Happy Friday! This weekend is daylight saving time, I'd tell you to change your clocks but I'm guessing most of us have smart devices to do that for us!
Today's forecast in DC: ⛅ 50° (Find your weather here) In this edition: |
- NEW: Rubio, Musk argue at 'explosive' Cabinet meeting
- Trump threatens more sanctions, tariffs on Russia
- Trump's first full month's jobs report
- Unmanned SpaceX rocket explosion
- Harris reportedly eyeing California governorship
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Trump's first report card: |
The U.S. economy added a steady 151,000 jobs during President Trump's first full month in office, roughly in line with economists' expectations. Economists had mentally prepared for the worst: Economists had feared a potentially bad report because of Trump's new tariffs and the resulting tumbling markets, the mass federal layoffs and some sluggish economic data. ^ Yes, but: Several economists note that recent layoffs may not show up in the data just yet. For example, an economist at NerdWallet predicted the federal layoffs will appear in March's jobs' report. 📊 CNBC charts showing job creation and wages over the past year Just now from Trump: Trump spoke with reporters about the economy and tariffs. "There could be some disturbance, a little bit of disturbance," he said when asked about the pain Americans could feel from tariffs. Where the U.S. stands economically: The Hill's Sylvan Lane reports that Trump is facing slumping consumer confidence and deepening concern about business leaders over his slew of major economic moves. Other metrics: "U.S. companies cut more than 172,000 jobs in February, according to the Challenger report released Thursday, the most in any month since July 2020. It was also the highest number of February layoffs since 2009." Read more: 'Trump faces new economic uncertainties amid trade battles' |
I guess Trump didn't want Russia to miss out on the tariff fun: |
President Trump threatened additional sanctions and tariffs on Russia as a tactic to encourage Moscow to negotiate to end the war in Ukraine. Trump posted on Truth Social: "Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely 'pounding' Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED." 🔎 Read Trump's full post Timing: Several Trump administration officials are set to meet with their Ukrainian counterparts in Saudi Arabia next week to negotiate an end to the war. These U.S. officials had a similar meeting with the Russians last month. |
➤ REPUBLICANS REALLY WANT TRUMP TO RECONSIDER UKRAINE: |
"Republican lawmakers are starting to urge President Trump to reverse his decisions to pause U.S. military and intelligence assistance to Ukraine, warning that a prolonged stoppage of U.S. help for the war effort would have a seriously detrimental effect," reports The Hill's Alexander Bolton. Specifically on intel: GOP lawmakers wonder what the U.S. has to gain by withholding battlefield intelligence from Ukraine. Read Bolton's reporting: 'Republicans press Trump to resume military, intelligence aid to Ukraine' |
Republican Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.) argues the tariffs Trump is levying on the U.S.'s key trading partners are hurting his constituents. "Almost every industry in Kentucky has come to me and said, 'It will hurt our industry and push up prices of homes, cars,' and so, I'm going to continue to argue against tariffs," Paul told CNN on Thursday night. |
Just posted — there's piping hot tea from that Cabinet meeting: |
Remember last week how President Trump had his first Cabinet meeting and invited tech mega billionaire Elon Musk to speak? There had been an unclear division of power over who controls the federal agencies: the Senate-confirmed Cabinet secretaries or Elon Musk? Well, that meeting didn't sort out those tensions, which brings us to this week. Another meeting was abruptly added to the schedule this week. At that Cabinet meeting, Trump that his Cabinet secretaries — not Musk — are in charge of any staffing cuts. The New York Times's Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman just posted some behind-the-scenes details of that meeting. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was apparently "incensed." He and Musk argued back and forth until Trump finally stepped in. Oh, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Musk argued over air traffic controller cuts: "Mr. Duffy said the young staff of DOGE was trying to lay off air traffic controllers. What am I supposed to do? Mr. Duffy said. I have multiple plane crashes to deal with now, and your people want me to fire air traffic controllers?" Read the NYT report: |
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It's a bird, it's a plane, no it's … rocket debris: |
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© GIPHY / Biden Inauguration Committee |
Former Vice President Kamala Harris is seriously considering a run for California governor, reports Politico's Eugene Daniels and Christopher Cadelago. Why this matters outside of California: This would likely mean she would not run for president in 2028. Her timeline: Harris has reportedly told people close to her that she's planning to make a decision in the next few months. |
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Logistically, how would one close the Education Department?: |
Education Secretary Linda McMahon appeared on NewsNation this morning to explain how she would carry out the Trump administration's plan to close the Education Department. "This is not a turn off the lights and walk out of the department," McMahon said. "It's in close consultation with Congress and looking at how the needs of students can best be serviced." Will resources and research still be provided to states? McMahon says yes: "Well, we're looking at them all across the board and how can they be best handled if the Department of Education does not exist. Some of that funding comes by appropriations from Congress so that's in statute and that money will continue to flow into the states," she said. So, when is Trump signing the executive order to do so?: That's still unclear, but it could be soon. |
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Reining in Mounjaro dupes: |
"A federal judge has effectively ended the ability of compounding pharmacies to make their own copies of Eli Lilly's weight loss and diabetes drugs Zepbound and Mounjaro," reports The Hill's Nathaniel Weixel. 💡 Why this matters: "Compounders had been allowed to produce and sell hundreds of thousands of their own versions of popular anti-obesity drugs, so long as the FDA considered them in shortage. Compounded drugs are sold at vastly lower prices than the branded versions, but drug companies and some obesity specialists have expressed concerns that some compounded products aren't FDA-approved." |
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Because newborn parents have so much free time on their hands: |
The Portland Press Herald reports that new parents in Maine will no longer be able to check a box at the hospital to request a Social Security number for their newborn babies. Instead, they will have to visit a Social Security office to apply for one. What's still unclear: "It was not clear Thursday whether this is a nationwide change, unique to Maine, or if it is a change being piloted in Maine that would expand to other parts of the country." Read the full report: 'Social Security now requires Maine parents to visit an agency office to register newborns' |
🥣 Celebrate: Today is National Cereal Day. |
💐 Have you been affected by the federal worker layoffs?: Businesses are offering freebies and discounts for federal employees who have lost their jobs. 📝 List of freebies 🕊️ Spotted on Capitol Hill: A black curtain was hung outside the late Rep. Sylvester Turner's (D-Texas) office following his death Tuesday. 📸 |
The House and Senate are out. President Trump is in Washington. (all times Eastern) |
- Noon: Bill Nye the Science Guy, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and health and science leaders hold a "Stand up for Science" rally at the Lincoln Memorial. 💻 Livestream
- 2:30 p.m.: Trump signs executive orders.
- 3 p.m.: Trump delivers remarks at the White House Digital Assets Summit. 💻 Livestream
- 5 p.m.: Trump leaves for Palm Beach, Fla.
- 3 p.m. Monday: The Senate returns. 📆 Monday's agenda
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