Japanese World War II warship discovered
The first known images of the Japanese World War II era warship, the Teruzuki, have been released by the Ocean Exploration Trust. The ship was discovered by scientists off the coast of the Soloman Islands. Teruzuki was sunk in December 1942 by American patrol boats while it was on a mission to resupply the Japanese Army.
01:16 - Source: CNN
Vertical World News 17 videos
Japanese World War II warship discovered
The first known images of the Japanese World War II era warship, the Teruzuki, have been released by the Ocean Exploration Trust. The ship was discovered by scientists off the coast of the Soloman Islands. Teruzuki was sunk in December 1942 by American patrol boats while it was on a mission to resupply the Japanese Army.
01:16 - Source: CNN
China cracks down on fake "Lafufu" Labubus
Fake Labubu plush toys, dubbed "Lafufu," have gained popularity due to shortages of the original dolls made by China's Pop Mart.
02:05 - Source: CNN
Child flees Israeli strike on Gaza refugee camp
Video shows a child running away as Israeli munitions struck near a UNRWA school in Bureij Refugee Camp behind her.
00:36 - Source: CNN
Jair Bolsonaro denies coup charges as police raid home
Police in Brazil raided the home of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and enforced a ruling from the country's Supreme Court that Bolsonaro wear an electronic ankle tag. Bolsonaro is being accused of plotting to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election.
01:17 - Source: CNN
Taiwan conducts 10-day military drill
The Taiwanese government is preparing for a war they hope will never happen. For the first time this year, Taiwan combined two major civil defense exercises, with the drills lasting ten days. These drills have included urban combat, mass casualty simulations, emergency supply drops and cyber defense that could be enacted if an invasion was to occur. CNN's Senior International Correspondent, Will Ripley, reports.
01:44 - Source: CNN
Surgeon shows humanitarian crisis in Gaza's hospitals
A surgeon working in southern Gaza says babies are arriving at hospital so malnourished that 'skin and bones doesn't do it justice.' He also describes what appears to be a disturbing pattern in the gunshot wounds of children arriving from food distribution sites. CNN's Nada Bashir reports.
02:55 - Source: CNN
Brazil's Lula tells Christiane Amanpour: Trump 'Was not elected to be emperor of the world'
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva tells CNN's Christiane Amanpour in an exclusive interview it was 'a surprise' to see President Donald Trump's letter posted to Truth Social, threatening Brazil with a crippling tariff of 50% starting August 1st. Lula says that he initially thought the letter was 'fake news.' Watch the full 'Amanpour' interview on CNN.
01:33 - Source: CNN
Gaza's only Catholic church hit by Israeli strike
Gaza's only Catholic church was struck by an Israeli tank, killing three and injuring many more, church officials said. It became internationally recognized after reports emerged that the late Pope Francis used to call the church daily. CNN's Nada Bashir reports
00:53 - Source: CNN
Prince Harry recreates his mother's historic landmine walk
Following in his mother's footsteps, Prince Harry visited Angola's minefields just as Princess Diana did 28 years ago. The Duke of Sussex was in Angola with The Halo Trust as part of the group's efforts to clear landmines.
00:39 - Source: CNN
Massive fire destroys Tomorrowland's main stage
Tomorrowland's main stage went up in flames just days ahead of the festival's opening in Boom, Belgium.
00:38 - Source: CNN
How Trump's image is changing inside Russia
Once hailed as a pro-Kremlin figure, President Donald Trump's image is changing inside Russia. It comes after Trump vowed further sanctions on the country if a peace agreement with Ukraine is not reached in 50 days. CNN's Chief Global Affairs Correspondent is on the ground in Moscow with the analysis.
01:41 - Source: CNN
Who are the armed groups clashing in Syria?
Dozens were killed in Syria this week after clashes between government loyalists and Druze militias in the southern city of Suwayda, prompting Syrian forces to intervene. That, in turn, triggered renewed Israeli airstrikes.
01:57 - Source: CNN
Syrian anchor takes cover from airstrike live on TV
An airstrike on the Syrian Ministry of Defense was captured live on Syria TV, forcing the anchor to take cover. Israel has been carrying out airstrikes on Syria as part of its commitment to protect the Druze, an Arab minority at the center of clashes with government loyalists.
00:30 - Source: CNN
Video shows machine gun fire near Gaza aid site
A video from social media shows machine gun fire spraying the ground near an aid distribution site in southern Gaza as crowds of Palestinians lie on the ground for safety. Although the source of the gunfire is not seen in the video, multiple eyewitnesses say it shows the Israeli military opening fire on Palestinians as they waited for food on Saturday. In a statement, the IDF said, 'The details of the video are under review.'
01:02 - Source: CNN
Analysis: Moscow's reaction to Trump's 50-day peace deadline
President Donald Trump has vowed further sanctions on Russia if a peace deal is not reached in 50 days. CNN's Chief Global Affairs Correspondent breaks down the Russian reaction and perspective on Monday's announcement from Moscow.
01:13 - Source: CNN
Trump attends FIFA Club World Cup final
CNN's Patrick Snell reports on President Trump's visit to MetLife Stadium for the FIFA Club World Cup Final between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.
00:52 - Source: CNN
Top Russian diplomat is in North Korea. What does this mean?
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is in North Korea for a three-day visit. CNN's Will Ripley explains why this could be a sign of deepening relations between Moscow and Pyongyang.
01:16 - Source: CNN
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Medscape
3 hours ago
- Medscape
Dire Warnings, Rosy Future: Medicare at 60
The creation of Medicare in 1965 was hailed as a watershed for the social safety net, offering millions of older Americans financial security and freedom from worry about their medical expenses. But critics of the legislation cast dire warnings about what the law would do to the nation's physicians, the doctor-patient relationship, and even the country's way of life. Who was right? To mark the 60th anniversary of Medicare, Medscape asked leaders in healthcare, American history, and public policy to reflect on the words of the program's earliest champions and critics. Comments have been edited for length and clarity. Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kennedy, August 14, 1960. Then-Senator John F. Kennedy , spoke in support of a national insurance program for the elderly at an event on August 14, 1960: "Three out of every five of these [people over age 65] — more than 9.5 million people — must struggle to survive on an income of under $1000 a year. …This poverty and hardship turn into heartbreak and despair when illness threatens. Medicines and drugs are more expensive than ever before — hospital rates have more than doubled — doctor bills have skyrocketed. …Those over 65 suffer from chronic diseases at almost twice the rate of our younger population — they spend more than twice as many days restricted to bed — and they must visit a doctor twice as often." Commentary Keith Wailoo, PhD, Henry Putnam University professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University and past president of the American Association for the History of Medicine: "An important backdrop behind JFK's comment is reflecting 10 years prior on the failure of President Harry Truman's national health insurance proposals. The frustrations and the stories he's telling were evident after World War II. Keith Wailoo, PhD "He's describing a landscape where — in the course of the war — private insurance became more attached to employment, wage freezes meant that companies couldn't raise wages, unions lobbied and employers argued that benefits could be increased, and as a result of a momentous Supreme Court ruling, health insurance became increasingly a byproduct of employment. Healthcare costs were rising, and insurance was becoming a passage point to getting hospital care. "The face of the poor and medical needy were the elderly by 1960. They were not working, and because of advancing life expectancy, there was more infirmity and yet they were locked out of the system. "So we've recreated the world, and with that we have also changed people's expectations about what they can hope for." Ronald Reagan and the American Medical Association, 1961 audio recording on LP. In 1961, Ronald Reagan released a speech against a proposed bill that would cover hospital costs for the elderly. The effort was later revealed to be part of a campaign by the American Medical Association (AMA) to quash efforts to create a national health insurance program. Reagan said: "[The bill] was simply an excuse to bring about what they wanted all the time, socialized medicine. … First, you decide that the doctor can have so many patients, they're equally divided among the various doctors by the government. But then the doctors aren't equally divided geographically. So a doctor decides he wants to practice in one town, and the government has to say to him, 'You can't live in that town. They already have enough doctors,' and from here, it's only a short step to dictating where he will go." Commentary Reid B. Blackwelder, MD, associate dean for graduate medical and continuing education, DIO, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, and past president of the American Academy of Family Physicians: "Reagan's warning that nationalized health insurance would lead to government direction for where physicians practice has not happened. Physicians have the freedom to accept insurance or not and to practice anywhere they want. Sadly, our country is facing increasing healthcare deserts for various reasons. Reid B. Blackwelder, MD "We already had a serious and growing access problem for patients. Now, patients in rural areas especially are losing even more access to primary care physicians and specialists as rural hospitals shut down and physicians like obstetricians stop practicing outside of urban areas. "Ironically, Medicare is perhaps the most lenient health insurance in terms of providing that freedom of choice Reagan described for patients. Because Medicare is popular and widely accepted by patients and physicians, patients can readily choose the physician they want, including subspecialists. On the other hand, for-profit insurance has created significant limits on which physicians a patient may select based on acceptance of that insurance and cost. It can be difficult for a patient to see the physician of their choice." Dr Edward Annis ( left ), holding an anatomical model of a human heart, speaks with TV host Johnny Carson ( right ) on the The Tonight Show , December 11, 1963. Edward Annis, MD , chairman of the AMA 's speakers' bureau — and later president of the association — appeared in a televised May 21, 1962, address about the proposed King-Anderson bill, an early iteration of what would become the legislation that created Medicare. Annis said: 'It wastefully covers millions who do not need it, it heartlessly ignores millions who do need coverage. It is not true insurance. It will create an enormous and unpredictable burden on every working taxpayer. It offers sharply limited benefits. And it will serve as a forerunner of a different system of medicine for all Americans.' Commentary Jonathan Oberlander, PhD, professor of social medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and editor of the Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law: "The AMA's overheated rhetoric against Medicare did not age well. Doctors would later face challenges to their clinical autonomy, as Annis had feared, but that intrusion came from private managed care insurers trying to control skyrocketing costs, not Medicare. "Yet the AMA was right about one thing. Although they didn't admit it during the 1960s, Medicare's architects saw the program as the first step to universal health insurance, and after covering the elderly, they hoped to next turn to children and eventually cover everyone via government insurance. Medicare for All was the aspiration. "That did not happen, and although Medicare expanded eligibility in 1972 to cover persons with permanent disabilities and end-stage renal disease — six decades after the program's enactment — its primary beneficiaries are still older Americans, an outcome that would have stunned its creators. "After Medicare's enactment in 1965, the AMA's opposition to the program faded, much to Annis' consternation. Forty years later, he still expressed regret that the association did not take a more 'militant' stand highlighting the program's problems." Dr Edward Annis (right) with Dr Arthur Fleming. Annis continued: "This King-Anderson Bill is a cruel hoax and illusion. … It will come between the patient and his doctor." Commentary Reid B. Blackwelder, MD, associate dean for graduate medical and continuing education, DIO, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, and past president of the American Academy of Family Physicians "The special and powerful relationship between patients and physicians is a real thing. Medicare did not damage it. Other insurance coverage did not damage it. Having any insurance coverage is one of the foundations of getting to good health outcomes. The other is having a source of comprehensive care. Patients need both. "The very real threat to the physician-patient relationship that is accelerating today is from legislative intrusions into the patient room. When laws are passed that make even just exploring options with patients around things like reproductive health a criminal offense, government has overstepped. "When laws are enacted that require a physician to call their lawyer rather than a specialty consult before providing life-saving care, we have entered a new and dangerous era of governmental oversight. Recent laws have done more damage to the sanctity of the physician-patient relationship that Medicare actually helped improve." Rep. Durward Gorham Hall, 1969 Representative Durward Gorham Hall, MD (R, Missouri), made these remarks below during debates on Medicare in the House of Representatives: "This conflict is testing whether art and science of medicine will be permitted to grow and flourish in freedom and competitively, or whether progress in medicine will be stunted and shriveled by an excess of Government control." Commentary Jonathan B. Jaffery, MD, MS, MMM, chief healthcare officer at the Association of American Medical Colleges: "By supporting the training of physicians, Medicare helps create the physician workforce for future generations of Americans, crucial for the care of an aging population. And through iterative developments over the last 60 years, such as Coverage with Evidence Development or the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovations, the Medicare program — coupled with federal investments in biomedical research — has been able to support innovations in both medical technologies and models of care delivery that continue to improve the lives and well-beings of millions. Jonathan B. Jaffery, MD "The reality is, prior to 1965, many elderly Americans with healthcare needs were forced to rely on financial support from their families or spend all their life's savings, hope for charity care, or forego care altogether. And of course, the cost of care has only skyrocketed, so that in 2025 even very high-net worth individuals would struggle to cover the costs of a lengthy hospitalization or extended illness, let alone the price tag of many new life-saving medications." Hall continued: "The result will inescapably be third-party intrusion in the practice of hospitalization and medicine. His diagnostic and therapeutic decisions would be subject to disapproval by those controlling the expenditure of tax money." Commentary G. William Hoagland, senior vice president, Bipartisan Policy Center, former executive at Cigna, and former US Senate staffer "Representative Hall was prescient in his observation about the future of healthcare resulting from the creation of Medicare. The 60-year history of the Medicare program, particularly since the enactment of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act in 1982, the Medicare Modernization Act in 2003, and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010, has resulted in the 'corporatization' of healthcare. G. William Hoagland "Today, Medicare Advantage, dominated by 'third-party' corporate insurance companies, has transferred the physician's independent decisions to actuaries and corporate financial decision makers. The result has also been horizontal consolidation of what were locally controlled entities to nationally or regionally controlled corporations along with vertical consolidation of payers and care delivery entities. "The impact of these changes, along with dramatic scientific advances in diagnosis with advanced treatment protocols, precipitating higher healthcare utilization, has not been to reduce costs but to in fact increase healthcare costs." President Lyndon Johnson ( left ) flips through the pages of the Medicare bill so former President Harry Truman ( right) can see it. Following passage of the Social Security Amendments of 1965 out of the Senate by a vote of 68-21, President Lyndon B. Johnson said: "It will help pay for care in hospitals. If hospitalization is unnecessary, it will help pay for care in nursing homes or in the home. And wherever illness is treated — in home or hospital — it will also help meet the fees of doctors and the costs of drugs." Commentary Bruce Leff, MD, professor of medicine and director of the Center for Transformative Geriatric Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore: "Johnson's statement regarding care at home was appropriate for the mid-1960s. To this day, skilled home healthcare remains the most used home-based service by Medicare beneficiaries. "Since Medicare was enacted, a bevy of evidence-based home care delivery models have been developed and proven. These home-based models span the care continuum including home and community-based services, home-based primary care, transitional care, and home-based palliative care. Bruce Leff, MD "Unfortunately, Medicare payment policies incentivized the centralization of care in facilities and a facility-centric culture of care delivery. Care delivery hasn't kept pace with the needs of an aging population with a high prevalence of homebound older Americans or with the advances that enable even hospital care to be delivered to patients in their preferred setting, their homes. "The hospital of the future will comprise of emergency departments, operating rooms, and intensive care units. Most other care can and will be provided in the home setting. We have all the pieces to develop this future home-based care vision. Achieving this vision will require a culture shift with associated payment and regulatory enhancements, ongoing attention to improvements in technology, logistics, and data management." An elderly woman shows her gratitude to President Lyndon B. Johnson for his signing of the Medicare healthcare bill in April 1965. Johnson continued: "Older citizens will no longer have to fear that illness will wipe out their savings, eat up their income, and destroy lifelong hope of dignity and independence. For every family with older members, it will mean relief from the often-crushing responsibilities of care." Commentary Gretchen Jacobson, PhD, vice president, Medicare program, Commonwealth Fund: Gretchen Jacobson, PhD "One third of Medicare beneficiaries said in 2023 that it was difficult to afford healthcare costs. More than 1 in 5 beneficiaries reported in 2023 delaying or skipping needed healthcare because of the cost. Similarly, some Medicare beneficiaries trade off paying for other necessities to pay for needed healthcare. The lack of a limit on out-of-pocket spending on hospital and physician services for traditional Medicare has, for most traditional Medicare enrollees, necessitated purchasing supplemental insurance coverage. Yet, the limited availability of this supplemental coverage has resulted in more beneficiaries enrolling in Medicare Advantage and high underinsurance rates among those in traditional Medicare without supplemental coverage. "Medicare beneficiaries who do not have a family caregiver and cannot afford to pay out-of-pocket for a formal caregiver are typically forced to deplete their financial resources to qualify for Medicaid coverage, the largest payer for long-term care in the US."
Forbes
3 hours ago
- Forbes
Trump Approval Rating Increases 2 Points From Last Week
July 28 -3 net approval rating: The president's approval rating increased two points, to 47%, and his disapproval rating declined two points, to 50% in Morning Consult's weekly survey compared to last week's poll. The last time Trump had a net positive approval rating in Morning Consult's poll was in March. July 24 -21: Trump's 37% approval rating is down from 47% in January, while 58% disapprove of his job performance, compared to 48% in January, according to a July 7-21 Gallup poll of 1,002 adults (margin of error 4). Trump's average approval rating for the second quarter of his second term, April 20-July 19, is 40% in Gallup polling, compared to a 39% average in the second quarter of his first term but below second-term averages for every post-World War II president. July 22 -14: Trump's approval rating is unchanged from last week in the latest Economist/YouGov survey of 1,729 U.S. adults taken July 18-21 (margin of error 3.4), with 41% approving of his job performance and 55% disapproving, compared to a 49% approval rating and 43% disapproval rating at the start of his term, according to Economist/YouGov polling. An overwhelming majority, 81% of respondents, said the government should release all documents related to its probe into Jeffrey Epstein, while 69% said they believe the government is covering up evidence about Epstein, and 56% disapprove of Trump's handling of the Epstein investigation. July 16 -16: A total of 42% approve of Trump's job performance, while 58% disapprove in a new CNN/SSRS poll of 1,057 respondents conducted July 10-13 (margin of error 3.5), representing a one-point improvement in Trump's approval rating since April and a one-point drop in his disapproval rating. The majority, 61%, of Americans said they oppose Trump's signature policy bill that would pay for tax breaks and additional border security, among other measures, in part, by cutting Medicaid, while 39% said they approve of the so-called megabill. July 15 -14: Trump's net approval rating dipped to its lowest point of his second term in Economist/YouGov polling, with 41% approving and 55% disapproving, according to the survey of 1,506 registered voters (margin of error 3.1)—consistent with his lowest approval rating of his first term, according to Economist/YouGov polling. July 14 -3: Trump's approval rating improved two points, to 47%, while his disapproval rating also improved two points, to 50%, in Morning Consult's weekly survey of 2,201 registered voters with a two-point margin of error. July 2 -16: Trump's approval rating stands at 40% in a Yahoo/YouGov poll of 1,597 U.S. adults conducted June 26-30 (margin of error 3.2), a four-point decrease from the groups' March poll, while 56% disapprove. Trump's -16 net approval rating is three points worse than it was at this point during his first term, according to YouGov data, while former President Barack Obama had a +14 net approval rating and former President Joe Biden had a +7 approval rating halfway through their first years in office. June 30 -3: Trump's disapproval rating improved from 53% to 50% in Morning Consult's weekly poll compared to its survey last week, while his approval rating increased from 45% to 47% (the survey of 2,202 registered voters was conducted June 27-29 and has a two-point margin of error). The rating was Trump's best since May and coincides with an uptick in respondents' approval of his handling of national security issues since last week, following a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Iran. June 23 -16: Trump's approval rating dipped one point, to 41%, in a Reuters/Ipsos survey of 1,139 U.S. adults taken June 21-23 from its June 11-16 survey, with 57% disapproving (the latest poll has a 3-point margin of error). The poll also found a plurality, 45%, of U.S. adults surveyed do not support the airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend, while 36% support them and 19% said they were unsure. June 17 -13: An Economist/YouGov poll found 54% of voters disapprove of Trump's job performance, while 41% approve (the survey of 1,512 U.S. adults was conducted June 13-16 and has a 3.3-point margin of error). The survey also found Trump's approval rating is underwater when it comes to his handling of Iran, with 37% approving and 41% disapproving, while 60% of respondents, including 53% of 2024 Trump voters, say the U.S. should not get involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran, as Trump has repeatedly threatened U.S. military intervention. June 17 -17: Trump's net approval rating improved two points in the latest Pew Research survey taken June 2-8, compared to the group's last poll in April, with the latest survey showing 41% approve and 58% disapprove (the survey of 5,044 U.S. adults has a 1.6-point margin of error). June 16 -6: Trump's net approval rating dipped two points in Morning Consult's latest weekly survey of 2,207 registered U.S. voters (margin of error 2), with 46% approving and 52% disapproving of his job performance, numbers the pollster notes are on par with his ratings in April and early May, during a downward spiral that coincided with his shock tariffs. June 16 -12: Trump's approval rating remained stagnant at 42% in a Reuters/Ipsos poll taken June 11-16, compared to the groups' May poll, but his disapproval rating increased two points, to 54%, in the latest survey of 4,258 U.S. adults (margin of error 2). June 16 -4: Trump's approval rating declined one point, from 47% to 46%, in the latest Harvard CAPS/Harris survey, compared to the groups' poll taken last month, while 50% of respondents said they disapprove of his job performance (the online survey of 2,097 registered voters was conducted June 11-12 and has a 2.2-point margin of error). Trump's approval rating in the Harvard CAPS/Harris poll has dropped every month since February, when he had a 52% approval rating. Trump's approval rating for nine separate issues also declined from May to June, with less than half of voters saying they approve of each of them, with tariffs and trade policy receiving the lowest marks (41%) and immigration receiving the highest (49%). June 15 -10 net approval rating: More than half, 55%, of voters said they disapprove of Trump's job performance and 45% said they approve in an NBC survey of 19,410 U.S. adults conducted May 30-June 10 (margin of error 2.1). June 11 -16: Trump's approval rating dipped three points, to 38%, in Quinnipiac University's latest poll conducted June 5-9 among 1,265 registered voters (margin of error 2.8), compared to its previous poll in April, when he had a 41% approval rating, while his disapproval rating dropped one point, to 54%. The survey also found more voters, 57%, have an unfavorable opinion of Elon Musk, while 53% have an unfavorable opinion of Trump, though more than half, 53%, oppose Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' that was the source of Musk's rant against Trump last week. June 9 -10: A CBS/YouGov poll conducted June 4-6 found 45% approve of Trump's job performance, while 55% disapprove (the poll of 2,428 U.S. adults has a, 2.4-point margin of error). In a separate, one-day YouGov survey conducted June 5, amid Trump's feud with Musk, the majority of 3,812 U.S. adults (52%) said they side with neither Musk nor Trump, while 28% said they side with Trump, 8% said they side with Musk and 11% said they aren't sure. June 9 -4 net approval rating: Trump's approval rating improved one point, to 47%, in Morning Consult's weekly poll, while 51% disapprove of his job performance for the third week in a row (the survey of 1,867 registered U.S. voters has a 2-point margin of error). Trump's feud with Musk doesn't appear to have dented his approval ratings in the first two polls that overlapped with their public spat—though it's unclear how Americans perceive his response to protests in Los Angeles over his aggressive deportation push, as no reliable polling has been released since the protests began over the weekend. June 4 -4: For the first time in two months, less than half (49%) of U.S. adults surveyed by the Economist/YouGov disapprove of Trump's job performance, compared to 45% who strongly or somewhat approve, representing a significant improvement from the groups' April 19-22 poll, when Trump had a net -13 approval rating (the latest poll of 1,610 U.S. adults conducted May 30-June 2 has a 3-point margin of error). June 2 -5: Trump's approval rating dropped from 48% to 46% in this week's Morning Consult poll compared to its previous survey, while his disapproval rating was stagnant at 51% (the May 30-June 2 poll of 2,205 registered voters has a 2-point margin of error). The share of registered voters who say they identify with Trump's Make America Great Again movement has increased sharply during Trump's second term, according to NBC polling. A total of 36% of 1,000 registered voters polled March 7-11 said they consider themselves part of the MAGA coalition, compared to a 23% average in NBC's March polling and 27% in the network's 2024 polls (the most recent poll has a 3.1-point margin of error). 42%. That's Trump's average approval rating so far during his second term, higher than his 41% average approval rating throughout the duration of his first term, according to Gallup. Just after marking his sixth month in office, Trump is facing arguably the biggest public relations crisis of his second term as his base has broken with him over the Justice Department's refusal to release documents detailing its investigation into Epstein. Among other major moments of his second term: Trump launched a military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities, leading to a cease-fire agreement during Iran and Israel. Congress also approved his signature policy legislation that will enact some of his most significant campaign promises, including an extension of his 2017 tax cuts and tighter border control. Trump's approval rating has declined since the start of his term, with a notable plunge coinciding with his wide-ranging 'Liberation Day' tariffs he announced on April 2 against nearly all U.S. trading partners, though he has largely backed off most of the levies. Prior to the Epstein controversy, the leak of U.S. military attack plans to Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was widely considered the first big crisis of Trump's second term. His efforts to slash the federal workforce with the help of the Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency and his mass deportation push are two other controversial hallmarks of his second term that have prompted numerous legal actions.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
To avoid worst of Trump tariffs, E.U. accepted a lopsided deal
BRUSSELS - The tariff-and-spending accord announced Sunday by the United States and the European Union stands to avert a damaging trade war between two of the world's largest economies, but it is lopsided in favor of President Donald Trump's protectionist policies, with Brussels swallowing bitter concessions in hopes of stabilizing a relationship that is vital not just economically but also for security interests. The rough agreement - which allows Washington to raise tariffs on E.U. goods while the Europeans promise to buy more U.S. products - quickly came under sharp criticism in Europe. Despite feisty rhetoric and vows to stand up to Trump, E.U. leaders largely acquiesced to the U.S. leader's ever-changing demands. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. E.U. negotiators insisted the deal was the best way to avoid a highly damaging tit-for-tat trade war that would benefit rivals such as China and Russia. But European officials and analysts said the tentative agreement does not end the uncertainty because so many details must still be worked out. To the harshest critics, including some in France who spoke of a 'capitulation' and 'humiliation,' the agreement is proof of a deeply unbalanced alliance and the latest example of European appeasement of Trump. At NATO, allies similarly strained to pledge the huge increases in military spending demanded by Trump. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who announced the deal with Trump while sitting next to him at one of his golf resorts in Scotland on Sunday, touted 'a huge deal,' clearly playing to Trump's love of largeness. But at her news conference soon after, von der Leyen appeared far more sober, declaring the 15 percent tariffs she had accepted on European automobiles to be 'the best we could get.' The E.U., and in particular Germany, its automaking powerhouse, had hoped to eliminate the 25 percent U.S. car tariffs entirely. 'We should not forget where we came from,' von der Leyen said. 'Fifteen percent is certainly a challenge for some, but we should not forget it keeps us the access to the American markets.' Trump indeed had threatened far worse, including a 30 percent across-the-board tariff that upended months of painstaking negotiations. Under the new deal, the United States will impose a 15 percent duty on most imports from the E.U. The blanket rate foisted on the E.U. mirrors a U.S. deal announced this month with Japan, another Group of Seven ally, but it is higher than the 10 percent that Britain secured earlier this year and that E.U. officials had grudgingly accepted in recent talks. Since World War II, trade agreements have largely sought to reduce the cost of buying and selling goods across borders. A 2017 deal the E.U. struck with Canada eliminated tariffs on most goods traded between them. An agreement signed with Vietnam in 2019 aims to phase out nearly all customs duties. Trump's accord with the E.U. goes in the opposite direction by raising tariffs, with some exceptions. Economists say the tariffs will increase costs for importers, who must pay the duties, and put upward pressure on inflation. Consumers and businesses will probably bear some of the extra costs, experts say. In France, where President Emmanuel Macron had urged the E.U. to take a harder line, the deal drew sharp backlash. While Macron was quiet Monday, Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said it was 'a dark day when an alliance of free people, brought together to assert their values and defend their interests, resigns itself to submission.' Von der Leyen's European Commission, the E.U.'s executive body that negotiates trade policy for its 27 member nations, had faced calls from Germany and Italy, two countries that do outsize business with the United States, for an accord that would limit damage to their export-dependent companies. But even capitals that had urged a conciliatory approach were not exactly celebrating on Monday. 'The agreement successfully averted a trade conflict that would have hit the export-oriented German economy hard,' German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said. Still, members of the European Parliament from Germany blasted the deal even as it reduced Trump's tariff on cars, one of Germany's central demands. 'My first assessment: not satisfactory; this is a lopsided deal,' said Bernd Lange, who chairs the European Parliament's committee on international trade, in a post on X. 'Concessions have clearly been made that are difficult to accept. Deal with significant imbalance. Furthermore lot of questions still open.' Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof acknowledged that 'no tariffs would have been better' but called the deal 'vital for an open economy like ours.' Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said, 'One thing is clear: This is a moment of relief but not of celebration.' The talks laid bare the E.U.'s queasiness at using its economic muscle, one of its few areas of leverage against Washington, at a time when allies have had to calibrate repeatedly to keep Trump on board as Russia wages war in Ukraine. Ultimately, after months of mixed signals and threats from Trump, E.U. leaders said they accepted a deal to give their industries a reprieve from the uncertainty that threatened to cripple business. Officials suggested they had relented out of concern that Trump was prepared to raise tariffs to a level that would effectively halt trade between Europe and the United States. 'Let's pause for a moment and consider the alternative: A trade war may seem appealing to some but it comes with serious consequences,' said the E.U. trade commissioner, Maros Sefcovic, who shuttled to Washington in recent months for difficult talks with Trump officials. 'Our businesses have sent us a unanimous message: Avoid escalation and work toward a solution that brings immediate tariff relief,' Sefcovic told reporters Monday. He said that he and his team had traveled to Washington 10 times for a deal and that the E.U.'s calculations reached beyond trade. 'It's about security, it's about Ukraine, it's about current geopolitical volatility,' Sefcovic said. He said he couldn't go into detail on what was discussed in the room with Trump on Sunday, 'but I can assure it was not just about the trade.' Now, nearly 70 percent of European goods will face the blanket tariff, a big increase in charges, according to a senior E.U. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk frankly about the details of the deal, which is still under negotiation. The E.U. had sought carve-outs from the U.S. tariff regime for key sectors including wine and spirits, and aircraft parts. The announced agreement eliminates tariffs on airplane parts, but a decision on wine and spirits was postponed. E.U. officials said talks will continue in the coming weeks. The two sides appeared to diverge on other details. The White House indicated that a 50 percent tariff on steel would remain in place, while E.U. officials said there would be further negotiations on lowering steel tariffs. Many officials and experts said it was crucial to sort out the details. 'We need to understand what is included,' said Brando Benifei, an Italian member of the European Parliament and head of its delegation for relations with the United States. Some questioned if ongoing U.S. trade inquiries by the Trump administration might still result in extra tariffs, such as on European-made pharmaceuticals, though the E.U. said those should remain capped at 15 percent under the new agreement. At first glance, Benifei said, the deal 'seems very asymmetric.' 'The result is due in my view to the push by some governments to have a deal at any cost, which has weakened our stance,' he added. 'Because the U.S. knew some governments wanted a deal whatever the cost.' Others noted that Trump's threats managed to shift the view on what constituted relief. Just a few weeks ago, E.U. and U.S. negotiators neared an agreement that involved a blanket tariff of 10 percent, before a Truth Social post by Trump derailed them. On Monday, some investors saw benefits for Europe's key auto industry, for instance, which would see U.S. car tariffs reduced to 15 percent from 25 percent. The tariffs, however, were at 2.5 percent before Trump's global trade blitz, and some industry groups noted their dismay. 'The U.S. tariff rate of 15 percent, which also applies to automotive products, will cost German automotive companies billions annually and burdens them,' said Hildegard Mueller, president of Germany's main auto industry group, the VDA. On some issues, the Europeans stood their ground. Trump officials had pressed the E.U. for concessions on tech industry regulations and on food standards, which the bloc insisted were nonnegotiable. As part of the deal, Trump said Europe had committed to buying more U.S. energy and weapons, and boosting investment in the United States. But those provisions are mostly aspirational promises without guarantees. European nations were already poised to buy more U.S. weapons under an arrangement with Trump to continue arming Ukraine, and the bloc was already seeking alternative energy sources, including liquefied natural gas from the United States, as part of its push to phase out Russian energy imports. More energy purchases and European investments would come from member states and companies that Brussels does not control. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, seen as a close Trump ally in the E.U., heralded the deal, while saying details still need to be worked out. 'I obviously welcome the fact that an agreement has been reached,' Meloni told reporters. Still, she added, 'we need to verify the possible exemptions, particularly for certain agricultural products. So there are a number of elements that are missing.' - - - Faiola reported from Rome. Beatriz Rios in Brussels and Cat Zakrzewski in Edinburgh, Scotland, contributed to this report. 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