## Trump fires federal arts board in charge of reviewing White House ballroom and ‘Arc de Trump’

Authored by theguardian.com

Donald Trump has fired all six members of an independent federal agency responsible for reviewing his controversial White House ballroom and planned “Arc de Trump” in Washington DC.

The Washington Post first reported that all members of the Commission of Fine Arts were dismissed on Tuesday.

A White House official told the Guardian: “We are preparing to appoint a new slate of members to the commission that are more aligned with President Trump’s America First Policies.”.

Earlier this month, Trump unveiled plans for a grand arch close to the Arlington Memorial Bridge in Washington.

Trump said the design could be “small, medium, large”, but added: “I happen to like the large one.”.

Last week, Americans were treated to the sight of a construction crew tearing down part of the East Wing of the White House, as Trump prepares to build a $300m ballroom, funded by wealthy donors.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans disapprove of Trump’s ballroom plan, according to a Yahoo/YouGov poll released on Tuesday. »

### The Government Is Closed. The President Is MIA.

Authored by theatlantic.com

But when it comes to the government shutdown, Trump barely seems to be paying attention.

Some of Trump’s closest advisers told us that the president has been distracted and busy dealing with other matters.

Unlike GOP leaders, Bacon wants Republicans to start discussing a deal on health care even while the government remains closed. »

### NHS makes morning-after pill available for free across pharmacies in England

Authored by theguardian.com

The NHS has made the morning-after pill available for free across pharmacies in England in an effort to reduce a “postcode lottery” of access to emergency contraception.

Almost 10,000 pharmacies are now able to offer the pill without charge, saving those in need of free emergency contraception from having to visit their GP or to get an appointment at a sexual health clinic.

Some pharmacies were previously charging as much as £30 for emergency oral contraception. »

### Belgian defence minister says Moscow will be wiped off the map if NATO is attacked, Russia responds

Authored by pravda.com.ua

Following Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken's declaration that "Moscow will be wiped off the map" if Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin decides to attack a NATO capital such as Brussels, the Russian Embassy in Belgium has issued a statement calling Francken's remarks irresponsible.

Source: Francken in an interview with Belgian newspaper De Morgen, as reported by European Pravda; Russian Embassy in Belgium.

Francken said in the interview that he doubts Putin would dare to launch a missile on Brussels. »

### Voters Did Not Understand the Stakes in 2024

Authored by prospect.org

To sum up, a large majority of American voters are greatly dissatisfied with the state of things, most especially the economy.

It turns out that median voters were catastrophically misled about the stakes of the election last year.

Either voters didn’t hear about what Trump said and did—perhaps because of how the mainstream media compulsively laundered or obscured his extremism—or didn’t understand it, or didn’t believe it. »

## In pictures

## Also in the news

#### Mike Johnson, a defender of a dictator, wildly blames Zohran Mamdani for the government shutdown

#### Prince Andrew hosted Epstein, Maxwell and Weinstein at Royal Lodge

#### Austin man gets free jaw surgery after protecting trans woman

#### An ex-Intel CEO’s mission to build a Christian AI: ‘hasten the coming of Christ’s return’

#### Russia has amassed around 11,000 troops in attempt to encircle Pokrovsk