March 12, 2025

Ukraine Ceasefire, Education Cuts, US Canada Tariffs Again, House Passes Budget, Rosie Flees America

Ukraine Ceasefire, Education Cuts, US Canada Tariffs Again, House Passes Budget, Rosie Flees America

• Ukraine's ceasefire agreement includes provisions for prisoner exchanges and potential return of Ukrainian children from Russia
• Trump administration immediately lifted intelligence-sharing pause with Kyiv while plans to speak with Putin this week
• Department of Education eliminating 131 complete teams as part of plan to slash workforce by half
• Affected education staff will receive 90 days of full pay and benefits, plus severance
• Ontario suspended its 25% electricity export surcharge after Trump threatened escalating tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum
• House passed government funding bill 217-213 along party lines, needs Senate approval by Friday
• Bill includes $8 billion for defense, $6 billion for veterans' healthcare, and $13 billion in non-defense cuts
• Rosie O'Donnell has moved to Ireland and is applying for citizenship, citing political concerns about America

Breaking political headlines explode across America as Ukraine agrees to a US-proposed 30-day ceasefire deal, potentially marking a turning point in the ongoing conflict. The Trump administration responded by lifting its intelligence-sharing pause with Kyiv, while President Zelensky offered to discuss prisoner exchanges and the return of Ukrainian children forcibly transferred to Russia. Russian officials remain skeptical, with President Trump planning direct talks with Putin later this week.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education faces dramatic transformation as more than 1,300 employees receive pink slips in what the administration describes as necessary streamlining. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, drawing on her corporate background, has eliminated 131 complete teams deemed redundant despite affected staff receiving 90 days of full pay plus severance. This sweeping action aligns with Trump's campaign promise to virtually close the department, citing plummeting student test scores despite trillion-dollar spending since its creation.
US-Canada trade relations reach a boiling point as Ontario Premier Doug Ford suspends the province's electricity export surcharge following Trump's threat of escalating steel and aluminum tariffs. Markets tumbled in response, with the Dow dropping 478 points before cooler heads prevailed in evening negotiations. Meanwhile, House Republicans pass a government shutdown prevention bill without Democratic support, including strategic funding increases for defense and veterans while cutting non-defense spending. The legislation faces an uncertain future in the Senate, requiring bipartisan support by Friday's deadline. We even touch on Rosie O'Donnell's departure from America as she seeks Irish citizenship, citing concerns about equality and democracy. Follow us on social media and subscribe to stay informed about the political stories shaping our nation without the partisan spin clouding your judgment.

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00:00 - Episode Introduction

01:04 - Ukraine Ceasefire Agreement

03:06 - Department of Education Layoffs

04:59 - US-Canada Trade Tensions

06:38 - Government Shutdown Bill Passes House

08:13 - Rosie O'Donnell Leaves America

09:38 - Episode Closing and Contact Info

WEBVTT

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Hello America JOC here with your ranting politics headline updates where we are diving into today's most explosive political stories that you need to know about Coming up.

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We've got breaking news on a potential Ukraine ceasefire, massive shakeups at the Department of Education and some serious drama unfolding in US-Canada trade relations drama unfolding in US-Canada trade relations.

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We're also tracking the latest on that government shutdown bill everyone's been talking about and wait until you hear about which celebrity is packing their bags and heading across the pond.

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As always, we're keeping it real, keeping it straight and, most importantly, keeping you informed.

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Stick around for all this and more in your daily dose of unfiltered news and common sense commentary.

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This is Ranting Politics Headline Updates.

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Around for all this and more in your daily dose of unfiltered news and common sense commentary.

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This is Ranting Politics Headline Updates.

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Breaking news out of Saudi Arabia today, as Ukraine has agreed to a US-proposed 30-day ceasefire deal, marking a potential turning point in the ongoing conflict.

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The Trump administration responded by immediately lifting its intelligence-sharing pause with Kiev, but Moscow's initial reaction suggests we shouldn't pop the champagne just yet.

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In a joint statement, ukraine expressed its readiness to implement an immediate month-long ceasefire, which could be extended if both sides agree.

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President Zelensky even sweetened the deal by offering to discuss prisoner exchanges and the return of Ukrainian children who were forcibly transferred to Russia.

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But here's where it gets interesting.

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Russian State Duma Deputy Viktor Sobolev quickly threw cold water on the proposal, claiming the US would just use the 30-day window to rearm Ukraine.

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President Trump ever the dealmaker says he expects to speak with Putin later this week, noting rather candidly that it takes two to tango.

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The agreement came after seven hours of intense negotiations with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, confirming the deal includes provisions for immediate peace talks.

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The US is sending Special Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow to make the case.

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But let's be real getting Putin to the table might be tougher than teaching a bear to breakdance.

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In an interesting twist, the talks also produced a side agreement on mineral rights, potentially giving the US access to Ukraine's untapped critical and rare earth minerals.

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This could help offset American aid costs and boost Ukraine's economy, assuming, of course, we can get this ceasefire off the ground.

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Republicans in Washington are already hailing this as a major diplomatic win.

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No-transcript, but as the Atlantic Council's Alex Plitsas warns, putin has a history of playing games with these agreements, often trying to frame Ukraine as the uncooperative party.

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The next few days will be crucial, as we wait to see if Moscow is actually ready to give peace a chance or if this is just another diplomatic dance leading nowhere.

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Shake up at the Department of Education today, as the Trump administration dropped a bombshell, laying off more than 1,300 employees in what they're calling a massive streamlining effort.

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The cuts came after staff received an ominous notice to stay home from work tomorrow, with buildings being closed for security reasons.

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According to senior DOE officials, this is just the first step in their plan to slash the department's workforce roughly in half.

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Nearly 600 employees had already jumped ship through voluntary measures like the federal deferred resignation program and department buyouts.

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Another 63 probationary employees got their walking papers last month.

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The administration isn't just trimming around the edges here they're eliminating 131 complete teams they've deemed either redundant or unnecessary.

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The silver lining for affected staff They'll receive 90 days of full pay and benefits, plus severance pay of one week's salary for every year served beyond a decade.

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The official justification for these dramatic cuts Plummeting student test scores.

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Despite the department burning through over $1 trillion since its creation, education Secretary Linda McMahon, who built her credentials running a multi-billion dollar business, is apparently bringing that corporate restructuring mindset to Washington.

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This all tracks with President Trump's campaign promise to eliminate the Department of Education, while he told Time magazine in December he was aiming for at least a virtual closure.

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Completely abolishing the department would need congressional approval and 60 Senate votes a tall order in today's political climate.

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Those getting pink slips will work remotely until March 21st before going on paid administrative leave, with the remaining 2,183 employees continuing their duties under what officials promise will be a more streamlined operation focused on empowering states to handle their own education decisions.

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In a dramatic turn of events in the ongoing US-Canada trade tensions, ontario Premier Doug Ford has suspended the province's 25% surcharge on electricity exports to Michigan, new York and Minnesota.

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This move came just hours after President Trump announced additional 25% duties on Canadian aluminum and steel.

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The day started with Trump firing off a warning shot, threatening to escalate tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50% if Ontario didn't back down from their electricity surcharge.

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The president wasn't stopping there.

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He also put Canada on notice about their dairy product tariffs and promised to target their auto industry next month.

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Ford quickly blinked in this high-stakes game of economic chicken, announcing, after a productive conversation with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, that he'd meet in Washington on Thursday alongside US Trade Representative Jameson Greer to discuss a renewed USMCA trade agreement.

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Wall Street didn't take kindly to all this tariff turbulence, with the Dow dropping over 478 points while the Nasdaq and S&P 500 also took hits.

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But by evening cooler heads seemed to prevail.

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Trade advisor Peter Navarro confirmed there would be no additional tariff increases.

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After Ford's concession, though the base 25% tariff on steel and aluminum will still take effect.

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Tonight, the White House is framing this as another win for American economic leverage, but the trade war with our northern neighbors is far from over.

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Trump's April 2nd deadline for auto industry tariffs still looms, and he's promising reciprocal actions if Canada doesn't lower various trade barriers.

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In a rare display of Republican unity, the House has passed a Trump-backed federal funding bill to prevent a government shutdown, with the final tally coming in at 217 to 213.

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What makes this vote particularly interesting is that it passed almost entirely along party lines, with Republicans shouldering the load themselves.

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The victory didn't come without its share of drama.

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Several House Republicans, who had previously sworn off continuing resolutions, made exceptions this time, crediting Trump's influence for their change of heart.

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Representative Eric Burleson of Missouri put it bluntly, calling Trump the difference-maker in his decision to support the bill, while Florida's Greg Stube acknowledged the political stakes at play, the legislation includes some strategic sweeteners an extra $8 billion for defense, $6 billion for veterans' health care and about $13 billion in cuts to non-defense spending.

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Billion in cuts to non-defense spending.

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There's also funding for ICE deportations and the WIC federal benefits program tucked into the package.

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But before anyone celebrates too hard, this bill still needs to clear the Senate's 60-vote threshold by Friday to avoid a partial shutdown.

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With Senator Rand Paul already voicing his opposition, republicans will need to court at least eight Democrats to get this across the finish line.

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It's going to be a nail-biter right up until the deadline.

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The House Republicans' cheers on the floor might have been premature, but they've at least managed to clear the first major hurdle in this latest funding fight and with the House now out of session until March 24th, they're leaving the next move to their Senate colleagues.

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Well, here's a story that's making waves.

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Rosie O'Donnell, the comedian who's been in a public feud with Trump since 2006, has officially packed her bags and left America.

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She's now calling Ireland home and is even applying for Irish citizenship.

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O'donnell made the move on January 15th, just five days before Trump's inauguration, taking her 12-year-old child with her.

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If you're wondering why Ireland, o'donnell says the Irish people have been incredibly welcoming, though she admits she never thought she'd leave the States.

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This isn't just a temporary vacation either.

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She's actively looking to put down roots in the Emerald Isle.

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The comedian's been crystal clear about her reasons for leaving.

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She's saying she won't consider coming back until it's safe for all citizens to have equal rights in America.

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O'donnell's been spending her time exploring Ireland with her daughter, though she mentions missing her other five grown children and friends back home.

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In her recent TikTok posts, o'donnell's been particularly vocal about her political concerns, warning her followers about what she sees as threats to democracy.

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She's encouraging Americans to stand up, use their voice and protest while she watches events unfold from across the Atlantic.

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Meanwhile, she's trying to build a new life in Ireland, though she admits to thinking about America every day.

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She joins a small but growing list of celebrities who've decided to leave the country following Trump's return to office, making waves in both entertainment and political circles.

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And that wraps up today's headlines on ranting politics From Ukraine's agreement to a ceasefire, to major shakeups at the Department of Education, trade tensions with Canada, congress averting another shutdown and Rosie O'Donnell's Irish exodus.

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It's been quite a news day.

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Remember, we're here every weekday to break down the stories that matter most, delivering the facts without the partisan nonsense that's clogging up your feed.

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If you found today's rundown helpful, do yourself a favor and follow us on X at Ranting RP.

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You can catch all our episodes on YouTube, spotify, iheartradio and Apple Podcasts.

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For deep dives into these stories and exclusive content, head over to RantingPoliticscom.

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This is JOC signing off and thank you, our loyal listeners, for choosing Ranting Politics Headline Updates.

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We'll be back soon with the updates you need to navigate these interesting times.

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Until then, stay tuned, stay informed and, as always, stay free.

Ukraine Ceasefire, Education Cuts, US Canada Tariffs Again, House Passes Budget, Rosie Flees America

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