Tag

Us Politics And Policy

All articles tagged with #us politics and policy

Trump Aide Warns Left-Wing Extremism Threatens Civilisation at Global Summit
us-politics-and-policy2 hours ago

Trump Aide Warns Left-Wing Extremism Threatens Civilisation at Global Summit

White House adviser Stephen Miller told a state department–hosted international summit that left-wing extremism is a 'fatal cancer to civilisation' and warned it has been a blind spot in counterterrorism. The administration says left-wing violence has risen in the US since 2016 and has framed left-wing groups as anti-American or anarchist in its domestic strategy, while critics warn the focus could erode civil liberties and enable political targeting. Rubio called left-wing terrorism a 'distinctive and unique evil'; the administration has designated European left-wing groups as foreign terrorist organisations, and CSIS analyses show left-wing violence rising but still less lethal than right-wing or jihadi violence. Democrats and the ACLU have pressed for data and cautioned about potential abuses of domestic counterterrorism powers.

Trump clears path for $4.5B Gordie Howe Bridge linking Windsor and Detroit
us-politics-and-policy5 days ago

Trump clears path for $4.5B Gordie Howe Bridge linking Windsor and Detroit

Trump dropped his objections to the Gordie Howe International Bridge, clearing a $4.5 billion link between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan that is now set to open on July 27. Canada and the US agreed on toll governance measures and a 15-year economic development fund tied to bridge profits. Officials say the project will boost cross-border trade and regional economic activity for generations, though ties to donors and rival toll routes have colored the broader political backdrop.

Trump pressures retailers to slash prices as inflation lingers
us-politics-and-policy5 days ago

Trump pressures retailers to slash prices as inflation lingers

Trump is piling pressure on US companies to cut prices as inflation remains elevated (about 4.2% in May). He has touted Walmart’s price reductions and urged others to follow, signaling increased government involvement in free markets ahead of the 2026 midterms. Analysts warn the approach risks longer‑term market distortions, even as some supply‑side actions show short‑term relief.

Trump backs light-touch AI oversight, adviser says
us-politics-and-policy13 days ago

Trump backs light-touch AI oversight, adviser says

Outgoing Trump adviser Sriram Krishnan says there will be no centralized AI regulator or FDA-style licensing regime under Trump, advocating light-touch, industry-led oversight and a voluntary framework to avoid slowing innovation. The stance comes as the White House has used emergency powers to pause ultra‑advanced models (notably Anthropic’s Mythos and OpenAI’s 5.6), and ahead of a 30‑day model-review window established by a recent executive order. Krishnan also argues the AI backlash is fueled by industry messaging and that regular people should see tangible benefits from AI, not just a few powerful firms.

America’s 250th birthday: a founding ideal hijacked by politics
us-politics-and-policy16 days ago

America’s 250th birthday: a founding ideal hijacked by politics

Edward Luce argues that America’s semiquincentennial celebrations have been hijacked by Donald Trump, transforming a milestone into a partisan spectacle; he contrasts today’s moment with Ford’s more principled 1976 celebration and warns that the current alignment between Trump, the Supreme Court and big donors threatens the system’s checks and balances as Americans debate what they stand for.

Hegseth's shakeup sidelines Europe’s top US Army commander
us-politics-and-policy22 days ago

Hegseth's shakeup sidelines Europe’s top US Army commander

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has forced out General CD Donahue, the top US Army officer in Europe, who will retire early amid a broader purge of senior officers and a planned reorganization of Europe command; Donahue is known for his role in Ukraine support and as the last US soldier to leave Afghanistan, and his removal comes after the earlier firing of Army Chief of Staff General Randy George, signaling a sweeping shake-up under Hegseth.

GM and Lockheed join forces to turbocharge U.S. munition production
aerospace-and-defence1 month ago

GM and Lockheed join forces to turbocharge U.S. munition production

GM and Lockheed Martin have formed framework agreements—at the Pentagon’s request—to dramatically accelerate U.S. munition production, including nearly tripling Patriot interceptor output and quadrupling Thaad and Precision Strike Missile production over the next seven years, by leveraging GM’s high-rate manufacturing and digital tools; the partners have not announced specific projects and will invest billions in capital and R&D to bolster the defense industrial base and supply chains.

Screwworm Resurgence Tests US Cattle Defenses in Texas
world1 month ago

Screwworm Resurgence Tests US Cattle Defenses in Texas

After decades of containment, the New World screwworm surged in Panama around 2023, rising to thousands of cases and spilling north through Central America and Mexico before turning up in Texas cattle, a goat in the state and a dog in New Mexico. The outbreak tests the long-running sterile-fly program, prompts calls for more labor and funding, and has the CDC considering contingency plans for possible human cases as beef prices stay high and imports are restricted.

Trump says Netanyahu has no choice but to back US-Iran deal
world1 month ago

Trump says Netanyahu has no choice but to back US-Iran deal

Donald Trump told the Financial Times that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would have no choice but to accept any US-negotiated deal with Iran, saying the US "calls the shots." The interview notes Iran’s missiles at Israel but says the strikes won’t derail talks, and Trump even hinted at a possible commando raid if a deal fails, while acknowledging a leaked, heated exchange with Netanyahu as tensions in the region persist alongside Israel–Lebanon ceasefires.

Trump reins in new tariffs push after court blocks emergency levies
us-politics-and-policy1 month ago

Trump reins in new tariffs push after court blocks emergency levies

Trump’s aides are re-launching a broad tariff drive using older laws after the Supreme Court blocked emergency levies, proposing 25% duties on Brazil, a Vietnam probe, and 10–12.5% duties on more than 60 countries over forced-labor rules, plus investigations into industrial overcapacity and subsidies and a China policy board inviting input. The plan aims for durability under Section 122/301 rules, with a late‑July deadline to keep Levies in place, though it faces potential legal challenges; some relief is offered by cutting farm‑equipment tariffs to 15% from 25% as inflation and midterm politics loom.

Trump floats US government stakes in AI firms to share AI gains
us-politics-and-policy1 month ago

Trump floats US government stakes in AI firms to share AI gains

Donald Trump suggested the US could take equity stakes in AI companies like OpenAI as part of a government partnership to let Americans benefit from AI-driven growth, a move aligned with his America-first policy and coming as Bernie Sanders campaigns for a windfall tax to fund a US sovereign wealth fund. The idea has sparked debate among industry leaders and Republican lawmakers amid concerns about nationalization of AI and ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, with several AI firms possibly going public in the near term.

States sue over $1B payout to TotalEnergies to quit offshore wind
us-politics-and-policy1 month ago

States sue over $1B payout to TotalEnergies to quit offshore wind

A coalition of seven Northeastern states led by New York is suing the Trump administration over its nearly $1 billion payment to TotalEnergies to exit offshore wind leases, arguing the deal refunds $928 million and redirects funds to fossil-fuel investments, unlawfully pressuring a foreign company and hindering climate goals; the cancellation would affect NY’s Attentive Energy One and NJ’s Attentive Energy Two offshore wind projects, potentially powering hundreds of thousands of homes.

Trump reverses course on $1.8B anti-weaponisation fund amid GOP backlash
us-politics-and-policy1 month ago

Trump reverses course on $1.8B anti-weaponisation fund amid GOP backlash

Trump has dropped his plan for a $1.8bn 'anti-weaponisation' fund after Republican pushback and a court order blocking it; the DoJ will abide by the ruling but left open a possible revival once the order expires. The fund, created as part of a settlement with the IRS, was meant to compensate allies targeted by weaponisation or lawfare and included an apology for Trump and his sons but immunity from audits. Critics panned it as an abuse of executive power and a distraction ahead of the midterms, while Democrats are moving to ban similar funds in the future.

US vows 'another way' if Iran talks stall as Hormuz diplomacy advances
world1 month ago

US vows 'another way' if Iran talks stall as Hormuz diplomacy advances

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Washington will pursue 'another way' if talks with Iran fail to end the conflict, as mediators push a phased deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and extend the fragile ceasefire; President Trump cautions against rushing a deal, oil prices fall on the possibility of progress, and a senior official says any agreement would involve gradual demining and phased sanctions relief contingent on Iran's compliance. Talks in Tehran with Pakistan and Qatar could hinge on Tehran offering to dilute or hand over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and establishing a framework for further nuclear talks, with Israel watching closely.

Trump widens rift in GOP with attack on supporters of $1.8B ‘anti-weaponisation’ fund
us-politics-and-policy1 month ago

Trump widens rift in GOP with attack on supporters of $1.8B ‘anti-weaponisation’ fund

President Donald Trump publicly attacked Republican senators who objected to his $1.8 billion ‘anti-weaponisation’ fund, calling them RINOs and saying they’re “screwing the Republican Party.” The fund, tied to a settlement of his IRS lawsuit, is billed as compensation for people charged over the January 6 riot and to support supporters amid debates over an immigration-enforcement bill; several GOP leaders criticized it, with Mitch McConnell calling it “utterly stupid” and Susan Collins and Thom Tillis voicing opposition. The vote was postponed as the party braces for the 2026 midterms, signaling internal GOP discord. Trump also claimed the IRS settlement implicated him financially, a claim legal experts dispute.