Welcome to The Hill’s Morning Report. Happy Tuesday! Our newsletter gets you up to speed on the most important developments in politics and policy, plus trends to watch. Co-creators are Alexis Simendinger and Al Weaver (CLICK HERE to subscribe!). On Twitter, find us at @asimendinger and @alweaver22.







The two largest world economies escalated a trade war on Monday that threatens the livelihoods of some U.S. farmers, will raise prices for American consumers and could slow U.S. economic growth.

If wielding tariffs as weaponry continues into 2020, President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE will be pressed to explain the wisdom of his trade strategy in red states he needs to win if he wants a second term.

“I say openly to President Xi & all of my many friends in China that China will be hurt very badly if you don’t make a deal because companies will be forced to leave China for other countries. Too expensive to buy in China. You had a great deal, almost completed, & you back out!” he tweeted.

Hours after Trump warned China on Monday not to retaliate against his decision to levy 25 percent tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese imported goods, Beijing did just that. China announced steep tariffs on $60 billion in U.S. goods beginning on June 1, prompting a stock market slide (The Associated Press).

The president said he’ll meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other heads of state in Osaka, Japan, at the G-20 summit next month, where Trump hopes he can revive trade talks, which fell apart when he accused China of backtracking and then hiked tariffs on Friday.

Trump insists a continuing tit-for-tat battle, which has not yet affected automobiles in either country, is more painful for Beijing than for the United States.

The president, who just days ago spoke optimistically about concluding a significant trade deal with China this spring, instead adopted a combative stance while threatening to apply levies to all $540 billion in Chinese imports, which would be a blow to U.S. consumers and businesses of all kinds.

“There will be price hikes at Target, Costco, Home Depot and Walmart,” Nelson Dong, a partner with Dorsey & Whitney in Seattle, told The Washington Post. “The importers are going to pass on some or all of the tariff to the consumer and that will become much more readily apparent and harder to mask.”

The Office of the United States Trade Representative released a list on Monday of the roughly $300 billion worth of products that could yet face up to a 25 percent tariff and requested public comment, which will begin the formal process for enacting those duties. The list includes almost every consumer product, from coffee makers to sneakers to telescopic sights for rifles (The New York Times).

A sign of the president’s concern, however, emerged with his sudden, new assurances to U.S. farmers on Monday that the administration will make another $15 billion in taxpayer-backed subsidies available to offset revenue losses as U.S. sales to China of soybeans, wheat and other agricultural products evaporated. An earlier round of subsidies totaled $12 billion.

"The retaliatory tariffs will have a significant consequence to Kansans in agriculture, in particular, but manufacturing as well,” said Sen. Jerry Moran Gerald (Jerry) MoranLobbying world This World Suicide Prevention Day, let's recommit to protecting the lives of our veterans Hillicon Valley: Zuckerberg acknowledges failure to take down Kenosha military group despite warnings | Election officials push back against concerns over mail-in voting, drop boxes MORE (R-Kan.). “Commodity prices are low, the weather's not been our friend, and times are really tough in agriculture, so this is a development that will be very hard for some farmers to survive unless this gets resolved quickly.”

Lawmakers in Washington said in interviews that the ongoing trade battle with China needs to succeed — and soon.

Sen. John Cornyn John CornynThe Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting Liberal super PAC launches ads targeting vulnerable GOP senators over SCOTUS fight Senate GOP faces pivotal moment on pick for Supreme Court MORE (R-Texas), who is running for reelection next year, said he backs the president’s China strategy as long as it ends quickly and well.

“I think tariffs are a useful negotiating tool, but there are consequences, as we see in the stock market. Obviously, Americans end up paying increased cost,” Cornyn said Monday.

The Associated Press: U.S. farmers who sell to China feel the pain of the trade tariffs.

The New York Times: Investor reaction — what if the trade war continues indefinitely?

The Hill: Republican lawmakers are nervous that trade battles will cost them seats next year in rural America.

The Hill: Trump’s repeated assertion that China will pay for tariffs imposed by the United States is incorrect.

NBC News: Trump’s China gamble.

CNBC: Trump’s overall trade and tariffs policies reduced U.S. income by $6.9 billion over 11 months last year, according to new research by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Princeton University and Columbia University.













LEADING THE DAY





POLITICS & CAMPAIGNS: The Democratic field is growing once more.

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock made it official Tuesday morning, announcing he has tossed his hat into the 2020 ring and become candidate No. 23 in the ever-expanding Democratic field.

Bullock, a two-term Democrat from Big Sky Country, made the announcement after teasing a bid for multiple weeks, which included promotional videos and the hiring of key staff for his campaign, including in Iowa. Reid Wilson also reports that Bullock has made a slew of high-profile hires just ahead of the launch.

In a three-minute video, Bullock pitched himself as red-state governor (having won reelection in 2016 by five points while Trump won by 20 points) who was able to bridge the divide and work with Republicans on myriad issues. He also promoted his push for liberal causes, including a multi-year fight against Citizens United as attorney general and governor to make sure the “corrupt system” doesn’t “drown out the people’s voice” and gives them a “fair shot” — the title of his video.

“I believe in an America where every child has a fair shot to do better than their parents,” Bullock says, narrating the ad. “This is the fight of our time. It’s been the fight of my career.

“I’m Steve Bullock, and I’m running for president,” he continued. “With your help, we will take our democracy back.”

The Montana governor’s entrance adds to the small number of former or current state executive to the race, along with Washington Gov. Jay Inslee Jay Robert InsleeBarr asked prosecutors to explore charging Seattle mayor over protest zone: report Bottom line Oregon senator says Trump's blame on 'forest management' for wildfires is 'just a big and devastating lie' MORE and former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper John HickenlooperCook Political Report shifts Colorado Senate race toward Democrat Willie Nelson playing at virtual fundraiser for Hickenlooper Gardner on court vacancy: Country needs to mourn Ginsburg 'before the politics begin' MORE.

The clock will be ticking for Bullock, who must make a move early to qualify for the debate stage in a few weeks. He must reach the Democratic National Committee’s polling threshold by June 12 and lock up the requisite number of donors — a challenge for some candidates to date.

Bullock is also banking that he’ll be able to make a dent in Iowa, where he has already hired staff. He will make his first early primary state appearance in Iowa on Thursday, where he will campaign through Saturday, according to a source with knowledge of the plans.

The Atlantic: Democrat Steve Bullock Won a Red State in 2016. Can He Beat Trump in 2020?

The Associated Press: Democrats in 2020 face challenge in Wisconsin: the economy.

Politico: Trump campaign says 'female forward' approach boosts donations from women.

> Former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Democratic groups using Bloomberg money to launch M in Spanish language ads in Florida Harris faces pivotal moment with Supreme Court battle MORE is surging ahead of his 2020 Democratic rivals in digital ad spending, according to The Hill’s analysis of the latest data from Facebook and Google.

As Niall Stanage reports, Biden’s campaign spent $238,560 on Facebook advertising between May 5 and May 11, according to figures released on Sunday. This far outstripped the second-place advertiser, Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenDimon: Wealth tax 'almost impossible to do' CNN's Don Lemon: 'Blow up the entire system' remark taken out of context Democrats shoot down talk of expanding Supreme Court MORE (D-Mass.) with $88,048.

In the most recent figures from Google, Biden’s ad spending at the search giant— $123,400 for the week of April 28 — is almost twice as large as that of his nearest rival among the major candidates. South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg Pete ButtigiegThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - GOP closes ranks to fill SCOTUS vacancy by November Buttigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice Hillicon Valley: FBI, DHS warn that foreign hackers will likely spread disinformation around election results | Social media platforms put muscle into National Voter Registration Day | Trump to meet with Republican state officials on tech liability shield MORE spent $63,400 with Google the same week.

The vast spending by Biden on digital advertising is at odds with his image as an old-school politician more comfortable with stump speeches, union halls and retail politics than the brave new digital world.

WMUR: Biden hits Giuliani for near-Ukraine trip, addresses age, trade war, reparations and gun violence in wide-ranging interview.

The New York Times: Biden defends record on climate and calls for ‘environmental revolution.

The Wall Street Journal: Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersOutrage erupts over Breonna Taylor grand jury ruling Dimon: Wealth tax 'almost impossible to do' Grand jury charges no officers in Breonna Taylor death MORE (I-Vt.) railed against the campaign-finance system. Now, he’s benefiting from it.

Politico: Sanders, Warren in hot pursuit of endorsement from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Alexandria Ocasio-CortezWells Fargo CEO issues apology after saying there was a 'limited pool of Black talent' Brand responds to Trump claim protesters throw tuna cans at police: 'Eat em, don't throw em' CNN's Don Lemon: 'Blow up the entire system' remark taken out of context MORE (D-N.Y.).

> Buttigieg’s remarks over the weekend criticizing identity politics have ignited a debate within the Democratic Party over race and identity at a critical juncture in the primary.

As Jonathan Easley reports, Buttigieg, who is gay and has spoken openly about his own struggles with identity, warned an LGBT gala that an obsession with identity politics is a dead end for Democrats that will divide voters and further a “crisis of belonging this country.”

The speech is a gamble for Buttigieg, whose policies as South Bend mayor are under scrutiny for their impact on people of color. Buttigieg has risen in the polls, but he’ll have to be able to attract support from communities of color to be a factor in the primary, which he’s struggled to do so far. According to a new Post and Courier-Change Research Poll, Buttigieg has zero percent support from African-American voters in South Carolina.

Al Sharpton, who was impressed by Buttigieg after the two met in Harlem last month, pushed back on Buttigieg’s remarks.

Elsewhere on the 2020 circuit … The president will appear in Louisiana for an official event today and a high-dollar fundraiser for his reelection campaign (The Advocate) … Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro unveiled his education plan Monday, which included a focus on universal pre-K and the elimination of tuition at public universities and community colleges (The New York Times) …

More politics … Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) admitted Monday night that he “can do a better job” of talking to a national audience as he struggles to make a dent in the 2020 race (The New York Times) … Two controversial topics to North Carolina Republicans — the “bathroom bill” and the recent election scandal — are set to take center stage in the GOP primary for North Carolina's 9th Congressional District on Tuesday night (Politico).







IN FOCUS/SHARP TAKES





INTERNATIONAL: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoTreasury sanctions individuals, groups tied to Russian malign influence activities Navalny released from hospital after suspected poisoning Overnight Defense: Pentagon redirects pandemic funding to defense contractors | US planning for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May | Anti-Trump GOP group puts ads in military papers MORE is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich PutinNavalny released from hospital after suspected poisoning Ex-Trump national security adviser says US leaders 'making it easy for Putin' to meddle The Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting MORE and Kremlin officials today in Sochi, Russia, to discuss arms control and other issues.

The secretary is not expected to raise the subject of Russia’s interference in U.S. elections with Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov because the Trump administration will “not let domestic issues interfere with foreign policy” (Fox News).

As Pompeo told The Hill in April, the administration believes Russia will be an election threat for decades.

The secretary’s first meeting with Putin as the U.S. top diplomat comes a day after he canceled a stop in Moscow and on Monday crashed a Brussels meeting among European allies to make a show of trying to persuade allies about what the Trump administration maintains is Iran’s “recent threatening actions and statements” (The Washington Post).

Pompeo did not appear to win converts among leaders who fear the United States and Iran are inching toward war.

The United States says it has intelligence that Iran is considering an unspecified attack on U.S. interests, which Tehran denies. Trump warned on Monday that Iran would “suffer greatly” if it made such a move. The administration deployed an aircraft carrier and more jet fighters to the Middle East last week in a show of force (Reuters).

The New York Times: White House last week reviewed a military plan to send 120,000 troops to the Middle East should Iran attack U.S. forces or accelerate work on nuclear weapons.

Foreign Policy: Analysts warn the United States and Iran may be headed for military confrontation.

In Brussels, Pompeo described to his counterparts the threat from Iran that the United States perceives, pointing to claims by Saudi Arabia that its oil tankers were attacked near the Persian Gulf. Iran condemned the attacks and said its enemies could be attempting to engineer a conflict as cover for U.S. aggression. But the State Department used broad hints rather than an accusation to suggest that Iran was behind the reported sabotage (Reuters). The Associated Press reports that satellite images show no major visible damage to four oil tankers in question.

Iran, squeezed by intensifying U.S. sanctions, announced last week that it would pull out of parts of the multilateral 2015 nuclear deal from which Trump withdrew the United States in 2017. Tehran says it will resume uranium enrichment, sparking concerns among the accord’s remaining signatories — especially Great Britain, France and Germany — that the nuclear deal is on the verge of collapse.

The other two signatories to the nuclear deal are Russia, where Pompeo is today, and China, with which the United States is feuding over trade.

White House national security adviser John Bolton John BoltonMaximum pressure is keeping US troops in Iraq and Syria Woodward book trails Bolton, Mary Trump in first-week sales Ex-NSC official alleges 'unprecedented' intervention by White House aides in Bolton book review MORE, at the time an outside adviser to Trump, said in 2017 that “the declared policy of the United States should be the overthrow of the mullahs’ regime in Tehran.”

Bolton added, “The behavior and the objectives of the regime are not going to change and, therefore, the only solution is to change the regime itself.”

Trump has stopped short of describing regime change in Iran as U.S. policy.

> Russia: Meanwhile, Moscow is attempting to influence European elections, much as it did in the United States in 2016. Less than two weeks before voters cast ballots for the European Parliament, websites and social media accounts linked to Russia or far-right groups are spreading disinformation, encouraging discord and amplifying distrust in the centrist parties that have governed for decades. European Union investigators, academics and advocacy groups say the new disinformation efforts share many of the same digital fingerprints or tactics used in previous Russian attacks, including the Kremlin’s interference in the United States (The New York Times).

In mid-February, a group of hackers associated with Russian intelligence targeted civil society groups across Europe leading up to this month’s elections. The attacks, disclosed by Microsoft in a blog post, demonstrated an online campaign aimed at disrupting real and potential political opponents of Putin. The company said it had found that hackers targeted more than 100 email accounts at think tanks and nongovernmental organizations that work on issues including election security, nuclear policy and foreign relations (The New York Times).

> Violent extremism: On Wednesday at a meeting in Paris, the leaders of France and New Zealand will make a joint push to eliminate acts of violent extremism from being shown online. Expected to attend the meeting are representatives of Great Britain, Canada, Ireland, European Union, Senegal, Indonesia and Jordan (The Associated Press).

***

CONGRESS & INVESTIGATIONS: The fight between Republicans and Democrats over anti-Semitism has erupted once again.

Democrats came to the defense of one of their own, Rep. Rashida Tlaib Rashida Harbi TlaibTrump attacks Omar for criticizing US: 'How did you do where you came from?' George Conway: 'Trump is like a practical joke that got out of hand' Pelosi endorses Kennedy in Massachusetts Senate primary challenge MORE (D-Mich.), after House GOP leadership, spearheaded by Rep. Liz Cheney Elizabeth (Liz) Lynn CheneyOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Cheney asks DOJ to probe environmental groups | Kudlow: 'No sector worse hurt than energy' during pandemic | Trump pledges 'no politics' in Pebble Mine review Cheney asks DOJ to probe environmental groups Press: The big no-show at the RNC MORE (R-Wyo.) and amplified by Trump, took aim at remarks she made to a Yahoo! News podcast about the Holocaust and Israel.

Between tweets on the ongoing dispute with China over trade, Trump wielded his megaphone in Tlaib’s direction, saying she has “tremendous hatred” of Israel and wondering what would happen if he made the remarks she did.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiHoyer: House should vote on COVID-19 aid — with or without a bipartisan deal Ruth Bader Ginsburg lies in repose at Supreme Court McCarthy threatens motion to oust Pelosi if she moves forward with impeachment MORE (D-Calif.) called the “attempts to smear” Tlaib “outrageous,” adding that they should apologize for their “gross misrepresentations” of her comments. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer Steny Hamilton HoyerOVERNIGHT ENERGY: California seeks to sell only electric cars by 2035 | EPA threatens to close New York City office after Trump threats to 'anarchist' cities | House energy package sparks criticism from left and right House energy package sparks criticism from left and right Hoyer: House should vote on COVID-19 aid — with or without a bipartisan deal MORE (D-Md.) echoed the speaker, saying it was “clear” the remarks were taken out of context.

> CNN: How Donald Trump Jr. Don John Trump'Tiger King' star Joe Exotic requests pardon from Trump: 'Be my hero please' Zaid Jilani discusses Trump's move to cancel racial sensitivity training at federal agencies Trump International Hotel in Vancouver closes permanently MORE and Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr Richard Mauze BurrRep. Mark Walker says he's been contacted about Liberty University vacancy Overnight Defense: Trump rejects major cut to military health care | Senate report says Trump campaign's Russia contacts posed 'grave' threat Senate report describes closer ties between 2016 Trump campaign, Russia MORE (R-N.C.) hit an impasse:

“Donald Trump Jr. is balking at answering more questions about the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting and the pursuit of a Trump Tower Moscow project, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN, setting the stage for a clash with the Republican-led committee amid pressure from both parties over the subpoena to President Donald Trump's eldest son.”

The Associated Press: Judge to hear suit over Trump financial records demand.

> When he left the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan in 2017, Daniel Goldman didn’t envision a future career on Capitol Hill, back in the city where he grew up.

But now, as Morgan Chalfant reports, Goldman is leveraging the very skills he honed investigating and prosecuting white collar and organized crime cases in the Southern District of New York to guide the House Intelligence Committee’s sweeping investigation into President Trump’s foreign dealings and finances.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff Adam Bennett SchiffPelosi, Democrats unveil bills to rein in alleged White House abuses of power Chris Matthews ripped for complimenting Trump's 'true presidential behavior' on Ginsburg Trump casts doubt on Ginsburg statement, wonders if it was written by Schiff, Pelosi or Schumer MORE (D-Calif.) tapped Goldman, 43, to be the panel’s senior adviser and director of investigations in February, the same month he unveiled a probe into the possibility Trump or members of his inner circle are subject to foreign compromise — an outgrowth of the panel’s original Russia investigation.







The Morning Report is created by journalists Alexis Simendinger and Al Weaver. We want to hear from you! Email: asimendinger@thehill.com and aweaver@thehill.com. We invite you to share The Hill’s reporting and newsletters, and encourage others to SUBSCRIBE!







OPINION





Trump’s tweets on China spotlight enforcement flaws in trade deals, by Riley Walters, opinion contributor, The Hill. https://bit.ly/2JDMzEg

Beijing hasn’t earned our trust, by Liz Peek, opinion contributor, The Hill. https://bit.ly/2Hn3xnS







WHERE AND WHEN





Hill.TV’s “Rising” program, starting at 8 a.m., features Cecil Roberts, president of the United Mine Workers of America, who talks about preserving miners’ pensions and health care, and rapper Wale on gentrification in Washington, D.C. http://thehill.com/hilltv

The House convenes at noon.

The Senate meets at 10 a.m. The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing at 10 a.m. focused on national security and competitiveness issues tied to 5G technology and intellectual property.

The president will travel this afternoon to Louisiana to tour the Cameron liquid natural gas export facility in Hackberry and to speak about energy infrastructure and the state of the economy. In New Orleans, Trump will meet with campaign contributors and speak to a joint fundraising committee dinner in Metairie.

Pompeo is in Sochi, Russia, where he’ll meet with Lavrov at 3 p.m., followed by a working lunch with the foreign minister. At 6 p.m., the secretary meets with Putin, then holds a joint news conference with Lavrov at 7:30 p.m. local time.

Blue Star Families and Blue Star Neighbors honor select Americans who support military families at an event at 6 p.m. in Washington. The Walt Disney Company, Craigslist founder Craig Newmark and civilian Susan Masser will receive awards. The 2019 celebration is hosted in partnership with a congressional, celebrity and military leadership spouses committee. Find information HERE.







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ELSEWHERE





➔ Former President Carter: On his way for some turkey hunting on Monday, the 94-year-old former president fell and broke a hip, resulting in surgery at a hospital in Americus, Ga. Carter, who underwent treatment for cancer in 2015, was described as resting and in good spirits, accompanied by former first lady Rosalyn Carter (The Washington Post).

➔ Justice Department: Attorney General William Barr Bill BarrHarris faces pivotal moment with Supreme Court battle Hillicon Valley: DOJ proposes tech liability shield reform to Congress | Treasury sanctions individuals, groups tied to Russian malign influence activities | House Republican introduces bill to set standards for self-driving cars McCarthy threatens motion to oust Pelosi if she moves forward with impeachment MORE named John Durham, a U.S. attorney in Connecticut, to examine the origins of the FBI investigation into Russian election interference in 2016, an effort long sought by Trump. Dunham’s inquiry is the third known investigation focused on the launch of an FBI counterintelligence investigation into possible ties between Russia’s election interference and Trump associates (The New York Times).

➔ Courts: Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh Brett Michael KavanaughHarris faces pivotal moment with Supreme Court battle Poll: 59 percent think president elected in November should name next Supreme Court justice Feinstein 'surprised and taken aback' by suggestion she's not up for Supreme Court fight MORE sided with the liberal wing of the Supreme Court in a Monday ruling that found iPhone users can sue Apple over AppStore prices, a significant and surprising decision that suggested the Trump nominee isn't afraid to buck the court's conservative majority (The Hill). … A California jury on Monday awarded more than $2 billion to a couple who claimed Bayer AG’s glyphosate-based Roundup weed killer caused their cancer (Reuters).

➔ Measles: The U.S. measles outbreak is now 839 cases across 23 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sixty-six of 75 new cases last week occurred in New York (CNBC).

➔ In the Know: Prosecutors recommended on Monday that actress Felicity Huffman, 56, receive a four-month prison sentence and pay a fine for her role in a college bribery scandal. The former "Desperate Housewives" star pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to a conspiracy charge (The Hill).







THE CLOSER





And finally … Sixty-five years ago this week, the Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education “that separate but equal” is not equal in education or other services. The court ruled unanimously that racial segregation of children in public schools was unconstitutional, a decision that became a foundation for the civil rights movement that followed the court’s 1954 decision.





