Today’s edition of quick hits.
* Ottawa strikes back: “New Canadian tariffs targeting roughly $20 billion in U.S. imports officially snapped into place on Tuesday, the latest escalation in an increasingly costly trade war that has ensnarled two longtime allies. The duties apply to a variety of U.S. goods, including clothing, cheese, metal parts and wood products.”
* Evidently, the latest attempts at diplomacy did nothing to curb Moscow’s campaign of deadly violence: “Two people were killed and at least 10 injured after Russia struck the Ukrainian capital Kyiv with drones and missiles overnight on Tuesday, local authorities said. The attack comes after a pause over the weekend as U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived in Kyiv for their first official visit in a renewed push to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.”
* German election results: “The far-right party Alternative for Germany fell short of an outright majority in crucial elections in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, according to final results posted on Monday. But it could still take power there if it wins the support of a minor populist party.”
* A huge loss for the Smithsonian: “Lonnie Bunch III announced his resignation as secretary of the Smithsonian Institution on Tuesday, marking the end of nearly four decades there amid pressure from the Trump administration to present a less critical version of American history.”
* That the U.S. delegation stood alone on this speaks volumes: “The United Nations has adopted a West African country’s proposal for a new world map to replace one created in the 16th century. The vote on Friday was almost unanimous. Only one country — the United States — voted against the proposed map, which more accurately reflects the size of Africa and other regions.”
* Some members of the worst Cabinet ever stand out: “Former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer violated department policy repeatedly, a report released on Thursday by the department’s internal watchdog said, including tolerating harassment, spending public money on personal travel and conducting an ‘inappropriate relationship’ with a member of her security detail. The 40-page report revealed new details of the dysfunction and toxicity at the top of the Labor Department under Ms. Chavez-DeRemer, who resigned in April after one year in the job as scandals and investigations closed in.”
* A story we’ve been following: “A federal judge in the nation’s capital declined to block the firings of journalists from military news outlet Stars and Stripes, in a case that the judge said required him to ‘confront the limits of First Amendment protections for public employees speaking about their jobs.’”
* Noted without comment: “Many MAGA-centered merchandise retailers and their suppliers are seeing sales dwindle, according to interviews with wholesalers, sales representatives, business owners and employees. As the president’s approval rating hovers near all-time lows, imperiling Republicans’ control of Congress, store owners blame a stagnant economy and weaker MAGA enthusiasm for lower sales. Some stores are closing permanently.”
See you tomorrow.
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