Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Tuesday.
There have never been 100 days like thisPresident Trump traveled this afternoon to Michigan, where he will soon hold a rally celebrating the first 100 days of his second term. He is expected to use the moment to make the case that his tariff policies, immigration crackdown and efforts to dismantle the federal bureaucracy are setting the country on a better path. Not everyone sees it that way: The president’s approval ratings have steadily fallen. But there is no doubt that Trump’s return to the Oval Office has already been hugely consequential. “He has already changed the way America is perceived more than any president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt,” said Maggie Haberman, our White House correspondent. Trump has proudly been a president of action. He has not allowed the traditional checks and balances of Congress and the courts to slow him down, issuing nearly as many executive orders in three months as Joe Biden did over four years. The result has been a chaotic blur of activity, which we’ve tracked here. We’ve also fact-checked the president’s often-repeated claims. Trump’s reliance on executive orders has allowed him to move quickly, but at a risk. They can be overturned by a future president, and more easily challenged in the courts. In 100 days, his actions have prompted well over 100 legal clashes. My colleagues in Washington took the president’s 100-day mark as an opportunity to reflect on what Trump’s presidency means so far. Here’s where he has already made his mark: Immigration: Trump fulfilled a signature campaign promise, essentially sealing the southern border with Mexico. But for all the shock and awe, deportations haven’t increased. Federal jobs: More than 250,000 people have had their jobs cut, have had their positions slated to be eliminated or have taken a buyout, according to a New York Times tally. Diversity: The Trump administration, as the White House reporter Erica Green wrote, “has sought to reframe the country’s history of racism and discrimination by denying that it existed.” Climate: Trump’s recent moves have exceeded the worst fears of climate activists, but his trade war might accidentally reduce carbon emissions. Payback: “Trump has brazenly used his official powers to carry out a retribution campaign against his perceived enemies,” our national security reporter Charlie Savage explained. From Opinion: More than a dozen Times columnists weighed in on Trump’s first 100 days.
Trump reversed course on some auto tariffsTrump signed an executive order today that granted carmakers some relief from his tariffs. Manufacturers that pay a 25 percent tariff on imported vehicles will be able to avoid additional fees on steel and aluminum. They will also be exempt for a proportion of the cost of their imported components for two years. In other tariff news:
After his victory, Carney took aim at TrumpPrime Minister Mark Carney struck a combative tone this morning after his Liberal Party won a narrow victory in Canada’s election. He vowed to confront Trump’s threats to Canada’s economy and its sovereignty. “America wants our land, our resources, our water,” Carney said. “That will never happen.” The Liberals missed out on a majority by just a few seats. With a minority government, they will require support from other parties to pass legislation. Here are four big takeaways from the election.
New York is set to ban smartphones in schoolsGov. Kathy Hochul announced that New York will require schools statewide to ban smartphone use during school hours. The move, which applies to students in kindergarten through 12th grade, follows a national movement aimed at preventing compulsive social media use and distractions that interfere with school work. More top news
Beyoncé’s new tour is a full-circle momentIn 2016, Beyoncé got a chilly reception at the Country Music Association Awards. That helped inspire her “Cowboy Carter” album, which won the top award at this year’s Grammys. Now, Beyoncé is on a major tour that includes a rendition of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene,” approved by the country royal herself. But the Cowboy Carter Tour, which began last night, isn’t just about country music. It is, as our pop music critic Jon Caramanica wrote in his review, a reframing of Beyoncé’s latest album as a kind of DNA-level source material that has been lurking beneath her music all along.
How to be happyMy colleague Jancee Dunn, who writes about health and wellness, has for years been offered advice on how to best live a happy and fulfilling life. Today, she pulled together the best tips she has ever heard. Some involve finding opportunities for delight. Others are little exercises in gratitude or suggestions for more meaningful interactions. And then there’s Cher’s approach to not sweating the small stuff: “If it doesn’t matter in five years, it doesn’t matter.”
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