Podcasts about Rif

durée : 00:58:39 - Cultures Monde - par : Julie Gacon, Mélanie Chalandon - En 2021, le Maroc a adopté une loi légalisant la culture de cannabis à des fins “thérapeutiques et industrielles”. Grand producteur historique, le pays veut faire du cannabis un outil de développement au service notamment de la région délaissée du Rif, où se situent l'essentiel des cultures. - réalisation : Cassandre Puel - invités : Mohamed Tozy Professeur de sciences politiques et responsable de la recherche à l'IEP d'Aix-en-Provence; Kenza Afsahi Maîtresse de conférences en sociologie et chercheuse au centre Emile Durkheim; Khalid Mouna Anthropologue, professeur à la Faculté des Lettres et des Sciences Humaines Moulay Ismail de Meknès

Our podcast show being released today is Part 2 of our two-part series featuring two former CFPB senior officers who were key employees in the Enforcement Division under prior directors: Eric Halperin and Craig Cowie. Eric Halperin served as the Enforcement Director at the CFPB from 2010 until former Director, Rohit Chopra, was terminated by President Trump. Craig Cowie was an enforcement attorney at the CFPB from July 2012 until April 2015 and then Assistant Litigation Deputy at the CFPB until June 2018. Part 1 of our two-part series was released last Thursday, June 12.  The purpose of these podcast shows were primarily to obtain the opinions of Eric and Craig (two of the country's most knowledgeable and experienced lawyers with respect to CFPB Enforcement) about the legal and practical impact of (i) a Memo to CFPB Staff from Mark Paoletta, Chief Legal Officer, dated April 16, 2025, entitled “2025 Supervision and Enforcement Priorities” (described below) which rescinded prior priority documents and established a whole new set of priorities which in most instances are vastly different than the Enforcement Priority documents which guided former directors,  (ii) the dismissal without prejudice of the majority of enforcement lawsuits that were pending when Acting Director Russell Vought was appointed to run the agency, and (iii) other drastic steps taken by CFPB Acting Director Russell Vought to minimize the functions and staffing at the agency. That included, among other things, an order calling a halt to all work at the agency, including the pausing of ongoing investigations and lawsuits and the creation of plans by Vought to reduce the agency's staff (“RIF”) from about 1,750 employees to about 250 employees (including a reduction of Enforcement staff to 50 employees from 258). We described in detail the 2025 Supervision and Enforcement Priorities as follows: ·       Reduced Supervisory Exams: A 50% decrease in the overall number of exams to ease burdens on businesses and consumers. ·       Focus on Depository Institutions: Shifting attention back to banks and credit unions. ·       Emphasis on Actual Fraud: Prioritizing cases with verifiable consumer harm and measurable damages. ·       Redressing Tangible Harm: Concentrating on direct consumer remediation rather than punitive penalties. ·       Protection for Service Members and Veterans:Prioritizing redress for these groups. ·       Respect for Federalism: Minimizing duplicative oversight and coordinating with state regulators when possible. ·       Collaboration with Federal Agencies: Coordinating with other federal regulators and avoiding overlapping supervision. ·       Avoiding Novel Legal Theories: Limiting enforcement to areas clearly within the Bureau's statutory authority. ·       Fair Lending Focus: Pursuing only cases of proven intentional racial discrimination with identifiable victims and not using statistical evidence for fair lending assessments. Key Areas of Focus: ·       Mortgages (highest priority) ·       FCRA/Regulation V (data furnishing violations) ·       FDCPA/Regulation F (consumer contracts/debts) ·       Fraudulent overcharges and fees ·       Inadequate consumer information protection Deprioritized Areas: ·       Loans for "justice involved" individuals ·       Medical debt ·       Peer-to-peer lending platforms ·       Student loans ·       Remittances ·       Consumer data ·       Digital payments We also described the status of a lawsuit brought by the union representing CFPB employees and other parties against Vought seeking to enjoin him from implementing the RIF. The Court has granted a preliminary injunction which so far has largely prevented Vought from following through on the RIF. The matter is now on appeal before the DC Circuit Court of Appeals and a ruling is expected soon. These podcast shows complement the podcast show we released on June 5 which featured two former senior CFPB employees, Peggy Twohig and Paul Sanford who opined about the impact of the April 16 Paoletta memo and proposed RIF on CFPB Supervision. Eric and Craig considered, among other issues, the following: 1.  How do the new Paoletta priorities differ from the previous priorities and what do the new priorities tell us about what we can expect from CFPB Enforcement? 2.  What do the new priorities tell us about the CFPB's new approach toward Enforcement priorities? 3.  What can we learn from the fact that the CFPB has dismissed without prejudice at least 22 out of the 38 enforcement lawsuits that were pending when Vought became the Acting Director?  What types of enforcement lawsuits are still active and what types of lawsuits were dismissed? 4.  What are the circumstances surrounding the nullification of certain consent orders (including the Townstone case) and the implications for other consent orders? 5. Has the CFPB launched any new enforcement lawsuits under Vought? 6. What level and type of enforcement is statutorily required? 7.  Realistically, what will 50 employees be able to do in the enforcement area? 8. What will be the impact of the Supervision cutbacks be on Enforcement since Supervision refers many cases to Enforcement? 9.  Will the CFPB continue to seek civil money penalties for violations of law? 10.  What types of fair lending cases will the CFPB bring in the future?11.  Will Enforcement no longer initiate cases based on the unfairness or abusive prongs of UDAAP? Alan Kaplinsky, former practice group leader for 25 years and now Senior Counsel of the Consumer Financial Group, hosts the podcast show. Postscript: After the recording of this podcast, Cara Petersen, who succeeded Eric Halperin as head of CFPB Enforcement, resigned abruptly on June 10 from the CFPB after sending out an e-mail message to all its employees (which was shared with the media) which stated, in relevant part: “I have served under every director and acting director in the bureau's history and never before have I seen the ability to perform our core mission so under attack,” wrote  Petersen, who had worked at the agency since it became operational in 2011. She continued: “It has been devastating to see the bureau's enforcement function being dismantled through thoughtless reductions in staff, inexplicable dismissals of cases, and terminations of negotiated settlements that let wrongdoers off the hook.” “It is clear that the bureau's current leadership has no intention to enforce the law in any meaningful way,” Petersen wrote in her e-mail. “While I wish you all the best, I worry for American consumers.” During this part of the podcast show, we discussed the fact that the CFPB has entered into agreements with a few companies that had previously entered into consent agreements with former Director Chopra. After the recording of this podcast, the Federal District Court that presided over the Townstone Financial enforcement litigation involving alleged violations of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act refused to approve the rescission or undoing of the consent agreement based on Rule 60(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure because of the strong public policy of preserving the finality of judgments.

Our podcast shows being released today and next Wednesday, June 18 feature two former CFPB senior officers who were key employees in the Enforcement Division under prior directors: Eric Halperin and Craig Cowie. Eric Halperin served as the Enforcement Director at the CFPB from 2010 until former Director, Rohit Chopra, was terminated by President Trump. Craig Cowie was an enforcement attorney at the CFPB from July 2012 until April 2015 and then Assistant Litigation Deputy at the CFPB until June 2018. The purpose of these podcast shows were primarily to obtain the opinions of Eric and Craig (two of the country's most knowledgeable and experienced lawyers with respect to CFPB Enforcement) about the legal and practical impact of (i) a Memo to CFPB Staff from Mark Paoletta, Chief Legal Officer, dated April 16, 2025, entitled “2025 Supervision and Enforcement Priorities” (described below) which rescinded prior priority documents and established a whole new set of priorities which in most instances are vastly different than the Enforcement Priority documents which guided former directors,  (ii) the dismissal without prejudice of the majority of enforcement lawsuits that were pending when Acting Director Russell Vought was appointed to run the agency, and (iii) other drastic steps taken by CFPB Acting Director Russell Vought to minimize the functions and staffing at the agency. That included, among other things, an order calling a halt to all work at the agency, including the pausing of ongoing investigations and lawsuits and the creation of plans by Vought to reduce the agency's staff (“RIF”) from about 1,750 employees to about 250 employees (including a reduction of Enforcement staff to 50 employees from 258). We described in detail the 2025 Supervision and Enforcement Priorities as follows: ·       Reduced Supervisory Exams: A 50% decrease in the overall number of exams to ease burdens on businesses and consumers. ·       Focus on Depository Institutions: Shifting attention back to banks and credit unions. ·       Emphasis on Actual Fraud: Prioritizing cases with verifiable consumer harm and measurable damages. ·       Redressing Tangible Harm: Concentrating on direct consumer remediation rather than punitive penalties. ·       Protection for Service Members and Veterans:Prioritizing redress for these groups. ·       Respect for Federalism: Minimizing duplicative oversight and coordinating with state regulators when possible. ·       Collaboration with Federal Agencies: Coordinating with other federal regulators and avoiding overlapping supervision. ·       Avoiding Novel Legal Theories: Limiting enforcement to areas clearly within the Bureau's statutory authority. ·       Fair Lending Focus: Pursuing only cases of proven intentional racial discrimination with identifiable victims and not using statistical evidence for fair lending assessments. Key Areas of Focus: ·       Mortgages (highest priority) ·       FCRA/Regulation V (data furnishing violations) ·       FDCPA/Regulation F (consumer contracts/debts) ·       Fraudulent overcharges and fees ·       Inadequate consumer information protection Deprioritized Areas: ·       Loans for "justice involved" individuals ·       Medical debt ·       Peer-to-peer lending platforms ·       Student loans ·       Remittances ·       Consumer data ·       Digital payments We also described the status of a lawsuit brought by the union representing CFPB employees and other parties against Vought seeking to enjoin him from implementing the RIF. The Court has granted a preliminary injunction which so far has largely prevented Vought from following through on the RIF. The matter is now on appeal before the DC Circuit Court of Appeals and a ruling is expected soon. These podcast shows complement the podcast show we released on June 5 which featured two former senior CFPB employees, Peggy Twohig and Paul Sanford who opined about the impact of the April 16 Paoletta memo and proposed RIF on CFPB Supervision. Eric and Craig considered, among other issues, the following: 1.  How do the new Paoletta priorities differ from the previous priorities and what do the new priorities tell us about what we can expect from CFPB Enforcement? 2.  What do the new priorities tell us about the CFPB's new approach toward Enforcement priorities? 3.  What can we learn from the fact that the CFPB has dismissed without prejudice at least 22 out of the 38 enforcement lawsuits that were pending when Vought became the Acting Director?  What types of enforcement lawsuits are still active and what types of lawsuits were dismissed? 4.  What are the circumstances surrounding the nullification of certain consent orders (including the Townstone case) and the implications for other consent orders? 5. Has the CFPB launched any new enforcement lawsuits under Vought? 6. What level and type of enforcement is statutorily required? 7.  Realistically, what will 50 employees be able to do in the enforcement area? 8. What will be the impact of the Supervision cutbacks be on Enforcement since Supervision refers many cases to Enforcement? 9.  Will the CFPB continue to seek civil money penalties for violations of law? 10.  What types of fair lending cases will the CFPB bring in the future? 11.  Will Enforcement no longer initiate cases based on the unfairness or abusive prongs of UDAAP? Alan Kaplinsky, former practice group leader for 25 years and now Senior Counsel of the Consumer Financial Group, hosts the podcast show. Postscript: After the recording of this podcast, Cara Petersen, who succeeded Eric Halperin as head of CFPB Enforcement, resigned abruptly on June 10 from the CFPB after sending out an e-mail message to all its employees (which was shared with the media) which stated, in relevant part: “I have served under every director and acting director in the bureau's history and never before have I seen the ability to perform our core mission so under attack,” wrote  Petersen, who had worked at the agency since it became operational in 2011. She continued: “It has been devastating to see the bureau's enforcement function being dismantled through thoughtless reductions in staff, inexplicable dismissals of cases, and terminations of negotiated settlements that let wrongdoers off the hook.” “It is clear that the bureau's current leadership has no intention to enforce the law in any meaningful way,” Petersen wrote in her e-mail. “While I wish you all the best, I worry for American consumers.”

Miller Johnson employment attorneys Rebecca Strauss and Sarah Willey break down a step-by-step process for managing reductions in force (RIF) while minimizing legal risks. From defining the selection criteria to navigating communication strategies, this episode provides valuable insights for HR professionals facing tough decisions. Tune in for advice on handling organizational changes with care and compliance.

In this installment of our Workplace Strategies Watercooler 2025 podcast series, David Froiland, a shareholder in Ogletree's Milwaukee office who co-chairs the RIF/WARN Practice Group, and Brandon Sher, a shareholder in the firm's Philadelphia office who co-chairs the Retail Industry Group, discuss the complex issues that may arise during the implementation of a reduction in force (RIF). Brandon and David review how the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act regulations apply to remote workers and the “single site of employment” criteria. They also cover the specific triggers and requirements of state mini-WARN laws across various jurisdictions. Finally, David and Brandon address a number of other RIF/WARN issues, including statistical analysis and disparate impact theory, disclosures required by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA), and multistate separation agreements.

A lawsuit claims the Department of Health and Human Services relied on flawed data to slash more than 10,000 jobs. Attorneys representing seven former HHS employees say the department knew it had flawed personnel data when it carried out a reduction in force on April 1. The lawsuit states RIF notices contained lower performance ratings than what employees actually received or incorrectly listed them as working for certain offices or geographic locations. Federal News Network's Jory Heckman spoke with the partners and co founders of the civil service law center, Jessica Samuels and Clayton Bailey.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our podcast show being released today features two former CFPB senior officers who were key employees in the Supervision Division under prior directors: Peggy Twohig and Paul Sanford. Peggywas a founding executive of the CFPB when the agency was created in 2010 and led the development of the first federal supervision program over nonbank consumer financial companies. Beginning in 2012, as head of CFPB's Office of Supervision Policy, Peggy led the office responsible for developing supervision strategy for bank and nonbank markets and ensuring that federal consumer financial laws were applied consistently in supervisory matters across markets and regions. Paul served as head of the Office of Supervision Examinations for the CFPB from 2012-2020 with responsibility for ensuring the credible conduct of consumer protection examinations. The purpose of this podcast show was primarily to obtain the opinions of Peggy and Paul about the legal and practical impact of (i) a Memo to CFPB Staff from Mark Paoletta, Chief Legal Officer, dated April 16, 2025, entitled “2025 Supervision and Enforcement Priorities” which rescinded prior priority documents and established a whole new set of priorities which in most instances are vastly different than the Supervision Priority documents which guided former directors and (ii) drastic steps taken by CFPB Acting Director Russell Vought to minimize the functions and staffing at the agency. That included, among other things, an order calling a halt to all work at the agency, the cancellation of all supervisory exams and the creation of plans by Vought to reduce the agency's staff (“RIF”) from about 1,750 employees to about 250 employees (including a reduction of Supervision's staff to 50 employees) We also described the status of a lawsuit brought by the union representing CFPB employees and other parties against Vought seeking to enjoin him from implementing the RIF. The Court has granted a preliminary injunction which so far has largely prevented Vought from following through on the RIF. The matter is now on appeal before the DC Circuit Court of Appeals and a ruling is expected soon. Peggy and Paul describe in detail the CFPB Supervision priorities under Director Chopra and compare and contrast those priorities with the new priorities established by Paoletta which are: 1.  “Shift back” CFPB Supervision to the proportions focused on depository institutions to nonbanks to where it was in 2012 -- to a 70% depository and 30% nonbank, compared to the more recent 60% on nonbanks to 40% depositories.  2.  Focus CFPB Supervision on “conciliation, correction, and remediation of harms subject to consumer complaints” and “collaborative efforts with the supervised entities to resolve problems so that there are measurable benefits to consumers.” 3.  Focus CFPB Supervision on “actual fraud” where there are “identifiable victims with material and measurable consumer damages as opposed to matters where the consumers made “wrong” choices. 4. Focus CFPB Supervision on the following priorities: ·       Mortgages as the highest priority ·       FCRA/Reg V data furnishing violations ·       FDCPA/Reg F relating to consumer contracts/debts ·       Fraudulent overcharges, fees, etc. ·       Inadequate controls to protect consumer information resulting in actual loss to consumers. 5.  Focus CFPB Supervision on providing redress to service members and their families and veterans. 6. The areas that will be deprioritized by CFPB Supervision will be loans for “justice involved” individuals, medical debt, peer-to-peer platforms and lending, student loans, remittances, consumer data and digital payments.  7. Respect Federalism” and not prioritize supervision where States “have and exercise” ample regulatory and supervisory authority and participating in multi-state exams (unless required by statute). 8.  Eliminate duplicative supervision where other federal agencies have supervisory jurisdiction 9.  Not pursue supervision under “novel legal theories.” 10.  For fair lending, ignore redlining or “bias assessment” based solely on statistical evidence, and only pursue matters with “proven actual intentional racial discrimination and actual identified victims.” Peggy and Paul also discussed their skepticism as to whether CFPB Supervision will be able to comply with its statutory duties if the RIF is carried out and Supervision's staff is reduced to 50 employees. Alan Kaplinsky, former longtime Chair of the Consumer Financial Group and now Senior Counsel hosted the podcast.

In this episode of The Egg Whisperer Show, Dr. Jenna Turocy is joining me to talk about new treatment options for recurrent implantation failure. Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) is determined when embryos of good quality fail to implant following several in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment cycles. The good news is that there is treatment for this, and Dr. Turocy has been researching it. The types of treatments that Dr. Jenna has studied include:

This Day in Legal History: 19th Amendment Passed in SenateOn June 4, 1919, the U.S. Congress passed the 19th Amendment, marking a turning point in American constitutional and civil rights history. The amendment stated simply that the right to vote "shall not be denied or abridged... on account of sex," legally enfranchising millions of women. The road to this moment was long and contentious, spanning more than seven decades of organized activism. Early suffragists like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony laid the groundwork in the 19th century, while a new generation, including Alice Paul and the National Woman's Party, employed more confrontational tactics in the 1910s.Although the House of Representatives had passed the amendment earlier in the year, the Senate had repeatedly failed to approve it. The June 4 vote in the Senate—passing by just over the required two-thirds majority—was the final congressional hurdle. The legislative victory came amid shifting national sentiment, in part due to women's contributions during World War I and growing pressure from suffrage organizations.The amendment was then sent to the states, needing ratification by three-fourths to become law. That process concluded over a year later with Tennessee's pivotal ratification on August 18, 1920. The 19th Amendment was certified on August 26, finally making women's suffrage the law of the land. This day marks not just a legal transformation but the culmination of one of the most significant civil rights struggles in U.S. history.Disbarred attorney Tom Girardi was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for stealing $15 million in settlement funds from his clients. U.S. District Judge Josephine Staton also imposed a $35,000 fine and ordered Girardi to pay over $2.3 million in restitution. The sentence followed his August 2024 conviction on four counts of wire fraud. Girardi, who turned 86 on the day of his sentencing, had sought leniency due to age, liver issues, and dementia claims, but the court found him competent and sided with prosecutors who sought a significant term.Girardi's legacy was once tied to his successful pollution suit against Pacific Gas and Electric—dramatized in the film Erin Brockovich. However, his downfall involved stealing settlement funds in various personal injury cases, including millions owed to families of victims of the 2018 Boeing 737 MAX crash. A federal judge in Chicago recently dismissed related charges, citing the active California case, though the prosecution of Girardi's son-in-law, David Lira, is still set to proceed there. Lira denies wrongdoing.At trial, Girardi blamed the fraud on Christopher Kamon, his firm's former CFO, who has already been sentenced to over ten years after pleading guilty. Girardi's attorneys continue to claim cognitive decline, but the court maintained that he was mentally fit to face justice.Lawyer Tom Girardi sentenced to 87 months in prison for wire fraud | ReutersA federal appeals court is set to hear its first case reviewing the constitutionality of Donald Trump's executive order limiting birthright citizenship. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments in Seattle as the Trump administration appeals a nationwide injunction issued by U.S. District Judge John Coughenour, who called the order “blatantly unconstitutional.” The directive, signed by Trump on January 20, his first day back in office, seeks to deny citizenship to U.S.-born children whose parents are neither U.S. citizens nor lawful permanent residents.Critics—including 22 Democratic attorneys general and immigrant advocacy groups—argue the order violates the 14th Amendment, which has long been interpreted to grant citizenship to nearly anyone born on U.S. soil. Federal judges in Massachusetts and Maryland have also issued rulings blocking the order. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court, which heard related arguments on May 15, is considering whether to limit lower courts' power to issue nationwide injunctions rather than deciding on the constitutionality of the policy itself.If implemented, the order could deny citizenship to over 150,000 newborns annually, according to the plaintiffs. The lawsuit before the 9th Circuit was filed by several states and individual pregnant women. The three-judge panel includes two Clinton-era appointees and one Trump appointee, potentially shaping the outcome. The administration maintains that birthright citizenship doesn't apply to children of undocumented or temporary-status immigrants, a stance at odds with long-standing interpretations of the 14th Amendment.To be clear, this case revolves around the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment. This clause states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States... are citizens of the United States,” forming the basis of birthright citizenship. The case centers on how this clause should be interpreted, making it the key constitutional question in this challenge. On the side of birthright citizenship is, frankly, the plain language of the amendment. On the side of the executive order are racists and racist people without basic reading comprehension – full stop. There is no “other side” here, and there is no real debate. Ultimately the courts may decide to pretend there is some nuance, but that changes nothing about the clear language of the amendment. Trump's birthright citizenship order to face first US appeals court reviewA group of former U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) employees has filed a class action lawsuit against HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Elon Musk, alleging that their departments used flawed data to justify the firing of 10,000 federal workers. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, claims that HHS and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which Musk leads, violated the 1974 Privacy Act by using inaccurate personnel records during a mass reduction in force (RIF).The plaintiffs argue that the agencies relied on data riddled with errors, including incorrect performance reviews, job descriptions, and office locations. One named plaintiff, Catherine Jackson, reportedly received an RIF notice based on false performance ratings. Another, Melissa Adams, was allegedly terminated by officials who didn't even know her work location.The lawsuit seeks at least $1,000 in damages per affected employee and a court declaration that the government's actions were unlawful. The complaint also suggests that the terminations were ideologically driven, referencing a troubling incident where an FDA employee was warned by a man invoking DOGE shortly before receiving her RIF notice.The mass firings, which began April 1, impacted key HHS agencies like the CDC, FDA, and NIH. Kennedy defended the cuts as part of a broader reorganization to address chronic disease. The plaintiffs, however, see the action as a politically motivated purge that disregarded legal safeguards.By way of brief background, the Privacy Act of 1974 mandates that federal agencies maintain accurate records when making decisions that adversely affect individuals. It is central to the lawsuit because the plaintiffs claim their terminations were based on data that was factually wrong, violating this statutory requirement.RFK Jr., Musk Accused of Using Faulty Data in Firing HHS WorkersA new conflict over federal spending power is emerging between the Trump White House and the Government Accountability Office (GAO), centered on a $5 billion electric vehicle infrastructure program. The GAO recently concluded that the Trump administration's pause of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) grants—originally authorized under President Biden's 2021 infrastructure law—violated the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which prohibits presidents from withholding funds for policy reasons. In response, the White House issued a sharply worded memo instructing the Department of Transportation to disregard the GAO's opinion entirely.The memo, written by OMB general counsel Mark Paoletta, accuses the GAO of partisan bias and undermining President Trump's “historic and lawful spending reforms.” It signals a broader strategy to challenge the authority of congressional watchdogs and reframe presidential control over budget implementation. This dispute could serve as the first legal test of Trump's intent to challenge the constitutionality of the Impoundment Act itself.The delay in EV funding is part of a broader rollback of Biden-era policy priorities, including guidance on equity and charger placement. Meanwhile, the administration has proposed over $9 billion in spending rescissions, aimed at areas like public broadcasting and foreign aid, under Trump's Department of Government Efficiency initiative. Advisors have floated a tactic called “pocket rescission,” a timing strategy that critics argue violates legal requirements for obligating federal funds.This isn't the first time a president has clashed with GAO over spending powers—Trump and Biden both previously faced scrutiny for pauses in Ukraine aid and border wall funds, respectively. However, the White House's open defiance of GAO marks a significant escalation in an ongoing constitutional debate over who ultimately controls the federal purse.More specifically, the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 restricts the executive branch from withholding or delaying funds Congress has appropriated unless explicitly authorized. It plays a central role in this dispute, as the GAO argues Trump's delay of NEVI grants constitutes an illegal impoundment, while the administration disputes the law's constitutionality and GAO's oversight role.White House Memo on EV Grants Sets Up Fight Over Spending Power - Bloomberg This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Monday, June 2nd, 2025Today, Ukraine destroyed more than 40 military aircraft in a drone attack deep inside Russia; the new Office of Personnel Management hiring plan includes loyalty essays; ICE raids a restaurant on a Friday night in San Diego and uses flashbang grenades to disperse the protesting crowd; Kristi Noem said a migrant threatened to assassinate Trump but that appears to have been a set up; Donald Trump shared a conspiracy theory on Truth Social saying Biden was executed in 2020 and the man that was President until 2025 is a robot clone; top officials overseeing deportations at ICE are leaving their positions; a Women is suing Kansas over a law that disregards end-of-life wishes during pregnancy; Dan Bongino and Kash Patel say video shows that Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide; Elon Musk denies a report that he took so much ketamine he doesn't pee right; the CDC keeps recommending Covid vaccines for children in defiance of RFK Jr; a Reagan appointed judge orders the Trump administration to fund Radio Free Europe; PBS has filed suit against the Trump regime for first amendment violations; the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals reject's Trump's bid to move forward with massive federal government reductions in force; California opens an inquiry into Paramount and Trump; the government has ended a critical HIV vaccine effort; elderly and disabled Californians with more than $2,000 could lose Medi-Cal; a Jeffrey Epstein survivor is suing the FBI for failing to address her claims; Taylor Swift gets her music back; and Allison delivers your Good News.Thank You, DeletMeGet 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to joindeleteme.com/DAILYBEANS and use promo code DAILYBEANS at checkout. Thank You, PiqueGet 20% off on the Radiant Skin Duo, plus a FREE starter kit at Piquelife.com/dailybeans Sat June 14 10am – 12pm PDT AG is hosting NO KINGS Waterfront Park, San DiegoDonation link - secure.actblue.com/donate/fuelthemovementMSW Media, Blue Wave California Victory Fund | ActBlueGuest: Paul KieselSpeak Up for Justice  - Speak Up for Justice seeks to bring the country together to voice support for the judiciary at a time when it is under unprecedented attack. It grows out of a shared recognition that the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary are the hallmarks of our democracy. Next Webinars - June 26, July 31Stories:Outrage and solidarity after ICE raid shakes South Park restaurant | Fox 5 San DiegoAppeals panel leaves layoff injunction in place as Trump's RIF plans likely head to Supreme Court | Government ExecutivePBS sues Trump over executive order targeting federal funding, following NPR | The Washington PostWomen sue Kansas over law that disregards end-of-life wishes during pregnancy | The Washington PostCalifornia opens inquiry into Paramount and Trump | SemaforUkraine destroys 40 aircraft deep inside Russia ahead of peace talks in Istanbul | AP NewsOPM ‘merit' hiring plan includes bipartisan reforms, politicized new test | Government ExecutiveTop Officials Overseeing Deportations Leave Their Roles at ICE | The New York TimesExclusive: Kristi Noem said a migrant threatened to kill Trump. Investigators think he was set up | CNN PoliticsFBI leaders say jail video shows Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide | NBC NewsContradicting RFK Jr., CDC keeps recommending covid vaccine for kids | The Washington PostTrump Administration Ends Program Critical to Search for an H.I.V. Vaccine | The New York TimesElderly, disabled with $2,000 in assets could lose Medi-Cal | CalMattersElon Musk Denies Report He Took So Much Ketamine He Doesn't Pee Right | RollingStoneTaylor Swift buys back her master recordings | BBCGood Trouble: Contact ICE and let them know if you've been harmed by an alien.https://www.ice.gov/voice Or call - 855-48VOICEProton Mail: free email account with privacy and encryptionFind Upcoming Demonstrations And Actions:250th Anniversary of the U.S. Army Grand Military Parade and CelebrationSchedule F comments deadline extended to June 7th Federal Register :: Improving Performance, Accountability and Responsiveness in the Civil Service50501 MovementJune 14th Nationwide Demonstrations - NoKings.orgIndivisible.orgFederal workers - feel free to email me at fedoath@pm.me and let me know what you're going to do, or just vent. I'm always here to listen. Share your Good News or Good Trouble:dailybeanspod.com/goodFrom The Good NewsThe Resistance Lab - Pramila for Congress1776 - 'Is Anybody There', from the 1972 American musical drama film - YouTubeVisiting | Animals in DistressPostcardsToVoters.orgReminder - you can see the pod pics if you become a Patron. The good news pics are at the bottom of the show notes of each Patreon episode! That's just one of the perks of subscribing! patreon.com/muellershewrote Federal workers - feel free to email me at fedoath@pm.me and let me know what you're going to do, or just vent. I'm always here to listen.Share your Good News or Good Trouble:https://www.dailybeanspod.com/good/ Check out other MSW Media podcastshttps://mswmedia.com/shows/Subscribe for free to MuellerSheWrote on Substackhttps://muellershewrote.substack.comFollow AG and Dana on Social MediaDr. Allison Gill Substack|Muellershewrote, BlueSky|@muellershewrote , Threads|@muellershewrote, TikTok|@muellershewrote, IG|muellershewrote, Twitter|@MuellerSheWrote,Dana GoldbergTwitter|@DGComedy, IG|dgcomedy, facebook|dgcomedy, IG|dgcomedy, danagoldberg.com, BlueSky|@dgcomedyHave some good news; a confession; or a correction to share?Good News & Confessions - The Daily Beanshttps://www.dailybeanspod.com/confessional/ Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:The Daily Beans on Apple PodcastsWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?Supercasthttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/Patreon https://patreon.com/thedailybeansOr subscribe on Apple Podcasts with our affiliate linkThe Daily Beans on Apple Podcasts

If you're a federal employee, here's what you need to know about a RIF. Join us for a Fed Pilot workshop to learn about benefits and retirement prep. Register: https://fedpilot.com Questions? Ask at https://fedpilot.com/contact-us #heyfeds #fedpilot #federalemployees #RetirementPlanning #LTCPlanning #federalretirement #FedRetirement #SurvivorBenefits #FederalEmployee

Probationary employees who were fired from the Department of Homeland Security have been granted class certification on an appeal case with the Merit Systems Protection Board. The DHS employees allege that the agency violated the law when it terminated them earlier this year. They argue that the mass firings at DHS were really an unlawfully conducted reduction in force (RIF). Gilbert Employment Law, which is representing the DHS employees in the MSPB case, called the class certification “heartening news.”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On April 1, 2025 thousands of HHS employees were impacted by a Reduction In Force which left employees illegally fired with a separation date of June 2, 2025. Today's episode we have special guest Kyisha McNeil a RIF'd FDA employee who is  discussing her experience during this process and how this has impacted her mentally. We will discuss tools to empower federal employees that are struggling with the loss and what options can turn the over to reinstate top performers that are impacted. 

We recommend watching the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: "Why Chefchaouen is a Unique Gem Within Morocco"Azdean sits down on-location with local guide Hamid to learn about the history of Chefchaouen, the famous blue city of northern Morocco.This small town roughly 4 hours north of Fes, or 2 hours south of Tangier, has been attracting tourists for decades and, in the age of Instagram, gets more popular every year.As Hamid and Azdean emphasize, Chefchaouen is not just about the stunning colours, but the beautiful architecture, historic Medina and kasbah, and its natural setting in the Rif mountains. Gentle creeks of water wind their way through the town, artisans and craftsmakers line the paths and lane ways, and fresh orange juice vendors squeeze delicious nectar to help you on the climb up to the Spanish mosque, where you get stunning views of the mountains, valleys and the rolling hills of blue. Hamid explains the historic founding of Chefchaouen as a refuge for both Muslim and Jewish refugees during the time of the Spanish Inquisition. The town is a perfect snapshot of Morocco's welcoming and tolerant nature.And we finally get a definitive answer as to why the city is blue. Although you may expect that this is something dating back centuries, the reality may surprise you!Chefchaouen is a calm and quiet jewel of Morocco, with many wonderful features to attract travellers looking for the exotic and colorful, as well as peaceful retreats, fresh mountain air, tremendous hiking and a laid-back spirit and hospitality. We previously posted this recording as audio-only, but now have a beautiful video version to share with you. We know that it won't take much to convince you to add it to your Morocco itinerary! Do you dream of exploring the enchanting land of Morocco?Destination Morocco is your ultimate travel experience for those seeking luxury and adventure. We specialize in crafting bespoke itineraries tailored to your unique tastes and desires.If you're a discerning traveler who values an immersive, curated adventure, visit www.destinationsmorocco.com, and let us bring your dream Moroccan vacation to life.Learn more about Azdean and Destination Morocco.Explore our Private Tours and Small Group Tours!

The Labor Department is making major cuts to a watchdog office that ensures federal contractors aren't discriminating against their employees. The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs laid off about 90% of its staff last week, leaving only about 50 employees nationwide. OFCCP was created in 1965 to protect American workers from race and gender discrimination by federal contractors. Employees who got RIF notices will separate from the agency on June 6.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

FOUR ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS: Use the "Why, What, How" framework to communicate hard changes—always start with the why to reduce the shiver effect and maintain trust. Don't sugarcoat bad news—treat your team like adults, be honest about challenges, and frame positives where appropriate. Create a lever cheat sheet for your sellers so they know what they can give (discounts, services) and what to ask for in return to protect deal value. After major changes like a RIF, give the team a week to process, then reset expectations with managers leading the charge into the "new normal." PATH TO PRESIDENT'S CLUB: Chief Revenue Officer, Postal VP of International Sales, Wrike Senior Director of Sales, Wrike RESOURCES DISCUSSED: Join our weekly newsletter Things you can steal Save $50 on any 30MPC course with code “PODCAST”

Backpacking & thru-hiking legend Chris Townsend joins us on the podcast to talk about his best tips for trail photography and for writing in the outdoor space. He's hiked 30,000+ miles around the world on the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Pacific Northwest Trail, Arizona Trail, and more. You can learn more about Chris in ⁠Episode #180⁠ and Episode #195 of this podcast.Chris has 30,000 miles of hiking experience, has written 30+ books on the subject, & is also an outdoor photographer (just take a look at ⁠his website⁠!). This jam-packed episode is perfect for new and experienced hikers alike, as well as aspiring authors and outdoor photographers.In this episode, you'll learn about:1. His best tips for on-trail photography2. The top lightweight and effective equipment he uses3. Tips on writing in the outdoor space, thoughts for first time authors, and much more!Connect & follow along with Chris Townsend:⁠⁠Chris Townsend Outdoors Website⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Shop⁠⁠⁠⁠Great Outdoors Magazine⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠Follow along with Cheer on the Trans Catalina Trail:@carollcoyne@thru_rIf you love what we're doing here on the podcast and over at THRU-r, you can become a ⁠⁠Virtual Trail Angel⁠⁠ via our ⁠⁠PayPal Donation Page⁠⁠. As a grassroots thru-hiker run organization, we really appreciate the support!Did you love this episode? Help fellow hikers find the show by following, rating, and reviewing the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!Connect With Us:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join The Trail Family⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THRU-r Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THRU-r Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THRU-r TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THRU-r Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THRU-r Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THRU-r Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cheer's YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cheer's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Episode Music: "Communicator" by Reed Mathis

You don't need to work longer; you just need a better plan. Schedule a peace of mind visit for your retirement planning with this link: https://calendly.com/charlesdzama/dzamatalk-complimentary-15-min-phone-callChapters0:00 - What VERA, VSIP, RIF, and DSR Mean for You - Early Pension: The Hidden Danger1:10 - Why Inflation Is Your Silent Threat - How a Static Pension Shrinks Over Time1:45 - Solutions: How Part-Time Work Can Protect You - Planning for Growth: Protecting Your TSP and Savings2:30 - How to Improve Your Lifestyle With a Written Retirement Income Plan - How to Test If Your Money Will Last"Financial security isn't about starting retirement early — it's about making sure your income grows with you, not against you."Connect with CD Financial for More Insights:Twitter: /CDFinancial_LLCInstagram: /CDfinancial.llcFacebook: /CDFinancialLLCLinkedIn: /cd-financial-llc Visit our Website: https://cdfinancial.org/Subscribe and Stay Updated: Don't miss out on crucial advice for your financial journey. Subscribe now for weekly insights and strategies to secure your retirement.Get More from CD Financial: Looking for personalized advice? Schedule a consultation with Charles to tailor a plan that suits your unique financial situation: https://calendly.com/charlesdzama/dzamatalk-complimentary-15-min-phone-call#RetirementPlanning #federalretirement Advisory services are offered through CD Financial LLC dba CD Financial, an Investment Advisor in the State of California. Insurance products and services are offered through CD Financial & Insurance Services LLC, an affiliated company.Opinions expressed herein are solely those of CD Financial and our editorial staff. The information contained in this material has been derived from sources believed to be reliable but is not guaranteed as to accuracy and completeness and does not purport to be a complete analysis of the materials discussed. All information and ideas should be discussed in detail with your individual adviser prior to implementation.Support the show

The "last minute" of last night's '60 Minutes' was worth the wait, as CBS News' Scott Pelley laid waste to his network's parent company's adding 'extra supervision' to the news magazine's content. I mean, it's not all that different from what I had to deal with as editor of my high school newspaper - except that it's already established that school students don't enjoy "freedom of the press" in their schools. Oh, and '60 Minutes' has been on the air nearly six decades, racking up an unmatched number of awards in journalism.While American broadcast and print media continues to cave to Donald Trump, international journalists are marveling at the destruction of the fifth estate. ------Meanwhile, in the aftermath of Senator Jon Ossoff's Marietta town hall last Friday, I caught up with many of the CDC's fired and/or 'RIF'ed workforce - the "Fired but Fighting" collection of people still deeply concerned about the state of their work and its use in disease prevention. To summarize, they came to get Team Ossoff to do better in matching the work done by Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock and his staff, but are encouraged Ossoff and his staff are now better aware they need to step up. ------New York Times' conservative columnist Bret Stephens appeared on last week's 'Real Time with Bill Maher' panel, opining that Democrats shouldn't be drawn in by the tens of thousands of people turning out to hear Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Imagine that - a conservative trying to keep the party he almost never sees eye-to-eye with from finding its populist base and succeeding. Naturally, he's wrong, and I'm here ot remind everyone why making the same istakes the party made in 2016 will fail the party and the nation on the whole.

A memo sent to U.S. Agency for International Development employees Thursday announced that the now-hobbled agency will no longer try to salvage government devices for staff based domestically. The move is notable, given that USAID had previously initiated some work to transfer technical assets to the State Department. It is not uncommon for the agency to remotely wipe devices abroad, but doing so domestically — and then trashing the equipment — is unusual. Federal agencies often auction office equipment, including computers, they no longer need. In the letter, which was viewed by FedScoop, employees were told that U.S.-based direct hires, personal service contractors, and institutional support contractors must complete “various exit tasks,” including the return of government equipment. To “simplify the process and reduce burden,” the agency says it isn't requiring employees to return iPhones, iPads, and laptops. The memo stated: “The IT equipment will be remotely wiped and marked as disposed from USAID IT asset inventories on or around the employee Reduction in Force (RIF) date, and the employee can then dispose of the assets. Further details and updates regarding the remote wiping/sanitization process for the devices and what to anticipate will be communicated closer to the RIF dates.” Secretary of the Navy John Phelan on Thursday ordered the termination of hundreds of millions of dollars in IT contracts and unrelated grants as part of a broader push at the Defense Department to slash spending that the Trump administration deems wasteful. The moves — outlined in a pair of memos issued to the chief of naval operations, Marine Corps commandant, Navy assistant secretaries and general counsel — are pursuant to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's “commitment to strategically rebuild our military, restore accountability to the Department of Defense, cut wasteful spending, and implement the President's orders,” Phelan wrote. The IT contracts axed by the SECNAV include those for the Naval Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (NMRO) program. Phelan also directed the Navy's chief information officer to prepare a new acquisition strategy by July 31, along with management review of the program. The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast  on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

Senator Jon Ossoff met with hundreds of constituents in Marietta at the Cobb County Civic Center Friday morning, with designs on pointing out the disparity in approaches on healthcare access and reproductive rights. Those in attendance - many recently fired (or "RIF'ed") CDC employees, others frazzled voters seething for impeachment - had questions completely divergent from the topics he set the table with.All the same, he answered questions for nearly an hour after an opening statement, and unlike at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's hellish scene in Acworth more than a week ago, no one was tased, arrested or asked to leave. That, and Ossoff took the heat aimed at him and his staff in-stride and vowed to do more for those with grievances.You can watch live streams fro WXIA-TV here. Some audio issues at the end may have you looking elsewhere, so WAGA-TV's stream can be found here.Or, hear just about all of the discussion on this special podcast.

In this episode of the NAWL Podcast, we delve into the dynamic world of federal employment, highlighting the critical importance of knowing your rights as an employee. Nicolle Vasquez Del Favero from the NAWL Military and Government Services Affinity Group returns as our host, joined by expert employment attorney Allison Eddy. Together, they provide an in-depth analysis of new executive orders, RIF regulations, and other pertinent topics. Tune in to discover how federal workers can best prepare and protect themselves under the continuing changes of the current administration.

All Halachic authorities agree that one recites the Beracha of "Boreh Peri Ha'gefen" over the first and third of the four cups of wine at the Seder. Over the first cup of wine, of course, a Beracha is required, because one has not drunk any wine before this cup, and a Beracha is obviously required before drinking. Likewise, the third cup of wine is drunk after Birkat Ha'mazon, and the recitation of Birkat Ha'mazon effectively ends the "coverage" of all Berachot recited previously, such that new Berachot are recited before one eats or drinks after Birkat Ha'mazon. The more complicated issue is the recitation of this Beracha before drinking the other two cups of wine. Seemingly, the Beracha recited over the first cup should cover the second cup, and the Beracha recited over the third cup should cover the fourth cup. At first glance, then, no Beracha should be required over the second and fourth cups. Nevertheless, the Rif (Rav Yishak of Fez, Morocco, 1013-1103) rules that one must recite a Beracha of "Boreh Peri Ha'gefen" on each of the four cups. He bases this ruling on the Gemara's comment in Masechet Pesahim that each of the four cups constitutes a separate Misva. If each cup is its own Misva, the Rif reasons, then each cup should require its own Beracha. The Rosh (Rabbenu Asher Ben Yehiel, Germany-Spain, 1250-1327), however, questions this rationale, noting that we recite only one Beracha when putting on Tefillin ("Le'haniah Tefillin") even though the Tefillin Shel Rosh and Tefillin Shel Yad constitute two separate Misvot. The fact that the four cups constitute independent Misvot should not have any effect on the recitation of Berachot. The Rif also draws proof from the Gemara in Masechet Hulin, which implies that one must recite a new Beracha when drinking after Birkat Ha'mazon. Since one cannot recite a Beracha while reciting Birkat Ha'mazon – as this would constitute a Hefsek (improper interruption) in the middle of the Birkat Ha'mazon – he must recite a new Beracha when he drinks afterward. Likewise, the Rif comments, since one cannot interrupt the reading of the Haggada to recite a Beracha, he must recite a new Beracha of "Gefen" when he drinks the second and fourth cups. The Rosh questions this argument, too, claiming that there is no comparison in this regard between the reading of the Haggada and Birkat Ha'mazon. The Gemara states that if one interrupts a meal to pray Minha, when he returns he resumes his meal without having to recite new Berachot. Likewise, if one interrupts his drinking to read the Haggada, he does not have to recite a new Beracha when he then drinks again. Birkat Ha'mazon is unique, the Rosh argues, because when one decides to recite Birkat Ha'mazon, he establishes that he no longer plans on eating. Therefore, if he then decides to eat or drink afterward, he must recite a new Beracha. This quite obviously does not apply in the case of reading the Haggada. In practice, Ashkenazim follow the ruling of the Rif, which is also the position taken by Tosafot, and they recite a Beracha on each of the four cups of wine at the Seder. Despite the Rosh's compelling questions on the Rif's rationale, this is the practice of the Ashkenazim. The Taz (Rav David Halevi Segal, Poland, 1586-1667) explains this view by suggesting that perhaps there is an implicit intention when reciting the Beracha over each cup that the Beracha should cover only that cup. The Aruch Ha'shulhan (Rav Yechiel Michel Epstein of Nevarduk, 1829-1908), however, dismisses this approach. In any event, Sepharadim follow the ruling of Maran, in the Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 474:1), where he accepts the Rosh's view, that no Beracha is recited over the second and fourth cups. The second cup is covered by the Beracha recited over the first cup, and the fourth cup is covered by the Beracha recited over the third cup, and no separate Beracha is required. Summary: According to accepted Sephardic practice, the Beracha of "Boreh Peri Ha'gefen" is recited over the first and third of the four cups at the Seder, but not on the second and fourth cups.

Pink Sheet Executive Editor Derrick Gingery, Senior Writer Sarah Karlin-Smith, Senior Editor Sue Sutter, and Editor-in-Chief Nielsen Hobbs discuss the impact of the 1 April reduction-in-force on the US Food and Drug Administration, which targeted about 3,500 employees (:30). They also consider how and whether service levels will change (13:28), and new Commissioner Martin Makary's first address to the drastically smaller staff the day after the RIF was announced (29:22). More On These Topics From The Pink Sheet Updated: US Likely To Lose Its First Approver Advantage After FDA Layoffs: https://insights.citeline.com/pink-sheet/agency-leadership/us-fda/fda-layoffs-us-likely-to-lose-its-first-approver-advantage-5C37YQ73DNBEFF7SHRYV4MJUIA/ Are Bigger Ad Policy Changes Coming After US FDA's Drug Promotion Office Hit Hard By Layoffs?: https://insights.citeline.com/pink-sheet/compliance/marketing-and-advertising/are-bigger-ad-policy-changes-coming-after-us-fdas-drug-promotion-office-hit-hard-by-layoffs-FQLHKJ4GWRCXLEIZCEMX37SUYU/ Dramatic HHS Layoffs A Response To ‘Existential Crisis,' Kennedy Advisor Argues: https://insights.citeline.com/pink-sheet/agency-leadership/us-fda/dramatic-hhs-layoffs-a-response-to-existential-crisis-kennedy-advisor-argues-XZKO5PJF6RHGHLABD2TZY7K2N4/ CDRH Staff Cuts Focus On Administrative Workers, Spare Reviewers: https://insights.citeline.com/pink-sheet/agency-leadership/us-fda/cdrh-staff-cuts-focus-on-administrative-workers-spare-reviewers-DL3L63CAGFGYTDAICFSXG5JP34/ Makary Pledges To Uphold Gold Standard Science, But First Address Confuses Some US FDA Staff: https://insights.citeline.com/pink-sheet/agency-leadership/us-fda/makary-pledges-to-uphold-gold-standard-science-but-first-address-confuses-some-us-fda-staff-WE7A5TQARBHX3MS6LGDIQT5CRY/ US FDA Restructuring May Be Next After Drugs Center Loses More Than 1,000 People: https://insights.citeline.com/pink-sheet/agency-leadership/us-fda/us-fda-restructuring-may-be-next-after-drugs-center-loses-more-than-1000-people-HOZ7IYGEC5BYBMNNUPAT2TBNI4/

Jason Cecil - like all of us - is defined by more than just a job; he's a husband, Dekalb County Ethics Board alternate, President of the LGBTQ+ recovery community-serving GALANO Club, to name a few of his attribuets. His job at the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) was really important, too, though. Until yesterday, he had been a Public Health Analyst in Global Immunizations since 2003, focusing on polio eradication, measles elimination, and immunization systems strengthening, before a promotion to the CDC division on Global HIV and TB. To hear him tell it, his was the division hit hardest by yesterday's cuts. Remember the DOGE-Elon Musk-Karen Leavitt-Donald Trump lie about $50 million for condoms "to Hamas?" Well, Mozambique in Africa has a Gaza province and none of those intellectual heavyweights distinguished between the two and even the monetary figure (and condoms, altogether) were overblown. It's the division Jason had been working in - global HIV and TB - that all along was " major, multi-pronged effort to address HIV and tuberculosis — not a dump of condoms."Well, Jason's no longer working in a capacity to deliver results for the George W. Bush-launched PEPFAR: the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. It was on World AIDS Day in 2022 that Bush returned to Washington (a rarity) to tout the two decades of PEPFAR's accomplishments. Yes, that Bush. Anyhow, Jason was kind enough to join me today to share his RIF experience, reaction, emotions and insights into what being a federal employee in such a necessary agency has been like since Trump was re-elected last November. Were contingency plans being made? Any "offloading" or "lifeboating" of research and data? What was the mood in the hallways like? What's next for career civil servants like him?

In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, we speak with Anisha Thomas, Head of People at Inscribe AI, about balancing empathy and strategic leadership in fast-growing startups. Anisha shares the emotional challenge of executing a reduction in force (RIF), leveraging AI agents for workforce efficiency and innovation, and discusses how transparent communication builds stronger trust within leadership teams. She also explores the evolving landscape of HR amid rapid technological advancements.

Duncan Giles & Larry Lannan talk about probationary employees, a possible RIF and much more

NASA's acting administrator has outlined plans for a phased reduction in force (RIF), closing several offices. Redwire Corporation has reported Q4 and full year 2024 financial results. Rocket Lab has scheduled its next two Electron launches from New Zealand, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our guest today is Troy Morris, Co-Founder and CEO of Kall Morris Inc. You can connect with Troy on LinkedIn, and learn more about KMI on their website. Selected Reading NASA will shut down three offices amid Trump layoffs Redwire Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results - Business Wire Rocket Lab Schedules Two Launches Three Days Apart, Upcoming Mission to Deploy Final Satellites in Kinéis Constellation- Business Wire SDA Issues Solicitation to Recompete 10 Tranche 2 Transport Layer-Gamma Variant Space Vehicles China launches communication technology test satellite - CGTN Polish Space Agency President Sacked Over Falcon 9 Debris Controversy  Eric Schmidt joins Relativity Space as CEO- TechCrunch Momentus and Solstar to offer on-demand communications for Vigoride - SpaceNews SES and Lynk Global Announce Strategic Partnership for Direct-to-Device (D2D) Services- Business Wire Xona Space Systems Announces Collaboration with Trimble to Deliver Next-Gen Navigation Services Study: Climate change will reduce the number of satellites that can safely orbit in space- MIT News T-Minus Crew Survey We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It'll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, sheds light on what military veterans should know if they are going through a RIF process.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: Ensuring your veterans preference is in your service record Process of buying back your military service Retaining a receipt of your military buyback   Additional resources: Link to full RIF training series: FedImpact.com/RIF-training-series  Local workshop locations and dates: FedImpact.com/attend  To be introduced to a local financial professional: FedImpact.com/request-to-meet Webinar replay: Breaking Down the Military Service Buyback : https://fedimpact.com/webinar/replay-breaking-down-the-military-service-buyback/

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, dives into a popular question about if it is better to quit/resign before being RIF'ed.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: What happens if you quit/resign? What options employees have if they are already eligible to retire What benefits you may give up if you quit/resign   Additional resources: Link to full RIF training series: FedImpact.com/RIF-training-series  Local workshop locations and dates: FedImpact.com/attend  To be introduced to a local financial professional: FedImpact.com/request-to-meet  

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, explores the rules for keeping various government insurance programs such as health (FEHB), life (FEGLI), dental and vision (FEDVIP), and long term care (FLTCIP).).   KEY TAKEAWAYS: Rules for being able to keep various federal benefits Timelines for changes to take place How the cost can change for each benefit   Additional resources: Link to full RIF training series: FedImpact.com/RIF-training-series  Local workshop locations and dates: FedImpact.com/attend  To be introduced to a local financial professional: FedImpact.com/request-to-meet FEGLI Handbook citing 5-year rule: https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/life-insurance/reference-materials/publications-forms/feglihandbook.pdf#page=114 FEHB Waiver Policy: https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/reference-materials/reference/annuitants/#current

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, reviews the rules for getting the FERS Special Retirement Supplement for employees who are RIF'ed.      KEY TAKEAWAYS: Explanation of the FERS Supplement Who gets the FERS Supplement? When do payments begin?   Additional resources: Link to full RIF training series: FedImpact.com/RIF-training-series  Local workshop locations and dates: FedImpact.com/attend  To be introduced to a local financial professional: FedImpact.com/request-to-meet

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, explains the pension calculation that employees can expect if they are RIF'ed.      KEY TAKEAWAYS: The pension formula The challenge of including military service The high-3 average (and potential change to the “high-5”)   Additional resources: Link to full RIF training series: FedImpact.com/RIF-training-series  Local workshop locations and dates: FedImpact.com/attend  To be introduced to a local financial professional: FedImpact.com/request-to-meet

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, discusses what happens if an employee wishes to return to federal service after being RIF'ed.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: What processes are in place to facilitate a return to service How to return to federal service if you have already retired How to return to federal service if you left with no pension (or one that pays out later) Additional resources: Link to full RIF training series: FedImpact.com/RIF-training-series OPM's Severance Pay Fact Sheet: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-administration/fact-sheets/severance-pay/  Local workshop locations and dates: FedImpact.com/attend  To be introduced to a local financial professional: FedImpact.com/request-to-meet

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, helps federal employees understand what happens to their unused annual leave and sick leave if they are RIF'ed.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: Rules for annual leave payout Rules for use of sick leave  What to do to not lose any leave    Additional resources: Link to full RIF training series: FedImpact.com/RIF-training-series  Sick Leave Conversion chart: FedImpact.com/2087-chart  Local workshop locations and dates: FedImpact.com/attend  To be introduced to a local financial professional: FedImpact.com/request-to-meet  

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, discusses the opportunity for many federal employees to collect unemployment if they lose their job due to the Reduction-in-Force.     KEY TAKEAWAYS: Who may qualify (and doesn't qualify) for unemployment Where employees go to file for unemployment How unemployment benefits may be affected by other payments received Additional resources: Link to full RIF training series: FedImpact.com/RIF-training-series  USA.gov Unemployment Benefits Guide: https://www.usa.gov/unemployment-benefits U.S. Dept of Labor Unemployment: https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/unemployment-insurance   Local workshop locations and dates: FedImpact.com/attend  To be introduced to a local financial professional: FedImpact.com/request-to-meet

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, reviews the possibility of cash payments being offered to federal employees as part of the RIF plan.     KEY TAKEAWAYS: Rules of the Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) How much are the incentives (and proposals for the amount to change) How VSIPs work with other downsizing tools (like VERAs) Who is not allowed to receive a VSIP buyout   Additional resources: Link to full RIF training series: FedImpact.com/RIF-training-series  OPM's guide to VSIPs: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/voluntary-separation-incentive-payments/guide.pdf Local workshop locations and dates: FedImpact.com/attend  To be introduced to a local financial professional: FedImpact.com/request-to-meet  

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, explains the rules surrounding severance pay and who can expect to receive it if they are RIF'ed.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: Who is eligible to receive severance  How to calculate approximate severance amount How severance pay is paid out   Additional resources: Link to full RIF training series: FedImpact.com/RIF-training-series  LINK to severance pay calc on OPM: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-administration/fact-sheets/severance-pay-estimation-worksheet/ LINK to “Basic Pay” definition: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-5/part-550/section-550.703#p-550.703(Rate%20of%20basic%20pay) Local workshop locations and dates: FedImpact.com/attend  To be introduced to a local financial professional: FedImpact.com/request-to-meet

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, explores what happens when an employee is facing a RIF, but doesn't qualify for an early out or a discontinued service retirement.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: Requirements to qualify for an Early Out Requirements to qualify for a Discontinued Service Retirement What an employee may be eligible to receive (such as a cash incentive or severance pay) How an employee may qualify for a federal pension later   Additional resources: Link to full RIF training series: FedImpact.com/RIF-training-series  OPM's severance pay worksheet: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-administration/fact-sheets/severance-pay-estimation-worksheet/  OPM's VSIP eligibility: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/voluntary-separation-incentive-payments/ Local workshop locations and dates: FedImpact.com/attend  To be introduced to a local financial professional: FedImpact.com/request-to-meet

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, discusses various ways employees can “volunteer” for a RIF and what causes them to be eligible to do so.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: The best time to volunteer What causes someone to be eligible to volunteer What an employee can expect to happen to their benefits   Additional resources: Link to full RIF training series: FedImpact.com/RIF-training-series  Local workshop locations and dates: FedImpact.com/attend  To be introduced to a local financial professional: FedImpact.com/request-to-meet  

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, explores what happens during a RIF for employees who have less than 5 years of federal service.        KEY TAKEAWAYS: What happens to the money already paid into FERS What happens if you return to federal service after being RIF'ed How access to the TSP may be limited   Additional resources: Link to full RIF training series: FedImpact.com/RIF-training-series  Local workshop locations and dates: FedImpact.com/attend  To be introduced to a local financial professional: FedImpact.com/request-to-meet

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, reviews how federal employees who are already eligible to retire will be affected by a RIF action.      KEY TAKEAWAYS: What it takes to be “fully-eligible” to retire What benefits are retained in retirement What benefits may be lost in retirement   Additional resources: Link to full RIF training series: FedImpact.com/RIF-training-series  Local workshop locations and dates: FedImpact.com/attend  To be introduced to a local financial professional: FedImpact.com/request-to-meet  

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, walks through the effect that a RIF will have on an employee's pension based on their length of federal service.    KEY TAKEAWAYS: Effect on pension if an employee has less than 5 years of federal service Effect on pension if an employee has at least 5 years of federal service Effect on pension if an employee is already fully-eligible to retire    Additional resources: Link to full RIF training series: FedImpact.com/RIF-training-series  Local workshop locations and dates: FedImpact.com/attend  To be introduced to a local financial professional: FedImpact.com/request-to-meet

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, contrasts the Reduction-in-Force with the recent “Deferred Resignation” offer to help employees understand the stark difference between these two actions.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: Voluntary vs. Involuntary action Expected differences between the two downsizing actions Why some employees chose the deferred resignation instead of waiting for the RIF   Additional resources: Link to full RIF training series: FedImpact.com/RIF-training-series  Local workshop locations and dates: FedImpact.com/attend  To be introduced to a local financial professional: FedImpact.com/request-to-meet  

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, compares Early Out offers, Cash Incentives, and Discontinued Service Retirements.     KEY TAKEAWAYS: Tools available to agencies during a Reduction-in-Force Explanation of the various programs and who qualifies What benefits employees can receive with each program When pure layoffs (with no benefits) are utilized   Additional resources: Link to full RIF training series: FedImpact.com/RIF-training-series  Local workshop locations and dates: FedImpact.com/attend  To be introduced to a local financial professional: FedImpact.com/request-to-meet

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, lists 12 things every federal employee should do in light of the pending Reduction-in-Force (RIF) plans in the works from federal agencies.  These items will help smooth the transition for employees who may find an abrupt end to their federal service.      KEY TAKEAWAYS: Accessing funds to allow for a smooth transition until federal pension begins Retaining important documents before you no longer have access to government systems Updating your records before you exit federal service   Additional resources: Link to full RIF training series: FedImpact.com/RIF-training-series  Download your electronic Official Personnel File (eOPF): FedImpact.com/get-your-eOPF       Update your federal beneficiaries: FedImpact.com/beneficiaries  Local workshop locations and dates: FedImpact.com/attend  To be introduced to a local financial professional: FedImpact.com/request-to-meet

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, assesses the inherent risk current facing the federal workforce and how agencies' RIF policies could leave many federal employees looking for work in the near future.     KEY TAKEAWAYS: Timelines expected for RIF actions  RIF procedures and ranking system What downsizing tools agencies are likely to use   Additional resources: Link to full RIF training series: FedImpact.com/RIF-training-series  Link to RIF order: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/reductions-in-force-rif/#url=Summary  Local workshop locations and dates: FedImpact.com/attend  To be introduced to a local financial professional: FedImpact.com/request-to-meet

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, makes some observations about what we've learned so far about the original Deferred Resignation offer to help federal employees better navigate this next round of downsizing through the looming Reduction-in-Force (RIF).      KEY TAKEAWAYS: Federal employees have felt undervalued and unappreciated HR's inability to respond to overwhelming number of inquiries Widespread panic and indecisiveness among federal workforce Very few extensions and little court delay   Additional resources: Link to full RIF training series: FedImpact.com/RIF-training-series  Local workshop locations and dates: FedImpact.com/attend  To be introduced to a local financial professional: FedImpact.com/request-to-meet

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, introduces the Reduction in Force training series that she developed exclusively for federal employees facing a monumental government-wide downsizing.  She describes the various types of topics covered in the video series to help as many federal employees be prepared as they go through the RIF process.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: Tools available to agencies during a Reduction-in-Force Timelines expected for RIF actions  Importance of knowing your numbers during a downsize A guide to the videos available to federal employees   Additional resources: Link to full RIF training series: FedImpact.com/RIF-training-series  Local workshop locations and dates: FedImpact.com/attend  To be introduced to a local financial professional: FedImpact.com/request-to-meet

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, reviews the IRS rules which allow federal employees to take from their TSP at various ages if they are RIF'ed.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: How do employees access TSP after they have separated (resigned or retired) How long employees have to wait take withdrawals from TSP What penalties may apply to withdrawals prior to age 59 ½   Additional resources: Link to full RIF training series: FedImpact.com/RIF-training-series  Local workshop locations and dates: FedImpact.com/attend  To be introduced to a local financial professional: FedImpact.com/request-to-meet