simonlester.com - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

California just filed a lawsuit challenging Trump's IEEPA tariffs. The case resembles that filed by Liberty Justice Center and me in some ways, but differs in others. For more, see my piece here: reason.com/volokh/2025/...

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Trump's USTR is filing a second USMCA labor rights review request. Is this part of a strategy to get labor union support? @desireelc.bsky.social

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More trade war fallout: Chinese refiners are importing record amounts of Canadian crude and slashing purchases of US oil www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

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@booker.senate.gov looking pretty strong here.

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"We have instances now in western countries where people are being arrested [...] the cop comes knocking on their door, you're going to go to jail for 60 days for posting something online. You know, this is crazy stuff that's happening all over." Marco Rubio on April 16, 2025, if you can believe it

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"I have seen or been subject to exactly zero antisemitic comments or acts at Harvard... By contrast: In Wash., DC, and/or in connection with gov't service, I have seen or been subjected to countless antisemitic comments, some of them quite threatening, & almost all of them from the political right."

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With @steveinskeep.bsky.social (who just came back from a trip to China) and the ever-thoughtful Scott Tong (who was once a China-based reporter too!) www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2...

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My Cato colleague @walterolson.bsky.social has started a newsletter dealing with, among other things, Trump's assault on the rule of law. I've subscribed & supported & recommend you do as well. walterolson.substack.com?r=15o1vy&utm...

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Marco Rubio says that Americans living in Europe shouldn't ever have to face any ramifications for their political speech online. The chutzpah is jaw-dropping, as he is PERSONALLY trying to deport legal immigrants for their political speech in the United States.

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Civil discourse is great, but I don't think Bill Maher and Donald Trump are particularly good examples of leaders in this area.

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The California complaint against both the IEEPA "reciprocal"/universal and fentanyl tariffs is here: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us... And here's the CA AG press release: oag.ca.gov/news/press-r... And Newsom's press release: www.gov.ca.gov/2025/04/16/g...

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Despite some of the promises made by Trump and some of the rhetoric from Democrats, federal spending was actually higher in the first three months of 2025 than the same period of 2024... And borrowing is higher too. reason.com/2025/04/14/f...

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We need group DMs on here more than ever

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Lots of (good) questions by @simonlester.com about the mechanics of Trump's trade negotiations. I expect @marossefcovic.bsky.social will push back (eg 0-0 tariffs proposal including trucks and little on NTBs) but I doubt that the UK can or will ielp.worldtradelaw.net/2025/04/ques...

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Rubio doing his best to rescue the tourism biz. 🤡 @axios.com www.axios.com/newsletters/...

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I'd like to see Cory Booker included in these polls. Curious how much that speech did for him.

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With regard to all those "reciprocal" trade deals being negotiated, I have lots of questions. Here are two: - "will there be some sort of dispute settlement mechanism in the agreements?" - "how will these agreements play in the domestic politics of other countries?" More at the link.

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Sensible thoughts from @thecitp.bsky.social on responding to Trump's tariffs - don't follow Trump into overt breaches of world trade rules citp.ac.uk/publications...

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Another lawsuit against the IEEPA tariffs, this one by California: "California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that his state will file a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s authority to impose sweeping tariffs that have set off a global trade war."

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🚨 *CALIFORNIA’S NEWSOM SAYS STATE TO SUE OVER TRUMP’S TARIFFS

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that his state will file a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s authority to impose sweeping tariffs that have set off a global trade war.

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A warning: Don't jump on the headlines today about China tariffs rising to 245% — there has been no change in policy. The 145% tariff Trump placed on Chinese goods this year always needed to be added to duties in place before he took office Jan. 20. A handful of items were already at 100%.

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The new critical minerals Section 232 investigation will also cover "derivative products — the manufactured goods incorporating them." That could make this a pretty big deal.

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If China is restricting exports and the US starts restricting imports, can we call off this part of the trade war?

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fascinating dynamic here where the vast majority of people are fine with transition but not with trans sports

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"The briefings suggest that the US ... would also want the EU to limit or discontinue non-tariff barriers to trade, potentially including stringent EU product standards, including some food standards." This isn't going to happen.

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Several businesses harmed by Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs have filed a lawsuit challenging his use of emergency economic powers.

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New from me at Cato: with yesterday's developments in the Abrego Garcia case, it becomes clear that Donald Trump aims to create an offshore zone in which persons of his choosing can be whisked out of the U.S. and stripped of all constitutional rights, "beyond the writ of" the federal courts. /1

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RFK jr. will be coming for Cookie Monster soon too

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🗓️ TOMORROW, 4/16 | 11:00 AM EDT As the tariff war escalates, what’s at stake for Korea, Japan, and U.S. strategy in the Indo-Pacific? Find out on the next Impossible State featuring: @victordcha.bsky.social @kristigovella.bsky.social William Reinsch Register here: www.csis.org/events/impos...

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This is how a proper Philly cheesesteak is prepared, for all who celebrate. I miss home.

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still my position on Republicans taxing the rich is

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China will again ask for a WTO disputes panel for EU EV tariffs on Apr 25, according to the agenda EU rejected the request in March so it will be established automatically next Friday

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I had been wondering if someone would try to stir up trouble by asking about this.

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Could be a lot less next year, with all the people they are scaring off.

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Last year, the United States sold more educational services to the rest of the world than it sold in natural gas and coal combined. wapo.st/4luJyph

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We are on our way to TariffCoins, aren't we

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Maybe the goal is just to have tariffs though

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I know there are many things competing for your limited outrage resources at the moment, but please direct some of that towards this infuriating situation

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