Trump announces steel tariffs

President Trump said that steel tariffs would be announced Monday — and that reciprocal tariffs against, among others, the European Union, were coming early this week. Yet questions remain whether these tariffs will go into effect, or if their announcement is being used as a bartering chip, as with other tariff threats last week.

The threat of tariffs reemerged after Trump met with Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba last week to discuss Japanese investment in US Steel. This 25 percent tariff on imported steel and aluminum appears to be an attempt to protect US and Japanese shared interests. This tariff is set to be placed on all nations equally and is not a bargaining tool, unlike those with which Trump threatened Canada and Mexico last week. The Guardian reported, though, that the prime minister of Australia plans to reach out to Trump to seek an exemption from these tariffs. At the time of writing, no such tariffs have been officially implemented.

Trump said reciprocal tariffs will be announced in more detail on Tuesday or Wednesday before going into effect “almost immediately.” The president claimed that this will be great for everybody involved, including the other countries. Trump summarized the policy by saying, “very simply: if they charge us, we charge them.” 

–Derek VanBuskirk

On our radar

ASSASSINATION DETAILS Trump requested all information surrounding the circumstances of both assassination attempts on his life Friday, saying in a statement to the New York Post that he is “entitled to know.”

MAKING CHANGE(S) Trump instructed the Treasury secretary to halt the production of pennies, as the cost of producing a single unit exceeds two cents.

FAUCI OUCHIE DoGE has cut $168,000 in Department of Health and Human Services funding for an Anthony Fauci museum exhibit. 

Trump takes on federal judge

After attorneys general from twenty-two blue states and the District of Columbia sued the Trump administration over his order to freeze federal grants, US District Judge John McConnell, a federal judge from Rhode Island, ordered Trump to unfreeze the funding.

According to McConnell, the administration violated his original order, and now, the Hill reports, “In a short order, [McConnell] directed the Trump administration to ‘immediately’ end any federal funding pause until he decides whether to indefinitely block the freeze while litigation is ongoing.”

McConnell declared the freeze is “likely unconstitutional and has caused and continues to cause irreparable harm to a vast portion of this country.”

In keeping with the Trump administration’s slash-and-burn tactics aimed at making the federal government more efficient, the funding was frozen while administration officials examined how worthwhile the grants are.   

–Teresa Mull

Thune advances five more cabinet picks

Senate Republicans will dedicate all their floor time this week to the confirmation of President Donald Trump’s cabinet picks. Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota set the stage last week by advancing five nominees.

Republicans’ immediate focus is on two of Trump’s most contentious nominees: former Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Health and Human Services secretary. The two are former Democrats, spooking some Republicans, while others celebrate an expanding coalition. 

A cloture vote on Gabbard’s nomination is scheduled for tonight. Viewed as the most vulnerable nominee, Gabbard now has support from Maine senator Susan Collins and Indiana senator Todd Young. If cloture is invoked, a final vote will follow late Tuesday or early Wednesday. 

Following the likely confirmation of Gabbard, focus will shift to Kennedy. Despite opposition from Kentucky senator Mitch McConnell, a childhood polio survivor, the backing of Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a physician initially viewed as a swing vote, positions him well for success. 

Thune also initiated cloture on three additional nominees: Howard Lutnick for commerce secretary, Brooke Rollins for agriculture secretary and former Georgia senator Kelly Loeffler for small business administrator. The dates for their floor votes are yet to be announced.

The Senate Judiciary Committee will vote Thursday on whether to proceed with FBI director pick Kash Patel’s nomination. As with Gabbard and Kennedy, despite tough opposition, Patel appears poised to advance with strong Republican support. 

–Juan P. Villasmil