President Donald Trump announced late Tuesday that the United States and Canada had reached a tentative deal, pausing 50 percent tariffs on Canadian goods for three days. The duties were set to take effect Wednesday and would have applied to about $20 billion of Canadian products including wine, hockey sticks, liquor, and building materials. Trump said the Keystone XL pipeline, canceled under Joe Biden, may be 'awoken from the grave.' Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said substantial progress had been made but more work was needed to finalize the agreement. Negotiators now have three days to turn the tentative deal into a signed pact before the pause expires.
United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met Canadian officials in Washington for last-minute talks to prevent President Trump's threatened 50 percent tariffs on Canadian goods. The meeting at the Commerce Department was one of the final chances to reach a deal before the duties take effect. Canada has called the tariffs unjustified and warned of retaliation, including possible limits on energy exports. Business groups on both sides urged a quick resolution, warning that tariffs would disrupt cross-border supply chains in autos, lumber and agriculture. Talks are set to continue, but no extension has been announced. Analysts say a deal is still possible, though the two sides remain far apart on core issues in one of North America's largest trade disputes.
President Trump has ordered the Pentagon to reduce the scale of military exercises with South Korea, a move that drew sharp criticism from lawmakers in both parties. Trump cited his relationship with North Korea's leader as the reason for downsizing the drills, which have been a cornerstone of the alliance for decades. Senator Jack Reed called the decision 'inane and haphazard,' and other officials warned it could weaken deterrence against Pyongyang. The order follows South Korea's decision to stay out of US military action against Iran. Pentagon planners are now reviewing which exercises will be trimmed, and analysts say the change could take months to implement and may be reversed by a future administration.
The FBI reported that U.S. murder and violent crime rates fell for a third straight year in 2025, with homicides dropping 18.1% to the lowest rate since 1956. The annual crime report, released Monday, showed violent crime declined 6.2% from 2024 and property crime also fell. FBI officials credited a mix of focused policing and community programs, while criminologists cautioned that changes in how departments report data can affect year-to-year comparisons. The numbers arrive as President Trump highlights public safety in his political messaging ahead of the November midterm elections. Attorney General officials called the report evidence that federal support for local law enforcement is paying off.
President Donald Trump traveled to a New York police academy Friday to highlight falling violent crime rates and support Republican candidates ahead of the November midterms. Trump pointed to new statistics showing violent crime and murder have dropped sharply, crediting his administration's policies, though data shows the decline began before his term. Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel appeared at the event, breaking norms that keep federal law enforcement out of partisan politics. The visit aimed to boost Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and challengers Michael LiPetri Jr. and Jeanine Driscoll in two congressional districts. Trump faces lagging approval ratings and an unpopular war in Iran, making public safety a key Republican message.
The US Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general by a narrow vote, making President Trump's former criminal defense lawyer the nation's top law enforcement official. Blanche won the post after Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana broke with some Republican colleagues and backed the nominee. Senator Lisa Murkowski had already said she opposed the pick. The close vote highlighted divisions inside the Republican Party over Blanche's record and his ties to the president. Blanche takes over the Justice Department at a time of intense scrutiny over prosecutorial independence.
David Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, won the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor in a razor-thin race against state Representative Francesca Hong. Crowley had briefly dropped out of the contest before re-entering and rebuilding his campaign. His victory sets up a general election matchup against the Republican candidate backed by former President Donald Trump. The primary was one of the closest in the state's recent history, with the two candidates running neck-and-neck for days before Crowley pulled ahead. Political analysts say Crowley's appeal in Milwaukee and his record on local government helped him close the gap. The November race is expected to be one of the most watched governor contests in the country.
The US Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general in a narrow overnight vote. Blanche is President Trump's former criminal defense lawyer and now becomes the nation's top law enforcement official. The vote ended weeks of uncertainty and followed rare pushback from some Republicans. Senator Lisa Murkowski said she opposed the pick, while Senator Bill Cassidy's support helped save the teetering nomination. Democrats argued that Blanche's work for Trump creates conflicts of interest and questioned his independence. Blanche promised to run the Justice Department without political interference. He takes office during a busy period, with the midterm elections approaching and cases tied to the Iran war, border enforcement, and election security moving through the courts.
The U.S. Senate confirmed Todd Blanche, President Trump's former personal defense lawyer, as attorney general in a 50-49 vote. Two Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, joined all Democrats in opposing the nomination. The vote came after an overnight session and followed rare public pushback from members of the president's own party. Blanche previously served as deputy attorney general and became acting attorney general in April. He is the second attorney general confirmed since Trump returned to the White House. His confirmation puts a close ally of the president in charge of the Justice Department at a time of intense debate over the department's independence.
The U.S. Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general in a narrow overnight vote on Tuesday, ending weeks of uncertainty over the nomination. Blanche, a former federal prosecutor who later defended President Trump in court, takes over a Justice Department strained by staff shortages, low morale, and crowded court dockets. Democrats opposed the nomination almost unanimously, saying his close ties to the president raise questions about the department's independence. Several Republicans also voiced doubts but voted to confirm. Senate Majority Leader John Thune pushed the chamber to finish before the August recess. Blanche pledged during his confirmation hearing to keep the department free from political pressure. Legal experts say his early decisions on pending cases will be watched closely.