Wednesday, 2 April 2025

President Trump announced sweeping 'reciprocal' tariffs on major trading partners on what he called 'liberation day,' imposing tariffs including 10% on the UK and Australia, 25% on Canadian steel/aluminum/automobiles, and varying rates on dozens of countries. The announcement marks a significant shift in US trade policy and has prompted global concern about a potential trade war.

The Senate confirmed Matt Whitaker as Trump's ambassador to NATO. Whitaker's confirmation represents a significant diplomatic appointment within the Trump administration.

Democratic Senator Cory Booker conducted a 25-hour speech on the Senate floor criticizing the Trump administration and what he characterized as a nation in crisis. The marathon speech was seen by some as a significant moment of Democratic resistance after weeks of apparent political passivity.

Judge Susan Crawford defeated Brad Schimel in Wisconsin's supreme court race in the most expensive US judicial election ever, preserving the court's liberal 4-3 majority. The Democratic victory is being characterized as a rejection of Elon Musk's political involvement and a warning sign for Republicans.

Republicans won two special House elections in Florida, with Randy Fine defeating Josh Weil in the district vacated by Mike Waltz and Jimmy Patronis winning the seat left by Matt Gaetz. However, Republican margins fell short of Trump's 2024 performance in the state.

The US Justice Department dropped its corruption case against New York Mayor Eric Adams, with a judge noting that Trump officials' push to drop the charges 'smacks of a bargain' over immigration enforcement. The dismissal raised concerns about potential quid pro quo arrangements.

Multiple law firms, including Milbank and Doug Emhoff's firm, reached settlement deals with Trump to avoid executive orders targeting them. Milbank agreed to provide $100 million in pro bono legal services to causes supported by the president, amid concerns about Trump targeting firms affiliated with his rivals.

President Trump indicated he is considering a permanent third term as president, stating 'I'm not joking' when asked about extending his time in office, contradicting his previous claims that such remarks were merely joking.

Trump administration officials indicated that Zambia removed US-based women's soccer players from its national team squad due to fears about their ability to reenter the United States amid the administration's strict immigration policies. Players including Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji were affected.

Trump announced he will consider final proposals on TikTok's future as the US ban deadline approaches on Saturday, with owner ByteDance required to find a non-Chinese buyer for the app's American operations. The administration is weighing the final decision on whether to enforce the ban or allow a sale.