The United States faces a wave of scrutiny over its government efficiency, as recent polling finds only 30% of adults approve of Donald Trump's new "Department of Government Efficiency" (Doge), led by Elon Musk. The department has proposed significant changes, including massive cuts to federal jobs and relocating agencies outside Washington. Meanwhile, many Americans express dissatisfaction with the reliance on billionaires like Musk for government advice. This comes amidst broader discussions on inefficiency, corruption, and bureaucracy within the federal government.
A recent poll highlights a divided opinion towards both Musk and Trump, with approximately half of Americans viewing them unfavorably. This sentiment extends to the broader notion of billionaires influencing government policy, as 60% of respondents deem it a "very" or "somewhat" bad idea for the president to depend on such figures for policy advice. The establishment of Doge and its proposals have therefore sparked debate over the best methods to address systemic issues in governance.
In a related development, the suggestion by Germany's former foreign minister, Sigmar Gabriel, for Canada to join the European Union has stirred conversations about alternative solutions for governmental inefficiency. Gabriel argues Canada is "more European than some European member states," proposing its membership as a strategic move to strengthen alliances and address systemic challenges.
“We should invite Canada to become a member of the European Union,” said Sigmar Gabriel. “They are more European than some European member states anyway.”
“I would give it a try. Canada is an enormously important country. It is, by the way, a strategic Arctic border state … We need to gather allies. That also applies to our free trade agreements,” Gabriel added.
Canadian officials, however, have consistently rejected the notion of joining the United States as its 51st state, maintaining a firm stance against such integration.
“You can always become a state, and if you’re a state, we won’t have a deficit. We won’t have to tariff you,” Donald Trump remarked, highlighting the ongoing geopolitical discussions surrounding Canada's role.
In the realm of international policy, Russia expressed willingness to negotiate nuclear disarmament, provided that the nuclear arsenals of the UK and France are included in negotiations. This statement by Dmitry Peskov underscores Russia's security concerns amidst ongoing global tensions.
“The conflict doesn’t depend on oil prices,” stated Dmitry Peskov. “The conflict is ongoing because of the threat to Russia’s national security, the threat to Russians living on those territories and the refusal by the Americans and the Europeans to listen to Russia’s security concerns. It’s not linked to oil prices.”
“Zelenskyy can’t be ready for a deal,” Peskov continued, emphasizing the complex geopolitical landscape.
“In order to reach a settlement it’s necessary to conduct talks, and Zelenskyy forbade himself to hold talks by his own,” Peskov added.
Amidst these developments, domestic policies in the U.S. face their own challenges as health agency employees are now restricted from almost all travel, with certain agencies instructed to halt issuing new contracts and grants until further notice. These measures reflect broader efforts to streamline government operations in line with Doge's objectives.
Further complicating the political landscape is a pending vote on the nomination of a former Fox News host for a government position, scheduled for 9pm ET. This nomination has been marred by allegations of sexual assault and reports of poor behavior, raising questions about accountability and standards within government appointments.
On another front, the United Nations reaffirmed the universal right to seek asylum following President Trump's suspension of all refugee admissions and halting of the U.S. asylum program. This move has drawn criticism from international human rights advocates.
“The right to seek asylum is a universally recognised human right,” stated Ravina Shamdasani. “All states are entitled to exercise their jurisdiction along their international borders, [but] they need to do so in line with their human rights obligations.”
“President Trump is sending a strong and clear message to the entire world: if you illegally enter the United States of America, you will face severe consequences,” Karoline Leavitt emphasized in defense of the administration's stance.