Happy New Year 2025

Category: Business

Social media giants come together to support safeguards for children

Mark SooHoo, an advocate for Wait Until 8th, joins ‘Fox News Live’ to discuss Australia banning social media for children under 16 and the Wait Until 8th pledge.

Meta, X, and Snap Inc. are signaling support for a South Dakota bill requiring age verification for users attempting to download applications onto their phones, tablets, and computers.

The South Dakota Senate Judiciary Committee is set to hear several age verification measures on Tuesday, including Senate Bill 180, which will “require age verification before an individual may access an application from an online application store.”

In a joint letter obtained by Fox News Digital, Meta, Snap Inc., and X told the state’s Senate Judiciary Committee members, chair, and vice chair that the bill is the “best solution to support families.”

META ANNOUNCES ‘WORLD’S LONGEST SUBSEA CABLE PROJECT,’ SAYS IT WILL BE LONGER THAN THE GLOBE’S CIRCUMFERENCE

An age-verification login screen is seen on a mobile device in this illustration photo. (Photo by STR/NurPhoto via Getty Images / Getty Images)

“Parents want a simple, manageable way to verify their child’s age and review the apps their teens want to download. The most sensible and effective place for age verification is at the OS/app store level,” the letter states.

The three companies suggest that the bill would simplify the age verification process for parents, ensure privacy and security, and be “supportive of teens.”

Rather than forcing parents to complete “cumbersome and repetitive” age verification steps across apps, the app store can serve as a hub for verifying their kids, according to the letter.

INSTAGRAM RELEASES TEEN ACCOUNTS WITH BUILT-IN PRIVACY, PARENTAL CONTROLS

The Meta logo is seen at the Vivatech show in Paris, France, June 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus / AP Newsroom)

Meta, Snap Inc. and X also claim that requiring an age check in one secure location limits the number of times and places a user has to share personal information, such as an ID or credit card, thereby reducing privacy risks, including identity theft and phishing scams.

“We all want young people to be supported and protected online,” the letter continues. “Parents want a one-stop shop to verify their child’s age before they download apps. The best way to achieve this is for policymakers in South Dakota to require a simple, secure, industry-wide solution at the OS/app store level that puts parents in charge.”

Nicole Lopez, Meta’s Director of Youth Safety Policy, will testify before the South Dakota Senate Judiciary hearing and vocalize support for Senate Bill 180. In October, she previously testified before the state’s Study Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Regulation of Internet Access by Minors.

US SURGEON GENERAL CALLS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TO DISPLAY MENTAL HEALTH WARNINGS

A joint letter on SB 180 sent by Meta, X and Snap Inc.

A month earlier, Meta introduced Instagram Teen Accounts, a system with built-in protections that allows parents to limit who can contact teens and the content they see. Teens under 16 need a parent’s permission to change any settings that may decrease content restrictions.

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These moves came after the CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X, Snap, and Discord testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in a January 2024 hearing on Capitol Hill. The hearing centered around the question of what liability and responsibility the platforms should bear if they knowingly or unknowingly host harmful content, specifically targeting or exploiting minors.

Since then, several states, including Florida, have passed laws related to age verification, while others have been shot down over First Amendment violation concerns.

Australia also recently outright banned teens under 16 from using social media apps.

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February 18, 2025
2025 air travel is off to a deadly start with four plane crashes

Footage from Mark Fitzpatrick shows the plane lying upside down, and emergency services responding. (Credit: Mark Fitzpatrick via Storyful)

2025 has seen four major plane crashes in recent weeks.

The four incidents have occurred in Toronto, Alaska, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Of those crashes, three resulted in fatalities, according to reports.

Different operators were involved in each of the incidents.

Delta Connection Flight 4819

First responders work at the Delta Air Lines plane crash site at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, on Feb. 17, 2025. (REUTERS/Arlyn McAdorey)

Delta Air Lines Flight 4819 crash-landed Monday at the Toronto Pearson International Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration and the airline.

Video of the incident captured the plane rolling upside down during the crash and continuing to slide down the runway.

The flight, operated by Delta’s regional subsidiary, Endeavor Air, had 76 passengers and four crew on board the CRJ-900 at the time of the incident.

There were no fatalities in the crash. However, 21 travelers on the plane at the time were taken to the hospital, all but three of which have since been released, according to a Tuesday morning update from Delta.

DELTA CEO STATEMENT ON TORONTO CRASH, FOOTAGE OBTAINED

“Our most pressing priority remains taking care of all customers and Endeavor crew members who were involved. We’ll do everything we can to support them and their families in the days ahead, and I know the hearts, thoughts and prayers of the entire Delta community are with them,” CEO Ed Bastian said in a statement.

The FAA said Canada’s Transportation Safety Board is heading up an investigation into the crash.

Bering Air Flight 445

The Coast Guard located missing Bering Air Flight 445 on Feb. 7 after it crashed nearly three dozen miles southwest of Nome, Alaska.

The plane had disappeared the previous day while traveling to the Nome Airport from the Unalakleet Airport, FOX Weather reported.

The 10 people on the plane died in the crash, according to officials.

“The tragic accident that occurred on February 6, 2025, has shaken us all to our core,” Bering Air said in a statement on its website. “This has been an unprecedented event for both our team and our customers, and we are truly heartbroken by the loss.”

“Our hearts are with all those affected by this heartbreaking event, and we extend our most sincere condolences, thoughts, and prayers to everyone involved. We will continue to honor and remember those we’ve lost, and we remain steadfast in our dedication to serving the public with the utmost care and compassion.”

Medical transport jet

Police and fire vehicles are seen at the site of the medical plane crash in Philadelphia on Feb. 2, 2025. (Aimee Dilger/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The deadly crash of a Learjet 55, which was serving as medical transport, occurred in Philadelphia on Jan. 31, according to the FAA.

A pediatric patient, her mother and four crew members were on the plane when it crashed shortly after departing Northeast Philadelphia Airport, all six of whom died, the city of Philadelphia said in a press release. Shriner’s Children’s said the patient had received treatment at its hospital.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE VICTIMS OF THE PHILADELPHIA CRASH

A motorist on the ground also died, the city said.

“We are devastated by the tragic loss of life and my thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the victims, as well as each person injured by this terrible tragedy,” Mayor Cherelle Parker said in a Feb. 1 statement.

Two dozen people on the ground sustained injuries due to the crash.

It also caused heavy fire at some homes and vehicles, the city said.

American Eagle Flight 5342

Emergency response units search the crash site of an American Airlines plane in the Potomac River on Jan. 30, 2025, after the plane crashed the previous night while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

The midair collision between American Eagle Flight 5342 and an Army helicopter on Jan. 29 left all the plane’s 64 passengers and crew and the helicopter’s three personnel dead.

American Airlines’ subsidiary PSA Airlines was operating the flight. It was “on approach to Runway 33” at the Washington, D.C.-area’s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport at the time of the collision, according to the FAA.

PLANE CRASH IN DC: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE AIRCRAFT INVOLVED

Robert Isom, the CEO of American Airlines, called the crash “a devastating day for our American Airlines family” and said it “weighs heavily on our airline, the industry and the world.”

Salvage crews had largely removed the wreckage of both aircraft from the water as of early February, according to NBC Washington.

February 18, 2025
Woman wins $2 million lottery prize after being given wrong ticket

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A Virginia woman won an eye-popping sum after accidentally purchasing the wrong lottery ticket at a gas station.

Carrollton resident Kelly Lindsay bought the winning ticket at a Race Way station in her town in January. She was initially unhappy about “being given the wrong ticket,” she told officials, having wanted to play a different lottery game.

But that Money Blitz ticket ended up containing the correct numbers for the game’s second-place prize of $2 million. Lindsay scratched the ticket in the parking lot and soon learned of her good fortune.

“And I got over not being happy about it!” she joked.

ILLINOIS WOMAN WINS $1M FROM FORGOTTEN LOTTERY TICKET SHE LEFT IN HER BAG

Kelly Lindsay won a seven-figure sum out of pure luck, the Virginia lottery says. (Virginia Lottery / Fox News)

Though she won the $2 million prize, she opted to take home a smaller amount all at once.

“Ms. Lindsay had the choice of taking the full $2 million prize in annual payments over 30 years or a one-time cash option of $1,250,000 before taxes,” the Virginia Lottery explained. She chose the cash option.”

According to the Virginia Lottery, one more top prize is still unclaimed. The chances of winning the top prize are less than one in a million.

MAN WINS $1M FROM LOTTERY TICKET HE BOUGHT WITH MONEY FOUND IN PARKING LOT

The Commonwealth of Virginia’s “Virginia Lottery” headquarters building in downtown Richmond. (iStock / iStock)

“The chances of winning the top prize are 1 in 1,142,400,” the lottery noted. “The chances of winning any prize in this game are 1 in 3.29.”

The Virginia Lottery added that all profits go to supporting K-12 education in Old Dominion.

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All Virginia Lottery profits go to support education in the state. (iStock / iStock)

“Ms. Lindsay lives in Isle of Wight County, which received more than $3.7 million in Lottery funds for K-12 education last fiscal year,” the statement added. “In Fiscal Year 2024, the Lottery raised more than $934 million for K-12 education, making up approximately 10 percent of Virginia’s total K-12 school budget.”

Lindsay’s lottery win is one of many that have occurred by accident. Last fall, an Illinois lottery player won $9.2 million after playing the wrong game.

February 18, 2025
Starbucks customers across the US in uproar over company’s new cup design
Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol says the company’s app needs to be more transparent on pricing.

Many Starbucks lovers can now expect to receive their cold coffee orders in cups featuring a new design.

Depending on the state, some Starbucks locations have switched their transparent single-use plastic to opaque white compostable cups, a move that has sparked dissatisfaction among some customers who expressed having difficulty drinking out of the new lids.

The change is a step toward the company’s sustainability goals, according to a Starbucks company spokesperson.

“On Feb. 11, a small number of stores in 14 states switched to commercially compostable cups and lids as part of our efforts to reduce waste and meet local market requirements,” the spokesperson told FOX Business.

DRINKING COFFEE AT A CERTAIN TIME OF DAY COULD REDUCE DEATH RISK, STUDY FINDS

Starbucks’ new compostable cup can be found in Oakland, California. (Reddit/@Genera1Ts0 / Fox News)

Starbucks is working to make its cups entirely compostable, recyclable or reusable by 2030, according to the company’s website.

The switch allows the company to align with local regulations in certain cities that have passed legislation requiring transitions away from single-use plastic.

While the coffee giant has 17,000 stores across the U.S., only about 580 stores have implemented the changes across the following 14 states:
- California
- Washington
- Hawaii
- Minnesota
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Maryland
- Connecticut
- Virginia
- South Carolina
- Colorado
- Georgia
STARBUCKS CEO SAYS BETTER PRICING TRANSPARENCY NECESSARY FOR MOBILE APP

Starbucks’ new compostable cups come with flat or dome-shaped lids. (Starbucks)

The new cups, which are made from molded fiber, come with both flat or dome-shaped lids to carry both regular iced coffee and even whipped frappuccinos.

Because the opaque cups look similar to those used for hot drinks, one Reddit user said the new cups make it difficult for customers to photograph their colorful drinks.

“No more Tiktok drinks,” a Reddit user said. “Can’t flaunt a drink if it’s hidden.”

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SBUX STARBUCKS CORP. 112.55 +0.16 +0.14%

Starbucks’ single-use plastic cups used to allow people to photograph their colorful drinks. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images)

Many customers have expressed dissatisfaction over the new designs across numerous Reddit posts, claiming that the cups are uncomfortable to drink out of and that the lids do not seal well.

“They are awful & so awkward to drink out of,” a Reddit user commented in a post about Starbucks’ new cups.

Another Reddit user posted a photo showing leakage from the new lid.

“What the H, Starbucks??” the Reddit user said in the post.

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For customers who are not fans of the new compostable designs, Starbucks said there are still other alternatives.

“As an alternative, customers are welcome to bring in their clean, personal reusable cup or order their beverage “for here” to have their beverage served in a ceramic mug or glass,” a Starbucks spokesperson said.

“We’re committed to innovation, testing and learning to meet the expectations of our partners and customers – and the requirements of the markets we serve,” the spokesperson said.
February 18, 2025
Americans’ credit card and household debt reach new record highs

A ‘Mornings with Maria’ panel provides their reactions to the December jobs report, detailing the impact it may have on the U.S. economy.

Americans’ household debt levels, including credit card debt, rose to new all-time highs in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to a report by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

The report showed that overall household debt increased by $93 billion to $18.04 trillion at the end of 2024, an all-time high. Credit card balances rose by $45 billion from the prior quarter to reach $1.21 trillion at the end of December, which is also a record high.

Delinquency rates ticked higher by 0.1 percentage points from the prior quarter to 3.6% of outstanding debt in some stage of delinquency, with delinquency transition rates steady for nearly all types of debt except for credit cards – which had a small uptick in transitions from current to delinquent. Serious delinquency, defined as 90 or more days past due, moved higher for auto loans, credit cards and HELOC balances but was stable for mortgages.

The New York Fed noted that while the report shows Americans are generally faring well in terms of managing their household debt, there are signs that rising prices and elevated interest rates are causing issues for some auto loan borrowers.

WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT OF A CREDIT CARD INTEREST RATE CAP?

Americans’ household debt reached a new record in the last quarter of 2024. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images / Getty Images)

“Overall, consumers are in pretty good shape in terms of the household debt landscape, largely driven by stable balances and solid performance in mortgage loans,” the New York Fed’s economic researchers wrote in a post accompanying the report.

“However, for auto loans, higher car prices combined with higher interest rates have driven monthly payments upward and have put pressure on consumers across the income and credit score spectrum,” they wrote. “The episode of rapidly rising car prices has had heterogeneous impacts on borrowers, who have shifted between used and new cars as well as between loans and leases.”

JOSH HAWLEY, BERNIE SANDERS PROPOSE CAPPING CREDIT CARD INTEREST RATES AT 10%

Americans’ credit card debt reached an all-time high at the end of 2024. (iStock / iStock)

The decline in used car prices could strain some borrowers who bought a used car when prices were higher, potentially leaving them underwater on those loans, the New York Fed said.

“These shifts have put additional pressure on lower-income and lower-credit-score borrowers who may have had to opt for higher-price used cars over the last few years,” the researchers wrote.

US CREDIT CARD DEFAULTS SOAR TO HIGHEST LEVEL IN 14 YEARS

Serious delinquencies for mortgages ticked lower at the end of 2024. (Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

“Used car prices have since declined from the peak, potentially leaving some borrowers underwater on those vehicles and creating potential repayment challenges,” they added. “At the same time, the decline in auto prices could imply that the more recently originated vintages of auto loans may fare better as those loans age.”

The number of consumers who had a bankruptcy notation added to their credit record was 123,000 in the fourth quarter according to bank data, a decline from the third quarter.

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Consumers with a third-party collection noted on their credit record was “relatively stable” in the fourth quarter, the New York Fed said.

February 18, 2025
Kim Kardashian partners with Nike on new Skims brand

Fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff analyzes the impact of the company’s Super Bowl ad on ‘The Claman Countdown’

Nike is partnering with Skims and introducing a new female-focused brand together with the shapewear company co-founded by Kim Kardashian.

NikeSKIMS will combine Nike’s “world-class approach to advanced innovation, sport science and athlete insights” with Skims’ “signature style and inclusive solutions for every body” to bring an “entirely new look of training and fitness” for women to market, Nike said.

Fans of both brands can expect Nike and Skims to launch the inaugural NikeSKIMS line at select retail locations and online in the U.S. during the spring.

The logo for NikeSKIMS (Nike)

The brand will consist of fitness clothing, footwear and accessories.

NIKE’S NEW CEO: WHAT TO KNOW

“Nike and SKIMS share a deep commitment to innovation, inclusivity and pushing boundaries, driven by an unwavering belief in the power of women. This partnership is the culmination of that shared vision, delivering product that is meticulously designed to sculpt and perform for every body,” Kardashian said in a statement.

Kim Kardashian speaks at the OMR digital and marketing trade fair. (Christian Charisius/picture alliance via Getty Images / Getty Images)

The brand will offer “extended sizing” when it becomes available, Nike said.

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“This partnership brings together the best of both brands and unlocks an incredible opportunity to disrupt the industry with our shared passion and commitment to innovation,” Nike President of Consumer, Product and Brand Heidi O’Neill said. “We will invite even more athletes into sport and movement with product that makes them feel strong and sexy.”

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NKE NIKE INC. 73.04 -0.17 -0.23%

After the initial U.S. roll out, Nike and Skims are targeting a broader, global release for NikeSKIMS next year, according to the companies.

Nike is seeking to expand its women’s business through the partnership with Skims as it continues to work to ensure long-term viability.

The logo of Nike (NKE) is seen in Los Angeles, California, United States, April 12, 2016. (REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo / Reuters Photos)

Kardashian created Skims with co-founder Jens Grede about six years ago. The company has seen major growth since then, reaching a value of $4 billion in 2023, according to reports.

A Skims pop-up shop at the Nordstrom flagship store in New York, on June 9, 2024. (Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

KIM KARDASHIAN EXPERIENCES TESLA’ ROBOT, CYBERCAB FIRSTHAND

Kardashian herself has a net worth of $1.7 billion thanks to the success of Skims and other ventures, Forbes reported.

February 18, 2025
Meta touts plans for ‘world’s longest subsea cable project’

Evercore ISI senior managing director Mark Mahaney reacts to January’s jobs report and reveals his top tech stocks on ‘Varney & Co.’

Meta, the company that owns the popular social media apps Facebook and Instagram, announced plans for “Project Waterworth” a massive subsea cable project.

The project will cover more than 50,000 kilometers, which is more than 31,000 miles, a figure even longer than the circumference of the globe, the company noted.

“Once complete, the project will reach five major continents and span over 50,000 km (longer than the Earth’s circumference), making it the world’s longest subsea cable project using the highest-capacity technology available,” Meta’s announcement, by Gaya Nagarajan and Alex-Handrah Aimé, declares.

META ENDS FACT-CHECKING PROGRAM AS ZUCKERBERG VOWS TO RESTORE FREE EXPRESSION ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM

Mark Zuckerberg is seen in attendance during the UFC 298 event at Honda Center on Feb. 17, 2024 in Anaheim, Calif. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

The internet infrastructure undertaking “will bring industry-leading connectivity to the U.S., India, Brazil, South Africa, and other key regions,” the company noted.

The endeavor will cost billions of dollars.

“Project Waterworth will be a multi-billion dollar, multi-year investment to strengthen the scale and reliability of the world’s digital highways by opening three new oceanic corridors with the abundant, high speed connectivity needed to drive AI innovation around the world,” the announcement says.

FACEBOOK OWNER INVESTING UP TO $65 BILLION TOWARD AI IN 2025

Rob Luna Enterprise CEO Rob Luna gives his take on Meta’s market success and gives investment advice on ‘Making Money.’

“We’ve driven infrastructure innovation with various partners over the past decade, developing more than 20 subsea cables. This includes multiple deployments of industry-leading subsea cables of 24 fiber pairs – compared to the typical 8 to 16 fiber pairs of other new systems,” the announcement reads.

“With Project Waterworth, we continue to advance engineering design to maintain cable resilience, enabling us to build the longest 24 fiber pair cable project in the world and enhance overall speed of deployment,” it also notes.

META CEO MARK ZUCKERBERG SAYS ‘EVERYTHING I SAY LEAKS’ FROM INTERNAL MEETINGS: ‘IT SUCKS’

Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer of Meta Platforms Inc., center, arrives for the 60th presidential inauguration in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Shawn Thew/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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Meta founder, chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg attended President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January.

February 18, 2025
DOGE committee member cautions Democrats over next ‘reckoning’ for federal agencies

Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., discuss the protests erupting nationwide from Democrats regarding Elon Musk’s DOGE budget cuts on ‘The Bottom Line.’

As the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) reportedly gets closer to accessing more integrated data from federal agencies, one of the congressional subcommittee members previewed a budget “reckoning” in the works.

“These alphabet agencies are getting ready to see a reckoning. And I’m glad that Donald J. Trump is doing it. All he’s doing is keeping his word,” Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., said on “The Bottom Line,” Monday.

White House principal deputy press secretary Harrison Fields recently told Fox News that DOGE will soon have access to an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) system that contains sensitive taxpayer information and account details.

The news comes just after a federal judge in Washington on Friday handed Elon Musk’s government efficiency team a win by declining a request to temporarily block it from accessing sensitive data from at least three federal agencies: the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

ELON MUSK’S D.O.G.E. PREPARES TO AUDIT U.S. GOLD RESERVES AT FORT KNOX AFTER URGING BY SEN. RAND PAUL

The Justice Department has also argued that DOGE personnel are “detailed” U.S. government employees who have access to the requested information under provisions of the Economy Act.

DOGE is ready to unleash a “reckoning” on certain federal agencies, according to congressional subcommittee Rep. Tim Burchett. (Getty Images)

“The IRS is… porous… and the IRS is angry,” Burchett said. “The reason they’re angry is they’re going to have to start showing up for work. You know, I’m a United States congressman, and it can take me up to six months to get a dadgum response from them. That is not acceptable.”

“And then when we find out the IRS employees are getting audited themselves, and they’ve delayed their audits, there’s a lot going on there,” he continued.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin weighs in on the Department of Government Efficiency and their latest move to cancel ‘wasteful’ contracts within the EPA.

The newly minted DOGE agency, a key promise of President Trump’s reelection campaign, is aggressively slashing government waste when it comes to government spending. It was created via executive order and is a temporary organization within the White House that will spend 18 months carrying out its mission.

DOGE has long claimed its ultimate goal of reducing the national debt by at least $2 trillion, and as part of its budget overhaul, recently carried out layoffs, mandatory return-to-office mandates for federal workers and even closed agencies completely, like the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

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O’Leary Ventures Chairman Kevin O’Leary discusses DOGE’s effort to cut government waste and fraud on ‘The Big Money Show.’

“It shows that every department is corrupt, and you’re going to see the money, where it flows back to, and it goes right out of the American taxpayer’s pocket into the back pocket of politicians in Washington,” Burchett claimed. “And you’re going to see congressmen, I hope it’s not on both sides of the aisle, but I’m afraid it will be because that’s who will start pitching a fit.”

“We’ve found them in the past, they’ve been funneling money into campaigns and things like that. And yet these so-called legacy media, which is in bed with these folks, has decided to turn a blind eye.”

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Fox News’ Hillary Vaughn, Stephen Sorace, Michael Dorgan, Breanne Deppisch and Jake Gibson contributed to this report.

February 18, 2025
Elon Musk’s DOGE launches agency accounts to solicit cost savings tips
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin weighs in on the Department of Government Efficiency and their latest move to cancel ‘wasteful’ contracts within the EPA.

Elon Musk’s Department of Government of Efficiency (DOGE) on Monday launched new social media accounts for a slate of federal agencies to make it easier for the public to provide tips about waste, fraud and abuse.

David Sacks, who is serving as the Trump White House’s artificial intelligence and crypto czar, wrote in a post on X, “There are now @DOGE accounts for every department, exposing the waste, fraud and abuse. Awesome.”

DOGE accounts were created on X for more than two dozen agencies. Those accounts are listed as affiliates with the main DOGE account.

The posts said that “DOGE is seeking help from the public!” and instructed the public to “DM this account with insights on finding and fixing waste, fraud and abuse relating to the agency.

WHAT HAS DOGE CUT SO FAR?

Elon Musk’s DOGE launched new affiliate accounts on X for public suggestions in rooting out waste, fraud and abuse. (Photo by Alexi Rosenfeld/GC Images / Getty Images)

Among the agencies with new DOGE-oriented accounts on X include:
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Department of Defense (DOD)
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Department of Transportation (DOT)
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- Department of Justice (DOJ)
- Department of Labor (DOL)
- Department of Energy (DOE)
- Treasury Department
- Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Commerce Department
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
- National Science Foundation (NSF)
- Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
- Department of Education (ED)
- Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
- Social Security Administration (SSA)
- National Park Service (NPS)
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
- Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- Department of the Interior (DOI)
- Small Business Administration (SBA)
- State Department
- Government Services Administration (GSA)
DOGE ASKS PUBLIC FOR ‘INSIGHTS’ ON POTENTIAL WASTE AT SEC

DOGE has a website where it’s spotlighting its cost-cutting efforts. (Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images / Getty Images)

As of early Tuesday, the accounts have only solicited suggestions from the public about identifying and addressing waste, fraud and abuse, but haven’t posted DOGE’s cuts at the respective agencies.

DOGE launched a website last week that was updated on Monday to include a “wall of receipts” that features the DOGE team’s moves to cancel various contracts and leases to save money.

The website also features a pair of top 10 lists breaking down the agencies where DOGE has saved the most money through canceling contracts and which agencies saw the largest contract savings as a percentage of the agency’s budget.

DOGE has targeted USAID as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to move it into the State Department. (Getty Images/Photo illustration / FOXBusiness)

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The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which DOGE and the Trump administration are looking to absorb into the State Department, topped both lists.

The Department of Education ranked second in terms of total contract savings, while the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) was second in terms of savings as a share of the agency budget.
February 18, 2025
American farmers turning to AI to aid uncertain future

Karen Ross, the secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, discusses the outlook for the 2025 agriculture industry.

Tulare, Calif. – The U.S. agriculture industry is used to overcoming obstacles, but 2025 is shaping up to be a particularly daunting year. Labor shortages, water restrictions and the pending threat of tariffs are at the forefront of every farmer’s mind.

“There’s always challenges in agriculture, but so many are happening at the same time right now,” said Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. “I think this happens about once every generation where there’s just a bunch of driving forces.”

In 2023, the agriculture industry earned over half a trillion dollars in cash receipts – $267.4 billion for crops and $249.6 billion for animal products. But 86% of farms are “small farms” – meaning they gross under $350,000 per year. These are the farms feeling the pressure the most.

EGG FARMER HIT HARD BY BIRD FLU, DESCRIBES ‘NIGHTMARE’ OF LOSING 3 FLOCKS

“Production agriculture tends to be a marginal business when it comes to profit. You’re talking about a typical average kind of return on investment of low- to mid-single digits on farm is pretty typical,” said Roland Fumasi, head of RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness. “So any kind of downward pressure on markets… really puts a lot of pressure on farm finances that are already marginal at best anyway in most years.”

In 2023, the agriculture industry earned over half a trillion dollars in cash receipts – $267.4 billion for crops and $249.6 billion for animal products. (Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post / Getty Images)

Now, farmers are turning to technology for help, and at the World Ag Expo – the largest agricultural trade show in the world – manufacturers were keen to show off their latest products.

Over 1,200 farm equipment manufacturers descended on California’s Central Valley last week in hopes of finding buyers among the more than 100,000 people in attendance. Tulare, California, has been home to AgExpo since 1968, and this year, a buzzword was making waves – AI.

AI, or artificial intelligence, is being utilized in all sorts of ways. From driving autonomous vehicles to performing arduous tasks to analyzing environmental changes, AI is addressing everything from solving labor shortages to increasing crop yield – and farmers are on board.

“We’re part of that first wave of AI that allows us to see things that are happening in the field,” said Paul Mikesell, founder and CEO of Carbon Robotics. “The farmers are incredibly inquisitive. They’re very innovative and inventive, and so they got what we were doing right away.”

DEADLY BIRD FLU DETECTED IN NEVADA DAIRY CATTLE

Mikesell’s company generated a lot of buzz around their product, the LaserWeeder, which uses AI to identify weeds and kill them at the stem using a laser. Not only does it cut out the physical toll that comes with weeding, it also eliminates the need for herbicides.

“It can kill weeds that humans can’t even see. And we get in and kill them before they steal nutrients to compete with the crops,” added Mikesell.

Farmers are turning to technology, including artificial intelligence, to confront challenges they expect to face in 2025. (Sandy Huffaker/AFP via / Getty Images)

Another company is using AI to help one of the ecosystem’s busiest and most threatened employees – bees. According to Project Apis m., colony rates are seeing unprecedented losses, at more than 50%. Some beekeepers are reporting 100% colony loss, a scary prospect for almond farmers, who rely on bees to pollinate their trees.

BeeHero uses AI sensors inside beehives to measure everything from acoustic signatures from the queen to the number of bee visits per minute to give farmers a real-time understanding of bee coverage and pollination. This provides beekeepers with the information they need to help the bees thrive.

“The beekeepers who work with us, their colony collapse rates are 33% lower than the industry average,” said Brent Wellington, BeeHero’s director of product marketing.

John Deere, which commands more than 40% of the market share in the U.S. agriculture machinery industry, is also on board with AI. The company developed the 5ML autonomous tractor that’s being used for blast spraying, essentially spraying nut trees with chemicals to protect the trees. Normally, it’s a task that must be done at night, in a hazmat suit, driving under 3 mph, six to eight times a year – a chore farmers would much rather pass to machines.

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“The response has been really, really positive. The average age of farmers in the U.S. is around 58 years old, and many of them are working 12 and up to 18 hours during peak seasons just to manage their operations due to shortages of qualified labor,” said Jason Brantley, John Deere’s vice president of production systems for small agriculture and turf.

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The ag industry is changing, but farmers and manufacturers alike are embracing whatever it takes to keep their crops growing and animals producing, said Ross.

“It’s very important that we continue to look for ways to automate, to ease the jobs that we have,” Ross said. “How do we think about the use of technology, autonomous vehicles, robotics, as a way to create new and better jobs for the existing farmworkers, as well as attract young people to bring that energy and that creativity to the new tools and technologies that are absolutely essential to our survival.”

February 18, 2025