It’s Thursday…
| Thursday, July 10 2025 |
| 9:00 AM In-Town Pool Call Time In-Town Pool |
| 10:30 AM The President receives his Intelligence Briefing Oval Office Closed Press |
So, yesterday, another batch of tariff letters dropped—basically a cheerful reminder that Americans will now be paying even more for the things they already can’t afford. Because in the upside-down logic of ‘America First,’ it only makes sense that Americans come last… while someone, somewhere, gets a standing ovation.
Of all the letters postmarked Monday and Wednesday—each one a chaotic jumble of caps-lock tantrums and sentences that ran off like unsupervised toddlers—only one managed to stand out. And not because it was better written.
The stand-out letter that wasn’t written better and included President I Only Back the Worst People Ever’s favorite bedtime story, “Witch Hunt,” was—naturally—the one that got shipped off to Brazil like it was a diplomatic masterpiece.
Text pg.1 (I used ChatGPT to extract the text–when it works it’s faster than google lens):
Dear Mr. President:
I knew and dealt with former President Jair Bolsonaro, and respected him greatly, as did most other Leaders of Countries. The way that Brazil has treated former President Bolsonaro, a Highly Respected Leader throughout the World during his Term, including by the United States, is an international disgrace. This Trial should not be taking place. It is a Witch Hunt that should end IMMEDIATELY!
Due in part to Brazil’s insidious attacks on Free Elections, and the fundamental Free Speech Rights of Americans (as falsely illustrated by the Brazilian Supreme Court, which has issued hundreds of SECRET and UNLAWFUL Censorship Orders to U.S. Social Media platforms, threatening them with Millions of Dollars in Fines and Eviction from the Brazilian Social Media market), starting on August 1, 2025, we will charge Brazil a Tariff of 50% on any and all Brazilian products sent into the United States, separate from all Sectoral Tariffs. Goods transshipped to evade this 50% Tariff will be subject to that higher Tariff.
In addition, we have had years to discuss our Trading Relationship with Brazil, and have concluded that we must move away from the longstanding, and very unfair trade relationship engendered by Brazil’s Tariff, Non-Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers. Our relationship has become, unfortunately, far from Reciprocal.
Please understand that the 50% number is far less than is needed to have the Level Playing Field we must have with your Country. And it is necessary to have this to rectify the grave injustice of the current regime. As you are aware, there will be no Tariff if Brazil, or companies within your Country, decide not to export their product within the United States and, in fact, we will do everything possible to get approvals quickly, professionally, and routinely — in other words, in a matter of weeks.
Text pg. 2 (I used ChatGPT to extract the text–when it works it’s faster than google lens): :
If for any reason you decide to raise your Tariffs, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added onto the 50% that we charge. Please understand that these Tariffs are necessary to correct the many years of Brazil’s Tariff, and Non-Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers, causing these unsustainable Trade Deficits against the United States. This Deficit is a major threat to our Economy and, indeed, our National Security! Additionally, because of Brazil’s continued attacks on the Digital Trade activities of American Companies, as well as other unfair Trading Practices, I am directing United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to immediately initiate a Section 301 Investigation of Brazil.
If you wish to open your heretofore closed Trading Markets to the United States, and eliminate your Tariff, and Non-Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers, we will, perhaps, consider an adjustment to this letter. These Tariffs may be modified, upward or downward, depending on our relationship with your Country. You will never be disappointed with the United States of America!
Thank you for your attention to this matter!
With best wishes, I am,
Sincerely,[Signature]
Tariff letter. 07/09/2025.
DONALD J. TRUMP
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
The letter to Brazil comes just two days after President Terribly Bad at His Job screamed—via all caps, naturally—“LEAVE BOLSONARO ALONE!” like a washed-up PR rep trying to revive a canceled villain.
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was charged with attempting a coup after losing the 2022 election. Gee, it’s a total head-scratcher why our own Couper in Chief would throw his support behind him.
The letters weren’t the only new tariff bullshit to drop. The President also announced a new tariff on copper. Because nothing says “bring back manufacturing” like jacking up metal prices and costing us a fortune—both in dollars and cents.
Economics professor Justin Wolfers had thoughts.
My plan to revive American manufacturing is to: raise the price of inputs like steel, aluminum & copper; create shortages of rare earths; invite retaliatory tariffs; cut R&D; raise borrowing costs by blowing out the budget; and to cover it all in a thick cloud of uncertainty.
— Justin Wolfers (@JustinWolfers) July 10, 2025
Every once in a while as I doom scroll twitter I see a tweet that makes me remember why I heart twitter.
I found these replies in Wolfers tweet…
It’s like saying, why should you buy things when they’re on sale instead of having them cost more?
— Waveofthefuture (@Sustain_VA) July 10, 2025
Wave of the Future is right. I’m only mad at myself for not thinking it up first.
Here’s the current tally of the released “new” tariffs.
| Country | Tariff Percent |
| Japan | 25 |
| Korea | 25 |
| Malaysia | 25 |
| Kazakhstan | 25 |
| South Africa | 30 |
| Lao | 40 |
| Myanmar | 40 |
| Tunisia | 25 |
| Indoneisa | 32 |
| Bangladesh | 35 |
| Serbia | 35 |
| cambodia | 36 |
| thailand | 36 |
| Bosnia and Hezegovina | 30 |
| Philippines | 20 |
| Brueni | 25 |
| Moldova | 25 |
| Algeria | 30 |
| Iraq | 30 |
| Libya | 30 |
| Brazil | 50 |
| Sir Lanka | 30 |
In other news…
President Incompetent—who, of course, only hires the “best” incompetent people he can find—announced yesterday that Real World reality star turned Transportation Secretary cosplayer Sean Duffy will now be acting head of NASA. Because nothing says “space exploration” like a guy whose deepest orbit was MTV.
I found this which is how come I’m late with the post.
BREAKING: Emails given to Congress by DOJ whistleblower reveal new details about Abrego Garcia fiasco. They show how Trump officials searched for ways to paint him as dangerous criminal & gang "leader" and couldn't find any. But smears continued.
— Greg Sargent (@GregTSargent) July 10, 2025
New:https://t.co/OqBod9V1cA
The emails were provided to Congress by Erez Reuveni, a 15-year veteran of the Justice Department who was fired this spring after expressing doubts in court about the rendition of Abrego Garcia to CECOT, El Salvador’s notorious megaprison. Abrego Garcia—who had been living in Maryland under a form of protected status granted by an immigration judge in 2019—was deported on March 15 due to an admitted “error.”
But Trump refused to bring Abrego Garcia back to the United States for months—even defying a Supreme Court order to “facilitate” his return—and justified all this largely by citing his supposed MS-13 status. The administration finally brought him back in early June, only to bring new criminal charges against him for smuggling migrants.
The New Republic. 07/10/2025.
In more immigration news…
A Judge has granted a class cretification and blocked the horrible EO that try’s to end a constitutional amendment. The judge stayed the ruling to give the admin time to appeal.
BREAKING: Judge in new case challenging Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship grants class certification and blocks enforcement of the order. The injunction is stayed for seven days to allow any appeal. pic.twitter.com/GQdUCFo1HT
— Chris “Law Dork” Geidner (@chrisgeidner) July 10, 2025
I want reporters to ask Republicans in power a very simple question.
Do you really want a president to be able to end a constitutionally protected right via Executive Order.
This is an open thread
