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Now, let’s get into the news.
The Trump administration has reportedly informed Beijing that if Chinese President Xi Jinping wants to speak with President Trump, the request must come from China first, according to CNN. President Trump defended his escalating trade strategy, stating, “We are doing really well on our tariff policy.” In response, China announced plans to raise tariffs on U.S. goods to 125%. Earlier today, Xi made his first public comments on the trade war, saying China is “not afraid.”
The White House is weighing a proposal to spend U.S. taxpayer dollars to give every resident of Greenland $10,000 a year, according to the New York Times.
Last night, the United States Supreme Court ordered the Trump Administration to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Abrego Garcia — the Salvadoran man at the center of a Supreme Court ruling that dealt a major blow to Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act. The Justice Department had been ordered to update the court by 9:30 a.m. on its efforts to bring Garcia back to the U.S. from El Salvador. Instead, DOJ tried to cancel the hearing and delay its response. As of now, the court-imposed deadline has passed with no update. The judge hasn’t granted an extension — and it’s unclear if she will. Tensions are running high.
Up against a court-ordered deadline to produce evidence justifying its attempt to deport Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil, the Trump administration has instead filed a short memo. The document, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, invokes the president’s authority to expel noncitizens whose presence is deemed harmful to U.S. foreign policy interests.
Reps. Gerry Connolly and Shontel Brown have launched an investigation into the White House’s use of Elon Musk’s Starlink network. They’re demanding documents on how the General Services Administration is ensuring that Starlink’s deployment is secure — and that it doesn’t give Musk any financial gain or special access that would violate federal ethics rules.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen has introduced legislation that would bar companies owned by special government employees from receiving federal contracts or grants. The bill is a direct shot at Elon Musk, whose companies have secured billions in government funding while he holds an official advisory role under the Trump administration.
The Trump administration is now revoking Social Security numbers lawfully obtained by certain immigrants, in a sweeping effort to pressure them to “self-deport,” according to New York Times documents and interviews with multiple sources. So far, at least 6,300 SSNs have already been canceled.
The EU is ready to slap taxes on U.S. tech giants like Meta and Google if negotiations with President Trump fail to reduce tariffs on European goods, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the Financial Times.
Agustín Escobar, the President and CEO of Siemens Spain, was confirmed among the victims of Thursday’s tragic helicopter crash into the Hudson River. According to the New York Post, Escobar’s wife and their three children were also on board and did not survive.
President Trump is calling for a permanent end to Daylight Saving Time.
See you this evening.
— Aaron
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