The Morning Report — 4/ 8 /25

Good morning kids. Well, the beat goes on as the song goes, and as the nattering nabobs of negativism in the propaganda press and on the Left continue hammering away at President Trump over his tariff regime, more countries including the EU are now lining up to make a deal with Trump and do away with their tariffs, while Trump is not backing down from Xi and indeed doubling down. As we discussed yesterday, this is about so much more than just the leveling of the playing field in terms of trade. It is a long-term plan to jumpstart and propel our economic engine and manufacturing sector while rejiggering the global economic order. No mean feat.

Those who have followed President Trump’s messaging since 2015 know this has been his goal from the start. Even in his first term, when he implemented specific tariffs targeted at China and the steel and aluminum industries, the tariffs proved effective. He has consistently advocated for them to become a permanent policy that would only benefit the United States. Fair share and America First protectionist positions have long been central to Trump’s vision of world trade, and the "free trade" policies that the United States was propping up under Biden and his WEF cronies were insufficient. 

Trade cannot be free without being fair, so the perception that America should willingly participate in laissez-faire economics while being run over by the rest of the world is precisely why President Trump has initiated this change in our role. Protectionism gets a bad rap from conservatives who have been told that Reaganomics is the only way to think about economics. 

Still, that approach has led to nothing besides the elites of the world trampling over the American workers. Corporations, Wall Street, and countries like communist China can be protected through the abuse of "free trade," or the American people and their families’ futures can be defended against the rest of the world through tariffs.

Above and beyond economics, foreign policy, of which the former is certainly a key component of the latter, made news as Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu paid a visit to the White House. And then came this rather surprising announcement from President Trump.

The United States and Iran will hold direct discussions on Tehran's contested nuclear weapons program this weekend, President Donald Trump announced on Monday, just hours after the Islamic Republic affirmed that one-on-one negotiations with America remain off limits. If the talks fail, "Iran is going to be in great danger," Trump said.

The surprise announcement came during a Monday afternoon press conference in the Oval Office with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is in town to discuss Iran’s nuclear program and ongoing efforts to free the hostages still being held by Hamas, Tehran’s top terror proxy. . .

Trump expressed optimism that a diplomatic deal can be reached with the hardline regime but said negotiations will not continue indefinitely and that military options remain on the table.

"I think everybody agrees that doing a deal would be preferable to doing the obvious, and the obvious is not something that I want to be involved with, or, frankly, that Israel wants to be involved with, if they can avoid it," Trump said while sitting beside the Israeli leader. "So we're going to see if we can avoid it, but it's getting to be very dangerous territory."

"I think if the talks aren't successful with Iran," Trump added, "I think Iran is going to be in great danger."

Earlier in the day, Iran’s foreign ministry confirmed that it had responded to a March letter from Trump requesting diplomatic talks. In that response, Tehran submitted an "offer to begin indirect talks," according to foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei.

An Iranian official told Reuters on Monday morning that "indirect talks offer a chance to evaluate Washington's seriousness about a political solution with Iran."

In separate comments, Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian said his country is "looking for negotiations" but would not enter them directly "at any cost." The Americans, he said, "must also prove that they are looking for negotiations."

While "Jaw-Jaw" is preferable to "War-War" what is there to discuss with mad Mullahs. There is no parlaying with people who view Armageddon as a desirable and necessary thing in order to achieve their supposed Islamic paradise on earth. Beyond their support and likely being the force behind the October 7 invasion into Israel fromGaza, as well as waging a global terror campaign against us, our allies in the west and Israel in general for nearly 50 years, these maniacs are a nether hair's breadth from having atomic weapons and the missiles to carry them. That we can thank Obama and Biden and the billions of dollars we gave them.

There must be regime change in Tehran, and that can be achieved without direct military action on our part by the reimposition of sanctions and the open support for the people who in large part are sick and tired of the theocracy.

I would hope this nonsense from Trump about "negotiations" is merely for the cameras. But what's the purpose. Would it not be better to vocally declare regime change and a free Iran a goal we should get behind.

"Dangerous territory" indeed Mr. President. On a more upbeat note, despite the darkness, a light still shines.

To memorialize the brief but beautiful life of Israeli toddler Ariel Bibas, whom Hamas jihadis horrifically murdered along with his mother and baby brother Kfir, the Jerusalem fritillary butterfly has a new name.

Hamas jihadis kidnapped the whole Bibas family from their kibbutz on Oct. 7, 2023, subsequently killed mother Shiri and her two sons brutally, and gleefully informed father Yarden of their murder. Hordes of Palestinians joyfully cheered the coffins of the babies. Yarden returned as the family’s only survivor, but the Hebrew Language Academy wants to immortalize little Ariel’s memory.

The state of Israel posted on X April 4, “A butterfly now carries his name. The Hebrew Language Academy @HebAcademy has renamed the Jerusalem fritillary butterfly (Melitaea ornata) the Ariel fritillary, in memory of five-year-old Ariel Bibas—murdered in Hamas captivity along with his mother, Shiri, and baby brother . . . Israel added, “In a letter to Ariel’s father, Yarden Bibas, the Academy wrote: ‘Of all our country’s orange butterflies, this one should carry Ariel’s name. May it be a small comfort to you and an everlasting tribute to those lost in this tragic war.’” Little Ariel had bright red hair, and the group Stand With Us said he loved butterflies.

At the end of the day, the evil barbarians who snuffed out Ariel and who still hold hostages are agents of Iran, Mr. President.

And as you can see, that same evil lurks not far beneath the surface of an alarming percentage of our fellow citizens right here, in their mad desires for absolute power and control.

And lastly, a quick shout-out and thank you for your continued support in hitting our tip jar. It truly is appreciated more than you can know.

ABOVE THE FOLD, BREAKING, NOTEWORTHY




• 'I think if the talks aren't successful with Iran, I think Iran is going to be in great danger'
  Trump, Sitting Alongside Netanyahu, Announces Direct Nuclear Talks With Iran and Teases 'Great Danger' if Tehran Rejects Diplomacy
  
• STARRS Hosting Town Hall on April 9.
  U.S. Military Opposition to the Trump Administration A Matter of Concern

THE ECONOMY, STUPID
• While the EU chief continued to condemn the reciprocal tariff measures enacted by U.S. President Donald Trump to rectify the long-standing transatlantic trade imbalance, as pressure from the markets began to take shape, Von der Leyen and other top eurocrats expressed willingness to negotiate with the White House.
  Art of the Deal: EU Offers Trump ‘Zero-for-Zero Tariffs’ on Industrial Goods with United States
  
• Glenn Reynolds: As President Trump rolls out his economic program, there’s one question I haven’t seen asked much: What if it works?
  Trump’s economic shake-up is a shock to the system— that could pay off big

• We now know that President Trump’s Liberation Day on April 2, when he announced a new regime of tariffs, was really World Bunker Buster Day.
  Trump’s Global Bunker Buster Day
  
• Trump has ignited one of the most urgent economic battles of the twenty-first century with his baseline 10% and reciprocal tariff policy.
  Trump just reset the Great Reset—the Golden Age is on the other side
  
• Trump also reassured Americans over the tariffs: “The United States has a chance to do something that should have been done DECADES AGO. Don’t be Weak! Don’t be Stupid! Don’t be a PANICAN (A new party based on Weak and Stupid people!).”
  Trump Threatens China With Additional 50% Tariffs
  
• "Tariff negotiations can start with 'zero tariffs' between Taiwan and the United States, with reference to the US-Canada-Mexico free trade agreement," Lai said.
  Taiwan offers zero-tariff deal to US, promises more investment
  
• Textile and garment production accounts for about 80 percent of exports in Bangladesh and the industry has been rebuilding after it was hit hard in a student-led revolution that toppled the government last year.
  Major garment producer Bangladesh says US buyers halting orders
  
• The state’s ninth congressional district, which McClain has represented since 2023, is home to many auto workers employed at nearby plants, including Stellantis’s stamping plants in Warren and Sterling. 
  Rep. Lisa McClain: Michigan Auto Workers ‘Encouraged’ by Tariffs’ Long-Term Job Growth Goal

  DOMESTIC AFFAIRS, THE COURTS, WASTE/FRAUD/ABUSE

• “In Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, 295 U.S. 602 (1935), and Wiener v. United States, 357 U.S. 349 (1958), the Supreme Court unanimously upheld removal restrictions for government officials on multimember adjudicatory boards.”
  D.C. Appeals Court Blocks Trump From Firing NLRB, MSPB Employees
  
• The Center for Innovative Public Health Research uses taxpayer dollars for deviant projects.
  This Nonprofit Got $22 Million in Government Grants to Teach Kids About Sex Toys

• Yep. Short-term gain. Long-term expense. Short-term, superficial, public-relations-satisfying appearances, versus locked-in, unmoving, ever-expanding government bureaucracy at our expense and, in many cases, with profound disrespect for the U.S. Constitution.
  A DOGE Dodge? Feds Ballyhoo 'Sale' of Federal Buildings, But There’s a Big Hitch
  
• One judge green-lit payments in 95% of 1,268 cases, despite Social Security having ruled the people not disabled.
  Activist Judges Rubber Stamped Billions In Suspect Social Security Disability Claims

  "BIDEN/HARRIS BORDER BLOODBATH," AMNESTY, IMMIGRATION, BORDER SECURITY

• While the ruling from the Supreme Court is a win for President Donald Trump and his administration, it was described as “narrow and focused on the proper venue for the cases, rather than on the administration’s use of a centuries-old law to justify its decision” to deport suspected illegal alien gang members, according to the New York Times.
  Supreme Court Allows Trump Admin to Enforce Deportations of Gang Members Under Alien Enemies Act

• A federal judge said on Sunday that the federal government arrested the Salvadoran "without any lawful authority."
  Judge Gives Trump Admin Deadline To Return Man Mistakenly Deported To El Salvador
  
• However, this has the possibility to be a Pyrrhic victory because, while it gets it out of Boasberg’s court, it still gives judges way too much power over foreign policy.
  The Supreme Court affirms Justice Boasberg lacked jurisdiction over Trump’s deportation decision under the Alien Enemies Act

  ISRAEL vs IRAN & GAZA/HAMAS . . . AND BIDEN

• Several other countries have joined South Africa’s case — though Nicaragua withdrew quietly last week. Oddly, no Arab neighbor of Israel has joined the case; the region is moving slowly toward peace, despite Hamas’s efforts. Meanwhile, the South African Jewish Report noted that children had been dressed in Palestinian keffiyehs and given mock machine guns as part of an annual protest against Israel during the last week of Ramadan, known as Quds Day.
  South Africa, as Children Parade with AK-47s: We Will Never Give Up Case Against Israel

  
  CIVIL WAR 2.0: J-6 FBI FALSE FLAG "RIOT" & AFTERMATH, LEFTIST PERSECUTIONS, DEMOCRAT PUTSCH, AMERICAN DISSOLUTION

• According to the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI), more people are now not only rationalizing politically motivated violence but celebrating it as some twisted form of social justice. The shift is alarming, and the data shows that it’s been accelerating in recent months. "What was formerly taboo culturally has become acceptable," Joel Finkelstein, the founder of NCRI, told Fox News Digital. "We are seeing a clear shift – glorification, increased attempts and changing norms – all converging into what we define as ‘assassination culture.’"
  Bombshell Study Reveals How Many Leftists Support Killing Trump and Musk
  
• There’s an incredibly irony in the “party of democracy” and “nonviolence,” who accuse conservatives of inciting “insurrections,” openly calling for the murder of a sitting, dually elected president who won both the popular vote and the Electoral College. One such leftist nutbag who attended one of the ironically titled “Hands Off” protests held by jobless liberals over the weekend said she believes President Donald Trump’s murder will be the true “Liberation Day,” and that she hopes someone else will finally accomplish what Trump’s would-be assassin failed to pull off in Butler, Pennsylvania last summer.
  Leftist Protester Says Trump Needs to Be Assassinated, Calls For Another Attempt

• Hands off? What the protesters really want is for the government to keep its hands on – on our throats choking out our freedoms and in our pockets stealing our money.
  ‘Hands Off’ Irony Is Lost On The Left

  CRIME & PUNISHMENT, NON-DOSTOYEVSKY

• Despite the overwhelming evidence in this case, tens of thousands of people have now publicly declared that, in essence, Metcalf had it coming.
  Black Teen Raises Thousands In Fundraiser After Killing White Student

  FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUES, CENSORSHIP, FAKE NEWS, MEDIA, BIG BROTHER TECH
  

• The New York Times admits Hunter Biden’s foreign dealings—long after it mattered—highlighting how legacy media validates truth only when it's no longer timely.
  Old News is Good News

  RED-GREENS, CLIMATE CHANGE HOAX, DEMOCRAT-LEFT WAR ON FOSSIL FUELS,

• Americans have become increasingly wary of the “net zero” and other modern-day green movements after so many of their doom-filled prophecies of imminent environmental disaster failed to come true.
  Americans Skeptical Of Climate Change Movement, Support ‘Rolling Back’ Green Rules: I&I/TIPP Poll

  AMERICA AND THE WORLD IMPRISONED: CHINESE+Fauci-created CORONAVIRUS FICTIONS AND FACTS

• Seven U.S. servicemembers contracted COVID-19-like symptoms in Wuhan in October 2019
  Biden Junta Concealed Congressionally Mandated Report on Earliest Suspected American COVID Cases

  ABORTION

• In many states, legislators have introduced bills to make advocacy organizations disclose their donors; the goal is silencing conservatives.
  How State-Sanctioned Donor Doxxing Threatens The Pro-Life Movement

  THE 2020 AND 2022ELECTION HEISTS & AFTERMATH

• The scheme is an example for cheaters to study, and they will, unless Pennsylvania changes some laws to make it harder to cheat.
  3 Pennsylvania Officials Plead Guilty To Election Fraud – And 2 Are Still In Office

  DEMOCRAT/LEFTIST AND RINO SCANDALS, MESHUGAS, CHUTZPOCRISY

• Democrat Hawaii Sen. Brian . . Schatz’s blockade on hundreds of Trump nominees and at least nine bipartisan foreign relations bills comes as Senate Democrats are escalating opposition tactics against the Trump administration to appease their left-wing base. Schatz, a member of Senate Democratic leadership, previously criticized Republican Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s decision to place holds on military officials’ promotions as “obstruction” and “antithetical” to the Senate’s “advice and consent” responsibilities.
  Dem Senator Blocks Hundreds Of Trump Nominees Using Tactic He Once Called ‘Abuse Of Power’

  POLITICS
  

• Incumbent Democratic senator Jeanne Shaheen is retiring at the end of her term, setting up an open seat contest. Trump said he thinks Sununu will win it. . . Trump's full-throated endorsement could clear the GOP primary field for the popular former governor. It's unclear exactly when the Trump-Sununu summit took place, but it likely explains Sununu's rosy assessment of his chances when asked about the matter by Fox News last month.
  Trump Backs Sununu in New Hampshire Senate Race: 'I Think He'll Win That Seat'

  THE UKRAINIAN "FRONT"

• Victor Davis Hanson: Since when did the anti-war Left prefer endless, horrific war to a difficult, messy peace?
  All the Ukrainian Known Knowns

  FOREIGN AFFAIRS, INTERNATIONAL

• The Chagos Islands are a remote British overseas territory in the Indian Ocean, located halfway between Africa and Indonesia. They are best known for one thing: Diego Garcia—a vast American military base that serves as a launchpad for power projection across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.But that strategic lifeline is now under threat. The United Nations, the International Court of Justice, and the left-wing Labour government in Britain are all pushing for the territory to be handed over to Mauritius, a small island nation that has no ability to defend or manage it—and deepening ties to Beijing.
  What Are the Chagos Islands And Why Do They Matter?

  DEFENSE, MILITARY, SECURITY AFFAIRS

• Years could pass before the issue reaches the Supreme Court, which may or may not hand down a decision favoring the Trump policy. This puts the ball squarely in Congress’s court.
  If Congress Doesn’t Step In, Rogue Judges Will Trans The Military

• Republicans need to stop being bamboozled with lectures about “civility” - and “fight, fight, fight!”
  Another Dem-Manufactured ‘Gate’ Scandal

  ACTUAL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY

• The result is going to be a very vibrant American space effort, doing a lot of things having nothing to do with the Pentagon.
  Space Force awards SpaceX, ULA, and Blue Origin $13.7 billion in launch contracts
  
• Because weightlessness causes the loss of bone density in the weight-bearing bones, such technology has long been critically necessary in orbit for studying and possible mitigating that problem. That after decades NASA failed to get it built and installed in ISS, yet a private mission made it happen, illustrates once again the advantages of a free and competitive private sector in space.
  Fram2: The first X-ray image taken in space

  CULTURE WARS, NATIONAL SUICIDE

• Christian Toto: 'Screams Before Silence,' 'Torn' and now 'Frontline Warriors' share ugly truths
  Pro-Jewish Documentaries Wake Sleeping Culture

• “Prestige drama is not as good as we need it to be. Perhaps it never was.”
  ‘White Lotus’ and the Failure of Prestige Drama

  HITHER & YON

• The Marine fought as a gunner on an Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV) in the 36-day battle for Iwo Jima, where more than 6,800 Americans and 20,000 Japanese were killed in what was considered a major turning point in the last phase of World War II.
  WATCH: 100-Year-Old WWII Veteran Travels from Connecticut to Iwo Jima for 80th Anniversary of Battle
  
• To memorialize the brief but beautiful life of Israeli toddler Ariel Bibas, whom Hamas jihadis horrifically murdered along with his mother and baby brother Kfir, the Jerusalem fritillary butterfly has a new name. . . The state of Israel posted on X April 4, “A butterfly now carries his name. The Hebrew Language Academy @HebAcademy has renamed the Jerusalem fritillary butterfly (Melitaea ornata) the Ariel fritillary, in memory of five-year-old Ariel Bibas—murdered in Hamas captivity along with his mother, Shiri, and baby brother, Kfir.”
  Hebrew Language Academy Names Butterfly in Murdered Israeli Boy’s Honor

ALSO: The Morning Report is cross-posted at CutJibNewsletter.com if you want to continue the conversation all day.

And. . . PODCASTING NEWS: the Podcast feeds have been fixed so you can now listen to them on the RSS feed as well as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and of course directly at the CutJibNewsletter siter.

Also, do follow us on X (Twitter): @CutJibNews

And my X (Twitter) account at: @therealJJSefton

and on Instagram: @Cutjibnewsletter

TIP JAR : Your support helps keep the lights on and is truly appreciated. Note: We are on Stripe, not PayPal.

posted by J.J. Sefton at 07:28 AM

| Access Comments