Biden-appointed judge decides whether DOGE can access records at top department
A federal judge appointed by former President Joe Biden is temporarily blocking Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing personal records at the Department of Education (DoEd) as part of their cost-cutting sweep.
Judge Deborah Boardman of Greenbelt, Maryland, issued a temporary restraining order on Monday against DOGE’s access to records at the DoEd containing personal sensitive information on Americans, including financial data related to federal student loans.
The order established a two-week restraining order against the DoEd and the Office of Personnel Management from sharing information with the newly formed cost-cutting department.
“This continuing, unauthorized disclosure of the plaintiffs’ sensitive personal information to DOGE affiliates is irreparable harm that money damages cannot rectify,” Boardman wrote in the decision.
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The order stems from a lawsuit filed against the administration alleging that “the agencies unlawfully granted access to records that contain their personally identifiable information (“PII”) to personnel implementing the President’s Executive Orders on the DOGE agenda.”
“The plaintiffs have made a clear showing that they are likely to suffer irreparable harm without injunctive relief,” the decision reads. “DOGE affiliates have been granted access to systems of record that contain some of the plaintiffs’ most sensitive data—Social Security numbers, dates of birth, home addresses, income and assets, citizenship status, and disability status—and their access to this trove of personal information is ongoing.”
“Upon consideration of the amended complaint, the TRO briefing, the limited record evidence, oral argument, and the recent decisions of other courts in similar cases, the Court finds that the plaintiffs have met their burden for the extraordinary relief they seek,” the ruling reads. “The TRO is granted in part and denied in part.”
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The latest ruling against DOGE comes from the same judge who in early February blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship.
Boardman argued in the earlier ruling that citizenship is a “national concern that demands a uniform policy.”
DOGE has seen several legal victories in the face of attempts to block efforts to cut “wasteful” federal spending.
U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan recently denied a request to issue a temporary restraining order preventing Musk and DOGE from accessing data systems at several federal agencies.
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The department was issued another win after District Judge Christopher Cooper, an Obama appointee, shot down a request from several federal labor unions to pause the mass firings of federal workers by the Trump administration.
Trump hosts key world leader in high-stakes White House meeting
French President Emmanuel Macron is meeting with President Donald Trump Monday morning at the White House.
The meeting comes after Macron called for an emergency gathering of world leaders after the Trump administration excluded Europe from sitting at the negotiating table to settle the war between Ukraine and Russia.
Macron arrived at the White House around 8 a.m. local time Monday and has been inside now for several hours.
The two were expected to participate in a call with G7 leaders.
Today is the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Trump said Friday that Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer “haven’t done anything” since 2022 to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.
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“Trump, I know him. I respect him and I believe he respects me,” Macron said the day before. “I will tell him: deep down you cannot be weak in the face of President (Vladimir Putin). It’s not you, it’s not what you’re made of, and it’s not in your interests.”
Coach’s warning for ‘bad guys’ as Trump names new FBI deputy director
Auburn Tigers men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl had a warning for the “bad guys” as President Donald Trump announced the latest appointment in his administration.
Trump announced on Sunday that Dan Bongino will be the next deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Bongino is a former Secret Service agent and will serve under Kash Patel.
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“Great news for Law Enforcement and American Justice,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “Dan Bongino, a man of incredible love and passion for our Country, has just been named the next DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE FBI, by the man who will be the best ever Director, Kash Patel.”
Pearl reacted to Bongino’s appointment on X.
“Congratulations to my friend and great patriot Dan Bongino,” he wrote in a post. “The bad guys best keep their head on a swivel!”
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Bongino, who is also a former Fox News host, thanked Trump and Patel in a post on X.
Trump touted Bongino’s resume, including his master’s degree in psychology from City University in New York and an MBA from Penn State.
“He was a member of the New York Police Department (New York’s Finest!), a highly respected Special Agent with the United States Secret Service, and is now one of the most successful Podcasters in the Country, something he is willing and prepared to give up in order to serve,” Trump added. “Working with our great new United States Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and Director Patel, Fairness, Justice, Law and Order will be brought back to America, and quickly. Congratulations Dan!
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“Another aspect of the life of Dan Bongino that I think is very important. He has a great wife, Paula, and two wonderful daughters who truly love their dad,” Trump later wrote. “What an incredible job Dan will do!!!”
Democrat shakes up New York City mayoral race with ringing endorsement
Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., has endorsed Andrew Cuomo to run for mayor of New York City in the latest blow to incumbent Democrat first-termer, Mayor Eric Adams.
“The two most important things we need are competence and courage,” Torres, who represents the Bronx, told the New York Post.
“Andrew Cuomo has the competence to govern the city. He has the courage to stand up to extremist politics – both from the far left and far right,” Torres said, adding: “We don’t need a Mr. Nice Guy. We need a Mr. Tough Guy.”
Cuomo has not formally declared his candidacy for mayor but is rumored to announce soon.
“He has my endorsement as soon as he enters the race,” Torres told the Post.
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The former governor resigned in 2021 amid scandals connected to COVID-19 nursing home deaths and sexual harassment claims. Cuomo has always denied the allegations against him.
“I predict the comeback story of the 2025 election will be the resurrection of Andrew Cuomo,” Torres told the Post. “America loves a comeback, New York loves a comeback.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Torres’ office for comment Monday and was referred to the congressman’s appearance on CNBC.
“Andrew Cuomo is a common sense Democrat,” Torres told CNBC Monday. “For me the two most important virtues in politics are competence and courage. And Andrew Cuomo has the competence to run New York City in a moment of crisis, and he has the courage to stand up to the extremes of American politics whether it’s the far right or the far left. There’s a mayoral candidate who openly identifies with the Democratic Socialists of America, which celebrated the mass murder of Jews on Oct. 7, and so when it comes to confronting political extremism in New York, when it comes to confronting the crisis of crime, we need not a nice guy, but a tough guy like Andrew Cuomo.”
Asked whether it was an endorsement of Cuomo or an indictment of Adams, Torres said it was both, arguing that New York City is “in crisis” after four deputy mayors resigned and “the city is less safe than it should be.”
“What we now need more than ever is the kind of stable and strong and steady leadership that Governor Cuomo can provide, and the effectiveness of Andrew Cuomo as an executive need not be taken on faith. It is a fact,” Torres said. “We as New Yorkers every day live and feel the legacy of Andrew Cuomo as a great builder of New York City.”
Last week, Cuomo disseminated a letter from former state comptroller Carl McCall, a prominent Democrat and Black elder statesman, backing him for mayor.
McCall endorsed Adams, who is New York City’s second Black mayor, in his 2021 campaign for the office.
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Adams already faces multiple challengers in June’s Democratic primary, but Cuomo is polling as the front-runner.
A federal judge on Friday canceled a corruption trial for Adams and appointed counsel to advise the court about President Donald Trump’s Justice Department’s controversial request to drop charges against the mayor filed under the Biden administration. Adams has denied allegations of a quid pro quo agreement with the Trump administration, as the Democratic mayor cooperates with federal law enforcement on the president’s criminal illegal immigration crackdown.
“I want a mayor who can governor independently of the far right and Donald Trump represents the far right,” Torres told CNBC. “What I found striking is Donald Trump made the decision not to pardon Eric Adams or to permanently drop the charges, but only to do so temporarily, and so the fear of a reindictment keeps Mayor Adams permanently under the thumb of Donald Trump.”
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Judge Dale E. Ho’s written order Friday means he will not decide before mid-March whether to grant the dismissal of the case against the embattled mayor of the nation’s largest city.
Ho said he appointed Paul Clement, a former U.S. solicitor general under former President George W. Bush, to present arguments on the government’s request to drop the case.
Dem makes about-face on lavish hotel forced to put roof over illegals’ heads
The massive Roosevelt Hotel migrant shelter in Manhattan will shut down in the next few months, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced Monday.
The converted facility, which has around 1,000 rooms, has processed more than 173,000 migrants since its opening in May 2023, the city says.
“While we’re not done caring for those who come into our care, today marks another milestone in demonstrating the immense progress we have achieved in turning the corner on an unprecedented international humanitarian effort,” Adams said in a statement Monday. “Now, thanks to the sound policy decisions of our team, we are able to announce the closure of this site and help even more asylum seekers take the next steps in their journeys as they envision an even brighter future, while simultaneously saving taxpayers millions of dollars.
A source told the New York Post that the closure is expected to happen by June.
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Adams’ office said the Roosevelt Hotel shelter opened in May 2023 “during the height of the international asylum seeker crisis, with the city receiving an average of 4,000 arrivals each week.”
“The site has provided a variety of supportive services to migrants, including legal assistance, medical care, and reconnection services, as well as served as a humanitarian relief center for families with children,” it added. “In recent months, the average number of registrants has decreased to approximately 350 per week. Going forward, these intake functions and supportive services will now be integrated into other areas of the system.”
Adams’ office also said Monday that “there are currently fewer than 45,000 migrants in the city’s care, down from a high of 69,000 in January of 2024 and out of the more than 232,000 that have arrived in New York City seeking city services since the spring of 2022. “
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During the final few weeks of Joe Biden’s presidency, around 400-500 new migrants were requesting city help every week, the New York Post reported.
The anticipated closure of the Roosevelt Hotel shelter – which reportedly has been linked to gang activity as well – comes as New York City has been shuttering other migrant care sites.
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“The planned transfer of intake functions from The Roosevelt Hotel to other areas within the system, alongside the planned closures of 53 other emergency shelter sites by June, reflects the dedicated efforts of the Adams administration to address an international crisis and to supporting asylum seekers as they pursue their path towards the American Dream,” Adams’ office said Monday.
Judge deals blow to Idaho murder suspect as key evidence goes public
FIRST ON FOX: An Idaho judge has unsealed a 175-page partially redacted transcript of a closed-door hearing in which University of Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger’s defense team sought to undermine the credibility of investigative genetic genealogy research that helped police zero in on him in connection with a quadruple homicide.
Ada County Judge Steven Hippler had previously told both the prosecution and defense to propose redactions before releasing the transcript from a Jan. 23 hearing.
Taylor tried to portray the investigative genetic genealogy evidence, or IGG, as improperly left out of the probable cause affidavit used to justify several warrants in the case, including her client’s arrest and multiple searches.
But Moscow Police Detective Brett Payne, the leader investigator, testified that the IGG lead was merely a tip and said authorities dug up more evidence at they allege linked Kohberger to the case.
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“We made that decision in an effort to independently verify the information that was provided to us as a tip from the FBI, in much the same way we would any other tip in law enforcement,” he testified. ” So it was not in any way meant to obfuscate any sort of information, it was simply can we validate Mr. Kohberger’s involvement in this incident or can we not. That was it.”
During a two-day public proceeding that followed the closed hearing last month, the defense argued that the FBI violated Kohberger’s Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.
Read the transcript here:
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Four University of Idaho students had been stabbed to death in a home on Nov. 13, 2022 – Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20.
Under Mogen’s body, police found a knife sheath that helped crack the case – it had a DNA sample on it.
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Idaho State Police and Othram Laboratories failed to generate leads from the sample, however, according to Payne.
The FBI then stepped in with its own resources and supplied Kohberger’s name as a tip to be investigated on Dec. 19, 2022, Payne testified.
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Eleven days later, police arrested him at his parents’ house in Pennsylvania.
On multiple occasions, Taylor attempted to question witnesses about other topics outside the IGG – but Judge Hippler sustained objections from prosecutors, who noted that the hearing was solely dedicated to IGG.
Latah County Judge John Judge entered not guilty pleas on Kohberger’s behalf at his arraignment on a superseding indictment in May 2023. Kohberger’s lawyers later successfully argued for a change of venue, transferring the case to Ada County under Judge Hippler.
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His trial is scheduled to begin in August and is expected to stretch on for weeks. He could face the death penalty if convicted.
Grammy award-winning singer Roberta Flack known for top hits dead at 88
Roberta Flack has died. She was 88 years old.
The Grammy award-winning singer, who was known for hits such as “Killing Me Softly With His Song” and “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” passed away on Monday.
She died at home surrounded by family, according to Flack’s publicist.
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Flack became an overnight star in the early 1970s after Clint Eastwood used “The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face” in his film “Play Misty for Me.”
The musician’s song won record of the year at the Grammys and topped the Billboard chart in 1972.
“The record label wanted to have it re-recorded with a faster tempo, but he said he wanted it exactly as it was,” Flack told the Associated Press in a 2018 interview. “With the song as a theme song for his movie, it gained a lot of popularity and then took off.”
She became the first artist to win record of the year consecutively in 1973 with “Killing Me Softly.”
Flack went on to record a handful of other hits in the ’70s, including “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” “Where Is the Love” and “The Closer I Get to You.”
Golf influencer wants AimPoint putting method banned after LPGA Tour controversy
Golf influencer Paige Spiranac has declared a stance on a hot debate on the course.
AimPoint, a method of finding a putting line on the green, has been criticized by those who don’t use it, saying that it affects the pace of play on the PGA Tour.
Spiranac is in that camp after what she saw on the LPGA Tour – a player going through their AimPoint routine a foot from the hole.
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“Ban Aim Point,” Spiranac posted on X over a picture of the LPGA Tour player.
Slow play has been a controversial topic in golf recently, especially with rounds in tournaments like the Farmers Insurance Open taking almost six hours to complete.
PGA Tour golfer Lucas Glover said on SiriusXm PGA Tour Radio that, while it isn’t proven AimPoint is causing these pace of play issues on the course, it can take too long to get the read and the results are not any better than other methods.
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“AimPoint statistically hasn’t helped anybody make more putts since its inception on the PGA Tour, statistics have borne that out,” Glover said.
Glover also pointed out how the method requires players to walk near the hole and make their way back to the ball.
“It’s also kind of rude to be up near the hole and stomping around, figuring out where the break is in your feet. It needs to be banned. It takes forever,” he said.
There are others, however, who believe if AimPoint was adopted by more, the game would move quicker.
“It would speed up play as it takes an average of 10 seconds to get a read,” Europe’s senior instructor Jamie Donaldson told Golf Monthly.
Collin Morikawa, who uses AimPoint, heard what Glover had to say and retorted with a proposed ban on “long putters,” which the latter uses.
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As of now, the PGA will continue to allow AimPoint, but pace of play will continue to be a hot topic moving forward.