Mexico Tariffs Called Off – A 5% tariff on all Mexican imports that was to go into effect was called off by President Trump after he said US negotiators reached a deal with their Mexican counterparts. Trump had threatened the tariffs because the Mexican government was not doing enough to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into the US via the southern border with Mexico. The agreement includes a program that would have illegal immigrants returned to Mexico while their cases were adjudicated. Mexico will also deploy their military to help curb the number of migrant crossings and to dismantle human smuggling networks.
Two Ships Attacked Near Iran – Two oil tankers were attacked from an as of yet unidentified source, with one of the tankers suffering a massive blaze which burned for hours. The ships were situated in the Strait of Hormuz near Iran, as tensions in the region simmer. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said US intelligence suggests that the Iranian regime was behind the attack. Grainy footage was released which purportedly showed an Iranian boat removing an unexploded limpet mine from one of the ships. The US has requested closed sessions of the UN Security Council to discuss this incident among others that have raised tensions with Iran.
Trump Would Listen To Dirt From Foreigners – President Trump said in an interview that he would listen to opposition research provided to him by foreign nations. Trump said that FBI Director’s statement saying that a campaign offered political dirt on an opponent from a foreign source should call the FBI was “wrong.” Opponents of President Trump said the president saying such things opens the door to foreign powers who wish to engaged in political disruption and election interference in the 2020 elections, especially Russia. They have had a difficult time explaining how the Steele dossier, which came from a foreign source, was acceptable for the Clinton campaign to accept.
Sanders Out – President Trump announced on Thursday that White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders will be leaving his administration at the end of June. Sanders, a dogged defender of Trump who was the first line of defense for the president under a slew of attacks from Democrats and the media, called the position “the honor of a lifetime.” President Trump is urging her to run for governor of her native Arkansas, a position her father, Mike Huckabee, held from 1996 to 2007. Sanders says she has no plans to make a run for governor, but she has learned to never rule anything out.
Committee Votes To Hold Barr, Ross In Contempt – Democrats on the House Oversight Committee voted 24-15 to hold Attorney General William Barr and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply by their demands for documents relating to the addition of a citizenship question on the 2020 census. Prior to the vote, the White House asserted executive privilege over the documents, saying the request for them was unnecessary. The motion to hold Barr and Ross will now move to a House-wide vote.