ACTUAL NEWS: Wednesday, April 30th 2025 News Briefing

Olga Nesterova
Apr 30
16 min read

QUICK HITS

Trump’s 100 Days – A Tale of Two Worlds

To avoid being labeled as “opinionated,” I will present a series of graphics published by The New York Times that depict the reality of the first 100 days of the new administration:

Tap to open the graphs in full screen, then scroll left.

Additionally, President Trump tweeted today that the current market is “not his” and blamed former President Biden:

Oddly, he tweeted the exact opposite even a year ago:

With 100 days in office, the state of the market—as with every other national matter—is the administration’s responsibility, just as it would be under any government. Moreover, the current bleak economic outlook is unjustified, unprovoked, unreasonable, and entirely self-inflicted, reinforcing the idea that this is a situation the administration must own.

U.S. and Ukraine Sign Strategic Minerals Deal Tied to Security and Reconstruction

The United States is seeking access to over 20 strategically critical raw materials, including non-minerals like oil and natural gas. Among the key assets are Ukraine’s deposits of titanium and uranium. As part of a newly signed economic and reconstruction agreement, the U.S. will gain access to proceeds from Ukraine’s rare earth mineral reserves in exchange for an "implicit security guarantee" and reconstruction support.

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski: Let us remember that this war ends if Putin stops fighting. If Ukraine stops fighting—it’s the end of Ukraine.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Tuesday that now is the time for concrete proposals from both Moscow and Kyiv to end the war in Ukraine. He warned that the U.S. would step back from mediation efforts if there is no meaningful progress.

President Trump held a Cabinet meeting this morning. The opening remarks alone were enough to make North Korea envious.

Elon Musk returned to the White House… wearing a “Gulf of America” hat—on top of another hat.

Rubio: “The conduct of our foreign policy belongs to the president of the United States and the executive branch, not some judge.”

Howard Lutnick: “Investors want to buy U.S. citizenship in bulk. Last night at dinner, someone said: ‘Can I get 10!’ Pretty nice!”

President Trump dismissed concerns about rising prices caused by his tariffs:

“Well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls. And maybe the two dolls will cost a couple bucks more than they would normally.”

The White House is now holding separate briefings for what it calls the “new media.”

Here are some excerpts to paint the picture:

Several attendees complained that “not just the left-leaning media, but also FOX News is biased against President Trump.” There was talk of suing the media and frustration with the lack of aggressive legal recourse.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed Biden was “inept” and that the media is now “giving awards to those who wrote about it months later.” She added: “This is why we welcome you to the White House.”

“President Trump finally put American students over foreign nationals, but the media whitewashes their danger and underreports his accomplishments.”

You get the point.

TODAY IN HISTORY

1789: George Washington, the first president of the United States, was inaugurated at Federal Hall in New York City, where he addressed the nation on “the proceedings of a new and free government.”

1897: English physicist J.J. Thomson announced the discovery of the electron, a breakthrough that revolutionized atomic theory; he would later receive the Nobel Prize in Physics.

1900: American railroad engineer Casey Jones, later immortalized in song, died in a train wreck.

1900: U.S. President William McKinley signed the Hawaiian Organic Act, officially making Hawaii a territory of the United States.

1926: Aviator Bessie Coleman, the first American woman to earn an international pilot's license from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, died during a rehearsal flight for an aerial show.

1939: The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) conducted the first public television broadcast in the United States at the New York World's Fair.

1945: German dictator Adolf Hitler and his wife, Eva Braun, died by suicide in a bunker in Berlin.

1975: The South Vietnamese capital of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) fell to North Vietnamese forces, marking the end of the Vietnam War.

2013: Willem-Alexander became king of the Netherlands following the abdication of his mother, Queen Beatrix, who had reigned for 33 years.

QUICK ACTUAL NEWS

UNITED STATES

A federal judge ordered the Trump administration on Wednesday to ensure that migrants held at Guantanamo Bay are given an opportunity to raise safety concerns before being deported to El Salvador or countries other than their countries of origin.
A member of Elon Musk's U.S. Department of Government Efficiency played a role in directing the Justice Department’s April decision to terminate over $811 million in grants, including funding earmarked for crime victim support and police aid—key priorities of the Trump administration—according to internal documents and a source familiar with the matter.
The U.S. Department of Justice has initiated the first prosecutions of migrants for illegally entering a military zone established along the U.S.-Mexico border, part of President Donald Trump's broader immigration crackdown, according to court filings.
The State Department has launched a second round of its deferred resignation program, according to an internal email seen by Reuters and confirmed by two U.S. officials. The move is part of Trump’s efforts to align the department and its workforce with his “America First” agenda.
The U.S. Treasury’s primary dealers said they would prefer to eliminate the federal debt ceiling, arguing that it increases debt service costs, creates market volatility, and potentially undermines the dollar’s status as a global reserve currency, according to minutes from the Treasury Borrowing Advisory Committee (TBAC) released on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate confirmed private equity executive Thomas Barrack—a longtime ally of President Trump—as U.S. ambassador to Turkey, a NATO member whose relationship with Washington has been strained in recent years.
A group of former global central bank leaders has recommended that the Federal Reserve abandon its nearly five-year emphasis on employment and return to a stricter focus on inflation. The recommendation comes as the Fed continues its ongoing strategy review.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced it will vote on May 22 to finalize a rule barring Chinese labs deemed national security risks from testing electronic devices like smartphones, cameras, and computers for U.S. markets.
The Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday advanced President Trump’s nominees for top roles at NASA and the FCC. His nominee for NASA administrator is Jared Isaacman, CEO of Shift4 Payments and a business associate of Elon Musk who has flown to space twice aboard SpaceX missions.
The Trump administration deported the mother of a two-year-old girl to Venezuela and sent the father to a Salvadoran prison. The child is currently in foster care in the United States.
President Trump said he could assist in returning an El Salvadoran man who was mistakenly deported from Maryland but has chosen not to, despite a court order. His administration argues that only El Salvador can act in the matter.
General Motors has withdrawn its previous profit growth forecast for the year, citing uncertainty created by Trump administration policies.
The White House criticized Amazon after reports emerged that the company would start showing tariff costs on product listings. Amazon denied the claim. By day’s end, Trump had shifted tone and praised Jeff Bezos.
The Trump administration removed Biden-era appointees—including Doug Emhoff, former Vice President Kamala Harris’s husband—from the board of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
A judge ruled that the government must pay withheld grant funds to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, a media outlet known for reporting in countries with restricted press freedom.
Trump’s legal team is set to begin mediation with Paramount over his lawsuit alleging that "60 Minutes" deceptively edited an interview with Kamala Harris.
Harvard University’s president issued an apology and pledged reforms after the school published reports on antisemitism and Islamophobia on campus.
Colleges targeted by the Trump administration have significantly increased their lobbying efforts, according to a New York Times analysis.
Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi was released from U.S. immigration custody on Wednesday after a judge granted him bail to contest the Trump administration’s attempt to deport him over his participation in pro-Palestinian protests.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a budget agreement that includes a full-day cellphone ban in schools.
Consumer confidence has dropped to a five-year low. According to the Conference Board, the index fell nearly eight points last month to its lowest level since May 2020. The expectations index, which measures public sentiment about the economy’s direction over the next six months, reached a 13-year low. The
Associated Press noted that April’s reading below 80 often signals an upcoming recession.
On Wednesday, a House panel considered sweeping legislation that would severely limit government oversight of consumer financial markets and corporate auditing. The draft legislation proposes major funding cuts to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and seeks to eliminate the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board, which was established after the Enron and WorldCom scandals.
UPS plans to cut 20,000 jobs this year as part of a cost-saving effort tied to delivering fewer Amazon packages. The company previously announced a plan to reduce Amazon-related deliveries by over half within 18 months to save $3.5 billion. The layoffs represent about 4% of UPS’s 490,000-person workforce.
While not directly related to tariffs, UPS also suspended its 2025 financial guidance due to broader economic uncertainty.
Norwegian energy company Equinor warned on Wednesday that it could lose billions on its offshore wind project near New York if the Trump administration does not reverse its decision to halt construction.
Roughly 40 former federal employees who worked on coal mining and firefighter safety have been asked to return to work, although their roles may not be permanently reinstated, according to West Virginia's senator and the workers’ union.
House Republicans plan to propose eliminating a $20 annual federal registration fee for all vehicles beginning in 2031 to fund road maintenance, while introducing a $250 yearly fee for electric vehicles as part of a forthcoming tax reform bill.

DEFENSE

Michigan’s Selfridge Air National Guard Base is set to receive 21 F-15EX Eagle II multirole fighters, securing the base's future as a fighter hub following the planned retirement of its A-10 attack aircraft.
Meanwhile, lawmakers in Congress are working to allocate tens of billions of dollars toward President Donald Trump’s ambitious “Golden Dome” initiative—an expansive missile defense plan aimed at protecting the U.S. homeland.
Pentagon officials overseeing counter-drone strategy told lawmakers that, despite early steps to strengthen base defenses, the military still lacks the ability to fully detect, track, and neutralize hostile drones—citing the 17-day breach of Langley Air Force Base’s airspace in December 2023 as a key example.
On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced he had begun winding down a Pentagon program created to support women's involvement in peacebuilding and conflict prevention. The initiative was established by a GOP-authored law and signed into law by Trump during his first term.
The Pentagon is also preparing to deploy counter-drone systems along the U.S.-Mexico border in support of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement strategy, according to two senior defense officials who briefed lawmakers on April 29.
Hegseth is backing a Navy admiral as his preferred candidate to command U.S. military operations in the Middle East, passing over an Army general previously considered the frontrunner—an unexpected move amid ongoing naval tensions in the region, officials said.
On the economic front, President Trump signed two executive orders on Tuesday aimed at easing the impact of his auto tariffs, offering credits and other relief on select imported materials. The administration also announced its first trade agreement under the new tariff framework.
The final round of a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) cybersecurity competition will draw on last year’s discovery of a Chinese hacking campaign that infiltrated U.S. telecommunications systems and wiretapping platforms.
In another policy shift, the Trump administration is considering changes to a Biden-era rule that restricts global access to AI chips. Proposed revisions may include eliminating the tiered system that governs how many advanced semiconductors countries can purchase, sources said.
In a major change to procurement policy, the U.S. Space Force plans to replace its traditional geostationary surveillance satellites with commercially built and operated systems—an effort to diversify suppliers and harness private sector innovation.
The administration is also pushing to expedite approval for a new immigration detention facility at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California, according to internal government documents obtained by KQED.
Separately, Democratic-led states filed a lawsuit Tuesday alleging the Trump administration effectively dismantled AmeriCorps by abruptly cutting grants and eliminating 85% of the agency’s workforce responsible for national service and volunteer programs.

On His 100th Day, President Trump Announces Tariff Adjustments for U.S. Auto Industry

On his 100th day in office, President Donald Trump introduced changes to the tariff structure on automobiles and auto parts to "better address national security risks" while "supporting domestic manufacturing".

The updated policy modifies Proclamation 10908 by offering temporary reductions in duties on imported auto parts used in U.S.-assembled vehicles. Under the new system, manufacturers can apply for an import adjustment offset as follows:

From April 3, 2025, to April 30, 2026, eligible manufacturers may receive an offset equal to 3.75% of the total MSRP value of automobiles assembled in the U.S.
From May 1, 2026, to April 30, 2027, the offset drops to 2.5% of that value.

These adjustments reflect reduced duties on parts that make up 15% and 10% of a vehicle's MSRP, respectively. Only vehicles undergoing final assembly in the United States qualify for the offset.

Trump Issues Order to Prevent Overlapping Tariffs on Imports

On Monday, President Donald Trump signed a new executive order aimed at preventing the cumulative effect of overlapping U.S. tariffs on imported goods, particularly when multiple trade actions target the same item.

The move is intended to ensure that tariffs imposed under various authorities — meant to address "threats ranging from national security to illicit drug trafficking" — do not "stack" in a way that overburdens U.S. importers or exceeds the intended economic or policy impact.

The order outlines a hierarchy to determine which tariffs should apply when an article is subject to multiple actions. It specifically covers tariffs imposed through:

The March 2025 proclamation on autos and auto parts
A series of executive orders targeting drug flows across the northern and southern U.S. borders
Longstanding tariffs on aluminum and steel imports

Under the new rules:

Tariffs under the auto and auto parts proclamation will take precedence over tariffs imposed under the other listed actions.
Tariffs related to border security and drug trafficking will not be cumulative with those on aluminum or steel.
However, tariffs on steel and aluminum may still stack with each other, provided all conditions for each tariff are met.

The order emphasizes that this restructuring does not invalidate any of the individual tariff actions; each remains legally enforceable. However, when applicable, the duty rates will no longer combine unless specifically authorized.

This clarification is expected to "reduce confusion for importers and manufacturers while preserving the strategic goals of the tariff programs".

China has granted limited tariff relief on pharmaceutical, aerospace, semiconductor, and petrochemical products, Reuters reported. However, it did not indicate that trade talks with the United States are underway. Instead, China’s foreign ministry released a video declaring it would not “kneel down.”

“[Chinese President Xi Jinping] and the rest of the Chinese leadership harbor no illusion that China can win a trade war with the United States. But they are willing to risk one that Trump might lose,” writes CFR Senior Fellow Zongyuan Zoe Liu in Foreign Affairs.

“He [Trump] has said he wants to pressure other countries into more favorable trade deals, force manufacturers to relocate production to the United States, and create a new stream of government revenue that would allow for bigger income tax cuts. These goals are at odds with one another.”—CFR expert James M. Lindsay

Senate Deadlocks 49–49 on Effort to Repeal Trump’s Global Tariffs

On April 30, 2025, the U.S. Senate narrowly failed to pass a bipartisan resolution aimed at terminating President Donald Trump's national emergency declaration, which had authorized sweeping global tariffs. The vote ended in a 49-49 tie, falling short of the majority needed for passage. Notably, Senators Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), both of whom had previously supported similar measures, were absent during the vote. Their absence proved pivotal, as their participation could have altered the outcome.

The resolution, co-sponsored by Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), sought to revoke the national emergency status that enabled the imposition of a 10% tariff on nearly all U.S. trading partners, along with higher reciprocal tariffs on 57 countries. Only three Republican senators—Paul, Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)—joined Democrats in supporting the measure. Following the tie, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) moved to prevent reconsideration of the resolution, a motion that passed 50-49 with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the decisive vote.

The Senate's decision coincided with a report from the Commerce Department indicating a 0.3% contraction in the U.S. economy for the first quarter of 2025, marking the first decline since early 2022.

House Judiciary Republicans Vote Down Amendment Barring Deportation of U.S. Citizens

On April 30, 2025, the House Judiciary Committee voted on an amendment that would have explicitly prohibited the deportation of U.S. citizens. The amendment, introduced by Democrats, was rejected along party lines, with all Republicans on the committee voting against it. This decision has raised concerns among Democrats and civil rights advocates, who argue that it could potentially allow for the deportation of U.S. citizens under certain circumstances. Representative Eric Swalwell commented on the vote, stating, "Republicans just voted in the House Judiciary Committee to allow Trump to DEPORT U.S. citizens to a foreign country".

The vote occurred in the context of broader immigration policy discussions, including President Trump's invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expedite deportations. Legal experts have expressed concerns about the constitutionality of deporting U.S. citizens, noting that such actions could violate the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.

While the amendment's rejection does not change existing laws that protect U.S. citizens from deportation, critics argue that it signals a willingness among some lawmakers to challenge established legal norms. The debate continues as the implications of this vote are analyzed by legal scholars and policymakers.

CANADA

Prime Minister Carney delivered a rare fourth term for the Liberals by convincing Canadians he was the right leader to stand up to Trump while building a strong and sovereign Canada.
Mark Carney’s Liberal Party narrowly fell short of securing a majority in Canada’s Parliament. While Carney will remain in power, he’ll need support from smaller parties to advance his legislative agenda.
Trump, meanwhile, distorted the outcome of the Canadian election, claiming it was "pretty even" and that the candidate who "hated Trump the least won." He added that Carney "couldn't have been nicer on the phone yesterday" and mentioned that Carney would visit the White House "within the next week or less."
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Carney, delivering his speech upon the election win: “We will fight back with everything we have to get the best deal for Canada. We will build an independent future for our country. Together we will build Canada worthy of our values.”

Prime Minister Carney spoke with President Zelenskyy, who congratulated him on his election. Carney reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to supporting Ukraine. The two leaders agreed that a durable peace can only be achieved with Ukraine at the table. They will remain in close contact and meet at the G7 Summit in June.
Prime Minister Carney spoke with the President of European Council Costa who congratulated PM on his election. With his new government, Carney emphasized Canada’s role as a stable and reliable trading partner. The leaders agreed to strengthen the close economic relationship between Canada and the European Union.

GLOBAL

Some 131 Central Asian migrants who were in the U.S. illegally are being deported to Uzbekistan as part of a bilateral agreement, the Department of Homeland Security said on Wednesday.
The EU Commission is investing €910 million under the 2024 edition of the EU Defence Fund (EDF) to strengthen and modernize Europe's defense industry. The funding is aimed at addressing critical capability gaps, including force mobility and drone defense, through innovation and collaboration across European science and industry.
U.S. lawmakers have requested a briefing from the State Department regarding Russia's reported use of Chinese fighters in its war in Ukraine. In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, lawmakers emphasized that such deployments would not be possible without Beijing’s “tacit approval.”
Meanwhile, millions of dollars in U.S. grants for Jordan’s largest water desalination project were abruptly halted after President Donald Trump announced sweeping cuts to foreign aid in January.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani met with senior U.S. State Department officials in New York on Tuesday, according to two sources familiar with the discussions. Damascus is seeking a clear road map from Washington on how to achieve permanent sanctions relief.
The UN refugee agency has closed four offices and laid off 190 staff members in Mexico, citing the U.S. freeze on foreign aid. The agency had been assisting Mexico’s refugee and asylum system, which received nearly 80,000 asylum applications last year—one of the highest numbers globally. The rise in applications coincides with tighter U.S. border restrictions.
Japan and the Philippines announced the launch of talks on cross-servicing military supplies and a security information agreement, according to Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and Philippine
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Speaking in Manila, Ishiba also pledged Japan’s efforts to recognize the citizenship of people of Japanese descent who remained in the Philippines after World War II.
Vietnam marked the 50th anniversary of the end of the war with the United States with ceremonies across the country. Although the Trump administration relaxed a ban that would have prevented its senior diplomats from attending, the U.S. ambassador to Vietnam did not participate in the main event. No explanation was provided. In essays published earlier, both Vietnam’s top leader and the U.S. ambassador emphasized the importance of reconciliation.
The United Kingdom has begun a human trial for a vaccine that does not require refrigeration, marking what the National Institute for Health and Care Research called a world first. The vaccine targets tetanus and diphtheria, and aims to address the estimated 50% of vaccines globally that are wasted due to inadequate cold storage, according to the World Health Organization.
Iran will hold talks with France, Germany, and the United Kingdom on Friday ahead of a scheduled round of nuclear negotiations with the United States on Saturday, according to Iran’s foreign minister. The three European nations—collectively known as the E3—were part of the original nuclear deal from which the U.S. withdrew during Trump’s first term. France’s foreign minister said that if current talks fail, the country would support reinstating UN sanctions on Iran.
The U.S. on Wednesday imposed sanctions on entities involved in the illicit trade of Iranian petroleum and petrochemicals, in a move timed just before the next round of nuclear talks with Iran. The sanctions are part of Washington’s effort to increase pressure on Tehran.
India has shut down around half of the tourist sites in its administered region of Kashmir following the killing of twenty-six tourists by militants last week. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with security officials and authorized them to determine the appropriate response. The Indian government has not publicly commented on the matter.
At least ten people were killed near Damascus during clashes between pro-government forces and members of the minority Druze sect, according to a war monitor and an activist group. A subsequent agreement between government representatives and local officials aimed to halt the violence. The unrest reportedly began after a controversial audio clip circulated online, in which a man allegedly criticized the Prophet Muhammad. Syria’s interior ministry has launched an investigation into the recording.
Mali’s military government-backed forum has recommended that interim leader Assimi Goïta remain in power until 2030 and that all political parties be dissolved. Goïta assumed leadership following a 2021 coup. Neighboring juntas in Burkina Faso and Niger have also recently extended their rule by five years.

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Political Cartoon - Maga parrots repeating what FOX News says

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