Mandatory spending will make it hard for DOGE to cut the government’s budget
The leaders of the forthcoming Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) want to move fast to reduce the federal government’s size and spending. Vivek Ramaswamy, who will co-head the department with Elon Musk, said they will likely start with executive actions, then ask Congress to make budget cuts.
One of the big targets, according to Ramaswamy, will be unelected bureaucrats who write rules and regulations based on the laws of Congress.
“It’s the unelected bureaucrats in the administrative state that was created through executive action, it’s going to be fixed through executive action,” Ramaswamy said on “Sunday Morning Futures” on Fox News Channel.
Ramaswamy said he wants to target government contractors who he says are overcharging for their services. He pointed to the Pentagon for failing seven audits in a row. Over half its budget is spent on military contractors.
Ramaswamy says they want to finish all their work by July 4, 2026.
“We expect certain agencies to be deleted outright,” Ramaswamy said. “We expect mass reductions in force in areas of the federal government that are bloated, we expect massive cuts among federal contractors and others who are over billing the federal government.”
Cutting the budget will not be easy because so much money the government spends is mandatory spending. Federal spending falls into two categories: mandatory and discretionary.
Discretionary spending can be changed every year, it’s totally up to Congress and the President.
Mandatory spending is money the government is legally obligated to pay out because it is written into law. That includes Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment, food assistance and other entitlement programs.
Mandatory spending makes up more than half the government’s expenses. For example in 2023, the federal government’s total outlay was $6.1 trillion, $3.8 trillion was mandatory, $1.7 trillion was discretionary, the rest was spent on interest payments. Of the discretionary spending, $805 billion was on defense, which lawmakers typically increase every year. That leaves $917 billion on non-defense spending, which is only about 15% of the government’s budget.
Elon Musk said he wants to cut at least $2 trillion in government spending, that would require cuts to both discretionary and mandatory programs.
Trump attends UFC event in NYC as he makes more presidential picks
President-elect Donald Trump returned to Madison Square Garden to see the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) pay-per-view event on Saturday, Nov. 16. It was the first time Trump was back at the New York City venue since his rally last month and he received roaring applause from the UFC crowd, including chants of “USA! USA!”
Trump was joined by friend and UFC President Dana White, as well as some of the names he’s recently picked to join his administration: Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Tulsi Gabbard. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Trump’s oldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, were also in attendance.
The president-elect also shook hands with Joe Rogan, one of the commentators for the event. Trump was a guest on Rogan’s podcast in the days leading up to the election.
Trump’s weekend also involved filling more key positions in his administration, including nominating Chris Wright to lead the Department of Energy. Wright is the chief executive of Liberty Energy, a Denver, Colorado-based fracking company.
He also picked current FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr to be the agency’s chairman. Carr recently made headlines after claiming Vice President Kamala Harris’ appearance on “Saturday Night Live” violated FCC rules.
More nominations from the president-elect are expected to come this week.
Biden allows Ukraine to strike Russia with long-range US missiles
With North Korea entering the war, the Biden administration is now allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles inside Russia. And President-elect Donald Trump returned to New York for a UFC showdown this weekend while also making more presidential picks. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Nov. 18, 2024.
Biden allows Ukraine to strike Russia with long-range US missiles
It’s been nearly three years since Russia invaded Ukraine, and while the U.S. has supported Ukraine since the start, President Joe Biden is now easing limitations on how U.S.-supplied weapons can be used.
The policy shift comes as President Biden’s time in office winds down and President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to limit U.S. support for Ukraine. Trump has also promised to quickly put an end to the war with Russia but has yet to say how.
Biden’s decision comes as Russia unleashed a barrage of its own missiles in Ukraine Sunday, Nov. 17. Ukrainian authorities said 10 people, including two children, were killed and dozens injured in a Russian strike on a residential building in Sumy, near the Russian border.
Earlier in the day, Russia launched its largest attack against Ukraine since August, once again targeting power plants and energy infrastructure across the country. Ukrainian authorities said at least five people were killed in those strikes.
On the social site Telegram, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said about 120 missiles and 90 drones were fired into the country, with Ukrainian air defenses downing more than 140 targets.
Israeli strike in Beirut kills Hezbollah’s top spokesman
An Israeli strike on a neighborhood in Beirut killed Hezbollah’s top spokesman, according to the militant group.
Mohammed Afif was an adviser to the late Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, whom Israel killed in an attack on Beirut in September. Afif had been responsible for Hezbollah’s media relations since 2014.
Lebanon’s health ministry said no evacuation warning was issued before the strike, which happened in the middle of the day, and four people were killed.
🔴ELIMINATED: Chief Propagandist and Spokesperson of Hezbollah, Mohammed Afif
Afif was a senior Hezbollah military operative, in contact with senior officials and directly involved in advancing and executing Hezbollah’s terrorist activities against Israel.
The Israel Defense Forces said it carried out a “precise, intelligence-based strike” that “eliminated the terrorist Mohammed Afif, the chief propagandist and spokesperson of the Hezbollah terrorist organization.”
Trump attends UFC event in New York City, makes more picks for 2nd term
Over the weekend, President-elect Trump returned to Madison Square Garden to see the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s pay-per-view event. It was the first time Trump was back at the New York City venue since his rally last month and he received roaring applause from the UFC crowd Saturday night, Nov. 16, including chants of “USA!”
Trump was joined by friend and UFC President Dana White, as well as some of the names he’s recently picked to join his administration, including Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Tulsi Gabbard. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Trump’s oldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, were also in attendance.
The president-elect also shook hands with Joe Rogan, one of the commentators for the event. Trump was a guest on Rogan’s podcast in the days leading up to the election.
Trump’s weekend also involved filling more key positions in his administration, including nominating Chris Wright to lead the Department of Energy. Wright is the chief executive of Liberty Energy, a Denver, Colorado based fracking company.
He also picked current FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr to be the agency’s chairman. Carr recently made headlines after claiming Vice President Kamala Harris’ appearance on Saturday Night Live violated FCC rules.
More nominations from the president-elect are expected to come this week.
Biden becomes first sitting president to visit Amazon rainforest
President Biden made history Sunday, Nov. 17, becoming the first sitting president to visit the Amazon rainforest.
While there, Biden met indigenous leaders and visited a museum at the gateway to the amazon. He also toured the drought-shrunken waters of the Amazon River’s greatest tributary and signed a U.S. proclamation designating Nov. 17 International Conservation Day, highlighting his commitment to the preservation of the region.
He also touched on concerns the incoming Trump administration might change U.S. climate policy.
“It’s no secret that I’m leaving office in January,” Biden said. “I will leave my successor and my country in a strong foundation to build on if they choose to do so.”
Today I issued an official proclamation to support the conservation of nature around the world.
That was the most that Biden publicly referenced President-elect Trump during his South American tour.
The transition was briefly mentioned during Chinese president Xi Jinping’s remarks on Saturday, Nov. 16 during his final meeting with Biden. While he also did not mention Trump by name, Xi appeared to signal his concern over what the new administration could mean for China’s relationship with the U.S. During his campaign, Trump promised to levy 60% tariffs on Chinese imports.
Reports: WBD, NBA settle with 11-year deal; ‘Inside the NBA’ to air on ABC
Warner Brothers Discovery is back in the game when it comes to the NBA. Though the company will no longer be airing games on its TNT network after this season, the Wall Street Journal and other outlets report the two sides have come to an agreement to keep NBA programming in the Warner Bros. family.
The reports said the new deal will settle Warner Brothers Discovery’s breach of contract lawsuit, which it filed against the league after the NBA signed rights deals with Disney’s ESPN, Comcast’s NBC, and Amazon.
This 11-year agreement will see NBA content remain on Warner Bros. Discovery’s digital platforms Bleacher Report and House of Highlights. It also gives Warner Brothers Discovery the right to distribute games overseas in places such as northern Europe and parts of Latin America, excluding Mexico and Brazil.
Reports said Warner Brothers Discovery also struck a deal with Disney to license its popular TNT show “Inside the NBA,” featuring former-players-turned-commentators Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley starting next season. The show will air throughout the season on ABC and ESPN.
The deals are expected to be officially announced this week.
Netflix says 60 million households tuned in live for Tyson vs. Paul
Netflix also said 50 million households watched the co-main event that saw Katie Taylor retain her championship against Amanda Serrano. The streaming giant said that would make it the most-watched professional women’s sporting event in United States history.
Netflix said more information, like total viewers, will be released later this week.
Netflix’s future live sporting events will include NFL games on Christmas Day and WWE weekly programming starting next year.
Trump team eyes changes to 1974 law to enable Musk’s budget overhaul plans
President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement of a commission led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to overhaul federal spending is raising constitutional concerns about executive authority. The commission, unofficially dubbed the “Department of Government Efficiency,” aims to cut up to $2 trillion from the federal budget, but legal experts warn that bypassing Congress could lead to a constitutional clash.
Trump, Musk and Ramaswamy envision the commission as a watchdog on government spending. Musk has pledged to make recommendations and publicize federal expenses considered wasteful.
They aim to reduce funding for outdated programs, streamline agencies and apply business principles to federal budgets. However, the plan’s legality is in question due to the 1974 Impoundment Control Act, which prevents the executive branch from withholding funds allocated by Congress.
X @elonmusk
The Trump administration has floated the idea of challenging or amending the Impoundment Control Act, potentially giving the White House more budgetary control. Trump’s allies, buoyed by the conservative-leaning Supreme Court, are optimistic that the court might support these reforms.
Supporters argue that increasing executive power over spending is essential to addressing the national debt, which has reached $36 trillion. Russell Vought, Trump’s former budget director and vocal advocate for such reforms, claims the 1974 law limits the president’s authority to reduce waste and has labeled it unconstitutional.
Meanwhile, critics argue that circumventing Congress could endanger the balance of power. Legal scholars caution that allowing any White House to unilaterally cancel spending could set a dangerous precedent. Others, like former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, advocate working with Congress rather than sidestepping it.
As Trump prepares to take office, a potential showdown over the scope of executive power could be one of the first major legal battles of his administration.
Musk, Ramaswamy to lead Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency
President-elect Trump has created the Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. And new details on a deadly massive explosion at a Kentucky food dye plant. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024.
Musk, Ramaswamy to lead Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency
Trump said Musk will be joined by entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy in leading the department. The president-elect said the two businessmen will help his administration “dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies.”
Trump added the department will provide guidance from outside the government and “send shockwaves through the system.” The statement said Musk and Ramaswamy’s work will conclude no later than July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Musk, who also owns X, said on the social media site Tuesday night that all actions of the department will be posted online for “maximum transparency.”
Both Musk and Ramaswamy endorsed Trump during the 2024 campaign, with Ramaswamy doing so after dropping out of the race in January.
Along with meeting President Biden at the White House Wednesday, President-elect Trump is expected to also meet with Republicans at the Capitol as the GOP prepares to take control of both chambers of Congress, though some House races have still yet to be called.
The 44-year-old Army veteran is currently the host of Fox News channel’s “Fox and Friends Weekend.” Hegseth joined the network in 2014.
Hegseth is a Princeton and Harvard Business School graduate. He served in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Guantanamo Bay and is still a member of the Minnesota Army Reserve.
In a statement, Trump said Hegseth is “tough, smart and a true believer in America first.” He added, “With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice — our military will be great again, and America will never back down.”
Trump also filled other roles Tuesday, including selecting lawyer William McGinley as White House counsel, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as U.S. ambassador to Israel, real estate investor Steve Witkoff as special envoy to the Middle East, and former Congressman John Ratcliffe as CIA director. Ratcliffe served as director of national intelligence in the first Trump administration.
Republican senators to choose new majority leader
While control of the House of Representatives remains undecided, the Senate is firmly in the hands of Republicans after last week’s election and now they’re getting ready for another vote.
House Oversight Committee holding second UFO hearing
The House Oversight Committee is meeting Wednesday to once again talk UFOs. The hearing, which calls the objects by their new preferred name, is titled “Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Exposing the Truth.”
Arrogant bureaucrats in D.C. spend your money and withhold information on UAP while our nation's best pilots give a different story. How does the government expect to gain our trust when they don't trust us with the truth? pic.twitter.com/un2RzRfwrE
2 dead in Louisville plant explosion, nearby homes damaged
New information is emerging about the explosion at a food dye plant in Louisville, Kentucky Tuesday afternoon. CBS and NBC News have reported two people have died, and at least nine others were badly hurt.
Authorities said two people had to be rescued from inside the plant Tuesday, but all employees have been accounted for.
The explosion, which happened in the city’s Clifton neighborhood, damaged nearby homes and residents were evacuated. One homeowner said it was a huge explosion and his entire house shook.
Today was a tough day for our city but we will get through this. I’m praying for everyone who was impacted and I’m incredibly thankful for the first responders who rushed in to save them. pic.twitter.com/cRbmqblph0
The mayor of Louisville said employees who were inside the building “reported normal activity when the explosion occurred.” The cause is under investigation.
This is not the first explosion to happen at that factory. One worker died after a tank exploded in 2003, when the plant had a different owner.
Kraft Heinz pulls school-approved Lunchables off the menu
The school-specific meals made their debut last school year. Kraft Heinz said they were protein-enriched and had reduced levels of saturated fat and sodium to meet the requirements of the national free and reduced-price school lunch program.
However, the meals got pushback from nutrition experts, who were concerned the school versions of Lunchables would confuse parents into thinking store-bought versions were healthier than they are. Then in April, Consumer Reports said it found the school-approved Lunachables actually contained more sodium than their store-bought counterparts.
In a statement, Kraft Heinz said its decision to pull school Lunchables was due to lack of demand.
Bitcoin breaks $85,000. What has Trump promised to do with crypto?
In the days since Donald Trump became president-elect, markets have been breaking records. Cryptocurrency stalwart Bitcoin is on a tear. But how did Trump go from saying, “It seems like a scam,” to being a catalyst for huge growth?
When it comes to markets, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is up roughly 6%, while the S&P 500 is up around 5%. Neither compares to the 16% surge by Bitcoin, which has the cryptocurrency hitting record highs and eclipsing $85,000.
“One of the most important things is we have the first Bitcoin president,” Anthony Pompliano, the CEO and founder of Professional Capital Management told CNBC the morning after the election. “President Trump ran on a campaign point that he was going to protect Bitcoin.”
While Trump may have been cold on Bitcoin back in 2021, this summer he went into the lion’s den to make the case that he would be a Bitcoin president.
“I’m laying out my plan to ensure that the United States will be the crypto capital of the planet and the Bitcoin superpower of the world,” Trump said while addressing Bitcoin2024 in July. “I will get it done.”
As any industry would, cryptocurrency is surging on the prospect of fewer roadblocks and regulations preventing widespread adoption.
“On day one, I will fire Gary Gensler and hire a new SEC chairman,” Trump said in July. “I will appoint a new SEC chairman who believes America should build the future, not block the future, which is what they’re doing.”
Gary Gensler’s perceived “war” on crypto is effectively over. As head of the SEC, Gensler has attempted to bring cryptocurrency under the same regulatory scrutiny as other securities.
And while crypto has seen more mainstream adoption in the past few years, like being able to trade Bitcoin ETFs, critics say that’s no thanks to the Biden administration.
“It wasn’t that the Biden administration said, ‘Hey, let’s do an ETF,’” former Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chair J. Christopher Giancarlo told Straight Arrow News in July. “They were forced into it by court action that ruled that their refusal to grant the ETF was arbitrary and capricious. And even the chairman of the SEC admitted they were forced into it. So it wasn’t that they were putting their front foot forward. They were actually putting their front foot backward until the courts ruled against them.
“I don’t think crypto was political until this administration [took] a very repressive, suppressive approach, both in terms of regulation by enforcement, by what people call Operation Chokepoint 2.0, by restricting banking services to this industry,” he continued. “I think that’s what created a political opening. Politics abhors a vacuum. If one party is going to create an opening, the other party is going to seize it.”
Republicans have done just that. Trump said his administration will, “Keep 100% of all the Bitcoin the U.S. Government currently holds or acquires into the future.”
It’s not just the friendlier stance that’s giving investors hope. Noelle Acheson, who writes the newsletter “Crypto is Macro Now,” pointed to some market fundamentals behind the surge.
“The likelihood of a pickup in inflation just got even higher – tax cuts, the deportation of immigrants, and tariffs are all likely to push up spending, wages and the price of basic goods. Leaving the political impact of that aside for a second (it could be harsh), it adds to the tailwinds propelling crypto and gold,” she wrote on November 9.
Haley among former rivals to show support for Trump at RNC
Former rivals of Donald Trump call for unity during the second day of the Republican National Convention (RNC). And President Joe Biden is reportedly planning to back sweeping changes for the Supreme Court. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, July 17, 2024.
Haley among former rivals to show support for Trump at RNC
The message on the second day of the RNC was one of unity as several former rivals of former President Donald Trump took the stage in Milwaukee to show their support for the GOP nominee — including Trump’s former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley. The former South Carolina governor and Trump’s last competitor in the primary race was greeted by cheers and a few boos from the convention crowd as she stepped to the microphone Tuesday night, July 16.
With Trump in attendance, Haley removed any doubt over her choice for president.
“I’ll start by making one thing perfectly clear: Donald Trump has my strong endorsement,” she said. “Period.”
Haley then turned her attention to the Republican voters who backed her during the primaries.
“We should acknowledge there are some Americans who don’t agree with Donald Trump 100% of the time,” Haley said. “I happen to know some of them, and I want to speak to them tonight … My message to them is simple: you don’t have to agree with Trump 100% of the time to vote for him.”
Haley also said she agrees with Trump more often than not.
“Donald Trump has been demonized,” DeSantis said. “He’s been sued, he’s been prosecuted and he nearly lost his life. We cannot let him down, and we cannot let America down.”
Day 3 will be headlined by Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, who will address the convention Wednesday night, July 17.
Reports: Secret Service ramped up Trump security weeks ago over Iran threat
It has been revealed that the Secret Service security was already ramped up around former President Donald Trump weeks before Saturday’s assassination attempt, after U.S. intelligence officials say they found evidence of an Iranian plot to kill him. According to multiple reports, the agency increased resources and assets for Trump’s protection in June.
So far, intelligence officials have found no ties between last weekend’s shooting and the Iranian plot.
Sources familiar with the matter say Iran has been making these types of threats since former president Trump ordered the airstrike that killed Iranian military general Qasem Soleimani in January 2020.
Reports: Biden planning to back major changes to Supreme Court
Reports say President Biden told lawmakers in the Congressional Progressive Caucus during a virtual meeting Saturday, July 13, that he had been consulting constitutional scholars on the matter for more than a month.
The proposals, which could be unveiled in the coming weeks, would need congressional approval, which is not likely given Republican control of the House and the slim Democratic majority in the Senate.
Elon Musk moving SpaceX, X headquarters out of California over new law
Calling it the “final straw” on X, Musk made the announcement in response to California’s Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signing a new law that bars school districts from requiring teachers to notify parents if their children ask to change their gender identification.
Supporters of the law say it protects children from being forced into being outed and creates a safe place for them in school, while critics say it infringes on parents’ right to be informed.
‘Rust’ armorer’s lawyers call for new trial or case to be dismissed
Lawyers for the armorer of the film “Rust,” who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the 2021 deadly on-set shooting of a cinematographer, are asking for a new trial or to have her case thrown out entirely in the wake of actor Alec Baldwin’s case being dismissed. They also want her released from prison, where she’s serving an 18-month sentence following her conviction in March.
Attorneys filed a motion on behalf of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed over “severe and ongoing discovery violations by the state.” It was revealed during Baldwin’s trial that the special prosecutor in the case had suppressed evidence, which is why his case was dropped.
Oakland A’s rookie throws fastest pitch in All-Star Game history
The best in baseball battled it out in the MLB All-Star Game in Arlington, Texas Tuesday, July 16, with one rookie pitcher throwing his name into the history books. Oakland A’s closer Mason Miller not only struck out Los Angeles Dodgers star player Shohei Ohtani in his All-Star Game debut, the 25 year old followed that up by throwing the fastest pitch ever recorded at an All-Star Game.
Miller threw a 103.6 miles per hour fastball to Phillies shortstop Trea Turner, striking him out too. Miller ended up throwing eight pitches that reached triple digits during his 12-pitch inning.
Trump targets Black voters with attack on Biden immigration policy
President Joe Biden is flying high coming off his G7 trip to Italy. He flew straight to LA where he raised $30 million Saturday, June 15, at a star-studded fundraiser attended by George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Barbara Streisand and other celebrities.
Tickets ranged from $250 to $250,000. The night included a 40-minute conversation with the president and former President Barack Obama, moderated by comedian Jimmy Kimmel. All the money raised will be used to hire staffers, open new offices and pay for advertisements.
During the event, President Biden talked about the importance of the Supreme Court and said it’s likely whoever wins in November will appoint two more justices. He said to prevent Donald Trump from appointing two more conservative justices, elect him, not Trump.
“He’s already appointed two that have been very negative in terms of the rights of individuals,” Biden said. “The idea that if he’s reelected he’s going to appoint two more flying flags upside down. The Supreme Court has never been as out of kilter as it is today.”
In the current political climate, every step the president takes on camera is analyzed for signs of aging and Saturday night was no different.
The White House is rebutting a New York Post report claiming Biden appeared to freeze up at the end of the event and had to be led off stage by Obama.
The report is based on this video posted on X by reporter Chris Gardner. In the video, Obama grabs the president’s wrist and puts his arm around him as they walk off.
The White House said the president was taking a moment to enjoy an applauding crowd.
“Rupert Murdoch’s sad little super pac, the New York Post, is back to disrespecting it’s readers & itself once again,” deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said in a statement. “Their ethical standards could deal with a little unfreezing.”
Donald Trump also hit the campaign trail this weekend and made his case to a group that is vital to President Biden’s reelection: Black voters in Michigan.
Trump was in Detroit where he criticized Biden’s immigration policy. He said the record immigration under President Biden has disproportionately hurt the Black community.
“They’re coming into your community and they’re taking your jobs,” Trump said during a roundtable at an African American church in Detroit. “They’re affecting the African Americans and then after that the Hispanic Americans more than any other group.”
The outlet Bridge Michigan explained why Trump would visit such a Democratic stronghold.
“Trump’s campaigning in the predominantly Democratic city shows that Michigan is crucial in the race for the White House — and Republicans’ belief that he can make inroads in Black voters skeptical of President Joe Biden,” the outlet reported. “Recent polls suggest some slippage in Black voter support for Biden. In a close race, a few thousand votes could make a big difference.”
As Trump campaigns, he’s also vetting running mates. The Republican National Convention, where Trump will formally accept the nomination, begins on July 15. It’s reported that there are four potential vice presidents on a shortlist: North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, R, former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.
Why former GOP candidate Ramaswamy bought a big stake in BuzzFeed
Before he posited as a presidential candidate, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy was making his name as an anti-woke activist investor, targeting oil companies in a crusade against environmental policies. Now, the conservative commentator is putting his money in the mediascape, targeting BuzzFeed.
Some of his demands are typical of an activist investor: He wants three board seats and large-scale layoffs to minimize operating costs. He said BuzzFeed should get down to startup size and keep only the resources needed to create BuzzFeed’s highest-value content, like the “Hot Ones” series. That means dumping the legacy digitized print business.
However, he is also looking to sway editorial decisions. In his letter, Ramaswamy envisions pitching the likes of Tucker Carlson, Bill Maher and NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers to head creator-led content. He said BuzzFeed should “go for talent across the political and cultural spectrum. Be bold. Don’t be afraid to challenge your audiences.”
Lastly, Ramaswamy said BuzzFeed needs to apologize for prior reporting, like being the first to publish the so-called Steele Dossier, which linked former President Donald Trump and Russia, and was later discredited.
BuzzFeed responds
BuzzFeed CEO Jonah Peretti agreed with Ramaswamy that the media company is undervalued but that is where the similarities stop.
“Based on your letter, you have some fundamental misunderstandings about the drivers of our business, the values of our audience and the mission of the company,” Peretti wrote. “I’m very skeptical it makes business sense to turn BuzzFeed into a creator platform for inflammatory political pundits. And we’re definitely not going to issue an apology for our Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism.”
Yes, the website known for quizzes and listicles won journalism’s highest honor for its 2020 reporting on China’s mass detention of Muslims.
Still, Peretti said he welcomes outside perspectives from shareholders — especially from one of BuzzFeed’s largest — and offered to arrange a meeting.
It’s worth noting Peretti has 64% voting control of BuzzFeed — nearly eight times Ramaswamy’s holding. Peretti will have the final say no matter how much any investor snaps up. Public media companies often have dual share structures to maintain editorial independence from investors.
BuzzFeed has had a rough go of it since going public at the end of 2021. As of the morning of Wednesday, May 29, it is worth around $3 a share but is up more than 180% in 2024.
NH primary revives security concerns along northern border, calls for wall
As the Republican primaries take center stage in the Granite State during the week of Jan. 21, there are increased calls for a border wall along the U.S.-Canada frontier. Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley became the latest to sound the alarm about increased incursions at the northern border.
“I think we do whatever it takes to keep people out,” Haley said when speaking to reporters Saturday, Jan. 20.
When asked by the New York Times if that would mean building a wall, Haley said, “If that’s what it takes to keep them out, we will do a wall, we will do any sort of border patrol that we need.”
Haley isn’t the only Republican setting her sights north.
Before dropping out of the primaries on Sunday, Jan. 21, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, R, recently supported building a barrier along “trouble spots” in the U.S.-Canada border.
Also, Vivek Ramaswamy, a tech entrepreneur who ended his bid for the GOP nomination last week, has called for a northern border wall for months. At the third Republican primary debate on Nov. 8, 2023, Ramaswamy made his stance clear.
“I’m the only candidate on this stage, as far as I’m aware who has actually visited the northern border,” Ramaswamy said. “There was enough fentanyl that was captured just on the northern border last year to kill 3 million Americans. So, we’ve got to just skate to where the puck is going, not just where the puck is.”
Don’t just build the wall, build both walls.
Vivek Ramaswamy
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump is largely steering clear of the northern border debate. However, Trump remains a major advocate for enhanced barriers at the U.S.-Mexico border.
As for Democrats and the Biden administration, they have railed against border walls. However, despite the administration’s opposition, back in October, the Department of Homeland Security announced it would be constructing 20 miles of border wall in Starr County, Texas.
According to the Washington Post, the White House contended its hand was forced, asking Congress to reappropriate Trump-era funds but saying lawmakers refused, forcing the Biden administration into construction.
When asked if President Joe Biden believed border walls work, the president routinely denies it. However, the president’s words appeared to be at odds with what the DHS said.
While the crisis at the southern border captured much of the nation’s attention in the month of October, during that same time-frame, New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella warned of a surge in illegal activity at the northern border.
The New York Times reported that more than 6,900 people tried to cross the northern border from 2022 to 2023, an increase of more than 1,000 migrants from years past, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Advocates criticized the attorney general and Gov. Chris Sununu, R-N.H., as they called for an increased law enforcement presence at the northern border. Critics claimed the officials did not have the data to justify the move. However, while Formella acknowledged the federal government only releases numbers for the entire three-state region, he defended his stance, as reported by WMUR.
“It’s only common sense if crossings are up that much across the sector that New Hampshire’s portion of the border, that’s 25% of the border, would also have seen an increase in crossings,” Formella said.
In October 2023, Sununu announced a new initiative stretching from 2024 into 2025 that will add 10,000 patrol hours to officers at the northern border. The patrols will be made up of state and local law enforcement. These operations will be in addition to the 600-700 hours the feds currently conduct.
Gov. Sununu has yet to propose a wall, but Republican voters in the small town of Pittsburg, New Hampshire, have noticed the rhetoric from Haley, DeSantis and Ramaswamy. Residents told the New York Times that the prospect of a wall leaves them torn.
Many in the town of Pittsburg have family right on the other side of the border, and people from Canada also come into town to work. However, some residents did admit that they have seen what appears to be migrants walking or wading across the northern line.
Officials argue that those crossing the northern border is a matter of national security. U.S. Customs and Border Protection revealed last year that the majority of crossings of people from the terrorist watchlist were at the northern border.
