Raskin points to Musk remarks in demanding release of Epstein files
'Elon Musk said that Donald Trump is in the Epstein files, and that's the real reason they haven't been released,' the lawmaker said Wednesday in an interview on MSNBC's 'All in with Chris Hayes,' paraphrasing comments Musk made during a public feud with the president over the massive tax and spending bill, which was signed into law July 4.
Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, said the administration should release all the material they have on Epstein but, 'at the very least,' should release material related to Musk's remarks — noting the Tesla CEO spent months in the White House as a senior adviser to the president and had access to sensitive material.
'We've been hearing from Trump and [Attorney General] Pam Bondi and [FBI Director] Kash Patel and the Republicans, for years now, about all of the extraordinarily lurid things that are in there about politicians and people with extraordinary wealth and power who are on Epstein's list,' Raskin said. 'And that's what we want to see. They should release all of it.'
'At the very least, they should release those parts that were indicated by Elon Musk,' the Maryland Democrat continued, 'who, for a while, was Donald Trump's best friend and who was entrusted with the most important job in the administration — which was basically to dismantle the government of the United States — whose repercussions we're living with right now.'
Earlier this week, Raskin led his fellow Democrats on the Judiciary panel in a letter asking the Justice Department to release former special counsel Jack Smith's report on the Mar-a-Lago classified documents investigation as well as any of the Epstein files that reference President Trump.
He accused Bondi of shielding potentially damaging information.
'This Administration has repeatedly claimed that President Trump is 'the most transparent and accessible president in American history.' So far, your DOJ has not only failed to live up to this promise, but you have also consistently hidden from the American public materials and information that may be damaging to President Trump,' Raskin wrote in a letter to Bondi, which was signed by 15 other Democrats on the committee.
'Your conduct is particularly worrisome as it appears to be part of a pattern of using the DOJ to cover up evidence of criminal wrongdoing by President Trump, including information allegedly contained in the Epstein files,' it continues. 'We write today to demand that you release the Smith report immediately, as well as any evidence mentioning or referencing Donald Trump in the Epstein files.'
The letter came after the DOJ on Monday released a memo concluding Epstein died by suicide and did not keep a client list.
That contradicted Musk's accusation that Trump 'is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.'
The president has denied being close with Epstein and fumed over questions about the matter during a Tuesday Cabinet meeting.
'Are people still talking about this guy? This creep? That is unbelievable,' he said.
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17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump tariffs live updates: Trump boasts of tariff billions, vows to punish China on for Russian oil
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Canada to help lumber industry cope with US tariffs: Carney Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that Canada will provide funds to help the lumber industry prepare for tariffs. Reuters reports: Read more here. Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that Canada will provide funds to help the lumber industry prepare for tariffs. Reuters reports: Read more here. Starbucks under pressure again as Brazilian tariffs hike coffee costs Starbucks (SBUX) may soon hike prices on its pumpkin spice lattes and bottled Frappuccinos as it faces cost pressure from the 50% tariff on Brazilian coffee imports, which takes effect on Aug. 6. Yahoo Finance's Francisco Velasquez reports: Read more here. Starbucks (SBUX) may soon hike prices on its pumpkin spice lattes and bottled Frappuccinos as it faces cost pressure from the 50% tariff on Brazilian coffee imports, which takes effect on Aug. 6. Yahoo Finance's Francisco Velasquez reports: Read more here. EU continues to press for tariff exemption on wine, spirits as part of US deal The EU is pushing for its wine and spirit exports to be exempt from US tariffs, while both sides work towards refining the deal they agreed last month. The WSJ reports: Read more here. The EU is pushing for its wine and spirit exports to be exempt from US tariffs, while both sides work towards refining the deal they agreed last month. The WSJ reports: Read more here. Countries push for last-minute deals as Thursday tariff deadline looms Global importers are bracing for President Trump's next tariff deadline on Thursday morning, when the president's tiered approach to tariffs is expected to take effect. Yet some of the details around trade agreements remain fuzzy. Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul reports: Read more here. Global importers are bracing for President Trump's next tariff deadline on Thursday morning, when the president's tiered approach to tariffs is expected to take effect. Yet some of the details around trade agreements remain fuzzy. Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul reports: Read more here. Trump's copper tariffs apply to $15B of products so far President Trump's copper (HG=F) tariffs are due to hit imports valued at more than $15B in 2024, highlighting the potential inflationary impact on American manufacturers. Trump's unveiling of 50% import duties rattled the global copper market last week, because the US president provided a surprise exemption to key forms of wiring metal. But it still leaves significant trade volumes subject to tariffs. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. President Trump's copper (HG=F) tariffs are due to hit imports valued at more than $15B in 2024, highlighting the potential inflationary impact on American manufacturers. Trump's unveiling of 50% import duties rattled the global copper market last week, because the US president provided a surprise exemption to key forms of wiring metal. But it still leaves significant trade volumes subject to tariffs. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Trump threatens EU with increased tariffs if it doesn't meet investment pledge President Trump threatened to hike tariffs on the European Union back to 35% if the bloc fails to live up to a pledge to invest some $600 billion in the US. "A couple of countries came [and said], 'How come the EU is paying less than us?' And I said well, because they gave me $600 billion," Trump said during a CNBC interview. "And that's a gift, that's not like, you know, a loan," he said, claiming that the terms allow the US to direct where the EU invests. President Trump threatened to hike tariffs on the European Union back to 35% if the bloc fails to live up to a pledge to invest some $600 billion in the US. "A couple of countries came [and said], 'How come the EU is paying less than us?' And I said well, because they gave me $600 billion," Trump said during a CNBC interview. "And that's a gift, that's not like, you know, a loan," he said, claiming that the terms allow the US to direct where the EU invests. Trump says pharma duties could go to 250% President Trump said he would announce tariffs on semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports "within the next week or so." "We'll be putting a initially small tariff on pharmaceuticals, but in one year — one and a half years, maximum — it's going to go to 150%. And then it's going to go to 250%, because we want pharmaceuticals made in our country," Trump said during a CNBC interview. He said semiconductor and chip tariffs would be in a "different category." President Trump said he would announce tariffs on semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports "within the next week or so." "We'll be putting a initially small tariff on pharmaceuticals, but in one year — one and a half years, maximum — it's going to go to 150%. And then it's going to go to 250%, because we want pharmaceuticals made in our country," Trump said during a CNBC interview. He said semiconductor and chip tariffs would be in a "different category." US tariff on EU goods set at flat 15% The EU said on Tuesday that European Union goods entering the US face a flat 15% tariff, including cars and car parts. The rate includes the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff and won't exceed 15% even if the US raises tariffs on items like semiconductors and medicines. The EU said it still expects turbulence in its trade dealings with the US. Reuters reports: Read more here. The EU said on Tuesday that European Union goods entering the US face a flat 15% tariff, including cars and car parts. The rate includes the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff and won't exceed 15% even if the US raises tariffs on items like semiconductors and medicines. The EU said it still expects turbulence in its trade dealings with the US. Reuters reports: Read more here. 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Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump tariffs live updates: Trump boasts of tariff billions, vows to punish China for Russian oil
President Trump took to Truth Social on Thursday boasting that billions of dollars in tariffs were now flowing into the US. "IT'S MIDNIGHT!!! BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TARIFFS ARE NOW FLOWING INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!" Trump wrote. The US president added that this additional money will come "largely from countries" that he says has taken "advantage" of the US. "RECIPROCAL TARIFFS TAKE EFFECT AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT! BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, LARGELY FROM COUNTRIES THAT HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE UNITED STATES FOR MANY YEARS, LAUGHING ALL THE WAY, WILL START FLOWING INTO THE USA." Trump's sweeping "reciprocal" tariffs hit US trade partners on Thursday when his deadline to strike deals expired at 12:01 a.m ET. As the trade deadline loomed Wednesday, Trump signed an executive order imposing an additional 25% tariff on India over its purchases of Russian oil. The new tariff, which will come into effect in 21 days, is set to "stack" on top of an existing country-specific tariff of 25%, which takes effect today. In doing so, Trump is set to make good on a threat for higher tariffs on India, as he has accused the country of effectively financing the Russian war in Ukraine. "They're fueling the war machine," he charged in a CNBC interview. Trump also floated the idea of higher tariffs on China due to Beijing's purchase of Russian oil. Trump said he would punish China with additional tariffs. Outside of China and India, Switzerland is the developed nation whose goods face a whopping increase: up to 39%. You can see the new rates Trump is set to levy in the graphic below: Trump also said that he would soon announce tariffs on semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports, as he prepares to add more sectoral duties to his mix of tariffs. He said duties on pharma could eventually balloon as high as 250%. On Wednesday, during a White House event with Apple (AAPL) CEO Tim Cook, he suggested he would impose a tariff of 100% on "all chips and semiconductors coming into the United States." In the past several days, Trump has unleashed a flurry of deals and trade moves leading up to his self-imposed deadline: Trump granted Mexico, the US's largest trading partner, a 90-day reprieve on higher tariffs. Trump hiked tariffs on Canadian imports to 35%, though goods contained in the US-Mexico-Canada agreement are exempt, keeping this hike's impact limited so far. The US agreed to a trade deal with South Korea. The agreement includes a 15% tariff rate on imports from the country, while the US will not be charged a tariff on its exports. Trump imposed 50% tariffs on semi-finished copper products starting Aug. 1. The president signed an order to end the de minimis exemption on low-value imports under $800, thereby applying tariffs from Aug. 29. Trump signed another order to impose a total of 50% tariffs on many goods from Brazil. However, it exempts key US imports like orange juice and aircraft parts. The US and EU agreed to a trade deal that imposes 15% tariffs on EU goods. The nations are still working on finalizing many terms of the deal. Read more: What Trump's tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet Here are the latest updates as the policy reverberates around the world. Trump says he plans to set tariffs on computer chips at 100% President Trump said on Wednesday at a press conference with Apple CEO Tim Cook that he is planning to set a 100% tariff on semiconductor imports. Companies that pledge to invest in manufacturing in the US, however, will be exempt from the tariff. Reuters reports: Read more here. Apple set to dodge bulk of India tariffs Yahoo Finance's Dan Howley reports: Apple CEO Tim Cook has arrived at the White House. He is scheduled to speak with President Trump this afternoon and unveil an additional $100 billion investment in US manufacturing, on top of the $500 billion commitment already pledged by the company. Modi's rival blasts 'bully' Trump as public opinion hardens Rahul Gandhi, Narendra Modi's most recognizable political rival, has come out to call President Trump a "bully" for his negotiation tactics. Bloomberg reports: Read more here. Trump order lowering tariffs on EU autos still days away: source European automakers will have to hold on a little while longer before President Trump lowers auto tariffs as EU-US negotiations continue. Reuters reports: Read more here. Alcohol groups say tariffs put $2B in sales and 25,000 jobs at risk In a letter to President Trump, a group comprising of 57 alcohol industry firms have said that Trump's tariffs of 15% on EU goods could reduce the value of alcohol sales by almost $2B and put 25,000 jobs at risk. Reuters reports: Read more here. Trump hits India with additional 25% tariff over Russia oil buys President Trump has hit India with an additional 25% tariff due to India's purchase of Russian oil. The US president threatened India with higher tariffs earlier this week, which India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi called "unjustified," also calling out the US for its double standard over Russia. In an interview with CNBC on Tuesday, Trump said that India was helping to fuel the war machine. 'They're fueling the war machine. And if they're going to do that, then I'm not going to be happy,' Trump said. In the early days of trade negotiations, relations between the US and India appeared more friendly, with both sides saying they would reach a deal within days. However, over recent months ,things seem to have turned sour as neither side can agree on some of the finer details within the deal, which concern dairy and agricultural products. As a result, a trade war seems to have developed between the two sides, and now with this additional 25% tariff gift from Trump to Modi, the two seem further away from reaching an agreement than ever before. Carney says he'll look at opportunities to remove tariffs on US Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that he will look to assess ways in which he can remove some counter-tariffs against the US. Carney's statement seems at odds with his earlier commitments to fight back against President Trump's trade war. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Trump says Japan to import Ford's huge F-150 pickup trucks President Trump said that Japan has agreed to accept imports of Ford's F-150 pick up trucks. This latest news is seen as a sign that the two sides may not be on the same page when it comes to their understanding of the trade agreement reached last month. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. US investments under trade deal will be determined by benefits for Tokyo: Japan Reuters reports: Read more here. Honda Q1 operating profit halves on tariffs Shares in Honda Motor (HMC) rose 2% premarket on Wednesday after the automaker reported a 50% drop in first-quarter operating profit. A stronger yen and the impact of President Trump's tariffs took their toll, but the company raised its full-year forecast. Reuters reports: Read more here. China draws red lines on US chip tracking with Nvidia meeting China is pushing back against the US over chips despite their overall trade truce. Last week, Beijing summoned Nvidia (NVDA) staff over security concerns with H20 chips, signaling opposition to the US plans to track advanced semiconductors. Analysts view China's latest move as a warning that it will not allow the US to dominate the chip sector. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Trump says he's readying more tariffs on Russian energy buyers Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Canada to help lumber industry cope with US tariffs: Carney Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that Canada will provide funds to help the lumber industry prepare for tariffs. Reuters reports: Read more here. Starbucks under pressure again as Brazilian tariffs hike coffee costs Starbucks (SBUX) may soon hike prices on its pumpkin spice lattes and bottled Frappuccinos as it faces cost pressure from the 50% tariff on Brazilian coffee imports, which takes effect on Aug. 6. Yahoo Finance's Francisco Velasquez reports: Read more here. EU continues to press for tariff exemption on wine, spirits as part of US deal The EU is pushing for its wine and spirit exports to be exempt from US tariffs, while both sides work towards refining the deal they agreed last month. The WSJ reports: Read more here. Countries push for last-minute deals as Thursday tariff deadline looms Global importers are bracing for President Trump's next tariff deadline on Thursday morning, when the president's tiered approach to tariffs is expected to take effect. Yet some of the details around trade agreements remain fuzzy. Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul reports: Read more here. Trump's copper tariffs apply to $15B of products so far President Trump's copper (HG=F) tariffs are due to hit imports valued at more than $15B in 2024, highlighting the potential inflationary impact on American manufacturers. Trump's unveiling of 50% import duties rattled the global copper market last week, because the US president provided a surprise exemption to key forms of wiring metal. But it still leaves significant trade volumes subject to tariffs. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Trump threatens EU with increased tariffs if it doesn't meet investment pledge President Trump threatened to hike tariffs on the European Union back to 35% if the bloc fails to live up to a pledge to invest some $600 billion in the US. "A couple of countries came [and said], 'How come the EU is paying less than us?' And I said well, because they gave me $600 billion," Trump said during a CNBC interview. "And that's a gift, that's not like, you know, a loan," he said, claiming that the terms allow the US to direct where the EU invests. Trump says pharma duties could go to 250% President Trump said he would announce tariffs on semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports "within the next week or so." "We'll be putting a initially small tariff on pharmaceuticals, but in one year — one and a half years, maximum — it's going to go to 150%. And then it's going to go to 250%, because we want pharmaceuticals made in our country," Trump said during a CNBC interview. He said semiconductor and chip tariffs would be in a "different category." US tariff on EU goods set at flat 15% The EU said on Tuesday that European Union goods entering the US face a flat 15% tariff, including cars and car parts. The rate includes the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff and won't exceed 15% even if the US raises tariffs on items like semiconductors and medicines. The EU said it still expects turbulence in its trade dealings with the US. Reuters reports: Read more here. Trump says he plans to set tariffs on computer chips at 100% President Trump said on Wednesday at a press conference with Apple CEO Tim Cook that he is planning to set a 100% tariff on semiconductor imports. Companies that pledge to invest in manufacturing in the US, however, will be exempt from the tariff. Reuters reports: Read more here. President Trump said on Wednesday at a press conference with Apple CEO Tim Cook that he is planning to set a 100% tariff on semiconductor imports. Companies that pledge to invest in manufacturing in the US, however, will be exempt from the tariff. Reuters reports: Read more here. Apple set to dodge bulk of India tariffs Yahoo Finance's Dan Howley reports: Apple CEO Tim Cook has arrived at the White House. He is scheduled to speak with President Trump this afternoon and unveil an additional $100 billion investment in US manufacturing, on top of the $500 billion commitment already pledged by the company. Yahoo Finance's Dan Howley reports: Apple CEO Tim Cook has arrived at the White House. He is scheduled to speak with President Trump this afternoon and unveil an additional $100 billion investment in US manufacturing, on top of the $500 billion commitment already pledged by the company. Modi's rival blasts 'bully' Trump as public opinion hardens Rahul Gandhi, Narendra Modi's most recognizable political rival, has come out to call President Trump a "bully" for his negotiation tactics. Bloomberg reports: Read more here. Rahul Gandhi, Narendra Modi's most recognizable political rival, has come out to call President Trump a "bully" for his negotiation tactics. Bloomberg reports: Read more here. Trump order lowering tariffs on EU autos still days away: source European automakers will have to hold on a little while longer before President Trump lowers auto tariffs as EU-US negotiations continue. Reuters reports: Read more here. European automakers will have to hold on a little while longer before President Trump lowers auto tariffs as EU-US negotiations continue. Reuters reports: Read more here. Alcohol groups say tariffs put $2B in sales and 25,000 jobs at risk In a letter to President Trump, a group comprising of 57 alcohol industry firms have said that Trump's tariffs of 15% on EU goods could reduce the value of alcohol sales by almost $2B and put 25,000 jobs at risk. Reuters reports: Read more here. In a letter to President Trump, a group comprising of 57 alcohol industry firms have said that Trump's tariffs of 15% on EU goods could reduce the value of alcohol sales by almost $2B and put 25,000 jobs at risk. Reuters reports: Read more here. Trump hits India with additional 25% tariff over Russia oil buys President Trump has hit India with an additional 25% tariff due to India's purchase of Russian oil. The US president threatened India with higher tariffs earlier this week, which India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi called "unjustified," also calling out the US for its double standard over Russia. In an interview with CNBC on Tuesday, Trump said that India was helping to fuel the war machine. 'They're fueling the war machine. And if they're going to do that, then I'm not going to be happy,' Trump said. In the early days of trade negotiations, relations between the US and India appeared more friendly, with both sides saying they would reach a deal within days. However, over recent months ,things seem to have turned sour as neither side can agree on some of the finer details within the deal, which concern dairy and agricultural products. As a result, a trade war seems to have developed between the two sides, and now with this additional 25% tariff gift from Trump to Modi, the two seem further away from reaching an agreement than ever before. President Trump has hit India with an additional 25% tariff due to India's purchase of Russian oil. The US president threatened India with higher tariffs earlier this week, which India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi called "unjustified," also calling out the US for its double standard over Russia. In an interview with CNBC on Tuesday, Trump said that India was helping to fuel the war machine. 'They're fueling the war machine. And if they're going to do that, then I'm not going to be happy,' Trump said. In the early days of trade negotiations, relations between the US and India appeared more friendly, with both sides saying they would reach a deal within days. However, over recent months ,things seem to have turned sour as neither side can agree on some of the finer details within the deal, which concern dairy and agricultural products. As a result, a trade war seems to have developed between the two sides, and now with this additional 25% tariff gift from Trump to Modi, the two seem further away from reaching an agreement than ever before. Carney says he'll look at opportunities to remove tariffs on US Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that he will look to assess ways in which he can remove some counter-tariffs against the US. Carney's statement seems at odds with his earlier commitments to fight back against President Trump's trade war. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that he will look to assess ways in which he can remove some counter-tariffs against the US. Carney's statement seems at odds with his earlier commitments to fight back against President Trump's trade war. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Trump says Japan to import Ford's huge F-150 pickup trucks President Trump said that Japan has agreed to accept imports of Ford's F-150 pick up trucks. This latest news is seen as a sign that the two sides may not be on the same page when it comes to their understanding of the trade agreement reached last month. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. President Trump said that Japan has agreed to accept imports of Ford's F-150 pick up trucks. This latest news is seen as a sign that the two sides may not be on the same page when it comes to their understanding of the trade agreement reached last month. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. US investments under trade deal will be determined by benefits for Tokyo: Japan Reuters reports: Read more here. Reuters reports: Read more here. Honda Q1 operating profit halves on tariffs Shares in Honda Motor (HMC) rose 2% premarket on Wednesday after the automaker reported a 50% drop in first-quarter operating profit. A stronger yen and the impact of President Trump's tariffs took their toll, but the company raised its full-year forecast. Reuters reports: Read more here. Shares in Honda Motor (HMC) rose 2% premarket on Wednesday after the automaker reported a 50% drop in first-quarter operating profit. A stronger yen and the impact of President Trump's tariffs took their toll, but the company raised its full-year forecast. Reuters reports: Read more here. China draws red lines on US chip tracking with Nvidia meeting China is pushing back against the US over chips despite their overall trade truce. Last week, Beijing summoned Nvidia (NVDA) staff over security concerns with H20 chips, signaling opposition to the US plans to track advanced semiconductors. Analysts view China's latest move as a warning that it will not allow the US to dominate the chip sector. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. China is pushing back against the US over chips despite their overall trade truce. Last week, Beijing summoned Nvidia (NVDA) staff over security concerns with H20 chips, signaling opposition to the US plans to track advanced semiconductors. Analysts view China's latest move as a warning that it will not allow the US to dominate the chip sector. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Trump says he's readying more tariffs on Russian energy buyers Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Canada to help lumber industry cope with US tariffs: Carney Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that Canada will provide funds to help the lumber industry prepare for tariffs. Reuters reports: Read more here. Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that Canada will provide funds to help the lumber industry prepare for tariffs. Reuters reports: Read more here. Starbucks under pressure again as Brazilian tariffs hike coffee costs Starbucks (SBUX) may soon hike prices on its pumpkin spice lattes and bottled Frappuccinos as it faces cost pressure from the 50% tariff on Brazilian coffee imports, which takes effect on Aug. 6. Yahoo Finance's Francisco Velasquez reports: Read more here. Starbucks (SBUX) may soon hike prices on its pumpkin spice lattes and bottled Frappuccinos as it faces cost pressure from the 50% tariff on Brazilian coffee imports, which takes effect on Aug. 6. Yahoo Finance's Francisco Velasquez reports: Read more here. EU continues to press for tariff exemption on wine, spirits as part of US deal The EU is pushing for its wine and spirit exports to be exempt from US tariffs, while both sides work towards refining the deal they agreed last month. The WSJ reports: Read more here. The EU is pushing for its wine and spirit exports to be exempt from US tariffs, while both sides work towards refining the deal they agreed last month. The WSJ reports: Read more here. Countries push for last-minute deals as Thursday tariff deadline looms Global importers are bracing for President Trump's next tariff deadline on Thursday morning, when the president's tiered approach to tariffs is expected to take effect. Yet some of the details around trade agreements remain fuzzy. Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul reports: Read more here. Global importers are bracing for President Trump's next tariff deadline on Thursday morning, when the president's tiered approach to tariffs is expected to take effect. Yet some of the details around trade agreements remain fuzzy. Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul reports: Read more here. Trump's copper tariffs apply to $15B of products so far President Trump's copper (HG=F) tariffs are due to hit imports valued at more than $15B in 2024, highlighting the potential inflationary impact on American manufacturers. Trump's unveiling of 50% import duties rattled the global copper market last week, because the US president provided a surprise exemption to key forms of wiring metal. But it still leaves significant trade volumes subject to tariffs. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. President Trump's copper (HG=F) tariffs are due to hit imports valued at more than $15B in 2024, highlighting the potential inflationary impact on American manufacturers. Trump's unveiling of 50% import duties rattled the global copper market last week, because the US president provided a surprise exemption to key forms of wiring metal. But it still leaves significant trade volumes subject to tariffs. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Trump threatens EU with increased tariffs if it doesn't meet investment pledge President Trump threatened to hike tariffs on the European Union back to 35% if the bloc fails to live up to a pledge to invest some $600 billion in the US. "A couple of countries came [and said], 'How come the EU is paying less than us?' And I said well, because they gave me $600 billion," Trump said during a CNBC interview. "And that's a gift, that's not like, you know, a loan," he said, claiming that the terms allow the US to direct where the EU invests. President Trump threatened to hike tariffs on the European Union back to 35% if the bloc fails to live up to a pledge to invest some $600 billion in the US. "A couple of countries came [and said], 'How come the EU is paying less than us?' And I said well, because they gave me $600 billion," Trump said during a CNBC interview. "And that's a gift, that's not like, you know, a loan," he said, claiming that the terms allow the US to direct where the EU invests. Trump says pharma duties could go to 250% President Trump said he would announce tariffs on semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports "within the next week or so." "We'll be putting a initially small tariff on pharmaceuticals, but in one year — one and a half years, maximum — it's going to go to 150%. And then it's going to go to 250%, because we want pharmaceuticals made in our country," Trump said during a CNBC interview. He said semiconductor and chip tariffs would be in a "different category." President Trump said he would announce tariffs on semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports "within the next week or so." "We'll be putting a initially small tariff on pharmaceuticals, but in one year — one and a half years, maximum — it's going to go to 150%. And then it's going to go to 250%, because we want pharmaceuticals made in our country," Trump said during a CNBC interview. He said semiconductor and chip tariffs would be in a "different category." US tariff on EU goods set at flat 15% The EU said on Tuesday that European Union goods entering the US face a flat 15% tariff, including cars and car parts. The rate includes the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff and won't exceed 15% even if the US raises tariffs on items like semiconductors and medicines. The EU said it still expects turbulence in its trade dealings with the US. Reuters reports: Read more here. The EU said on Tuesday that European Union goods entering the US face a flat 15% tariff, including cars and car parts. The rate includes the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff and won't exceed 15% even if the US raises tariffs on items like semiconductors and medicines. The EU said it still expects turbulence in its trade dealings with the US. Reuters reports: Read more here. 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USA Today
19 minutes ago
- USA Today
Supreme Court could end race-based voting districts. Good. They're antiquated.
Considering race inherently means discrimination in the sense that you believe skin color is an important factor in vote choice. A redistricting war between red and blue states has erupted in response to Texas' new proposed map, prompting Democrats nationwide to go on the offensive. This isn't the only reason redistricting is making headlines. The Supreme Court has indicated that it will be considering whether race-based districts are constitutional next term. The colorblind approach taken by the conservative justices on many other issues, such as college admissions and employment discrimination, indicates that they may be skeptical of race-based districting as well. The Supreme Court should strike down racial considerations in the districting process. Many states have interpreted the Voting Rights Act to mandate the creation of a specific number of majority-minority districts, which is in tension with the Supreme Court's precedents on the matter. It's unconstitutional to consider race when creating district maps In this case, Louisiana has adopted a new districting map, adding a second majority-Black district to the state. The state is being accused of violating the 14th Amendment. The Supreme Court has ordered briefing on, as the order phrased it, 'Whether the State's intentional creation of a second majority-minority congressional district violates the Fourteenth or Fifteenth Amendments to the U. S. Constitution.' Navigating race in the districting process poses a unique challenge. States cannot create districts based solely on race, for fear of violating the equal protection clause, but they also fear that they will run afoul of the Voting Rights Act if they take a colorblind approach. However, the Supreme Court may rule that all race-based considerations in districting are unconstitutional, alleviating the burden on states to navigate the narrow space left by these two forces. They would be justified in doing so. Opinion: I'm a Democrat who left Texas. New GOP maps will silence Latino voters. The Supreme Court has made it clear in recent cases that they are skeptical of any policy dealing with group characteristics rather than individuals. Justice Clarence Thomas has called the practice of race-based redistricting in response to general past discrimination 'utterly divorced from the sort of 'specific, identified instances of past discrimination' that this Court demands to justify a race-based remedy. Nor is a race-conscious approach reflective of modern times, compared with those at the time of the Voting Rights Act's passage in 1965. Multiple Supreme Court justices have lamented race-based remedial solutions that have no end point. Some have suggested that race-conscious practices can be employed to address specific injustices in their aftermath, but that such programs must have an end point. Six decades later, proponents of race-based considerations in the districting process would have these guidelines in place for eternity. It's understandable why explicit mandates based on race might have been a necessary evil in the 1960s, but the systematic discrimination that spurred the need for such requirements is now long in the past. Race-based districting makes no sense In Louisiana v. Callais, in particular, the facts are particularly egregious. In a desperate quest to create an additional majority minority district, Louisiana has created a monstrosity of a district, stretching across the majority of the state's width and height in order to group together as many Black people as possible. Situations like these demonstrate how overemphasis on race can lead to the neglect of other factors vital to districting, such as compactness and continuity. Opinion: Do you think the Supreme Court is partisan? Well you're wrong. Race should not prevail over other important considerations. A cluster of neighboring counties with similar regional struggles has more in common than two majority-Black cities on opposite sides of a state. Considering race inherently means discrimination in the sense that you believe skin color is an important factor in vote choice. It should go without saying, but explicit attempts to minimize the impact of minority voters in elections also run afoul of these principles as well. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. Race isn't any more important in districting considerations than any other characteristic that correlates with voting patterns. Districting based on race makes little more sense than grouping together people of a certain income level, education level, age range or any other group that can be thought of as having some form of collective interests. The assumption that minority groups themselves are a cohesive voting unit is one rooted in past trends, but in a misunderstanding of where the end point of racial progress ought to be. The goal of districting with regard to race is not that each racial group has its own unique form of representation; rather, it is that race, in the end, is no longer a meaningful differentiation in voting patterns. It is inevitably prejudiced to assume that race is a valuable determining factor in vote choice. There is little reason to believe that a White person put into the exact same upbringing as someone from any specific minority group would have any different voting tendencies. Race may correlate with vote patterns, but it tells you absolutely nothing valuable about an individual. Even if grouping individuals based on race is intended to achieve equal representation, it may run afoul of equal protection. Dace Potas is an opinion columnist for USA TODAY and a graduate of DePaul University with a degree in political science. You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter.
