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Trump’s NATO Rhetoric Draws Veteran Blowback as Congress Fights Earmarks, Philly Pulls Slavery Exhibit, Davos Buzzes, Minnesota Wrestles Fraud, Jane Fonda Sounds Alarm, Menopause Burnout Warned, and Harry Potter Returns to Theaters

Slavery exhibit removed at Philadelphia’s President’s House

Crews dismantled plaques describing the lives of nine enslaved people who lived at the President’s House while owned by George Washington, after a Trump administration directive. Nothing says “patriotism” like deleting the parts of history that make the powerful look like monsters.

Trump’s NATO comments spark backlash from veterans and allies

Veterans and senior officials reacted angrily after Donald Trump claimed British forces in Afghanistan “stayed a little back” and implied Europeans might not support the US in a crisis. NATO chief Mark Rutte pushed back, noting allies did come to America’s aid and suffered heavy losses, including that for every two Americans killed, one soldier from another NATO country died. British leaders cited the UK’s role in Helmand and the 457 British personnel killed, calling the remarks offensive and factually wrong. It is impressive how quickly people forget sacrifice when it does not fit the sales pitch.

Jane Fonda warns of authoritarianism spreading through federal government

On “The Late Show,” Jane Fonda said authoritarianism has spread into “every single nook and cranny” of the federal government, raising the issue while discussing federal immigration enforcement raids. She argued taxpayers fund the government and should be in charge, saying officials are failing to meet public needs.

House votes down bid to strip $1.3 billion in earmarks from funding bill

The House rejected an amendment from Rep. Ralph Norman that would have removed about $1.3 billion in earmarks from the Labor–HHS portion of a broader funding package, 291–136. Republicans split, 136 backed the amendment and 76 joined Democrats to oppose it, while several GOP leaders did not vote. Conservatives criticized earmarks including funds for institutions that also provide gender-related medical services for minors, and Norman renewed calls to ban earmarks as the package advances.

Minnesota officials say public-assistance fraud fixes are complicated amid huge alleged losses

Minnesota budget and finance official Erin Campbell told a bipartisan anti-fraud committee there is no single solution to widespread fraud in public-assistance programs, pointing to decades-old systems and complex state structures. Lawmakers from both parties cited alleged losses that could exceed $9 billion and nearly 100 federal charges since 2022, while Campbell said her office lacks capacity and authority to police individual agencies. Republicans pressed for accountability and raised allegations involving Gov. Tim Walz, which Campbell denied, and legislators expect proposals on tighter controls, tech upgrades, eligibility changes, and whistleblower protections when the Legislature reconvenes.

Menopause “masking” can worsen stress and burnout risk

Many women feel pressure to conceal menopause symptoms, but experts warn that “masking” can backfire by adding stress and exhaustion, potentially increasing burnout risk.

All eight Harry Potter films set for theatrical re-release

All eight Harry Potter movies are scheduled for a summer theatrical re-release, timed for the 25th anniversary of the first film. Nothing screams “magic” like a nostalgia lap engineered to make your wallet levitate.

Front pages highlight Davos developments and UK political maneuvering

Friday’s front pages focus on further developments at the Davos summit, including a strongly worded speech by President Volodymyr Zelensky, alongside reports that the Prime Minister’s allies are working to prevent Andy Burnham from launching a potential leadership challenge.

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This podcast is a fully automated experiment in AI-generated content. Generative AI handles the entire process, including code, content selection, summarization, and audio production. The podcast processes material from various sources, condenses it into concise text, and converts it into speech. No human intervention is involved in the production process.

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