The Hill: Tariffs, Higher Education, and Political Retribution

Trump Administration's Tariff Deadline

• ⏰ The deadline for President Trump's tariff implementation hit at midnight, impacting trade with most countries globally.
• 🤝 A last-minute phone call resulted in a reprieve for Mexico, the US's top trading partner, with a 90-day extension on existing trade deals.
• 📈 Tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper remain for Mexico, alongside a 25% tariff on fentanyl and cars, while Mexico agreed to drop non-tariff trade barriers.
• 🇨🇦 Negotiations with Canada are ongoing, with President Trump citing their support for Palestinian statehood as a factor, and high tariffs on Canadian farmers are a point of contention.
• 🇨🇳 Talks with China are also underway, with current tariffs at 30%, and a deadline of August 12th for a potential deal.
• 🌍 For countries without specific deals, a baseline tariff rate of 15-20% is expected to be implemented.

President Trump's Focus on Higher Education

• 🎓 President Trump is escalating his battle against higher education institutions, with Duke University now facing scrutiny.
• 🏈 He criticized college football, calling it a "mess" and expressing concern that excessive funding for football and basketball is detrimental to other sports, particularly women's sports.
• 🏛️ Universities like Brown, Harvard, and Duke are under the spotlight, with Brown reaching a deal to restore funding after agreeing to changes, while Harvard faces a civil rights investigation, and Duke has had federal funds frozen.
• 📊 The administration's actions are seen by some as following public opinion, as many Americans reportedly have negative views of elite universities.

Political Maneuvering and Retribution

• ❓ The Trump administration is pointing fingers at Hillary Clinton, with some calling the situation "Russia gate" and others "retribution," suggesting 2016 is being relitigated.
• 📄 A declassified memo alleges that Hillary Clinton's campaign approved a plan to smear Donald Trump with fabricated claims of Russia collusion, financed by her campaign.
• 🗣️ Critics suggest these accusations are a distraction from other issues, such as the Jeffrey Epstein case.
• 🗳️ In New York City, mayoral candidate Zoran Momdani, who previously called to defund the NYPD, is now walking back those statements following a recent shooting of an off-duty police officer.
• 📊 New polling shows Momdani leading the New York City mayoral race, with betting markets also favoring him significantly.

Kamala Harris's Future and Political Memoir

• 📖 Former Vice President Kamala Harris announced an upcoming memoir titled "107 Days," detailing her presidential campaign.
• ❌ This announcement followed her decision to opt out of the California governor's race, potentially signaling future presidential ambitions.
• 🗣️ President Trump commented on Harris, calling her "not a skilled politician."
• 🚀 The memoir is seen as a way for Harris to rebuild her platform and stay relevant, with potential for a 2028 presidential bid.
• 🤔 There is discussion about whether Democrats are actively supporting Harris for a future presidential run, with some suggesting a lack of clear frontrunners in the party.