Playbook PM: Another hit on Trump's tariffs
Presented by
THE CATCH-UP
OH, TO BE A FLY ON THE WALL: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell met with President Donald Trump at the White House this morning on the president's request, the Fed said in a release. 'Chair Powell said that he and his colleagues on the FOMC will set monetary policy, as required by law, to support maximum employment and stable prices and will make those decisions based solely on careful, objective, and non-political analysis.' Read the full release
THE TARIFF TUSSLE: After a bombshell ruling last night found Trump's imposition of tariffs illegal, a second federal court issued a major ruling against his tariff authority — a move that could have serious ramifications for the administration's trade agenda and efforts to strike new deals with dozens of countries, POLITICO's Doug Palmer reports.
The details: 'The International Economic Emergency Powers Act does not authorize the President to impose the tariffs set forth' in four executive orders Trump issued earlier this year, D.C. District Court Judge Rudolph Contreras said in a decision ordering a preliminary injunction on the collection of the duties on the two plaintiffs who brought the case. Contreras, who also called the tariffs 'unlawful,' stayed his order for 14 days 'so the parties may seek review in the Court of Appeals.'
The context: Today's ruling comes after the U.S. Court of International Trade late last night similarly slapped down Trump's tariff power.
Won't back down: Before the latest ruling was delivered, administration officials were making clear that they would press on with their trade agenda, POLITICO's Doug Palmer and Gigi Ewing report. In an appearance on Fox Business Network this morning, NEC Director Kevin Hassett brushed off the ruling, calling the decision — which he said was spurred by 'activist judges' — a mere 'hiccup' in Trump's plan.
What Hassett said: 'In a month or two, you are going to look ahead and see that countries have opened their markets to American products, they have lowered their non-tariff barriers, they have lowered their tariffs and all the countries that have done that are being treated very respectfully and well by U.S.,' Hassett said, adding that countries that don't abide by Trump's plan should expect 'some form of reciprocal tariffs.' But those comments stand in contrast to the administration's position in various judicial venues.
How it's playing: In light of last night's news, 'trade experts and America's trading partners around the world greeted the news with caution, not celebration,' NYT's Jeanna Smialek reports from Brussels. Though international stock markets rose, 'economists pointed out that Mr. Trump could turn to other legal routes to enact across-the-board tariffs,' the NYT notes, adding that 'the court's move offered only a fragile chance at reprieve for economies like those of Australia, Britain, Canada, the European Union and India. And it all but guaranteed continued chaos.'
Smart read: Ankush Khardori pens his latest Rules of Law column for POLITICO Magazine: 'A Potential Death Blow to the Trump Tariffs: The U.S. Court of International Trade didn't buy what Trump was selling — and the Supreme Court might not either.'
Good Thursday afternoon. Thanks for reading Playbook PM. Drop me a line at gross@politico.com.
8 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
1. COURT IN THE ACT: President Donald Trump's targeting of Harvard University ran into a major roadblock this morning, with a federal judge extending a block on the White House's effort to prevent the Ivy League institution from enrolling foreign students.
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs announced her plan during a court hearing this morning shortly after the administration revealed that it would give the university a 30-day reprieve before cancelling its authority to admit international students, POLITICO's Josh Gerstein, Kelly Garrity and Bianca Quilantan report from Boston.
Burroughs indicated that the administration's announcement does not cancel out the need for a court order barring the administration from taking action against Harvard. In essence, Burroughs said she doesn't trust that other moves against Harvard, such as holding up visas for students, won't happen in the meantime.
'I know you don't think an order is necessary, but I do think an order is necessary,' the judge told a government lawyer. 'I don't think it needs to be draconian, but I want to make sure that nothing changes.'
The knock-on effect: 'Trump's latest visa clampdown is poised to blow a hole in college budgets,' by POLITICO's Rebecca Carballo
2. SCOTUS WATCH: 'Supreme Court limits agency environmental reviews,' by POLITICO's Alex Guillén: 'The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that federal agencies conducting environmental reviews can take a more limited view of the impacts of transportation and energy infrastructure projects they are permitting. The 8-0 ruling follows years of lower courts demanding broader consideration of the effects of projects like liquefied natural gas export terminals and energy-moving projects like rail lines and pipelines to account for the climate effects of fossil fuels that move through them and will later be burned.'
3. MIDDLE EAST LATEST: Earlier today, Israel once again bombarded Gaza, where 'local health officials said more than 60 people had been killed over the past day, as hungry Palestinians scrambled for food handouts under a new Israeli-backed aid operation that has been heavily criticized,' NYT's Isabel Kershner and Rawan Sheikh Ahmad report. 'The United Nations says the new aid system is insufficient to meet basic needs for survival. In a reflection of the chaotic atmosphere surrounding aid distribution and the desperation of much of the population, a large crowd of hungry people broke into a Gaza warehouse run by the U.N.'s World Food Program on Wednesday in search of food.'
4. RUSSIA RAMPING UP: Against the backdrop of the pressure campaign on Russian President Vladimir Putin to commit to ceasefire negotiations, 'The Kremlin's summer offensive appears to be underway,' NYT's Anatoly Kurmanaev reports. 'Russian forces are advancing on Ukrainian battlefields at the fastest pace this year. They are bombarding Ukrainian cities with some of the biggest drone and missile strikes of the war. They have even opened another front in northern Ukraine. … Military analysts say it is clear that Russian forces this month began their latest concerted attempt to achieve a breakthrough, even as Moscow's representatives have engaged in the first direct peace talks with Ukraine since 2022.'
5. TRAIL MIX: Michigan GOP Rep. Bill Huizenga has been prepping for a potential run at the Wolverine State's open Senate seat and plans to make a final decision this summer, POLITICO's Adam Wren scoops. Huizenga's entry would defy national Republicans, who have been aiming to clear the field for former Rep. Mike Rogers' second attempt at the office (and are eager to keep Huizenga running in what might otherwise be a competitive House seat).. .… Harry Jarin is challenging Rep. Steny Hoyer, with the 35-year-old drawing a stark line on age as he attempts to unseat the 85-year-old Maryland Democrat. Jarin told POLITICO's Andrew Howard that Dems need to 'stop treating congressional seats like lifetime appointments.'
More moves: Alabama AG Steve Marshall is jumping into the Senate race for Tommy Tuberville's seat, noting his ardent opposition to the Biden administration's policies, The Washington Examiner's David Sivak reports. … Annie Andrews, a South Carolina Democrat and doctor, is launching a bid to unseat Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). Andrews, who previously unsuccessfully ran against Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), joins one other Democrat already in the field. More from AP's Meg Kinnard
6. EYES ON THE SKIES: A mass exodus is 'building across' the FAA, 'potentially affecting divisions that oversee everything from air traffic to legal matters and space launches,' WSJ's Andrew Tangel reports. An internal presentation to senior management stated that employees are leaving 'across all skill levels.' The May 7 presentation 'flagged departures of senior leaders, technical experts and mission-support employees that it said would result in losing critical competencies and institutional knowledge. A similar presentation by the agency's human-resources staff tallied more than 1,200 employees who were departing under the program.'
7. A MAHA MOMENT: HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again Commission last week released its marquee report, 'citing more than 500 studies and other sources to back up its claims. Those citations, though, are rife with errors, from broken links to misstated conclusions. Seven of the cited sources don't appear to exist at all,' NOTUS' Emily Kennard and Margaret Manto report.
A snapshot: 'Epidemiologist Katherine Keyes is listed in the MAHA report as the first author of a study on anxiety in adolescents. When NOTUS reached out to her this week, she was surprised to hear of the citation. She does study mental health and substance use, she said. But she didn't write the paper listed.'
8. FOR YOUR RADAR: 'Far-right activist with history of anti-gay comments fired from leadership role at Kennedy Center after CNN investigation,' by CNN's Andrew Kaczynski: 'Floyd Brown, a far-right political activist with a history of anti-gay rhetoric and promoting conspiracy theories about former President Barack Obama, said he was fired from a senior leadership role he briefly held at the Kennedy Center — just hours after CNN reached out with questions about his past statements. … Brown briefly served as a Vice President of Development, a top fundraising role responsible for helping raise tens of millions of dollars annually in support of the nation's most prominent performing arts center.'
How it went down: 'His appointment, which had not been formally announced by the Kennedy Center, had sparked internal concern among some staffers, according to sources. … In an email to CNN on Wednesday, Brown … defended his remarks as rooted in his Christian faith and said they did not influence his professional conduct. … Later on Thursday morning, Brown posted a lengthy note on X explaining his dismissal and criticizing Richard Grenell, the Kennedy Center's president, who is gay. Brown claimed in an email he was asked to 'recant' his belief that marriage is only between a man and a woman.'
TALK OF THE TOWN
Ronna Romney McDaniel is back in the political game with a new gig as CEO of a new battleground group in Michigan backed by the DeVos family.
IN MEMORIAM — 'Harrison Tyler, preservationist and grandson of 10th president, dies at 96,' by WaPo's Andrew Jeong: 'Mr. Tyler's life was intertwined with those of his famous ancestors. His grandfather, the 10th president of the United States, was born in 1790, when George Washington was serving his first term as president, and served himself from 1841 to 1845. Mr. Tyler was also related to President William Henry Harrison, Pocahontas and Edmund Ruffin, a pro-slavery secessionist who fought in the Civil War.'
MEDIA MOVE — Matthew Vann is now a senior writer for 'CNN This Morning.' He previously was a senior producer at ABC.
TRANSITIONS — The National Association of Realtors is adding Bennett Richardson as SVP of marketing and comms and Raffi Williams as VP of comms. Richardson previously was general manager at Semafor and is a POLITICO alum. Williams previously was VP of comms at the Manage Funds Association. … Stacey Geis is now senior counsel for Crowell & Moring's environment, energy and natural resources and white collar and regulatory enforcement groups. She previously was deputy assistant administrator at the EPA. …
… Kevin Barstow is joining O'Melveny as a partner in its health care practice group and congressional investigations team. He previously was senior counsel and special assistant to the president in the Biden White House. … Former Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) is joining Unite the Country as a senior adviser.
WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Hari Sevugan, CEO of Narrator Message & Media and a Pete Buttigieg, Barack Obama and DNC alum, and Emily Abrams, VP at NationSwell and a Buttigieg alum, on May 20 welcomed Noa Sevugan.
Send Playbookers tips to playbook@politico.com or text us on Signal here. Playbook couldn't happen without our editor Zack Stanton, deputy editor Garrett Ross and Playbook Podcast producer Callan Tansill-Suddath.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
10 minutes ago
- CBS News
Planned PBS, NPR cuts would overwhelmingly hit outlets in states Trump won, report finds
The looming federal funding cuts to public television and radio would overwhelmingly gut outlets in states won by President Trump in 2024, according to a new congressional report. Approximately 60% of the hundreds of radio and television stations that could suffer funding cuts are in Trump-won states, according to a congressional report obtained by CBS News from Senate Democrats. The organizations that would be affected include public media outlets in cities as large as Houston and Miami, as well as smaller stations in tiny communities like Douglas, Wyoming, which has a population of 6,000 and hosts the Wyoming State Fair. The widespread cuts to public radio and television are a component of a Republican congressional plan to eliminate $9 billion in funding for programs approved before President Trump's second term began. The proposed rescissions package, which is scheduled for a House vote Thursday, includes $1.1 billion in cuts for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which provides funding to NPR and PBS. The cuts to public broadcasting are being touted by the Trump administration and Republicans as an effort to slash taxpayer funding for news media outlets they accuse of being "liberal" or politically biased in their content. Advocates for public broadcasting have lambasted the cuts as destructive, needless and harmful to communities that have very limited sources of local broadcast news. They also deny allegations of political bias. The list of hundreds of TV and radio outlets facing funding cuts shows a broad range of impact. Major public television and radio stations in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Washington, D.C., could each lose nearly $1 million in grants in the coming months. An FM community public radio station in Carbondale, Colorado, which touts itself as "Public access radio that connects community members to one another and the world," received $145,000 in federal grant funding last year. At each of the public media outlets, the list shows reductions that are sizable enough to potentially require staffing cuts, programming reductions or news cutbacks that threaten to exacerbate shortages of local news content. CBS News' review of proposed grant cuts shows Alabama, a state with an estimated 215 public media employees, would lose as much as $3 million in funding for its public television outlets in the coming months. In South Dakota, a sparsely populated state that nonetheless receives $3 million in funds for public broadcasting employees, the funding cuts would gut money for at least 20 media outlets, according to the report provided by congressional aides to CBS News. "The path to better public media is achievable only if funding is maintained. Otherwise, a vital lifeline that operates reliable emergency communications, supports early learning, and keeps local communities connected and informed will be cut off with regrettable and lasting consequences," said Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. "Federal funding for the public broadcasting system is irreplaceable," Harrison said. "Public media serves all — families and individuals, in rural and urban communities — free of charge and commercial free." Both PBS and NPR have sued the Trump administration over previous executive orders cutting their funding, with lawyers for both alleging that among other issues, the cuts violate the First Amendment. PBS CEO Paula Kerger previously said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that while PBS only receives 15% of its funding from the federal government, some of its smaller stations receive up to 50% of their funding from federal sources and said the risks to the smaller stations are "existential" if the funding is cut. NPR CEO Katherine Maher has said roughly 1% of the organization's budget comes directly from federal dollars. Some of the many impacted public radio and TV stations have posted messages protesting the proposed cuts in funding. The social media account of a Baltimore public radio station leader said, "This isn't hypothetical—it's real, it's happening, and it places the future of local, trusted public media at serious risk. Let me be clear: this is not a symbolic move. If approved, this action could irreparably damage the local public media." Rural communities, often referred to as "news deserts" because of the lack of local news organizations, would suffer the brunt of the pain. According to a joint statement by Rep. Mark Amodei, a Nevada Republican, and Rep. Dan Goldman, a New York Democrat, "Rural broadcasters face significant challenges in raising private funds, making them particularly vulnerable if government funding is cut." Sen. Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat who is the vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in a statement to CBS News, "Trump wants Congress to vote to cut off public radio broadcasts our constituents count on for weather forecasts, emergency alerts, and updates on what's going on in their community—and force layoffs at local TV stations." House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, has championed the cuts and sought to rally support ahead of Thursday's vote on the rescissions package. "House Republicans will fulfill our mandate and continue codifying into law a more efficient federal government," Johnson said in a statement. "This is exactly what the American people deserve." In April, the White House released a statement saying taxpayers had funded NPR and PBS "for too long" and said they've "spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as 'news.'" The White House Office of Management and Budget did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump on Insurrection Act: ‘I would certainly invoke it'
President Trump on Tuesday said he would 'certainly' invoke the Insurrection Act to respond to the demonstrations on the streets of Los Angeles over his immigration policies, if he deemed the move necessary. 'If there's an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it. We'll see,' Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. 'But I can tell you, last night was terrible. The night before that was terrible.' When asked what would lead him to decide an insurrection is taking place, Trump said that in certain areas of Los Angeles last night 'you could have called it an insurrection. It was terrible.' The president had previously suggested he's open to invoking the Insurrection Act, which is a power used sparingly in U.S. history that allows for the use of the military to quell a rebellion. He made the decision to send in the National Guard to Los Angeles without a request from Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) in an unprecedented move to respond to protests of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement raids. He told reporters on Sunday, 'depends on whether or not there's an insurrection' when asked about invoking the law. 'We're just going to see what happens. If we think there's a serious insurrection … we're going to have law and order,' he said. When asked what the bar would be for sending in the Marines, Trump said, 'The bar is what I think it is.' By Monday, 700 active-duty Marines were sent to Los Angeles. As of Monday, a total of 4,000 California National Guard troops were sent in. The Pentagon estimates the deployment of National Guard troops and Marines to the California city will cost around $134 million, the Defense Department's acting comptroller said Tuesday. The president said on Tuesday he would keep the National Guard in place 'until there is no danger' and he also insisted that some demonstrators in Los Angeles are paid insurrectionists. Trump had flirted with the idea of using the Insurrection Act during the 2020 protests over police brutality following the killing of George Floyd in his first term in office. And, he referenced the possibility of doing so during the campaign in the event of protests against his victory, saying he would do so in Democrat-run states. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CNN
14 minutes ago
- CNN
Violence enters third day in Northern Ireland
Violence enters third day in Northern Ireland Unrest has spread to more towns in Northern Ireland after violence initially started in Ballymena. The third night of disturbances saw a leisure center, that had been recently used to shelter immigrants, set ablaze by masked youths. 00:45 - Source: CNN Vertical World News 16 videos Violence enters third day in Northern Ireland Unrest has spread to more towns in Northern Ireland after violence initially started in Ballymena. The third night of disturbances saw a leisure center, that had been recently used to shelter immigrants, set ablaze by masked youths. 00:45 - Source: CNN Analysis: Is Netanyahu's government under threat? Among an ongoing corruption trial, protests against his leadership and an upcoming vote to dissolve the government, CNN's Oren Liebermann looks at the growing pressure on Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 01:59 - Source: CNN Austrian mayor of city hit by school shooting speaks to CNN Austria is reeling from one of the worst rampages in the country's history after a gunman opened fire at a high school in the city of Graz, killing 10 people, including teenagers. Elke Kahr, mayor of Graz, spoke to CNN's Frederik Pleitgen during a candlelight vigil as the city reflects on the rare tragedy. 01:15 - Source: CNN BTS members discharged from South Korean military One of the world's biggest boybands could soon be making a comeback with six out of seven members of K-Pop supergroup BTS now discharged from South Korea's mandatory military service. The band plans to reunite at some point later this year. 00:47 - Source: CNN Mexican flags at LA protests spark heated debate Mexico's flag has become a defining symbol of the protests in Los Angeles, sparking a heated debate amongst the Latino community about whether or not it's disrespectful. CNN's Rafael Romo breaks down the debate and what the it means to be Mexican-American right now. 01:53 - Source: CNN Hear Mexico president's response to LA protests Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she does not agree with the violent immigration protests in Los Angeles and urged Mexicans in California to 'not fall into provocations.' The president emphasized that Mexicans in the US 'are good men and women.' 00:36 - Source: CNN Austria hit by rare school shooting A gunman in Austria opened fire on a school in the southern city of Graz, killing himself and at least nine others. The death toll includes teenagers between the ages of 14 and 18, the Austrian interior ministry said. CNN's Frederik Pleitgen reports. 01:05 - Source: CNN Ukrainian boxer to Trump: 'Open your eyes' World heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk shared a message for President Trump in an interview with CNN, asking him to help Ukraine as it continues its fight against a full-scale Russian invasion. 00:54 - Source: CNN Israeli military intercepts Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla Israel has intercepted a Gaza-bound aid ship carrying Greta Thunberg and other prominent activists, detaining those onboard, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), with Israel's foreign ministry saying activists have been taken to Israel 01:23 - Source: CNN Why Trump is on billboards in Syria's capital city Billboards thanking President Trump have popped up across Damascus, Syria's capital city. CNN's Clarissa Ward meets the woman trying to 'Make Syria Great Again.' 01:18 - Source: CNN Colombian presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe shot in Bogota A Colombian senator and presidential hopeful is in a critical condition after being shot twice at an event in Bogota, according to national police and prosecutors. Police arrested a 15-year-old carrying a Glock pistol, according to the Attorney General's Office. Miguel Uribe expressed intentions to run in the 2026 presidential election for the country's largest opposition party, the center-right Centro Democrático, or Democratic Center. 01:05 - Source: CNN Why China doesn't need the US auto market If there is one thing to be learned from Auto Shanghai - China's largest automobile show - it's that China has dozens of car brands that can rival Western ones. BYD surpassed Tesla's profits, but other EVs like those made by Zeekr, Xiaomi and Chery are quickly joining the race. CNN's Marc Stewart took a rare test drive of Zeekr's new 7GT. 00:44 - Source: CNN Analysis: Trump is in a crisis of his own making Trump tells President Vladimir Putin to stop after Russia launched its deadliest wave of attacks on Kyiv in nine months. This comes days after Trump said the US would walk out on efforts to make a peace deal in Ukraine if it didn't see progress. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh breaks down the latest. 01:03 - Source: CNN Russia launches strikes across Ukraine Russia launched waves of drones and ballistic missiles at multiple targets across a broad swath of Ukraine overnight killing at least four people in the capital Kyiv and wounding around 40 across the country. 00:32 - Source: CNN German leader on 'terrible' impact of Trump's tariffs In an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz talks about the impact President Trump's tariffs are having on the auto industry. 01:13 - Source: CNN Greta Thunberg sails to Gaza Greta Thunberg has set sail with eleven other activists to Gaza. The activist group they're part of, The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, is attempting to bring aid and raise international awareness over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the territory. 00:59 - Source: CNN
