Thursday, March 20 | By Cate Martel |
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It's Thursday. Today is the first official day of spring and March Madness! 🏀 Who do you have winning your bracket? Email me your pick. | - Trump's next target: Education Department
- Musk's Social Security talk makes GOP squeamish
- Georgetown academic's visa revoked
- Free cone day at DQ
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Pour one out for the Education Department: |
President Trump is expected to sign an executive order today to dismantle the Department of Education. Why I chose the word 'dismantle': Trump technically does not have the power to eliminate it. That would require congressional approval. Instead, the administration is gutting it as much as possible. If this feels a bit like Groundhog Day: That's because this executive order has been in the works for weeks — and there have been several delays. Trump will make the announcement around 4 p.m. 💻 Livestream 🗨️ Follow today's live blog |
➤ SOME CRITICAL REACTIONS: |
Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) blasted Trump over his expected announcement to gut the Education Department, calling it "more bulls---." "We know you're just trying to wear us out. But for the record, I am not overwhelmed. My zone isn't flooded," she posted. "I will fight your illegal behavior until the cows come home, and I'm pretty sure the hundreds of thousands of people who've contacted my office since you started this nonsense are on the same page." And the top Democrat on the House Education Committee is worried: Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), the ranking member on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, says shuttering the Department of Education would put students across the country at risk. From Scott: "Legality aside, dismantling [the department] will exacerbate existing disparities, reduce accountability, and put low-income students, students of color, students with disabilities, rural students and English as a Second Language (ESL) students at risk." |
The Democratic National Committeeis investing in two April special House races in Florida: contests to replace former GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz and Trump's national security adviser Mike Waltz (R). The Hill's Julia Manchester has the details here. For subject: Trump pushes to gut Education Department Nothing else from me. |
How to make a D.C. Republican flinch: |
Just mention Social Security and DOGE. Tech billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk recently referred to Social Security as "the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time" and said he wants to cut up to 12 percent of the Social Security Administration's (SSA) workforce. And there's a new hurdle to receive benefits: SSA announced that as of March 31, social security beneficiaries who can't verify their identities and bank information online will be required to do it in person, not by phone. Why this matters: More than 72 million elderly and disabled Americans rely on those benefits, many of whom have limited ability to get to an office. Plus, Musk's initiative is planning to close at least 47 Social Security field offices, putting greater stress on the remaining locations. This headline is *chef's kiss*: How are Republicans feeling about this, you may ask? "Republicans want Musk to shut up about Social Security," The Hill's Alexander Bolton reports. Why this makes the GOP extremely nervous: They're already feeling the pain of Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts. Several Republican lawmakers have been booed during town hall meetings with constituents. Older folks — the very beneficiaries of most Social Security benefits — tend to vote more Republican. Republican lawmakers are acutely aware this could damage them in the next election. |
➤ THE MAN BEHIND THE DOGE: |
The New York Times published a profile on Steve Davis, a longtime loyalist of Musk and his top lieutenant overseeing DOGE. |
➤ WHY TRUMP'S COMMERCE HEAD IS RAISING EYEBROWS: |
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick urged people to buy Tesla stock during a Fox News appearance. How this came up: Tesla dealerships, showrooms, charging stations and vehicles have been attacked over Musk's controversial role within the federal government. Tesla stock has dropped nearly 35 percent in the past month. Keep in mind: Lutnick is a government employee and has received a lot of pushback for this statement due to his role. Federal employees are subject to the Hatch Act, which prohibits government workers from using their official roles for political gain. |
➤ JUST SHARING HIS HUMBLE OPINION: |
President Trump urged the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates when his administration's sweeping tariffs resume in April. Trump posted on Truth Social: "The Fed would be MUCH better off CUTTING RATES as U.S. Tariffs start to transition (ease!) their way into the economy. Do the right thing. April 2nd is Liberation Day in America!!!" 🗨️ See Trump's post 💡 What sparked this: The Fed announced yesterday that it would keep interest rates steady. Last year, it cut rates three times. |
Another university student's visa has been revoked: |
Badar Khan Suri, a Georgetown University postdoctoral scholar and Indian national, has been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and told his visa has been revoked. Why?: Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin accused Suri of "actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media." A spokesperson for Georgetown University said it was "not aware" of Suri engaging in criminal activity and the university has "not received a reason for his detention." Why this matters: This is the latest student to be caught up in the Trump administration's immigration crackdown at universities. Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil has been another high-profile case of a student who is a legal permanent resident of the U.S. and has been targeted over pro-Palestinian activism. |
Time: What Does the Department of Education Actually Do? The New York Times: How Trump Is Trying to Consolidate Power Over Courts, Congress and More The Washington Post: Elon Musk, once a tacit backer of DEI, now focuses on anti-White bias The Wall Street Journal: Fed Projections See an Economy Dramatically Reset by Trump's Election Politico: Trump is serious about impeaching a federal judge. But that doesn't mean it will happen, deputy chief of staff says. |
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Would their name be Jitt Manchey? Or Moe Romchin? 🤔: |
Former Sens. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) are joining the board of directors for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a top fiscal policy think tank. Maya MacGuineas, the president of the organization, said in a statement Wednesday that "Both former senators have been staunch advocates for responsible budgeting, but more than that, they have not shied away from working across the aisle to find solutions that can bridge the ideological divide and get America pointed in the right direction."
Read more here. |
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The House and Senate are out. President Trump is in Washington. (All times EST) |
3:30 p.m. Trump signs executive orders.
4 p.m. Trump signs an executive order to formally dismantle the Education Department. 💻 Livestream
4 p.m. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) hold a town hall in Las Vegas 7 p.m. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) holds a town hall in Minneapolis. 💻 Livestream
9 p.m. Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez host a town hall in Tempe, Ariz.
8 a.m. Friday-8 a.m. Saturday. C-SPAN interviewed the new members of Congress. All 62 interviews will air on C-SPAN2 and online. |
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🍝 Celebrate: Today is National Ravioli Day. 🍦 Free ice cream for the first day of spring!: It's Dairy Queen's annual Free Cone Day! Visit any location and get a small vanilla cone. If you want it dipped, it's $1. 😀 I'm going to Finland. Who's coming with me?: Finland was ranked as the world's happiest country, while the U.S. dipped down to No. 24. 🍖 Lighting up the D.C. group chats: Hill Country, the beloved BBQ restaurant in downtown Washington, is closing next Friday, It's been a staple since opening in 2011. I am so sad about this. |
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