Trump's China Tariffs, New Pope Election, and Airport Outages: CBS News 24/7

Trade Talks with China

• 🇨🇳 President Trump suggested an 80% tariff on Chinese goods, a reduction from the current 145%, ahead of trade talks in Switzerland.
• 🇺🇸 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will lead negotiations, aiming to de-escalate the trade situation, which is described as unsustainable for China.
• 📉 Shipments from China to the US are down 21%, and the potential tariff reduction could appease Chinese officials.
• 🤝 The White House stated that the president is not unilaterally lowering tariffs and expects concessions from China.

Election of Pope Leo XIV

• 🇻🇦 Robert Prevost, a 69-year-old American from Chicago, has been elected as Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff.
• 🕊️ Pope Leo XIV expressed a desire to be a collaborator, bringing people together, and emphasized unity and the defense of the defenseless.
• 🤝 He is seen as a successor to Pope Francis's approach, focusing on Catholic social teaching and being a voice for the voiceless, though potentially more restrained.
• 🇺🇸 His election has generated excitement, particularly in Chicago, his hometown.

Newark Airport Outages and FAA Issues

• ✈️ Newark Liberty International Airport experienced another brief radar and equipment outage, lasting about 90 seconds.
• ⚠️ This follows a week of significant delays and cancellations plaguing travelers due to air traffic control issues and runway construction.
• 🛠️ The FAA attributes the outages to telecommunications and software issues, with plans for a new fiber-driven system by summer.
• 📉 The Transportation Secretary announced a multibillion-dollar plan to upgrade air traffic control equipment nationwide.

Legal and Political Developments

• ⚖️ A federal judge ordered the release of detained Tufts doctoral student Rümeysa Öztürk, citing first amendment claims and due process issues related to an op-ed she wrote.
• 🏛️ The judge found her not to be a danger or flight risk, emphasizing her commitment to academics.
• 🎤 President Trump announced Janine Piro, a Fox News host and former judge, as the interim US attorney for Washington D.C.
• 🔍 Reports indicate the DOJ has launched a criminal investigation into New York Attorney General Leticia James, which her spokesperson calls political retribution.
• 📚 Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden was fired via a one-paragraph email, with the reason for her dismissal unclear.