now. We're doing all these things that you're reading about. We're liberating our country,” he said.
Here’s a full report from Andrew Feinberg.
Pete Hegseth defends Trump’s Pentagon firing spree
10:35
,
Joe Sommerlad
The defense secretary appeared on Fox News Sunday with Shannon Bream yesterday to blame Democrats for “mischaracterizing” the firing spree carried out by the president at the Pentagon and said that the military’s top brass was not at risk of political reprisals.
Trump moved on Friday evening to fire CQ Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as the chief of the Navy and vice chief of the Air Force.
Hegseth claims CQ Brown was "not the right man for the moment." pic.twitter.com/uobyo66Fzb
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 23, 2025
Hegseth says firing of top military lawyers was about making sure "they don't exist to be roadblocks to anything that happens." pic.twitter.com/JuxhmHARrM
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 23, 2025
Emmanuel Macron visiting White House on Monday
10:15
,
Joe Sommerlad
The French president will visit Trump in Washington today, with Ukraine very much top of the agenda, as it will be on Thursday when Sir Keir Starmer follows suit.
Macron has previously bonded with Trump, even joining him to plant a tree in the White House garden (although it subsequently died), and will hope to be able to steer the American away from his current pro-Russia leanings by stressing the imperative of Ukraine remaining an independent democratic nation free from Kremlin tyranny, an outcome with significance far beyond Eastern Europe.
Trump administration officials insist Ukraine ‘provoked’ Russia
09:55
On the Sunday shows, special envoy Steve Witkoff and national security adviser Mike Waltz ducked and dived on the question of Vladimir Putin being solely responsible for his country’s decision to invade Ukraine precisely three years ago today, clearly fearful of contradicting the man behind the Resolute Desk despite his being objectively wrong in suggesting otherwise.
Witkoff: "The war didn't need to happen. It was provoked. It doesn't necessarily mean it was provoked by the Russians. There were all kinds of conversations back then about Ukraine joining NATO. That didn't need to happen. It basically became a threat to the Russians." pic.twitter.com/ZimoQk7wbV
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 23, 2025
BARTIROMO: Can you acknowledge that Russia is the aggressor here?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 23, 2025
WALTZ: Well, you know what? Who would you rather have going toe to toe with the likes of Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Xi or anyone else -- Joe Biden or Donald Trump? He's the deal maker in chief. pic.twitter.com/YYKyLudDvO
Truth Social: Trump hails German election result, attacks author Michael Wolff and gloats over MSNBC sacking of Joy Reid
09:35
,
Joe Sommerlad
Also on the president’s social media platform overnight, he’s been offering his analysis of Germany’s election, saying the public had grown tired of Olof Scholz’s “no common sense agenda” and swung right, denounced Fire and Fury writer Michael Wolff and cheered the departure “of one of the least talented people in television, the mentally obnoxious racist” Joy Reid from MSNBC.
Wow, harsh.
LOOKS LIKE THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY IN GERMANY HAS WON THE VERY BIG AND HIGHLY ANTICIPATED ELECTION. MUCH LIKE THE USA, THE PEOPLE OF GERMANY GOT TIRED OF THE NO COMMON SENSE AGENDA, ESPECIALLY ON ENERGY AND IMMIGRATION, THAT HAS PREVAILED FOR SO MANY YEARS. THIS IS A GREAT DAY…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) February 23, 2025
So-called “Author” Michael Wolff’s new book is a total FAKE JOB, just like the other JUNK he wrote. He called me many times trying to set up a meeting, but I never called him back because I didn’t want to give him the credibility of an interview. Others in the Administration were…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) February 23, 2025
Lowlife Chairman of “Concast,” Brian Roberts, the owner of Ratings Challenged NBC and MSDNC, has finally gotten the nerve up to fire one of the least talented people in television, the mentally obnoxious racist, Joy Reid. Based on her ratings, which were virtually non-existent,…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) February 24, 2025
He also appears to have been watching Bill O’Reilly in the early hours of the morning, which can’t be good for anyone’s mental wellbeing.
"Donald Trump has done more in his first month than any other President in history. Who do you think was second? George Washington! It is quite amazing what Donald Trump has done." Bill O'Reilly, No Spin News
— Trump Posts on (@trump_repost) February 24, 2025
Despite proclaiming that the news from Germany marks “a great day” for its people “and for the United States of America under the leadership of a gentleman named Donald J Trump”, he may not like the following comments from incoming German chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Musk email demanding workers justify their jobs sparks widespread confusion
09:15
,
Joe Sommerlad
The world’s richest man caused a further stir over the weekend by sending out an ultimatum email to federal workers, asking them to justify their roles by explaining their accomplishments of the last week in five bullet points or risk being fired, a message that prompted a confused reaction from those in charge of the departments concerned.
Senior intelligence officials Kash Patel and Tulsi Gabbard, for instance, told their staff not to respond.
Later, Musk revealed in an X post that the purpose of the exercise was “basically a check to see if the employee had a pulse and was capable of replying to an email”.
No LLM needed here. This was basically a check to see if the employee had a pulse and was capable of replying to an email.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 24, 2025
This mess will get sorted out this week.
Lot of people in for a rude awakening and strong dose of reality. They don’t get it yet, but they will.
Trump meanwhile posted Elon’s own tongue-in-cheek account of his own week in five bullet points, the latest example of the desperate-to-be-liked tech tycoon’s unique brand of humor.
From Elon…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) February 24, 2025
Donald Trump Truth Social Post 05:08 PM EST 02/23/25 pic.twitter.com/WN7Y1zYeb4
Here’s the latest on a situation that even Musk himself appeared to admit was a “mess” from Oliver O’Connell.
Trump administration will fire 2,000 USAID workers
08:55
,
Joe Sommerlad
The Trump administration plans to fire 2,000 employees from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and place all but a select few on administrative leave as of midnight on Monday, after a judge cleared the way for Trump and right-hand man Elon Musk to do so.
USAID, the agency that provides humanitarian assistance globally, notified employees on Sunday that all direct-hire personnel – with the exception of employees responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs – would be placed on leave.
Here’s a little more as Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) continues its purge unchecked.
Trump announces far-right podcaster Dan Bongino as FBI deputy director
08:35
,
Joe Sommerlad
Donald Trump has announced that former Secret Service agent turned far-right podcaster Dan Bongino will serve as deputy director of the FBI under the bureau’s new director Kash Patel.
Bongino, 50, an ex-New York City police officer, has been a familiar presence in right-wing media in recent years, hosting his own Fox News show between 2021 and 2023.
Here’s how the president broke the news on Truth Social:
Great news for Law Enforcement and American Justice! Dan Bongino, a man of incredible love and passion for our Country, has just been named the next DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE FBI, by the man who will be the best ever Director, Kash Patel. Dan has a Masters Degree in Psychology from…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) February 24, 2025
“Great news for Law Enforcement and American Justice!” Trump proclaims, running through Bongino’s resume and praising him for bravely walking away from his lucrative podcast to serve his country.
“Fairness, Justice, Law and Order will be brought back to America, and quickly.”
Border Patrol will occupy USAID headquarters
07:00
,
Ariana Baio
The building in Washington D.C. once occupied by the U.S. Agency for International Development will now be occupied by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
"CBP has signed a license agreement to occupy approximately 390,000 usable square feet in the USAID tower," a CBP spokesperson told Fox News.
The news arrives just as the Trump administration is set to axe 2,000 jobs within USAID and place all but a few select employees on administrative leave as it seeks to get rid of the agency.
Department of Defense directs employees to ignore Musk email on productivity
05:00
,
Ariana Baio
The Department of Defense ordered employees not to respond to Elon Musk’s email requesting productivity information, saying only the department was responsible for viewing conduct.
Darin Selnick, under secretary for personnel and readiness, said in a statement that, “The Department of Defense is responsible for reviewing the performance of its personnel and it will conduct any review in accordance with its own procedures.”
He asked employees to “pause” any response to the email titled “What did you do last week”.
“When and if required, the Department will coordinate responses to the email you have received from OPM.”
Defense Department Statement on OPM Mail Guidance. pic.twitter.com/fq8V7ltI2A
— Department of Defense (@DeptofDefense) February 23, 2025
Largest federal employee union demands apology from Musk on productivity email
01:00
,
Ariana Baio
The American Federation of Government Employees, the union that represents more than 800,000 federal workers, demanded the Office of Personnel Management rescind a productivity email and apologize.
In a letter to Elon Musk and the acting director of OPM, the AFGE said OPM does not have legal authority to demand employees reveal what they have been working on and conflicts with laws that prevent certain employees from disclosing information to third parties.
“Federal employees report to their respective agencies through their established chains of command; they do not report to OPM,” AFGE wrote in the letter.
The union said the email, which was sent to hundreds of thousands of employees, left many feeling “undervalued and intimidated” and distracted employees performing critical duties.
AFGE asked OPM to rescind the email and issue an apology to federal workers.
What to know about DOGE's teased stimulus check
Sunday 23 February 2025 23:00
,
Christopher Rugaber , Paul Wiseman
The idea to take some savings from billionaire Elon Musk’s drive to cut government spending and return it to taxpayers has received President Donald Trump’s enthusiastic endorsement.
So, will it happen?
If Musk’s target of $2 trillion in spending cuts is achieved by next year, supporters of the idea say that about one-fifth of those funds could be distributed to taxpaying households in checks of about $5,000.
Trump congratulates German conservative party on it's potential election win
Sunday 23 February 2025 21:00
,
Ariana Baio
In an all-caps Truth Social message, Trump congratulated the conservative party in Germany for their predicted victory, claiming it was a “great day for Germany and for the United States” under his leadership.
Trump claimed the people of Germany “got tired of the no common sense agenda, especially on energy and immigration”
“THIS IS A GREAT DAY FOR GERMANY, AND FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF A GENTLEMAN NAMED DONALD J. TRUMP.”
Trump did not name the party, the Christian Democratic Union of Germany, in his post.
While CDU is a conservative party in Germany, Elon Musk and endorsed the far-right Alternative for Germany party before the election. Vice President JD Vance also met with an AfD co-leader.
AfD made huge gains in the election, an indication of strong support for a far-right party since World War II.
Kamala Harris takes swipe at Trump and Musk in first speech since leaving office
Sunday 23 February 2025 20:30
,
Katie Hawkinson
Former Vice President Kamala Harris used her first public speech since leaving the White House to slam President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, leader of the Department of Government Efficiency.
“This chapter will be written, not simply by whoever occupies the Oval Office, nor by the wealthiest among us,” Harris said. “The American story will be written by you, written by us, by We the People.”
Harris was honored Saturday evening with the Chairman’s Award at the 56th NAACP Image Awards. The award honors those who “excel in public service and leverage their unique platforms to ignite and drive meaningful change.”
Watch: Zelensky says he is not offended by Trump calling him a dictator
Sunday 23 February 2025 20:29
,
Ariana Baio
Tulsi Gabbard tells intelligence officers not to respond to Musk's email
Sunday 23 February 2025 20:19
,
Ariana Baio
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard became the latest Trump administration official to order employees not to follow Elon Musk’s orders to email their work accomplishments in the past week.
Joining FBI Director Kash Patel and leaders in the State Department, Gabbard asked intelligence community officers to not answer the email, citing sensitivity concerns around the work.
“Given the inherently sensitive and classified nature of our work, IC employees should not respond to the OPM email,” Gabbard wrote in an email obtained by the New York Times.
Anti-Trump summit in DC evacuates after receiving ‘credible bomb threat’
Sunday 23 February 2025 20:00
,
John Bowden
A gathering of anti-Trump conservatives in Washington DC was evacuated on Sunday after receiving what officials with the organization called a “credible bomb threat” they said was sent in by an account claiming to represent Enrique Tarrio, former leader of the Proud Boys.
Video of attendees being evacuated was posted to Twitter along with a statement from summit organizers. An initial version of the statement identified Tarrio — who’d been at the summit on Saturday “harassing” families of officers who defended the Capitol on January 6, per organizers — as having sent in the threat.
Read more here
Chris Christie says government is being managed like a 'clown car'
Sunday 23 February 2025 19:30
,
Ariana Baio
Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie compared the government’s current management to that of a “clown car” and accused Elon Musk of overreaching his authority.
Christie, a former Trump ally who has broken away from the president in recent years, said Musk is likely overstepping his legal authority in asking government employees to explain their work or resign.
Speaking with ABC’s This Week on Sunday, Christie called Musk’s effort a “complete overstep.”
Christie said every job “varies from week to week” so it would be unfair to judge a person’s work from one week.
He also criticized Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency team, claiming they were poorly managing the government. He used FBI Director Kash Patel’s recent email asking federal workers to ignore Musk’s directive as an example.
“This type of idea, of Musk coming in there with the chainsaw he was famously brandishing at a political event in Washington D.C. this week, it’s a lot more complicated than that. Running government is a lot more complicated than that and hopefully they get their act together at some point,” Christie said.
“From a management perspective, you can see what a clown car this is right now,” @GovChristie says of Elon Musk’s weekly survey to gauge federal employee efficiency. https://t.co/kkPva5dS9f pic.twitter.com/cKafIVTz3b
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) February 23, 2025
Hegseth says Trump ‘deserves’ to hand-pick advisers in defense of Friday night Pentagon firing spree
Sunday 23 February 2025 19:00
,
John Bowden
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blamed Democrats for “mischaracterizing” the firing spree carried out by President Donald Trump at the Pentagon and said on Sunday that the military’s top brass was not at risk of political reprisals.
Trump administration official says Ukraine 'provoked' Russia
Sunday 23 February 2025 18:30
,
Ariana Baio
Steve Witkoff, the special envoy to the Middle East, said on Sunday that Russia should not be totally blamed for invading Ukraine because they were “provoked” by Ukraine’s desire to join NATO.
Witkoff took the position that President Donald Trump has recently taken, claiming, "The war didn't need to happen. It was provoked. It doesn't necessarily mean it was provoked by the Russians.”
“There were all kinds of conversations back then about Ukraine joining NATO. The president has spoken about this. That didn't need to happen. It basically became a threat to the Russians,” Witkoff said on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday.
“Those are real facts”
Witkoff: "The war didn't need to happen. It was provoked. It doesn't necessarily mean it was provoked by the Russians. There were all kinds of conversations back then about Ukraine joining NATO. That didn't need to happen. It basically became a threat to the Russians." pic.twitter.com/ZimoQk7wbV
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 23, 2025
National security adviser stops short of calling Russia the aggressor
Sunday 23 February 2025 18:00
,
Ariana Baio
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz refused to agree that Russia was the aggressor in the conflict with Ukraine, during an interview with Fox News host Maria Bartiromo.
“Can you acknowledge that Russia is the aggressor here?”
“Well, you know what, who would you rather have going toe-to-toe with the likes of Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-un, Xi or anyone else? Joe Biden or Donald Trump?” Waltz answered.
Waltz insinuated Russia only invaded Ukraine when George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Biden were presidents but that it would not under Trump because of his “strength”.
Last week, Trump falsely asserted Ukraine had started the war and called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator”
Trump to name new FBI Director Kash Patel as ATF head: report
Sunday 23 February 2025 17:30
,
Ariana Baio
Newly-confirmed FBI Director Kash Patel is expected to be named the acting head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, officials told ABC News.
Patel, who was sworn in as FBI director on Friday, could take on the new position as early as next week, a Justice Department official told the news outlet.
The Trump loyalist has never been an ATF agent.
ATF is a law enforcement agency within the Department of Justice that prevents and investigates federal offenses involving firearms, explosives, acts of arson, bombings and illegal tracking of alcohol and tobacco products among other things.
The Independent has asked the White House for comment.
Republican congressman says Trump 'joked' about running for a third term
Sunday 23 February 2025 17:00
,
Ariana Baio
Markywayne Mullin, a Republican Senator for Oklahoma, defended President Donald Trump’s claim about running for a third term, saying it was “a joke” and people need to take it as a joke.
“First of all, he joked,” Mullin said when asked if he would support changing the Constitution to allow Trump to do so on Meet the Press on Sunday.
“And so I think we need to take that as a joke, not being literal,” he added.
He pushed back on claims that Trump was being “deadly serious” about running for a third term saying, “people need to take it as a joke.”
Mullin added that he would only change the Constitution if Americans wanted to ratify the Constitution to allow Trump to run for a third term.
Trump takeover sees Kennedy Center suffer ticket sale collapse, says report
Sunday 23 February 2025 16:30
,
Graeme Massie
Donald Trump’s move to take control of Washington D.C’s John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has led to a staggering 50 percent drop in ticket sales, according to a report.
Trump fired the Kennedy Center’s leadership upon his return to the Oval Office and put MAGA loyalist Richard Grenell in charge of the famed institution.
In the week that followed the decision ticket sales halved, Kennedy Center staff members told The Washington Post anonymously for fear of reprisals.
Read more here:
Zelensky says he will step down if Ukraine is accepted to NATO
Sunday 23 February 2025 16:19
,
Ariana Baio
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he would be “ready” to resign as leader if the country if it meant peace – suggesting he would exchange his leadership for membership in NATO.
“If (it guarantees) peace for Ukraine, if you really need me to resign, I am ready. I can exchange it for NATO,” Zelensky said in response to a question on the topic at a news conference.
Ukraine expected to sign deal giving US access to minerals: report
Sunday 23 February 2025 16:00
,
Ariana Baio
Ukraine is expected to sign a deal this week that will give the United States access to some of its rare minerals that President Donald Trump has been seeking out.
Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, informed CNN on Sunday of the incoming deal.
Witkoff said the deal, which will give the U.S. access to valuable minerals found in Ukraine, was part of Trump’s attempts to even the playing field after the U.S. gave Ukraine billions in military aid.
“As is typical for the president, he’s very, very sensible,” Witkoff said.
