this is Shades of the Day — bringing you different shades of opinion in news & culture so that you can see the big picture quickly. We believe that seeing multiple POVs is the best way to stay informed.

It’s Thursday, January 23 — here are today’s three featured stories:

1. An ongoing debate rages over DOGE and how feasible it is to cut government fraud and waste.

2. Trump clamps down on health agency communications as one of his first post-inauguration actions.

3. A new brush fire called the Sepulveda Fire broke out in LA.

1) Bishop Mariann Budde's sermon rebukes Trump's policies towards marginalized communities, calling for compassion for LGBTQ youth and immigrant families living in fear.

2) LA's Pacific Palisades fire spread fast due to high winds and few fire engines, causing chaos and straining resources.

3) Olympic champ Klete Keller relieved after Trump pardon for Capitol riot involvement.

4) Trump cuts federal DEI programs to pursue "colorblind merit-based" ideals, ending DEI hiring.

5) The Laken Riley Act passes Congress, mandating detention for unauthorized migrants charged with theft and violent crimes.

6) With the Ukraine conflict ongoing, Trump urges Putin to cut a deal or face new tariffs and sanctions on Russian exports.

The debate over DOGE

Trump launched the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to cut federal spending. The NYT says the agency, led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, is set to target waste and fraud in government programs -- all with the help of tech.

A Hill Op applauded DOGE's mission: Its focus on efficiency could slash the $1 trillion of federal debt interest. The General Services Administration is a great place for the group to start cutting back!

But a WaPo Op urged caution: DOGE may not prioritize cutting deficits! With Elon at the helm, the department may be more concerned with reducing bureaucracy and dismantling the government.

Meanwhile, a WSJ Op thinks DOGE may not be up to the task: The needless bureaucracy in government is too all-encompassing! Plus, DOGE may need Congress' consent to make any major changes.

Still, The Atlantic argues that Democrats should rally behind the goal of DOGE: Politics of Elon aside, a more efficient government benefits both sides of the aisle.

Trump’s healthy agency clampdown

Yahoo: The Trump administration's clampdown on health agency communications has folks worried about delaying urgent health alerts from the CDC, NIH, and FDA.

Kffhealthnews.org points out the freeze was ordered immediately post-inauguration, impacting how federal health entities like the FDA roll out crucial health updates.

Dr. Richard Besser tells CNN that restricting CDC communications risks public health by hindering info doctors need to do their jobs effectively.

Time Magazine notes this pause reflects the administration's anti-science vibe and that vaccine critic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. being picked for HHS has folks uneasy.

The NY Times highlights how this communications lockdown, uncovered in a Washington Post report, interrupted key discussions on crises like bird flu.

The Sepulveda Fire

A brush fire called the “Sepulveda Fire” breaks out near the 405 in Bel-Air, says latimes.com. Evacuation warnings are out for areas around Casiano Road and Moraga Drive.

The fire's got traffic going haywire: Yahoo says the southbound 405 was shut down just north of Getty to keep things safe.

CBS News chimes in, saying firefighters are out there working hard to get this under control since the blaze sparked Wednesday night.

According to deadline.com, the fire has already spread over 20 acres in the Sepulveda Pass, with fears it could endanger nearby homes.