Watching the Rise of a Dual State
The Atlantic » The singular aim of these tactics is to construct a prerogative state where cruel caprice, not law, rules. By no measure does the extent of federal law displaced in the first few months of the Trump administration compare with the huge tracts of the Weimar’s legal system eviscerated by the Nazis. But it is striking how Donald Trump’s executive orders reject some basic tenets of American constitutionalism—such as Congress’s power to impose binding rules on how spending and regulation unfold—without which the normative state cannot persist.
David Axelrod, via CNN »
“The issue with Donald Trump is, he does not believe in rules and laws and norms. He thinks they’re for suckers. He thinks if you can get a free plane, as he said today, why wouldn’t you do it?”
The Corruption
Trump scrambles to defend the gift of a super luxury Boeing jumbo jet from Qatar that he’ll use as Air Force One. It doesn’t go well (MSNBC)
The Ugly
Trump administration prioritizing Afrikaners, a white ethnic minority in South Africa, over people in greater need (Euronews)
House Republicans have unveiled C$1.229 trillion (US$880 billion) in spending cuts to Medicaid to help cover the cost of $4.5 trillion in tax breaks, mostly for millionaires and billionaires (ABC)
Trump’s Worldwide Trade and Tariff War
The Ultimate Bait and Switch of Trump’s Tariffs
David Frum, The Atlantic » If you’ve ever watched a game of three-card monte, you’ve noticed that the dealer talks nonstop. The chatter serves two functions. First, it distracts the victims. Second, and maybe more important, the dealer is deceiving his victims about what’s befalling them. The spiel invites them to imagine they’re playing a game in which they stand a fair chance. In reality, they are being swindled.
The Trump White House’s press releases about its so-called trade agreements and negotiations—first with the United Kingdom, now with China—are just so much dealer patter.
Kicking the ball down the field keeps Trump in the headlines » China and US agree to temporarily ease tariffs they imposed on each other for 90 days
NYT » In a joint statement, the countries said they would suspend their respective tariffs for 90 days and continue negotiations they started this weekend. Under the agreement, the US would reduce the tariff on Chinese imports to 30% from its current 145%, while China would lower its import duty on American goods to 10% from 125%.
“We concluded that we have a shared interest,” said US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent at a news conference in Geneva where U.S. and Chinese officials met over the weekend. “The consensus from both delegations is that neither side wanted a decoupling,” he said.
Axios » Later Monday morning, a White House official told Axios that the “de minimis” tariff was left out of that deal: a 120% tariff rate on shipments from China valued at less than $800, or a flat $100 fee per postal item.
Then Monday night, the White House released the text of an executive order cutting the tariff rate to 54%, while still maintaining the $100 fee option.
Apple considers raising iPhone prices without pointing the finger at Trump’s tariffs
The cheapest iPhone set to releast this fall could cost as much as C$1,600 (US$1,142) do to tariffs.
US beef prices surge
FT » US beef prices are soaring to record highs as the country’s cattle inventory reaches its lowest level in more than 70 years, putting further strains on Americans’ grocery bills.
The average price of a pound of ground beef rose to $5.79 in US cities in March, a 12.8% increase in the past year and the most on record, according to labour department data. The price of uncooked beef steaks also reached record highs at $10.98 per pound.
Is it safe to fly in the US? » Newark Liberty Airport suffers third system outage in less than 2 weeks
CBS » The FAA confirmed the latest system outage, but unlike the previous two out of the Philadelphia facility that controls Newark Liberty’s operations, this one involved a momentary failure of a backup system, which prompted a 45-minute ground stop to ensure that system was back up and running properly. While the FAA said operations returned to normal, there was a domino effect with flights.
On Monday evening, this week, Newark Airport Had 3 Controllers on Duty When the Goal Is 14
NYT » The staffing crisis added strain to an already troubled aviation system, with flights to Newark delayed by as much as seven hours on Monday.
