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Boston Bombing Suspect Manhunt: Live Updates

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The Boston Marathon bombing suspect is changing minute by minute. Below, a continually updating storyline that will be live — refresh the page every 5-10 minutes or so — until this situation is over.

[View the story “Boston Bombing Suspect Manhunt: Live Updates” on Storify]

Boston Bombing Suspect Manhunt: Live Updates

Storified by David Badash· Fri, Apr 19 2013 17:35:41

BREAKING NEWS: Globe photographer can hear police say, “We know you’re in there. Come out on your own terms. Come out with your hands up.”The Boston Globe
BREAKING NEWS: Three people taken into custody in New Bedford as part of Boston Marathon terror bombing investigation.The Boston Globe
PHOTO: Law enforcement approach an area where the bombing suspect is reportedly hiding #manhunt pic.twitter.com/wDd2n43KbmThe Boston Globe
BREAKING NEWS: Neighbors say police officers have told them the suspect in the Watertown backyard is covered in blood.Boston.com News
Amtrak is resuming with limited service tonight between NY & Boston. We expect regular service on Saturday.Amtrak
BREAKING PHOTO: Better shot of boat where suspected #BostonMarathon bomber was hiding out. pic.twitter.com/tilsjcOr04 – @PetesWireNewsBreaker
BREAKING PHOTO: Here comes a helicopter with a spotlight pic.twitter.com/WpI2kG5rhCNewsBreaker
7’s Steve Cooper says there’s some concern among police that this suspect has a bomb strapped to his chest #7newsBrad Tatum
The ultimate goal for law enforcement is to take Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in custody alive just like any other suspect. #wcvbKathy Curran
BREAKING NEWS: Police are using ‘flash bangs’ to disorient and distract the suspect. They have seen him sit up.The Boston Globe
BREAKING NEWS: Police are still concerned that the suspect may be wearing a suicide bomb vest, the source tells the Globe.The Boston Globe
Pete Williams. Police “strongly believe he is wounded and … has been there for much of the day”Sam Stein
“Suspect sitting up” on police scanner per Andrea Mitchell on #MSNBC #BostonBombingsGottaLaff
BREAKING NEWS: Police have taken the cover off the boat containing the man believed to be the Marathon bombing suspect. He’s not moving.The Boston Globe
CBS reporting that man is alive in boatJosh Kraushaar
PHOTO: WCVB is reporting that this is the boat where the suspect was hiding behind this Watertown, MA, home pic.twitter.com/vxyZ7o3qnINewsBreaker
Insane. They’re still looking for one of the bombing suspects. This is what Watertown, MA looks like right now. pic.twitter.com/RIa3IQAzqPRay William Johnson
BREAKING: 2 SWAT rescue vehicles have just gone into the perimeter in Watertown, MA pic.twitter.com/OBF6qlt0qONewsBreaker
PHOTO: Shots fired scene centered on Franklin Street in Watertown. pic.twitter.com/WPZkeEoNfu – @TomlinMNewsBreaker
PHOTO: Robot being deployed in Watertown neighborhood where incident is unfolding (WHDH) twitpic.com/ckiidf – @passantinoNewsBreaker
Live Stream right now: Shots fired in Watertown via WCVB Channel 5 Boston fb.me/sC2geJQ6Latino Rebels
BREAKING NEWS: Marathon bombings suspect pinned down in Watertown, according to source.The Boston Globe
CNN: Rapid Flurry Of Gunfire In Watertown livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/cnn-rapi… via @benjysarlinTPM Livewire
INTERPOL issues global security alert in connection with #Boston marathon bombings at request of #US authoritiesinterpol.int/en/News-and-me…INTERPOL
Seen in #Boston pic.twitter.com/0rf6KXmrFMKaila
#MBTA UPDATE: Limited Service has RESUMED on ALL #MBTA modes except the Commuter Rail. MBCR will resume tomorrow (Saturday Schedule).MBTA
Czech Republic clarifies that the Czech Republic is not Chechnya. Good job, good effort, Internet. bit.ly/11mQIyyBenjy Sarlin
Retweet, subtweet, or just take it! Just spread it. #Manhunt #Watertown #Boston #BostonBombing pic.twitter.com/G5tHhRNZKAAnonymous
“@1045CHUMFM: It’s surreal seeing #Boston so deserted as the #manhunt continues -Ashley pic.twitter.com/5x2aR8qZBw”Sam D
so much freedom and democracy in boston right now i mean i remember this mission on modern warfare 2 pic.twitter.com/RpeW7Jmpinkieran
Gov Deval Patrick takes the podium. instagram.com/p/YSRgBypGgz/Garrett Quinn
MA Governor Patrick: The stay indoors request is lifted in the Boston area; the T transportation system will re-open shortly.CNBC
“We do not have an apprehension of our suspect this afternoon, but we will.” — MA State Police Col. Albenjennifer bendery
Rep. Peter King, who sits on House Intel Committee, on CNN: “No evidence at all” Boston bombers are tied to overseas terrorist groups.jennifer bendery
From CBS’ Bob Orr: FBI interviewed Tamarlan Tsarnaev 2 yrs ago abt extremist ties, found nothing & closed file. More on CBS Evening NewsMajor Garrett
Police car removed from Watertown shooting scene @nbcnightlynews see window is shot out pic.twitter.com/ILLirFMoMcKerry Sanders
FBI takes computer from NJ sister of bomb suspects #bostonbombings #manhunt bit.ly/10o5SqwNBC Charlotte
The scene at sister’s house in NJ @rtvi #tsarnaev #manhunt #bostonbombing pic.twitter.com/tdbWgkQI2bLev Trubkovich
“They’ve found 7 IEDs”: Michael Isikoff on #MSNBCGottaLaff
Rep. Peter King, who sits on House Intel Committee, on CNN: “No evidence at all” Boston bombers are tied to overseas terrorist groups.jennifer bendery
RT @chucktodd: DHS Sec. Napolitano just entered the West Wing.jennifer bendery
BREAKING: With his brother shot by police, Dzhokhor A. Tsarnaev drove over him, 2 law enforcement officials said. – @BostonDotComNewsBreaker
There are 9000-10,000 law enforcement personnel trying to find one guy right now. #ManHuntMichael Skolnik
PHOTO: As manhunt continues, sign reads ‘Shelter in place remains in effect in #Boston’ pic.twitter.com/M0aT0Gx4AC – @justinjm1NewsBreaker
CBS News: Investigators combing through Boston apt. of bombing suspects; called a “bomb making factory.” – @chrismayphillyNewsBreaker
UPDATE: Seven IEDs recovered so far—in Watertown & some at house in Cambridge, police officials tell NBC. – @RockCenterNBCNewsBreaker
“@OnlyInBOS: UNREAL PHOTO via @MunKYBoii Just got searched for safety measures for the #manhunt in #watertown pic.twitter.com/CffcSKvpJ5″Rachael Gafford
PHOTO: Pres. Obama met with his national security team today on developments in the Boston bombings investigation. pic.twitter.com/z6nh24ZGnMThe White House
Anzor Tsarnaev, father of #Boston bomb suspects Dzhokhar & Tamerlan, says he believes secret services framed sons bbc.in/ZCaItUBBC News (World)
Boston suspects’ father says he believes sons being framed . Also says police investigating #Boston bombings are cowardsCBC News Alerts
Bomb Suspect’s Dad Warns ‘All Hell Will Break Loose’ If Son Dies: The father of suspected Boston Marathon bomb… bit.ly/11LU0LyBBC NEWS
NBC: This AM the President convened a meeting of national security team, in the Situation Room of the White House, to get updates on manhuntNewsBreaker
major mistake from @Fox25news. The White House situation room has been activated. Meaning there is a meeting in it. #PhewMichael Skolnik
CORRECTION: White House situation room was activated. #bostonmarathonFOX 25 News Boston
Friend and former high school classmate, Ty Barros, 21, calls Dzhokhar “a normal regular American kid” to.pbs.org/12sKyxRNewsHour
“He was very gentle, soft spoken. We smoked a lot of weed together, just casual, hanging out.” – Ty Barros on Jahar in high school.Rebecca Ostriker
MIT students are posting their memories of fallen officer Sean Collier here: seancolliermemories.tumblr.com – @AlexJamesFitz pic.twitter.com/qlciC4BukrNewsBreaker
BREAKING: 15 police officers were taken to St. Elizabeth’s Hosp. in Brighton, MA for injuries from last night’s police activity – @ABCNewsBreaker
Kurt Schwartz, Director of Mass Emerg Mgment, says employees in #Boston area who are at work are encouraged to leave work and drive home.Andrea Mitchell
“They’ve gone through about 70% of this area – they have more to go.” Kerry Sanders in #Watertown #Boston #manhunt #bostonbombingAndrea Mitchell
“This is the worst of both worlds–they embedded themselves in US culture–and then they traveled overseas” -Roger Cressey #boston #manhuntAndrea Mitchell
Cressey is a former member of the United States National Security Council
UPDATE: All #Amtrak service is suspended NY to Boston indefinitely. Trains are currently operating as scheduled DC – NY.Amtrak
Acela Express & Northeast Regional service is suspended indefinitely between Providence, RI & Boston due to ongoing police activity.Amtrak Northeast
INCREDIBLE PHOTO OF SWAT TEAMS ON THE STREETS OF WATERTOWN IN BOSTON. #911BUFF twitpic.com/ckglgi911 Operator
Still in wheelchair, @mayortommenino spoke about the strength of #Boston. @NECN #WatertownShooting #WatertownBoston pic.twitter.com/PjFDrMBR5EJustin Michaels
“I don’t have a single American friend.” Profile of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev: b.globe.com/17LsAZRThe Boston Globe
MT @globecynthia: Smart timeline & locator map of events as they unfolded overnight. bostonglobe.com/Page/Boston/20…The Boston Globe
Gov Patrick says “stay indoor request continues for the time being” as the hunt for Boston Marathon bomber continues unabated.The Boston Globe
State Police warns they will do a controlled explosion of items found in Norfolk Street in Cambridge where the brothers lived.The Boston Globe
Bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev became an American citizen on Sept. 11, 2012. (@peteswire, @cbsboston)BuzzFeed News
#RamzanKadyrov, #Chechen Leader, denies #Boston connection through his Instagram. #BostonBombing #BostonMassacre pic.twitter.com/4QHUhTQK97T.L.V
Here’s the translation of Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov’s statement:

“The tragic events took place in Boston. The blast killed people. We have previously expressed their condolences to the people of the city and the people of America. Today, as reported by the media, while trying to arrest a Tsarnaea was killed. It would be logical if he was detained and investigated, found all the circumstances and the degree of his guilt. Apparently, the special services needed by all means to calm the result of society. Any attempt to make the connection between Chechnya and Tsarnaevymi if they are guilty, in vain. They grew up in the United States, their attitudes and beliefs were formed there. It is necessary to seek the roots of evil in America. From terrorism to fight the whole world. We know better than anyone else. We wish recovery to all the victims and share the feelings of sorrow Americans. # # Boston # bombing investigation”
VIDEO: Boston bombing suspects’ Uncle Ruslan: “We’re ashamed” and “they are losers” bzfd.it/15rKKk4BuzzFeed
A high school classmate, Stefanie Gardner, confirms to @buzzfeed’s @rfelliott that this is Tsarnaev’s twitter account buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/…Ben Smith
Classmates recognized the bombing suspects, called the FBI: nytimes.com/2013/04/20/us/…AdamSerwer
I’m in Waterton – this helicopter landed in a shopping mall just a few secs ago #5live #nolan pic.twitter.com/tkxa7rP8zgStephen Nolan
“This has nothing to do with Chechnya….Chechens are peaceful people” – uncle of suspects on MSNBCBenjy Sarlin
Bombing Suspect’s Uncle: ‘It’s Crazy.. I Can’t Believe It’ (VIDEO) livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/bombing-… via @sahilkapurJosh Marshall
Uncle of bombers on MSNBC: “Yes, we’re ashamed. They’re children of my brother, who had little influence on them as much as I know.”Benjy Sarlin
US Muslim Group Condemns Attack, Schedules Press Conference livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/us-musli… via @benjysarlinTPM Livewire
RT @billy_baker: Boston Globe photographers are delivering incredible images right now. bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/04/…Garance Franke-Ruta
MIT release on slain officer Sean Collier, 26, killed in line of duty. RIP bit.ly/15ruXllMajor Garrett
“I can’t believe I went through 4 years of high school & was friends with someone who carried out a terrorist attack” bit.ly/1788W9bMother Jones
EXCLUSIVE: Wrestling Photo, Former Classmate Reactions to Boston Bombing Suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev bit.ly/17waLuNMother Jones
What you should know about Chechnya and the Boston bombing suspects thkpr.gs/Zx3pXyThinkProgress
Update…Recovered —> Car sought in Connecticut in connection to Boston by authorities: ct.gov/despp/cwp/view…Jim Acosta
Clarification: No official confirmation that YouTube user posting extremist videos is same person as Boston suspect bit.ly/117gq8zMother Jones
Classmate: Bombing Suspect Was ‘Class Clown’ shrd.by/SJ6GcrWBZ Boston News
Watch Live Coverage Of WBZ-TV: shrd.by/CA0H70WBZ Boston News
#WANTED: Updated photo of 19 year-old Dzhokhar Tsarnaev released. Suspect considered armed & dangerous. pic.twitter.com/pzps8ovJTbBoston Police Dept.
Authorities say that the 2 Boston bomb suspects are brothers, are legal permanent residents of Chechen origin – @NBCNews, @PeteWilliamsNBCBreaking News
BREAKING NEWS – CONNECTICUT POLICE ASKED TO PUT OUT AN APB FOR HONDA CRV MA TAG #36ES9 POSSIBLE SUSPECT WITH SUICIDE VEST. via – NBC.Anonymous
Car sought in Connecticut in connection to Boston by authorities: ct.gov/despp/cwp/view…Jim Acosta
Wow “@NBCNews: Photo: City on lockdown; an empty Kenmore Square in #Boston, Mass. (via Andrew Golden) pic.twitter.com/FBZrMSqMjy”Ben

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News

‘People Are Really Angry’: Fury Over Musk and DOGE Triggers Spike in Calls to Congress

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Members of Congress say they are being flooded with calls from angry constituents about President Donald Trump’s Director of the Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk, and what he is doing inside the federal government.

“Senators’ phone systems have been overloaded, lawmakers said, with some voters unable to get through to leave a message. The outpouring of complaints and confusion has put pressure on lawmakers to find out more about Musk’s project, heightening tensions between the billionaire tech mogul and the government,” The Washington Post reports.

Republican Lisa Murkowski of Alaska “said the Senate’s phones were receiving 1,600 calls each minute, compared with the usual 40 calls per minute. Many of the calls she’s been receiving are from people concerned about U.S. DOGE Service employees having broad access to government systems and sensitive information. The callers are asking whether their information is compromised and about why there isn’t more transparency about what is happening, she said.”

READ MORE: ‘Bring Him Back’: JD Vance Wants Musk to Rehire 25 Year Old DOGE ‘Kid’ After Racist Posts

On Monday, the Office of U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) said, “We’re receiving reports of phones being offline across the Senate. Our office is immediately at work to address the issue and get our phones online again.”

U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) called it, “a deluge on DOGE”

“Truly our office has gotten more phone calls on Elon Musk and what the heck he’s doing mucking around in federal government than I think anything we’ve gotten in years. … People are really angry,” she told The Post.

On social media, Senator Smith added, “Musk is unpopular because Americans can see that he’s running rampant inside the federal government and no one believes he’s doing this to help us — he’s doing it to help himself. That’s what corruption looks like. I’ve been getting more calls into my office in the last week than any time I can remember. People are mad about it and they should be.”

READ MORE: Trump Inherits Biden’s ‘Astonishing’ Jobs Legacy, But Prices Are Now Climbing on His Watch

“We can hardly answer the phones fast enough. It’s a combination of fear, confusion and heartbreak, because of the importance of some of these programs,” U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) told The Post, saying “he’s been hearing from constituents ‘constantly’ on DOGE and Musk.”

The surge of telephone calls appears to have been going on all week.

“Callers are getting busy signals and voicemail inboxes are full at many U.S. Senate offices as people try to reach out and voice their opinions on President Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks, executive orders and moves to dismantle various federal programs,” the Associated Press reported on Wednesday. “The influx of phone calls — which some in the Senate say are at unprecedented volumes — come as Trump and ally Elon Musk are working to shrink the federal government during the president’s first weeks in office. They are shuttering agencies, temporarily freezing funding and pushing workers to resign, all while staffers with Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency infiltrate departments in a stated effort to root out fraud and abuse.”

READ MORE: Pam Bondi Quietly Disbands DOJ Task Force Targeting Russian Oligarchs

 

Image via Reuters

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‘Bring Him Back’: JD Vance Wants Musk to Rehire 25 Year Old DOGE ‘Kid’ After Racist Posts

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Vice President JD Vance is under fire after encouraging Department of Government Efficiency head Elon Musk to re-hire the 25-year old whose racist posts led to his reported resignation.

The Wall Street Journal broke the story that a “key DOGE staff member who gained access to the Treasury Department’s central-payments system resigned Thursday after he was linked to a deleted social-media account that advocated racism and eugenics.”

“Marko Elez, a 25-year-old who is part of a cadre of Elon Musk lieutenants deployed by the Department of Government Efficiency to scrutinize federal spending, resigned after The Wall Street Journal asked the White House about his connection to the account,” the Journal reported.

According to The Journal, that account posted, “Just for the record, I was racist before it was cool,” and, “You could not pay me to marry outside of my ethnicity.”

READ MORE: Trump Inherits Biden’s ‘Astonishing’ Jobs Legacy, But Prices Are Now Climbing on His Watch

“Normalize Indian hate,” was another post, according to the Journal, which noted that it was “in reference to a post noting the prevalence of people from India in Silicon Valley.”

“The user appeared to have a special dislike for Indian software engineers,” the WSJ added.

That account also posted, according to the Journal, “I would not mind at all if Gaza and Israel were both wiped off the face of the Earth.”

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, a Democrat from Tennessee, wrote on X about the posts, and asked, “Does this not sound like someone shaped by the same ideology that fueled apartheid South Africa?”

U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI) added, “Elon Musk thinks racism is OK, as long as Twitter says so. This man should not be anywhere near our government.”

Journalist Jay Bookman, a columnist for the Georgia Recorder, also weighed in. He wrote, “I wonder what made the kid think racism had suddenly become cool. Who was he hanging out with that would make him think such a curious thing? Elon, do you know?”

READ MORE: Pam Bondi Quietly Disbands DOJ Task Force Targeting Russian Oligarchs

Friday morning, Musk asked his 216 million followers on his social media site X, “Bring back @DOGE staffer who made inappropriate statements via a now deleted pseudonym?”

As of this writing, 78% said “Yes.”

The Vice President, a Republican from Ohio, responded to Musk.

“Here’s my view,” Vance, unprompted, wrote. “I obviously disagree with some of Elez’s posts, but I don’t think stupid social media activity should ruin a kid’s life. We shouldn’t reward journalists who try to destroy people. Ever. So I say bring him back. If he’s a bad dude or a terrible member of the team, fire him for that.”

Critics were quick to chastise the Vice President.

“Then bring him back! You’re the big tough guy with all the power now, right? (or at least you work with those two guys),” scolded former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau. “You don’t get to play the victim anymore and hide behind the mean journalists and the cancel culture libs. You’re in charge now. If you want to hire back the guy who says he’s ‘racist’ and couldn’t be paid to marry outside of his ethnicity – who said he wants to ‘normalize Indian hate’ – do it! Not sure I could look my family in the eye if I did something like that, but maybe you can. So live your truth, pal. Bring back the racist.”

Some were quick to remind Vance that his wife, who has faced attacks from white supremacists, is of Indian heritage.

Technology executive Anil Dash commented, “This is about the CRIME of giving this man access to the treasury — everyone already knows you don’t care about having your wife and children humiliated by your fellow MAGA racists. He’s not a child, and no one appointed him or the other known security threats at DOGE.”

Political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen added, “The husband of an Indian-American wife and the father of 3 Indian-American kids wants to bring back the staffer who posted “normalize Indian hate.”

Others rejected the idea that a 25-year old is just a “kid,” especially since those posts reportedly were made last year.

“He’s either a kid who is too young and stupid to be held accountable for his actions. Or he’s an adult with a taxpayer-funded job that includes having access to American’s most sensitive information, which demands a high standards and accountability. Can’t have it both ways,” noted The Bulwark’s Sarah Longwell.

“So he’s a racist kid with no impulse control, but he should have access to the system that doles out trillions of dollars of the federal budget and see all of our personal information,” observed Daily KOS’s Emily C. Singer.

Others pushed back against Vance’s attack on the media, making clear that America has a right to know.

“Setting aside everything else (i.e. ‘kid’), it would seem to be in the public interest to understand whether someone with such a consequential job is a secret racist,” wrote The Washington Post’s Aaron Blake. “That’s what reporting is. People can react how they will. He’s not only in the arena; he’s a central player.”

“I get that there’s no shame and decency left,” economics writer Joey Politano said, “you can self ID as a racist eugenicist and still have insanely important roles in this admin, but the most insulting thing here is treating a 25 year old like a uwu smol bean child who can’t be held responsible for his actions.”

“A 25-year-old is not a kid. He made blatant and disgusting racist posts in the last few months,” commented veteran Jared Ryan Sears, who writes The Pragmatic Humanist. Quoting what someone said is not ‘ruining their life’ it is reporting. It is shameful to defend such a terrible person while demonizing a journalist for reporting about him.”

Former White House correspondent Sam Youngman offered a big picture view: “Too weak to stand up for his own family. Think he’ll stand up for yours?”

READ MORE: ‘Last Thing I Want Is That Guy’: Dem Warns Against Musk ‘Trying to Control the Airspace’

 

Image via Reuters

 

 

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Trump Inherits Biden’s ‘Astonishing’ Jobs Legacy, But Prices Are Now Climbing on His Watch

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The January jobs report has been released, showing unemployment remaining near historic lows. As President Donald Trump takes over, he is inheriting what one noted economist is calling President Joe Biden’s “astonishing” and “beautiful” jobs record and labor market. But beyond employment figures, key benchmarks, such as the prices of essential goods like eggs, coffee, and gas, are drawing attention—leading some to wonder if last year will be remembered as the actual “golden age” for everyday consumers.

“In many respects, Donald Trump inherited the “golden age” he claims to be ushering in. All he really needs to do is not screw it up,” Reuters editor-at-large Mike Dolan wrote two days after Trump’s inauguration. “In economic and financial terms, the United States has rarely been in better health.”

But President Donald Trump’s tariff threats and economic policies, and his promised “mass deportations,” coupled with his efforts to slash the federal government workforce, could come with strong financial and even personal health costs to everyday Americans.

For the month of January, the unemployment rate dropped, from 4.1% to 4%.

READ MORE: Pam Bondi Quietly Disbands DOJ Task Force Targeting Russian Oligarchs

“Except for January 1970, the unemployment rate is lower today than it was in *every single month* of the 1970s, 80s and 90s,” wrote portfolio manager Eddy Elfenbein. Professor of Economics Justin Wolfers, a frequent cable news guest, responded: “This is an astonishing (and beautiful) fact, and we really ought to celebrate it. The labor market is in terrific shape, and continuing to improve. If the economy continues its momentum (a big if, to be sure), the unemployment rate isn’t far from returning to its fifty year low.”

But according to The New York Times, the “fresh numbers suggest that the labor market may be losing momentum heading into the second administration of President Trump, whose policy agenda — including sharp cuts to federal payrolls and large-scale deportations of unauthorized migrants — could affect both employment and the availability of workers.”

During his campaign, President Trump vowed he would “immediately bring prices down, starting on day one.” That has not happened, and there is little to suggest he has made any tangible progress.

“The U.S. Department of Agriculture now says the price of eggs will likely jump by 20 percent in 2025,” Politico reported this week. “An executive order Trump signed in January placed deregulation at the center of his cost-cutting strategy.”

The White House has suggested Trump’s energy policies will also lead to dramatic price drops for families.

“President Trump is already taking bold action to drive down costs with his executive actions to unleash American energy, and he is working diligently with Secretary Brooke Rollins to address the price of eggs,” White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly told Politico, the news outlet reported.

But the price of eggs is being directly impacted by a massive Bird Flu outbreak across the country, and it does not appear the Trump administration has taken steps to end it. Meanwhile, farmers have had to kill over 148 million birds, including chickens and ducks, to prevent the spread of the disease.

It could get worse.

“The White House is working on an executive order to fire thousands of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services workers, according to people familiar with the matter,” The Wall Street Journal reported in an exclusive on Thursday. “The job cuts under consideration would affect the Department of Health and Human Services, which employs more than 80,000 people and includes the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, in addition to the FDA and CDC.”

READ MORE: ‘Last Thing I Want Is That Guy’: Dem Warns Against Musk ‘Trying to Control the Airspace’

“The agencies,” WSJ added, “are responsible for a range of functions, from approving new drugs to tracing bird-flu outbreaks and researching cancer. A loss of staff could affect the efforts depending on which workers are cut and whether they are concentrated in particular areas.”

Politico adds, “The White House has in recent days taken drastic steps to reorganize USAID and strip the embattled agency of its autonomy. USAID’s headquarters were closed Monday and Secretary of State Marco Rubio named its acting administrator. Trump doubled down on Tuesday, taking steps to put nearly all of the agency’s Washington-based staff on leave.”

“But shutting down an office that fights diseases worldwide will only mean prices stay high, Democrats argue.”

It appears the international health community is concerned.

“The US has the most cases of bird flu in humans globally,” the Financial Times reports. “Scientists have called for increased vaccination of farm workers and more efforts to stem the spread among farm animals as the H5N1 pathogen continues to infect cattle and chickens across the country.”

“It is arguably grossly irresponsible for the US authorities to allow such sustained high level of virus transmission in dairy cattle as this poses such a major threat to global human health,” Professor James Wood, an infectious diseases expert at the UK’s Cambridge University, told FT.

President Trump’s promise to lower the price of gas “on day one” has also not materialized.

“Amid the threat of tariffs, the national average for a gallon of gas ticked up two cents from last week to $3.13,” according to AAA on Thursday, which tracks gas prices.

In addition to Bird Flu and its impacts, there’s reason to believe food costs will continue to rise.

Bloomberg energy and commodities columnist Javier Blas reported Wednesday that “Wholesale Arabica coffee prices rise above $4 per lb in New York — an all-time high and more than double the level of a year ago.”

Blas says “just the threat” of President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Columbia, the world’s third-largest coffee producer, “is enough to scare the market.”

And he’s predicting a “coffee inflation wave” for this year, and says retail coffee prices “are going to go up between 20% and 25% in the next few months.”

Watch the video below or at this link.

READ MORE: Trump Vows to Eradicate ‘Anti-Christian Bias,’ Says ‘We Have to Bring Religion Back’

 

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