Attachment 2521011


Drug experts say U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s statement ignores critical facts about fentanyl and drug seizures.

Not everyone is at risk of dying from a fentanyl overdose, experts say. To die from a fentanyl overdose, a person must consume fentanyl or an illicit drug laced with it. About 11% of people age 12 and older in the U.S. use illegal drugs.

Fentanyl seizures show only how much fentanyl didn’t make it into the U.S. It’s unclear how much fentanyl entered the U.S. that could lead to overdose deaths.

By Maria Ramirez Uribe

President Donald Trump’s 100th day in office fell on the same day as National Fentanyl Awareness Day. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi marked the milestone by crediting Trump with saving a third of the U.S. population from fatal fentanyl overdoses.

Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid that causes the majority of opioid overdoses in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fentanyl is up to 100 times more potent than morphine. Its potency is what makes it so lethal.

"Today is Fentanyl Awareness Day. In President Trump’s first 100 days we’ve seized over 22 million fentanyl laced pills, saving over 119 Million lives," Bondi said April 29 on X. That’s about one-third of the U.S. population.

Bondi shared a clip from Fox News that included 2025 Drug Enforcement Administration fentanyl seizure data. As of April 28, the agency had seized 22.2 million fentanyl pills and 3,100 pounds of powdered fentanyl in 2025. The seizures "represent over 119 million deadly doses," the DEA website says, calculating 2 milligrams of fentanyl as a "potentially deadly dose."

At an April 30 Cabinet meeting, Bondi made a similar statement with larger numbers, crediting Trump with saving 75% of the U.S. population from fentanyl overdoses.

"Since you have been in office President Trump, your DOJ agencies have seized more than 22 million fentanyl pills, 3,400 kilos of fentanyl, since your last hundred days," Bondi said. "Which saved — are you ready for this, media? — 258 million lives."

It’s unclear how Bondi reached those figures about fentanyl seized or lives saved. The 3,100 pounds the DEA said it seized equates to 1,400 kilograms. The Department of Justice did not respond to PolitiFact’s request for comment. A department spokesperson told Slate that the 258 million estimate included FBI fentanyl seizures.

Drug policy experts say Bondi’s statements are an exaggeration premised on a distorted understanding of seizure data.

"Bondi’s statements demonstrate profound ignorance about fentanyl and interdiction," Dr. Ryan Marino, a Case Western Reserve University toxicologist and emergency room physician who studies addiction, said.

Bondi failed to account for the limitations in fentanyl seizure data, the caveats about fentanyl’s lethality and the fact that not everyone has the same chance of dying of a fentanyl overdose.

Also, Bondi’s statement assumes everyone in the U.S. planned to consume fentanyl.

"119 million Americans do not even use fentanyl, and to risk an overdose requires intentional ingestion of fentanyl (or another illicit drug contaminated with fentanyl)," Marino said. "Fentanyl overdose is not a risk for people who do not use drugs, as you cannot experience an overdose from touch, inhalation, or proximity to fentanyl."

CDC data shows that about 11% of people age 12 and older use illegal drugs.

Andrew Stolbach, a toxicologist and emergency doctor at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, told PolitiFact in 2023 that using fentanyl seizure data to make broad characterizations about how many people could have died or been saved "assume that all that drug was somehow going to get into everybody."

There’s likely enough water to drown everybody in the world. But that doesn’t mean everyone is going to drown, he said.

There are several discrepancies in Bondi’s calculation

Bondi’s numbers don’t make mathematical or logical sense.

Her X statement that seizing 22 million pills saved 119 million lives assumes that one pill would be shared by five people — and each of those people then die of an overdose. Drug experts say that’s unlikely.

"It does not make sense to say that seizing one pill saved five lives," Jonathan Caulkins, a Carnegie Mellon University drug policy researcher, said. "Usually a pill is only consumed by one person. It would be an odd situation for a single pill to kill five people."

Additionally, not every pill consumption leads to death. The DEA says that as little as 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be deadly for an adult. However, a dose’s lethality can vary based on a person's height, weight and tolerance from past exposure, drug experts say. The 2 milligrams lethal dose generally refers to people who have not previously consumed fentanyl.

"Usually when a pill is consumed, no one dies," Caulkins said. "There are high-frequency users consuming multiple pills per day for multiple years before they succumb, if ever, to an overdose."

Also the 2 milligrams refers to pure fentanyl. It’s generally unclear how much pure fentanyl is in the pills or pounds of powdered fentanyl that are seized, Marino said. Therefore, that the DEA seized 119 million lethal doses does not mean the Trump administration saved 119 million people.

Drug seizure data often distorted for political aims

Politicians have framed drug seizure data in positive or negative terms depending on their political aim.

For example, the Homeland Security Department said in an April 28 press release that U.S. Customs and Border Protection had seized 64,000 pounds of fentanyl during former President Joe Biden’s administration. "Enough fentanyl to kill 14 billion people."

However, using Bondi’s logic, DHS could have also said that Biden saved 14 billion lives, double the world’s population. Either way, the fact-check caveats we already discussed apply.

Some politicians cite rises in drug seizures as a sign of improved interdiction. Others say those same numbers are evidence that more drugs are getting into the country. But drug experts say it’s hard to tell who’s right given insufficient data.

"We don’t have any method I’m aware of for translating drug seizure data into any measure of overdose deaths averted," Alene Kennedy-Hendricks, a Johns Hopkins University health policy expert, said.

To know how much fentanyl is in the U.S., experts said we need to know how much fentanyl is being produced, how much is being sent to the U.S. and how much is seized. We only have data on how much fentanyl is seized.

That’s part of what makes Bondi’s statement wrong. That the DEA seized 22 million pills does not mean that it reduced 22 million people’s consumption of fentanyl pills, Caulkins said.

"When drugs are seized, the supply chain partially replaces those lost drugs," Caulkins said.

David Luckey, a senior international and defense researcher at Rand Corp., a global policy think tank, said that the lack of data about illicit fentanyl leads to statements that are "estimates at best, and a misuse of the data at worse."

Trends in fentanyl seizures

Fentanyl seizures have generally risen over the past decade. But they dropped in fiscal year 2024 to less than 22,000 pounds at U.S. borders compared with 27,000 in fiscal 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection figures show. Fiscal years start in October and end in September.

In the first two full months of the Trump administration, fentanyl seizures dropped compared to the last full month of Biden’s administration. In December, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized 1,200 pounds of fentanyl at U.S. borders. That dropped to 611 pounds and 760 pounds in February and March, respectively.

Fentanyl overdose deaths have been declining

Fentanyl overdose deaths also started dropping during the Biden administration. The CDC reported 50,000 fentanyl overdose deaths from December 2023 to November 2024, the latest available data. That’s a drop from more than 75,000 in the previous similar period.

It’s unclear whether the drop in overdose deaths will last and for how long.

Drug experts say that to reduce fentanyl overdose deaths, the focus can’t be only on drug seizures. Reducing the demand for fentanyl and expanding access to treatments, such as the opioid overdose reversal drug Narcan, also play a role.

Bondi said "in President Trump’s first 100 days we’ve seized over 22 million fentanyl laced pills, saving over 119 Million lives." A day later, she upped the number of saved lives to 258 million.

Neither figure is accurate.

The DEA said it has seized 119 million deadly fentanyl doses in 2025. Crediting that seizure with saving up to 75% of the U.S. population makes no mathematical sense.

Bondi’s calculation rests on the assumption that 2 milligrams of fentanyl is lethal. However, lethality varies based on a person’s height, weight and tolerance to the drug. It also assumes that all fentanyl seized is pure fentanyl, which is generally not the case.

Additionally, the number of people who die from opioid overdoses each year is in the tens of thousands. Drug experts say 119 million people in the U.S. do not consume fentanyl or illicit drugs that may be laced with fentanyl; people who do not consume illicit drugs are not at risk of dying of an overdose.

We rate this claim Pants on Fire!

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Attachment 2521001

Did U.S. President Donald Trump officially warn former President Barack Obama that he would face Hatch Act charges if he went to El Salvador? No, that's not true.

By: Uliana Malashenko :

The rumor originated from an online network with a satire label, known for publishing made-up stories. Potential violations of the Hatch Act are not criminally punishable.

The claim appeared in a video on TikTok where it was published on April 29, 2025. A man seen in the footage began:

Trump just issued a sturn warning to Barack Hussein Obama. Obama thinks he's gonna get himself on that plane, fly to El Salvador to start fucking advocating for fucking rights of the illegal immigrats, isn't he? Donald Trump has warned now if any politician, including ex-presidents (wink-wink, Barack Obama), will be in violation of the Hatch Act if they interfere with foreign affairs. That's right, go ahead, Barack Obama! Do it! Get on that plane, fly down to El Salvador -- and there's going to be federal marshals, waiting to put cuffs on you.

The rumor, however, was not grounded in any credible news reports or publicly available statements of any officials. It was initially published on Facebook on April 24, 2025 , by the page named "America's Last Line Of Defense". Its self-description reads:

The flagship of the ALLOD network of trollery and propaganda for cash.
Nothing on this page is real.

It continued:


Busta Troll
is responsible for this Page.


"Busta Troll" is one of the aliases used by self-proclaimed liberal troll Christopher Blair once referred to in a BBC article as "the godfather of fake news".

Presidents are exempt from the Hatch Act that covers most other executive branch's federal government employees. However, it doesn't stretch to those who already left those jobs. Furthermore, potential violations of this law that aims to curb political influences are civil offenses that, unlike criminal ones, are generally handled without arrests.

A search across Google News for the keywords seen showed a Snopes fact check that previously reviewed the same claim and no credible reporting backing up the rumor.

A search across the archive of Trump's posts on Truth Social for the period between his second inauguration and this writing showed no entries discussing the Hatch Act. A Google search across the White House website for the same period didn't reveal a single mention of the law.

About ALLOD

The network of online resources known "America's Last Line of Defense" run by Blair mostly publishes made-up stories with headlines specifically created to trigger Republicans, conservatives and evangelical Christians into angrily sharing or commenting on the story on Facebook without actually reading the full article, exposing them to mockery and ridicule by fans of the sites and pages.

Every site in the network has an About page that reads (in part):



About Satire
Before you complain and decide satire is synonymous with "comedy":

sat·ire
ˈsaˌtī(ə)r
noun
The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.

Everything on this website is fiction. It is not a lie and it is not fake news because it is not real. If you believe that it is real, you should have your head examined. Any similarities between this site's pure fantasy and actual people, places, and events are purely coincidental and all images should be considered altered and satirical. See above if you're still having an issue with that satire thing.


Articles from Blair's sites frequently get copied by "real" fake news sites who omit the satire disclaimer and other hints the stories are fake. One of the most persistent networks of such sites is run by a man from Pakistan named Kashif Shahzad Khokhar (aka "DashiKashi") who has spammed hundreds of such stolen stories into conservative and right-wing Facebook pages in order to profit from the ad revenue.


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Attachment 2521000


President Donald Trump said earlier this week that the stock market was Joe Biden's fault.

Days later, Wall Street is thriving again.

Trump is going to have a hard time trying to claim any credit for it.

President Donald Trump couldn't bear a few days of bad headlines.

Analysis by Brent D. Griffiths

On Wednesday morning, his 101st day in office, Trump blamed Biden for the volatile market. "This is Biden's Stock Market, not Trump's. I didn't take over until January 20th," he wrote on Truth Social.

Not three full days later, Wall Street is soaring again.

On Friday, the S&P 500 erased its losses since Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs sent global markets into a tailspin. The market index is now nearing its best stretch since November 2004, so long ago that Trump was still a Democrat. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up over 560 points.

Stocks rose after a better-than-expected jobs report. Meta and Microsoft's respective earnings as renewed faith in the tech sector. Neither development is really tied to Trump. Economists said the economy was in a good place before Trump's tariffs led many market watchers to increase the chances of a recession.

Earlier this week, Trump celebrated his first 100 days in office with some ignominious records. Among them, his first 100 days coincided with the worst performance for the S&P 500 and the Dow since President Nixon.

Trump blamed Biden, arguing that the market's low performance was not his fault. In comments to reporters later on Wednesday, Trump also said it might be his predecessor's fault if the GDP dropped again in the second quarter. This was Trump's White House, he argued, but still Biden's economy.

Even some of Trump's most ardent allies didn't buy it.

"What's that old expression? Don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining? Well that applies here," Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy wrote on X. "The stock market is a direct reflection of Trumps 1st 100 days in office."

And now, if Trump tries to share in the rebound's success, it will sound like a bunch of, well, malarkey.

He may be wise to wait now, more tariffs are coming this weekend, a potential supply crunch is around the corner, and the 90-day pause ends in July.

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Attachment 2520992

In a visit Tuesday to Warren, Michigan, President Donald Trump celebrated his first 100 days back in office by touting his accomplishments, while embellishing some and misrepresenting others.

By MELISSA GOLDIN

The speech of about 90 minutes was reminiscent of a campaign rally and covered much of the same ground as he lobbed insults at the previous administration and detractors.

In highlighting his accomplishments, he made a number of false and misleading statements on topics such as the state of the economy and the price of eggs.

Here’s a look at the facts.

Trump exaggerates drop in gas prices

TRUMP: “Gasoline was almost $4 not so long ago. And now, Mike, we just hit $1.98 in a lot of states. Think of it.”

THE FACTS: As of Tuesday, no state had an average gas price of $1.98. Mississippi had the lowest price, at $2.67 per gallon of regular gas. Trump previously made this claim about the level of gas prices on April 16, but they had not fallen as low as $1.98 that day either — or any day in the last two weeks. Mississippi and Tennessee were tied for the lowest average price on April 16, at $2.707 per gallon of regular gas.

National average prices rose under former President Joe Biden to a high of $5.01 in June 2022 before falling to $3.09 in December of that year. Prices rose again to a high of $3.88 in September 2023, but were down to $3.139 in December 2024. They were at $3.13 nationally as of Tuesday. The last time prices surpassed $4 was in August 2022.

Cost of eggs not as low as Trump says

TRUMP: “Since I took office, the cost of eggs is down 87% now.”

THE FACTS: The retail price of a dozen large eggs decreased in price to $2.07 in September 2023, but has been on the rise since October 2024. As of March, they were up to $6.23.

Wholesale egg prices, on the other hand, fell significantly in March, but not by 87%. They were at a high of $8.17 for a dozen large eggs on March 3 and had dropped to $2.92 by March 26 — a decrease of approximately 64%.

University of Arkansas agricultural economist Jada Thompson told the AP earlier this month that because the wholesale prices did not start dropping until mid-March, there may not have been enough time for the average price for the month to decline. And grocery stores may not have immediately passed on the lower prices.

Inflation was already falling under Biden

TRUMP: “We’re ending the inflation nightmare. The worst that we’ve had, probably in the history of our country.”

THE FACTS: Inflation started falling long before Trump started his second term. Inflation peaked at 9.1% in June 2022 after rising steadily in the first 17 months of Biden’s presidency from a low of 0.1% in May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of December, it had fallen to 2.9%. The most recent data shows that, as of March, it had fallen to 2.4%. Other historical periods have seen higher inflation, such as a more than 14% rate in 1980, according to the Federal Reserve.

Coal production is cleaner, but it still creates emissions

TRUMP: “We stopped their crusade on coal. Did you see what I did the other day? Clean, beautiful coal.”

THE FACTS: The production of coal is cleaner now than it has been historically, but that doesn’t mean it’s clean.

Planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions from the coal industry have decreased over the past 30 years, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Energy lobbyist Scott Segal told the AP earlier this month that “the relative statement that coal-fired electricity is cleaner than ever before is true, particularly when emissions are measured per unit of electricity produced.”

And yet, coal production worldwide still needs to be reduced sharply to address climate change, according to United Nations-backed research.

Along with carbon dioxide, burning coal emits sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides that contribute to acid rain, smog and respiratory illnesses, according to the EIA.

Trump misleads on Biden-era ‘electric vehicle mandate’

TRUMP: “I terminated Joe Biden’s insane electric vehicle mandate where you were mandated to buy an electric vehicle. You were mandated within just a few years to buy an electric vehicle.”

THE FACTS: It’s misleading to claim that the Biden administration implemented such a mandate. In April 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency announced strict limits on greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles. The agency said these limits could be met if 67% of new-vehicle sales are electric by 2032.

And yet, the new rule did not include a requirement for automakers to boost electric vehicle sales directly. It set emissions limits and allowed automakers to choose how to meet them.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced on March 12 that the agency would reconsider the rule, but it has not yet been terminated.

In 2019, Kamala Harris co-sponsored a bill as a U.S. senator called the Zero-Emission Vehicles Act that would have required 100% of new passenger vehicles sold to be zero-emission by 2040. The bill, which stalled in committee, did not ban ownership of vehicles that produce emissions. ___

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Indonesia has recently certified three more airports to meet international standards, bringing its total number of global-standard airports to 20. This development supports the country's broader ambition to become one of the world's leading aviation hubs by 2029.

According to Iwan Winaya Mahdar, General Director of Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport in Palembang, the newly certified airports include SMB II Airport in Palembang, HAS Hanandjoeddin Airport in Bangka Belitung, and General Ahmad Yani Airport in Semarang.

This move comes after a significant policy change in April 2024, when the Indonesian government issued a decree to reduce the number of international airports from 34 to 17. The decision aimed to streamline operations, concentrate investments in airports with higher international traffic, and enhance the overall quality of airport services.

To meet its 2029 goal of having airports ranked among the world’s top 10, Indonesia is focusing on improvements in airport infrastructure, implementation of advanced technology, and raising the standard of customer service. However, ensuring consistently high service quality across all certified airports remains a challenge.

Indonesia is home to more than 600 airports spread across its vast archipelago. By prioritizing investment and development in its 20 most important international airports, the government hopes to better manage resources and significantly enhance the travel experience for international passengers.

Singaporeans headed to the polls on Saturday in a key election that marks the first major political test for Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. The vote comes at a time of economic uncertainty for the trade-dependent city-state, and while Wong’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) is widely expected to retain its parliamentary majority, the opposition is showing renewed strength.

Polling stations opened at 8 a.m., with voting set to continue for 12 hours. Initial results are expected to be released around midnight. This election is significant for Wong, who gained popularity for co-leading Singapore’s Covid-19 task force and assumed the role of prime minister last year, succeeding Lee Hsien Loong—the son of Singapore’s founding leader, Lee Kuan Yew.

Wong has emphasized the importance of securing a strong mandate from voters, especially as Singapore faces economic headwinds linked to global trade disruptions, including tariffs introduced by former U.S. President Donald Trump. Wong warned that Singapore could suffer economically if such tariffs persist, particularly those targeting China. He urged voters to back stability and long-term planning. “This is not a gamble,” he said. “This is your family, your future, our Singapore.”

Despite the global economic backdrop, analysts believe voters will prioritize domestic concerns. Political expert Nydia Ngiow noted that Singaporean elections typically focus on local issues, and geopolitical tensions may only influence votes if they directly affect daily life, such as job security or the cost of living.

Although the PAP’s dominance in Singapore’s 97-seat parliament is almost guaranteed, observers believe any gains by the opposition would be meaningful. A younger and increasingly vocal electorate may help shift the political landscape, particularly in constituencies where young voters are more open to alternative viewpoints. “Young voters will be a factor in some wards,” said veteran political analyst P.N. Balji.

The opposition, led by the Workers’ Party (WP), is hoping to build on its historic performance in the 2020 election, when it captured 10 of 93 contested seats—more than doubling its previous total. The WP has sharpened its image and fielded charismatic candidates, including high-profile professionals, drawing large crowds during the campaign.

However, as seen in previous elections, big crowds don’t always translate to votes. Still, the WP has struck a chord with voters by criticizing recent government moves, such as the hike in goods and services tax during a period of high inflation. They argue that more opposition voices in parliament are necessary to hold the PAP accountable and prevent unchecked governance.

In its defense, the PAP highlights the billions of Singapore dollars spent to assist citizens with rising costs, including through direct cash transfers and grocery vouchers. The ruling party maintains that its financial support has helped mitigate inflation’s impact on everyday Singaporeans.

Roughly 2.75 million Singaporeans are eligible to vote in this election, which will determine the makeup of the 97-seat parliament.

Vietnam has formally lodged diplomatic protests in response to recent actions by China and the Philippines that it says violate its sovereignty in the Spratly Islands, known in Vietnam as the Truong Sa Islands.

According to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang, Vietnam has issued protest notes and held diplomatic discussions with the concerned parties over recent unauthorized activities at Hoai An Reef and other areas within the Spratly Islands.

“The presence of individuals from other countries on features that fall under Vietnam’s sovereignty—without Vietnam’s consent—is a clear breach of our sovereignty,” Hang stated. She was referring to recent moves by China and the Philippines involving Hoai An Reef, Tri Le Reef, and Cai Vung Reef.

The developments began on April 25 when Chinese coast guard forces reportedly raised flags on Hoai An Reef. Just two days later, on April 27, Philippine coast guard members and researchers were seen on the reef, taking photographs. China News later reported that Chinese coast guard personnel returned to the area on April 29.

Pham Thu Hang criticized these actions, saying they complicate the situation in the South China Sea and violate the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). She added that they undermine regional efforts to negotiate a Code of Conduct (COC) for the area.

Vietnam reasserted its claim over the Spratly Islands, citing both legal and historical grounds in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Hang emphasized that Vietnam has full legal grounds and historical proof to support its claims over the Spratlys.

Vietnam is urging the involved nations to respect its sovereignty, avoid actions that increase tensions, and abide by international law. It also called for compliance with the DOC and active contribution to maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea, internationally referred to as the South China Sea.

Lastly, Hang reiterated that Vietnam remains committed to resolving disputes in the region—including those related to the Spratly Islands—through peaceful negotiations with the concerned parties.

A devastating fire broke out at a restaurant in northeastern China on Tuesday, claiming the lives of 22 people and injuring three others, according to Chinese state media. The blaze erupted around lunchtime in the city of Liaoyang, located about 580 kilometers (360 miles) from Beijing.

State broadcaster CCTV confirmed the tragic toll, while footage shared online and verified by AFP showed the entire two-storey restaurant engulfed in flames, with thick smoke rising into the sky.

Videos published on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, captured scenes of chaos as paramedics rushed a victim on a stretcher into an ambulance. Firefighters could be seen spraying water on the building as they fought to control the blaze.

Another aerial video showed more than a dozen fire trucks lined up outside the site as emergency responders worked tirelessly to put out the fire.

The restaurant operator was taken into police custody later that evening, according to state-run Xinhua News Agency. In total, 22 firefighting vehicles and 85 firefighters were deployed to extinguish the fire.

Authorities announced that the rescue operation had concluded and that the injured were all in stable condition. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered that all necessary measures be taken to care for the injured and support the families of the deceased. He also stressed the need to determine the cause quickly and ensure that those responsible are held accountable under the law.

A nearby restaurant worker, who asked not to be named, said she had remained inside throughout the day and only found out about the incident after seeing news reports. “We weren’t aware of it and continued on normally,” she told AFP by phone, describing the situation as “very tragic.”

Fatal fires are unfortunately common in China, often due to poor enforcement of safety regulations and substandard building practices. In recent months, the country has seen several deadly incidents.

Earlier this month, 20 people were killed in a fire at a nursing home in Hebei province. In January, eight people died and 15 were injured in a blaze at a vegetable market in Zhangjiakou, and in December, nine people lost their lives in a fire at a construction site in Rongcheng.

These repeated tragedies have intensified calls for stricter safety enforcement and improved building standards across the country.

A devastating fire tore through a budget hotel in Kolkata, India, killing at least 15 people, local authorities confirmed on Wednesday. The blaze, which began on Tuesday evening, forced panicked guests to climb out of windows and scramble onto the rooftop in a desperate bid to escape.

Kolkata police chief Manoj Verma stated that numerous guests were rescued from rooms and the roof of the Rituraj Hotel, which had 88 occupants at the time of the incident. He said that many of the deaths appeared to have been caused by suffocation as smoke rapidly filled the building, turning it into what he described as a “gas chamber.”

The fire broke out in a densely packed commercial area in the heart of Kolkata. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire, though early indications point to serious safety violations.

At least 12 people sustained burns and are being treated in hospitals. The fire highlighted longstanding issues in India, where fires are frequent due to lax safety enforcement, poor infrastructure, and limited firefighting resources.

Eyewitness Nanda Mondal, who owns a construction business, told reporters that the hotel had plastic cladding which may have worsened the flames. “A man died while trying to escape by climbing down a rainwater pipe,” he added.

Footage from the Press Trust of India showed flames engulfing the building, with people attempting to flee through narrow ledges and windows. According to Kolkata’s The Telegraph, one man died after jumping from the rooftop in a last-ditch effort to save himself.

Verma confirmed that the fire has now been extinguished and that cooling operations are ongoing to prevent any flare-ups.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his condolences to the victims' families and wished a swift recovery for the injured. “May the injured recover soon,” read a statement from his office.

Kolkata, home to over 15 million people, is the capital of West Bengal state, which is governed by the opposition Trinamool Congress party. The tragedy has sparked political reactions, with BJP city councillor Sajal Ghosh blaming the incident on negligence. He also raised concerns about illegal constructions and poor safety standards in many of the city’s low-cost hotels.

U.S. President Donald Trump has removed National Security Advisor Mike Waltz following a scandal involving leaked messages on a group chat. Trump announced that Waltz will now serve as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

In the first major cabinet shake-up of Trump’s new term, the president also appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the interim national security advisor.

“From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress, and as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nation’s Interests first,” Trump said on Truth Social while announcing the change.

Waltz, 51, a former Special Forces officer and Florida congressman, had been under growing pressure since March when the “Signalgate” scandal erupted. The controversy began when Waltz mistakenly added The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief to a Signal group chat discussing sensitive U.S. military operations in Yemen.

Despite Trump’s repeated public support, Waltz was reportedly losing the president’s trust behind the scenes. His hawkish stance on Russia and Iran also clashed with Trump’s pivot toward diplomacy—particular ly with efforts to push Ukraine toward a ceasefire and reopen talks with Iran on its nuclear program.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Waltz expressed gratitude: “I’m deeply honored to continue my service to President Trump and our great nation.”

U.S. Vice President JD Vance told Fox News that Waltz’s removal should be seen as a “promotion” and was unrelated to Signalgate. However, his early exit—just over 100 days into Trump’s second term—suggests deeper internal tensions.

Signal Fallout Reaches Pentagon

Waltz’s ousting puts renewed pressure on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who also reportedly shared details of upcoming U.S. airstrikes in the same Signal chat. Hegseth even shared the information with his wife in a separate group.

“Now do Hegseth,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X, signaling a push for accountability beyond Waltz.

Trump has defended Hegseth, calling the scandal a “witch hunt.” Vance echoed the sentiment, saying, “We’ve got total faith in Pete,” and declaring his job safe for now.

Waltz’s appointment to the U.N. will require Senate confirmation, guaranteeing continued scrutiny of the Signal leak.

Turbulence Behind the Scenes

There has been no official confirmation of reports that Waltz’s deputy, Alex Wong, will also leave the National Security Council. Meanwhile, Trump ally Steve Witkoff—a real estate magnate now leading U.S. talks with Russia and Iran—is being considered as a long-term replacement.

Waltz was also among several senior White House staff targeted by far-right activist Laura Loomer, who has pushed for a purge of officials she considers disloyal. Loomer has previously promoted conspiracy theories, including the false claim that the 9/11 attacks were an inside job.

After news of Waltz’s dismissal broke, Loomer claimed credit on X with a single word: “SCALP.”

Ironically, Waltz appeared unaware of his fate when he went on Fox News early Wednesday to praise a new U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal. He was also present at Trump’s televised cabinet meeting later that day, where he joined others in praising the president.

The role of National Security Advisor has historically been held by some of the most influential figures in U.S. foreign policy, including Henry Kissinger—underscori ng the gravity of Waltz’s swift and scandal-tainted departure.

The United States will stage a military parade on June 14 to mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army, the White House announced Friday. The event also coincides with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday.

"Trump will honor American veterans, active-duty servicemembers, and military history with a military parade!" White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly posted on X.

In addition to the parade, the celebration will include fireworks and a festival on the National Mall, according to U.S. Army spokeswoman Heather Hagan.

"Given the significant milestone of 250 years, the Army is exploring options to make the celebration even bigger, with more capability demonstrations, additional displays of equipment, and more engagement with the community," Hagan said.

She added that the Army anticipates "approximately 150 vehicles, 50 aircraft, and 6,600 soldiers" participating in the parade. Planning is currently underway.

Trump had previously floated the idea of holding a military parade in Washington during his first term after attending a Bastille Day parade in France. That plan never materialized due to the Pentagon’s $92 million cost estimate and concerns about damage to city streets from heavy vehicles like tanks.

Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser echoed similar concerns when asked about the current plans. "Military tanks on our streets would not be good," she said. "If military tanks were used they should be accompanied with many millions of dollars to repair the roads."

“We Never Celebrate Anything”

The last major military parade in Washington took place in 1991 to mark the end of the Gulf War.

The parade announcement came just a day after Trump declared May 8 as "Victory Day" for World War II and said he would rename Veterans Day (currently November 11) as "Victory Day" for World War I.

On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump criticized past leaders for failing to properly commemorate U.S. victories. "We won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything — That’s because we don’t have leaders anymore, that know how to do so! We are going to start celebrating our victories again!" he wrote.

Controversial Military Leadership Moves

Trump has had a complicated relationship with the U.S. military — praising its strength while also claiming it was weakened and in need of rebuilding. During his first term, he clashed with several top military officials and was accused of disparaging fallen troops — an allegation he has denied.

In his second term, Trump has carried out a sweeping reshuffle of the military’s top ranks. This year alone, he has fired General Charles "CQ" Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, without explanation, along with the heads of the Navy and Coast Guard.

Other senior officials dismissed include the general who led the National Security Agency, the vice chief of staff of the Air Force, a NATO-assigned Navy admiral, and three top military lawyers.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the moves, saying Trump is selecting leaders who align with his vision. However, Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about the growing politicization of the traditionally apolitical U.S. military.

Van Hanh Mall in Ho Chi Minh City has taken urgent safety measures by installing protective netting across its central atrium and increasing the height of its glass railings following a series of fatal incidents involving individuals jumping from upper levels.

The move comes after three tragic falls within less than two months, the most recent occurring on April 26, when a 22-year-old man jumped from the seventh floor to the ground-level atrium. Surveillance footage confirmed the incident, and the victim, originally from Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province, died at the scene.

The high-profile nature of these incidents has deeply affected mall staff, tenants, and customers, prompting Van Hanh Mall to respond with both practical and emotional outreach.

In an official message shared via social media, the mall announced the completion of emergency safety net installation across its two skylight atriums, which were designed to provide natural lighting. These funnel-shaped openings have now been securely covered by steel mesh netting anchored at the base on the first floor and extended to a suspended square frame near the sixth floor, decorated with hanging features to soften its visual impact.

Simultaneously, the mall has increased the height of its safety glass barriers and railings from 1.4 meters to 1.7 meters on the upper floors, specifically where the falls occurred. The management also confirmed intensified security protocols, including more guards, increased camera surveillance, and more frequent patrols at vulnerable areas.

“This is an emergency, temporary solution,” the mall’s management said. “In the coming period, we will continue improving the aesthetic appeal and overall safety to ensure Van Hanh Mall remains both beautiful and secure.”

The mall’s heartfelt open letter, posted on April 26 and now with more than 318,000 interactions, 15,000 shares, and 18,000 comments, received a wave of support from the public, brand partners, and loyal customers. Many expressed sympathy, pledging continued support despite recent events.

“We’ve read all your messages of encouragement,” the mall’s team stated, “and we are grateful for the love and support directed to our 1,000+ employees and hundreds of brands operating at Van Hanh Mall.”

Impact on tenants and customers

Despite enhanced safety measures, the incidents have left a psychological mark. Nguyen Van Tu, a frequent visitor from District 5, said, “It’s troubling to see young people coming here to end their lives. I feel deeply for everyone affected.”

Nguyen Bach Huong, a regular visitor from District 10, added, “This is my go-to mall for weekends and holidays. While I’m saddened by these incidents, I understand the mall has done its best to ensure safety. I’ll continue supporting them.”

Retailers have also felt the impact. “This is the third incident in under two months,” said Quoc Khanh, a cosmetics vendor on the fifth floor. “Business is down. Customers are hesitant. But the new safety net and raised glass give us some reassurance.”

Fashion clerk My Linh, who works on the fourth floor, shared, “I’ve witnessed three jumps. It’s haunting. The nets are necessary, even though they cover the beautiful skylights. I hope it discourages further attempts.”

After the April 26 tragedy, one store shut down operations, and contaminated merchandise had to be destroyed due to health concerns. “It affects our income and morale,” another vendor said.

Global perspective and long-term plans


The safety glass barriers on floors 6 and 7 have been raised from 1.4 meters to 1.7 meters. Photo: Tuan Kiet.

Van Hanh Mall’s response echoes safety strategies used globally. Protective netting has been deployed in various buildings and public venues worldwide, including malls in Australia and government buildings in India. Most notably, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco installed 6-meter-wide stainless steel nets along both sides of the bridge in early 2024 after decades of suicide-related incidents.

The mall emphasized that while safety is a priority, long-term solutions will also consider aesthetics. Plans are underway to redesign the atrium areas with improved visuals to integrate the safety systems into a more welcoming shopping environment.

Opened in 2018, Van Hanh Mall is one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most prominent commercial complexes, located in District 10 with a total area of 90,000 square meters, including 55,000 square meters of retail space. It houses hundreds of fashion, food, and entertainment brands and is a popular destination, especially for the city’s youth.

The mall is backed by investor Tran Le Nguyen, a well-known Vietnamese-Chinese businessman and CEO of KIDO Group. Under his leadership, KIDO has expanded from food into retail and real estate, with Van Hanh Mall being its second major commercial project after Hung Vuong Plaza.

Despite ongoing economic challenges, Van Hanh Mall welcomed nearly 1 million visitors monthly in early 2023- double its pre-pandemic numbers in 2019.

The recent tragedies have sparked concern, but also solidarity.

“We’re still here, with more than 1,000 employees working hard each day. We thank our customers and partners for standing by us,” a mall representative stated.


VietBF@ Sưu tập

The owner of the American International School Vietnam (AISVN) has been arrested for disrupting public order and inciting vandalism in front of the school's gate.

Ho Chi Minh City police said Nguyen Thi Ut Em, 62, the school owner, and two other people, Do Linh Phuong and Nguyen Thanh Trieu, are under investigation on charges of "disturbance of public order."

Investigators alleged that in late March, amid a dispute over the school’s management, Em and a group of individuals gathered at the AISVN campus gate and caused a public disturbance, affecting security and social order.

Ho Chi Minh City Inspectorate has also asked the police to probe into suspected illegal capital mobilization by the AISVN American International Education Joint Stock Company through loan and education investment contracts signed with students' parents.


Founded in 2006, AISVN offers curricula under the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.

Annual tuition ranges from VND280–350 million (US$11,000–13,750) for kindergarten, VND450–500 million for primary school, and VND600–725 million for middle and high school. The school employs around 130 foreign teachers, 26 Vietnamese teachers, and over 100 staff members.

AISVN drew public attention in late 2023 when a group of parents demanded repayment of debts. They claimed the school had borrowed tens of billions of dong without interest or collateral, under the guise of loan and investment contracts.

In return, their children were offered free tuition, with the school promising to repay the money after the students graduated or transferred to other schools. However, the parents said they never received the promised repayments.

VietBF@ Sưu tập

Police in Canada are investigating the death of a 21-year-old female student whose body was discovered on Sunday in a park along the shore of the Ottawa River.

The Indian High Commission in Ottawa has identified the student as Vanshika Saini, an Indian national. According to CTV News, she had been missing for several days before her body was found.

Saini had moved to Ottawa about two and a half years ago to pursue higher education. On the evening of April 25, she reportedly left her home to inspect a rental room.

When she failed to attend an important exam the following morning, a friend attempted to contact her, but her phone had been switched off, The Mirror reported.

The cause of her death remains unknown. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing.

The Indian High Commission expressed its deep sorrow in a social media post, stating it is in close contact with Saini’s family and local Indian community associations.

Prior to the discovery of her body, the High Commission had shared letters from local Hindu community members urging Ottawa police to conduct a thorough investigation into her disappearance.

The world's oldest person, Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas, died on April 30 at the age of 116. She had barely survived infancy and attributed her extraordinary longevity to God and her religious order, according to two longevity research organizations.

With Canabarro’s passing, the title of world’s oldest living person now passes to Ms. Ethel Caterham, a 115-year-old resident of Surrey, England, according to the U.S. Gerontological Research Group (GRG) and the LongeviQuest database.

Born on June 8, 1908, Canabarro became the world’s oldest person earlier this year, following the death of 116-year-old Japanese woman Tomiko Itooka in January.

The Congregation of Teresian Sisters of Brazil, to which Canabarro belonged, announced her death in a statement expressing gratitude “for the dedication and devotion” she had shown throughout her life.

According to LongeviQuest, Canabarro was a frail child and "many doubted she would survive." Despite the odds, she went on to live more than a century and became a nun in 1934 at the age of 26, during the years between the two World Wars.

Canabarro credited her long life to her faith. “He is the secret of life. He is the secret of everything,” she once said, referring to God.

On her 110th birthday, she received a special blessing from Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88.

Although Canabarro herself claimed she was born on May 27, 1908, GRG director Robert Young confirmed her documented birth date as June 8, 1908.

LongeviQuest noted that Canabarro was the 15th-oldest documented person in recorded history and the second-oldest nun, after France’s Lucile Randon, who lived to the age of 118 and died in 2023.

According to health experts, the color of an apple can reveal a lot about its nutritional benefits. Different varieties of apples offer distinct health advantages, and choosing the right one can help address specific dietary needs.

Red apples, for example, are packed with powerful antioxidants. Kelley Springer, a registered dietitian and nutrition expert with the New York Apple Association, explained that red apples tend to have higher levels of antioxidants than lighter-skinned apples. Diane Lindsay-Adler, a registered dietitian nutritionist at Boston Children's Health Physicians, also noted that red apples are rich in anthocyanins. These compounds help reduce inflammation and strengthen the body’s defenses against chronic diseases.

Antioxidants in general play a vital role in protecting cells from damage caused by free radicals. These harmful molecules contribute to oxidative stress, which is linked to aging and a range of chronic diseases. By including antioxidant-rich foods like red apples in your diet, you can reduce oxidative stress and support better overall health.

Green apples, on the other hand, contain chlorophyll, which gives them their bright color. Chlorophyll is being studied for its potential cancer-fighting properties. Though the research is still ongoing, early findings suggest it may help prevent the development of cancerous tumors, according to Lindsay-Adler.

In addition to their antioxidant potential, green apples also have a lower sugar content compared to red or yellow varieties. This makes them especially suitable for individuals who are watching their sugar intake or managing conditions like diabetes. Their tart flavor and high fiber content also aid digestion and make them a refreshing, hydrating snack.

Yellow apples offer their own set of health benefits. They are rich in carotenoids—compound s known for supporting eye health and potentially reducing the risk of certain cancers. Carotenoids are the pigments responsible for the yellow and orange hues in many fruits and vegetables and are especially valued for their role in preventing vision problems as we age.

In conclusion, while all apples are nutritious and beneficial, their colors indicate different strengths. Green apples are ideal for people seeking a low-sugar, fiber-rich option. Red apples provide a powerful dose of antioxidants that can combat inflammation and chronic illness. Yellow apples contribute to eye health and may offer protection against cancer thanks to their carotenoid content.

No matter which variety you choose, adding an apple to your daily routine is a simple way to support your overall health. From digestion to blood sugar control, each bite can contribute to a healthier lifestyle.

An unprecedented power outage on Monday brought much of Spain and Portugal to a halt, causing widespread disruption to daily life, transportation, and communications across the Iberian Peninsula. Millions of residents lost access to electricity, phone and internet coverage, and even cash withdrawals from ATMs. The blackout left authorities scrambling to determine its cause as trains stalled, cities were paralyzed, and emergency services stretched thin.

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez addressed the public, explaining that nearly 11 hours after the collapse, the exact cause remained unknown. The prime minister described the scale of the failure as historic, noting that at 12:33 p.m., Spain's power grid lost 15 gigawatts—approximat ely 60% of the country's energy demand—in just five seconds. This led to a total system crash, an event the country had never experienced before.

Eduardo Prieto, head of operations at Spain’s national grid operator Red Eléctrica, called the event "exceptional and extraordinary." By 11 p.m., about half of the country’s power had been restored, and Sánchez promised that the rest of the nation’s electricity supply would be fully functional by the end of Tuesday.

This massive outage was the second major power failure to hit Europe in less than six weeks. In March, a fire at London’s Heathrow Airport also caused severe disruptions. The latest incident added to growing fears of potential sabotage, possibly linked to international tensions. However, the Portuguese National Cybersecurity Center stated there was no evidence pointing to a cyberattack, a conclusion echoed by Teresa Ribera, a senior official at the European Commission, who labeled the incident one of the most serious in modern European energy history.

The outage hit both countries at midday, throwing cities like Madrid, Lisbon, and Barcelona into chaos. Traffic lights failed, subways and trains stopped, and thousands of workers were sent home as offices closed early. More than 35,000 passengers had to be evacuated from over 100 trains stranded on the tracks in Spain. By late evening, 11 trains still had passengers awaiting evacuation.

Public transport was paralyzed. In Madrid, hundreds of people stranded at a bus stop for the airport resorted to hitchhiking. “I’ve been here for almost three hours,” said Jessica Fernández, one of the many trying to find a ride. “This is terrifying.” In Barcelona, commuters struggled to find any working public transport, with buses unable to accommodate the growing crowds.

The blackout disrupted critical infrastructure as well. Hospitals and emergency services switched to backup generators, gas stations shut down, and mobile networks failed. Communication was limited, with most phone calls not going through. People resorted to using apps when possible or searched for battery-powered radios for updates.

While the mainland was heavily impacted, Spain’s territories including the Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, and North African enclaves Ceuta and Melilla were spared. Following an emergency meeting of Spain's National Security Council, the military was ordered to distribute generators and supplies to the worst-affected areas starting Tuesday.

In Portugal, the government held an emergency session at Prime Minister Luis Montenegro’s residence. Montenegro spoke repeatedly with Sánchez and said he expected power restoration by day's end. According to Portuguese officials, the blackout appeared to stem from issues beyond their borders.

To speed up recovery, Spain pulled electricity from neighboring Morocco and France and ramped up output from hydroelectric and thermal power plants. Sánchez expressed gratitude to the Moroccan and French governments for their support during the crisis.

Investigations are ongoing, and while no definitive cause has been established, the event has prompted urgent reviews of infrastructure resilience across the region.

Thailand’s central bank has lowered its key interest rate by 0.25 percentage points for the second straight meeting, aiming to support the nation’s faltering economy amid mounting trade tensions with the United States. The new rate of 1.75% is now the lowest in two years, reflecting growing concern over the country’s economic trajectory. This decision, made by a 5-2 vote of the Bank of Thailand's monetary policy committee, comes on the heels of a similar rate cut in February.

The central bank also downgraded its economic growth forecast for 2025 to just 2.0%, citing uncertainty over prolonged U.S.-Thailand trade negotiations and the persistence of steep U.S. tariffs. In a more severe scenario, where trade tensions escalate further and tariffs increase, growth could sink as low as 1.3% this year. Even under its baseline scenario, growth in 2026 is projected to reach only 1.8%, or potentially drop to 1% if conditions worsen.

Thailand has been especially vulnerable to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff measures, with a potential 36% tariff looming if no deal is reached by July. The central bank emphasized that U.S. trade actions and retaliatory responses from other global powers will significantly reshape the world’s economic and financial landscape—changes that are only just beginning and carry deep uncertainty.

Assistant Governor Sakkapop Panyanukul acknowledged the limitations of monetary policy in this environment, noting there is still room for action but not much. "The monetary policy stance has changed. We are now in a period of easing," he stated. He also warned that Thailand could be on the verge of a technical recession—defined as two consecutive quarters of negative growth.

The central bank’s next rate-setting meeting is scheduled for June 25.

Economically, Thailand has been underperforming compared to its regional peers, growing only 2.5% in 2024. The Bank of Thailand also lowered its inflation forecast for 2025 to 0.5%—well below the target range of 1% to 3%—and reduced core inflation expectations to 0.9%.

Exports are expected to grow by just 0.8% this year, down sharply from the previous 2.7% projection. Tourism, a key pillar of the Thai economy, also looks set to take a hit, with the bank cutting its forecast for foreign arrivals from 39.5 million to 37.5 million.

While the Thai baht gained slightly following the rate cut, rising 0.4%, and the main stock index (.SETI) rose 2%, analysts believe further rate cuts are unlikely in the near term. Miguel Chanco of Pantheon Macroeconomics noted that the monetary policy committee is likely to adopt a cautious, wait-and-see approach given the ongoing tariff uncertainty.

Attachment 2519659


Despite promises to cut spending during the campaign and his first few months in office, President Trump's federal government has spent more than $200 billion more in his first 100 days compared to the same time period last year.

By John Kelly, Nancy Cordes, Julia Ingram

In fact, the government is now spending more, day to day, than was spent in nine of the last 10 years. The exception: 2021, when the government was spending trillions to fight the coronavirus pandemic and prevent an economic disaster.

CBS News analyzed the Treasury Department's daily financial reports to track the money flowing out of every government account each day since Mr. Trump returned to office. Here's a breakdown of what we found for spending through April 29. We will be tracking and updating the spending throughout the year.



Some might ask how that's possible given the high-profile repeated announcements of layoffs, canceled contracts, claims of fraud elimination by Mr. Trump and the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency and belt-tightening across the administration.

The answer partly lies in the fundamentals of the government's budget when it comes to big-ticket expenditures that the White House can't fully control or massive changes to the way the U.S. pays for aging Americans' retirements and medical care.

The rest of the answer is politics. The conservative base that elected Mr. Trump and the Republican majorities in Congress may not support cutting the other biggest share of federal spending, the operations of the U.S. military and caring for veterans.

Take a look at some of the areas representing the largest spending and largest increases in Mr. Trump's first 100 days compared to the same time period in prior years.

According to our analysis of the Treasury Department's daily reports on accounts, many of the largest persistently rising costs are direct payments to the military and seniors.

The federal government's habit of spending more money than it takes in means the national debt is growing. Paired with higher interest rates, the daily price tag of paying the interest on the debt is skyrocketing. The amount over the last three months is about double the amount paid out just three years earlier.

And the daily payments on bonds and other securities that show up in the Treasury Daily Statement cover only cash interest paid to public debt holders. There are other elements of the government's debt obligations that only add to the cost.

Payments due rise on U.S. Treasury securities

One way the Trump administration can impact the budget is through the civilian workforce, and that's been a focal point of Musk and DOGE via layoffs and buyouts. But many of those attempts are facing legal challenges that have delayed or reversed firings.

Despite the announced staff reductions, one of the biggest areas of the increasing spending in the beginning of Mr. Trump's second term remains federal salaries. Workers were given a 2% raise when then-President Biden signed an executive order two days before Christmas, a move allowed because of Congress' inaction on permanent federal budgets.

Federal employees salaries and retirement

Combined, it's the military and veterans, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and debt payments driving the lion's share of federal spending over the last decade. In the last full fiscal year, they accounted for nearly two-thirds of federal government outlays. That breakdown has barely changed over the last decade.

Makeup of federal government spending, FY24

Defense, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and debt payments amounted to 62% of all outlays in FY24. Each of these categories are about the same for the last 10 years.

The vast majority of the attempted cutting so far by DOGE has been outside those areas, focused on smaller targets that might prove popular with President Trump's political base, such as foreign aid, the Education Department and grants to colleges and universities.

"If the savings are rather small and the pain is high, DOGE is going to be a liability," said Nat Malkus, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, who has been tracking DOGE's work.

"If you really want to cut federal spending, you're going to have to cut into the programs where the lion's share of the money is. That's Medicare and Medicaid, Social Security and we spend a lot of money on interest," Malkus said.

There are some significant one-year spending reductions in some agencies and spending categories.

A look at DOGE cuts advertised

Musk's DOGE team has focused its attention on many smaller spenders among federal programs.

DOGE's website claims the task force has already saved that much, at $160 billion, between canceling grants, contracts and leases and making cuts to the federal workforce. On its "wall of receipts" site online, the office reports the largest reductions so far come from the Department of Health and Human Services, General Services Administration, Department of Education, Department of Labor and Office of Personnel Management.

Only about $60 billion, or less than 40%, of that alleged savings are itemized on the office's online "wall of receipts" and even those itemizations have included errors and lax documentation.

In his work at the American Enterprise Institute, Malkus said his review indicates the savings is more likely to be around $80 billion.

Even the $160 billion advertised as saved so far by DOGE would be tiny in the context of the larger federal budget and national debt.



The administration has already spent more than $200 billion more than last year in a little over three months, according to CBS News' analysis of Treasury reports.

The advertised savings represents less than 2% of a full year's national budget. That's akin to a family with $10,000 in monthly spending trimming its bills by $200 a month.

The supporters of the administration's cost-cutting efforts have characterized it as necessary to root out fraud and waste and to take a bite out of the national debt. However, the Treasury Department reports that debt stands at $36 trillion as of this week.

The $160 billion advertised DOGE savings is about 0.5% of the debt, so the reduction from DOGE's efforts would be like a family with $10,000 in credit card balances paying it down by $50.

An independent analysis by the Partnership for Public Service, a nonpartisan nonprofit that studies the federal workforce, also reported recently that the disruptions caused by the DOGE cuts may have cost taxpayers $135 million.

Musk recently said his work with DOGE is winding down.

Explore the spending details yourself

You can explore the government's daily account ledgers for yourself. We've isolated the money spent by category in the first few months of the Trump administration compared to the same time period in each of the last 10 years.

You can search for agencies or spending categories below to see the change over time and how much or less is being spent during this first 100 days of the Trump administration. We've limited the table to agencies and categories with at least $100 million in spending since Jan. 20, 2025.



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Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who has long clashed with Ottawa over energy and environmental policies, has rolled out a bill making it easier for residents to force a provincial referendum, although she insisted her government would not push for a vote on separation.

From theglobeandmail

Ms. Smith, who in March threatened a national unity crisis unless Canada‘s next prime minister implements her policy wish-list, said Tuesday that most MPs elected in the federal election pledged to develop resources and work with provinces to establish ways to get products to market.

The Premier said she will ask Prime Minister Mark Carney, who led the Liberals to victory on Monday, to pursue energy policies friendly to her province and the oil and gas industry, which she said would align with how he pitched himself on the campaign trail.

“His mandate comes from moderate voters who actually want this province to be a genuine energy superpower, and for the country to be a genuine energy superpower,” Ms. Smith told reporters.

A small but vocal faction of Alberta‘s right-leaning voters has been pressing for the province to leave Confederation, especially now that the federal Liberals secured their fourth consecutive term.

On Tuesday, Ms. Smith unveiled a sheaf of changes to acts governing democracy and election financing in the province. They include lowering the number of eligible signatures necessary to trigger a referendum or recall a politician, and extending the time frame in which the names must be collected.

Alberta‘s governing United Conservative Party will also hold a “special caucus meeting” Friday to discuss the province’s future given the federal government remains under Liberal control, the Premier said in a statement.

Michael DeMoor, an associate professor who teaches politics at The King’s University in Edmonton, said Ms. Smith could have adopted a more emollient tone toward Mr. Carney in response to him showing a willingness to advance new pipelines and conventional energy projects in his victory speech.

“The lack of acknowledgment of that, I thought, was pretty significant,” Prof. DeMoor said. “Her preference will be to continue to take a hard line.”

Ms. Smith said her government would not lead the charge for a referendum on Alberta‘s independence, but she is not deterring would-be separatists, either.

“In the weeks and months ahead, Albertans will have an opportunity to discuss our province’s future, assess various options for strengthening and protecting our province against future hostile acts from Ottawa, and to ultimately choose a path forward,” she said in a statement Tuesday.

“As Premier, I will facilitate and lead this discussion and process with the sincere hope of securing a prosperous future for our province within a united Canada that respects our province’s constitutional rights, facilitates rather than blocks the development and export of our abundant resources, and treats us as a valued and respected partner within Confederation.”

Ms. Smith’s new proposals also include reintroducing corporate and union donations to parties, constituency associations, prospective candidate associations, leadership contestants and third-party election advertisers, including those campaigning in referendums. It also eased spending limits, among other changes.

Both the provincial New Democratic Party and the UCP previously took steps to limit the amount of corporate and union money in the electoral system.

Cameron Davies – a conservative strategist who leads the Republican Party of Alberta, which wants a government-led, binding referendum on independence – scoffed at Ms. Smith’s overtures to the province’s potential separatists.

Mr. Davies, who recently left as a member of the UCP, said Ms. Smith’s legislative tweaks and listening tour are akin to the government’s previous penchant for letters and lawsuits: ineffective ways to change the relationship between Alberta and Ottawa.

By leaving it to citizens to pursue an independence referendum, the UCP is sloughing off what he called a growing movement in Alberta, he said: “They are looking to pass the buck.”

In Monday’s federal election, the Conservatives captured all but three of Alberta‘s 37 ridings. The NDP held Edmonton Strathcona, a lone spot of orange in a sea of blue in Alberta and Saskatchewan, while the Liberals retained control of Edmonton Centre and won in Calgary Confederation.

In Saskatchewan, the Conservatives won 13 of 14 seats, with the Liberals picking up the northern outlier.

Ms. Smith, ahead of the campaign, told a right-leaning podcast in the United States that Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was aligned with U.S. President Donald Trump. Experts speculated that Ms. Smith’s threats over national unity and her portrait of Mr. Poilievre may have cost the Conservatives votes, particularly outside of Alberta. Mr. Poilievre lost his seat in Ontario.

The Premier rejected the suggestion she might be in part responsible for the Conservatives’ crash landing.

“I don’t think I was in the media in the last two weeks. I was travelling,” she said Tuesday, noting the vote “fortified” over that period. “Whatever happened over the last two weeks, I would say, was the result of campaigning by the federal parties.”

Mr. Poilievre, Ms. Smith said, deserves to remain as the leader of the federal Conservatives. His party’s winning MPs owe their victories to him, she said.

“He can find another riding where it may be a little bit easier to win,” the Premier said, adding that “he just didn’t spend as much time in his home riding to secure the win back home.”