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Here’s your morning news rundown—but first, a quick thank you. If you believe in this kind of journalism, please consider subscribing or becoming a supporter.

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Now, let’s get into the news.

  • Donald Trump defended tariffs on China by saying that U.S. children might get “two dolls instead of 30” as the country pushes for a “fair deal.” He argued that while Americans may face some sacrifices, China will ultimately suffer more in a trade war.
  • The last cargo ships carrying Chinese goods without steep tariffs are now arriving in U.S. ports, but starting next week, imports from China will face a 145% tariff imposed by President Trump. As a result, fewer shipments are expected, forcing businesses to either pass on sharply higher prices to consumers or stop selling certain products altogether—making everyday items like clothes, electronics, and appliances more scarce or costly.
  • Paramount owner Shari Redstone reportedly asked Paramount/CBS CEO George Cheeks whether certain sensitive 60 Minutes segments about Trump or his policies could be postponed until after she finalized the Skydance deal.
  • Last night, Vice President Kamala Harris gave her first major speech since leaving the White House. I have a few clips to recap for you. First, Kamala Harris said that what the country is going through at the moment reflects the vision certain people have for America — but it's not the kind of future most Americans want.
  • Harris went on to say that she’s been inspired by grassroots movements, such as the one in Wisconsin that helped elect Susan Crawford to the state supreme court, as well as by a range of leaders — including members of Congress like Cory Booker, Chris Van Hollen, Chris Murphy, Jasmine Crockett, Maxwell Frost, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Bernie Sanders.
  • Harris wrapped up by saying that the American people deserve leaders who improve their lives and strengthen the nation — but unfortunately, she said, the past few months have shown the opposite.
  • Tesla Chair Robyn Denholm has denied a Wall Street Journal article that claimed the company’s board was looking to replace Elon Musk as CEO. Posting on X, Denholm called the report “absolutely false” and reaffirmed the board’s trust in Musk to lead Tesla’s growth. Musk also criticized the article, calling it “deliberately false.”
  • The U.S. Senate was evenly split 49-49 and ultimately failed to pass a bipartisan proposal aimed at stopping tariffs imposed by Donald Trump. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat) and Mitch McConnell (Republican) were both absent and did not vote.
  • Dom Lucre, a figure known for spreading misinformation and previously banned from X for sharing child sexual abuse material, was at the White House yesterday. He said he was invited to attend a briefing for "members of the new media" hosted by Karoline Leavitt.
  • Some of the lower-end proposals Republican leaders are considering for Trump’s legislative package could result in up to 10 million Americans losing Medicaid coverage. These plans mainly focus on scaling back eligibility for “able-bodied” adults.
  • According to a mid-April poll by the Houston Chronicle of 1,000 likely voters:Democrat Colin Allred leads with 52%Republican Ken Paxton trails at 37%11% of voters remain undecided
  • Democrat Colin Allred leads with 52%
  • Republican Ken Paxton trails at 37%
  • 11% of voters remain undecided
  • McDonald’s saw an unexpected drop in customer traffic during the first quarter, as economic uncertainty appeared to impact consumer spending.

    • See you this evening.

    — Aaron