Headlines

January 24, 2025

The Hill

It Begins: Trump in 2028?

Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) proposed a constitutional amendment that would allow Donald Trump to serve a third term as president, arguing that his "decisive leadership" is essential to reverse the nation's decline and restore strength and prosperity.
Read Full Story
Reuters

Progress on SoCal Fires

Firefighters halted the rapid spread of the Hughes Fire north of Los Angeles, which had burned over 10,000 acres and prompted mass evacuations, as Governor Gavin Newsom signed a $2.5 billion relief package to aid fire-devastated regions.
Read Full Story
NBC News

Hegseth Clears Critical Hurdle

The Senate narrowly advanced Pete Hegseth's nomination for Defense Secretary in a 51-49 vote, despite two Republican senators, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, voting with Democrats against him. His final confirmation vote is expected soon.
Read Full Story
The White House

Trump Declassifies Assassination Records

One of many executive orders signed by Trump mandates the full release of federal records regarding the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr., prioritizing transparency. Plans for declassification must be presented within 15 to 45 days.
Read Full Story
USA Today

Progressive Meltdown Helps Trump- Again

Nicole Russell shares her view on how progressives’ hysterical reactions to Donald Trump’s return to the presidency highlight their inability to understand or respect the millions of Americans who voted for his conservative agenda and desire for change.
Read Full Story
CBS News

Newark Local Business "Raided" by ICE

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka condemned an ICE raid at a local business that detained multiple people, including U.S. citizens and a military veteran, calling it an unconstitutional violation that sows fear and disrupts the community.
Read Full Story
TIME Magazine

CA GOP Nervous on Trump Trip

California Republicans are expressing unease over Trump’s former threat to condition wildfire aid on certain political actions. Especially since the state regularly faces devastating wildfires, the threat complicates relations with lawmakers who rely on federal assistance.
Read Full Story
KUOW

Trump Blocked on Birthright Citizenship

A federal judge in Seattle temporarily blocked President Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship, who called the order unconstitutional via the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause. The ruling prevents the order from taking effect while lawsuits proceed.
Read Full Story
The Associated Press

AP Style: Gulf of Mexico, Mt. McKinley

As Trump signed executive orders renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and reverted Denali in Alaska to Mount McKinley, the Associated Press, a key to journalistic style, will maintain the gulf's original name while reverting North America's tallest peak.
Read Full Story
Fortune

Trump and CEOs Push Return to Office

Many companies have already imposed similar mandates to Trump's executive order requiring federal workers to return to the office full-time. While employers hold power in the short term, experts say mandates will only last until boomers retire.
Read Full Story
The Washington Post

Explicit Texts Sent to Hutchinson

An aide to Speaker Mike Johnson advised against subpoenaing Cassidy Hutchinson to avoid the release of explicit texts from lawmakers. Despite this, one House member planned to subpoena her for additional insights into Trump’s role in the Jan. 6 riots.
Read Full Story
Bloomberg

Walking Faster, Socializing Less

A recent behavioral study from 1980 to 2010 in Boston, NYC, and Philadelphia reveals that urban walkers are moving faster, lingering less, and socializing minimally. Many factors contribute to the decline, raising concerns about the erosion of urban social life.
Read Full Story
CNN

CNN Layoffs and Programming Changes

In attempts to adapt to changing news needs, CNN will lay off 200 employees to focus on digital growth, with a $70 million investment. The network plans to launch a new streaming service and adjust its weekday lineup. This revamped schedule begins in March.
Read Full Story
The Hollywood Reporter

Oscar Nomination Snubs and Surprises

The 2025 Oscar nominations featured surprising snubs, including Zendaya ("Challengers"), Denzel Washington ("Gladiator II"), Selena Gomez ("Emilia Pérez"), and Jon M. Chu ("Wicked"). Multiple popular films missed major recognition, while "Nosferatu" exceeded expectations.
Read Full Story
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Forecaster Fired Over Musk Gesture

Milwaukee meteorologist Sam Kuffel was let go from CBS 58 after describing a gesture Elon Musk used during Trump's inauguration as a "Nazi salute," as controversy around the moment goes viral. This comes after conservative radio host Dan O'Donnell criticized Kuffel's posts.
Read Full Story
New York Post

Irish Kept Fighting Post Game

After Ohio State's win, the Notre Dame locker room became tense with players yelling at reporters. Some reporters criticized the environment, claiming players made insulting remarks, while others shared a more positive experience about the team's professionalism.
Read Full Story
The Guardian

Will Jayden Daniels Fairytale Continue?

The Washington Commanders, led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, upset the Detroit Lions in the playoffs. To reach the Super Bowl, they'll face a strong defense from the Philadelphia Eagles, but a win means Daniels' could make history as the first rookie quarterback in a Super Bowl.
Read Full Story
Nextgov/FCW

TSA Facial Recognition 99% Accurate

A Department of Homeland Security report found TSA’s facial recognition tech to be over 99% accurate, with minimal bias. Black participants showed a slight drop in accuracy (98%). TSA ensures photos are not stored, and data is deleted after use. It’s deployed in 80 airports, with plans for expansion.
Read Full Story
CBR

Costner Gets Hopeful "Horizon" News

Chapter 2 of "Horizon: An American Saga" will premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, followed be a Q&A with Kevin Costner. Despite a disappointing box office return for Chapter 1, the film has performed well on streaming, ranking highly on Netflix.
Read Full Story
Yahoo! Sports

First Japanese Hall of Famer Inducted

Ichiro Suzuki has become the first Japanese player elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, joined by CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner in the class of 2025. Suzuki's legacy paves the way for future inductees like Shohei Ohtani, whose historic achievements continue to inspire admiration worldwide.
Read Full Story

Looking for previous newsletters?

The Mingle Project

Michael is on a mission to restore civility and compromise in public discourse. His solution for addressing societal disconnect, The Mingle Project — now on Smerconish.com with exclusive video clips, news articles, author interviews, live event info, and more!

Independent doesn’t mean indecisive.

The Latest News from Smerconish.com in Your Inbox

Join our community of over 100k independent minds

If you can’t find the confirmation email in your inbox, please check your junk or spam folder. 

 

We will NEVER SELL YOUR DATA. By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Smerconish.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Aweber

The Latest News from Smerconish.com in Your Inbox

Join our community of over 100k independent minds

If you can’t find the confirmation email in your inbox, please check your junk or spam folder. 

 

We will NEVER SELL YOUR DATA. By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Smerconish.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Aweber