USA TODAY is reporting that President Donald J Trump is increasing tariffs on imported automobiles and auto parts from Canada to 50%, further escalating a trade war between the two nations. It said this move follows the collapse of trade negotiations over the weekend and comes after 50% U.S. tariffs on many other Canadian goods took effect on Aug. 22. Democrats are warning that these import taxes will likely lead to higher costs for American consumers. The newspaper also reports that crew members aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln have a scheduled port call in Thailand in early September. The aircraft carrier is returning home after an extended, record-setting deployment in the Middle East amid the U.S. war in Iran. Navy spokesperson Christopher Thomas told USA TODAY the Navy does not comment on future ship movements due to operational security. Additionally, USA TODAY said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent outlined further sanctions against Iran, dubbed "Operation Economic Outcast." It also noted that a bipartisan backlash against massive telecommunications facilities, which are fueling the AI arms race, is impacting fall campaigns across the country. In other political news, Karoline Leavitt revealed her next professional engagement, and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins defended the president's decision to import more ground beef.
