Judge denies Democrat-led effort to block Musk, DOGE access

[CRAIG NIGRELLI]

A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS BLOCKED AN ATTEMPT BY 14 STATES TO DENY ELON MUSK’S DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY — OR DOGE — FROM ACCESSING DATA SYSTEMS OR MAKING PERSONNEL DECISIONS AT SEVEN FEDERAL AGENCIES. 

IN HER RULING — U-S DISTRICT JUDGE TANYA CHUTKAN SAID THE “POSSIBILITY” THAT DOGE COULD HARM THE STATES IS QUOTE “NOT ENOUGH” TO HALT ITS ACTIVITIES. 

CHUTKAN — WHO PRESIDED OVER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S 20-20 ELECTION INTERFERENCE CRIMINAL CASE BEFORE HE WAS RE-ELECTED — SAID THE GROUP OF DEMOCRATIC ATTORNEYS GENERAL, LED BY NEW MEXICO, THAT BROUGHT THE LAWSUIT QUOTE: 

“LEGITIMATELY CALL INTO QUESTION WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE UNCHECKED AUTHORITY OF AN UNELECTED INDIVIDUAL AND AN ENTITY THAT WAS NOT CREATED BY CONGRESS AND OVER WHICH IT HAS NO OVERSIGHT…” 

BUT ADDED THE ATTORNEYS GENERAL HAVE NOT LINKED ANY OF DOGE’S ACTIONS TO ANY “IMMINENT HARM” IN THEIR STATES. 

IN A COURT FILING AS PART OF THE CASE, MUSK IS DESCRIBED AS A WHITE HOUSE EMPLOYEE SERVING AS A “SENIOR ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT” NOT AN EMPLOYEE OF DOGE. 

WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY KAROLINE LEAVITT REINFORCED THAT POSITION, WHEN ASKED BY REPORTERS YESTERDAY. 

KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY 

“First of all, President Trump is the ultimate decision-maker for this entire administration. Elon Musk, just like everybody else across the federal government, works at the direction of President Trump.” 

0.”DOGE does not have statute, statutory authority. We’ve been very clear about that. Again, DOGE is advising these agencies. It’s ultimately up to the discretion of these secretaries to make these hirings and these firings.” 

LEAVITT SAID TRUMP’S CABINET MEMBERS ULTIMATELY HAVE THE POWER TO FIRE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, DOGE JUST MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS. 

LATE LAST WEEK — A DIFFERENT U-S DISTRICT JUDGE ALSO REJECTED A REQUEST TO BLOCK DOGE FROM ACCESSING RECORDS OF THREE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.

PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS SIGNED ANOTHER EXECUTIVE ORDER AIMED AT FOLLOWING THROUGH ON ONE OF HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISES. 

THE ORDER CALLS ON THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR DOMESTIC POLICY TO GIVE TRUMP A LIST OF POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROTECTING IN VITRO FERTILIZATION ACCESS AND QUOTE “AGGRESSIVELY REDUCING OUT-OF-POCKET AND HEALTH PLAN COSTS FOR I-V-F TREATMENT”… WITHIN 90 DAYS. 

STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS REPORTER LAUREN TAYLOR HAS A LOOK AT HOW THIS COULD IMPACT THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN FAMILIES. 

Lauren Taylor 

IVF IS A SERIES OF MEDICAL PROCEDURES – INCLUDING MEDICATIONS, SURGERIES, ANESTSTHESIA,  

ULTRASOUNDS, BLOOD TESTS, EMBRYO STORAGE AND TRANSFER – WHICH CAN HELP COUPLES BECOME PREGNANT AFTER EXPERIENCING INFERTILITY.  

ACCORDING TO THE EXECUTIVE ACTION, ABOUT ONE IN SEVEN FAMILIES ARE UNABLE TO CONCEIVE AND THE IVF PROCESS IS EXPENSIVE –  

RANGING FROM $12-THOUSAND TO $25-THOUSAND DOLLARS PER CYCLE AND IT’S NOT USUALLY COVERED BY HEALTH INSURANCE. 

0:06 “THE FIRST IS AN EXECUTIVE ORDER RELATING TO THE AFFORDABILITY AND AVAILABILITY..” 

THE PRESIDENT’S ORDER SAYS THE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL FOCUS ON ENSURING ACCESS TO IVF TREATMENTS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM MORE AFFORDABLE. 

“THE ORDER RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY FORMATION AND THAT OUR NATION’S PUBLIC POLICY  

MUST MAKE IT EASIER FOR LOVING AND LONGING MOTHERS AND FATHERS TO HAVE CHILDREN,” THE ORDER STATES. 

ACCORDING TO THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, MORE THAN 85-THOUSAND BABIES WERE BORN VIA IVF IN 2021. 

REPUBLICAN SENATOR KATIE BRITT OF ALABAMA – WHO HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF CHAMPIONING ACCESS TO IVF –  

CELEBRATED THE EXECUTIVE ORDER SAYING IN A STATEMENT:  

“IVF IS FUNDAMENTALLY PRO-FAMILY, HELPING ASPIRING PARENTS ACROSS OUR NATION START AND GROW THEIR FAMILIES.  

I COULDN’T BE HAPPIER TO SEE PRESIDENT TRUMP TAKE THIS LANDMARK STEP TO EXPAND ACCESS TO THIS PATHWAY TO PARENTHOOD.”  

ON THE OTHER SIDE, DEMOCRATIC SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH OF ILLINOIS – SPONSOR OF THE “RIGHT TO IVF ACT” —  

WHICH WOULD PROVIDE A RIGHT TO IVF — POSTED TO X:  

“DON’T BE FOOLED. TRUMP’S EXECUTIVE ORDER DOES NOTHING TO EXPAND ACCESS TO IVF.  

BUT IF HE’S ACTUALLY SERIOUS ABOUT DELIVERING ON HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISE,  

HE CAN PROVE IT BY CALLING ON REPUBLICANS TO BACK MY RIGHT TO IVF ACT.  

OTHERWISE, IT’S ALL JUST LIP-SERVICE FROM A KNOWN LIAR.”  

AT THIS TIME, IT’S UNCLEAR IF CONGRESS WILL NEED TO PASS LEGISLATION TO FULFILL TRUMP’S IVF RECOMMENDATIONS. 

THAT WAS OUR LAUREN TAYLOR REPORTING. 

I-V-F BECAME A BIG ISSUE DURING THE 20-24 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN — AFTER THE ALABAMA SUPREME COURT RULED FROZEN EMBRYOS **ARE** CHILDREN AND THOSE WHO DESTROY OR DAMAGE THEM — INCLUDING I-V-F PROVIDERS — COULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR WRONGFUL DEATH. 

THE STATE’S REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR, KAY IVEY, LATER SIGNED A BILL GIVING CIVIL AND CRIMINAL IMMUNITY TO PROVIDERS AND PATIENTS. 

AS FOR THIS LATEST MOVE BY THE PRESIDENT, BARBARA COLLURA, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF RESOLVE: THE NATIONAL INFERTILITY ASSOCIATION, SAID THE WHITE HOUSE ACTION, LOOKS EXTREMELY PROMISING.

SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO IS IN THE UNITED ARAB EMERITES  TODAY — CONTINUING HIS TOUR OF THE MIDDLE EAST AFTER YESTERDAY’S MEETING WITH RUSSIAN OFFICIALS IN SAUDI ARABIA,  WHERE THEY DISCUSSED ENDING THE WAR IN UKRAINE. 

AFTER THAT MEETING — RUBIO SAID THE U-S AND RUSSIA HAVE AGREED TO NOT ONLY START WORKING TOWARD ENDING THE WAR, BUT ALSO IMPROVING DIPLOMATIC AND ECONOMIC TIES BETWEEN U.S. AND RUSSIA. 

RUBIO TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THE TWO COUNTRIES HAVE AGREED ON THREE GOALS: RESTORING STAFFING AT THEIR RESPECTIVE EMBASSIES IN WASHINGTON AND MOSCOW,  CREATING A HIGH-LEVEL TEAM TO SUPPORT UKRAINE PEACE TALKS,  AND TO EXPLORE CLOSER RELATIONS AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION. 

UKRAINE WAS **NOT** INCLUDED IN THE TALKS TO END THE WAR AND UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY SAID HIS COUNTRY WOULD NOT ACCEPT ANY OUTCOME FROM THEM BECAUSE OF THAT. 

HE ALSO POSTPONED HIS OWN TRIP TO SAUDI ARABIA SCHEDULED FOR TODAY. 

MEANWHILE — WHILE SPEAKING WITH REPORTERS AT MAR-A-LAGO, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP  DIRECTED THESE REMARKS AT UKRAINE. 

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP 

“Today I heard, well, we weren’t invited. Well, you’ve been there for three years. You should have ended it three years. You should have never started it. You could have made a deal.” 

ALSO TODAY,  KEITH KELLOGG THE U.S SPECIAL ENVOY FOR UKRAINE AND RUSSIA ARRIVED IN KYIV TODAY FOR TALKS WITH UKRANIAN PRESIDENT ZALENSKY AND MILITARY COMMANDERS.  ZELENKSKY HAS SAID ANY SETTLEMENT, ENDING THE 3-YEAR WAR, WILL REQUIRE AMERICAN SECURITY COMMITMENTS TO KEEP RUSSIA AT BAY.

THE LATEST ROUND OF WINTER STORMS IS TAKING DIRECT AIM AT THE EAST COAST TODAY — SPREADING ACROSS THE TENNESSEE AND OHIO VALLEYS AND THREATENING TO DUMP HEAVY SNOW WITH POSSIBLE ICE BUILD-UP, IN SEVERAL STATES, INCLUDING KENTUCKY, WHERE AT LEAST 14 PEOPLE WERE KILLED DUE TO THE WEEKEND STORM THAT BROUGHT DEVASTATING FLOODING.  

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS UP TO 10 INCHES OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST IN VIRGINIA AND SIGNIFICANT ICE ACCUMULATIONS ARE FORECAST IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA. 

AND N-W-S METEOROLOGISTS SAY THE MOST BITTER COLD IS STILL TO COME — WITH RECORD FRIGID TEMPERATURES LIKELY TO HIT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY EARLY TOMORROW AND FRIDAY 

THIS ALL COMES ON THE HEELS OF A POLAR VORTEX TOOK OVER FROM MONTANA TO SOUTHERN TEXAS YESTERDAY.

LATER TODAY, FEDERAL JUDGE DALE HO, IS HOLDING A HEARING IN NEW YORK OVER THE MOVE BY PRESIDENT TRUMP’S JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO THROW OUT THE CRIMINAL CASE AGAINST NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS.  THIS COMES AFTER NEW YORK GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL HELD A MEETING IN NEW YORK ON TUESDAY, WITH OTHER DEMOCRATS, to discuss USING HER POWERS TO REMOVE ADAMS — A FELLOW DEMOCRAT.  

THE GOVERNOR THEN DECIDED TO WAIT, TO SEE WHAT THE FEDERAL JUDGE DECIDES BEFORE MOVING FORWARD AND POSSIBLY OUSTING HIM. 

FOUR NEW YORK CITY DEPUTY MAYOR’S RESIGNED EN MASSE ON MONDAY IN PROTEST OF ADAMS REMAINING IN OFFICE.  

THE FEDERAL JUDGE IS ASKING THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO EXPLAIN ITS REASONING FOR WANTING TO END THE PUBLIC CORRUPTION CASE AGAINST ADAMS, A MOVE THAT CAME AS PROSECUTORS IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK WERE PREPARING AN EXPANDED INDICTMENT THAT WOULD HAVE CHARGED ADAMS WITH DESTROYING EVIDENCE AND LYING TO THE FBI. 

SUPPORTERS OF THE MAYOR BELIEVE HE’S BEING TARGETED BECAUSE ADAMS IS HELPING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IN ITS PUSH TO REMOVE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM NEW YORK CITY.

FINALLY THIS MORNING — A DISCOVERY MORE THAN THREE-THOUSAND YEARS IN THE MAKING. 

EGYPTIAN OFFICIALS SAY THAT SEARCHERS HAVE FOUND THE LAST OF THE LOST TOMBS OF ANCIENT EGYPT’S EIGHTEENTH DYNASTY KINGS. 

A JOINT EGYPTIAN-BRITISH ARCHAEOLOGICAL MISSION DISCOVERED THUTMOSE TWO’S TOMB IN THE MOUNT OF THEBES AREA — WEST OF LUXOR AND THE RENOWNED VALLEY OF THE KINGS. 

THE ENTRANCE AND MAIN PASSAGE INTO THE TOMB — WHICH UNTIL NOW HAD BEEN KNOWN ONLY AS “TOMB NUMBER C-4” — WERE DISCOVERED IN 20-22 AND EXCAVATIONS HAVE CONTINUED SINCE THEN. 

THE MUMMY OF KING THUTMOSE TWO WAS DISCOVERED AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION DURING THE 19-TH CENTURY. 

EXPERTS SAY IT WAS LIKELY MOVED AFTER BEING LOOTED BY TOMB RAIDERS. 

THE DISCOVERY OF THUTMOSE TWO’S TOMB MARKS THE FIRST ROYAL EGYPTIAN TOMB TO BE DISCOVERED SINCE KING TUTANKHAMUN’S FINAL RESTING PLACE WAS FOUND IN 19-22.