Trump's Second Term

a_unique_person said:
I don't get it. Why are they rewriting the bill? Isn't what Johnson sent to them what they have to pass? If they make too many changes or will just get rejected when it's sent back.
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ultimately they both need to vote for it. it’s like a negotiation
 
As of the close of the day on June 5, my positive/negative score on the Trump administration stands at -764.

5 June 2025
0: Amusing: Former BFFs Trump and Musk exchange barbs and insults on social media
-1: Trump makes a mathematically challenged statement about the price of eggs [289]
-1: Trump makes a strange comment about Ukrainian turrets [290]
-1: Headline: Stephen Miller Erupts in Fury Over Low Arrests—and Hands Dems a Weapon (New Republic)
-1: Headline: US Trade Deficit Narrows by Most on Record as Imports Plunge (Bloomberg)
-1: Headline: Businesses are raising prices after tariffs — even on unaffected goods (Axios)
-1: Howard Lutnick says bananas would be cheaper if “built” in America [291]

References:

289. Trump: “Eggs have come down 400 percent. Everybody has eggs now. They have eggs for breakfast again.”

290. Trump: “You know, Ukraine had the most beautiful turrets. They call them turrets. The little towers. Beautiful towers. The most beautiful in the world. They’re all now laying on their side.”

291. DEAN: What’s the tariff on bananas?
LUTNICK: Generally 10%
DEAN: Walmart has already increased the cost of bananas by 8%
LUTNICK: If you build in America, there is no tariff
DEAN: We cannot build bananas in America


4 June 2025
-1: Headline: Trump administration revokes guidance requiring hospitals to provide emergency abortions (AP News)
-1: The US Secretary of Education apparently doesn’t know about the Tulsa Race Massacre [287]
-1: US Aluminum Association criticizes Trump for the 50% tariffs [288]
-1: Headline: “The Intern in Charge”: Meet the 22-Year-Old Trump’s Team Picked to Lead Terrorism Prevention (ProPublica)
-1: Headline: Trump’s China Tariffs Are Backfiring in Funniest Way Possible (The New Republic) [289]

References:

287. https://bsky.app/profile/acyn.bsky.social/post/3lqsfzbd7tc2y

288. https://bsky.app/profile/alexpanetta.bsky.social/post/3lqsqpb5z3k2n

289. US automakers are exporting part of their production to China instead of doing it in the US. The motors in electric vehicles need powerful magnets made from rare earth minerals. Instead of importing rare earths from China that are subject to tariffs, US automakers are sending the motors to China to get the magnets installed, then re-importing them; these are not subject to tariffs.
 
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Stephen Miller Erupts in Fury Over Low Arrests—and Hands Dems a Weapon

The New Republic said:
Hitting Miller’s new deportation quotas could mean fewer resources to fight child trafficking, terrorism, and other crimes. Do Americans really want that?

The potential deportation of people like Carol Hui, which has shocked locals in the Missouri town where she’s lived for 20 years, has inspired a searching debate: What did people think they were voting for when they chose Donald Trump? The relentless smearing of “illegals,” the “Mass Deportation Now” signs at the 2024 GOP convention, the vows to herd migrants into giant camps—how could voters not have known that Trump would remove as many as possible?

These are hard questions with no simple answers. But here’s one thing we can reasonably be certain of: Most voters had no idea that to execute Trump’s mass deportations, the administration would shift huge amounts of law enforcement resources away from combating serious and dangerous crimes, potentially hampering efforts to keep us safe.
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newrepublic.com

Stephen Miller Erupts in Fury Over Low Arrests—and Hands Dems a Weapon

Hitting Miller’s new deportation quotas could mean fewer resources to fight child trafficking, terrorism, and other crimes. Do Americans really want that?
newrepublic.com newrepublic.com
 
Businesses are raising prices after tariffs — even on unaffected goods

Axios said:
Businesses say they're raising prices on goods unaffected by tariffs, according to surveys and anecdotes released by the Federal Reserve on Wednesday.

Why it matters: This could be a sign that price hikes might be more widespread than expected, with concerns that some companies might use tariffs as cover to unnecessarily raise costs.
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Full story at Axois
 
dirtywick said:
i don't know enough about other governments to know whether or not it is normal
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Here in Canada, a bill that started in and was passed by the House of Commons goes to the Senate. It's relatively normal for the Senate to make changes (usually minor ones) and send it to back to the House.

In the US, it's very common for the House and Senate to create a "reconciliation" bill that can pass both houses. In the case of the budget/tax bill, there's a lot of hope riding on the Senate toning down or even removing the most serious cuts to government programs, and perhaps tweaking the tax cuts for the very rich.

My scorecard will be interesting when the final bill passes and is signed into law.
 
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Aluminum Association criticizes Trump over 50% tariff

Aluminum Association said:
ARLINGTON, VA (June 4, 2025) — Aluminum Association President & CEO Charles Johnson issued the following statement in response the Trump administration’s decision to increase Section 232 aluminum tariffs from 25% to 50%:

“Re-establishing a more level playing field for domestic producers is critical but a Section 232 tariff of 50% threatens to undermine the very industry the administration aims to support. The Aluminum Association, which represents the full industry supply chain and 70% of domestic production, urges the administration to reconsider today's decision given the negative impact it will have on manufacturers.

“Aluminum and steel are fundamentally different metals with distinct supply chains, market dynamics and strategic challenges. A one-size-fits-all approach to trade policy for these strategic materials risks unintended consequences for the U.S. economy and our national defense. Critically, a 50% tariff rate could also raise prices for consumers, decrease demand and undermine the aluminum industry’s ability to serve the U.S. defense industrial base. Aluminum firms need a reliable supply of metal, protection from transshipped metal from non-market economies, and certainty in the tariff landscape.”
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bsky.app

Alex Panetta (@alexpanetta.bsky.social)

U.S. aluminum producers: Um, these aluminum tariffs are a bit much, no?
bsky.app bsky.app
 
Blue Mountain said:
Aluminum Association criticizes Trump over 50% tariff

ARLINGTON, VA (June 4, 2025) — Aluminum Association President & CEO Charles Johnson issued the following statement in response the Trump administration’s decision to increase Section 232 aluminum tariffs from 25% to 50%:

“Re-establishing a more level playing field for domestic producers is critical but a Section 232 tariff of 50% threatens to undermine the very industry the administration aims to support. The Aluminum Association, which represents the full industry supply chain and 70% of domestic production, urges the administration to reconsider today's decision given the negative impact it will have on manufacturers.

“Aluminum and steel are fundamentally different metals with distinct supply chains, market dynamics and strategic challenges. A one-size-fits-all approach to trade policy for these strategic materials risks unintended consequences for the U.S. economy and our national defense. Critically, a 50% tariff rate could also raise prices for consumers, decrease demand and undermine the aluminum industry’s ability to serve the U.S. defense industrial base. Aluminum firms need a reliable supply of metal, protection from transshipped metal from non-market economies, and certainty in the tariff landscape.”
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bsky.app

Alex Panetta (@alexpanetta.bsky.social)

U.S. aluminum producers: Um, these aluminum tariffs are a bit much, no?
bsky.app bsky.app
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He lost Trump at the first word. All he heard was "Re blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah tariff blah blah blah blah blah blah".
 
angrysoba said:
It’s hard to work out who I want to lose most in this squabble!

Ha ha! Just kidding. Looking forward to seeing them both go down in flames. Though I actually think Musk is most likely to lose the most.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Trump now tries to take down Twitter by suing Musk just like he did with the news agencies.
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The Great Zaganza said:
Fans make money for the hosting city - FIFA makes its money from concession deals and broadcasting rights - what do they care if the stadiums are empty?
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The hosting city won't make money. The increased costs vastly outweigh the slighly increased taxes from businesses not affiliated with FIFA (who won't be paying any taxes) who see a very temporary and slight bump in revenues during the day(s) the game(s) are on. In fact that small increase in taxes won't offset the tax losses from normal tourists put off from going by the World Cup.

Only FIFA and their affiliates will profit from the world cup.
 
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