ACTUAL NEWS: Wednesday, April 16th 2025 Daily Briefing
- Olga Nesterova
- Apr 16
- 10 min read
QUICK HITS
President Trump to Fox: "You know, in the old days — about 1870 to 1913 — the tariffs were the only form of money."
Also Trump:
Headline Inflation: The headline inflation rate, which includes all goods and services, is at 2.4%.
Core Inflation: Core inflation, which excludes volatile items like food and energy, is at 2.8%.
Fed Reserve’s target: 2%
Zongyuan Zoe Liu, senior fellow for China studies at the Council on Foreign Relations: “Trump administration has severely misjudged China leadership’s willingness to endure pain when it comes to the trade war.”
Zongyuan Zoe Liu added: "The risk of military confrontation is rather low, especially since the Biden admin was able to maintain continuous contact on the military level. Yet, as China has been visibly singled out in the tariff war, these communications are at a high risk of being stalled."
Alarming."Within minutes after DOGE accessed the NLRB's systems, someone with an IP address in Russia started trying to log in," according to Berulis' disclosure. The attempts were "near real-time," according to the disclosure.
Washington Post reports that Trump's pick for D.C.'s U.S. Attorney appeared on Russian state propaganda over 150 times. The Biden U.S. State Department has previously confirmed that these networks are arms of Russian intelligence.
Ed Martin appeared on RT and Sputnik repeatedly between 2016 and 2024 — without disclosing it to the Senate.
EU trade officials made little progress on a tariff deal with the U.S. and are struggling to understand the Trump administration’s position, Bloomberg reported.
Putin-loving Slovakian PM Fico commented on his trip to Moscow on May 9:
"I am going to Moscow on May 9... Ms. Kallas, I would like to inform you that I am the legitimate Prime Minister of Slovakia, a sovereign state. No one can tell me where I should or should not travel. I will go to Moscow."
The U.S. has revised its estimated cost of aid to Ukraine since Russia's 2022 invasion, lowering it from $300 billion to about $100 billion, according to Bloomberg.
President Donald Trump is pursuing a bilateral minerals “(extortion) deal” with Ukraine, both as part of a broader peace initiative and as a way to recoup military aid expenses. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described recent talks with the U.S. on the proposed deal as "positive," with further discussions planned.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday he was shutting down a State Department office that had sought to counter foreign disinformation, accusing it of censorship and wasting U.S. taxpayer money.
A Trump ally has informed CNN’s parent company that future lawsuits from the Trump administration could be avoided if the network produces a documentary about Melania Trump or a television show featuring Donald Trump Jr.—projects that would involve substantial payments to the Trump family.
President Trump Hosts White House Easter Dinner
The White House Easter dinner opened with a stirring rendition of the Lord’s Prayer sung by Charles Billingsley, during which President Trump bowed his head and closed his eyes. Paula White joined him at the table, bringing the number of women in the room to five.
Franklin Graham delivered a message, saying, “We are so glad God assigned an angel to stand between you and a bullet.” He spoke of a "spiritual revival underway across the country" and thanked the president, alleging that "church attendance is reaching levels higher than before". He concluded with a prayer "asking God to bless both President Trump and the First Lady".
President Trump expressed gratitude for the “tremendous support” in the room, calling each guest “a very special friend.” He strongly condemned "efforts" to remove “In God We Trust” from U.S. currency, declaring he would not let that happen. He called the death and resurrection of Jesus “two of the most monumental events in history.”
The president recognized “angel mom” Patty Morin, who had appeared earlier in the day at a press briefing. He also quoted Billy Graham, telling Franklin that his father would be proud of him, recalling a moment from his own childhood when he accompanied his father to see Billy Graham preach at Yankee Stadium.
Trump spoke of a “whole new spirit in our country and a whole new respect for our country” under his leadership. He addressed the "global persecution of Christians" and highlighted a Department of Justice task force dedicated to combating anti-Christian bias. He also reiterated his executive order banning biological men from competing in women’s sports and emphasized returning control of education to the states.
“I hope this is going to be one of the great Easters ever,” Trump said, describing his support from people of faith as “unprecedented.”
TODAY IN HISTORY
1746: British forces defeated the Scottish army of Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) at the Battle of Culloden, effectively ending the Jacobite effort to restore the Stuart monarchy.
1838: French forces occupied Veracruz, Mexico, during the Pastry War, a conflict sparked when a French pastry chef claimed Mexican officers had damaged his shop near Mexico City.
1908: Natural Bridges National Monument was officially established in southeastern Utah, protecting unique sandstone formations.
1912: American aviator Harriet Quimby became the first woman to fly across the English Channel, piloting a French Blériot monoplane from Dover, England, to Hardelot, France.
1917: Vladimir Lenin returned to Russia after 17 years in exile, setting the stage for the Bolshevik takeover of the provisional government later that year.
1943: Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann discovered the psychedelic effects of LSD, a compound he had first synthesized in 1938.
1948: Sixteen European nations formed the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC), the precursor to the OECD, to coordinate post–World War II recovery efforts.
1962: Walter Cronkite became anchor of the CBS Evening News, a role he held for nearly 20 years and during which he earned the title “the most trusted man in America.”
2007: A mass shooting at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, left 33 people dead, including the gunman, marking one of the deadliest such attacks in U.S. history.
2014: The South Korean ferry Sewol capsized and sank en route from Inch'ŏn to Cheju, killing 304 people—most of them high school students.
QUICK ACTUAL NEWS
NATIONAL
Astronomers have detected a potential sign of life on a distant exoplanet. A team of researchers claims to have found the strongest evidence yet for extraterrestrial life—on K2-18b, a massive planet orbiting a star 120 light-years from Earth.
The top U.S. consumer finance watchdog will cut its inspections of financial services companies in half.
According to an internal memo, the agency will now prioritize threats to military personnel, while stepping back from issues like student loans, medical debt, digital payments, and consumer data.
The Trump administration on Wednesday proposed a major overhaul in how federal agencies consider threatened species. The new plan would eliminate regulatory language aimed at preventing degradation of these species’ habitats.
Investors hoping for relief from the Federal Reserve were left disappointed. Fed Chair Jerome Powell signaled that the central bank may have limited room to maneuver amid ongoing market volatility triggered by President Trump’s global trade war.
A Pentagon leak investigation has expanded to include two additional aides to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. This follows news that senior adviser Dan Caldwell was placed on administrative leave after an unauthorized disclosure of classified information.
President Trump announced that Jay Clayton, former chairman of the SEC, will serve as interim U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, pending full Senate confirmation.
The economic ripple effects of Trump’s global trade war continued to batter U.S. stock markets on Wednesday. Industries are feeling the strain of erratic tariff policy and increasing global uncertainty.
U.S. immigration officials and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are reportedly seeking access to a sensitive Medicare database as part of their crackdown on undocumented immigrants, according to the Washington Post.
Congressional Republicans who still hold in-person town halls are facing intense backlash over Trump’s policies, particularly proposed deep cuts to social programs like Medicaid.
Economic data suggests slowing growth in the U.S., with modest gains in consumer spending, a surge in imports ahead of tariff deadlines, and weakening sentiment, according to Fed Chair Powell.
U.S. manufacturing grew modestly in March, rising 0.3%, but is expected to slow further as global tariffs take their toll. February's production figure was revised upward to a 1.0% increase.
California filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging Trump’s sweeping tariffs on U.S. trading partners, accusing the administration of abusing its powers and causing economic harm.
A federal judge warned that Trump officials could face criminal contempt charges for defying a court order to halt deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members without due process.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced new studies into environmental links to autism, citing a rise in diagnoses.
TikTok has begun testing “Footnotes,” a fact-checking feature similar to "Community Notes" used on X and Meta, amid its ongoing efforts to remain operational in the U.S.
The Associated Press accused Trump aides of defying a court order restoring its press access to White House events, following what a judge deemed unlawful retaliation.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration may soon lose dozens of employees due to a wave of resignations prompted by new resignation offers under the Trump administration. This could jeopardize vital global energy reporting.
Wall Street analysts issued bleak projections for Hollywood’s first quarter, citing economic uncertainty and diminished consumer confidence driven by Trump’s trade moves.
Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen arrived in El Salvador on Wednesday seeking the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a wrongly deported Salvadoran man held in a notorious prison.
As the Space Force expands its orbital tracking capabilities, upcoming ground-based radars are expected to help fill current coverage gaps.
Amid mounting pressure from Elon Musk's DOGE department, nearly all staff at the Defense Digital Service—the Pentagon’s agile tech development wing—are resigning. Sources and internal emails confirm the mass departures.
The Defense Department is preparing an early look at its $48 billion IAC-MAC contract recompete. The contract, launched in 2018, supports customized R&D services across the federal government.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff are updating their intelligence platform, used for real-time military analytics and collaboration. BigBear.ai is providing support for the modernization effort.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has granted national energy emergency status to Enbridge’s proposed Line 5 oil tunnel, fast-tracking its federal permitting process.
The Trump administration sued Maine on Wednesday, claiming the state’s refusal to ban transgender athletes from women’s and girls’ sports violates Title IX protections.
The Justice Department appealed a federal ruling that opened the door for criminal contempt charges against Trump officials for defying deportation orders.
Christopher Krebs, former head of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, announced his departure from cybersecurity firm SentinelOne, citing pressure from Trump.
Rep. Elise Stefanik is reportedly considering a gubernatorial bid in New York next year. If nominated, she could challenge Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul.
Finally, members of Congress have urged the Trump administration to immediately cease the use of unauthorized AI systems in its budget-cutting efforts, warning of legal and ethical violations in a formal letter sent Wednesday.
GLOBAL
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed tariffs and ways to deepen defense and security cooperation with Indonesia during a meeting with the Indonesian foreign minister on Wednesday, according to the U.S. State Department.
U.S. President Donald Trump blocked a planned Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear sites in favor of pursuing a negotiated deal with Iran to limit its nuclear program, The New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing administration officials and other sources.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also set to meet with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Thursday in Paris. According to a French diplomatic source, the talks will cover the war in Ukraine, the Middle East situation, and Iran nuclear discussions.
Three U.S. senators are visiting Taiwan this week, where they are expected to meet with President Lai Ching-te to discuss trade and other bilateral issues. The visit coincides with ongoing U.S.-Taiwan tariff negotiations.
Nvidia did not inform several major customers in advance about newly implemented U.S. export restrictions on AI chips intended for China. The company learned of the new licensing requirements about a week ago, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
The U.S. imposed a fresh round of sanctions on Wednesday targeting Iran’s oil exports, including measures against a China-based "teapot" refinery. The move comes as the Trump administration intensifies its pressure campaign on Tehran.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Wednesday she sent a diplomatic note to the U.S. regarding security coordination at the shared border. A day earlier, the U.S. announced an emergency land transfer of nearly 110,000 acres along the border to the Army to help stem illegal immigration.
B-1B bombers from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, conducted flyovers of South Korea alongside U.S. and South Korean fighters on April 15, further reinforcing the U.S. bomber presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
During the recent Ramstein Flag 2025 exercise, Lockheed Martin announced that F-35s successfully relayed targeting data to ground artillery using a new open-systems communications gateway. It marked the first demonstration of the secure system outside of the U.S.
The U.S. Navy is highlighting its collaborative MQ-28 Ghost Bat drone program with Australia—also known as the ‘loyal wingman’ project—as a template for future industrial partnerships. Military officials confirmed sustained U.S. interest in the initiative.
Hamas has reportedly rejected an Israeli proposal for a six-week ceasefire in Gaza. The plan demanded disarmament from Hamas in exchange for the release of half the living hostages, but offered no guarantees regarding a permanent ceasefire or Israeli troop withdrawal—key conditions for Hamas.
Norway has become the first F-35 partner nation to complete its full order, with Lockheed Martin confirming delivery of the final two F-35A airframes this month. The Scandinavian country’s total order consisted of 52 aircraft.
As the U.S. and China continue their race toward developing practical quantum computers, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has awarded a $10.8 million contract to quantum chip-maker PsiQuantum, the company announced Wednesday morning.
CARTOON OF THE DAY
POSTS OF THE DAY
NEWS CLIPS - NO COMMENTARY
Leavitt is "taking" media questions. Not.
United Airlines flight experienced engine fire shortly after takeoff caused by rabbit strike
Sen Van Hollen: El Salvador's VP confirms Abrego Garcia is held at CECOT because US admin is paying
Top Bank of Canada officials share 2 possible scenarios for the economic path forward
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