1. USA votes with Russia in UN...an U turn in long-standing foreign policy
https://www.bu.edu/articles/2025/us-sides-with-russia-ukraine-war-resolution/
The U.S., under President Trump, voted against a U.N. resolution demanding Russia withdraw from Ukraine, aligning with Russia, North Korea, Syria, and others. Igor Lukes, a Boston University professor, called it a shocking shift in U.S. foreign policy. The resolution passed despite U.S. opposition. Experts view the vote as a major fracture among Western allies. Trump previously called Ukraine’s president a dictator and falsely claimed Ukraine started the war. Lukes warns this move strengthens Putin and undermines global stability.
2. Lech Walesa letter to Trump to remind him of US commitment
Former Polish president and Nobel laureate Lech Walesa, along with 39 former political prisoners, signed a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump expressing "horror" at his recent argument with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The letter, posted on Facebook, condemned Trump's demand for gratitude from Ukraine for U.S. aid, calling it offensive. It emphasized that appreciation should be directed toward Ukrainian soldiers fighting against Russia. The criticism follows a tense, live-broadcast meeting in which Trump and Vice President JD Vance harshly rebuked Zelenskiy and reportedly told him to leave. The letter compared the atmosphere of the meeting to interrogations under communist regimes. It also urged the U.S. to uphold its 1994 security guarantees to Ukraine, arguing that aid should not be treated as an economic exchange. The White House has not responded to the letter. Meanwhile, Poland’s current president, Andrzej Duda, suggested Zelenskiy resume negotiations with the U.S.
3. What's in the Congress's budget that moved to the Senate?
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/house-budget-resolution-republicans/
House Republicans narrowly passed a budget resolution in a 217-215 vote, advancing President Trump’s agenda by proposing trillions in tax cuts and spending reductions. The resolution includes $4.5 trillion in tax cuts over a decade while mandating at least $1.5 trillion in spending cuts, primarily targeting Medicaid and other social programs. Defense, border security, and judiciary spending would increase, while energy, education, agriculture, and oversight budgets would be reduced. The plan also raises the debt ceiling by $4 trillion and relies on economic growth projections to justify deficit neutrality, though experts dispute these assumptions. Conservatives pushed for at least $2 trillion in cuts to secure the tax reductions, with further cuts potentially increasing tax relief. Democrats and critics argue the proposal threatens essential programs, particularly Medicaid, which is likely to face significant reductions. House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the plan, emphasizing efforts to reduce “fraud, waste, and abuse” in entitlement programs. The resolution now heads to the Senate, where Republicans and Democrats must negotiate a final version. The budget reconciliation process will be used to bypass the Senate’s usual 60-vote requirement, but any spending must be offset to comply with legislative rules. Previous reconciliation efforts under Trump succeeded in passing tax cuts but failed in repealing parts of the Affordable Care Act.
4. Federal Layoffs will hit the umemployment rate
The Trump administration’s mass layoffs of federal workers could overwhelm the unemployment system, leading to delays in benefits, according to a report by The Century Foundation. The layoffs, led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, could reach hundreds of thousands, making it the largest mass layoff in U.S. history. The Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) program, which processes claims for federal workers, is outdated and less automated than private sector systems, creating bottlenecks in processing claims. In February alone, over 62,000 federal workers were laid off, a drastic increase compared to 151 in the same period last year. The UCFE system requires manual verification from federal agencies, significantly slowing the claims process. Experts warn the surge in claims mirrors challenges seen during the pandemic, despite being on a smaller scale. As of mid-February, 7,400 people were collecting federal unemployment benefits, a number expected to rise sharply. The federal government may also contest claims, particularly for workers labeled as terminated "for cause," further delaying aid. If the system becomes overwhelmed, jobless workers may face financial hardship due to prolonged processing times.
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