Extra, Extra
Ice Price: Immigration was considered one of Trump’s winning issues just a few months ago. The past few months, especially the past few days, have changed that. Trump has made ICE a 70-30 issue — for Democrats. And from Dan Pfeiffer: “Trump’s ability to bend reality to his will is the foundation of his political success. It’s how he has survived so many moments that would have ended other politicians’ careers. But it is not working this time. In what may be the most high-profile failure of the Trump media machine, the American people are not falling for Trump’s lies. This is an important moment, with serious implications for Trump’s near-term political standing and for the longer-term politics of immigration in America.” How Trump is Losing the Fight on the ICE Shooting. The lack of popular support appears to be making the administration double down. NYT: Under Trump, a Shift Toward ‘Absolute Immunity’ for ICE.
+ Xi Loves Me, Xi Loves Me Not: “Donald Trump’s tariff war occupied US allies for much of last year. Now, President Xi Jinping is welcoming a procession of leaders looking to mend fences with the world’s other major economy.” Bloomberg (Gift Article): Xi Welcomes Stream of Leaders Shaken by Trump’s New World Order. And from WSJ (Gift Article): Canadian Leader Spurned by Trump Finds a Warm Embrace in China.
+ Strike That, Reverse It: “After a tense day of confusion and backroom negotiations, the Trump administration moved Wednesday night to restore roughly $2 billion in federal grant money for mental health and addiction programs nationwide.”
+ Owning the Lib: “Manufacturing employment has declined every month since what Trump dubbed ‘Liberation Day’ in April, saying his widespread tariffs would begin to rebalance global trade in favor of American workers. U.S. factories employ 12.7 million people today, 72,000 fewer than when Trump made his Rose Garden announcement.”
+ Prix Fix: “A college basketball point-shaving scheme involving more than 39 players on 17 NCAA Division I teams resulted in dozens of games in the previous two seasons being fixed by a gambling ring that included a former NBA player, according to a federal indictment unsealed Thursday in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.”
