Morning, y’all! I wish my life was half as dramatic as those of the goldfinches at my bird feeder. I call them the Goldfinch Gang, and before I’m even properly caffeinated and medicated they’ve gone through two family feuds, a divorce, a bird fist fight and countless florid, telenovela-level arguments. Or at least, that’s what it looks like to me. I don’t want to get involved.
***
TARIFFS 2.0
Credit: AP Photo/Fernando Llano
Credit: AP Photo/Fernando Llano
Yesterday, we talked a little bit about President Donald Trump’s tariff plans for Mexico, Canada and China (which are still evolving). Tariffs are very complex and Byzantine, or at least they are to me, since I provided some confusing information.
To fix that, I went to someone with far more tariff knowledge: AJC’s economics and environment editor, Scott Trubey. He cleared some things up. Although it’s still a tricky topic, Trubey will help you become the most knowledgeable person in your friend group — unless your friend group is a bunch of economists.
What is a tariff?
ST: A tariff is a tax on a good or service from outside of our country brought into our country. It’s an import tax.
Who pays a tariff?
ST: The tariff is paid by the buyer, so if AJ Willingham Enterprises bought the good imported, AJ Enterprises would pay the tariff. Customs and border protection collects the tariff when that product crosses a border. Those businesses generally pass on that entire amount to the end buyer, whether it’s the consumer or another company that’s purchasing a part that goes into a bigger part.
🔎 MORE: Tariffs could affect these things Georgians buy and make
If tariffs end up harming consumers in the country that levied the tariffs, how does it damage the country the tariffs are levied against?
ST: The U.S. is the largest importer in the world. We have an entire massive component of the global economy. So if you tariff things, it could blunt the sale of those imports.
There is also a risk to U.S. industry. Supply chains are rigid, and can cross borders several times. If a car factory in Detroit has operations on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border, components could be taxed several times going back and forth. Tariffs can also lead to scarcity in domestic product. If all of a sudden you can’t get something imported, that creates more domestic demand. If production can’t keep up, that leads to higher prices.
President Donald Trump has said his tariff threats against Canada and Mexico are in part to address drugs coming over U.S. borders. How would tariffs solve that issue?
ST: The president has the ability to unilaterally enact tariffs in most cases. Already, the threat of these tariffs has led to talks with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum where Trump agreed to pause tariffs in exchange for more forces at the border to prevent trafficking. So it doesn’t solve the issue, but he appears to be using policy changes to exact other ends.
It’s also worth noting, Trubey adds, that the U.S. already has trade agreements with Mexico, Canada and China. So new tariffs could possibly run afoul of those agreements, in a legal sense.
🔎 Still have questions? More tariff FAQs answered here
Now you know everything you could possibly want to know about tariffs in one sitting, from a real expert.
Not signed up yet? What’re you waiting for? Get A.M. ATL in your inbox each weekday morning. And keep scrolling for more news.
***
BOOK BAN BAN BAN
The U.S. Department of Education has signaled it doesn’t much care about pushback on book bans. The agency has dismissed 11 federal complaints about restricted access to books in schools or libraries. That includes one in Forsyth County, which was the first of its kind to reach the federal level. The issue of book bans attracted public concern when critics pointed out many banned books were written by LGBTQ authors or authors of color, and dealt with themes like race, sexual orientation and identity.
Now, Department of Education officials say such bans are not a civil rights issue, but a “question of parental and community judgment.” They also called challenges against book bans a “hoax.”
***
Credit: Miguel Martinez / AJC
Credit: Miguel Martinez / AJC
For so long, you were invisible to so many people. You longed for people to just acknowledge your presence with more than disgust. Well, guess what, homie, you're not invisible anymore.
Taylor died during a January sweep of a homeless encampment in downtown Atlanta. His death sparked outrage, sorrow and some very difficult questions about how homeless people are treated. A funeral was held for Taylor on Monday at Ebenezer Baptist Church.
***
JET ENGINE FACTORY IN ROSWELL IS A GO
PBS Aerospace, a Czech Republic-based turbojet engine maker, will have a shiny new North American headquarters in Roswell. The company says it will invest $20 million and hire 95 workers at its new Roswell facility, which is an expansion of the company’s current operation in Buckhead.
***
ATLANTA UNITED PICKS UP WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE LATTE
Credit: Miguel Martinez / AJC
Credit: Miguel Martinez / AJC
Ivorian striker Emmanuel Latte Lath, late of the Middlesborough Football Club, is the newest member of the Five Stripes! Atlanta United paid an MLS record fee of $22 million to secure Lath, and fans hope he’ll help make United’s attack a force to be reckoned with. Welcome to Atlanta, ELL!
***
NEWS BITES
The best high school basketball games this week
It’s the last week of the regular season, so get some hoops in if you can.
Atlanta-area hospital’s nurse summer camp is back
“What did you you this summer?” Oh, learned how to save lives, nbd.
Cocoa and cream cookies, nonalcoholic spirits and 10 other cool food products to try this week
How are cocoa and cream cookies different from normal chocolate sandwich cookies? They’re fancier.
Beyonce announces her ‘Cowboy Carter’ stadium tour, and it’s riding into Atlanta
It’ll be real life boogie and a real life hoedown.
***
ON THIS DATE
Credit: AJC
Credit: AJC
From the front page of the Feb. 4, 1960, edition of the Atlanta Constitution: Need a peacock? Mrs. John Braun, as manager of the DeKalb County Humane Society, has befriended a variety of critters in her time. Now it’s this peacock, admiring himself in a mirror at society headquarters … he’s yours for the asking, says Mrs. Braun.
A tempting offer. I hope the peacock found a nice peacock-friendly home, whatever that looks like.
***
ONE MORE THING
When I think about how to observe Black History Month in a way that resonates, I find myself turning to things I already love as entry points to the larger conversation. I adore classical music, so I try to find places where my passion for that can enrich my understanding of Black history.
Because this is my own little space down here at the bottom of the newsletter (and my editor said I could), I thought I’d share some of the tracks I’m spinning this month that make me burst with enthusiasm and pride and gratitude for all of the gifts Black artists and composers have given us.
🎵 Florence Price: Symphony No. 1 in E Minor: III Juba Dance (1932)
If you’re looking to learn more about Black classical music, Price is a great place to start. She is SHE. A genius. Madam, ma’am. Her majesty. The first Black woman to have her work performed by a major symphony. Plus, her work is super accessible. It’s fun to listen to, fun to learn about. This movement from her first symphony, which brought her national acclaim, is an energizing way to start your day.
The Juba Dance is an African-American dance with Caribbean influences that arose in the U.S. during the time of chattel slavery. In this movement you can hear sounds and forms from this vein of African-American culture: spiritual tunes, heavy syncopation, fiddle music and other vernacular instruments (a train whistle!). Underneath it all, I detect a chugging beat of American industry.
One reason I love Price’s music is it sounds so … American. She was among a group of composers who helped give American classical music its unique voice. That’s not coincidence or imitation. If something feels deeply American, more often than not Black minds have touched it, shaped it and helped make it so.
Don’t worry, I’m not going to evangelize for classical music every single day. But I hope this gives you some ideas about how your own passions can open up new horizons this month!
***
Thanks for reading to the very bottom of A.M. ATL. Questions, comments, ideas? Contact me at tellus@ajc.com
Until next time.
About the Author
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured
