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The Hill
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Hill
White House rages after courts block tariffs
Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here THE WHITE HOUSE ON THURSDAY raged against two federal courts that blocked most of President Trump's tariffs, urging the Supreme Court to intervene and promising to overturn a decision the administration described as 'judicial overreach.' Press secretary Karoline Leavitt read from a lengthy opening statement at her press briefing, saying the courts had 'brazenly abused their judicial power to usurp the authority' of the president. 'These judges failed to acknowledge that the president of the United States has core foreign affairs powers given to him by Congress to protect the U.S. economy and national security,' Leavitt said. 'The courts should have no role here,' she added. It's been a whirlwind 24 hours for Trump's tariffs in the courts. Late Wednesday, three judges on the U.S. Court of International Trade — including a Trump appointee — unanimously blocked most of Trump's announced tariffs dating back to February. Shortly before Leavitt took the podium Thursday, a second federal court followed suit, ruling that the president cannot claim unilateral authority to impose tariffs by declaring emergencies over trade deficits and fentanyl. On Thursday afternoon, a federal appeals court lifted the first of the two rulings blocking the tariffs, handing Trump a temporary win. However, most of the tariffs remain blocked under the ruling by the federal judge in Washington, D.C. Leavitt argued the executive branch has the authority to levy tariffs for national emergencies, which she says includes national security concerns stemming from trade imbalances. 'America cannot function safely long-term if we are unable to scale domestic manufacturing capacity, have our own secure industrial supply chains, and if our own defense industrial base is dependent on foreign adversaries,' she said. The U.S. Constitution says 'the Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises.' Constitutional scholar Jonathan Turley, who has criticized the courts for overreach on some Trump actions, called the trade court's ruling a 'well-reasoned and good-faith decision,' but said it should have issued a stay pending appeal. 'These are difficult issues, and we need to tamp down the rhetoric,' Turley wrote. 'These judges are not the enemy. Neither is Trump. Trump is trying to use every possible law to achieve historic reforms. These judges are trying to guarantee that such priorities do not take precedence over the rule of law.' WHAT'S NEXT The Trump administration filed emergency appeals and is hoping the high court steps in. 'The Supreme Court must put an end to this for the sake of our Constitution and our country,' Leavitt said. Leavitt said the U.S. would continue to negotiate new trade deals. 'As far as we're concerned, our trade agenda is moving forward and we've already heard from countries around the world today who will continue to negotiate in good faith,' she said. Not all of Trump's tariffs have been blocked. Here's a rundown of those that remain in place. MEANWHILE… Trump met with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell at the White House on Thursday afternoon amid longstanding tensions between the two. The president has called Powell a 'fool' and pressured the central bank chief to lower interest rates. Powell has steadfastly refused, citing concerns the trade war would lead to runaway inflation. RUBIO SHAKES UP STATE Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday he's notified Congress of his intent to reorganize the State Department, saying he'd be streamlining the department to make it 'more agile.' 'Since my first day as Secretary, I have said that this Department must move at the speed of relevancy,' Rubio said in a statement. 'The reorganization plan will result in a more agile Department, better equipped to promote America's interests and keep Americans safe across the world.' Fox News reported that Rubio intends will cut or consolidate more than 300 offices and 3,400 jobs. The Hill's Julia Mueller writes: 'The proposed organizational chart reflects the Trump administration's gutting of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), of which Rubio was made acting administrator as changes were implemented, as well as plans to eliminate the State Department's bureau focused on democracy and human rights, replacing it with an Office of the Coordinator for Foreign Assistance and Humanitarian Affairs.' Rubio also announced the U.S. would 'aggressively revoke visas' from Chinese students, including 'those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.' The State Department and Department of Homeland Security will also 'revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong,' Rubio said. Separately, a federal judge in Boston issued a preliminary injunction to block the Trump administration's directive to strip Harvard University of its ability to admit international students. 💡Perspectives: • The Hill: Trump's tariff house of cards collapses. • The Economist: Pausing foreign applications to universities is terrible. • Vox: What happens when Harvard can't be Harvard. • The Hill: Time is not on Russia's side in Ukraine. • CNN: Trump's Russia-Ukraine deal is always two weeks away. Read more: • Court blocks Trump tariffs: 5 takeaways. • Tariff court ruling throws wrench into companies' trade strategies. • Fed minutes show rising unemployment, stagflationary risks. • Trump gives clemency to over 20 people, including political allies. • What to know as Trump ramps up his student visa crackdown. The Trump administration submitted a ceasefire proposal supported by Israel to Hamas in the hopes of reaching a ceasefire in Gaza. The Department of Health and Human Services is canceling hundreds of millions of dollars in funding pledged to Moderna to help the company develop, test and license mRNA-based vaccines to combat pandemic flu viruses, including bird flu in humans. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino says he'll release a video showing that no one else was around when convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in a prison cell in 2019. © AP Photo/Evan Vucci Elon Musk marked the end of his status as a special government employee Thursday by thanking President Trump for the opportunity and venting frustration at Congress for not doing more to address government spending. 'I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending,' Musk posted on X. 'The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.' However, in a snippet from an interview set to air this weekend on 'CBS Sunday Morning,' Musk said he was 'disappointed' with the House GOP's spending bill, which he said 'increases the deficit' and 'undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing.' Musk took another swing at the bill Thursday, saying it moves too quickly to phase out Biden-era low-carbon energy tax credits. Musk's remarks capture some of the discontent among fiscal hawks in Washington, who believe the House-passed 'big, beautiful bill' will explode the deficit over the next decade. 'This bill isn't a done deal yet,' Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) posted on X. 'There's still time to fix it. The Senate version will be more aggressive. It can, it must, and it will be or it won't pass.' The White House doesn't want to hear it. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday demanded Senate Republicans 'maintain the momentum and quickly pass' the bill. She denied it would add to the deficit, saying forecasts from the Congressional Budget Office can't be trusted because they fail to account for the economic growth she says the bill will spur. 'Senate Republicans must get this bill passed,' Leavitt said. 'Failure is not an option. The American people are counting on us, on Republicans to deliver.' As the face of the administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk set out to find $1 trillion in waste, fraud and abuse. DOGE's website claims to have saved taxpayers $175 billion so far, although their work will continue without Musk. The White House is sending Congress a package to claw back $9.4 billion next week, which will take aim at funding for NPR, PBS and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). DOGE dismantled several agencies, including USAID, but many of their actions have been blocked by the courts. And Musk's businesses took a hit over his polarizing political activity, punctuated by incidents of vandalism targeting Tesla vehicles and dealerships. Musk says he's finished spending money on politics for now. He's cut a lower profile in recent weeks, a stark departure from his early antics, such as when he wielded a chainsaw while wearing sunglasses indoors at the Conservative Political Action Conference. Conservatives celebrated Musk's disruption of the government and thanked him for his work. 'I think the American people ought to be saying to Elon, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. He came and spent four months working for the American people free of charge,' Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told Fox News's Sean Hannity. 'Didn't collect a salary, made nothing. He rooted out massive waste, fraud and abuse, and he did so at enormous cost to himself.' The Hill's Brett Samuels recaps seven memorable moments from Musk's tenure at the White House. 💡Perspectives: • The Hill: America has a billionaire problem and needs a wealth tax. • Financial Times: Finance is ready for a blockchain reset. • UnHerd: Peter Thiel's visions of apocalypse. © Greg Nash Frustrations over aging leadership and electoral outcomes has some Democrats advocating for a new generation of leaders. Is there evidence of a youth movement starting to taking shape? Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), 85, has pulled a primary challenger who is making age the centerpiece of his campaign. Volunteer firefighter and former 'Jeopardy!' contestant Harry Jarin, 35, will challenge Hoyer, the former House majority leader. In a statement, Jarin said Hoyer 'represents a bygone era of politics that isn't working' and that congressional seats should not be treated as 'lifetime appointments.' 'I've seen from the inside how the Democratic Party has totally lost touch with working people,' Jarin said. 'We didn't present a vision of the future or politicians that people could relate to, and that's what opened the door for Trump and extremist Republicans to take power.' 'Politicians in their late 80s like Steny Hoyer simply don't know how to communicate in the era of social media,' he continued. 'Democrats have to recognize how badly we've failed and change course if we want to win.' Hoyer, who was first elected in 1981, has not said whether he'll seek reelection next year. MEANWHILE… Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), 47, will run to be the next ranking member on the powerful House Oversight Committee, seeking to replace former Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), who died of cancer last week at the age of 75. 'I'm ready to help lead that fight … [and] to ensure we hold those in power accountable and protect democracy for the next generation,' Garcia told Axios. Connolly, who is the third House Democrat to die this year, defeated Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) to be the top Democrat on Oversight earlier this year. Reps. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), 70, Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), 77, and Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), 44, have also expressed interest in the leadership position. ELSEWHERE… Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) says he has a simple solution to Democratic woes with male voters amid reports the party will spend $20 million to study their failings with men. 'While men were struggling — losing jobs and self-respect — too many politicians made it seem like being a man was easy,' Khanna posted on X. 'We ignored their challenges and made them fear being 'canceled' for saying the wrong thing. I don't need a $20 million study to know that's wrong.' 💡Perspectives: • The Liberal Patriot: Hispanic moderates' big swing right. • The American Prospect: What do Dems need to do to win back voter trust? • The Hill: Trump can't blame Biden forever. • Silver Bulletin: Turnout didn't cost Harris the election. Read more: • White House attacks Jill Biden over Joe Biden health 'cover-up'. • Comer 'open' to bringing Biden in for hearing. • Democratic anxiety rises amid Biden revelations, losses to Trump. Someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up to get your own copy: See you next time!
Fox News
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Some fentanyl dealers would be charged with felony murder under new bill
Print Close By Preston Mizell Published April 29, 2025 FIRST ON FOX: A new piece of legislation was introduced in both the House and the Senate on Tuesday that would allow fentanyl dealers connected to distribution resulting in death to be charged with felony murder. Under current U.S. law, there is a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison for the same offense, but the legal process of prosecution is not tried as a murder case. The legislation would increase the severity and consequences of dealers to further crackdowns on the fentanyl crisis that has taken roughly 280,000 thousand American lives since 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIH). WHITE HOUSE DISPLAYS LAWN SIGNS HIGHLIGHTING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CRIME Senator Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Representative Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, unveiled the Felony Murder for Deadly Fentanyl Distribution Act as a bicameral bill on Tuesday, which also marks National Fentanyl Awareness Day. The legislation will now head to committee in both chambers. "Drug cartels have taken advantage of loopholes at our borders to peddle illicit drugs into our country, meanwhile, our communities pay the price," Gonzales told Fox News Digital. "My bill sends a strong message to those who work with cartels and other bad actors—if you sell the drug and take an innocent life, justice will be delivered. Our law enforcement agencies are in overdrive combating the drug epidemic in America, it's time to take action and up the penalties for fentanyl dealers." While the number of deaths is in the hundreds of thousands, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) estimates that "nearly 64,000 pounds of fentanyl have been seized at the southern border," which is enough to "kill 14 billion people." "I have seen firsthand how the scourge of fentanyl has inflicted incredible tragedy on communities across Iowa," Senator Joni Ernst told Fox News Digital Tuesday. "I have worked for years to protect Americans and stop this deadly epidemic. Increasing the severity of the punishment for the drug dealers responsible for the deaths of too many Iowans is long overdue." WHITE HOUSE TOUTS 100-DAY ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN AFTER BIDEN 'UNSECURED THE BORDER ON PURPOSE' The rise in the flow of the deadly drug has been largely tied to the influx of illegal immigrants over the past four years during the Biden Administration . Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) estimates "more than 90% of interdicted fentanyl is stopped at Ports of Entry (POEs), where cartels attempt to smuggle it primarily in vehicles driven by U.S. citizens." With a recent decline in border apprehensions , the number of deaths resulting from consumption of fentanyl have declined as well. The CDC reported in February with the most recent data showing overall drug overdose deaths dropping 24% from October 2023 to September 2024. President Donald Trump's Border Czar, Tom Homan , claimed at a White House press conference Monday morning that the Biden Administration "unsecured the border on purpose." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Homan went on to say that "border numbers are at a historic low" and that the U.S. has the "most secure border in the history of this nation." Print Close URL
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
White House Internship Listing Sparks Heated Reactions
A joint post on Instagram from the official White House and POTUS accounts is being met with harsh reactions. The post, published on Friday, April 4, features a photo of the White House beneath the message 'WHITE HOUSE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM' written in all caps, with the additional message, 'Now Accepting Applications for Summer 2025' printed in much smaller type. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 Instagram users seem to be more interested in leaving snarky comments than applying for the position. 'Did Elon approve this message?' asked one, while another added, 'Doge is gonna cut them as soon as Elon finds out they're paid internships.' Another suggested, 'The intern will be put in charge of DOGE.' 'Don't even think about applying if you ever said one bad thing about the US government- this administration doesn't like free speech,' another one posted. 'Willingly associate yourself with the Trump administration? Sounds like career suicide to me,' another person wrote. A page on the official White House website describes the internship program to those interested. 'The White House Internship Program's mission is to make the 'People's House' accessible to future leaders from around the nation,' it reads. 'The White House Internship Program is a public service leadership program that provides a unique opportunity to gain valuable professional experience and build leadership skills. This program is designed to mentor and cultivate today's young leaders, strengthen their understanding of the Executive Office, and prepare them for future public service opportunities.' The description continues, 'The President, First Lady, and White House staff are committed to providing young leaders an opportunity to develop their leadership skills and serve their country through the White House Internship Program. This program was developed to provide hands-on experience and cultivate meaningful skills.' You can apply to be a White House intern here.
The Hill
26-03-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
DC Bureau: Signal group chat attack plans update
trt: 1:18 o/c: excuse after excuse {intro} {PKG} There was no harm done because the attack was incredibly successful that night. FOR A THIRD WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TEXTING PLANS FOR A MILITARY STRIKE IN A GROUP CHAT ON THE "SIGNAL" APP. THE ATLANTIC'S EDITOR IN CHIEF JEFFREY GOLDBERG SAYS NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER MIKE WALTZ MISTAKENLY ADDED HIM TO THE GROUP. [TAKE SOT NAME:Karoline Leavitt DURATION:0:04] ON RELEASED MESSAGES SHOWING THE AND WEAPONS USED... [TAKE :NATS OUTCUE:AIRSTRIKES DURATION:0:02] FOR MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST THE HOUTHI'S -- A TERRORIST GROUP IN YEMEN. ONE MESSAGE FROM SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH SAYS..."THIS IS WHEN THE BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP" BUT HE MESSAGES DID NOT INCLUDE WAR PLANS... [TAKE SOT NAME:Pete Hegseth DURATION:0:08] FOR A SECOND DAY IN A TOP ADMINISTRATION WERE ON THE CHAT... FACED QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF CONGRESS -- THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WEREN'T SHARING ANY CLASSIFIED INFORMATION [TAKE SOT NAME:John Ratcliffe DURATION:0:05] BUT DEMOCRATS NOT CONVINCED. [TAKE SOT NAME:Eugene Vindman DURATION:0:03] [TAKE SOT NAME:Jason Crow DURATION:0:05] {VINAY TAG} < THE TOP DEMOCRAT ON THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE HAVE CALLED FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ADMINISTRATION'S USE OF THE "SIGNAL" APP. THEY'VE ALSO ASKED FOR A CLASSIFIED BRIEFING INTO THIS EPISODE. {SUGGESTED QUESTION} VINAY -- DEMOCRATS HAVE CALLED FOR OFFICIALS TO LOSE THEIR JOB OVER THIS MESSAGE CHAIN. WHAT DOES THE WHITE HOUSE SAY? {VINAY ANSWER} WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY PRESIDENT CONTINUES TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HIS NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM. SHE WOULD NOT ANSWER A YES-OR-NO QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER ANYBODY WOULD LOSE THEIR JOBS OVER THIS.
Gulf Insider
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
White House Says 'Peace To Begin' As Putin Agrees To Halt Attacks On Ukraine's Energy Facilities For 30 Days
According to the emerging call readouts, Putin and Trump held 'detailed and frank talks on Ukraine'. Both are describing how the call went 'very well'. But much in the readouts. The White House called for the need for peace and a ceasefire in the Ukraine war. Putin agreed to start talks to 'work something out'. But perhaps the most substantial agreement included a Putin pledge not to hit Ukraine's energy infrastructure for a period of 30-days, in an apparent nod to the US-backed interim ceasefire proposal: WHITE HOUSE: THE LEADERS AGREED THAT THE MOVEMENT TO PEACE WILL BEGIN WITH AN ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE CEASEFIRE KREMLIN: PUTIN SUPPORTS IDEA NOT TO HIT ENERGY FACILITIES PUTIN BACKS IDEA NOT TO HIT ENERGY FACILITIES FOR 30 DAYS PUTIN SAYS READY TO CONTINUE SEARCHING FOR WAYS TO PEACE: IFX KREMLIN: PUTIN, TRUMP AGREED TO STAY IN CONTACT – TASS KREMLIN: PUTIN AND TRUMP DISCUSSED UKRAINE, ECONOMIC TIES WHITE HOUSE: THE LEADERS AGREED THAT THE MOVEMENT TO PEACE WILL BEGIN WITH AN ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE CEASEFIRE KREMLIN: PUTIN ORDERS TO PAUSE STRIKES ON ENERGY FACILITIES *WHITE HOUSE: PEACE TO BEGIN W/ ENERGY, INFRASTRUCTURE CEASEFIRE WHITE HOUSE: WILL NEGOTIATE FULL CEASEFIRE AND PERMANENT PEACE RUSSIA, UKRAINE TO SWAP 175 POWS EACH ON WEDNESDAY: KREMLIN But so far the plan to refrain from energy attacks is an 'idea' – suggesting that if Ukraine keeps up its own cross-border attacks on Russia, it will all be moot. Will this really take shape? * * * Update(1235ET): The highly anticipated Trump-Putin call has ended, and given the length (akin to the first one), there was no doubt a lot covered, which included the prioritization of working on 'normalization' of US-Russia ties, as earlier previewed by the White House: PHONE CALL LASTED ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF: MSNBC It was widely reported earlier Tuesday that the US could be ready to extend to Moscow the recognition of sovereignty over the Crimean peninsula, which should be the easiest to grant. The White House has also been floating possible territorial concessions – something which Zelensky and hawkish supporters in the EU have rejected. Click here to read more
