MADRID (Reuters) &#8211; The United States and China have reached a framework agreement to switch short-video app TikTok to U.S.-controlled ownership, top U.S. officials said on Monday, with President Donald Trump set to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced the agreement after a meeting between senior U.S. and Chinese officials in Madrid, but declined to give any of the commercial terms of the agreement.
Bessent told reporters that further details would wait to be determined in a call on Friday between Trump and Xi.
Trump said on Monday that trade talks with China had gone very well and hinted that a deal had been reached to resolve issues the U.S. has over TikTok ownership.
&#8220;The big Trade Meeting in Europe between The United States of America, and China, has gone VERY WELL! It will be concluding shortly,&#8221; Trump wrote on his TruthSocial platform.
&#8220;A deal was also reached on a “certain” company that young people in our Country very much wanted to save. They will be very happy! I will be speaking to President Xi on Friday. The relationship remains a very strong one!!!&#8221;
Earlier on Monday a U.S. official with knowledge of the negotiations had said that the U.S. would press ahead with a ban on TikTok if China didn&#8217;t drop its demands for reduced tariffs and technological restrictions as part of a divestiture deal.
U.S. and China delegations met to discuss the divestment from TikTok by Chinese owner Bytedance as part of a round of broader talks on tariffs and economic policy taking place in Madrid. TikTok faces being shut down as early as September 17 in the U.S. unless it moves to U.S. ownership.
Speaking to reporters earlier, Bessent and Greer said China wanted concessions on trade and technology in exchange for agreeing to divest from the popular social media app.
&#8220;Our Chinese counterparts have come with a very aggressive ask,&#8221; Bessent said, adding: &#8220;We are not willing to sacrifice national security for a social media app.&#8221;
POOR TIMING
The U.S.-China negotiations at the Spanish foreign ministry&#8217;s baroque Palacio de Santa Cruz, which began on Sunday, were the fourth round of talks in four months to address strained trade ties and a looming divestiture deadline for TikTok.
They took place as Washington demands that its allies place tariffs on imports from China over Chinese purchases of Russian oil, which Beijing on Monday said was an attempt at coercion.
Beijing separately announced on Monday that a preliminary investigation of Nvidia had found the U.S. chip giant had violated its anti-monopoly law. Bessent said the announcement on Nvidia was poor timing.
The probe is widely seen as a retaliatory shot against Washington&#8217;s curbs on the Chinese chip sector.
(Reporting by David Lawder, Pietro Lombardi and Ethan Wang,; Additional reporting by Brendan O&#8217;Brien and Doina Chiacu in Washington; Writing by Charlie Devereux; Editing by Lisa Shumaker, Clarence Fernandez and Susan Fenton)

U.S. and China delegations visit Spain

Trump, Xi To Speak Friday After U.S.–China Reach Framework On TikTok

China

Communist China

Donald Trump

Politics

Social Issues

TikTok

Xi Jinping

The Trump administration plans to issue rules to restrict or potentially bar imports of Chinese drones and medium and heavy-duty vehicles after an earlier crackdown on cars and trucks, citing national security concerns.
The U.S. Commerce Department on Friday said it plans to issue rules as soon as this month to address national security risks involving information and communications technology that is integral to drones and their supply chain, as well as vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds from countries like China and other foreign adversaries.
It did not give details on what the import rules would be.
The Commerce Department and Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately comment.
Chinese imports account for the vast majority of U.S. commercial drone sales. More than half come from DJI, the world&#8217;s largest drone manufacturer.
The planned restrictions on drones and heavy-duty vehicles follow on from similar rules already scheduled on imports of cars and other trucks.
Democratic former President Joe Biden&#8217;s administration finalized rules in January that will effectively bar nearly all Chinese cars and trucks from the U.S. market starting in late 2026, as part of a crackdown on vehicle software and hardware from China.
The Commerce Department in January said it could also target for restrictions drone systems like onboard computers, communications and flight control systems, ground control stations, operating software and data storage.
The department opened national security investigations into the import of drones and related components in July and into medium and heavy duty vehicles and parts in April, which could lead to higher tariffs.
U.S. President Donald Trump in June signed executive orders to bolster defenses against threatening drones and to boost U.S. drone manufacturing.
In December, Biden signed legislation that could eventually ban DJI and Autel from selling new drone models in the United States.
(Reporting by David Shepardson, Editing by Rosalba O&#8217;Brien)

DJI Mavic 4 Pro Drone

U.S. Plans Restrictions On Chinese Drones And Heavy-Duty Vehicles, Citing National Security

Drones

Economy

Global Politics

Import

National Security

Trump Administration

Chicago&#8217;s mayor leads protests against President Trump&#8217;s potential crime crackdown as judges block the deportation of illegal immigrants. India cozies up to China and Russia at a summit in Beijing, a major foreign policy challenge for the Trump administration as a federal court strikes down his tariffs. The FDA moves to ban a potent, opioid-like substance called 7-OH that is being sold in gas stations and marketed to kids.
It’s Tuesday, September 2, 2025, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
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<h2>Chicago Mayor Fights Trump Crime Crackdown</h2>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-967537" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.2.25-Tue-SH1-1024x576.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.2.25-Tue-SH1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.2.25-Tue-SH1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.2.25-Tue-SH1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.2.25-Tue-SH1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.2.25-Tue-SH1.jpg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></div>
Topline: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is leading protests against President Trump&#8217;s potential federal crime crackdown in his city, while Democrat-appointed judges are blocking the administration&#8217;s efforts to deport illegal immigrants.
After President Trump signaled that Chicago would be the next target of a federal crime crackdown similar to the one in Washington, D.C., Mayor Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker have threatened non-cooperation and legal action. Pritzker called a potential deployment of the National Guard an &#8220;invasion,&#8221; and Johnson has preemptively ordered Chicago police not to cooperate with any federal law enforcement. The moves have drawn criticism from some local Democrats who argue the city should be coordinating with the federal government to reduce crime.
Meanwhile, the administration&#8217;s deportation efforts are being stalled in the courts. On Sunday, a Biden-appointed judge blocked the deportation of 76 Guatemalan children. Last week, an Obama-appointed judge halted the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an alleged MS-13 gang member. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted a clip of a recent CBS News interview, noting that the network edited out the serious allegations against Abrego Garcia, including that he is a &#8220;known human smuggler&#8221; and a &#8220;wife beater&#8221; who &#8220;solicited nude photos from minors.&#8221;
<h2>India Tilts Toward China, Russia as Court Strikes Down Trump Tariffs</h2>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-967541" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.2.25-Tue-SH2-1024x576.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.2.25-Tue-SH2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.2.25-Tue-SH2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.2.25-Tue-SH2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.2.25-Tue-SH2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.2.25-Tue-SH2.jpg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></div>
Topline: In a major foreign policy challenge for the Trump administration, India’s Prime Minister joined the leaders of China and Russia for a summit in Beijing, signaling a potential realignment as a U.S. federal court struck down many of President Trump’s global tariffs.
This week, Chinese President Xi Jinping is hosting a summit with leaders from across Asia and the Middle East. A rare public display of unity between Xi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is setting off &#8220;alarm bells in Washington.&#8221; The move is seen as a direct response to Trump&#8217;s 50% tariffs on Indian goods and signals that India is willing to work with U.S. adversaries if its relationship with Washington deteriorates.
The summit comes as a federal appeals court dealt a major blow to Trump&#8217;s signature trade policy. On Friday, the court ruled that the president was not justified in using emergency powers to unilaterally impose his global tariffs. Trump responded over the weekend, warning, &#8220;More than 15 Trillion Dollars will be invested in the USA&#8230; If a Radical Left Court is allowed to terminate these Tariffs, almost all of this investment&#8230; will be immediately cancelled!” The ruling allows the tariffs to remain in effect until at least October, giving the Supreme Court time to potentially hear the case.
<h2>FDA Moves to Ban Opioid-Like ‘Kratom’ Product</h2>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-967539" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.2.25-Tue-SH3-1024x576.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.2.25-Tue-SH3-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.2.25-Tue-SH3-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.2.25-Tue-SH3-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.2.25-Tue-SH3-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/MRN-9.2.25-Tue-SH3.jpg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></div>
Topline: The FDA is taking emergency action to ban 7-OH, a potent, opioid-like substance derived from the kratom plant that is being sold in gas stations and vape shops and aggressively marketed to children.
The FDA has recommended that 7-OH be classified as a Schedule I controlled substance, which would make it illegal to sell or possess. The agency says the compound is an opioid, up to 13 times more potent than morphine, and carries significant health risks, including addiction and overdose. FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary issued a stark warning that the substance &#8220;may be the fourth wave of the opioid epidemic.&#8221;
The products are sold in forms that are appealing to kids, such as fruit-flavored gummies, vapes, and even ice cream cones, often without clear or accurate labeling. There is currently no federal age restriction on the products. The move to ban the substance comes after a number of anecdotal reports of addiction and death, including a Georgia two-year-old who had to be revived with Narcan after accidentally ingesting a 7-OH product marketed as an &#8220;energy pill.&#8221; Several states, led by Florida and Ohio, are also moving to ban or restrict the substance.

MRN 9.02.25 Thumbnail V1

Morning Brief: Chicago Crime, Beijing Summit, FDA Moves To Ban ‘Kratom’

Brandon Johnson

Chicago

Drugs

Illegal Immigration

Illinois

India

JB Pritzker

Russia

U.S.

At the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, the leaders of two of America’s greatest foes, China and Russia, made a public display of affection with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hinting that India, long aligned with Russia but seemingly moving toward the United States, may be reconsidering its position.
Numerous countries attended the summit, but the most enduring image pushed by the media was the embrace shared by Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Modi. India and China’s relations with each other had soured after they battled at their border in 2020. In addition, in 2025, when India and Pakistan were fighting, “Pakistan&#8217;s armed forces heavily used China-made equipment, including fighter jets and radar systems. A senior army officer in Delhi said Beijing also provided ‘live inputs’ to Pakistan on Indian positions,” as the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp37e8kw3lwo">BBC</a> reported.
Modi had not traveled to China in seven years, but this visit followed President Trump’s decision to impose 50% tariffs on India, as he warned India against purchasing Russian oil.
Still, The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/chinese-russian-indian-leaders-pledge-cooperation-in-a-message-to-trump-faae8d0c">opined</a>, “Chinese analysts also don’t expect New Delhi to pull away from Washington, given the many intractable problems between the two neighbors—including the border dispute.”
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On August 6, Trump signed an <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/08/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-addresses-threats-to-the-united-states-by-the-government-of-the-russian-federation/">executive order</a> “imposing tariffs on India in response to its continued purchase of Russian Federation oil, and establishing a process for the potential imposition of similar tariffs on other countries that directly or indirectly import oil from the Russian Federation.” Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on imports from India, effective August 27. “India’s importation of Russian Federation oil undermines U.S. efforts to counter Russia’s harmful activities,” the order stated. &#8220;India’s subsequent reselling of this oil on the open market, often at significant profit, further enables the Russian Federation’s economy to fund its aggression.&#8221;
On Monday, Trump responded to the news of the supposed rapprochement between India and China by writing on <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115129261076571259">Truth Social</a> that India had offered to cut their tariffs on American products to zero:
<blockquote>
What few people understand is that we do very little business with India, but they do a tremendous amount of business with us. In other words, they sell us massive amounts of goods, their biggest “client,” but we sell them very little &#8211; Until now a totally one sided relationship, and it has been for many decades. The reason is that India has charged us, until now, such high Tariffs, the most of any country, that our businesses are unable to sell into India. It has been a totally one sided disaster! Also, India buys most of its oil and military products from Russia, very little from the U.S. They have now offered to cut their Tariffs to nothing, but it’s getting late. They should have done so years ago. Just some simple facts for people to ponder!!!
</blockquote>

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the G20 Osaka Summit 2019

Indian, Chinese, And Russian Leaders Get Cozy. Trump Says India Has Cut Tariffs On U.S. To Zero.

World

U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee and a strong advocate for Taiwan, said on Saturday he thought there would be future joint U.S.-Taiwanese weapons production, something Taipei has pushed for.
The United States is Taiwan&#8217;s most important international backer and weapons supplier despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties, though since President Donald Trump took office earlier this year no new arms sales have been announced.
Asked at a news conference in Taipei about the prospect for joint production of weapons including drones, Wicker, a Republican, was upbeat.
&#8220;I think there&#8217;s going to be joint production and joint efforts and that will depend on the skills present both on this side of the Pacific Ocean and ours, and actually we&#8217;re open to suggestion and innovation in that regard,&#8221; he said, at the end of a two-day visit where he met Taiwan President Lai Ching-te.
A Taiwan official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters that co-production of weapons was &#8220;very important.&#8221;
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Wicker is one of the fiercest supporters in the U.S. Congress for Taiwan. Beijing, which regularly denounces any shows of support for Taipei from Washington, has criticised his visit saying it opposes official interactions between Taiwan and the United States.
He is in Taiwan at a time the island is facing a 20% tariff on exports to the United States, as part of Trump&#8217;s sweeping new trade policy on many other parts of the world.
Wicker noted there were talks on trade going on around the world.
&#8220;That in no way affects the defence alliance and friendship and determination that the United States has to be a friend to the sovereign rights of the Taiwanese people to enjoy their democracy,&#8221; he said.
Administration officials have said that Trump remains fully committed to Asia-Pacific security matters as he pursues his trade agenda and a good personal relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
China claims the democratically governed island as its own and has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control. Beijing has stepped up military and political pressure against the island in recent years.
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Stephen Coates)

Roger Wicker

Senior Republican Senator Expects Joint Weapons Production With Taiwan

Taiwan

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday that he was putting an end to a program that had for nearly ten years allowed Chinese coders access to Department of Defense cloud systems.
Hegseth shared a video in which he described the &#8220;Digital Escorts&#8221; program — implemented under former President Barack Obama — under which Microsoft employed Chinese coders to &#8220;support sensitive DOD cloud systems&#8221; under the supervision of American contractors.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The use of Chinese Nationals to service Department of Defense cloud environments is over. <a href="https://t.co/jZdcHwKho2">pic.twitter.com/jZdcHwKho2</a>
— Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef/status/1960824471683801206?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Last month the Department of Defense was made aware of an Obama-Biden era legacy program called Digital Escorts,&#8221; Hegseth began. &#8220;For nearly a decade, Microsoft has used Chinese coders, remotely supervised by U.S. contractors, to support sensitive DOD cloud systems. The program was designed to comply with contracting rules but it exposed the department to unacceptable risk.&#8221;
&#8220;I mean, if you&#8217;re thinking &#8216;America First,&#8217; and common sense, this doesn&#8217;t pass either of those tests,&#8221; Hegseth continued. &#8220;So I initiated an immediate review of this vulnerability and I want to report our initial findings.&#8221;
Hegseth went on to explain that his review had determined that any benefits were not worth the potential risk of allowing Chinese nationals to have that kind of access to sensitive information, especially information pertaining to Defense Department.
&#8220;The use of Chinese Nationals to service Department of Defense cloud environments? It&#8217;s over,&#8221; he declared. &#8220;We&#8217;ve issued a formal letter of concern to Microsoft documenting this breach of trust, and we&#8217;re requiring a third party audit of Microsoft&#8217;s Digital Escort program — including the code and the submissions by Chinese nationals.&#8221;
Hegseth also announced a separate investigation into the program and into all of the Chinese nationals who had been part of it: &#8220;Did they put anything in the code that we didn&#8217;t know about? We&#8217;re going to find out.&#8221;
&#8220;It blows my mind that I&#8217;m even saying these things, it&#8217;s such common sense,&#8221; Hegseth said as he once again reiterated his intent to remove all Chinese employees from access to DOD information. &#8220;We expect vendors doing business with the Department of Defense to put U.S. national security ahead of profit maximization &#8230; This never should have happened in the first place.&#8221;

DOD Secretary Hegseth And Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs Caine Brief On Iran Strike

Pete Hegseth Kills Obama-Biden Program That Gave Chinese Coders Access To DOD Cloud Systems

Barack Obama

Department of Defense

Joe Biden

Military

Pete Hegseth

President Trump fires a Biden-appointed Federal Reserve governor over an investigation into alleged mortgage fraud, setting up a historic legal showdown. In a surprising policy shift, President Trump calls for allowing hundreds of thousands of Chinese students into U.S. universities. The Department of Transportation cracks down on states that issue commercial driver&#8217;s licenses to truckers who are not proficient in English.
It’s Wednesday, August 27, 2025, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
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<h2>Trump Fires Fed Governor, Setting Up Legal Battle</h2>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-965647" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.26.25-Wed-SH1-1024x576.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.26.25-Wed-SH1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.26.25-Wed-SH1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.26.25-Wed-SH1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.26.25-Wed-SH1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.26.25-Wed-SH1.jpg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></div>
Topline: President Trump has fired Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, a Biden appointee, citing a Department of Justice investigation into alleged mortgage fraud, a move that Cook is refusing to accept, setting up a historic legal showdown.
On Monday night, President Trump fired Cook &#8220;for cause,&#8221; citing a DOJ investigation into whether she committed mortgage fraud by allegedly claiming primary residence in two separate states to secure more favorable loan terms. &#8220;We need people that are 100% above board — and it doesn&#8217;t seem like she was,&#8221; Trump said.
Cook responded with a statement saying the president &#8220;has no authority to do so&#8221; and that she will not resign, announcing her intention to file a lawsuit. The move marks the first time in the Fed’s history that a president has removed a member of the board of governors and could set up a legal battle that goes to the Supreme Court.
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The shakeup at the Fed comes as the Trump administration made another major economic move, with the U.S. government acquiring a 10% stake in tech giant Intel for nearly $9 billion. The White House framed the move as a matter of national security, aimed at reviving the U.S. semiconductor industry and breaking America&#8217;s reliance on China.
<h2>Trump Calls for More Chinese Students in U.S. Universities</h2>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-965645" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.26.25-Wed-SH2.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.26.25-Wed-SH2.jpg 1920w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.26.25-Wed-SH2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.26.25-Wed-SH2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.26.25-Wed-SH2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.26.25-Wed-SH2-1536x864.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></div>
&nbsp;
Topline: In a surprising policy shift that has drawn criticism from some allies, President Trump has called for raising the quota for Chinese nationals allowed to study in the United States to 600,000.
The president defended the move in a cabinet meeting, arguing that many less prestigious U.S. universities would not survive financially without the revenue from Chinese students. The proposal has drawn criticism from some conservatives who worry about the national security risks, including the theft of technology and research by students with ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
The move also appears to contrast with the administration&#8217;s previously announced hardline stance. In May, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration would &#8220;aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students&#8221; who are connected to the CCP or are studying in &#8220;critical fields.&#8221;
<h2>DOT Cracks Down on Non-English-Speaking Truckers</h2>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-965649" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.26.25-Wed-SH3-1024x576.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.26.25-Wed-SH3-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.26.25-Wed-SH3-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.26.25-Wed-SH3-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.26.25-Wed-SH3-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.26.25-Wed-SH3.jpg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></div>
Topline: Following a fatal crash in Florida caused by an illegal immigrant, the Department of Transportation is cracking down on states that issue commercial driver&#8217;s licenses to truckers who are not proficient in English.
The move comes after Harjinder Singh, an illegal immigrant from India, killed three people in a crash caused by an illegal U-turn in a semi-truck. Singh had a Commercial Driver&#8217;s License (CDL) from a sanctuary state and was later found to be unable to properly identify most highway traffic signs.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that states currently in violation of an executive order requiring English proficiency, such as Washington, California, and New Mexico, have 30 days to come into compliance or risk losing federal funding. &#8220;We just want to keep drivers safe,&#8221; Duffy said. &#8220;Not in just red states, Americans drive in all states &#8230; and they deserve to be safe.&#8221;
In a related move, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced last week that the State Department has paused the issuance of work visas for foreign truck drivers. Rubio said the move was necessary because &#8220;the increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on U.S. roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers.”

MRN 8.27.25 Thumbnail V1

Morning Brief: Fed Governor Defies Trump, Chinese Student Deal & WH Clamps Down On Foreign Truckers

Department of Transportation

Education

Federal Reserve

Jerome Powell

Sean Duffy

Truckers

Vice President JD Vance treated &#8220;Meet the Press&#8221; anchor Kristen Welker to a whirlwind trip around the globe during an interview that went to air during Sunday morning&#8217;s broadcast — and he addressed everything from President Donald Trump&#8217;s domestic policy to the administration&#8217;s dealings with communist China and Russia.
For those who don&#8217;t spend their Sunday mornings glued to the television — and their Sunday afternoons attempting to dig through a week&#8217;s worth of network and cable news media spin — The Daily Wire has compiled a short summary of what you may have missed.
Vance sat down for a full interview with Welker, who questioned him about the recent negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
&#8220;The Russians have made significant concessions to President Trump for the first time in three and a half years of this conflict,&#8221; Vance said, adding, &#8220;We&#8217;re trying to negotiate as much as we can with both the Russians and Ukrainians to find a middle ground to stop the killing.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&#8220;The Russians have made significant concessions to President Trump for the first time in three and a half years of this conflict,&#8221; says <a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a>.
&#8220;We&#8217;re trying to negotiate as much as we can with both the Russians and Ukrainians to find a middle ground to stop the killing.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/b487LlfIyx">pic.twitter.com/b487LlfIyx</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1959608502009184631?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Vance gave some details on the concessions made by Russia, and went on to explain that Trump&#8217;s goal — rather than trying to deconstruct all the reasons the war started — was to &#8220;focus on the nit-picky details of now&#8221; and get to where they could stop the fighting.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a>: &#8220;[<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>] is not trying to focus on every nit-picky detail of how this thing started&#8230; He&#8217;s trying to focus on the nit-picky details of now — of what do the parties disagree on, what do they agree on, and how do you build a foundation from one side of that ledger to the… <a href="https://t.co/9C2aXYtFHM">pic.twitter.com/9C2aXYtFHM</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1959609236175864214?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Welker immediately challenged him on the Trump administration&#8217;s position with regard to China. Noting that China was one of the world&#8217;s biggest consumers of Russian oil, she pressed Vance on why the United States was not putting China under heavier sanctions.
&#8220;China&#8217;s actually the largest buyer of Russian oil,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Why no sanctions on China?&#8221;
&#8220;Well, obviously, we have a 54% tariff on the PRC right now, so we&#8217;ve already applied pretty hefty sanctions on the Chinese,&#8221; Vance shot back. &#8220;And we&#8217;ve had a number of conversations at all levels over the government to try to encourage the Chinese to be better partners and bring this war to a close.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
NBC: &#8220;Why no sanctions on China?&#8221;
.<a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a>: &#8220;Obviously, we have a 54% tariff on the PRC right now, so we&#8217;ve already applied pretty hefty sanctions on the Chinese&#8230;&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/IUeug9nkkU">pic.twitter.com/IUeug9nkkU</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1959611584226967880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Welker continued to press, asking, &#8220;Where exactly is the pressure on Russia to do anything if you&#8217;re not right now imposing new sanctions?&#8221;
&#8220;The President has applied more economic pressure to the Russians to stop this war than Biden did in three years,&#8221; Vance replied. &#8220;This is how negotiation works.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a>: &#8220;The President has applied more economic pressure to the Russians to stop this war than Biden did in three years&#8230; This is how negotiation works.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/89lsaNlz8u">pic.twitter.com/89lsaNlz8u</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1959611642599104891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;This is how wars ultimately get settled,&#8221; Vance continued. &#8220;They all end with some kind of negotiation &#8230; He&#8217;s not going to force these parties to walk through the door. All he can do is open the door and ask them to negotiate in good faith.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a>: &#8220;This is how wars ultimately get settled&#8230; They all end with some kind of negotiation&#8230; He&#8217;s not going to force these parties to walk through the door. All he can do is open the door and ask them to negotiate in good faith.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/OcFx8ZCYGq">pic.twitter.com/OcFx8ZCYGq</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1959612590490804407?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Despite hearing it directly from President Donald Trump in recent weeks, Welker asked Vance to &#8220;guarantee&#8221; that there would not be American &#8220;boots on the ground&#8221; if it came to defending Ukraine in a more direct fashion.
&#8220;The President has been very clear. There are not going to be [American] boots on the ground in Ukraine,&#8221; Vance replied.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a>: &#8220;The President has been very clear. There are not going to be [American] boots on the ground in Ukraine.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/21LqlibKcU">pic.twitter.com/21LqlibKcU</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1959612715816604149?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;We don&#8217;t control what Russia does. If we did, the war would&#8217;ve been over seven months ago,&#8221; Vance continued. &#8220;What we do believe, though, is that &#8230; the President of the United States has a lot of cards left to play to apply pressure.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a>: &#8220;We don&#8217;t control what Russia does. If we did, the war would&#8217;ve been over seven months ago. What we do believe, though, is that&#8230; the President of the United States has a lot of cards left to play to apply pressure.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/qOvXQB9NEQ">pic.twitter.com/qOvXQB9NEQ</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1959613859490091462?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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On the domestic front, Welker pressed Vance to defend Texas Republicans and their newly-drawn Congressional map — one that is likely to afford Republicans as many as five additional seats in the 2026 midterms. Vance pushed right back, arguing that Democrats had been gerrymandering their states to unfair advantage for decades and saying that Republicans only meant to tip the scales back into balance.
&#8220;All we&#8217;re doing, frankly, is trying to make the situation a little bit more fair,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Democrats have gerrymandered their states really aggressively. We think there are opportunities to push back against that, and that&#8217;s really all we&#8217;re doing.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&#8220;All we&#8217;re doing, frankly, is trying to make the situation a little bit more fair,&#8221; says <a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a> on redistricting.
&#8220;Democrats have gerrymandered their states really aggressively. We think there are opportunities to push back against that, and that&#8217;s really all we&#8217;re doing.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/q06A8CkniT">pic.twitter.com/q06A8CkniT</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1959614788557836519?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;We&#8217;re literally losing representatives for American citizens in order to give congressional representation to illegal aliens,&#8221; Vance added, explaining that illegal aliens were being counted in the census for the purposes of congressional apportionment, meaning that &#8220;they end up getting congressional representation that ought, by right, go to American citizens.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&#8220;We&#8217;re literally losing representatives for American citizens in order to give congressional representation to illegal aliens,&#8221; says <a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a>.
&#8220;Republicans are trying to balance out the scales a little bit for basic fairness and for the integrity of our democracy.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/uxxDXQJege">pic.twitter.com/uxxDXQJege</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1959618633765896314?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a> on illegal aliens in the Census: &#8220;They do go in the congressional apportionment. That&#8217;s why California has so many more seats is because they count illegal aliens&#8230; They end up getting congressional representation that ought, by right, go to American citizens.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/Lfu3kYaM6N">pic.twitter.com/Lfu3kYaM6N</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1959619304350945548?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
And when it came to the deployment of the National Guard and the crackdown on crime in the nation&#8217;s capital, Vance once again laid out the reasoning in straightforward fashion. &#8220;Allowing vagrants and armed robberies to take over your city — that&#8217;s a policy choice. What President Trump is showing that if you just empower local law enforcement to arrest and prosecute the bad guys, we can take back American streets,&#8221; he said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a>: &#8220;Allowing vagrants and armed robberies to take over your city — that&#8217;s a policy choice. What President Trump is showing that if you just empower local law enforcement to arrest and prosecute the bad guys, we can take back American streets.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/upsNXlZDui">pic.twitter.com/upsNXlZDui</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1959621293847753130?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Watch the full interview below:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
WATCH IN FULL: <a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JDVance</a>&#8216;s interview on <a href="https://twitter.com/MeetThePress?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MeetThePress</a> <a href="https://t.co/s7s0eCZXAG">pic.twitter.com/s7s0eCZXAG</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1959708596356239868?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy Hosts Bilateral Talks With US Vice President JD Vance At Chevening House

Spin Cycle: JD Vance Goes Around The World In 20 Minutes With ‘Meet the Press’

Spin Cycle: JD Vance Goes Around The World In 20 Minutes With 'Meet the Press'

JD Vance

Kristen Welker

Media

Meet the Press

NBC News

Ukraine-Russia War

President Donald Trump said on Friday his administration will conduct a &#8220;major&#8221; tariff investigation on furniture entering the United States, a step toward imposing higher duties on a sector already seeing tariff-fueled price increases.
&#8220;Furniture coming from other Countries into the United States will be Tariffed at a Rate yet to be determined,&#8221; Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Furniture retailer RH &#8212; previously known as Restoration Hardware &#8212; shares fell 7.5% in after-hours trading on Trump&#8217;s announcement.
Trump said the investigation will be completed within the next 50 days but other national security probes have taken significantly longer than that. A White House official confirmed that it would be conducted under the Section 232 national security statute.
The probe could serve as a backstop legal basis for existing tariffs if a federal appeals court strikes down &#8220;reciprocal&#8221; duties that Trump imposed on a broad range of U.S. trading partners in April, as well as import taxes imposed in February against China, Canada and Mexico.
&#8220;This will bring the Furniture Business back to North Carolina, South Carolina, Michigan, and States all across the Union,&#8221; Trump said.
Furniture and wood products manufacturing &#8212; which employed 1.2 million people in 1979 &#8212; has fallen from 681,000 in 2000 to 340,000 today, according to government statistics.
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The United States imported about $25.5 billion in furniture in 2024, up 7% over 2023, with about 60% of those imports coming from Vietnam and China, according to Furniture Today, a trade publication.
New tariffs on imports from furniture-producing countries helped push up consumer prices for home furnishings by a steep 0.7% in July, according to Commerce Department data, though overall consumer price inflation was restrained by lower gasoline prices.
The American Home Furnishings Alliance, a trade group representing domestic furniture manufacturers and importers, including many companies that do both, had no immediate comment on Trump&#8217;s announcement.
But the High Point, North Carolina-based AHFA in April led an industry coalition in opposing new tariffs under Trump&#8217;s ongoing Section 232 investigation into lumber and wood products imports.
&#8220;As a strictly legal matter, there is no rational relationship between imports of wood products or furniture and the national security of the United States,&#8221; the group said in written comments to the Commerce Department.
&#8220;Second, no amount of tariffs will bring back American furniture manufacturing back to its prior levels. Tariffs will harm manufacturing still being done in the United States.&#8221;
Furniture would be the latest imported products targeted for a national security investigation by the Trump administration. On Thursday, it announced a national security probe into imported wind turbines and has previously targeted copper and other metals.
The department has opened numerous probes into the national security ramifications of imports of airplanes, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, heavy trucks, timber and lumber, critical minerals and drones.
The European Union won some relief from these potential new Section 232 tariffs as part of a joint statement on Thursday fleshing out their trade deal. The two sides agreed to limit any new U.S. tariffs on EU pharmaceuticals, lumber and semiconductors to the general 15% rate applied to most products from the bloc and will shield EU aircraft and parts, generic pharmaceuticals and drug chemical precursors from all new tariffs.
(Reporting by Ismail Shakil and Bhargav Acharya; editing by Ryan Patrick Jones, Caitlin Webber and Diane Craft)

Carpenter

Trump On Tariff Investigation Into Furniture Imports: Bring ‘Business Back’ To U.S.

Tariffs

Vietnam

The Trump administration on Tuesday said it was targeting more imports of Chinese goods, including steel, copper and lithium, for high-priority enforcement over alleged human-rights abuses involving the Uyghurs.
The Department of Homeland Security, in a post on X, said it was also designating caustic soda and red dates for high-priority enforcement under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.
&#8220;The use of slave labor is repulsive and we will hold Chinese companies accountable for abuses and eliminate threats its forced labor practices pose to our prosperity,&#8221; U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said separately on X.
The Uyghur-related law restricts the import of goods tied to what the U.S. describes as China&#8217;s human-rights abuses and ongoing genocide in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
U.S. authorities say Chinese authorities have established internment camps for Uyghurs and other religious and ethnic minority groups in China’s western Xinjiang region. Beijing has denied any abuses.
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The Chinese Communist Party has faced considerable backlash for nearly a decade over their efforts to detain the ethnic and religious minority Uyghurs.
&#8220;Treatment in the centers reportedly included food deprivation, psychological pressure, sexual abuse, medical neglect, torture, and forced labor,&#8221; notes <a href="https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF10281">Congress.gov</a>. &#8220;Leaked Xinjiang police files, which included thousands of detainee records and images, important party directives, and police protocols, revealed the prison-like nature of the reeducation centers.&#8221;
Some detainees are forced to work in various industries, some of which are part of the global market.
In 2020, Disney was <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/08/media/mulan-controversy-xinjiang-credits-intl-hnk">heavily criticized</a> for filming part of the live-action &#8220;Mulan&#8221; movie in Xinjiang province, near where detainment facilities are reportedly located. The company even thanked the &#8220;publicity department of CPC Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Committee&#8221; and the &#8220;publicity department of CPC Turpan Municipal Committee&#8221; in the credits of the film.
(Reporting by Susan Heavey and Bhargav Acharya; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)

0B166219-362D-4233-AD7A-B30075843200_1_201_a

U.S. Targets Steel, Copper, Lithium Imports Under Uyghur Forced Labor Law

Executive

Steel industry

Uyghur

Speaking on Tuesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sent a <a href="applewebdata://952E91CB-AC1F-46A3-A670-13239822B5F5/v">warning</a> that the Trump administration would investigate who is buying land around U.S. military bases in the homeland.
“Congressional Republicans have introduced companion bills to halt Chinese purchases outright, and the Pentagon is aligning with USDA and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to identify and shut down high-risk acquisitions,” North Carolina journalist Sloan Rachmuth <a href="https://ncpoliticaltea.substack.com/p/secretary-of-defense-sounds-alarm">noted</a> on Substack.
“I want to know who owns the land around our bases and strategic bases, and getting an understanding of why foreign entities, foreign companies, foreign individuals, might be buying up land around those bases,” Hegseth asserted. “That’s something I should be paying attention to on behalf of the American people, on behalf of my department and on behalf of the president. It’s common sense. And so, food security, just like energy resilience, just like where we get our water, that’s all national security, especially in a contingency.&#8221;
“So we would be asleep at the wheel if we were not fully a party to an effort like this to ensure that our nation had the food supply it needs, but specifically our troops have what they need on our basis so that in those moments, you can rely on us here in the United States to provide that security,” he continued, warning, “So no longer can foreign adversaries assume we’re not watching and we’re not paying attention and we’re not doing something because we are.”
In April, Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-NC) introduced the <a href="https://harriganforms.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Military_Installation_Retail_Security_Act_TEXT.pdf" data-extlink="">Military Installation Retail Security Act</a>, which would ban companies owned by enemy nations from operating retail stores on U.S. military installations. In October 2023, Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/3077/text">introduced</a> the “Protect Our Bases Act,” which would “require the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to annually review and update the facilities and property of the United States Government determined to be national security sensitive for purposes of review of real estate transactions.” Chairman Scott <a href="https://www.banking.senate.gov/newsroom/majority/scott-colleagues-lead-effort-to-strengthen-review-of-foreign-land-purchases-near-sensitive-us-military-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.banking.senate.gov/newsroom/majority/scott-colleagues-lead-effort-to-strengthen-review-of-foreign-land-purchases-near-sensitive-us-military-sites&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1755270797423000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1a3bKXEB91EOCDYqR59CAy">reintroduced</a> the Protect Our Bases Act this June, with Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), and Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) all cosponsoring.
In the North Carolina Senate, lawmakers introduced the <a href="https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/Senate/PDF/S338v1.pdf">NC Farmland and Military Protection Act</a>, which would bar any foreign government from buying land within a 25-mile radius of military installations. The North Carolina House is considering a similarly named bill, which would increase that radius to 75 miles. North Carolina is the home of Fort Bragg, Pope Army Airfield, and Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, among other military bases.
“Agriculture is our largest industry, generating <a href="https://www.ncagr.gov/news/press-releases/2024/05/18/economic-impact-nc-agriculture-and-agribusiness-jumps-1111-billion-second-straight-year-strong?utm_source=chatgpt.com">$111 billion a year</a> and covering over 8 million acres. The military is our second-largest sector, adding up to $80 billion annually and supporting more than 650,000 jobs,” Rachmuth noted. “Allowing hostile governments to buy farmland near these sites is not just an economic risk — it’s a direct threat to operational security. Property near runways, radar stations, or training grounds can be used for surveillance equipment, drone staging, or subtle encroachment on military activities.”
In 2023, the people of North Dakota saw a Chinese plan for opening a corn mill near a sensitive military base and took matters into their own hands, blocking the project.
The Grand Forks City Council, aware that the U.S. military did not have jurisdiction to kill the project, voted unanimously in February 2023 to block Chinese food producer Fufeng Group from building the mill only 12 miles from the Grand Forks Air Force Base. In spring 2022, three North Dakotans sold the land for millions of dollars; the town’s mayor, Brandon Bochenski, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/01/chinese-purchase-of-north-dakota-farmland-raises-national-security-concerns-in-washington.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pointed out</a> that the proposed $700 million plant would create more than 200 jobs, but also admitted there were national security concerns.
“The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) considered an October 2022 filing by the Fufeng Group to acquire certain assets in the vicinity of Grand Forks, North Dakota. Grand Forks Air Force Base is the center of military activities related to both air and space operations,” U.S. Air Force Assistant Secretary Andrew P. Hunter <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11704309/Air-Force-shoots-Chinas-plan-build-corn-15-miles-North-Dakota-base.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warned</a> North Dakota Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer in January.
“While CFIUS concluded that it did not have jurisdiction, the Department’s view is unambiguous: the proposed project represents a significant threat to national security with both near and long-term risks of significant impacts to our operations in the area,” he added.
“With regard to Fufeng, if you’re going to strategically decouple, that means we don’t want their investment,” Cramer <a href="https://www.am1100theflag.com/show-episodes/48874-6-03-22-whats-on-your-mind-hour-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> last June.

President Trump Hosts Purple Heart Day Event

Hegseth Warns U.S. Enemies: ‘I Want To Know Who Owns The Land Around Our Bases’

Military Bases

President Trump secures a massive trade deal with the E.U. and brokers a peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia. A possible motive emerges for the New York City mass shooting that left four dead. A decline in the U.S. birthrate spells trouble for the country and the economy. 
It’s Wednesday, July 30, 2025, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
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<h2>Trump Touts Trade and Peace Deal Triumphs</h2>
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Topline: President Trump returned to the White House on Tuesday night following a successful trip to the United Kingdom, where he finalized a massive trade deal with the European Union and brokered a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia. 
The White House is calling the trip a “winning streak” for the president. Under the terms of the trade agreement, the European Union will remove significant tariffs on American goods and purchase $750 billion of United States energy exports during the president’s term in office. The E.U. will also invest $600 billion in the U.S. over the same period. The deal is expected to provide American farmers, ranchers, and manufacturers with unprecedented market access to Europe. 
President Trump also announced on Monday that Thailand and Cambodia had reached a ceasefire after he warned them that continued conflict would jeopardize any potential trade deals with the U.S. The president has now brokered approximately one peace deal or ceasefire per month since taking office. 
Meanwhile, a third round of trade negotiations between the U.S. and China concluded in Sweden without a specific agreement. However, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the talks as &#8220;constructive,&#8221; suggesting that Trump’s recent deals with Japan and the E.U. have given the U.S. leverage, putting China in &#8220;more of a mood for a wide ranging discussion.&#8221; 
<h2>Motive Emerges In Midtown Manhattan Mass Shooting</h2>
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Topline: Four people are dead, including an NYPD officer, after a gunman opened fire in a midtown Manhattan office building on Monday in New York&#8217;s deadliest mass shooting in 25 years.
The 27-year-old shooter stormed the lobby of the skyscraper at 345 Park Avenue, killing four people before taking his own life. According to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a suicide note found on the gunman suggests he was targeting the NFL headquarters located in the building. The shooter, who had a history of mental health problems, claimed in the note that he was suffering from CTE, a brain disease linked to head trauma, from playing football. However, he only played in high school.
The shooter was armed with an M-4 rifle, a style of weapon that is banned under New York’s strict gun laws. Following the attack, New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) called for a nationwide ban on semi-automatic rifles.
The shooting came as officials in Cincinnati gave an update on a separate, brutal street brawl that went viral over the weekend. Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge blamed social media and journalists for misrepresenting the incident and making the investigation more difficult. The city&#8217;s Democratic mayor, Aftab Pureval, accused the Trump administration&#8217;s Department of Justice of politicizing the attack by investigating it for potential hate crime charges. 
<h2>U.S. Faces a ‘Birth Dearth’</h2>
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Topline: The U.S. birthrate fell to an all-time low in 2024, according to a new CDC report, prompting concerns about the future of the nation&#8217;s culture and economy. 
The CDC’s annual report revealed that the U.S. fertility rate dropped to 1.59 children per woman last year, a 19% decline in the last 20 years. This is significantly below the 2.1 rate needed for a generation to replace itself, and it means fewer babies were born in America in 2024 than in 1964, when the population was nearly half its current size. 
The decline is attributed to several factors. Socially, women are waiting longer to have children, with the average age of a first-time mother now at 27.5, up from 22 in 1980. Biologically, fertility rates have also fallen. The average man&#8217;s sperm count has dropped 62% since 1970, a decline linked to rising obesity rates and exposure to &#8220;forever chemicals&#8221; like PFAs. 
The Trump administration views the trend as a crisis. Vice President JD Vance has called the low birthrate an &#8220;existential threat to America.&#8221; The administration has responded with executive actions to reduce the cost of in-vitro fertilization, expand the Child Tax Credit, and has proposed a &#8220;Baby Bonus&#8221; that would provide a $5,000 cash payment to parents for each new child.

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Morning Brief: Trade Tour De Force, Midtown Tower Attack, U.S. Birth Rates Hit Record Low

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