Latest news with #McClatchyNews
Miami Herald
3 hours ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Do Trump voters support his tariffs? Here's what a new poll found
President Donald Trump's sweeping overhaul of American trade policy has triggered a unique rift among his supporters, according to new polling. In the latest Politico-Public First poll, a sizable swath of Trump voters voiced reservations about his aggressive tariffs — especially those aimed at China, which has been slapped with the highest rates. 'It's rare to find things which divide Trump's base at the moment,' Seb Wride, a partner and head of research at Public First, told McClatchy News. The survey — which sampled 2,276 U.S. adults June 10-20 — comes three months after the president announced his 'Liberation Day' tariffs, resulting in an unprecedented 10% baseline levy on most countries. Substantially higher 'reciprocal' tariffs were levied on scores of countries, though most of these measures have been suspended following a series of policy reversals. Sector-specific tariffs have also been unveiled, including on steel, aluminum, copper and automobiles. Here is a breakdown of the poll's findings. Congressional approval, trade deals The president's base was sharply split on the fundamental issue of who should control tariff policy. Forty-five percent of Trump 2024 voters said he should be authorized to place tariffs on any nation without congressional approval, while about the same share, 44%, said lawmakers should be required to sign off on any tariffs. Congress indeed has powers to reign in Trump's tariffs, but so far, most lawmakers have not expressed interest in doing so, according to previous reporting from McClatchy News. Voters were more aligned on the intended goal of the tariffs, according to the survey, which has a margin of error of 5 percentage points. A strong majority of Trump voters, 63%, said the president's tariffs are helping the U.S. achieve improved trade deals with other nations. Meanwhile, 27% said the tariffs are hampering U.S. efforts to hammer out better trade deals. Tariffs on China Trump's voters were especially split when it came to tariffs on China, which reached a peak of 145% in April before dropping back down to 10% in May. Less than half of Trump 2024 voters, 46%, said they would support tariffs on China — one of America's biggest trading partners — even if they lead to rising prices domestically. Around a third, 32%, said they would only support tariffs if they do not increase prices. Half of the president's voters said Trump's China tariffs generally benefit American companies, while 25% said they hurt U.S. companies, and 11% said they have no real impact. Further, a majority, 52%, said it is important to reach a trade deal with China 'as soon as possible, even if it means reducing some tariffs.' A smaller share, 38%, said the president should not lower any levies on China 'even if it delays the trade deal.' What's causing the rift? Wride said there is one key factor driving this rift among the president's base of support. 'This tariff division most likely reflects a lack of clarity among voters on the official stance: Republicans recognize the importance of China, but are unsure on whether the tariffs are a temporary negotiating position, or a permanent foreign policy position,' he said. Trump himself has offered mixed messaging on the purpose of his tariffs, saying they can serve as negotiating tactics and can also be permanent. 'It may be that this division vanishes with a clear statement of intent from the President,' Wride added. 'In the meantime, the relationship with China is impossible to ignore.'
Miami Herald
a day ago
- General
- Miami Herald
Foster mom couldn't keep dog — but kept vow to return for her. ‘Wasn't a dry eye'
A foster mom couldn't keep a dog — but kept a promise to return for her. That's when the woman adopted Winnie Bean Pocket with 'no hesitation,' ending her longtime stay at a North Carolina shelter. 'There wasn't a dry eye in the building,' Danielle Deschamps, communications coordinator for the Watauga Humane Society, told McClatchy News in a July 15 email. 'This isn't an easy vocation we've chosen, and stories like Winnie's are what keep us going. Her resilience, the community's compassion, and a foster's promise fulfilled… it's a story we'll carry in our hearts for a long time.' The shelter celebrated the emotional adoption after Winnie had been in and out of its care for three years. She first arrived 'on a date as memorable as she is: 02/22/2022,' according to Deschamps. 'She's endured two foster homes, three intakes, 12 kennel moves, two failed adoptions, one surgery, and 56 vaccines,' the shelter wrote in a Facebook post. 'She's known more change — and more waiting— than any dog ever should.' Over time, Winnie became known as a charming pup with a diva-like personality. But she struggled at the shelter. 'Her most recent stay with us lasted 280 days — and it wore on her,' Deschamps wrote. 'The stress of the kennel, the constant noise, the emotional toll… it made her reactive and anxious. She would injure herself by repeatedly jumping in her kennel, and one injury was bad enough to require stitches and a cone. It was clear: she needed out, and she needed love.' At one point, a foster parent took in Winnie during Hurricane Helene. The woman fell for the dog, but her landlord wouldn't let her keep her. So, she vowed to come back to the shelter when her lease was over. Then nine months later, the woman 'kept her word.' She couldn't live without Winnie, leading to the heartwarming adoption, the shelter wrote in its email and on social media. 'They've already shared a home,' the humane society wrote. 'They've already shared their hearts. This time, it's forever. It was a good day — ugly crying happy tears and all.' The shelter is in the mountain town of Boone, a roughly 85-mile drive west from Winston-Salem.
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Miami Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Palestinian man detained at TX airport for 10 days despite valid visa, lawyer says
A civil rights group is demanding the release of a Palestinian man it says is being held inside a Texas airport after entering the country legally. On July 5, Muhanad J. M. Alshrouf arrived at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston on an Emirates flight from Dubai after completing 'a years-long immigration process and receiving full approval for a U.S. immigrant visa,' according to a July 14 news release from the Council on American-Islamic Relations. McClatchy News reached out to Rusty Payne, a representative with U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Houston, who said he would look into the matter. Alshrouf, 22, has never been arrested and doesn't have a criminal record, according to CAIR. He passed 'rigorous background checks by both U.S. and Israeli authorities,' the organization said. 'His sole purpose in coming to the United States is to reunite with his U.S. citizen father and siblings and build a future in the country he has dreamed of since childhood,' according to the release. Since arriving in Houston, Alshrouf has been kept in a secondary screening room 'without access to legal counsel, a change of clothes, proper food, or basic hygiene,' CAIR said. His family said he is in the same clothes he arrived in, according to the organization. 'This young man legally entered the country with a U.S. immigrant visa, having passed every background check and security clearance. Yet he has been held in a secondary screening room for more than a week without due process or basic human compassion,' John T. Floyd, a board member of CAIR-Texas Houston and civil rights attorney, said in a statement. 'This type of treatment is unlawful, unjustified, and inhumane. We demand his immediate release and access to legal representation.' Payne did not comment on this individual case but provided McClatchy News with some general information regarding travel into the United States. 'Under U.S. immigration law [Section 291 of the INA [8 USC 1361] applicants for admission bear the burden of proof to establish that they are clearly eligible to enter the U.S. To demonstrate that they are admissible, the applicant must overcome all grounds of inadmissibility,' he said in an email. Payne explained there are '60 grounds of inadmissibility,' which can be due to many reasons including health-related grounds, criminality, security reasons and more. 'It is important to note that issuance of a visa or a visa waiver does not guarantee entry to the United States. A CBP officer at the port of entry will conduct an inspection to determine if the individual is eligible for admission under U.S. immigration law,' Payne said. However, Maria Kari, an attorney and executive director for Project TAHA, called the detainment 'unlawful, unjust, and profoundly inhumane,' the CAIR news release said. 'CBP's own policy requires individuals to be processed within 72 hours. Airports are not detention centers. Yet Muhanad has been subjected to an unconscionable confinement, forced to wear the same undergarments for over a week. Is this the dignity America offers its newest residents?' Kari said. 'Although CBP refuses entry to those who are not eligible to travel to the U.S., CBP continues to welcome legitimate travelers to the United States,' Payne said.
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Miami Herald
Two South Carolina cities rank among the best US travel destinations. Here's why
South Carolina is home to two of the nation's best places to visit, a new report finds. Charleston ranks No. 3 and Greenville is No. 7 on a list of cities travelers love the most, according to results published July 8. While Charleston has spent years ranking as a fan-favorite destination, Greenville received a nod for making a 'strong debut' on the list from Travel + Leisure. To choose the best U.S. vacation spots, the magazine teamed up with researchers at Proof Insights. From Oct. 21, 2024, to Feb. 24, it received hundreds of thousands of responses in an online reader survey. For cities, scoring criteria included 'sights/landmarks, culture, food, friendliness, shopping' and value, according to the magazine's website and details shared with McClatchy News via email. What makes the SC destinations fan favorites? In the resulting World's Best Awards, Charleston was the highest-ranking South Carolina destination in the best U.S. cities category. Travel + Leisure said fans raved about its architecture and charming downtown. 'After 12 straight years at the top of the list, this coastal escape has moved into the third spot,' the magazine wrote. 'Still, there's much to adore about the Holy City, which is brimming with history and Southern hospitality.' Meanwhile, Greenville was praised for being a hidden gem in the Southeast, a region that boasts several destinations in the top 10. 'A newcomer to the list, this mid-size city was described as one of the South's 'best kept secrets,'' the magazine wrote. 'Visitors appreciated the high number of locally owned restaurants and the proximity to the outdoors — the Reedy River, which flows right through downtown, also provides a peaceful setting.' Across the country, places that offer travelers a glimpse into the past and a taste of regional foods received high marks in the rankings. 'When choosing city escapes in the United States, travelers continue to seek destinations with pedestrian-friendly streets, dynamic arts and culture institutions, and excellent food,' the magazine wrote in its report. 'For many visitors, it was also important to have access to activities that suit everyone, whether you're traveling as a couple, with friends, or as a multigenerational family.' Nationwide, the top-ranked vacation spot was Santa Fe, New Mexico. The other destinations that round out the top five: New Orleans at No. 2Savannah, Georgia, at No. 4Alexandria, Virginia, at No. 5 In addition to boasting winners in the best cities category, places in South Carolina made their mark in the top 10 on other World's Best Awards lists. Here's where those destinations landed in the continental U.S. rankings: Kiawah Island at No. 7 among the best islandsHilton Head Island at No. 9 among the best islandsWentworth Mansion in Charleston at No. 3 among the best city hotelsJohn Rutledge House Inn in Charleston at No. 9 among the best city hotels
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Science
- Miami Herald
Sea creatures make ‘extremely rare' appearance off England. See ‘magical' photos
A pair of orcas recently made waves when they were spotted in an unusual location off the United Kingdom. The apex predators were seen off the Isles of Scilly — an archipelago southwest of Cornwall, England — in early July. Images taken by wildlife photographer Isaac Ogden show the creatures breaching the surface near the rocky coastline. 'Killer whales, killer views,' Ogden wrote in a July 10 Instagram post, which garnered hundreds of likes. He also noted the rarity of the encounter. 'Orcas have been seen a couple of times in recent years off mainland Cornwall but not off the Isles within the last 25 years or so,' Ogden told McClatchy News. The Kernow Weather Team, a local weather organization, described the sighting as 'extremely rare' and 'magical.' 'These intelligent, powerful creatures are truly a sight to behold and a reminder of how wild and wonderful our Cornish seas really are,' the organization said in a Facebook post. One of the animals was identified as Freyja, or C-002, an Iberian orca belonging to the Vega pod. Freyja is believed to be the first Iberian killer whale to have been seen in the waters off Cornwall, according to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust. 'She is a female and she is always seen with this other one, although we need to get further identification on the second whale, we think she may be C001,' Dolphin Zones' Sarah Matthews, told the BBC. 'They are quite an elusive pair that appears to pop up randomly in different places,' she said, noting the pair may be the last surviving members of their ecotype. Orcas are found throughout all of the world's oceans, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Globally, there are an estimated 50,000 individuals belonging to various distinct populations. The creatures face threats from vessel strikes, entanglements in fishing gear and food shortages.
