News for February 19, 2025

Civil rights groups, including the National Urban League and National Fair Housing Alliance, sued President Donald Trump over executive orders they say attack DEIA programs and limit their free speech and ability to help marginalized communities.

The IRS is expected to terminate more than 6,000 probationary workers this week, with over 3,500 cuts coming from its Small Business/Self-Employed Division.

Gov. Kathy Hochul sent the National Guard to New York prisons to keep order as corrections officers continued an unauthorized strike.

The U.S. State Department, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, formally labeled major Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, opening the door to new sanctions and possible wider enforcement steps.

Keir Starmer backed Volodymyr Zelensky as Ukraine’s elected leader after Donald Trump called him a dictator, widening tensions over the war and peace talks.

President Donald Trump sharply attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calling him a “dictator” and blaming Ukraine for the war as tensions rose over U.S. support for Ukraine.

BBC Verify says Donald Trump made several false or misleading claims about Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, and who is responsible for the war with Russia.

Sweden’s Supreme Court rejected Greta Thunberg and other activists’ climate lawsuit, saying courts cannot force the government or parliament to take specific climate actions.