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Trump's tariffs & Port of Seattle, Wells Fargo and Palantir

Trump's tariffs & Port of Seattle, Wells Fargo and Palantir

Plus: Allegations Shri Thanedar abandoned animals at testing lab resurfaced after attempt to impeach Trump

Izz LaMagdeleine
May 03, 2025

SATURDAY EDITION

Snopes Debunker

A ship can be seen sitting in a bay. The sky is light blue with a large cloud in the sky.

No, Port of Seattle isn't 'empty' due to Trump's tariffs, though cargo volume is unpredictable

In late April, as the United States and other countries awaited the effects of President Donald Trump's far-reaching tariffs, people began claiming on social media that the Port of Seattle was suddenly empty of cargo ships. Social media users also claimed there would be no new international ships in the port "after April 29," and more specifically that no ships from China were coming in.

The Northwest Seaport Alliance — which manages all marine cargo operations for the Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma — said it was, so far, seeing more vessels call into port in 2025 than in 2024. However, the ships calling into port were arriving with unpredictable volumes of cargo — sometimes 30% less than anticipated, the NWSA said. Reporter Taija PerryCook has the rest of the details, including what we know about ships from China coming to the port.

A white man wearing a blue suit is pictured in front of red signs with white text that says WELLS FARGO.

Unpacking claims Trump admin cut fines of Wells Fargo executives in return for donation to inauguration

Fines for two former Wells Fargo execs were reduced by a combined $8.35 million.

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A white woman wearing a blue suit is seen sitting at a table with several other people. A crowd stands behind them

Yes, Pam Bondi claimed fentanyl seizures under Trump have saved 258M people

That number is equal to roughly 75% of the U.S. population.

A white woman wearing a blue top looks to the left.

Marjorie Taylor Greene bought Palantir shares days before ICE awarded the company a $30M contract

Greene sits on the House Committee on Homeland Security, the department that oversees U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

A Black man holding a cane can be seen talking into a microphone. At least two other people stand slightly behind him. A large white building can be seen faintly behind him.

Rev. William Barber II arrested by US Capitol Police for praying 'out loud' in Rotunda after 'multiple warnings'

A video features Barber, a civil rights activist and ordained minister, and others praying in April in opposition to the Republican budget bill.

Staff Pick

An Asian man wearing a dark blue suit is pictured next to words that say "The Collateral includes apprximately 120 dogs and 55 monkeys that are hld at the AniClin Preclinical Services ("AniClin") facility in New Jersy and that we by AniClin in various types of pharmacutical and chemical testing collectively, the." "Apprximately 120 dogs and 55 monkeys" and "pharmacutical and chemical testing" are highlighted in dark blue.

Allegations Shri Thanedar abandoned animals at testing lab resurfaced after attempt to impeach Trump

A business management consulting firm took over running six of Thanedar's companies in 2010 after they defaulted on loan payments.