Faced with Donald Trump’s attacks, prominent law firms chose between appeasement and resistance. While most firms reached costly deals with the White House, securing potentially lucrative contracts but risking reputational damage, four firms opted to fight back, achieving initial legal victories. However, the appeasement strategy is showing cracks, with at least one firm losing a major client, Microsoft, to a firm resisting Trump. This shift, coupled with a new progressive campaign pressuring compliant firms, raises questions about the long-term viability of appeasement and the potential for further defections.
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Consumer preference for higher-quality, American-made goods, exemplified by a hypothetical choice between a potentially unsafe Chinese doll and a safer, better-constructed American doll on Amazon, is highlighted. However, the argument rests on a contradiction: lowering regulations and production costs, while simultaneously promoting superior American quality, suggests a potential trade-off between safety and affordability. This apparent paradox underscores a key point in the argument for the economic benefits of reduced regulations.
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Vice President JD Vance cast a tie-breaking vote to defeat a bipartisan Senate resolution opposing President Trump’s sweeping tariffs. The resolution failed 49-49 due to the absences of Senators McConnell and Whitehouse, necessitating Vance’s intervention. This action, marking only his second tie-breaking vote, solidified the Trump administration’s controversial trade policy despite opposition from some Republicans and Democrats. The House had previously blocked consideration of similar legislation.
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Attorney General Pam Bondi attributed the seizure of over 22 million fentanyl pills and 3,400 kilos of fentanyl in President Trump’s first 100 days to saving 258 million lives. This calculation, provided by the DOJ, is based on the amount of fentanyl seized and its purity level, divided by a lethal dose. While the methodology has been questioned, the claim centers on the prevention of potentially fatal overdoses. Further investigation is needed to verify the accuracy and assumptions within the calculation.
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A Texas federal judge ruled that President Trump’s use of the 18th-century Alien Enemies Act to expedite the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members was unlawful, exceeding the president’s authority. This decision, the first to conclude that the act cannot be invoked during peacetime, prevents the administration from using the law to detain or deport members of the Tren de Aragua gang within the judge’s district. While the administration may appeal, the ruling is a significant setback for Trump’s deportation efforts, as other courts have also issued rulings against the administration’s use of the AEA. The judge emphasized that courts retain the authority to interpret the scope of the law, even when evaluating a presidential proclamation.
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Despite significant US tariffs on Chinese goods, including toys, Chinese businesses in Yiwu, a major export hub, report a decreased reliance on the American market. Exporters are actively diversifying, finding new customers in South America and the Middle East, confident in their ability to find alternative markets. This shift reflects a broader defiance towards US trade policies, evidenced by both business practices and state media commentary. While US businesses face potential supply chain disruptions and price increases, China’s economic growth, although impacted by the trade war, is expected to continue.
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President Trump announced that secondary sanctions will be imposed on any country or individual purchasing Iranian oil or petrochemicals, effectively barring them from all U.S. business. This action, part of a broader “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, aims to halt Iranian oil exports, which Trump alleges fund militant groups. The increased sanctions follow ongoing negotiations with Iran regarding its nuclear program, though they are not seen as necessarily hindering diplomatic efforts. The policy primarily targets China, a major importer of Iranian oil, although its effectiveness hinges on specific actions against Chinese state-owned entities.
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McDonald’s reported a significant 3.6 percent decline in U.S. same-store sales during the first quarter of 2024, its largest drop since 2020, exceeding analyst predictions and contrasting sharply with last year’s growth. This decline, attributed to consumer uncertainty amidst a challenging economic climate, mirrored similar decreases experienced by other fast-food chains. Weakening consumer confidence, fueled by economic anxieties and rising inflation, is believed to be a primary factor contributing to reduced spending on discretionary items like restaurant meals. Despite the downturn, McDonald’s maintained its full-year outlook, planning substantial capital expenditures for new restaurant openings.
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For over two decades, residents of Lowndes County, Alabama, predominantly Black and low-income, have endured a severe sanitation crisis stemming from inadequate wastewater infrastructure and historically unsafe land. A 2023 DOJ investigation revealed widespread use of straight piping, leading to raw sewage contamination and hookworm outbreaks. A Biden administration initiative allocated $26 million to address this “environmental racism,” but President Trump subsequently canceled the funding, citing concerns about “illegal DEI.” The resulting inaction leaves residents facing ongoing health risks and underscores the long-standing inequities in access to basic sanitation services.
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The EU is exploring cooperation with the U.S. on several trade issues, including reducing tariffs on imported cars and industrial goods, and addressing China’s trade practices. However, internal divisions among member states complicate the EU’s response, with some wary of appearing to yield to U.S. pressure or alienating a long-standing ally. While the EU considered retaliatory measures in the services sector, it opted for a more traditional goods-based response to avoid escalating tensions further. This approach, coupled with ongoing negotiations, aims to navigate the temporary pause on some U.S. tariffs.
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John Q. Hosedrinker