Podcast
America's Talking
Hosted by The Center Square · EN
The podcast bringing you the most important stories out of Washington D.C. from TheCenterSquare.com. Join us as we dive into the top headlines and provide insightful commentary and analysis.
20episodes
Episodes
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Lawmakers Debate DOGE Cuts to Foreign Aid, Shuttering of USAID
Mar 1, 202500:07:46Tap to summarize(The Center Square) – While expert witnesses gave divided views on the shuttering of the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID), lawmakers sparred Wednesday during a House Oversight subcommittee hearing over the alleged corruption within the independent agency. Democrats on the Subcommittee on Delivery on Government Efficiency argued that the closing of USAID’s operations by the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has politicized and jeopardized vital humanitarian work globally. Republicans, on the other hand, insisted that politicization is already endemic within USAID and necessitates either drastic reforms or abolishing the agency entirely and placing foreign aid under the purview of the State department.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_7b0e95e2-f481-11ef-8f4f-cb0e8b093366.html
Transcribe →House Republicans’ $4.5 Trillion Budget Resolution Overcomes Odds, Passes
Feb 28, 202500:07:35Tap to summarize(The Center Square) – President Donald Trump’s tax cuts, border, defense, and energy promises are one step closer to enactment after the U.S. House narrowly passed its $4.5 trillion budget resolution Tuesday night, officially kickstarting the budget reconciliation process. Following hours of Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., convincing Republican holdouts to commit, a brief cancellation of the vote, and then an abrupt recalling of all House members, the resolution passed 217-215 and now heads to the Senate. Republicans have a majority in the upper chamber with 53 members to the Democrats' 45 and two independents caucusing with them.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_e934e594-f3eb-11ef-b32d-13db8e438b27.html
Transcribe →DOGE Says It Has Saved Taxpayers $55 Billion So Far
Feb 22, 202500:07:31Tap to summarize(The Center Square) – The month-old Department of Government Efficiency led by billionaire Elon Musk has saved American taxpayers $55 billion, according to the latest update from the group. Its ‘Wall of Receipts’ on its new website catalogues where the department has made cuts and how much those cuts are worth. The biggest line item on ‘the wall’ is one from the Department of Homeland Security for $8 billion. The U.S. Agency for International Development appears the most in DOGE’s records and so far, shows more than $6.5 billion slashed from its budget, according to the site, though it is still being updated. USAID and the Department of Education top DOGE's list for 'total contract savings' for government agencies. The DHS is sixth. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_3af14946-ee3c-11ef-975d-537cdefa30fb.html
Transcribe →Southwest Border Apprehensions Drop By 85%, at Ports of Entry by 93%
Feb 21, 202500:07:27Tap to summarize(The Center Square) – In the first 10 days of the Trump administration, apprehensions dropped by 85% between ports of entry at the southwest border, according to new data published by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. From Jan. 21 through Jan. 31, 2025, the number of U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions along the southwest border dropped by 85% compared to the same period in 2024. The number of inadmissible illegal border crossers using a CBP One phone app arriving at ports of entry at the southwest border dropped 93% in 11 days compared to the same time period one year prior.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_f8084f54-eef3-11ef-b021-8b3a654452eb.html
Transcribe →Trump Signs Order Forcing Agencies to Work With DOGE
Feb 15, 202500:09:59Tap to summarize(The Center Square) – Billionaire Elon Musk joined President Donald Trump in the oval office Tuesday as the president signed an executive order requiring federal agencies to work with Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE. The order will require federal agencies to work with DOGE to significantly reduce their labor force. A White House fact sheet, first reported by Semafor, says the order requires agencies hire “no more than one employee for every four employees” that are fired, with some exceptions, including for public safety and law enforcement. DOGE and Musk have dominated the news cycle since Trump took office by exposing an onslaught of controversial federal spending, most notably as USAID, an agency that has been all but destroyed since Trump took office.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_d333eb96-e8bf-11ef-8bdb-db2d3091b469.html
Transcribe →Inflation Rises in Latest Data
Feb 14, 202500:06:18Tap to summarize(The Center Square) – Prices rose more than expected last month, newly released inflation data shows. The Consumer Price Index, a leading marker of inflation, rose 0.5% in January, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The January increase contributed to a 3% increase in the last 12 months, the highest level since June. The rising cost of shelter drove much of the increase.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Full story:Inflation rises in latest dataWATCH: Can Trump really lower gas prices?
Transcribe →‘Illegal Takeover’ of USAID Operations by Trump, Musk Draws Ire From Democrats
Feb 8, 202500:07:35Tap to summarize(The Center Square) – Foreign aid has become the newest target of the Department of Government Efficiency, with President Donald Trump reportedly planning to merge the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with the State department. Trump has already made Secretary of State Marco Rubio the acting administrator of USAID and halted the agency’s work via a foreign funding freeze, moves Democratic lawmakers say amount to an “illegal takeover.” The changes follow DOGE leader Elon Musk’s social media announcements over the weekend that Trump is planning on dismantling USAID entirely, a claim that Rubio dismissed Monday when he told reporters that the goal is “not about ending the programs that USAID does per se,” but rather ensuring it operates in a responsible, America-centric way.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_a2810fa0-e25d-11ef-ae2b-7be3a0f08321.html
Transcribe →Trade War Fears Ease as Trump Pauses Tariffs After Concessions From Canada, Mexico
Feb 7, 202500:07:07Tap to summarize(The Center Square) – Major markets pared some losses after President Donald Trump paused his plans for 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada while starting talks with China on a 10% additional tariff over fentanyl smuggling. Trump on Saturday ended decades of duty-free trade between the U.S., Mexico and Canada with a 25% tariff on imported goods from the two countries with a lower 10% tariff on Canadian energy resources. Trump said he'd keep the tariffs in place until the illegal fentanyl trade subsided. He also added a 10% tariff on imports from China over that country's role in producing the chemicals needed to make fentanyl, a powerful opioid blamed for the majority of U.S. overdose deaths.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_46270660-e27b-11ef-a8c5-e3d4b5a180a5.html
Transcribe →White House to Trim Federal Workforce Through Buyouts
Feb 1, 202500:07:26Tap to summarizeThe White House took steps to make good on its promise to cut the federal government down to size by giving federal workers a choice: return to the office full-time or leave with eight months of pay. The Office of Personnel Management told federal workers Tuesday night that they have until Feb. 6 to decide to stay or go. If they step down, they will continue getting all pay and benefits and be exempt from in-person work requirements until Sept. 30. However, the Trump administration said that even government employees who stay on could still eventually lose their jobs as the president reshapes the federal government and its workforce.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_750b1a5c-de57-11ef-8ce1-0fe0a983828f.html
Transcribe →In Less Than a Week, Ice Agents Arrest Thousands Nationwide
Jan 31, 202500:06:55Tap to summarizeWithin a week of President Donald Trump being sworn into office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers working with multiple federal agencies are arresting nearly 1,000 people every day set to be deported. On Jan. 26, federal agents arrested 956 illegal border crossers and made 554 detainer requests with local jails, ICE reported. On Jan. 27, they arrested 1,179 foreign nationals in the country illegally and made 853 detainer requests. The agency is publishing daily updates on social media. Those working with ICE include agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Marshals Service.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_82223158-dcfe-11ef-a6d0-6b06908f30be.html
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