On Politics

Thu Mar 13 2025

Rebecca Morin | Newsletter Writer

@RebeccaMorin_

How's it going? It's Rebecca Morin. Last chance! Question of the week: How has your grocery bill changed since the start of 2025? You can email me your responses. Your answer could get featured in the newsletter.

Trump's trade war escalates as he threatens new tariff on EU

President Donald Trump 's trade war isn't slowing down. In fact, he's lobbing new threats at key U.S. allies. Trump is considering a 200% tariff on alcohol from European Union nations after the EU said it plans to put a tax on American whisky, calling the EU a "hostile and abusive taxing and tariffing authority" in a Truth Social post. The EU's proposed whiskey tax is in response to Trump's 25% tariff on aluminum and steel that went into effect on Wednesday. Trump's proposed alcohol tariff would include wines, champagnes and all alcohol from France and other EU nations. The EU said they are open to negotiating with the president. More on Trump's tit-for-tat with the EU.

•	Many Americans see Trump's actions on economy as too erratic, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds
•	Trump's latest tariff threat puts clamps on early stock market trading
•	Follow today's updates on Trump's tariffs

Trump isn't just shaking up the United States' relationship with trading partners. His efforts to make major cuts to the federal workforce are underway. Federal agencies face a deadline today to provide Trump administration officials with plans for a reduction in force over the next few months. See which federal agencies have begun firing workers.

•	How Trump and Musk have sought greater control over federal employees
•	How quickly will federal workforce cuts come?

French wine rests on the rack for sale at Total Wine & More in Laurel, Maryland, on Thursday. President Donald Trump threatened to impose 200% tariffs on wine, champagne and alcoholic products from European Union countries.

Jim Watson, AFP via Getty Images

A politics pit stop

•	Bomb threat made against sister of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett
•	What to know about charges against former Texas megachurch pastor Robert Morris
•	Texas pastor celebrates school's state-low measles vaccination rates
•	Judge questions data Pentagon used to ban transgender troops
•	Ohio pitched as new location for NASA headquarters amid cost cuts
•	Big problem emerges in IRS return-to-office mandate: Not enough desks

What will America's post-Department of Education landscape look like?

The Department of Education's workforce got slashed in half. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said it's the first step to shut down the agency. And the president is expected to soon sign an executive order to dismantle the department. But what does it mean for U.S. students? Some conservative activists, like Tina Descovich, co-founder of Moms for Liberty, praised Trump's actions to reduce the federal government's role in education. But other activists are worried that shutting down the department will reduce resources that are in place for students with disabilities or children living in poverty. How closing the department could affect academic performance.

•	What happens now to student loans, FAFSA after Education Dept. cuts?
•	States sue to block Trump from dismantling Education Department

You asked, On Politics answers: Why isn't GOP condemning Trump?

Amid all the tariff turmoil, one reader, Brian Runyon from Cincinnati, Ohio asks: "Why aren't more current or former Republicans condemning Trump's actions toward Canada?"

While the majority of Republicans have remained quiet on President Donald Trump's new tariff action towards Canada, there have been a few outliers who have been critical of the move.

GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky earlier this week said "it pays to listen" when the stocks tumbled after the president's threat to double steel and aluminum tariffs against Canada. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., in an interview on CBC News this week said he was not supportive of the president's tariffs against Canada and said "we should be respectful to our neighbors" in regards to Trump's name calling and criticisms of Canada. Bacon during the interview said "there's a lot of fear for not looking like a team" as to why more Republicans are not speaking out.

Got a burning question, or comment, for On Politics? You can submit them here or send me an email at rdmorin@usatoday.com.