{"href":"https://api.simplecast.com/oembed?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftodays-news.simplecast.com%2Fepisodes%2Ftodays-news-february-22-12-2025-ZCtn0Ayi","width":444,"version":"1.0","type":"rich","title":"Today's News, February 22-12, 2025","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/01f7d4b2-716c-43f9-8a03-c96056c76782/500d8e93-b608-4cbf-a6ab-3d32ce7c5bec/wwop-todays-20news-20cover.jpg","thumbnail_height":300,"provider_url":"https://simplecast.com","provider_name":"Simplecast","html":"<iframe src=\"https://player.simplecast.com/259327c3-0f9b-42ef-9d3b-ea26b295ac5c\" height=\"200\" width=\"100%\" title=\"Today&apos;s News, February 22-12, 2025\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"></iframe>","height":200,"description":"Trump signs an executive order empowering DOGE to downsize the federal government, while FEMA defies court orders and freezes grants. Elon Musk pushes financial scrutiny on wealthy officials, and DOGE has already cut $3.4 billion in three weeks. Treasury Secretary Bessent gains quick access to treasury payments, and PBS slashes its DEI department. Reports highlight federal worker distress over layoffs, while USAID faces a $472 billion scandal. A judge questions the legitimacy of Trump's J6 case, and another orders the restoration of scrubbed government websites. Trump vows to veto reckless spending, while border crossings plummet and illegal immigration enforcement intensifies. Economic updates include fraud elimination reducing national debt and Ukraine repaying U.S. aid with rare earth minerals. Meta lays off 3,500 workers, Disney park attendance drops, and Melania Trump lands a $40 million documentary. Meanwhile, Secretary of Defence Hegseth rejects Ukraine's NATO bid, and Trump humorously dismisses deporting Prince Harry."}