The Morning Sixpack - June 11, 2025
Nationwide ICE raids empty Home Depot lots, Trump hikes China tariffs to 55%, Texas Guard deploys for protests, and $15 minimum wage bill advances.
Thousands Rally Nationwide Against Trump’s Mass Deportation Push and Military Deployment
Massive protests erupted across the U.S. Tuesday night as thousands took to the streets to oppose President Trump’s aggressive immigration raids and the controversial deployment of military forces in California.
In Manhattan, chants of “ICE out of New York!” echoed near the city’s ICE field office as peaceful crowds gathered to voice their opposition. Jeanet, a 19-year-old aspiring military member, spoke for many when she said, “There are many voices in my community that can't be here today out of fear… I want to be here for them.” Her stance underscored a deep conflict felt by some Americans who support the country but reject its current immigration policies.
Similar demonstrations were held from Chicago to Seattle, Dallas, and San Francisco, highlighting widespread unrest. The Trump administration aims to arrest 3,000 migrants daily through DHS-led raids, hitting locations from Los Angeles Home Depots to meatpacking plants in Nebraska. Do the math: 3,000 x 365 day in a year = 1,095,000 per year. Trump promised to remove ALL illegal immigrants (20-27 million according to him). It will take 20 years to remove them all. It won’t be done. Another promise made, another promise broken. He’s a failure.
While New York’s protests remained largely peaceful, tensions flared in Los Angeles, where clashes between police and demonstrators erupted over federal immigration enforcement. Longtime residents like Paula Lopez expressed heartbreak watching families torn apart again. “It hurts me to see families being separated, because I lived that,” Lopez said.
Others, like Arfraz from Queens, emphasized the urgency of standing up for those too scared to show up. “They can’t necessarily show up to rallies because they might get picked up by ICE, so I think we have to stand up,” he said. The protests send a clear message that the fight over immigration is far from over.
These protests aren’t about immigration, though that’s the root cause. They are about sending in US military to deal with state civil issues. States’ rights don’t matter to Trump. He wants blood. And he’ll get it.
Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ Tariffs Stay Put as Appeals Court Takes Rare Step
A federal appeals court has allowed President Trump’s sweeping tariffs to remain in effect while it reviews a lower court ruling that blocked them as an overreach of presidential power.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit decided Tuesday that Trump’s tariffs on imports from most U.S. trading partners—including separate duties on Canada, China, and Mexico—can continue during the appeal process. The court flagged the case as one of “exceptional importance,” bypassing the usual three-judge panel for an 11-judge hearing set for July 31.
These tariffs, dubbed “Liberation Day” tariffs, have been a rollercoaster for markets and companies, causing major headaches in supply chains, production, and pricing. The controversy centers on Trump’s use of the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which was meant to handle national emergencies. This is not that. There is no “emergency.” A trade deficit is not urgent. We’ve run trade deficits with many countries for at least 50 years, going back to Reagan.
A lower court ruled the president exceeded his authority by imposing tariffs under IEEPA, emphasizing that only Congress can levy taxes and tariffs. Trump’s team quickly appealed, and the Federal Circuit paused the lower court’s order, letting the tariffs stay in place for now. Meanwhile, multiple lawsuits from states and small businesses continue to challenge the legality of these emergency tariffs.
Trump justifies the tariffs as a response to fentanyl trafficking and the trade deficit, but critics argue that neither qualifies as an emergency warranting such sweeping power. The court’s upcoming July arguments will be a pivotal moment in defining presidential tariff powers moving forward.
The wheels of justice sure turn slowly in this country.
Senators Hawley and Welch Join Forces to Raise Federal Minimum Wage to $15 an Hour
The federal minimum wage, stuck at $7.25 since the 2000s, is finally facing a bipartisan push to catch up with today’s soaring cost of living.
Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) introduced the Higher Wages for American Workers Act, which would raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour starting January 2026. The bill also includes a provision to automatically increase wages with inflation each year, aiming to prevent future stagnation.
“For decades, working Americans have seen their wages flatline,” said Senator Hawley. “This bipartisan legislation would ensure that workers across America benefit from higher wages.” His counterpart, Senator Welch, added, “$7.25 an hour doesn’t even come close” to what families need today to cover essentials like housing and groceries.
If passed, this legislation would mark a major shift in federal labor policy, reflecting the harsh reality millions face as costs for housing, healthcare, and education skyrocket while wages lag behind.
The full bill text is available for review, signaling a clear message: It’s time for federal wages to meet the financial challenges of modern America.
Did you know? The federal minimum wage originated way back during the Great Depression, when adult men were primarily the sole breadwinners of the household, and it was meant to cover food, shelter, clothing, and “other essentials” for the ENTIRE family, including dependents. I don’t think $15 comes anywhere close to that standard.
Trump Announces New China Trade Deal with Rare Earth Minerals Supply—Tariffs Hiked to 55%
President Trump declared a new trade deal with China securing rare earth minerals and magnets while sharply increasing tariffs on Chinese goods to 55%.
The deal, announced after talks in London, commits China to supply critical magnets and rare earths upfront, essential components for U.S. technology and defense industries. In exchange, the U.S. agreed to provide “what was agreed to,” including allowing Chinese students to study at American colleges—despite recent efforts to limit their presence on campuses.
Trump touted the deal on social media: “OUR DEAL WITH CHINA IS DONE, SUBJECT TO FINAL APPROVAL WITH PRESIDENT XI AND ME.” He added, “WE ARE GETTING A TOTAL OF 55% TARIFFS, CHINA IS GETTING 10%. RELATIONSHIP IS EXCELLENT!”
I’ll believe it when I see it. I am highly skeptical of Trump’s bluster.
The announcement coincides with concerns raised by a global rights group over forced labor in China’s Xinjiang region, where critical minerals like titanium, lithium, and magnesium are mined. Several major companies sourcing from this region face allegations of benefiting from Uyghur forced labor programs, which China denies.
As trade negotiations move forward, the U.S.-China relationship balances tough tariff stances with strategic supply commitments—highlighting the complex economic and ethical terrain ahead.
Texas National Guard Mobilized in San Antonio Ahead of Planned ICE Protest Showdowns
Governor Greg Abbott has deployed the Texas National Guard to San Antonio as protests against recent ICE raids loom in the city’s downtown.
The move comes amid plans for demonstrations Wednesday and Saturday targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s enforcement actions. Abbott emphasized Texas’ readiness to maintain law and order, warning that while peaceful protests are protected, “Texas will not tolerate the lawlessness we have seen in Los Angeles.” Protests are NOT lawlessness. In fact, they are the very essence of our law—they are part of the First Amendment (Bill of Rights)!
City officials—including Mayor Ron Nirenberg, City Manager Erik Walsh, and SAPD Chief William McManus—are set to hold a press conference to outline their strategy for supporting peaceful demonstrations while ensuring public safety.
The deployment underscores rising tensions in Texas as local governments brace for potential unrest linked to federal immigration policies.
Abbott’s statement made it clear: “Anyone engaging in acts of violence or damaging property will be swiftly held accountable to the full extent of the law.”
That dude lost more than the use of his legs when that tree fell on him. He lost his damned mind.
Home Depot Parking Lots Turned Front Lines in Trump’s Immigration Crackdown
President Trump’s aggressive ICE raids are emptying Home Depot parking lots of day laborers, disrupting a decades-old, informal labor network nationwide.
Across the country, the usual crowds of day laborers—many undocumented—who gather near Home Depot stores looking for work are vanishing. From northern New Jersey to Los Angeles and Houston, laborers are staying away, scared off by unannounced immigration sweeps targeting these informal hiring hubs.
Home Depot officially distances itself from the practice, maintaining a “no solicitation” policy and insisting laborers remain off store property. Yet the company faces pressure from both sides: critics say it facilitates undocumented labor, while others call for better conditions for these workers.
Recent raids sparked protests, particularly in Los Angeles, where agents arrested multiple day laborers near Home Depot locations. Stephen Miller, a key architect of Trump’s immigration policy, personally pushed ICE to intensify deportations in these retail parking lots and convenience stores.
While Home Depot hasn’t coordinated with immigration officials, regional leaders are urging managers to report any enforcement activity and caution staff to avoid contact with agents. Meanwhile, local advocacy groups say the raids devastate workers who rely on these sites for daily survival.
Source: https://www.wsj.com/business/retail/home-depot-immigration-ice-deportations-8027689d?st=3PmJww&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink (gift article)
It’s ironic that these raids will hurt the home improvement and real estate flipping industry, one of the spearheads of real estate—Trump’s only plausible business success.