Daily Briefing: Tariff tit-for-tat

Good morning!🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert. Make the perfect cup of coffee.

Quick look at Wednesday's news:

• The Trump administration will hit China with 104% tariffs starting Wednesday.
• Rescue efforts continue after the roof of a popular nightclub in the Dominican Republic collapsed.
• Summer 2025 is shaping up to be an expensive season.

Tariffs met with deals with some nations, retaliation by others

A package of more than 100% tariffs on Chinese imports kicked in overnight, despite stern rebuke from Beijing that called this latest round of tariffs by President Donald Trump "blackmail" and vowed to "fight to the end."

Tariff tit-for-tat: This is happening because China refused to withdraw its retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports.

• While China fights back, other countries are taking a difference approach. Trump said China is not among about 70 countries that have reached out to the Trump administration to talk.
• The market is feeling the whiplash: Global markets bounced back Tuesday amid the news of tariff talks, but as tensions with China remained high the gains turned into significant losses.
• One problem with Trump’s strategy: Experts call out his mixed messages — he wants tariffs to spur a manufacturing renaissance but says he’ll drop the reciprocal duties if foreign countries lower theirs.

Dominican Republic nightclub roof collapse kills 98

Crowds grew outside of the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo as people tried to search for their own friends and relatives in the destruction. Several of those loved ones told news outlets they were stunned and praying in the face of a catastrophic collapse of the venue's roof. At one hospital serving the injured, officials were heard reading the names of survivors out loud, the outlet reported. People gathered around and yelled the names of their loved ones still missing and asked about their whereabouts. Two former MLB players were among those killed.

More news to know now

• The rare virus behind the death of Gene Hackman's wife has killed three people in California.
• A federal judge ordered the White House to lift access restrictions imposed on the Associated Press.
• More logging is encouraged in the country's national forests — but will it combat wildfires?
• Dentists say removing fluoride from water systems could take a serious toll on public health.

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

One day they're studying, the next they're packing for home

The Trump administration has revoked hundreds of international student visas across the country, setting off a desperate scramble for them to leave the United States within days. Universities have reported some students being forced to leave immediately, in many cases after discovering their visas were cancelled in the federal Student Exchange and Visitor Information System, or via an unexpected text or email. Immigration experts said they've never seen the federal government make such sweeping changes to the ordinarily low-profile process of hosting international students. The students are not being detained but are instead being told to self-deport within seven days.

What's going on at the IRS?

Acting IRS Commissioner Melanie Krause — the third person to lead the IRS since January — is expected to resign, according to two administration officials, continuing turmoil in the agency's top leadership. Krause's departure comes after the agency agreed to share tax information with federal immigration agents to help them find immigrants in the U.S. illegally. The data sharing agreement, disclosed in court filings, creates a framework to use tax information to fulfill President Donald Trump's promise to crack down on millions of undocumented people in the U.S. It's just one of many moves roiling the tax collecting agency.

Today's talkers

• "Bad Influence" explores the perils of child vlogging.
• Renters can make their homes beautiful without losing their deposit.
• A new digital scan of the Titanic reveals new insight into its final hours.
• Why is Mike White feuding with the "White Lotus" composer?
• Duchess Meghan shared a rare health scare on her new podcast.

Do we really need that summer vacation?

Summer is already an expensive time for families. Some kids who get free meals at school rely on their parents and caregivers for meals. And parents who work full time need to find and pay for child care during the summer months, all while utility costs go up. But American families could feel extra sweat this summer as sweeping tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump causes price hikes for groceries, new clothes, toys, bikes, strollers and more. A simple soccer ball made in Pakistan priced at $18 could cost $23. Families will have to rethink their priorities this summer, even reconsidering family vacations in order to pay for basic needs.

Photo of the day: Finally, a cheap lunch

It's a Masters tradition unlike at any other high-profile sporting event: the abundance of inexpensively priced food and drink selections. A trip to the Masters isn't complete without sampling one of the famous pimento cheese sandwiches for only $1.50! How much will patrons pay this year on treats?

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at Paste BN, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.