Bessent Doesn’t Know If Trump Talked to Xi
“Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended President Donald Trump’s negotiating strategy on trade deals but said he didn’t know whether Trump was speaking directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping,” ABC News reports.
Republicans Avoid Their Constituents
Associated Press: “The U.S. House is ending a 17-day recess, typically known as a district work period, in which members of Congress return home to focus on their constituents. But some of the most vulnerable Republicans limited their potential exposure to the potential backlash from President Donald Trump’s first months in office.”
“They are embracing the strategy outlined by GOP leaders in Washington who argue there is no benefit to creating more viral moments such as the crowd in Asheville, North Carolina, that booed U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards and the pointed questions about tariffs and deportations that were directed at U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa.”
Quote of the Day
“We’re not trying to start a third party.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), on Meet the Press, adding that “what Democrats lack right now is a vision for the future.”
Scandal Upends Dreams of a DeSantis Dynasty in Florida
“A year after his presidential ambitions collapsed, Gov. Ron DeSantis and his wife Casey can no longer lay claim to the future of the Republican Party. And in Florida, even their present is in jeopardy,” CNN reports.
“Once firmly in his corner, many Sunshine State Republicans have lately turned on DeSantis, stymying his agenda and frustrating him to no end. At the same time, Casey DeSantis, long regarded as a political force in her own right, is encountering quiet but firm resistance as she lays the groundwork for a potential run to succeed her husband.”
“Now, a funding scandal involving one of Casey’s signature initiatives — a state assistance program known as Hope Florida — is casting a shadow over the governor’s legacy and complicating her political ambitions.”
Trump’s Approval Sinks as Voters Sour on His Policies
“As he nears the end of his first 100 days in office, President Donald Trump is facing growing opposition to his ambitious and controversial agenda, with his approval rating in decline, majority opposition to major initiatives, and perceptions that his administration is seeking to avoid complying with federal court orders,” according to a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll.
“No president in modern times has moved more swiftly than Trump to remake so many parts of government, as well as some outside institutions. The moves range from shrinking and reshaping the executive branch to upending the global economic order to cracking down on illegal immigration to challenging leading universities.”
“The initiatives have caused significant disruption to individuals, institutions and financial markets. They have produced a flurry of lawsuits from opponents, which Trump is contesting. There are few bright spots in the survey for the president, and none of his policies tested in the poll enjoy majority support.”
Trump’s Tariffs Stoke Fears of Shortages
“American retailers are growing worried that President Trump’s trade war and increased volatility will lead to empty shelves, higher prices and store closures as Chinese imports screech to a halt,” Axios reports.
“Many retailers stocked up on inventory in the first months of 2025, realizing that a storm was coming — but their inventories are poised to dwindle quickly.”
Trump Has Already Changed Their Day-to-Day Lives
Wall Street Journal: “The effects of Trump’s fast-paced, far-reaching policy changes are reverberating across the country as the president hits the 100-day mark in office. In more than a dozen interviews with people of all political affiliations, voters said the president’s actions have already directly affected their day-to-day lives in a way they can’t remember a previous administration doing.”
“Democrats said Trump’s second term has been worse for them than they expected, pointing to instability caused by the president’s policies. People who voted for Trump were more divided, with some Republicans and independents raising concerns about the impact of tariffs and the cuts to government programs carried out by billionaire Elon Musk. Others said they were thrilled to see the president quickly enacting his campaign promises.”
Trump’s Tariffs Prompt Wave of Lawsuits
New York Times: “Nearly four weeks into a costly global trade war with no end in sight, Mr. Trump is facing a barrage of lawsuits from state officials, small businesses and even once-allied political groups, all contending that the president cannot sidestep Congress and tax virtually any import at levels to his liking.”
“The lawsuits carry great significance, not just because the tariffs have roiled financial markets and threatened to plunge the United States into a recession. The legal challenges also stand to test Mr. Trump’s claims of expansive presidential power, while illustrating the difficult calculation that his opponents face in deciding whether to fight back and risk retribution.”
Democrats Seize on New Issue to Use Against GOP
“Democrats, after weeks of struggling to find a message that resonates with ordinary Americans while President Donald Trump dominates the news, are beginning to settle on one: the allegation that Trump and his allies are crippling Social Security,” the Washington Post reports.
“The elimination of 7,000 Social Security jobs — more than 12 percent of the workforce — and other cuts have led to long waits, dropped calls and other widespread service issues. Democrats say the worsening problems create a clear link between Trump’s chaotic style and Americans’ day-to-day well-being.”
Wall Street Journal: Americans are claiming social security early, fearful of its future.
Trump Tightens Control of Federal Workforce
“The Trump administration is moving to consolidate control over the hiring and firing of federal workers, positioning a key agency to continue some of Elon Musk’s shrinking of the U.S. government as the Tesla CEO pulls back from Washington,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“The effort is centralized in the Office of Personnel Management, the human-resources arm of the government. The office, a hub of Musk’s project, has begun approving positions federal agencies want to add… That is a change; agencies have typically decided which positions they filled.”
CNN: Three charts break down the scale of Trump’s federal layoffs.
Trump-Aligned Club for Ultra Rich Launches in D.C.
“A new club is coming to Washington — and you probably can’t get in,” Politico reports.
“Donald Trump Jr., megadonor Omeed Malik and several other investors are launching an invite-only club that costs more than half a million to join with an exclusive post-White House Correspondents’ Dinner gathering.”
“The ‘Executive Branch’ is the brainchild of Malik and the president’s eldest son, and their partners at conservative fund 1789 Capital. It will be located in Georgetown.”
“Their goal, the people familiar with the plans say, is to create the highest-end private club that Washington has ever had, and cater to the business and tech moguls who are looking to nurture their relationships with the Trump administration.”
Trump’s Poll Numbers Are Dismal at 100 Days
A new AP-NORC poll finds 39% have a favorable opinion of Donald Trump and 58% have an unfavorable view.
Similarly, a majority of the public disapproves of Trump overall as president, 59% vs. 39%.
These numbers are lower than Joe Biden’s when he left office.
Quote of the Day
“There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and town over the last few days. It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along.”
— President Trump, quoted by the New York Times.
Trumps Tariffs Amount to a Baby Tax
“New parents looking to purchase a stroller may want to get a jump start, as the price of baby gear is climbing thanks to President Trump’s tariffs,“ Axios reports.
“The president has become a powerful ally in the push for women to have more children but his roller-coaster tariffs have made it more expensive for parents to buy the baby products they need.”
China Quietly Exempts Some U.S Products From Tariffs
“China’s government has exempted some U.S. imports that the country would struggle to immediately source from elsewhere from its retaliatory tariffs,“ the Wall Street Journal reports.
“Chinese authorities have told some importers of American goods that they would waive the most recent 125% increases in tariff rates for certain U.S. imports. Those products include certain semiconductors and chipmaking equipment, medical products and aviation parts.”
Trump’s 14 Hours in Rome
New York Times: “Mr. Trump was on the ground in Rome for about 14 hours, and left immediately after the services for the pope in St. Peter’s Square, stopping only for handshakes or greetings with a few of the presidents, prime ministers, royals and religious leaders who came to the ceremony.”
“It was a startlingly fast turnaround for the first overseas trip of a new president, and left no time for discussion of his tariffs on the European Union, his turn toward normalizing relations with Russia or his insistence that Europeans must take far larger responsibility for their own defense.”
“Mr. Trump told aides he wanted to make it back to his golf resort in New Jersey before the end of the day.”
Washington Parties On Without Trump
New York Times: “For those taking part in the Washington social whirl leading up to the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, it is helpful to know a few basic facts: There will be ample canapés and cocktails, and the occasional broken glass, at the parties before the big night; there will be plenty of television anchors, reporters and talking heads holding forth on current events; and, inevitably, you will run into Bill Nye, the science guy.”
“Mr. Nye, a Georgetown resident and affable advocate for all things scientific, was a fixture at the festivities in advance of Saturday’s dinner, which has been buffeted by a series of norm-breaking changes.”
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