India is reportedly preparing to retaliate against the U.S. for its imposition of a 50% duty on Indian steel, aluminum, and their derivatives, a move stemming from a trade dispute that has escalated significantly. This retaliation, based on World Trade Organization rules, comes after the U.S. rejected India’s request for consultations regarding the tariffs, which New Delhi views as non-compliant with WTO regulations. The Indian government views the tariffs as detrimental to India’s economic interests, particularly as bilateral trade talks have stalled. The U.S. exports a significant amount of merchandise to the Indian market.
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A former Justice Department official, Patty Hartman, has warned of potential retribution within the agency, as she was recently fired, making her the fourth person connected to the Jan. 6 Capitol riots cases to be terminated in the past month. Hartman, who worked on the public affairs team for the District of Columbia U.S. Attorney’s Office, believes these firings are a form of retaliation from the administration, as the mass pardon of the defendants shuttered the Jan. 6 prosecutions. She characterized her dismissal as an indication of a broader destabilization within the Justice Department, asserting that the administration has disregarded established rules and due process. Hartman is now considering a legal challenge regarding her termination, highlighting the growing concerns of those within the agency.
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Following Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian military facilities and reportedly killing civilians, including women and children, Iranian Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi vowed a retaliatory response. Shekarchi declared that both Israel and the United States would “pay dearly” for the attacks, regardless of US denials of involvement. The strikes, described by Israel as preemptive, reportedly killed Major General Hossein Salami, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran’s armed forces are reportedly on high alert.
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President Trump’s imposition of tariffs on Canadian goods has prompted swift and significant retaliation. Ontario Premier Doug Ford predicts devastating impacts on the U.S. auto sector, potentially leading to plant closures. Prime Minister Trudeau, highlighting the absurdity of the situation, emphasizes Canada’s unwavering stance until U.S. tariffs are removed. Trump’s incoherent response includes suggestions for U.S. factory construction and an executive order prioritizing logging, potentially jeopardizing endangered species and contradicting scientific consensus on wildfire prevention. The ongoing “national security” investigations into Canadian lumber, steel, and aluminum further underscore the escalating trade conflict.
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Nine anonymous FBI agents filed a class-action lawsuit against the Justice Department, alleging an unlawful, retaliatory directive from President Trump to remove agents involved in the January 6th Capitol riot and Mar-a-Lago investigations. The suit cites a DOJ questionnaire targeting thousands of agents, potentially leading to termination or endangering agents and their families due to threats from pardoned January 6th defendants. A second lawsuit, involving the FBI Agents Association and seven additional anonymous agents, followed, similarly accusing the DOJ of mass, unlawful terminations. These actions are viewed as retaliation for agents fulfilling their duties.
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In response to President-elect Trump’s threatened 25% tariff on all Canadian goods, Ontario Premier Doug Ford threatened to cut off energy exports to the United States. This drastic measure, discussed amongst Canadian premiers and Prime Minister Trudeau, stems from concerns that the tariffs would devastate the Canadian economy and harm American consumers. While the extent of energy cut-offs remains unclear, the move underscores Canada’s resolve to retaliate against what is seen as an unjustified economic attack. Canada’s significant energy exports to the U.S. make this a powerful potential countermeasure.
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John Q. Hosedrinker