In other news, Canada has released the final list of retaliatory tariffs totaling $12.6 billion in response to Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum. The list includes products like Heinz ketchup and lawnmowers among other things. The retaliatory tariffs will take effect this Sunday, July 1st.
Meanwhile, the Trump regime reportedly ran a pilot program for separating immigrant children from their parents even before Jeff Sessions imposed his "zero tolerance" policy. The pilot program also did not include a mechanism for reuniting children with their parents.
They never planned to.
Finally, the man who attacked the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland yesterday afternoon was identified as Jarrod Ramos, 38, of Laurel, Maryland. Ramos has been charged with 5 counts of first-degree murder. Ramos reportedly held a longtime grudge against the newspaper because they covered the story when he pleaded guilty to harassment in the local District Court of Maryland in 2011. Ramos harassed a woman who he went to school with.
Here are some other stories I didn't get to this week:
A CNBC survey found that most (2/3) millionaires don't plan to spend their windfall from the GOP's tax cuts, they're going to hoard it. I mean, duh?
The Japanese government says Trump will threaten the entire global trade system if he imposes tariffs on foreign cars and car parts. To say the least.
Facebook may have exposed the data of 120 million users through app permissions. Again.
American farmers now grow more soybeans than corn for the first time since 1983 according to the Department of Agriculture. Just in time for Trump to cut off access the world's largest market in China.
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker (R) has signed a bill into law to raise the state's minimum wage to $15.
Three Illinois militiamen indicted for bombing a mosque and attempting to bomb (it was a dud) women's health clinic also tried to ransom a local railroad and distribute their own currency according to prosecutors. This is a crazy story.
Missouri-based Mid-Continent Nail, the largest nail manufacturer in the US, says they might have to shut down and move to Mexico because of Trump's tariffs on the imported metal they use to make nails.
Michael Bloomberg is considering another presidential run in 2020. Third times a charm? Fourth? I've lost count.
The Trump regime has been ignoring the Trump regime on biofuel waivers according to sources who spoke to Reuters. EPA administrator Scott Pruitt has handed out waivers to gasoline companies allowing them to ignore mandates for blending ethanol into gasoline even though the Energy Department told him not to.
Former New York Times executive editor Jill Abramson says the Times has fallen into a pattern of narcissism and needs to change course immediately. You may have noticed I've stopped citing the Times whenever possible.
Special prosecutor Robert Mueller is reportedly investigating Russian-connected businessmen who held privates meetings during Trump's inauguration in 2017.
British officials are understandably worried what Trump might give up to Putin during their upcoming summit.
One Cabinet minister, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that having watched the president’s meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, they worry Trump would want to burnish his deal-maker credentials by outlining a plan to reduce military presence around Europe’s Eastern boundaries.
Right after that June 12 summit with Kim, Trump called off joint military exercises with South Korea that had been an irritant to North Korea.
White House budget director and possible lizard Mick Mulvaney is reportedly near the top of the list to replace John Kelly as chief of staff. So there's that. If things were an unorganized mess under Kelly, the White House under Mulvaney would be like a ball pit inside a funhouse mirror.
Also -- this happened:
A prank caller got patched through to Trump on Air Force One by pretending he was Sen. Bob Menendez. Trump picked up the phone and discussed with the fake Menendez immigration, midterms, and his SCOTUS nominee, which he said he'll decide on in 12-14 days. https://t.co/gdlNbU0eTJ
— Rebecca Ballhaus (@rebeccaballhaus) June 29, 2018
More on sloppy protocol: Legislative affairs was notified of call, checked with Mendendez COS, who said he was not trying to reach POTUS. Leg affairs said kill the call. It was patched through, however, reportedly by Kushner. https://t.co/OnLDLmUK7t
— Annie Karni (@anniekarni) June 29, 2018
Programming note... Early heads up: next Wednesday, July 4th, is my birthday. I'm also heading out to see Ant-Man and the Wasp on Thursday. I plan to be online here on Monday and Tuesday, but I'll be offline Wednesday through next weekend. I haven't taken much of a break since Christmas and the past two weeks have been completely batshit.
If you're a regular reader, please considering donating during this week's fundraiser. Thank you in advance and have a good weekend.