The US president says Ukraine's leader shares blame for the war with Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden.
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MadAboutPolitics.com - Featured News
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Political News Compilation - Weekend Updates - April 12 & 13, 2025
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Trump team tries to project confidence and calm after his tariff moves rattled markets
By BILL BARROWUpdated 3:56 PM CDT, April 13, 2025
ATLANTA (AP) — Trump administration officials were out in force across the television networks Sunday defending President Donald Trump’s economic policies after another week of reeling markets that saw the Republican administration reverse course on some of its steepest tariffs.
Trump, meanwhile, said on his social media platform that there ultimately will be no exemptions for his sweeping tariff agenda, disputing characterizations that he has granted tariff exceptions for certain electronics, including smart phones, whose production is concentrated in China. Rather, Trump said, “those products are subject to the existing 20% Fentanyl Tariffs, and they are just moving to a different Tariff ‘bucket.’”
White House advisers and Cabinet members tried to project confidence and calm amid Trump’s on-again, off-again approach to tariffs on imported goods from around the world. But their explanations about the overall agenda, coupled with Trump’s latest statements, also reflected shifting narratives from a president who, as a candidate in 2024, promised an immediate economic boost and lower prices but now asks American businesses and consumers for patience.
A week ago, Trump’s team stood by his promise to leave the impending tariffs in place without exceptions. They used their latest news show appearances to defend his move to ratchet back to a 10% universal tariff for most nations except China (145%), while seeming to grant exemptions for certain electronics like smartphones, laptops, hard drives, flat-panel monitors and semiconductor chips.
Here are the highlights of what Trump lieutenants said last week vs. Sunday: ...
READ THE FULL STORY - AP
Trump goes with his gut and the world goes along for the ride
President Donald Trump likes keeping people on edge waiting for his next move, and that's been clear when it comes to his tariffs.
apnews.com
Trump’s tariff policy is ‘all chaos and corruption’: Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said Sunday that Trump has no tariff policy or plan to implement it -- "It's just all chaos and corruption."
abcnews.go.com
Trump, Xi "don't have any plans" to speak amid tariff standoff, says U.S. trade representative Jamieson Greer
U.S. trade representative Jamieson Greer said President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping "don't have any plans" to speak amid an escalating trade war between the two countries.
www.cbsnews.com
Ukraine's allies condemn Russia over missile attack in Sumy
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Sunday's attack, which killed 34 people and injured 117, as "horrifying".
www.bbc.com
FBI analyst targeted in Kash Patel's book is placed on leave
Patel, who is now the FBI director, included Brian Auten on a list of roughly 60 alleged “deep state" actors in his 2023 book, “Government Gangsters.”
www.nbcnews.com
Who is Josh Shapiro, whose home was damaged in 'act of arson'? What to know about PA gov
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is known nationally for his support of Israel and pushing back against President Donald Trump.
www.usatoday.com
Sen. Bernie Sanders makes surprise appearance at Coachella
Sen. Bernie Sanders, who had a rally earlier in Los Angeles, urged young people to "stand up and fight" at the music festival.
www.cbsnews.com
Silicon Valley workers rebel as tech billionaires embrace Trump’s agenda
Silicon Valley tech workers, once apolitical, are increasingly protesting a growing pro-Trump shift among industry elites, reflecting a deepening divide between leadership and the workforce.
apnews.com
Sen. Cory Booker says Congress should hold hearings on whether insider trading on Trump's tariffs occurred
“There is enough of an offense here, there’s enough smoke here that should demand congressional hearings,” Booker said on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”
www.nbcnews.com
Is the Supreme Court Trump 2.0's friend or foe? A week that offered clues
In recent decisions, conservatives on the Supreme Court overturned or trimmed lower court rulings against the Trump administration.
www.usatoday.com
Results of President Trump's physical released, here's what they say
President Trump is in "excellent health," the White House physician said in a release following the president's annual physical at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
www.foxnews.com
Investor who predicted the 2008 financial crisis says he's 'worried about something worse than a recession'
Ray Dalio, the founder of the hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, warned in an interview on NBC News' "Meet the Press" about tariffs, growing debt and other economic and political concerns.
www.nbcnews.com
Trump warns China ‘not getting off the hook’ on US tariffs for electronics
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says tariffs on semiconductors to be in place within weeks.
www.aljazeera.com
BBC visits scene of destruction in Sumy after Russian attack
The BBC's James Waterhouse describes the scene of a Russian strike that has killed at least 34 people.
www.bbc.com
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