Tuesday, 11 February 2025

Trump announced 25% tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum imports with no exemptions, stating the measure would be enforced without exceptions. The announcement sparked mixed reactions in Asian stock markets and warnings from trading partners including Canada, Mexico, and the EU of potential retaliation.

Pope Francis criticized Trump's mass deportation efforts as a 'major crisis' and urged people not to accept the administration's harmful narratives on immigration. The pontiff also rebuked other anti-immigration policies.

A federal judge blocked Trump from cutting billions in medical research funding, rejecting the administration's proposal to slash National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants. The ruling came after major universities and 22 states filed suit against the measure.

Trump signed an executive order to reinstate plastic straws in federal purchases, calling the Biden-era phase-out of single-use plastic a 'ridiculous situation.' Trump claimed paper straws 'explode.'

Trump directed the Department of Justice to pause prosecutions under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which bans bribery of foreign officials. The directive came alongside his pardon of Rod Blagojevich.

Trump threatened to cancel the Gaza ceasefire if all Israeli hostages were not freed by noon on Saturday, saying he would let 'all hell break loose.' Hamas subsequently delayed releasing the next batch of hostages, jeopardizing the fragile agreement.

Trump fired the Biden-appointed chair of the Federal Labor Relations Authority as part of what his administration described as advancing an 'America-First agenda.' This continued the administration's clearout of top labor officials.

A federal prisoner named Marc Fogel, a U.S. teacher held in Russia since 2021, was released following negotiations by Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Trump suggested the release could be part of efforts to end the Ukraine war.

Steve Bannon, a Trump ally, pleaded guilty to fraud charges related to a border wall fundraising scheme. He will avoid jail time over the scheme that involved duping private donors to a fundraising effort.

Trump's anti-DEI executive orders and federal workforce cuts are raising safety concerns at NASA, with sources indicating that existing staffing problems are being compounded by the administration's actions.