Americans Rally Behind Trump’s Trade Policies.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Taylor Lorenz shared a post expressing disappointment that a false report on former President Joe Biden’s death was untrue.

👥 Who’s Involved: Taylor Lorenz, a writer for Mehdi Hasan’s Zeteo.

📍 Where & When: The exchange happened on the social media platform X over the weekend.

💬 Key Quote: “This tweet got my hopes up :(” – Taylor Lorenz.

⚠️ Impact: The post sparked controversy and discussion online, with many users criticizing Lorenz.

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Taylor Lorenz, a former Washington Post and New York Times journalist now writing for Zeteo, a media venture launched by Mehdi Hasan, the ex-MSNBC host who previously compared non-Muslims to “animals,” triggered debate online after publishing a social media post suggesting disappointment that former President Joe Biden was not dead.

An initial post on X, formerly Twitter, reading “RIP Joe Biden 1942-2025. You were always a racist f***ing monster, and will not be missed,” appeared motivated by his policies on the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Lorenz is known to share similar sentiments, describing the 82-year-old Democrat as a “war criminal.”

Lorenz’s response was a quote share of this post, in which she expressed her disappointment that the news was false, commenting, “This tweet got my hopes up.” She doubled down in the face of the subsequent backlash, quipping sarcastically, “You can’t even say that you hope a genocidal war monger dies peacefully in his sleep of old age anymore with cancel culture the way it is.”

This tweet got my hopes up 🙁 https://t.co/QQscoHsauE

— Taylor Lorenz (@TaylorLorenz) April 6, 2025

Lorenz, best known for doxxing the popular Libs of TikTok social media account, has faced similar controversies in the past. Recently, she expressed sympathy towards the alleged murderer of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson, writing, “People have very justified hatred toward insurance company CEOs because these executives are responsible for an unfathomable amount of death and suffering” on the pedophile-infiltrated X alternative Bluesky. Subsequently, she shared a post about another healthcare company’s policies, remarking, “And people wonder why we want these executives dead.”

Lorenz is also a noted COVID-19 hysteric, describing how she spent “THOUSANDS of my own dollars” on anti-coronavirus measures, including “testing, outdoor space, far UV lights, and a litany of other precautions” for a book launch as recently as December 2024. She remains committed to masking in public, describing those who go maskless as “dumbf***s” who are “raw dogging the air and spewing ur disease laden breath all over ur elderly neighbors.”

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❓What Happened: An activist identified her illegal immigrant status during a rally, sparking calls for her deportation.

👥 Who’s Involved: Greisa Martinez Rosas, a DACA recipient and activist; critics and supporters of President Donald J. Trump.

📍 Where & When: Washington, D.C., at the ‘Hands Off!’ rally on Saturday.

💬 Key Quote: “I am an immigrant, I am undocumented, unafraid, queer, and unashamed,” said Rosas at the rally.

⚠️ Impact: Online backlash ensued, with demands for her deportation and attention from Trump administration officials.

IN FULL:

In Washington, D.C., during the ‘Hands Off!’ rally against deportations, activist Greisa Martinez Rosas openly boasted about her illegal immigrant status, leading to calls online for her deportation. Rosas, affiliated with United We Dream, a large youth immigrant organization, characterized herself to the crowd of over 10,000 as “undocumented, unafraid, queer, and unashamed,” stirring a loud response from supporters and detractors alike.

Rosas arrived in the United States from Hidalgo, Mexico, as a minor, and has made a career out of advocating for immigrant rights. Her boasting about her illegal status was met with immediate backlash from America First supporters online, with some directing their comments to Tom Homan, the Trump administration’s border czar, in pressing for her removal from the country.

Her work as the executive director of United We Dream, which boasts a membership exceeding 400,000, aligns with her activism background, which dates back to organizing student protests in 2006. Martinez Rosas benefits from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) scheme, which allows her certain temporary protections and a renewable work permit despite her lack of formal documentation.

Her activism drew national attention during the rally, one of many across over 1,200 U.S. locations, in protest of Trump’s deportation efforts and related socio-political grievances involving immigration. Alongside her in-person and social media campaigning for various leftist causes, Rosas has contributed opinion pieces to The New York Times.

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❓What Happened: Two politicians from the United Kingdom’s governing Labour Party, Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang, were denied entry to Israel.

👥 Who’s Involved: Labour Members of Parliament (MPs) Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang, Israel’s interior ministry, Britain’s Foreign Secretary, David Lammy.

📍 Where & When: The incident occurred in Israel during a planned visit to the West Bank, reported on October 2023.

💬 Key Quote: “It’s disgraceful you are cheerleading another country for detaining and deporting two British MPs,” said Foreign Secretary Lammy to the opposition Conservative Party leader, who indicated support for the Israelis.

⚠️ Impact: The decision has sparked criticism from British officials, affecting diplomatic relations between Britain and Israel.

IN FULL:

Two British leftist MPs have publicly expressed their surprise after being refused entry to Israel, stirring a discussion among British officials. Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang, members of the ruling Labour Party originally from Yemen and China, respectively, attempted to travel to the West Bank. Their visit came amid heightened attention to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began on October 7, 2023, after a large-scale Hamas terror raid on Israel.

The Israeli interior ministry denied access, citing the MPs’ alleged intention to foster anti-Israel sentiments. The MPs refuted these claims, stating the purpose of their visit was purely observational and facilitated by British nonprofits.

Kemi Badenoch, leader of the formerly governing Conservative Party, defended Israel’s prerogative to control its own borders. In contrast, the virulently anti-Trump Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, criticized the decision, describing it as inappropriate and warning of the potential diplomatic fallout.

Lammy also slammed Badenoch, saying, “It’s disgraceful you are cheerleading another country for detaining and deporting two British MPs.?”

The current Labour government has been critical of Israel during its conflict with Hamas and has even indicated that it would enforce an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he entered Britain.

Image by Chatham House.

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❓What Happened: Canadian election officials uncovered a Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-linked social media campaign supporting globalist Prime Minister Mark Carney ahead of the 2025 federal election.

👥 Who’s Involved: Prime Minister Mark Carney, the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) task force, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and the WeChat news account Youli-Youmian.

📍 Where & When: China, Canada, April 7.

💬 Key Quote:  “This information operation had contrasting positive and negative narratives, first amplifying Mr. Carney’s stance with the United States and then targeting his experience and credentials,” Laurie-Anne Kempton, assistant secretary to the Cabinet for communications at the Privy Council Office, said.

⚠️ Impact: The campaign highlights the ongoing problem of foreign influence in Canadian politics and elections.

IN FULL:

Canada’s globalist prime minister, Mark Carney, benefitted from a Chinese foreign influence campaign on the social media platform WeChat aimed at swaying support for him ahead of Canada’s national elections later this month. Canadian officials from the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) task force announced the operation’s discovery on April 7.

According to the officials, the most popular news account on WeChat, Youli-Youmian, spread articles meant to garner support for Carney and the Liberal Party. “This information operation had contrasting positive and negative narratives, first amplifying Mr. Carney’s stance with the United States and then targeting his experience and credentials,”  Laurie-Anne Kempton, assistant secretary to the Cabinet for communications at the Privy Council Office, said.

In recent weeks, Carney has become hypercritical of U.S. President Donald J. Trump, even suggesting that Canada could take over America’s global leadership role.

Mark Carney: “If the United State no longer wants to lead, Canada will” pic.twitter.com/IhZnPL7w7K

— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) April 4, 2025

The WeChat articles received around one to three million views. The Youli-Youmian account has a history of interfering in Canadian politics and once targeted a Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) who was critical of China.

While SITE has acknowledged the foreign election interference, it insists that Canadian voters are still free to choose their vote at the election on April 28. This contrasts starkly with developments in Romania, a NATO and European Union member, where the presidential election was annulled after claims that Russia used TikTok accounts to express support for populist candidate Calin Georgescu, who had won the election’s first round. Last month, Georgescu was banned from participating in the election re-run scheduled for May.

It is highly unlikely that globalist Mark Carney will face similar treatment in Canada.

Image by World Economic Forum / Sandra Blaser.

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❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump stated that tariffs on other nations will remain until trade deficits with China, the European Union, and others are eliminated.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump, his economic advisers.

📍 Where & When: Remarks were made on Air Force One on Sunday; Trump was headed to his club in Jupiter, Florida.

💬 Key Quote: “Hundreds of billions of dollars a year we lose with China,” Trump said. “And unless we solve that problem, I’m not going to make a deal.”

⚠️ Impact: Global businesses, investors, and markets have been affected; American manufacturing will likely build strength over time with less competition from low-wage economies.

IN FULL:

On Sunday, President Donald J. Trump announced he would maintain tariffs on other nations until the United States’ trade imbalances with the likes of China and the European Union (EU) are addressed. Speaking to journalists aboard Air Force One, Trump emphasized the financial losses stemming from trade with China, stating, “Hundreds of billions of dollars a year we lose with China. And unless we solve that problem, I’m not going to make a deal.”

The America First leader’s remarks followed efforts by his senior advisers to bolster his broad-reaching tariff policy. As Trump traveled from his Mar-a-Lago property for a golfing day at his Jupiter, Florida club, key economic advisers dismissed the short-term market shock, asserting that the President’s approach to tariffs would yield benefits for American industry and workers.

Trump’s aides noted Sunday that more than 50 countries have already expressed interest in finding ways to avert U.S. tariffs. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed that the tariffs would indeed proceed, saying, “The tariffs are coming. Of course they are.”

Some countries have already retaliated against Trump’s tariffs, including China, which announced a 34 percent tariff on all U.S. imports last week. President Trump reacted to the retaliatory tariffs, saying, “China played it wrong, they panicked—the one thing they cannot afford to do!” He later announced China will be subjected to an increased 50 percent tariff if it does not back down.

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PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump on Monday took to Truth Social, warning China that it has 24 hours to withdraw its 34 percent retaliatory tariff on American imports or else he will impose an additional trade duty of 50 percent on Chinese goods. Additionally, Trump indicated that should China refuse, he will break off all ongoing talks about a broader trade agreement.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping

📍 Where & When: April 7, 2025 in Washington D.C.

💬 Key Quote: “Therefore, if China does not withdraw its 34% increase above their already long-term trading abuses by tomorrow, April 8th, 2025, the United States will impose ADDITIONAL Tariffs on China of 50%, effective April 9th, ” Trump announced.

⚠️ Impact: Further retaliatory tariffs could mark a significant escalation in the trade conflict.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump is giving China 24 hours to end its retaliatory trade measures against the United States. Otherwise, he will impose an additional 50 percent tariff on top of those enacted on April 2. Following Trump’s imposition last week of reciprocal tariffs against nations that abuse their trade position against the United States, China announced they would escalate, enacting trade levies that have, in part, helped fuel global market volatility.

“Yesterday, China issued Retaliatory Tariffs of 34%, on top of their already record setting Tariffs, Non-Monetary Tariffs, Illegal Subsidization of companies, and massive long term Currency Manipulation, despite my warning that any country that Retaliates against the U.S. by issuing additional Tariffs, above and beyond their already existing long term Tariff abuse of our Nation, will be immediately met with new and substantially higher Tariffs, over and above those initially set,” Trump wrote on Monday. “Therefore, if China does not withdraw its 34% increase above their already long term trading abuses by tomorrow, April 8th, 2025, the United States will impose ADDITIONAL Tariffs on China of 50%, effective April 9th.”

He added: “Additionally, all talks with China concerning their requested meetings with us will be terminated! Negotiations with other countries, which have also requested meetings, will begin taking place immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

The move could mark a serious escalation in the trade conflict between the United States and China. For years, the Chinese communist government has used various tools, such as currency manipulation, state subsidies, and regulatory measures aimed at obstructing American exports, to prevent U.S. exporters from remaining competitive with Chinese firms. Ending this behavior is a key goal for the Trump White House.

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PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Officials from the Trump Administration discussed the President’s reciprocal trade plan to counter global economic policies perceived as harmful to American workers.

👥 Who’s Involved: Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, National Economic Director Kevin Hassett, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Senior Counselor Peter Navarro.

📍 Where & When: Various news shows aired discussions on Sunday, including Meet the Press, Face the Nation, This Week, State of the Union, Fox News Sunday, and Sunday Morning Futures.

💬 Key Quote: Scott Bessent remarked on tariffs, “A 20 percent tariff on China led to a 0.7 percent price level increase over four years. I think that’s pretty good.”

⚠️ Impact: The administration aims to reduce reliance on foreign goods and protect American industries, citing national security and economic stability concerns.

IN FULL:

Several Trump Administration officials appeared on major news programs Sunday to outline its tariff strategy, intended to change the economic landscape to favor American workers and industries and mitigate distorted trade imbalances.

Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent recalled the tariffs imposed during President Donald J. Trump’s first term, noting that a 20 percent tariff on Chinese goods resulted in only marginal price increases and net real wage growth for American households. He added that the COVID-10 pandemic exposed the fact that “[America’s] supply chains are not resilient,” explaining that “President Trump has decided that we cannot be at risk like that for our crucial medicines, for our semiconductors, for shipping.”

Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick also emphasized the national security risks involved in outsourcing critical manufacturing: “We don’t make medicine in this country anymore. We don’t make ships. We don’t have enough steel and aluminum to fight a battle,” he warned.

Kevin Hassett, National Economic Director, explained that cheap foreign imports come at a cost, recalling how, in the years since China was admitted to the World Trade Organization (WTO), “real incomes declined about $1,200 cumulatively… We got the cheap goods at the grocery store, but then we had fewer jobs.”

Peter Navarro, Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing, emphasized that many of America’s so-called trade partners have adopted practices beyond tariffs “that are designed, explicitly, to cheat us”—such as currency manipulation, to strengthen their export potential, and regulatory barriers against American produce —and that President Trump has determined to draw a line against this.

“We’re headed towards a strong America that makes things again,” he added.

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PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: A minivan drove into a group of bystanders in Los Angeles.

👥 Who’s Involved: Nine individuals were assessed for injuries, including two children and a teenager. The incident involved four adults who were hospitalized, two adults who refused treatment, and three minors, aged 8, 11, and 17, who were also treated.

📍 Where & When: The crash occurred in the downtown area of Los Angeles, shortly after 3 p.m. local time on Sunday.

💬 Key Quote: “A total of 9 patients were assessed for injury on scene,” said the Los Angeles Fire Department.

⚠️ Impact: Although there were injuries, no fatalities or critical patients were reported. An investigation into the cause of the incident is ongoing, with preliminary findings indicating no intentional harm or substance impairment.

IN FULL:

A minivan collided with a group of pedestrians in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon, leading to the assessment of nine individuals for injuries, as reported by the city’s fire department. The crash, occurring shortly after 3 p.m. local time, resulted in four adults being taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, while two others declined medical attention. Additionally, three minors, ages 8, 11, and 17, were transported for care.

According to authorities, there were no reports of fatalities or critically injured individuals at the time of transport. Rescue units found the minivan lodged against a collapsed patio structure upon arrival. Los Angeles traffic officers have started an investigation to determine why the vehicle veered into the area.

Preliminary reports from the Los Angeles Police Department indicated no evidence of deliberate action or criminal behavior surrounding the crash. Further statements revealed the driver attempted to avoid a stationary vehicle, leading to the collision with a nearby barrier. The absence of alcohol or drugs was confirmed in the initial investigation stages.

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❓What Happened: Donald Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, mistakenly added journalist Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal group chat discussing U.S. military operations in Yemen due to an iPhone mechanism that prompts contact updates automatically, per new, exclusive reporting from Hugo Lowell at The Guardian.

👥 Who’s Involved: Mike Waltz, Jeffrey Goldberg, Donald Trump, White House staff, Trump campaign members, and National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes.

📍 Where & When: The incident was discovered in March 2024, stemming from a mistake during the 2024 campaign communicated via Signal, a messaging app.

💬 Key Quote: Jeffrey Goldberg stated, “I’m not going to comment on my relationship with Mike Waltz beyond saying I do know him and have spoken to him.”

⚠️ Impact: The episode led to a forensic review by the White House IT office to uncover how Goldberg’s number was added mistakenly. It also prompted discussions about secure communication methods in the administration.

IN FULL:

The now infamous mix-up involving White House national security adviser Mike Waltz and Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of The Atlantic, resulted from an automated contact update prompt in Waltz’s iPhone, according to The Guardian’s Hugo Lowell. The illustration, provided below, is indicative of the type of function that Waltz apparently used when receiving a message from his colleague Brian Hughes.

According to several people briefed on an internal review, the error emerged from a series of missteps dating back to the 2024 campaign. Efforts to counter a critical story led a Trump campaign staffer to forward Goldberg’s contact details to Waltz, which prompted Waltz to inadvertently save “Goldberg’s number in his iPhone—under the contact card for Hughes, now the spokesperson for the National Security Council.”

President Trump deliberated on firing Waltz, expressing discontent not only over the accidental inclusion of Goldberg, a frequent critic but also due to the discussion of sensitive topics on an unclassified platform like Signal. Nonetheless, Trump retained Waltz, avoiding the media fallout that might ensue from a high-profile dismissal.

The White House ordered an internal investigation, which attributed the contact mishap to an algorithmic error in Waltz’s iPhone.

Waltz maintained that he never interacted with Goldberg and suggested the integration of Goldberg’s number was due to a technical anomaly with the phone’s contact settings. Goldberg declined to elaborate on any existing ties with Waltz, simply acknowledging past communication.

“I’m not going to comment on my relationship with Mike Waltz beyond saying I do know him and have spoken to him,” Goldberg said.

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PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Dan Norris, a Member of Parliament (MP) for Britain’s governing Labour Party, West of England Mayor, and Donald J. Trump critic, has been arrested for misconduct in public office and a range of child sex offenses.

👥 Who’s Involved: Dan Norris, Labour Party, Avon and Somerset Police.

📍 Where & When: The arrest took place in Somerset, England, on April 4, 2024.

💬 Key Quote: “Dan Norris MP was immediately suspended by the Labour Party upon being informed of his arrest,” said a party spokesman.

⚠️ Impact: Norris has been released on conditional bail, suspended from his political roles, and has stepped down as chairman of the League Against Cruel Sports.

IN FULL:

Labour MP and West of England Mayor Dan Norris has been suspended from the Labour Party following his arrest “on suspicion of sexual offenses against a girl (under the Sexual Offences Act 1956), rape (under the Sexual Offences Act 2003), child abduction, and misconduct in a public office,” per Avon and Somerset Police. The police force says most of the alleged offenses took place in the 2000s, but the rape allegations date from the 2020s.

Norris, a 65-year-old former teacher and Child Protection Officer, served as a government minister and party whip under ex-prime ministers Gordon Brown and Tony Blair. He has been released on conditional bail after being taken into custody on Friday. The investigation into him is being conducted by officers from Operation Bluestone, who handle serious sexual assault cases.

A Labour spokesman stated that Norris was suspended immediately after his arrest was reported and declined to comment further. Additionally, Norris has stepped down from his position as chairman of the League Against Cruel Sports.

Norris was re-elected last year to represent the North East Somerset and Hanham constituency (electoral district) in the House of Commons, having previously served from 1997 to 2010 as the MP for Wansdyke. He became West of England Mayor in 2021 but was scheduled to step down ahead of the upcoming local elections in May.

Norris is a strong critic of President Donald J. Trump, comparing him to former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in unfavorable terms.

“He broke the law. He diminished Britain’s influence and credibility. He lied. Even as he exits, he continues to show no contrition,” the alleged pedophile said of Johnson in 2023, adding: “The similarities with Trump are stark.”

He broke the law. He diminished Britain’s influence and credibility. He lied. Even as he exits, he continues to show no contrition. The similarities with Trump are stark.

— Dan Norris (@votedannorris) June 9, 2023

Image via Keir Starmer.

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