‘Connections’ February 28: Hints and Answers for Puzzle #628

Five former defense secretaries, including James Mattis, Leon Panetta, and Chuck Hagel, criticized President Trump for firing top military leaders, calling for Congress to hold hearings and refuse new nominations. Trump's actions were accused of politicizing the military and undermining national security, with concerns raised about the impact on recruitment and speaking out against authority. The former defense secretaries urged Congress to hold Trump accountable for what they deemed reckless actions that could harm the...

An investigation is underway into the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, who were found dead at their home in Santa Fe, N.M. Mr. Hackman's body was found in a mudroom, while Ms. Arakawa was found in a bathroom with a dead German shepherd nearby. The sheriff's office stated that there were no signs of foul play, and autopsies showed no external trauma, with tests pending to determine the cause of death....

Conservative commentators and MAGA diehards expressed outrage over the release of Jeffrey Epstein case documents by the White House, distributed to right-wing social media influencers like Mike Cernovich and Liz Wheeler. The documents, including flight logs and an address book, contained mostly already known information, leading to criticism of Attorney General Pamela Bondi and the influencers involved. Critics like Laura Loomer and Dave Portnoy questioned the transparency of the release, with calls for Bondi to...

The Trump administration is aggressively pushing for a major overhaul of the federal bureaucracy, instructing agencies to produce plans for workforce cuts, office closures, and employee relocation by March 13 and April 14. Experts believe meeting these deadlines is unrealistic and may lead to indiscriminate cuts. Employees are facing uncertainty and fear of job loss, with some already being fired or notified of impending layoffs, causing chaos and confusion within government agencies. Full Article

A Texas judge, Judge Hilary Unger, set a $3 million bond for Ronnie Palmer, the second suspect charged with capital murder in the death of Harris County Deputy Fernando Esqueda, in addition to bond for other charges. The Houston Police Officers' Union criticized Unger's decision, claiming she prioritizes criminals over victims and undermines law enforcement, leading to dangerous streets. Unger, up for re-election in 2026, has a history of letting repeat offenders out on bond...

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is set to reopen Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey, the largest ICE detention center on the East Coast with a 1,000-bed capacity, under the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration. Owned by GEO Group, the facility will cost ICE $60 million annually for 15 years and is expected to be operational by the end of June, despite New Jersey's law banning ICE from opening immigrant-specific jails. GEO Group sued the...