ACTUAL NEWS: Wednesday, April 9th 2025 Daily Briefing
- Olga Nesterova
- 3 days ago
- 10 min read
QUICK HITS
We went to bed with this:
Trump: "All are kissing my ass."
We woke up to this:
European Union member states have voted to approve retaliatory tariffs on $23 billion worth of goods in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on imported steel and aluminum.
To remind you—yesterday, the EU offered Washington a zero-for-zero tariff deal. In response, the White House demanded the EU to purchase $350 billion in U.S. energy “before they even consider dropping the tariffs.”
Today, the EU stated it plans to cut purchases of U.S. LNG to reduce overall import costs.
China’s Office of the Tariff Commission of the State Council announced that tariffs on U.S. goods will rise to 84% from 34% starting April 10, according to a translated statement.
Reuters also reported that China’s central bank instructed state lenders to reduce dollar purchases, according to sources.
Asked to comment on China raising its tariffs, the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury responded with a snarky: “So what!”
At 9:37 a.m., Trump tweets this:
Meanwhile, as the Trump administration was testifying in favor of the tariffs…
…President Trump reduced tariffs on most countries to 10% for the next 90 days, while raising tariffs on Chinese imports up to 125% effective immediately.
A spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry posted the following on X:
Additional comments followed from members of the Trump administration.
NOTE: Not understanding the basic math is one thing—but completely ignoring Chinese culture is a game one is bound to lose.
On that note, here’s White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt:
Later, the S&P 500 rose more than 9% after President Trump announced he would pause/lower most of his 'reciprocal' tariffs for 90 days, though economists warned American importers were not out of danger.
After markets reacted positively to his “announcements,” Trump spoke to the press:
Trump: "If you happen to be in an industry that is more affected, you’ve got to show some flexibility."
Translation: He understands you. No worries—he went bankrupt six times.
Later in the Oval Office, Trump elaborated on the tariff “pause,” saying: "It came together this morning. We had no access to the lawyers—it was written from our hearts to make the world a better place, since countries wanted to negotiate."
“We decided to pull the trigger. We’re happy about it. It was the biggest day in the market.”
If you’re wondering about the timeline or motives—Adam Schiff is too: "I’m writing to the White House to demand who knew in advance that the President was going to once again flip-flop on tariffs, and whether people are cashing in."
Finally, CNBC asked Howard Lutnick if President Trump was manipulating markets with his earlier tweet:
Chinese Citizen Reveals Participation in Russian Military
A Chinese national captured by Ukrainian forces disclosed that he joined the Russian army through an intermediary in China, paying 300,000 rubles for the opportunity. His main goal was to become a soldier and obtain Russian citizenship. He received training in the Luhansk region alongside other Chinese citizens, with no translators provided. Ukrainian President Zelensky stated that at least 155 Chinese nationals are officially fighting for Russia, but he believes the actual number is much higher. Chinese authorities stated that they are "conducting investigations into this matter".
Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Confirms Russian Offensive in Sumy and Kharkiv
Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyy, confirmed for the first time that Russian forces have launched an offensive in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions. According to Ukraine's General Staff, Putin’s military has no plans to halt its operations and is carrying out orders from the Kremlin. The overall situation remains unchanged, with Russian forces continuing their strategic offensive to capture Ukrainian territory, destroy the Armed Forces of Ukraine, advance deeper into the country, and create a buffer zone.
President Trump speaking to press at the Oval Office today:
On withdrawing US troops stationed in Europe: “We could do it. It’s unrelated to trade, but we will make it all part of one package. That’s what we will use these great law firms who give us now their free time for. These are the best lawyers.”
TODAY IN HISTORY
1388: The Battle of Näfels resulted in a major victory for the Swiss Confederation during its early struggle for self-determination against Habsburg overlordship.
1682: René-Robert Cavelier, sieur de La Salle, claimed the Mississippi River basin for France, naming it Louisiana.
1865: General Robert E. Lee, commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, surrendered at Appomattox Court House, effectively ending the American Civil War.
1939: African American contralto Marian Anderson sang to a crowd of 75,000 at the Lincoln Memorial after being denied access to Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
1963: An act of Congress granted honorary U.S. citizenship to Sir Winston Churchill.
1965: The Astrodome opened in Houston, Texas, hosting the world’s first indoor baseball game.
2001: American Airlines completed its acquisition of Trans World Airlines, becoming the world’s largest airline at the time.
2003: Baghdad fell to U.S.-led coalition forces during the Iraq War, launched to oust Saddam Hussein over alleged weapons of mass destruction.
2005: Charles, Prince of Wales, married Camilla Parker Bowles in a civil ceremony in Windsor.
QUICK ACTUAL NEWS
NATIONAL
President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a new executive order targeting the prominent law firm Susman Godfrey. The order suspends any security clearances held by the firm’s lawyers, restricts their access to government buildings, and threatens to cancel federal contracts held by its clients.
The U.S. Department of Justice also announced it is barring its attorneys from attending or speaking at American Bar Association events — the latest move by the Trump administration against the nation’s largest voluntary legal organization.
Meanwhile, Federal Reserve officials expressed concern that Trump’s trade policies could hinder economic growth. However, they signaled reluctance to respond with interest rate cuts, noting that higher tariffs are expected to drive inflation.
In a startling "development", the chief of staff to the Director of National Intelligence revealed that the intelligence community is investigating whether the FBI played any role in planning the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters.
Roughly 4,000 employees at the U.S. Department of Transportation have applied for a new buyout offer that includes pay and benefits through September 30. A department official noted the figure may include duplicate or ineligible submissions.
President Trump also voiced opposition to Nippon Steel's bid to acquire U.S. Steel Corp, stating he does not want the American steelmaker to be sold to Japan.
On Capitol Hill, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted to overturn two consumer finance rules established under President Joe Biden. One rule had capped overdraft fees, and the other expanded regulatory oversight of digital wallets and payment apps.
In a sweeping change, the Trump administration said it will disband the presidential advisory council on HIV/AIDS, with no immediate plan for replacing its members as the government reevaluates its HIV strategy.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the government will seek to deport a man previously described as a leader of the MS-13 gang, following a decision to drop a related gun charge.
The Environmental Protection Agency issued a memo stating it will begin tracking employee office attendance through badge swipes and laptop logins, marking a new phase of workplace monitoring under the Trump administration.
Trump also signed an executive order aimed at boosting domestic energy production by cutting what the administration calls “outdated regulations,” continuing efforts to reshape U.S. energy policy.
In the realm of national security, the U.S. Space Force assigned nine launch missions under its new Phase 3 Lane 2 contracts — awarding seven to SpaceX (valued at $845.8 million) and two to United Launch Alliance ($427.6 million).
However, major contractors cautioned that the U.S. space industry is still years away from achieving continuous satellite production capacity, as discussed during a panel at the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs.
The Space Force also introduced “Orbital Watch,” a new program to share unclassified orbital threat data with more than 900 registered commercial operators. The initiative is in coordination with U.S. Space Command, the Intelligence Community, and the Pentagon.
In another move ordered by Trump, the Pentagon outlined a plan to re-enlist service members who had been involuntarily discharged for refusing COVID-19 vaccination.
The Space Development Agency issued a call for industry proposals for 54 next-generation missile-tracking satellites as part of its Tranche 3 effort. These satellites will enhance the U.S. capability to detect both ballistic and hypersonic threats.
Trump also signed an executive order focused on reviving U.S. shipbuilding and reducing China’s dominance in global shipping. “We’re going to spend a lot of money rebuilding our shipyards,” Trump told reporters.
Separately, a Delaware judge ruled that Newsmax Media defamed Dominion Voting Systems by falsely accusing the company of rigging the 2020 presidential election.
Facing public outcry, the Social Security Administration reversed plans to end phone services for retirees — a move that critics warned would cause chaos.
The U.S. Postal Service proposed raising the price of a first-class mail stamp from 73 cents to 78 cents, effective July 13, pending approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission. The plan would increase mailing service prices by 7.4%.
The U.S. Senate confirmed Pete Hoekstra, former ambassador to the Netherlands, as the new ambassador to Canada — a role complicated by Trump’s tariff policies and comments on territorial annexation.
The Senate also confirmed former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Israel, placing a staunch pro-Israel conservative in the post amid ongoing conflict in Gaza and heightened U.S.-Israel tensions.
In a significant labor ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed President Trump to remove Democratic members of two federal labor boards, pausing lower court orders that had protected them from dismissal.
Public health experts warned that the rise in measles cases across the country is being exacerbated by weak government messaging on vaccinations and confusion caused by unproven treatments.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told lawmakers that President Trump was not attempting to revive trade with Russia by sparing certain goods from tariffs — although any future tariff decisions remain at Trump’s discretion.
An appeals court also cleared the way for 18 federal agencies to resume dismissals of thousands of workers who had been purged under Trump and later reinstated by a lower court.
Citing tariffs and reduced federal funding, gene sequencing company PacBio announced plans to cut about 120 jobs and reduce expenses, pointing to cuts at the National Institutes of Health.
Several staffers at the Department of Agriculture involved in bird flu response are expected to depart by the end of April, raising concerns about the agency’s ability to monitor future outbreaks.
Senate Commerce Committee advanced Trump’s nominee to oversee a $42 billion federal fund aimed at expanding broadband internet access in underserved areas.
Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon placed a hold on Trump’s pick for leading the U.S. cybersecurity agency, citing what he described as a years-long cover-up of critical vulnerabilities in telecom infrastructure.
GLOBAL
A State Department spokesperson said Wednesday that the Trump administration wants the U.N. World Food Programme to adjust U.S.-backed operations in six countries, following a temporary suspension and subsequent reinstatement of American aid.
U.S. lawmakers have introduced legislation aimed at blocking International Monetary Fund support for certain Central African nations, in an effort to protect billions of dollars oil companies are required to set aside for environmental restoration.
Federal judges in Texas and New York dealt setbacks to President Donald Trump’s efforts to resume deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members under wartime authority, after the Supreme Court struck down a nationwide ban on such removals.
Admiral Samuel Paparo, head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, said Wednesday he would “strongly advocate” for the continued funding of USAID programs in the Pacific Islands, where American influence is increasingly challenged by China.
Panama announced Wednesday that the United States reaffirmed its recognition of Panamanian sovereignty over the Panama Canal, despite recent tough rhetoric from Washington. The two countries also agreed to expand U.S. military training efforts in the region.
The U.S. Department of Justice charged four Americans with participating in an attempted coup in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Wednesday. Three of the suspects were recently returned to U.S. custody.
A White House official said Wednesday that U.S. tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada will remain in place, despite President Trump’s announcement of a 90-day pause on other tariffs.
Only President Donald Trump will decide the future of U.S. troop deployments in Europe, Defense
Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday when asked whether current troop levels would be maintained.
The U.S. Treasury Department announced new sanctions against Iran on Wednesday, just two days after President Trump said he was open to direct talks with Tehran over its nuclear program.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced plans to travel to Washington next week.
Belgian chemical giant Solvay inaugurated an expansion of its La Rochelle plant in France, which will focus on rare earth processing. As China tightens rare earth exports, Solvay aims to supply 30% of
Europe’s magnet-related rare earth demand by 2030.
According to a new report from think tank Ember, more than 40% of global electricity in 2024 was generated from renewable or nuclear sources. Solar was the fastest-growing contributor, doubling output over the past three years. Still, fossil fuel use rose, driven by rising demand for air conditioning.
Bipartisan U.S. legislation introduced Wednesday would create a fund to enforce sanctions on Russia’s so-called “ghost fleet” of oil tankers, used to circumvent Western restrictions over the war in Ukraine.
According to a Ukrainian government document dated April 8, Kyiv has allocated $2.7 million for consulting services related to a draft minerals agreement with the United States.
Zimbabwe has issued over $300 million in bonds to compensate farmers whose land was seized during the controversial land reform program launched 25 years ago. The program sparked violence and Western sanctions at the time.
Eight people in South Sudan, including five children, died after walking for three hours to seek treatment for cholera, following U.S. aid cuts that forced local health facilities to close, according to Save the Children.
The U.S. State Department expressed alarm Tuesday over the arrest of American academic Paul Chambers in Thailand, where he was charged under one of the world’s strictest lese-majeste laws for allegedly insulting the monarchy—a rare case involving a foreign national.
President Trump said Tuesday he warned the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company—which has committed to building factories in the U.S.—that it would face a tax of up to 100% if it fails to build those facilities domestically.
Argentina reached a preliminary agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a $20 billion loan, the fund said Wednesday. Details will be finalized at an upcoming IMF board meeting. Buenos Aires has been negotiating the deal for months, amid sweeping economic reforms under President Javier Milei.
Tomorrow, defense ministers from the Coalition of the Willing group supporting Ukraine are scheduled to meet at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
Also tomorrow, the United States and Russia will hold talks on embassy relations in Istanbul.
CARTOON OF THE DAY
POSTS OF THE DAY
NEWS CLIPS - NO COMMENTARY
Zelenskyy: I understand that we are a strong country, but we cannot fight multiple countries at once
Kallas:It takes two to make peace, but only one to start a war. One thing is clear: Russia wants war
Gov Whitmer at the Oval Office
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Fox News hosts are surprised that tariffs are paid by US businesses
Dimon, CEO and chairman of JPMorgan Chase, is predicting a recession
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TODAY'S COVER PHOTO
Washington DC, US
Let's be honest, it is safe to assume that there are no "deals" or we would've heard of them. A lot.
That's all from me for now. Thank you for reading.
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