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 Hundreds of millions gathered Wednesday in homes and crowded festivals to mark the beginning of the Chinese lunar calendar new year, ringing in the Year of the Snake with feasts, dances, firework shows and traditional festivals.

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 For nearly two years, as members of the storied Kennedy family reluctantly went public to warn that their brother and cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was a dangerous man unfit for higher office, the one voice conspicuously missing was that of Caroline Kennedy, daughter of John F. Kennedy. The greater Kennedy family has long maintained a code of silence around family matters, whether a tragic death or a darker secret. Speaking out against one of their own would be verboten. As an ambassador to Australia in the Biden administration, Caroline Kennedy avoided speaking her views even privately to the press, declining comment when several of her cousins went on record with Vanity Fair to detail how RFK Jr.’s dark personal history collides with his political aspirations.

But on the brink of RFK Jr.’s possible confirmation to the head of Health and Human Services under Donald Trump’s new administration, Caroline Kennedy has finally gone public in a letter to the Senate nominating committee—plus an accompanying Instagram video–to describe her cousin as a “predator” who, despite overcoming heroin addiction, went on to “misrepresent, lie, and cheat his way through life.” (RFK Jr. did not respond to Vanity Fair, nor did his spokesperson, nor did Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s press secretary. An email to RFK Jr.’s personal account elicited an automated response: “Due to the volume of emails, RFK Jr. cannot read or respond to inquiries on this email.”)

Caroline Kennedy’s letter followed strident condemnations from The Wall Street Journal editorial page and The New York Post, both Murdoch publications. Stephen Kennedy Smith, Caroline’s cousin, tells Vanity Fair that Caroline sought his counsel before sending the letter. “This is a McCarthy moment,” he says he told her, “and somebody has got to tell the truth and show some guts.”

The word “predator” called to mind the allegations, first reported in Vanity Fair, from a former babysitter who says Kennedy sexually assaulted her in the late 1990s, when she was 23. Kennedy did not deny the allegations; he later publicly declared he was “not a church boy” and privately texted an apology to Eliza Cooney, the woman who came forward last year.

In early July of 2024, Cooney described to VF how Kennedy groped her in his own kitchen and had at other times seemed to stalk her in the house. “I imagine Ms. Kennedy chose her words carefully and intentionally when she used the word ‘predator,’” Cooney says now. “I experienced that side of him years ago. I fear that if he’s given the opportunity to lead an organization of more than 80,000 employees, other women may, too. I personally wouldn’t trust him with my health care or my daughter.”

She fears, however, that Caroline’s warning “is about six months too late.”

 Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman told "The View" on Monday that he believes the New York criminal trial against President Donald Trump was "politically motivated."

While discussing Trump and former President Joe Biden's controversial pardons, Fetterman said, "I also agree that the trial in this city, in New York, was politically motivated, that wouldn’t otherwise have been prosecuted if it was someone else."

Co-host Sunny Hostin seemed surprised and brought the conversation back around after, "Just for clarification, did you mean that the 34-count case in which Donald Trump was found guilty of various financial crimes was politically motivated here in New York?"

"I found that when the judicial system gets weaponized and targets political enemies for political gain, I think that’s inappropriate," Fetterman confirmed.

"I think that degrades our collective trust in this very important institution, whether that’s a Democrat going after a Republican, or a Republican going after a Democrat," he said. "I like to call it strikes and balls, but the judicial system has to remain impartial. I mean, that’s really the cornerstone of our society."

Trump was sentenced to an unconditional discharge in early January after being found guilty on charges of falsifying business records stemming from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s yearslong investigation.

Fetterman also responded to accusations that his views and policies have shifted to the right, saying he would make "a pretty terrible Republican."

Hostin asked about his "commitment" to the Democratic Party considering his recent decision to join Truth Social and his views on issues like fracking and immigration.

Fetterman also met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago ahead of his second inauguration on January 20, telling Fox News that he is a senator "for all Pennsylvanians" — not just Democrats.

 The White House budget office has ordered a pause on all federal grants and loans, according to an internal memorandum sent Monday, potentially impacting trillions in government spending and halting public programs that affect millions of Americans.

Federal agencies “must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance,” White House Office of Management and Budget acting director Matthew Vaeth said in the memorandum, a copy of which was obtained by CNN. The pause also blocks the issuance of new grants.

The memo specifies that the pause will not affect Social Security or Medicare benefits, nor does it include “assistance provided directly to individuals.”

The freeze on federal assistance is slated to take effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday. It marks the latest move by the Trump administration to exert control over federal funding, even that which has already been allocated by Congress.

“This temporary pause will provide the Administration time to review agency programs and determine the best uses of the funding for those programs consistent with the law and the President’s priorities,” Vaeth wrote.

The memo suggests that the pause is in line with President Donald Trump’s executive orders last week.

The pause also applies to “other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal,” according to the memo.

“Career and political appointees in the Executive Branch have a duty to align Federal spending and action with the will of the American people as expressed through Presidential priorities,” Vaeth wrote.

According to the memo, the budget office “may grant exceptions allowing Federal agencies to issue new awards or take other actions on a case-by-case basis.”

“To the extent required by law,” agencies may also take “certain administrative actions” like closing out grants, it states.

The memo calls on agencies to submit to OMB “detailed information on any programs, projects or activities subject to this pause” by February 10.

Democrats and nonprofits express alarm

Word of the order came Monday evening without further explanation from the Trump administration, leading charities that receive government grants and loans to question which organizations will be affected.

“This order is a potential 5-alarm fire for nonprofits and the people and communities they serve,” Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Council on Nonprofits, said in a statement Monday.

“From pausing research on cures for childhood cancer to closing homeless shelters, halting food assistance, reducing safety from domestic violence, and shutting down suicide hotlines, the impact of even a short pause in funding could be devastating and cost lives,” said Yentel.

The Association of American Universities, which is composed of America’s 71 leading research universities, including Notre Dame and Georgia Tech, said Tuesday it is “still working to assess” the impact of the pause.

Member universities “earn the majority of competitively awarded federal funding for research that improves public health, seeks to address national challenges, and contributes significantly to our economic strength, while educating and training tomorrow’s visionary leaders and innovators,” the association said.

Sen. Patty Murray of Washington state and Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut – the top Democratic appropriators in Congress – wrote a letter to the White House on Monday night outlining their “extreme alarm” with the move.

“The scope of what you are ordering is breathtaking, unprecedented, and will have devastating consequences across the country,” the lawmakers wrote. “We write today to urge you in the strongest possible terms to uphold the law and the Constitution and ensure all federal resources are delivered in accordance with the law.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also quickly criticized the pause.

“Congress approved these investments and they are not optional; they are the law,” the New York Democrat said in a statement Monday night. “These grants help people in red states and blue states, support families, help parents raise kids, and lead to stronger communities.”

Schumer added that the action jeopardizes “billions upon billions of community grants and financial support that help millions of people across the country.”

“It will mean missed payrolls and rent payments and everything in between: chaos for everything from universities to non-profit charities,” he said.

 Actress and singer Selena Gomez shared and then deleted a video of her crying about ICE deportations and expressing her wish she could "do something."

Over the first weekend of President Donald Trump’s second term, federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and their partners conducted nationwide roundups of more than 1,200 illegal immigrants who were charged or convicted with committing crimes on American soil.

The American-born "Only Murders in the Building" star posted a video to her Instagram story with a caption of "I’m sorry" along with a Mexican flag emoji.

All my people are getting attacked, the children. I don’t understand," she said while crying. "I’m so sorry, I wish I could do something, but I can’t. I don’t know what to do. I’ll try everything, I promise."

She deleted the video shortly afterward, and according to a purported screenshot, posted another, now-deleted Instagram story simply with a caption saying, "Apparently it’s not okay to show empathy for people."

The video was widely mocked across social media, such as by talk show host Piers Morgan, who wrote, "Posting yourself weeping over illegal immigrant criminals being deported is a new level of absurd celebrity narcissism."

The actress has spoken about illegal immigration before, and executive produced a Netflix documentary series about illegal immigrants called "Living Undocumented."

TRUMP’S ICE NABS CHILD SEX OFFENDERS AMONG 530+ ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAUGHT IN SINGLE DAY

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt released this image, writing on X that "deportation flights have begun." A Mississippi lawmaker is proposing paying bounty hunters to help deport illegal immigrants.  (White House)

"In the 1970s, my aunt crossed the border from Mexico to the United States hidden in the back of a truck," she said. "My grandparents followed, and my father was born in Texas soon after. In 1992, I was born a U.S. citizen thanks to their bravery and sacrifice."

She later told the outlet, "Over the past four decades, members of my family have worked hard to gain United States citizenship. Undocumented immigration is an issue I think about every day, and I never forget how blessed I am to have been born in this country thanks to my family and the grace of circumstance. But when I read the news headlines or see debates about immigration rage on social media, I feel afraid for those in similar situations. I feel afraid for my country."