Newsroom Briefing | June 27th, 2025

Olga Nesterova
Jun 27
14 min read

Trump Ends Trade Talks With Canada Over Digital Services Tax

U.S. President Donald Trump announced via a Truth Social post on Friday that the United States was ending all trade negotiations with Canada, in response to Canada’s Digital Services Tax.

The Canadian Digital Services Tax was originally introduced as legislation in 2021 but its enforcement was delayed while international negotiations at the OECD continued. Canada moved forward in 2024 to implement the tax, which applies retroactively to revenues from 2022. It imposes a 3% levy on large digital companies with global revenue over €750 million and Canadian revenue over $20 million, targeting major U.S. tech firms such as Google, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft.

Trump called the tax a “direct and blatant attack” on the United States and threatened new tariffs on Canadian goods within a week.

Notably, the timing of the U.S. announcement is striking, since the Canadian tax itself is not new but is only now being actively enforced with retroactive collection, creating friction after a period of negotiation and delay.

Canada’s government said it would review its next steps following the U.S. decision.

Markets saw a brief dip after the announcement, but recovered later in the session. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq remained near record highs, supported by optimism around artificial intelligence growth and expectations of potential U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts.

Supreme Court Curbs Nationwide Injunctions

On the final day of its term, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to limit the ability of lower federal courts to issue nationwide injunctions that block the government from enforcing policies. The 6–3 decision was seen as a significant victory for President Donald Trump, whose agenda has been repeatedly hampered by such orders.

Key points of the ruling:

The Court ruled that while plaintiffs can still get relief to address their own harm (including class actions), federal judges cannot generally impose sweeping, nationwide pauses on government policies.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett, writing for the majority, emphasized that federal courts “do not exercise general oversight of the executive branch,” but resolve specific legal disputes.
The decision means Trump’s opponents will face more hurdles when trying to block policies nationwide.

Impact on birthright citizenship policy:

Trump has pushed a controversial plan to effectively end birthright citizenship, which was temporarily blocked by lower courts.
The ruling does not settle the constitutionality of that policy. Instead, it makes it less likely that courts can issue broad injunctions to stop it preemptively, though lower courts will still have to review it.

White House reaction:

Trump celebrated the decision from the White House, calling it an “amazing” and “giant win” for the Constitution and separation of powers.
He said a “whole list” of stalled policies could now move forward.
Attorney General Pam Bondi and Vice President JD Vance praised the ruling as a major legal victory, with Bondi saying they are “very confident” the Supreme Court will ultimately uphold Trump’s order on birthright citizenship.

Dissenting views:

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in dissent, accused the Court’s majority of aiding the administration’s “gamesmanship,” warning it undermines judicial power to check unconstitutional policies.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, in her own dissent, described the ruling as an “existential threat to the rule of law” that lets presidents violate the Constitution without effective court oversight.

Other Supreme Court decisions released the same day:

Obamacare: The Court upheld the authority of a task force recommending no-cost preventive care under the Affordable Care Act.
Rural broadband: The Court left intact long-standing federal programs subsidizing broadband and phone service in poor and rural areas.
LGBTQ books in schools: The Court sided with religious parents seeking to opt their children out of reading LGBTQ-themed books in a suburban DC school district.
Age verification for porn sites: The Court upheld a Texas law requiring age checks for adult sites.
Louisiana redistricting: The Court postponed a final decision on the state’s congressional map, leaving a district with a second Black Democratic representative in place for now.

Trump Says He’ll “Get the Conflict Solved” with North Korea

President Donald Trump on Friday expressed optimism about reducing tensions with North Korea, telling reporters in the Oval Office that he would “get the conflict solved.”

Trump described his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as “really great” and said he hoped any potential conflict could be avoided.

“I’ve had a good relationship with Kim Jong Un and get along with him, really great,” Trump said. “So we’ll see what happens.”

He also downplayed concerns about military escalation:

“Somebody’s saying there’s a potential conflict, I think we’ll work it out,” Trump added. “If there is, it wouldn’t involve us.”

The president did not announce any new diplomatic initiatives or meetings with North Korea.

Trump Claims Gasoline Is “Down to $2” — But Where Exactly?

President Donald Trump today claimed:

“Gasoline now is down to close to $2 in a lot of places. A couple of places… it's like $1.98 a gallon.”

However, there is no evidence of widespread U.S. prices anywhere near $2 per gallon. National average prices remain significantly higher, with recent tracking showing averages well above $3.20–$3.40 per gallon in most states.

So.. WHERE EXACTLY?

Over 40 Faith Leaders Urge Senate to Reject Trump-Backed Budget Bill Over Cuts to Aid, Deportation Funding

More than 40 religious leaders—including Catholic bishops, Protestant ministers, rabbis, and Muslim imams—have signed an open letter urging the U.S. Senate to vote “no” on HR 1, the budget reconciliation bill backed by President Trump.

In their June 26 letter, they argue the bill would:

Fund a “mass deportation campaign” that would separate families, harm immigrant communities, and sow chaos.
Enable ICE raids at houses of worship, reducing attendance and deterring religious practice.
Pay for new border wall construction that would endanger migrants and worsen smuggling.
Make severe cuts to health care coverage and food assistance for millions of low-income Americans, including refugees and asylum-seekers.

The letter explicitly warns that these cuts would “harm the poor and vulnerable” and “transfer wealth from those in the bottom 10 percent of income to those in the top 10 percent,” citing the Congressional Budget Office.

The signatories include Catholic bishops and archbishops, Protestant leaders from Methodist, Lutheran, Baptist, and Presbyterian churches, rabbis, imams, and representatives of religious orders such as the Sisters of Mercy.

They invoke moral principles, saying:

“From our various faith perspectives, the moral test of a nation is how it treats those most in need of support. In our view, this legislation will harm the poor and vulnerable in our nation, to the detriment of the common good.”

They call on Senators to reject the bill completely.

NATO Unveils Defense Production, Space, and Innovation Strategies

NATO has released public versions of three major strategic documents approved by Defense Ministers earlier this year, aimed at modernizing and strengthening the Alliance’s defense capabilities in response to a rapidly evolving security environment.

Updated Defense Production Action Plan Approved in February 2025, this plan seeks to increase and accelerate defense production across NATO members. It focuses on aggregating demand, delivering advanced capabilities faster, and expanding industrial capacity through long-term contracts and clear demand signals for industry.

First Commercial Space Strategy Approved at the June 2025 Defense Ministers’ meeting, this is NATO’s first dedicated strategy for commercial space integration. It aims to give the Alliance more flexible and continuous access to commercial space solutions during peacetime, crisis, and conflict. The strategy is designed to reduce procurement barriers, improve engagement with space companies, encourage business opportunities, and strengthen trans-Atlantic space partnerships.

Rapid Adoption Action Plan Also approved in June, this plan accelerates the adoption of new technologies for defense across all military domains. Allies committed to fast-track procurement, allocate sufficient resources, and accept more acquisition risk in early development stages. It also includes provisions for expanded testing and experimentation via NATO Innovation Ranges and scaling the NATO Task Force X Model.

Together, these initiatives are intended to ensure NATO members can produce more, adopt faster, and integrate cutting-edge commercial and technological solutions to maintain a decisive advantage.

NATIONAL NEWS

Treasury Secretary Urges Dropping Retaliatory Tax

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday he has asked congressional Republicans to remove the Section 899 retaliatory tax proposal from their tax and spending bill. The move follows Washington’s agreement with Group of Seven industrial countries, resolving concerns that led to the proposed tax.

Deportation Protections Ending for Haitians

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced plans to end deportation protections for around 500,000 Haitians, marking the Trump administration’s latest effort to strip migrants of legal status as it ramps up deportations.

FDA Loosens Rules on Bristol-Myers Squibb CAR T Therapies

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday it has eliminated the risk evaluation and mitigation strategies (REMS) requirements for Bristol-Myers Squibb’s approved CAR T cell immunotherapies, aiming to simplify access for eligible patients.

Trump Reflects on Past Threats, Celebrates Court Win

President Donald Trump on Friday reflected on threats to his life as he celebrated a Supreme Court ruling that grants his administration broad power to pursue its policy agenda.

Asked about security threats, he recalled being grazed in the ear by a bullet during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024.

Lawmakers Urge Probe Into OnePlus Security Risks

Two U.S. lawmakers on Friday asked the Commerce Department to investigate whether smartphones sold in the U.S. by China’s OnePlus pose security concerns, according to a letter seen by Reuters.

Fermi America Plans Major Energy and Data Complex

Fermi America, a Texas company co-founded by former U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry, announced plans Thursday to build the largest energy and data complex of its kind, powered by nuclear, natural gas, and solar energy sources.

Push to Overhaul Federal Gun Rules

The U.S. Department of Government Efficiency has deployed staff to the federal agency overseeing gun laws to review or eliminate more than 50 rules and restrictions by July 4, the Washington Post reported Friday.

Gavin Newsom Sues Fox News for Defamation

California Governor Gavin Newsom filed a $787 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News on Friday, alleging the network lied about his phone call with President Trump related to the administration’s immigration crackdown.

Andrew Cuomo to Run for NYC Mayor as Independent

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo reportedly plans to stay in the race for New York City mayor as an independent candidate this fall, after conceding to Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani in the Democratic primary.

Legendary Journalist Bill Moyers Dies at 91

Bill Moyers, a close advisor to President Lyndon Johnson who became a pioneering American journalist with over 40 years in public television, died Thursday at age 91.

No Immediate Plans to Refill Strategic Petroleum Reserve

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that the Trump administration has no imminent plans to refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The emergency stockpile is at its lowest level since the 1980s after President Biden drew on it to lower prices amid market turmoil.

Trump Urges Dish TV, FCC to Reach Spectrum Deal

President Donald Trump earlier this month prodded Dish TV parent EchoStar Corp and FCC Chair Brendan Carr to reach an amicable resolution over the company’s wireless spectrum licenses, EchoStar disclosed in a filing Friday.

Senate Referee Allows Consumer Watchdog Cuts

The U.S. Senate’s nonpartisan parliamentarian has approved Republican plans to cut funding for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau by nearly half, after blocking an earlier attempt to eliminate its funding entirely, lawmakers confirmed Thursday night.

Gilead Shares Rise on Supreme Court Preventive Care Ruling

Shares of Gilead Sciences rose 3% on Friday after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a federal mandate requiring health insurers to cover preventive care services—including HIV risk-reduction medications and cancer screenings—at no extra cost to patients.

Senator Hassan Probes GSK Over Asthma Inhaler Removal

U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan announced Friday she is investigating British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline’s decision to discontinue the Flovent HFA asthma inhaler for children.

In letters to GSK and its distributor, Hassan cited evidence that removing the inhaler in January 2024 contributed to increased hospitalizations and deaths from asthma complications.

Trump Administration Preps AI Energy Boost

The Trump administration is preparing a package of executive actions to increase U.S. energy supply in order to power the nation’s expanding artificial intelligence sector, according to four sources familiar with the planning.

Supreme Court Upholds FCC Broadband Funding Model

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday upheld the Federal Communications Commission’s method for funding its multi-billion-dollar program to expand phone and broadband internet access for low-income and rural Americans.

GOP Tax Bill Faces Major Budget Gap

Top Republicans acknowledged Friday that their sprawling tax-cut and spending bill faces a large budget shortfall, potentially jeopardizing President Trump’s July 4 deadline as lawmakers work to rewrite dozens of provisions rejected by the Senate’s nonpartisan referee.

DEFENSE

Air Force Cancels E-7 Wedgetail Plan

The U.S. Air Force plans to cancel its program to acquire a fleet of E-7 Wedgetail airborne target-tracking jets as part of the fiscal 2026 budget, a senior defense official confirmed on June 26.

Fighter Jet Procurement Falls Short of Goals

The Air Force’s fiscal 2026 combat aircraft budget prioritizes new F-47 and B-21 purchases but only includes funding for 45 new fighters, well below its traditional target of 72. Officials said production limitations in the defense industry make the higher goal “not achievable.”

Iran Strike Details Emerge

A 36-hour U.S. military operation to strike deep inside Iranian territory with B-2 bombers, dropping massive bunker-buster bombs on a heavily fortified nuclear complex, can be traced back to intelligence planning that began over 15 years ago.

One of the B-2 Spirits used as a decoy—flying west over the Pacific with a fleet of tankers—had to divert to Hawaii and remains there. Such emergency diversions into Honolulu are reportedly becoming more common for the aging, maintenance-intensive B-2 stealth bomber fleet.

Space Force Seeks Major Budget Increase

Buoyed by extra funding in the reconciliation bill under consideration in Congress, the Space Force is requesting roughly $40 billion for fiscal 2026, representing an increase of more than 30% over its 2025 budget.

Among the military services, the Space Force stands to receive the largest share of its 2026 budget from the reconciliation bill—more than a third of its total funding.

Uncrewed Systems and Counter-Drone Investments

The Pentagon’s fiscal 2026 budget request emphasizes significant near-term investments in uncrewed systems and counter-drone technologies, senior defense and military officials told reporters.

Concerns Over Cuts to Satellite Imagery Budget

U.S. commercial satellite imagery providers are warning against proposed cuts to the National Reconnaissance Office’s (NRO) commercial imagery budget. They argue these reductions, now approaching congressional review, pose growing risks to national security and the viability of the domestic space industry.

Space Development Agency Plans Under Review

Space Force Chief Gen. Chance Saltzman confirmed that the service is reconsidering the future of the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) multi-billion-dollar Transport Layer. This planned network of data-relay satellites is designed to rapidly transmit targeting data from U.S. military sensors to weapons systems.

Military Medical Training Shortfalls

A federal watchdog report warns that military doctors and nurses lack sufficient hands-on patient care, leaving them unprepared for combat situations and contributing to their decisions to leave military service.

Air Force Academy Welcomes New Cadets

More than 1,000 cadets arrived at the Holaday Athletic Center at the U.S. Air Force Academy on June 25 to begin their training. They were greeted with enthusiastic cheers from athletic department staff before moving on to more formal events, such as taking their oath to defend the U.S. Constitution.

GLOBAL NEWS

U.S. Ambassador Lynne Tracy Leaving Moscow

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow announced that Ambassador Lynne Tracy is departing her post, marking the end of her tenure during one of the most strained periods in U.S.-Russia relations in decades.

Trump Predicts Possible Gaza Ceasefire

President Donald Trump said on Friday he believes a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict could be reached within a week. Speaking at an Oval Office event celebrating the Congo-Rwanda accord, Trump said he had been in touch with people working on the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and described it as “close.”

U.S. Approves $30 Million for Gaza Humanitarian Aid

The U.S. State Department announced on Thursday it has approved $30 million in funding for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, urging other countries to also support the controversial aid group delivering relief in war-torn Gaza.

Trump Threatens Iran Over Uranium Enrichment

President Trump on Friday criticized Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, announced he was dropping plans to lift sanctions on Iran, and warned he would consider further bombing if Tehran is found enriching uranium to worrisome levels.

U.S.-Pakistan Talks on Israel-Iran Tensions

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a phone call on Thursday, discussing ways to promote a “durable peace between Israel and Iran,” according to a State Department statement.

Strategic Petroleum Reserve Deliveries Delayed

The U.S. Department of Energy announced Thursday that scheduled crude oil deliveries into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve will be delayed until year-end due to maintenance—as much as seven months behind schedule.

France Faces Pushback on Climate Target Delay

The European Commission’s executive vice president criticized France’s proposal to delay publication of the EU’s 2040 climate target, calling it “a mistake.”

French President Emmanuel Macron suggested the delay to ensure the target aligns with European competitiveness goals. The EU is also due this year to announce a 2035 climate goal as part of UN negotiations—a target that could become less ambitious if the 2040 commitment is postponed.

U.S.-China Economic Deal Finalized

Washington and Beijing have signed an economic agreement originally negotiated last month in Geneva. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed the deal Thursday, saying the U.S. would remove unspecified “countermeasures” once China delivers rare earths.

China’s Ministry of Commerce confirmed the framework includes rare earth exports to the U.S. and easing of technology restrictions.

Expert Analysis on U.S.-China Deal

Wendy Cutler, Vice President of the Asia Society Policy Institute and former Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, has offered expert analysis of the deal:

Secretary Bessent’s comment suggesting Labor Day is the target to get the trade deals done most probably reflects the reality that more time will be needed with certain partners to wrap up the talks. But, if the deals resemble the UK deal and anticipate another stage of talks, this exercise could go on well through the calendar year and beyond. The new China deal appears to provide the level of detail needed to ensure that the six-week old Geneva agreement is actually implemented. It’s a deal to clear up misunderstandings that have haunted the Geneva accord rather than one that addresses other pressing bilateral economic disputes, including Chinese excess capacity. It’s welcome news that Chinese critical minerals and magnets will again flow to the U.S, but it still remains unclear what the Administration offered in return. To the extent the U.S. rolled back export controls, this will have a profound impact on future U.S.-China trade talks, with Beijing feeling emboldened to ask for more.

DRC-Rwanda Peace Agreement Signed in Washington

Foreign ministers from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda signed a peace agreement in Washington alongside U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

President Trump also met with the officials in the Oval Office. The agreement commits to respecting territorial integrity, prohibiting hostilities, and disarming non-state armed groups, though further details were not disclosed.

Russian Forces Seize Ukrainian Lithium Deposit

Russian forces have captured an area in eastern Ukraine containing a high-grade lithium deposit, according to independent conflict trackers.

While the deposit is under one square mile in size, it complicates U.S. and Ukrainian plans to co-develop Ukraine’s mineral resources after the war.

Shanghai Cooperation Organization Meeting Ends Without Joint Statement

A meeting of defense ministers from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization ended without a joint statement after members could not agree on wording regarding terrorism, India’s foreign minister said.

The ten-member group includes China, Pakistan, and Russia, and the meeting marked the first time senior Indian and Pakistani officials had appeared together since their May air war.

Thailand and Cambodia Leaders Visit Border After Deadly Clash

Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodia’s former Prime Minister Hun Sen visited separate areas of their shared border on Thursday, following a recent deadly clash between soldiers.

Shinawatra now faces a parliamentary no-confidence vote and growing calls to step down in the wake of the violence.

India-U.S. Trade Talks Face Friction

An Indian trade delegation has arrived in Washington for two days of talks, as both countries race to reach an agreement ahead of a July 9 tariff hike deadline.

Unnamed sources report friction over U.S. demands for India to open its market to genetically modified crops, while officials from both governments have declined public comment.

Ecuador to Extradite Crime Boss to U.S.

Ecuadorian authorities plan to extradite drug kingpin José Adolfo “Fito” Macías Villamar to the United States following his recent capture by security forces, President Daniel Noboa announced.

Macías Villamar is accused of ordering the 2023 assassination of an Ecuadorian presidential candidate. U.S. officials reportedly assisted in tracking him after his escape from a maximum-security prison.

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TODAY IN HISTORY

Industrial | Political History

1844 – Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), and his brother Hyrum Smith were killed by a mob in Carthage, Illinois.
1898 – The first solo circumnavigation of the globe was completed by Joshua Slocum, sailing into Newport, Rhode Island, aboard the Spray.
1950 – President Harry Truman ordered U.S. forces to Korea, marking a major escalation of the Korean War.
1954 – The world's first nuclear power station to generate electricity for a power grid began operations in Obninsk, USSR.
1967 – The world’s first ATM (Automated Teller Machine) was installed at a Barclays Bank in Enfield, London.
1977 – Djibouti gained independence from France.

Science | Culture | Society

1847 – New York and Boston were linked by telegraph for the first time.
1929 – First public demonstration of color TV was held by Bell Laboratories in New York.
1985 – Route 66 was officially removed from the United States Highway System after nearly 60 years.
1988 – Mike Tyson knocked out Michael Spinks in 91 seconds, unifying the heavyweight boxing title.
2007 – Apple released the first iPhone in the United States.

COMING UP

Sunday: Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Energy Week conference begins in Abuja, bringing together industry leaders, government officials, and international stakeholders to discuss the country’s energy future and investment opportunities.