Republicans rip 4 blue states for keeping taxes on tips, overtime after Trump reprieve
Four Democrat-led states that rejected President Donald Trump‘s policy of no taxes on tips and overtime pay are getting called out by Republicans for going against efforts to increase affordability. The governors of the three largest Democrat-run states, California, New York and Illinois, are continuing to tax tips and overtime against Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, while Colorado will require taxpayers to report how much is deducted federally so it can be added back for state taxes in future years. “Gov. Hochul and Albany Democrats believe your money is their money: They are picking the pockets of waitresses, bartenders, and first responders who work overtime just to make ends meet in a state that already has the highest tax burden in the country,” Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., told Fox News Digital. “No wonder working people and jobs continue to flee New York in record numbers, and we’re consistently among the worst in outmigration every year.” AVERAGE TAX REFUND TOPS $3,700 MIDWAY THROUGH FILING SEASON, TREASURY SAYS With “affordability” a key political issue, Republicans countered with a Tax Day narrative against the governors of those four blue states that are facing midterm gubernatorial campaigns, including Hochul, who is running for re-election and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who terms out this year. “California Democrats talk a lot about making life more affordable, but when given the chance to let hardworking Californians keep more of what they earn, Gov. Newsom and the state legislature refused to update the state’s tax code,” Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., told Fox News Digital. “No tax on tips or overtime would provide real relief to service workers, first responders, and families across our state, and it’s disappointing to see Sacramento turn its back on them.” DOORDASH DRIVER HAILS KEY TRUMP POLICY AFTER DELIVERING MCDONALD’S TO WHITE HOUSE: ‘I’M GOING TO ENJOY IT’ Illinois Republican Party Chair Kathy Salvi says that while Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is running for re-election in the nation’s third-largest blue state, he is really positioning himself for a 2028 presidential campaign on the agenda of obstructing Trump. “Last year, President Trump delivered the largest tax cut in American history, putting millions of dollars back in the pockets of Americans; this commonsense legislation is good for Illinois, but wannabe president, JB Pritzker would rather slam the door shut on opportunity and relief, knowing full well that he supported and empowered Joe Biden’s economic disaster,” Salvi told Fox News Digital. “The sad truth is that if President Trump is for it, JB Pritzker will always be against it.” NASHVILLE ARTISTS PRAISE TRUMP’S NO-TAX-ON-TIPS POLICY ONE YEAR INTO PRESIDENCY Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, who is termed out and among names potentially running in the 2028 Democratic presidential primary, was called out by Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Colo., for action to tax overtime pay in future years. “As a former cop in Colorado, I know firsthand how important overtime pay is to first responders, blue-collar workers, and hardworking families across America — that’s why I was proud to stand with Republicans to deliver no tax on overtime at the federal level,” Evans told Fox News Digital. “But while we fought to give Coloradans relief, Gov. Polis and state Democrats held a special session to re-tax overtime pay, ensuring families never see the benefits they earned. The contrast couldn’t be clearer.” Fox News Digital reached out to the offices of Hochul, Newsom, Pritzker and Polis for comment, but they did not immediately respond. SCOOP: HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON’S ALLIES UNLEASH $10M CAMPAIGN TO SPOTLIGHT TRUMP TAX CUTS While the governor’s seats in those four blue states are likely safe due to deep Democratic voter registration advantages, down-ballot races do have a narrative to carry under the Trump banner and the no tax on tips or overtime policy. The Senate Finance Committee charted the One Big Beautiful Bill Act “wins” in all 50 states, including those four blocked by Democratic leaders where there still remains a permanent 20% deduction for many small business owners and a $1,500 increase in the standard deduction for millions of families.
Justice Thomas warns progressivism is a threat to America in rare public remarks
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas issued a blistering critique of modern-day progressivism in a rare public speech on Wednesday, describing the modern political philosophy as a threat to America’s founding principles. Speaking to a packed auditorium of students and faculty at the University of Texas at Austin to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas, the Supreme Court’s longest-serving justice, urged the nation to revisit the philosophical foundations of U.S. governance. He said Wednesday that values embraced by the nation’s founders have “fallen out of favor” in recent decades and urged younger generations to stand up for their principles. “I think if we don’t stand up and take ownership of our country, and take responsibility for it, we are slowly letting others control how we think and what we think,” he told the audience. SUPREME COURT SKEPTICAL OF TRUMP BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP ORDER, ROBERTS QUESTIONS ARGUMENT IN LANDMARK CASE “Progressivism seeks to replace the basic premises of the Declaration of Independence, and hence our form of government,” Thomas said Wednesday evening, drawing a direct line between contemporary political movements and what he described as a departure from the Constitution’s original meaning. “It holds that our rights and our dignities come not from God, but from the government,” Thomas said. “It requires of the people a subservience and weakness incompatible with a Constitution premised on the transcendent origin of our rights.” The conservative justice also lamented what he said was the growing prevalence of “cynicism, rejection, hostility and animus” in the U.S., and perpetuated “by Americans,” and particularly, so-called “pragmatists” or self-described intellectuals. SUPREME COURT SIGNALS IT MAY LIMIT KEY VOTING RIGHTS ACT RULE “They recast themselves as institutionalists, pragmatists or thoughtful moderates, all as a way of justifying their failures to themselves, their consciences, and their country,” he said. Thomas’s remarks were part of a broader lecture series marking the Declaration’s 250th anniversary. And though the tone of his remarks was somber, Thomas closed them with a soaring call to action, urging law students in the audience, and viewers watching the televised address at home, to have courage and stand up for their principles and ideals. “In my view, we must find in ourselves that same level of courage that the signers of the Declaration have so that we can do for our future what they did for theirs,” he said. The durability of American democracy, Thomas added, depends on it. SUPREME COURT SKEPTICAL OF TRUMP BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP ORDER, ROBERTS QUESTIONS ARGUMENT IN LANDMARK CASE “I think if we don’t stand up and take ownership of our country and take responsibility for it, we are slowly letting others control how we think and what we think,” he said. “If you think it’s losing confidence, then you get up and you participate. You don’t sit on the sidelines.”
Didn’t file your taxes on time? Here’s what a tax expert says you should do next
If you missed the April 15 tax deadline, the clock is already ticking on penalties and interest — but there are still steps you can take to reduce the damage. Experts say taxpayers should file immediately, even if they can’t pay their full bill, and pay as much as they can to avoid the steepest penalties. Those who still owe can apply for a payment plan to manage the remaining balance. TAX DAY IS THIS WEEK: AVOID THESE 5 COMMON MISTAKES THAT CAN COST YOU MONEY The IRS says most applicants receive immediate approval or denial when applying for a payment plan online. “You can still file your return and at least eliminate the failure-to-file penalty, which can reach up to 25% of any tax owed, with interest compounding,” said Mark Steber, chief tax officer at Jackson Hewitt Tax Services. The IRS can impose multiple penalties, including failure-to-file, failure-to-pay and underpayment penalties, which are assessed separately and can accrue interest daily, Steber said. He added that consulting a tax professional early can help taxpayers navigate their options and potentially reduce the total cost. THE SIMPLE TAX HABIT THAT COULD SAVE YOU THOUSANDS OVER YOUR LIFETIME “In many cases, the total cost — including taxes, penalties, interest and professional fees — ends up being higher than if you had sought help earlier,” Steber said. “The worst thing you can do is ignore the deadline,” he added. “Many people think they’ll deal with it later, but that can lead to mounting penalties and unnecessary financial risk.” Filing as soon as possible and exploring IRS payment options can help taxpayers regain control of their situation and minimize added costs. Steber said taxpayers should view filing as part of a long-term financial strategy, not just a once-a-year obligation. “Your tax return is one of your largest financial transactions each year,” he said. “Giving it proper attention can pay dividends over time.”
Republicans bet higher tax refunds will boost midterm chances as blue states resist relief
Republicans are betting tax cuts they championed will be a difference-maker in November’s midterm elections amid a rise in refunds this filing season. But Republicans still face a key challenge — convincing voters to credit them for the tax relief when they head to the ballot box. “You can talk about it, but you’ve got to feel it and that’s what’s going to happen,” House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., told Fox News Digital in an interview on Wednesday, referring to the slate of new tax breaks signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2025. “We believe by the time of the midterms, people are not only going to be talking about it, they are going to feel it,” Emmer insisted. STRATEGY SESSION: TRUMP’S TEAM HUDDLES ON MIDTERM MESSAGING WITH SPOTLIGHT ON ECONOMY As they look to defend their slim House majority, the GOP is ramping up its messaging to promote the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, also known as the Working Families Tax Cuts. Republicans spent Tax Day on Wednesday touting larger refunds this year while highlighting Democratic lawmakers’ opposition to the tax bill that passed with solely GOP votes. The average refund this year is over $3,400, amounting to an 11% increase compared to last tax season, according to data released by the Internal Revenue Service on Wednesday. Republicans have pointed to those returns as early proof their tax policy is reaching voters’ wallets. A vast swath of Americans is also benefiting from new tax cuts that Trump first floated on the 2024 campaign trail. More than 53 million tax filers claimed new deductions for tips, overtime pay, automobile loans or being over the age of 65, according to the Treasury Department. Some are also receiving a larger child tax credit and relief for state and local taxes. “When you’re seeing it in your tax return, when you’re seeing it in your paycheck, when you’re actually able to feel that, I think that’s going to make a difference to put us in a good spot for 2026,” Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., said Wednesday. Democrats, however, argue those benefits may not be enough to overcome Americans’ broader economic concerns. The party is voicing increasing confidence it will retake House control and put the Senate in play this November, citing voter discontent about cost-of-living issues and Trump’s declining approval ratings. Republicans must also overcome the trend of the party in power shedding seats during a midterm year. “A lot of people want to count us out in November,” Emmer said during a GOP messaging event highlighting the new tax benefits on Wednesday. “We’re going to be just fine, because we’ve got a great map in the House. We’ve got great candidates across the country.” AVERAGE TAX REFUND TOPS $3,700 MIDWAY THROUGH FILING SEASON, TREASURY SAYS Democrats have largely opposed the tax cuts, arguing they disproportionately benefit corporations and the wealthy. But Republicans say working Americans and small businesses will see a smaller tax bill this year as a result of their policies. Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman told Fox News Digital that the overtime deduction has been a “morale booster” for law enforcement putting in extra hours. More than 25 million Americans have claimed the new tax break with an average deduction of more than $3,100, according to the IRS. Republicans are also highlighting a slate of business tax breaks, which beneficiaries argue could boost job growth and provide economic benefits to their community. “It gave me the certainty and the confidence to go out and make capital investments,” Courtney Silver, who owns a machine shop in North Carolina and invested more than $1 million in equipment following the passage of the tax bill, told Fox News Digital. “For everything we invested in, we need to create those new positions on our team,” Silver added. The United States could have shed nearly 6 million jobs if Republicans had failed to extend the 2017 tax cuts through the party’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, according to the National Association of Manufacturers. Still, seven in 10 Americans say their taxes are too high, the highest dissatisfaction in more than two decades, according to a recent Fox News poll. Some Democratic-led states have notably refused to conform to the new federal tax breaks enacted by Republicans, citing concern about their impact on state revenue. GOP lawmakers have argued it’s an attempt by Democrats to prevent voters from feeling the tax relief passed by Republicans. “I’ve got a governor that refuses and a Democrat-controlled legislature that refuses to do tax compliance, so I’m not getting the benefit, nor is any other Minnesotan,” Emmer said, referring to the average increase in returns. “That’s a game changer and my state’s not getting that.” Trump is heading to Nevada and Arizona beginning Thursday to highlight his “no tax on tips” and “no tax on overtime” policies as he goes to bat for Republicans to help them keep their bicameral congressional majority in this year’s midterm elections.
Mamdani’s wife ‘truly sorry’ for controversial anti-Israel social media posts
Rama Duwaji, wife to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, apologized for old social media posts that included racial slurs and celebrations of Palestinian terrorists in an interview published Wednesday. Duwaji, a Texas-born Syrian-American, expressed her regret for language she used in old social media messages during an interview with online publication Hyperallergic, her first public interview since her husband became mayor in January. “When a tabloid recently published old tweets I wrote as a teenager, I felt a lot of shame being confronted with language I used that is so harmful to others; being 15 doesn’t excuse it,” she told the outlet. In March, the Washington Free Beacon published an expose revealing a number of Duwaji’s old posts on X, formerly Twitter, and the blogging website Tumblr. NYC MAYOR MAMDANI’S WIFE LIKED POSTS CELEBRATING OCT 7 TERROR ATTACKS BUT GETS SOFT TREATMENT FROM THE PRESS The posts included celebrations of U.S.-designated terrorist groups and individuals who had committed acts of terror. In March 2015, when Duwaji was 17, an X account the Washington Free Beacon connected to Duwaji reposted a photo of Shadia Abu Ghazaleh with a caption that extolled her as a resistance fighter. Ghazaleh was a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a U.S. and globally-designated terrorist group. Revered as a martyr in Palestine, many pro-Palestinians laud her for participating in a bombing of an Israeli bus. Ghazaleh died in 1968 when a bomb she had planned to use on a building in Tel Aviv exploded in her home. Another Duwaji post the Free Beacon unearthed showed her allegedly using a racial slur. SOCIAL MEDIA ERUPTS ON MAMDANI OVER REPORTS HIS WIFE LIKED PRO-OCTOBER 7TH POSTS: ‘THIS IS WHO THEY ARE’ And another post appeared to show her using a derogatory word for gay people. According to the Beacon’s investigation, she allegedly reposted another user saying that the Israeli city Tel Aviv “shouldn’t even exist in the first place.” NYC MAYOR MAMDANI’S WIFE GLORIFIED TERRORISTS IN ONLINE POSTS, CRITICIZED US MILITARY: REPORT “I’ve read and seen a lot of what others have had to say in response, and I understand the hurt I caused and am truly sorry,” Duwaji told Hyperallergic. “My focus isn’t on being a public figure, but continuing my work with care and responsibility, and allowing my art to speak for itself.” The X account associated with Duwaji was deleted shortly after the Beacon published their investigation. Her Wednesday apology appears to be her first public acknowledgment of the posts. An artist by trade, Duwaji has been an outspoken critic of Israel during her husband’s political career. In February, just one month after Mamdani’s inauguration, Duwaji came under fire for contributing an illustration to an essay about a Gaza refugee camp written by an author who celebrated the October 7 attacks by Hamas. ISRAELI COMEDIAN DROPS OUT OF PASSOVER EVENT AFTER LEARNING OF MAMDANI’S ATTENDANCE Susan Abulhawa, the author of the essay attached to Duwaji’s illustration, called Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack at a music festival in Israel that killed more than 1,200 people “a spectacular moment that shocked the world.” She has also referred to Israelis as “rootless, soulless ghouls” and “Jewish supremacist demons” in social media posts that are still active. Mamdani condemned the comments and claimed Duwaji contributed the illustration through a third party service. “I think that that rhetoric is patently unacceptable. I think it’s reprehensible,” he said in March. “And as is common for freelance illustrators, the First Lady was commissioned to illustrate an excerpt of a book by a third party. She has never engaged with or met with the author, nor had she seen the tweets that you’re referring to.” Fox News Digital contacted a representative of Mayor Mamdani for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Former Dem Virginia Lt. Gov. kills wife, himself in shocking murder-suicide: police
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Former Democratic Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax killed his wife and then himself in a shocking murder-suicide early Thursday morning, according to the Fairfax County Police Department. “Justin Fairfax shot and killed – shot several times – and killed his wife, ran to a different part of the home and then killed himself with the same firearm he just got unseen,” said police chief Kevin Davis during a press conference on Thursday morning. Police received a 911 call shortly after midnight from Fairfax’s teenage son. Fairfax’s killing comes amid reported marital disputes with his wife, Dr. Cerina Fairfax, as the couple was seeking a divorce, and follows controversy surrounding sexual assault allegations against him that dimmed his rising star status in the Democratic Party in 2019. HOMELAND SECURITY OFFICIAL’S KILLING LEAVES AGENCY ‘DEVASTATED’ AS VETTING BREAKDOWN EXPOSED The violence unfolded as the couple was in the midst of a contentious divorce — though they were no longer together, they were still living under the same roof, Davis said. There were several cameras set up in the home due to the divorce proceedings. “Fairfax called us to their home back in January and alleged that his wife assaulted him in the home, we were able to go to those cameras and determine that the alleged assault never occurred,” said Davis. VIRGINIA LT. GOV. JUSTIN FAIRFAX’S ACCUSER RELEASES STATEMENT DETAILING SEXUAL-ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS “The allegation that Mr. Fairfax made in January that Mrs. Fairfax assaulted him was proven to be untrue,” said Davis noting investigators were able to corroborate that the alleged assault did not happen. “So that’s the only time that the Fairfax County Police Department has ever been to the Fairfax home,” he added. Fairfax served as the 41st lieutenant governor under Gov. Ralph Northam between Jan. 13, 2018, to Jan. 15, 2022. Fairfax was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania before moving to Annandale, Virginia. Fairfax shared two teenage children with his wife. Both children were present during the time of the murder. Davis said it is a “traumatic event for … those children to live through.” Fairfax was accused of sexual assault in 2019 when two women came forward. The Virginia politician denied the allegations. One of the women shared a graphic statement saying he forced her to perform oral sex back in 2004 during the Democratic National Convention in Boston, Fox News Digital previously reported. DHS SLAMS CALIFORNIA ‘SANCTUARY’ COUNTY AFTER MOM ALLEGEDLY MURDERED BY 2 HONDURAN NATIONALS Fairfax shot himself with the same gun he used to murder his wife. Authorities do not know the details about the gun purchase. He supported Virginia’s first red flag law preventing individuals who show signs of being a threat to themselves or others from purchasing, possessing or transporting any kind of firearm. “We have given commonsense tools like the ‘red flag’ law to law enforcement, the courts and our communities to help keep our families safe even as we ensure due process and protect Constitutional rights,” he posted on X in 2022.
‘We’re taxing the rich’: NYC Mayor Mamdani touts new $500M-a-year tax on luxury second homes
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani celebrated a proposal to tax luxury second homes owned by the ultra-wealthy, a plan expected to generate at least $500 million annually. Earlier in the day, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled a pied-à-terre tax on luxury second homes in New York City valued at $5 million or more, allowing the city to impose an annual surcharge on ultra-wealthy nonresidents. The proposal is projected to generate at least $500 million annually, according to Hochul. Mamdani praised the plan, noting he campaigned on taxing the wealthy. FROM ‘JUMP ON A BUS’ TO TAX CRACKDOWNS: BLUE STATES CHASE WEALTHY RESIDENTS FLEEING TO RED HAVENS “When I ran for mayor, I said I was going to tax the rich. Well, today, we’re taxing the rich,” he said in a video posted on X. He said the tax is designed for the “richest of the rich,” people who “store their wealth in New York City real estate but who don’t actually live here.” “This is a fundamentally unfair system that hurts working New Yorkers,” Mamdani said. “Now, it’s coming to an end.” STEVE FORBES: DON’T CRUSH HOMEOWNERS TO PAY FOR NYC’S OUT-OF-CONTROL BUDGET He added that revenue from the tax would go toward initiatives such as free childcare, cleaner streets and safer neighborhoods. “As mayor, I believe everyone has a role to play in contributing to our city, and some a little bit more than others,” Mamdani said. “Happy Tax Day, New York.” MAMDANI’S ESTATE TAX PLAN COULD DRIVE WEALTH OUT OF STATE, CRITICS WARN According to the governor’s office, the pied-à-terre tax would apply to residential properties in New York City that are not used as a primary residence. Hochul said the tax would “ensure that those that own luxury homes, but do not live in the City or pay City income tax are still fairly contributing towards the funding of the essential services like policing and parks that make New York City a global destination.” “It is not a tax on residents. That is so important. We’re talking about people who are ultrawealthy,” she said during a news conference Wednesday. Hochul added that the proposal would help generate revenue as the city faces budget constraints without affecting most residents.
Sotomayor walks back remarks criticizing Kavanaugh, says comments were ‘inappropriate’
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor said Wednesday she regretted “hurtful” remarks about a colleague, apologizing in a court-issued statement after seemingly taking aim at Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s perspective on immigration enforcement. During a prior appearance at the University of Kansas School of Law, Sotomayor, without mentioning him by name, criticized Kavanaugh “for failing to grasp the real-world effects of an unsigned order last year that allowed immigration enforcement sweeps in Los Angeles to resume.” “I had a colleague in that case who wrote, you know, these are only temporary stops,” Sotomayor said during the appearance, noting a Kavanaugh concurrence in an emergency appeal filed by the Trump administration, Noem v. Perdomo. It was a case SCOTUS stayed 6-3 in September, allowing ICE to use “apparent race or ethnicity” language and work location to justify immigration stops in California. “This is from a man whose parents were professionals and probably doesn’t really know any person who works by the hour.” CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS WARNS AGAINST PERSONAL ATTACKS ON JUDGES AS ‘DANGEROUS’ AFTER TRUMP COURT TIRADE In his concurring opinion on the Sept. 8, 2025 stay, Kavanaugh wrote that legal residents’ encounters with immigration agents are “typically brief, and those individuals may promptly go free after making clear to the immigration officers that they are U.S. citizens or otherwise legally in the United States.” Sotomayor, who filed the dissenting opinion, alleged in her remarks at KU that Kavanaugh failed to grasp that even short detentions can have major “financial consequences” for hourly workers despite him citing the legal reasoning of immigration stops being longstanding and based on reasonable suspicion. JONATHAN TURLEY: LIBERAL JUSTICE’S SWIPE AT KAVANAUGH LATEST SIGN OF SCOTUS’ SLIPPING STANDARDS She added her “life experiences” taught her how to “think more broadly and to see things others may not,” seemingly in reference to racial profiling as the first Hispanic justice. TRUMP REVEALS HE HAS MULTI-PICK SCOTUS PLAN READY AS RETIREMENT SPECULATION HEATS UP In a statement released by the Supreme Court Wednesday, Sotomayor said she “referred to a disagreement with one of my colleagues in a prior case” but “made remarks that were inappropriate.” “I regret my hurtful comments,” she wrote in the statement. “I have apologized to my colleague.”
Bessent says Trump tariffs could return by July after Supreme Court setback
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested Tuesday that President Donald Trump’s tariffs could be restored as early as July, signaling a rapid pivot by the Trump administration after the Supreme Court struck down Trump’s IEEPA-based tariffs earlier this year, forcing the administration to turn to other trade authorities. “We had a setback at the Supreme Court in terms of the tariff policy,” Bessent said Tuesday at an event hosted by the Wall Street Journal. “But we will be implementing or conducting Section 301 studies — so the tariffs could be back in place at the previous level by [the] beginning of July.” His remarks come after the Supreme Court ruled in February that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, does not authorize tariffs. Trump has billed tariffs as “life or death” for the U.S. economy — underscoring the outsize importance the administration has placed on the issue. TRUMP TARIFF PLAN FACES UNCERTAIN FUTURE AS COURT BATTLES INTENSIFY Bessent’s comments also come as the U.S. collected more than $133 billion in IEEPA tariff duties as of mid-December, according to data published by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, a figure that later grew to roughly $166 billion by early March 2026. The administration moved to preserve tariffs in the weeks since the Supreme Court’s ruling to find new ways to implement the import fees, invoking several provisions of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974 in order to do so. Bessent’s remarks, first reported by Bloomberg, are a sign that the Trump administration plans to enact a combination of statutes under the trade law as it looks to move past the high court’s ruling and find new ways to sustain U.S. tariff pressure. The strategy, long-term, appears to focus largely on Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows the president and the U.S. Trade Representative’s office (USTR) to implement “retaliatory import restrictions” against a country that is found to have engaged in unfair or “discriminatory” trade policies or practices towards U.S. businesses. Section 301 allows the U.S. Trade Representative to investigate and respond to “unfair” foreign trade practices flagged by the president, though they require a formal period of notice and public comment, delaying enforcement. Since the Supreme Court’s ruling, the Trump administration has initiated a flurry of more than 75 investigations under Section 301, according to a report from Alan Wm. Wolff, a senior fellow for the Peterson Institute for International Economics — far outpacing the average annual number of Section 301 investigations initiated during the past five decades. TRUMP WARNS SUPREME COURT TARIFF SHOWDOWN IS ‘LIFE OR DEATH’ FOR AMERICA That’s not the only lever administration officials have pulled in an effort to keep Trump’s tariffs in place, however. Trump last month announced new 10% global tariffs — an emergency provision under the trade law that allows a president to unilaterally impose import fees of up to 15% on U.S. trading partners for a period of 150 days, to respond to large and serious “balance of payments deficits,” or instances that risk immediately depreciating the power of the dollar. The Section 122 announcement prompted a lawsuit from 24 attorneys general, who argued the move was an illegal attempt to “sidestep” the Supreme Court’s ruling. It also prompted another lengthy hearing before the U.S. Court of International Trade in Manhattan Friday, as judges on the three-member panel weighed the legality of Trump’s effort. Lawyers for the challenges told the court Friday that upholding the administration’s broader view of the law would effectively turn Section 122 into an all-purpose trade weapon. US COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE SIDES WITH TRUMP IN TARIFF CASE But Justice Department lawyer Brett Shumate argued that Congress had provided presidents with broad discretion to assess economic conditions. “A trade deficit was a large driver of a balance of payments deficit in 1974 as it is today,” Shumate said. “We’re not on the gold standard anymore,” he said. “We don’t have a fixed currency, but we can still have balance-of-payment problems.”
Melania Trump challenges Congress to make her foster care executive order permanent law: ‘Their birthright’
First lady Melania Trump delivered a plea to lawmakers on Wednesday, demanding “action over awareness” to secure the futures of America’s foster children by turning her recent executive action into permanent law. During a bipartisan congressional committee meeting, Trump outlined her vision to transform vulnerable youth into financially independent business owners, explaining the American dream should be “their birthright.” While describing the Fostering the Future executive order she signed in November as a “transformative vision,” she said Congress now has an opportunity to create a lasting, positive impact by passing permanent legislation. Since the start of her nationwide initiative, Fostering the Future, in 2021, the program has a footprint in more than 20 universities across the country, including major institutions like LSU, the University of Virginia, University of Texas and Ohio State University. FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP: AI COULD IMPROVE TEACHING AND HELP DELIVER A WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION TO OUR CHILDREN Rather than relying on perpetual government assistance, Trump said her goal at the university level is to prepare those in foster care to secure entry-level jobs, become financially independent, create new businesses and generate employment opportunities. She also highlighted roadblocks within the current system, noting that only roughly 3% of people in the foster care community earn a college degree. “We can close this gap, but still, foster youth face a special set of challenges outside the classroom that have a serious impact on their academic performance,” Trump said. “These issues include housing instability, educational advocacy, financial barriers [and] transportation continuity,” she continued. “New legislation for the foster care community is a moral imperative.” The first lady added that safeguarding foster children’s well-being helps “shape the integrity of our nation” and reminded bipartisan lawmakers that “America’s children are our moral equals.” “As parents and leaders, it is our ethical obligation to ensure American children develop emotionally and physically within a safe environment,” Trump said. “As a community, we strive to nurture our children’s curiosity, protect their innocence and guide them with hearts full of care. … But to get there, a strong knowledge base is required. Education is the cornerstone of a child’s future.”