The U.S. and China agree to a 90-day pause on most tariffs. Hamas said it will release a hostage believed to be the last living American captive in Gaza. And a group of women are speaking out about Pentecostal preacher’s decades of alleged abuse.
Here’s what to know today.
U.S. and China agree to slash reciprocal tariffs in major step toward easing trade war
The U.S. and China said they had agreed to a 90-day pause on most of the tariffs they have imposed on each other since last month, in a major step toward easing a trade war between the two powers that has rattled the global economy. According to a joint statement from the two countries:
→ U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports will be cut to 30% from 145%
→ China’s tariffs on U.S. imports will be cut to 10% from 120%
→ The U.S. and China will also “establish a mechanism to continue discussions about economic and trade relations.” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will continue to represent the U.S., and Vice Premier He Lifeng will continue to represent China.
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The announcement comes after the first face-to-face meeting between the two countries over mounting tariffs took place last weekend in Switzerland.
Early Monday, Wall Street stock figures climbed and the dollar firmed against safe haven peers amid the signs of progress.
President Donald Trump declared last month that “foreign trade and economic practices have created a national emergency.” Since then, critics have said Trump’s attempts to soften his aggressive posture have been marked by uncertainty and half-measures, such as last week’s preliminary agreement announced by the U.S. and the U.K., which they said was evidence of “Trump’s desperation to show progress on trade.”
More politics news:
- The Trump administration is preparing to accept a superluxury Boeing 747-8 jet from the royal family of Qatar as a gift to be used as the new Air Force One.
Hamas to release dual U.S. and Israeli citizen Edan Alexander
Hamas said early Monday that it will release Edan Alexander, 21, the man believed to be the last living U.S. citizen who remains captive in Gaza. In a statement released yesterday announcing the agreement to release Alexander, the militant group said it was part of “the steps being taken to achieve a ceasefire, open the crossings, and allow aid” into Gaza. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that it was only agreeing to a safe corridor to allow Alexander’s release, rather than any ceasefire or release of Palestinian prisoners or detainees.
Steve Witkoff, U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, said on Sunday he is traveling to Israel to secure Alexander’s release. President Donald Trump is also set to travel separately to the Middle East this week in a trip that is expected to intensify efforts to bring a pause to Israel’s sweeping military offensive in Gaza. Read the full story here.
Trump admin’s threat to suspend habeas corpus
Legal experts and Democrats expressed growing alarm after White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller suggested that Trump administration officials are openly discussing unilaterally suspending habeas corpus. The writ of habeas corpus, which dates back centuries and is a bedrock American legal right, grants anyone detained in the U.S. the right to see a judge, challenge the government’s evidence against them and present a defense. A legal consensus has existed for decades that only Congress, not the president, has the authority to suspend habeas corpus, experts said.
The suggestion that the Trump administration would consider suspending habeas corpus comes as Miller and President Donald Trump assail Supreme Court and federal judges’ rulings that anyone detained in the U.S., including migrants, has the right to appear before a judge and present their defense.
While senior Republicans largely declined to answer questions about Miller’s threat, Democrats argued that the Trump administration is using its immigration crackdown to undermine the power of the judicial branch, bypass traditional legal safeguards and dangerously increase the power of the president. “The slope to despotism can be slippery and quick,” Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy said. Read the full story here.
More immigration coverage:
- The Trump administration spent at least $21 million transporting migrants to Guantanamo Bay on military aircraft between Jan. 20 and April 8, according to figures from the U.S. military. Currently, the naval base there holds 32 migrants, a tiny fraction of the 30,000 Trump promised.
- A DHS spokesperson suggested the Trump administration could pursue arrests of the House Democrats involved in an alleged assault during a visit last week to a New Jersey ICE detention facility.
- Pope Leo XIV is emerging as a symbol of hope for those seeking a more compassionate approach to immigration.
The dueling narratives in Sean Combs’ trial
Opening statements are slated to start after a 12-person jury is selected in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial in New York City. The trial, which is expected to last eight weeks, will see lawyers on opposite sides of the case portray the rap hitmaker and entrepreneur in dramatically contrasting terms. Combs has pleaded not guilty to five criminal counts, including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.
Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York plan to characterize Combs as the ringleader of a sprawling criminal conspiracy and a serial abuser who used violence and threats to force women to participate in drug-fueled sexual encounters known as “freak-offs.” At least three women who say they were victims are expected to take the stand during the trial. Their testimony will be the single strongest element of the government’s case, said Rachel Maimin, a former federal prosecutor.
Combs’ lawyers are expected to argue that he is being unjustly persecuted for consensual sexual activities with romantic partners. The defense has “made it clear” that it plans to hammer on the idea of consent, said Mitchell Epner, a former federal prosecutor for the District of New Jersey. Here’s what else to expect as the trial gets underway.
NBC News will be following the trial closely. Sign up for the Diddy on Trial newsletter to receive the latest news, including insights and analysis from our team inside the courtroom.
Read All About It
- More than 80 ready-to-eat products are being voluntarily recalled amid a listeria outbreak that has hospitalized at least 10 people in California and Nevada.
- Terry Brunk, the pro wrestling legend known to fans as Sabu and famous for his “hardcore” style of fighting, has died at the age of 60.
- A ceasefire to end the conflict between India and Pakistan was shaken by fighting in the disputed Kashmir region early Sunday.
Staff Pick: A preacher’s dark secret
Joe Campbell said he was a teenager when God gave him his mission in life: to preach the gospel to children. In the half-century since, the Pentecostal pastor has repeatedly faced accusations of child sexual abuse while always finding a way to remain in ministry. A new NBC News investigation uncovered decades of missed warnings and failures to intervene.
We began looking into the allegations six months ago. In that time, we spoke to five women who say Campbell sexually abused them as children in the 1970s and 80s. Nine others, including four men, told us Campbell showed them pornography during church sleepovers, handed them sex toys or touched them in ways that made them uneasy. Now, Campbell’s accusers say God has given them a mission of their own: to tell their stories and send him to prison. — Mike Hixenbaugh, senior investigative reporter
NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified
Gearing up for a summer vacation? These travel essentials, from a Bluetooth audio jack for in-flight entertainment to packing cubes for better organization, will help minimize the chaos. Plus, these parent-approved diaper bags look great and fit all the essential baby items.
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