All articles tagged with #politics and government
President Donald Trump told Glenn Beck that Dolly Parton privately liked him, a sentiment she never publicly expressed; he described her death as like losing a family member and said he ordered flags to fly at half-mast for a week in her memory. Parton was known for supporting LGBTQ+ rights, literacy, and vaccinations, while the Trump administration took opposing positions on some of these causes.
The Education Department posted a video on X that appeared to equate Donald Trump with Adolf Hitler, sparking widespread criticism. The post, which included a Churchill clip and a montage of Trump, was deleted after media coverage and online reactions highlighted the provocative comparison. Critics and former Trump supporters questioned the use of Nazi imagery in the department’s messaging, prompting the department to remove the post.
Florida proposes a rule to allow children to enroll in public and private schools and daycares without four vaccines (hepatitis B, varicella, Hib, pneumococcal conjugate) and to broaden exemptions to include general moral/ethical beliefs. If approved, the change could affect herd immunity and faces opposition from religious and public-health groups; public comment is open through mid-September. The move comes amid measles outbreaks and a Florida vaccination rate around 89%, with national debates over immunization schedules and exemptions continuing.
Florida Rep. Byron Donalds told CBS's Margaret Brennan that measles outbreaks in Florida are driven by rampant illegal immigration rather than gaps in vaccination, arguing outbreaks occur where people enter the country illegally and miss vaccination schedules, while Brennan pressed on vaccination policy and healthcare costs as Donalds campaigns to be Florida's governor.
Two weeks of US-Canada trade talks collapsed after the US moved forward with 50% tariffs on about $28 billion of Canadian goods, with Canada saying it would match the duties dollar-for-dollar. Negotiators had been close on autos and other concessions, but late-stage demands derailed a deal. The tariffs target items from wine and spirits to cement and hockey sticks, potentially raising costs for consumers and disrupting supply chains and cross-border trade under USMCA rules.
President Trump said negotiators have “pretty much” struck a deal with Canada on tariffs, with concessions reportedly on the table for autos, metals, dairy, and liquor as talks near a midnight deadline; terms discussed include lowering auto tariffs from 25% to around 15%, restoring some steel exemptions under USMCA, reducing Canada’s digital services tax, and restarting the Keystone XL pipeline, all while aiming to bolster US farmers and cross-border trade.
US and Canada say their tariff agreement is very close, with concessions on autos, metals, and farm goods. A midnight deadline looms as negotiators discuss lowering auto tariffs toward 15%, restoring some steel exemptions, and easing digital services taxes, while liquor-store policies and Keystone XL remain on the table amid broader trade talks that could avert 50% tariffs if a deal isn’t reached.
President Trump says he’s paused the 50% tariffs on Canadian goods for three days as talks continue toward a last-minute deal, with a separate post from the USTR hinting at concessions like market access for US goods but offering few specifics. Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed progress. The tariffs were set to take effect soon under a 1930 Tariff Act provision, and officials say only a small share of Canadian exports would be affected, while the broader USMCA renegotiations and trade policy remain in flux.
President Trump paused 50% tariffs on Canadian goods for three days after a last-minute deal with Canada, with details pending and a midnight deadline; talks centered on concessions around autos, dairy, and wines, but the macro impact may be limited since only a small share of Canadian exports would be affected, and the outcome could influence USMCA renegotiations.
The White House plans to impose 50% tariffs on a range of Canadian goods at midnight unless talks between President Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney avert them; the duties target autos, alcohol, and dairy and would apply to about 5% of US imports from Canada, with potential implications for USMCA renegotiations and supply chains, though some expect a limited delay if a deal emerges.
Withdrawals have reduced the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to about 293.4 million barrels, the lowest level since December 1982, as a fifth month of releases continues to try to steady energy markets. The DOE says weekly withdrawals have averaged about 6.3 million barrels since April, with roughly 120 million barrels released in that period. Critics warn that further draining could damage salt caverns and threaten the SPR’s ability to be resurrected, while Trump-era officials have argued about how far the drawdown can go (up to about 172 million more barrels with roughly 70 million remaining). A Biden energy official cautions that lowering the reserve much further could “compromise” it to the point of never resurrecting it. The debate unfolds amid persistently high gas prices and ongoing strain over the Strait of Hormuz, which influences global oil flows.
Trump’s economic approval has dropped into the low 30s in AP-NORC and Fox News polls as inflation, gas prices, and higher living costs strain households. Yet 71% of GOP voters expect the economy to improve next year, offering a potential lifeline for Trump, even as Democrats and independents remain wary. With recession risks rising, Republicans face a narrow window to translate any improved data into real relief at the checkout and on Election Day.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear says he’s heard absolutely nothing back from Sen. Mitch McConnell after requesting a health update last month; McConnell has been hospitalized since June after a fall and moved to rehab, and Beshear urged him to address Kentuckians about his ability to serve, criticizing Senate accountability as broken.
A U.S. District Court judge denied the Tohono O’odham Nation’s bid for a preliminary injunction to halt border-wall construction through its lands, finding the Nation did not show a likely likelihood of success on the merits or irreparable harm. The judge also said historical evidence did not clearly define the Roosevelt Reservation’s boundaries, and that even if the Roosevelt Reservation extends to the border, there was no proven way the wall would alter the Nation’s land boundaries. Construction may continue, but the court urged ongoing consultation with the Nation on related concerns.
Washington is poised to unleash unprecedented economic measures to intensify pressure on Iran amid ongoing conflict, with Treasury officials signaling more sanctions on the way; Trump says he doesn’t mind if the battle drags past the midterms as he touts a port blockade and control of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s economy has suffered under sanctions but remains resilient, while the Hormuz dispute risks energy-price volatility if the US considers broader steps such as secondary oil sanctions. Analysts warn that further penalties without a broader deal are unlikely to force Tehran to bend, suggesting a mix of sanctions, limited strikes, and diplomacy as the likely path.