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Loads of money, here's potentially the top winners. Trump's Truth Social post hours before the pause on tariffs, urging it was a 'great time to buy,' suggested making hay while the sun shines. Is it actually legal for the leader of a country to offer advice about investments? Surely a conflict of interest? Whatever, Elon Musk's Tesla's stock surge added $36 billion to Musk's wealth, pushing his net worth to $330 billion. Amazon UK Jeff Bezos's Amazon's 12% jump boosted Bezos by $18.5 billion, with his fortune reaching $226 billion. Mark Zuckerberg's Meta's rally lifted Zuckerberg's wealth by $25.8 billion, bringing him to $208 billion. And across the pond in Blighty, Jim Ratcliffe also saw gains, with INEOS stock up $1.3 billion.

Donald Trump is considering withdrawing some American soldiers from Europe, which could affect Poland and Romania. Approximately 80,000 American soldiers are stationed in Europe, and the planned reduction would affect half of them. However, reducing American forces in Europe would be a disastrous signal to Moscow, warns General Chris Cavoli, the commander of NATO forces in Europe. In addition, The influential House Armed Services Committee, led by Chairman Michael Rogers, strongly opposes Trump's plans. The congressman firmly rejected reducing the number of American soldiers in Europe, and any potential withdrawal of the US from commanding NATO formations on the continent. Rogers stressed that U.S. leadership in NATO is essential to ensure armed American forces, including US nuclear weapons, always remained under U.S. command. In addition, The Armed Services Committee said a cut back in the number of American troops stationed in Europe might be seen as a falling-off of US commitment to protecting its allies. Trump's troop pullback plan sparks congressional backlash

Trump's Executive Order (EO) signed yesterday demanding criminal investigations into Chris Krebs and Miles Taylor and his public statement that Taylor is a “traitor” guilty of “treason” isn't just about settling personal scores; it's a calculated move to instill fear, silence dissent, and dismantle the very foundations of US democratic institutions. What did Chris Kebs and Miles Taylor do? Chris Krebs, the former director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) refuted Trump’s baseless lies of fraud in the 2020 election. Miles Taylor, who served as Chief of Staff at the Department of Homeland Security, opposed the administration's policies and wrote a book. By weaponizing the Department of Justice to pursue these individuals, Trump is not only abusing presidential power but also sending a chilling message to current and future whistle blowers: “Cross me, and you’ll pay.” This is the actions of an autocrat, not a democratically elected leader. Even worse, Trump's persecuting the very institutions that safeguard our legal system and might defend Taylor and Krebs. Law firms like Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, and Jenner & Block are being targeted with punitive measures — revoked security clearances, terminated federal contracts, and restricted access to federal buildings including courthouses — all because they’ve dared to represent clients such as the above who have challenged Trump’s excesses. This orchestrated campaign of intimidation is designed to deter legal professionals from defending those who dare to speak truth to power. Under Trump, the Department of Justice is being used to settle political scores in ways Richard Nixon could only have dreamed of. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech and the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances. Trump’s actions are a direct assault on these freedoms, aiming to silence opposition and consolidate power. Thankfully over 500 law firms have collectively decided to challenge these types of executive orders, recognizing them as a grave threat to US constitutional governance. Is this the moment American democracy finally broke? | Opinion

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg should file a case for extortion against Trump, wrote Jonathan Zasloff for Slate. "He compelled the firm to cease engaging in legal activity that it had a right to engage in (practicing law on behalf of its clients) by threatening damage to Paul, Weiss’ property — its business — and by threatening to abuse his position, denying the firm security clearances and blocking their access to federal property. Zasloff argued that Bragg should take the case to a grand jury, and if it indicts, it indicts. If Trump then argues that he can’t be indicted, or that Trump v. United States allows him to use the power of the federal government on a vendetta against his political enemies, and the Supreme Court agrees, then at least we will have some confirmation that the Constitution is a dead letter and the rule of law has all but perished. 'No time to wait': Manhattan DA urged to seek criminal charges on Trump 'extortion racket'

Yale Law School professors Harold Hongju Koh and Fred Halbhuber, along with Yale Law J.D. candidate Inbar Pe'er, point to recent assertions made by Trump DOJ lawyers in court that the United States Constitution does not prohibit President Donald Trump from issuing bills of attainder, which are orders that impose "a punishment on a specific person or group of people without first going through a trial." Judge Beryl Howell asked the Trump DOJ if such orders could be considered bills of attainder, which the United States Constitution explicitly prohibits. The government's answer was: "as a pure constitutional matter... the bill of attainder restriction is only on Article I and not on Article II [of the Constitution], and so it doesn’t apply to the president." The three Yale Law experts went on to just how unprecedented this demonstration of authority is, not just in American history but in the history of British monarchies. "Even under the most tyrannical monarchs, the king never asserted unilateral authority to issue bills of attainder—a power the president now asserts for himself," they contend. Trump's assumption of such powers is clearly well outside the bounds of constitutional law, they asserted. Trump asserting powers 'even the most tyrannical monarchs' didn't have: analysis

Nearly 1,000 current and former members of the Israeli Air Force have signed a letter condemning the renewed military campaign in Gaza. The signatories accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government of continuing the war to serve "political and personal interests," rather than Israel's security. They urged leaders to prioritize a deal to free all hostages held in Gaza, even if it means ending the war against Hamas. Meanwhile Israeli media report reservists are becoming increasingly resistant to return to duty, feeling troubled about the army's direction and worries of a possible reoccupation of Gaza. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/israeli-air-force-veterans-criticize-gaza-war-resumption/ar-AA1CFr7n?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=EDGEXST&cvid=dba505c777e74b7b97a8c3ffd5e0d2ca&ei=26

Trump has ordered the investigation of two of his former political appointees turned critics: Chris Krebs, who ran Trump’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and former senior Department of Homeland Security official Miles Taylor. In an executive order Trump removed their security clearances and directed the Justice Department to open federal investigations of their tenures. CNN's Elie Honig noted the order strips security clearances not only from Krebs and Taylor, but also from the places where they work. Krebs works for a private cybersecurity firm whilst Miles Taylor works at the University of Pennsylvania Honig stressed this really threatens their livelihood. Honig pointed out that The Department of Justice has a long-standing policy prohibiting investigations begun for political or personal reasons. Honig asked rhetorically what federal crimes either Krebs or Taylor are suspected of committing. Trump's 'retribution tour' just took a 'particularly dangerous' turn: CNN legal expert

Still sounds great

Sorry folks, going through a Kevin Ayers phase at the moment. It won't last long but he did write some memorable stuff.

The Economist identified a spike in the value of ten-year American Treasury bonds as a signal that investors no longer see U.S. bonds as safe havens during times of economic distress. "It is the most worrying sign of financial distress yet, and there have been plenty," the magazine warns. "Traders are paying soaring premiums to protect themselves against volatility, businesses are facing increasingly bad terms on borrowing and a dash for cash has sent the gold price down. Spiking Treasury yields are even more ominous, since they drag up other borrowing costs with them. In short, they are not just a symptom of market stress -- they are a cause of more to come." in past financial crises, the Economist writes, the US survived as it was seen as a haven from economic chaos, whilst at present the US was regarded as the source of economic turmoil. 'Extremely dangerous': Economist magazine sounds alarm about new market 'convulsions'

China may be quietly selling US bonds whilst the US sleeps, unnerving the stock market. https://www.forbes.com/sites/joelshulman/2025/04/09/us-rally-at-risk-as-china-may-be-dumping-treasuries/

More civilian casualties Wednesday April 9, including children in Gaza after an aerial attack by Israel https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy5rrnzw0kwo

Trump folded as the government bonds became more and more expensive. A quicker surrender than lettuce Liz Truss. Mayfly Trump.

A conservative think tank found the White House measured retail price elasticity when it should have used import price elasticity. That mistake meant the tariff outputs were about four times higher than they should have been. The correct version of the formula uses price changes in the cost of imports, meaning how much it costs a U.S.-based company to buy a good from a foreign seller. Instead, the White House factored in the retail price change, which is what consumers pay. Thus Cambodia’s 49% rate would drop down to 13%, and Vietnam’s would decrease from 46% to 12.2%. The vast majority of countries would end up being subject to the 10% tariff minimum that is part of the White House’s new policy. Trump’s tariff formula used the wrong value in its calculations, conservative think tank says. ‘This whole thing was rigged’

Elon Musk has labelled Donald Trump’s trade adviser a “moron” that is “dumber than a sack of bricks” .. Previously, American economist Peter Navarro described Musk as a “car assembler, not a car manufacturer,” claiming his Tesla vehicles required parts manufactured across the world in nations such as China, Japan and Taiwan. Musk responded, stating Tesla has more American-made cars than any other company. Elon Musk calls Trump's chief trade adviser Pete Navarro a 'moron' as MAGA fragments over tariffs

Thousands of Israelis in Tel Aviv on Monday, demanding an agreement with Hamas for the release of the remaining hostages in the Gaza Strip. The protest also targeted the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while many demonstrators also called for an end to the Gaza war. The protests also criticized Netanayu's decision to dismiss Ronen Bars, the head of Shin Bet which is investigating Netanyahu's close associates for possible ties to Qatar, a country considered to be a supporter of Hamas. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/thousands-of-israelis-protest-against-government-as-war-drags-on/ar-AA1CtuUI?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=EDGEXST&cvid=c906f6dc6

Pass the sick bag, Alice.

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the descendants of former slaves and the descendants of former slave owners, will be able to sit down together and work 8 hours a day, bent over sewing machines for minimum wage.

Vance is such a wally, to put it politely. Speaking to Fox News last week, Vance asked rhetorically: “What has the globalist economy gotten the United States of America?'' His own answer was: “ We borrow money from Chinese peasants to buy the things those Chinese peasants manufacture.” Naturally the Chinese couldn't let that pass. “We may be peasants, but we have the world’s best high-speed rail system, the most powerful logistics capabilities, and leading AI, autonomous driving, and drone technologies. Aren’t such peasants quite impressive?” a Weibo user posted, according to CNN. Beijing attacks JD Vance’s ‘Chinese peasants’ remark in tariffs interview | China | The Guardian

Seems Thaksin got stopped in his tracks by someone. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has announced that legislation to legalise casinos in selected Thai tourist destinations has been indefinitely postponed. The move comes amidst significant opposition both within parliament and across various societal sectors.

Donald is certainly not the Great Liberator. He's just a naughty boy, telling porkies. German vehicle licensing and testing authorities dismissed on Tuesday a recent allegation made by US President Donald Trump that US-made cars have to pass a bowling ball dent test to be sold in the European Union - a test that experts say does not exist. Trump claimed a bowling ball was dropped from a height of about six metres, with the car passing only if it showed no dent, a requirement, Trump said, for US vehicles to be approved for sale in the European Union. A TÜV SÜD spokesman said tests of this kind were in fact used for windscreens to see whether sharp shards were created when windscreens broke on impact. The fact that the windshield did in fact break was normal and did not constitute a failed test, it added. In 2018 Trump made a similar claim about Japanese authorities. A spokeswoman for Trump later claimed he had apparently been joking. A poor joke, Donald. German vehicle authorities fact check Trump's bowling ball test claim

The Brits are increasingly fed up with Trump's tariffs too. Data from More in Common UK found that just 43% thinks Washington can be relied on, whilst 15% now view the US as an enemy. Polling found that 51% of voters want the UK to retaliate, introducing tariffs, only 27% oppose this. As for chlorinated chicken, 62% of Brits would not want to see the UK agree to allow chlorinated chicken as part of a trade deal with the US. Bombshell poll shows what Brits now think of US after Donald Trump's tariff chaos