News from the note…
Consider this an OPEN THREAD, folks.
Chat about any of the stories listed, share links to stories that caught your eye today, and generally have a good time discussing whatever you want.
Mid-Term
Houston Chronicle — Ted Cruz spoke with the Houston Chronicle during a campaign stop in Seguin, Texas, and told them he has reached out to President Trump, in the hopes of holding a rally in Texas, before the mid-term elections, “I would certainly welcome his support and I hope to see him in Texas,” he added, “I think we are likely to see the president down in Texas before the election.” Cruz also spoke to his relationship with President Trump, “We’re talking to the White House every week, sometimes every day,” Cruz said. “I’ve been proud to lead the effort to bring Republicans together.” The Houston Chronicle also points out that Cruz, while speaking to a crowd of supports, “that he faces a real race and cannot afford for his supporters to be complacent. He said conservatives outnumber liberals in Texas, but if Republicans don’t get fired up and get out to vote, he could be in big trouble.”
The News Blender — President Trump spoke with Sean Hannity and told the radio show and Fox News show host that he was willing to campaign five or six days a week, about sixty days before the mid-term elections are held in November.
Trade News
Trade Representative (USTR) — USTR released a list of $16 billion worth of imports that will be subject to 25 percent tariffs that Customs and Border Protection will begin to collect on the listed Chinese imports on August 23.
This is a developing story
The State — “Element Electronics announced Monday it will close its Winnsboro plant in response to tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump,” the local paper The State reports this move will cost 126 jobs. Citing a letter the paper obtained penned to the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce written by Element it reads, “the layoff and closure is a result of the new tariffs that were recently and unexpectedly imposed on many goods imported from China, including the key television components used in our assembly operations in Winnsboro.”
The paper goes on to explain that tariffs have already had an impacted on the, “manufacturing-heavy South Carolina,” stating that Volvo has said they might not be able to hire 4,000 employees for a new plant in South Carolina. Element who was one of Fairlfields largest-remaining employers, stated in the letter, that the plant might re-open in three months or maybe six, “we cannot predict this with any certainty at this time.” Lay offs are expected to start in October.
Gossip News
Forbes — Radio and Fox News Show host Sean Hannity spoke with Forbes contributor Mark Joyella. Joyella asked Hannity about the rumors that he is the last person President Trump talks to before bed, “I don’t have a nightly call with anybody. I read these things about me that are total bullshit. Quote it. It’s just not true.” Asked how much access Hannity does have to the President Joyella explains, it’s the one question Hannity won’t answer, “I really kind of enjoy that nobody knows, and I’m just going to leave it that way,” he adds, “But I can tell you this: Nobody has ever gotten my relationship with Donald Trump right, ever.”
Working Stories Sneak Peek
Forbes — The News Blender — On Monday, in what was called a “bombshell” report by the Business Insider, Dan Alexander writing for Forbes dropped a piece titled, “New Details About Wilbur Ross’ Business Point To Pattern Of Grifting.” Alexander sets the scene in his opening shot with “a multi-million-dollar lawsuit has been quietly making its way through the New York State court system over the last three years, pitting a private equity manager named David Storper against his former boss: Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.”
Stories We Are Watching
Former top Trump campaign aides create foreign lobbying firm, will represent Russian-backed group https://t.co/Jr3hJXdNwL pic.twitter.com/NVONPUgLIo
— The Hill (@thehill) August 7, 2018
Reminder President Trump’s former Campaign Manager Paul Manafort is currently on trial for finical crimes, one of those crimes, is tax evasion.