MicroWave

Summary

Germany’s parliament erupted in controversy after the far-right AfD backed a CDU-led motion for stricter asylum policies, breaking a long-standing taboo against cooperation with extremists.

CDU leader Friedrich Merz defended the move, but Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned it as an “unforgivable mistake.”

The AfD, polling second nationally, celebrated the vote as a victory.

Merz’s stance signals a shift from Angela Merkel’s centrist policies, sparking concerns that mainstream conservatives are normalizing far-right influence ahead of Germany’s upcoming snap election.

Summary

North Korean troops in Russia’s Kursk region have been withdrawn from the front lines after suffering heavy losses, according to U.S. and Ukrainian officials.

Estimates suggest 4,000 of the 11,000 deployed soldiers have been killed, wounded, or gone missing.

Despite being elite forces, they were used as foot soldiers, making them vulnerable.

Russia expects reinforcements from North Korea within two months.

Pyongyang has also supplied Russia with weapons, reportedly in exchange for military and diplomatic support from Moscow.

Summary

Five years after Brexit, its economic and political effects are still unfolding.

Trade with the EU has become more expensive and complex, with mid-sized businesses struggling the most.

UK economic growth is projected to be 4% lower long-term, and new trade deals haven’t offset EU losses.

While public opinion has turned against Brexit, rejoining the EU remains unlikely.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer aims to improve relations but won’t re-enter the single market, as both sides cautiously rebuild ties.

Summary

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has launched an investigation into NPR and PBS, alleging they may be violating federal law by airing commercial advertisements.

He also urged Congress to defund them, arguing taxpayer support is outdated.

Critics, including FCC Democratic commissioners and media advocacy groups, say the move is politically motivated and aimed at intimidating independent journalism.

Carr has previously acted on Trump's media complaints and contributed to Project 2025.

NPR and PBS deny wrongdoing, asserting their underwriting practices comply with FCC regulations.

Summary

The fatal collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter near Reagan National Airport has renewed concerns over aviation safety and air traffic controller shortages.

The crash, which left no expected survivors, follows a rise in near misses, with 1,757 runway incursions recorded in 2024.

Experts blame staffing shortages, outdated systems, and increased flight volume for heightened risks.

The FAA is short 3,000 controllers, and training new hires takes years.

Officials, including Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, believe the tragedy was preventable.

Summary

A Bellingcat investigation found that Chinese suppliers are behind a flood of online ads selling nitazenes, synthetic opioids up to 40 times stronger than fentanyl.

These drugs, linked to hundreds of deaths in Europe and North America, are marketed openly on platforms like LinkedIn and X, often by companies using deceptive tactics.

Despite recent Chinese bans on some nitazenes, new variants continue emerging.

Experts warn the decline of heroin production and fentanyl restrictions could fuel a worsening nitazene crisis worldwide.

Summary

During his Senate confirmation hearing for Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed scientific evidence on vaccine safety despite claiming he would follow the data.

He rejected studies debunking vaccine-autism links, downplayed COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness, and avoided endorsing the HPV vaccine.

His remarks on racial differences in vaccination raised further concerns.

Lawmakers and health experts criticized his reliance on flawed research, warning his leadership could erode public trust and revive preventable diseases.

His confirmation remains contentious.

Summary

Trump briefly froze $3 trillion in federal grants and loans, causing widespread disruption before rescinding the order amid legal challenges.

Critics argue the move, alongside recent freezes on DEI programs and foreign aid, is part of a broader effort to consolidate executive power.

Trump’s nominee for the Office of Management and Budget, Russ Vought, is expected to implement a more structured version of the freeze.

Trump’s actions, including incentivizing federal worker resignations, signal a shift toward oligarchic control.

Summary

As Trump reshapes the federal government, critics accuse Democrats of weak opposition, likening them to France’s Vichy regime, which collaborated with Nazi Germany.

The term “Vichy Democrats” has gained traction, expressing frustration with perceived capitulation.

Historians caution against direct comparisons but note parallels between Vichy’s failed appeasement and Trump-era political shifts.

Others argue that America’s own history—Jim Crow and past authoritarian tendencies—is a more relevant analogy.

Some fear Trump's consolidation of power could mirror past authoritarian takeovers.

Summary

A YouGov poll found that 46% of Danes view the US as a major threat, surpassing concerns about North Korea and Iran but trailing Russia (86%).

Additionally, 78% oppose selling Greenland to the US, though 72% believe Greenland should decide its own fate.

The poll follows heightened tensions over Trump’s repeated claims that acquiring Greenland is an "absolute necessity" for US economic security.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has sought European unity in response, warning of shifting relations with the US.

Summary

Senate Democrats boycotted a vote on Russell Vought’s nomination to lead the Office of Management and Budget, calling him a “threat to democracy.”

Their opposition follows a short-lived freeze on federal grant funding, which they link to Vought’s budget-cutting ideology.

Despite the boycott, Republicans advanced his nomination with an 11-0 committee vote.

Democrats also criticized Trump’s recent executive orders targeting federal employees and DEI programs.

Vought, a key figure behind Project 2025, now faces a full Senate confirmation vote.

Summary

Concerns over Washington, D.C.'s congested airspace were raised before Wednesday’s fatal crash at Reagan National Airport, which killed all 64 aboard an American Airlines jet and three on a military helicopter.

Lawmakers and citizens had warned about excessive military training flights in the area, but efforts to limit air traffic were overridden by Congress.

Army secretary nominee Daniel Driscoll called the crash “preventable” and pledged to review training practices.

Investigations by the FAA and NTSB are ongoing.