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As an example of tariff exemptions, Essaye pointed to computer chips, electronics, pharmaceuticals and automobiles. This blog has now closed. Read our latest The news was delivered to Dr Alan Garber, Harvard’s president, in a deeply partisan, scathing letter from Linda McMahon “This letter is to inform you that Harvard should no longer seek grants from the federal government since none will be provided,” McMahon wrote The main reason for the crackdown on Harvard is the school’s rejection of a long list of demands from the Trump administration’s antisemitism task force prompted by campus protests against Israel’s brutal military campaign in Gaza following the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October 2023 McMahon also accuses the university of “a systematic pattern of violating federal law” As Garber explained in a message to the Harvard community last month the university decided to sue the federal government only after the Trump administration froze $2.2bn in funding threatened to freeze an additional $1bn in grants “initiated numerous investigations of Harvard’s operations threatened the education of international students and announced that it is considering a revocation of Harvard’s 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status” The government’s “sweeping and intrusive demands would impose unprecedented and improper control over the university” In its lawsuit against the Trump administration Harvard said the government’s funding cuts will have stark “real-life consequences for patients staff [and] researchers” by ending crucial medical and scientific research like a Truth Social post from the president “Where do many of these ‘students’ come from or even into our country – and why is there so much HATE?” “Harvard University has made a mockery of this country’s higher education system who engage in violent behavior and show contempt for the United States of America The university recently published its own, in-depth investigation of allegations that Gaza solidarity protests had crossed the line into antisemitism “This is like hiring the captain of the Titanic to teach navigation,” McMahon wrote. “Harvard will cease to be a publicly funded institution, and can instead operate as a privately-funded institution, drawing on its colossal endowment, and raising money from its large base of wealthy alumni,” McMahon wrote. “You have an approximately $53bn head start.” Mass protests have been called for 14 June when Donald Trump plans to throw himself a military parade birthday party US intelligence officials concluded last month that the government of Venezuela is “probably not directing” the activities of Tren de Aragua gang members inside the United States That undermines Trump’s claim that the Alien Enemies Act empowers him to deport suspected gang members The US Department of Education informed Harvard University on Monday that it was ending billions of dollars in research grants and other aid unless the school concedes to a list of demands from the Trump administration that would effectively cede control of the nation’s oldest and wealthiest to the government Melania Trump will host the unveiling of a US Postal Service stamp honoring the former first lady Barbara Bush who made no secret of her passionate hatred of Donald Trump Trump signed an executive order ending all federal funding for what the White House calls “dangerous gain-of-function research in countries of concern like China and Iran” One day before the newly elected Canadian prime minister accused Canada of being a “socialist regime” that has been “feeding off of America” for decades This year’s Pulitzer prize for illustrated reporting and commentary was awarded to editorial cartoonist Ann Telnaes, who quit the Washington Post in January to protest the newspaper’s refusal to publish her satirical cartoon depicting the outlet’s owner Jeff Bezos – and a group of other media and technology barons – kneeling before Donald Trump and offering him bags of cash He apparently got the idea from a conversation with Jon Voight at Mar-a-Lago over the weekend TeleMessage, the communications app used by Mike Waltz, Trump’s former national security adviser of Signalgate fame (as snapped during last week’s cabinet meeting the day before he was fired), said it was temporarily suspending services following a reported hack that exposed some of its messages. On June 14—Flag Day—Donald Trump wants tanks in the street and a made-for-TV display of dominance for his birthday. A spectacle meant to look like strength. But real power isn’t staged in Washington. It rises up everywhere else. The 7 April memo, which the foundation provided to The New York Times, undermines Donald Trump’s claim that Alien Enemies Act gives him the power to deport suspected members of the gang because they are part of a covert invasion by a foreign government. The memo was produced by the National Intelligence Council, which includes senior analysts and national security policy experts who report to Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence. The intelligence experts found that Venezuelan security forces have arrested Tren de Aragua members and “periodically engaged in armed confrontations with TDA, resulting in the killing of some TDA members,” suggesting that the government of Nicolás Maduro see the gang as a threat, not an ally. 1:04Donald Trump announces tariff on movies from 'other nations' – video That research was a conversation this weekend at Mar-a-Lago with Jon Voight According to a press release sent to the Hollywood Reporter on Monday, Voight and Paul pitched Trump on a plan to re-shore film production through “a combination of federal tax incentives, tax code changes, co-production treaties and infrastructure subsidies for theater owners, production and postproduction companies”. Having done his own research, Trump apparently chose to ignore the expert advice to offer incentives to film producers to shoot films in the United States, and decided to threaten them with tariffs instead. In a diary entry written in 1990 that Bush gave to the journalist Susan Page for a biography the then first lady wrote that Trump’s behavior had transformed the meaning of his name into a new word Bush was astounded to read in a news report that Trump in remarks at a charity dinner attended by the former president had mocked Reagan for paid speeches he had delivered in Japan “I see President and Mrs= Reagan in the audience,” Trump said In 2016, just before her son Jeb dropped out of the Republican presidential primary against Trump, the former first lady told CBS News: “I don’t know how women can vote for someone who said what he sad about Megyn Kelly After Kelly had asked Trump to account for his past misogynistic and sexist comments during a primary debate hosted by Fox in that campaign, Trump was enraged, and later told CNN: “You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes or like a showman or something,” the former first lady whose stamp will be unveiled by the current one Page later revealed that Trump’s first presidency shook Bush’s faith in the Republican party. Asked shortly before she died whether she still considered herself a Republican, Bush answered: “I’d probably say no today.” Until the day she died in 2018, Bush kept a red, white and blue digital clock on her bedside table that counted down to the end of Trump’s term. Donald Trump elected not to attend the former first lady’s funeral, although Melania Trump was there, alongside the former first ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton. In the made-for-television photo-op in the Oval Office Trump was flanked by his new health secretary Trump alluded to the claim that has become an article of faith among his supporters: that research financed by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China years before the Covid-19 pandemic which some experts described as gain-of-function could have led to the development of Sars-CoV-2 the deadly coronavirus that causes the disease Covid-19 The official White House account that shared video of the order signing on social media also said that the measure was to guard against what it called “lab accidents and other biosecurity incidents such as those that likely caused Covid-19” The White House has taken down some government websites providing Covid-19 information and replaced them with a new boldly styled page dedicated to the controversial theory that the pandemic was caused by the virus leaking from a Chinese government laboratory Last month, the Trump administration took down the federal government websites covid.gov and covidtests.gov, which had provided basic information about Covid-19 vaccines, treatment and testing, and replaced them with a new White House page that showed Trump in front of the words “LAB LEAK” in giant letters. A headline below reads: “The True Origins of Covid-19.” Lutnick made his undiplomatic remarks to Fox Business host Larry Kudlow, who served as Trump’s top economic advisor during his first term when the president took pride in negotiating the USMCA trade pact with Mexico and Canada to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement. But when Kudlow asked Lutnick about the prospects for a new US trade deal with Canada, the commerce secretary scoffed at the idea. “Why do we make cars in Canada?” he asked. “Why do we do our films in Canada? Come on!” Updated at 01.03 CEST12h ago22.37 CESTTom PerkinsMichigan’s attorney general announced on Monday that she was dropping all charges against seven pro-Palestinian demonstrators arrested last May at a University of Michigan encampment “This was a case of selective prosecution and rooted in bias, not in public safety issues,” Makled added. “We’re hoping this sends a message to other institutions locally and nationally that protest is not a crime, and dissent is not disorder.” Last week, after the Guardian reported that Trump called Bezos to complain about report that Amazon planned to list tariff costs on site, and Amazon relented to the pressure, Telnaes posted her rejected cartoon again on Bluesky This article includes content hosted on embed.bsky.app We ask for your permission before anything is loaded as the provider may be using cookies and other technologies In its citation the Pulitzer board praised Telnaes “For delivering piercing commentary on powerful people and institutions with deftness creativity – and a fearlessness that led to her departure from the news organization after 17 years.” After she quit, Telnaes wrote on Substack: While it isn’t uncommon for editorial page editors to object to visual metaphors within a cartoon if it strikes that editor as unclear or isn’t correctly conveying the message intended by the cartoonist, such editorial criticism was not the case regarding this cartoon. To be clear, there have been instances where sketches have been rejected or revisions requested, but never because of the point of view inherent in the cartoon’s commentary. That’s a game changer…and dangerous for a free press. Updated at 22.34 CEST13h ago21.49 CEST‘It is really scary’: Trump cuts will lead to more deaths in disasters, expert warnsNina LakhaniThe Trump administration’s sweeping cuts to disaster management will cost lives in the US with hollowed-out agencies unable to accurately predict prepare for or respond to extreme weather events “The overall risk of threats and hazards occurring in the US has increased since this administration took over, while the capacity of our emergency management system is being diminished,” said Montano in an interview. Emergency managers will be operating blindly without the data that we have become accustomed to from Noaa and other science agencies. It’s what we rely on to issue warnings and evacuation orders, and pre-position resources. It is really scary because we used to not have good weather data – and death tolls were remarkably higher. It is difficult to know if it will be the next hurricane where the response completely fails or three hurricanes from now. But I feel confident in saying that if the cuts continue, we will be seeing higher death tolls and more devastation, absolutely. It’s beyond crazy that we are eliminating the funding for these agencies particularly at this moment where hazards are increasing because of climate change. Kemp was viewed as a strong candidate to flip the seat that Ossoff won in 2020, given his overwhelming re-election victory as governor of the swing state three years ago. Several Republicans are said to be considering running for the Senate seat, including Marjorie Taylor Greene, the rightwing north Georgia congresswoman who is one of Donald Trump’s most ardent defenders. “Over the last few weeks, I have had many conversations with friends, supporters, and leaders across the country who encouraged me to run for the US Senate in 2026. I greatly appreciate their support and prayers for our family. After those discussions, I have decided that being on the ballot next year is not the right decision for me and my family,” Kemp wrote on X. “I spoke with President Trump and Senate leadership earlier today and expressed my commitment to work alongside them to ensure we have a strong Republican nominee who can win next November, and ultimately be a conservative voice in the US Senate who will put hardworking Georgians first.” Ossoff was first elected the same year that Joe Biden became the first Democratic presidential candidate to win Georgia’s electoral votes in nearly three decades. But last year, Georgia voters picked Trump, and Ossoff is expected to face a competitive race for another six-year term representing the state. If he loses, Senate Democrats could see their 47-seat minority shrink even further. The party will also be defending a seat in Michigan, a swing state Trump won last November, but are hoping to unseat GOP senators in Maine and North Carolina. 13h ago21.33 CESTTrump is due to sign an executive order to encourage domestic drug manufacturing We’ll bring you more detail on that as soon as we get it TeleMessage, the communications app used by Mike Waltz, Trump’s former national security adviser of Signalgate fame (as snapped during last week’s cabinet meeting the day before he was fired) said it was temporarily suspending services following a reported hack that exposed some of its messages the administration has also approached the likes of Angola Moldova and as mentioned above Rwanda to aid its aggressive mass deportation efforts A coalition of Democratic state attorneys general sued on Monday in an attempt to block Trump’s move to suspend leasing and permitting of new wind projects saying it threatens to cripple the wind industry and a key source of clean energy Prominent figures in the Maga movement came out against the bipartisan IGO Anti-Boycott Act, House Resolution 867 saying it would criminalize boycotts and free speech against Israel, after which a scheduled vote on the legislation today was canceled Trump is scheduled to meet at the White House today with Russian American ballerina Ksenia Karelina who was released from a Russian prison last month after spending more than a year in custody following allegations of financially supporting Ukraine’s military Trump’s former vice-president Mike Pence received a John F Kennedy Profile in Courage Award on Sunday for his actions on January 6 when he defied Trump’s demands to overturn the 2020 election Pence said: “I will always believe by God’s grace that I did my duty that day.” Drugmakers warned that Americans would suffer most if Trump imposed tariffs on imports of pharmaceuticals as medications would become more expensive and potentially unaffordable for some people Trump announced that the 2027 NFL draft will take place in Washington DC and outlined a plan to hold it on the National Mall The potential elimination of Section 8 housing vouchers and roughly 40% cuts to rental assistance were included in a recent White House request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) The cuts, first reported by NPR target core HUD programs like Section 8 vouchers replacing them with block grants to states The White House described the current system as “dysfunctional” and said that states should be allowed to “design their own rental assistance programs based on their unique needs and preferences.” The plan would also cap rental aid for able-bodied adults at two years reallocating any remaining funds toward elderly and disabled recipients Housing advocates say the proposed cuts could cause a dramatic increase in homelessness Kim Johnson of the National Low Income Housing Coalition told NPR that she thinks “homelessness [could] escalate in a way that has been really unprecedented only about one in four eligible households receives rental aid “Cutting that really feels like cutting into bone,” said Ann Oliva CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness Oliva also raised alarms about proposed changes to homelessness funding which would reduce local control and prioritize short-term shelters over permanent housing “Homelessness is a very local issue,” she said it happens on city blocks and in city streets.” states would have more discretion over how federal housing funds are used — but less money to work with NPR noted that similar block grant programs have often been redirected away from direct aid States could theoretically supplement the lost federal funding with their own resources Jessica Kubicki of The Housing Collective in Connecticut warned of ripple effects She pointed to increased demand for emergency rooms They don’t have food,” Kubicki said of children most in need of assistance The newly released federal budget proposal also calls for eliminating programs that support affordable housing development, fair housing enforcement and community improvement grants The administration argues that these funds have been misused citing projects like “skate parks and concert plazas.” In the meantime, COVID-era emergency housing vouchers are running out faster than expected due to rising rents HUD has warned local agencies to prepare for that funding to end as early as next year The Trump administration has already pushed out thousands of HUD employees and canceled contracts that support low-income housing — signaling a broader pullback from federal housing support A report published last month by The New York Times also pointed to the administration’s intent to drastically cut Section 8 In March, a bipartisan group of lawmakers from the House of Representatives and the Senate introduced a bill that seeks to expand Section 8 Citing the federal budget uncertainty, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles announced in March that it has stopped accepting new applications for Section 8 vouchers and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" it’s fair to say that you’ll have plenty of opinions regarding the properties you show buyers even thousands of listings at a wide variety of price points you’ll cultivate a personal opinion about properties sometimes within seconds of stepping over the threshold But when should you share your opinion with a buyer It’s not always appropriate to tell them what you think Don't have an account? Please Sign Up Patton acknowledged violations of the Hatch Act which is meant to bar federal employees from partisan political activity on the job The White House did not respond to multiple requests for comment Tim Murtagh, a spokesman for the Trump campaign, defended the handling of the video at the time. “All interview subjects were fully aware of the purpose of the interviews,” he told The New York Times in August “Lynne Patton was acting in her own personal capacity.” Not everyone thought the penalty matched the crime. The Project on Government Oversight criticized the special counsel’s office for “singling” out Patton — the only Black woman among the 17 Trump administration officials it found to have violated the Hatch Act during Trump’s first term Sign up for Semafor .css-w8sqnb{text-transform:capitalize;}principals Dan Gooding is a Newsweek reporter based in New York City His focus is reporting on immigration and border security He has covered immigration issues extensively including the root causes of migration to the U.S. its impact on border communities and responses around the country Dan joined Newsweek in 2024 from The Independent and previously worked at The Messenger He is a graduate of De Montfort University in Leicester You can get in touch with Dan by emailing d.gooding@newsweek.com either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content The Trump administration announced Monday that it will pay illegal immigrants to self-deport rather than await arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Those without legal status whom the administration says should not remain in the country could be paid as much as $1,000 if they use the CBP Home app to record their departure. The administration began encouraging those without legal status to self-deport in early March Figures on how many migrants have taken the White House up on that offer have DHS said it was offering the stipend to those who prove they have made it back to their home country As the federal government seeks to remove millions of those without legal status including those whose Biden-era protections were revoked in recent months it called self-deportation a "dignified way to leave the U.S." and removing each immigrant is around $17,121 meaning the department could potentially save millions of dollars if the stipend entices enough people to deport themselves Nearly two months on from CBP Home's launch figures on self-deportation have not been made public but the department said in its Monday announcement that an immigrant recently used the feature to leave Chicago for Honduras while other tickets had been purchased also It sought to incentivize 457,000 illegal immigrants from five cities to leave the country have offered financial incentives in the past for those who choose to self-deport others failed to generate large numbers of volunteers the administration said again that those who self-deport could then be allowed back into the U.S though it is not clear how or if that would be possible For the majority of those found to have entered the country illegally As the second Trump administration marked 100 days it announced that around 47,000 immigrants not previously registered with the government had done so under the Alien Registration Requirement (ARR) Many of those will likely be expected to leave the country or face tougher penalties policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute told Newsweek: "I fully expect that departures reported through the app will be counted towards the Trump administration's deportations tally which is reportedly not as high as the president would like it to be It appears that the Trump administration is on track to deport roughly half a million noncitizens in its first year from the Oval Office on Monday: "We're going to get them a beautiful flight back to where they came from with a little work they can come back in." in a press release: "If you are here illegally safest and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest DHS is now offering illegal aliens financial travel assistance and a stipend to return to their home country through the CBP Home App This is the safest option for our law enforcement aliens and is a 70% savings for US taxpayers Download the CBP Home App today and self-deport." ET: This article has been updated with comment from Kathleen Bush-Joseph Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsletters in your inbox See all WASHINGTON – The Trump administration has reversed course on a proposal to cut all funding for Head Start a preschool and child-care program relied on by hundreds of thousands of low-income families A spokesperson for the White House Office of Management and Budget confirmed to USA TODAY on May 5 that the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget does not include changes to Head Start funding A budgetary framework released May 2 did not mention Head Start or cuts to its funding include cuts to other federal programs that support preschools directly and indirectly On April 28, a group of state Head Start associations and regional providers sued the Trump administration in federal court over the reportedly planned cuts The plaintiffs argued the White House was dismantling a "crucial program in defiance of Congress." the executive director for the National Head Start Association said she was grateful Head Start was not "explicitly eliminated" in Trump's budget proposal But the White House's broader efforts to slash more than $160 billion from the federal budget could still have implications for Head Start families "The proposed deep cuts to non-defense discretionary programs – many of which Head Start families depend on – pose a serious threat to the strength and stability of these essential services," she said "We will continue our efforts until there is clear assurance that Head Start and its related services are fully protected." Other preschool programs still at riskThough Head Start appears to be spared from Trump's crusade against government spending other preschool and after-school programs may be in jeopardy as the Republican-controlled Congress wrestles over the federal budget this summer On the chopping block in the White House's funding proposal – which doesn't have the force of law, but will influence congressional Republicans – is a $75 million grant system that gives money to colleges to support child-care services. Supporters have lauded the "Child Care Access Means Parents in School" program for helping low-income parents succeed in college says subsidizing child care for adults in college is "unaffordable and duplicative." the proposal would abolish preschool development grants which set aside money for states to improve early childhood education The White House has called the grants "unproductive funds" which officials claim have been used to "push DEI policies on to toddlers," referring to diversity Zachary Schermele is an education reporter for USA TODAY You can reach him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social The Trump administration's 2026 fiscal budget request to Congress eliminates major federal funding for traumatic brain injury (TBI) research and education potentially undercutting efforts to address head injuries in sports particularly at the high school and youth levels includes eliminating the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention umbrella agency responsible for TBI research including the $8.25 million marked for brain injury research and public education about the dangers of concussions The CDC is facing $3.59 billion in budget cuts Although the president proposes the federal budget it is up to Congress to approve a final budget bill so the TBI program could be restored or moved to a different agency The White House did not respond to an ESPN request for comment The budget proposal comes after the CDC on April 1 placed all five staffers devoted to administering the government's main traumatic brain injury program on paid administrative leave Paid administrative leave means the workers are still government employees The budget cuts would "roll back decades of progress," said Dr a brain injury specialist and board member of the Brain Injury Association of America a concussion-prevention program for youth and high school coaches athletic trainers and other sports officials The CDC staffers put on leave administered the program Forty-five states participate in the program to varying degrees Staffers interviewed by ESPN declined to speak on the record citing fears of administration retribution "We're really worried about the hundreds of thousands of coaches who have to take this training," the CDC official said and we've lost the whole team" behind the program Some Heads Up training is part of coaches' and other sports officials' state compliance requirements The CDC official said hundreds of email queries are arriving every week asking how to comply as the federal program shuts down The Heads Up website says more than 10 million people have participated in its online training programs Congress first approved TBI research funding in 1996 Legislation to keep the program going expired at the end of 2024 and a House bill to renew it has yet to advance out of committee 12% of adult respondents reported experiencing a head injury in the previous 12 months including but not limited to sports-related activities A follow-up study was being prepared when the staffers were placed on leave The research data was part of a program to measure TBI prevalence and boost prevention The Heads Up website remained active Monday but offered no clues regarding the program's endangered status I don't think the public has felt an impact," a laid-off CDC employee said trainings and materials get pulled down or when they can't be updated I think that's when the public will feel it." the National Institutes of Health would retain an institute devoted to overall brain research The institute focuses on medical issues such as stroke and migraines and it's unclear whether TBI programs would be absorbed into it Hospitals and universities conducting TBI research funded by the CDC are bracing for potential funding cutbacks "We might not [get] the next year of renewal or the next wave of funding And that's sad and scary and impactful for all kinds of people including myself in this project," said Christine Baugh an assistant professor at the University of Colorado's School of Medicine who is studying how parents decide whether to let their children play contact sports and whether brain-injury awareness campaigns influence their decisions the National Academy of Sciences received orders to cancel work on two TBI workshops one of which analyzed the risks of repeated head impacts on children a pediatrics professor at the University of Washington told ESPN that the cancellation affected funding for publishing the information and he called the potential cuts "tragic." "That's a perfect example of how this change in funding at the CDC is impacting people," Rivara said for sports: What about these repetitive impacts It's a perfect example of the impact of this." Traumatic brain injuries have lifelong repercussions on a person's physical Even though some states fund TBI-treatment programs independently of the federal government concerns are growing about a domino effect if Congress fails to renew funding "For many people with concussions or certainly moderate or severe brain injuries and there needs to be lifetime funding for it." Officials say administration ‘exploring all options’ after president declared 100% tariff on non-US-produced films “Although no final decisions on foreign film tariffs have been made the administration is exploring all options to deliver on President Trump’s directive to safeguard our country’s national and economic security while Making Hollywood Great Again,” White House spokesperson Kush Desai said The US president had announced the tariffs on his Truth Social platform, claiming he had authorized “the Department of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative, to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands”. Trump offered few details on how such a trade penalty would work but warned that the US film industry was “DYING a very fast death” and said that there was a “concerted effort” by other countries to offer “all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States” – which he said was a “national security threat” Commerce secretary Howard Lutnick responded on X on Sunday evening The announcement sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry On Monday, shares in US streaming platforms and production companies dropped as uncertainty loomed especially because Trump’s post did not say whether the tariffs would apply to films distributed on streaming platforms Netflix shares were down 1.7% by early afternoon Warner Bros Discovery and Paramount dropped 1.1% and 1% respectively In Australia and New Zealand, which serve as major production hubs for global franchises such as the Lord of the Rings series, its Tolkienesque cousin The Hobbit, and various Marvel films, lawmakers in those countries responded that they would advocate for their respective film industries Australia’s home affairs minister, Tony Burke, said that he had spoken with the head of the government body Screen Australia about the proposed tariffs and that “nobody should be under any doubt that we will be standing up unequivocally for the rights of the Australian screen industry.” said: “We’ll have to see the detail of what actually ultimately emerges great champion of that sector in that industry.” warning tens of thousands of freelance jobs could be at risk The announcement on Sunday follows Trump’s earlier pledges to revitalize the US film industry. But early on Monday afternoon, the White House began walking back Trump’s announcement, according to the Hollywood Reporter Just before taking office, Trump appointed actors Jon Voight Sylvester Stallone and Mel Gibson as “special ambassadors” to Hollywood tasked with bringing the industry back “bigger The Associated Press reported that it is common for major blockbusters and smaller productions to film scenes in the US as well as internationally. Big-budget projects often span multiple countries. Read moreFor years, according to the AP, incentive programs have influenced where films are made increasingly driving film production away from California to states and countries offering more favorable tax incentives According to FilmLA, a non-profit that tracks production in the Los Angeles area, film and television production in LA has dropped by nearly 40% over the past decade Trump’s announcement on Sunday comes after he triggered a trade war with China, and imposed global tariffs unsettling global markets and sparking fears of a potential US recession In April, China, which is currently the world’s second-largest film market after the US, responded to Trump’s tariffs on Chinese products by reducing the quota of American movies allowed into the country The White House appeared to walk back an announcement by President Donald Trump that he would slap 100% tariffs on foreign-produced films to boost Hollywood A White House statement on May 5 said that "no final decisions on foreign film tariffs have been made" after Trump's declaration made waves in the entertainment industry Trump posted on social media May 4 that he was "authorizing the Department of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands." The president said he was concerned incentives luring filmmakers overseas are sending the American movie industry to "a very fast death." Although Trump said his team was moving forward on the tariffs White House spokesman Kush Desai seemed to temper that in the May 5 statement that no final decision has been made while also saying " the administration is exploring all options to deliver on President Trump’s directive to safeguard our country’s national and economic security while Making Hollywood Great Again." The statement added more confusion to an announcement that already was drawing questions about how the tariffs would be implemented and what exactly they would apply to It was unclear if the tariffs would apply to movies on streaming services as well as those shown in theaters or if they would be calculated based on production costs or box office revenue Trump said on May 5 during an event in the Oval Office that his administration would first consult the movie industry Film news for you: Sign up for USA TODAY's Watch Party newsletter for more Hollywood insights "I want to make sure they're happy with it," he said Trump complained about moviemaking going overseas but said "I'm not looking to hurt the industry The announcement about the movie industry comes as Trump has levied a slew of tariffs on various countries and industries The tariffs have spooked investors and unsettled the economy More: How much money did Trump make in first 100 days? Crypto deals raise questions saying he wants to give car companies "a little bit of flexibility." He also paused big reciprocal tariffs on every foreign nation Trump raised concerns about national security and foreign propaganda in announcing the movie tariffs This is a concerted effort by other Nations and film and television industry has "a positive balance of trade in every major market in the world," with exports more than three times imports The industry has a trade surplus of $15.3 billion and supports 2.3 million jobs Movie and TV production has been leaving Hollywood for years heading to locations with tax incentives that make filming cheaper producers on movie and TV projects with budgets of more than $40 million went outside the United States Governments around the world have increased credits and cash rebates to attract productions and capture a greater share of the $248 billion that Ampere Analysis predicts will be spent globally in 2025 to produce content Trump complained that "Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States." On May 5, leaders in Australia and New Zealand responded to Trump's tariff announcement by saying they would advocate for their local industries Some Marvel superhero movies have been filmed in Australia while New Zealand was the backdrop for "The Lord of the Rings" films A banjo player and a Black Maga influencer now attend Trump administration press briefings These are just some of the “new media” personalities courted by the White House to take part in a series of alternative briefings championed by Donald Trump’s press secretary An extraordinary gallery of Trump-promoting characters has paraded through the West Wing in recent days answering Leavitt’s call for “independent journalists” and “influencers” to attend her press gatherings Some of their fawning, softball or otherwise baffling questions have provoked derision and concern conspiracy and other extremist talking points Since quitting Mumford & Sons the double Grammy winning folk rock band he co-founded four years ago following his controversial endorsement of a conservative journalist’s book guitarist and banjoist Marshall has found his place in the rightwing ecosystem The 37-year-old British son of GB News co-owner and hedge fund tycoon Sir Paul Marshall now hosts his own podcast in which he discusses politics with like-minded guests for his 14,000 subscribers Photograph: Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesHe showed up in the West Wing on Tuesday in a sharp black suit to first congratulate “Madame Leavitt” for inviting him then try to gauge her position on the “quarter of a million” Britons he insisted had been penalized in the UK for social media posts or perceived speech infractions “Would the Trump administration consider political asylum for British citizens in such a situation?” he asked said the question was “a very good one” and she would “see if it’s something the administration would entertain” The host of several conservative podcasts was linked last year to a US content creation company the justice department said was paid almost $10m by Russian state media operatives to publish videos promoting Moscow’s interests and agenda was another attack on the mainstream media: “I’m wondering if you can comment on their unprofessional behavior as well as elaborate if there’s any plans to expand access to new companies?” “We want to welcome all viewpoints into this room,” Leavitt replied Bleached blond, and with a striking resemblance to the Harry Potter character Draco Malfoy Lauren is a previously unknown musician and content creator who served as a social media adviser to Robert F Kennedy Jr during the new health secretary’s failed presidential campaign last year His recent wild claims include informing his 875,000 TikTok followers that the Biden administration was a “cesspool of topless trans people on the White House lawn” and was responsible for countless suicides Photograph: The Washington Post/Getty ImagesOne of the leading sycophants at Leavitt’s alternative briefing “You’re a very high-profile young mother who seems to juggle and balance it all beautifully What advice do you have to young parents out there who are starting their careers having kids building families and trying to find that balance so desperately?” but was keen to point out that “there are so many new moms and dads on our senior staff but also across the entire administration” Under the pseudonym Dom Lucre, election denier McGee was booted briefly from X (then Twitter) in 2023 for posting a video depicting child sexual abuse but allowed back on at the insistence of the platform’s owner the self-styled Black Maga influencer has disseminated numerous conspiracy theories on social media including amplifying Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election he lost was fraudulent and promoting the QAnon fiction that the so-called deep state was conspiring to usurp the president Photograph: Dom Lucre TwitterHis question during his brief appearance at the new media briefing was thus: “Is there any possibility for names such as Barack Hussein Obama to ever possibly get investigated for … any of the wrongdoings they might have done?” Leavitt said it was “refreshing” to hear McGee’s question “The legacy media would never ask [it],” she said Billing herself as “just a crazy nonlib girl in a crazylib world” Maga newcomer Wexler claims to have grown up “as one of few conservatives on the outskirts of the very blue New York City” “The left doesn’t know what to do with me,” she opines in a self-aggrandizing biography that expresses her fixation on “smashing the status quo and redefining what conservative commentary can be” Photograph: Jason Davis/Getty Images for DailyWire+Her first attempt at “stirring things up in the realm of political commentary” having been granted the honor of the opening question at Leavitt’s alternative briefing was a racially dubious statement praising the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown “I can attest to the deportations in Florida my Uber drivers finally speak English again Her subsequent question demanded to know what action would be taken against “trans men … masquerading as women in girls’ sport” Leavitt replied: “Obey the law or you will be prosecuted.” Photograph: Jason Davis/Getty ImagesWith more than 7 million followers across several social media platforms O’Handley was warmly welcomed by Leavitt to the new media seat during a briefing that included Trump’s border enforcer He used his opportunity to deliver a lengthy monologue endorsing Trump’s policy of deporting scores of migrants without due process and excoriated judges who had issued orders trying to stop it we’ve seen a coordinated assault on the rule of law by radical judges,” he said “These judges are providing more due process to violent MS-13 and Tren de Aragua illegal aliens than they did for American citizens who peacefully protested on January 6.” Would Trump consider suspending the writ of habeas corpus for such migrants “The administration is open to all legal and constitutional remedies,” Leavitt said adding that she “agreed with the premise” of his question Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data I stood in the East Room of the White House surrounded by fellow female athletes and aspiring young girls behind the president as he signed his Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports executive order It was a moment that seemed all but impossible a few years ago watching as common sense began returning to America young female athletes can live out their dreams in a new era with a champion looking out for them I've seen firsthand what happens when this isn't the case—and if it weren't for this president One of the first real tests of President Trump's commitment to protecting us came in February when news broke that a biologically male high school pole vaulter in Maine won first place at the State Championship stories like that one were becoming all too common throughout America the Left spent the last four years trying to normalize moments just like it it had a significant advantage when pushing its alternate reality: a president who was fully on board Democratic leaders learned the hard way that they no longer have an ally in the White House helping to advance their deranged agenda When Maine Governor Janet Mills visited the White House following the pole vaulting state championship President Trump took the chance to publicly call her out for not doing enough to protect girls in her state I was proud to be there when Gov. Mills got her wish, standing with Attorney General Pam Bondi and Education Secretary Linda McMahon as they announced the administration's new lawsuit against the state of Maine for failing to keep men out of women's sports That's just one of many examples of what this administration has done on behalf of girls and women Actions like the Maine lawsuit have a tone-setting effect throughout the country Many of the worst culprits on this issue are backpedaling fast has claimed it will comply with Trump's "two-gender policy" and keep men out of women's athletics The fact that it is at least pretending to do something to protect female athletes shows that the tide has turned in President Trump's first 100 days back in office This is a winning issue for the Right, and many on the Left know it, even the most radical. California Gov. Gavin Newsom went from a public advocate for men invading women's sports to publicly cowering from the issue altogether Now he's finding out that lip service is not enough for the Trump administration as Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Education Secretary McMahon announced they will hold Newsom to his word That is how you protect young girls in America the future looks brighter for young female sports stars these girls now have advocates at the top who are going to bat for them not for those seeking to crush their dreams more wins have been put on the board for girls and women than in all of Biden's presidency Expect much more to come with President Trump at the helm Riley Gaines is a former All-American Swimmer and host of OutKick's Gaines for Girls podcast The views expressed in this article are the writer's own The White House voiced confidence in the US economy in the face of tariffs that have sparked global turmoil suggesting new trade deals could soon be unveiled “This is just the cylinder firing,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, referring to recent upbeat data on jobs and inflation. “The American people should expect to hear the engine humming during the second half of 2025.” The Trump administration also reportedly expects to announce at least one trade agreement this week Sign up for Semafor .css-w8sqnb{text-transform:capitalize;}flagship which would slash the HHS’ discretionary funding by 26% The 40-page request sent to Congress by Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought includes a 23% cut to the government’s discretionary funding and a 13% increase in military spending overall the HHS would have its discretionary funding cut by 26% The budget includes partisan language about many programs currently sponsored by Washington the foremost funder of biomedical research in the world as “too big and unfocused” and accuses the agency of promoting “radical gender ideology” and “wasteful spending the NIH would lose almost $18 billion — the largest proposed cut for an HHS division in the blueprint The NIH would also reorganize its variety of programs into five specific areas: the National Institute on Body Systems Research; National Institute on Neuroscience and Brain Research; National Institute of General Medical Sciences; National Institute of Disability Related Research; and National Institute on Behavioral Health Funding for the National Institute on Minority and Health Disparities and centers focusing on nursing research global health and alternative medicines would be entirely eliminated Programs that are “duplicative,” “DEI” or “simply unnecessary” would be eliminated including the National Center for Chronic Diseases Prevention and Health Promotion the National Center for Environmental Health and the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control The CDC’s public health preparedness programs would also be shut down as they “can be conducted more effectively by States,” according to the budget the Health Resources and Services Administration which works to improve healthcare for underserved populations while the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration mental health and combating substance use disorders which oversees health insurance programs for some 150 million Americans focused in areas like health equity and beneficiary outreach and education “This cut will have no impact on providing benefits to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries,” the budget says The HHS’ Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program which helps American families pay their heating and cooling bills The HHS’ only funding increase in the budget would be for “MAHA,” or “Make America Healthy Again,” initiatives like promoting nutrition and exercise Such programs would receive $500 million next year The blueprint amounts to an attack against science and research, especially after the Trump administration fired thousands of federal health employees earlier this spring “This budget proposal carries forward the Trump administration’s relentless effort to decentralize and weaken our public health and health care infrastructure shifting the burden of costs on to states that are already dealing with significant budget shortfalls much caused by this administration’s reckless funding freezes and cuts,” Anthony Wright the executive director of consumer health advocacy nonprofit Families USA “While funding for some crucial activities such as emerging infectious diseases surveillance virtually all areas of health are likely to be impacted by such massive cuts to foundational infrastructure,” the Infectious Diseases Society of America said Top Democrats also railed against the proposal arguing slashing funding for healthcare research will cost peoples’ lives and set America back on the nation’s stage “China’s President Xi Jinping is no doubt thrilled at Trump’s proposal to halve our investments in scientific and biomedical research,” Senator Patty Murray Republican leaders in Congress said the budget would improve the government’s fiscal discipline saying the plan “ensures every federal taxpayer dollar spent is used to serve the American people not a bloated bureaucracy or partisan pet project” in a statement Trump’s budget comes as Congress remains mired in work on crafting one bill including the president’s various tax and border priorities along with steep cuts in government funding in other areas Medicaid in particular is on the chopping block which oversees the safety-net insurance program was directed to find $880 billion in savings However, Medicaid’s popularity among voters, including in Republican districts, is complicating discussions of program reform that could reduce benefits or enrollment. The logjam recently led House GOP leaders to push Energy and Commerce’s markup of the bill back another week to May 12 Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts The Biden administration is attempting to push through a slew of reforms to the controversial MA program in its final months in power though it will need the Trump administration’s buy-in to get them across the finish line Physician groups slammed Congress for allowing a 2.8% cut to their Medicare pay to go into effect The free newsletter covering the top industry headlines Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker This article was originally published at 9:12 a.m It was last updated with additional information at 1:26 p.m OMAHA (DTN) -- Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins will have a lot to discuss on Capitol Hill this week with the Trump administration shedding nearly 15,200 positions at USDA and a budget proposal detailing more than $4.6 billion in discretionary cuts at the department as well Rollins will testify both Tuesday and Wednesday before Senate and House appropriators -- her first congressional hearing since being confirmed at the end of February The hearings will provide Rollins the opportunity to highlight how her staff plans to reorganize USDA while making dramatic cuts to staff and funding across several agencies President Donald Trump released his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026 that highlights plans to cut USDA's discretionary budget by more than $4.6 billion Fiscal 2025 budget levels are not posted on USDA's website The budget cuts don't affect mandatory spending such as commodity programs crop insurance and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) but discretionary funding is critical in areas such as research and Rural Development The proposed cuts come after USDA last week detailed to lawmakers that 15,182 employees across the department agreed to leave federal service under two separate "Deferred Resignation Program" offers a summary of a call between USDA staff and lawmakers on Friday provided a breakdown of the job cuts confirmed the cuts in an email to Politico suggesting the Biden administration didn't have a way to pay for employees "President Biden and Secretary Vilsack left USDA in complete disarray including hiring thousands of employees with no sustainable way to pay them," Christensen stated "Secretary Rollins is working to reorient the department to be more effective and efficient at serving the American people She will not compromise the critical work of the Department." -- 2,408 employees from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) -- 1,538 employees in Rural Development (RD) -- 1,377 employees from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) -- 1,255 employees from the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) -- 674 Farm Service Agency (FSA) county staff -- 555 employees from the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) -- 243 employees at the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) -- 105 employees in the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) the 243 employees at NASS who took the buyout offer The 1,538 employees leaving Rural Development also make up nearly 30% of the agency staff the job cuts also left agencies trying to plug holes NPR reported over the weekend that APHIS let people leave then leadership immediately sent out an email offering employees a chance to shift over to 73 positions "that are especially critical to fill as soon as possible." Highlighting the proposed budget cuts at USDA ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee said the president's budget proposal "is out of touch and ignores the needs of America's farmers "At a time when farmers are reeling from trade wars gutting technical assistance at the Farm Service Agency will make it impossible for farmers to access the resources they need to do their jobs The president's budget also poses real danger to our communities by slashing funding for programs that assist local and state partners with wildfire prevention and this budget does not value farm country." Craig noted the USDA budget proposal would slash conservation technical services which would limit the ability of farmers to sign up for USDA conservation programs Technical services is also an option for farmers who might not qualify for other NRCS programs though the budget proposal states there would still be more than $1 billion for technical services discretionary funding for conservation technical assistance was $904 million Rural Development (RD) under the budget would face a $721 million cut Community facility grants would be eliminated "as Congress has eroded these grants by earmarking nearly 100% of them," the budget document states USDA would have no new funding for rural broadband which has been a priority since the pandemic The White House states no new broadband funding is needed because other federal resources would meet those needs The White House proposal in RD also would eliminate rural business program and single-family housing direct loans Sticking with efforts to reduce foreign aid the budget proposal also eliminates the Food for Peace program which buys about $2 billion in commodities for international food aid The McGovern-Dole Food for Education program which helps with school meals in low-income countries also would be eliminated under the budget The Trump administration proposal also would "defund" the Commodity Supplemental Food Program which provides monthly boxes of food to 700,000 seniors agriculture is falling behind in agricultural research funding the budget plan from the White House also would cut $602 million from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) or about one-third of its budget based on FY 2024 numbers The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) would face a $159 million cut with USDA planning to close facilities that the budget states are in disrepair and "reduces funding for research projects that are not the highest national priority." Chris Clayton can be reached at Chris.Clayton@dtn.com Follow him on social platform X @ChrisClaytonDTN Please correct the following errors and try again: Administration’s news ‘wire’ will promote press releases posts by high-level officials and positive news about itself The Trump administration has unveiled a news-style website that publishes exclusively positive coverage of the president on official White House servers published at the government domain WH.gov/wire resembles the rightwing website the Drudge Report with a list of headlines from right-leaning outlets praising the administration It also promotes White House press releases and social media posts by high-level officials A White House official told Axios that the new site is “a place for supporters of the president’s agenda to get the real news”, describing it as providing “transparency”. Read moreWhile previous administrations would often send emails promoting positive news coverage or interviews with senior officials it appears to be the first time federal resources have been used to build a website that curates partisan news coverage The White House did not respond to a request for comment The Trump administration has been attempting to sideline the established press in favor of friendlier media now follows her regular press briefings with special ones exclusively for pro-Trump “Maga influencers” who have used these sessions to ask softball questions and to echo administration talking points Matt Drudge, a conservative critic of Trump and founder of the Drudge Report site that seems to have inspired the government’s design, teased the launch on his own website and jokingly threatened a “$1tn lawsuit” in comments to Status News ‘Star Wars’ creator George Lucas once said Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty; The White House/X The White House is unveiling President Donald Trump’s 2026 budget a sweeping framework proposing steep reductions in non-defense domestic spending while.. The White House is unveiling President Donald Trump’s budget a sweeping framework proposing steep reductions in non-defense domestic spending while increasing expenditures on national security The budget plan released Friday shows a desire to crack down on diversity programs and initiatives to address climate change Meanwhile, the Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to strip temporary legal protections from 350,000 Venezuelans potentially exposing them to being deported The president in an interview with NBC News’ “Meet the Press” said the U.S economy is in a “transition period” but he expects it to do “fantastically.”         Find out what steps agencies should take to better protect OT systems in our latest Executive Briefing in an excerpt of the interview that is to air Sunday snipped at NBC’s Kristen Welker when she noted that some Wall Street analysts have expressed concerns that chances of a recession are increasing some people on Wall Street say,” Trump said Some people on Wall Street say that we’re going to have the greatest economy in history.” Wall Street extended its gains to a ninth straight day Friday marking the stock market’s longest winning streak since 2004 and reclaiming the ground it lost since Trump escalated his trade war in early April But financial markets have been volatile. Consumer confidence is at its lowest level in five years. And economists say recession risks are rising This entry has been updated to correct the name of the NBC television journalist to Kristen Welker The Army on Friday confirmed there will be a military parade on Trump’s birthday in June as part of the celebration around the service’s 250th birthday         Sign up for our daily newsletter so you never miss a beat on all things federal Plans for the parade as first detailed by The Associated Press on Thursday call for about 6,600 soldiers to march from Arlington to the National Mall along with 150 vehicles and 50 helicopters the Army’s anniversary festival plans did not include a massive parade which officials say will cost tens of millions of dollars But Trump has long wanted a military parade and discussions with the Pentagon about having one in conjunction with the anniversary festival began less than two months ago The Army’s 250th birthday happens to coincide with Trump’s 79th birthday on June 14 Army spokesperson Steve Warren said the Army’s birthday celebration will include “a spectacular fireworks display and a daylong festival on the National Mall.” The Trump administration apparently has backed away from a proposal to eliminate funding for Head Start the early education program that serves some of the nation’s neediest preschoolers Backers of the program were fretting after a leaked Trump administration proposal suggested defunding it the conservative blueprint drawn up by the Heritage Foundation and co-authored by Trump’s current budget chief which outlined programs set to receive drastic cuts or boosts who insisted on anonymity to preview the budget plan on a call with reporters Associated Press reporter Moriah Balingit contributed         Read more: Budget District Judge Beryl Howell said the executive order against the law firm of Perkins Coie violated multiple provisions of the Constitution and ordered that it be immediately nullified The order sought to punish the firm by stripping the security clearances of its lawyers blocking its employees from accessing federal buildings and canceling federal contracts involving the firm ▶ Read more about the judge’s decision on the executive order The White House has launched a video of a cartoon Trump seated in the Oval Office and scribbling on a paper while a list of promises his administration has made scrolls past Each item on the list is then followed by headlines suggesting Trump kept his word on the issue The video is titled “Lo-fi MAGA Video to Relax/Study To” and puts a political “Make American Great Again” spin on a genre of online content that can relax some listeners It features a serious-faced Trump in a suit and tie who scribbles wordlessly and endlessly on a page with several lines of unintelligible print The moon and stars are visible out the window behind him The song “Mid August” by sero plays on a loop for the entirety of the video Lawyers for Babbitt’s estate and the Justice Department told a judge in Washington’s federal court that they have reached a settlement in principle but the details are still being worked out and the final agreement has not yet been signed The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed Babbitt’s estate filed the $30 million lawsuit last year over her fatal shooting when she attempted to climb through the broken window of a barricaded door leading to the Speaker’s Lobby inside the Capitol on Jan The Capitol Police officer who shot her was cleared of wrongdoing by the U.S Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia which concluded that he acted in self-defense and in the defense of members of Congress The emergency appeal comes after a judge in Maryland restricted the team’s access to the systems under federal privacy laws Social Security holds personal records on nearly everyone in the country and medical and mental health records for disability recipients The government says the DOGE team needs access to target waste in the federal government. Musk has been focused on Social Security as an alleged hotbed of fraud, describing it as a “ Ponzi scheme ” and insisting that reducing waste in the program is an important way to cut government spending ▶ Read more about the Trump administration’s appeal The rally on Friday marks Wall Street’s longest winning streak since 2004 reclaiming the ground it lost since Trump escalated his trade war in early April The gains were spurred by a better-than-expected report on the job market and resurgent hope of a ratcheting down of the trade showdown with China The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 1.4% Treasury yields rose in the bond market after the government reported that employers added more jobs than forecast in April The CIA has a message for Chinese government officials worried about their place in President Xi Jinping’s government: Come work with us America’s premier spy agency released two Mandarin-language videos on social media Thursday inviting disgruntled officials to contact the CIA The recruitment videos posted to YouTube and X racked up more than 5 million views combined in their first day The videos are “aimed at recruiting Chinese officials to steal secrets,” Ratcliffe said in a statement to The Associated Press He said China “is intent on dominating the world economically the state will drop its lawsuit against the U.S Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey announced The money that was suspended funds a statewide child nutrition program A federal judge had ordered the Trump administration to unfreeze those funds last month after finding that Maine was likely to succeed in its legal challenge “It’s unfortunate that my office had to resort to federal court just to get USDA to comply with the law and its own regulations,” Frey said in a statement A letter from Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins explained that the decision to suspend funding stemmed from a disagreement between Maine and the federal government over whether the state was complying with Title IX the law that bans discrimination in education based on sex nationwide Trump had accused Maine of failing to comply with his executive order barring transgender athletes from sports ▶ Read more about the settlement between Maine and the Trump administration The American Meteorological Society and the American Geophysical Union said Friday they will work together to produce peer-reviewed research documents assessing the current and future national impacts of climate change in the U.S Trump’s Republican administration told about 400 scientists working on the National Climate Assessment that they are no longer needed and that the report was being reevaluated is required by a 1990 federal law and was due around 2027 Preliminary budget documents show slashing funding or eliminating offices involved in coordinating that report AGU President Brandon Jones says they are “are filling in a gap in the scientific process.” ▶ Read more on the National Climate Assessment The strategy is the main blueprint that lays out the department’s priorities as it moves to confront national security threats around the world It will be Hegseth’s opportunity to highlight what he wants the U.S military to focus on for the next several years and how the department will shift toward Trump’s America First doctrine The draft also will have to reflect the impact of Hegseth’s sweeping personnel cuts and decisions to merge a number of military commands The high-stakes meeting comes as Trump continues his trade war and annexation threats Carney’s Liberal Party scored a stunning comeback victory in a vote widely seen as a rebuke of Trump, whose trade war and attacks on Canadian sovereignty outraged voters “Canadians elected a new government to stand up to President Trump and build a strong economy,” Carney said in his first remarks since since election night Carney also said King Charles III will deliver a speech outlining the Canadian government’s priorities on May 27, when Parliament resumes. Charles is the head of state in Canada which is a member of the British Commonwealth of former colonies ▶ Read more about Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney Vance says the Trump administration is keeping its promises In an opinion piece published by the Washington Post Vance writes that he and Trump campaigned on reversing what they said are failures by the previous administration and returning to “successful He cites the crackdown on illegal immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border “reindustrializing” of the American economy and “rebalancing” relations with trading partners Trump’s tariffs plans have caused worldwide economic uncertainty Vance ends by promising that “the best is yet to come.” Public Broadcasting Service CEO Paula Kerger said the Republican president’s order “threatens our ability to serve the American public with educational programming “We are currently exploring all options to allow PBS to continue to serve our member stations and all Americans,” Kerger said alleging “bias” in the broadcasters’ reporting The order instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and other federal agencies to “cease Federal funding” for PBS and National Public Radio and further requires that they work to root out indirect sources of public financing for the news organizations in a social media posting announcing the signing said the outlets “receive millions from taxpayers to spread radical ▶ Read more about Trump’s executive order on PBS and NPR President Trump’s 2026 budget plan would slash non-defense domestic spending by $163 billion while increasing expenditures on national security according to statements released by the White House on Friday The budget showed a desire to crack down on diversity programs and initiatives to address climate change But the administration has yet to release detailed tables on what it wants income taxes tariffs or the budget deficit to be — a sign of the political and financial challenge confronting Trump when he’s promising to cut taxes and repay the federal debt without doing major damage to economic growth Budgets do not become law but serve as a touchstone for the upcoming fiscal year debates this first budget since Trump’s return to the White House carries the added weight of defining the Republican president’s second-term pursuits ▶ Read more about Trump’s budget plan Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the USS Harry S Truman aircraft carrier to remain in the Middle East for the second time Hegseth is keeping it there one more week to maintain two carrier strike groups in the region to battle Yemen-based Houthi rebels who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations Hegseth also extended the deployment of the Truman and the warships in its group for a month as part of a campaign to increase strikes on the Iran-backed Houthis The official said Hegseth signed the latest order Thursday and it’s expected that the Truman will head home to Norfolk It has been rare in recent years for the U.S to have two aircraft carriers in the Middle East at the same time The Food and Drug Administration is bringing back some of the 100 recently fired staffers who process document requests under the Freedom of Information Act Staffers across several parts of the agency were notified of the decision Thursday in writing or by phone according to two agency staffers who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss agency matters The notifications went out to employees who work in the centers for drugs The FDA responds to thousands of FOIA requests each year from lawyers the FDA has missed multiple court-ordered deadlines to hand over documents to parties suing the agency The missed deadlines prompted the decision to bring back FOIA staffers Hiring in April was down slightly from a revised 185,000 in March and came in above economists’ expectations for a modest 135,000 The unemployment rate remained at a low 4.2% Trump’s aggressive and unpredictable policies – including massive import taxes – have clouded the outlook for the economy and the job market and raised fears that the American economy is headed toward recession But Friday’s report showed the job market remains solid “The labor market refuses to buckle in the face of trade war uncertainty,’’ said Christopher Rupkey “Politicians can count their lucky stars that companies are holding on to their workers despite the storm clouds forming that could slow the economy further in the second half of the year.’’ ▶ Read more about the U.S. jobs report Abbe Lowell’s clients have included Hunter Biden His current clients include New York Attorney General Letitia James. Lowell sent a letter to the Justice Department last week urging it to refuse a Trump administration official’s request to prosecute the Democrat for mortgage fraud calling it “improper political retribution.” a former Trump administration official who was singled out in a presidential memo last month in which Trump called for a Justice Department investigation of his activities a Washington lawyer whose security clearance Trump has moved to revoke In a statement announcing the creation of Lowell & Associates Lowell said he was “excited to once again lead a small yet nimble team ready to represent companies non-profits and individuals in need of our experience and dedication.” That’s after China’s Commerce Ministry said Beijing is evaluating overtures from the U.S Futures for the S&P 500 gained 0.3% before the bell and were on track for a ninth straight day of gains Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.4% and Nasdaq futures ticked up 0.2% Exxon Mobil’s reported its lowest first-quarter profit in years stung by weaker crude prices and higher costs Its shares ticked up less than 1% before markets opened Friday Shares in rival Chevron fell more than 2% after it also reported its smallest first quarter profit in years ▶ Read more about the financial markets Treasurys can be “a card on the table” in negotiations over tariffs with the Trump administration Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato said Friday but I think whether we choose to use it or not would be a separate decision,” Kato said during a news show on national broadcaster TV Tokyo Kato didn’t elaborate and he didn’t say Japan would step up sales of its holdings of U.S government bonds as part of its talks over Trump’s tariffs on exports from Japan Japanese officials including Kato had ruled out such an option Japan is the largest foreign holder of U.S also at odds with the Trump administration over trade and tariffs is the second largest foreign investor in Treasurys ▶ Read more about Japan’s talks with the U.S. over tariffs “We are going to be taking away Harvard’s Tax Exempt Status,” he wrote on his social media site Friday morning Trump and his White House have repeatedly gone after Harvard In addition to threatening its tax-exempt status the administration has halted more than $2 billion in grants to Harvard and wants to block the school from being able to enroll international students The detailed Army plans for a potential military parade on Trump’s birthday in June call for more than 6,600 soldiers seven bands and possibly a couple thousand civilians are dated April 29 and 30 and have not been publicly released They represent the Army’s most recent blueprint for its long-planned 250th anniversary festival on the National Mall and the newly added element — a large military parade that Trump has long wanted but is still being discussed The Army anniversary just happens to coincide with Trump’s 79th birthday on June 14 While the slides do not include any price estimates it would likely cost tens of millions of dollars to put on a parade of that size ▶ Read more about the Army’s military parade plans As Trump faces significant pushback from federal judges adults are more likely to believe the president is the one overstepping his power rather than the courts — although Republicans largely think the opposite According to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research about half of Americans say the president has “too much” power in the way government operates these days Americans are more likely to believe the federal courts have an appropriate amount of authority adults say that federal judges have “too much” power Republicans see it the other way: Roughly half say the federal judiciary has too much power and only about 2 in 10 say the president does ▶ Read more about the latest AP-NORC poll When the Justice Department lifted a school desegregation order in Louisiana this week officials called its continued existence a “historical wrong” and suggested that others dating to the Civil Rights Movement should be reconsidered The end of the 1966 legal agreement with Plaquemines Parish schools announced Tuesday shows the Trump administration is “getting America refocused on our bright future,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said officials appointed by Trump have expressed a desire to withdraw from other desegregation orders they see as an unnecessary burden on schools according to a person familiar with the issue who was granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly Dozens of school districts across the South remain under court-enforced agreements dictating steps to work toward integration, decades after the Supreme Court struck down racial segregation in education Some see the court orders’ endurance as a sign the government never eradicated segregation while officials in Louisiana and at some schools see the orders as bygone relics that should be wiped away ▶ Read more about the end to the desegregation order Trump on Thursday signed an executive order aiming to slash public subsidies to PBS and NPR as he alleged “bias” in the broadcasters’ reporting The order instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and other federal agencies “to cease Federal funding for NPR and PBS” and further requires that that they work to root out indirect sources of public financing for the news organizations ▶ Read more about the executive order Rubio has been thrown into two top national security jobs at once as Trump presses forward with his top-to-bottom revamp of U.S. foreign policy upending not only longstanding policies that the former Florida senator once supported but also the configuration of the executive branch So, just over 100 days into his tenure as America’s top diplomat Rubio now becomes just the second person to hold both positions who served as both secretary of state and national security adviser for two years under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford in the 1970s ▶ Read more about Rubio’s new role The Justice Department asked the high court to put on hold a ruling from a federal judge in San Francisco that kept in place Temporary Protected Status for the Venezuelans that would have otherwise expired last month The status allows people already in the United States to live and work legally because their native countries are deemed unsafe for return due to natural disaster or civil strife A federal appeals court had earlier rejected the administration’s request Trump’s administration has moved aggressively to withdraw various protections that have allowed immigrants to remain in the country including ending TPS for a total of 600,000 Venezuelans and 500,000 Haitians The emergency appeal to the high court came the same day a federal judge in Texas ruled illegal the administration’s efforts to deport Venezuelans under an 18th-century wartime law ▶ Read more about the Trump administration’s request (WPDE) — The White House posted an AI-generated photo of U.S President Donald Trump depicted as the pope Trump first released the photo on Truth Social Friday night The image depicts Trump in papal attire with a crucifix around his neck He's sitting on the coronation chair and pointing SEE MORE: Vatican conclave to elect new pope shrouded in mystery, set for May 7 Just hours after Trump shared the photo on his social media platform the White House later shared it on their Instagram profile and X on Saturday morning The photo is met with both positive and negative comments Some from the Catholic community are saying the post is "disrespectful." Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday at 88 The conclave will begin the process of electing a new pope on May 7 WASHINGTON - The White House on Friday posted an image of President Donald Trump dressed as the pope on X sparking both backlash and glee on social media The picture comes after Trump jokingly told reporters earlier this week that he’d like to be the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church following Pope Francis’ death “That would be my number one choice,” he said at the time The image shows Trump dressed in a white garment wearing a pope’s hat and a necklace with a cross hanging around his neck He is sitting in a chair with his index finger pointed upwards The image was also shared on Trump’s Truth Social and Instagram accounts on Friday The Republicans Against Trump account shared the photo on X with the caption, “Donald Trump just posted a photo of himself as the Pope Another user wrote on X, “I'm not American But as a human being I am beyond offended by this image and that someone in The White House actually CHOSE to repost this “Trump!! “ one user wrote on X with a laughing emoji The White House says it is “exploring all options” to “Make Hollywood Great Again” The White House on Monday said “no final decisions” have been made on hitting foreign films with a 100% tariff according to a statement shared with TheWrap The update came just one day after President Trump said he would impose the stiff tariff to help save a “dying” entertainment industry the administration is exploring all options to deliver on President Trump’s directive to safeguard our country’s national and economic security while Making Hollywood Great Again,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said Desai’s statement came less than 24 hours after the president said he will impose a 100% tariff on “any and all” films made outside the United States messaging and propaganda!” President Trump said on Truth Social on Sunday I am authorizing the Department of Commerce to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands Several major entertainment companies saw their share prices take slight hits on Monday morning right after the markets opened but investors did not seem too worried about the 100% tariff Netflix’s stock was down 1.68% about two hours into trading on Monday while Paramount’s share price dipped 1.10%; Lionsgate suffered the biggest drop of the morning seeing its share price decline 5.58% a few hours into trading before reversing course and making minor gains by about noon ET That stock action came as the S&P 500 declined 0.41% and the Nasdaq was down 0.65% a few hours into trading The president’s Sunday announcement also came as domestic production has slowed down in recent years, with on-location shooting in Los Angeles County dropping 22% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2025 President Trump’s plan has also raised some questions including whether TV series filmed abroad will also be hit by the tariff President Trump over the weekend said he has trade deals lined up with multiple countries and that they may be announced this week He also told “Meet the Press” the current 145% tariff on Chinese imports will be reduced and they want to do business very much,” Trump said