The Trump administration’s economic and immigration policies dominated the news again this week.
President Donald Trump hiked tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners before issuing a 90-day pause for all but China. To counter, China raised import taxes on American goods from 84% to 125%, and the stock responded with extreme volatility, as indexes plunged and then recovered from one day to the next.
A federal judge is allowing the Trump administration to move forward with a requirement that everyone in the U.S. illegally must register with the federal government. An immigration judge in Louisiana ruled that Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil can be deported for his role in campus protests against Israel and the war in Gaza, citing national security. Plus, the Supreme Court said Thursday the federal government must facilitate the return of a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador — a deportation that reportedly occurred in part because he wore a Chicago Bulls hat.
Locally, Mayor Brandon Johnson hit back against the president’s threats to strip sanctuary cities like Chicago of federal aid, visas for international students at several top Illinois universities were revoked with no explanation or prior notice, and the White House announced plans to freeze $790 million in federal funding to Northwestern University.
In other news, the Chicago City Council blocked a $1.25 million settlement for the family of Dexter Reed, the man shot and killed in a gunfight with police in Humboldt Park last year. A Michigan man was found guilty on two felony counts for sending a death threat to then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot. The Tribune reported that Illinois Democratic Senate President Don Harmon improperly accepted $4 million more in political contributions than allowed under campaign donation laws, an assessment he disagrees with.
Though it’s almost mid-April, March Madness came to a close this week. No. 1 seed Florida rallied to beat Houston 65-63 in the final game of the NCAA Tournament on Monday to win its third championship title.
What else? The Sox are off to another losing streak, Portillo’s is giving breakfast a try and Indiana is looking to attract the Chicago Bears to the state, with the Senate passing a bill to establish a professional sports development fund.
That’s the news. Test your knowledge of who said what for the week of April 6 to 12 with the Tribune’s Quotes of the Week quiz. Missed last week? You can find it here or check out our past editions of Quotes of the Week.
