First Pass

15 stories from 7 sources

Trade escalation and Trump’s midterm liability define the day

Day’s Recap

Supporting Articles

Donald Trump said Bombardier should not be allowed to sell aircraft in the United States unless it manufactures there. His announcement came just before Canada was due to impose retaliatory tariffs on $20 billion of U.S. goods.

5:02 PMCNBC

The administration is reviving Section 338 of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, unused for 96 years, to impose tariffs affecting Canadian trade with politically important states including Wisconsin, Maine, and Kentucky. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says the policy is designed to destroy Canada’s auto industry.

2:30 PMFortune

Republican candidates worry that Donald Trump's low popularity and inflammatory rhetoric could damage their campaigns in November. Some fear his presence on the trail will cost the party votes rather than mobilize its base.

11:30 AMFinancial Times

Labor Day marks the unofficial start of the general election campaign, with Republicans defending their control of both chambers of Congress. The party must do so while President Trump's second-term approval remains weak.

4:43 AMNPR Politics

The midterm campaign is beginning with both parties assessing the electoral landscape and their paths to control of Congress. Political analyst Charlie Cook discusses the likely challenges facing Democrats and Republicans.

4:42 AMNPR Politics

Wall Street is increasingly pricing in a possible Federal Reserve rate hike, while President Trump is intensifying public pressure on the central bank over high borrowing costs. Trump said he would not allow elevated rates to put the United States at an unfair disadvantage.

7:17 AMFortune

Other Developments

A curated list of other prominent stories from this day.

Trump's ballroom, a planned arch and other construction projects are reshaping Washington. The effort is framed as a bid for architectural immortality and a lasting physical imprint on the capital.

4:32 PMNPR Politics

Manufacturing has shed 75,000 jobs by Labor Day, even as tariffs provide some protection for domestic producers. Automation is limiting hiring gains, putting pressure on Trump’s promise to deliver sustained blue-collar employment ahead of the midterms.

2:24 PMFortune

Helena Foulkes has outraised Gov. Dan McKee and made his handling of a $571 million bridge her central line of attack. The contest is a rematch of the race McKee won four years ago, now shadowed by accusations involving opioids, nepotism and outsider credentials.

2:14 PMFortune

Hundreds of Haitians have been deported to Haiti in recent weeks. Some report arriving without money, protection from gangs, or a place to live.

10:51 AMThe New York Times

Donald Trump posted a stream of AI-generated images on Truth Social alongside sweeping, unverified claims, including that he had made hundreds of billions of dollars on stocks for the United States.

8:27 AMCNBC

Rising petrol prices are straining voters in a competitive New Jersey congressional race. The campaign shows how affordability concerns could undermine support for Trump and Republican candidates in November.

6:00 AMFinancial Times

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