America in Focus

(The Center Square) – U.S. stocks soared Monday after the world's two largest economies reached a temporary trade deal to significantly lower tariffs while talks continue. The Dow gained 2.8% to close at 42,410, above where it closed on April 2 before President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs drove markets down. The S&P 500 gained 3.26% on the day while the Nasdaq was up 4.3%, entering a new bull market by closing 20% above its April low point. On Monday morning, China and the U.S. released details of a trade pact reached over the weekend after talks in Geneva. The U.S. and China said they will cut tariffs on imports from each other by May 14. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx [https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx] Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_700f445f-e11a-4496-9456-402a50f0b243.html [https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_700f445f-e11a-4496-9456-402a50f0b243.html]

(The Center Square) – Federal authorities are investigating whether a message posted on social media by former FBI Director James Comey was meant to be a threat against President Donald Trump. Comey, who was fired by Trump in his first term, posted an image on Instagram Thursday of seashells in the sand spelling the numbers "8647." The number "86" often is used to refer to getting rid of something, including an individual. Trump is the 47th (and 45th) U.S. president. Accompanying the "8647" image was a message Comey captioned the post with: "Cool shell formation on my beach walk…" he wrote. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx [https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx] Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_03aa7dbe-e695-4f24-a8a2-20631e8d2442.html [https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_03aa7dbe-e695-4f24-a8a2-20631e8d2442.html]

(The Center Square) — Legislators rejected seven bills on Tuesday that would have greatly hindered the development of carbon capture and sequestration, a major blow to Louisiana constituents concerned about eminent domain and CO2 leaks. Only one bill moved through the House Natural Resources Committee. Senate Bill 73, from Sen. Mike Reese, R-Beauregard, passed without objection. The bill requires the commissioner of conservation to give significant weight to local government input when making decisions on carbon dioxide sequestration projects that involve public comments or hearings.  Full story:  https://www.thecentersquare.com/louisiana/article_79dd7e46-6b50-44d8-9bff-aee00cdf8232.html [https://www.thecentersquare.com/louisiana/article_79dd7e46-6b50-44d8-9bff-aee00cdf8232.html] https://www.thecentersquare.com/louisiana/article_ae0d1f09-9b47-440c-8557-91b681b0471c.html [https://www.thecentersquare.com/louisiana/article_ae0d1f09-9b47-440c-8557-91b681b0471c.html]

(The Center Square) – Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Tuesday that travelers without Real ID-compliant cards will still be able to board flights – for now – even when the law takes effect on Wednesday. "What will happen tomorrow is folks will come through the line, and [they] will issue their ID and show it," Noem told lawmakers on Tuesday. "If it's not compliant, they may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step, but people will be allowed to fly." The requirement for REAL IDs comes from legislation passed by Congress in 2005 after the 9/11 attacks, and was intended to make IDs more difficult to fake. The REAL ID Act established minimum security standards for driver’s licenses and other forms of state-issued identification. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx [https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx] Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_0e789f3f-1e67-414a-95cd-9dbe6d69a240.html [https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_0e789f3f-1e67-414a-95cd-9dbe6d69a240.html]

(The Center Square) – As the final House committees markup the lion’s share of the budget reconciliation package, nearly three dozen fiscally conservative lawmakers are reminding party leaders to fulfill their spending reduction promises. The $5.8 trillion concurrent budget resolution, which gives congressional committees funding directions to pass President Donald Trump’s tax and other policy goals, barely passed both chambers in April. Fiscal hardliners only backed it on the promise of deep spending cuts.  Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx [https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx]  Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_11a46b34-0226-4161-bc11-85c4d3c1040e.html [https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_11a46b34-0226-4161-bc11-85c4d3c1040e.html]