Sunday, Aug. 23
US tariffs raised on Canadian goods
Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Canadian goods beginning Saturday after trade negotiations failed with Canada. Mark Carney, Canada’s prime minister, announced that Canada will retaliate with tariffs beginning on Sept. 8, according to the Associated Press.
The U.S.’ tariffs will impact about 5% of Canada’s yearly exports to the US, roughly $20 billion worth of goods. Doug Ford, the Ontario premier, told the AP his province is ready to cut off electricity and critical minerals to the U.S. if the trade war escalates. Additionally, Trump threatened adding tariffs to Canadian automobiles, according to the AP.
Tariffs, which are paid by the importers or businesses buying goods from abroad, often result in higher prices for consumers. Rising tariffs have contributed to higher inflation and a rising cost of living, according to the AP.
Monday, Aug. 24
Trump administration takes credit for declining drug prices
New federal data shows drug prices dropped in July, with a 3.1% decrease from last year, the largest year-over-year drop since 1963. Trump credits his “most favored nation” drug deals and the TrumpRx website for the decline, but experts claim the reasons behind the drop are more complicated, according to the AP.
Another reason behind the drop in drug prices is a law from former President Joe Biden, which allowed Medicare to haggle drug prices with drug manufacturers. Additionally, more availability of generic medication has driven up competition, lowering drug prices, according to the AP.
Despite the data showing a decrease in prices, many Americans are still facing high drug prices because the consumer price index measures what drug companies are paid by both insurers and consumers, not just what consumers pay, according to the AP.
Tuesday, Aug. 25
Supreme Court sides with Trump’s executive order on mail-in ballots
The Supreme Court decision Monday gave Trump’s executive order to restrict mail-in ballots an easier path, but, with the midterm elections coming in November, it is unclear how much can be put in place before then, according to the AP.
The Supreme Court’s decision was not on the legality of Trump’s executive order, rather it decided that states who sued did not have a legal right to challenge the order, according to the AP.
Wednesday, Aug. 26
Darline Graham wins GOP nomination in South Carolina Primary
Darline Graham, sister to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, won the South Carolina Republican primary for U.S. Senate on Tuesday. Graham defeated U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman in a special primary runoff after the two were the top finishers in the 10-person primary two weeks prior, according to the AP.
Graham was appointed to finish out her late brother's senate term by Gov. Henry McMaster following Lindsey Graham’s death in July. Graham joined the senate race following an endorsement by Trump and support by *MAGA Inc., a super PAC that contributes to Trump and his allies, the AP reported.
Although some voters expressed support for Graham because of Trump’s endorsement, others expressed worry about her lack of political experience.
Thursday, Aug. 27
Judge blocks Minnesota request to compel the extradition of ICE officer from Texas
U.S. District Judge Fernado Rodriguez Jr. decided against blocking the release of Christian Castro, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer charged with shooting a man and lying about it during the Minneapolis immigration crackdown. The order did not prevent Castro from being released or Texas Gov. Greg Abbott from signing Castro’s extradition warrant, according to the AP.
Castro is being held in a facility in Texas near the Mexico border. Under Texas state law, Castro will be released after 90 days of detention, which ends Thursday.
Abbott has not blocked the extradition of Castro, but is waiting for the outcome of an internal investigation that will decide if Castro was legally a fugitive under the Extradition Clause. Minnesota is hoping to keep Castro in custody under the claim that he is a flight risk who has mentioned fleeing to Mexico once released, according to the AP.
Friday Aug. 28
Trump signs order renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America
Trump signed an executive order Thursday, renaming Lake Ontario to be “Lake America,” amid an ongoing trade war with Canada.
The order directed the Interior Department to officially change the name in the U.S. geographic naming service. Canadian officials responded to the name change by announcing that the lake will remain named Lake Ontario to them and highlighted the Native American origins of the name, according to the AP.
Sunday Aug. 30
Trump announces US stake in Venezuelan oil reserves
Trump announced Friday night via social media that the U.S. made a deal to get a stake in Venezuelan oil reserves.
The deal is said to give the U.S. stake in the development of 17 fields, which are estimated to produce 65 billion barrels of oil. The deal will give the U.S. ownership stake and a right to buy oil at cost, according to the AP.
Gas prices in the U.S. are not expected to drop any time soon, but the deal is expected to help lower gas prices in the future.
