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Thousands protest Trump policies across the U.S.

(NYT) — Thousands of people on Wednesday turned out across the U.S. to protest President Donald Trump’s flurry of early actions, denouncing his plans for mass deportations, his attacks on diversity initiatives and his efforts to restrict transgender rights.

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The demonstrations, which popped up in major cities and state capitals in more than a dozen states, appear to have been spurred online, with word spreading via hashtags such as “#BuildtheResistance.” They were loosely organized under an unofficial tagline — 50501, to represent a goal of 50 protests in 50 states on one day, according to various websites and social media accounts. Most demonstrations began in the afternoon at capitol buildings and at city halls.

Those involved say that the movement is meant to protest Trump’s early actions and Project 2025, the conservative policy blueprint that Trump sought to distance himself from during the campaign. Many of his plans so far are aligned with Project 2025 proposals.

Alphabet’s Google scraps diversity-based hiring targets

(Reuters) — Alphabet’s Google is scrapping its goal to hire more employees from underrepresented groups and is reviewing some of its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, joining a slew of U.S. businesses scaling back diversity initiatives.

“In 2020, we set aspirational hiring goals and focused on growing our offices outside California and New York to improve representation,” Fiona Cicconi, Alphabet’s chief people officer, said in an email to staff on Wednesday, a copy which was reviewed by Reuters. “…but in the future we will no longer have aspirational goals.”

Google had for years been among the most vocal companies pushing for more inclusive policies in the wake of protests against the police killings of George Floyd and other Black Americans in 2020.

French government survives a vote of no-confidence

PARIS (NYT) — France’s government lived to see another day Wednesday, after it survived a no-confidence vote in Parliament and gave the recently appointed prime minister a temporary reprieve from months of political turmoil and the country a promise of stability, at least in the short term.

The no-confidence motion was supported by 128 lawmakers in the 577-seat National Assembly, France’s lower house, short of the absolute majority required. Had it passed, the motion would have forced the centrist prime minister, François Bayrou, and his Cabinet to resign.

Freezing rain and messy travel expected across the eastern U.S.

(NYT) — Waves of winter weather are expected to sweep across the eastern United States this week, with a wide region of the country from the Midwest to the mid-Atlantic caught between frigid arctic air and warmer, moist air that could leave trees and roadways under a glaze of ice.

Starting on Wednesday afternoon, a storm system is expected to move in from the west, sweeping across the Ohio Valley and the mid-Atlantic. This system will clash with the lingering cold air, resulting in a widespread mix of winter weather hazards Thursday.