Thursday morning news: March 6, 2025

Trump freezes auto tariffs / Trudeau call » President Trump says he spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday. The prime minister tried once more to change Trump’s mind about new trade tariffs but was not successful.

Trump says the import taxes are in response to deadly fentanyl flowing across U.S. borders, with most of it originating in China. White House advisor Peter Navarro:

NAVARRO:  What we want to see is Canada and Mexico crack down on China. China, for whatever reason, and there's a lot of speculation as to whether they mean to do us harm with this, uh, they don't seem to care.

The president says he believes Trudeau is merely trying to use the tariff issue as a political lever to remain in power in Canada.

Trump imposed 25% taxes on Mexico and most Canadian imports — though that number is 10% on Canadian energy.

Tariffs: Auto sector delay » Separately, U.S. reciprocal tariffs are set to go into effect on April 2nd to match those imposed by any other trading partner, including our neighboring countries.

But three big US automakers will get a short reprieve, GM, Ford and Stellantis.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt:

LEAVITT: At the request of the companies associated with USMCA, the president is giving them an exemption for one month so they are not at an economic disadvantage.

The USMCA is a US trade pact with Mexico and Canada.

ISIS Abbey Gate suspect » An alleged ISIS terrorist faced a judge in Virginia today three and a half years after a bombing at Afghanistan’s Kabul airport that killed 13 U.S. troops.

Mohammad Sharifullah, also known as “Jafar,”, is accused of planning that attack during the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe said the president told him to hunt down the people responsible for that attack:

RATCLIFFE:  One of the first things that he told me, uh, as CIA director was to make this a priority on counterterrorism, to find the people responsible.

Roughly 170 Afghan civilians also died in the 20-21 attack.

Trump final warning to Hamas » President Trump says he’s giving Hamas one “last warning.” He addressed the terror group Wednesday, stating “Release all of the hostages now” or—quote— “it's OVER for you.”

He said if the terror group does not comply —his words— “I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe.”

That came just a couple of hours after White House Press Secretary Karline Leavitt said Gaza ceasefire talks were ongoing.

LEAVITT:  These are ongoing talks and discussions. I am not going to detail them here. There are American lives at stake. I would defer you to the Department of State for further details,

Trump posted the threat  shortly after an Oval Office meeting with recently released hostages from Gaza.

SCOTUS USAID » A sharply divided Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to block a lower court ruling, effectively ordering the Trump administration to pay out billions in foreign aid. WORLD’s Mary Muncy has more.

MARY MUNCY: The administration had frozen the nearly $2 billion dollars in payments at the USAID agency, as it conducts a thorough audit of spending.

But some groups sued over the freeze, saying the payments were for work already done. And U.S. District Judge Amir Ali sided with the plaintiffs.

The Supreme Court says the judge must now clarify exactly what money the administration has to pay out.

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett voted with the court’s three liberal justices in Wednesday’s 5-to-4 decision.

Justice Samuel Alito spoke for the dissent, saying Ali lacks the authority to order the payments. Alito wrote that he is stunned the court is rewarding —quote— “an act of judicial hubris.”

For WORLD, I’m Mary Muncy.

Congressman dies » Democratic U.S. Congressman and former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has died at the age of 7,0 just two months after taking office.

A spokesperson said the congressman was taken to a hospital in Washington, D.C., and later died at his home on Wednesday morning. The cause of death was not immediately known.

He had previously undergone treatment for bone cancer in his jaw.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: digging into the egg shortage. Plus, how Ukrainian refugees are settling in the countries that have welcomed them.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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