Vox Sentences: Talks before tariffs

Vox Sentences is your daily digest for what’s happening in the world. Sign up for the Vox Sentences newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox Monday through Friday, or view the Vox Sentences archive for past editions.

Not many people seem to be on board with Trump’s Mexico tariffs; 120,000 people gather in Prague to call for the prime minister’s resignation.

Can Mexico dodge tariffs?

All eyes are on the Trump administration to see whether it sticks with its tariffs on Mexico as the two countries meet today in hope of reaching a deal on migration. [USA Today / Deirdre Shesgreen and David Jackson]
Last week, Trump announced that he would impose a 5 percent tariff that could be increased to 25 percent by October if Mexico doesn’t crack down on the number of migrants crossing the US-Mexico border. [Vox / Matthew Yglesias]
Marcelo Ebrard, the Mexican foreign minister, met with US officials Wednesday afternoon to dodge catastrophic tariffs and convince the US that his country is doing its best to address the growing number of migrants. [NYT / Michael D. Shear and Ana Swanson]
Many people are hoping for the talks to be successful — even the Republican Party. Several GOP senators oppose the tariffs because they think it is rash and ill-advised. [CNN / Lauren Fox, Ted Barrett, Haley Byrd, and Jim Acosta]
400,000 jobs could be lost in the US if the tariffs go through, according to the Perryman Group, an economic consulting firm. [CNN / Matt Egan]
Without the usual unwavering support Trump gets from his party, some hope he will choose to reach a deal with Mexico. Just before the talks, Trump appealed to this optimism, acknowledging that Mexico wants a deal — which contrasts with his more hardline attitude just the day before. [Reuters / Doina Chiacu and Richard Cowan]
One thing Trump’s administration should keep in mind: In this trade war, it’s American workers and consumers who lose. [Vox / Dylan Scott]

The Czech Republic’s largest protest since the days of communism

The Czech Republic saw its largest political protest since the fall of communism as protesters demanded the resignation of the prime minister. [Guardian / Robert Tait]
The protests are targeted at Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, who has been battling corruption accusations for years. The police most recently recommended that Babiš, one of the richest men in the country, be charged for subsidy fraud involving the misuse of €2 million in EU funds for his resort. [Politico EU / Siegfried Mortkowitz]
The last straw seemed to be when he appointed a close ally as justice minister, potentially dodging fraud charges. [BBC]
While there has been a steady stream of protests for the past few weeks, Tuesday saw its largest crowd, totaling about 120,000 people. They filled Wenceslas Square, where rallies 30 years ago prompted the Velvet Revolution that brought down communism in the country. [CNN / Ivana Kottasová]
The prime minister, however, has made it clear he has no intention of resigning. He denied accusations against him and called them a “political maneuver.” [Reuters /Jason Hovet]
Memories of the country under communism are still fresh for many, and these latest protests reflect widespread concern about the future of democracy under Babiš’s rule. [NYT / Marc Santora]

Miscellaneous

What do you do when Taco Bell is out of tacos? Call the cops, of course. [USA Today / Kelly Tyko]
June is Pride Month — but in Boston, three men have announced they will be holding a “Straight Pride Parade.” [CBS News / Danielle Garrand]
Plastic is everywhere, even in your body. A new study found that people eat at least 50,000 plastic particles a year on average. [Guardian / Damian Carrington]
Beverly Hills is the first US city to ban the sale of almost all tobacco products. [ABC News / Justin Doom]
Apple’s new monitor stand costs more than an iPhone, and people are mad. What makes it so special? “An intricately engineered arm,” according to Apple. [CNN / Amy Woodyatt]

Verbatim

“He’s like a mafia boss and he’s the worst politician in the Czech Republic — he reminds us of communism.” [A Czech store owner’s characterization of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš]

Listen to this: A foundation-funded atrocity

In 1976, the Indian government forcibly sterilized at least 6 million people. On the latest episode of the Future Perfect podcast, Dylan Matthews examines the damning role that big American foundations played. [Spotify | Apple Podcasts]

Climate change is becoming a defining issue of 2020

YouTube finally banned content from neo-Nazis, Holocaust deniers, and Sandy Hook skeptics

Lil Nas X isn’t an anomaly — black people have always been a part of country music

The #StayAndFight coalition urges Hollywood to reconsider boycotting Georgia

The rise of granny panties

Author: Catherine Kim

Read More