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- The huge risk Trump is taking with tariffs
The huge risk Trump is taking with tariffs
Plus: Why America needs to rethink "punishment"
Good morning! It’s Thursday, March 6, 2025. In today’s Morning Update:
Trump is taking a huge risk with his tariff war 🤬
Breaking news just in about the Education Department 😳
This shocking story is why we need to rethink “punishment” 🚓
Stories the algorithm may have kept out of your feed 👀
⏱️ Estimated read time: 4 minutes, 15 seconds
PLAYING WITH FIRE
Trump is taking a HUGE risk with tariffs
The head of a major international trade group issued a dire warning yesterday about Donald Trump’s burgeoning trade war: it could trigger a second Great Depression.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, the deputy head of the International Chamber of Commerce said Trump’s tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China could send the world economy into a tailspin reminiscent of the 1930s.
THE BACKGROUND: Less than a year into the Great Depression, President Herbert Hoover signed into law the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which imposed tariffs on over 20,000 imported goods.
That triggered retaliatory tariffs from other countries (sound familiar?), leading to a collapse of global trade. Many businesses and farmers who relied on foreign markets were totally wiped out.
The ICC Deputy said the world is facing a “coin-flip” scenario right now, with a 50-50 chance that the U.S. will trigger a full-scale financial meltdown.
“It comes down to whether the U.S. administration is willing to rethink the utility of tariffs.”
THE GOOD NEWS: There are signs Trump may be backing down from this insane brinksmanship that Warren Buffett called “an act of war” and the Wall Street Journal itself called “the dumbest trade war in history.”
Trump was forced to grant automakers a one-month exemption from tariffs after car companies said the tariffs would devastate their businesses.
The White House says it’s open to additional exemptions.
Of course, there’s always the possibility that Trump will “force” other countries to agree to do… what they already agreed to.
GO DEEPER: Here’s what will get more expensive under Trump's tariffs.
📰 Most important stories right now
There’s a lot of sh*t out there. Here’s what’s actually important—and why.
Why it matters: Trump’s strategy so far has been to rally his MAGA base through executive actions. But what happens when he has to work with a razor-thin majority in Congress and voters feel the full effects of his trade war? A reckoning is ahead. Full story from The Washington Post.
Why it matters: Almost 80% of all employees at the VA are healthcare workers—and any reduction in staff will mean a reduction in medical services. Trump supporters may soon (sadly) find out what Elon Musk and a chainsaw really mean for their lives. Full story from the AP.
Why it matters: Experts say American children fell dreadfully behind in reading and math during Covid, and they’re not catching up. Closing the Education Department at this moment of crisis will only prolong the setback, damaging the futures of millions of children. Full story from NPR News.
ABOLITION NOW
His story proves why we need to totally rethink “punishment” in America
Last January, 24-year-old Brandon Yates was arrested for sleeping in a shed during a mental health crisis. Little did he know, it would be a death sentence.
Within 24 hours of being arrested, Brandon would be horrifically tortured and raped by a fellow inmate as guards ignored his screams for help.
When guards finally came to Brandon’s aid, they found him dead—his neck broken, liquid soap poured in his mouth, and his naked body staged to look like Jesus on the cross.
Brandon’s parents are now suing the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, saying their son’s death is part of a decades-long problem plaguing the notorious San Diego Central Jail.
WHY IT MATTERS: This story isn’t just about Brandon or a single, deplorable jail. It’s about a prison system in the United States that’s completely broken—and actually makes all of us less safe.
THE DETAILS: Millions of Americans are incarcerated right now in overcrowded, violent, and inhumane jails and prisons that do not provide treatment, education, or rehabilitation.
Instead of rehabilitation, incarcerated people are often exposed to extreme violence, gang recruitment, and abuse at the hands of guards and fellow prisoners.
When they’re released, they face massive barriers to employment, housing, and even voting, making it nearly impossible to reintegrate into society.
This locks many into a cycle of violence, crime, and poverty: around two-thirds of released prisoners are rearrested within three years.
BIG PICTURE: There’s no one thing that will end the literal hell on Earth that is America’s prison system. Advocates say we need to reform current approaches to justice to focus on restoration, ensure everyone has access to mental healthcare, and because poverty breeds crime, pay every worker a living wage. This is modern day abolition.
TAKE ACTION: Mass incarceration will continue unless we fight to make it end. Consider getting involved or making a donation to organizations like the Brennan Center for Justice, the Prison Policy Initiative, or Critical Resistance.
🗳️ Question of the day
On Tuesday we asked: What do the Democrats need to do to win in 2026? You (largely) agreed with us.
READERS WRITE: Dragons wrote: “The dems need to grow some balls. Quit being centralized. Outlaw lobbying. Have trump, vance & musk arrested for sedition.”
VBC wrote: “If the dems move right they will loose many voters. I quit the party, until they look more like people who work for the people.”
TODAY’S QUESTION: Today we want to know, do you think Trump will actually go through with his trade war? Tell us why or why not in the comments after you vote.
Will Trump go through with his trade war? |
👀 Under the Radar
Here are some stories the algorithm may have kept out of your feed.
China says it is “ready for war” with America
The Supreme Court ruled the Clean Water Act doesn’t actually require water to be clean
That mystery blonde woman seated next to Elon Musk at Trump’s address was finally identified
A hot mic captured JD Vance’s true feelings right before Trump’s speech
And, after the speech, House Speaker Mike Johnson’s chief of staff was arrested
Jimmy Kimmel exposes big problem with Trump’s ‘transgender’ mice rant
Pete Buttigieg perfectly skewers Trump’s so-called “mandate”
The left’s potential answer to Joe Rogan was banned from Twitch after conservatives tried to cancel him
A 40-day boycott of a huge company started yesterday for abandoning its DEI efforts
Canada goose fights a bald eagle in rare, symbolism-laden battle on ice
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Thank you for reading and have a great weekend! - Andrew & Anthony