The Morning Sixpack - June 2, 2025
Trump-backed Polish president wins tight race amid EU divides; US-China trade deal unravels as new tariffs send steel, aluminum prices soaring; sanctuary city list pulled after backlash; and more!
Suspect Arrested After ‘Makeshift Flamethrower’ Attack on Pro-Israel Rally in Boulder
Eight people were hospitalized after a man wielding a homemade flamethrower targeted a crowd at a pro-Israel demonstration in Boulder, Colorado.
The suspect, 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, allegedly shouted “Free Palestine” while using the incendiary device against participants in the Run for Their Lives walk, an event aimed at raising awareness about hostages held by Hamas. Police say eight victims, aged 52 to 88, suffered burn injuries, with one in critical condition.
FBI officials are treating the incident as an ideologically motivated terror attack. Deputy Director Dan Bongino described it as "targeted terror," backed by witness accounts and evidence gathered at the scene. Justice Department antisemitism task force leader Leo Terrell condemned the attack as part of a disturbing wave of antisemitic violence targeting Jews and their supporters.
The attack occurred on the eve of the Jewish holiday Shavuot, amplifying the cruelty, said Terrell. Organizers canceled all upcoming Run for Their Lives events indefinitely following the attack. Colorado Governor Jared Polis called it a “heinous act of terror” and pledged state support for the investigation.
While Boulder Police initially refrained from labeling the event terrorism, charges against Soliman include use of an incendiary device and possible first-degree murder, though no deaths have been reported. The investigation is ongoing.
Source: ABC News
Violence isn’t the best way to get a point across.
Trump Warns Courts: Overturn My Tariffs and You’ll ‘Ruin’ the U.S. Economy
Donald Trump fired a pointed message at judges reviewing his global trade tariffs, claiming a loss would lead to the "economic ruination" of America.
After a federal trade court struck down his signature “Liberation Day” tariffs as unconstitutional, an appeals court swiftly paused that ruling pending review, plunging Trump’s trade war strategy into legal limbo. Trump took to Truth Social to warn that overturning the tariffs would let foreign countries “hold our Nation hostage” with their own anti-American tariffs.
The initial lawsuit came from small businesses arguing the tariffs drove up costs and threatened their survival. The trade court ruled that the 1977 law Trump relied on does not grant “unbounded authority” to impose such sweeping tariffs. Yet Trump’s camp has dismissed the judges as “activist,” despite two being Republican appointees, including one picked by Trump himself.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick doubled down on the administration’s resolve to maintain tariffs no matter what, promising to pursue “another or another or another” legal path if needed. So far, the administration has only sealed a trade deal with the U.K. and a brief tariff truce with China. Oh, but “90 deals in 90 days,” right? They just never told us which 90 days or if they would be in a row!
The appeals court set June 5 for plaintiffs’ response and June 9 for the administration’s reply as this high-stakes battle over trade policy continues.
Source: The Daily Beast
The US economy wasn’t “ruined” before Trump’s tariffs. His brain is dust.
The Trump Administration Quietly Removes Controversial ‘Sanctuary Jurisdictions’ List After Backlash
The Department of Homeland Security pulled down a contentious list labeling certain U.S. localities as “sanctuary jurisdictions” amid widespread criticism and confusion.
The list, published last week, identified jurisdictions accused of not cooperating fully with federal immigration enforcement and possibly violating federal laws. But by Sunday, visitors to the page were met with a “Page Not Found” error, signaling the list’s sudden disappearance from the DHS website.
This move followed backlash from various communities—some fiercely conservative—that argued their inclusion was mistaken or unfair. For example, Huntington Beach, California, appeared on the list despite actively opposing sanctuary policies and filing a lawsuit against California’s sanctuary state law.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem acknowledged pushback but defended the list, saying some cities “think because they don’t have one law or another on the books that they don’t qualify, but they do qualify.” She accused them of “giving sanctuary to criminals,” though she didn’t explain the removal of the list.
Officials noted the list was “constantly reviewed” and subject to change, but this swift removal hints at deeper issues with accuracy and political fallout, especially given the confusion over red and blue jurisdictions being lumped together.
Source: AP News
The Trump administration is simply incompetent. They don’t know how to do anything.
Trump-Backed Karol Nawrocki Clinches Narrow Victory in Poland’s Presidential Runoff
In a tight race watched worldwide, conservative Karol Nawrocki edged out liberal rival Rafal Trzaskowski to become Poland’s next president.
Nawrocki, 42, secured 50.89% of the vote in Sunday’s runoff, narrowly beating Trzaskowski, who garnered 49.11%. The election, seen as a symbolic but important post with veto power, signals a political shift in Poland’s divided landscape.
Backed by Trump and the nationalist Law and Justice party, Nawrocki campaigned on uniting Poland’s “patriotic camp” and promised a country “without illegal immigrants, a safe Poland.” His victory followed a controversial campaign, including past allegations related to a 2009 football hooligan fight.
U.S. conservative leaders actively supported Nawrocki, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem urging Polish voters to choose him over Trzaskowski, whom she labeled a “socialist” and “train wreck.” Meanwhile, European leaders from Ursula von der Leyen to Viktor Orban extended their congratulations, reflecting mixed international reactions.
Nawrocki’s win sets the stage for potential new dynamics in Poland’s relations with both the EU and the U.S., as the country balances nationalist and pro-Western influences.
Source: UPI
The move to the hard right is only beginning. We can expect another decade of this.
China Pushes Back Hard Against Trump’s Geneva Trade Deal Accusations, Escalating Tensions
China fired back at U.S. claims that it violated the Geneva trade agreement, accusing Washington of undermining the deal and fueling growing friction between the two economic giants.
The escalating trade conflict follows a Geneva meeting where both sides agreed to suspend most tariffs for 90 days. But the Trump administration has since tightened export restrictions on key tech and chemicals and moved to revoke visas for Chinese students—steps Beijing calls a serious breach of the agreement.
Chinese officials vowed to defend their interests, warning that Beijing is “comfortable taking an extremely firm stance” and sees no reason to back down. State media highlighted ongoing efforts to crack down on illegal mining and exports of critical minerals, signaling a strategic grip on rare earth resources.
Experts suggest the current deal only buys short-term peace and that broader tensions run deeper, complicated by internal U.S. government coordination problems and differing negotiation styles between Washington and Beijing.
Meanwhile, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth sounded alarms on China’s growing military threat in the Indo-Pacific, calling for increased allied defense spending. China’s defense ministry accused the U.S. of “instigating cold-war mentality” and “severely challenging China’s sovereignty.”
Source: CNBC
U.S. Steel and Aluminum Tariffs Spike Prices and Rattle Asian Markets Ahead of June 4 Rollout
The Trump administration’s decision to double tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 50% is sending shockwaves through global markets and raising costs for U.S. manufacturers.
Prices for U.S. hot-rolled coil steel jumped 5%, while aluminum premiums surged 54% in early trading. Meanwhile, shares of major steel producers in South Korea and Vietnam tumbled as fears of declining exports and increased trade tensions set in.
South Korea’s government convened emergency talks with leading steelmakers like POSCO and Hyundai Steel, aiming to soften the tariff impact amid ongoing trade negotiations with Washington. The tariffs add pressure as Seoul seeks exemptions and a broader trade deal before a critical election.
Despite skepticism over whether the full tariffs will be sustained, analysts warn the elevated metal prices will likely contract U.S. steel demand, hitting manufacturing output. Meanwhile, U.S. producers welcomed the move as a defense against subsidized imports that have undermined domestic industry for decades.
The global trade friction continues to ripple across industries as countries brace for shifting tariffs and uncertain negotiations ahead.
Source: Reuters
Note that this is ALL steel and aluminum coming into the US. Why does Trump want crazy inflation?