US court allows Trump to enforce ban on DEI programs, for now

 A U.S. appeals court on Friday temporarily paused a judge's ruling that had blocked the administration of President Donald Trump from implementing bans on diversity, equity and inclusion programs at federal agencies and businesses that contract with the federal government.

The Richmond, Virginia-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stayed a February ruling that said the directives by Trump, including an order urging the Department of Justice to investigate companies with DEI policies, likely violate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

The decision will remain in place pending the outcome of the Trump administration's appeal.

https://www.aol.com/news/us-court-allows-trump-enforce-224051409.html

US FAA to propose rule on allowing expanded drone use

 U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Friday that the Federal Aviation Administration plans to propose rules to expand use of drones for deliveries and other services.

"We're in the stages of developing a rule to make sure we can give more authority and clarity to those who are developing these drones," Duffy told reporters after a tour of Amazon Prime Air drone delivery service's headquarters in Seattle, saying the agency plans to release a proposal "in relatively short order."

Last month, the Commercial Drone Alliance urged President Donald Trump's administration to release a proposed rule that would allow commercial unmanned aircraft systems or drone operations beyond visual line of sight, saying the rule "is essential to enable this industry to succeed."

The rule would "normalize commercial drone operations that are otherwise prohibited or require individual approval through bureaucratic and time-consuming FAA application processes."

The FAA has done substantial work to prepare the draft rule and other federal agencies have provided input, the group noted.

Drone delivery companies have raised concerns that the U.S. could fall behind China.

"If we don't have clear rules that allow innovators to innovate and create products and test products, it won't happen here," Duffy said. "It's going to happen somewhere else, and then we'll import someone else's technology into this country to develop whether it is in packages or groceries."

In January, the Commerce Department under former President Joe Biden said it was considering rules to restrict or ban Chinese drones in the U.S., citing national security concerns.

China accounts for the vast majority of U.S. commercial drone sales. Washington has increasingly cracked down on Chinese drones over the last year.

In December, Biden signed legislation that could eventually ban China-based DJI and Autel Robotics from selling new drone models in the U.S.

https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2025-03-14/us-faa-to-propose-rule-on-allowing-expanded-drone-use

Schumer caves on shutdown after Dem private lunch erupted in a shouting match

 

By Thomas Lifson

Yesterday, I told Republicans that they could relax about this year’s battle of Democrats to blame Republicans for a so-called federal government shutdown. Hours later, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer validated my advice by surrendering, and announcing that he would not filibuster the continuing resolution funding bill and would in fact vote for cloture. The Democrats’ house organ summarized:

Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the minority leader, broke with his party on Thursday and lined up enough Democrats to advance a Republican-written bill to keep federal funding flowing past a midnight Friday deadline, arguing that Democrats could not allow a government shutdown that many of them have demanded.

During a private luncheon with Democrats, Mr. Schumer stunned many of his colleagues by announcing that he planned to vote to allow the G.O.P. bill to move forward, and indicated that he had enough votes to help Republicans break any filibuster by his own party against the measure, according to attendees and people familiar with the discussion.

It was a turnabout from just a day earlier, when Mr. Schumer proclaimed that Democrats were “unified” against the legislation[.]

The decision was not accepted with unanimous support among his caucus. Reporters overheard shouting through closed doors during a private lunch at the Capitol. But it is among House Democrats that the most public opposition is visible.

Axios, whose headline says it all: House Dems go into “complete meltdown” as Schumer folds:

House Democrats erupted into apoplexy Thursday night after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he would support Republicans’ stopgap government funding measure.

 

• House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), in remarks to his House colleagues at their annual retreat Thursday, lauded them for standing up to President Trump by voting against the bill, according to multiple sources.
• When he praised House Democrats’ votes, he received a standing ovation. When he mentioned Senate Democrats, members booed.

What we’re hearing: House Democrats’ text chains lit up Thursday night with expressions of blinding anger, according to numerous lawmakers who described the conversations on the condition of anonymity.

 

“People are PISSED,” one House Democrat told Axios in a text message.

• Several members — including moderates — have begun voicing support for a primary challenge to Schumer, floating Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) as possible candidates, three House Democrats said.
• One lawmaker even vowed at the House Democratic retreat to “write a check tonight” supporting Ocasio-Cortez, said the senior House Democrat.
• Another Democrat told Axios the ideation has gone a step further: “There is definitely a primary recruitment effort happening right now … not just Schumer, but for everyone who votes no.”

Democrat Senators have been more genteel in public, expressing their discontent by announcing their retirements (four, so far), tanking dreams of retaking the Senate and stymying Trump judicial appointments, among other mischief in the second half of his term.

More winning under Trump.

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/03/schumer_caves_on_shutdown_after_dem_private_lunch_erupted_in_a_shouting_match.html

FDA Warns of Misuse of Laughing Gas Sold in Colorful, Flavored Canisters

U.S. health officials are tracking a rise in injuries tied to the misuse of nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, including some brands that are sold in small canisters containing flavors like blueberry, strawberry and watermelon.

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday warned consumers that inhaling the gas for its euphoric effects can cause dangerously low blood pressure, leading to loss of consciousness and injuries. The agency flagged a number products sold in colorful packaging at gas stations, vape shops and online including Cosmic Gas, Galaxy Gas and MassGass.

Nitrous gas is traditionally used as a sedative for patients in dental offices and hospitals. It's also found in pressurized cans of whipped cream. But teens and adults have long misused those products to get high. The gas can briefly disrupt oxygen flow to the brain.

Companies selling the products cited by regulators advertise them “for culinary use only” and often include disclaimers on their websites warning against inhaling. But videos of young people using the products recreationally have circulated on social media platforms for years.

The FDA said it has seen “an increase in reports of adverse events” with nitrous products. And poison control centers have also reported emergency calls from people who had to be rushed to the hospital after collapsing while misusing the products.

There are no federal limits on who can purchase nitrous oxide, although some states have passed minimum age requirements. The FDA regulates the gas as a medical product when used by doctors and dentists, although it's unclear how much oversight it would have of products marketed for culinary use.

https://time.com/7268498/fda-warning-nitrous-oxide-laughing-gas/

Watch Live: SpaceX Readies Rescue Mission For Stranded Astronauts

 NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 targets a 7:03 pm ET launch of four crew members from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A to the International Space Station. The original launch, scheduled for Wednesday evening, was scrubbed due to a hydraulic system issue with a ground support clamp arm.

Commander Anne McClain, pilot Nichole Ayers, mission specialist Takuya Onishi, and mission specialist Kirill Peskov will replace SpaceX's Crew-9, NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksanr Gorbuno, who arrived in the ISS in late September.

The mission will also rescue Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Suni Williams, whose weeklong trip in a Boeing Starliner last June turned into a 9-month debacle. There were also politics with the Biden-Harris administration that led to a delayed rescue mission.

"T-35 minutes until liftoff. Propellant load of Falcon 9 is underway, and Dragon's escape system is armed," SpaceX wrote on X.

T-35 minutes until liftoff. Propellant load of Falcon 9 is underway, and Dragon’s escape system is armed

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 14, 2025

Crew-10 is go for launch!

Crew-10 is go for launch! pic.twitter.com/xyQzIJ7Abf

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 14, 2025

Watch Live: 

https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/watch-live-spacex-readies-rescue-mission-stranded-astronauts

US declares South Africa's ambassador persona non grata

  U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday declared Ebrahim Rasool, South Africa's ambassador to the U.S., persona non grata, calling the envoy a "race-baiting politician" who hates America and President Donald Trump.

"South Africa's Ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country," Rubio said in a post on social media platform X. "We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA," Rubio said.

Rasool had presented his credentials to former President Joe Biden on January 13, marking the start of the envoy's tenure, according to the South African embassy's website, which said this was Rasool's second stint in Washington.

The U.S. State Department and South Africa's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Ties between the United States and South Africa have deteriorated since Trump cut U.S. financial aid to the country, citing disapproval of its land policy and of its genocide case at the International Court of Justice against Washington's ally Israel.

Trump has said, without citing evidence, that "South Africa is confiscating land" and that "certain classes of people" are being treated "very badly."

South African-born billionaire Elon Musk, who is close to Trump, has said white South Africans have been the victims of "racist ownership laws."

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law a bill in January aimed at making it easier for the state to expropriate land in the public interest, in some cases without compensating the owner. He has defended the policy and said the government had not confiscated any land. The policy was aimed at evening out racial disparities in land ownership in the Black-majority nation, he said.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-declares-south-africas-ambassador-221035170.html

Drugmakers agree to participate in second round of price negotiations

  All drug manufacturers, including Novo Nordisk and Teva Pharmaceuticals, whose medicines are part of the second round of price talks have agreed to participate in the negotiation process, a federal health agency said on Friday.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/drugmakers-agree-participate-second-round-220842483.html