The Morning Sixpack - April 4, 2025

Trump tariffs continue to do a number on global markets; US stock markets down again today, have lost nearly $10 trillion in value since inauguration!

BREAKING: Stocks open sharply lower as China retaliates on tariffs

U.S. stock market has lost $9.6 trillion in value since Inauguration Day

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Trump's Tariffs Spark Fears of Global Trade War, Recession, and Higher Consumer Costs

President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, announced on April 3, 2025, have sent shockwaves through global markets, sparking fears of a trade war and potential recession.

The tariffs, the highest in over a century, have triggered sharp declines in financial markets worldwide, including a 4% drop in the Dow Jones and a 5% loss in the S&P 500.

JP Morgan now predicts a 60% chance of a global recession by the end of the year, up from 40%. The new tariffs, aimed at countries like China, the European Union, and Japan, threaten to raise the cost of everyday goods, including a $2,300 iPhone if manufacturers pass on the costs to consumers.

The tariffs are not only affecting stock markets but also rattling the global economy. Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has called the situation a "national crisis," and leaders from around the world, including Canada and China, have expressed their intentions to retaliate.

The tariffs, which range from 10% on all imports to higher rates on select countries, could have long-term consequences, including slowing demand, disrupting supply chains, and hurting corporate profits.

In the U.S., industries are scrambling to adapt. Automaker Stellantis has temporarily laid off workers, and major corporations like Nike and Apple have seen significant stock drops.

Critics argue that the tariffs will fuel inflation, raise the risk of a recession, and ultimately cost American families thousands of dollars more for basic goods. As the global trade landscape shifts, experts are urging the U.S. to resolve these tensions before the damage becomes irreversible.

Source: Reuters

BONUS: Trump’s “formula” for calculating these bullshit “reciprocal tariffs” is also bullshit.

Source: https://x.com/JamesSurowiecki/status/1907559189234196942

The funny thing: They could have just “looked up the tariffs other countries are imposing on the US and called it a day.” But they LIED. AGAIN.

Trump Removes NSA Director Amid Controversial Purge of Top Officials

In a stunning move, President Donald Trump fired Gen. Timothy Haugh, the director of the National Security Agency (NSA), along with his deputy Wendy Noble on April 3, 2025. The decision comes after far-right activist Laura Loomer met with Trump and called for the dismissals of several officials she deemed disloyal, including Haugh and Noble.

Loomer claimed that Haugh, who was appointed by former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley (that’s the REAL reason), had betrayed the president, leading to his ouster.

The abrupt firings of Haugh and Noble, who also oversaw U.S. Cyber Command, sent ripples through the U.S. national security community. Haugh, a respected cyber warfare expert, was praised for his efforts in defending the U.S. against Russian cyber threats in 2018.

His removal raises serious concerns among lawmakers, especially as the U.S. faces escalating cyber threats, including the recent Salt Typhoon attack from China. "At a time when the United States is facing unprecedented cyberthreats, how does firing him make Americans any safer?" Sen. Mark R. Warner questioned.

In two words, it doesn’t. But Trump is a Russian asset. He’s Putin’s Russian proxy. We don’t have a real president.

This purge of high-level officials, which also affected members of the National Security Council, has sparked bipartisan outrage, with critics warning that it will undermine U.S. national security and weaken efforts to counter foreign cyber attacks.

But that’s the actual point, right?

Source: Washington Post

Executed at Point-Blank Range: Israel's Killing of 15 Medics in Gaza

In a horrific act of violence, Israel's forces are accused of executing 15 Palestinian medics and rescue workers last month in Gaza, reportedly after tying them up and shooting them at point-blank range. This brutal incident occurred as the medics were on their way to rescue victims in the Rafah area, which had been bombed by Israel.

The rescue workers, who were in ambulances and firetrucks clearly marked for medical aid, were first immobilized, then executed with multiple gunshots to the head and chest.

The vehicles were then flattened by Israeli bulldozers, making it difficult to recover the bodies, with one still missing. This calculated act highlights the extreme measures taken by Israel's forces to silence and destroy humanitarian aid efforts in Gaza.

“What is the use, Diana? Why do we have to keep displaying our dead? Can’t we just die in dignity?” These words, sent to a journalist by a friend in Gaza, reflect the deep frustration and helplessness felt by Palestinians.

For more than 18 months, Israel’s military actions in Gaza have claimed over 60,000 Palestinian lives, leveling buildings, schools, and hospitals.

While this kind of brutality has become tragically common, the execution of medics stands out as an especially disturbing example of the Israeli army’s disregard for the lives of those attempting to save others. It’s not just the deaths that are shocking, but the cruelty in how they were executed—tied up, shot multiple times, and left to be buried by bulldozers.

This isn’t an isolated incident but rather a part of a broader pattern of aggression that has systematically targeted medical personnel, journalists, and even children.

The deaths of these rescue workers are not the result of a rogue soldier’s actions, as Israel often claims when its military commits atrocities. Instead, this was a coordinated act carried out by multiple soldiers with the clear intent to annihilate a group of people trying to help those in need.

These acts of violence are facilitated by a military culture where soldiers are told their actions in Gaza will have no consequences. This sense of impunity allows these horrific executions to happen without hesitation or remorse, further exacerbating the already unbearable conditions for Palestinians living under occupation.

Source: Zeteo

When is this shit going to stop? When is the global community going to depose Netanyahu? He’s no better than Putin.

The Accidental Deportation: One Migrant’s Journey to a Salvadoran Prison

Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia’s life took a tragic turn when he was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, despite being granted protection by a U.S. immigration judge. Accused of being part of a gang, the Salvadoran migrant was sent to a brutal prison, even though the judge had ruled that he could remain in the U.S. due to the risk of torture if returned to his homeland.

His deportation, which the Trump administration later acknowledged as an "administrative error," has sparked a legal battle over his fate, with his lawyers demanding urgent action to bring him back. This case raises critical questions about the power of immigration authorities and the consequences for migrants in the U.S. legal system.

Mr. Abrego Garcia, who had been living in Maryland after fleeing gang violence in El Salvador, was detained in 2019 and accused of being part of the notorious MS-13 gang, a claim he denied. After several years of legal proceedings, he was granted "withholding from removal" by an immigration judge, protecting him from deportation.

However, in March 2025, U.S. immigration agents abruptly arrested him, stripped away his protection, and deported him to El Salvador, where he was sent to a high-security prison known for its brutality. His wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, was left devastated, receiving a call from her husband just before he was put on a flight to El Salvador, where she later recognized him in a photograph of the deportees.

The deportation, which was part of a broader initiative to expel migrants under controversial legal frameworks, has left Mr. Abrego Garcia trapped in a Salvadoran prison. His legal team has filed an emergency request, asking a federal judge to intervene and use diplomatic channels to return him to the U.S.

“If defendants’ actions in this case are allowed to remain without redress, then orders of immigration courts are meaningless,” his lawyers wrote, emphasizing the importance of this case not only for Mr. Abrego Garcia but for all migrants at risk of being wrongfully deported.

Source: NYT

The shitty news here is that he won’t be retrieved. He’ll die in that fucking hellhole prison. Trump and team need to be brought up on war crimes.

War crimes? you say? Yes. Trump is doing all these deportations under the guise of some BS “Alien Enemies Act of 1798” law which is part of the Alien and Sedition Act. It allows the president to detain and deport non-citizens during wartime or in response to an "invasion or predatory incursion" by a foreign entity.

Yes, I know there’s an “or” there. I don’t care.

Trump Administration Defies Court Order, Withholds Funding for Radio Free Europe

Despite a federal court ruling mandating its continued operation, the Trump administration has failed to disburse nearly $12 million in congressionally approved funds to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). The delay in funding has led to furloughs and cuts to critical programming, with the news organization, which reports in 30 languages, being forced to operate under extreme financial strain.

The failure to act comes despite a judge’s directive that the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) must ensure the timely delivery of funds to RFE/RL, a vital tool for countering authoritarianism around the globe.

Benjamin Herman, the general counsel for RFE/RL, expressed urgent concern, stating, "Our journalists across Europe and Asia, who assume enormous risk to work for RFE/RL, rely on the timely disbursement of these congressionally appropriated funds."

The agency's failure to comply with the court order has led to the cancellation of essential satellite contracts, hampering the network's ability to broadcast Russian-language programs, an important source of independent news for millions under oppressive regimes.

Kari Lake, a Trump-appointed adviser at USAGM, defended the withholding of funds, claiming it was an effort to increase oversight and accountability, though she provided no concrete evidence of misconduct.

Despite this, RFE/RL remains committed to its mission, with president Stephen Capus vowing to continue the legal fight to ensure the agency disburses all legally approved funds. The issue underscores ongoing tensions over media freedom and government control, particularly as U.S. outlets continue to challenge efforts to undermine their independence.

Source: NYT

The whole point is to cripple existing institutions they don’t like and then claim, once the very slow courts take aim, “We cannot revive this institution. It’s DOA.”

Trump Tariffs Will Harm Japan's Economy, Warns Bank of Japan Governor

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda has warned that U.S. President Donald Trump's newly imposed tariffs will "put downward pressure" on both the Japanese and global economies. The tariffs, which include a baseline 10% duty for all countries and a 24% rate for Japan, are expected to create significant uncertainty, affecting prices and economic outlooks.

Ueda noted the difficulty in predicting the exact impact on domestic prices, which could fluctuate both upward and downward due to the tariff changes, but emphasized the overall negative effects on households, businesses, and global markets.

Governor Ueda's comments came after Trump introduced his most extensive set of tariffs yet, which will lead to broader economic disruptions. In a parliamentary session on April 4, 2025, Ueda highlighted the growing risks posed by the unpredictability of U.S. economic policies. The Bank of Japan, set to hold a policy meeting at the end of April, will continue to monitor these developments, with the governor indicating that the central bank will adjust its policy rate if necessary to align with economic expectations.

The economic uncertainty created by these tariffs is already being felt globally, with concerns about the long-term effects on trade and market stability. The Bank of Japan remains cautious, with Ueda noting that the effects of such broad tariffs could lead to both inflationary and deflationary pressures depending on how the market responds.

Source: Kyodonews