Sunday, 6 April 2025

A 10% baseline import tariff came into effect at US seaports, airports, and customs warehouses, with some higher tariffs set to begin the following week, marking what observers described as a 'seismic shift' to global trade. Trump stated the tariffs would remain in place until the US trade deficit disappears, while senior administration officials gave conflicting signals about the possibility of negotiating the rates.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu headed to Washington to discuss tariffs, Gaza, and Iran with Trump, becoming the first foreign leader to travel to Washington since Trump took office in an attempt to negotiate a more favorable trade deal for Israel.

Large-scale anti-Trump protests drew huge crowds across the US, described as the biggest day of demonstrations yet by an opposition movement attempting to regain momentum against the administration.

The Trump administration revoked all South Sudanese visas, with the State Department accusing the country of 'taking advantage of the United States' by failing to repatriate its citizens.

A Department of Justice lawyer was placed on leave after he did not 'vigorously' defend the Trump administration's erroneous deportation of a US citizen, raising concerns about internal pressure within the agency.

Trump announced the student loan program would be moved from the Department of Education to the Small Business Administration, with experts warning the relocation will put borrowers at risk.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests surged as immigrants increasingly feared ICE check-ins, with data suggesting approximately 1,400 people were arrested during or immediately after ICE check-ins in the first four weeks of Trump's administration.

A second child died of measles in Texas amid a rising outbreak, with officials reporting the child died from 'measles pulmonary failure' despite having no underlying conditions.

Staff at the Social Security Administration warned that DOGE-led budget cuts are causing 'complete, utter chaos,' with employees claiming the agency has been sent into a 'death spiral' and warning of potential structural collapse.

An exclusive investigation revealed how Atlantic journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was added to a White House Signal group chat, with an internal investigation clearing National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, though the mistake was described as months in the making.