Democratic lawmakers are enraged at Donald Trump’s recent picks for Cabinet and West Wing, saying his selections are downright ‘dangerous.’ The president-elect has stirred controversy after nominating a rash of hardline conservatives and MAGA loyalists, some with questionable qualifications, to top positions in the executive branch. Two of the most polarizing nominations have been Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services Secretary and ex-Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general.

Boris Johnson has attacked the growing scourge of ‘thought police’ in Sir Keir Starmer’s Britain, comparing it to ‘the Soviet Union at its worst’. Writing in today’s Daily Mail, the former prime minister says investigations by police into comments on social media come ‘straight out of 1980s Romania, and the horrible curtain-twitching culture by which people reported on their friends – even their family members’. It comes amid an increasing backlash over ‘non-crime hate incidents’, where already overstretched officers probe comments and actions not considered serious enough to constitute an offence.

NASA staff are calling on Elon Musk to ‘clean house’ as it is revealed the agency blew millions of taxpayer money on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. Spending reports from 2020 to 2024 showed NASA awarded grants to universities and consulting firms to support ‘environmental justice’ and initiatives that ’embrace greater diversity and inclusive practices.’ LMI consulting received over $2 million in 2023 for NASA to ’embark on a venture to incorporate and deeply engrain diversity, inclusion, equity and accessibility in the culture and business.’

A FEMA employee claimed she just was taking orders from her superiors when she directed workers providing aid to Hurricane Milton survivors in Florida to skip houses with signs supporting Donald Trump. Marn’i Washington, who was fired over the controversy, revealed that the directive came from her bosses and that she is taking the fall for the agency’s policy to ‘avoid homes advertising Trump.’ ‘Why is this coming down on me?’ she said during an interview on Fox News @ Night Wednesday.

A bereaved mother claims to have seen angels at the site of a horrific car crash where her daughter lost her life. Melinda Martinez, 43, believes a ‘blurry figure’ in haunting photos taken by the police shows her child’s spirit. Her daughter Isabelle Gonzalez, 16, died in a car crassh after she went out with three friends, drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana.

Cynthia Erivo showcased her bold fashion sense while promoting Wicked in New York City on Thursday. The 37-year-old British actress, who stars as Elphaba opposite Ariana Grande’s Glinda in the highly anticipated musical film, turned heads in a vested top paired with neon green pants as she headed to an ABC studio. The Oscar nominee added a touch of glam with dangling diamond earrings and flashed her extravagant, designer-styled nails as she waved to photographers.

Nursing student Laken Riley’s mother sobbed as the chilling 911 call made moments before her death was revealed during the trial of an illegal migrant accused of killing her. Allyson Phillips covered her face with a tissue and broke down as the Athens-Clark County court was told that 22-year-old Riley somehow managed to activate the SOS alert on her phone at 9.11am the day of her death. Prosecutors allege in that moment on February 22, 26-year-old undocumented migrant Jose Antonio Ibarra stopped her in her tracks as she went for a run near the University of Georgia campus.

Kate Garraway didn’t attempt to hide her elation on Wednesday, as she revealed she had signed a new two-year contract for her radio show, amid her financial woes. The TV presenter, 57, took to her Instagram to share a video of her being surprised by her agent at the Smooth Radio studio, with a new deal to continue her 10am to 1pm slot for the next two years. And Kate’s relief was evident, coming after she revealed that the cost of care of her late husband Derek Draper had left her with huge debts.

Rachel Reeves has edited her online CV after admitting she was not an economist during her time at the Bank of Scotland. The Chancellor deleted ‘economist’ from her LinkedIn profile work experience and changed it to ‘retail banking’ during her time at the bank in 2006-9. The move prompted the Tories to accuse her of ‘deception’ and brand her ‘economical with the truth’.