Ben Lefebvre

Hades.
Hollow Knight.

Trump undermined Biden’s FEMA in North Carolina. Now the cleanup is lagging on his watch. As a candidate, the president spread misinformation about the Hurricane Helene recovery efforts, convincing many survivors that the federal government was out to get them.

Great @zcolman.bsky.social feature on how misinformation and politicization is affecting even something that should be as apolitical as disaster relief. Rebuilding after a disaster becomes a quagmire if residents think the agency that's supposed to help them is stealing babies:

BREAKING: A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from dismantling the Department of Education and ordered the administration to reinstate employees fired in a mass termination.

This can't happen without cnogressional approval, she ruled.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

Politico’s Newsroom Is Starting a Legal Battle With Management Over AI Politico has rules about AI in the newsroom. Staffers say those rules have been violated—and they’re gearing up for a fight.

Politico's PEN Guild union was one of the first to include AI provisions in its contract. Now it's gearing up for potentially another potential first: A legal battle against management for violating those provisions.

www.wired.com/story/politi...

it’s art bsky.app/profile/punk...

USDA, DOGE demand states hand over personal data about food stamp recipients The Department of Agriculture is demanding sensitive data from states about more than 40 million food stamp recipients, as DOGE is amassing data for immigration enforcement.

@npr.org EXCLUSIVE:

The Department of Agriculture is demanding states hand over personal data of food assistance recipients — including Social Security numbers, addresses and, in at least one state, citizenship status, according to emails shared with NPR.

American Pope to avoid the tariffs, smart.

Chicago pope to issue encyclical denouncing ketchup on hot dogs

Replacing the communal wine with Old Style.

First one to start up a chain of "Pope Leo XIV Italian Beef" stand wins.

Looking forward to the quick canonization of Dick Butkus.

U.S. and Japan remain far apart on tariffs While both sides have said they will aim for a deal as soon as possible, they have also indicated that they aren't in a rush for a swift settlement.

Trade negotiations between Japan and the United States are headed for an impasse with the two sides unable even to settle on a starting point for an agreement after two rounds of high-level discussions.

'Initial triage': Trump pins hope on Bessent as he seeks to end China trade war standstill The Treasury secretary’s role signals the White House is serious about trade negotiations with Beijing. But finger pointing ahead of the Geneva talks underscores the tough road ahead.

Trump has tasked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent with leading on trade with China. It's not going to be easy.Inside the challenge ahead as Bessent heads to Switzerland tomorrow --> w/ @meganmesserly.bsky.social @arihawkins.bsky.social @ddesrochers.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2025/05...

Maybe the boiler just isn't working right?

"Wait...what is that? Is that...? My gawd, that's Emmanuel Macron walking out of there!"

1/ The US government has ordered the Swedish city of Stockholm to end its diversity, inclusivity and equality (DEI) programmes within 10 days. The city authorities say the demand is "bizarre" and they won't be complying. ⬇️

The anti-abortion movement readies its gameplan for Trump 2.0 Abortion opponents hope a new report will spur the GOP to ban abortion pills and defund Planned Parenthood.

On a private Zoom last week, anti-abortion groups previewed an effort they're calling "Rolling Thunder." Here's how they plan to pressure the FDA, Congress and courts to crack down on abortion pills. www.politico.com/news/2025/05...

Neighbors report two upscale DC restaurants on New Mexico Ave. just raided by DHS/ICE: Chef Geoff's (owned by the husband of CBS News' Norah O'Donnell) and Al Dente.

NEW from @joshgerstein.bsky.social: You’ve heard of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Now meet the second man erroneously deported to El Salvador in violation of a legal settlement: Daniel Lozano-Camargo.

Until now, he’d only been identified by a pseudonym in court. www.politico.com/news/2025/05...

Japan's ruling party balks at importing US rice as part of tariff deal LDP members argue concessions would hurt country's food security

Rice was always going to be a tough sell but why would the LDP risk anything when its negotiating partner refuses to act in good faith.

asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Trad...

What a $15,000 Electric SUV Says About U.S.-China Car Rivalry For an American used to a $50,000 gasoline-powered SUV as the standard family choice, the Chinese market is hardly recognizable.

"A majority of new vehicles sold in China are either fully electric or plug-in hybrids, and a look around the recent auto show in Shanghai showed that local makers have mostly stopped introducing new gasoline-powered models."

www.wsj.com/business/aut...

Trump's budget asks Congress for unprecedented federal funding cuts The request for obliterating many domestic programs sets up a clash with Congress ahead of the Sept. 30 shutdown deadline.

Trump is seeking massive funding cuts across the government. He's asking Congress to slash spending on non-defense programs by more than $163 billion.

Uncertainty looms over U.S. LNG, despite buyer interest - Gas Outlook April saw several modest commercial deals for U.S. LNG. But that is more than overshadowed by formidable obstacles facing new LNG projects.

Uncertainty looms over U.S. LNG, despite buyer interest

The month of April saw several modest commercial deals for U.S. LNG. But that is more than overshadowed by formidable obstacles facing new LNG projects.

gasoutlook.com/analysis/unc...

DOGE hits Trump country Red states have borne the brunt of DOGE’s targeting of AmeriCorps

Congress critters are getting a big lesson in "one district's 'waste' is another district's lifeblood":

www.politico.com/news/2025/04...

Exclusive: QatarEnergy in talks with Japan on long-term LNG supply deal One of the world's biggest liquefied natural gas suppliers, QatarEnergy [RIC:RIC:QATPE.UL], is in talks with Japanese firms for a long-term deal to supply LNG from its North Field expansion project, five trading and industry sources told Reuters.

Japan looking at long-term deal for LNG...with Qatar:

www.reuters.com/business/ene...

"I'm told."

PHOTOS: Lincoln Square road closure offers glimpse of car-free streets: ‘A nice little breather’, read more here: chicago.suntimes.com/transportati...

BREAKING: A Trump-appointed judge has barred the administation from removing migrants under the Alien Enemies Act, saying Trump's invocation of that law in the context of Tren de Aragua was illegal. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...