After per week aboard, President Trump will confront a swirl of home challenges this week: pivotal elections in a number of states, Supreme Court docket tariff arguments and the continued authorities shutdown.
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
On this hour, we shall be remembering the lifetime of Dick Cheney. The previous vp was politically distinguished from the Seventies till his loss of life. We’re additionally following elections on this Tuesday, on this final day of voting throughout the nation at present, from New Jersey and Virginia to California. It is simply one in every of a number of checks President Trump is going through this week. NPR’s senior White Home correspondent Tamara Keith is with us now to stroll us by it. Good morning, Tam.
TAMARA KEITH, BYLINE: Good morning.
MARTIN: So let’s begin with the gubernatorial elections. How a lot will be learn into the outcomes?
KEITH: Nicely, New Jersey and Virginia aren’t precisely presidential swing states, however these races for governor are a primary likelihood to see how voters are feeling virtually a yr into the Trump presidency. And President Trump put out a number of social media posts in a single day final night time, urging folks to vote Republican and bashing the Democratic candidates, Abigail Spanberger in Virginia and Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey. He has endorsed the Republican candidate in New Jersey, Jack Ciattarelli, however Trump hasn’t endorsed the Republican candidate in Virginia, Winsome Earle-Sears, which led to some verbal gymnastics throughout a tele-rally that the president known as into final night time.
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PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Vote Republican. You understand, simply – if I simply cowl one topic – your power costs will go manner down versus your power costs going by the roof. Simply that one topic alone is so large. However each Virginia patriot ought to get out and vote and all Republican up and down the road. It is so necessary.
KEITH: The race in New Jersey seems to be nearer than the one in Virginia, which can clarify why Trump is expending extra political capital there.
MARTIN: Discuss briefly about California. What does Trump have on the road in that election?
KEITH: Yeah. So California voters are contemplating a poll measure to briefly redraw the state’s congressional district strains to offer Democrats a much bigger benefit. This was a response to the brand new maps in Texas that got here at President Trump’s request and gave Republicans extra secure seats there. If the California measure passes – and it has overwhelming help in current polls – it will a minimum of partially offset Trump’s effort to offer Republicans a greater likelihood in subsequent yr’s midterm elections, which Trump says is vital to preserving his agenda on monitor.
MARTIN: There’s one other potential barrier to Trump’s agenda this week. The Supreme Court docket hears arguments tomorrow about Trump’s tariff coverage.
KEITH: Yeah. And we do not know the way they may rule, however – proper? – President Trump appears fairly involved about this software of elevating taxes on imports, to extract concessions from different nations being taken away from him. He has mentioned that it might result in the ruination of our nation. And this is what he mentioned on “60 Minutes” over the weekend.
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TRUMP: I believe our nation shall be immeasurably damage. I believe our financial system will go to hell. Look, due to tariffs, we now have the best inventory market we have ever had. Due to tariffs, 401(okay) is on the highest stage that – and that is hundreds of thousands and hundreds of thousands of individuals – that we have ever had – 401(okay)s. I believe it is crucial topic mentioned by the Supreme Court docket in 100 years.
KEITH: After all, mainstream economists and lots of enterprise leaders say the tariffs are driving up costs and creating uncertainty. So it isn’t clear that the president’s dire predictions will come to fruition.
MARTIN: What else are you watching?
KEITH: Nicely, final night time, President Trump turned to Fact Social to criticize the media for saying his ballot numbers are low. He claimed falsely that he has the very best numbers he has ever had. There’s additionally some political threat for the president, as the federal government shutdown is about to interrupt a report because the longest one in U.S. historical past. Polls point out that, regardless of the president’s finest efforts, Democrats aren’t getting all of the blame. Trump thus far has refused to barter, although there may be some motion on the Hill suggesting that the ice may be thawing.
MARTIN: That is NPR’s Tamara Keith. Tam, thanks.
KEITH: You are welcome.
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