Election officials blast Trump’s ‘retreat’ from protecting voting against foreign threats

• February 21, 2025

By Matt Vasilogambros, Stateline.org

The Trump administration has begun dismantling the nation’s defenses against foreign interference in voting, a sweeping retreat that has alarmed state and local election officials.

The administration is shuttering the FBI’s Foreign Influence Task Force and last week cut more than 100 positions at the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. President Donald Trump signed the law creating the agency in 2018. Among its goals is including helping state and local officials protect voting systems.

Secretaries of state and municipal clerks fear those moves could expose voter registration databases and other critical election systems to hacking — and put the lives of election officials at risk.

In Pennsylvania, Republican Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said states need federal help to safeguard elections from foreign and domestic bad actors.

“It is foolish and inefficient to think that states should each pursue this on their own,” he told Stateline. “The adversaries that we might encounter in Pennsylvania are very likely the same ones they’ll encounter in Michigan and Georgia and Arizona.”

Officials from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, known as CISA, and other federal agencies were notably absent from the National Association of Secretaries of State winter meeting in Washington, D.C., earlier this month. Those same federal partners have for the past seven years provided hacking testing of election systems, evaluated the physical security of election offices, and conducted exercises to prepare local officials for Election Day crises, among other services for states that wanted them.

But the Trump administration thinks those services have gone too far.

In a Feb. 5 memo, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the administration is dismantling the FBI’s task force “to free resources to address more pressing priorities, and end risks of further weaponization and abuses of prosecutorial discretion.” The task force was launched in 2017 by then-FBI Director Christopher Wray, a Trump nominee.

In her confirmation hearing last month, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said CISA has “gotten far off-mission.” She added, “They’re using their resources in ways that was never intended.” While the agency should protect the nation’s critical infrastructure, its work combating disinformation was a step too far, she said.

This echoes the language from the conservative Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 document, which has driven much of the Trump administration’s policies. “The Left has weaponized [CISA] to censor speech and affect elections at the expense of securing the cyber domain and critical infrastructure,” it says.

But there is a direct correlation between pervasive election disinformation and political violence, election officials warn.

Federal officials led the investigations into the roughly 20 death threats that Colorado Democratic Secretary of State Jena Griswold has received over the past 18 months, Griswold said. Federal and Colorado officials also collaborated on social media disinformation and mass phishing scams.

“Trump is making it easier for foreign adversaries to attack our elections and our democracy,” Griswold said in an interview. “He incites all this violence, he has attacked our election system, and now he is using the federal government to weaken us.”

Colorado could turn to private vendors to, for example, probe systems to look for weaknesses, she said. But the state would be hard-pressed to duplicate the training, testing and intelligence of its federal partners.

Some election leaders aren’t worried, however.

“Kentucky has no scheduled elections in 2025, and we have no immediate concerns pending reorganization of this agency,” Republican Secretary of State Michael Adams told Stateline in an email.

Elections under attack

Since the Russian government interfered in the 2016 presidential campaign, the federal government has recognized that it overlooked security risks in the election system, said Derek Tisler, a counsel in the Elections and Government Program at the Brennan Center, a left-leaning pro-democracy institute.

Further, he said, the feds realized that election officials working in 10,000 local offices could not be frontline national security experts. On their own, local officials are incapable of addressing bigger security risks or spotting a coordinated attack across several states, Tisler said.

Much of the federal expertise and training came through CISA, Tisler said.

“Foreign interferers are not generally looking to interfere in Illinois’ elections or in Texas’ elections; they are looking to interfere in American elections,” he said. “A threat anywhere impacts all states. It’s important that information is not confined to state lines.”

During November’s presidential election, polling places in several states received bomb threats that were traced back to Russia. Ballot drop boxes in Oregon and Washington were lit on fire, and videos falsely depicting election workers destroying ballots circulated widely.

The fact that these attacks have not had a meaningful impact on the outcomes of elections may be due to the amount of preparation and training that came from federal assistance in recent years, said Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat.

Indeed, the right-leaning Foundation for Defense of Democracies praised the collaboration between federal and state and local partners on election security for dampening the impact of foreign interference in the presidential election, finding that adversaries did not “significantly” influence the results.

When Bellows took office in 2021, federal national security officials led state officials in emergency response training. After Bellows completed the training, she insisted that her state’s clerks, local emergency responders and law enforcement officers participate as well.

In addition, Maine coordinated with the FBI to provide de-escalation training to local clerks, to teach them how to prevent situations, such as a disruption from a belligerent voter, from getting out of hand. In 2022, CISA officials traveled to towns and cities across the state to assess the physical security of polling places and clerks’ offices.

Bellows said she’s most grateful for the federal help she got last year when she received a deluge of death threats, members of her family were doxed, and her home was swatted.

“I am deeply concerned that what is happening is actually gutting the election security infrastructure that exists and a tremendous amount of knowledge and expertise in the name of this political fight,” she told Stateline.

In Ingham County, Michigan, Clerk Barb Byrum last year invited two federal officials to come to her courthouse office southeast of Lansing to assess its physical security. Byrum got county funding to make improvements, including adding security cameras and a ballistic film on the windows of her office.

“The federal support is going to be missed,” she said. “It seems as though the Trump administration is doing everything it can to encourage foreign interference in our elections. We must remain vigilant.”

Scott McDonell, clerk for Dane County, Wisconsin, used to talk to Department of Homeland Security officials frequently to identify cybersecurity threats, including vulnerabilities in certain software or alerts about other attacks throughout the country. Losing that support could incentivize more interference, he said.

“I think it’s a terrible idea,” he said. “How can you expect someone like me, here in Dane County, to be able to deal with something like that?”

States fill the gap

Local election officials are nervous and uncertain about the federal election security cuts, said Pamela Smith, president and CEO of Verified Voting, a nonprofit that works with state and local election officials to keep voting systems secure.

The threat landscape for elections is “extreme,” she said. And even though it’s not a major election year, quieter times are when election offices can prepare and perfect their practices, she said.

“It is a retreat and it’s a really ill-advised one,” she said. “It’s a little bit like saying the bank has a slow day on Tuesday, we’re going to let our security guards go home.”

With a federal exodus, there will be a real need for states to offer these sorts of programs and assistance, said Tammy Patrick, chief programs officer at the National Association of Election Officials, which trains and supports local officials.

“There’s going to be a big gap there for the states to try and fill,” she said. “Some of them might be sophisticated enough to be able to do some of it, but I think there’s going to be some real disparate application across the country of who’s going to be able to fill in those gaps.”

Bill Ekblad, Minnesota’s election security navigator, has leaned on the feds to learn the ropes of election security and potential threats, help him assist local election offices with better cyber practices and keep officials throughout the state updated with the latest phishing attempts.

He finds it disheartening to see the federal government stepping back, and worries that he won’t have access to intelligence about foreign threats. But after five years of working with the federal government, he is hopeful that his state has built resiliency.

“We have come a long way,” he said. “We will be able to move forward with or without the partnerships we’ve enjoyed in the past.”

©2025 States Newsroom. Visit at stateline.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

​ Orange County Register 

Mayor Bass fires Crowley as LA’s fire chief

• February 21, 2025

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass removed Kristin Crowley as the city’s fire chief on Friday, effective immediately. The mayor appointed former Chief Deputy Ronnie Villanueva to serve as interim chief.

Bass’ administration has maintained that cuts to areas of the fire department’s budget did not impact firefighters’ ability to respond to the fires, despite comments from Crowley that suggest otherwise. The fire chief recently lashed out against city officials, saying the city “failed” her and her department. Crowley also cast blame on the city for water running out when many of the hydrants tapped to fight the deadly Palisades fire went dry.

“I’m not a politician, I’m a public servant. It’s my job as the fire chief for Los Angeles city fire department to make sure our firefighters have exactly what they need to do their jobs,” Crowley told CNN at the time.

On Friday, Bass said 1,000 firefighters could have been on duty the morning the fires broke out but “were instead sent home on Chief Crowley’s watch.” The Palisades Fire gutted 23,448 acres, leveled nearly 7,000  structures and damaged 1,017 more. At least 12 people were killed.

“Furthermore, a necessary step to an investigation was the president of the Fire Commission telling Chief Crowley to do an after action report on the fires,” Bass added. “The chief (Crowley) refused. These require her removal.”

Bass also said Crowley refused to launch an after-action report on the deadly wildfires.

The mayor scheduled a press conference to discuss her decision for mid-day.

The mayor and her office have been inundated with questions since the first fire broke out  — everything from whether Bass regretted her trip to Ghana and if she should apologize to Angelenos for being away to whether the city cut the fire department’s budget and left it ill-equipped to battle the flames to whether city officials failed to ensure that L.A. had enough water to respond to massive fires.

In media interviews last week, Bass acknowledged she made a mistake by leaving the city. But she inferred that she wasn’t aware of the looming danger when she jetted around the globe to attend the inauguration of Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama. She faulted Crowley for failing to alert her about the potentially explosive fire conditions.

In her announcement, the mayor said she fired Crowley “in the best interests” of L.A.’s public safety and the operations of the L.A. Fire Department.

“The heroism of our firefighters — during the Palisades Fire and every single day — is without question,” Bass said. “Bringing new leadership to the fire department is what our city needs.”

Villanueva is expected to lead the LAFD while the mayor’s office leads a national search and engages with residents to what they’d like in their next fire chief.

The interim chief retired seven months ago, but he is ready to hit the ground running, according to Bass’ office.

Villanueva retired from the fire department as chief deputy of emergency operations, and has decades of experience in fire suppression, emergency management, and the management of thousands of operational and support members of the LAFD in various positions at the department.

Before becoming a chief officer, Villanueva spent 24 years in the field at active assignments.

Developer Rick Caruso, whom Bass defeated in the 2022 race for mayor, responded swiftly to the move.

“It is very disappointing that Mayor Bass has decided to fire Chief Kristin Crowley,” Caruso said in a statement. “Chief Crowley served Los Angeles well and spoke honestly about the severe and profoundly ill-conceived budget cuts the Bass administration made to the LAFD. That courage to speak the truth was brave, and I admire her. Honesty in a high city official should not be a firing offense. The mayor’s decision to ignore the warnings and leave the city was hers alone. This is a time for city leaders to take responsibility for their actions and their decisions. We need real leadership, not more blame passing.”

“Chief Crowley remains the most qualified member of the L.A. City Fire Department that earned her well deserved appointment as fire fhief,” said L.A. City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez. “I am outraged by the scapegoating revealed by the Mayor’s actions. I plan to use my authority as a Councilmember to set the record straight and encourage Chief Crowley to appeal the Mayor’s baseless termination to the City Council. The public deserves a full account of every single leadership failure that has taken place.”

Crowley was elevated to Los Angeles fire chief in 2022 at a time of turmoil in a department consumed by complaints of rampant hazing, harassment and discrimination among its 3,400-member ranks. As a career firefighter, she was portrayed as a stabilizing force.

She worked for the city fire department for more than 25 years and held nearly every role, including fire marshal, engineer and battalion chief.

This is a breaking news story; watch for updates

City News Service and the Associated Press contributed to this report 

​ Orange County Register 

Best ergonomic office chair

• February 21, 2025

Which ergonomic office chair is best?

Ergonomic chairs can be one of the most significant decisions you can make if you work from home or spend a lot of time sitting at your desk. With an emphasis on comfort and design, ergonomic chairs are designed to ease back and neck pain and allow you to sit for more extended periods than traditional office chairs.

However, there are many ergonomic chairs to choose from and as such, it is essential to remember that finding the right chair depends on matching your body type and comfort requirements to a chair that can meet them. Top pick XUER Ergonomics Office Chair has a cushy seat perfect for long hours at a desk.

What to know before you buy an ergonomic office chair

Adjustability

Finding a suitable height for your office chair ensures that working for extended periods will be easy and comfortable. Many ergonomic office chairs come with a wide range of fully adjustable settings and parts such as the height, backrest, armrests and headrest. Ensuring your chair is adjusted to fit your specific body type is of the utmost importance to get all the benefits ergonomic office chairs can offer.

Support

Depending on the office chair you want, it most likely is supported by wheels on casters for easy mobility and support. Finding a seat that provides adequate lumbar or lower back support is crucial. Many ergonomic chairs have padded backs that fit the natural inward curve of a person’s back, ensuring a person can sit for an extended period without feeling discomfort.

Seat material

A good ergonomic chair should have enough padding to sit on for long periods, whether for work, gaming or streaming. The best ergonomic chairs have seats with cloth fabric that breathes, allowing your weight to be evenly and comfortably distributed. Other ergonomic chairs may have leather surfaces that fit the contours of your body.

What to look for in a quality ergonomic office chair

Swivel

Most if not all ergonomic chairs should easily rotate 360 degrees. A good swivel also lets a user not strain their neck when working.

Recline

Many ergonomic chairs come with the ability to recline. Reclining supports the head, back and feet when elevated and is a great feature to have when taking a break from work.

Extra features

Some ergonomic chairs come with added customizability, such as removable heads and footrests to make your working experience as comfortable as possible.

How much you can expect to spend on an ergonomic office chair

Many ergonomic chairs start off costing between $50-$150 and generally are more aligned with how you expect office chairs to look. They generally have limited adjustability and may not be made of the softest materials. Midrange ergonomic office chairs cost between $150-$300 and often come with additional features such as adjustable headrests, footrests and armrests. Additionally, they are more likely to be made with more comfortable materials such as fine mesh designed to absorb weight evenly. High-end ergonomic chairs cost more than $300 and may come with several interchangeable, adjustable parts to maximize comfort for your specific shape.

Ergonomic office chair FAQ

What is the best way to sit in an office chair?

A. It is recommended the chair be adjusted for lumbar support, applying supportive pressure to your lower back to avoid tension. Make sure you can place both your feet flat on the floor and your legs are perpendicular to it.

Are armrests bad for posture?

A. Armrests help relieve discomfort for your neck, arms and upper back. They allow your elbows to be held against the body when holding your arms out for long periods can create tension. However, some feel more comfortable without them.

What is the best ergonomic office chair to buy?

Top ergonomic office chair

XUER Ergonomics Office Chair

What you need to know: This adjustable office chair provides support with an extra-thick seat cushion.

What you’ll love: The XUER office chair is easy to assemble and has an adjustable headrest, height and rotation.

What you should consider: Some users have reported the seat cushion is too firm.

Top ergonomic office chair for the money

Flash Furniture Ergonomic Office Chair

What you need to know: The Flash Furniture office chair is an excellent mesh-backed option for those looking to work safely and comfortably, with a highly customizable design.

What you’ll love: This chair comes in more than eight colors and can be an excellent work chair for offices, business spaces and college dorms.

What you should consider: Some users have reported the seat is somewhat shallow.

Worth checking out

NOUHAUS Ergo3D Ergonomic Office Chair

What you need to know: This adjustable chair comes with a fully customizable armrest and lumbar support system to conform to any kind of body type.

What you’ll love: With its excellent five-point base design on dual casters, this chair can support a person while quickly rolling over both hard and soft flooring.

What you should consider: Some users have reported the tilt lock on the chair broke after a year or so of continuous use.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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​ Orange County Register 

Joint Chiefs chairman heads to US-Mexico border to assess rapid military buildup

• February 21, 2025

By TARA COPP, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Gen. CQ Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is visiting troops along the U.S.-Mexico border Friday to assess the military’s progress in fortifying sections of the wall, coming as the Pentagon rapidly expands its border mission in line with President Donald Trump’s efforts to combat illegal immigration.

The military in the past month has quickly surged troops and equipment to the border, is seeking expanded authority for cooperation with Mexican forces, has conducted scores of deportation flights and is readying the detention facilities at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, to possibly house as many as 30,000 migrants.

About 9,200 U.S. troops total are at the southern border, including 4,200 deployed under federal orders and about 5,000 National Guard troops under the control of governors.

The military has conducted 26 deportation flights to return migrants to their home countries, including military air flights to Guatemala, El Salvador, Ecuador, India, Honduras, Peru and Panama. It also has carried out 13 flights to transport migrants to Guantánamo.

U.S. Northern Command has increased manned surveillance flights along the U.S.-Mexico border to monitor drug cartels and the movement of fentanyl and is increasing its intelligence sharing with Mexico from those flights, Gen. Gregory Guillot told senators last week.

There are also unmanned U.S. drones conducting surveillance over Mexico’s airspace, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum told reporters Wednesday.

This week, Trump designated many of the gangs and cartels moving those drugs into the U.S. as foreign terrorist organizations, further increasing the pressure on their ability to move and providing law enforcement with what the State Department said are “additional tools to stop these groups.”

Guillot also told senators that Northern Command would seek expanded authority from Congress to conduct “more advise-and-assist types of operations between our forces and the tier one Mexican forces,” which are that country’s special forces units.

Securing the southern border is a top priority for the Trump administration, so much so that in a directive released Wednesday ordering the military to find $50 billion in program cuts by October, activities at the southern border were exempted.

“We’ve been defending other people’s borders for a long time — time to defend ours,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told journalists last week in Stuttgart, Germany. “So we’re sealing that border.”

Mexico agreed to send 10,000 of its own National Guard troops to the border to stave off Trump’s threat of imposing 25% tariffs. The Pentagon announced Wednesday that the U.S. and Mexico had reached an agreement to conduct “coordinated patrols on their respective side of the border,” increase information sharing and establish lines for immediate communications between the militaries.

“The agreement emphasizes that each country will respect the sovereignty of the other,” Hegseth’s chief of staff, Joseph Kasper, said in a statement.

There’s not a full tally on what the operations have cost to date, but one of the most visible aspects of the military operation — the deportation flights — are costing the government about $28,000 per hour. The flight to India, which deported 104 Indian migrants, cost more than $2.5 million.

___

​ Orange County Register 

Best washable rugs

• February 21, 2025

Which washable rug is best?

A great rug can tie a space together, bring out other design elements and colors in the space and create cozy, livable rooms within your home. If you have kids or pets, a washable rug is a great way to get the style of a rug in a easy to clean package. They also come in a variety of attractive and timeless designs to suit any style. For a classic washable area rug that looks more expensive than it is, the ReaLife Rugs Machine Washable Rug is a top choice.

What to know before you buy a washable rug

The furniture in your space

If your space is already furnished, you should choose a washable rug that fits with your room’s layout and color scheme. Area rugs can be used to create a modular feel alongside the furniture in your space.

For example, you can use an area rug in conjunction with your sectional to create a sitting area for entertaining guests. Or, you can use an area rug to designate a sleeping zone in your bedroom by choosing a rug large enough to cover the space surrounding your bed.

Color and pattern are major considerations when picking a rug that works with your furniture. If your furniture is beige, black, grey or brown, you can get away with choosing an area rug in a vibrant pattern. If you have ornate furniture in bold colors, consider choosing an understated area rug in a neutral color.

Material

Most washable rugs are made from synthetic materials like polyester. These materials are easily cleaned by a washing machine and tend to be more durable. Some washable rugs are made from cotton and other natural materials. These rugs tend to be more expensive and not as long lasting.

Pile height

The pile height of a rug determines how thick it feels under your feet. Low pile rugs are less than a quarter-inch thick and are ideal for high traffic areas, such as hallways and entryways. They’re also easy to vacuum.

Medium to high pile rugs have a cozy, thick feel. While they require higher suction vacuuming to keep clean, they’re a good choice if you like a plush look. They work better in low traffic areas, such as a den or bedroom.

What to look for in a quality washable rug

Color

You’ll find washable rugs in a variety of colors, from understated beiges and earthtones to vibrant reds, oranges, greens and blues. Since your rug is washable, you can go for lighter tones that ordinarily would not be a good fit for households with pets and small children, where spills and accidents occur frequently.

The sky’s the limit when it comes to choosing rugs in colors you love. Consider the other colors in the space and select a washable rug that accentuates those colors.

Design

Alongside color, the shape and design of your rug will impact the overall aesthetic and cohesion of a space. Washable rugs may be rectangular, round or runner shaped to fit nicely with the other furniture in a room.

Backing

Look for a machine washable rug with a rubber backing. Rugs without backing tend to slide around easily and can be hazardous if they slip out of place under foot.

How much you can expect to spend on a washable rug

Washable rugs will cost as little as $20 for small rugs intended for use in the bathroom or in front of a kitchen sink, and up to $700 for large, high quality washable rugs from top brands. Expect to pay at least $150 for a large washable rug with durable materials and vibrant patterns from a reputable brand.

Washable rug FAQ

How do I know what size washable rug to buy?

A. To make a room feel spacious, you should leave at least 18 inches between the walls of a room and the rug. This should give you an idea of how to measure your space if you want a rug that covers an entire room or section of a room.

How do I eliminate creases and get my rug to lie flat?

A. Train a new rug to lie flat by vacuuming it. If it’s still curling up, try placing heavy objects like text books on all four corners of the rug for a couple of days.

Washable rug tips

• If your washable rug gets stained, you should pre-treat the spot with a laundry stain stick before you throw it in the wash to ensure the stain comes out.
• Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning your rug to prevent damage. Dry your rug on low heat.
• When picking a washable area rug for your home, check the thickness of the rug before you buy. Be sure that any doors are able clear the rug without getting stuck.
• Make a room look bigger with a round area rug, which draws attention away from a room’s walls and makes a small space feel large and cohesive.
• Try moving your rug around to face a different direction in your space. Your rug’s colors will vary slightly depending on how the light hits it.

What’s the best washable area rug to buy?

Top washable area rug

ReaLife Rugs Machine Washable Rug

What you need to know: This environmentally-conscious and washable rug has an antique look.

What you’ll love: Woven from recycled polyester, this chic rug balances modern functionality with a classic vintage pattern. It’s completely washable and highly durable.

What you should consider: It must be air-dried.

Top washable area rug for the money

Secret Sea Collection Modern Bohemian Style Area Rug & Runner

What you need to know: This modern bohemian rug makes a perfect addition to areas with heavy foot traffic.

What you’ll love: It offers a low-pile, vintage look with gorgeous natural colors. It’s able to withstand machine washing.

What you should consider: This rug tends to fray and isn’t as durable as some other options.

Worth checking out

Hebe 6 Foot Large Washable Cotton Round Chic Bohemian Mandala Printed Tassel Area Rug

What you need to know: Hebe makes a meditative, washable mandala rug that looks attractive in any space.

What you’ll love: This hand woven cotton circle rug features chic tassels and a distinctive mandala print. It is lightly woven and durable for its price point.

What you should consider: It is machine washable in cold water only.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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​ Orange County Register 

Tesla recalling more than 375,000 vehicles due to power steering issue

• February 21, 2025

Tesla is recalling more than 375,000 vehicles due to a power steering issue.

The recall is for certain 2023 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles operating software prior to 2023.38.4, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The printed circuit board for the electronic power steering assist may become overstressed, causing a loss of power steering assist when the vehicle reaches a stop and then accelerates again, the agency said.

The loss of power could required more effort to control the car by drivers, particularly at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Tesla isn’t aware of any crashes, injuries, or deaths related to the condition.

The electric vehicle maker headed by Elon Musk has released a free software update to address the issue.

Letters are expected to be sent to vehicle owners on March 25.

Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752 or the NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236.

​ Orange County Register 

Macron’s message to Trump: ‘You can’t be weak in the face of Putin’

• February 21, 2025

By SYLVIE CORBET, Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron said that he intends to tell U.S. counterpart Donald Trump that it’s in the joint interest of Americans and Europeans not to “be weak” in the face of Russian leader Vladimir Putin amid U.S.-led negotiations to end the nearly three-year war in Ukraine.

Macron will travel to Washington to meet with Trump on Monday, the White House said.

In a one-hour question and answer session on social media Thursday, Macron said that he’ll tell Trump: “’You can’t be weak in the face of President Putin. It’s not you, it’s not your trademark, it’s not in your interest. How can you then be credible in the face of China if you’re weak in the face of Putin?’”

Trump’s recent statements that echo Putin’s narrative and plans to have direct negotiations with Moscow have left European allies and Ukrainian officials worried. But Macron suggested Trump’s strategy to create “uncertainty” in talks with Russia could actually make Western allies stronger in these talks.

Putin “doesn’t know what he (Trump) is going to do, he thinks (Trump) is capable of anything,” Macron said. “This uncertainty is good for us and for Ukraine.”

Macron said that he would seek to persuade Trump that U.S. interests and Europeans’ interests are the same, telling him: “If you let Russia take over Ukraine, it would be unstoppable.”

That means any peace deal must be negotiated with Ukrainians and Europeans around the table, Macron said.

“We want peace. But we don’t want a ceasefire that means Ukraine surrendering, because that’s dangerous. And we know that would lead to Russia going further. We’ve already experienced it,” he said.

Macron also appeared ready to answer Trump’s call to boost defense spending. “Us, Europeans, we must increase our war effort,” he said.

Asked about whether he’s considering sending French troops to Ukraine, he said he wouldn’t send soldiers to fight in Ukraine but rather to be part of a security force meant to bring “guarantees” once a peace deal is achieved.

“We don’t rule out, within a framework planned with our allies, the possibility of having forces which, once peace has been negotiated, could contribute to guaranteeing Ukraine’s security,” he said.

​ Orange County Register 

Airlines at LAX will help disabled passengers get to vehicles picking them up

• February 21, 2025

Q: Now that they have rearranged the pickup locations at Los Angeles International Airport so people in their own vehicles cannot pick up folks from the curb just outside the terminal exit doors, are there special provisions made for disabled people to navigate across the shuttle bus lanes to get to the passenger pickup spots?

– John Sims, Dana Point

A: Yes.

There are ramps for people with disabilities, which can be found via the blue signs showing someone in a wheelchair, to help them get to the outer curb pickup areas; officially, that icon is called the International Symbol of Accessibility. Also, the crosswalks are tailored for the disabled.

Airlines provide wheelchair assistance, from the the gate to the inner and outer curbs on the lower level, and can be arranged ahead of time.

But passengers can ask for wheelchair assistance at any time while at the airport, too, said an official for Los Angeles World Airports, the city department that owns and runs LAX. A wheelchair and assistant, or just an assistant if desired, will help anyone.

Or, if easier, anyone can take an elevator to the upper level, designated for departures, and be picked up there curbside with no lanes to cross.

To recap from a Honk answer a couple of weeks ago: On the ground level, since 2019, the inside lanes that run next to the terminals are only for approved shuttles. Across those lanes are a string of islands, where passengers can wait for personal and other vehicles in the outer lanes to pull over and scoop them up.

Q: Mr. Honk: I read the question from Randy Lubs of Torrance regarding a missing front license plate on his recently purchased 2021 vehicle. California license plates are made of thin metal and when mailed from the Department of Motor Vehicles they can stick together. It might be possible that there are two plates stuck together attached to the rear of Mr. Lubs’ car. Just something that I experienced and wanted to share with you and your readers.

– Anthony Zamora, San Bernardino 

A: Honk thanks you, Anthony.

“I know exactly what he is referring to because that (kind of once) happened to my son on a motorcycle he bought; the real plate was under a temporary paper plate,” Randy said. “(Also) the dealership finally returned my call and said they would order a new pair of plates to remedy my plight.”

HONKIN’ FACT: Over a recent weekend, Honk was in Phoenix and took Waymo — the electric, self-driving car — several times with Mrs. Honk to a store or a restaurant. He felt quite safe and rather enjoyed the jaunts.

To ask Honk questions, reach him at [email protected]. He only answers those that are published. To see Honk online: ocregister.com/tag/honk. To see him on the social media platform X: @OCRegisterHonk

​ Orange County Register