Friday morning news: March 7, 2025

Tariffs » President Trump is delaying tariffs on some Mexican and Canadian imports for roughly one month. Companies compliant with the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement will get a reprieve from the new 25% import taxes.

Trump said he was very encouraged by a recent conversation with Mexican President Claudia Scheinbaum.

TRUMP:  We discussed drugs, and they've been working much harder lately. Do you notice that on people coming in and drugs? And we've made tremendous progress on both.

Illegal immigration and the flow of fentanyl into the country are the two main reasons Trump cited for imposing the tariffs.

But separately, he says reciprocal tariffs will be imposed on any and all trading partners who impose tariffs on U.S. goods.

TRUMP:  This is very much about companies and countries that have ripped off this country, our country, our beloved USA, and they're not gonna be ripping us off anymore.

Those tariffs take effect on April 2^nd, at varying levels Trump says will match those imposed on U.S. goods.

Ukraine »  President Trump's special envoy, Steve Whitkoff, plans to travel to Saudi Arabia next week to meet with Ukrainian leaders.

WITKOFF: And I think the idea is to get down a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire as well.

Whitkoff says a minerals deal with Ukraine that fell apart during that Oval Office argument last week, could also be signed very soon.

President Trump has ordered a pause on U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine until he’s convinced that Zelenskyy is serious about negotiating a peace agreement.

Israel: Gaza talks » Hamas issued a defiant response Thursday to President Trump’s warning the night before.

The terror group said it would only free the remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for a lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. That came after the president told Hamas leaders “Release all of the hostages now” or—quote— “it's OVER for you.”

And Israeli government spokesman David Mencer echoed Trump’s remarks.

MENCER: Release the hostages now. Release our hostages now, and you'll be able to leave Gaza alive.

The president spoke Wednesday of giving Israel—his words, everything it needs to finish the job - of eradicating Hamas.

No word on whether U.S. troops could play a role in any operation.

Israel: Hostage demonstration » Meantime, in Israel:

SOUND: Hostage families protest

Family members of Israeli hostages still held by Hamas held a demonstration in Tel Aviv, begging President Trump to bring their loved ones home.

WEINBERG: You are the man that could put an end to this war, bring all the hostages back home and create here a better future for all people.

Earlier this week the White House confirmed U.S. officials had been in direct talks with Hamas. It’s unclear if those talks continue, or if the U.S. is awaiting action by the terror group.

Al Green censured in House » The House has voted to censure Democratic Congressman Al Green of Texas for deliberately disrupting President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress this week.

It is effectively a slap on the wrist, requiring the congressman to be admonished while standing before his peers.

JOHNSON:   By its adoption of House Resolution 189, the House has resolved that Representative Al Green be censured, that Representative Al Green forthwith present himself in the well of the House of Representatives for the pronouncement of censure.

Ten Democrats voted with all Republicans on the censure.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries defended his fellow Democrat:

JEFFRIES:  The censure resolution put forth by extreme mega Republicans is not worth the paper that it was written on.

Congressman Green on Tuesday night stood, shouted at President Trump, and waved his cane in the air, refusing to be seated, before eventually being escorted out of the chamber.

Green introduced articles of impeachment against Trump last month, two weeks after the president was sworn in.

Transgender surgery » A recent study is calling attention to the harms of transgender surgeries. WORLD’s Paul Butler has more.

PAUL BUTLER: Scientists from three Texas medical colleges analyzed a decade worth of data on the mental health of more than 100-thousand people suffering from gender dysphoria. Some had received so-called transgender surgeries others had not.

Researchers found that those who received surgical interventions were much more likely to experience depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and substance abuse.

The data show that surgeries meant to—quote—"feminize” males showed "particularly high" rates of depression and substance abuse two years after the procedures.

Males with surgery had depression rates more than twice that of males in the study who did not.

For WORLD, I’m Paul Butler.

I'm Kent Covington.

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