Officials advising Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” are exploring the development of a US dollar-backed stablecoin for Gaza, aimed at facilitating digital payments amid the region's impaired banking system. The proposal is in early stages and seeks to support Gaza’s economic reconstruction without replacing its currency. The Board of Peace, chaired by Trump and comprising US and international figures, oversees Gaza’s transitional governance, reconstruction, and security efforts.
EU top diplomats met in Brussels with Nikolay Mladenov, the director of the U.S.-backed Board of Peace, to discuss efforts to stabilize Gaza amid controversy over the board's role and U.S. involvement. The EU expressed support for contributing to peace and humanitarian efforts in Gaza, while debates continue over cooperation with the board, which includes EU member states Bulgaria and Hungary. The European Commission and several member states have expressed concerns about the legitimacy and legal compliance of the board's activities and the EU's engagement.
World Liberty Financial's USD1 stablecoin briefly dropped below its dollar peg to approximately $0.98 amid a purported coordinated attack involving hacked social media accounts, disinformation, and short selling. The company attributed the temporary depeg to hacking, manipulated influencer campaigns, and speculative trading, but the stablecoin regained full parity within half an hour, supported by its collateral and redemption mechanisms. The firm's governance token also experienced a short-term decline during the incident.
USD1 stablecoin briefly depegged to $0.993 amid claims of coordinated attack and hacking of co-founders' accounts, but quickly rebounded with no significant whale selling, liquidity pull, or supply change evident. World Liberty Financial assured that the stablecoin remains fully backed 1:1 with reserves and attributed the dip to market panic triggered by a deleted retweet and influencer activity. On-chain data indicated stable supply metrics and no major transactions, supporting the stability of the token during the incident.
On February 23, World Liberty Financial's stablecoin USD1 experienced a coordinated attack involving social engineering, FUD, and market manipulation, but maintained its 1:1 peg to the dollar after a brief dip to $0.994. The platform attributed its stability to its robust mint-and-redeem mechanism, despite being targeted in the fourth attack within two years, including previous incidents involving hackers and exploits. The stablecoin's value recovered quickly, and the platform continues to develop initiatives such as the World Liberty Forum to shape cryptocurrency regulation.
The Trump administration has filed motions to delete or strike key background facts from lawsuits related to government transparency and public records requests, a rare and often disfavored legal tactic intended to delay proceedings and avoid admitting damaging information. These motions seek to remove statements, quotes, and reports from court documents, which courts have rejected in some cases, emphasizing that they hinder case progress and are considered extreme. The tactic reportedly aims to avoid admitting or confirming facts that could be embarrassing or legally problematic for the administration, but judges have generally upheld the importance of including such background information in FOIA lawsuits.
The National Women’s Law Center and nine survivor advocacy groups have urged the Department of Education to investigate and resolve all pending sexual violence complaints under Title IX, criticizing the department for resolving none in 2025 and opening fewer than 10 investigations since March 2025. The organizations allege that the Department has neglected student survivors' cases while simultaneously targeting transgender students’ rights and argue that these actions reflect a broader pattern of disregard for victims of sexual violence in educational institutions.
A federal judge, Aileen Cannon, has permanently blocked the release of special counsel Jack Smith's report on President Donald Trump's classified documents case, citing concerns of a "manifest injustice" and preserving the presumption of innocence for Trump and his co-defendants. Cannon, who was nominated by Trump, issued the order despite legal and administrative recommendations that the report remain confidential, and despite critics arguing that withholding the report violates First Amendment rights. The investigation involved allegations of Trump hoarding sensitive documents at Mar-a-Lago and obstructing efforts to retrieve them, but charges related to this case were ultimately dismissed.
Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) faces opposition from both MAGA supporters and RFK Jr.'s MAHA movement amid his bid for re-election, due to his past criticism of Trump, his vote to confirm Kennedy as HHS Secretary, and disagreements over health policy changes. The MAHA movement, which endorses Cassidy’s primary opponent Julia Letlow and has criticized his health agency decisions, has attracted significant support among his political rivals. Louisiana’s new closed primary system further complicates Cassidy's campaign by favoring Trump-aligned voters, prompting Cassidy to propose health reforms aligned with Trump’s agenda.
RFK Jr. defended the continued use of glyphosate, stating that a ban would significantly harm U.S. agriculture by reducing crop yields and increasing food prices, despite opposition from some groups advocating for its removal. He emphasized efforts to transition toward regenerative farming practices without destabilizing the food supply and acknowledged that reform will challenge entrenched interests. The backlash highlighted concerns over chemical accountability, transparent labeling, and environmental impacts.
Ralph Abraham, a vocal vaccine skeptic and former Louisiana surgeon general, has stepped down as Principal Deputy Director of the CDC after serving only three months, citing "unforeseen family obligations." His brief tenure followed recent leadership changes at the agency, including the resignation of acting CDC Director Jim O’Neill. Abraham is known for his conservative political views and opposition to COVID-19 vaccine promotion.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced an increase in the global tariff from 10% to 15%, utilizing Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act to impose the higher tariffs for up to 150 days without congressional approval. The move has implications for international trade policy and economic relations.
