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The CEO of the US health insurance company UnitedHealthcare, Brian Thompson, is shot and killed in Midtown Manhattan, New York City outside an entrance to the New York Hilton Midtown.

Thompson had faced criticism for the company's rejection of insurance claims.  Under his leadership, UHC's profits increased from $12 billion in 2021 to $16 billion in 2023. In 2023 he received a total compensation package of $10.2 million, a combination of $1 million in base pay and cash and stock grants.

UHC and other insurers were named in an October 2024 report from the United States Senate Homeland Security Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations showing a surge in prior authorization denials for Medicare Advantage patients.

The words "delay", "deny", and "depose" were inscribed on the cartridge cases used during the shooting.

Authorities arrest 26-year-old Luigi Mangione in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and charge him in a Manhattan court with Thompson's killing. 

Mangione wrote online that he suffers from spondylolisthesis and Lyme disease. He allegedly underwent a spinal fusion surgery in July 2023. He was not insured with UHC.

On December 17, 2024, Mangione is indicted on eleven New York state charges by the Manhattan district attorney's office.

• Murder in the first degree (murder in furtherance of an act of terrorism as defined under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001)
• Murder in the second degree as a crime of terrorism (a crime of terrorism under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001, in the form of murder)
• Murder in the second degree (murder as such – intentional killing)
• Criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree (possession of a loaded firearm with intent to use the same unlawfully against another)
• Criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree (unlicensed carrying of a loaded firearm)
• Criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree (possession of an "assault weapon" under the gun laws in New York)
• Criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree (silencer)
• Criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree (Glock magazine)
• Criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree (Magpul magazine)
• Criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree (3D-printed gun)
• Criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree (fake ID)

On December 19, 2024, Mangione receives an additional four federal charges.

• Stalking (interstate via traveling from Georgia to New York) 
• Stalking (interstate via use of a cellphone and the Internet) 
• Murder through use of a firearm 
• Firearms offense 

ICE reports that more than 271,000 unauthorized immigrants were deported in fiscal year 2024.

Republican Representative Andy Biggs from Arizona introduces the bill 

"H.Res.7 - Recognizing the importance of access to comprehensive, high-quality, life-affirming medical care for women of all ages."

While at first glance this may look like this would benefit American women, Biggs has a history of being against abortion. On February 25, 2022, Congressman Andy Biggs, and 32 colleagues, introduced the No Pro-Abortion Task Force Act, to prohibit federal funds from being used to support Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Reproductive Healthcare Access Task Force (which he calls "anti-life" on his website. This bill was introduced on 1/9/23 and was referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce on 1/9/23 with no further action. 

He also says on his website that he introduced a bill on May 15, 2019   

to end a tax deduction for abortions. This would be a precursor to Senator Mike Lee's bill   

"S.3607 - Abortion Is Not Health Care Act of 2024".

"For years, the pro-abortion movement has marketed abortion as a form of reproductive health care," Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., said in a statement provided to The Daily Signal.

Once you understand where this is coming from, there is alarming content in this bill.

For example,  "Recognizing the importance of access to comprehensive, high-quality, life-affirming medical care for women of all ages.". Life-affirming is a phrase often used by anti-abortion groups.

The bill also states " Whereas health care for women should also address the needs of men,  families, and communities as they relate to women’s health care." Why do the needs of men have anything to do with women's health care?

Currently this bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. 

 On his first day in office, President Donald Trump signs an executive order withdrawing the U.S. from the World Health Organization (WHO). 

The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for global public health.  WHO works with all Member States to support them to achieve the highest standard of health for all people. Their staff working in countries advise ministries of health and other sectors on public health issues and provide support to plan, implement and monitor health programs.

On January 20, 2025, the Trump Administration rescinded a Biden-era policy that protected certain area such as churches, school, and hospitals from immigration enforcement, replacing it with an unreleased directive that gives ICE agents unbridled power to take enforcement actions in any of these spaces using so-called “common sense.”

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said it arrested 956 people on this day. But an NBC News report found immigration authorities had close to 1,200 arrests that day and just 613, or nearly 52% were considered "criminal arrests".

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said it arrested 1,179 people and 853 detainers were lodged Monday. 

A deferred resignation email was sent out to government employees on 1/28/2025. 

Main text of the letter (after modified dates to extend the date 2/10/25) below.

During the first week of his administration, President Trump issued a number of directives concerning the federal workforce. Among those directives, the President required that employees return to in-person work, restored accountability for employees who have policy-making authority, restored accountability for senior career executives, and reformed the federal hiring process to focus on merit. As a result of the above orders, the reform of the federal workforce will be significant.

The reformed federal workforce will be built around four pillars:

1)Return to Office: The substantial majority of federal employees who have been working remotely since Covid will be required to return to their physical offices five days a week. Going forward, we also expect our physical offices to undergo meaningful consolidation and divestitures, potentially resulting in physical office relocations for a number of federal workers.

2)Performance culture: The federal workforce should be comprised of the best America has to offer. We will insist on excellence at every level — our performance standards will be updated to reward and promote those that exceed expectations and address in a fair and open way those who do not meet the high standards which the taxpayers of this country have a right to demand.

3)More streamlined and flexible workforce: While a few agencies and even branches of the military are likely to see increases in the size of their workforce, the majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized through restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force. These actions are likely to include the use of furloughs and the reclassification to at-will status for a substantial number of federal employees.

4)Enhanced standards of conduct: The federal workforce should be comprised of employees who are reliable, loyal, trustworthy, and who strive for excellence in their daily work. Employees will be subject to enhanced standards of suitability and conduct as we move forward. Employees who engage in unlawful behavior or other misconduct will be prioritized for appropriate investigation and discipline, including termination.

Each of the pillars outlined above will be pursued in accordance with applicable law, consistent with your agency's policies, and to the extent permitted under relevant collective-bargaining agreements.

If you choose to remain in your current position, we thank you for your renewed focus on serving the American people to the best of your abilities and look forward to working together as part of an improved federal workforce. At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency but should your position be eliminated you will be treated with dignity and will be afforded the protections in place for such positions.

If you choose not to continue in your current role in the federal workforce, we thank you for your service to your country and you will be provided with a dignified, fair departure from the federal government utilizing a deferred resignation program. This program begins effective January 28 and is available to all federal employees until February 10. If you resign under this program, you will retain all pay and benefits regardless of your daily workload and will be exempted from all applicable in-person work requirements until September 30, 2025 (or earlier if you choose to accelerate your resignation for any reason). The details of this separation plan can be found below.

Whichever path you choose, we thank you for your service to The United States of America.

*********************************************************************

Upon review of the below deferred resignation letter, if you wish to resign:

1)Select “Reply” to this email. You must reply from your government account. A reply from an account other than your .gov or .mil account will not be accepted.

2)Type the word “Resign” into the body of this reply email. Hit “Send”.

THE LAST DAY TO ACCEPT THE DEFERRED RESIGNATION PROGRAM IS FEBRUARY 10, 2025.

Deferred resignation is available to all full-time federal employees except for military personnel of the armed forces, employees of the U.S. Postal Service, those in positions related to immigration enforcement and national security, and those in any other positions specifically excluded by your employing agency.

The City of Olympia declares itself a sanctuary city for LGBTQIA2S+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and trans, queer and questioning, intersex, asexual or agender, and two-spirit) people.