Judge issues ruling after 19 states sue over DOGE access to Treasury payment system
A federal judge on Friday granted an injunction requested by 19 attorneys general to prevent the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from having access to the Treasury Department’s central payment system.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas extends the pause by issuing a preliminary injunction, a legal step that blocks access to the records while the case is litigated on the merits.
In her 64-page decision, Vargas noted she was granting the preliminary injunction preventing DOGE from accessing the payment records because of the possible disclosure of the states’ bank records. However, she also said the plaintiffs “have not demonstrated that they are entitled to the broad and sweeping relief they seek, which would far exceed the scope of the present TRO (Temporary restraining order).”
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Vargas is giving Trump administration attorneys the chance to fix any defects so that the sensitive information will be protected.
A report is due March 24. Last week, a federal judge extended a temporary order to block DOGE from accessing Treasury payment systems.
A lawsuit filed by the 19 AGs claims DOGE illegally accessed the Treasury Department’s central payment system at the Trump administration’s behest. The payment systems have information about Americans’ Social Security, Medicare and veterans’ benefits; tax refund information; and much more.
Lawyers for the administration argued that the temporary restraining order “causes ongoing constitutional harm to the Treasury Department’s ability to make management decisions within its lawful discretion.”
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Defense attorneys argued that there is nothing unlawful about the Treasury Department’s actions. Treasury officials have denied violating privacy laws, saying only two members of the DOGE team had been given “read-only” access to information in the payment systems.
The lawsuit was filed in New York by the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James, a vocal Trump critic.
It includes attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.
“We just won a court order stopping DOGE and unauthorized, unelected, and unvetted individuals like Elon Musk from accessing people’s private data and blocking federal funds,” James wrote Friday on X. “We will keep fighting to protect all Americans from this administration’s destruction.”
The AGs argue that granting DOGE access to the payment system puts Americans’ sensitive, personal information, such as bank account details and Social Security numbers, at risk.
Trump says Ukraine ‘close’ to signing deal with US worth hundreds of billions of dollars
President Donald Trump on Friday said his administration is “pretty close” to striking a deal with Ukraine for rights to access its natural resources in exchange for the United States’ billions of dollars in support for the country against Russia.
“You know, I think they want it, and they feel good about it,” Trump told reporters on Friday in the Oval Office after the swearing-in ceremony of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. “And it’s significant. It’s a big deal. But they want it, and it keeps us in that country. And they’re very happy about it.
“We get our money back. They should have been signed long before we went in. They should have been signed by Biden. But Biden didn’t know too much about what he was doing. The war should have never happened, No. 1. When it did happen, it could have been settled.
“The first week or two weeks after that, it got bad. It got really bad, but it should have been, it should have never happened. And it should have been settled, and it could have been settled very easily at the beginning. Now it’s tougher, but we’ll get it settled.”
TRUMP CALLS UKRAINE’S ZELENSKYY A ‘DICTATOR WITHOUT ELECTIONS’ AS RIFT WIDENS
During his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Friday, Trump’s National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, said, “Here’s the bottom line: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is going to sign that deal, and you will see that in the very short term.”
Waltz also told “Fox & Friends” this week that Ukraine should “tone down” its criticism of Trump and “come back to the table” to work out an economic deal with the U.S.
The deal for U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals is part of broader negotiations to end the war in Ukraine after Russia invaded the country in 2022.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News Wednesday Trump is creating a “win-win” partnership between the United States and Ukraine with the deal days after meeting with Zelenskyy in Kyiv.
“Part of my trip was to go and tell the Ukrainian people that we wanted an economic partnership with them,” Bessent told Bret Baier on “Special Report.”
“So, President Trump’s vision is [to] bring the Ukrainian people and the American people closer together economically, show the Ukrainian people that we support them, show the American people that the money that is going into Ukraine, that there is going to be a return, that there’s going to be a long-term partnership.”
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The Trump administration is seeking to recoup the cost of aid sent to the war-torn country by gaining access to rare earth minerals like titanium, iron and uranium.
The delay also comes amid rising tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy as the U.S. works with Russian officials to broker a peace deal in the ongoing war.
Trump argued on Fox News Zelenskyy has “no cards” to negotiate leverage for a deal as the pair have publicly hurled insults at one another in recent days.
“I’ve been watching this man for years now as his cities get demolished, as his people get killed, as his soldiers get decimated,” Trump told Fox News co-host Brian Kilmeade.
“I’ve been watching him negotiate with no cards. He has no cards, and you get sick of it,” he added. “You just get sick of it, and I’ve had it.”
Trump argued Zelenskyy is a poor negotiator, noting Bessent traveled to Ukraine last week to broker a mineral agreement, worth hundreds of billions of dollars, but said the pair “couldn’t even come close” to a deal.
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The president said the trip was dangerous for Bessent and a waste of time.
The deal would have helped U.S. investment in the war-torn nation and also provided “the best security guarantee they could ever hope for,” according to Waltz.
Trump fires chairman of Joint Chiefs, nominates Air Force lieutenant general to replace
President Donald Trump on Friday night nominated Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
“General Caine is an accomplished pilot, national security expert, successful entrepreneur, and a ‘warfighter’ with significant interagency and special operations experience,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social announcing the nomination.
Trump said during his first term, the three-star lieutenant general was “instrumental” in the “complete annihilation” of the ISIS caliphate.
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“It was done in record setting time, a matter of weeks. Many so-called military ‘geniuses’ said it would take years to defeat ISIS,” the president wrote. “General Caine, on the other hand, said it could be done quickly, and he delivered.”
Trump said despite Caine “being highly qualified and respected,” he was “passed over for promotion by Sleepy Joe Biden.”
“But not anymore! Alongside Secretary Pete Hegseth, General Caine and our military will restore peace through strength, put America First, and rebuild our military,” Trump wrote. “Finally, I have also directed Secretary Hegseth to solicit nominations for five additional high level positions, which will be announced soon.”
“General Caine embodies the warfighter ethos and is exactly the leader we need to meet the moment. I look forward to working with him,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote in a statement to Fox News Friday night.
While it is typical for Joint Chiefs chairmen to remain in their positions during shifts of power, Trump made the decision to find a replacement.
Both Trump and Hegseth gave a nod to the departing chairman, four-star fighter pilot General Charles “CQ” Brown.
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“I want to thank General Charles ‘CQ’ Brown for his over 40 years of service to our country, including as our current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,” Trump wrote. “He is a fine gentleman and an outstanding leader, and I wish a great future for him and his family.”
Hegseth added Brown served with “distinction in a career spanning four decades of honorable service.”
“I have come to know him as a thoughtful adviser and salute him for his distinguished service to our country,” he wrote.
The Secretary of Defense has been outspoken about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies adversely affecting military operations, and previously suggested firing Brown and other top leaders.
Prior to becoming defense secretary, Hegseth wrote about Brown several times in his book, “The War on Warriors,” once questioning if Brown deserved his promotion to America’s highest general.
“The military standards, once the hallmark for competency, professionalism, and ‘mission first’ outcomes, have officially been subsumed by woke priorities,” he wrote. “You think C.Q. Brown will think intuitively about external threats and internal readiness? No chance. He built his generalship dutifully pursuing the radical positions of left-wing politicians, who in turn rewarded him with promotions.”
He also said Brown “made the race card one of his biggest calling cards.”
Prior to his appointment, Brown served as the 22nd chief of staff of the Air Force from 2020 to 2023. He logged more than 3,000 flight hours as a fighter pilot, including 130 hours in combat.
Caine has logged more than 2,800 hours in the F-16, including more than 100 combat hours.
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Hegseth said he is also requesting nominations for the positions of Chief of Naval Operations and Air Force Vice Chief of Staff.
“The incumbents in these important roles, Admiral Lisa Franchetti and General James Slife, respectively, have had distinguished careers,” Hegseth wrote. “We thank them for their service and dedication to our country.”
Hegseth also previously mentioned Franchetti in his book, criticizing her lack of combat experience and mocking her master’s degree from the University of Phoenix online college.
“If naval operations suffers, at least we can hold our heads high. Because at least we have another first! The first female member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff — hooray. For social justice ideologues, PR matters more than reality,” he wrote.
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Caine was commissioned in 1990 through the ROTC program at the Virginia Military Institute and has a Master of Arts in Air Warfare from the American Military University.
Brown was visiting Fort Bliss to discuss border operations on Friday, Fox News has learned. Franchetti was in Europe when she got the news. She is now returning home.
Hegseth said the department is also seeking nominations for the Judge Advocates General for the Army, Navy and Air Force.
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“Under President Trump, we are putting in place new leadership that will focus our military on its core mission of deterring, fighting and winning wars,” he wrote.
Kathie Lee Gifford reveals how Trump saved her from ‘psychopathic murderer’
Kathie Lee Gifford is speaking out about how President Donald Trump saved her and her newborn daughter from a dangerous stalker.
During a recent interview on “The Sage Steele Show,” the 71-year-old TV personality became emotional as she recalled the incident 31 years ago. Gifford said she and her baby daughter Cassidy were on their way to Atlantic City, where Gifford was to host the “Miss America” pageant, when her late husband, Frank Gifford, was notified she had received a death threat.
“The FBI called my husband, and they said, ‘Mr. Gifford, we have a problem. There’s this guy. This is a very, very bad human being. [He] was a psychopathic murderer — a rapist and murderer. And he’s coming to get your wife,” she shared.
The former “Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee” host told Steele she had just given birth to Cassidy six weeks earlier. Gifford, along with her baby daughter and a nanny, were about to leave in a van to drive three hours to Atlantic City when Frank received the call from the FBI. She recounted how the FBI asked Frank for the family to proceed with their original plans so they wouldn’t tip off the suspect.
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“They said, ‘We would like you, Mr. Gifford, to just keep your schedule and have your wife keep her schedule, because this guy, we don’t want him to know that we’re on to him,'” Gifford said.
Gifford said the FBI informed Frank the man had “raped and tortured” his own aunt. She explained that the man’s aunt had managed to escape long enough to call the police.
“This is why I will love this man for my whole life.”
“I never heard it until just the other day. Somebody told me how she finally got away from [him],” Gifford said. “He left. He stole her keys and told her, ‘Now I’m going to go after Kathie Lee.'”
The Daytime Emmy Award winner recalled that Frank told the FBI he would not agree to its request that he and Gifford keep their usual schedules until he made one call.
“And he called Donald,” she said.
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Gifford explained that she always stayed at the Trump Plaza and Casino when she was in Atlantic City, which made it easy for the man to know her location.
“Frank called Donald and said, “Donald, we’ve got this situation,'” Gifford recalled.
“And this is why I will love this man for my whole life,” she said of Trump as she teared up. “He said, ‘Frank, don’t you worry about it. I’ve got your girls. I’ve got your girls. And don’t you worry.’
“And so Frank called back the FBI and said, ‘I called Donald Trump. He says he’s going to take care of my wife and my daughter.'”
Gifford said, at the time, she “didn’t know anything” about the threat and was surprised when she received a call from Trump, who told her that he was sending his helicopter to take her to his hotel.
She later realized the real estate mogul was protecting her by having her use a different and safer mode of transportation to her destination. Gifford was also confused since Trump had come up with a cover story to explain why he was making the gesture.
“I said, ‘Donald, why? He said, “Because you’ve had a baby.’ I said, ‘Donald, women have babies every day. It’s no big deal. Thank you. But it’s no big deal.’ And he goes, ‘No, congratulations. So happy for you … [I’m] sending my helicopter for you and your baby and your nanny,'” she recalled.
Gifford recalled that she tried to talk him out of it, but Trump was adamant. “The next day, he sent his helicopter.”
In addition to sending his helicopter, Gifford said, she was greeted by four members of Trump’s security team when she arrived in Atlantic City.
“I mean, these guys are major, major, and they’re like, ‘Mrs. Gifford, Mr. Trump wants you to know that we’re here for you,'” Gifford said. “I didn’t know what they were talking about.”
Gifford said that since she had just given birth and had “all kinds of stuff going on,” she didn’t inquire further about why Trump had sent his security to protect her.
The “Then Came You” actress said she thanked the security guards and “never thought anything about it.” However, she recalled that they protected her all week leading up to the pageant, and additional members joined her security detail daily.
On the day of the pageant, Gifford had some free time, so she headed down to the lobby. She recalled being bewildered why a security guard had been stationed outside her hotel room all week.
“I just never thought about it, you know?” she said. “I just … stupid. But he never said a word. Nobody said a word to me.”
After she arrived at the lobby, Gifford was stunned when she saw a newspaper with a headline about her death threat. She contacted the organizers of the pageant, who asked her if she had reconsidered hosting and performing at the event due to the threat.
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“I said, ‘Hell, no,’” she recalled. “Nobody’s going to make me afraid.
“And then I understood everything,” she said. “I understood what Donald had done. I understood what Frank had done to try to say, you know, not be afraid and all of that.”
Gifford said she went to the pageant and then was taken home by a different route. She later realized that an FBI officer had been guarding her son Cody, who was 3 years old, at her home in Connecticut. Gifford said the following day, she and Cody went to a movie theater, where she was informed by the FBI, which were guarding her, that the man had been caught.
“In the middle of the movie, one of the FBI guys comes over and goes, ‘Mrs. Gifford, we got this son of a b—-,'” she recalled, “I said, ‘Thank you so much.’”
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At the beginning of the episode, Gifford explained she had previously rarely shared the story of how Trump helped her because the late Rev. Billy Graham had warned her long ago to stay out of politics.
“He said, ‘Just tell people that God loves them,” Gifford recalled of Graham’s advice. “And all these years, that’s what I’ve done. You’ve never heard me say a thing about politics — ever.
“And now I’m ready to,” she said. “I’m ready to now because, first of all, Billy’s gone. I saw him right before he died.”
The famous evangelist died of natural causes at the age of 99 in 2018.
Gifford said she knew Graham would understand why she had to be “very honest” now and speak out about how Trump had saved her.
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However, she explained that she still “hates politics” and dislikes some of Trump’s rhetoric.
“I would cringe at times. I would go, ’Donald no, no,'” she said. “That’s not the man I knew, you know? But the story I just told you is the man I know.
“That’s my friend Donald,” Gifford said. “Saved my life. Saved my daughter’s life. And if I called him today, [he] would save it again.”
State education chief says it’s ‘inaccurate’ to say there are only two genders
Washington state Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal spoke in defense of transgender athletes in girls sports in an address Thursday, claiming it was “inaccurate” to say there are only two genders.
“It is quite simply inaccurate to say, biologically, that there are only boys and there are only girls,” Reykdal said. “There’s a continuum. There’s a science to this. There are children who are born intersex. There are children whose hormones and whose chromosomes are not consistent with their sex at birth.
“That’s not a debate we’re going to have today. I just want to remind you of our civil rights obligations. Our state laws make clear that children get to identify and participate based on the gender in which they identify. We’re going to uphold that law.”
Reykdal served three terms as a Democratic member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 22nd district.
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While criticizing President Donald Trump’s recent executive order that prohibits schools from allowing trans athletes to compete in girls sports, Reykdal cited a statistic of how many transgender athletes there are in his state.
“Out of nearly a quarter million kids participating in interscholastic athletics and activities in the state of Washington, roughly five to 10 youth have identified themselves as trans participating in those activities,” Reykdal said. “If we can’t accommodate the needs of five or 10 people — whether there’s privacy access for and a privacy opportunity for all students, that’s what our laws and rules say — if we can’t do that then who are we?”
Reykdal insisted Trump did not have the authority as president to issue a ban on trans athletes in girls sports but conceded the U.S. Congress does. The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act is a bill in Congress that would carry out similar requirements as Trump’s order and has already passed in the House of Representatives. It hasn’t gone to a vote in the Senate yet.
“Until Congress changes the law or our state legislature changes the law, we’re going to follow the current law and the current civil rights framework of this state, and that’s what it tells us to do,” Reykdal said.
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Washington’s high school athletes are allowed to compete based on their gender identity rather than their biological sex. Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) policy states that each athlete will participate in programs “consistent with their gender identity or the gender most consistently expressed,” and there are no medical or legal requirements.
Bills that would prohibit transgender girls from participating in girls and women’s sports have been introduced but not passed.
However, the issue became so concerning for residents, that in December the WIAA announced a proposal to create a separate open division for transgender athletes to compete in.
“In order to maintain fair and equitable competition, participation in girls’ sports and girls’ divisions of sports is restricted to students who were assigned female at birth. The purpose of this policy is to offer clarity with respect to the participation of trans and gender-diverse student-athletes. Additionally, this policy encourages a culture in which student-athletes can compete in a safe and supportive environment, free of discrimination,” the proposal said.
That proposal came weeks after the Central Valley School Board, which oversees schools in Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake, Washington, voted to send a message to the WIAA over the issue after debate at a school board meeting.
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The resolution, “Supporting Equity and Safety in Female Sports,” claims the entire board is comprised of female members who have either competed in athletics themselves or have daughters who competed in athletics.
One of the women, an unidentified current cross-country runner, shared her experience during that hearing.
“When I ran cross-country for Greenacres Middle School, a boy who was biologically male but identified as female competed on the girls team,” she said. “While I respect everyone’s right to participate in sports, the situation made me question the fairness of competing (with) someone who had the physical advantage associated with male biology.”
In May, a trans athlete competed in a girls cross-country championship and won.
The athlete won the 400-meter heat race in the girls division with a time of 55.59 seconds. The second-place runner finished at 58.83 seconds. In the finals, the trans athlete won with a time of 55.75 seconds, a full second ahead of the second-place runner, who finished with 56.75.
This week, a civil rights complaint was filed with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights on behalf of a teenage girl in Washington state who was allegedly punished for refusing to play a basketball game against a trans athlete.
The complaint alleged that the Tumwater School District in Washington is investigating 15-year-old Frances Staudt for “misgendering” the opponent and violating the district’s policies against bullying and harassment.
According to the document, prior to a game, Staudt asked the school’s principal and athletic director whether a player was a biological male. The administrators then allegedly confirmed they were notified the player was transgender but denied her pleas to have the player removed. Staudt removed herself from the game.
President Trump’s Department of Education has already launched Title IX investigations into the state high school athletic conferences in California, Minnesota and Maine for their refusal to comply with his executive order.
Kash Patel earns applause for message to media in first remarks as FBI director
FBI Director Kash Patel offered a stern message to the media moments after being sworn in as the ninth leader of the nation’s top law enforcement agency.
“Look, I know the media’s in here, and if you have a target, the target’s right here,” Patel said Friday as he pointed to himself. “It is not the men and women at the FBI.”
“You have written everything you possibly can about me that’s fake, malicious, slanderous and defamatory. Keep it coming. Bring it on, but leave the men and women of the FBI out of it. They deserve better,” Patel told news outlets, sparking applause from his supporters in the room.
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Patel addressed his critics who believe there will be a “two-tiered system of justice.”
“Not with Attorney General Bondi,” he assured the skeptics. “There’s a singular system of justice for all Americans, and there will be accountability.”
“We will uphold the Constitution. We will uphold ourselves to the Constitution. The men and women at the FBI — I have your back because you have the backs of the American people,” he said. “You will be held to the same high standard. Any deviation from that standard will not be tolerated at this Federal Bureau of Investigation.”
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Patel was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in a 51–49 vote on Thursday.
Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined Democrats in opposing his nomination while Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who opposed some of President Donald Trump’s high-profile Cabinet picks like Pete Hegseth, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard, voted in favor of Trump’s pick for FBI director.
Patel is expected to overhaul the FBI as Republicans have long accused the agency of being plagued by political motivations. He will now begin serving his 10-year term.
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During his swearing-in ceremony, Patel expressed gratitude to Trump, his family and the senators who voted for his confirmation, saying they’d put an “enormous leap of faith” in him.
“I am living the American dream, and anyone that thinks the American dream is dead, just look right here. You’re talking to a first-generation Indian kid who’s about to lead the law enforcement community of the greatest nation on God’s green Earth. That can’t happen anywhere else,” Patel said.
Former Bond girl says franchise will ‘never be the same again’ as Big Tech seizes control
Classic James Bond actress Valerie Leon warned that new editions to the franchise might be very different now that it has been taken over by Amazon.
Amazon shared a press release on Thursday declaring, “Amazon MGM Studios, Michael G. Wilson, and Barbara Broccoli today announced that they have formed a new joint venture to house the James Bond intellectual property rights, and those parties will remain co-owners of the franchise.” It added further that “Under the terms of the new venture, Amazon MGM Studios will gain creative control of the James Bond franchise following closing of the transaction.”
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos shared Reuters’ headline, “James Bond’s long-serving producers give control to Amazon,” and asked followers on the X platform, “Who’d you pick as the next Bond?” Many X users responded with images of English actor Henry Cavill.
Daniel Craig, the most recent man to portray the world-famous secret agent, told Variety, “My respect, admiration and love for Barbara and Michael remain constant and undiminished. I wish Michael a long, relaxing (and well deserved) retirement and whatever ventures Barbara goes on to do, I know they will be spectacular and I hope I can be part of them.”
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But Leon, who appeared in the Bond films “The Spy Who Loved Me” and “Never Say Never Again,” with Roger Moore and Sean Connery, respectively, was upset at the news.
“I think it’s madness, absolute madness,” the former Bond Girl said.
“We all enjoy Bond as it was. Daniel Craig was killed off in ‘No Time To Die,’ and I just don’t understand,” she said in a Friday interview with “Good Morning Britain.” “But of course, money was involved and that’s why Amazon have taken it over. But it’ll never be the same again, ever.”
“I really think it’s very sad that Amazon are doing this,” she later said, but she accepted “life changes, what will be will be.”
She was also asked by one of the hosts, “What’s the concern, do you think, though, that this comes in the hands of American writers, American producers, perhaps even an American actor playing James Bond. What way do you think the issues lie there? What would worry you?”
“Well, it’s not a question of worrying me, because life changes and everything moves on and changes,” she said. “I just – the Bond franchise was very British, and it won’t be anymore. And obviously, if they make films, they won’t go into the cinema, they’ll probably be – I don’t know… everything is so changed now, it just won’t be the same, and I’m very old-fashioned anyway.”
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Multiple controversies around the franchise have surfaced in recent years as fans have mulled over whether Bond should be cast in the future as another race, as gay, or as a woman, changes that have been mocked by critics, including actors from Bond films themselves.
Some have argued that the most progressive aspects of American culture have already influenced the Bond franchise.
Ian Fleming Publications, which published the original James Bond novels, authorized a novel to commemorate the coronation of King Charles III in 2023. The novel was widely panned by conservative critics for being influenced by “American-style wokeness” and having a villain inspired by modern right-wing politics.
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Popular travel destination will start charging ‘tourist tax’: What you should know
A “tourist tax” on hotels beginning next year will be implemened in Edinburgh, Scotland — a first in the United Kingdom.
In late January, The City of Edinburgh Council decided to move forward with a 5% per night fee on overnight accommodations within the city. The tax goes into effect on July 24, 2026.
The new tax is “is a 5% payment on the cost of the paid, overnight accommodation. The levy will be charged before VAT and will not be charged on extras like parking, meals, drinks or transport,” said the website for the City of Edinburgh Council.
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This fee will not only apply to hotels, said the website.
It will also be levied on “self-catering apartments, aparthotels, bed and breakfasts, guest houses, hostels, student [rentals] – only when [rented] to visitors and non-Edinburgh students, vehicles or boats (vessels), which mostly stay in one place, holiday/short term [rentals], and caravan/camp sites,” said the city’s website.
The tax will be capped after the first five consecutive nights, said the city’s website.
While it is referred to as a “tourist tax,” anyone who is paying for accomodation in Edinburgh, for any reason, will have to pay.
“Anyone who is staying in paid, overnight accommodation in Edinburgh need[s] to pay the levy,” said the council’s website.
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“This includes tourists, people staying for work or visiting the city for other reasons. This includes U.K. and Scottish residents.”
The City of Edinburgh Council believes that the new tax will raise about £50 million (about $63 million in U.S. dollars) a year.
Councillor Jane Meagher, leader of the city’s council, called the new tax a “historic moment for Edinburgh.”
She continued, “Introducing this ground-breaking visitor levy means realizing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to invest tens of millions of pounds towards enhancing and sustaining the things that make our city such a great place to visit – and live in — all year round.”
Meagher praised the tax and said it has a “huge amount of backing, not least from local residents.”
Not everyone, however, is excited about the changes.
Leon Thompson, UKHospitality Scotland executive director, voiced his disapproval of the new tax, saying it will make the city less competitive as a tourist destination.
“Our fundamental concern has always been that this levy will only serve to make visitors’ trips to Edinburgh more expensive, ultimately reducing their spending in the wider visitor economy and deterring future visits,” he said in a statement.
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“It’s now the job of the council to use these funds wisely to improve the capital’s attractiveness as a visitor destination and mitigate the impact of the levy on businesses.”