Marc Ross Daily | April 1
Marc Ross Daily is geopolitical business news + intelligence for senior executives + comms pros.
Geopolitics is disrupting every business and industry. I am here to help.
Always Be Communicating.
Happy Tuesday.
Here’s today’s Marc Ross Daily:
*** Globalization + Geopolitics ***
Wednesday: Trump will unveil new tariffs.
Trump's tariffs set to make history and break a system MAGA loathes: His plans have sparked fears of a US recession and a global slowdown, as well as the end of a post-war order. Bloomberg
Trump team weighs broader, higher tariffs: WSJ reports back on the table ahead of Wednesday’s deadline: an across-the-board hike of up to 20%.
Trump aide says tariffs will raise $6 trillion as White House readies plan: WP repots as investors brace for sweeping new tariffs on Wednesday, administration officials say they are studying a historic increase in import duties.
+ Policy uncertainty and new sweeping tariffs from the Trump administration are combining to create a stagflationary outlook for the US economy in the latest CNBC Rapid Update.
+ Goldman Sachs on Sunday upgraded their US recession risk to 35 percent.
Trump officials, allies grow anxious about April 2 tariffs: Politico reports the president continues to throw curveballs at businesses — and even his own team.
+ “No one knows what the f**k is going on,” said one White House ally close to Trump’s inner circle. “What are they going to tariff? Who are they gonna tariff and at what rates? Like, the very basic questions haven’t been answered yet.”
Trump has promised tariff ‘liberation day’. Americans aren’t so sure: FT reports even the president’s supporters are sceptical of new levies to be imposed on trading partners on April 2.
Americans are spending less as they brace for new tariffs: WP reports even the wealthiest households are cutting back on extras like plastic surgery, restaurant meals and travel.
Bloomberg: US business put spending plans on ice with tariffs, tax-cut wait
Reuters: China, Japan, South Korea will jointly respond to US tariffs, Chinese state media says
AP: Buzzkill: Trump’s trade wars threaten America’s craft brewers already reeling from changing tastes
CNN: Looming car tariffs have some Americans rushing to dealerships to avoid sticker shock
Mercedes-Benz tried hard to be American. It still got hit by tariffs. WSJ reports the German carmaker’s imports and made-in-USA SUVs are set to be hit by President Trump’s latest levies.
+ US automakers are lobbying the Trump administration to exclude certain vehicle parts from tariffs as part of a last-ditch effort to influence the levies before they start taking effect this week, according to people familiar with the matter.
Donald Trump’s plan for American carmaking is full of potholes: Taxing imported motors may not create many new jobs at home. Economist
Donald Trump puts LVMH to the test with his tariffs: Le Monde reports CEO Bernard Arnault, whose group generates a quarter of its sales in the US and who has nurtured a relationship with Donald Trump since his first term in office, is counting on lobbying in Washington to avoid the tariffs.
EU expects Trump to set flat, double-digit tariff on April 2: Politico reports the European Union’s trade chief met with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer Tuesday in Washington.
Starmer ready to use ‘sharp teeth’ if Trump hits UK with tariffs: Telegraph reports No 10 understood to have plans in place to punish US president if he includes Britain in raid on global imports.
Starmer warns Trump 'don't start a trade war' as UK braced for US tariffs: Indepdent reports ministers have warned 'no option is off the table' for the UK to respond to tariffs which could be imposed by the US from Wednesday.
Why Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariff transformation is so risky Stephen Collinson
A $6 trillion Trump tax increase? Navarro says tariffs will raise $600 billion a year for the government, but he says this is a tax cut. WSJ - Editorial
Trump is plotting the biggest tax rise in global history: The burden for paying the bulk of the president’s Liberation Day tariffs will fall on consumers, potentially at some $600 billion a year. Matthew Lynn
+ “It’s gonna be a slow pain first before we get the gain.” -- Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), discussing tariffs on Fox Business.
The realpolitik of Trump’s tariffs: The president’s trade policy is about power and security, not economics. Rana Foroohar
Marine Le Pen found guilty of embezzlement, banned from next elections: WSJ reports judges convict the far-right leader of misusing EU funds and bar her from running in the 2027 presidential elections.
Marine Le Pen banned from standing for office for five years: FT reports the far-right leader also sentenced to jail in ruling that jeopardises her ambitions to run for French presidency in 2027.
Marine Le Pen's 2027 presidential bid in jeopardy after court bans far-right leader from running in elections: Le Monde reports convicted of embezzlement of public funds, the French far-right leader was on Monday sentenced to a five-year ban on running for office, effective immediately, even pending an appeal.
Barring Marine Le Pen is a political thunderbolt for France: Her sentence for improper use of EU funds could strengthen the hard right. Economist
Marine Le Pen dalls to the rule of law and a great battle looms: A court’s conviction of the far-right leader for embezzlement and its ban on her running for office have set off a new crisis for France. NYT
Le Pen calls electoral ban 'political decision,' vows to fight to run in 2027 presidential election: French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was on Monday found guilty of embezzlement and banned from running in elections for five years, effective immediately. She said the court decision was designed to prevent her from 'being elected in the presidential election' but that she would look for ways to have it overturned. Le Monde
A bombshell judgment on Marine Le Pen: Banning the far-right leader from standing for office will inflame French politics. FT - Editorial
Egg shortage: First the US, now France: As a shortage of eggs threatens to hit French supermarket shelves, the industrial price of eggs is breaking records. Laurence Girard
Paris-Milan train resumes service 19 months after its interruption: AFP reports after a 19-month interruption due to a landslide in the Maurienne Valley in the French Alps, the rail link between Paris and Milan resumed Monday morning, with almost full trains departing from the French capital.
Mark Burnett: From Trump’s ‘Apprentice’ boss to ‘high-powered’ British fixer: One of the US president’s most trusted lieutenants is doing his bidding in London — and British officials see someone they can do business with. Politico
Starmer must prepare for an American divorce: While straining to maintain ties, PM should brace for new uncertainties — and get ready to welcome a US brain drain. William Hague
Germany decides to leave history in the past and prepare for war: BBC reports Germany's military, the Bundeswehr, recently got the all-clear for a massive increase in investment after parliament voted to exempt defence spending from strict rules on debt.
A lavish TV drama about Islamic history faces bans and backlash: Moawiya, a 21-episode series produced by Saudi Arabia's MBC, is under fire for representing the Sunni version of a period in early Islamic history. Bloomberg
Israel aims to be the world’s arms dealer: As Europe boosts defense spending, Israeli producers see an opportunity for arms sales—and a chance to become more self-sufficient. Bloomberg
Axios: Trump to make first foreign trip to Saudi Arabia
Bloomberg: Trump plans visits to Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar in first foreign trip
The secret life of the first millennial saint: The Vatican wants him to be the next Mother Teresa. But what did Carlo Acutis really believe? 1843 Magazine
Why China is wary of a Trump-Xi summit: It could take months for agreement on a meeting between President Trump and Xi Jinping, China’s top leader, as Chinese officials seek a scripted encounter. NYT
Bloomberg: US review of China trade deal to add to Xi-Trump tensions
Strategic independence and fragile alliances: Charles de Gaulle's two prophecies: The US turnaround in favor of Russia in the war in Ukraine echoes the French leader's words from back in 1959. At the height of the Cold War, he worried about the consequences of a rapprochement between the two greatest nuclear powers. Jérôme Gautheret
How Trump supercharged distrust, driving US allies away: Trust is very hard to build and easy to destroy. America and its partners are caught in a spiral of distrust. NYT
'A hostile state': Why some travellers are avoiding the US: BBC reports as the list of nations issuing travel warnings to the US grows, some visitors are opting to boycott it entirely. Here's why many foreigners are changing their travel plans and what this could mean for Americans.
Donald Trump rekindles ties between Canada and Europe: The immediate effect of the US president's border ambitions has been a rapprochement between the Land of Maple Leaf and the Old Continent. Eliott Dumoulin
Trump doesn’t rule out military intervention in Greenland — again: Politico reports the US president’s comments come on the heels of diplomatic tensions between Copenhagen and Washington.
Rubio tells Maduro: Hands off Guyana: The Secretary of State warns Venezuela not to harass its neighbor. WSJ - Editorial
Trump sends more migrants to El Salvador prison: WSJ reports Bukele’s notorious maximum-security facility has become a cornerstone of the US president’s deportation strategy.
The Hill: Joe Rogan: ‘Horrific’ that innocent people could be swept up in El Salvador deportations
Japan megaquake: Revised estimates from Japan’s government warned that a long feared megaquake in the country could kill up to 298,000 people and force 12.3m more—around 10% of the country’s population—to evacuate. The last time Japan was struck by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake was in 2011; nearly 20,000 people died.
*** US Politics + Elections ***
Most Americans are paying attention: A new Pew Research survey finds about seven-in-ten adults say they have been following news about the actions and initiatives of President Trump’s administration very (31%) or fairly (40%) closely.
+ “They’re playing to Trump’s strengths, which is as a mob boss.” -- Former Trump White House lawyer Ty Cobb, quoted by Politico, on the capitulation of law firms, Ivy League universities, and media outlets.
Mike Waltz is losing support inside the White House: WSJ reports that although Trump decided not to fire his national security adviser over the Signal group chat, Waltz’s position is tenuous, officials say.
The growing legend of the missing Oval Office ivy: First off, the legend might be wrong. Also, we found out where the ivy went. WP
+ In the commotion of Donald Trump’s return to office, it’s easy to overlook a smaller thing that has vanished: the Swedish ivy plant in the Oval Office. The ivy sat atop the fireplace mantel for most of the past 50 years, providing a backdrop for meetings with countless leaders and foreign dignitaries at the White House. It has filtered the air breathed by Nelson Mandela, Pope John Paul II, Margaret Thatcher, and Whitney Houston.
The Trump family is set to launch a Bitcoin mining-focused venture with Hut 8 Corp., the latest expansion of the president’s ties to the cryptocurrency sector.
Today: The 6th District in Florida holds an election between Republican Randy Fine and Democrat Josh Weil to replace National Security Adviser Michael Waltz in the House. This is a seat Republicans should win by two dozen points. But Fine has been embarrassingly outraised. A St. Pete Poll showed Weil down by just four points.
A special election that was supposed to be a snoozer is suddenly buzzing: NYT reports a House race in a deep-red Florida district is seeing millions of dollars in spending ahead of Tuesday’s election. Even in a loss, Democrats hope it will signal much-needed momentum.
White House weighs helping farmers as Trump escalates trade war: NYT reports the Trump administration has discussed providing financial aid for farmers who may be subject to retaliation by America’s trading partners.
Tim Walz: Why we lost: The would-be Democratic vice-president on 2024’s mistakes and 2025’s opportunity. Daniel Strauss
In the 'Abundance' debate, both sides get it wrong: Democrats should learn that they can be more boldly reformist and more assertively redistributionist at the same time. Matthew Yglesias
A Peter Thiel protégé is leading Trump’s AI strategy against China: Michael Kratsios will work to counter Beijing without disrupting US businesses. WSJ
My day inside America’s most hated car: The Cybertruck is a 7,000-pound Rorschach test. Saahil Desai
Brands spend nominal sums on X ads to keep Elon Musk happy: FT reports marketers want to avoid being seen as boycotting billionaire’s social media platform.
FYI: The TikTok ban deadline looming Friday night.
Steven Cheung is the voice of Trump: The White House communications chief has a strategy: relentless aggression. The Atlantic
Axios: White House to take charge of briefing-room seating chart
Bloomberg: Newsmax founder Christopher Ruddy, ex-NY Post journalist, is now billionaire
*** Distribution + Innovation ***
YouTube is about to eclipse Disney as the biggest media company in the world Business Insider
How Shonda Rhimes became a billion-dollar asset for streamers: Her career offers lessons for any writer who wants to make it big on the small screen. Economist
Elon Musk said his xAI artificial intelligence startup has acquired the X platform, which he also controls, at a valuation of $33 billion, marking a surprise twist for the social network formerly known as Twitter.
Why Elon Musk is merging his AI company xAI with his social media platform X: Le Monde reports with this move – which is, in fact, a sale of X to xAI – Musk is banking on the synergies between his AI technologies and his platform's reach. He is also giving X back value equal to the $44 billion he paid to buy it, in 2022.
OpenAI secures $300bn valuation after $40bn SoftBank-led funding round: FT reports the newest financing comes as ChatGPT maker seeks to become conventional for-profit company.
Isomorphic Labs, the Alphabet-owned company that uses artificial intelligence to discover drugs, has raised $600 million, the first time it’s taken in external funding.
CNBC: Amazon’s Nova AI agent launch puts it up against rivals OpenAI, Anthropic
Amazon’s AGI lab reveals its first work: Advanced AI agents: Wired reports led by a former OpenAI executive, Amazon’s AI lab focuses on the decisionmaking capabilities of next-generation software agents—and borrows insights from physical robots.
Amazon’s AI assistant Alexa+ launches with some missing features: WP reports Alexa+, Amazon’s AI-enhanced voice assistant, will launch to some customers Monday, though not every feature will be available right away.
Oculus Co-founder’s AI voice startup is in talks for Sequoia backing: Bloomberg reports Sesame AI is discussing a funding round of more than $200 million, co-led by Sequoia Capital and Spark Capital.
Axios: Teachers warn AI is impacting students' critical thinking
China’s Zhipu is making its new AI agent free to use as domestic competition to build emerging artificial intelligence technologies heats up.
Bloomberg: China floods the world with AI models after DeepSeek success
Bloomberg: China’s Manus turns its AI agent into a $39 cubscription
AI was enemy No. 1 during Hollywood strikes. Now it's in Oscar-winning films: Inside a soundstage once used by silent film stars Charlie Chaplin and Mabel Normand, Hollywood executives, actors and filmmakers sipped cocktails as they marvelled at what some say is the biggest breakthrough since the talkies: AI-generated video. BBC
Look again: That H&M model showing off a new look may be a digital clone: The Swedish retailer H&M said it was exploring the use of artificial intelligence in producing “digital twins” of models. NYT
The new billionaires of the AI boom: The rush into artificial intelligence has minted fortunes worth a collective $71 billion for 29 founders. Bloomberg
Data centers love solar: Here’s a comprehensive guide to deals over 100 megawatts TC
Intel’s new chief promises ‘cultural change’ at chipmaker: FT reports Lip-Bu Tan says the Silicon Valley group must again act like a ‘day-one start-up.’
Apple and Musk clash over satellite expansion plans: WSJ reports the iPhone maker and SpaceX are competing in the race to eliminate cellphone dead spots, a rift that is set to intensify.
*** Culture ***
Demographers at war: Fake centenarians, faulty data, junk science, and contested “blue zones.” NY Mag
The Ford executive who kept score of colleagues’ verbal flubs: Mike O’Brien kept a meticulous log of mixed metaphors and malaprops uttered in meetings over a decade; ‘too many cooks in the soup.’ WSJ
Camera set up to catch Loch Ness Monster discovered: BBC reports an underwater camera set up 55 years ago to try and photograph the Loch Ness Monster has been found by accident by a robot submarine.
*** Sport ***
MLB needs superteams more than ever: It may upset the fans of losing clubs, but franchises that are able and willing to spend big on star players give the league as a whole the biggest ROI. Adam Minter
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Chief Communications Strategist @ Caracal
Marc Ross Daily | March 31
Marc Ross Daily | March 31
Marc Ross Daily is geopolitical business news + intelligence for senior executives + comms pros.
Geopolitics is disrupting every business and industry. I am here to help.
Always Be Communicating.
Happy Monday.
Here’s today’s Marc Ross Daily:
*** Globalization + Geopolitics ***
Myanmar’s junta continued air strikes on rebel groups across the country, even as the UN and neighbouring countries called for a ceasefire to allow the passage of humanitarian aid following Friday’s 7.7-magnitude earthquake.
Myanmar’s earthquake piles misery on civil war: Where will aid come from, and how will the junta use it? Economist
Myanmar rescuers race against time to find trapped earthquake survivors: WSJ reports the death toll could rise sharply as the end of a 72-hour window in which most people trapped in rubble are reasonably expected to survive neared.
+ Hundreds are still missing and 1,700 have died, Myanmar's military chief says, as rescuers continue a desperate search for survivors.
Earthquake deepens crisis in Myanmar as aid effort intensifies: FT reports the military government has lost control of much of country riven by armed conflict and crime.
In Bangkok, looking at high-rises with a new sense of dread: NYT reports buildings are rising all over the city, emblems of economic growth. But an earthquake that sent one crashing to the ground has stirred fears about building safety.
Japan, South Korea + China agreed to “closely co-operate” and pursue “high-level” trade talks during a meeting between their trade ministers in Seoul.
China industrial profits remain in decline: WSJ reports industrial profits fell 0.3% during the first two months of the year, compared with the annual 3.3% drop in 2024
Beijing launches $72bn capital injections at biggest banks: FT reports share sales part of authorities’ bid to boost lending amid economic slowdown.
CNBC: China’s artificial intelligence boom might help mitigate some tariff pain
+ For Chinese companies wary of US tariffs, the big difference between President Donald Trump’s first and second terms is the emergence of generative artificial intelligence.
+ Nearly every day in the last two weeks, a major Chinese company has announced a new AI product — or how they’re making money with the tech.
+ The combined impact of the tech is lifting expectations for Chinese corporate earnings, said Ding Wenjie, investment strategist for global capital investment at China Asset Management.
Humanoid robots are lousy co-workers. China wants to be first to change that. WSJ reports the US and China are racing to build a truly useful humanoid worker. Whoever wins could gain an edge in countless labor-intensive industries.
Taiwan dares to hope Trump will back it against Beijing: WSJ reports the White House’s push to confront China reassured officials in Taipei, who watched President Trump’s shift on Ukraine with alarm.
Pete Hegseth says US is setting up a ‘war-fighting’ base in Japan: FT reports Trump’s defence secretary uses Tokyo trip to call for a strengthening of the deterrence against China.
Secret Pentagon memo on China, homeland defense has Heritage Foundation fingerprints WP
In Beijing, France's foreign minister asks China to lobby Russia on the Ukrainian situation: China is hoping to win over more European countries distraught by the decisions of the new American administration. On a visit to Beijing and Shanghai, the French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot obtained a pledge about the cognac issue. Le Monde
Putin gets a soft power win from China’s Russian grocery craze: Stores selling Russian products have spread across China, and now Moscow is seizing on the interest with a plan for a major expansion of its own. Bloomberg
Peace poses a threat for Russia’s economy: WSJ reports the Russian military spending has propped up the country’s output and dulled the effect of Western sanctions. If a peace deal is reached, the result would leave a crater in the Kremlin’s finances.
Russia’s war economy fuels rustbelt revival: Shops, restaurants, and gyms are popping up in historically poor areas which serve as recruiting pools for Moscow’s army. FT
Trump threatens secondary tariffs on Russian oil if no deal on Ukraine: FT reports US president says he is ‘pissed off’ with Vladimir Putin for dragging feet in ceasefire talks.
Trump says he’s ‘very angry’ and ‘pissed off’ at Putin during an NBC News interview: NBC reports Trump said in an early-morning phone call that if he believes Russia is at fault for a ceasefire not being reached with Ukraine, he may impose secondary tariffs on Russian oil.
The partnership: The secret history of America’s role in the Ukraine War NYT
The history of Trump’s man to negotiate world peace should worry us all: Steve Witkoff, the man tasked to wrestle diplomatically with Putin and Netanyahu, is an old friend and golfing partner of his presidential boss. But, writes Alan Rusbridger, when it comes to the most sensitive negotiations on Earth, he is in desperately over his head. Independent
The prospect of war has turned Europe into a continent of preppers: Could you survive 72 hours without outside food, water or electricity? Economist
France’s political order braces for shock if Le Pen is banned from elections: WSJ reports the far-right politician faces a five-year disqualification when judges rule Monday in her embezzlement trial.
Possible electoral ban on Marine Le Pen has France on edge: NYT reports a verdict Monday in an embezzlement trial is seen as a test of the country’s democracy — and the rule of law.
What would happen if Marine Le Pen were banned from seeking public office? Prosecutors in her party's fake jobs trial have requested a five-year ban on running for public office against the far-right leader, who is a candidate for the 2027 presidential election. Le Monde
French companies shocked by US embassy letter demanding they respect Trump's anti-diversity policy: The US embassy in Paris sent a letter to a number of French companies demanding that they comply with the Trump administration's 'anti-DEI' policy if they want contracts with the US federal government. Le Monde
The Trump revolution undermines the British 'splendid isolation,' encouraging them to reconsider Brexit: Like in 1945, the situation depends on the British choosing between Europe and 'the open sea.' Philippe Bernard
Jonathan Powell: Britain’s foreign-policy fixer: The influential intermediary faces perhaps his toughest challenge yet. Economist
Barcelona becomes ground zero for Europe’s housing dilemma: NYT reports the Spanish city’s woes mirror a broader affordable-housing crunch spreading rapidly across Europe and driving inequality.
Norway urged to drop ‘crazy’ ban on investment in defence companies: FT reports opposition leader vows to overturn rule barring $1.8tn fund from holding stakes in defence sector if her party wins election.
How Greenland’s sled dogs entered a diplomatic row: The island’s traditional dog-sledding championship is taking on added cultural and political importance in the era of Donald Trump. Bloomberg
Bloomberg: Poilievre dangles more invest-in-Canada tax breaks as vote nears
The Canadian Conservative trying to sweet talk Trump: BBC reports Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she is willing to walk into the "lion's den" to sway American officials against Canadian tariffs - wooing the US president with meetings at Mar-a-Lago and cosying up with Trump-friendly media. But this tact has landed her in hot water, not only with her opponents, but also in her home province of Alberta and with politicians who otherwise share her political leanings.
When Benjamin Franklin failed to make Canada the 14th colony: Canadians weren’t enticed by the colonists’ noble goals. Why would they want to join now? Madelaine Drohan
+ Madelaine Drohan is a senior fellow at the University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and author of the forthcoming “He Did Not Conquer: Benjamin Franklin’s Failure to Annex Canada.”
American invasion of Canada would spark decades-long insurgency, expert predicts: If US President Donald Trump fails in his stated goal of annexing Canada through economic force, what would happen if he ordered the world’s most powerful military to invade? Toronto Sun
US-Canada tensions: How a tiny Quebec-Vermont library found itself involved in an international incident: For more than 100 years, locals borrowed books and enjoyed performances, with tourists and the occasional reporter dropping by to marvel at its unique position astride the Quebec-Vermont border. Gazette
Bloomberg: Anti-American sentiment rises in Europe as Trump fuels anger
What does MAGA have against Europe? You’ve heard about anti-Americanism. Welcome to anti-Europeanism. David Luhnow + Marcus Walker
Americans are buying an escape plan: Is it time for a second passport? Atossa Araxia Abrahamian
America is winning the race for global AI primacy—for now: To stay ahead of China, Trump must build on Biden’s work. Colin Kahl
*** US Politics + Elections ***
Trump won’t rule out seeking third term, says there are ways: Bloomberg reports Trump didn’t rule out seeking another term in the White House, telling NBC News in a phone interview on Sunday that “there are methods” that would allow him to do so.
+ “A lot of people want me to do it.”
Trump won’t rule out seeking a third term in the White House, tells NBC News ‘there are methods’ for doing so: President Donald Trump said in a Sunday-morning phone call that he was “not joking” about a third term, adding that “it is far too early to think about it.”
Trump seeks takeover of elections in a bid for more presidential power Dan Balz
Trump says he ‘couldn’t care less’ if car prices go up: WSJ reports if the new 25% tariff on imported vehicles makes foreign cars more expensive, the president says, that would boost sales of US-made vehicles.
President Trump’s tariffs could mean boom or bust on Minnesota’s Iron Range: The region near the Canadian border, whose mines provide most of the new ore used in producing US steel and cars, has a lot at stake. NYT
The era of cheap stuff was already ending. Now comes the tariff threat. WSJ reports that President Trump’s tariffs, many of which haven’t landed yet, are starting to amplify price inflation on everyday core goods.
Tariffs repel foreign investment: Countries with trade surpluses tend to buy US government and corporate bonds. Robert C. Pozen
Airbus boss: Trade war will get worse before it gets better: Donald Trump is expected to act to protect Boeing, but Guillaume Faury says his company will adapt and that the American economy could suffer. The Times
Trump wanted an apology. He got Maine’s no-nonsense governor instead. WSJ reports the White House warns this “will not end well” for Democratic Gov. Janet Mills in a fight over federal education funding.
How the Trump administration has downplayed the Signal chat scandal WP
SNL: Live from New York, It’s more military secrets. NYT
Hegseth brought his wife to sensitive meetings with foreign military officials: WSJ reports the defense secretary’s handling of sensitive information is under criticism after he shared details about a strike on Houthi militants in a group chat.
Elon Musk is set to visit the Central Intelligence Agency.
Elon Musk’s mission to take over NASA—and Mars: WSJ reports the billionaire is in a position to speed up plans for a voyage to the planet, with a potentially huge impact on SpaceX.
Can Musk put people on Mars? Whether successful or not, his attempt to do so will reshape America’s space programme. Economist
DOGE wants businesses to run government services ‘as much as possible’: WP reports Elon Musk’s effort is pushing privatization — a longtime goal for conservatives and for Silicon Valley alike — across federal agencies.
WP: DOGE fires nearly all staff at US Institute of Peace headquarters
Once an economy switches from rules to deals, it’s hard to go back: Americans of all political affiliations will miss the checks and balances that Donald Trump is trying to dispense with. Filipe Campante + Ray Fisman
A competitive race for Mike Waltz’s seat rattles Republicans: The former House seat of the national security adviser, who’s faced calls to resign from his current role over the Signal chat leak, is up for grabs. NYT
GOP lawmaker faces angry crowds at town halls outside Indianapolis: NYT reports Representative Victoria Spartz, a Republican, defended Elon Musk’s DOGE cuts to the federal government, drawing jeers from the crowd.
WP: LA issues first rebuilding permits as fire recovery accelerates
White House Correspondents' dinner cancels comedian Amber Ruffin's appearance: NPR reports in a break with tradition, this year's White House Correspondents dinner will not include a featured comedian. The White House Correspondents' Association, which represents journalists who cover the White House, including those at NPR, has canceled writer and comedian Amber Ruffin's scheduled appearance at the high-profile event.
He wanted to fix local news. It’s harder than he thought. WSJ
*** Distribution + Innovation ***
The secrets and misdirection behind Sam Altman’s firing from OpenAI: The inside story of how the CEO of the hottest tech company was ousted and, just as quickly, resurrected. WSJ
AI agents are a moment of truth for tech: Nearly every facet of tech has money riding on the adoption of AI that can make a decision and take action. WSJ
WP: AI generated Ghibli images go viral as OpenAI loosens its rules
Apple readies its biggest push into health yet with new AI doctor: Bloomberg reports Apple is preparing its biggest health care push to date with a revamped app and AI doctor service. Also: The company is testing an M5 iPad Pro for release as early as this year, its 2025 developers conference gets scheduled for June, and a new global head of retail stores is appointed.
The tech fantasy that powers AI is running on fumes Tressie McMillan Cottom
The AI data-center boom is coming to rural America: WSJ reports Meta Platforms and other tech companies are looking for huge swaths of flat land and plentiful power.
The drone-delivery service beating Amazon to your front door: WSJ reports that your burrito bowl could soon arrive via the sky. Zipline’s drones make deliveries by lowering small coolers on 300-foot cables.
Kink and LGBT dating apps exposed 1.5m private user images online BBC
It’s a WhatsApp world at work now: And that’s not always a good thing. FT
Meet the LinkedIn superusers: More users are chasing high follower counts as the professional network expands its reach. FT
How Hard Rock Cafe conquered the world: The rockin’ burger joint stands as a testament to the enduring powers of rock idolatry, American roadside diners, and logo tees. WP
The fall of Forever 21 means fast fashion got faster Amy Odell
*** Culture ***
Inside Silicon Valley’s invite-only IRL dating scene: The San Francisco Bay Area is awash with in-person dating meetups for tech workers, where attendees are vetted before entry. Wired
A new biography of Lorne Michaels captures the man behind SNL: Susan Morrison’s monumental “Lorne” testifies to the “Saturday Night Live” creator’s legend without slipping into hagiography. WP
*** Sport ***
ESPN: Prime Deal: Deion Sanders lands $54M extension at Colorado
‘Bold but significant risk’: FIFA pulling out all the stops to sell Club World Cup: With ticket sales slow and concerns over burnout, football’s governing body is battling to win hearts and minds. Guardian
‘60 hours of hell’: Hardship is the only way forward at the Barkley Marathons: More crucible than race, the Barkley Marathons in the hostile backwoods of Tennessee remains the world’s toughest footrace, where change, adaptation and the struggle to survive play out. Guardian
Baseball’s wealth gap has become a chasm—and is stretching the sport to its breaking point: As a new season gets under way, the financial disparity between MLB’s 30 teams has never been greater, alienating fans, distorting the game and making a long work stoppage all but inevitable. WSJ
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Chief Communications Strategist @ Caracal
Marc Ross Daily | March 27
Marc Ross Daily | March 27
Marc Ross Daily is geopolitical business news + intelligence for senior executives + comms pros.
Geopolitics is disrupting every business and industry. I am here to help.
Always Be Communicating.
Happy Thursday.
Here’s today’s Marc Ross Daily:
*** Globalization + Geopolitics ***
Chinese hacking is becoming bigger, better and stealthier: Experts say it is the main shift in the cyber-threat landscape in a decade. Economist
Reuters: Vietnam to allow SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service
Estonia’s fears after UK cuts British troop numbers: The Times reports country’s former defence commander questions whether the UK is taking its NATO role ‘seriously.’
EU calls for households to stockpile 72 hours of food amid war risks: FT reports Commission issues 30-step plan for dealing with increased threats including Russian aggression.
Macron, Zelensky accuse Russia of wanting war to drag on, ahead of Ukraine security summit in Paris: Le Monde reports speaking alongside Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris on Wednesday, the French president said Russia must accept the 30-day ceasefire without 'preconditions,' ahead of the summit of the 'coalition of the willing' countries on Thursday.
Oleg Gordievsky worked for both sides in the cold war: The KGB intelligence officer and double agent died on March 4th, aged 86. Economist
Europe will have to zip its lip over China’s abuses: In a fracturing world, trade and co-operation will come first. Economist
Bloomberg: Bolsonaro to stand trial on coup charges, Brazil’s top court panel rules
Brazil puts former President Bolsonaro on trial for allegedly plotting coup: WSJ reports the ruling by the country’s supreme court deals a blow to one of President Trump’s closest allies in Latin America.
Brazil's Bolsonaro ordered to stand trial for attempted coup: Le Monde reports the counts against the former president and 33 others include planning to poison his successor, current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and kill a Supreme Court judge.
23%: The share of the world’s copper mined in Chile.
Bloomberg: Canada and India look to reset ties in counter to Trump’s duties
A new ‘China Shock’ is destroying jobs around the world: From Indonesia to Mexico, job losses could mount as Trump’s tariffs divert even more Chinese exports from the US. Bloomberg
Donald Trump to impose 25% tariff on US auto imports: FT reports new levy marks significant escalation in president’s trade war.
Trump plans 25% tariff on imported vehicles: WSJ reports the president left little room for exemptions in remarks made at the White House.
CNBC: Trump announces 25% tariffs on all cars ‘not made in the United States’
+ Last year, the United States imported nearly 8 million cars and light trucks worth $244 billion. Mexico, Japan, and South Korea were the top sources of foreign vehicles.
Trump barrels forward with plans for reciprocal tariffs on major trading partners: Imposing new taxes on imports from countries that sell more goods to the United States than they buy may not undo trade imbalances, analysts say. WP
The 41-page blueprint that may help explain Trump’s painful trade wars: An economic treatise by a top Trump adviser is being read as a roadmap of his tariff policy. But even he says it’s not what Trump is implementing. WP
Tariffs won’t bring a boom in American manufacturing: But tax credits, subsidized loans, and grants could boost US production of energy and some products. Jared Bernstein + Dean Baker
Trump’s tariff pain: the growing evidence: As “liberation day” nears, American businesses suffer. Economist
Bloomberg: Trump insists US must own Greenland as Vance heads there
*** US Politics + Elections ***
A rare moment of bipartisan disbelief: Washington gets a good old-fashioned scandal. Mark Leibovich
Bloomberg: Release of Signal texts strains Trump’s bid to quash furor
The Atlantic releases screenshots of timing, weapons used in Yemen war plans Signal chat: Politico reports the magazine said that it decided that “there is a clear public interest in disclosing” the information.
‘Own it, fire Waltz, move on’: White House allies fume as group chat scandal grows: Politico reports Trump and officials in his administration have appeared to downplay the seriousness of the leaked Signal group chat over the past 24 hours.
White House denials over the Signal snafu ring hollow: The breach raises questions of security and legality. Economist
+ @jcroe: Epic levels of gaslighting this week
+ @SenMarkKelly: The Signal incident is what happens when you have the most unqualified Secretary of Defense we've ever seen. We're lucky it didn't cost any servicemembers their lives, but for the safety of our military and our country, Secretary Hegseth needs to resign.
Appeals court upholds temporary block on Alien Enemies Act deportations: WP reports the Trump administration asked an appeals court to overturn Judge James E. Boasberg’s temporary restraining order blocking the deportations.
Supreme Court upholds Biden administration’s limits on ‘ghost guns’: NYT reports he administration had tightened regulations on kits that can be easily assembled into nearly untraceable firearms.
Top Republicans rebuff Trump’s demand to impeach judges: WSJ reports GOP lawmakers pursue other ways to rein in the judiciary.
Reuters: DOGE staffer 'Big Balls' provided tech support to cybercrime ring, records show
Reuters: Anduril says AI start-up sees good 'vibes' from new Trump Pentagon
Rivals pounce on Paul Weiss, a top law firm, after Trump’s order: WSJ reports fears that competitors could take its top rainmaking talent added to the law firm’s worries about a Trump executive order that targeted it.
Wyoming plans launch its own cryptocurrency as soon as July, making it the first fiat-backed and fully-reserved stable token issued by a US entity.
The Trump White House shut out the AP. They keep showing up anyway. WP reports the Associated Press has been barred from events for not using “Gulf of A
*** Distribution + Innovation ***
Our love-hate relationship with digital technology: National public opinion poll findings. RebootDemocracydotAI
CNBC: Bill Gates: Within 10 years, AI will replace many doctors and teachers—humans won’t be needed ‘for most things’
CNBC: Amazon is testing shopping, health assistants as it pushes deeper into generative AI
The Verge: Microsoft adds ‘deep reasoning’ Copilot AI for research and data analysis
I quit Google search for AI—and I’m not going back: Ads and search-optimized junk made a mess of the go-to engine. Now ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude—and even Google’s own AI—do it better. WSJ
Databricks has a trick that lets AI models improve themselves: Wired reports rsing several recent innovations, the company Databricks will let customers boost the IQ of their AI models even if they don’t have squeaky clean data.
What happened when a newspaper let AI take over: Italy’s Il Foglio newspaper calls Foglio AI an experiment into the future of journalism. So far, it’s plagiarized and drafted fake news that humans had to fix. WP
Reuters: Anthropic wins early round in music publishers' AI copyright case
JPMorgan Chase & Co. has generated and certified so-called truly random numbers using a quantum computer, in a world-first that the bank hopes will have applications for security and trading.
Reuters: Exxon investing $100 million in facility to produce cleaning alcohol for chip industry
*** Culture ***
New AI project explores mysteries of Delacroix, master of romanticism: Eric and Wendy Schmidt and the Sorbonne will fund a new program to digitize Delacroix’s papers and identify other artists who may have contributed to his murals and paintings. NYT
American women are giving up on marriage: Major demographic shifts have put men and women on divergent paths. That’s left more women resigned to being single. ‘The numbers aren’t netting out.’ WSJ
The morning routine to end all morning routines NY Mag
*** Sport ***
BBC: Ruthless Red Bull drop Lawson after two races
+ Red Bull have delivered one of the most ruthless driver moves in F1 history after deciding to drop Liam Lawson after just two races.
+ The 23-year-old New Zealander will swap places with Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda and return to Red Bull's second team, Racing Bulls, from the next race in Japan in a week's time.
The National Basketball Association is in talks with owners of some of Europe’s largest football clubs about backing teams in a new basketball league on the continent, as part of what could be the biggest-ever international expansion push by a US sports league. The NBA has held early-stage discussions with owners of clubs including Paris Saint Germain and Manchester City, as well as prospective backers of a London-based team.
Jim Nantz says he will retire from calling the Masters in 2036.
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Chief Communications Strategist @ Caracal