Donald Trump to sign executive order aiming to shut down Department of Education – US politics live

Tech Giants Challenge Australian Media Laws

Major technology firms including Apple, Meta, Google, Amazon, and Elon Musk’s X have jointly filed a formal objection, urging the Trump administration to target Australian media regulations they deem “coercive and discriminatory.”

The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), representing these companies, responded to a request from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) for “comments to assist in reviewing and identifying unfair trade practices” and to address harm from “non-reciprocal trade arrangements.”

The USTR is tasked with establishing and managing U.S. policy on international trade and investment, alongside conducting negotiations with foreign governments.

In a submission to the USTR on March 11, Amir Nasr, CCIA’s trade policy manager, cited Australia’s News Media Bargaining Code as a prime instance of “discriminatory taxation” impacting digital products and services.

US Border Issues: Readers’ Experiences Sought

Following reports of a French scientist being denied entry to the US after border officials examined his phone and found messages critical of the Trump administration, we are seeking to understand the experiences of individuals at the US border.

Further accounts include the detention of a German national and permanent US resident by border officials, and a Canadian citizen held for almost two weeks by US authorities due to a visa issue.

We are interested in hearing from you if you or someone you know has faced delays or detention at the US border. Did this occur during the current or previous administrations? What was your experience, and how was it resolved? We also want to hear from those reconsidering travel plans to the US. If you are considering cancelling a trip, please share your reasons.

Newsom’s Podcast Draws Scrutiny with Right-Leaning Guests

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s podcast, “This Is Gavin Newsom,” recently featured Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the 2024 Democratic vice-presidential nominee. “Thanks for having me,” Walz remarked with a smile, “I’m kinda wondering where I fall on this guest list.”

Walz is notable as both the first Democrat to appear on Newsom’s high-profile podcast and the first guest who has not questioned the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election or expressed support for the January 6th Capitol riot.

Launched in early March, Newsom has positioned his podcast as a venue for “honest discussions” with individuals across the political spectrum. While some Democrats applaud his efforts to broaden outreach, critics are wary of his approach. Newsom’s interviews seem less focused on championing progressive values and more on exploring the motivations behind Maga enthusiasm and the Democratic Party’s current challenges.

This strategy carries potential risks for the governor, who is term-limited and widely considered to harbor national political aspirations.

“You’re taking a risk by launching a podcast, attempting to address an existing void, and hopefully utilizing it to communicate our values to a wider audience,” Walz commented to Newsom. “But we haven’t quite figured this out yet.”

Since its inception, Newsom’s podcast has hosted conversations with figures unpopular among liberals, including Steve Bannon, a key strategist in Donald Trump’s political ascent; Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA; and Michael Savage, a conservative radio host known for Trump-aligned rhetoric. Reports indicate Newsom consulted with his former spouse, Kimberly Guilfoyle, to facilitate connections with Kirk and Bannon.

Trump Administration Targets Anti-Hunger Programs in Immigration Crackdown

The Trump administration is now utilizing anti-hunger initiatives, such as food assistance and school lunch programs, as part of its broader strategy against immigrants in the US. Critics argue this tactic will hinder numerous families, particularly children, from accessing essential food benefits for which they qualify.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, in a recent directive to senior staff at the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), stated: “It is vital to exhaust all available legal avenues to eliminate any incentives within FNS benefit programs that may encourage unlawful immigration.”

Rollins further asserted in an accompanying press release, “The era of taxpayer funds subsidizing illegal immigration is concluded.”

While Rollins’s memo does not alter eligibility criteria, experts, advocates, and service providers express concern that it disseminates misinformation about undocumented immigrants. This could deter immigrant and mixed-status families from seeking aid, echoing trends observed during Trump’s first term.

Universities Weigh Response to Trump Administration Pressure

The Trump administration’s unprecedented campaign exerting pressure on American higher education continues, compelling major universities to comply with demands or face potential investigations and substantial federal funding cuts. Thus far, affected institutions have offered minimal resistance.

This campaign intensified earlier this month when the US government rescinded $400 million in federal contracts and grants to Columbia University. In a subsequent communication, officials from three federal bodies indicated they might reconsider this decision if Columbia met specific conditions. These included stricter disciplinary measures for students involved in pro-Palestinian protests, comprehensive revisions to admissions practices, and placing an area studies department under external “academic receivership,” effectively managed by an external chair.

Colleges and universities nationwide are closely monitoring Columbia’s response to this letter, widely considered a critical test of academic freedom. Lee Bollinger, former president of Columbia, described the situation as “an authoritarian takeover” in an interview with the Chronicle of Higher Education. Despite a Thursday deadline for compliance, the Wall Street Journal reports Columbia appears ready to concede to the Trump administration’s stipulations.

Critics denounce the government’s confrontation with Columbia as ideological coercion and potentially unlawful. It represents one of several assertive actions taken by the administration against elite higher education recently. As colleges and universities deliberate whether to yield, negotiate, or resist, opposition remains notably limited.

Report: Militarized Border Zone Planned in New Mexico

According to the Washington Post, the Trump administration is advancing plans to establish a militarized buffer zone on the southern border in New Mexico, a long-standing demand of conservatives. This zone would be staffed by active-duty US troops authorized to detain migrants crossing into the US without authorization.

The Post indicates that recent internal discussions have centered on deploying troops to a designated area of the New Mexico border. This area would be transformed into a military-controlled zone, granting soldiers legal grounds to detain migrants for “trespassing” on the extended base. Detained migrants would be held pending transfer to immigration authorities.

This initiative appears designed to circumvent the Posse Comitatus Act, a federal statute restricting military involvement in domestic law enforcement activities, by establishing a large-scale military installation.

Advocacy for militarizing the southern border is not a new concept, but it has primarily remained within the realm of political discourse rather than practical implementation.

Hello and welcome to the US politics live blog. I’m Tom Ambrose and I will be bringing you all the latest news over the next couple of hours.

We begin with the leading story: President Donald Trump is scheduled to issue a highly anticipated executive order on Thursday, aiming to dismantle the Department of Education. This action delivers on a key campaign promise, according to a White House statement reviewed by Reuters.

Prior to its enactment, the order has already faced legal challenges. Democratic state attorneys general have launched a lawsuit seeking to prevent the Trump administration from abolishing the department and to stop the planned layoffs of nearly half of its workforce, announced the previous week.

The NAACP, a leading civil rights organization, has strongly criticized the expected order, declaring it unconstitutional.

“This is a devastating day for millions of American children who rely on federal funding for quality education, especially those in impoverished and rural communities with parents who voted for Trump,” NAACP President Derrick Johnson asserted in a released statement.

President Trump, along with advisor Elon Musk, has previously explored methods to eliminate government programs and institutions, such as USAID, without Congressional consent. However, abolishing the Department of Education would mark Trump’s first attempt to shut down an entire cabinet-level agency.

Legally, President Trump cannot close the department without legislative action from Congress, a move that faces significant obstacles. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, but major legislation like dissolving a cabinet department requires 60 votes. This necessitates support from at least seven Democrats to pass.

To date, Senate Democrats have shown no indication they would endorse eliminating the Department of Education.

In other developments:

• From the White House briefing room, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt accused federal judges of exhibiting partisan bias in rulings against President Trump.

• The Washington Post reports the Trump administration is developing plans for a buffer zone on the southern border in New Mexico. This zone would be manned by active-duty US military personnel, empowered to detain individuals crossing into the US without legal authorization.

• On Wednesday, a federal judge denied a request for a restraining order to prevent Elon Musk’s “department of government efficiency” from assuming control of the US Institute for Peace. The institute alleges Musk’s team forcibly occupied their premises.

• Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) expressed concern regarding the treatment of federal employees but affirmed she would not be intimidated by threats of a primary challenge funded by Elon Musk.

• A North Dakota jury held Greenpeace accountable for hundreds of millions in damages to an energy company related to pipeline protests. Greenpeace has announced it will appeal the $660+ million judgment.

• US Federal Reserve officials have adjusted downwards their forecasts for US economic expansion and increased projections for inflation, while maintaining current interest rate levels.