THE FREE CHOICE E-ZINE: THE WEEK IN REVIEW: FEBRUARY 16-22, 2025: NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

*The Free Choice E-zine does not support terrorism, no matter what the “cause” or alleged “justification”. Thus we will only be posting news items in this section whenever terrorists are brought to justice through arrest and trial.

🌐THE CLIMATE CHANGE CHRONICLES…

*The South Sedan Heat Wave forces school closures.

*Climate Change versus Ice Fishing.

*Jets are doing more than flying at one airport.

*Opinion: US President Trump versus the environment.

*February 27 is Polar Bear Day.

*March 3 is World Wildlife Day.

🌌SPACE NEWS...

*The interesting black hole.

*A wall at the edge of the solar system???

*A strange new world???

*The status of The Blue Ghost.

*The latest from SpaceX, but is Elon Musk against the International Space Station??? (There are 3/THREE separate links in this item.)

😢PASSING PARADE…

*The innocent lives lost to war.

*The innocent lives lost during a shooting at a Motor Vehicles Office in Louisville, Kentucky February 21.

*Actress Kim Sae-Ron (Bloodhounds, A Brand New Life, more) has taken her last bow on life’s stage.

*Singer Gwen McCree (♫Rocking' Chair♫, ♫For Your Love♫, more) has passed away.

*Actress Lynne Marie Steward (a long career from 1967-2025) has taken her last bow on life's stage.

*Drummer🥁 Rick Buckler of The Jam is no longer with us.

*Actor Peter Jason (many roles in a decades long career) has taken his last bow on life’s stage.

*Hurricane, perhaps the most decorated canine agent of the American Secret Service, has crossed the Rainbow Bridge.🌈

WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA…

WE NEED MORE

GUN RESPONSIBILITY

NOW!

ALL INEQUALITY HAS TO STOP!

BAN BOOK BANS!

POLITICALLY…

ON FOREIGN ISSUES…

*The US and Russia are discussing ending Russia’s war with the Ukraine without the third party present. Yet considering President Trump has suggested the Ukraine might be to blame for being invaded…

*Despite a (temporary) court order saying otherwise, the Trump Administration is still withholding foreign aid.

ON IMMIGRANT ISSUES…

*The Trump Administration’s current deportation efforts continue.

*A lot of immigrants will soon find their legal status changed.

*In the country illegally? No Federal benefits for you.

*Yet one group will get to stay, for now.

*Republican governed states are pushing fines and jail time for anyone interfering with deportation efforts.

*The state of Texas is considering “selling” border land back to the United States.

*Are lie detector tests in employees’ future???

*Opinion: Just what do undocumented immigrants do???

ON DOMESTIC ISSUES...

*The Department of Government Efficiency/DOGE is now examining past tax returns as they evaluate the Internal Revenue Service, but their access is supposed to be limited. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*The potential consequences of changing the IRS.

*The Administration’s Press Secretary attempted to defend Musk and DOGE going through Social Security’s records.

*DOGE’s alleged $4.7 Trillion in “untraceable payments” at the Treasury is just because no distributions codes have been assigned yet. (There are 3/THREE separate links in this item.)

*Musk wants all Federal Employees to justify/explain their job or resign.

*Yet new FBI Director Kash Patel has told all his agents and employees not to comply.

*DOGE claims to have saved taxpayers $55 Billion, so far. Yet the receipts don’t add up. (There are 3/THREE separate links in this item.)

*DOGE allegedly wants to “share the savings” with America, but wouldn’t that go against trying to reduce the country’s deficit and operating budget??? (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*President Trump is going to let Elon Musk “police himself”???

*President Trump has signed an Executive Order to give himself control of Independent agencies like the Federal Election Commission/FEC, the Securities and Exchange Commission/SEC, the Federal Communications Commission/FCC; etc.

*PRESIDENT TRUMP’S WORD IS LAW???

*You make New York City change something you don’t like and now you think you’re KING TRUMP??? (There are 3/THREE separate links in this item.)

*The shakeup at the Federal Aviation Authority, but former President Biden is still getting blamed for the current crashes. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Steve Bannon versus Elon Musk???

*President Trump said he wants all remaining Federal employees working at their desks while he’s playing golf.

*Analysis: What DOGE has yet to cut. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Speculation: Just what is Elon Musk up to???

*Speculation: Did President Trump leave himself open to lawsuits???

*Speculation: Is Elon Musk getting richer running DOGE???

*Opinion: "The Math doesn't add up."—James Carville on DOGE.

*Opinion: On defending DOGE.

ALSO...

*President Trump has fired the military chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

*Will the Voting Regulations be changed???

*Trump versus the Governor of Maine.

*Media Watchers take note! (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*The Associated Press is suing to protect their First Amendment Rights.

*Small business owners are growing concerned over the Trump Tariffs.

*More layoffs are on the horizon.

*Political actions are starting to show reactions in the stock market.

*First it was the Nuclear Watchdogs. Now the Bird Flu Fighters and the FDA personnel testing Musk’s NeuraLink??? (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*The Kennedy and other Presidential Libraries, open or not???

*And now it’s time to “examine” the National Parks.

*Despite previous campaign promises otherwise, it doesn’t look like Medicaid will be spared.

*The Pentagon has been warned they’re next. Even Veterans aren’t safe from being fired. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*As soon as a successor is found, Louis DeJoy intends to step down as Post Master General. Could it be because President Trump wants to assume control of it too??? (There are 3/THREE separate links in this item.)

*The Trump Administration’s plans for the Kennedy Center.

*Trump wants the government to “take over” the District of Columbia.

*Apparently Trump wants Florida to have a new Governor. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*President Trump conceded Inflation is back, but it’s not his fault??? Voters and Consumers disagree. (There are 3/THREE separate links in this item.)

*Analysis: The first month and the fact that a lot of the Day 1 promises have yet to be kept. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Speculation: What might happen if the penny is discontinued.

*Opinion: The Trump Administration, so far.

*Opinion: Censorship???

*Opinion: Trump on his polling numbers and the actual figures.

*Keeping track of all the legal actions against the current Trump Administration and its personnel: Elon Musk, etc.

*The latest from the White House.

MEDICAL NEWS…

*A new feature when needed, considering recent Federal mandates limiting the information sharing of the Center for Disease Control, the National Institutes of Health, etc.

*Texas measles cases are not only increasing, but the disease has spread into New Mexico. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*New Health and Human Services Director Robert F. Kennedy, Junior wants to lay off up to half his staff despite current health situations and will now review childhood vaccination schedules after all. (There are 3/THREE separate links in this item.)

*Sepsis cases are rising in Texas too.

*The fifth anniversary of COVID.