President Trump signed an executive order invoking the Defense Production Act to boost domestic production of phosphorus and glyphosate, and offered producers of glyphosate-based pesticides immunity from litigation, citing agricultural and national security needs. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly supported the order, drawing sharp criticism from MAHA movement allies who view it as a reversal of his decades-long opposition to glyphosate, which the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified as "probably carcinogenic to humans." Prominent MAHA supporters, including podcast host Tom Renz and wellness advocate Jillian Michaels, called Kennedy's stance a betrayal, while some called for his resignation. Kennedy defended his position by arguing that reducing reliance on foreign nations requires maintaining current chemical production systems, framing reform as a gradual process.
FBI Director Kash Patel has reportedly directed agency resources toward protecting and supporting his girlfriend, country music singer Alexis Wilkins, according to former FBI officials. Tactical agents have allegedly escorted her on personal errands, including a hair salon appointment and a performance at a small conservative event, as well as international trips. Former officials also claim Patel increased FBI field office staffing near Wilkins' home in Nashville.
A WIRED report from February 25 found that a popular pro-Trump X account called "Johnny MAGA," which had nearly 300,000 followers and was treated by news outlets as a gauge of conservative sentiment, appears to be linked to a White House staffer named Garrett Wade. The revelation raises questions about the authenticity of Trump's apparent grassroots online support, as the account was presenting itself as an independent voice while potentially functioning as an administration mouthpiece. Recent polling data contrasts with the pro-Trump sentiment amplified by such accounts, with a CNN poll showing 68% of Americans feel Trump hasn't addressed the country's most important problems, and 66% of independents disapproving of him in an Economist/YouGov survey.
The FDA is launching a pilot program to offer performance bonuses to drug reviewers who complete thorough reviews ahead of schedule, as announced by Commissioner Marty Makary. Generate Biomedicines raised $400 million in one of the largest biotech IPO debuts in recent years, while Novartis and Takeda agreed to enter the third round of Medicare drug price negotiations for drugs including Kisqali and Cosentyx. The Department of Justice filed an amicus brief supporting AbbVie in its legal challenge over 340B drug discounts, offering insight into the Trump administration's stance on contract pharmacy use.
The ABC is set to premiere a documentary special titled *Diabolical: The Epstein Files* on March 2 at 8:00pm on ABC TV and ABC iview. The program examines the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, described as a legal and political saga that shook the Trump administration and raised questions about equality before the law. The documentary explores what has been revealed through the Epstein files.
The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), established by Congress in 1986, has distributed over $5.2 billion to vaccine-injured claimants over 40 years while shielding vaccine manufacturers from frivolous litigation. Critics warn that HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is considering adding autism-related claims to the program, despite scientific consensus that vaccines do not cause autism. A recent study estimates such claims could initially cost nearly $100 million, with annual awards potentially reaching $30 billion thereafter, threatening the program's solvency and delaying compensation for legitimate claimants. Opponents argue that dismantling VICP would shift cases to already overburdened civil courts, where trial lawyers typically collect 33% of judgments before plaintiffs receive any compensation.
While gala guests danced at Mar-a-Lago on Friday evening, President Trump convened top national security officials — including the CIA director, secretary of state, secretary of defense, and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff — in a secure area of the club to oversee a sustained military attack on Iran, which included the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump monitored the operation from behind black curtains in what functioned as a makeshift Situation Room, and his public presence was limited to two pre-recorded videos and White House-released photos. Mar-a-Lago has been used repeatedly as an operational command center, with past decisions made there including the 2020 strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani and the 2017 airstrikes on Syria. National security professionals have long expressed concern about the security risks of conducting classified operations at a private club accessible to paying members.
The opinion piece draws parallels between the Watergate scandal and current Attorney General Pam Bondi's handling of the Epstein files, arguing she is engaged in a cover-up similar to those that ended the careers of three Watergate-era attorneys general. The author alleges Bondi has made false public statements about the Epstein files, violated the Epstein Transparency Act, and potentially perjured herself before Congress, while also referencing her past acceptance of a $25,000 Trump Foundation donation while deciding whether Florida would join a lawsuit against Trump University. The piece contextualizes Watergate's timeline — from the 1972 break-in to Nixon's 1974 resignation — to suggest that political scandals often escalate slowly before becoming unavoidable, implying Bondi's situation may follow a similar trajectory.
This article is a collection of reader letters to the Sydney Morning Herald responding to US military strikes on Iran, which reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Letter writers broadly criticize President Trump's decision to launch military action without Congressional approval, with many characterizing him as being manipulated by foreign leaders such as Netanyahu and Putin. Several correspondents draw parallels to past US military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan, questioning the likelihood of a stable outcome, while others raise concerns about the legality and broader geopolitical consequences of the strikes. The letters reflect a largely critical Australian public perspective on the US-Israel attack and its implications for international order.
Donald Trump has been appointing individuals who support his unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election to key government positions. Among those cited are former advisor Steve Bannon and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, both prominent supporters of the narrative that the 2020 election was "stolen." Critics warn that installing such figures in positions of power could further erode public trust in the electoral process and democratic institutions.
Melania Trump is scheduled to chair a UN Security Council meeting on Monday, March 2, marking the first time a first lady or first gentleman has presided over such a session. Her office stated she would focus the meeting on education's role in promoting tolerance and world peace, as the US holds the Council's rotating presidency in March. The event comes amid a newly launched US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, which began Saturday with a bombing that killed Iran's supreme leader, prompting Iranian retaliatory strikes across the Middle East. The appearance also occurs against a backdrop of strained US-UN relations, with the Trump administration withdrawing support from several UN agencies and the organization facing over $4 billion in financial shortfalls.
President Trump returned to the White House on Sunday after overseeing U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran from Mar-a-Lago as part of Operation Epic Fury. Three U.S. service members were killed and five seriously wounded during the operation, and Trump confirmed that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed following the collapse of nuclear talks. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on U.S. and Israeli bases and struck targets near Riyadh and Dubai, with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard threatening further attacks. A temporary leadership council has been formed in Iran to select a permanent successor to Khamenei.
