The End of the Libertarian Dream?

– POLITICO 

In campaigning for the presidency, Trump frequently sang from the same hymnal as libertarian primary rival Senator Rand Paul, warning against regime change and nation-building abroad. And yet, Trump also pledged to oversee a massive military buildup. The aggressiveness with which libertarians check Trump’s overreach, at home and abroad, will correlate with the movement’s credibility, and popularity, if Republican voters turn against the president’s policies.

 

Here’s What Happens When the U.S. Pulls Out of a Major Trade Deal

– POLITICO

President Donald Trump dumped the 12-nation TPP right after he took office, saying it was a horrible deal and blaming it for transferring American jobs abroad. But now other countries are ready to rush into the vacuum the U.S. is leaving behind, negotiating tariff-cutting deals that could eliminate any competitive advantage for U.S. goods. That phenomenon is on stark display this week in Chile, where over a dozen Pacific Rim countries are meeting to talk about moving on in the post-TPP era. China, not one of the original signers of the TPP, is there looking to cut deals.

 

Republicans Pose Growing Challenge to Trump’s Trade Agenda

– The Wall Street Journal 

Republican lawmakers are showing increasing resistance to President Donald Trump’s trade agenda, worried that his plans could hurt exports from their states and undermine longstanding U.S. alliances. Mr. Trump’s pledge to renegotiate Nafta is expected to provide an early test of congressional support for his policies.

 

New Labor Nominee: Fair Leader or Self-Serving One?

– The New York Times 

The New York Times explores some of the “old demons of the George W. Bush era” that may loom large as Alexander Acosta goes before the Senate labor committee this month for his first confirmation hearing to be U.S. Secretary of Labor.