The Small Business Administration forgave $4.6 billion in pandemic loans to people on its naughty list, the agency’s inspector general said Wednesday while scolding the government for an overly relaxed approach to recouping taxpayer money. The loans were from the Paycheck Protection Program…… Read more
Fairfax County’s local government recently announced that it would begin addressing grass complaints. If a neighbor’s grass is taller than 12 inches in height, we’re now encouraged to call Big Brother, who will then “investigate” these law-breakers and then fine them for lawn services. The impetus of such a ridiculous regulation, generally under the domain of a nosy, intrusive neighborhood homeowners’ association, is unclear…… Read more
Wall Street rallied Wednesday after President Trump softened his rhetoric on Fed Chairman Jerome Powell and China. The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened nearly 800 points in positive territory after Mr. Trump said late Tuesday he had “no intention” of firing Mr. Powell, even though he thinks the central bank needs to cut interest rates…… Read more
A federal judge on Tuesday issued an injunction ordering the Trump administration to revive Voice of America, Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, immediately rehire their employees and allow them back on the air. Judge Royce C. Lamberth delivered a withering criticism of the Trump team’s efforts, saying they took a “hasty, indiscriminate approach” to cutting the U.S. Agency for Global Media…… Read more
Federal authorities announced charges Monday against more than two dozen people they say were associated with Tren de Aragua in a list of mayhem ranging from robbery and sex trafficking to murder of women who tried to escape. Prosecutors charged two different groups — one involving six people alleged to be current TdA members and another against 21 people authorities said are with Anti-Tren, a group that split off from TdA…… Read more
The International Monetary Fund slashed its 2025 growth forecast for the U.S. economy to 1.8%, a 0.9-point decrease from January, spurred by President Trump’s trade actions and policy uncertainty. The IMF’s World Economic Outlook report focused heavily on Mr. Trump’s “Liberation Day” announcement on April 2 that imposed a blanket 10% tariff on imports and threatened higher tariffs on dozens of trading partners…… Read more
Pope Francis, the first Jesuit leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Roman Catholics and the first to come from the Southern Hemisphere, died Monday at age 88, the Vatican announced. Francis entered Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14, 2025, for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia and, at 38 days, became the longest hospitalization of his papacy…… Read more
Ukraine and Russia each accused the other Sunday of breaking a truce, with dozens of reported attacks across Ukraine amid dwindling hopes that the nations can ever agree to a lasting ceasefire. Reports from Ukrainian military commanders along the front lines, if true, cast doubt on whether Russian President Vladimir Putin was serious in his call for the ceasefire — though the Kremlin accused Ukraine of breaking the truce…… Read more
President Trump said a mineral deal with Ukraine will be signed next Thursday, a deal the president has been chasing for months. Seated beside Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the Oval Office on Thursday, Mr. Trump said, “I assume they’re going to live up to the deal.” Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it’s possible to sign a “memorandum of intent” as soon as Thursday…… Read more
Maryland’s steep tax increases follow the lead of other liberal-leaning states that love to spend and are now desperate to raise revenue to dig out of growing deficits and fund new spending. Under the state’s $67 billion budget that the General Assembly passed this month, Marylanders will pay $1.6 billion for a dizzying array of new taxes and fee increases beginning in July…… Read more
The Small Business Administration forgave $4.6 billion in pandemic loans to people on its naughty list, the agency’s inspector general said Wednesday while scolding the government for an overly relaxed approach to recouping taxpayer money. The loans were from the Paycheck Protection Program…… Continue Reading
Fairfax County’s local government recently announced that it would begin addressing grass complaints. If a neighbor’s grass is taller than 12 inches in height, we’re now encouraged to call Big Brother, who will then “investigate” these law-breakers and then fine them for lawn services. The impetus of such a ridiculous regulation, generally under the domain of a nosy, intrusive neighborhood homeowners’ association, is unclear…… Continue Reading
Wall Street rallied Wednesday after President Trump softened his rhetoric on Fed Chairman Jerome Powell and China. The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened nearly 800 points in positive territory after Mr. Trump said late Tuesday he had “no intention” of firing Mr. Powell, even though he thinks the central bank needs to cut interest rates…… Continue Reading
A federal judge on Tuesday issued an injunction ordering the Trump administration to revive Voice of America, Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, immediately rehire their employees and allow them back on the air. Judge Royce C. Lamberth delivered a withering criticism of the Trump team’s efforts, saying they took a “hasty, indiscriminate approach” to cutting the U.S. Agency for Global Media…… Continue Reading
Federal authorities announced charges Monday against more than two dozen people they say were associated with Tren de Aragua in a list of mayhem ranging from robbery and sex trafficking to murder of women who tried to escape. Prosecutors charged two different groups — one involving six people alleged to be current TdA members and another against 21 people authorities said are with Anti-Tren, a group that split off from TdA…… Continue Reading
The International Monetary Fund slashed its 2025 growth forecast for the U.S. economy to 1.8%, a 0.9-point decrease from January, spurred by President Trump’s trade actions and policy uncertainty. The IMF’s World Economic Outlook report focused heavily on Mr. Trump’s “Liberation Day” announcement on April 2 that imposed a blanket 10% tariff on imports and threatened higher tariffs on dozens of trading partners…… Continue Reading
Pope Francis, the first Jesuit leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Roman Catholics and the first to come from the Southern Hemisphere, died Monday at age 88, the Vatican announced. Francis entered Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14, 2025, for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia and, at 38 days, became the longest hospitalization of his papacy…… Continue Reading
Ukraine and Russia each accused the other Sunday of breaking a truce, with dozens of reported attacks across Ukraine amid dwindling hopes that the nations can ever agree to a lasting ceasefire. Reports from Ukrainian military commanders along the front lines, if true, cast doubt on whether Russian President Vladimir Putin was serious in his call for the ceasefire — though the Kremlin accused Ukraine of breaking the truce…… Continue Reading
President Trump said a mineral deal with Ukraine will be signed next Thursday, a deal the president has been chasing for months. Seated beside Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the Oval Office on Thursday, Mr. Trump said, “I assume they’re going to live up to the deal.” Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it’s possible to sign a “memorandum of intent” as soon as Thursday…… Continue Reading
Maryland’s steep tax increases follow the lead of other liberal-leaning states that love to spend and are now desperate to raise revenue to dig out of growing deficits and fund new spending. Under the state’s $67 billion budget that the General Assembly passed this month, Marylanders will pay $1.6 billion for a dizzying array of new taxes and fee increases beginning in July…… Continue Reading