Thursday morning news: June 12, 2025

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U.S.-China trade » Progress in trade talks with China.

After high-level trade talks in London, the Trump administration says Beijing will make it easier for American industry to get much- needed magnets and rare earth minerals.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent:

BESSENT:  I have just returned in the middle of last night from successful negotiations in London with a Chinese delegation that will not only stabilize the economic relationship between our two economies, but make it more balanced.

President Trump said in addition to great access to magnets and minerals as part of a new agreed-upon framework the U.S. will maintain existing tariffs on Chinese goods, which Trump has described as totaling 55% across various categories.

That clears the way for talks to continue between the world’s two biggest economies.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer:

GREER:  We know that they're motivated. Uh, our president is motivated. Uh, we're moving as quickly as we can. So, you know, we would very much like to find an agreement that makes sense for both countries.

Trump said in return for China’s concessions, the U.S. will stop efforts to revoke the visas of Chinese nationals on U.S. college campuses. But beyond that, the president did not fully spell out what concessions the U.S. is making.

Anti-ICE protest latest » Anti-ICE protests continued in LA Wednesday for a sixth day.

President Trump again said it was absolutely the right call to bring in the National Guard, and even hundreds of U.S. Marines for the purpose of guarding federal agents.

TRUMP:  If we weren't there, if, uh, we didn't bring in the national cut and the Marines, uh, you would probably have a city that was burning to the ground just like it was a number of months ago. With the housing, you would've had a big problem there.

But Democrats continue to insist President Trump is to blame for the unrest. Some, including LA Mayor Karen Bass, say the president needlessly escalated tensions by calling in the Guard.

BASS:  This was provoked by the White House. The reason why we don't know, I posit that maybe we are part of a national experiment to determine how far the federal government can go.

Bass and others also blame Trump over the ICE immigration raids that sparked the protests, and are calling on him to end those raids.

The White House says no way, and that the administration will continue to enforce immigration law.

Inflation numbers » U.S. inflation came in lower than expected in May. Consumer prices rose just 0.1% from April, slowing from a 0.2% the month before.

Core inflation, which strips out volatile food and energy, was also tame—0.1% for the month.

The cost of groceries, toys and games, and large appliances rose, which could reflect the impact of tariffs. But the price of new and used cars, clothes, airfares, and hotel rooms all dropped from April to May, offsetting the increases.

Musk apology » Elon Musk says he “regrets” some of the things he said about President Trump recently. In a post on X, he acknowledged he—quote—"went too far" in recent criticisms.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt:

LEAVITT:  The president acknowledged, uh, the statement that Elon put out this morning and he, uh, is appreciative of it, and we are continuing to focus on the business of the American people.

The former head of Trump’s department of Government Efficiency broke with Trump over a massive GOP reconciliation bill backed by the president. That disagreement escalated into an all-out feud.

Musk did not point to specific examples of social media posts he regrets. But among other things, Musk recently suggested that Trump’s name could be hidden in the so-called ‘Epstein files’, referring to the now deceased convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Pakistani extradited » Canadian authorities have extradited a 20-year-old Pakistani man to face charges in the U.S. related to an alleged terror plot. WORLD’s Benjamin Eicher reports:

BENJAMIN EICHER: Prosecutors say Muhammad Shahzeb Khan plotted to carry out an ISIS-inspired mass shooting last year at a Jewish center in Brooklyn.

The plan was timed to mark the anniversary of the October 7th terror attack against Israel.

Canadian authorities intercepted him as he was traveling to the U.S.-Canada border last September and arrested him.

Khan now faces charges in a Manhattan federal court. He’s accused of providing material support to ISIS and attempting to commit terrorism across national borders.

Officials say an undercover FBI operation exposed the plot—and they allege he worked with a U.S.-based co‑conspirator.

If convicted, Khan could face decades behind bars.

For WORLD, I’m Benjamin Eicher.

SOUND: (California Girls)

Brian Wilson Obituary » Brian Wilson, one of the founding members of the Beach Boys, has died.

With Wilson writing songs and playing bass guitar, the group rose in the 1960s and landed 30 singles on the Top-40 charts, including California Girls, Surfin’ USA, and Good Vibrations.

The group sold more than 100 million records.

The eldest and last surviving of three musical brothers, Wilson was a Grammy-winning musician and an honoree in the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

He was 82 years old.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: immigration enforcement in Texas. Plus, small houses and big dreams.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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