Trump Admin Deports Gang Members, U.S. Air Force Strikes Houthis – 3/16/25

United States

  • Treasury Secretary Bessent says, “The American dream is not ‘let them eat flat screens,’” emphasizing affordability of homes and wages, per NBC News
  • U.S. Air Force launches airstrikes on Houthi positions near Hodeidah
  • America First Policy Institute report finds 95% of career federal employees emailing about politics express liberal views
  • Trump skips Gridiron Club event, which toasted the First Amendment instead of the president, a 140-year first, per Politico
  • Trump administration deports Venezuelan gang members, defying court order, per Axios
  • Scott Bessent on CNBC says, “The market and the economy have become hooked… to excessive government spending,” predicting a detox
  • Treasury Secretary Bessent asserts, “Let me be clear — the US does NOT have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem”
  • White House ignored court order on deporting alleged Venezuelan gang members, citing flights over international waters, per Axios
  • Trump discusses redistributing 20% of DOGE savings to taxpayers and 20% toward national debt
  • CNN poll positions AOC as Democratic Party leader, with Kamala Harris trailing closely
  • Jim Cramer warns the market is set to “give up some gains”
  • Apple loses $300 billion in market value amid growing consumer resistance
  • Two EF-4 tornadoes confirmed in Arkansas, strongest in deadly outbreak with 37 deaths across states, per BNONews
  • 40% of students using AI like ChatGPT to cheat on homework, with one teacher saying, “If I assign it, it just gets cheated on,” per Wall Street Journal
  • Senator Murphy claims Democrats’ unpopularity stems from not fighting Trump hard enough, warning, “If we don’t, we’ll lose our Democracy”
  • U.S. credit card debt soars to a record $1.21 trillion, climbing 7.3% in a year
  • Bill Maher critiques Trump admin’s free speech stance after Mahmoud Khalil’s arrest
  • U.S. Marine Band cancels concert with young musicians of color after DEI order ends; veterans step in to mentor, per CBS
  • U.S. Treasury ends requirement for shell companies to reveal owners and beneficiaries
  • CNN poll shows AOC leading Democratic Party, with Kamala Harris a close second, per CNN
  • Trump admin’s workforce cuts at dam agencies threaten power, water, and flood safety, experts warn, per ABC
  • Trump plans St. Patrick’s Day meeting with UFC star Conor McGregor, per McGregor
  • YouGov poll finds Republicans at 44% favorability, Democrats at 34% with 1,055 voters
  • Florida cop delivers pizza after driver spots 8-foot alligator under car near home, per ABC
  • CENTCOM intensifies strikes on Iran-backed Houthi militants in ongoing operations
  • Percy Levy, freed by ex-Gov. Inslee in 2019, allegedly arrested with 556 grams of fentanyl—enough to kill 278,000—plus cocaine and a gun, per Fox News
  • DOGE denies link to Social Security error marking man dead, says “maliciously misleading” claims ignore 500 monthly mistakes, fix now in progress, per DOGE
  • Trump admin deports hundreds of immigrants despite judge’s order to halt removals, per KTVB

International

  • UK to start trade talks with Philippines after lifted ban on British beef and poultry, per Bloomberg
  • Russia blocks Ukraine’s path to NATO membership
  • French Parliament member demands U.S. return Statue of Liberty, arguing America no longer embodies its values
  • Israeli team heads to Cairo for ceasefire talks with Hamas as West Bank clashes persist, per CBS
  • Goldman slashes oil price outlook due to tariffs and OPEC output rise, per Bloomberg Economics
  • Yemen’s Houthis claim they targeted USS Harry Truman with 18 missiles and a drone in response to U.S. strikes, per Yemeni Armed Forces Statement
  • Witkoff predicts an imminent direct conversation between Trump and Putin
  • Russia reportedly uses Bitcoin, Ethereum, and stablecoins to trade oil with China and India, evading sanctions
  • Israeli team arrives in Egypt to negotiate hostage release with Hamas mediators, per AFP
  • Bolsonaro leads huge rally at Copacabana in Rio, despite coup charges and a ban from the 2026 election
  • Syria’s interim leaders attend EU aid conference post-Assad, seeking funds amid U.S. cuts, per Reuters
  • Rohan and Gondor flags waved at Belgrade student protest