WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he will hike his worldwide tariffs to 15% after a &#8220;complete review&#8221; of the Supreme Court decision blocking his tariffs on Friday.
&#8220;Based on a thorough, detailed, and complete review of the ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on Tariffs issued yesterday, after MANY months of contemplation, by the United States Supreme Court, please let this statement serve to represent that I, as President of the United States of America, will be, effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff on Countries, many of which have been &#8216;ripping&#8217; the U.S. off for decades, without retribution (until I came along!), to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level,&#8221; said Trump in a Saturday morning Truth Social post.
The president added: &#8220;During the next short number of months, the Trump Administration will determine and issue the new and legally permissible Tariffs, which will continue our extraordinarily successful process of Making America Great Again &#8211; GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE!!!&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
NEW: President Trump is raising the 10% worldwide tariff to the &#8220;fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/0JsJDqLsh2">pic.twitter.com/0JsJDqLsh2</a>
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaryMargOlohan/status/2025242938624589857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2026</a></blockquote>
The White House clarified on Friday that Trump is levying the tariffs by invoking his authority under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, empowering him to address “certain fundamental international payment problems through surcharges and other special import restrictions.&#8221; The initial White House proclamation imposed a 10% ad valorem import duty on all articles imported into the U.S. for 150 days, taking effect February 24 at 12:01 a.m.
“By taking this action, the United States can stem the outflow of its dollars to foreign producers and incentivize the return of domestic production,” a White House fact sheet explains. “By increasing its domestic production, the United States can correct its balance-of-payments deficit, while also creating good-paying jobs, and lowering costs for consumers.”
<div id="attachment_1047745" style="width: 886px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-hikes-his-new-tariffs-to-15-after-complete-review-of-scotus-decision/trumps-global-tariffs-struck-down-by-us-supreme-court" rel="attachment wp-att-1047745"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1047745" class="wp-image-1047745 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2262195055-876x576.jpg" alt="" width="876" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2262195055-876x576.jpg 876w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2262195055-300x197.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2262195055-768x505.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2262195055.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 876px) 100vw, 876px" /></a>President Donald Trump imposed a 10% global tariff on foreign goods, moving quickly to preserve his trade agenda after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down many of the levies he imposed last year. Photographer: Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images</div>
Trump&#8217;s actions come after the Supreme Court struck down his reciprocal tariffs on dozens of countries in a 6-3 decision on Friday, saying that the president does not have the authority to impose those broad-scale tariffs.
Trump, in a White House press briefing on Friday and in subsequent social media posts, said repeatedly that he is “ashamed” of the Supreme Court justices who ruled against him for “not having the Courage to do what is right for our Country.”
On the other hand, the president has repeatedly praised the justices who ruled in his favor.
&#8220;My new hero is United States Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and, of course, Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito,&#8221; he posted on Saturday morning. &#8220;There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that they want to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!&#8221;

President Donald Trump

Trump Hikes His New Tariffs To 15% After ‘Complete Review’ Of SCOTUS Decision

Donald Trump

Economy

Executive

Politics

Supreme Court

Tariffs

The United States economy grew more slowly than expected in the fourth quarter, as investment gains were offset by declines in government spending and exports. 
Gross domestic product increased at a 1.4% annualized rate last quarter, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis said in its initial estimate of fourth-quarter GDP on Friday. The figure missed the Dow Jones estimate, which had forecasted that GDP would rise at a 2.5% pace. 
Trump blamed the ‘Democrat Shutdown’ for the fourth-quarter economic slowdown. 
“The Democrat Shutdown cost the United States of America at least two points in GDP. That’s why they are doing it, in mini form, again. No shutdowns!” The President added, “Also, lower interest rates,” and that Fed Chair Jerome Powell “is the worst.” 
Just four days into the government shutdown that began in October, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl_eu8vxU9Q">warned</a> that the shutdown could result in weekly losses of $15B in GDP. Oxford Economics predicted the shutdown would reduce economic growth by 0.1 to 0.2 percentage points per week. They estimated a quarter-long shutdown would have impacts of 1.2 to 2.4 percentage points. The government shutdown ultimately lasted around half a quarter before ending in November. 
White House spokesperson Kush Desai told the Daily Wire the numbers showed a robust private sector-led economy despite the shutdown. 
“Today’s GDP report showed that President Trump continues to deliver robust private sector-led economic growth with strong consumption and investment. Even with the Democrat Government Shutdown dragging the country down last fall, GDP growth for 2025 smashed the Federal Reserve, Congressional Budget Office, and International Monetary Fund’s ‘expert’ predictions. He added, “As President Trump’s proven agenda of tax cuts, deregulation, tariffs, and energy abundance continues taking effect and as trillions in investments continue pouring in, America’s economic comeback is set to only accelerate in 2026.” 
Not all economists agreed. Chief Economist for Europac Peter Schiff <a href="https://x.com/PeterSchiff/status/2024844808863281222">said</a>, &#8220;Data confirms Trump&#8217;s &#8216;hottest economy&#8217; is cooling fast.&#8221;
Many economists argue that President Trump&#8217;s tariffs curb economic growth. On Friday, the Supreme Court issued a ruling striking down Trump&#8217;s use of sweeping tariffs through the International Emergency Economic Power Act (IEEPA).
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer <a href="https://x.com/SenSchumer/status/2024869159197118878">said</a> the Supreme Court ruling was &#8220;a victory for the wallets of every American consumer.&#8221;

President Trump Tours Ford Rouge Complex In Michigan

Why Trump Says Democrats Shaved ‘Two Points’ Off Economic Growth

Trump Blames 'Democrat Shutdown' For GDP Miss

Democrat Shutdown

The storied Chicago Bears NFL franchise has been playing in the Windy City since 1921, but on Thursday, the team shocked the sports world and Illinois leaders by taking a &#8220;meaningful step&#8221; toward building a new stadium across state lines in Hammond, Indiana.
After the Indiana House of Representatives unanimously passed a proposed amendment to make Indiana the Bears&#8217; new home, the team said it is &#8220;committed to finishing&#8221; the process &#8220;to build a world-class stadium near the Wolf Lake area in Hammond, Indiana,&#8221; Chicago-based news outlet WGN 9 <a href="https://wgntv.com/northwest-indiana/indiana-lawmakers-to-meet-thursday-morning-to-review-proposal-for-bears-to-build-new-stadium-in-northwest-indiana/">reported</a>. The Bears thanked the Republican-led Indiana government for quickly working to open the door for the new stadium.
&#8220;We appreciate the leadership shown by Governor [Mike] Braun, Speaker [Todd] Huston, Senator [Ryan] Mishler and members of the Indiana General Assembly in establishing this critical framework and path forward to deliver a premier venue for all of Chicagoland and a destination for Bears fans and visitors from across the globe,&#8221; the Bears said. &#8220;We value our partnership and look forward to continuing to build our working relationship together.&#8221;
While a relocation to Hammond would keep the Bears in the Chicago metro area, it would mark a major loss for Illinois Democratic leaders, including Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. The Bears had planned to move to Arlington Heights, a village in Illinois northwest of downtown Chicago, but the plan has stalled in the Democrat-controlled state legislature.
A spokesman for Governor Pritzker <a href="https://x.com/thematthill/status/2024502208885080324">said</a> that state lawmakers had planned to hold a hearing on moving forward with the Bears&#8217; Arlington Heights plans, but the franchise requested the meeting be called off at the last minute. The hearing, scheduled to be held by the Illinois Revenue and Finance Committee, was set to look into a proposal to provide up to $850 million in infrastructure support, according to WGN 9.
&#8220;This morning, we were surprised to see a statement lauding Indiana and ignoring Illinois,&#8221; Pritzker&#8217;s spokesman, Matt Hill, added.
Local property taxes in Illinois also remain a major issue. Illinois Republican state Rep. Mark Batinick published a document detailing how the 7% property tax rate in Arlington Heights would require the Bears to pay around $210 million annually, the Purdue Exponent <a href="https://www.purdueexponent.org/city_state/general_news/chicago-bears-hammond-indiana/article_46293472-6987-4fe8-b4be-6a69f7280fb1.html">reported</a>.
Indiana Republican Governor Mike Braun released a statement on Thursday touting the state&#8217;s &#8220;pro-growth environment&#8221; that &#8220;continues to attract major opportunities like this partnership with the Chicago Bears.&#8221;
&#8220;The State of Indiana moves at the speed of business, and we&#8217;ve demonstrated that through our quick coordination between state agencies, local government, and the legislature to set the stage for a huge win for all Hoosiers,&#8221; Braun added. &#8220;We have built a strong relationship with the Bears organization that will serve as the foundation for a public-private partnership, leading to the construction of a world-class stadium and a win for taxpayers.&#8221;
Illinois businesses, especially businesses in Arlington Heights, could take the biggest losses if the proposal to move the Bears to Indiana goes through. Business owners and residents in Arlington Heights have largely supported bringing the NFL team to the village, as it would come with increased business and tourism opportunities.
A move to Republican-led Indiana, however, could ease the tax burdens of the franchise and its players. Indiana&#8217;s income tax currently sits at 2.95% and will be <a href="https://www.indianahouserepublicans.com/blog/general/new-tax-cuts-for-hoosiers-in-2026/">lowered</a> to 2.9% beginning in 2027. The state&#8217;s <a href="https://taxfoundation.org/location/indiana/">corporate</a> income tax rate is 4.9%. Illinois&#8217; <a href="https://tax.illinois.gov/research/taxrates/income.html">income tax</a>, meanwhile, is 4.95% and its corporate tax sits at 7%.
The potential relocation to Indiana comes as the Bears have once again become a top contender in the NFC following an NFC North division title and playoff run last season with star quarterback Caleb Williams and new head coach Ben Johnson.
The Bears could be the second NFL team to move across state lines, as the Kansas City Chiefs are preparing to build a new stadium on the Kansas side of the border after playing in Missouri for decades. Last year, Missouri Republicans <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-tale-of-two-kansas-cities-chiefs-and-royals-spark-political-battle-with-potential-stadium-moves">disagreed</a> over whether they should try to keep the Chiefs in the state, with Republican Governor Mike Kehoe arguing that the team brings business and state revenue for Missouri. Conservative Republicans in the Missouri Freedom Caucus, however, didn&#8217;t want to use taxpayer dollars for the benefit of the billionaire Chiefs owners.

Chicago Bears

‘Da Bears’ Seeing Red Over Blue State Games, Line Up The U-Hauls

Democrats

Illinois

Indiana

Republicans

U.S.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani warned that his preliminary budget would be a tax on working- and middle-class New Yorkers on Tuesday.
“Property taxes would be raised by 9.5%. This would effectively be a tax on working- and middle-class New Yorkers who have a median income of $122,000,” the mayor said.
Mamdani unveiled his preliminary budget proposal for 2027, outlining a plan to close a projected $5.4 billion deficit. Under state law, New York City must pass a balanced budget. To bridge the gap, Mamdani proposed a 9.5% increase in property taxes and “raiding” the city&#8217;s Rainy Day Fund and the Retiree Health Benefits Trust Fund. “The city would also take $980 million from its Rainy Day Fund and take $229 million from the Retiree Health Benefits Trust,&#8221; he said.
Mamdani&#8217;s proposal would increase the city&#8217;s overall spending from former Mayor Eric Adams&#8217; <a href="https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2025/05/mayor-adams-releases-best-budget-ever-fiscal-year-2026-executive-budget-makes-significant">$115 billion</a> budget to $127 billion. Mamdani described the property tax hike and reserve raid as a last resort, preferring to instead raise taxes on high-income earners and corporations, which would require approval from New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who has promised New Yorkers she will not raise taxes in 2026. Without Hochul agreeing to raise taxes, Mamdani is left with raising property taxes as his administration&#8217;s primary lever.
“To rely on a property tax increase and a significant draw-down of reserves to close our gap would have dire consequences,&#8221; stated Mamdani&#8217;s Comptroller Mark Levine. &#8220;Our property tax system is profoundly unfair and inconsistent, and an across-the-board increase in this tax would be regressive. Drawing down reserves during a period of economic growth would leave us vulnerable to economic turbulence next year.&#8221;
Mamdani would not be the first mayor to draw from the reserves, as the city tapped the funds during the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, however, the city would be tapping the funds &#8220;despite a strong economy and record revenues from Wall Street.&#8221;
Mamdani attributed the budget shortfalls to former Mayor Eric Adams&#8217; administration underfunding $7.54 billion in six key areas, including cash assistance, rental assistance, shelter, due process cases, judgement &amp; claims, and the city subsidy structural deficit.
Since the 1970s, New York has been legally required to balance its budget when the state legislature passed the Financial Emergency Act for the City of New York in September of 1975, mandating a balanced budget. The legislation was passed to prevent New York City from defaulting on its debt and going bankrupt after a decade of the city covering daily operations with <a href="https://www.city-journal.org/article/new-york-fiscal-crisis-1970s-migrants-welfare-costs#:~:text=Once%20Beame%20took%20office%2C%20the,to%20loan%20to%20New%20York.">short-term loans</a>.
Turning to reserves to meet Mamdani&#8217;s mandate could raise red flags with credit rating agencies. Using reserves to plug recurring deficits may signal structural imbalance, increasing the risk of a municipal bond downgrade. A downgrade would force the city to pay higher interest rates to borrow, ultimately driving up debt service costs and putting even more pressure on the budget the law requires to be balanced.
Costs may continue to rise for New York City. <a href="https://abc7ny.com/post/watchdog-questions-high-cost-sanctuary-new-york-city/16122940/#:~:text=NEW%20YORK%20(WABC)%20%2D%2D%20More%20than%20$7,people%20the%20city%20cares%20for%20is%20decreasing%2C">Watchdog</a> group Citizens Budget Commission reports more than $7 billion of taxpayer money has been spent to house and care for undocumented immigrants in New York City.
ABC New York (WABC) <a href="https://abc7ny.com/post/watchdog-questions-high-cost-sanctuary-new-york-city/16122940/#:~:text=NEW%20YORK%20(WABC)%20%2D%2D%20More%20than%20$7,people%20the%20city%20cares%20for%20is%20decreasing%2C">reports</a> the yearly budget for asylum seekers is larger than the budget for the city health department, the sanitation department, and the fire department.

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Interview

Mamdani’s $127B Budget Plan Relies On Property Tax Increases And ‘Raiding’ Rainy Day Fund

New York

New York City

Taxes

Zohran Mamdani

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump released a plan on Friday to expand American shipbuilding, ease regulations on commercial carriers, and boost domestic maritime jobs.
The plan represents what the White House called &#8220;the first holistic approach&#8221; to strengthening the maritime industry in the United States and streamlining government procurement, Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly told reporters on Friday morning.
The White House said the initiative would involve &#8220;hundreds of billions of dollars&#8221; in new investments, fulfilling Trump&#8217;s promise &#8220;to build ships in America.&#8221;
Kelly argued that America&#8217;s &#8220;strategic position and shipbuilding industrial capacity&#8221; has been weakened over the decades due to unnecessary regulatory burdens and a lack of sustained policy focus.
Kelly also accused foreign competitors of using unfair trade practices to expand their shipbuilding industries.
The White House described Trump as the first president in decades to elevate &#8220;American maritime dominance&#8221; as a priority, pointing to the newly released plan.
<div id="attachment_1043749" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-unveils-plan-to-expand-u-s-shipbuilding-restore-americas-maritime-dominance/south-koreas-150-billion-bet-on-trumps-shipbuilding-dream" rel="attachment wp-att-1043749"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1043749" class="wp-image-1043749 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2231657244-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2231657244-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2231657244-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2231657244-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2231657244.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>Workers construct a grand block of the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel Five (NSMV V), a training platform for state maritime academies, in the grand block shop at the Hanwha Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Photographer: Hannah Beier/Bloomberg via Getty Images.</div>
&#8220;He has done more than anyone to revitalize this vital sector for our national security,&#8221; Kelly said, citing his April 2025 executive order directing his team to craft a maritime action plan.
The plan calls for strengthening maritime supply chains, developing a strategy to secure Arctic waterways, expanding the fleet of American-built and American-flagged commercial vessels, and recapitalizing government-owned sealift ships.
Kelly said the plan would improve coordination among federal agencies involved in ship procurement. She added that it would expand government programs, encourage private investment in domestic shipbuilding, and pursue deregulation.
A copy of the plan indicates that the proposal is structured around four key pillars: expanding domestic shipbuilding capacity, reforming maritime workforce education and training, protecting the industrial base from foreign competition, and strengthening national security.
The document concludes by projecting that the plan will &#8220;reestablish America’s position as a global maritime power,&#8221; thereby strengthening national security and economic prosperity.

Trump Unveils Plan To Expand U.S. Shipbuilding, Restore ‘America’s Maritime Dominance’

White House

New federal data released Friday showed inflation slowing and wages rising in January, trends the Trump administration says signal improving affordability.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that consumer prices rose 2.4% last month, below the 2.5% forecast. Markets rose following the news.
Average hourly earnings rose <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf">3.7%</a> over the past year, outpacing inflation and reflecting real wage growth. Private-sector employers added more than 170,000 jobs in January.
“We saw real wage growth in 2025,&#8221; Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. &#8220;It could be very strong in 2026, and I think the American people are going to start feeling it.”
The White House said the data reflect the success of President Donald Trump&#8217;s economic policies.
“President Trump has defeated Joe Biden’s inflation crisis in record time,&#8221; said White House Spokesperson Taylor Rogers. &#8220;Inflation is low, wages are up, and the American economy is booming — all thanks to President Trump’s pro-growth agenda. President Trump is working hard to Make America Affordable Again — just like he promised.” 
&#8220;Real wages are up $1,400 in 2025 — nearly half of Biden era real wage decline made up for in just one year thanks to President Trump,&#8221; said White House Deputy Press Secretary Kush Desai. &#8220;This is just the beginning: President Trump&#8217;s MFN drug pricing deals, tax cuts, trade deals, and deregulation are just starting to take effect.&#8221;
When President Joe Biden took office in 2021, annual inflation was running at 1.9%. During his term, inflation averaged 4.9% and peaked at 9.1% in 2022. Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan in 2021, which included $1,400 direct payments to Americans.
“Joe Biden crashed the economy,” Bessent said. “The policies were a disaster for the American people.” 
Bessent argued that the Biden administration boosted demand through increased government spending while constraining supply with tighter regulations, driving up inflation. 
The January data marks the latest sign that inflationary pressures may be easing as the administration pushes its affordability agenda.

Consumer Prices See Largest Increases In 30 Years

Inflation Cools, Wages Rise As Trump White House Celebrates Affordability Gains

Inflation

Jobs

Scott Bessent

Unemployment

A coalition of state attorneys general led by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is warning major corporations that participating in coordinated “plastics sustainability” initiatives could expose them to serious antitrust and consumer protection liability, according to a <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eCxmUDluD7iaEOb6c9qOFvmbrXw03vW9/view">letter</a> obtained by The Daily Wire.
The letter, sent Tuesday, targeted 78 companies affiliated with several prominent plastics and packaging advocacy groups, including Amazon, Lego, Intel, and Microsoft. The attorneys general argue that collective commitments to eliminate products, reduce packaging options, or alter product quality may unlawfully restrain trade by limiting output and bypassing normal market competition.
The warning focuses on companies involved with the U.S. Plastics Pact, the Consumer Goods Forum, and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition. These organizations promote industry-wide targets aimed at reducing or eliminating certain plastic products and mandating recyclability and content standards. According to the attorneys general, those targets are not simply aspirational—they function as coordinated pressure campaigns that can distort markets and harm consumers.
This letter follows earlier warnings sent directly to the advocacy groups in October, escalating scrutiny from the organizational level to individual company participation.
The attorneys general warn that companies that continue to adhere to or enforce these policies may face enforcement under the Sherman Antitrust Act, as well as state and federal consumer protection laws. The letter emphasizes that membership in an industry association does not shield companies from liability if their conduct results in reduced output, degraded product quality, or higher prices.
Collective action lies at the heart of the concern. The advocacy groups themselves have acknowledged that their goals cannot be achieved through individual corporate decisions alone, but require coordinated commitments across competing firms—a hallmark of the kind of conduct antitrust laws are designed to prevent.
The letter draws on legal <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/attorneys-general-warn-financial-institutions-of-antitrust-violations-over-climate-activism">scrutiny</a> of so-called “net-zero alliances”—industry groups that coordinated commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions—as a cautionary example. In those cases, state attorneys general raised antitrust, fiduciary, and consumer protection concerns because competitors aligned on output-related targets and standards instead of competing independently. Some companies responded by withdrawing from the alliances, causing the initiatives to dissolve or weaken without full enforcement actions.
The attorneys general argue this history is instructive because the plastics advocacy groups at issue rely on similar coordinated commitments across multiple companies, which can produce the same anti-competitive effects antitrust law seeks to prevent.
The letter also cites a recent federal court ruling allowing antitrust and consumer protection claims against BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street to proceed. The court found that allegations of coordinated climate commitments leading to reduced output and market manipulation could support legal claims. The attorneys general contend that this precedent directly applies to plastics initiatives.
The letter stresses that environmental or social intentions do not exempt companies from antitrust law. Even for public-interest reasons, courts have consistently held that agreements to restrict output or reduce quality remain illegal. As the attorneys general note, no legal exception allows companies to collude to “protect consumers from their own choices.”
Beyond antitrust concerns, the attorneys general warn that companies may mislead consumers if they promote sustainability targets that are unrealistic, artificially imposed, or unlikely to be met—particularly if they fail to disclose the costs, tradeoffs, or feasibility of those commitments.
Attorney General Uthmeier framed the warning as a response to ideological pressure on corporations. “Multiple advocacy organizations have pressured companies into artificially changing the output and quality of their goods and services in ways that normal market forces would not otherwise bring about,” Uthmeier said. “Advocacy for a particular agenda is not a basis to mislead consumers.”
Jason Isaac, CEO of the American Energy Institute, compared the plastics initiatives to ESG-driven net-zero alliances. “When corporations coordinate through advocacy groups to restrict products, degrade quality, or manipulate markets outside normal competitive forces, that raises serious antitrust and consumer protection concerns,” Isaac said. “Coordinated pressure to eliminate products or reduce quality without regard to consumer demand is not sustainability—it is cartel-like behavior dressed up in advocacy language.”
Will Hild, Executive Director of Consumers’ Research, framed the letter as broader pushback against ESG-driven coordination. “State Attorneys General are sending a clear message to corporate America: you cannot collude with woke activists to push a political agenda and expect to escape scrutiny,” Hild said. “These plastics initiatives are not about serving consumers; they are about quietly eliminating products, reducing quality, and driving up costs.”
The attorneys general now demand that companies explain the legal basis for continued participation in these initiatives and provide documents showing why their conduct does not violate antitrust or consumer protection laws. The letter warns that failure to respond could trigger subpoenas or other compulsory legal action.
Requests for comment sent to Amazon, Intel, Lego, and Microsoft were not returned before publication.

US-NEWS-FLA-AG-TRUMP-ENDORSEMENT-OS

State AGs Tell Companies Their Sustainability Pacts Violate Antitrust Laws

Antitrust

Environmentalism

James Uthmeier

One Republican lawmaker wants the controversial H-1B visa program to be gone for good.
Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) introduced the Ending Exploitative Imported Labor Exemptions (EXILE) Act, which would change the Immigration and Nationality Act to no longer include the visa type, which the Republican argues will help the American workforce.
“Prioritizing foreign labor over the well-being and prosperity of American citizens undermines our values and national interests,” Steube said in a statement.
“Our workers and young people continue to be displaced and disenfranchised by the H-1B visa program that awards corporations and foreign competitors at the expense of our workforce. We cannot preserve the American dream for our children while forfeiting their share to non-citizens. That is why I am introducing the EXILE Act to put working Americans first again,” he continued. The congressman pointed out that the vast majority of H-1B visas are doled out to citizens of India and China.
The H-1B visa program allows people to work in the United States for a “specialty occupation,” and it’s capped at 65,000 visas annually with another 20,000 for people with high levels of college education, like a master&#8217;s degree.
The Trump administration has already made sweeping changes to the program, including imposing a $100,000 fee for the visa petition in many circumstances, as well as a rule changing how the visas are granted to ensure that more “higher-skilled and higher-paid aliens” will be given them.
“The existing random selection process of H-1B registrations was exploited and abused by U.S. employers who were primarily seeking to import foreign workers at lower wages than they would pay American workers,” said U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesman Matthew Tragesser in a December statement regarding the rule.
“The new weighted selection will better serve Congress’ intent for the H-1B program and strengthen America’s competitiveness by incentivizing American employers to petition for higher-paid, higher-skilled foreign workers. With these regulatory changes and others in the future, we will continue to update the H-1B program to help American businesses without allowing the abuse that was harming American workers,” he continued.
Criticism of the H-1B visa program is not exclusive to the Right, as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has also been a proponent of reform over labor concerns.
“The primary purpose of H-1B and other guest worker programs is not to employ the ‘best and the brightest,’ but instead to replace American workers with lower-paid workers from abroad who often live as indentured servants,” Sanders wrote in a <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/sen-bernie-sanders-h1-b-visas-hurt-one-type-worker-exploits-another-mess-must-fixed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox News</a> op-ed last year.
“Not only is this program disastrous for American workers, it can be very harmful to guest workers as well, who are often locked into lower-paying jobs and can have their visas taken away from them by their corporate bosses if they complain about dangerous, unfair or illegal working conditions,” he added.

Airport

GOP Lawmaker Proposes Nuking Controversial Visa Program Entirely

Congress

Immigration

Trump Administration

Vice President JD Vance became the highest-ranking U.S. official to ever visit Armenia while in office on Monday, joining Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to sign a civil nuclear agreement as part of the Trump administration&#8217;s efforts to secure peace in the South Caucasus.
During Vance&#8217;s visit, Pashinyan also reaffirmed Armenia&#8217;s commitment to the peace deal between his country and Azerbaijan that was brokered by President Donald Trump last August. The agreement signed on Monday promises $9 billion in potential U.S. investment in Armenia&#8217;s nuclear sector, an $11 million shipment of U.S. drones to the South Caucasus country, and a partnership on the sale of Nvidia chips to Armenia.
Vance <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/9NXWxKZhejE?si=zEdoR-IYl-vdgbcQ">called</a> the agreement a &#8220;win-win&#8221; that will provide additional energy exports to Armenia from the United States, as well as economic opportunities for American companies and security for Armenia. The nuclear cooperation would set up &#8220;a way for American and Armenian companies to strike deals on civil nuclear projects,&#8221; according to Vance, who added, &#8220;That means up to five billion dollars in initial U.S. exports, plus an additional four billion in long-term support through fuel and maintenance contracts.&#8221;
The civil nuclear agreement marks a major shift for Armenia, which has long relied on Russia for its energy and security. After President Trump took office last January, the United States strengthened its relationship with Armenia, a country that has grown increasingly open to the West under Pashinyan. Last August, Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-week-in-armenia-hope-emerges-after-trumps-major-steps-toward-peace">struck a peace deal</a> between Armenia and its neighbor, Azerbaijan, after years of conflict that saw over 100,000 ethnic Armenians forced to flee Nagorno-Karabakh, a region inside of Azerbaijan that has been home to Armenians for thousands of years.
Pashinyan said that Vance&#8217;s visit &#8220;reflects the depth of the strong and strategic partnership&#8221; between the United States and Armenia. The prime minister also expressed gratitude for President Donald Trump&#8217;s work to negotiate a deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan and strengthen the U.S.-Armenia relationship.
&#8220;After the Washington Peace Summit, [Azerbaijani] President Aliyev and I nominated President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize through a joint letter, and I have great hope that the president will rightfully receive this award in 2026,&#8221; Pashinyan added.
Vance commented on the &#8220;visionary&#8221; accomplishment that Trump achieved alongside Pashinyan in the peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan last year.
&#8220;We&#8217;re not just making peace for Armenia, we&#8217;re also creating real prosperity for Armenia and the United States together,&#8221; Vance said. &#8220;So much of the great cooperation that we&#8217;re going to announce today would not have been possible without [Pashinyan&#8217;s] leadership, without the peace that you committed your country to and without, of course, the president of the United States&#8217; leadership.&#8221;
&#8220;I really do believe that tonight marks a new beginning for Armenia and the United States and the partnership that our countries can have together,&#8221; Vance added.
Monday&#8217;s energy and economic agreement between the United States and Armenia comes on top of plans to develop an international trade route in Armenia to better connect the country to its neighbors. The route, which would be called the Trump Road for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), would open up more opportunities for business and trade in the region that has long been unstable. The Trump administration is hopeful that TRIPP will also ensure that the peace agreement signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan &#8220;will stick.&#8221;
Stepan Sargsyan, a former Armenian governor who works closely with the prime minister, told The Daily Wire on Monday that the TRIPP project is moving along smoothly.
&#8220;Right now, the Americans and Armenians and their Azeri counterparts are working very diligently and very expeditiously to bring it into fruition,&#8221; Sargsyan said. &#8220;Actually, literally a few days ago, the American embassy in Yerevan, Armenia, announced that a team of engineers from a U.S. company had already arrived in Armenia to do the surveying [for TRIPP]. So, we too in Armenia are very hopeful that this will come into existence very, very quickly.&#8221;
Vance plans to travel to Azerbaijan on Tuesday in hopes of continuing the Trump administration&#8217;s successful negotiations in the region and moving the August agreement forward.
In his press conference with Pashinyan on Monday, Vance also highlighted Armenia&#8217;s Christian foundation. Armenia is known as the first Christian nation in the world, officially declaring itself Christian in A.D. 301. Vance called Armenia a &#8220;true bedrock of Christian civilization and culture.&#8221;
&#8220;As a devout Christian myself, I know the meaning of this country to the entire world and to the religion that the prime minister and I share,&#8221; Vance added.

U.S. Vice President Vance Travels To Armenia

‘A New Beginning’: JD Vance Signs Nuclear Deal In Historic Visit To Armenia

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Foreign Policy

JD Vance

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent took a swing at liberal media network MS NOW — referring to it by its previous name, MSNBC — prompting laughs from Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC) along with several others in Thursday&#8217;s Senate Banking Committee hearing.
Bessent was taking questions from the committee on the economy during President Donald Trump&#8217;s first year in office, and he made the argument that public sentiment — and consumer confidence — could easily be influenced by dishonest media narratives.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorRicketts?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenatorRicketts</a>: &#8220;What more could we be doing in the Senate…to be able to help out with confidence…of consumers&#8221;<a href="https://twitter.com/SecScottBessent?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecScottBessent</a>: &#8220;Other than telling consumers to turn off MSNBC…it is a survey problem, where Democrats vote very low and Republicans are more realistic.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/HgwM2YULv5">pic.twitter.com/HgwM2YULv5</a>
— CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2019465329676808367?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) noted that consumer confidence did not appear to match the numbers coming from recent economic reports — and asked Bessent to identify where the disconnect might be and explain what could be done to bring people around.
&#8220;Despite all this progress, we&#8217;re seeing consumer confidence is not really rebounding the way that the economy seems to be,&#8221; Ricketts said. &#8220;In your opinion, what more can we in the Senate be doing with regard to consumer confidence and, you know, obviously, we had 40-year high inflation under the Biden administration. What more could we be doing in the Senate … to be able to help out with confidence … of consumers?&#8221;
&#8220;Other than telling consumers to turn off MSNBC,&#8221; Bessent began, prompting several loud laughs. &#8220;A large part of it is a survey problem, where Democrats vote very low and Republicans are more realistic, and then we end up — what we are seeing —&#8221;
Scott interrupted them to explain that the time had expired for Senator Ricketts and it was time to move on with the hearing.
&#8220;I appreciate your comments, believe me,&#8221; Scott said to Bessent with a chuckle.
Bessent also sparred with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), who asked him during Thursday&#8217;s hearing whether he agreed with President Donald Trump about the &#8220;affordability crisis&#8221; being a &#8220;hoax.&#8221;
Bessent carefully explained — more than once — that the Trump administration&#8217;s position was not that the affordability crisis was a hoax. He argued instead that the &#8220;hoax&#8221; was a reference to Democrat efforts to spin a real crisis of their own making — during former President Joe Biden&#8217;s administration — as something brand new that was wholly created and owned by President Trump.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Interview

Scott Bessent Nukes MSNBC When Asked How To Boost Consumer Confidence

Media

MSNBC

Tim Scott

It is better to give the next generation ownership of America’s future instead of handouts President Trump told attendees of the Trump Account Summit on Wednesday.
Over the next fifteen years, the United States Treasury and a plethora of fortune 500 companies will be putting about $4 trillion dollars of wealth into the hands of young Americans through Trump Accounts which are investment accounts for children under the age of eighteen with a $1000 seed investment from the government. The accounts will give children ownership in the American economy from birth.
“Trump Accounts represent the triumph of capitalism over socialism,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. “Through Trump Accounts, our President is creating an ownership economy where all citizens become shareholders in America’s wealth.”
Bessent called Trump Accounts the greatest merger in world history, the merger of Wall Street and Main Street and that it will forever change the relationship Americans have with the United States economy. Children won’t be able to take money out of their accounts until eighteen, so theoretically as America’s economy grows so will the value of children’s Trump Accounts.
“People are going to turn to socialism if they aren’t part of the system,” Counselor to the Treasury Secretary, Joe Lavorgna, told the Daily Wire. “This is a way to directly get them involved and partake in United States economic growth and prosperity, so they have no reason to move away from capitalism and move toward a subpar inferior system if they can actually benefit from capitalism.”
While the program has seen support across both sides of the aisle, some critics argue it will widen the wealth gap with the account predicted to total $5,000 when a child turns eighteen without additional investments from parents and employers versus $300,000 with additional investments. “I think that is a terrible criticism and it shows how out of touch anyone who says that is. Because if they say only $5,000 … huge numbers of families in America don’t have $500 to meet a medical emergency.” Bessent added, “You don’t want a wealth gap? Go to Venezuela, go to Cuba. Nobody owns anything.”
Marking the Trump Account launch day, seven different companies announced they would be matching contributions to their employees who opened the account including JPMorgan, Steak ‘n Shake, Bank of America, Broadcom, Intel, Coinbase, Comcast, and Turning Point USA. Past companies who previously announced employee match contribution programs were Charles Schwab, Uber, Charter Communications, Bank of New York Mellon, State Street, Mastercard, Visa, Block, Robinhood, SoFi, Chime, Russell Investments, and Dell Technologies.
World famous rapper Nicki Minaj also unveiled she will be pledging money to help fund her fans&#8217; Trump Accounts. Minaj did not announce which fans will be eligible for the contribution.
Minaj said, &#8220;If I had access to something like this my whole life would be different. So now I&#8217;m thinking about those kids who are bright and aren&#8217;t born with a bank account or wealthy relatives or parents but they have so much to offer this world. Now they get to have some sort of hope.&#8221;
In addition to wealth creation, the White House says Trump accounts will create a real-time laboratory of financial literacy for all Americans as students are able to watch their investment accounts grow when they log in to their accounts. Bessent said two-thirds of Generation Z cannot answer more than half of the basic financial literacy questions on the Nation’s Personal Finance Index and that the real-time Trump Account education will give Americans the opportunity to course correct financial literacy.

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White House Says Trump Accounts Are Antidote To Socialism

Socialism

Virginia Democrats have introduced legislation that would significantly raise income and investment taxes, putting the Commonwealth on track to become the highest-taxed state in the nation. These proposals, which include new top tax brackets and higher levies on investment income, would push Virginia’s effective income tax rate above California’s.
Democrats introduced the legislation shortly after consolidating power in Richmond, creating higher income tax brackets and expanding taxes on capital gains and other investment income. If lawmakers enact the bills, the changes would raise Virginia’s top effective income tax rate to roughly 13.8%, surpassing all other states.
Lawmakers backing the measures argue the tax hikes are necessary to fund public priorities and stabilize state finances. Virginia Delegate Kelly Convirs-Fowler (D-VA) said the proposals would require “millionaires [to] pay their fair share of taxes,” arguing the revenue would help “buffer” Virginians from broader economic pressures. Left-wing policy group The Commonwealth Institute, one of the many groups behind this proposed plan, said a “Fair Share tax” could raise more than $1 billion annually for education, housing, and other public services.
Democrats have positioned the tax proposals as part of a broader affordability agenda. Governor Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) has said her administration will prioritize lowering health care, housing, and energy costs. She campaigned on what she called an agenda to build a more “Affordable Virginia.”
Throughout her campaign, Spanberger emphasized cost relief as a central theme. Her campaign promised that an “Affordable Virginia Plan will lower costs, save Virginians money, and make it easier for people who work hard to get ahead.” She later pledged that her administration would “lower health care, energy, and housing costs in 2026.”
But critics argue the tax increases directly undermine those affordability promises.
Virginia Republicans remain skeptical of these promises, with State House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore (R-VA) pointing to the tax proposals as the leading edge of what he calls a slate of “bad bills.&#8221; The Republican Party of Virginia released an official statement saying, “Spanberger’s economic agenda would take Virginia down the same failed path as California and New York.&#8221;
The criticism quickly extended beyond Richmond. Conservative policy groups and Republican-aligned organizations warned the proposals would put Virginia at a competitive disadvantage nationally. “It’s always a bad time to raise taxes, but it would be particularly foolish for Governor Spanberger and the Democrats who now control Richmond to do so at this time of heightened state tax competition,” said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform.
Other conservative groups echoed that warning. The Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF), a major fundraising organization aligned with House Republicans, said the proposed tax increases would raise costs statewide, discourage investment, and drive jobs and capital out of Virginia. “It’s about to get very, very expensive to live, work, and raise a family in Virginia,” the organization said.
The CLF also accused Democrats of moving quickly to raise taxes after campaigning on affordability, noting that “within 48 hours of taking power in Richmond, Virginia Democrats have introduced legislation creating new sales and retail taxes.” The group added that “Democrats campaign on affordability, but the minute they’re given power they rob hardworking families of their paycheck in the form of higher and new taxes.”
Although lawmakers have not officially adopted the plan, Democrats’ 64-36 control of the House of Delegates and 21-19 majority in the Senate make passage likely.
Still, as Democrats defend the tax hikes as a “fair share” contribution to fund affordability initiatives, the measures risk turning Virginia into a tax-hiking outlier and a liability for Democrats in the 2026 midterms, as voters increasingly see higher taxes as the party’s solution to affordability concerns.

Abigail Spanberger Is Sworn In As First Female Virginia Governor

After Running On Affordability, Virginia Dems Push For Nation’s Highest Income Tax

abigail spanberger

Virginia

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