Three questions on Trump’s tariffs: From the Politics Desk

Joyful Friday, publication readers! President Donald Trump’s tariffs (and the market response) are the story of the week, however a key step towards extra of his home coverage agenda is underway proper now within the Senate — and our Congress staff breaks down the way it’s spotlighting some divides within the GOP’s slender majorities. And forward of this weekend’s “Meet the Press,” Kristen Welker goes via the three key questions Trump and his administration face on the tariffs. Plus, we reply a reader query about Elon Musk’s position in authorities.

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— Scott Bland

GOP issues about tax reduce technique and Medicaid loom over Senate funds

By Julie Tsirkin, Syedah Asghar, Sahil Kapur, and Frank Thorp V

As President Donald Trump’s tariffs seize headlines, Senate Republicans are transferring via the procedural steps to arrange Trump’s tax plans and different main home spending priorities. However it’s not going to be straightforward for them to agree on precisely what to do.

Senate Republicans managed Thursday to advance their large funds plan to debate, however not earlier than an surprising delay brought on by a few of their very own who’ve issues about their technique on tax cuts and potential cuts to Medicaid.

Previous to debate commencing on the measure Friday, the delay occurred as these Republicans met with Senate Majority Chief John Thune, R-S.D., to speak via their issues.

Some extra centrist senators are anxious a couple of funds change the get together is utilizing to slap a zero-dollar price ticket on extending Trump’s tax cuts, that are estimated by the official scorekeeper in Congress to value $4.6 trillion over a decade.

Republicans are delaying a reckoning over the problem after they bypassed the Senate parliamentarian on the query of whether or not they can use a “present coverage” baseline to deal with extending Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, that are set to run out this yr, as costing nothing. However which means the transfer may very well be challenged later, and it may probably blow up the invoice if the parliamentarian guidelines towards it — until the Senate votes to overrule her, which some have likened to nuking the 60-vote filibuster rule.

A handful of Republicans have issues that they are going to be requested to try this later within the course of.

One other senator, Josh Hawley, R-Mo., mentioned he has “a giant concern” concerning the invoice slashing Medicaid — and took his issues on to Trump in a cellphone name Thursday night earlier than the vote.

Twenty-one % “of my state receives Medicaid — CHIP or Medicaid. So, I’ve made clear I’m not going to vote for Medicaid cuts. And I believed the president’s assurance to me tonight was fully unequivocal,” Hawley added, saying that assurance made him comfy voting to start the method.

That’s simpler mentioned than finished. The Home-approved funds, which Trump endorsed, makes it mathematically not possible for Republicans to attain their targets with out chopping Medicare or Medicaid. Lawmakers say they need to reduce waste and fraud, together with imposing a possible work requirement for Medicaid. Past that, they haven’t recognized methods to scale back spending.

Three questions on Trump’s tariffs

By Kristen Welker

President Donald Trump’s sweeping new tariffs have rattled the markets and raised new issues about potential value hikes. Whereas Trump campaigned on implementing tariffs, extra questions stay as they take impact. 

First, how will the Trump administration clarify the tariffs to the American public? 

“Folks don’t perceive what the plan is, what the technique is,” former Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., advised “Meet the Press NOW” on Thursday, later including: “There are Republicans on the Hill who’re questioning: The place are we going?” 

One other key query: What’s going to the financial fallout appear to be? 

Trump warned that his commerce insurance policies would trigger a “little disturbance” in his speech to Congress final month. And we’re already seeing markets rattled by the brand new tariffs, elevating questions on the opportunity of a nationwide — and even world — recession. 

Some Republicans have indicated that the administration could have to rethink its insurance policies in the event that they end in an financial downturn. 

“In the event that they make issues higher, they need to need extra; if it makes issues worse, they need to need to recalibrate,” Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., advised our Capitol Hill staff on Wednesday. 

And lastly: When are Individuals going to reap the advantages of this commerce coverage? 

Trump advised me again in December that he “can’t assure” American households won’t pay extra, later including that tariffs “are going to make us wealthy.” 

The president additionally mentioned on Air Pressure One final evening that it may take “a yr and a half to 2 years” to ramp up American manufacturing. However the administration has but to put out precisely when on a regular basis Individuals will begin to profit from these tariffs.

We’ll delve into these questions and extra on “Meet the Press” this Sunday with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Sen. Jim Lankford, R-Okla., and Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.

I additionally talked to our pals over at NBCU Academy about how I put together for a “Meet the Press” interview. Take a look at the video right here!

✉️ Mailbag: Is the federal government paying Musk?

Because of everybody who emailed us this week! Right here’s this week’s reader query:

“Is Elon Musk receiving a authorities wage?”

To reply that, we turned to nationwide political reporter Ben Kamisar. Right here’s his response:

That’s all From the Politics Desk for now. Immediately’s publication was compiled by Scott Bland and Religion Wardwell.

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