Politics

Trump threatens more tariffs after China restricts key exports

Trump threatens more tariffs after China restricts key exports

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday that “there seems to be no reason” to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping as part of an upcoming trip to South Korea and threatened additional tariffs after China restricted exports of rare earths needed for American industry. The Republican president suggested that he was looking at a “massive increase” of import taxes on Chinese products in response to Xi’s moves. It’s possible that could amount to either posturing by the United States for eventual negotiations or a retaliatory step that could foster new fears about the stability of the global economy.…
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Trump directs Pentagon to use ‘all available funds’ to pay troops despite shutdown

Trump directs Pentagon to use ‘all available funds’ to pay troops despite shutdown

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Saturday that he has directed the Defense Department to use “all available funds” to ensure U.S. troops are paid Wednesday despite the government shutdown, a short-term fix that will not apply to the hundreds of thousands of federal workers who have been furloughed. Trump said in a social media post that he was acting because “our Brave Troops will miss the paychecks they are rightfully due on October 15th.” The Republican president’s directive removes one of the pressure points that could have forced Congress into action, likely ensuring that the shutdown — now in its 11th…
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Appeals court rules U.S. troops Trump sent to Illinois can stay, but can’t be deployed for now

Appeals court rules U.S. troops Trump sent to Illinois can stay, but can’t be deployed for now

CHICAGO (AP) — National Guard troops sent to Illinois by President Donald Trump can stay in the state and under federal control, but can’t be deployed to protect federal property or go on patrol for now, an appeals court ruled Saturday. READ MORE: What to know about Trump’s National Guard deployments in Chicago and Portland The decision comes after federal Judge April Perry on Thursday ruled to temporarily block the National Guard deployment for at least two weeks, finding no substantial evidence that a “danger of rebellion” is brewing in Illinois during Trump’s immigration crackdown. The appeals court on Saturday…
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Reupping unproven claims about Tylenol, Kennedy claims a link between circumcision and autism

Reupping unproven claims about Tylenol, Kennedy claims a link between circumcision and autism

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Thursday reasserted the unproven link between the pain reliever Tylenol and autism, and suggested people who opposed the theory were motivated by hatred for President Donald Trump. During a meeting with Trump and the Cabinet, Kennedy reiterated the connection, even while noting there was no medical proof to substantiate the claim. He also mistakenly described a pregnant woman’s anatomy and linked autism to circumcision. READ MORE: Here’s what we know about the causes of autism “Anybody who takes the stuff during pregnancy unless they have to is, is irresponsible,” Kennedy told Trump and fellow…
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Biden is receiving radiation and hormone therapy to treat his prostate cancer, aide says

Biden is receiving radiation and hormone therapy to treat his prostate cancer, aide says

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Joe Biden is receiving radiation and hormone therapy as part of a new phase of treating the aggressive form of prostate cancer he was diagnosed with after leaving office, a spokesperson said Saturday. “As part of a treatment plan for prostate cancer, President Biden is currently undergoing radiation therapy and hormone treatment,” said Biden aide Kelly Scully. WATCH: After Biden’s diagnosis, a look at prostate cancer’s impact on men in the U.S. The 82-year-old Democrat left office in January after he had dropped his bid for reelection six months earlier following a disastrous debate against…
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Wall Street tumbles in its worst day since April after Trump threatens more tariffs on China

Wall Street tumbles in its worst day since April after Trump threatens more tariffs on China

NEW YORK (AP) — A monthslong calm on Wall Street shattered Friday, and U.S. stocks tumbled after President Donald Trump threatened to crank tariffs much higher on China. The S&P 500 sank 2.7% in its worst day since April. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 878 points, or 1.9%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 3.6%. Stocks had been heading for a slight gain in the morning, until Trump took to his social media platform and said he’s considering “a massive increase of tariffs” on Chinese imports. He’s upset at restrictions China has placed on exports of its rare earths, which are materials that are critical…
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Brooks and Capehart on Trump’s focus on reaching the Gaza peace deal

Brooks and Capehart on Trump’s focus on reaching the Gaza peace deal

Geoff Bennett: With President Trump celebrating victories abroad and targeting political enemies here at home, there is much to discuss tonight with Brooks and Capehart. That's New York Times columnist David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart of MSNBC.With a hello to you both. Jonathan Capehart: Hey, Geoff. Geoff Bennett: So both Israel and Hamas have agreed to phase one of the peace plan. We see the negotiations there on the screen. And that was followed by today celebrations in Israel and also along the Gaza Strip.I want to start with your reaction to this real breakthrough, Jonathan. Jonathan Capehart: Look, I'm…
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Unlikely alliance builds cleaner geothermal energy network in Massachusetts community

Unlikely alliance builds cleaner geothermal energy network in Massachusetts community

Geoff Bennett: Now the story of an unlikely partnership between a utility company and climate activists and how they worked together to help one community switch its heating and cooling to a cleaner source.Science correspondent Miles O'Brien has the story, part of our Tipping Point coverage on energy and climate. Miles O’Brien: Retired schoolteacher Carol Canova has lived in this tiny little house in Framingham, Massachusetts for 30 years. From this humble perch, she has experienced firsthand a historic energy transition. She started with an oil-burning furnace, then switched to gas, and now heats and cools with an electric heat…
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Trump showing ‘no interest’ in negotiating to end shutdown, Jeffries says

Trump showing ‘no interest’ in negotiating to end shutdown, Jeffries says

Geoff Bennett: Well, keeping our focus on the shutdown, yesterday, we heard from Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune.And, today, for a Democratic view, I spoke earlier with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.Leader Jeffries, welcome back to the "News Hour." Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY): Thanks for having me on. Geoff Bennett: When you were on this program nine days ago, you said there'd been no communication from either the White House or Republican leaders in the House or the Senate about ending this shutdown. It doesn't appear that that's changed. Has it? Rep. Hakeem Jeffries: It has not changed, unfortunately.This…
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Candidates in Virginia governor’s debate clash over government shutdown, violent rhetoric

Candidates in Virginia governor’s debate clash over government shutdown, violent rhetoric

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia gubernatorial candidates Republican Winsome Earle-Sears and Democrat Abigail Spanberger faced off Thursday for the first and only time on the debate stage in a fiery affair that was combative from the very first answer. Earle-Sears, perceived by operatives in both parties to be trailing, went on the offensive throughout the hourlong clash, interrupting almost every one of Spanberger’s answers and referring to the congresswoman only by her first name. Spanberger, who largely avoided addressing her Republican opponent directly, set a more sterile and bipartisan tone. The personal clashes overshadowed the policy fights at times, which focused on violent rhetoric,…
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