Headlines

March 12, 2025

NPR

Ukraine Agrees to Ceasefire

A month long ceasefire proposal has been approved by Ukraine, as the U.S. plans to resume military aid and intelligence sharing. This marks the first high-level meeting between the two countries since the U.S. froze aid. Though the U.S. and Ukraine want peace, the outcome depends on Russia.
Read Full Story
Associated Press

Education Department Cuts Half Its Staff

The U.S. Education Department will lay off over 1,300 employees in line with President Trump’s federal job cut goals. This downsizing raises concerns about the impact on key services like student loan management and civil rights enforcement, though officials say these will not be affected.
Read Full Story
ABC News

Bill To Avoid Shutdown Goes to Senate

House Republicans passed a spending bill to fund the government until September. The bill now goes to the Senate, where Democrats are divided, and some oppose the bill, calling it a "shutdown bill." The measure includes increased military funding but cuts non-defense spending.
Read Full Story
CBS News

Dow Down Amid More Tariff Uncertainty

Stocks dropped sharply on Tuesday, in the third consecutive week of declines. The Dow lost 478 points amid uncertainty over Trump's escalating trade war with Canada. Tariff hikes on steel and aluminum, along with concerns about a potential recession, caused mass losses.
Read Full Story
CNN

NTSB Preliminary Report on DC Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board recommended banning helicopter traffic over part of the Potomac River after the deadly midair collision in January. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy agreed to extend flight restrictions, and the FAA will review the recommendations.
Read Full Story
New York Post

Arrests and Chaos at Columbia

Dozens of people were arrested in New York City after blocking streets during a demonstration supporting Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student facing deportation. The protest, calling for his release, turned tense when police clashed with demonstrators.
Read Full Story
CNBC

Will Republicans Buy Teslas?

Some analysts believe Musk’s influence and regulatory changes under Trump could benefit the company, while others worry Tesla’s technology and Musk's controversial image may hurt sales. Trump's policies could impact Tesla’s financials by reducing EV subsidies and funding.
Read Full Story
Entrepreneur

Dimon Says One Group Complains About RTO

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon defended the bank's full return-to-office mandate for its 300,000 employees, claiming that "the people in the middle," like corporate office workers, are the only group unhappy about RTO, and that most U.S. jobs require employees to be on-site.
Read Full Story
BBC

Now Russia May Feel the Pressure

The recent U.S.-Ukrainian peace statement puts pressure on Russia, emphasizing peace relies on Russia's actions. While U.S. support for Ukraine has resumed, and their meeting signals a potential negotiation reset, details on a critical minerals deal and European involvement remain unclear.
Read Full Story
The Hill

Trump Won't Touch Entitlements

The White House asserted that President Trump would not cut Social Security or Medicare after tech billionaire Elon Musk’s comments about the need to examine entitlement spending gained traction. Trump has repeatedly opposed cuts to these programs, focusing instead on eliminating fraud.
Read Full Story
Times of Israel

Israel Worried About Hostage Envoy

U.S. hostage envoy Adam Boehler faced backlash for misusing terms, empathizing with Hamas leaders, and criticizing Israel's strategy. His approach, including downplaying Hamas's intentions, raised concerns, with President Trump taking a more direct role in negotiations.
Read Full Story
The Courier-Journal

Southwest Begins Charging for Luggage

Southwest Airlines will begin charging customers for checked bags in May, ending its policy of two free bags for all passengers. Free bags will still be available for certain members. The airline is also introducing new fare options, assigned seating, and shortening flight credit expiration.
Read Full Story
Men's Journal

Eagles Will Go to the White House

The Philadelphia Eagles have accepted President Trump's White House invitation after their Super Bowl 59 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, marking their second Super Bowl victory. Unlike in 2018, they are "enthusiastically" agreeing to the visit, which is expected later this spring or summer.
Read Full Story
The Washington Post

Listed: The Healthiest Snacks

Snacking on foods within certain categories improves health, while junk foods can lead to higher body fat and metabolic issues. Packaged snacks often contain harmful additives, so it's best to choose options with whole grains and minimal processing. Moderation is always important.
Read Full Story
Fresh Hell

"Meghan Masquerading as Influencer"

"With Love, Meghan" showcases Meghan Markle's struggle to connect with current cultural trends, promoting perfection at a time when authenticity is more appreciated. Meanwhile, Harry Evans' dedication to uncovering truth lives on through his extensive archives, a testament to his journalistic legacy.
Read Full Story
Daily Star

Spring Break: Porn Star Edition

Bonnie Blue, an adult film star, is back in Cancun for spring break. She is offering to pay the tuition of two male co-stars — one based on their sexual performance and the other for having the smallest male sex organs. Blue aims to create more content while interacting with young spring breakers
Read Full Story
NBC News

Tariffs and Manufacturing by the Data

Trump's trade war aims to bring manufacturing back, but the U.S. economy isn’t prepared. Fewer people work in manufacturing today, tariffs could raise prices for consumers and push companies to find other suppliers, and the U.S. excels in services like software and finance already.
Read Full Story
Washington Monthly

Let’s Create Town Hall Night in America

Democrats have been criticized for ineffective protests during Trump’s address. Some suggest monthly town halls in all 435 congressional districts to engage the public and build community. These events, if done right, could boost visibility and accountability for Democrats.
Read Full Story
The Philadelphia Inquirer

Rendell Wants a National Monument

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell is fundraising for the National Light, an interactive monument to democracy, with aims to build it in LOVE Park for America's 250th anniversary in 2026. Despite initial approval, the city withdrew support due to the monument’s size. He is still seeking a location.
Read Full Story
Yahoo! Life

How To Sell a Home in Palo Alto

A $4.9 million Palo Alto home gained attention for a listing claiming every owner's children went to Harvard or Stanford. The marketing strategy quickly went viral but was removed the next day, with the listing focusing on more typical features. The home’s status was soon marked as "pending."
Read Full Story

Looking for previous newsletters?

The Mingle Project

Michael is on a mission to restore civility and compromise in public discourse. His solution for addressing societal disconnect, The Mingle Project — now on Smerconish.com with exclusive video clips, news articles, author interviews, live event info, and more!

Independent doesn’t mean indecisive.

The Latest News from Smerconish.com in Your Inbox

Join our community of over 100k independent minds

If you can’t find the confirmation email in your inbox, please check your junk or spam folder. 

 

We will NEVER SELL YOUR DATA. By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Smerconish.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Aweber

The Latest News from Smerconish.com in Your Inbox

Join our community of over 100k independent minds

If you can’t find the confirmation email in your inbox, please check your junk or spam folder. 

 

We will NEVER SELL YOUR DATA. By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Smerconish.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Aweber