As a result of the high winds that swept throughout Southwest Washington and the majority of Oregon on Monday night, tens of thousands of houses were left without electricity.
Following the issuance of a succession of thunderstorm and high wind warnings by forecasters with the National Weather Service on Monday afternoon, the power outages occurred as Fox 13 reported.
Wind gusts of up to fifty miles per hour could cause damage in certain regions, including portions of the Willamette Valley and the wider Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area, according to a warning issued by the National Weather Service (NWS).
When everything is taken into consideration, Portland General Electric (PGE) estimated that there were more than 1,000 active outages that affected about 100,000 people as of Monday evening at eight o'clock.
“PGE crews are out right now assessing damage and making repairs and will work as quickly as safety allows to restore service,” said John Farmer, a PGE spokesperson.
“We encourage customers to stay prepared for potential outages this evening as forecasted windy weather conditions continue.”
There were also large and dispersed power disruptions at Pacific Power. After midnight on Monday, the electric utility company stated that there were at least 200 current outages that affected more than 30,000 consumers.
The majority of the power outages are still being investigated, but officials with Pacific Power have stated that it is highly likely that many of the power outages are the result of trees that have fallen or branches that have fallen on power lines.
Clark Public Utilities reports that over 8,000 consumers in Clark County are currently without electricity.
Officials are advising individuals to refrain from traveling if feasible due to numerous downed trees and utility lines. Additionally, electric utilities advise individuals who encounter a downed powerline to keep away.
This outage comes just a few weeks after Washington Gov. Jay Inslee made his formal request for a federal disaster declaration in mid-Janurary following "bomb cyclone" storms that impacted the area.
Damage totaling millions of dollars was caused over the region by the storms, which featured hurricane-force winds.
Damage to public infrastructure in King County alone exceeded $11 million, according to King County Emergency Management.
This level of damage caused there to be serious debris and cleanup still underway when the more recent storms crashed into the area, furthering the damage.
Some officials considering the idea of a plan that would "delete entire agencies," as the government transitions to a new administration.
This idea comes from tech billionaire and Tesla co-founder and CEO Elon Musk, who made the recent comments as part of his overarching mission to push toward government that is cost and efficiency-driven, as The Associated Press reported.
The technology tycoon reportedly wants to leave a legacy that will last beyond the term of the current president.
"I think we do need to delete entire agencies, as opposed to leave part of them behind. ... It's kind of like leaving a weed," Musk said.
The new head of the Department on Government Efficiency went on to say that there has to be systemic change if this is to be more than just a passing phase in government.
"If you don't remove the roots of the weed, then it's easy for the weed to grow back," Musk said.
"But if you remove the roots of the weed — it doesn't stop weeds from ever going back, but it makes it harder."
While participating in a discussion moderated by Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s minister of artificial intelligence, Musk—who also created SpaceX and owns the social media platform X—made the remarks while speaking to an audience at Dubai’s annual World Governments Summit via video link.
"So we have to really delete entire agencies, many of them," Musk said.
"And that's not to say there won't be an increase over time of bureaucracy in some new administration, but it will be from a much lower baseline. So certainly it's a step in the right direction."
"Nothing's forever," he added, "but I think we can strengthen the foundations of the United States substantially."
Trump named the South African-born engineer and internet entrepreneur a "special government employee" and head of the Department of Federal Efficiency.
Musk stated on Thursday that his efforts to streamline government and cut red tape may cut the federal budget by $1 trillion by 2026, which would significantly decrease the national debt.
Musk attacked the budget line by line for the U.S. Agency for International Development and in the process moved his agenda forward by furloughing most workers and withholding financing internationally.
In early February, the Trump administration announced that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) would be disbanding as an independent agency and relocating to the State Department, a move that would necessitate the approval of Congress.
A bill that would give Greenland a new name has been filed to the House of Representatives by a Republican congressman from Georgia.
This comes at a time when President Donald Trump is continuing his efforts to acquire the island, Fox News reported.
The measure, which has been given the name "Red, White, and Blueland Act of 2025," was proposed by Representative Earl "Buddy" Carter. The purpose of the bill is to rename the island from Greenland to a more colorful name, red, white, and blueland.
Under the act, the newly appointed Interior Secretary, Doug Burgum, would be given the responsibility of overseeing the transition and ensuring that it is reflected on official papers and maps so that Greenland is referred to by its new name.
“America is back and will soon be bigger than ever with the addition of Red, White, and Blueland,” Carter said in a press release.
“President Trump has correctly identified the purchase of what is now Greenland as a national security priority, and we will proudly welcome its people to join the freest nation to ever exist when our Negotiator-in-Chief inks this monumental deal.”
Despite Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede's repeated statements that the island is not for sale, Trump is pushing for the acquisition of Greenland from Denmark, which is why the bill is being proposed.
Trump has maintained an interest in purchasing the island for what he claims are "national security purposes" since his win in November.
Trump has also questioned whether Denmark, which has controlled Greenland since 1814, has a "legal right" to the territory and predicted that Greenland's people will vote to join the U.S. He warned that if Denmark does not give up Greenland, the U.S. will "tariff Denmark at a very high level."
Additionally, Trump has not explicitly said that acquiring Greenland and the Panama Canal via military means is not an option.
"No, I can't assure you of either of those two. But I can say this: We need them for economic security. The Panama Canal was built for our military,” Trump said during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago home.
A majority of Greenlanders, as much as 85%, do not want their Arctic island, which is a semi-autonomous Danish colony, to join the United States. Almost half of those Greenlanders consider Trump's interest in the island as a danger.
According to a poll conducted by pollster Verian and funded by the Danish newspaper Berlingske and the Greenlandic daily Sermitsiaq, just 6% of Greenlanders are in favor of their island becoming a U.S. territory, while 9% are still uncertain.
According to the results, 45% of respondents saw Trump's interest in Greenland negatively, 43% positively, and 13% were unsure.
Ivanka Trump volunteered in Los Angeles for hours, helping those affected by the recent California disasters with practical necessities and offering moral support, as Page Six reported.
The again-first daughter came to the devastated area just days after her newly-reelected father once again took up his residence in the White House.
She helped fire-affected families at the LA Dream Center and Expressions Church as part of her work with the charity group CityServe.
Trump, like the rest of her family, is no stranger to the glitz and glamour of life in the Golden State. With their considerable wealth and connections, the line between the Trumps and Los Angeles has traditionally been strong.
Ivanka was seen working with volunteers during her visit in casual clothes consisting of jeans, sneakers, and a black windbreaker jacket.
Wearing an apron and disposable gloves, she distributed emergency supplies like diapers and food while also seen providing hot meals to fire victims in the kitchen.
One photo even shows her helping to load a carton of supplies into cars for low-income households.
In a recent statement, CityServe’s co-founder, Dave Donaldson, highlighted the significant impact of Ivanka’s efforts.
It was noted that she dedicated significant time to connecting with victims, providing them with support and attentively listening to their accounts, proving an outstanding level of empathy.
“Many of the families Ivanka helped have lost everything,” Donaldson said in a statement posted on Instagram.
“Their needs are desperate. Ivanka wrapped her arms around them and listened to their stories with enormous empathy.”
Donaldson commended Ivanka for her commitment and the extensive time she devoted to community service.
The statement continued, "She spent hours encouraging volunteers and first responders and distributing emergency supplies to families at Expression Church and the LA Dream Center.”
On the same day, actor Ben Affleck was spotted lending a hand at a homeless encampment alongside a team of staffers.
The Palisades Fire has devastated more than 23,000 acres in Pacific Palisades, while the Eaton Fire has impacted the Altadena area, resulting in numerous individuals being left homeless or compelled to evacuate their residences.
President Donald Trump has been clear that he believes the mismanagement of resources is what caused the intense devastation.
Among the notable figures affected by recent events are Paris Hilton, Heidi Montag, and Spencer Pratt, all of whom have reported losing their homes.
As early as February 1st, President Trump's team is considering imposing a 10% tariff on China, according to Trump's statements, as Reuters reported.
“We’re talking about a tariff of 10% on China based on the fact that they’re sending fentanyl to Mexico and Canada,” the president said, speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday evening. “Probably Feb. 1 is the date we’re looking at,” he added.
The addictive synthetic opioid fentanyl causes tens of thousands of U.S. overdose deaths each year.
Washington and Beijing have agreed to collaborate on reducing illicit drug supplies, primarily generated in China and Mexico.
Trump reported a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday over fentanyl and trade. The Chinese statement said Xi advocated for collaboration and positive economic relations between the two countries.
China's Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang reported that a trade war has no winners at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday (official translation). He urged international support for “economic globalization” and “distribute it better.”
The offshore Chinese yuan rose before falling to 7.2796 per dollar.
Leading Chinese state-run and financial media ignored the planned tariffs and focused on other Trump announcements, including his EU tariff threat.
China trades most with the U.S. Official data from Wind Information shows China's dollar imports from the U.S. dipped 0.1% last year while exports rose 4.9%.
In 2024, China's trade surplus with the U.S. was $361 billion, up from $316.9 billion in 2020, Trump's last full year.
The White House hiked duties on Chinese goods to stimulate imports and address U.S. firms' worries in China. Beijing reacted with its own duties.
“If the US imposed an additional 10 percent tariff on China and China responded in kind, US GDP would be $55 billion less over the four years of the second Trump administration, and $128 billion less in China,” the U.S.-based Peterson Institute for International Economics said in a Jan. 17 report.
On Tuesday, Trump mentioned that his team was discussing the possibility of imposing a tariff of "approximately 25%" on Mexico and Canada.
He made similar comments the day before, saying that taxes on Mexico and Canada may be implemented as soon as February.
“We’re thinking in terms of 25% (levies) on Mexico and Canada, because they’re allowing a vast number of people” over the border, he said on Monday.
During his 2024 campaign, Trump vowed to impose tariffs of more than 60% on commodities from China. According to a post on his social media network Truth Social, he advocated for "an additional 10% Tariff" on China as late as November.
Despite every indication to the contrary, it seems that President Donald Trump's detractors believe he's just a few bad bites away from dropping dead of a heart attack.
This belief began to be circulated in 2015 when the now (again) president's personal habits became part of the national discussion.
Among other things, Trump is a huge fan of McDonald's burgers, fast food, and Diet Coke. He also does not take his exercise regimen seriously.
It seems apparent that Trump's unwell-wishers are mostly projecting due to wishful thinking, but the "evidence" for the junk food-loving, 5-hour-a-night sleeping president has been raised over and over again.
Last year, first lady Melania Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the president's nominee for health secretary, were reportedly "ganging up" on Trump to push him to eat a more healthy diet, according to The Daily Mail.
Included in their alleged insistences were him substituting lean protein for some of his current diet, as well as salads and more vegetables.
Some of Trump's former aides have also testified about Trump's McDonalds order of two Big Macs, two Filet-O-Fish and a chocolate milkshake, which comes to a whopping 2,430 calories.
However, no matter what is being said about the current leader of the free world, he seems to have unmatched energy.
On Monday, at the age of 78 and 220 days, Trump became the oldest person to ever be inaugurated as president, outpacing Biden's age during the 2020 inauguration by about 5 months.
However, his ongoing comparison to Biden seems to have benefited him on the campaign trail, as Biden, now 82, seemed to struggle to stay awake frequently while serving his term over the last few years.
But the standoff with the last administration wasn't relegated to Biden. Despite being 18 years her senior, he challenged Kamala Harris to a cognitive test on X in October of last year.
This was several months after Harris, the former vice president, took over the Democratic ticket following a primary season in which she never received a single vote.
During his challenge, Trump told his supporters that Harris had been "slow and lethargic in answering even the easiest of questions."
While Trump didn't do any tricks beyond the standard at his swearing-in, he also didn't shuffle the way Biden has been seen doing over the past few years, and it seems that is enough to anger his detractors, pushing the narrative about his health and age.
Some of the previous president's favorite musicians are scheduled to sing at President-elect Trump's inauguration next week, ensuring a star-studded lineup.
Preliminary editions of the inaugural program indicate that three additional performers, including country music sensation Carrie Underwood, would grace the stage during Trump's swearing-in event, as The Independent reported.
“I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event,” Underwood said.
“I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future,” she continued.
Underwood will perform "America the Beautiful" with the help of the United States Naval Academy Glee Club and the Armed Forces Chorus.
The American Idol star will be joined on stage by opera singer Christopher Macchio, country singer Lee Greenwood, and the Village People, a disco trio from the 1970s.
Notable performances by the Village People include the inaugural ball and a rally in Washington, DC, the day before Trump's swearing-in.
The trio, who are famous for the song "Y.M.C.A.," announced the announcement on social media and reiterated that their music is not targeted at a particular demographic and should be played "without regard to politics."
“Our song Y.M.C.A. is a global anthem that hopefully helps bring the country together after a tumultuous and divided campaign where our preferred candidate lost,” they wrote in a Facebook post.
“Therefore, we believe it’s now time to bring the country together with music which is why VILLAGE PEOPLE will be performing at various events as part of the 2025 Inauguration of Donald J. Trump.”
Macchio will sing the National Anthem at Trump's request, and Greenwood, who sang for Trump before being sworn in in 2017, will perform as Trump leaves to take the oath.
Over four days, the 60th Presidential Inaugural Ceremony will include cabinet receptions, firework displays, a Make America Great Again victory rally, parade, prayer service, and more.
“These special events will honor the rich history and tradition of our great nation, the American people, and the promise our country holds for future generations,” said a statement from the Trump Vance Inaugural Committee schedule.
As part of the celebrations, President Joe Biden is expected to attend, and the soon-to-be First Lady Melania Trump will also partake in tea with the Bidens.
The swearing-in event is set to commence at the United States capitol prior to noon Eastern time on January 20.
The nomination of former Wisconsin Representative Sean Duffy for Secretary of Transportation has unexpectedly garnered support from Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, who has declared his intention to back the candidate, as Breitbart News reported.
In his X post, Fetterman announced the news and detailed a friendly meeting between the two lawmakers, where they discussed infrastructure safety and made a lighthearted reference to their respective football teams.
“I enjoyed meeting @SeanDuffyWI and expect to vote YES on his nomination,” Fetterman tweeted, adding a light-hearted touch to the political discourse by mentioning their discussion on football. “We agreed on many things, especially appreciating him quietly acknowledging the Steelers are better than the Packers.”
Sean Duffy, the nominee for Secretary of Transportation under Donald Trump, had previously posted, prompting this statement. Duffy had already said how much he had enjoyed talking to the PA lawmaker.
The nominee commented, saying “I enjoyed talking to @SenFettermanPA today! We didn’t quite agree on football, though lots to commiserate over lately in the NFC and AFC playoff races. We both know that safe roads and bridges in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin aren’t a partisan issue, but are a safety need for all Americans.”
On Tuesday, Fetterman of Pennsylvania spoke with FOX News' Special Report' anchor Bret Baier, who asked Fetterman why meeting with Trump's nominees for cabinet positions is "controversial."
"I'm open to hear from everyone, and I don't know why that's controversial," Fetterman said.
"And I also would like to remind everyone on the Democratic side, that's the way democracy works. Trump won, and now they're going to run the table, and so they get to pick those kinds of people, and if you don't have to agree with all of it, but I want to find a way to work together on a bunch of them."
I enjoyed talking to @SenFettermanPA today! We didn't quite agree on football, though lots to commiserate over lately in the NFC and AFC playoff races. We both know that safe roads and bridges in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin aren't a partisan issue, but are a safety need for all… pic.twitter.com/QFwqLxybko
— Sean Duffy (@SeanDuffyWI) January 8, 2025
Fetterman and Duffy's conversation highlights the possibility of bipartisan cooperation on infrastructure issues; both states are concerned about their outdated transportation networks.
The pragmatic approach to government exhibited by Fetterman—a Democrat—in supporting a Republican nominee demonstrates a focus on the interests of the community rather than party lines.
Many people in political and social circles have taken issue with Fetterman's outspoken position on Duffy's nomination.
While some see it as a welcome diversion from the heated political climate, others worry about what it could mean for party allegiance and campaign tactics.
The incoming administration's legislative agenda may see increased bipartisan cooperation as a result of this engagement.
On New Years Eve in Palm Beach, Florida, Melania Trump and her husband danced to the Village People's 1978 "YMCA" anthem to the crowd's amusement.
Donald and Melania Trump danced together to the president-elect's favorite song while at Mar-a-Lago during a New Year's Eve video, as Page Six reported.
Melania swayed to the anthem in Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday with her husband, who performed the favored dancing routines at election campaign rallies.
Donald’s eldest child, son Donald Trump Jr., 47, captioned in an Instagram video, showing Melania grooving to the song as she mouthed the lyrics to the track and moved her hands as she bobbed about, saying “It’s fun to stay at the YMCA!!!! Happy new year all!”
The dance moves of the incoming First Lady, which went viral, came as a surprise to users of social media. One user on X expressed their opinion:
"Never in my life did I think Melania Trump would be jamming to YMCA on New Year's. Trump has infected the whole country, including his family and Elon Musk, with his dance moves. Everyone is doing it.'
"Love Melania doping her own moves to YMCA,'" another said. "And how some people can't crack a smile at Trump doing his dance is beyond me."
Elon Musk, Trump's friend and now advisor , was also present. He appeared to be in high spirits as he carried his mini-me son, X AE A-Xii, who wore a suit that was nearly identical to his fathers,. Elon smiled as his son held onto his face for support on his shoulders.
As the club hosted a New Year's Eve celebration on Tuesday night, Trump momentarily addressed reporters in the vicinity of a red carpet that had been set up for the event.
His fleeting appearance onstage was to address the attendees, which included a number of his potential Cabinet members and other positions in his forthcoming administration.
Trump utilizes his tablet's Spotify account to play many songs that were frequently played at his campaign rallies during banquets with friends and family.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, and Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and X, have all attended breakfasts, luncheons, and other social events at the Mar-a-Lago club.
According to online videos, Mike Love, one of the original members of the Beach Boys, performed the band's greatest hits under an outdoor tent over the weekend. Trump, who was being followed by Secret Service agents, wandered through the audience, swinging his fists to the music.
At other times of the evening, he stood near the pool, swaying his head in time to the music, alongside his wife, Melania.
Trump declared on Friday that the resort is the "Centre of the Universe" on social media, and he also mentioned that Bill Gates had requested to attend the event that evening.
The presence of the Microsoft co-founder amongst the rich and famous at to Mar-a-Lago was not specifically addressed by representatives of Trump and Gates.
Questions about the ethical nature of a Supreme Court Justice taking part in what could be seen as a partisan event, as the court is expected to deliberate a related case in the near future, as was pointed out during an interview on Fox News.
After appearing in a Broadway spinoff of "Romeo and Juliet," critics question Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson's impartiality in a landmark case regarding minors' transgender surgical procedures.
Justice served. pic.twitter.com/DeeYRvxQum
— & Juliet Broadway (@AndJulietBway) December 16, 2024
"I think it's a huge mistake for federal judges, especially Supreme Court justices, to engage in activities that clearly put the stamp of approval on an ideological position regarding issues that could come before the court, which is practically the definition of a threat to their impartiality, the appearance of impropriety," Heritage Foundation senior legal counsel Thomas Jipping told Fox News Digital in an interview.
"The expert went on to lay out why this was outside of the rhelm of the approrpiate "It's unusual for judges to do this sort of thing under any circumstances. But I suppose if this was ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ if this was some recognized, established classic or something, it might be different.
"But this is obviously an advocacy production, so for a Supreme Court justice to participate in advocacy on an issue that is currently in the courts, and at least broadly speaking, before her, I think it's a huge mistake," he said.
The musical, which is called "& Juliet," includes strong LGBTQ+ themes as well as characters who do not hold a binary gender. In the same place where Shakespeare's original finishes, the musical begins.
It is said on the website of the company that "& Juliet" is a "hilarious new musical" that "flips the script on the greatest love story ever told."
Instead of taking her own life out of love, Juliet decides to make her own path, which is a shown as a risky move because it challenges the conventional gender roles.
In the musical, the character May, who is Juliet's best friend, is a character whose LGBTQ relationship is heavily portrayed and explored throughout the whole production.
Jackson became the first Supreme Court justice to play on Broadway when he joined the Broadway company for a one-time performance at New York's Stephen Sondheim Theatre on Saturday night.
Other Broadway artists, including TikTok sensation Charli D'Amelio, were also a part of the Broadway cast.
David West Read, who is best known for his work as a writer and producer on the television show "Schitt's Creek," is the author of the song "& Juliet."
While Justice Amy Coney Barrett has attracted attention for her ties to religious groups and their potential influence on cases involving LGBTQ+ issues, Justice Samuel Alito has come under fire for failing to disclose luxury trips funded by wealthy donors with business before the court.
There has been intense scrutiny directed toward Justice Clarence Thomas because of his wife's political activism. Additionally, Justice Brett Kavanaugh has encountered criticism regarding his confirmation process and prior financial disclosures.
"For two, three years now, liberals have been complaining about actions by Supreme Court justices that they say undermine the public's confidence in the impartiality of the judiciary," Jipping said. "Liberals in Congress want an enforceable code of conduct. I wonder what they say about this."
"Participating in an advocacy, in an exercise of advocacy, for a position on issues that come before the Supreme Court is an egregious violation of that principle in the code of conduct regarding impartiality. I don't think there's any question about that," he said.