Wednesday morning news: April 2, 2025

New U.S. tariffs » President Trump will unveil a major new tariff plan today. He’s been hyping an announcement for weeks, calling April 2nd “Liberation Day.”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt:

LEAVITT: Too many foreign countries have their markets closed to our exports. This is fundamentally unfair.

The president has long promised reciprocal tariffs on countries that currently place import taxes on U.S. goods.

New 25% tariffs on many imports from Canada and Mexico also take effect today.

Democrats say it’s bad news for Americans. Congressman Pete Augilar said of the Trump administration:

AGUILAR:  They have not taken a single step toward bringing down the high cost of living. Now the stock market is crashing and inflation is rising.

Analysts say Wall Street has been jittery, but far from being in freefall.

The Trump administration says any short term strain that tariffs could cause will be more than offset by upcoming tax cuts, major regulation rollbacks, and eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse.

Wisconsin Supreme Court election » Voters in Wisconsin just decided the balance of power in the state Supreme Court in an election with national implications.

Liberal judge Susan Crawford defeated conservative judge Brad Shimmel, giving liberals a 4-3 majority.

Leading up to the vote, Schimmel supporter Elon Musk argued the election was critical because, he said a Crawford win would likely mean redrawn district lines that could allow Democrats to capture critical U.S. House seats in Wisconsin.

MUSK:  If you lose control of the house, there'll be nonstop impeachment hearings and subpoenas. They're gonna do everything possible to stop the agenda that the American people voted for.

Wisconsin’s high court could also hear cases involving abortion and voter ID.

Republicans win FL elections » Meanwhile, in Florida, Republicans won a pair of critical votes to help protect their slim House majority in the U.S. House.

Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine won special elections Tuesday in two congressional districts. They were bolstered by President Trump’s endorsement to fill vacant seats in reliably Republican strongholds.

House Judiciary hearing on power of judges » On Capitol Hill …

AUDIO (Hearing gavel in and intro): [gavel] The subcommittee will come to order. We welcome everyone here today for a joint hearing on judicial overreach in the federal courts.

House Republicans on Tuesday took aim at a wave of nationwide injunctions from federal district court judges blocking President Trump’s agenda. They say judges are abusing their power and flouting the separation of powers.

Congressman Tom Emmer:

EMMER:  District courts issued more universal injections, injunctions, and restraining orders during February, 2025 alone than in the first three years of the Biden administration.

But Democratic Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon said that’s more of a reflection on the president than on the courts.

SCANLON: When the president attempts illegal or unconstitutional actions. United States judges guided by the letter of the law must rule against him.

But Republicans insist it is clear that district courts are claiming more power than ever before. Congressman Derek Schmidt said of nationwide injunctions:

SCHMIDT:  It is an extraordinary remedy that is being abused. And so it's time for Congress to step in if the courts won't do it, and restore balance, uh, so that this rare tool is in fact used rarely. And that's exactly what this bill does.

The House is expected to vote this week to limit the scope of district court injunctions.

Israel latest » In Lebanon:

SOUND: Beirut attack aftermath

Crews pick through the rubble of a building near Beirut today after local authorities say an Israeli airstrike killed at least three people.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar says Israeli forces took out a Hezbollah terrorist named Hassan Ali Mohmoud Bdeir.

SAAR: The terrorist posed an immediate threat, what we called 'ticking bomb'. Therefore, we had to eliminate the threat.

He says Bdeir was in the process of directing Hamas terrorists to mount a major imminent attack against Israeli citizens.

Idaho fetal development education » Kids in Idaho will soon learn about how babies grow in the womb as part of their school curriculum. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin has more.

KRISTEN FLAVIN: Beginning in the next school year, students in the fifth through 12th grades will learn about how children develop in the womb.

The curriculum will explain everything from fertilization to how vital organs develop early in pregnancy.

Students will also watch ultrasounds and animated videos showing how babies grow before birth.

Republican Governor Brad Little recently signed a bill into law mandating the instruction in public schools.

Idaho is the third state to adopt such legislation … along with North Dakota and Tennessee.

Pro-life advocates cheered the bill, which overwhelmingly passed in both the state Senate and House.

For WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

DOJ to seek death penalty against Mangione » Attorney General Pam Bondi says the Department of Justice will seek the death penalty against Luigi Mangione.

He is the man accused of gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel in December.

The 26-year-old faces separate federal and state murder charges for the killing.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: changing priorities on Washington Wednesday. Plus, one woman’s call to help new moms care for their babies.

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