Wednesday, 4 June 2025

Trump's 50% tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum came into effect on June 4, 2025. Trading partners including Mexico, which exports more steel to the U.S. than it imports, expressed anger at the measure.

The Congressional Budget Office released a non-partisan analysis stating that Trump's tax bill would add $2.4 trillion to the U.S. debt and leave 10.9 million people uninsured by 2034. The White House has been seeking to enshrine funding cuts totaling $9.4 billion, including $8.3 billion from state and USAID and $1.1 billion from media outlets like NPR and PBS.

Trump administration officials have intensified disputes with universities over civil rights compliance. The Education Department accused Columbia University of violating federal anti-discrimination laws and notified its accreditor, while the administration has also targeted Harvard University with similar legal actions.

U.S. immigration officials have been ordered to arrest more people without warrants, with ICE officers told to get 'creative' with arrests including undocumented people encountered by chance. However, a federal judge temporarily halted the deportation of the family of Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the man charged in the Boulder firebombing attack.

President Trump said in a phone call with Vladimir Putin that the Russian leader told him 'very strongly' that Russia would respond to Ukraine's drone attacks on Russian airfields. Both Kremlin and Trump administration aides raised concerns about nuclear war risks, though Trump stated the call would not lead to 'immediate peace' and Moscow ruled out a ceasefire.

The White House threatened to pull billions of dollars in federal funding from California's high-speed rail project, claiming it has no 'viable path' to completion. The project was originally planned to connect San Francisco to Los Angeles.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that a UK-US trade deal could come into effect in 'a couple of weeks' after the White House signaled that Britain would be spared 50% steel and aluminum tariffs. EU-US trade talks are also reported to be moving in the right direction.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon said it would not be considered DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policy to teach Black history 'if you're giving facts on both sides' of historical events like the Tulsa race massacre and the story of Ruby Bridges. The comment reflects ongoing debates over the administration's anti-DEI policies in education.

Eight people, including Reverend William Barber, were arrested during a Moral Monday prayer-protest against a Republican-led budget bill. Protesters argued the bill would slash vital healthcare for lower-income people.

MyPillow founder Mike Lindell is set to face trial in a case brought by former Dominion employee Eric Coomer and plans to testify about 2020 election claims. The case could deepen Lindell's legal and financial troubles.