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Good afternoon,
Over the weekend, President Donald Trump solidified a deal on tariffs and trade with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, narrowly avoiding a trade war. The deal sets a 15% tariff on most E.U. goods such as cars and pharmaceuticals. Other terms agreed to in the deal included the European Union purchasing $750 billion of American energy and increasing its investment in the United States by over $600 billion above current levels. The details around the preliminary agreement were rather vague and certain details remain unclear. However, the trade deal seemingly averts a complete economic crisis and downfall with one of the most important economic partners in the world. We will be keeping an eye on the American economy as the administration's policies come to full fruition.
Here are a few important updates...
COERCION AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY SETS A BAD PRECEDENT
Last week, Columbia University's $221 million settlement with the Trump administration was announced, sending shock waves across the higher education community. The deal not only threatens Columbia's autonomy and academic freedom. It also threatens American democracy. For months, the university faced extreme pressure from the White House to address alleged antisemitism on campus. These negotiations demonstrate the Trump administration's coercive nature and their willingness to breach executive branch authority to move an extremist agenda forward. Columbia ultimately caved to the administration's deal which will allow it to receive significant funding for federal research again. As The New York Times reports, "In exchange, Columbia will pay a fine of $200 million to the government, and an additional $21 million to settle employment discrimination claims. An independent monitor will report to the government about the university's compliance with the deal."
The Columbia settlement is dangerous and could set a bad precedent for other higher institutions to be forced to follow. Some higher education staff, legal experts, and free speech advocates view the settlement as unlawful. Some have even compared the administration's actions to moves by authoritarian leaders in other countries. Time and time again, we have seen the Trump administration make its own rules and fail to abide by the law or certain processes. It's disappointing to see a lack of courage from people and entities across our country. Before we know it, other higher education institutions will be ceding to the administration, falling like dominoes.
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USDA V. SNAP RECIPIENTS
On Monday, a group of 20 state attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in response to their recent demands for states to provide personal data of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients. These overreaching actions come as the administration is working to crack down on illegal immigration in the U.S. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) asked states to turn over information such as names, Social Security numbers, birth dates and addresses and eventually expanded the requirements to include immigration status and information about household members. However, following the patterns of other instances of overhaul, the USDA noted combating waste, fraud and abuse as the reason for the data collection. NPR reported that "USDA has suggested states that do not comply could lose funds."
Democratic attorneys general from California and New York are leading the charge against these demands in their federal lawsuit which argues the agency has violated privacy laws and asks a judge to prevent the USDA from enforcing the data demand or withholding funds from states. These policies are making Americans feel surveilled and controlled in a manipulative way. More than 41 million Americans rely on SNAP to get by and cutting funding for states would be extremely detrimental. These policies are about anything but oversight and transparency and we cannot allow the administration to bulldoze their way through the next three and a half years.
NUMBER OF THE WEEK
$3.5 billion: This is the approximate amount of combined lease payments and state and local taxes that wind and solar projects contribute to the American economy. More than one third of this goes directly to rural landowners. Renewable energy is vital to rural communities, providing steady income and affordable power. The Trump administration's leadership and cuts to federal support for renewable energy threaten these prospects.
WHAT WE'RE READING
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