President Donald Trump gave an impromptu with the New York Times Washington Correspondent Michael Schmidt at his Mar-A-Lago property Thursday. Alexander Heffner, Host of PBS' "The Open Mind," explains what this interview reveals about the relationship between Trump and the media.
"All forms of media will tank if I'm not there because without me, their ratings are going down the tubes," Trump told the NYTimes. Heffner says the report in the New York Times showcasing a thirty minute conversation with Trump amplifies the president's microphone.
"There is incest in every situation with Trump and the media," said Heffner. "There's incest when you want access." Schmidt reportedly crossed paths with Trump while he was meeting Newsmax founder Chris Ruddy at the Florida resort.
"We have to acknowledge--I think--on part of the media that its important that we use discretion, deliberation, precision in our reporting of this administration," says Heffner.
U.S. markets reversed early losses Monday, the first trading day of the third quarter, despite concerns over trade policies. Over the weekend, tariffs from Canada kicked in, and the U.S.'s largest business group criticized the Trump administration for moves it says could spark a global trade war.
The Republican Senator from Maine has said she won't support a Supreme Court pick who explicitly says they want to overturn Roe v. Wade. But to really have an impact on the issue, says Mother Jones's Ben Dreyfuss, she should demand a guarantee that the nominee will maintain abortion rights.
A new California data privacy bill will require companies that store personal information to disclose what types of data they collect. The law also gives users the opportunity to opt out. "There's a certain point where this has maybe gone too far," Dave White, a former national counterterrorism center officer, tells Cheddar about companies collecting data.
President Trump appeared in Wisconsin on Thursday to praise Foxconn for its decision to build a manufacturing plant in the state. But many Wisconsin taxpayers are wary of the $4 billion in tax incentives that Gov. Scott Walker engineered to woo the Taiwan-based company. This comes just days after the president criticized Wisconsin-based Harley Davidson for moving some of its production abroad. "These new taxes on imports ... are driving other businesses away," says Eric Boehm, reporter at Reason.com.
If Republicans are able to force a vote before November on whoever is nominated to fill Justice Anthony Kennedy's seat on the Supreme Court, it still may not affect midterm election results all that much. That's according to Kyle Kondik, managing editor at Sabato’s Crystal Ball. “Frankly, if the seat was open, it may be more of a motivator for Republicans to show up.”
The U.S. District Appeals Court Judge has a history of conservative, pro-business rulings and has “Republican partisan chops,” according to Heather Timmons, White House correspondent for Quartz. And while Democrats might try to delay confirming any nomination of another conservative judge, Timmons said “what they can do about it is pretty minimal.”
The White House announced plans to ease restrictions on Chinese investment in U.S. technology companies on Wednesday. The Trump administration won't block companies with 25 percent or more of Chinese ownership from buying into the U.S. tech sector. Markets rebounded on the news.
The results are in from Tuesday's primary elections. Zach Montellaro, campaign reporter at Politico, joins Cheddar to weigh in on the shocking political upset in New York's 14th district. Political newcomer Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez defeated Rep. Joe Crowley, the fourth most powerful Democrat in the House.
Plus, Conagra Brands is buying Pinnacle Foods in a cash-and-stock deal worth $10.9 billion. The deal will create the second largest frozen food company in the U.S., just behind Nestle. Conagra owns Healthy Choice and Pinnacle owns Birds Eye.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez unseated the incumbent Democratic Congressman Joe Crowley in the primary for New York's 14th District Tuesday. The 28-year-old progressive's victory came as a surprise to many, including President Trump who tweeted this was a “big one that nobody saw coming.”
The web hosting company, which in most cases supports a "free and open internet," made the "incredibly difficult" decision to pull the white supremacist organization's site last year. CEO Scott Wagner said it was a rare instance of content that promotes violence. GoDaddy ousted that website in the immediate aftermath of violence in Charlottesville, Vir.
President Trump attacked Harley-Davidson after the company decided to shift some of its motorcycle production overseas to avoid EU tariffs. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) gives us his take on Trump's comments.
