Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts Friday issued a temporary order staying US District Judge Richard Leon’s order that put on-hold construction of President Trump’s pet ballroom project (rendering above). Roberts’ administrative stay allows construction to continue for now, which is good news for the president no matter what happens hence, as the ballroom is “65% complete in its entirety, and moving quickly toward total completion,” US Solicitor Gen. John D. Sauer told the court (per SCOTUSblog).
Uh Oh, Canada – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney won’t back down in the trade war President Trump is waging on his country. After negotiations between the US and Canada broke down Saturday over Trump’s earlier threats of 50% tariffs on such goods as lumber, concrete and ice hockey equipment, Carney threatened to retaliate on those tariffs “dollar for dollar.”
Trump raised the stakes further on Monday, according to The Wall Street Journal.
“On January First, 2027, Tariffs on all Cars, Trucks, both large and small, Automotive Parts, and Steel, will be increased to 50%,” the president Truth Socialed.
Carney had said in a 22-minute address to Canada on Saturday that US trade representatives had thrown last-minute curveballs including a demand that his country comply with US diktats on tariffs on its trade with other countries, The New York Times reports. US negotiators demanded changes that “included threats on French language and culture and Canadian culture that would never be acceptable for that reason,” Carney said.
Trump’s trade war on Canada threatens the economic health of both nations. For Carney, Trump’s demands represent a major step toward the president’s demands to make Canada the 51st US state.
“We cannot accept what they offered and we will not give what they asked,” Carney said in his address. “We were not prepared to compromise Canada’s sovereignty or undermine our key industries.”
•••
‘Economic D-Day’ on Iran – Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent promises to announce Monday afternoon new economic sanctions on Iran meant to end the war in lieu of the deals that have not been reached since late February. Earlier Monday, Iran threatened fines or confiscation on dozens of ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the Financial Times reports.
The Persian Gulf Strait Authority set up by Iran said on X-Twitter that 46 ships had violated “Iranian protocols” for transiting the Strait.
•••
Meanwhile, at the Pump – AAA’s national average for unleaded regular Monday is $4.0991 per gallon, off 1.01 cents from Friday and up $1.2837 over February 27. Diesel is $5.6134 per gallon, up 3.7 cents over Friday and +$1.8615 versus late February. –Compiled and edited by Todd Lassa