MicroWave

Summary

Trump wants to repeal the $52.7B CHIPS and Science Act, including $39B in subsidies and $75B in loans for U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, to reduce debt.

His administration is reviewing $33B in finalized grants, including $7.86B for Intel, $6.6B for TSMC, and $6.1B for Micron.

Critics warn this could jeopardize TSMC’s $100B U.S. expansion and Micron’s 50,000-job, $100B project in New York.

The Commerce Department has already cut one-third of its subsidy staff, signaling a policy shift that could weaken U.S. chip production and national security efforts.

Summary

The Trump administration plans to revoke temporary legal status for 240,000 Ukrainians who fled Russia’s war, fast-tracking them for deportation.

The move is part of a broader effort to strip protections from 1.8 million migrants admitted under Biden’s humanitarian parole programs.

Trump’s policies also target 530,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

Legal challenges are mounting, as affected individuals face uncertain futures. Advocates warn that even U.S. allies, such as Afghans who assisted the military, are now at risk of detention and deportation.

Summary

Warren Buffett criticized tariffs as “an act of war,” warning they function as a tax on goods and raise consumer prices.

His comments follow Trump’s decision to impose 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico and raise tariffs on China from 10% to 20%, escalating trade tensions. Economists warn tariffs could worsen inflation and harm U.S. consumers.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick dismissed Buffett’s concerns and falsely claimed tariffs could replace the IRS.

Buffett has long opposed tariffs, citing historical economic damage, including their role in worsening the Great Depression.

Summary

The global shipping industry faces uncertainty as Donald Trump escalates trade tensions with new tariffs and proposed port entry fees on Chinese-built ships.

U.S. tariffs on China, Mexico, Canada, and the EU could disrupt trade, weaken container ship owners' pricing power, and increase costs for businesses and consumers.

Global supply chains are also strained by rerouting around the Suez Canal and climate-related disruptions.

Experts warn these policies could drive up freight rates and consumer prices while adding economic burdens to U.S. exporters and importers.

Summary

Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian has joined Frank McCourt’s bid to acquire TikTok’s U.S. operations as a strategic adviser.

McCourt, who calls his bid “The People's Bid,” plans to give users more control over their data. Ohanian’s expertise in social media is expected to help validate and promote the initiative.

Other bidders include investors led by YouTuber MrBeast. ByteDance has not defined assets for sale and may shut down TikTok instead.

The White House is reviewing McCourt’s bid amid national security concerns.

Summary

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called for an "immediate" summit between the US, EU, and Western allies to discuss Ukraine following a heated White House meeting between Trump and President Zelenskyy.

The February 28 meeting ended without agreement on a minerals deal after escalating into a confrontation over US aid and peace deal conditions.

Meloni warned that Western division "makes us all weaker" as European leaders reaffirmed support for Ukraine.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas commented that "the free world needs a new leader," while European allies worry about being excluded from US-Russia negotiations to end the war.

Summary

U.S. intelligence has found that Russia and China are actively recruiting recently fired or at-risk federal employees, particularly those with security clearances.

The effort coincides with the Trump administration’s mass layoffs in the federal workforce. Foreign intelligence officers are using LinkedIn and other platforms to identify potential recruits.

Officials warn this could expose critical U.S. secrets, but the administration has dismissed concerns.

Meanwhile, internal layoffs at the CIA and Pentagon may further increase vulnerabilities, with some terminated employees already challenging their dismissals in court.

Summary

Deere investors overwhelmingly rejected an anti-DEI resolution, with only 1.3% voting in favor.

The proposal, filed by the conservative National Legal and Policy Center, sought a report on racial and gender hiring statistics.

Deere, which recently distanced itself from LGBTQ+ pride events, faced scrutiny amid broader corporate retreats from DEI under pressure from the Trump administration.

However, investors at Apple and Costco have upheld DEI efforts, reflecting continued support for workplace diversity despite political opposition. Deere’s vote signals resistance to anti-DEI measures in the corporate sector.

Summary

Austria’s conservative ÖVP, center-left SPÖ, and liberal Neos have formed a coalition after five months of deadlock, blocking the far-right FPÖ from power despite its election victory.

Christian Stocker (ÖVP) will be chancellor, with Andreas Babler (SPÖ) as vice chancellor. The deal includes a seven-year budget plan, targeted tax relief, and social spending.

Migration policy balances security with integration, abandoning FPÖ’s hard-line stance.

The government reaffirms EU commitments, support for Ukraine, and neutrality on NATO while backing EU enlargement in the Western Balkans.

Summary

Three federal judges dealt legal setbacks to Trump’s early second-term controversial policies in a 90-minute span.

In DC, Judge AliKhan indefinitely blocked a federal funding freeze, calling it “irrational, imprudent and precipitated a nationwide crisis.”

Also in DC, Judge Amir Ali ordered the administration to pay pay foreign aid-related money owed to government contractors and nonprofit groups.

In Seattle, Judge Whitehead halted Trump’s executive order suspending refugee admissions, arguing it “amounts to an effective nullification of congressional will.”

Summary

The U.S. has reportedly warned Ukraine that access to SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet could be cut off if Kyiv does not agree to a deal granting the U.S. access to its critical minerals.

This was raised in talks after Ukrainian President Zelenskiy rejected a proposal involving a 50% share of Ukraine's minerals, including lithium and uranium.

Starlink is crucial for Ukraine’s military operations, and losing it would be a significant blow.

Negotiations are ongoing, but tensions between Zelenskiy and Trump are escalating over Ukraine's war strategy and mineral wealth.