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Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina won’t run in 2026 after opposing Trump’s bill

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina won’t run in 2026 after opposing Trump’s bill

Jun 29, 2025 | 10:31pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina says he won’t seek reelection. That news Sunday comes one day after he announced his opposition to President Donald Trump’s tax breaks and spending cuts package because of its reductions to health care programs. The announcement from the two-term senator surprised senior Republicans with its timing, but not necessarily the substance. Tillis had planned to announce his reelection plans later this year, likely September at the latest, but had been heavily leaning in favor of retiring. That’s according to a person close to the senator who was granted anonymity to discuss internal dynamics. His decision creates a political opportunity for Democrats seeking to bolster their numbers in the 2026 midterm elections.
Supreme Court limits nationwide injunctions, but fate of Trump birthright citizenship order unclear

Supreme Court limits nationwide injunctions, but fate of Trump birthright citizenship order unclear

Jun 27, 2025 | 2:13pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — A divided Supreme Court has ruled that individual judges lack the authority to grant nationwide injunctions, but the decision leaves unclear the fate of President Donald Trump’s restrictions on birthright citizenship. The outcome Friday was a victory for Trump, who has complained about individual judges throwing up obstacles to his agenda. But a conservative majority left open the possibility that the birthright citizenship changes could remain blocked nationwide. The Republican president’s order would deny citizenship to U.S.-born children of people who are in the country illegally. Trump says the court’s decision is “amazing” and a “monumental victory for the Constitution,” the separation of powers and the rule of law.
Trump national security adviser Waltz is out in a major staff shake-up after his Signal chat blunder

Trump national security adviser Waltz is out in a major staff shake-up after his Signal chat blunder

May 1, 2025 | 2:28pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — White House national security adviser Mike Waltz is leaving the Trump administration just weeks after it was revealed he added a journalist to a Signal chat being used to discuss military plans. That’s according to two people familiar with the matter. Thursday’s development marks the first major staff shake-up of President Donald Trump’s second term. Waltz came under scrutiny in March after revelations he added journalist Jeffrey Goldberg to a private text chain on the encrypted messaging app Signal, which was used to discuss planning for a March 15 military operation against Houthi militants in Yemen. Waltz served in the House representing Florida for three terms before his elevation to the White House.
Trump says he’s not backing down on tariffs, calls them ‘medicine’ as markets reel

Trump says he’s not backing down on tariffs, calls them ‘medicine’ as markets reel

Apr 7, 2025 | 12:14am
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump says he won’t back down on his sweeping tariffs on imports from most of the world unless countries even out their trade with the U.S. He’s digging in on his plans to implement the taxes that have sent financial markets reeling, raised fears of a recession and upended the global trading system. Speaking to reporters Sunday aboard Air Force One, Trump said he didn’t want global markets to fall, but also that he wasn’t concerned about the massive sell-off either, adding, “sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something.” His comments came after Trump’s aides sought to soothe market concerns by saying more than 50 nations had reached out about launching negotiations to lift the tariffs.
Trump announces sweeping new tariffs to promote US manufacturing, risking inflation and trade wars

Trump announces sweeping new tariffs to promote US manufacturing, risking inflation and trade wars

Apr 2, 2025 | 5:42pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is imposing a 10% baseline tax on imports from all countries and even higher tariff rates on dozens of nations that run trade surpluses with the United States. It threatens to upend much of the architecture of the global economy and trigger broader trade wars. Trump is declaring a national economic emergency to launch the tariffs, which are expected to produce hundreds of billions in annual revenues. He has promised that factory jobs will return back to the United States as a result of the taxes, but his policies risk a sudden economic slowdown as consumers and businesses could face sharp price hikes on autos, clothes and other goods.
Trump signs a bill funding the government for 6 months, avoiding a shutdown

Trump signs a bill funding the government for 6 months, avoiding a shutdown

Mar 15, 2025 | 2:16pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has signed into law legislation funding the government through the end of September. His signature Saturday ends the threat of a partial government shutdown and caps off a struggle in Congress that deeply divided Democrats. The bill largely keeps government funding at levels set during Joe Biden’s presidency, though with changes. It trims non-defense spending by about $13 billion from the previous year and increases defense spending by about $6 billion. The Senate cleared the legislation on Friday in a 54-46 party line vote, with Democrats helping advance it despite problems with the bill.
Trump threatens retaliatory 200% tariff on European wine after EU proposes American whiskey tax

Trump threatens retaliatory 200% tariff on European wine after EU proposes American whiskey tax

Mar 13, 2025 | 1:01pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — American retailers say President Donald Trump’s threatened 200% tariff on European wine would harm consumers. Holly Seidewand owns First Fill Spirits in New York state and says a tariff war hurts importers, distributors and retailers but “consumers will bear the brunt of it.” Ronnie Sanders is CEO of Vine Street Imports in New Jersey and says customers aren’t prepared to pay two or three times more for their favorite wine. Trump on Thursday called the EU among “the most hostile and abusive taxing and tariffing authorities.” Because of the Republican president’s threat, a previously untariffed $15 bottle of Italian Prosecco could cost $45. The European Commission says Europe wants to “negotiate to avoid tariffs.”
Egg prices could jump another 41% this year, USDA says, as Trump’s bird flu plan unveiled

Egg prices could jump another 41% this year, USDA says, as Trump’s bird flu plan unveiled

Feb 26, 2025 | 2:53pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration believes a renewed emphasis on biosecurity can help in the battle against bird flu and ease egg prices, but the Agriculture Department predicts the current record prices are going to get much worse this year. It’s also not clear how much more farmers can do to keep the virus out. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins offered the first new details about her bird flu plan Wednesday. But USDA predicted this week that egg prices will soar more than 41 percent this year on top of the record average price of $4.95 per dozen.
USDA scholarship for students at North Carolina A&T suspended

USDA scholarship for students at North Carolina A&T suspended

Feb 22, 2025 | 6:19pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal scholarship aimed at boosting students from underserved and rural areas attending historically Black colleges and universities has been put on hold. The U.S. Department of Agriculture suspended the 1890 Scholars Program, which provided recipients with full tuition and fees for students studying agriculture, food or natural resource sciences at one of 19 universities, known as the 1890 land grant institutions. It’s not clear exactly when the program was suspended, but some members of Congress first issued statements criticizing the suspension of the program on Thursday. A message seeking more detail was left Saturday with the Department of Agriculture.
Trump signs a plan for reciprocal tariffs on US trading partners, ushering in economic uncertainty

Trump signs a plan for reciprocal tariffs on US trading partners, ushering in economic uncertainty

Feb 13, 2025 | 10:22pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has rolled out his plan to increase U.S. tariffs to match the tax rates that other countries charge on imports. The Republican is possibly triggering a broader economic confrontation with allies and rivals alike as he hopes to eliminate any trade imbalances. Trump said Thursday: “I’ve decided for purposes of fairness that I will charge a reciprocal tariff.’ The prospect of a dramatic hike on tariffs could send shockwaves through the world economy, possibly depressing growth while also causing inflation to intensify. Most economists say the tariffs would effectively be a tax increase on U.S. consumers. Trump says he’s decided “for purposes of fairness” that he’ll charge reciprocal tariffs.