Monday morning news: April 14, 2025

Trade: Debate and deals »  Some Democrats in Washington are pushing for Congress to challenge President Trump’s emergency declaration, which allowed him to impose sweeping tariffs.

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren told ABC’s This Week:

WARREN:  That will mean we can go back to having actually a real tariff policy. Congress will have its position in place, and then we can negotiate where we need to negotiate, but we gotta stop this craziness.

Warren said there is no real tariff policy, adding that all we have right now is—her words—“chaos and corruption.”

But Republican Sen. James Lankford says President Trump has a plan and it’s working.

LANKFORD:  So many countries have come at the administration and said, remember all those things that we blocked out for a long time? Just kidding. We want to be able to actually fix some of those things now.

White House advisor Peter Navarro says many countries across the world have been reaching out to strike new trade agreements. He added—quote— “We’ve got 90 deals in 90 days possibly pending here.”

President Trump last week announced a 90-day pause on most wide-ranging tariffs for 90 days, replaced by a 10% tariff on all imports.

China trade war » While the White House says it’s making progress on new trade deals with many countries, China is another matter. Both sides are digging in their heels.

But Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says China is finally being taken to task for its trade abuses.

LUTNICK:  They are the ones who've been playing hardball all along. You know, president Trump said we have a $1.2 trillion trade deficit. This is the largest trade deficit of any country in human history.

The Trump administration says China has a long history of gaming the trade process, cheating, and flat out stealing.

The U.S. has hiked up the tariffs on China to 145-percent, while Beijing responded with 125-percent tariffs.

Hegseth on Panama Canal » Speaking of China, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday again touted progress on beating back what had been growing Chinese influence at the Panama Canal.

HEGSETH:  China's influence cannot control our own backyard, especially a critical waterway, key terrain like the Panama Canal.

The U.S.-built canal holds great strategic importance for the United States both commercially and militarily.

HEGSETH:  Two historic agreements, one with the Panama Canal authority that our ships, uh, our, our military vessels and auxiliary vessels will travel first and free through that Panama Canal.

He said the U.S. also signed a memorandum of understanding with the government in Panama, establishing a robust and growing U.S. presence there.

Ukraine attack » Russian missiles struck the heart of the Ukrainian city of Sumy as people gathered to celebrate Palm Sunday. Officials say the strike killed at least 34 people.

It was the second deadly, large-scale attack on Ukraine in just over a week.

ZELENSKYY: [Speaking Ukrainian]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is calling for a tough international response.

President Trump over the weekend showed frustration with Russia for dragging its heels in peace talks.

TRUMP: There’s a point at which you just have to either put up or shut up. We’ll see what happens.

He expressed some muted positivity saying he thinks it’s going to be “fine.”

Iran talks » The president also took questions from reporters about nuclear negotiations with Iran.

American and Iranian negotiators gathered in Oman over the weekend for the first round of talks.

Trump said so far, he believes nuclear talks are going “okay,” but he would not offer much beyond that.

 TRUMP: Nothing matters until you get it done. So I don't like talking about it, but it's going okay. The Iran situation's going pretty good.

Iran said the talks were “productive,” adding that they took place in a “calm and positive atmosphere.”

Mediators in Oman said the two sides are far apart, but added that this is only the beginning, and that’s normal for this stage.

President Trump has threatened military action if necessary to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran but stresses that he very much prefers peace.

The two sides are expected to meet again next weekend.

A governor fire » Police in Pennsylvania say a person is in custody after a suspected arson fire at the governor’s mansion.

Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family woke up to police banging on his door at around 2 a.m. Sunday morning to evacuate them as firefighters doused the flames.

Police say the fire caused significant damage, but no one was injured.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: how religious does a non-profit need to be in order to receive religious freedom protections? Plus, the Monday Moneybeat with economist David Bahnsen.

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