Farmers will need government relief this year after the trade war choked off access to key markets, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said Sunday.
Why it matters: Thune's comment, following a promise from President Trump earlier in the week, sets up a potential battle over what would likely be a multibillion-dollar package — and a separate fight over why it was needed in the first place.
Instead of putting "tariff" on the tag, some retailers are slipping costs into shipping, fees or relabels.
Why it matters: Trade duties and new import rules are driving up retailer costs, especially in apparel, furniture, holiday décor and toys. Those costs are starting to be passed to consumers.
After my remembrance in Axios PM about Washington superagent Robert Barnett, who died Thursday at 79, several of you texted me with memories of a decades-long Barnett sideline — debate coach, negotiator and role-player for Democratic presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
The big picture:Paul Begala recalls how Barnett secured "home stool advantage" for Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton for his 1992 debate at the University of Richmond with President George H.W. Bush (who checked his watch) and Ross Perot:
President Trump and his administration frequently boast that he's "been right about everything" and that his policies have ushered in the "Golden Age" of America.
The big picture: However, some of the president's sweeping claims, including slashing drug costs, combating fentanyl deaths and supercharging the American economy through tariffs, fall flat when compared to the actual data.
