HAS DOGE got access taxpayer records? (Shutterstock).

Sensitive taxpayer data at the Internal Revenue Service is as risk of being available to Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, according to The Associated Press.

Sources “familiar with the plan” told the AP that if the group was successful in gaining access, it would be able to examine taxpayer information, bank records and “other sensitive records.”

Critics of DOGE express concern that the release of confidential tax records could be used against political opponents of the Trump Administration and violate the privacy of citizens.

A White House spokesman – in an e-mail statement – replied that “waste, fraud, and abuse have been deeply entrenched in our broken system for far too long. It takes direct access to the system to identify and fix it.”

Europe’s worry about Russia, U.S.

DONALD TRUMP and Vladimir Putin (Shutterstock).

Reportedly “shocked” by criticism by Vice President JD Vance and American plans to meet with Russia in Saudi Arabia on ending the war in Ukraine – without involving the Ukrainians – leaders of many major Europeans met Monday in Paris.

According to The New York Times, The Trump Administration is breaking with the policies of President Joe Biden to isolate Russia. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has suggested that the U.S wanted to withdraw American forces from Europe.

“Europe’s security is at a turning point,” said Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission after arriving in Paris on Monday. “Yes, it is about Ukraine — but it is also about us. We need an urgency mind-set. We need a surge in defense. And we need both of them now.”

Weather: Look! The Seventies!

This being winter in our West Orange County cities, it been a while since we saw the 70s …. temperature-wise, that is. But the forecast calls for daytime highs in the high 60s and then the 70s on Thursday and Friday. Tuesday is expected to have numbers of 67 and 48 with morning clouds and afternoon sun. Wednesday looks like 69 (48) with cloudy skies. Thursday appears to be 70 (58) with morning fog and afternoon sun. Friday is predicted to be 75 (51) with sun.