Trump's New Tariffs Kick In: U.S. Households Face $2,400 Hit Amid Global Pushback

President Trump's next wave of import tariffs is set to take effect Thursday, imposing duties from 10% to 50% on goods—ranging from computers to apparel—imported from more than 60 countries. According to the Yale Budget Lab, these levies could cost the average U.S. household an extra $2,400 a year.

The measures are already facing legal and international resistance. A federal appeals panel this week left the tariffs in place while it considers challenges by a coalition of Democratic-led states and small businesses over Mr. Trump's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Meanwhile, European brands like L'Oréal are eyeing a decades-old "first sale" customs rule, Switzerland saw its stock index slide 1.8% after a surprise 39% duty, and India and China publicly rebuffed threats of secondary oil tariffs.

President Trump will send special envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow on Wednesday or Thursday for last-chance talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in Russia's war against Ukraine. The trip comes after six months of unsuccessful diplomacy and follows Trump's 50-day ultimatum—now narrowed to a 10-day window expiring this Friday—for President Vladimir Putin to agree to halt the fighting or face new sanctions.

The Kremlin says it welcomes the visit, with Dmitry Peskov calling talks "important, meaningful and very useful," and even leaving open the possibility of a meeting between Putin and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In Kyiv, Zelenskyy and his advisers have urged the U.S. to follow through on threats of secondary sanctions against Russian energy and banking partners, warning that this may be Russia's last opportunity to stop the war.

Late Sunday on Truth Social, President Trump accused Senate Democrats led by Chuck Schumer of slow-walking more than 150 of his nominees and demanding $2 billion in frozen foreign aid and NIH funding as a ransom. He labeled them "crazed lunatics" and told Schumer to "go to hell" after a last-ditch deal collapsed over how much money to release.

With roughly 140 nominees still awaiting floor votes—including about 30 ambassador posts—confirmations are halted until the Senate reconvenes on Sept. 2. Senate Minority Leader Schumer blamed Trump for walking away, while GOP Sen. John Thune warned the confirmation process is "broken" and called for rule reforms.

President Trump on Friday abruptly dismissed Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer, accusing her of producing "rigged" jobs data.

The firing came hours after the BLS reported the U.S. economy added just 73,000 positions in July and revised May and June figures down by 125,000 and 133,000 jobs respectively. Trump claimed on Truth Social that the numbers were manipulated to make him—and Republicans—look bad, though he offered no evidence.

Key developments:

• July payrolls rose by 73,000, below the 110,000 forecast.


• May hires revised from 144,000 to 19,000; June from 147,000 to 14,000.


• Trump said he will name a new labor statistician within days.

Critics, including former BLS chief William Beach and the National Association for Business Economics, warned that politicizing the agency risks undermining public trust in vital economic data.

Senate Confirms Pirro: On Sunday, the Senate voted 50–45 along party lines to confirm former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.

Trump's Endorsement: President Trump lauded Pirro's decade-long Fox tenure—including co-hosting The Five, the network's top-rated panel show—as proof she'll be "amazing" in her new role. He vowed to swear her in "as soon as we can."

Background & Stakes: Pirro, a three-term Westchester County district attorney and county court judge before Fox, replaces Trump's first pick, Ed Martin, whose nomination stalled amid GOP resistance over his January 6 comments.