President Trump and Elon Musk are considering the possibility of issuing checks to taxpayers using funds saved from government cuts. Meanwhile, Germany’s far-right party has made significant gains in a challenging election, and France is bracing itself for a landmark child abuse trial.
Here’s what you need to know today.
Trump and Elon Musk propose ‘DOGE dividends.’ Low-income Americans may miss out on benefits.
In a reference to a similar initiative from the pandemic period, President Donald Trump and Elon Musk are promoting the idea of providing American taxpayers with dividend checks funded by savings from the Department of Government Efficiency as it streamlines federal operations. This concept originated from James Fishback, a 30-year-old CEO of an investment firm, who tweeted the idea, prompting a response from Musk, who indicated he would discuss it with Trump.
According to Trump, 20% of the purported DOGE savings would be distributed to American citizens, while another 20% is earmarked for debt repayment. However, this plan overlooks many individuals.
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Unlike the pandemic, which provided stimulus checks to all individuals below a certain income threshold, this proposal suggests that only households which pay more in taxes than they receive back would qualify. Research from Pew indicates that the majority of Americans with an adjusted gross income of less than $40,000 pay little to no federal income tax. Fishback mentioned in an interview that this criterion should mitigate fears of dividends contributing to inflation.
Despite the discussions, there is currently no agreement among Republicans regarding distributing checks to Americans based on DOGE savings — the total amount, at this point, remains uncertain.
Read the full story here.
Other political news
- A little-known federal board might hear appeals for thousands of government workers who were laid off.
- Trump appointed conservative podcaster Dan Bongino as deputy director of the FBI.
- Vivek Ramaswamy is set to officially launch his campaign for Ohio governor today.
Conservatives emerge victorious in German election while far-right party gains momentum
Germany came to terms today with the results of a contentious election in which the center-right conservatives secured the highest number of votes, while far-right nationalists made substantial gains, raising alarms in a nation cautious of its Nazi history.
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which is monitored by German intelligence due to suspicions of far-right extremism, achieved its largest vote share to date, aided by the support of figures like Elon Musk and members of the Trump administration.
Allegations of interference from the White House during the electoral campaign led to strong backlash from Friedrich Merz, the leader of the winning Christian Democratic Union, who will spearhead coalition negotiations for the next government. He described Washington’s actions as “dramatic, drastic, and ultimately outrageous,” drawing a parallel with interference from Moscow.
Germany’s electoral system is intentionally structured to prevent a single party from ruling unilaterally, necessitating collaborative governance through coalitions. Merz expressed his ambition to establish a government by Easter but stated that cooperation with the second-place AfD was “completely out of the question.”
Read the full story here.
France gears up for its largest child abuse trial ever
Amélie Lévêque recalls the moment she finally made sense of the inexplicable bouts of depression and other disorders that plagued her for over two decades — it was in 2019 when she learned that the surgeon who removed her appendix at the age of 9 was under investigation for sexually assaulting patients over a span of thirty years.
She is one of 299 alleged victims and will testify in today’s trial — marking France’s largest child sexual abuse trial — against former surgeon Joël Le Scouarnec, aged 74.
Numerous victims have reported an inability to recall the assaults and have experienced symptoms akin to those of Lévêque, according to their lawyers. Following police outreach based on names found in Le Scouarnec’s writings, many victims were confronted with passages detailing their experiences, which provoked various physical and psychological reactions, as reported by the lawyers.
This case has sparked inquiries regarding how a respected surgeon, who practiced at nine hospitals and clinics throughout France, was allowed to continue working despite numerous warning signals that legal experts assert should have flagged his dangerous behavior.
Read the full story here.
Additional Highlights
- Pope Francis remains hospitalized, receiving treatment for double pneumonia and mild renal insufficiency, as reported by the Vatican.
- Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed that the death toll has risen to 21 due to severe flooding and freezing temperatures last week.
- Olympic medalist Frederick Richard seeks to give the men’s gymnastics uniform a makeover.
- From scheduling meetings to grocery shopping, AI agents are becoming the new go-to personal assistants.
Staff Recommendation: How a small-time drug bust triggered a conflict between police and a Catholic hospital
When we learned about the conflict between the police force of a small Ohio city and its local Catholic hospital, we saw a chance to explore how the law enforcement’s pursuit of criminals can sometimes conflict with the healing responsibilities of medical professionals. Additionally, what made this case particularly intriguing was that it stemmed from a relatively minor police action — the arrest of a man suspected of drug purchases. How did a standard operation escalate so rapidly? Although hospital representatives and the police chief declined to comment, the individual whose bowel movements became part of a federal lawsuit did share, briefly, his unsettling experience.
— Jon Schuppe, enterprise reporter
NBC Select: Streamlined Online Shopping
What are carbon plate shoes and do they genuinely enhance running performance? NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin provides an overview of how carbon plate shoes function and the potential improvements they can bring to your running speed. Additionally, the popular travel brand Béis is offering a warehouse sale with up to 40% discount on luggage, work bags, backpacks, and more.
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