Politics: 5 stories from this week

February 22, 2025

Here are some stories you might have missed this week, curated by Times editors and personalized for you.

Stephen K. Bannon standing at a lectern during his speech at CPAC.

Eric Lee/The New York Times

Bannon Salute at Right-Wing Event Sparks Outcry, Even on French Right

A gesture by Stephen Bannon at CPAC, outside Washington, echoed a move by Elon Musk and prompted the president of France’s far-right National Rally to say it had evoked “Nazi ideology.”

By Charles Homans, Emma Bubola and Michael Gold

Eric Lee/The New York Times

DOGE’s Only Public Ledger Is Riddled With Mistakes

The figures from Elon Musk’s team of outsiders represent billions in government cuts. They are also full of accounting errors, outdated data and other miscalculations.

By Aatish Bhatia, Emily Badger, David A. Fahrenthold, Josh Katz, Margot Sanger-Katz and Ethan Singer

A portrait photograph of Neera Tanden, wearing a blue blazer, a dark blouse and a double strand pearl necklace.

Erin Schaff/The New York Times

A Leading Anti-Trump Voice Returns to Democrats’ Top Think Tank

Neera Tanden, a fierce antagonist to President Trump during his first administration, will again lead the Center for American Progress, a major engine of Democratic policy in Washington.

By Reid J. Epstein

A white-haired man in a dark jack and checkered tie.

Haiyun Jiang for The New York Times

New Allegation of Sexual Misconduct Swirls Around CPAC Chair Matt Schlapp

Several people have accused Mr. Schlapp, the Conservative Political Action Conference chairman, of sexual assault. One of his previous accusers received a six-figure settlement.

By Neil Vigdor

Kim Raff for The New York Times

A Lonely Holdout Where Republicans Still Resist Trump: Utah

Bolstered by Mormon voters’ distaste for MAGA politics, the center-right is trying to reassert itself in a ruby-red state.

By Kellen Browning

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