Trump Tariffs and Federal Funding Battles – 4/14/2025

The Trump administration’s aggressive tariff policies and proposed budget cuts to NPR, PBS, and the State Department are sparking economic uncertainty and legal challenges, while Argentina’s peso plummets amid new trade deal talks with the U.S. Domestically, a massive probe into missing California homeless funds and immigration enforcement actions signal intensified scrutiny and policy shifts.

United States

  • Harvard defies Trump administration’s policy demands, risking $9 billion in federal funds, per CNN
  • Trump White House allegedly bars AP reporter from Oval Office, defying court order
  • Karmelo Anthony, charged with murdering student Austin Metcalf, freed on $250,000 bond after judge’s reduction
  • Trump seeks to cut all NPR and PBS funding, notifying Congress, per NYP
  • Tariffs may boost US manufacturing jobs by 49%, but 25% predict losses, per CBS
  • Border Czar Homan claims, “We have the most secure border in the history of this nation”
  • OpenAI launches GPT-4.1 family via API, with “massive memory upgrade,” says Sam Altman
  • Sen. Kennedy suggests Trump’s tariff uncertainty may be a deliberate negotiation tactic
  • College Football Championship trophy falls as JD Vance lifts it during Ohio State’s White House visit
  • Trump’s tariffs could increase new-home prices by $9,200, per NYP
  • Coast Guard halts search for five missing after suspected smuggling boat capsizes off Florida, per AP
  • IRS workers brace for job cuts as tax-filing deadline looms, per CNN
  • White House reportedly plans to cut $1.1 billion from NPR, PBS funding, per NYT
  • Man accused of arson at Pennsylvania governor’s mansion, planning to attack Gov. Shapiro, denied bail, per AP
  • US businesses sue, claiming Trump’s tariffs violate International Emergency Economic Powers Act, per CNN
  • “A Minecraft Movie” tops 2025 box office, signaling rise of meme-driven cinema, per WSJ
  • Tech giants avoided $278 billion in US taxes over a decade, per The Guardian
  • Trump administration’s research funding delays threaten Alzheimer’s studies, per NBC

Western States

  • FBI, IRS probe $24 billion missing from California homeless funds, per US Attorney Essayli
  • California Gov. Newsom signs $2.8 billion bill to address Medicaid budget shortfall, per AP

Northeast

  • Columbia student detained by immigration in Vermont, allegedly for Israel-Gaza protest role, per NBC
  • Vermont judge considers jurisdiction in case of detained Turkish Tufts student, per AP
  • Madison’s city clerk resigns amid probe into uncounted ballots from November election, per AP

International

  • US exits US-Mexico Tomato Agreement, will impose 21% duties on Mexico in 90 days
  • Argentina’s peso drops 11% after Milei eases currency controls for $20 billion IMF bailout
  • Denmark warns it may exit US defense deal if Trump abandons NATO, per The Local
  • Argentina’s Javier Milei announces readiness to sign new US trade deal
  • Garbage strike in Birmingham, UK, leads to trash piles and “cat-sized” rats, per NBC
  • Xi Jinping urges Vietnam to counter “unilateral bullying” and protect global trade, per Xinhua

South America

  • Argentina’s peso drops 11% after Milei eases currency controls for $20 billion IMF bailout
  • Argentina’s Javier Milei announces readiness to sign new US trade deal