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Federal Workers Reinstated & Trump Tower Swarmed | Afternoon Update | 3.13.25
Thu, 13 Mar 2025
A judge orders the reinstatement of thousands of federal workers, Anti-Israel protestors swarm Trump Tower, and a Connecticut woman is arrested for allegedly holding her stepson captive for decades. Developing stories you need to know just in time for your drive home. Get the facts first on Morning Wire. Good Ranchers: Visit https://go.goodranchers.com/4hPfmTE for free bacon, ground beef, bacon, seed oil free chicken nuggets, or salmon in every order for a year + $40 off with code WIRE.
Chapter 1: Who are the federal workers being reinstated?
Thousands of fired federal workers are poised to get their jobs back, for now, after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to reinstate them. The ruling by U.S. District Judge William Alsup follows a lawsuit from labor unions arguing the mass firings violated federal hiring laws and administrative procedures.
The ruling mainly applies to probationary workers across six government agencies. The Trump administration plans to appeal.
Twenty-one Democrat attorneys general are seeking to stop what they call Trump's illegal and unconstitutional mass layoffs at the education department. The lawsuit, spearheaded by New York's Letitia James, claims the firing of over 1,300 workers at the department will hurt millions of students, especially those with disabilities and in low-income communities.
It argues that the administration cannot, quote, unilaterally incapacitate a cabinet agency without congressional approval. The White House defends the move as a push for efficiency and to save taxpayer dollars.
Number one, we have law, we have rule, we have law.
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Chapter 2: Why are protesters swarming Trump Tower?
Dozens of protesters, organized by a group called Jewish Voice for Peace, occupied the building's lobby today, chanting things like, free Mahmoud and free Palestine. NYPD officers arrested multiple demonstrators, removing them in zip ties. Khalil, a former Columbia University student and Palestinian activist, was detained by ICE over the weekend.
The Trump administration calls him a national security risk, alleging he distributed pro-Hamas propaganda. A federal judge has temporarily blocked his deportation as protests continue across Manhattan.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says he agrees in principle with a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, but insists the terms must be negotiated. Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce has the latest.
Chapter 3: What is the current status of the ceasefire in Ukraine?
Putin said that any truce must lead to lasting peace and address Russia's security concerns. Here's the Russian president at a news conference today.
We agree with the proposals for the ceasefire, but our position is based on the assumption that the ceasefire would lead to a long-term peace, something that would remove the initial reasons for the crisis.
Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff traveled to Moscow today for talks on the U.S.-brokered proposal. Russian demands for a ceasefire include blocking Ukraine from joining NATO and recognizing Russian claims to occupied territories. Meanwhile, Russian forces claim they've retaken a key border town in Ukraine while tightening control over Ukraine's foothold in the Kursk region.
The Kremlin has yet to formally accept a ceasefire, as both sides weigh the risks and potential advantages of a temporary truce.
Chapter 4: How is Trump impacting the trade war with the EU?
Trump has raised the stakes on the trade war with the EU. The president has threatened a 200% tariff on wine, champagne and other alcohol imports from Europe after the EU announced tariffs on American whiskey. Here's Trump today.
Take a look at the EU. We're not allowed to sell cars there. It's prohibitive because of their policies. And also their non-monetary tariffs. They put obstacles in your way that you can do nothing about. But if you take a look at what happened. So we sell no cars to Europe. I mean, virtually no cars. And they sell millions of cars to us. They don't take our agriculture, we take their agriculture.
It's like a one-way street with them. The European Union is very, very nasty.
Trump says the move will boost U.S. alcohol producers, but French officials vow to respond, calling it an escalation of the trade war. Meanwhile, industry leaders warn that tariffs could hurt American businesses, urging both sides to negotiate. This comes after the EU announced counter-tariffs on $28 billion worth of U.S. exports, which are set to take effect in April.
The White House has revoked their nomination for director of the CDC. Daily Wire deputy managing editor Tim Rice explains.
Former Congressman Dave Weldon's nomination was yanked just hours before his Senate confirmation hearing. Weldon had faced mounting criticism over past claims linking vaccines to autism. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reportedly told officials Weldon wasn't ready for the role.
Meanwhile, doctors Jay Bhattacharya and Marty Makary have both advanced to full Senate floor votes. Bhattacharya's nomination to lead the National Institutes of Health in a 12-11 party line vote. Trump nominated Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health and Makary to head up the FDA. If confirmed, the two say they'll work very closely.
A 55-year-old Connecticut woman has been arrested for allegedly holding her 32-year-old stepson captive for more than 20 years. Daily Wire senior editor Ash Short has more.
Police say the man who had been held in the Waterbury home since he was 11 set the home ablaze last month in an effort to escape. He told police, I wanted my freedom. Investigators found the victim severely emaciated, suffering from prolonged abuse, starvation, and neglect. He had received no medical or dental care for decades and was given only minimal food and water.
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