ACTUAL NEWS: Tuesday, April 8th 2025 Daily Briefing
- Olga Nesterova
- 5 days ago
- 11 min read
QUICK HITS
Elon Musk responded to Navarro’s comment that “Musk is a car assembler.”
After Elon Musk called one of President Trump's top economic advisers a "moron," the White House on Tuesday brushed off the exchange, saying, "boys will be boys."
Then, Musk doubled down.
Musk and long-time Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro have been publicly feuding over Trump's decision to impose sweeping tariffs on most U.S. trading partners.
Elon Musk's brother, Kimbal, has also weighed in, questioning the intention behind the tariffs.
Elon Musk made direct yet unsuccessful appeals to President Trump to reverse the tariffs over the past weekend, Washington Post reported on Monday citing two people familiar with the matter.
Trump administration’s amended executive order on China tariffs:
Tariff Increase:
Effective April 9, 2025, tariffs on certain Chinese imports will rise from 34% to 84% as a direct response to China’s retaliatory actions. Note: this new tariff adds to already imposed duties, bringing the total to 104%.
De Minimis Tariff Increases:
To prevent circumvention of tariffs:
The ad valorem duty rate increases from 30% to 90%.
The postal item tariff (on low-value goods shipped by mail) increases:
From $25 to $75 between May 2 and May 31, 2025.
From $50 to $150 starting June 1, 2025.
How did we get there? In short:
Americans Brace for Price Hikes Amid Tariff Surge
Most Americans are preparing for higher prices on everyday goods after President Donald Trump imposed sweeping new tariffs on imports from much of the world, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll.
Small-business confidence in the U.S. has also dropped for the third consecutive month, wiping out much of the post-election optimism tied to Trump’s promises of tax cuts and deregulation.
Meanwhile, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told senators that the administration has no plans to shift its tariff strategy in the near term, acknowledging that some economic pain will be necessary in order to revive domestic manufacturing.
JD Vance made things even worse with China.
Here's how:
President Trump on tariff "negotiations": "These countries are calling us up, kissing my ass.”
Trump Announces Upcoming Tariff on Pharmaceutical Imports
President Trump announced Tuesday that the U.S. will soon unveil a “major” tariff on pharmaceutical imports. Speaking at a National Republican Congressional Committee event, Trump said the move is aimed at pressuring drug companies to relocate their operations back to the United States.
“This will bring jobs home and ensure that America is not dependent on foreign countries for essential medicine,” Trump said.
Belgium's PM in Tears After Witnessing Russian Atrocities in Bucha
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever was visibly moved during a visit to Bucha in Ukraine’s Kyiv region, where he viewed harrowing photos documenting atrocities committed by Russian forces.
“It’s so hard to look at these photos,” he said, fighting back tears. De Wever also shared a personal connection to the country: “My father often traveled here after the USSR collapsed and had many friends in Ukraine.”
Pentagon Weighs Troop Withdrawal from Eastern Europe
The U.S. Defense Department is considering a proposal to withdraw up to 10,000 troops from Eastern Europe, a shift that would reverse deployments made by the Biden administration in 2022 to bolster defenses against Russia.
European allies have expressed concern that such a move could embolden Vladimir Putin. “A downsizing of U.S. forces would weaken deterrence,” warned Seth Jones of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
TODAY IN HISTORY
1838: The Great Western, the first regular transatlantic steamer, embarked on its maiden voyage from Bristol, England, to New York City, revolutionizing maritime travel.
1913: The Seventeenth Amendment was ratified, ensuring the direct election of U.S. senators by the voters of the states, a transformative shift in the American democratic process.
1920: The Venus de Milo, the iconic statue believed to represent Aphrodite, was discovered in pieces on the Aegean island of Melos. It was later meticulously reconstructed and is now displayed in the Louvre, Paris, as one of the most famous works of art in the world.
1950: Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistani Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan concluded the Delhi Pact, providing a safe passage for refugees displaced after the two countries severed relations in December 1949.
1974: American baseball legend Hank Aaron made history by hitting his 715th career home run, surpassing Babe Ruth's longstanding record. Aaron would go on to complete his career with 755 home runs in 1976, cementing his legacy as one of baseball's greatest players.
2024: A remarkable total solar eclipse graced parts of Mexico, the United States, and Canada, marking North America’s second total solar eclipse in just seven years.
TODAY: Many practitioners of Buddhism in Japan celebrate the birth of the Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, who lived in India between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE.
QUICK ACTUAL NEWS
NATIONAL
President Donald Trump signed executive orders on Tuesday aimed at boosting coal production, marking another move that contrasts with global efforts to curb carbon emissions. Coal-burning plants now generate less than 20% of U.S. electricity—down from 50% in 2000—according to the Energy Information Administration. The decline is largely due to a surge in natural gas production driven by fracking, as well as the expansion of solar and wind power.
The acting head of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service is expected to resign following a new agreement to share undocumented immigrants’ tax data with the Department of Homeland Security, according to the Washington Post, which cited two individuals familiar with the matter.
Lawmakers sparred on Tuesday over the future of the nation’s largest food aid program during hearings held by the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, signaling a likely partisan battle during farm bill negotiations.
Former top legal executives from companies including Microsoft, Intel, and Eli Lilly filed a legal brief on Tuesday accusing President Trump of undermining the rule of law and threatening American businesses through executive orders targeting law firms.
Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee, ordered the White House to reinstate the Associated Press to the press pool, stating that officials must “immediately rescind the denial of AP’s access.” The decision followed the administration’s ban on the AP for refusing to use the term “Gulf of America” instead of “Gulf of Mexico.”
President Trump said he supported spending cuts after what he described as a "good meeting" with House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republican leaders.
The Senate confirmed George Glass, a former investment banker and diplomat known for his criticism of China, as ambassador to Japan. Japan is among the U.S. allies urging Trump to reconsider his steep tariffs.
Two lawmakers sent a letter on Tuesday urging the Trump administration to terminate the existing data agreement with the U.K. and negotiate a new one. The request comes amid reports that the U.K. had ordered Apple to create a backdoor for accessing encrypted user data.
A senior Senate Democrat pressed the FBI to explain its reassignment of staff away from domestic terrorism investigations, accusing the Trump administration of weakening efforts to combat violent extremism in the U.S.
Documents reviewed by Reuters show that the administration plans to impose fines of up to $998 per day on migrants who fail to leave the country after receiving deportation orders. These retroactive penalties, based on a 1996 law, could result in some individuals owing over $1 million. A senior official said the goal is to "enforce immigration compliance."
ICE is requesting $45 billion to expand migrant detention capacity, a move that would represent a sixfold increase in funding.
The Department of Homeland Security is currently reviewing its grant programs to ensure cities and states are aligned with the administration’s priorities on immigration and diversity.
The U.S. has revoked visas from nearly 150 international students in recent days, many of whom were not given a reason for the decision.
According to two people with knowledge of the matter, administration officials have informed some federal employees that Elon Musk’s DOGE team is using AI to monitor at least one agency's communications for signs of hostility toward Trump or his policies.
The administration is preparing to roll back several Biden-era gun control policies, including measures designed to target gun dealers who bypass background checks.
U.S. health insurers saw a jump in stock prices on Tuesday after the government announced a larger-than-expected increase in Medicare Advantage reimbursement rates for 2026, signaling potential relief for the sector, which has faced rising medical costs.
President Trump’s nominee to lead NASA is expected to tell senators that the agency will prioritize a crewed mission to Mars. Four astronauts from the agency’s moon program are also expected to attend the hearing.
The state of Maine filed a lawsuit against the Department of Agriculture, arguing that a funding freeze could jeopardize school meal programs.
FEMA plans to cut over $300 million in disaster prevention funds to New York, much of which was earmarked for flood mitigation in New York City.
Attorney General Pam Bondi will head a new Justice Department initiative focused on enforcing Second Amendment protections, according to a memo seen by Reuters.
Cal-Maine Foods, the largest egg producer in the U.S., confirmed it is cooperating with a Justice Department investigation into whether producers colluded to raise egg prices.
The Supreme Court temporarily halted an order requiring the rehiring of 16,000 federal probationary employees, a development in an ongoing case stemming from Trump’s executive orders. As with previous rulings, the decision is considered procedural and tentative.
The Space Force unveiled a new “capstone doctrine” that prioritizes space superiority and combat readiness. It marks the first major update of its foundational strategy in five years.
Democratic lawmakers sharply criticized the administration following reports that Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield, a senior NATO official, was fired, calling the move damaging to national security.
The Senate confirmed Elbridge Colby, a former Department of Defense official known for his hardline stance on China, as undersecretary of defense for policy, making him the Pentagon’s third-ranking official.
President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced plans for a proposed $1 trillion defense budget during a joint appearance with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump said the upcoming proposal would be “in the vicinity” of that figure.
The Justice Department is disbanding its National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team and instructing prosecutors to narrow investigations to focus on drug cartels and terrorist groups, according to a memo obtained by Reuters.
The National Counterintelligence and Security Center warned that Chinese intelligence services are using deceptive tactics to recruit current and former U.S. government employees. The warning comes amid widespread federal firings led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
Costco has engaged in discussions with Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird regarding its diversity policies.
The talks come amid escalating legal challenges to such programs following actions by the Trump administration.
Belluscura, a U.S.-based medical device company, withdrew its 2025 forecast, citing the impact of new tariffs on China. The company said many components in its portable oxygen concentrators are manufactured in China, which now faces tariffs as high as 104%.
The FBI is investigating damage to a Tesla Supercharger station in Washington that occurred early Tuesday morning.
Barclays announced it is eliminating diversity and inclusion targets across the U.S., joining other British firms that have abandoned such goals in response to the President’s opposition to these initiatives.
Microsoft said Tuesday it is canceling plans to build three new data centers in Ohio, valued at $1 billion. The company offered no further explanation.
Two Democratic senators are demanding information from Microsoft and Google about their cloud computing partnerships with AI companies, citing concerns that the arrangements could hinder competition in the emerging sector.
A federal judge ordered the Trump White House to lift restrictions placed on the Associated Press, which had been penalized for referring to the Gulf of Mexico in its coverage.
Traders increased bets that the Federal Reserve will begin cutting interest rates as soon as next month, following an announcement from the White House that new tariffs on Chinese imports will take effect Wednesday—further escalating trade tensions that could slow economic growth.
GLOBAL
U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is considering drone strikes on drug cartels in Mexico to combat trafficking across the southern border, NBC News reported on Tuesday. It cited six current and former U.S. military, law enforcement and intelligence officials with knowledge of the matter.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday about tariffs, trade relations, immigration and prospects for engagement on critical minerals, the State Department and Pakistan's foreign ministry said in separate statements.
The administration of President Donald Trump on Tuesday moved to reinstate at least six recently canceled U.S. foreign aid programs, six sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. USAID Acting Administrator Jeremy Lewin, who is also an employee of billionaire Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, asked staff in an internal email to reverse the terminations. The programs that he asked to restore were the World Food Programme awards in Lebanon, Syria, Somalia, Jordan, Iraq and Ecuador, five sources familiar with the matter said. Reuters reported on Monday that the Trump administration had ended life-saving aid programs for more than a dozen countries including Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia and Syria, totaling over $1.3 billion.
The U.S. State Department said on Tuesday it was aware of the killing by Israeli forces of a Palestinian American teenager in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and was seeking more information about the incident.
President Donald Trump's administration is considering softening its proposed fee on China-linked ships visiting U.S. ports after a flood of negative feedback from industries that said the idea could be economically devastating, according to six sources. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told lawmakers on Tuesday that not all of the agency's proposed multimillion-dollar fees for Chinese-built ships to dock at U.S. ports will be implemented, and they may not be cumulative.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the United States is taking in $2 billion per day from tariffs. He made the comment without providing details during an event at the White House. Essentially, he is “taxing” his own citizens and American companies.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he told the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company it would pay a tax of up to 100 percent if it didn't build its plants in the United States.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney confirms that 25% counter-tariffs on select U.S.-made vehicles will take effect at midnight tonight: “President Trump caused this trade crisis — and Canada is responding with purpose and with force.”
The White House confirmed that 104% tariffs on China went into effect.
Tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump will hurt South African citrus farms and could potentially affect 35,000 jobs, a farmers' association said on Tuesday. Trump imposed a 31% tariff on U.S. imports from South Africa on April 2, when he announced a 10% baseline tariff on all imports and higher targeted duties on dozens of countries.
Army Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, head of U.S. European Command, told lawmakers that F-16s fly every day in Ukraine, conducting bombing attacks and countering cruise missiles from Russia. The F-16s currently operating in Ukraine are “mainly from Netherlands and Denmark,” but more F-16s are “prepared to be deployed” to Ukraine, Cavoli said.
Estonia's parliament plans to allow its armed forces to sink ships that threaten undersea cables.
China has begun devaluing the yuan against the dollar to soften the blow to the economy from U.S. tariffs. China promises to fight U.S. tariffs "to the end". Russia continues to keep its reserves in yuan.
The U.S. and Iran are expected to hold talks Saturday to negotiate over a possible deal to limit Iran’s nuclear program. Trump withdrew from the previous agreement in 2018.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Tuesday that Iran can expect tighter sanctions if it does not come to an agreement with President Donald Trump on its nuclear program.
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Tuesday that he is skeptical about U.S. President Donald Trump's actions and that Brazil needs be balanced and make decisions based on its own reality.
Saudi Arabia's foreign minister arrived in the United States on Tuesday for an official visit aimed at planning U.S. President Donald Trump's expected trip to the kingdom later this spring, a source close to the Saudi royal court told Reuters.
Croatia plans to boost defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and to 3% by 2030, it said on Tuesday, the latest European member of NATO to pledge higher military spending.
The U.S. State Department on Tuesday announced that American and Russian delegations will meet for a second time in Istanbul on April 10 to "solely" discuss stabilizing bilateral embassy operations.
President Zelenskyy met with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, who made Ukraine the destination of his first visit since taking office. Belgium will provide Ukraine with a €1 billion defense package.
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That's all from me for now. Thank you for reading.
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