Trump’s New Charm Offensive, and a Wall Street Dive

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Headlines – "Trump’s New Charm Offensive, and a Wall Street Dive"

Release Date: March 11, 2025
Host: Tracy Mumford, The New York Times

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1. House of Representatives Faces Critical Vote on Stopgap Funding

Timestamp: 00:25 - 01:15

Tracy Mumford opens the episode by highlighting the imminent vote in the House of Representatives on a stopgap funding measure aimed at preventing a government shutdown slated for Friday midnight. The bill, crafted by Republicans, proposes a marginal decrease in overall spending. However, it notably increases the military budget by $6 billion and allocates an additional half-billion dollars to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, which provides groceries to low-income women and children.

Annie Carney reports that the GOP is counting on nearly every vote within their slim majority to pass the bill, especially as some conservative members have previously opposed similar spending measures. The pressure mounts as President Trump intensifies his efforts to secure the necessary support from House Republicans.

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2. President Trump Adopts a "Charm Offensive" to Influence Republican Votes

Timestamp: 01:22 - 04:49

An unnamed political analyst provides an in-depth analysis of President Trump's evolving strategy in managing House Republicans. Compared to his first term, where Trump employed a "bad cop" approach involving political threats, his current tactics lean more towards a "good cop" methodology.

“He is using, you know, the carrot more to appeal to them, the nice guy, the charm offensive... It’s sort of flattery making them feel extra special.” (01:38)

Trump maintains close relationships with many Republican members, frequently communicating via text, inviting them to personal dinners at Mar-a-Lago, and involving their families in social events. This personable approach is coupled with subtle reminders of his capacity to exert political influence, ensuring unwavering support.

Additionally, the analyst addresses the broader economic implications of Trump's policies, particularly his implementation of new tariffs. The uncertainty surrounding these tariffs has led to significant volatility in the stock market and has left business leaders apprehensive about future investments and hiring.

“The question hanging over Washington and really the entire world is how long the President is willing to stomach the pain of not just declining markets, but also negative media coverage.” (04:05)

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3. Wall Street Suffers Steep Declines Amid Tariff Concerns

Timestamp: 02:55 - 04:05

An unnamed financial analyst briefs listeners on the turbulent state of Wall Street, noting that major stock indices have plummeted below their levels at the time of Donald Trump's inauguration. This downturn marks the steepest decline of the year, spurred by ongoing concerns over Trump's unpredictable tariff policies and a slowing global economy.

Annie Carney elaborates that the markets are experiencing a prolonged sell-off attributed to Trump's "chaotic rollout" of new tariffs, leading to a "weeks-long sell off." Business leaders, who initially supported Trump under the expectation of economic growth and favorable policies, now express frustration over the tariffs and the resultant economic uncertainty.

“Trump has promised more tariffs. He says they’re intended to reset what he calls unfair trade relationships and that they’ll bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S.” (04:00)

The financial analyst emphasizes that Trump's attentiveness to the stock market as a success barometer adds pressure to his administration to manage the economic repercussions effectively.

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4. DOJ Attorney Fired Over Controversial Gun Rights Restoration

Timestamp: 04:49 - 06:22

Annie Carney reports a significant controversy within the Department of Justice (DOJ). Elizabeth Oyer, a DOJ attorney, was terminated after she declined to assist in restoring firearm rights to Mel Gibson, a prominent Trump supporter and actor. Gibson lost his gun rights following a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction in 2011.

Oyer was initially part of a working group tasked with identifying candidates for gun rights restoration. She contends that the list primarily included individuals with decades-old convictions and low risk of reoffending. However, after finalizing the list, the deputy attorney general's office instructed the group to add Mel Gibson, citing his successful film career and his close relationship with Trump, who had appointed him as a "special ambassador to Hollywood."

“But it's sort of flattery making them feel extra special... they know there's two modes that, like, if it's not that mode, it's threatening to end your political career.” (01:38)

Oyer refused to include Gibson without thoroughly considering his case, expressing concerns over restoring gun rights to someone with a history of domestic abuse.

“Back to someone convicted of domestic abuse when she hadn’t had time to fully consider the case.” (05:51)

Subsequently, Oyer was fired, though a DOJ official states the termination was unrelated to the Gibson case. To date, the government has not disclosed a list of individuals slated for gun rights restoration.

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5. Ukraine Launches Drone Attack on Moscow Amid Peace Negotiations

Timestamp: 06:25 - 07:08

Amid ongoing efforts to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, Tracy Mumford reports that Ukraine initiated a significant drone attack on Moscow. The mayor of Moscow described it as "the largest attack on the city in the war so far," resulting in at least two fatalities and fourteen injuries. Consequently, Moscow's airports were temporarily closed.

Annie Carney suggests that these strikes serve a strategic purpose, demonstrating Ukraine's continued capability to inflict damage on Russia even as diplomatic delegations from Kyiv and the United States convene to discuss potential pathways to peace.

“They appear intended to serve as a reminder that Ukraine still has the capacity to inflict damage on Russia.” (07:00)

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6. ICC Issues Arrest Warrant for Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte

Timestamp: 07:08 - 07:55

Annie Carney covers the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrant for Rodrigo Duterte, the former president of the Philippines. Duterte is accused of orchestrating a brutal war on drugs that led to approximately 30,000 extrajudicial killings between 2016 and 2021.

Despite the ICC's efforts to detain Duterte and transport him to The Hague for trial, his legal team argues that the arrest is invalid since the Philippines withdrew from the ICC during Duterte's tenure. Nonetheless, family members of the victims view Duterte's potential prosecution as a crucial step toward justice.

“So far, only a handful of people have been prosecuted in connection with the killings.” (07:50)

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7. COVID-19 Pandemic Yields Unexpected Research Insights

Timestamp: 08:15 - 09:45

Reflecting on the five-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tracy Mumford and Annie Carney delve into some of the unforeseen research discoveries that emerged during the global crisis:

• Health Impacts: A researcher observed that emergency room visits for high heel-related injuries, which typically numbered around 16,000 annually, dropped by more than half in 2020. This decline was attributed to reduced public outings during lockdowns.

• Sports Performance: Studies indicated that the absence of live fans adversely affected home field advantages. Teams playing in empty stadiums with only cardboard cutouts experienced poorer performances compared to matches with full crowds.

• Animal Behavior: The reduction in human activity led to notable changes in wildlife patterns. Sea turtles laid more eggs, and dolphins increased their vocalizations, extending their whistling periods in response to quieter environments.

“One researcher found that high heels really are dangerous... Teams who played in their own empty stadiums... had poorer performance without all that in person support.” (08:34)

These insights underscore the profound and sometimes unexpected ways the pandemic influenced both human behavior and the natural world.

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Conclusion

Tracy Mumford concludes the episode by previewing upcoming topics, including President Trump's recent interest in Greenland and local perspectives on his proposals to incorporate it into the United States. Listeners are encouraged to access the full episode and additional content via the New York Times Audio app or their preferred podcast platforms.

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Notable Quotes:

• "He is using, you know, the carrot more to appeal to them, the nice guy, the charm offensive." – Unnamed Political Analyst [01:38]

• "He and his aides have tried to acknowledge that the tariffs are going to cause what he has said is a minor disturbance." – Unnamed Political Analyst [04:05]

• "So it's sort of flattery making them feel extra special... they know there's two modes that, like, if it's not that mode, it's threatening to end your political career." – Unnamed Political Analyst [01:38]

• "One researcher found that high heels really are dangerous..." – Annie Carney [08:34]

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode, providing a clear and detailed overview for those who have not listened to the podcast.

Transcript

[Charles Schwab]

This podcast is supported by Charles Schwab. Decisions made in Washington can affect your portfolio every day. But what policy changes should investors be watching? Washington Wise is an original podcast from Charles Schwab that unpacks the stories making news in Washington right now and how they may affect your finances and portfolio. [e-mail] WashingtonWise.

[Tracy Mumford]

From the New York Times, it's the headlines. I'm Tracy Mumford. Today's Tuesday, March 11th. Here's what we're covering. The House of Representatives may vote as.

[Annie Carney]

Soon as today on a stopgap funding.

[Tracy Mumford]

Measure to keep the government running. Without it, the government will shut down Friday at midnight. The bill, which was drafted by Republicans, calls for a slight decrease in overall spending, but increases the military budget by $6 billion. It's also got a half billion dollar bump from for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

[Annie Carney]

And a half billion more for wic, the federal program that provides groceries to.

[Tracy Mumford]

Low income women and children. The GOP will need nearly every vote of their razor thin majority to pass it.

[Annie Carney]

And previously some conservative members have held.

[Tracy Mumford]

Out against this kind of spending bill. Now President Trump is stepping up the.

[Annie Carney]

Pressure on them to get it done.

[Unnamed Political Analyst]

I've been talking to current lawmakers, former lawmakers, people who have been around Trump working for him just to get a sense of how does he kind of control House Republicans, how does he go about getting them to vote the way he needs them to vote.

[Tracy Mumford]

Annie Carney covers Congress for the Times. She says that where in his first term, Trump relied on a kind of bad cop approach, making political threats, there's been less of that this time around, more good cop.

[Unnamed Political Analyst]

So he is using, you know, the carrot more to appeal to them, the nice guy, the charm offensive. He knows these members really well. Like a lot of them have his cell phone. He texts them when he sees them on tv. He invites them to dinner at Mar A Lago and encourages them to bring their families. Then a lot of these members relate to him sort of like as fans of a big celebrity who come with paraphernalia that they want him to sign and that makes them feel special and it really works. A few people told me this anecdote that, you know, he'll take you on Air Force One or Marine One and not only will he give you a ride, but he will sit you next to him and say, you know whose seat that is? That's Melania's seat. Only Melania sits there. Look how special you are. Only you have sit there. Like he says that to everybody. But it's sort of flattery making them feel extra special. And they know what's on the other side. They know there's two modes that, like, if it's not that mode, it's threatening to end your political career. So there's no in between. And they prefer this mode.

[Unnamed Financial Analyst]

And there is your closing bell on Wall Street. Yeah, it's a, it's a tough one.

It was another ugly day for stocks on concerns over tariffs and a slowing economy.

All major stock indices are now below the levels they were when Donald Trump was inaugurated.

[Tracy Mumford]

On Wall street, stocks took a nosedive yesterday.

[Annie Carney]

The markets had their steepest decline of the year.

[Tracy Mumford]

It's part of what's been a weeks long sell off that's largely been driven by President Trump's chaotic rollout of new tariff.

[Unnamed Political Analyst]

Many business leaders supported Donald Trump in his run for president because they thought he would usher in this booming era of economic growth and were hoping Trump would be a president that was more sympathetic to their interests. However, they've been frustrated not just by the tariffs themselves, but also by the uncertainty.

[Tracy Mumford]

My colleague Tyler Pager has been covering the stock market fallout. He says business leaders are warning that.

[Annie Carney]

Trump's on again, off again approach to.

[Tracy Mumford]

The tariffs means they can't plan new hiring or investments.

[Annie Carney]

Still, Trump has promised more tariffs. He says they're intended to reset what.

[Tracy Mumford]

He calls unfair trade relationships and that they'll bring manufacturing jobs back to the.

[Unnamed Political Analyst]

U.S. we know that Donald Trump pays close attention to the stock market and uses it as a barometer for his own success. He and his aides have tried to acknowledge that the tariffs are going to cause what he has said is a minor disturbance. But the question hanging over Washington and really the entire world is how long the President is willing to stomach the pain of not just declining markets, but also negative media coverage. And if he's willing to sustain that over time as these tariffs continue to inflict economic pain not just on Americans, but across the global economy.

[Annie Carney]

The Times has learned that a Justice.

[Tracy Mumford]

Department attorney was fired after she refused.

[Annie Carney]

To help restore gun rights to a.

[Tracy Mumford]

Prominent supporter of President Trump.

[Annie Carney]

Mel Gibson Gibson.

[Tracy Mumford]

The Hollywood actor lost his right to.

[Annie Carney]

Own a firearm after a misdemeanor conviction.

[Tracy Mumford]

For domestic violence in 2011. About two weeks ago, the government attorney Elizabeth Oyer was put on a working group that was told to generate a list of people who the DOJ thought.

[Annie Carney]

Were good candidates to have their gun rights restored. Oyer told the Times that the list she helped put together was mostly people.

[Tracy Mumford]

Who had decades old convictions and who.

[Annie Carney]

They deemed unlikely to commit new crimes.

[Tracy Mumford]

But after they finalized the list, the deputy attorney general's office told them to add Gibson's name. They included a letter from Gibson's attorney asking to get his gun rights back.

[Annie Carney]

Saying he'd made a number of successful movies and that Trump had tapped him.

[Tracy Mumford]

To be what the president called a special ambassador to Hollywood. Oyer says she refused. She had concerns about giving gun rights.

[Annie Carney]

Back to someone convicted of domestic abuse when she hadn't had time to fully consider the case.

[Tracy Mumford]

Hours later, she got a call from a senior Justice Department official. He told her Gibson had a personal relationship with President Trump, which should be.

[Annie Carney]

Enough to recommend restoring his rights. After she chose not to make that.

[Tracy Mumford]

Recommendation a second time, Oyer was fired and escorted out of the office. A DOJ official tells the Times that the firing had nothing to do with Gibson. As of now, the government hasn't released.

[Annie Carney]

A list of anyone whose gun rights will be restored.

[Unnamed Foreign Correspondent]

Foreign.

[Tracy Mumford]

This morning, Ukraine bombarded Moscow with a drone attack.

[Annie Carney]

The mayor of Moscow called it the largest attack on the city in the war so far. Authorities say at least two people were killed and 14 were injured.

[Tracy Mumford]

The airports in Moscow were forced to close temporarily. The strikes came just hours before.

[Annie Carney]

Delegations from Kiev and the United States.

[Tracy Mumford]

Are set to meet to discuss a possible path to ending the war, and.

[Annie Carney]

They appear intended to serve as a reminder that Ukraine still has the capacity.

[Tracy Mumford]

To inflict damage on Russia.

[Annie Carney]

In the Philippines today, the country's former.

[Tracy Mumford]

President, Rodrigo Duterte, was arrested on a.

[Annie Carney]

Warrant from the International Criminal Court for.

[Tracy Mumford]

His brutal war on drugs. When Duterte took office in 2016, he.

[Annie Carney]

Vowed to crack down violently on drug.

[Tracy Mumford]

Traffickers and drug users, saying he would.

[Annie Carney]

Be happy to, quote, slaughter anyone who was addicted. He unleashed police forces and encouraged vigilantes.

[Tracy Mumford]

Who executed roughly 30, 000 people, according to human rights groups. The ICC says Duterte committed crimes against humanity that were widespread and systematic and.

[Annie Carney]

Plans to fly him to the Hague, where the court is based. But his lawyer says the arrest is.

[Tracy Mumford]

Illegal because the Philippines withdrew from the.

[Annie Carney]

ICC when Duterte was in power.

[Tracy Mumford]

Family members of those killed in the crackdown applauded Duterte's arrest as a step towards justice.

[Annie Carney]

So far, only a handful of people have been prosecuted in connection with the killings.

[Tracy Mumford]

And finally, five years ago this week.

[Annie Carney]

Offices, schools and shops began to close down because of the COVID 19 pandemic.

[Tracy Mumford]

Whole streets and neighborhoods went dark, as.

[Annie Carney]

People who could stay home did.

[Tracy Mumford]

For researchers, the massive upheaval created conditions that never would have happened otherwise.

[Annie Carney]

They could suddenly see what it looked.

[Tracy Mumford]

Like when everything people took as normal stopped. The Times has gathered some of the.

[Annie Carney]

Unexpected discoveries from that period.

[Tracy Mumford]

One researcher found that high heels really are dangerous. Up until 2020, the data showed roughly 16,000 people a year came into ERS with injuries like fractures or sprains from wearing heels. When he looked at the data from 2020, those dropped by more than half. In sports, studies showed that having fans at the game could be what really makes that home field advantage. Teams who played in their own empty stadiums, maybe with just cardboard cutouts watching them, had poorer performance without all that in person support. And in the animal world, researchers found that when humans aren't as active, animals began breeding more and traveling farther. Sea turtles laid more eggs and dolphins talked more. Without humans, they whistled for longer.

[Annie Carney]

Those are the headlines today on the.

[Tracy Mumford]

Daily what President Trump wants from Greenland and what the people who live there think about his calls to make it part of the US that's next in the New York Times audio app. Or you can listen wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Tracy Mumford. We'll be back tomorrow.