U.S. and world news for August 12

Confusion in D.C. over Trump’s takeover

The Metropolitan Police in Washington, D.C., along with federal agencies tasked with helping curb crime in the nation’s capital are scrambling to figure out roles and strategy following President Trump’s decision to declare a crime emergency and federalize D.C.’s police force, multiple sources told CNN. The Washington, D.C., mayor and police chief hadn’t been told about the takeover until they watched Trump say it live. During a separate news conference, Mayor Muriel Bowser said she was trying to set up a meeting with Attorney General Pam Bondi, who Trump said would be overseeing the implementation of his order. She also maintained that Chief of Police Pamela Smith would still run the department and report to Bowser up through the deputy mayor. The Home Rule Act of 1973 allows the president to take control of the city’s police for 48 hours if he “determines that special conditions of an emergency nature exist.” Any request of control over the city’s police department for more than 30 days must be passed into law.

U.S. and China pause tariffs

The United States and China agreed to pause tariff hikes on each other’s goods for an additional 90 days, according to an executive order signed by Donald Trump. Without the agreement, tariffs were set to immediately surge, risking a return to ultra-high levels that had formed an effective blockade on trade between the world’s two largest economies. In a joint statement with the U.S., China confirmed the 90-day trade truce extension and said it would maintain the 10% tariffs it has imposed on American goods during that period. The extension comes after Trump imposed a slew of “reciprocal” tariffs on trading partners around the world, which have raised the United States’ effective tariff rate to levels not seen since the Great Depression. Higher tariffs on Chinese goods, America’s second-largest source of imports, would have almost certainly raised the costs many American businesses and consumers could pay — or already are paying — because of increased import taxes Trump has enacted.

Trump nominates new head for Bureau of Labor Statistics

After firing the head of the government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) because he did not like the jobs report numbers that had been released, Donald Trump has now named a conservative who was with the Heritage Foundation as well as the Texas Public Policy Foundation to run the agency. Trump nominated E.J. Antoni to be the new commissioner for the bureau. Antoni has been an outspoken critic of BLS and its approach to data collection in the past. During an August 1 appearance on Trump ally Steve Bannon’s podcast, Antoni sharply criticized Erika McEntarfer, who was the BLS commissioner at the time, when discussing the latest BLS monthly jobs report. The report had showed disappointing numbers for July and a sharp downward revision for employment growth in May and June. Antoni called her incompetent. Trump previously had welcomed BLS statistics when they showed job growth.

CBO expects 2.4 million Americans will lose food stamps

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has released a report saying that 2.4 million fewer Americans, including families with children, will receive food stamps benefits in an average month due to the spending and taxation legislation that recently was signed into law by President Trump. Among those losing coverage in an average month will be 300,000 adults who live with children ages 14 and older, CBO estimated. In addition, many food stamp recipients are expected to see their monthly assistance shrink at a time when grocery prices remain high and food banks are trying to cope with increased demand. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, as food stamps are formally known, has long required certain able-bodied adults to work to receive benefits for longer than three months. The new law broadens that mandate to require parents of dependent children ages 14 and older to work, volunteer or participate in job training at least 80 hours a month.

Legionnaire’s disease cases rise

Health officials in New York City say a cluster of Legionnaires’ disease in Central Harlem has grown to 90 cases, including three deaths. The update comes days after New York City’s health department proposed new regulations for the testing of cooling towers, which they suspect are linked to the outbreak. Cooling towers are rooftop devices that release mist into the air as they cool large buildings. If the water inside becomes too warm, stagnant, or isn’t properly disinfected, Legionella bacteria can grow and infect people who inhale the mist. A Department of Health spokesperson told CNN the proposed rules “were in development well before the Legionnaires’ cluster in Central Harlem.”

Madonna urges Pope Leo to visit Gaza

Madonna has urged Pope Leo to visit Gaza in a humanitarian mission to help starving Palestinian children, saying “there is no more time.” In an internet post, Madonna said, “Most Holy Father. Please go to Gaza and bring your light to the children before it’s too late. As a mother, I cannot bear to watch their suffering. The children of the world belong to everyone. You are the only one of us who cannot be denied entry.” Since his papacy began in May, the pope consistently voiced his concern for Palestinian civilians facing Israeli bombardment. According to UNICEF, the United Nations’ children’s agency, more than 18,000 children have been killed in Gaza since the war began after Hamas attacked Israel.