A recent court ruling against Donald Trump’s tariffs has sparked outrage among his MAGA allies. The decision exposed significant flaws in the legal arguments supporting the tariffs, according to a lawyer for the opposing side. This legal setback represents a significant blow to Trump’s trade policies. The ruling’s implications are far-reaching and will likely impact future trade disputes.
The Trump administration is escalating its campaign to expand executive power, targeting the Library of Congress and claiming it falls under executive branch authority. This assertion, along with attempts to influence other independent agencies like the GAO, represents a broader effort to blur the lines separating government branches. The administration’s actions have faced some resistance, including legal challenges and pushback from Congress, though limited. The White House’s rationale centers on a claimed mandate to rein in spending and reshape governance, ignoring established norms of separation of powers. Control over the Library would grant access to vast amounts of sensitive data, including congressional research requests and copyright information.
AtlasIntel, a top-ranked pollster, reveals President Trump’s approval rating has plummeted to 45 percent, its lowest point in his second term. This marks a significant drop from previous polls showing approval between 46 and 50 percent, with disapproval rising from 49 to 54 percent. The decline is reflected across various policy areas, including the economy and immigration, where negative assessments now outweigh positive ones. However, this contrasts with other recent polls showing a slight uptick in Trump’s approval.
On Saturday, Donald Trump shared a Truth Social post alleging that Joe Biden was executed in 2020 and replaced by clones or robots. This unsubstantiated claim, originating from a small account, contradicts the readily available evidence of Biden’s continued public presence and recent statements regarding his cancer diagnosis. The post follows Trump’s earlier insensitive remarks about Biden’s health battle, further fueling controversy. The incident highlights the spread of misinformation via social media and the impact of presidential endorsements on such narratives.
President Trump’s Truth Social post alleging that President Biden was executed in 2020 and replaced by a clone places Biden among other public figures targeted by similar conspiracy theories, including Paul McCartney and Avril Lavigne. The post, which included purported evidence such as supposed changes in Biden’s eye color and earlobes, was quickly embraced by Trump supporters. This incident follows Trump’s recent reposting of a conspiracy theory about CBS, highlighting a weekend of amplified misinformation. The timing coincides with ongoing speculation about Biden’s health, further fueling the spread of these unsubstantiated claims.
At the South Carolina Democratic Party Convention, Governor Tim Walz urged Democrats to adopt a more aggressive approach against President Trump, characterizing the president as a “wannabe dictator” who requires a forceful response. Walz, the 2024 Democratic Vice Presidential nominee, argued that Democrats must “be a little meaner” in their opposition to Trump’s actions, drawing a parallel between confronting a bully and challenging the president’s policies. This call for stronger pushback comes as Democrats grapple with Trump’s sweeping changes and explore strategies, including economic populism, to regain political ground. Various Democratic leaders are actively working to counter Trump’s influence and rebuild the party’s standing.
In stark contrast to President Biden’s respectful Memorial Day message honoring fallen service members, former President Trump’s post was a vitriolic attack filled with unsubstantiated accusations. Biden’s subsequent Memorial Day speech, his first public appearance since a cancer diagnosis, further highlighted his decency and patriotism. Trump’s response, including callous remarks about Biden’s health and character, underscored the persistent disparity between their approaches to leadership. Ultimately, Biden’s dignified conduct stands in sharp contrast to Trump’s consistent cruelty and lack of empathy.
President Trump doubled steel import tariffs to 50%, prompting immediate condemnation from the European Union, which threatened retaliatory measures unless a negotiated solution is found by July 14. The EU cited increased costs for consumers and businesses, while the United Steelworkers union criticized the impact on Canadian jobs. Trump, announcing the tariff increase at a U.S. Steel rally, claimed a pending deal with Nippon Steel would prevent job losses, though the deal remains unfinalized. This action follows a recent court ruling that temporarily halted many of Trump’s country-specific tariffs.
A recent AtlasIntel poll reveals that Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez enjoys a more positive public image than President Trump, Vice President Harris, and even President Biden. Her 46 percent positive rating, exceeding her negative rating by two points, places her third overall, behind only the Obamas. This positive perception contrasts with her polarizing role in national politics, where she’s drawn criticism from both moderate Democrats and Republicans. The poll’s findings suggest a surprisingly high level of public approval for the progressive congresswoman.
In Camilla, Georgia, Mayor Kelvin Owens, former elections superintendent Rhunette Williford, and former deputy superintendent Cheryl Ford were jailed on felony election interference and fraud charges. Their arrests stem from November’s attempted halt of a city council election following the disqualification of a candidate, Venterra Pollard. The mayor, citing emergency powers, cancelled the election, while Williford and Ford resigned, citing duress. Despite the initial cancellation, the election proceeded under court order, with polls remaining open until nearly 4 a.m.
John Q. Hosedrinker