Author: potus

March, the third month in the Gregorian calendar, is well-known for its unpredictable spring weather (“in like a lion and out like a lamb”), NCAA basketball (a.k.a. “March Madness”), and, of course, St. Patrick’s Day and Mardi Gras celebrations. But March is also tied to ancient beginnings, historic events and even animal antics. Here’s a closer look. The Origins of MarchThe name March comes from the Latin “Martius,” named for Mars, the Roman god of war, as military actions often resumed after winter. Initially, it was the first month of the ancient Roman 10-month calendar. But in the 7th century B.C.E.,…

On March 14, 1951, Albert Einstein was sitting in the back of a car, getting ready to leave his 72nd birthday party at Princeton University. Photographers had been asking Einstein to pose for the camera all evening, and when UPI photographer Arthur Sasse turned his camera on him, the theoretical physicist playfully stuck out his tongue.The lighthearted photo Sasse captured pleased Einstein so much that he ordered multiple prints to send to friends. In an inscribed copy Einstein gave to news anchor Howard K. Smith, he hinted at what the photo meant to him. “This gesture you will like, because…

The fate of thousands of Afghans waiting to reach the United States after serving with American troops was thrown into limbo after President Trump took office. Now military veterans are scrambling to bring as many of them as possible to the country before the administration introduces a travel ban that could restrict their entry.In an executive order on Jan. 20, Mr. Trump instructed cabinet members, including the secretary of state, to compile a list of countries “for which vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a partial or full suspension on the admission of nationals from those…

Is Elon Musk planning to use artificial intelligence to run the US government? That seems to be his plan, but experts say it is a “very bad idea”. Musk has fired tens of thousands of federal government employees through his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and he reportedly requires the remaining workers to send the department a weekly email featuring five bullet points describing what they accomplished that week. Since that will no doubt flood DOGE with hundreds of thousands of these types of emails, Musk is relying on artificial intelligence to process responses and help determine who should remain…

(The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers are considering a controversial piece of legislation that would explore the creation of drug overdose prevention sites.People are allowed to use illicit drugs at the sites while under the supervision of staffers who will be there to respond to overdoses. They are currently being used in New York City, and Rhode Island is the first state to authorize their use. The opioid epidemic has hit Illinois and the rest of the country hard, and became increasingly deadly when fentanyl appeared on the scene. As a result, Illinois Republicans have called for increased penalties for anyone dealing…

Cheerful, prank-loving leprechauns are beloved symbols of luck and prosperity in Ireland and for the millions of Americans with Irish roots. But centuries-old legends about the diminutive shoemaking creatures painted them differently, as mischievous and sometimes menacing tricksters.Irish folklore, rich with medieval accounts of dark fairies and goblins, portrayed the mythical humanoids—always described as no more than two or three feet tall—as were fearful beings. The leprechaun’s image has since evolved, blending ancient Celtic mythology with modern cultural charm.The fairy-like creatures with red beards and green clothes are known for guarding pots of gold and granting wishes to people who…

(The Center Square) – California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Medi-Cal system is seeking a $3.4 billion taxpayer bailout after spending $9.5 billion this year on noncitizen immigrant health care.A new report also highlighted how California “launders” national taxpayer funding to cover its Medi-Cal bills and is enabled by federal law.Newsom’s proposed budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year includes a $7 billion reserve withdrawal. It’s unclear whether this emergency loan request for Medi-Cal either will result in or reflects the need for a higher budget for the taxpayer-funded healthcare program. “California now spends 22% of its General Fund Medi-Cal budget on healthcare for…

In the weeks after President Emmanuel Macron called a snap election last summer that resulted in a deeply divided French Parliament, if his name came up it was often to call for his resignation.The unpopular president, long derided by critics as aloof, all-controlling and arrogant, looked certain to ride out the final three years of his term as a lame duck atop an unstable government of his own creation, with a rotating cast of prime ministers, and little to show for it.But President Trump has changed that. The American leader has abruptly reversed 80 years of friendly policy toward Europe,…

President Trump’s cabinet has been busy rolling back regulations that will make it far easier to extract and produce fossil fuels. But who will buy them?Nearly everyone, it turns out, particularly under the threat of tariffs.At an annual energy-industry conference in Houston, executives spoke openly about how companies from around the world are seeking to buy American liquefied natural gas as a way of placating Mr. Trump’s demands to either balance trade or face punitive measures.Nations with a trade imbalance with the U.S. are “all asking themselves, ‘What can we do to try to level the playing field?’” said Meg…

NY Attorney General Letitia James speaks during a press conference at the offices of the Attorney General on January 08, 2025 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago | Getty ImagesNew York Attorney General Letitia James on Thursday announced a bill to protect the state’s consumers and small businesses from scams and deceptive practices from lenders, debt collectors and health care firms.James said in a release that the legislation would bolster the state’s existing consumer protection law —which dates from 1970 and is more limited in scope — at a time when the Trump administration has hobbled the federal agency charged…