ACTUAL NEWS: Friday, April 11th 2025 Daily Briefing
- Olga Nesterova
- 19 hours ago
- 13 min read
QUICK HITS
The updated 145% duty on Chinese imports imposed by the U.S. jeopardizes the ~$600 billion worth of goods exchanged between the US and China and could halt trade between the world’s two largest economies—damaging both countries and destabilizing the international economic order. Both sides have signaled a possible willingness to negotiate but expect the other to initiate communication. Chinese state-run media recently published an editorial stating that caving to U.S. pressure is “out of the question.”
Today, China announced it will raise tariffs on U.S. products to 125%, effective tomorrow.
The Chinese Embassy in the U.S. shared the following update from the Chinese Foreign Ministry:
The Chinese Embassy in the U.S. also posted this cartoon:
As a result, gold surged to a record high of $3,227.45 as investors fled U.S. assets, dumping the dollar and Treasuries ahead of a volatile market open. The dollar hit multi-year lows against the yen and Swiss franc, while U.S. bonds suffered their worst weekly selloff since 2001.
Concerns over trade tensions, rising U.S. debt, and looming recession fears are driving the shift away from traditional safe havens.
But Trump and his insider team reportedly had a profitable day on Thursday—he doesn’t seem too worried about the market.
Trump: "The bond market is going good. It had a little moment but I solved that problem very quickly. I am very good at that stuff."
Negative commentary on China continued across U.S. media.
Propaganda—or as we call it today, disinformation—is one thing. But having unqualified individuals on TV spreading provocative ideas at scale is another.
Can we please have political analysts, diplomats, or anyone with actual expertise weigh in?
Speaking of expertise, former Secretary of State Antony Blinken commented on the current state of American “diplomacy” in a recent interview.
Meanwhile, the White House has requested a call with Xi, who appeared in no rush to respond—he was busy welcoming the Prime Minister of Spain to China.
Also, China and the EU have reportedly agreed to look into setting minimum prices of Chinese-made electric vehicles instead of tariffs imposed by the EU last year—a move that could significantly impact Tesla.
On another note:
Yesterday, Japan openly voiced its intent to work closely with NATO on protecting Ukraine.
Today, China spoke out against this proposed cooperation, or as they called it––NATO expansion, echoing tactics used by Putin—who, ironically, triggered NATO expansion with his aggression against Ukraine, resulting in Finland and Sweden joining the alliance.
Speaking of Putin: after meeting with Putin’s envoy Dmitriev, Trump’s envoy—former real estate developer Steve Witkoff—met with Putin himself to discuss lifting sanctions on Russia and resuming Aeroflot’s direct flights to the U.S.
Please pay attention to the "heartfelt" gesture displayed by Witkoff once he saw Putin
The meeting lasted over 4 hours. Neither Kremlin nor the White House have issued any readouts.
The Kremlin released this photo:
Reuters reported that in a recent meeting with Trump, Witkoff claimed the “fastest way to achieve a ceasefire” would be to give Russia the four occupied Ukrainian territories it desires.
The New York Times published updated terms of the “minerals deal” proposed by the White House:
Ukraine is obligated to compensate the U.S. for billions in military and financial aid provided since the Russian invasion three years ago.
Half of the revenues from the extraction of Ukraine’s natural resources will go into a U.S.-controlled fund.
The U.S. will withdraw funds from this account until Ukraine repays all aid received—plus 4% annual interest.
Security guarantees for Ukraine are not mentioned in the agreement.
Would you sign such thing?
U.S. and Ukrainian officials met on Friday to discuss the U.S. proposal to access Ukraine’s mineral wealth. A source with knowledge of the matter described the atmosphere as “antagonistic” and said the prospects for a breakthrough were slim.
Russian propaganda efforts have ramped up in Europe as well.
Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán:"Our belief, and mine personally, is that Ukraine's accession to the EU will destroy Hungary and destroy Hungarian families. It will undo the economic progress we’ve made over the past fifteen years."
Still, the video of the day award goes to this reporter who asked about Trump’s fitness plan, as he “looks healthier than ever before.”
In good news, here are the results of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, which Secretary of Defense Hegseth attended virtually.
The following countries agreed to provide Ukraine with the following:
🇩🇪 Germany: 4 IRIS-T air defense systems, 300 interceptors, 30 Patriot missiles, 15 Leopard 1 tanks, 25 Marder IFVs, and 100,000 shells
🇬🇧 UK: £450M package—hundreds of thousands of drones, radars, and equipment repairs
🇳🇴 Norway: £100M to co-fund the UK package + €1B in air defense and ammunition
🇧🇪 Belgium: €1B in aid
🇩🇰 Denmark: €900M in its 25th aid package
🇱🇹 Lithuania: €20M for ammunition
🇪🇪 Estonia: 10,000 shells and field rations
🇳🇱 Netherlands: €150M for air defense
Another major outcome: the launch of a new electronic warfare coalition, led by Germany.
TODAY IN HISTORY
1814: During the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon, facing an invasion of France and pressured by his own officers, abdicated unconditionally at Fontainebleau.
1815: The eruption of Mount Tambora, a volcano on the island of Sumbawa in present-day Indonesia, killed about 10,000 people.
1848: Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria confirmed the March Laws, which laid the foundation for the modern state of Hungary.
1851: U.S. President Harry S. Truman relieved General Douglas MacArthur of his command of United Nations and U.S. forces during the Korean War.
1895: Cuban patriot José Julián Martí landed in Cuba at the head of an invading force aiming to win independence from Spain.
1961: The trial of Nazi leader Adolf Eichmann began in Jerusalem; eight months later, it ended with the only death sentence ever imposed by an Israeli court.
1970: Apollo 13 was launched from Cape Kennedy (now Cape Canaveral), Florida; although it was to be the third lunar landing, the mission was aborted after an oxygen tank exploded en route to the Moon.
1979: Ugandan President Idi Amin, whose brutality earned him the nickname “Butcher of Uganda,” fled the country as Tanzanian-led forces neared Kampala.
QUICK ACTUAL NEWS
NATIONAL
Trump Administration Actions & Announcements
Daylight Saving Time Reform: President Donald Trump publicly urged Congress to make daylight saving time permanent, ending the biannual clock changes. His remarks followed a congressional hearing—the first in over three years—on the contentious issue. Proposals have long circulated in both parties, with advocates arguing the switch disrupts sleep and productivity.
Pro Bono Legal Commitments: Trump announced that five additional law firms had agreed to contribute over $600 million in free legal work to causes aligned with his administration’s goals. This development comes amid a broader pressure campaign from the White House targeting major firms to support Trump-aligned legal efforts, likely involving immigration, deregulation, and free speech-related litigation.
Wrongful Deportation Case (Supreme Court & Federal Judge): The U.S. Supreme Court instructed the Trump administration to allow a Salvadoran man, who was wrongfully deported, to return to the United States. The government had admitted its error. Separately, a federal judge sharply criticized the administration’s failure to comply with her previous court order in a similar deportation case involving a Maryland resident, calling the conduct “extremely troubling.” These cases reflect broader legal and ethical concerns about ICE and DHS practices under Trump’s immigration agenda.
Sanctions on the ICC & Legal Challenge: Two U.S. human rights advocates, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), filed a lawsuit challenging Trump’s decision to sanction the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. Trump’s sanctions were issued in retaliation for ICC investigations into alleged U.S. war crimes in Afghanistan and Israel-Palestine. Critics argue the move undermines global justice mechanisms.
FTC Commissioners’ Lawsuit Over Termination: Two Democratic commissioners at the Federal Trade Commission filed an emergency request to speed up their lawsuit challenging their firing by Trump, which they argue is illegal under decades of Supreme Court precedent protecting the independence of federal agencies. The case could have long-term implications for executive power over regulatory bodies.
Cryptocurrency Regulation Rollback: Trump signed legislation nullifying a recent IRS rule that broadened the definition of a “broker” to include decentralized cryptocurrency exchanges. The rollback was celebrated by crypto advocates and libertarians as a win for financial privacy and innovation, though critics argue it could complicate tax enforcement and anti-money laundering efforts.
Threats Against Trump & Federal Agents: A Pennsylvania man, Shawn Monper (32), was charged with four counts of threatening to murder President Trump and immigration officials. The Justice Department announced the charges stemmed from online posts intended to intimidate or interfere with federal duties.
Reexamination of Hunter Biden Bribery Claims: Federal prosecutors announced plans to review the case of a former FBI informant who admitted fabricating bribery allegations against Joe Biden and his son Hunter.
Defense & National Security
New Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: The U.S. Senate confirmed Lt. Gen. Dan "Razin" Caine to succeed Trump’s abruptly dismissed previous nominee as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Caine, a retired Air Force general, is expected to steer military policy with a focus on modernization, including AI and cyber warfare.
Space Force & Tech Modernization: A new executive order from Trump signed April 9 empowers agencies, including Space Force, to more aggressively pivot to commercial technologies. Officials are looking to outsource key space capabilities—like satellite communications and tracking—to private firms. The order is intended to “super-charge” procurement reform and reduce reliance on slow-moving legacy systems.
Defense Budget Increase: Both the House and Senate passed a GOP-led budget resolution adding $150 billion to defense funding. The package now faces complex negotiations over where the funds will go and how to address unresolved "fiscal priorities" like:
Raising the debt ceiling
Extending Trump-era tax cuts
Implementing up to $1.5 trillion in spending cuts elsewhere in the federal budget
Domestic Affairs
Healthcare & High-Profile Crime Case: Lawyers for Luigi Mangione, accused of murdering the CEO of UnitedHealth’s insurance division in New York, requested a judge block the government’s pursuit of the death penalty.
Measles Outbreak in Texas: The Texas Health Department reported 541 cases of measles as of Friday, a 36-case jump from April 8. This outbreak is part of a broader national crisis, as vaccination rates have dropped in some regions, partly due to vaccine misinformation and pandemic-related disruptions in routine healthcare.
Childcare Crisis in Military Families: A civilian hiring freeze at the Department of Defense is exacerbating long waitlists for military childcare services. The Air Force’s top personnel official warned Congress that recent improvements in availability are being undone, potentially harming recruitment, retention, and family well-being.
Economy & Trade
Consumer Sentiment & Inflation Fears: The University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index plummeted in April, with Americans reporting the worst 12-month inflation expectations since 1981. Rising prices, especially in housing, food, and fuel, along with trade war uncertainties, are rattling markets and raising concerns of a possible recession.
Government & Tech Contracting
IT Contract Cancellations: The Department of Defense, under Secretary Pete Hegseth, terminated several major IT services contracts worth $5.1 billion, affecting giants like Accenture, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Deloitte. The cancellations reflect a push to streamline tech operations and cut costs amid procurement reform efforts.
Fast-Tracking Secure Tech Products: Chief Software Officer Rob Vietmeyer announced a new initiative allowing IT contractors with verified secure supply chains and codebases to get fast-tracked approval for use on DoD networks. The goal is to dramatically reduce red tape in military software procurement, potentially cutting approval times from years to weeks.
GLOBAL
Argentina’s central bank announced Friday that it will ease its foreign exchange controls, allowing the peso to float within a managed band between 1,000 and 1,400 pesos per dollar.
U.S. chipmakers that outsource manufacturing will be exempt from China's retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports, according to a notice issued Friday by China's main semiconductor industry association. The announcement follows industry-wide uncertainty about how tariffs would apply to chip imports, given the globalized and highly specialized nature of semiconductor supply chains.
On his first day in office, President Donald Trump moved to boost U.S. oil and gas production. But now, the American energy sector is considering cuts to output and jobs, hit by a combination of rising OPEC supply and tariff-driven drops in global demand.
A former head of the World Trade Organization warned that unless the 30-year-old global body reforms quickly, the future of international trade could be shaped outside the WTO—especially in the wake of sweeping protectionist tariffs introduced by President Trump.
President Trump on Thursday threatened Mexico with sanctions and tariffs over a water-sharing dispute, accusing it of violating an 81-year-old treaty and “stealing water from Texas farmers.” In response, Mexican
President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Friday that Mexico would immediately deliver water to Texas to address the shortfall and ease tensions.
President Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum directing the Secretaries of Defense, Interior, Agriculture, and Homeland Security to authorize military activities on federal lands—excluding Indian reservations—for southern border security. The order includes provisions for barrier construction and monitoring, with a phased rollout and a 45-day assessment period.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Friday that the United States is prepared to halt Iran’s oil exports as part of President Trump’s broader strategy to pressure Tehran over its nuclear program.
President Trump wants Iran to understand that there will be “all hell to pay” if it continues pursuing nuclear capabilities, according to his press secretary. U.S. and Iranian delegations are expected to meet for talks on Saturday.
Analysts and diplomats say the U.S. decision to exclude European allies from its Iran negotiations could weaken its diplomatic leverage and make potential U.S. or Israeli military action more likely.
The commander of a U.S. Space Force base in Greenland has been relieved of duty after she spoke out against Vice President JD Vance's narrative on "annexing Greenland". The Pentagon said it would not tolerate any actions that "undermine President Trump’s national security agenda".
The Trump administration has ended temporary deportation protections for thousands of Afghans and Cameroonians living in the U.S., continuing its expansive immigration crackdown, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said Friday.
For the first time, Estonia has seized a Russian “shadow” oil tanker in the Baltic Sea. The vessel, KIWALA, was headed to the Russian port of Ust-Luga and sailing near Estonian waters when it was detained. There were 24 crew members on board, including a Chinese captain and others believed to be from Mauritania.
Though it sails under Djibouti’s flag, Djibouti says the ship is not registered in its system. Estonian authorities say the seizure complies with sanctions, and the tanker is under inspection.
Neither the U.S. nor China can claim air superiority in the Pacific, but China is rapidly improving its fighter capabilities in the region, the head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Since the start of the Iran-backed Houthis' campaign to disrupt shipping in the Red Sea roughly 18 months ago, U.S. Transportation Command has adapted its global logistics operations, according to its top commander.
A day after President Trump floated the idea of reducing the U.S. military presence in South Korea, the head of U.S. Forces Korea testified that current troop levels are necessary to meet ongoing strategic demands in the Pacific.
Military space leaders continue to explore ways to incorporate commercial technology into defense architecture. However, for key areas such as strategic communications and GPS alternatives, true commercial substitutes may not yet exist, Space Systems Command officials said during an April 8 press briefing.
MEMES OF THE DAY
POSTS OF THE DAY
VIDEO QUICK NEWS
Estonia has seized Russian “shadow” crude oil tanker in the Baltic Sea for the first time
Trump’s envoy Witkoff has met with Putin’s envoy Dmitriev in St Petersburg
Fox News’ Doocy attracts a bird during his TV appearance
Art of an umbrella
RECOMMENDED READS
TODAY IN ONE CARTOON
ICYMI
OpenAI has countersued Elon Musk, accusing him of harassment. In a sharply worded lawsuit filed this week, the company alleges that Musk has a personal vendetta and has “tried every tool available to harm OpenAI.” Musk co-founded the AI company in 2015 but left in 2018, later launching a rival firm, xAI. Last year, he sued OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, claiming they had abandoned the nonprofit mission they originally agreed upon. OpenAI’s countersuit also alleges that Musk made a “sham bid” to acquire its assets. “Musk could not tolerate seeing such success for an enterprise he had abandoned and declared doomed,” the filing reads.
Apple chartered a series of cargo flights over the past month to ship roughly 600 tons of iPhones out of India before President Trump’s new tariffs took effect, according to Reuters. That’s an estimated 1.5 million devices, after factoring in packaging weight. Currently, about 20% of iPhones imported to the U.S. come from India, with the rest made in China. Since Trump’s 26% tariff on Indian imports (now on a 90-day pause at 10%) is far lighter than the 145% duty imposed on Chinese goods, Apple is reportedly accelerating its shift to Indian production. The company also successfully lobbied Indian authorities to slash customs clearance times from 30 hours to just six.
Prada is buying Versace for $1.38 billion in cash from U.S.-based Capri Holdings, which also owns Jimmy Choo and Michael Kors. Capri originally acquired Versace for $2 billion in 2018, but is now offloading it at a loss to manage debt and refocus on other brands after failing to reignite Versace’s sales. The deal marks Prada’s biggest acquisition since its founding in 1913, and comes amid a strong growth streak driven by the popularity of its Miu Miu line. Donatella Versace, who stepped down as creative director last month after nearly 30 years, said she is “honored” to entrust the family legacy to another “trusted Italian family business.”
Starting in 2026, the United Kingdom will debut its own version of Saturday Night Live on Sky, featuring a yet-to-be-announced cast of British comedians. The iconic sketch show, which premiered in 1975 and helped launch the careers of Eddie Murphy and Chris Kattan, has tried expanding internationally before—usually with limited success. Executive producer Lorne Michaels, now 80, is hoping for a breakthrough in the UK, a market where SNL has never quite taken off. The most successful international version was SNL Korea, which ran for 15 seasons and remains the only foreign-language adaptation still on air. Other efforts—in Germany (5 seasons), Italy and Egypt (4 each), and single-season experiments in Brazil, China, Finland, Quebec, Spain, Russia, and France (which aired only one episode titled Le Saturday Night Live)—quickly fizzled.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Join me on Sunday at 8:00 pm ET for the Weekly Recap LIVE on YouTube
🔍 Introducing ONEST Eyes – the community-powered truth squad behind the What's Actually True? podcast.
Every day, disinformation campaigns flood our feeds, targeting voters with lies and propaganda. That’s where you come in. As part of ONEST Eyes, you’ll help track and expose the misinformation you’re being targeted with — so we can break it down, debunk it, and set the record straight.
📩 See something misleading? Submit it! Use the Google Form below to upload screenshots, links, and examples of disinformation. Your submissions will help shape the conversations on What's Actually True?, giving political leaders the chance to respond with facts, clarity, and truth.
Together, we’re watching the truth and exposing the lies. Let’s make sure the facts win.
PS: More details on the What’s Actually True? podcast will be shared in due time. Stay tuned!
SUPPORT INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM
ONEST Network is an independent media company that relies solely on your support. We value independence, enabling us to report ACTUAL NEWS while keeping your data secure. Your donation would be greatly appreciated to help us continue our operations.
