Last Saturday, Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian who holds a US green card, was arrested by US immigration agents. His arrest has led to protests and raised questions about the US government's efforts to silence people for their political opinions.
Published in “US Politics”
Since January 20, huge changes have been taking place in US politics. The effects of some of these changes will be felt around the world, and could last for a very long time. The situation is complicated and is changing constantly. NFK isn't able to cover it all, but this "US Politics" section is an effort to track these changes.
On Tuesday, the US Department of Education laid off over 1,300 workers. The cuts are part of a plan by President Donald Trump to completely shut down the department, which is responsible for the country's schools. The news is causing concern among many Americans, who believe the move will be bad for education in the US.
Over the last six weeks, US President Donald Trump has threatened - and then paused - tariffs on Canada and Mexico several times. The threats and pauses aren't only confusing Canada and Mexico. They're also confusing and worrying countries and businesses around the world.
On Saturday, President Trump signed an order making English the official language of the United States. Some groups have welcomed the order. Others are upset about it.
The people that US President Donald Trump has chosen for his Cabinet and other important government positions have almost all been approved by the Republican-controlled Senate. But several of Mr. Trump's choices are not considered qualified by experts.
On Friday, February 21, President Donald Trump announced a surprising change in the leadership of the United States military. Mr. Trump removed several top military leaders and chose a retired general to lead the country's armed forces.
President Donald Trump's government has taken strong steps to remove "DEI" from government programs. The move reverses years of government efforts to make sure that people from minorities have equal opportunities.
President Donald Trump has shocked many by appearing to back away from the strong support the US and its allies have given Ukraine since it was attacked by Russia in 2022. Instead, Mr. Trump now seems to be interested in working with Russia, and its president, Vladimir Putin.
President Donald Trump and people working for him have been taking unusual steps to try to shrink the US government. Millions of government workers have been encouraged to quit. Many others have been fired
On January 20, US President Donald Trump signed an order to change the name of the "Gulf of Mexico" to the "Gulf of America". Mr. Trump believes the name change will "honor American greatness".
Elon Musk has taken control of many parts of the US government. He has placed people who work for him in control of several important US government agencies. Mr. Musk says he is focused on cutting costs. But the moves have shocked many and raised questions about whether it's legal.