AURN News

According to NBC News, President Donald Trump declared early Monday that President Joe Biden’s pardons for members of the Jan. 6 House select committee were “invalid” because they were signed with an Autopen.

Trump wrote on Truth Social that Biden’s pardons were “VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT.” He further claimed Biden was unaware of them and suggested committee members would face investigation.

However, the U.S. Constitution grants the president sole pardon power, with no provision for reversal by successors.

Biden issued the pardons in January to protect officials from retaliation. Among those pardoned were Reps. Adam Schiff, Liz Cheney, and former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley.

Trump previously pardoned 1,500 individuals tied to the Jan. 6 attack.

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The sounds of a honk-a-thon could be heard across Washington, D.C., today as protesters rallied against the Department of Education’s decision to lay off nearly 50 percent of its staff.

The protest comes three days after 1,300 employees were fired. Teachers, education advocates, and Sen. Mazie Hirono took to the streets, arguing that the move is a step toward dismantling public education.

The department funds special education, teachers’ salaries, social workers, after-school programs, and transportation, but Trump has long vowed to eliminate the agency, and education secretary Linda McMahon says that this is just the beginning.

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(AURN News) — Inflation in the United States edged higher in February, as many Americans continue to experience sticker shock at grocery stores, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Consumer Price Index increased 0.2% last month after rising 0.5% in January.

Several key sectors saw price increases, with shelter costs rising 0.3% and food prices up 0.2%. Among grocery items, eggs saw a particularly sharp jump of 10.4%, while the beef index increased 2.4%.

Energy prices overall climbed 0.2%, though gasoline prices provided some relief with a 1% decrease.

The used vehicle market also contributed to inflation, with prices for used cars and trucks increasing 0.9%.

Overall inflation now stands at 2.8% and has continued its upward trajectory over the past seven months since August 2024.

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The Trump administration's campaign to dismantle the Department of Education is now facing a major legal battle. Twenty-one Democratic attorneys general have sued the administration, calling its mass layoffs of 1,300 employees an illegal move that would cripple the nation’s education system.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel didn’t hold back, calling the cuts “dangerous, reckless, and unacceptable.” The lawsuit, filed in federal court, argues that Trump’s mass firings violate federal law and would incapacitate key functions of the agency, including protections for students with disabilities, oversight of student loans, and enforcement of civil rights cases.

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon has admitted outright that this is just step one in Trump’s plan to shut down the Department of Education completely.

While the administration claims the cuts won’t directly affect students, education advocates warn otherwise.

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The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) has unveiled a new executive order tracker, a powerful tool designed to help Black communities stay informed and engaged as policy shifts under the Trump administration.

With 36 executive orders issued in just one week, many rolling back protections in education, health care, housing, economic opportunity, and criminal justice, the tracker provides real-time updates and analysis on how these policies could affect Black Americans.

Dr. Jonathan Cox of CBCF calls the tracker a lifeline, translating complex legal language into clear, actionable knowledge for activists, researchers, and policymakers. The platform also tracks the responses of Congressional Black Caucus members, ensuring transparency and accountability.

As executive orders continue to reshape policies without congressional approval, CBCF urges Black communities to stay informed and take action. The question now is, will this tracker help mobilize Black Americans to push back against harmful policies?

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(AURN News) — President Donald Trump threatened Thursday to impose 200 percent tariffs on European wine imports in response to what he described as a 50 percent European Union tariff on whisky.

“The European Union, one of the most hostile and abusive taxing and tariffing authorities in the World, which was formed for the sole purpose of taking advantage of the United States, has just put a nasty 50% Tariff on Whisky,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “If this Tariff is not removed immediately, the U.S. will shortly place a 200% Tariff on all WINES, CHAMPAGNES, & ALCOHOLIC PRODUCTS COMING OUT OF FRANCE AND OTHER E.U. REPRESENTED COUNTRIES.”

The president added, “This will be great for the Wine and Champagne businesses in the U.S.”

In a separate post later Thursday, Mr. Trump wrote: “The U.S. doesn’t have Free Trade. We have ‘Stupid Trade.’ The Entire World is RIPPING US OFF!!!”

Financial markets reacted negatively to the tariff threats, with stocks falling significantly Thursday afternoon amid concerns about the potential for escalating trade tensions.

The back-and-forth tariff proposals from the president mark the latest chapter in ongoing trade disputes between the United States and various countries during the first few months of Trump’s presidency.

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Golden Globe winner Ving Rhames and Luise Grossman star in Uppercut, a gripping drama about a determined female boxer breaking barriers in the sport and redefining what it means to be a woman today. When a tough ex-boxing champion (Rhames) takes on the challenge of training Tony (Grossman), the two form an unlikely but powerful alliance.

The film premiered in February and is now available on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango, and other streaming platforms. Just in time for Women’s History Month, this is one you don’t want to miss!

Check out my full interview with the stars on AURN’s YouTube, and follow @TanyaHollywood and @aurnonline for more exclusive content! 🥊🎬

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Today, trade tensions are rising as President Donald Trump threatens a jaw-dropping 200 percent tariff on European alcoholic beverages. This bold move comes after the European Union retaliated against Trump’s new tariffs on steel and aluminum.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump declared that if the EU doesn’t drop its 50 percent tariff on American spirits, the U.S. will hit back hard. He suggests this could actually benefit American wine and Champagne businesses, but the reality could be much more complicated.

Just a day after Trump’s tariff took effect, the EU announced its own countermeasures targeting about $28 billion in American goods, including boats and bourbon. The back-and-forth is putting U.S. distilleries on edge as they brace for what could be a significant financial hit.

One key question looms: How will these trade battles affect shoppers and businesses across the globe?

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On March 13, 1932, the Atlanta Daily World became the first successful African American daily newspaper in the United States. Founded by William A. Scott II in August 1928 as a semi-weekly publication, it quickly grew into a vital platform for Black communities.

At a time when mainstream media largely ignored Black perspectives, the Daily World fearlessly reported on critical issues, including lynchings, police brutality, the Scottsboro Boys trial, discrimination in the federal government, and school segregation. The newspaper not only informed its readers but also played a crucial role in mobilizing them, shaping the fight for civil rights.

The paper’s transition to a daily publication in 1932 marked a major milestone in African American journalism, amplifying Black voices during a pivotal era of racial struggle. However, tragedy struck in 1934 when William A. Scott II was fatally shot at the age of 32. Despite the significance of his work, no one was ever convicted for the crime.

The Atlanta Daily World remains a testament to the power of Black journalism, standing as a historical beacon of advocacy and truth.

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According to CNN, the U.S. Education Department announced Tuesday that it is cutting nearly 50% of its workforce as part of President Donald Trump’s push to eliminate the agency entirely.

The layoffs, which began Tuesday evening, will reduce the department’s staff from about 4,100 at the start of Trump’s presidency to nearly half that number.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the move reflects a commitment to efficiency and accountability, though she acknowledged that fully dismantling the department would require congressional approval. White House officials have already prepared an executive order to begin the process.

The layoffs follow similar job cuts at other federal agencies led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Unions and education advocates have raised concerns about how these reductions will impact students and federal education programs.

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