The Daily Populous

Sunday April 6th, 2025 evening edition

image for Doge’s attack on social security causing ‘complete, utter chaos’, staff says

The SSA operates the largest government program in the US, administering social insurance programs, including retirement, disability and survivor benefits.

While expensive and challenged by an ageing population, social security remains overwhelmingly popular with Americans.

Wired reported Doge staff want to migrate all social security data and rewrite code in months, which could cause system collapse and further outages.

Acting commissioner Leland Dudek has acknowledged to staff that Doge are making the decisions at the agency.

Rich Couture, a spokesperson for the American Federation of Government Employees’ Social Security Administration general committee, the union representing roughly 42,000 social security workers, said Doge’s public targets for cuts make no sense.

In 2024, social security direct deposit fraud was at a rate of 0.00625% and less than 1% of social security payments had been found to be incorrect.

“President Trump, Elon Musk and whoever the next commissioner is going to be, I really think their ultimate goal is just to destroy social security.”. »

Nintendo delays Switch 2 pre-orders in response to Trump tariffs

Authored by polygon.com

Nintendo has delayed pre-orders in the United States for the Switch 2 in response to sweeping new tariffs outlined by the Trump administration earlier this week.

“Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will not start April 9, 2025 in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions,” Nintendo said in a statement provided to Polygon.

Nintendo announced its next-generation console on Wednesday, setting the price of Switch 2 at $449.99. A few hours later, U.S. President Donald Trump announced “reciprocal tariffs” on dozens of countries, including territories where Nintendo manufactures its hardware. »

While other world leaders vow to fight Donald Trump's tariffs, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is sitting pretty

Authored by abc.net.au

For US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the answer so far has been chemistry, an aligning of ideas and a shared vision for "MEGA prosperity" that will make both their countries great again.

Modi snubbed on tariffs as Trump pushes 'reciprocal' trade Photo shows Two men speak at a press conference at the White House.

Modi left Washington without a tariff exemption as Trump reinforced reciprocal duties, amid talks on trade, defence, and immigration — plus an awkward Trump moment with an Indian reporter. »

Inside Qatargate: Unpacking the Scandal Shaping Israeli Politics

Authored by geowire.in
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In the turbulent landscape of Israeli politics, few scandals have hit closer to the heart of governance and public trust than the unfolding “Qatargate” controversy.

Qatargate is not merely a corruption scandal; it is a test of Israel’s democratic resilience and moral compass.

Will this scandal prompt a reckoning within the Israeli political establishment, or will it be yet another chapter in the saga of political survival?. »