The Morning Sixpack - April 10, 2025

Trump blinks on tariffs, pauses for 90 days, except for China, because they didn't kowtow to him.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is down—YUGE!—again today after rallying BIG after Trump caved on his “big, beautiful tariffs” yesterday. Back to normal (chaos).

Trump Slaps 125% Tariffs on China, While Giving the World a Breather

In a dramatic—but totally predictable—move, President Trump has escalated his trade war with China, hiking tariffs on Chinese imports to a whopping 125%, essentially closing the U.S. to its third-largest supplier of goods.

While Trump spared most countries by pausing higher "reciprocal tariffs" for 90 days, China's imports are now facing the brunt of his trade policies. This decision comes on the heels of a significant trade imbalance with China, which has been a major source of goods like smartphones, computers, and toys, comprising 13.3% of U.S. imports in 2024.

The U.S. imported $438.9 billion worth of goods from China in 2024, with the trade deficit continuing to balloon—reaching $295.4 billion. Despite these tensions, trade between the U.S. and China still totaled $582.5 billion last year. The ongoing tariff battle has exacerbated trade imbalances but hasn't entirely cut off economic ties, even though it’s a far cry from the free trade days before the tariff hikes.

Trump’s latest move underscores the continuing friction between the two global giants, with the U.S. relying heavily on Chinese goods. It seems that for now, China’s status as a major trade partner may be on shaky ground as the U.S. pushes for more favorable trade terms.

Source: WSJ

Trump blinked and tried to save face by upping the ante on China, but it’s going to bite him in the ass. Just watch.

Trump Sparks Insider Trading Allegations with Sudden Trade Policy Reversal

Donald Trump is under scrutiny after his social media post, claiming it was a “great time to buy,” coincided with a significant policy shift that sent global stock markets soaring.

Just hours after Trump's upbeat post on Truth Social, the U.S. president announced a 90-day pause on trade tariffs for most countries, causing stock indexes in the U.S., Japan, and Europe to spike. The S&P 500 climbed over 9%, while tech stocks like Amazon and Apple saw impressive gains. This sudden market surge, following Trump’s early morning post, has raised suspicions of market manipulation.

The timing of the president's post, followed by substantial stock price increases, led to accusations of insider trading.

Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Adam Schiff, are calling for an investigation into whether Trump’s trade decisions were used to benefit certain individuals.

"Who in the administration knew about Trump’s latest tariff flip-flop ahead of time?" Schiff questioned, demanding transparency on potential profit-making from this insider information.

Trump, however, defended his actions, suggesting the tariff pause was part of a pre-planned strategy.

Trump's actions have also prompted calls for greater transparency among lawmakers, with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez urging Congress members to disclose stock purchases made around the time of the tariff changes.

Source: The Guardian

There is NO DOUBT a lot of the Trump monkeys in his administration and Congress took advantage of early news of his whipsawing of tariffs. NOTHING, however, will come of it. The SEC is under his thumb and they won’t prosecute anything.

Ted Cruz Ditches Trump for Personal Gain—Is He Setting Up for 2028?

Ted Cruz is stepping on Trump's toes yet again, this time over tariffs, and making it pretty clear that he's got his eyes on 2028. The Texas senator criticized Trump's trade policies, warning that they could have led to a “political bloodbath” if the president hadn't partially reversed course.

This isn't the first time Cruz has broken ranks with his party's leader since taking over the Senate Commerce Committee in January—he's been pushing his own agenda, from targeting Big Tech to shaking things up with bipartisan legislation. Apparently, Cruz is all about making waves, even if it means rubbing both Trump and his fellow Republicans the wrong way.

“I am doing everything I can to urge the president to listen to the voices of the angels and not the devils,” Cruz said, as if he’s playing some sort of angelic diplomat in the midst of a political power struggle.

But let’s be real: It’s all about positioning himself for a potential presidential run in 2028. If he's not playing the long game, then what’s the point of picking fights with the very people who once supported him? Cruz’s latest move is a clear indication he’s going to keep doing things his way, and that means a lot of uncomfortable moments for those in his party.

Cruz has already shown his fondness for the limelight, whether it's through confrontations with tech giants or his infamous "Green Eggs and Ham" filibuster. It’s clear that he’s aiming to carve out his own political lane, and it's working—just ask Republican Senator Jerry Moran, who found Cruz’s tariff critique “very helpful.” Love him or hate him, Cruz is setting himself up for something big.

Source: Politico

Ted Cruz gets beat down by Trump every time he goes astray. So keep Cruz in your prayers and make sure you read all about his at my favorite website about Ted Cruz: Ted Cruz for Senate – Not Again! – I am Satan

US Government Revokes Over 300 Student Visas Amid Trump’s Immigration Crackdown

In a move that has many international students on edge, the US government has revoked over 300 student visas this year, including those of researchers and students at prestigious universities.

The latest high-profile case involves Kseniia Petrova, a Harvard Medical School researcher, who was detained after failing to declare frog embryos on her return to the US. While her attorney claims the error was "inadvertent," the government is pressing charges, potentially leading to her deportation.

She was detained. For undeclared frog embryos. Now she’s in prison.

The revocation of student visas is now being used for a range of minor offenses, and immigration attorneys argue that this is part of a larger trend under the Trump administration's more aggressive stance on immigration.

Petrova is not alone. More than 340 students, faculty, and researchers have had their visas revoked this year, often without explanation. In many cases, foreign nationals affiliated with American universities are being targeted for reasons as small as past misdemeanors or no reason at all. The revocation of student visas, which traditionally followed clear procedures, now seems to be more arbitrary, leaving many in a state of uncertainty.

“I think I want to speak in the name of everyone here, we are feeling anxious,” said one anonymous student affected by the visa crackdown, underscoring the growing anxiety among international students.

The crackdown comes at a time when the US government is expanding its powers to deport foreign nationals without hearings, and hundreds of students have been caught in the crossfire. This chaotic enforcement of immigration laws has prompted lawsuits from those who say they were unfairly targeted. As more students face the threat of deportation, the legal and social fallout from these actions is only beginning to unfold.

Source: CNN

Trump Administration to Scrutinize Social Media of Foreigners Over Antisemitism Concerns

The Trump administration announced that U.S. authorities will now review the social media activity of foreign nationals seeking to enter the country, with a particular focus on individuals suspected of supporting "violent antisemitic ideologies."

This new policy targets foreign students, green card applicants, and others seeking immigration benefits.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated, “There is no room in the United States for the rest of the world’s terrorist sympathizers,” as part of the effort to "protect the homeland from extremists."

The directive raises serious concerns about free speech and civil liberties, with critics warning that the policy will silence dissenting views on Israel’s actions in Gaza.

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression condemned the move, arguing it risks chilling free expression by targeting individuals based solely on their protected speech. Meanwhile, the Council on American-Islamic Relations accused the administration of undermining the First Amendment, suggesting that legitimate criticism of Israel could be mischaracterized as antisemitic.

The DHS measure also follows the administration's push to revoke visas and deport foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian protests on U.S. campuses.

This includes high-profile cases such as Mahmoud Khalil of Columbia University and Rumeysa Ozturk of Tufts University, drawing attention to the growing tension between security concerns and individual rights.

Source: Politico

Supreme Court Clears Way for Trump to Remove Democratic Labor Board Members

In a move that further solidifies President Trump's influence over federal agencies, the U.S. Supreme Court has cleared the path for Trump to remove Democratic members from two key labor boards, despite prior court rulings that had blocked their dismissal.

The court's decision pauses these judicial orders, allowing Trump to proceed with his plan to reshape the boards.

Chief Justice John Roberts, acting on behalf of the Court, granted an administrative stay to give the justices more time to consider the Trump administration's request, setting the stage for a legal showdown over presidential powers.

The move to oust members Cathy Harris and Gwynne Wilcox from their positions on the Merit Systems Protection Board and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), respectively, is part of Trump's broader strategy to restructure government agencies.

Critics argue that removing these officials will paralyze the boards, leaving thousands of cases unresolved and undermining their independence. The Trump administration, however, asserts that it must remove officials who are misaligned with its policies, warning that the current setup creates an "untenable" situation.

The legal battle over these firings has become a test of Trump's control over independent agencies, particularly in light of a 1935 Supreme Court ruling limiting presidential removal powers. As the case moves forward, the country waits to see if Trump's efforts to bring agencies under his direct influence will succeed.

Source: Reuters

When Trump is long gone, Congress is going to have to get busy taking their Constitutional powers back. They have ceded SO MUCH power, it’s ridiculous.