President Trump’s executive order doubling steel and aluminum tariffs to 50% temporarily excludes the UK due to a May 2025 US-UK economic prosperity deal. This deal, not yet in effect, aims to eliminate these tariffs entirely but could be revoked if the UK fails to comply with its terms. Until the deal’s parliamentary implementation, UK steel exporters remain subject to the 25% tariff. The UK government is working to finalize the agreement and protect British businesses.
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President Trump doubled tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from 25% to 50%, impacting businesses reliant on imported metals. While the move aims to bolster the domestic steel industry, critics foresee negative consequences, including retaliatory tariffs from trade partners and substantial job losses in other US sectors. The UK received an exemption, maintaining a 25% tariff, due to ongoing trade negotiations. Economists predict further economic damage from the increased prices resulting from this protectionist measure.
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Facing a July 8th deadline for its “90 deals in 90 days” initiative, the Trump administration sent letters urging countries to submit their best trade offers. These letters, a “friendly reminder” according to the press secretary, follow the April pause on new tariffs. However, the need for such reminders has sparked skepticism, with critics questioning the administration’s claims of successful negotiations and the likelihood of meeting the ambitious goal. Social media users have highlighted the shift from assertive pronouncements to what they perceive as pleading with trading partners.
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Yunqing Jian, a University of Michigan doctoral student, and her boyfriend, Zunyong Liu, are accused of smuggling the plant pathogen *Fusarium graminearum* into the United States. Liu, who also studied the pathogen, was apprehended at Detroit Metropolitan Airport with the contraband, falsely claiming its purpose. The complaint alleges a conspiracy to defraud the U.S. involving visa fraud and false statements, citing electronic communications between Jian and Liu as evidence. The University of Michigan has stated it cooperated with the investigation and received no funding related to the accused individuals’ research.
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Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb, a large-scale drone attack on Russian air bases, was not pre-approved by the White House, Press Secretary Leavitt confirmed. While Trump was not informed beforehand, Leavitt emphasized his desire for the war’s conclusion and attributed recent Ukraine-Russia talks to his efforts. She deflected questions regarding Trump’s stance on further sanctions against Russia, stating that such decisions would follow the president’s judgment. Finally, U.S. defense officials are currently assessing the implications of the operation for American security.
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Dr. Lakshmi Panagiotakopoulos resigned from her CDC role overseeing COVID-19 vaccine recommendations following HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s order to revise the agency’s guidance. Kennedy’s directive, which narrowed recommendations for children and controversially excluded pregnant women, conflicted with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) planned updates and prompted criticism from within the agency. This action overrides the established ACIP process for updating vaccine recommendations, impacting federal policies and programs related to vaccine coverage and liability. The resignation highlights concerns about political interference in public health decision-making.
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Greg Rosen, the former chief of the Justice Department’s Capitol Siege Section, resigned his position to join a private law firm. Rosen expressed alarm at President Trump’s pardons of January 6th rioters, deeming them a dangerous message condoning political violence. He highlighted the Justice Department’s exceptionally high conviction rate in these cases, attributing it to overwhelming evidence, not bias. Rosen also criticized the subsequent demotion or dismissal of prosecutors involved in these cases, viewing it as an attack on the department’s independence.
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Former President Obama has publicly criticized a Republican bill advancing through Congress, warning of significant healthcare coverage losses for millions of Americans. The legislation, designed to fund Trump-era tax cuts, would eliminate coverage for an estimated 10.7 million people over a decade by enacting stricter Medicaid eligibility requirements and reducing marketplace insurance plans. These changes, including work requirements and shortened enrollment periods, would disproportionately affect low-income individuals and families. The bill’s cost-cutting measures have even drawn criticism from some within the Republican party, and industry experts predict significant instability in the healthcare market should the legislation pass.
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Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) recently admitted to voting for the “big, beautiful bill” without reading it, specifically citing a provision on pages 278-279 that prevents states from regulating AI for ten years. She now opposes this section, calling it a violation of state rights, and demands its removal. Greene’s admission sparked widespread online criticism for her failure to thoroughly review the legislation before voting. This incident follows a similar admission by Representative Mike Flood (R-NE), who also voted for a bill without full comprehension of its contents.
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The Department of Education has announced a halt to the garnishment of Social Security benefits for borrowers in default on federal student loans, a policy shift following the recent resumption of loan collections. This action affects an estimated 452,000 individuals aged 62 and older with defaulted loans. While the administration cites a commitment to protecting Social Security recipients, advocates argue that this pause is insufficient to address the broader issue of the 5.3 million borrowers in default and the significant increase in student loan debt among older Americans. The growth in student loan debt among older borrowers, now totaling an estimated $125 billion, underscores the need for more comprehensive solutions.
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John Q. Hosedrinker