Federal agency workers say that President Donald Trump's executive order to end government employee diversity, equity, and inclusion programs threatens professional groups that support employees, many of whom come from marginalized backgrounds. They say this includes removing posters about diversity and banning cultural musicians from performing. Employee resource groups (ERGs) are voluntary, employee-led affinity groups. According to several federal agency employees who spoke to NBC News, their ERGs have been placed on hold, with meetings and events abruptly canceled to comply with the executive order. According to other ERG participants, they took proactive measures to close their groups or eliminate email distribution lists because they were concerned that any possible violation with th...

As authorities stepped up enforcement operations around the United States on Sunday, Phil McGraw, the former host of a daytime talk program, tweeted a video of himself riding along with immigration agents in Chicago. McGraw, a former psychotherapist who became well-known with Oprah Winfrey and presented Dr. Phil for over 20 years, claimed to have embedded himself with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to demonstrate the agency's focused efforts to capture terrorists and known criminals. In an interview with McGraw on the one-year-old network Merit Street Media, which was founded by the former talk-show host, Trump administration border czar Thomas Homan advised viewers to disregard the myth that immigration officials are conducting neighborhood sweeps that target people of color. He answ...

Jimmy Butler, a forward, has been suspended indefinitely by the Miami Heat, the organization announced Monday. The punishment will be unpaid and last for at least five games. Miami stated that Butler's early departure from Monday's practice led to the decision. According to a statement from Miami, the suspension stems from a persistent pattern of disobedience to team rules, participation in actions that harm the team, and willful withholding of services. One example of this was leaving practice early today. ESPN claims that Butler took this action after learning he would no longer be starting for Miami. Butler has been suspended by the team three times this season. Earlier this month, he was sent home for two games and seven games. More from Sports Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphi...

A car crashed into a throng in Philadelphia on Sunday night as they were celebrating the Eagles' victory over the Washington Commanders to go to the Super Bowl, injuring eight people. According to a statement released by the Philadelphia Police Department on Monday, the injuries varied from slight discomfort to fractures. There was no information available regarding the victims' ages, genders, health, or hospitalization status. Rebekah DeShields, 26, of Narberth, Pennsylvania, one of the Main Line—the historic, train-adjacent suburbs of Philadelphia—was identified by authorities as the driver. Dustin M. Slaughter, the district attorney's spokesperson, stated via email that she was charged on Monday. DeShields was accused of creating an accident that resulted in death or serious harm, aggra...

The National Institutes of Health's interim director informed staff scientists via email on Monday that ongoing clinical trials can proceed as planned, despite worries over the agency's scientific future. The clarification came after the Trump administration halted all government travel and ceased all communications from federal health departments on Wednesday, causing what staffers described as confusion. Employees at the NIH were left wondering about their jobs and even if they would be able to keep treating patients after the instruction. In the email, which NBC News was able to get, acting director Dr. Matthew Memoli, a lifelong infectious disease specialist and flu vaccine researcher at the NIH, stated that he aimed to dispel any misunderstandings regarding the extent of the pause. "T...

Welcome to the online edition of From the Politics Desk, an evening email that provides you with the most recent coverage and commentary from the campaign trail, Capitol Hill, and the White House by the NBC News Politics team. Sahil Kapur and Garrett Haake discuss the slim margin of error that some of Trump's more contentious nominees face this week in today's podcast. Additionally, Matt Dixon covers the rising GOP civil war in Florida due to Trump's immigration crackdown from Tallahassee. Register here to get this newsletter delivered to your inbox each daily. Wollner, Adam Register here to get this newsletter delivered to your inbox each daily. A make-or-break week for Trump s nominees By Sahil Kapur and Garrett Haake It will be another crucial week for President Donald Trump's can...

Chicago According to a senior Trump administration official, immigration officials made roughly 1,200 arrests on a single day, and almost half of those held have no criminal history. Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended 1,179 people on Sunday, more than the 956 the agency put on Xon Sunday night, according to data first acquired by NBC News. However, just 613 arrests—nearly 52% of the total—were classified as criminal arrests. The remaining individuals seem to be either non-violent criminals or those who have only crossed the border. Eight of those arrests, including two gang members, were deemed "Worst Criminals Arrested," the official said when breaking down those arrests. Nevertheless, at least 566 individuals who were arrested on Sunday were only detained because they lac...

DETROIT As Chinese carmaker BYD Auto expands its reach and product portfolio with a pickup truck, a shark is circling one of the largest profit pools for American automakers worldwide. The BYD Shark might be mistaken for an American-made product if it didn't have the vehicle's branding emblem. It resembles a smaller Ford Motor pickup in many aspects.The Chinese-built truck has striking visual similarities to a Ford Explorer combined with the well-liked F-150, which has been the Ford brand's best-selling truck model in the United States for 48 years. Global automakers are afraid that Chinese competitors, such as Warren Buffett-backed BYD, could flood their markets and undercut domestic production and vehicle prices to the detriment of their own auto industries. This is similar to BYD's Se...

These invoices are coming in after a season of record-breaking holiday spending. According to the National Retail Federation, retail sales for the most recent Christmas season, which spanned from November 1 to December 31, reached a record $994.1 billion. And borrowing accounted for a sizable portion of that expenditure.LendingTree reports that 36% of Americans accrued holiday debt in 2024, with each consumer spending an average of $1,181 during the season. That is less than the $1,549 average for 2022 but around 15% higher than the $1,028 average from the previous year. According to Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree, prices are still quite high and may be having a greater impact on people's finances, holiday shopping, and other types of spending than individuals may have an...

DORAL, Fla. — House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., defended President Donald Trump's string of controversial executive orders and actions Monday, saying that "everything is on the table" and that it's a new time to reassess everything the federal government does. Johnson responded, "Sometimes you need a fresh look," in response to Trump's decision over the weekend to fire 18 inspectors general at various federal agencies. When asked about Trump's forceful deportations of migrants by NBC News, Johnson responded that voters gave Trump a mandate to address the issue and that everyone should take a deep breath. Johnson, whose home state of Louisiana has a long history of hurricane damage, expressed frustration with FEMA leadership in response to Trump's recent remarks that the agency needs to b...