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Ars Live: Consumer tech firms stuck scrambling ahead of looming chip tariffs

We're roughly six months into Donald Trump's trade war, and tech firms remain in a fog, unsure what tariffs or retaliations could be coming next. To shed light on this struggle, we invite you to join us for an Ars Live talk at 1 pm ET on Thursday, July 24, with Consumer Technology Association (CTA) Vice President of International Trade Edward Brzytwa. We'll be discussing how tech firms are responding to tariffs so far and how looming chip tariffs could pose the biggest hurdle yet in sourcing al

Trump wants to “eliminate or expedite” environmental rules for rocket launches

The Trump administration is considering slashing rules meant to protect the environment and the public during commercial rocket launches, changes that companies like Elon Musk’s SpaceX have long sought. A draft executive order being circulated among federal agencies, and viewed by ProPublica, directs Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy to “use all available authorities to eliminate or expedite” environmental reviews for launch licenses. It could also, in time, require states to allow more la

Environmental protection rules for rocket launches targeted by Trump administration

The Trump administration is considering slashing rules meant to protect the environment and the public during commercial rocket launches, changes that companies like Elon Musk’s SpaceX have long sought. A draft executive order being circulated among federal agencies, and viewed by ProPublica, directs Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy to “use all available authorities to eliminate or expedite” environmental reviews for launch licenses. It could also, in time, require states to allow more la

After Fight With Musk, Trump Reportedly Ordered Review of Government SpaceX Contracts

Now that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and president Donald Trump are no longer seeing eye to eye, it sounds like the White House is working to undercut the richest man in the world's revenue from Washington. As the Wall Street Journal reports, Trump aides initiated a review of SpaceX contracts with the federal government to identify potential waste — pointed scrutiny not unlike the so-called Department of Government Efficiency helmed by Musk himself prior to his ousting from the Trump administration.

Fake Trump-Epstein Letters Spread Online After Bombshell Report

Donald Trump once contributed to an album of birthday letters for disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein that included the president’s signature and a reference to “secrets” the two men shared, according to an explosive article published last week by the Wall Street Journal. But the Journal didn’t publish any images of the birthday letter, leaving people to wonder what it might have looked like. And social media users have produced quite a few cards made to look like the one described in the articl

Here Comes the Pain From Trump’s Tariffs

As Donald Trump has given the automotive industry whiplash with his tariffs, which have, at different periods, applied to cars and car parts or haven’t applied at all. While it was hard to tell how the import tax would hit auto manufacturers, the impact is starting to look more concrete, and it ain’t pretty. As CNBC notes, Stellantis, the maker of Jeep, Dodge, Fiat, Chrysler, and Peugeot, warned on Monday that it’s expecting to lose about $2.6 billion this quarter due to Trump’s tariffs, accordi

Elon Musk Humiliated by Top Scientific Organization

While leading the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, billionaire Elon Musk oversaw massive spending cuts that have rattled the scientific community to its core. He stood unblinkingly by the side of president Donald Trump, a climate change denier who has been carrying out a ruthlessly anti-science agenda after championing environmentalism for years. And while the unlikely pair no longer see eye to eye following a chaotic falling out, the damage has already been done. Musk has been e

China Is Using Trump's Tactics Against Him to Corner the EV Market

Although Donald Trump presents himself as a fierce adversary of China, some of his policy moves appear to be a significant boon for the People's Republic. This spring, as Trump's chaotic tariff war captured headlines, a game-changing electric vehicle provision in his "Big Beautiful Bill" lurked just below the surface. After being signed into law on July 4, it turns out that the massive piece of legislation is set to completely upend the American EV market. That's thanks to a provision in the b

Trump’s Cabinet Is Cashing in on Crypto

Congress’s big “Crypto Week” might have faded into the background a bit due to cryptic messages Donald Trump left in a birthday note to Jeffrey Epstein, but Republicans in the House and Senate did, in fact, manage to pass a couple of laws that will establish loose, industry-friendly regulations for cryptocurrency. Which means it is a perfect time to be reminded that the Trump administration is packed with people who stand to benefit from cryptocurrency being mainstreamed. Trump himself, of cour

Trump signs first major crypto bill, the GENIUS Act, into law

is a senior policy reporter at The Verge, covering the intersection of Silicon Valley and Capitol Hill. She spent 5 years covering tech policy at CNBC, writing about antitrust, privacy, and content moderation reform. In a landmark victory for the crypto industry, President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law, establishing a regulatory framework for a type of digital currency known as stablecoins. The GENIUS Act creates rules for entities that issue stablecoins, whose value is tied to a

Ether takes spotlight as Trump signs stablecoin bill into first major U.S. crypto law

In this article ETH.CM= BTC.CM= COIN HOOD BMNR MSTR MARA Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Jonathan Raa | Nurphoto | Getty Images Ether climbed to end the week as President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act stablecoin legislation into law, while bitcoin and its proxies took a breather. The price of ether was last higher by 4% at $3,578.67, according to Coin Metrics, trading at highs not seen since January and turning positive for the year. On Thursday, ETFs tracking the pr

The crypto industry got what it paid for

is a senior policy reporter at The Verge, covering the intersection of Silicon Valley and Capitol Hill. She spent 5 years covering tech policy at CNBC, writing about antitrust, privacy, and content moderation reform. The crypto industry is beginning to see a return on one of its most prescient investments: Donald Trump. On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed three bills that industry supporters believe will bring more legitimacy and predictability to the digital currency space — and

Trump Jr.’s ‘Amazon for Guns’ Business Is Firing Blanks

What is the opposite of the Midas touch? Whatever that is, Donald Trump Jr. seems to have it. On Wednesday, an online firearms seller backed by the President’s favorite failson went public. It didn’t take long for the public to say, “No thanks.” On Wednesday, the company’s stock price took a significant hit by the end of the trading day. GrabAGun is a pretty simple concept. It’s an online marketplace that specifically handles guns, ammunition, and firearm accessories. Trump Jr.’s business partn

The Trump Administration Reportedly Has Extensive Logs of Epstein Money Transfers, Refuses to Release Them

It's not just a purported "client list" of late billionaire sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein — the Trump administration is reportedly hiding $1.5 billion worth of suspicious banking transactions from the public. As the New York Times reports, senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), who heads the Senate Finance Committee, is calling for enormous money transfers sent to and by Epstein — including wire transfers from wealthy individuals and payments to numerous women — to be made public. It's the polar opposite of

Coca-Cola Won’t Confirm Trump’s Claim That It’s Switching to Cane Sugar

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Coca-Cola would switch from using high-fructose corn syrup to real cane sugar in its drinks. The president made his announcement on Truth Social, but people online were skeptical that Trump was telling the truth, and with good reason. Trump lies constantly. “I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so,” Trump wrote Wednesday. “I’d like to thank all of those in authority

Coca-Cola Won’t Confirm Trump’s Claim That It’s Switching to Sugar Cane

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Coca-Cola would switch from using high-fructose corn syrup to real cane sugar in its drinks. The president made his announcement on Truth Social, but people online were skeptical that Trump was telling the truth, and with good reason. Trump lies constantly. “I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so,” Trump wrote Wednesday. “I’d like to thank all of those in authority

Musk Accuses Trump of Covering Up Epstein Scandal

It's no wonder multi-hyphenate billionaire Elon Musk sees the Jeffrey Epstein crisis as an enormous opportunity to score political points. The situation has driven a massive wedge between president Donald Trump and his MAGA base. A furious Trump has repeatedly attempted to pour cold water on conspiracy theories surrounding the late sex criminal billionaire's mysterious death and the existence of a purported "client list" — efforts that only enraged his supporters even further. In a Twitter spr

Trump’s Meme Coin Empire Is About to Explode With Millions of New Tokens

Millions of Trump meme coins could flood the crypto market starting this week, potentially reshaping the future of one of the most controversial cryptocurrencies in circulation. Entities affiliated with President Donald Trump now have the right to sell a large portion of the meme coin named after him, $TRUMP, starting Wednesday July 17. The move could unlock hundreds of millions of dollars in digital tokens, intensifying scrutiny over Trump’s growing involvement in crypto and raising fresh ques

Trump Sues to Fire Big Bird’s Boss

Back in April, Donald Trump fired three Democratic members of the board at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a move similar to his efforts to oust Democrats from the Federal Trade Commission and the Kennedy Center, among others. The board members—Laura Ross, Thomas Rothman, and Diane Kaplan— simply never left. Now, the Trump administration is suing to remove them from their seats. Trump gave notice of the attempted firings on April 28, which led to the CPB and its would-be unemploy

Trump Appears to Go TACO on Rumors He’ll Fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell

Reports leaked Wednesday that President Donald Trump was getting ready to fire the chairman of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell. The news caused markets to dip, but TACO, the popular Wall Street acronym that stands for Trump Always Chickens Out, appears to be the dish of the day, as the president denied he was going to fire Powell while speaking to reporters in the White House. “He should have cut interest rates a long time ago. Europe has cut ’em 10 times in the short period of time, and we

Rough road to “energy dominance” after GOP kneecaps wind and solar

As the One Big Beautiful Bill Act squeaked its way through Congress earlier this month, its supporters heralded what they described as a new era for American energy and echoed what has become a familiar phrase among President Donald Trump’s supporters. “Congress has taken decisive action to advance President Trump’s energy dominance agenda,” said American Petroleum Institute President and CEO Mike Sommers in a statement after the House passed the bill. Republicans concurred, with legislators r

Metadata Shows That Critical Minutes Were Deleted From the Epstein Video

Try as he might, President Donald Trump is failing miserably to get the world to move on from the still-unfolding Jeffrey Epstein crisis. Trump's loyal fan base devolved into a cesspool of conspiracy theories after the White House walked back claims about the late billionaire sex criminal, concluding that Epstein had no "client list" and that the sex criminal had killed himself in jail, rather than being killed to keep him silent. In a wildly backfired attempt to sweep the affair under the rug

‘Whatever She Thinks Is Credible’: Trump Says Pam Bondi Should Release Part of Epstein Files

President Donald Trump angered his own supporters recently when his U.S. Department of Justice said it wouldn’t be releasing any more information about the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. But after days of outrage, including from the Deputy Director of the FBI, Dan Bongino, Trump is now signaling that Attorney General Pam Bondi might release something. Still, don’t expect to see anything that would make Trump look bad. Trump spoke to reporters outside the White House on Tuesday and was asked

Trump Lets Polymarket Off the Hook, Ends Probe Into Crypto Betting Platform

If you bet “Donald Trump ends an investigation into a Peter Thiel-backed cryptocurrency platform,” you can claim your winnings. According to Bloomberg, two investigations into the prediction market Polymarket have been shut down by the Trump administration, just in time for Republican lawmakers’ planned “Crypto Week.” The probes, which were launched toward the end of the Biden administration, included an investigation by the Department of Justice into whether Polymarket was allowing U.S.-based

It's a huge week for crypto in DC But the industry may not get everything it wants

The U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 27, 2025. Elizabeth Frantz | Reuters It's "Crypto Week" in Washington. The cryptocurrency industry is set to notch a major win this week if the House can pass two bills that would set up a long-lobbied-for regulatory framework for digital assets. The stablecoin bill, known as the GENUIS Act, has already passed the Senate and looks set to become the first standalone crypto measure signed into law should the House do the same. But the real

It's a huge week for crypto in D.C. But the industry may not get everything it wants

The U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 27, 2025. Elizabeth Frantz | Reuters It's "Crypto Week" in Washington. The cryptocurrency industry is set to notch a major win this week if the House can pass two bills that would set up a long-lobbied-for regulatory framework for digital assets. The stablecoin bill, known as the GENUIS Act, has already passed the Senate and looks set to become the first standalone crypto measure signed into law should the House do the same. But the real

Musk Calls on Trump to Release Epstein Files

President Donald Trump's loyal MAGA base is in shambles over his administration's handling of files related to the deceased sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein — and Trump's friend-turned-enemy Elon Musk is twisting the knife. Last week, White House officials walked back claims about the late billionaire sex criminal, arguing that there wasn't a "client list" full of celebrities, and that his cause of death in a New York City prison cell was the result of a suicide, not murder. The terse announcement

Trump administration to spend $1 billion on ‘offensive’ hacking operations

The Trump administration, through the Department of Defense, plans to spend $1 billion over the next four years on what it calls “offensive cyber operations.” The provision in Trump’s landmark One Big Beautiful Bill does not say what those “offensive cyber operations” are, nor what specific tools or software would qualify. The budget does note that the money will go towards enhancing and improving the capabilities of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, which operates in the Asia-Pacific region, incl

The U.S. and EU Are Fighting Over Who Controls Big Tech

President Trump just slapped 30% tariffs on goods coming from the European Union, escalating a long-simmering conflict over who gets to write the rules for Big Tech. The move came just after Brussels moved forward with more regulations, this time targeting the booming field of artificial intelligence. The latest flashpoint is the EU’s new “Code of Practice” for AI, a set of voluntary guidelines released Thursday aimed at addressing public safety concerns. While not legally binding, the code bui

Trump Is Losing His Army of Internet Alpha Males Over the Epstein Files

“Cover-up.” That’s the word ricocheting through the manosphere, echoing across X feeds and podcast episodes after the Trump administration released the so-called Epstein files, and declared the case closed. The backlash was instant and fierce. These were Donald Trump’s most vocal defenders in the 2024 campaign: tradcons, alpha bros, influencers, and masculine revivalists who painted Trump as a bulwark against the liberal elite and the “woke” takeover of America. They helped deliver young, disaf