The Evening: Trump imposes new tariffs

Also, Elon Musk led a bid to buy OpenAI.

View in browser|nytimes.com February 10, 2025 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Monday. Trump's new tariff fight Gaza hostage releases postponed Plus, Eagles fans celebrate A wholesale steel market in Shenyang, China. Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Trump's new tariffs target foreign metals President Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum today, reprising a policy from his first term. All imports of the metals, no matter the country of origin, would face a 25 percent tax, according to the White House. Domestic steel makers say they are struggling to compete against cheap foreign steel. They benefited last time Trump imposed similar tariffs, Ana Swanson, our international trade reporter, told me. "But there's a big trade-off," Ana said. "They increase costs for other businesses that use steel and aluminum. And there are a lot of those — makers of cars, machinery, planes and food packaging come to mind." The new fees are likely to rankle allies like Canada and Mexico, who supply the bulk of U.S. metal imports. They would also hit at China, which dominates the global steel and aluminum industry, even if it does not export a lot of steel or aluminum directly to the U.S. In his three weeks back in office, Ana pointed out, Trump has already threatened more tariffs globally than he did in his entire first term, when he ended up imposing levies on foreign solar panels, washing machines, metals and more than $300 billion of products from China. Doug Mills/The New York Times A judge said the White House had defied his court order A federal judge in Rhode Island said today that the Trump administration had failed to comply with his order to release billions of dollars in federal grants. The ruling was the first time a judge expressly declared that Trump or his aides were disobeying a judicial mandate. The judge, John McConnell, an Obama appointee, did not specify any penalties for failing to comply. But his ruling marked a step toward what could become a high-stakes showdown between the executive and judicial branches. Just yesterday, Vice President JD Vance claimed that "judges aren't allowed to control the executive's legitimate power." More than 40 lawsuits have been filed against the Trump administration. My colleague Adam Liptak, a lawyer and reporter covering the Supreme Court, asked several legal scholars whether the U.S. was already in a constitutional crisis; here's what they told him. In other politics news: The Department of Homeland Security asked I.R.S. agents to help crack down on immigration. Trump has mused about a third term, over and over again. The president ordered the Treasury to stop minting pennies. Trump is freezing money for clean energy. Red states have the most to lose. A battle over immigration between Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and his state's Legislature is a sign of how Republicans are shifting during the second Trump administration. Wong Kim Ark won birthright citizenship for all. This is his story. Companies are trying to figure out how to avoid what Trump called "illegal D.E.I." Here's how Charlie Kirk became the youth whisperer of the American right. A demonstration in Tel Aviv on Saturday. Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images Hamas halted hostage releases 'until further notice' A spokesman for Hamas said today that the group had indefinitely postponed the release of Israeli hostages who were set to be freed from Gaza this weekend. Hamas blamed the delay on Israel's government, which it accused of violating the cease-fire deal. Both sides have previously accused each other of violating the fragile truce, but until now hostage-for-prisoner exchanges have proceeded each week. Today's change also threatens the prospects for agreement on a lasting end to the war. Talks on that subject were supposed to begin last week. For more: Freed hostages have begun telling of the starvation and abuses they endured while captive in Gaza. Elon Musk at the Capitol last month. Kenny Holston/The New York Times Musk led a bid to buy OpenAI A group of investors led by Elon Musk has made a $97.4 billion bid to buy the nonprofit that controls OpenAI, the artificial intelligence company that created ChatGPT. OpenAI declined to comment, but Sam Altman, the company's chief executive, posted a response on social media: "No thank you but we will buy twitter for $9.74 billion if you want." Musk, who has had a yearslong rivalry with Altman, replied to the post: "Swindler," he said. More top news Venezuela: The government of President Nicolás Maduro was accused of assassinating Ronald Ojeda, a political dissident living in Chile. A.I.: Emmanuel Macron, the French president, urged Europe to cut regulations on artificial intelligence at a summit in Paris. Court: The man accused of stabbing Salman Rushdie went on trial today for attempted murder. Greece: At least 13,000 of Santorini's 15,500 residents have left in the past week, unnerved by frequent earthquakes. New York City: Three men were convicted of murder for drugging and robbing patrons of gay bars and clubs and luring them to their deaths. France: Dominique Pelicot was convicted of drugging his wife and inviting strangers to rape her. She may not have been his first victim. Labor: A unionization wave has swept across Off Broadway, and is poised to reshape the economics of theater making in New York. Health: Some cardiologists and diabetes specialists have seen results from the same obesity drugs that they have prescribed to their patients. TIME TO UNWIND Outside the Superdome in New Orleans, last night.  Christiana Botic for The New York Times It's a good day to be a Philadelphian Philadelphia Eagles fans were chanting, cheering and partying late into the night in New Orleans, where their team dismantled the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs at the Super Bowl. Jalen Hurts and his Eagles teammates left no doubt about who the better team was. For casual fans, much of the excitement came during halftime, when Kendrick Lamar launched into "Not Like Us," his Grammy-winning takedown of Drake. His smiling performance was perhaps the peak of any rap battle ever, my colleague Jon Caramanica writes. For more: Here are the best photos and the most memorable outfits from the game. Our chief fashion critic appraised Taylor Swift's bedazzled Daisy Dukes, and our style reporter looked at Lamar's bell-bottom Celine jeans. Eddie Murphy as Gumby in "Saturday Night Live" in 1984. RM Lewis Jr./NBC Universal, via Getty Images When was peak S.N.L.? At the end of this week, "Saturday Night Live" is celebrating its past with a 50th anniversary special. So our TV critic James Poniewozik went back and picked out his favorite episode. James, perhaps like most people, was fondest of the show when he was in high school, and he would often quote lines from it with his friends at the cafeteria table. In December 1984, Eddie Murphy returned for just one night, in which he showed off his comic range (and his piano skills). For James, it just hit the spot. For more: It has become quite difficult to decipher which TV shows are most popular. The four members of the Bangles.  Rob Verhorst/Redferns, via Getty Images Dinner table topics Manic Monday: The Bangles were one of the most successful female bands of all time. Now, they want to reclaim their legacy. Fishing frenzy: In Cheboygan, Mich., the sturgeon spearing season lasted just 17 minutes this year. "On the Job": Meet the cheerful cook who wants you to love hospital food. Ask our Well desk: How healthy are chickpeas? WHAT TO DO TONIGHT David Malosh for The New York Times Cook: This tender mushroom Bourguignon is rounded out with tamari for depth. Read: "Beartooth" offers an authentic portrait of the American West. Watch: The director of "The Substance" narrated a crucial scene in the Oscar-nominated film. Listen: Lady Gaga's latest track inspired us to make this playlist about spellbinding songs. Style: Our fashion critic explained how to stand out in a corporate suit. Exercise: High intensity workouts are a great way to burn calories, even for beginners. Compete: Take this week's Flashback history quiz. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all of our games here. ONE LAST THING Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times Ankle monitor? No, that's my Apple Watch. A small but growing movement of fitness enthusiasts believe that an Apple Watch is best worn as an ankle accessory. Some claim it's a more comfortable, and perhaps even more accurate, way to track exercise goals. It's also a workaround for medical professionals who can't wear watches on their wrists at work. One downside: People said the device may be confused for a court-issued ankle monitor. One user said she felt as if she should be reassuring her neighbors. "It's not what it looks like," she said. "I promise." Have an active evening. Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. — Matthew Sean Kawasaki-Culligan was our photo editor today. We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com. Writer: Matthew Cullen Editors: Carole Landry, Whet Moser, Justin Porter, Jonathan Wolfe Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The Evening from The New York Times. 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