Tuesday morning news - February 11, 2025

Tariff announcements »  President Trump is reinstating 25 percent tariffs on steel imports and raising aluminum tariffs from 10 to 25%. He says that applies to imports from all countries.

TRUMP:  We were being pummeled by both friend and foe alike. Our nation requires steel and aluminum to be made in America, not in foreign lands. We need to create in order to protect our country's future.

Trump says the move will bring a lot of jobs back to the U.S.:

Reporters at the White House pressed the president about whether the tariffs could lead to higher prices for Americans on a wide range of goods. He said they might in the short term.

TRUMP:  We're going to ultimately have a price reduction because they're going to make their steel here. These foreign companies will move to the United States, will make their steel and aluminum in the United States. Ultimately, it'll be cheaper. But we'll also have jobs.  

This week the president says he'll announce plans to impose more import taxes what he describes as reciprocal tariffs on other countries.  He says he's considering additional tariffs on vehicles, pharmaceuticals and computer chips in an effort to bring more manufacturing back to U.S. soil.

Hamas halts further hostage releases » The president also reacted to news that Hamas has halted further release of Israeli hostages. Trump said Hamas is in violation of the ceasefire agreement. He added that it’s Israel’s decision to make, but in his view:

TRUMP:  If all of the hostages aren't returned by Saturday at 12 o'clock, I think it's an appropriate time. I would say, cancel it and all bets are off.

Meantime in Tel Aviv … 

SOUND: [Protesters chant]

Relatives of Israeli hostages protested some accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of sabotaging the ceasefire deal.

And inside Israel’s parliament building:

Pandemonium as some opposition lawmakers were dragged out of parliament after shouting down the prime minister also blaming him for the potential collapse of the ceasefire.

NETANYAHU: [SPEAKING HEBREW]

But Netanayahu said all the shouting could not hide the truth.

He went on to call last week's visit with President Trump a historical achievement, and says a new era lies ahead for Israel.

Federal workers buyout » A federal judge is temporarily blocking the Trump administration's buyout plan for federal workers. WORLD’s Benjamin Eicher has more.

BENJAMIN EICHER: The Trump administration, looking to cut costs and shrink the size of the federal workforce … made an offer to some 2 million federal workers. Under the so-called “Fork in the Road” program … employees could quit now … and still get paid through September.

More than 65,000 federal workers have already accepted the deal.

But … those employees will want to keep clocking in for the time being.

U.S. District Court Judge George O'Toole says he still has to decide whether the Trump administration has the legal authority … to continue paying workers no longer on the job … for another eight months.

Federal worker labor unions sued over the plan, arguing that the administration does not have that authority.

For WORLD, I’m Benjamin Eicher.

Birthright citizenship order » A third federal judge has issued a ruling temporarily blocking President Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship. Trump’s order states that being born on U.S. soil does not automatically make someone a U.S. citizen under the 14th Amendment regardless of the mother’s legal status.

GOP Congressman Brian Babin says of that amendment:

BABIN:  It has been the most misunderstood, misinterpreted, uh, thing I think in the federal government. It's been around since 1868, uh, the 14th Amendment.

And he says of the president’s order:

BABIN:  What this does is clarify who gets birthright citizenship.

But those suing over Trump’s order say the Constitution is perfectly clear already that anyone born here is a citizen.

District Judge Joseph N. Laplante issued a preliminary injunction Monday blocking the executive order. That follows two similar rulings by other federal judges.

The White House says it will appeal.

Senate confirmation proceedings » The US Senate today could confirm Tulsi Gabbard, President Trump’s pick to be director of national intelligence. She cleared a major hurdle on Monday. Senate Majority Leader John Thune argued on her behalf, highlighting her military experience.

THUNE:  Ms. Gabbard has been a consumer of intelligence. She knows that good decisions depend on having the best information, and she knows that the cost of bad information is measured in lives lost.

The Senate voted last night to advance Gabbard’s nomination to a final confirmation vote this week, possibly as soon as today.

But some Washington insiders believe she is the Trump nominee most at risk of losing a final confirmation vote. Multiple Republicans have voiced reservations over things like her past support for government leaker Edward Snowden.

Sec. Duffy I-40 rebuild » Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the rebuilding sections of Interstate 40 in North Carolina damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Helene is a massive undertaking.

Portions of the highway crumbled into the raging torrents below last September.

DUFFY:  You have a river on the other and when, uh, you see the slides of rock, the mountain fall back into the river, it becomes very complicated to engineer your way back to, to build a road like this.

He said it will take billions of dollars and lots of time. But he says the Transportation Department is partnering with the Forest Service to source local rock to rebuild the roadbed.

DUFFY: We can get access to rock that'll Drive down the cost and the time frame for which it'll take to rebuild this road.

That rock, he said, is just over a mile away. Normally, the materials would be trucked in from 20 to 50 miles away.

I"m Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: U.S. interests in rebuilding Gaza. Plus, watching out for rogue asteroids.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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