The LuLac Edition #5, 620, April 5th, 2026

 

TRUMP’S

LIBERATION

DAY

ONE YEAR LATER

 

My, my, my, how time flies. It was one year ago that Donald Trump introduced his tariffs which he said would generate more money “than you’ve ever seen before” for American consumers. That hasn’t happened.  As a matter of fact, prices on food and other things has gone up instead of down. Now I’m no expert except to say that the clothing I buy from Paul Frederick has gone up 15%, my Diet Coke when not on sale went up $5 for a 24 pack, the 8 ounce 10 pack cans of Coke Classic went from $3.50 to !0.00 bucks a case or on sale at 2 for $14.00, Candy up $10% to 15%,  gas up $1.15 a gallon that equates to $16.00 bucks more and bagels up by 40 cents per.

That stated, here’s something from an expert that explains it all about Liberation Day one year ago.

On April 2, 2025, Trump celebrated his self-proclaimed “Liberation Day” by raising tariffs on nearly every U.S. trading partner to historic highs not seen since 1909. That action brought the average effective tariff rate to 22.5 percent and sent markets tumbling. Just seven days later, he reversed course, pausing the bulk of those tariffs for ninety days, leaving a 10 percent across-the-board tax on imports—while raising tariffs on China to a whopping 125 percent. 

Trump explained this change of heart as entirely intentional, prompted by “more than 75 Countries” reaching out “to negotiate a solution.” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent further ramped up the spin, saying “President Trump created maximum negotiating leverage for himself” by issuing such a massive tariff threat, and White House advisor Peter Navarro declared that it would be possible to reach “ninety deals in ninety days.” But at the ninety-day mark, just two deals were completed. This was despite the fact that Trump still had plenty of leverage, as the remaining tariffs sat at a high of 18.5 percent—levels not seen since 1933. 

In the months that followed, the administration issued a multitude of new threats, though these were not always successful. The big deals—with Brazil, China, India—remained elusive. One year later, just seventeen deals have been concluded. Importantly, all of those deals were hammered out before the Supreme Court ruled in February that Trump’s emergency tariffs were unconstitutional. With the future of the tariff regime in limbo, some countries got cold feet about finalizing a deal. India canceled a planned trip to Washington. Implementation of the European Union’s deal was fraught and delayed. Some of the urgency to negotiate has therefore been reduced as the administration works to rebuild its tariff wall, whose final form will undoubtedly reshape all of the deals negotiated to date. 

Stepping back from the twists and turns of the negotiating drama that has unfolded since Liberation Day, it is clear that despite the bold pronouncements, little has been achieved.

A detailed look at the content of every deal also reveals that they are not at all like trade deals of the past. Three elements stand out. 

First, the deals are asymmetrical, not reciprocal. They require U.S. trading partners to make new commitments while the United States retains higher barriers than were in place prior to Trump taking office. This means that overall U.S. protectionism is still high. 

Second, the deals take two forms: frameworks and agreements. The frameworks are loosely constructed promises to negotiate a more complete agreement in the future. They essentially serve to freeze tariffs at a certain rate and lay the groundwork for more negotiations. The agreements are pared back trade deals that include commitments beyond tariffs, such as removing regulatory barriers, coordinating “economic security” concerns, and agreeing to invest in the United States and purchase U.S. products. It remains to be seen whether all of those commitments can be met. This is especially true for the deals with developing countries, such as Cambodia and Vietnam. Unlike trade deals in the past, where the United States would provide technical assistance to developing countries to meet their obligations, today’s deals provide no such support. 

Third, and most consequentially for the future trajectory of U.S. trade policy, Trump’s approach to trade agreements has been entirely led by the executive branch. Historically, trade deals have been congressional-executive agreements because the Constitution gives Congress primary authority over trade policy. In a typical trade negotiation, Congress is consulted from start to finish, sets objectives for the executive branch, and ratifies the final text of an agreement. None of Trump’s trade deals have involved Congress. So not only has Congress had no role in ensuring the trade deals represent the interests of various constituencies, but the deals also lack the assurance that what is negotiated will be honored by the United States. Without congressional ratification, Trump can change the deals at a whim. 

Taking all of these factors into account paints a clearer picture of Trump’s trade strategy since Liberation Day, which can be described as  rushed and improvisational. The texts will likely continue to evolve and change as Trump desires. While early deals were scant on details, they became more complex over time. However, nearly every deal is a replica of a previous version, with small modifications. It is no surprise that trading partners have been confused. Furthermore, the lack of a cohesive vision and the sidelining of Congress in the negotiation process makes these deals not U.S. trade agreements, but rather Trump’s trade deals. With all the uncertainty that surrounds them, they may last just as long as his presidency. 

Yep, Liberation Day. The only thing that got liberated was more of our money.

Inu Manak is a senior fellow for international trade at CFR.  (LuLac, Council on Foreign Relations)

The LuLac Edition 5, 619, April 4th, 2026

 

PETER

MUHLENBURG

The Fighting Parson

Peter Muhlenberg was the prime example of a "fighting parson" during the Revolutionary War. The eldest son of the Lutheran patriarch Henry Melchoir Muhlenberg, young Muhlenberg at the conclusion of a sermon in January 1776 to his congregation in Woodstock, Virginia, threw off his clerical robes to reveal the uniform of a Virginia militia officer. Having served with distinction throughout the war, Muhlenberg commanded a brigade that successfully stormed the British lines at Yorktown.

. A member of Pennsylvania's prominent Muhlenberg family political dynasty, he became a respected figure in the newly independent United States as a Lutheran minister and member of the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate.

After the American Revolutionary War broke out in 1775, the Continental Army was formed. Muhlenberg was authorized to raise and command the 8th Virginia Regiment of the Continental Army's Virginia Line as its colonel. He was very likely chosen due to his influence in the German-American community. Of the eight colonels in the Virginia Line, Muhlenberg was the youngest at 29 and only Patrick Henry had less military experience.

According to a biography written by his great-nephew in the mid-19th century, on January 21, 1776, in the Lutheran church in Woodstock, Virginia, Muhlenberg took his sermon text from the third chapter Ecclesiastes, which starts with "To every thing there is a season..."; after reading the eighth verse, "a time of war, and a time of peace," he declared, "And this is the time of war," removing his clerical robe to reveal his Colonel's uniform. Outside the church door the drums began to roll as men turned to kiss their wives and then walked down the aisle to enlist, and within half an hour, 162 men were enrolled.[7] The next day he led out 300 men from the county to form the nucleus of the 8th Virginia Regiment. Though it is accepted that Muhlenberg helped form and lead the 8th, historians doubt the account of the sermon, as there are no reports prior to Muhlenberg's great-nephew's biography.

At the Battle of Yorktown, he commanded the first brigade in Lafayette's Light Division. His brigade was part of the Corps of Light Infantry, consisting of the light infantry companies of the line regiments of Massachusetts (ten companies), Connecticut (five companies), New Hampshire (five companies), and Rhode Island and New Jersey (one each). They held the right flank and manned the two trenches built to move American cannons closer to Cornwallis' defenses. The battalion commanded by American Lt. Colonel Alexander Hamilton and French Lieutenant Colonel Jean-Joseph Sourbader de Gimat led the night bayonet attack that stormed Redoubt No. 10 on October 14, 1781.

At the end of the war (1783), he was brevetted to major general and settled in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. He retired from the army in 1783 as a brevetted major general.

Muhlenberg was elected to the 1st Congress (1789–1791) and 3rd Congress (1793–1795) as one of the at-large representatives from Pennsylvania. His brother Frederick was the Speaker of the House for that same Congress. He was the first founder of the Democratic-Republican Societies in 1793. Muhlenberg served in Congress as a Republican during the 5th Congress 1799–1801 for the 4th district, previously running for this district in 1796. He was the Anti-Administration nominee in the 1795 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania. Muhlenberg was elected by the legislature to the U.S. Senate on a second ballot in February 1801 over George Logan but resigned on June 30 of that same year.

President Thomas Jefferson appointed him the supervisor of revenue for Pennsylvania in 1801 and customs collector for Philadelphia in 1802. He served in the latter post until his death.

On his 61st birthday, Muhlenberg died in Gray's Ferry, Pennsylvania, on October 1, 1807,  and is buried at the Augustus Lutheran Church in Trappe, Pennsylvania.  (wikipedia, LuLac) 

 

 

The LuLac Edition #5, 618, April 2nd, 2026

 

AMERICA IN SPACE 

@ 53 YEARS LATER 

When I first started this blog, the last thing I was ever expecting to write was about a trip to the moon. I was in high school the last time we went there.  NASA's long-awaited Artemis II mission has launched four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the moon. The rocket lifted off at 6:35 p.m. ET from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The crew — NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch and Victor Glover and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen — are the first people to launch toward the moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972, more than 50 years ago. They are also first astronauts that NASA's giant Space Launch System rocket has ever launched into space.

The mission does not include a lunar landing; rather, it is designed as a step toward a landing in 2028, and eventually, toward NASA’s goal of establishing a long-term presence on the moon and building a base there. When they circle the moon, the Artemis II crew members could reach a greater distance from Earth than anyone has before.

NBC News' Denise Chow, Tom Costello, Aaron Gilchrist, Tom Llamas, Ryan Chandler and Jesse Kirsch are on the ground for the launch in Cape Canaveral.  (LuLac, NBC) 

 

THE TRUMP 

SPEECH

NOTHING NEW

 

Donald Trump has a problem. He wants to GIVE UP but doesn’t know how.  Trump tells nation that Iran is no longer a threat.  President Trump reiterated that the U.S. is nearing completion of its objectives in Iran and that the country is no longer a threat. He emphasized the need for regime change and promised to hit Iran "extremely hard" in the coming days. Trump's speech was a continuation of his previous statements, where he had indicated that the war in Iran was "nearing completion" and that the U.S. would bring Iran back to the "stone ages" where they belong. The speech was a significant update on the ongoing conflict and the administration's strategy moving forward.

Two takeaways. We are not getting control of the strait. More importantly it was a Schizophrenic talk where he told the nation that we were going to bomb Iran into the stone age but have peace talks with them too.

WHAT HE DON’T KNOW ABOUT HUMAN NATURE! Every goal he set, he’s Bcked away from. TACO is the defining word in this case.

  

TRUMP SAYS HE DOESN'T "CARE ABOUT" ENRICHED NUCLEAR MATERIAL IN IRAN

 

In a phone interview with Reuters, President Trump said he doesn't "care about" the enriched nuclear material in Iran, insisting the U.S. can monitor the situation from a distance.

Asked about Iran's enriched uranium it still has, Mr. Trump said, "That's so far underground, I don't care about that."

"We'll always be watching it by satellite," he added.

Iran's enriched uranium, hidden in deep underground tunnels, would likely require further enrichment to be able to be used for nuclear purposes.

The president and his top administration officials have repeatedly said a goal of the war is preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Securing Iran's enriched uranium would likely require a risky and dangerous operation of U.S. troops. The White House hasn't ruled out putting U.S. boots on the ground but also  hasn’t been clear as to what he is doing.

 

TRUMP GOES TO COURT IN

INTIMIDATION TRY

The Supreme Court is casting doubt on President Donald Trump’s restrictions on birthright citizenship in a consequential case that was magnified by Trump’s unparalleled presence in the courtroom.

Conservative and liberal justices on Wednesday questioned whether Trump’s order declaring that children born to parents who are in the United States illegally or temporarily are not American citizens comports with either the Constitution or federal law.

Trump, the first sitting president to attend arguments at the nation’s highest court, spent just over an hour inside the courtroom for arguments made by the Republican administration’s top Supreme Court lawyer, Solicitor General D. John Sauer. The president departed shortly after lawyer Cecillia Wang began her presentation in defense of broad birthright citizenship.

Trump rode to the Court to attend the oral arguments. It kind of reminded me of a gang boss going to court to intimidate a witness.

The case frames another test of Trump’s assertions of executive power that defy long-standing precedent for a court that has largely ruled in the president’s favor — but with some notable exceptions that Trump has responded to with starkly personal criticisms of the justices. A definitive ruling is expected by early summer.

Perhaps the most cogent question came from the most junior justice Jackson who asked “Is this happening in the delivery room?” Justice Brown-Jackjson, drilling down into the logistics of how the government would actually figure out who’s entitled to citizenship and who’s not.

Trump heard his legal advocate face one skeptical question after another. Justices asked about the legal basis for the order and voiced more practical concerns. (LuLac, AP)

 

TRUMP SHOCKER! NOT!

ON THE WRONG SIDE OF GOD

 

As the Supreme Court is weighs a challenge to the protected principle that virtually every child born in the United States is a U.S. citizen. Birthright citizenship offers individuals the chance to be fully recognized as part of this nation and is central to who we are as a country. Without birthright citizenship, babies born 30 days after the President’s executive order would be denied citizenship, legal identity, and basic protections if their parents are in the U.S. temporarily or are undocumented.

We, as faith-based organizations, affirm support for birthright citizenship and the belonging and security it means–for children, their families, and our country going back more than a century. Leaders across faith traditions  shared these responses:

“At the core of birthright citizenship is who we are as a nation. For over 150 years our Constitution has provided full citizenship for anyone born in this nation,” said Rev. Noel Andersen, National Field Director of Church World Service and Co-Chair of the Interfaith Immigration Coalition. “As a Christian, I remember the sacred text of Mark 10:14 in which Jesus says, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’ Our society will be judged on how we treat the children and how we value those placed on the margins. Each child deserves the right of full citizenship and the opportunity to stay united with their parents. Faith communities are united across traditions to ensure these rights continue to be the law of the land.” (Interfaith Immigration Coalition, LuLac)

 

 

BRESNAHAN VOTES TO DEPORT BENEFIT FRAUDSTERS, PROTECT TAXPAYER DOLLARS, AND CRACK DOWN ON ABUSE

This week, U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (PA-08) voted in favor of H.R. 1958, the Deporting Fraudsters Act of 2026, legislation to crack down on fraud and abuse in federal benefit programs by ensuring individuals who illegally exploit these systems are held accountable and removed. The bill passed with bipartisan support by a vote of 231-186. 

“These programs are here to help our most vulnerable, and they are being exploited by individuals who are here illegally and committing fraud, plain and simple,” said Rep. Bresnahan. “This bill sends a clear message: if you come to this country and abuse taxpayer-funded programs, there will be real consequences. I’m fighting to protect taxpayer dollars, restore integrity to these programs, and make sure resources go to the hardworking families in Northeastern Pennsylvania who follow the rules.”

The Deporting Fraudsters Act of 2026 closes a dangerous loophole in current law that has allowed individuals convicted of benefit fraud to stay in the country and continue receiving immigration benefits. This bill makes sure federal agencies work together and that those who commit fraud face real consequences.

For families in Northeastern Pennsylvania who rely on programs like SNAP, Medicaid, and other safety net services, protecting these resources is critical. Allowing fraud and abuse to go unchecked threatens the long-term stability of these programs and undermines trust for those who depend on them.

“Families across NEPA play by the rules, and they rightfully expect their government to do the same,” continued Bresnahan. I will not tolerate a system where bad actors game the system while honest families struggle to make ends meet. This legislation is about accountability, fairness, and making sure federal programs serve the people they were created for, not those looking to exploit them.”

Editor’s note: The fact that 186 people voted no on this tells me this legislation was a MAGA stunt. I know Bresnehan never had to get food stamps or benefits but it is a rigorous process and takes time. If you are an American citizen, it is a daunting process. Once and for all, illegals CAN’T GET BENEFITS. Do scammers need to go to jail? Absolutely but show me proof of fraud for illegals.

 

 

AMERICA250PA CELEBRATES WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH WITH CONVERSATION FEATURING PENNSYLVANIA'S FIRST LADIES AND DR. JILL BIDEN

 

First Lady Lori Shapiro participates in America250PA's Women's History Month luncheon and panel for a conversation on leadership, legacy, and women's contributions to the story of America's 250th anniversary with former First Ladies of Pennsylvania and former First Lady of the United States Dr. Jill Biden.

Former First Lady of the United States Dr. Jill Biden joins First Lady Lori Shapiro and former First Ladies of Pennsylvania in America250PA's Women's History Month luncheon and panel for a conversation on leadership, legacy, and women's contributions to the story of America's 250th anniversary.

 

America250PA hosted a special Women's History Month Luncheon and Panel at the Whitaker Center for Science & the Arts, featuring distinguished women in public life discussing service, leadership, and the civic values guiding Pennsylvania's future.

The event brought together Pennsylvania's First Ladies-past and present-Lori Shapiro, Frances Wolf, and Michele Ridge, along with Dr. Jill Biden, former First and Second Lady of the United States and a proud Pennsylvania native. The conversation was moderated by actress and author Melissa Fitzgerald, another Pennsylvania native best known for her role on The West Wing.

"I was honored to join this incredible group of First Ladies who have served our Commonwealth and our country. Pennsylvania women have made a huge impact on our communities and been driving forces for positive change-going back to the founding of Pennsylvania and Hannah Penn, who played a major role in building and leading this Commonwealth," said Pennsylvania's First Lady Lori Shapiro. "During Women's History Month, we honor the generations of Pennsylvania women who laid the foundation for the work we do today. As First Lady, I'm inspired by the women I meet all across the Commonwealth who are bringing people together and making a difference in their communities."

 

MEDIA MATTERS

WVIA PUBLIC MEDIA

WALN

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

You'll hear the program Sunday at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on 1400 am The Mothership and 7:30 am on 105 The River.

 

THE LAURIE CADDEN SHOW

Tune in every Saturday morning at 9am for The Laurie Cadden Show on WILK FM 103.1 and AM 980 and 910. Laurie’s program has been a northeastern Pennsylvania mainstay every Saturday. Tune in to hear her insights and take on local issues as well as entertaining and informative interviews.

 

BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SUNDAY NIGHT SOCK HOP

 

 

 

BEATLE EDD’S FAB FOUR MUSIC HOUR

Tune in every week to the Home of Rock and Roll for a jam packed, unpredictable hour starting at 9am Sundays. Host Edd Raineri gives you facts and great music from the immortal Fab Four on ROCK 107.

 

THE LULAC TIME MACHINE

KING SHOT, DIES

April 1968

The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968, was a tragic event that shocked the nation and the world. King, a prominent civil rights leader, was shot while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. '' The shooter, James Earl Ray, was later arrested and confessed to the crime. Despite Ray's confession, there have been ongoing discussions and investigations into the possibility of a conspiracy involving the U.S. government, the mafia, and the Memphis police. The King family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Loyd Jowers, who alleged involvement in the assassination. The case remains unresolved, with the jury's finding in 1999 being disputed by the United States Department of Justice in 2000 due to a lack of evidence.  

The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the most significant events in the history of the civil rights movement and continues to be a subject of debate and study and this week in 1968 the number one song in LuLac land and America was 1 (Sittin’ On) the dock Of the Bay” by Otis Redding.