ACTUAL NEWS: Monday, April 7th 2025 Recap
- Olga Nesterova
- Apr 7
- 10 min read
QUICK HITS
Why did the WH impose a tariff on the uninhabited islands and penguins?
“Trump is tired of this. He doesn’t want there to be any place in the world through which China or other countries could make shipments. He’s closing those loopholes,” Lutnick said.
Markets around the world took a nosedive today.
In short:
President Trump said he won't make a deal with China unless it addresses the trade deficit.
I listened to the press conference in Beijing — they called this “financial extortion and bullying.”
Later, President Trump tweeted again, this time threatening to impose an additional 50% tariff on China, bringing the total to 104%. He also stated that he is no longer interested in any “talks.”
Q: The EU has said they offered zero for zero tariffs on cars and industrial goods. Is that not enough?
DJT: No, it's not.
Earlier, Trump mentioned that he wants some sort of reparations from Europe
Trump also said: "We have a deficit with the EU of $350 billion. And it's gonna disappear fast. And one of the reasons and one of the ways that can disappear easily and quickly is they're gonna have to buy their energy from us."
Peter Navarro, President Donald Trump's top trade adviser, on Monday dismissed tech-billionaire Elon Musk's push for "zero tariffs" between the United States and Europe, calling the Tesla CEO a "car assembler" reliant on parts from other countries.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated on Monday that his chamber is unlikely to impede the implementation of President Donald Trump's global tariffs.
"I expected some turbulence in the stock market, I think everybody did. This was a change in policy, a consequential one, but I think we got to let it play out and see what ultimately happens not only in the near term, but in the long term," Thune told reporters on Capitol Hill.
Russian state tv: “Trump deserves some type of a monument for his buffoonery and delivering such a fundamental blow to the capitalist system”
Mike Johnson suggested he’d block the bipartisan bill to let Congress reclaim its authority over tariffs:
“You've got to give the president the latitude, the runway to do what it is he was elected to do”
Today, President Trump welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to the White House. Although the official press conference was abruptly canceled, the two leaders took questions from a few selected reporters in the Oval Office.
Here are some key moments worth noting:
Trump on Turkey’s autocratic leader Erdoğan: “I have a great relationship with a man named Erdoğan — have you heard of him? I happen to like him, and he likes me. I said to him, ‘Congratulations — you’ve done what nobody’s been able to do in 2,000 years: you’ve taken over Syria.’”
Trump: If the talks aren't successful with Iran, they will be in great danger
Trump: Gaza is a great location that nobody wants to live in
Hegseth: It’s been a bad three weeks for the Houthis and it’s about to get worse
Trump is asked about tariffs and negotiations and answers with "we need open borders"
Yesterday, I went live with the latest Weekly Recap. If you missed it, you can watch the replay!
TODAY IN HISTORY
1449: Felix V, the last antipope, abdicated—ending the era of rival claimants to the papacy that had divided the Catholic Church.
1922: U.S. Secretary of the Interior Albert Bacon Fall secretly leased federal oil reserves to the Mammoth Oil Company, sparking the Teapot Dome Scandal, one of the most notorious political corruption cases in American history.
1927: The first public demonstration of a one-way videophone took place between Herbert Hoover—then U.S. Secretary of Commerce—in Washington, D.C., and AT&T officials in New York City.
1933: With the legalization of low-alcohol beer in the U.S. ahead of Prohibition's repeal, April 7 became known as National Beer Day.
1939: Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini turned Albania into an Italian protectorate, installing Italy’s King Victor Emmanuel III on the throne. Albanian King Zog I fled into exile.
1948: The World Health Organization (WHO) was officially established as a specialized agency of the United Nations, aiming to coordinate international public health efforts.
1994: Rwandan Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana, a moderate Hutu, was assassinated by Hutu soldiers—a day after the plane crash that killed Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana and Burundian President Cyprien Ntaryamira. The events marked the beginning of the Rwandan Genocide.
QUICK ACTUAL NEWS
NATIONAL
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy plans to instruct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop recommending the fluoridation of drinking water, the Associated Press reported Monday.
A number of U.S. federal agencies have introduced new buyout packages aimed at reducing the federal workforce, reviving a voluntary separation program that preceded the initial wave of mass firings led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
Paramount and President Donald Trump are preparing for mediation in his $20 billion lawsuit against CBS News, after both parties agreed on a mediator, the New York Times reported Monday, citing two sources familiar with the matter.
The U.S. government has announced a 5.06% average increase in final reimbursement rates for 2026 Medicare Advantage plans managed by private insurers—more than double the hike initially proposed in January.
The White House Office of Management and Budget on Monday directed federal agencies to appoint chief AI officers, as part of its initiative to expand the federal government’s use of artificial intelligence.
A divided federal appeals court on Monday paused an injunction that had barred Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency from accessing Americans’ private data held by the Treasury and Education Departments and the Office of Personnel Management.
CEOs of major global banks, including JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America, held a call Sunday to discuss the impact of steep tariffs announced by President Trump, according to four sources familiar with the matter.
On Monday, President Trump directed a U.S. national security panel to reexamine Nippon Steel’s proposed acquisition of U.S. Steel, raising "hopes" for a potential green light on the deal after months of uncertainty.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a challenge to New York’s revised gun laws, enacted after the Court’s 2022 ruling struck down the state's prior concealed carry restrictions in a landmark decision that expanded gun rights.
Following President Trump’s inauguration, federal immigration authorities pledged to target the “worst of the worst.” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized a tough stance on lawbreaking. Yet in Colorado, many ICE detainees have no criminal history or only minor, outdated offenses. Among them: two Mauritanians seeking asylum after suffering abuse, a longtime Mexican worker with a clean record, and a Mexican activist with a minor offense—now recognized as one of the most influential people in the U.S., yet still facing deportation efforts.
A federal appeals court on Monday barred President Trump from removing Democratic members from two federal labor boards, reversing an earlier decision. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit’s ruling adds complexity to legal battles that could shape the future of independent federal agencies under Trump’s administration.
House Republicans are set to advance President Trump’s tax cut package this week, but internal divisions remain. Some members have raised concerns that the Senate-passed budget framework lacks sufficient spending cuts to accompany the proposed tax reductions.
GLOBAL
China's Foreign Ministry said Monday that it had lodged a formal complaint with the United States over reports that a Taiwanese delegation was in Washington for meetings with the Trump administration.
U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield, a high-ranking NATO official, has been dismissed as part of what appears to be a growing national security purge of senior officials by the Trump administration, three sources told Reuters on Monday.
Australia can manage the direct impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs, but overall economic growth will suffer as the global economy slows, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said Monday.
Canada has requested World Trade Organization dispute consultations with the United States over Trump’s decision to impose a 25% duty on Canadian cars and auto parts, the WTO said Monday.
Volkswagen’s Audi said Monday it is holding vehicles that arrived after April 2—when Trump announced a 25% auto import tariff—at U.S. ports, as automakers scramble to assess how they will be affected.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will testify before the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday, revealing that nearly 50 countries have approached the U.S. to discuss the sweeping new tariffs introduced by President Trump.
White House economic adviser Stephen Miran on Monday encouraged countries seeking exemption from steep U.S. tariffs to submit offers directly to President Trump, saying the president is open to lowering trade barriers—if met with reciprocal action.
President Trump said Monday he is not considering a pause on tariffs to allow for negotiations, though he confirmed plans to engage in talks with China, Japan, and other trading partners.
Japan is dispatching a team to the U.S. for trade talks, President Trump said, following a conversation earlier Monday with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who separately confirmed urging Trump to reconsider his tariff strategy.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar spoke by phone Monday to discuss U.S. tariffs on India and explore steps toward a "fair and balanced trade relationship," according to the State Department.
The European alternative to Elon Musk’s Starlink has acknowledged it cannot replace the service in Ukraine.“If we had to handle all of Ukraine’s communication capacity — for both the government and all citizens — we wouldn’t be able to do it. Let’s be completely honest,” said Eutelsat CEO Eva Berneke.
The Trump administration is ending most, if not all, remaining U.S. aid to Afghanistan and Yemen, according to aid officials—drawing sharp criticism from the U.N. World Food Programme, which warned the cuts could amount to “a death sentence” for millions.
The administration is also considering sending U.S. ground troops to Yemen, as part of a coordinated plan involving airstrikes and ground assaults aimed at eliminating Houthi leadership and dismantling the movement.
Greenland’s new parliament convened for the first time on Monday following March elections, amid continued expressions of interest by President Trump in acquiring influence—or even control—over the semi-autonomous Danish territory.
First Minister John Swinney Warns U.S. Tariffs Threaten Centuries-Old Economic Ties Between Scotland and America
At a recent conversation hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City, First Minister of Scotland John Swinney offered a stark warning about the growing trade tensions triggered by new U.S. tariffs under President Donald Trump. Calling the measures “a form of abuse,” Swinney said they could inflict serious damage on both the Scottish and global economies—and undermine the very fabric of transatlantic cooperation.
“There’s no way to sugarcoat it,” Swinney said. “We are an export economy. The United States is one of our biggest customers. Anything that affects our exports affects our economy.”
Swinney emphasized that the impact of tariffs—even at 10%—would ripple across Scotland, particularly in iconic sectors like Scotch whisky production. “Whisky can only be produced in Scotland. Tariffs make it more difficult to sell our products abroad. There is a great interconnectedness at stake here,” he explained.
He added that the Scottish government is preparing domestic measures to respond to the shifting global economic landscape but called for a measured, strategic international response. “This cannot go on,” Swinney said, cautioning against emotional or reactive policies. “We need a rational approach. We risk our economic well-being unless this is addressed seriously and soon. A white catalyst moment could allow us to negotiate an end to this.”
705 Years of Connection—and Counting
Swinney underscored that the Scotland-U.S. relationship isn’t just economic—it’s cultural and historical, dating back over 700 years. “The connection between Scotland and America began centuries ago, with the 1320 Declaration of Arbroath, where Scottish nobles pledged allegiance to King Robert the Bruce,” Swinney said. “That spirit of independence and mutual respect has shaped our shared democratic values. And over the past 250 years, we’ve built cultural and economic ties that should not be taken for granted.”
Geopolitical Stability at Risk
While trade dominated the discussion, Swinney pivoted to a broader message about European security, expressing concern that escalating trade disputes are diverting attention from the ongoing war in Ukraine.
“I think it would be fair to say we’re in a moment of real uncertainty,” he said. “For most of my life, there was a strong sense of geopolitical security between the U.S. and Europe. But for the past three years, we’ve been facing war on the European continent. Russia’s expansionist ambitions affect us all.”
Swinney argued that the Western alliance structure built during the Reagan era has served as a critical foundation for peace in Europe. “We rely on it. If there were an outcome beneficial to Russia in Ukraine, that would affect every country in Europe, including Scotland.”
He made clear that if Scotland were to become an independent nation, it would seek membership in both the European Union and NATO, reinforcing its commitment to shared security.
A Personal Note on Trump and Whiskey
When asked about the U.S. president, Swinney revealed he had spoken with Donald Trump in December. “He was very positive about his Scottish roots,” Swinney said, referring to Trump’s mother, who was born in Scotland. “I made sure to stress to him how vital our whiskey exports are to the Scottish economy.”
He also had what he described as a “very good conversation” with Donald Trump Jr., hinting that the Trump family may be planning a visit to Scotland this summer. “Part of my duty is to ensure the success of the Scottish economy. If that means direct dialogue, I’m here for it.”
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TODAY'S PHOTO
Washington, D.C.
President Trump meets PM Netanyahu in the Oval Office that has vividly entered the Gilded Age,
Photograph: X
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