Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 197

Horoscopes March 8, 2025: James Van Der Beek, get organized and concentrate on what’s meaningful

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: James Van Der Beek, 48; Freddie Prinze Jr., 49; Camryn Manheim, 64; Aidan Quinn, 66.Happy Birthday: Pick up the pace, get organized and concentrate on what’s meaningful. Set high standards regardless of what others do, and look at every angle to ensure you make the most of your time, talents and money. Do your best to implement a change that makes your life easier, your attitude positive and your gains fulfilling. Choices that fit your budget and sustain your desired lifestyle will ensure gratitude, harmony and satisfaction. Your numbers are 6, 10, 18, 21, 32, 36, 49.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Stay on target regardless of what others try to persuade you to do. Stick to basics, simplify your routine and make time for the people and pastimes that bring you joy. Take responsibility for your happiness, and everything else will fall into place. Live, love and laugh; a positive attitude will get results. 2 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Observe, and you’ll figure out how you can help those you love to do better. Discreet and kind gestures will be appreciated, bringing you closer to those you care about most. Strive to do and be your best, and it will have a positive impact on your life and those around you. 4 starsGEMINI (May 21-June 20): Too much of anything will get you in trouble. Take a moment to evaluate situations and aim for balance, integrity and stability. Be true to yourself and others, and you’ll avoid getting caught in drama and misinformation that can hurt your reputation. Make what you contribute count. 3 starsCANCER (June 21-July 22): Concentrate on getting things done. Talk is cheap and won’t amount to anything if you don’t follow through. A heartfelt approach alongside muscle and determination will capture the attention of someone who can contribute to your success. It’s how you play the game that counts. Honor and action are key. 3 starsLEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Make changes for the right reasons. Trying to impress someone by tagging along or being their gofer won’t satisfy your soul. Take the path that encourages you to do what’s meaningful to you. Personal gain is within reach; put yourself first, and once you get there, you can help others. 3 starsVIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Changing your environment will spark your imagination and fill your head with thoughts and plans that can directly influence how you live and act moving forward. Don’t deny yourself the chance to gain ground and to use your skills in new and exciting ways. Embrace the future with optimism. 4 starsLIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Put your emotions aside and avoid situations filled with drama, volatility and disappointment. It’s time to use your charm, intelligence and connections to your advantage instead of shooting yourself in the foot to spare your ego or feelings. Play the long game, be nice and win. 2 starsSCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Redefine what you want to do next. Consider what brings you joy and how to implement more of that into your everyday routine. Take responsibility for your happiness by finding ways to use your time effectively. A change will do you good; travel, meditation or learning something new will supercharge your imagination. 5 starsSAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Make cost-efficient changes at home that will ease stress and improve your living arrangements. Nothing happens without effort; stop dreaming and start doing, and you’ll boost your confidence and gain respect. Opportunity knocks, but it’s up to you to open the door. Set standards, rules and boundaries within meaningful relationships. 3 starsCAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Personal investments determine your lifestyle. Take an in-depth look at your finances, overhead and needs, and reconfigure the most efficient way to get what you want. Selling off what’s no longer necessary to make your dreams come true will positively impact your attitude and health. 3 starsAQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Spend time organizing and clearing space to pursue what truly matters to you. Following your heart will help you redefine how you want to build your future. It’s never too late to detour if that makes you happy. Explore the possibilities and put a plan in place. 3 starsPISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Take the plunge, follow your heart and finish what you start. It’s a great day to mesh your imagination with determination; the results will be substantial, and the feeling of gratitude will lead to bigger and better opportunities. Recognizing and implementing changes necessary for happiness will pay off. 5 starsBirthday Baby: You are engaging, unique and opportunistic. You are energetic and empathetic.1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes. 2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others. 3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals. 4 stars: Aim high; start new projects. 5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.

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New EPA guidance says spending items greater than $50,000 must get approval from DOGE

By MATTHEW DALY, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency has issued new guidance directing that spending items greater than $50,000 now require approval from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.

The guidance, issued this week, escalates the role that the new efficiency group, known as DOGE, plays in EPA operations.

“Any assistance agreement, contract or interagency agreement transaction (valued at) $50,000 or greater must receive approval from an EPA DOGE team member,″ the EPA guidance says, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.

To facilitate the DOGE team review, EPA staff members have been directed to submit a brief, one-page explanation of each funding action each day between 3 and 6 p.m. Eastern time, the guidance says. Other relevant forms also must be completed.

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President Donald Trump has tasked DOGE with digging up what he and Musk call waste, fraud and abuse. The Republican president suggested Thursday that Cabinet members and agency leaders would take the lead on spending and staffing cuts, but he said Musk could push harder down the line.

“If they can cut, it’s better,” Trump said of agency leaders. “And if they don’t cut, then Elon will do the cutting.”

The EPA did not respond to a request Friday for comment.

Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, the top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, called the new directive “troubling,” adding that it means agency actions, including routine contracts and grant awards, “now face unnecessary bureaucratic delays.”

Routine expenditures such as grants for air and water quality monitoring, laboratory equipment purchases, hazardous waste disposal at federal sites and money for municipal recycling programs are among spending that likely will be affected, he said.

Whitehouse, an outspoken critic of Musk and Trump, said the involvement of Musk’s “unvetted, inexperienced team raises serious concerns about improper external influence on specialized agency decision-making.”

In a letter Friday to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, Whitehouse said spending actions greater than $50,000 are often complex and require specialized knowledge of environmental science, policy and regulations. “Allowing unskilled, self-proclaimed ‘experts,’ not vetted for conflicts of interest, to have veto power over funding determinations is inappropriate and risks compromising the agency’s mission to protect public health and the environment,” Whitehouse wrote.

An EPA directive says the new guidance is intended to comply with executive orders issued by Trump that seek to restrict federal spending.

Whitehouse called those orders illegal, adding: “It is already established by court order that it is Congress that authorizes and appropriates funds for specific purposes, not the Office of Management and Budget or the president via executive order or DOGE.”

The dispute over the spending guidelines comes as Zeldin has pledged sharp spending cuts as high as 65% at the agency.

“We don’t need to be spending all that money that went through the EPA last year,” Zeldin said last week. “We don’t want it. We don’t need it. The American public needs it and we need to balance the budget.”

President Joe Biden requested about $10.9 billion for the EPA in the current budget year, an increase of 8.5% over the previous one, but Zeldin said the agency needs far less money to do its work. He also criticized EPA grants authorized under the 2022 climate law, including $20 billion for a so-called green bank to pay for climate and clean-energy programs.

Zeldin has vowed to revoke contracts for the still-emerging bank program that is set to fund tens of thousands of projects to fight climate change and promote environmental justice.

White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said last week that Trump, DOGE and Zeldin are all “committed to cutting waste, fraud, and abuse.”

A 65% reduction in spending would be devastating to the EPA and its mission, said Marie Owens Powell, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Council 238. Core actions such as monitoring air and water quality, responding to natural disasters and lead abatement, among other agency functions, are at risk, she said.

Marina Council votes to increase compensation for mayor, council

MARINA – The Marina City Council voted 3-1 to revise the compensation for mayor and council members at its meeting Tuesday, after discussion, staff input and public comment over the last few months, that will see an increase in compensation after 34 years.

Mayor Bruce Delgado was the lone dissenting vote on the agenda item that was on the consent agenda for a second reading. But he pulled the item for revising compensation for mayor and council members “to give us one more chance to consider.”

In the end, with the vote to adopt, the mayor and council members will see their monthly compensation rise from $250 to $2,250 and $200 to $2,000, respectively.

Delgado said that the majority of the public who provided comment did not support amending the ordinances to revise the compensation for members of the governing body.

“I think the sticker shock feelings are going to continue, increase and have an impact on our success with bonds and other things we want to do and so I think it’s worth reconsidering tonight and that’s why I pulled it,” explained Delgado at the meeting. “I would like to motion again that we reset increase the salary of mayor to $1,000 and reset increase stipend of city council to $850 with no health benefits.”

None of the council members in attendance seconded the mayor’s motion.

Since 1990, when the last increase for the mayor and council was implemented, the cost of living has increased more than 300%, the city’s population and complexity has grown, along with the hours required and resources needed to prepare for and attend city council meetings, and perform other functions of the council, which have also increased significantly, according to city documents.

“It’s not the little quiet town it once was,” said Delgado, adding there is so much going on and so many large dollar projects.

Before Tuesday’s passage of the revised ordinances, the salary for the mayor was set at $250 per month and city council member at $200 per month, which were some of the lowest in the Monterey County area.

The California Legislature recognized the low compensation for members of city councils as a problem in 2023 and adopted Senate Bill 329 (Dodd) which authorized general law cities to enact an ordinance to increase compensation for each member of a city council based upon the population and authorized that amount to be increased by up to 5% for each calendar year from the operative date of the last adjustment, says the resolution.

Though the city of Marina is not a general law city and thus SB 329 is not applicable, the goal of the bill was to address inflationary increases and economic realities and remove barriers to achieving more equitable representation in local government by making it easier for public servants to balance careers and personal obligations.

The intent of SB 329, according to city staff, was to assist city councils in becoming more diverse because increased compensation can help individuals from across different income levels receive sufficient income from their service to help ensure that they can continue to serve the public and support their families, making it easier for members of marginalized communities to serve.

The City Council of the city of Marina finds that, consistent with the findings of SB 329, increasing the compensation for its council members would facilitate equitable representation in local government by making it easier for public servants to balance careers and personal obligations, and increase the opportunity for individuals across different income levels, as well as those individuals in marginalized communities, to participate in public service.

With the Marina Council voting to revise the compensation for mayor and council members, each council member will receive compensation of $2,000 per month, and the directly-elected mayor shall receive compensation of $2,250 per month. The compensation stipend will be adjusted annually, according to the cost of living adjustment approved for the city’s general bargaining unit employees, and the mayor and council members are eligible for reimbursement for official travel, according to the policies and procedures set forth in the official travel policy. The mayor and council members are eligible to enroll in current available plans offered by the city for health, dental and vision at their own expense with no city contribution. The mayor and council may divert their compensation stipend to cover the costs of benefit elections.

The ordinance will take effect and be in force 30 days after adoption and within 15 days after the passage of this ordinance, the city clerk will have it posted in the three public places designated by resolution of the city council.

The foregoing ordinance was introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council of the city of Marina held on Feb. 19, and was passed and adopted at a regular meeting held on March 4, by a vote of 3-1, with Delgado dissenting and council member Kathy Biala absent.

A single day of Trump and Musk’s cost-cutting campaign remakes huge sections of government

By CHRIS MEGERIAN, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — A series of decisions revealed Friday provided a glimpse of the turmoil engulfing federal agencies since President Donald Trump and Elon Musk launched their campaign of disruption, upending how government functions in ways big and small.

Some changes appeared designed to increase political control over agencies that have historically operated with some degree of autonomy, such as requiring Environmental Protection Agency officials to seek approval from the Department of Government Efficiency for any contracts exceeding $50,000.

Other directives increased burdens on federal workers, who have already endured insults, layoffs and threats from the president and other top officials. For example, government credit cards issued to civilian employees at the Pentagon were altered to have a $1 limit, choking off their ability to travel for work.

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The Transportation Security Administration became another target. The administration canceled a collective bargaining agreement with 47,000 workers who screen travelers and luggage at airports around the country, eliminating union protections in a possible prelude to layoffs or privatization.

The cascading developments are only a fraction of the upheaval that’s taken place since Trump took office, but they still reshaped how hundreds of thousands of public servants do their jobs, with potentially enduring consequences. The ongoing shakeup is much more intense than the typical whiplash that Washington endures when one administration gives way to another, raising fundamental questions about how government will function under a president who has viewed civil servants as an obstacle to his agenda.

The White House has wrestled with political blowback over Musk’s role and legal challenges that have tried to block or slow down his work. Republicans who are facing growing pressure in contentious town halls have started to speak up.

“I will fully admit, I think Elon Musk has tweeted first and thought second sometimes,” said Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., during a virtual meeting with constituents on Friday. “He has plunged ahead without necessarily knowing and understanding what he legally has to do or what he is going to be doing.”

Mistakes are being made

The overhaul of the federal government is happening at lightning speed, reflecting years of preparation by Trump’s allies and the president’s decision to grant Musk sweeping influence over his administration. Musk, a billionaire entrepreneur with no previous experience in public service, has shown no interest in slowing down despite admitting that he’ll make mistakes in his crusade to slash spending and downsize the workforce.

The government is facing even more dramatic changes in the coming weeks and months. Trump has directed agencies to prepare plans for widespread layoffs, known as reductions in force, that will likely require more limited operations at agencies that provide critical services.

The Department of Veterans Affairs could shed 80,000 employees, while the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security Administration are considering plans that would cut their workforces in half.

Trump has vowed not to reduce Social Security benefits, but Democrats argue that layoffs would make it harder to deliver payments to 72.5 million people, including retirees and children.

There are also concerns that politics could interfere with Social Security. Trump has feuded over transgender issues with Maine Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, and his administration recently said children born in the state would no longer have a Social Security number assigned at birth. Instead, parents would have to apply for one at a local office.

Leland Dudek, the acting commissioner of Social Security, rescinded the order on Friday.

“In retrospect, I realize that ending these contracts created an undue burden on the people of Maine, which was not the intent,” he said in a statement. Dudek added that “as a leader, I will admit my mistakes and make them right.”

A startup mindset takes hold

More than a month after Trump took office, there’s still confusion about Musk’s authority. In public statements and legal filings, administration officials have insisted that Musk does not actually run DOGE and has no direct authority over budgets.

But Trump has contradicted both statements. He said Tuesday that DOGE is “headed by Elon Musk” in a prime-time speech to a joint session of Congress, and he said Thursday that “Elon will do the cutting” if agency leaders don’t reduce their spending.

Their approach has energized people like David Sacks, a venture capitalist serving as a Trump adviser on cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence, who praised the administration as moving “faster than any startup that I’ve been part of.”

Trump denied reports of friction between Musk and Cabinet officials, particularly Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during a meeting Thursday.

“Elon gets along great with Marco,” the president said. The State Department had no immediate comment.

Norm Eisen, executive chair of State Democracy Defenders Fund, an organization that has been suing the Trump administration, said the president “made clear that Musk and DOGE have been calling the shots.”

Musk serves as a presidential adviser, not a Senate-confirmed official, which Eisen argued makes his role unconstitutional. He said Trump’s comments are “an admission that the vast chaos that Musk and DOGE have wrought without proper approval and documentation is illegal — and so must be completely unwound.”

Trump is using executive orders to reshape government

Many of the changes sweeping through Washington were ignited by Trump’s executive orders. One order issued last week said agencies must develop new systems for distributing and justifying payments so they can be monitored by DOGE representatives.

The EPA distributed guidance intended to ensure compliance.

“Any assistance agreement, contract or interagency agreement transaction (valued at) $50,000 or greater must receive approval from an EPA DOGE team member,” said the documents obtained by The Associated Press.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said the involvement of Musk’s “unvetted, inexperienced team raises serious concerns about improper external influence on specialized agency decision-making.”

Republicans have shied away from holding town hall meetings with constituents after critics started using them to vent their frustration.

Some protesters gathered outside Huizenga’s district office in Holland, Michigan, calling on him to answer questions in person.

“I would like to ask him why he thinks that someone like Musk can go in and simply blow up agencies without seemingly even knowing what they’re doing,” said Linda Visscher, a Holland resident.

She said increasing the efficiency of government was a good idea, but she doesn’t agree with “just taking the blowtorch to it.”

Associated Press reporters Lolita Baldor, Matthew Daly, Fatima Hussein and Matthew Lee in Washington; Joey Cappelletti in Holland, Michigan; and Patrick Whittle in Portland, Maine, contributed to this report.

Trump tells crypto leaders at White House summit he’s committed to helping their industry

By ALAN SUDERMAN, Associated Press

President Donald Trump said Friday he’s committed to making the U.S. a world leader in cryptocurrencies as industry leaders heaped praise on him for reversing what they said had been unfair attacks on digital assets by the previous administration.

“I thought it was very important that we stay in the front of this one,” Trump said at the first-ever White House “Crypto Summit.”

A former crypto-skeptic, Trump has warmly embraced an industry that’s shown him significant love in return and spent heavily to help him win last year’s election.

“It’s truly wonderful to see how things have changed and how the pendulum has swung back,” Cameron Winklevoss, the co-founder of the crypto exchange Gemini, told Trump.

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The summit included crypto company executives, cabinet officials and lawmakers, many of whom took turns raving about Trump’s leadership on digital assets. The emboldened industry said it was unfairly treated by the Biden administration and helped Trump and other Republicans score wins in the last election.

Trump reiterated his eagerness to help the crypto industry with friendly legislation and light-touch regulations.

Friday’s summit was the latest in a series of actions the new Trump administration has taken to try and boost the crypto industry. Notably, that’s included the Securities and Exchange Commission dropping several enforcement actions against large crypto companies, including those whose leaders were at Friday’s summit.

On Thursday, Trump signed an executive order establishing a “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve,” which essentially bars the U.S. government from selling bitcoin – currently valued at about $17 billion – it has acquired through criminal and civil asset forfeiture.

The order also allows the Treasury and Commerce Departments to come up with “budget-neutral” plans for the government to acquire additional bitcoin, though no details of what those plans might look like have been released.

The order is a significant boost for bitcoin’s credibility and legitimacy. The oldest and most popular cryptocurrency, bitcoin has gone from an experiment by libertarian cryptography enthusiasts to an asset worth $1.7 trillion in less than two decades.

“Bitcoin is special,” said David Sacks, the Trump administration’s “crypto czar,” told reporters Friday.

Trump’s order also creates a “Digital Asset Stockpile,” where the government will hold seized cryptocurrencies other than bitcoin. On Sunday, Trump sent crypto prices on a short-lived surge after a surprise announcement that he wanted the government to hold lesser-known cryptocurrencies XRP, solana and cardano.

It’s unclear why Trump named those specific cryptocurrencies and not others. His announcement caused a stir in the crypto community about whether the government would pick winners and losers among various types of cryptocurrencies.

Yesha Yadav, a professor at Vanderbilt Law School, said it’s clear the Trump administration wanted to avoid getting dragged into that kind of fight with the way the executive order was worded.

“It’s unsurprising that the Trump E.O. from yesterday has been quite neutral,” she said.

Trump’s foray into crypto has included backing a personal meme coin and other ventures to enrich himself and his family. Those moves have drawn swift criticism from Democrats and even some crypto enthusiasts who support Trump.

Sacks told reporters Friday that Trump’s personal crypto-related projects were “irrelevant” to the administration’s work related to the industry. That work, Sacks said, was focused on making the U.S. the world capital in crypto through fair and clear regulations that promote innovation while still protecting investors.

Sacks added his role was not to try and convince Americans to buy crypto.

“You should do your homework because this is a very volatile industry,” Sacks said. “It’s not for everyone.”

PG Unified board approves layoffs

Pacific Grove Unified School District’s Board of Education voted Thursday to lay off the equivalent of 4.6 full-time teachers at the elementary and middle school level and three mental health therapists. The reductions will save the district around $1.1 million.

The decision comes after the district has been working to reduce a nearly $870,000 deficit in its general unrestricted fund. The board heard three recommendations from Chief Human Resources Officer Buck Roggeman detailing the district’s proposed personnel reductions as well as a recommendation to create tie-breaking criteria when looking to lay off new employees. The board passed each resolution with a 5-0 vote.

“I do want to acknowledge the immense difficulty of making these sorts of decisions that impact the lives of our educators and staff,” said Board President Elliot Hazen. “Layoffs are not just numbers on a spreadsheet, they represent real people who have given their time, energy and passion to our students and community … I’m sorry for the tough decisions tonight but thank you to those that we will have to let go.”

A 4.6 full-time equivalent reduction means the district is eliminating four positions as well as the equivalent of .6 full-time positions. A staff member working full-time (40 hours per week) counts as one FTE. The .4 and .2 reductions means the district is cutting those teacher’s hours by 40% and 20%.

The board approved the layoffs of one elementary multi-subject teacher, three K-5 multi-subject teachers, as well as reducing the hours of a FTE middle school math and learning support position by 40% and a FTE middle school math teacher’s hours by 20%.

The four teacher reductions will result in a $589,000 savings for the district.

Roggeman presented the reductions, which were largely similar to proposed cuts made at the Feb. 6 board meeting. The updated plan did not include the originally proposed reduction of a digital learning teacher position.

The district first proposed its plans at the Feb. 6 meeting and presented an updated plan at the Feb. 27 meeting.

“I am so sorry that people have had to live with doubt and uncertainty and I appreciate everyone’s work,” said Mike Wachs, Trustee Area 2.

After questions from the board, Roggeman clarified that these cuts are based on enrollment projections showing fewer students in grades TK-5 for the upcoming school year. He also reassured the board that probationary employees will be put on a 24-month rehire list, with rights to a job if it opens up and permanent employees will be put on a 39-month list.

Along with the elimination of three mental health therapists, Roggeman proposed cutting a .375 FTE instructional assistant position at the elementary level. These cuts would result in savings of $552,885.

The district is aligning resources so three therapists can be rehired the following year and will be funded outside of the general fund, according to Roggeman. He said rehiring these positions is “the intent and plan.”

Trustee Laura Ottmar asked for reassurance that the therapist positions will be filled again, under the same conditions and salary rate. Superintendent Linda Adamson assured the board there will be no changes in salary.

“If it seems like there is a general sense that the students’ needs aren’t being met, I want to make sure that we are ready to pivot with a plan,” said Ottmar. “It’s an essential. It’s food, water and mental health as far as I’m concerned … (students) need to be mentally healthy in order to learn and move through life.”

Roggeman also recommended the board approve tie-breaking criteria, essentially a point system, to determine the order of lay offs among employees who are hired on the same day.

Employees would be allotted “points” based on their credentials, supplementary authorizations and additional degrees. If the tie-breaker ends up tied, then layoffs would be determined by a lottery system, said Roggeman.

All recommendations were passed unanimously and there was no public comment about the two personnel reduction resolutions.

Review: ‘Daredevil’ is back — and better than ever

The MCU’s been a bit of a bore lately, gasping for air like a goldfish that leapt out of a fish tank and landed in the Mojave. But the gritty, violent “Daredevil: Born Again” on Disney+ resuscitates the cinematic comic book empire and delivers a riveting and eerily relevant story arc that speaks to the political upheaval and uncertainty of our times.

It’s a big surprise how great this series is given there was legit concern after showrunner/executive producer Dario Scardapane’s reboot was sent back to to the shop after Marvel honchos took a look at it. No matter what happened behind the scenes, the result is electrifying and pertinent, and advances the terrific previous three-season Netflix series about Hell’s Kitchen lawyer Matt Murdoch (Charlie Cox), who is blind, and his alter ego, Daredevil. It even improves on it by not going way overboard on the violence and peppering in just enough Easter eggs and tangential storylines and appearances of other characters — including the Punisher (Jon Berthnal) — without overshadowing its central story that strikes so many chords about upheaval right now.

The big ace it waves proudly is the square-off between Wilson Fisk/Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio, giving one of the best villain performances in any Marvel production) and Matt Murdoch.

After a horrific attack at Josie’s bar, Matt hangs up his Daredevil persona while Fisk re-enters the New York scene, goes on the couch for marriage counseling with his cunning wife (Ayelet Zurer) and runs for mayor. Matt and Fisk keep a wary eye on each other as Fisk plays on New Yorkers’ ‘fears of crime, and assures voters that once he comes in, there will be no pussyfooting around with the bad guys. “I don’t have much use for red tape,” he bellows. Chaos ensues as the psychopath blackmails and manipulates key critics — including a police commissioner — and demands all fall in line with his authoritarian ideas, or else.

Matt, played with real passion and the right dollops of angst and moral complexity by Cox, falls for a therapist (Margarita Levieva) and defends in court Hector Ayala/White Tiger (played with enormous appeal by Kamar de los Reyes, who died of cancer in 2023). He got involved in a subway fracas that left a bad cop dead amid hints of police corruption. The writing on the series couldn’t be better, and the secondary characters — including a sharp video journalist named BB  Urich (Genneya Walton), Fisk’s right-hand guy Buck Cashman (a slithery Arty Froushan) and a villain (Hunter Doohan, in a creepy turn) bring more to the MCU.

The highlight, of course, is D’Onofrio’s raging-on-the-inside performance. He’s extraordinary here, especially in a stroke-of-genius sequence in which Fisk endures versions of Jefferson Airplane’s “We Built This City.” It’s an unbelievably funny moment, punctuated by the briefest of telling facial tics. The show also excels in its impressive urban production design, a mood-setting soundtrack and taut direction, particularly in the first episode helmed by the ace indie genre dynamos Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (“The Endless,” “Something in the Dirt.”). The duo were brought in for the redo and their influence as executive producers and directors (they helm episodes 8 and 9 too) and their energy and input remain undeniable. A highlight is a blistering, game-changing action sequence in the first episode involving Benjamin Poindexter (Wilson Bethel).

“Daredevil: Born Again” is easily one of the best series the Disney+ has offered and is also one of the best shows of 2025. It journeys into dark spaces with its  contemporary power struggle and grazes, but doesn’t surrender to, the morally blurry lines set forth in “The Joker” and “The Batman.” So keep the kids away. All of what unfolds does bode well for a second season (also nine episodes) coming in 2026. Hopefully, the excellence on display here will extend into Marvel’s upcoming theatrical releases. They sure need it.

Details: 4 stars out of 4; two episodes are available on Disney+, with one additional episode dropping every week until April 15.

 

PHOTOS: Paragliding in sunny skies

A paraglider took advantage of the clear skies at Marina State Beach Friday afternoon. The weekend is expected to see similar weather. Saturday and Sunday are predicted to be mostly sunny, with a high of 58 and a low of 44. (David Timonera - special to the Herald)

A paraglider took advantage of the clear skies at Marina State Beach Friday afternoon. The weekend is expected to see similar weather. Saturday and Sunday are predicted to be mostly sunny, with a high of 58 and a low of 44. (David Timonera - special to the Herald)

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A paraglider took advantage of the clear skies at Marina State Beach Friday afternoon. The weekend is expected to see similar weather. Saturday and Sunday are predicted to be mostly sunny, with a high of 58 and a low of 44. (David Timonera - special to the Herald)

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States sue President Trump’s administration over mass firings of probationary federal workers

By BRIAN WITTE

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland and 19 other states are suing multiple federal agencies, contending President Donald Trump’s administration has illegally fired thousands of federal probationary workers.

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Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown is leading the coalition of attorneys general in the federal lawsuit that was filed late Thursday in Maryland, where the state estimates about 10% of households receive wages from the federal government.

“The draconian actions of the Trump-Vance Administration could lead to tens of thousands of jobs lost, hundreds of thousands of lives disrupted, and the cratering of tens of millions of dollars in income here in Maryland,” Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, said Friday in support of the complaint.

The mass firings will cause irreparable burdens and expenses on the states, the lawsuit said, because states will have to support recently unemployed workers and review and adjudicate claims of unemployment assistance. More than 800 fired federal workers in Maryland already have applied for unemployment benefits, Brown’s office said.

The lawsuit also contended that the layoffs will hurt state finances due to lost tax revenue.

“President Trump’s unlawful mass firings of federal workers are a blatant attack on the civil service, throwing thousands of hardworking families into financial turmoil,” Brown, a Democrat, said in a news release. “Instead of following the law and notifying states, his administration blindsided Maryland, forcing us to deal with the devastating economic fallout and social consequences.”

Trump, a Republican, has said he’s targeting fraud, waste and abuse in a bloated federal government. The president and his adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency have fired both new and career workers, telling agency leaders to plan for “large-scale reductions in force.” The purge has spawned a number of lawsuits as unions and attorneys general have challenged Doge’s authority. Attempts to contact the White House and Justice Department for comment were unsuccessful.

Probationary workers have been targeted for layoffs across the federal government because they’re usually new to the job and lack full civil service protection.

While federal agencies claimed the employees were fired for unsatisfactory performance or conduct, the lawsuit said the firings were part of the administration’s attempt to restructure and downsize the entire government.

That means the administration was required to follow federal laws and regulations that govern large-scale federal reductions in force, the lawsuit said. For example, regulations require that government agencies consider an employee’s tenure, performance and veteran status when making termination decisions, the attorneys said. Regulations also typically require 60 days’ advance notice of termination in a reduction in force.

“This has inflicted and will continue to inflict serious and irreparable harms on the Plaintiff States, as they must now deal with a sudden surge in unemployment, without the advance notice required under the federal (reduction in force) statute and regulations,” the lawsuit said.

The attorneys general are asking for the court to reinstate the fired employees and stop further terminations of federal employees.

The other states that have joined the lawsuit are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. The District of Columbia also is a plaintiff.

Trump administration cancels $400M in grants and contracts with Columbia University

By JENNIFER PELTZ

NEW YORK (AP) — The Trump administration said Friday that it’s pulling $400 million from Columbia University, canceling grants and contracts because of what the government describes as the Ivy League school’s failure to squelch antisemitism on campus.

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The notice came five days after federal agencies announced they were considering orders to stop work on $51 million in contracts with the New York City university and reviewing its eligibility for over $5 billion in federal grants going forward. And it came after Columbia set up a new disciplinary committee and ramped up its own investigations into students critical of Israel, alarming free speech advocates.

But Columbia’s efforts evidently didn’t go far enough for the federal government.

“Universities must comply with all federal antidiscrimination laws if they are going to receive federal funding. For too long, Columbia has abandoned that obligation to Jewish students studying on its campus,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement Friday.

Columbia vowed to work with the government to try to get the money back.

“We take Columbia’s legal obligations seriously and understand how serious this announcement is and are committed to combatting antisemitism and ensuring the safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff,” the university said in a statement.

It is not clear which research, projects or activities will be affected at Columbia, which operates a medical center among many other functions. The university said it was reviewing the announcement. An inquiry was sent to the federal Education Department, which issued Friday’s announcement along with the Health and Justice departments and the General Services Administration.

Columbia has become the first target in President Donald Trump’s campaign to cut federal money to colleges accused of tolerating antisemitism amid the Israel-Hamas war that began in October 2023.

The university was at the forefront of U.S. campus protests over the war last spring. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators set up an encampment in April and inspired a wave of similar protests. Protesters at Columbia went on to seize a campus building, resulting in dozens of arrests when police cleared the building.

In recent days, a much smaller contingent of demonstrators have staged brief occupations of buildings at Columbia-affiliated Barnard College to protest the expulsion of two students accused of disrupting an Israeli history class. Several students were arrested following an hourslong takeover of a building Wednesday.

Many people involved in the protests said there’s nothing antisemitic about criticizing Israel over its actions in Gaza or expressing solidarity with Palestinians.

Columbia has acknowledged concerns about antisemitism: A university task force said last summer that Jews and Israelis at the school were ostracized from student groups, humiliated in classrooms and subjected to verbal abuse amid the spring demonstrations.

Some students, and an attorney advising them, see its new disciplinary crackdown as an effort to mollify the government by suppressing pro-Palestinian speech.

Columbia was one of five colleges that has come under new federal antisemitism investigations, and it’s one of 10 being visited by a task force in response to allegations that the colleges have failed to protect Jewish students.

Others under investigation include the University of California, Berkeley; the University of Minnesota; Northwestern University; and Portland State University.