Monday morning news: February 3, 2025

Tariffs » Canada’s prime minister and Mexico’s president have ordered retaliatory tariffs against the United States. That comes after President Trump enacted 25 percent import tariffs on most goods from the neighboring countries.

Vice President JD Vance on Sunday said of the Trump tariffs:

VANCE: They have already been taking advantage of America for decades. The retaliation is Donald Trump saying no more. We're not going to be taken advantage of anymore.

He also says both Mexico and Canada aren’t doing enough to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and fentanyl into the U.S.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau argued that—his words: less than 1 percent of fentanyl and less than 1 percent of illegal crossings into the U.S. come from Canada. And he announced:

TRUDEAU:   Canada will be responding to the U.S. trade action with 25 percent tariffs against 155 billion worth of American goods.

China is also striking back after Trump applied a 10 percent tariff to all Chinese imports. Beijing says its filing a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization.

Rubio in Panama » Marco Rubio has embarked on his first trip to Latin America as Secretary of State, visiting Panama on Sunday.

That comes as President Trump warns Panama of possible retaliation if it doesn’t work to reduce Chinese influence over the Panama Canal.

Secretary Rubio, though, naturally struck a more diplomatic tone. He noted that for many traveling by sea, Panama is effectively the entry point to the United States.

RUBIO: You're the first thing they know about America and how we treat them and how we interact with them. And everywhere we go in the world, we hear what a positive relationship we have.

The United States built the canal and handed over control of it to Panama in 1977, but it remains a critical thruway for U.S. commercial and military vessels.

Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino has thus far resisted pressure from the U.S. on the matter.

Netanyahu to discuss 'victory over Hamas' with Trump » Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Washington today, preparing for a meeting tomorrow in the Oval Office with President Trump.

Netanayahu said Sunday:

NETANYAHU:  In this meeting, we'll, uh, deal with, uh, important issues, critical issues facing Israel and our region, uh, victory over Hamas, achieving the release of all our hostages, and dealing with the Iranian terror axis and all its components.

Specifically, the two leaders will reportedly start discussions about phase two of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Israel’s earlier stated objective of total victory over Hamas remains elusive. The terror group has shown in recent weeks that despite 16 months of war, they still maintain significant control over the Gaza Strip.

Hostage release » Meantime, in Gaza the ceasefire saw its smoothest exchange yet of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners over the weekend. The terror group Hamas released three hostages who were held for well over a year.

Dr. Hagar Mizrahi with the Israeli Ministry of Health:

MIZRAHI:  The returnees are undergoing initial medical evaluation. They have been reunited with their families and friends. This is an exciting day for all of us.

Tal Wax is the niece of one of those free hostages, American-Israeli Keith Seigel. She told reporters:

WAX: You can see that he's lost a lot of weight, but still he's walking and talking. You can feel that it's still him.

Saturday’s exchange took place with the reopening of the crucial Rafah crossing.

Israel freed nearly 200 Palestinian prisoners in the exchange, including militants and others charged with crimes.

Philly plane crash investigation » Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker says five people hurt on the ground when a jet crashed recently remain hospitalized, and three of them are in critical condition.

PARKER: Please continue to lift them, their families and loved ones up in prayer, and our city stands with them and every victim of this tragedy.

The Learjet crash killed all six aboard and one person on the ground.

A Mexico-bound air ambulance crashed shortly after takeoff Friday evening from Northeast Philadelphia Airport. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Among those killed was a girl who spent months being treated at an area hospital.

Washington aircraft collision investigation » Meanwhile in the nation’s capital, Authorities say they have recovered the remains of 55 of the 67 people killed … in a mid-air collision last week.

Washington D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly:

DONNELLY:  During our salvage surveys in preparation to lift the aircraft, additional remains were located and removed from the river and taken to the medical examiner's office.

Authorities are preparing to lift wreckage from the Potomac River as soon as this morning.

The mid-air collision last week between a commercial jet and a US Army helicopter was the deadliest U.S. air disaster since 2001.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: our weekly coverage of cases before the Supreme Court. Plus, the Monday Moneybeat with David Bahnsen.

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