WHAT WE'RE WATCHING
1. 🇺🇸 President Trump announced 50 percent tariffs on the EU. The new rates, set to start June 1, were announced shortly before US and EU representatives were going to begin negotiations. Trump said he was “not looking for a deal” and that 50 percent was the deal. However, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent portrayed it as a negotiating tactic, saying he hoped it would “light a fire” under European leadership.
2. 🇷🇺 Putin isn’t ready to end the war because he thinks he’s winning. President Trump, who delivered the news in a call to the leaders of Ukraine, France, Germany, Italy, and the EU, had not previously expressed such sentiments. However, Trump did not embrace the idea of increasing sanctions on Russia, and instead is hoping Russia and Ukraine can agree to a ceasefire without any mediators. Trump’s growing frustration with both sides’ lack of desire for peace could lead him to walk away from the war entirely.
3. 🇨🇳 China will give the WHO $500 million over the next five years. After President Trump announced that the US would leave the World Health Organization — a process which will finalize early next year — the WHO announced that it would have to cut funding by 20 percent and raise membership fees. The United States gave over $1.2 billion in 2022-2023. China’s offer seeks to plug some of that hole and to increase its influence in the global organization.
4. 🇬🇧 The UK will keep a key airbase in the Indian Ocean. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government agreed to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, while still maintaining control of an airbase that it shares with America. The UK will now lease the base for over $100 million per year for 99 years, while continuing its “decolonization” agenda. The base, south of India, is crucial for American and British power projection in the region.
INSIDER RADAR
Marco Rubio defining America’s foreign policy
Insiders behind the paywall: Marco Rubio, Manfred Weber, Xi Jinping, and Angela Merkel.
QUICK AND IMPORTANT
Italy and Denmark are seeking to weaken the European Court of Human Rights, which frequently blocks migrant deportations.
Romanian populist-right presidential candidate George Simion narrowly lost to centrist Nicușor Dan in his country’s presidential election.
The Portuguese populist-right Chega party outperformed the polls and tied with the country’s center-left.
President Trump will place worldwide tariffs of 25 percent on phone manufacturers that do not produce in the US.
THE MAIN STORY
Why Qatar is targeting conservative media
WHAT’S HAPPENING_
The debate over President Donald Trump’s acceptance of a $400 million jet from Qatar has drawn attention to the billions spent by the small country on lobbying the United States.
The Qataris have sent over $6 billion to American colleges and spent around $100 million on lobbying campaigns — and spent billions elsewhere.
Now, according to new reports, Qatar has opened its wallet for someone else: conservative media.
_THE FACTS_
The Free Press reported Qatar spent nearly $100 billion lobbying the US over two decades.
About a third of that $100 billion went to weapons, a third to business investments, and one-fifth to energy, with the rest going to sectors, including America’s air base in Qatar.
Qatar has also shifted its focus to conservative media, investing much less to see results.
In 2024, half of Qatari foreign agent communications targeted conservative outlets, compared to just 10 percent last year.
These communications usually involve pitching stories or trying to sway media coverage.
The Washington Examiner cited an example of a Fox News writer receiving a story idea from a Qatari agent, which led to a pro-Qatar piece days later.
Qatari agents targeted conservative media outlets Fox News Digital, Just The News, The New York Post, Daily Mail, and The Washington Examiner following Trump’s election victory.
Qatar’s lobbying also included paying for positive DC coverage through paid firms.
One firm received $180,000 a month to arrange a Tucker Carlson interview with Qatar’s prime minister.
_OUR INSIGHTS _
Insights and analysis are for members only.
Insights behind the paywall: Ties to Hamas, President Trump’s business dealings, and the US praising Qatar.
_JOIN THE DISCUSSION_
Do you think Qatar’s influence poses a threat to the American Right?
Comments are for members only.
MEDIA BIAS SPOTTER
How left and right outlets frame Trump’s new EU tariffs
Mentioned behind the paywall: CNN Business, Euronews, The Washington Examiner, and Breitbart.
THE DAILY DEBATE
📊 Do you agree with Trump’s new 50 percent EU tariffs?
POLL RESULTS FROM YESTERDAY
Which policy included in the big, beautiful bill is your favorite?
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 💸 No Tax On Tips (38)
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 👶 Defunding Planned Parenthood (589)
🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🧱 Border Wall/Immigration Funding (274)
🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ ✂️ Locking In Trump Tax Cuts (408)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 💬 Other (48)
💸 No Tax On Tips: “I’m a hairdresser and most people don’t carry cash so they charge it and they go on our paychecks.” — Angie
👶 Defunding Planned Parenthood: “Until that monster goes away, abortions will continue.” — Kat
🧱 Border Wall/Immigration Funding: “It’s about time we’ve funded the wall and stopped illegal immigration. We’ll all be safer for it.” — Marlene
✂️ Locking In Trump Tax Cuts: “I feel the economy must improve otherwise no other objectives will pass going forward. — WW
💬 Other: “I’m not sure any of it. We still have ent seen the small print. It will take a year or two to really tell if any of it really works.” — Donald
POP QUIZ
Which political party in Portugal outperformed expectations in recent elections?
Today’s newsletter was written by Anthony Constantini, Brandon Goldman, and Ari David. We scoured 100s of sources to bring you stories and insights you won’t find in the mainstream media.
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