President Trump signed a series of executive actions on Wednesday that ordered sharper scrutiny of America’s colleges and the accreditors that oversee them, part of his escalating campaign to end what he calls “wokeness” and diversity efforts in education.
One order called for harder enforcement of a federal law requiring colleges to disclose their financial ties with foreign sources, while another called for a shakeup of the accrediting bodies that decide whether colleges can accept federal financial aid awarded to students.
Separately, Trump lashed out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday, saying Zelensky is prolonging the ‘killing field’ after he pushed back on ceding Crimea to Russia as part of a potential peace plan.
See how it unfolded.
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Same-sex marriage is legal, but some states are debating it anyway — 8:51 p.m.
By the New York Times
It has been more than a decade since same-sex marriage dominated the national political discourse. But in state legislatures across the country this year, there is new activity on the same-sex marriage front — and echoes of the issue’s long, contentious past.
In half a dozen states, Republican lawmakers have introduced resolutions urging the Supreme Court to overturn its 2015 decision, Obergefell v. Hodges. In Tennessee, a Republican legislator has proposed a new category of “covenant” marriages between “one male and one female.” And in several states, including Virginia and Oregon, Democrats are laying the groundwork to repeal old state statutes and constitutional amendments that prohibited same-sex marriage, which could come back into effect should Obergefell be overturned.
No one is suggesting that reconsideration of the decision in Obergefell is imminent. Still, the number of state measures proposed signals an effort to shift the perception of same-sex marriage as an established civil right, leaders on both sides of the issue say.
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Mass. delegation blasts Tufts student’s living conditions as Trump administration seeks to keep her in Louisiana — 7:56 p.m.
By Anjali Huynh, Giulia McDonnell Nieto del Rio and Tal Kopan, Globe Staff,
Members of the state’s congressional delegation condemned the living conditions of Louisiana detention facilities where the Trump administration is holding immigrants, including Tufts doctoral student Rümeysa Özturk, as part of a broader effort to protest the government’s efforts to detain and deport international students without explaining why.
Their criticism came after they visited the facilities Tuesday and met personally with Özturk, as well as Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student.
Immigration advocates and congressional Democrats say the administration is unlawfully detaining international students here on lawful visas based on their political views, in violation of their First Amendment and due process rights.
In Özturk’s case, her lawyers say she was held for coauthoring a pro-Palestinian op-ed in the Tufts student newspaper. While a Louisiana immigration judge refused to release her on bond, a federal judge in Vermont granted a temporary restraining order preventing her deportation, and ordered her returned to Vermont for her case to be heard. The government filed a notice Tuesday that it intends to appeal.
“This is not immigration enforcement — this is stifling dissent," Senator Ed Markey told reporters at Logan Airport Wednesday. “This is repression, this is authoritarianism in the Trump era, and Rümeysa is the victim of it.”
Poll: Americans unsure what to believe about the measles vaccine — 7:12 p.m.
By the Washington Post
Most Americans have encountered false claims about the measles vaccine, and many aren’t sure what the truth is, according to a KFF poll released Wednesday.
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The nationally representative KFF survey of 1,380 adults, conducted April 8 to April 15, found that more than 6 in 10 adults have heard the false claim suggesting a proven link between autism and the MMR vaccine. A third of adults reported hearing the false claim suggesting that the vaccine is more dangerous than measles itself, and about a fifth of adults said they have heard that vitamin A can prevent measles.
Fewer than 5 percent of adults say that each of the three claims is “definitely true,” according to the poll. But fewer than half of the adults said each claim is “definitely false.”
About one-quarter of adults (27 percent) said it is “definitely false” that vitamin A can prevent measles infections; 34 percent of adults said that a link between the vaccine and autism is “definitely false”; and 43 percent of adults said it is “definitely false” that getting the measles vaccine is more dangerous than contracting measles.
A vast swath of adults — more than half — express uncertainty about each claim, describing each statement as “probably true” or “probably false.
Trump orders new approach to school discipline — 7:03 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump has signed two executive orders that seek to revise school discipline guidelines, which his administration says have wrongly focused on equity and inclusion.
One of the orders signed Wednesday seeks to “reinstate commonsense school discipline policies” and allow disciplinary decisions to be based solely on students’ behavior and actions, Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement. Previous guidance from Democratic administrations directed schools not to disproportionately punish underrepresented minorities such as Black and Native American students, such as through suspensions or expulsions.
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The other order instructs government agencies and departments to no longer rely on “disparate impact theories.” Under the disparate impact standard, policies and practices that disproportionately impact minorities and other protected groups could be challenged regardless of their intent.
The Education Department has threatened to cut federal funding from schools that refuse to disavow diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, which the administration says amount to racial discrimination.
Trump is against teams changing Native American names, but says Commanders’ case may be ‘different’ — 7:00 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump says changing sports teams’ names to move away from ones associated with Native Americans is “degrading to the Indian population.” But he also conceded that, when it comes to restoring the racist name that Washington’s NFL team used for decades, “Perhaps that’s a little bit different.”
Asked about the Washington Commanders possibly going back to the name the team used before 2020, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, “Nobody’s asked me that one.”
The president nonetheless slammed Cleveland’s baseball team for changing its name to the Guardians in 2022, saying, “It just doesn’t make sense to me.” And Trump called Washington’s pre-2020 name “superior” to “what they have right now.”
“It had heritage behind it,” he said. “It had something special.”
Trump says he will be meeting with foreign leaders at Pope Francis’ funeral — 6:02 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump told reporters that he has “a lot of meetings set up” while he will be in Rome later this week for the funeral.
But the president didn’t name any of the leaders and dodged repeated questions about whether he would meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky while there, saying he didn’t know if he would be attending.
Zelensky is set to attend.
Trump demands scrutiny of colleges’ foreign ties and their accrediting bodies — 6:00 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump signed several executive orders taking aim at America’s colleges Wednesday, including one calling for sharper scrutiny of colleges’ financial ties with foreign donors and another looking to shake up the accrediting bodies that decide which institutions get access to federal education money.
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One of Trump’s orders directs his administration to step up enforcement of a law requiring colleges to publicly disclose grants and contracts from foreign sources valued at $250,000 or more. The White House said the law has not been effectively enforced and accused Harvard and other colleges of violating it.
Another order takes aim at accrediting bodies that set standards colleges must meet to accept federal financial aid from students. The White House said Trump’s order will force accreditors to focus on merit and not “woke ideology.”
China accuses US of ‘bullying’ at UN meeting — 5:59 p.m.
By the Associated Press
China took its opposition to Trump’s tariff war and America First policies to the United Nations, asking whether the world should advocate for all countries to work together or “return to the law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak.”
The call by China’s U.N. Ambassador Fu Cong for nations to back multilateralism, the bedrock of the United Nations, got overwhelming support at an informal meeting of the U.N. Security Council Wednesday — except from the United States.
US diplomat Ting Wu said Trump “is resetting the trade environment so that China can no longer take advantage.” And she accused China of bullying developing countries, engaging in “dangerous and unlawful actions” in the South China Sea, and attempting to isolate Taiwan.
Town hall attendees turn on each other as Iowa senator faces heated questions — 5:52 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The room of about 100 people in north-central Worth County, near the Minnesota border, was largely critical of the Trump administration and peppered Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley with questions on Wednesday about mass deportations, Elon Musk and cuts to the federal workforce, and tariffs.
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But when one woman used her turn to apologize to Grassley for “all the grief you’ve gotten this morning,” it offered a glimpse at the deep-seated political rifts running through even the smallest U.S. communities.
Some exchanged expletives, almost posturing for a fight. There were shouts between audience members to “shut up.” Others took out their phones to record the moment.
“I’ve had enough of you Democrats,” she said to jeers and retorts from her neighbors.
Grassley, with his hands on his hips, listened. He shook the woman’s hand when she held it out to him.
12 states sue the Trump administration to stop tariff policy — 4:58 p.m.
By the Associated Press
In the lawsuit brought in the US Court of International Trade, the dozen US states say the Trump administration’s tariff policy is unlawful and has brought chaos to the American economy.
The lawsuit says the policy put in place by Trump has left the national trade policy subject to the president’s whims rather than the sound exercise of lawful authority. It also challenges Trump’s claim that he could arbitrarily impose tariffs based on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
The lawsuit maintains that only Congress has the power to impose tariffs and that the president can only invoke the International Emergency Economic Powers Act when an emergency presents an “unusual and extraordinary threat” from abroad.
The states listed as plaintiffs in the lawsuit are Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, and Vermont.
Senators join other lawmakers in calling for restoration of humanities grants — 4:34 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have joined members of the Senate and House in demanding the Trump administration reverse its termination of a grants administered by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The letter, signed by more than two dozen senators and 108 House members and sent to the president and NEH acting Chair Michael McDonalds, criticizes what they called an “overnight” attack on the General Operating Support grants distributed to state and jurisdictional humanities councils.
“This funding provides the majority of operating support for state humanities council partners of NEH,” the letter said. It added that “such reckless actions will have a devastating impact on museums, historic sites, universities, educators, libraries, public television and radio stations, research institutions, and local humanities programming throughout our nation.”
The humanities cuts come as the administration has targeted cultural establishments from the Smithsonian Institution to the Institute of Museum and Library Services in executive orders. They also jeopardize the celebrations that communities are beginning to plan for the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Wall Street rises and markets rally worldwide as Trump softens his tough talk on tariffs and the Fed — 4:15 p.m.
By the Associated Press
US stocks rose as a worldwide rally came back around to Wall Street. The S&P 500 climbed 1.7% Wednesday after Trump appeared to back off his criticism of the Federal Reserve and his tough talk in his trade war.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 1.1%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 2.5%. Treasury yields also eased in the U.S. bond market after Trump said he has no intention to fire the Fed’s chair and that his tariffs could come down on imports from China.
Stocks also rallied across much of Europe and Asia.
Trump administration is still resisting the judge’s orders in Abrego Garcia deportation case — 4:03 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The Trump administration on Wednesday continued to resist a federal judge’s orders to produce information about the steps it has taken, if any, to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador.
US District Judge Paula Xinis castigated the Trump administration in a written filing Tuesday for ignoring her orders, obstructing the legal process, and acting in “bad faith” by refusing to provide information. The judge also gave the administration until 6 p.m. Wednesday to produce information.
The White House has instead filed a sealed motion requesting a stay of seven days of her order. The administration is also seeking relief from providing daily status updates on Abrego Garcia’s status and efforts to return him.
Trump meme coin holders invited to private dinner and White House tour — 3:35 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The $TRUMP meme coin website said the top 220 holders of the digital asset will be invited to a private dinner with the president at the Trump National Golf Club near Washington. The top 25 meme coin holders will be invited to a reception before the dinner and a White House tour.
The May 22 dinner is the latest norm-defying move by Trump mixing politics with personal wealth creation. Once a skeptic of cryptocurrencies, Trump has heavily courted the industry while his family has moved aggressively to build a crypto business empire.
The president and first lady Melania Trump launched meme coins — a sort of digital collectible with no real value — just before taking office earlier this year. The move was panned by critics as an unseemly cash grab that undermines an effort to legitimize digital assets.
The president’s official meme coin saw a price surge Wednesday but is still down more than 80% from its all-time high.
Trump creates a White House initiative to empower historically Black colleges and universities — 3:27 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump is signing an executive order creating a White House initiative to empower historically Black colleges and universities within the Executive Office of the President.
It’s designed to further promote schools that Trump, and his predecessor, Joe Biden, have spent years prioritizing. But it comes at a time when the Trump administration has sought to scale back the Department of Education and various federal programs that provide funding to HBCUs.
Trump’s Wednesday order also seeks to promote private-sector partnerships with HBCUs and schools’ workforce preparation in high-growth industries like technology and finance, while removing traditional barriers to grant funding. And the White House plans an annual HBCU summit.
The Biden administration announced last fall additional federal investments for HBCUs totaling $1.3 billion. A Trump 2017 executive order created a presidential board of advisers on HBCUs.
In 2019, Trump signed a bipartisan bill permanently providing more than $250 million annually to HBCUs.
White House press secretary says Trump’s ‘frustration’ with Ukraine-Russia war is ‘growing’ — 3:16 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Karoline Leavitt’s comments followed Trump excoriating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday for saying ceding Russian-occupied Ukrainian land as part of a potential peace deal is a non-starter.
“What he is asking is for people to come to the negotiating table, recognizing that this has been a brutal war for far too long,” Leavitt said of Trump’s frustration. “And in order to make a good deal, both sides have to walk away a little bit unhappy, and unfortunately, President Zelenskyy has been trying to litigate this peace negotiation in the press, and that’s unacceptable to the president.”
Senate Democrats seek answers from inspector general on Social Security cuts — 2:55 p.m.
By Washington Post
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer and four other Senate Democrats are urging the Social Security Administration’s inspector general’s office to investigate the impacts of the US DOGE Service’s dramatic restructuring and sweeping cuts to the government agency.
The letter sent to the inspector general’s office Wednesday is part of a broader Democratic effort to defend Social Security from what they describe as a reckless government downsizing campaign spearheaded by Trump adviser Elon Musk. The agency provides critical benefits to more than 70 million Americans, and the lawmakers say the recent upheaval could leave many without access to basic services.
Having received few answers about the scale and effect of the cuts, Schumer led the call for oversight from the agency’s independent watchdog because that avenue has yielded answers in the past, according to a person familiar with his thinking who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly.
The letter was signed by Schumer and Senators Ron Wyden (Oregon), Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts), Kirsten Gillibrand (New York) and Mark Kelly (Arizona).
In the sharply worded letter to acting inspector general Michelle L. Anderson, the lawmakers expressed “deep concern” over what they called a “drastic” disruption to Social Security’s ability to serve the public. The letter cites mass layoffs, additional pressure on existing staff and a dramatic overhaul of internal agency structures - many carried out, the lawmakers say, with little to no transparency.
“This will undoubtedly lead to disruption in benefit payments and increasing barriers for Americans to access their Social Security benefits,” the senators wrote.
Trump to visit Michigan on his 100th day in office — 2:15 p.m.
By the Associated Press
A Federal Aviation Administration notice posted Wednesday indicates Trump will travel on April 29 to an area north of Detroit, home to Selfridge Air National Guard Base — a facility that has been the focus of multiple discussions with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer since Trump took office.
The visit is set for the day that marks Trump’s 100th day in office, an early benchmark where presidents’ accomplishments are typically measured against their promises.
Whitmer and other Michigan lawmakers have been pushing to keep the base open as its A-10 squadron is being phased out. According to her office, Whitmer raised the issue with the president earlier this month, when she was also unexpectedly brought into the Oval Office during one of his press conferences.
In response to a request for comment on whether the Michigan governor would be joining Trump, Whitmer’s office said “they don’t have anything to share at this time.”
Trump hangs new headshot of himself between first lady portraits — 1:37 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Revealed in a social media post by first-year Representative Jimmy Patronis, a Florida Republican, the image of President Trump features the red, white and blue of an American flag superimposed over the president’s headshot on a black background.
It’s hanging on the ground floor between the official portraits of former first ladies Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton.
The White House confirmed that the image is real.
Trump recently hung a portrait depicting the aftermath of the assassination attempt in Pennsylvania last year in the spot in the foyer where Barack Obama’s official portrait used to hang.
Obama’s likeness is now on the opposite side of the entrance.
UN chief says the clean energy revolution will not be stopped — 1:36 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The United Nations chief has a message for President Trump and other supporters of fossil fuels: “No group or government can stop the clean energy revolution.”
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters after a meeting Wednesday with 17 global leaders on climate action that there was wide support for renewable energy whose prices have plummeted.
In the United States, he said, the private sector has taken “very dynamic action” supporting renewables which are cheaper than fossil fuels. So, the U.S. needs to be viewed not only by the position of its leader but in the complexity of its society and market-driven economy.
Trump accuses Zelenskyy of prolonging war for refusing to cede Crimea to Russia — 12:44 p.m.
By the Associated Press
President Trump is accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of prolonging the “killing field” after he pushed back on ceding Crimea to Russia as part a potential peace plan.
Ahead of high-level talks set for Thursday among US, European and Ukrainian officials in London, Zelenskyy said of ceding territory to Russia: “There is nothing to talk about — it is our land, the land of the Ukrainian people.”
“This statement is very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia in that Crimea was lost years ago under the auspices of President Barack Hussein Obama, and is not even a point of discussion,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday. “Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory but, if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?”
Vance said it’s “pretty crazy” that he was on one of the last officials to meet with Pope Francis — 12:33 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The vice president told reporters that he “obviously” did not know when he met with Francis that he’d be dead within less than 24 hours, but said it was “a great blessing” to meet with him.
“I try to just, you know, remember that I was lucky that I got to shake his hand and tell him that I pray for him every day, because I did and I do,” he said.
Vance family has a private tour of Taj Mahal in triple-digit heat — 12:28 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Vice President JD Vance and his family had a private tour of the Taj Mahal on Wednesday.
Vance’s young children could be heard complaining about the heat, which reached 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
The vice president was asked about the temperature as his family stood on the balcony of the Taj Mahal and Vance laughed and said, “It feels good.”
Hegseth rebuffs claims of chaos at the Pentagon, calls it overdue change — 12:20 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Coming off a week of escalating personal and staff turmoil, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rebuffed charges of chaos at the Pentagon, telling Army officers Wednesday that change is good.
Speaking at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Hegseth acknowledged there has been a lot of change very quickly.
“The media likes to call it chaos. We call it overdue,” said Hegseth, as he ticked off a list that included efforts to cut personnel and programs, dump “climate change worship,” gender confusion, quotas and so-called “woke” policies that promote diversity and equity.
Hegseth, however, did not mention the ongoing purge of senior military officers and his own top staff that has left the Pentagon reeling, or the new reports that he shared sensitive military operation details in another Signal messaging chat, this time with his wife and brother.
He has not specifically denied the second chat, but has asserted that no classified has been shared and blamed it on the media and disgruntled “leakers.”
He said President Donald Trump had warned him that he’d have to be tough to do the Pentagon job.
“He was not kidding,” Hegseth said. “This job requires a steel spine.”
US stocks are leaping amid a worldwide rally — 12:04 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The S&P 500 was 2.6% higher in midday trading, coming off a big gain Tuesday that more than made up for its steep loss on Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 848 points, or 2.2%, as of 11:20 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 3.6% higher.
Investors are responding to Trump’s apparent pivot from his criticism of the Federal Reserve and his tough talk in his trade war.
Wall Street’s gains followed strong moves higher for stocks across much of Europe and Asia. They also continue a dizzying, up-and-down run for financial markets as investors struggle with how to react to so much uncertainty about what Trump will do with his economic policies. The S&P 500 remains 11.7% below its record set earlier this year after briefly dropping roughly 20% below the mark.
Dick Durbin of Illinois says he won’t seek reelection to Senate in 2026 — 11:30 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Democratic Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois said Wednesday that he will not seek reelection in 2026, ending his more than four-decade career representing Illinois and piling more pressure on the party as it already faced a difficult path to reclaiming a majority in the Senate.
The decision by Durbin, who is in his fifth Senate term and is the chamber’s No. 2 Democrat, will set off a flurry of activity among a scrum of would-be successors, both Democratic and Republican. But in a state that has grown more solidly Democratic, the GOP has captured a Senate seat just twice for six-year terms since 1984.
Now 80, Durbin was first elected to the U.S. House in 1982 and served seven terms before succeeding his mentor, Paul Simon, in the Senate in 1996. He helped shape the career of an up-and-comer, Barack Obama, and among his more significant legislative achievements, he is largely credited with efforts to ban indoor smoking.
Amid economic uncertainty, railroads still chugging along — for now — 11:20 a.m.
By the Associated Press
If consumers start to spend less or big manufacturers cut production in response to Trump’s trade war, a slowdown would soon be evident on the railroads, which handle shipments for every sector of the economy. But so far the nation’s biggest railroads haven’t seen a drop since his tariffs were announced.
Norfolk Southern said Wednesday that it is watching shipments closely, but the railroad’s customers haven’t pulled back yet, echoing what CSX said in its first-quarter earnings report.
“There’s no way to predict where we go right now. We’re in a really uncertain spot,” Norfolk Southern CEO Mark George said. “We haven’t seen negative trends yet that really alarm us.”
Trump says ‘everything’s active’ when asked about China trade talks — 11:18 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump was asked by reporters if he’s actively talking with China about a trade deal.
“Everybody wants to be a part of what we’re doing,” he said.
The president, who spoke after walking on the North Lawn of the White House, said the US will have “a fair deal with China.”
Bessent says China needs to be treated like an ‘adult economy’ — 11:15 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The US Treasury secretary wrapped up his speech in Washington with a question and answer session that touched extensively on China.
Bessent said the world’s second largest economy should not be treated like a developing country.
“I have a teenager who sometimes wants to be treated like a child, sometimes wants to be treated like an adult,” he said. When it comes to China, “it’s an adult economy.”
Bessent envisions trade shift with US and China working together — 11:10 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Despite growing friction between Beijing and Washington, Bessent sees potential cooperation between the world’s two biggest economies.
“There is an opportunity for a big deal here,” he said in his speech to the Institute of International Finance in Washington.
Bessent wants the US to boost manufacturing while China increases consumption, making its economy less reliant on flooding the globe with cheap exports.
“If they want to rebalance, let’s do it together,” he said. “This is an incredible opportunity.”
China insists on ‘equality, respect’ for any tariff talks — 11:08 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Beijing said Wednesday that “exerting pressure is not the right way to deal with China and simply will not work.”
Trump said he would not “play hardball” with China and that his tariffs would come down “substantially” but the US will “set the deal” if China doesn’t make a deal.
In response, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said the US “should stop threatening and blackmailing China” but “seek dialogue based on equality, respect and mutual respect.”
Bessent meanwhile said the US is helping China to change its economic model, which he said is built on “exporting its way out of its economic troubles” and is “an unsustainable model that is not only harming China but the entire world.”
Will Trump deescalate his trade war with China? Some are skeptical. — 11:03 a.m.
By the Associated Press
“We have to see it to believe it,‘’ said Beata Caranci, chief economist at TD Economics. It’s not just Beijing — the Trump administration will have to make progress in negotiations to ease tensions with the European Union, Japan, Canada and Mexico as well, she said.
“The next 90 days are really crucial for the administration to lock down the big stakeholders ... They’re going to have to show that it’s not just talk and that they’re going to get results.‘’
And given Trump’s unpredictable reversals on trade policy, she said other countries will seek guarantees that he won’t simply impose new tariffs after they’ve reached an agreement.
Treasury Secretary targets global financial institutions — 11:00 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Bessent criticized the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in a speech on Wednesday morning, saying “Mission creep has knocked these institutions off course.”
According to his prepared remarks, Bessent will criticize the IMF for devoting “disproportionate time and resources to work on climate change, gender, and social issues.”
He also said the IMF should be more aggressive in confronting China for its “globally distortive policies.”
When it comes to the World Bank, Bessent planned to say that there should not be any “blank checks for vapid, buzzword-centric marketing accompanied by half-hearted commitments to reform.”
Marguerite Casey Foundation dips into its endowment to grant out $130 million this year — 10:04 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The Seattle-based foundation announced it would significantly increase its grantmaking this year to help nonprofits respond to policy changes from the Trump administration.
It is the latest foundation to increase its giving to help grantees and communities cope with federal funding cuts and to respond to threats to the independence of civil society organizations.
“We’re doing this very specifically to ensure that organizations across our country have the full weight of our resources to serve communities that are actively under attack from the administration,” said Ian Fuller, chair of the foundation’s board.
Foundations have also taken other steps, like advocating to protect the freedom of donors to give and of nonprofits to pursue their missions.
International students stripped of legal status in the US are piling up wins in court — 9:54 a.m.
By the Associated Press
At least 1,100 international students at 174 colleges, universities and university systems have had their visas revoked or their legal status terminated since late March, according to an Associated Press review of university statements, correspondence with school officials and court records. The AP is working to confirm reports of hundreds more students caught up in the crackdown.
Rubio said the State Department was revoking visas held by visitors acting counter to national interests, including some who protested Israel’s war in Gaza and those who face criminal charges. But many affected students said they have been involved only in minor infractions, or it’s unclear altogether why they were targeted.
Federal judges around the country have issued orders to restore students’ legal status at least temporarily. Some other judges have denied similar requests.
Book publishers respond to surging interest in the US Constitution by printing new editions — 9:53 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The Trump administration is inspiring many people to read up on the nation’s founding documents.
Random House announced Wednesday that will publish a hardcover book in July combining the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution, followed in November by a hardcover edition of the Federalist Papers, both with introductions by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham. Other publishers have similar plans as interest surges, according to Circana, which tracks the print retail market.
“One way to address the chaos of the present time,” Meacham said, “is to re-engage with the essential texts that are about creating a system that is still worth defending.”
Leading automakers showcase their latest designed-for-China models at the Shanghai auto show — 9:47 a.m.
By the Associated Press
They’re struggling not to be edged aside in the world’s largest car market while watching for Trump’s next steps in his trade war.
Three decades after Beijing set out to build a world-class auto industry, local manufacturers account for about two-thirds of sales inside China and a growing share of global exports. Meanwhile, higher U.S. and European tariffs on foreign-made EVs are prompting some to set up factories overseas as more global consumers opt for the latest Chinese models.
GM, Ford, Toyota and VW are still trying to sell new vehicles in China. But it’s “survival of the fittest,” one analyst says.
Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD now leads Tesla as the world’s biggest maker of EVs by sales, reporting revenue of over $100 billion. It says it plans to build more than 4,000 of its new ultra fast EV charging stations across China, providing full charges in five to eight minutes.
Markets rally after Trump eases concerns over tariffs and says he won’t try to fire Fed Chair Powell — 9:46 a.m.
By the Associated Press
A worldwide rally is coming back around to Wall Street amid encouraging updates from Trump about his plans for the Federal Reserve and his trade war.
The S&P 500 was 2.6% higher in early trading Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 2%, and the Nasdaq composite was 3.5% higher.
Tesla helped lead the way by revving 4.3% higher after CEO Elon Musk said he’ll spend less time in Washington and more time running his electric vehicle company. Tesla shares rose 7% before the opening bell Wednesday.
Wall Street’s gains followed strong moves higher for stocks across much of Europe and Asia.
Black churches pledge to support the National Museum of African American History and Culture — 9:35 a.m.
By the Associated Press
They’re taking action after Trump signed an executive order alleging exhibits there and at other Smithsonian Institution sites have expressed a “divisive, race-centered ideology.”
Critics say Trump is trying to force a distorted national narrative that glosses over slavery and other historical wrongs. Some churches are donating as members of the museum and urging congregants to do the same.
The Rev. Robert Turner recently walked from Baltimore to Washington and prayed at the museum entrance. He marches to Washington one day each month to call for reparations for historic wrongs inflicted on Black Americans. Turner added the museum to his itinerary this month and laid a wreath “to show solidarity with the museum” and the history it presents every day.
Markets bounce after Trump says he won’t try to fire Fed Chair Powell — 8:42 a.m.
By the Associated Press
US markets are poised to open with big gains, a clear sign of relief after Trump said he won’t try to fire the head of the Federal Reserve and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he expects a “de-escalation” in Trump’s trade war.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1.9% before the bell Wednesday, while S&P 500 futures rose 2.6%. Nasdaq futures climbed a full 3%.
Trump, upset that the Federal Reserve was not cutting interest rates immediately, said that he could fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell. But he told reporters Tuesday, “I have no intention of firing him.”
Markets are also reacting to Bessent’s comments that the ongoing tariffs showdown with China is unsustainable.
Rubio unveils a massive overhaul of the State Department that would cut staff and bureaus — 8:27 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveiled a massive overhaul of the State Department on Tuesday, with plans to reduce staff in the US by 15% while closing and consolidating more than 100 bureaus worldwide as part of the Trump administration’s “America First” mandate.
The reorganization plan, announced by Rubio on social media and detailed in documents obtained by The Associated Press, is the latest effort by the White House to reimagine US foreign policy and scale back the size of the federal government. The restructuring was driven in part by the need to find a new home for the remaining functions of the US Agency for International Development, an agency that Trump administration officials and billionaire ally Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency have dismantled.
“We cannot win the battle for the 21st century with bloated bureaucracy that stifles innovation and misallocates scarce resources,” Rubio said in a department-wide email obtained by AP. He said the reorganization aimed to “meet the immense challenges of the 21st Century and put America First.”
Law firms fighting Trump to ask judges to permanently block executive orders — 8:24 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Two major law firms are expected to ask separate judges on Wednesday to permanently block Trump’s executive orders that were designed to punish them and hurt their business operations.
The firms — Perkins Coie and WilmerHale — have said the orders imposed in March are unconstitutional assaults on the legal profession that threaten their relationships with clients and retaliate against them based either on their past legal representations or their association with particular attorneys who Trump perceives as his adversaries.
Courts last month temporarily halted enforcement of key provisions of both orders, but the firms are in court Wednesday asking for the edicts to be struck down in their entirety and for judges to issue rulings in their favor. Another firm, Jenner & Block, is expected to make similar arguments next week.
The executive orders taking aim at some of the country’s most elite and prominent law firms are part of a wide-ranging retribution campaign by Trump designed to reshape civil society and extract concessions from perceived adversaries.
US Treasury secretary says trade war with China is not ‘sustainable’ — 8:23 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a Tuesday speech that the ongoing tariffs showdown against China is unsustainable and he expects a “de-escalation” in the trade war between the world’s two largest economies.
But in a private speech in Washington for JPMorgan Chase, Bessent also cautioned that talks between the United States and China had yet to formally start.
“I do say China is going to be a slog in terms of the negotiations,” Bessent said according to a transcript obtained by The Associated Press. “Neither side thinks the status quo is sustainable.”
The S&P 500 stock index rose 2.5% after Bloomberg News initially reported Bessent’s remarks.
Trump acknowledged the increase in the stock market in remarks to reporters afterward on Tuesday, but he avoided confirming if he, too, thought the situation with China was unsustainable as Bessent had said behind closed doors.
Shedding thousands of staff and several interim leaders, the IRS faces turmoil under Trump — 5:22 a.m.
By Sam Brodey, Globe Staff
For decades, the Internal Revenue Service has cultivated a reputation as a force of wonky, drama-free, and borderline-boring accountants who fulfill the unpopular task of collecting the cash that fuels the federal government.
These days, the agency is quickly developing a reputation for something else: chaos.
The return of President Trump, and his aggressive campaign to remake the government, has particularly roiled the sober tax collection agency whose activity in the past has drawn the ire of conservatives.
Orders to leave the country — some for US citizens — sow confusion among immigrants — 2:48 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Hubert Montoya burst out laughing when the US Department of Homeland Security emailed to say he should leave the country immediately or risk consequences of being deported. He is a U.S. citizen.
“I just thought it was absurd,” the Austin, Texas, immigration attorney said.
It was an apparent glitch in the Trump administration’s dismantling of another Biden-era policy that allowed people to live and work in the country temporarily. US Customs and Border Protection is quietly revoking two-year permits of people who used an online appointment app at US border crossings with Mexico called CBP One, which brought in more than 900,000 people starting in January 2023.
International students stripped of legal status in the US are piling up wins in court — 1:04 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Anjan Roy was studying with friends at Missouri State University when he got an email that turned his world upside down. His legal status as an international student had been terminated, and he was suddenly at risk for deportation.
“I was in literal shock, like, what the hell is this?” said Roy, a graduate student in computer science from Bangladesh.
At first, he avoided going out in public, skipping classes and mostly keeping his phone turned off. A court ruling in his favor led to his status being restored this week, and he has returned to his apartment, but he is still asking his roommates to screen visitors.
More than a thousand international students have faced similar disruptions in recent weeks, with their academic careers — and their lives in the US — thrown into doubt in a widespread crackdown by the Trump administration. Some have found a measure of success in court, with federal judges around the country issuing orders to restore students’ legal status at least temporarily.
Law firms fighting Trump to ask judges to permanently block executive orders — 12:47 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Two major law firms are expected to ask separate judges on Wednesday to permanently block President Trump’s executive orders that were designed to punish them and hurt their business operations.
The firms — Perkins Coie and WilmerHale — have said the orders imposed in March are unconstitutional assaults on the legal profession that threaten their relationships with clients and retaliate against them based either on their past legal representations or their association with particular attorneys who Trump perceives as his adversaries.
Courts last month temporarily halted enforcement of key provisions of both orders, but the firms are in court Wednesday asking for the edicts to be struck down in their entirety and for judges to issue rulings in their favor. Another firm, Jenner & Block, is expected to make similar arguments next week.