Trump Signs Executive Order to Expand IVF Access
US Pres. Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order directing the Domestic Policy Council to develop recommendations within 90 days for "protecting IVF (in vitro fertilization) access and aggressively reducing out-of-pocket and health plan costs for IVF treatment."
In a fact sheet, the White House said the current cost of IVF treatments ranges from $12K to $25K per cycle, with many patients requiring multiple cycles. It added that only a quarter of employers reportedly provide coverage for IVF, while health insurance companies often don't.
The executive order aims to "ensure reliable access to IVF" and address affordability issues by prioritizing "addressing any current policies, including those that require legislation, that exacerbate the cost of IVF treatments."
Republican narrative
The Trump administration is taking concrete steps to protect reproductive rights and family planning options. This executive order highlights Trump's strong commitment to family formation and addresses a crucial healthcare need affecting one in seven couples trying to conceive. It will help make the dream of parenthood more accessible to loving families while supporting population growth and family values.
Democratic narrative
The executive order is merely a PR stunt that doesn't actually guarantee coverage or affordability of IVF treatments. The administration's track record on reproductive rights, including appointments of Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, contradicts this superficial support for fertility treatments. The order lacks specific implementation details and doesn't address the immediate needs of families struggling with infertility.
Nerd narrative
There's a 66% chance that the US will codify IVF protections at a federal level by 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Musk Not Head of DOGE, Only Advising Trump Says White House
White House official Joshua Fisher said this week that Elon Musk is not the head of DOGE. The comments came after chief of the White House Office of Administration reportedly said in court papers that Musk was an advisor to Pres. Donald Trump.
Established by Trump on his first day in office, the US DOGE Service reports to the White House Chief of Staff. Though it is not a cabinet-level department, the Tesla and SpaceX founder Musk is a special government employee.
Democratic attorneys general have brought a legal case against DOGE's actions, which so far relate to accessing data, looking into budgets, and looking into curbing waste, fraud, and abuse. Arguments are being heard by US District Judge Tanya S Chutkan.
Democratic narrative
In a masterful display of Silicon Valley's penchant for linguistic sleight-of-hand, DOGE emerges as the latest tech-world illusion. Just as Uber cloaked a taxi service in "sharing" and Airbnb masked unregulated hotels as "hosting," Trump and Musk's "Department" of Government Efficiency is neither a department nor about efficiency — it's an administrative workaround masquerading as official authority, with Musk in a deliberately ambiguous role.
Republican narrative
Elon Musk is the driving force behind Trump’s crusade to dismantle government bureaucracy. As the architect of DOGE, he is slashing inefficiencies, overruling resistance, and pushing Trump’s agenda with unrelenting force. Musk remains undeterred, targeting waste and wielding power without bureaucratic red tape. Whether officially appointed or not, he is exactly the disruptor Washington needed to force government reform into reality.
Nerd narrative
There's a 36% chance that Elon Musk will cease to be an advisor to Donald Trump and face public criticism from Donald Trump before 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Judge Denies Block on Musk's Government Efficiency Drive
US judge Tanya Chutkan on Tuesday rejected a request from 14 Democratic-led states' to halt DOGE and Elon Musk from accessing federal agency data and laying off personnel, saying they failed to prove immediate irreparable harm.
The lawsuit targeted DOGE's operations in seven federal agencies: the Office of Personnel Management, and the Departments of Education, Labor, Health and Human Services, Energy, Transportation, and Commerce.
Judge Chutkan did however express concern about the "unchecked authority of an unelected individual and an entity that was not created by Congress and over which it has no oversight," suggesting potential constitutional issues.
Right narrative
The efficiency drive represents necessary reform to eliminate government waste and fulfill voter mandates. DOGE's rapid action and access to agency data is essential for identifying and eliminating billions in unnecessary spending, with agency heads maintaining ultimate decision-making authority.
Left narrative
DOGE's operations constitute an unconstitutional power grab, allowing an unelected private citizen to wield unprecedented authority over federal agencies without proper oversight or accountability, potentially compromising sensitive government data and disrupting essential services.
Nerd narrative
There's a 35% chance that Elon Musk will become the first trillionaire, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Brazil's Bolsonaro Indicted for Alleged Coup Plot
Former Brazilian Pres. Jair Bolsonaro was indicted on Tuesday in connection with an alleged coup plot to overturn his 2022 election loss and prevent his opponent, leftist leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, from taking power, including alleged plans to kill the president-elect, the vice president-elect, and a Supreme Court justice.
Brazil's Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet accuses Bolsonaro of being part of a coup d'état and an armed criminal organization, attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, qualified damage through violence, serious threats against federal property, and deterioration of listed heritage.
Now, it's up to the First Panel of Brazil's Supreme Court to decide whether to accept the complaint and formally put Bolsonaro on trial. If convicted, he could face up to 40 years in a maximum-security facility.
Left narrative
This indictment represents a crucial step in defending democracy and the rule of law in Brazil, and a major step toward holding Bolsonaro and his accomplices accountable for their coup attempt. There is robust evidence that they are guilty — as shocking as these allegations are. Bolsonaro will end up in jail.
Right narrative
It's hardly a surprise that Brazilian authorities have charged Bolsonaro and several of his allies with a coup plot. As long warned, the right-wing Brazilian leader has been politically persecuted since his first day out of office in a blatant example of leftist lawfare — the very same failed strategy used in America against Trump.
Nerd narrative
There's a 49% chance that Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will be reelected as Brazil's president in October 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Ancient Egypt's Lost Royal Tomb Found After 3.5K Years
Archaeologists have discovered the tomb of King Thutmose II — who ruled around 3.5K years ago — in Luxor, Egypt. This is Egypt's first royal tomb discovery since King Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922.
The tomb, designated as C4, was initially mistaken for a royal wife's burial chamber due to its proximity to the tombs of King Thutmose III's wives and Queen Hatshepsut. However, alabaster vessels bearing inscriptions of Thutmose II's name confirmed its ownership.
The burial chamber was found in poor condition due to flooding shortly after the king's death. It featured a white-plastered corridor leading to a burial chamber approximately 1.4 meters below, decorated with blue inscriptions and yellow stars from the Book of Amduat.
Narrative A
This is a monumental breakthrough in Egyptology. It completes the map of 18th-dynasty royal burials and provides unprecedented insights into ancient Egyptian burial practices and royal succession. The tomb's architectural features and religious texts reflect sophisticated burial traditions that influenced later pharaohs.
Narrative B
The tomb's poor preservation state and evidence of ancient flooding suggest hasty construction and possible political instability during Thutmose II's brief reign. The relocation of his mummy and burial goods indicates significant challenges in maintaining royal burials, even for powerful pharaohs.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that the Great Pyramids will be recognizable for at least 40K years, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
KFC Leaving Kentucky Home for Texas
Yum Brands on Tuesday announced the relocation of KFC's US corporate headquarters from Louisville, Ky., to Plano, Texas, affecting approximately 100 corporate employees, who will move within six months. An additional 90 remote workers will relocate over the next 18 months.
The strategic reorganization establishes two brand headquarters in the US: Plano, Texas, for KFC and Pizza Hut, and Irvine, Calif., for Taco Bell and Habit Burger & Grill. Yum Brands' stated goal is fostering greater collaboration among brands and employees.
KFC's connection to Kentucky dates back to 1930, when Colonel Harland Sanders began serving his signature fried chicken at a service station in Corbin, Kentucky. The company, formerly known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, eventually grew to over 30K restaurants across 150 countries.
Republican narrative
No one can blame Yum Brands for making this move considering how burdensome regulations and costs have become in many Democrat-led regions of the US. Yum Brands is just doing what so many other companies have done. This move will position the company for sustainable growth and allow it to better thrive in a competitive environment.
Democratic narrative
Regulations in Democrat-led states are meant to combat climate change and other challenges the country is facing. It's disappointing that Yum Brands is willing to throw away its cultural heritage and links to the community in order to save a few tax dollars. There must be more corporate responsibility in order to ensure a successful future for the US.
Hamas 'Ready to Release All Hostages' in Second Phase of Gaza Cease-fire
A senior Hamas official said on Wednesday that the group had informed mediators that it was "ready to release all hostages in one batch during the second phase of the agreement, rather than in stages." The official did not clarify if the bodies of dead hostages would be included.
Hamas would release all the hostages in exchange for the permanent end of the war and complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Israel's foreign minister said on Tuesday that negotiations regarding the agreement's second phase would begin this week.
Hamas said on Tuesday that it had agreed to release the bodies of four dead captives — including the Bibas family — on Thursday and six living hostages on Saturday. Hamas said in November 2023, just a month after its Oct. 7 attack, that the Bibas family had been killed in an Israeli strike.
Pro-establishment narrative
Given the suffering of the hostages, it is essential that the cease-fire continues and negotiations for the second phase commence immediately. The tragic deaths of the Bibas children only further demonstrate that Israel will only get its hostages back through diplomacy — an approach that, though painful, is undeniably essential.
Pro-Israel narrative
Hamas cannot be allowed to get away with the brutality it inflicted upon Israeli civilians on Oct. 7. The purposeful killing of the Bibas children is a strong reminder to the world that Hamas is a ruthless terrorist organization that must be eliminated.
Pro-Palestine narrative
Israel is, yet again, using falsehoods in a petty attempt to undermine and sabotage the cease-fire. Israeli pundits spent over a year pretending the Bibas family was still alive when Hamas announced the family's death due to an airstrike a month into the war.
UK: Starmer Trails Most Former Prime Ministers in YouGov Poll
A recent YouGov poll surveying over 2.2K UK adults between Feb. 16-17 revealed that current Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer ranks below all former prime ministers except Liz Truss since 1979 in public perception.
Former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair (1997-2007) leads Starmer by a margin of 45% to 10%, while his successor Gordon Brown (2007-2010) maintains an advantage over Starmer at 42% to 12%. Both Blair and Brown are the only former prime ministers that voters from all major parties believe were better.
Margaret Thatcher (1979-90) emerges as the Tory prime minister with the largest favorable margin over Starmer, with 44% of respondents preferring her leadership compared to 25% for Starmer. Thatcher is followed by her successor John Major (1990-97), who 39% see to be a better prime minister compared to Starmer's 16%.
Left narrative
Starmer’s steady, pragmatic approach, is admirable but not without flaws. His focus on long-term solutions and rebuilding trust is crucial, but at times he can seem overly cautious and slow to inspire the bold vision many voters crave. Starmer must work on communicating hope and ambition. However, his commitment to difficult decisions and sustainable change remains a solid foundation for future progress.
Right narrative
Starmer’s premiership has been disappointing, with his approval ratings now at a historic low. Despite his 2024 landslide win, early missteps and a weak budget have eroded public confidence. His cautious leadership style frustrates voters who want more decisive action. While he may not officially be the worst prime minister, his lack of bold vision raises doubts about Labour’s ability to deliver meaningful change.
Nerd narrative
There is a 30% chance that Angela Rayner will win the next UK Labour Party Leadership Election, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Thousands of Scam Center Victims Await Transfer from Myanmar
Approximately 7K people rescued from illegal call center operations in Myanmar are currently waiting to be transferred to Thailand, as announced by Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Wednesday.
The crackdown intensified after Chinese actor Wang Xing was kidnapped in January 2024, having been lured to Thailand with false promises of an acting job. This led Thai authorities to implement stronger measures against scam compounds.
Thailand has cut electricity, internet, and fuel supplies to five border areas in Myanmar where criminal groups are known to operate, a strategy that China, which has sent officials to the region to help, has encouraged. Ten Chinese nationals were reportedly arrested in connection with the scam.
Narrative A
Scam groups are exploiting vulnerable people from Southeast Asia to the Middle East, tricking them into joining dreadfully unsafe cybercrime hubs. This is a global crisis that cost tens of billions of dollars in 2023 alone, demanding action beyond borders. Every government must bolster anti-trafficking operations to dismantle these networks and protect victims.
Narrative B
Governments also play a role in trafficking, usually through their inaction. Unfortunately, baseless claims — like every celebrity is involved in satanic child rings — divert resources from real victims. Yet, governments, including the US, have historically enabled trafficking through inaction or policy gaps, aiding criminals while conspiracies obscure the truth.