• How To Approach AI In Logistics For Industrial Markets
    www.forbes.com
    When implemented strategically, AI can create more efficient, agile, and resilient supply chains, positioning logistics operators for long-term success.
    0 Commentarios ·0 Acciones ·144 Views
  • Mercedes-Benz Owners Warned Of Hacking Danger13 Security Issues Found
    www.forbes.com
    Kaspersky has disclosed Mercedes-Benz car hacking threat.POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesIts worrying enough that hackers are targeting your account passwords, your iPhone and even your, erm, sex toys. But when they come for your Mercedes-Benz, well, thats a step too far. Heres everything you need to know about the Mercedes-Benz security vulnerability that could give a car hacker access to your vehicle infotainment system.Hacking The Mercedes-Benz Infotainment SystemA newly published report by security researchers from Kaspersky has revealed how they found a total of 13 vulnerabilities in the first-generation Mercedes-Benz User Experience infotainment system. The Kaspersky Security Services research revealed how some of these vulnerabilities could be used by hackers, if successfully exploited, to launch denial-of-service attacks, escalate user privileges and potentially steal data. The report also confirmed that hackers could, if they had physical access to the vehicle, unlock paid services and even disable anti-theft protections.A Mercedes-Benz statement said: The topic described by the researchers requires physical access to the vehicle on-site as well as access to the interior of the vehicle. In addition, the head unit has to be removed and opened. Newer versions of the infotainment system are not affected. The statement also confirmed that Mercedes-Benz had been aware of the security issues since August 2022, when a team of external security researchers contacted us regarding the first generation MBUX Mercedes-Benz User Experience.The vulnerabilities have all now been patched.MORE FOR YOUSecurity Professionals Respond To The Mercedes-Benz Hacking Research"The exploitation of Mercedes-Benz user experience systems is a stark reminder of the evolving attack surface presented by connected devices and embedded systems in modern vehicles, Jamie Akhtar, CEO at CyberSmart, said. This incident highlights the increasing convergence of cybersecurity and the automotive industry, where software vulnerabilities can expose both users and manufacturers to significant risks."The recent report about Kaspersky researchers identifying vulnerabilities in the Mercedes-Benz infotainment system highlights the importance of tighter collaboration between researchers, manufacturers, and the wider cybersecurity ecosystem to keep drivers safe, Anna Collard, an evangelist at KnowBe4, said. Although it is wise to remember that no access to critical vehicle functions were made possible by the vulnerabilities that the Kaspersky researchers disclosed, Collard said, the ability to manipulate the infotainment system could still pose safety risks by distracting drivers with unexpected visuals or flashing lights.
    0 Commentarios ·0 Acciones ·144 Views
  • www.techspot.com
    What just happened? A 6.4-magnitude earthquake that hit Taiwan a few hours ago led to evacuations at TSMC, the world's largest chipmaker. The company has reported minimal damage to its critical equipment, but some production lines are expected to face delays, and it could be several days before full production can resume. The earthquake hit Taiwan's southern Chiayi county at 12.17am local time. According to Taiwan's Central Weather Administration, the epicenter was located 38km (23 miles) southeast of Chiayi County Hall, at a depth of 10km (6.2 miles).The quake reportedly resulted in 27 injuries and minor damage, though it was felt 25 miles away in the city of Tainan, and even in the city of Taichung 124 miles away. Both cities are home to Science Parks where TSMC has fabrication facilities, which were evacuated as per standard emergency procedures. Workers returned to the plants several hours after the quake.TSMC is now checking for damage. It has reported minimal impact to its critical equipment, most of which have a shockproof design, and a recovery of over 70% of its tools shortly after the quake.Electronics Weekly reports that the director of the Southern Taiwan Science Park, where TSMC's Fab 18 (5nm and 3nm processes) and Fab 6 (eight-inch wafer fab) are located, said there were no injuries. He added that equipment at major plants in the science park is designed to stop during earthquakes. // Related StoriesGiven the delicate and precise nature of advanced chipmaking machinery, there's a possibility that the earthquake could have introduced errors in the manufacturing process that might reduce the yield rate of usable chips. TSMC told Nikkei that it could be several days before production reaches full capacity, which could impact its many US customers who have orders with the company booked months and even years in advance.There have been previous earthquakes in Taiwan that impacted the global technology supply chain. A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Taiwan's eastern coast near Hualien County in April 2024, leading to temporary suspensions of operations by major chipmakers such as TSMC and UMC. These halts were necessary to inspect facilities and ensure employee safety, causing short-term disruptions in production.There was also a magnitude 6.2 earthquake in 2021 that halted TSMC operations, further straining the global chip supply chain that was already struggling enormously due to disruptions from the Covid pandemic.
    0 Commentarios ·0 Acciones ·148 Views
  • Many Nvidia GeForce Now subscription tiers currently unavailable due to high demand
    www.techspot.com
    In context: Nvidia's GeForce Now cloud gaming service is facing an unprecedented surge in demand, leading to a shortage of available subscription tiers. This development has left many potential customers unable to access the service and has sparked discussions about the exact cause of the platform's capacity issues. Currently, five out of eight subscription tiers for GeForce Now are unavailable, including all Day Passes, Free, and Performance tiers of the 1-month plan, as well as the Free tier of the 6-month plan.This shortage appears to be a global issue, affecting users across multiple regions. The unavailability primarily impacts new users, particularly those seeking free-tier access. Nvidia told the German publication ComputerBase that it is restricting supply to ensure existing users continue to enjoy a seamless experience, prioritizing premium subscribers over new free-tier customers.GeForce Now typically offers three main subscription levels: Free (Basic Rig with Ads, FHD resolution), Premium (GeForce RTX, 1440p resolution), and Ultimate (GeForce RTX 4080, 4K HDR, 240 FPS, DLSS 3). These plans are available in various durations, including Day Passes (24-hour access), one-month, and six-month memberships.In late 2024, Nvidia announced a change to its GeForce Now cloud gaming service, implementing a monthly playtime cap of 100 hours for both Performance and Ultimate subscription tiers. This limit translates to approximately 3.3 hours of daily gameplay. Users who exceed this threshold will have the option to purchase additional gaming time. For Ultimate tier subscribers, 15 extra hours will cost $5.99, while Performance tier members can acquire the same amount of additional playtime for $2.99.While Nvidia attributes the current unavailability to high subscriber demand, the exact cause remains unclear. Some speculate that the servers may be at full capacity, unable to accommodate the influx of new users. However, the uniform nature of the outage across different regions has led to alternative theories. One possibility is that Nvidia might be upgrading its underlying hardware while maintaining existing services in parallel. Another theory involves a potential restructuring of the service offerings, possibly including the implementation of a new GeForce RTX 50 subscription with DLSS 4.Some users on social media platforms have linked the surge in demand to the release of Marvel Rivals in December, though this remains unconfirmed. Nvidia did not provide specific details about the current bottlenecks in server resources.This is not the first time GeForce Now has faced such challenges. Similar issues arose in 2020, suggesting that this may be a temporary setback. Industry observers expect Nvidia to resolve the problem in due course, possibly by upgrading existing infrastructure to accommodate more users.
    0 Commentarios ·0 Acciones ·147 Views
  • Mobile App Integrations Day Has Come
    www.informationweek.com
    The mobile application market is projected at an annual compound growth rate (CAGR) of 14.3% betweennow and 2030, and businesses are capitalizing by developing mobile applications for customers, business partners, and internal use.In large part, the mobile app market is being driven by the explosive growth of mobile devices, which over60% of the worlds populationuse. Not all of this use is confined to social media, emails, phone calls, and texts. Accordingly, businesses have become involved with launching retail websites for mobile devices, as well as transactional engines for mobile payment processing, e-commerce, banking and booking systems for use in a variety of smart mobile devices.In the process, the key for IT has been the integration of these new mobile applications with enterprise systems. How do you ensure that a mobile app is tightly integrated into your existing business processes and your IT base, and how do you ensure that it will perform consistently well every time it is used? Is your security policy across mobile devices as robust as it is across other enterprise assets, such as mainframes, networks and servers? Does the user interface across all mobile devices navigate equally well and with a certain degree of consistency, no matter which device is used?Related:In most cases, IT departments (and users and customers) will say that totalmobile device integrationis still a work in progress.The Role of Mobile App IntegrationIn the past, the integration of mobile applications with other IT infrastructure was more or less confined to the IT assets that the mobile app minimally needed to perform its functions. If the app was there for placing an online order, access to the enterprise order entry, inventory and fulfillment systems was needed, but maybe nothing else for the first installation. If the app was designed for a warehouse worker to operate a series of robots to pick and place items in a warehouse, it was specifically developed just for that, and on first installment, it might not have been integrated into inventory and warehouse management systems. However, now that tech companies are placing theirR&D emphasison smart phones and devices, IT needs to formulate a more inclusive integration strategy for mobile applications that these apps more complete when they launch.The Elements of Mobile App IntegrationTo achieve total integration with the rest of the enterprise IT portfolio, and possibly with third-party services, a mobile app must do the following:Related:Attain seamless data exchange across all systems, along with having the ability to invoke and use system-level infrastructure components such as storage or system-level routines to do its work.Use application programming interfaces (APIs) so it can access other IT and/or vendor systems.Conform to the same security and governance standards that other IT assets are subject to.Provide users and customers with a simple and (as much as possible) uniform graphical user interface (GUI).Be right-fitted into existing business and system workflows.This isnt just good IT. It also makes major contributions to user productivity and customer satisfaction.Workflow IntegrationIn late 2024, a health insurance company unveiled an automated online process for new customer registration. Unfortunately, the new app didnt include all data elements needed for registration, and it actually froze in process. Users ended up calling the company and enduring long wait times until they could complete their registrations with a human agent.This was a case of workflow integration failure, because critical ingredients required for registration had been left out of the online mobile app. How did this happen?The project might have been rushed through to meet a deadline or signed off as a first (albeit incomplete) version of an app that would be later enhanced. Or, possibly, QA might have been skipped. But to an experienced IT eye, the app was clearly missing data, which suggested that integration with other enterprise systems, or data transfers via API with supporting vendor systems, had been missed.Related:The apps process flow also was a miss because if the project team had tested the mobile apps process flow against the business workflow, they would have seen (like customers did) that key data elements were missing, and that the workflow didnt work.The project team should also have verified that security and governance standards had been met, and that the mobile app user experience was consistent, whether the customer was using an iPhone or an Android.SummaryStatista says that the mobile application market will reach $756 billion by 2027. In the US,47% of mobile appsare being used for retail transactions, and another 19% are serving as portals, whether for customers, business partners or employees.There is virtually no business that isnt developing mobile apps today for its customers, business partners and/or employees, but whathaslagged is the same level of discipline over mobile app development that IT expects for traditional enterprise app development.Central to this is mobile application integration.Its no longer acceptable to let an app fly with just the basics, but with many functions and data elements still missing. Its time for top-to-bottom mobile app integration, whether that integration requires complete data, a uniform user experience across all devices, or something else.
    0 Commentarios ·0 Acciones ·148 Views
  • How to Persuade an AI-Reluctant Board to Embrace Critical Change
    www.informationweek.com
    Kip Havel, Chief Marketing Officer, DexianJanuary 21, 20254 Min ReadRawpixel Ltd via Alamy StockAs an IT leader, youre no stranger to helping executives decipher and understand groundbreaking technology. The process usually takes persistence, careful abstraction, and a stockpile of success stories to make a persuasive business case. With luck, you eventually persuade the board of the value of your next significant IT initiative.But selling the board on AI implementation is another challenge altogether.Its not surprising that many boards are undecided about AI. A recent Deloitte study on AI governance found that Board members rarely get involved with AI:14% discuss AI at every meeting25% discuss AI twice a year16% discuss AI once a year45% never discuss AI at allOnly 2% of respondents considered board members highly knowledgeable or experienced in AI. These circumstances present a serious hurdle as IT teams not only try to implement AI solutions but also strive to build the appropriate guardrails into the AI strategy.Helping the board understand the power of black sky thinking can help to counteract some of their reservations about pursuing AI. Heres what you need to know:Black Sky Thinking Offers a New Approach to InnovationArtificial intelligence is taking enterprises to a place where no man has gone before. Even though the market is starting to define AI norms, establish regulations, determine the technologys shortcomings, and pinpoint when we need a human in the loop, were collectively flying through unfamiliar skies. As a result, IT leaders need to persuade the board of directors to embrace a more transformative way of solving problems. Enter black sky thinking.Related:The black sky thinking concept emerged during the 1960s space race and was then popularized by Rachel Armstrong, author and futurist, at the FutureFest in London in 2014 as she described the mentality necessary for humans to thrive on the cusp of unparalleled disruption.In a follow-up essay, she explains the difference between blue sky thinking (where were at now) and black sky thinking this way:Blue sky thinking is a way of innovating by pushing at the limits of possibility in existing practices.Black sky thinking is more aspirational, producing new kinds of future that enable us to move into uncharted realms with creative confidence.Rather than being constrained by current paradigms, organizations boards and leaders need to envision the future they want and reverse engineer the steps necessary to reach the desired destination. Its like planning for oceanic voyages or trips to the moon but at a societal level.Related:You might be saying, Thats great, but how does it apply to convincing the board to embrace AI use cases? Before you can unlock the power of AI, you need board members to shift from blue sky to black sky thinking and embrace aspirational, limitless potential.Leadership Is on Board with Black Sky Thinking: Now What?Even when theyre onboard with black sky thinking, most board members are going to focus on mitigating risk and maximizing profits for shareholders and the corporation. Thats a fine strategy if youre trying to maintain stasis, but not if youre attempting to break barriers and drive innovation. Your next goal is to convince the board that AI is an acceptable investment if theyre going to achieve their black sky-driven goals.Fortunately, you can increase the success of your petition by getting two key board members on your side: the CEO and general counsel.The CEO is often an easier sell. KPMG surveys indicate 64% of CEOs treat AI as a top investment priority. Since your goals align, the CEO can be a co-champion, providing profiles on each board member and answering these key questions:Which specific industry AI use cases will be the most persuasive?Related:Will AI examples from Fortune 500s carry the most weight?Which biases will you need to combat in your argument?When it comes to in-house counsel, you need to demonstrate a strong command of the legal and ethical implications of what youre proposing. General counsel and CFOs, being naturally risk-averse, require you to come prepared with your:Recognition of potential risksAwareness of pending legal casesCommitment to ethical implementationWith your CEO and general counsel as AI champions, your next step is to demonstrate ROI if the board is going to approve investment in AI. Showcasing results from programs that have already yielded measurable success can reduce barriers to an AI-forward mentality. For example, in healthcare, Kaiser Permanente has demonstrated how AI can save clinicians an hour of documentation daily -- a powerful use case to highlight.Ultimately, youll need to show them that the risk of doing nothing at all can be just as catastrophic as taking a big gamble on emerging technology. Tailored pitches to board members, both individually and collectively, can embolden them to step out of their comfort zones. This approach encourages the embrace of unconventional -- or even unknown -- solutions to complex challenges. When everyone embraces black sky thinking, no horizon is completely out of reach.About the AuthorKip HavelChief Marketing Officer, DexianKip Havel is the chief marketing officer of Dexian, forging strategies that bridge the gap between the brand and its diverse audiences. Passionate about collaboration and black sky thinking, his vision and execution have strengthened company partnerships and grown Dexians footprint in the market. He led the creation of the Dexian brand and has earned honors such as the American Marketing Associations4 Under 40 and PR Weeks Rising Star. A University of Miami alumnus, Kip has held senior marketing roles at Aflac, Randstad US, Cross Country Healthcare, and SFN Group.See more from Kip HavelNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also LikeWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore Reports
    0 Commentarios ·0 Acciones ·157 Views
  • Sure, late-night hosts were mocking Trump. But their real scorn was for Democrats.
    www.businessinsider.com
    Donald Trump's inauguration was on Monday and late-night hosts used it as ammo.Jon Stewart, Seth Meyers, and Jimmy Kimmel all also criticized the Democrats in their monologues.Stewart said Michelle Obama, who didn't attend, was the only Democrat with a "consistent ethical stance."As expected, late-night hosts took aim at President Donald Trump following his inauguration on Monday.It provided them with plenty to joke about, from Melania Trump's hat to the billionaire CEOs who were given front-row seats.But they also piled scorn on Democrats who were part of the proceedings, labelling many of them hypocrites in light of their dire warnings about Trump during the election campaign.John Stewart said on Monday night's "The Daily Show": "Also attending were all those people who warned Americans to shun this wannabe fascist dictator called Trump."He said: "'Look at me, Ma! Oh, let's go see Hitler and get a quick selfie first! Hello! Look at us! A quick one for the 'gram!' Former President Obama was there. George Bush seemed kind of there. Even Mike Pence showed up, I guess to let the crowd finish the job."Stewart also noted that Michelle Obama didn't attend with her husband: "Only Michelle Obama seemed to have the consistent ethical stance of saying, 'When they go low, I stay the fuck home.'"In a statement on Monday, she didn't address the inauguration but instead spoke about MLK Day.Jimmy Kimmel, who described Trump's address as "ominous," said: "Overall unlike the last time there was a lot of respect paid to tradition. Kamala Harris invited JD Vance to the Vice President's residence at the Naval Observatory for a ceremonial humping of the Millard Filmore futon."He also joked that Karen Pence didn't attend because she "opted not to celebrate the man who was all good with a bunch of yahoos killing her husband."Meanwhile, Seth Meyers said: "It was even weirder to see Democrats who correctly called Trump an existential threat to democracy, palling around with him," referring to Joe Biden having tea with Trump before sharing a limo with him to the Capitol.This is in contrast to the somber tone taken by late-night hosts in the days after Trump won the 2016 election, and Kate McKinnon dressed as Hilary Clinton to sing Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" in an uncharacteristically mournful moment for "Saturday Night Live."
    0 Commentarios ·0 Acciones ·140 Views
  • Harvard's Ken Rogoff expects a 'wild ride' for the economy under Trump — and warns the dollar may slump
    www.businessinsider.com
    The US economy is in for a "wild ride" with Donald Trump back in office, Kenneth Rogoff says.The Harvard economist told the World Economic Forum that the dollar faces a slew of challenges.Rogoff spoke about tariffs, inflation, interest rates, currency wars, and the national debt.Kenneth Rogoff says the US economy is in for a "wild ride" now that Donald Trump is back in charge and the dollar may come under pressure.The Harvard University economist flagged several challenges ahead during a session focused on the dollar at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland on Tuesday.Rogoff said the idea that interest rates will steadily fall is a "pipe dream at this point." The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rate from virtually zero to as high as 5.5% within an 18-month period to curb post-pandemic inflation, and has only cut them by a percentage point.The former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund raised the alarm on the US national debt, which has more than tripled over the past two decades to more than $36 trillion."I think the debt does push up interest rates," he said, nodding to the idea that the federal government may have to pay more interest on its bonds to keep attracting buyers, and its competition with the private sector and state and local governments for funds could drive up rates.Debt debateRogoff pointed to the 1970s as a cautionary tale. The dollar "lost a lot of territory" as inflation spurred the Fed to raise rates to nearly 20%. There could be similar fallout "if things get out of control again," he warned.Both US political parties "think debt is a free lunch," Rogoff said, adding that he believed they're "wrong" and one likely consequence will be elevated rates. A record debt pile and rising rates have increased the federal government's annual interest payments, which exceeded $1 trillion or more than its entire military budget last year, he noted."At some point, this is one of the potential triggers for having more inflation," Rogoff said. "That's going to undermine the dollar" as it did in the 1970s, he predicted, as there's "potential for a lot of instability" stemming from America's debt pile.Rogoff said the impact of Trump's planned tariffs on interest rates and global exchange rates is likely baked into markets already, but how other countries retaliate is not.The academic said Trump's first-term tariffs caused the Fed to worry about inflation and whether rates were high enough, and that could happen again, pushing back the timeline for further rate cuts.Dollar doubtsRogoff also addressed concerns about de-dollarization and declining dollar dominance as other countries explore alternatives to the world's reserve currency.The greenback is very strong by historical standards, setting it up to weaken simply due to a likely reversion to the mean, he said. Trump's warnings to other nations to keep using the buck might also backfire. "I would guess it's not good for the dollar; you want people to use your currency," Rogoff said. "If you're being threatened, I think that only reinforces the incentive to try and diversify into doing other things."He also touched on how the dollar comes into its own during moments of distress such as the global financial crisis and pandemic. Other nations realize the value of being in the Fed's good books and having access to dollars during crises.However, Rogoff also cautioned that the dollar's unusual strength might prove short-lived: "Whoever it is that's being put up on the pedestal by the world, they're the ones that are first in line perhaps to have a crash coming."Rogoff wondered out loud whether Davos attendees might be discussing the dollar's weakness and the US economy's collapse a couple of years from now.
    0 Commentarios ·0 Acciones ·139 Views
  • Why Wall Street found Trumps first day reassuring
    www.vox.com
    Donald Trump has never been on better terms with corporate America. Yet his ostensible trade agenda has never been more antithetical to the interests of big business.In recent weeks, tech billionaires whod once projected ambivalence (if not hostility) toward Trump including Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Bill Gates have paid him their respects at Mar-a-Lago. The worlds wealthiest entrepreneur, Elon Musk, has become the new presidents righthand man. And Trumps pick for treasury secretary, hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, won wide applause within the financial industry. Even as Trump has cozied up to Big Tech and Wall Street, however, he has pledged to enact trade policies that would undermine both, along with myriad other US industries. On the campaign trail, Trump pledged to put a tariff of between 10 percent and 20 percent on all imports to the United States, along with a 60 percent tariff on Chinese goods and a 25 percent import surcharge on Canadian and Mexican wares at least, until our neighbors choke off the flow of all migrants and drugs across Americas northern and southern borders.This protectionist agenda is far more radical than anything Trump attempted during his first term. It threatens to hamper American tech companies by increasing the cost of semiconductors, depress stock valuations by reducing economic growth and fueling a global trade war, and disrupt the US auto industry, whose supply chains were built around the presumption of duty-free trade with Mexico.Thus, American investors, executives, and entrepreneurs watched Trumps first day in office with bated breath: Would his inaugural address and initial executive orders prioritize corporate Americas financial interest in relatively free global exchange or his own ideological fixation on trade deficits?Trumps Day 1 actions did not fully clarify his priorities on this front. In his inaugural speech, the president reiterated his broad commitment to protectionism. Meanwhile, his administration prepared to launch federal investigations into Americas trade deficit in general, as well as the trade practices of China, Mexico, and Canada in particular. Nevertheless, Trump did not actually establish any new tariffs on his first day in office, as his administrations arch-protectionists had hoped that he would.Investors interpreted Trumps caution as a sign that he would be heeding his advisers push for a more limited and incremental tariff policy; stocks rose Monday while the US dollar fell (stiff tariffs would increase the value of Americas currency). Wall Streets relief may be premature. Trump appears as ideologically perturbed by Americas trade deficit as ever. And Monday night, Trump said that his administration was thinking of enacting 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico on I think February 1. Still, given that his remarks about imminent tariffs were made off the cuff, in response to a reporters question, and that Trump has a history of falsely predicting that he will fulfill various campaign promises in roughly two weeks, it is unclear whether he was referencing an actual plan the administration had in the works.How he intends to balance his protectionist instincts against his desire for a booming stock market and fawning billionaire class remains uncertain. Trumps impending trade memorandum does not end his administrations internecine conflict over trade policy, but merely prolongs it.Why Wall Street took comfort in Trumps Day 1 trade actionsIn recent weeks, arch-nationalists in Trumps orbit including his longtime immigration adviser Stephen Miller had pushed for Trump to immediately declare a national emergency on trade, according to the Wall Street Journal. This would theoretically give Trump broad authority to rapidly enact steep tariffs. (Though some of the legal mechanisms that authorize tariffs require either an investigation or comment period, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 would arguably provide Trump with a legal basis for dispensing with such procedural niceties, once he declared said emergency.)But on Day 1, the president declined to take that approach. Trump did foreground his commitment to protectionism in his inaugural address, vowing to immediately begin the overhaul of our trade system to protect American workers and families. He promised to tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens and establish an External Revenue Service to collect these taxes from foreign entities (Trumps case for establishing a new agency to perform a function already fulfilled by US Customs and Border Protection is unclear). The president even dedicated multiple paragraphs of his speech to lionizing President William McKinley, a champion of extremely high tariffs.Nevertheless, it isnt hard to see why investors responded favorably to Trumps actions. The president initially kept his protectionist promises abstract. While his pledges on other policy fronts were more concrete for example, he vowed to revoke Joe Bidens emission restrictions on new vehicles and designate international drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations he did not formally reiterate his commitment to a universal tariff.Instead, Trumps advisers told reporters Monday that he would issue a broad memorandum directing federal agencies to investigate and propose remedies for Americas trade deficit, as well as the purportedly abusive trade practices of China, Mexico, and Canada. The fact that Trump declined to take a more drastic immediate step might suggest that the business wing of the Trump White House is exerting at least some influence over trade policy. Earlier this month, the Washington Post reported that Trump aides were considering a proposal to narrow Trumps universal tariff plan, such that it would only apply to sectors deemed crucial to Americas national or economic security. Trumps initial restraint on trade lends credence to such reports of his administrations scaled-back ambitions.Of course, Trumps threat to impose 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico on Monday night calls that restraint into question. And futures markets initially turned down in response to Trumps remarks. Yet the president has long been explicit that his vow to impose enormous duties on Americas top trade partners is a gambit for securing concession on border enforcement from our nations neighbors. It is therefore possible to interpret his reiteration of that threat as an act of posturing.Trump has strong incentives for moderating on tradeIts entirely possible that Trumps caution on trade will indeed end on February 1, if not sooner. But there are at least three reasons to think Trump will reward Wall Streets early optimism and abandon his most radical trade policies. First, those policies would benefit virtually no major interest group within the Trump coalition. Second, Trump has historically been obsessed with the stock markets performance on his watch. And third, he has recently displayed a willingness to subordinate hardline nationalism to Big Techs economic needs. Imposing even a 10 percent tariff on all imported goods would not only harm various business interests, but would also likely increase costs for consumers. Thus, such a duty would harm both Trumps donors and voters. If Trumps first term is any guide, his universal tariff would not even redound to the benefit of American manufacturers, who would be vulnerable to higher costs and retaliatory tariffs from foreign nations. Generally speaking, presidents seek to avoid enacting policies that harm the bulk of their coalition, to the benefit of a narrow band of ideologues. And this is what implementing Trumps grandest visions for trade policy would likely entail.Second, the imposition of a universal tariff would roil stock markets. During Trumps first term in office, he monitored the markets performance obsessively, tweeting about it incessantly and suggesting that stock values were a barometer of sound policy, warning in 2018, If Democrats take over Congress, the stock market will plummet.Finally, Trump has recently shown some sensitivity to the interests of his newfound friends in tech, even when those interests conflict with the tenets of rightwing nationalism. Over the holidays, Elon Musk feuded with their co-partisans over the desirability of high-skill immigration and the H-1B visa, which help American tech companies to hire foreign talent. Trump ultimately expressed support for Musks position. Trump really believes in protectionismAll this said, to the extent that Trump has any deep-seated policy beliefs, the notion that free trade hurts America is one of them. Trump has been advocating for massive duties on foreign goods since at least 1988, when he called for putting a 15 percent to 20 percent tariff on imports from Japan. Unable to seek a third term in office, Trump faces no binding political constraints. According to the New York Times, Trump feels he has a mandate to enact his ideological vision and sees himself as his own best adviser.When the Washington Post reported that Trumps aides were scaling back his universal tariff plans earlier this month, he abruptly declared on Truth Social, The story in the Washington Post, quoting so-called anonymous sources, which dont exist, incorrectly states that my tariff policy will be pared back. That is wrong.Trump did strike a similar tone Monday night. And his memorandum could well serve as a prelude for all his signature trade proposals, establishing a more robust legal foundation for imposing a universal tariff and punitive duties on Americas top trade partners.In backing Trump, many in corporate America placed a bet on his prudence and loyalty. As Monday demonstrated, that is not the safest wager. Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:
    0 Commentarios ·0 Acciones ·143 Views
  • Is Donald Trumps agenda actually popular?
    www.vox.com
    Standing in the Capitol Rotunda on Monday, President Donald Trump captured the vibes buoying Republicans and the American right writ-large as he promised a lengthy list of crackdowns and policy reversals.My recent election is a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal, Trump said. As our victory showed, the entire nation is rapidly unifying behind our agenda, with dramatic increases in support from virtually every element of our society.As he takes office, it can feel like Trumps movement has the cultural and political upper hand. Republicans won the popular vote in both the presidential and congressional races. Trumps popularity has never been higher. Broligarchs, celebrities, and big business are lining up behind him.But another way of looking at it is that Trumps popularity is probably at its peak and modern presidents tend to start off their terms with high support before the public gets disillusioned. He did, after all, barely win the election. Republicans only control Congress by tiny majorities. And most of his high-profile policy proposals arent as popular as he claims.Most of the American public isnt outright rejecting everything Trump is offering (at least, not yet). On at least three different issues, Trumps position is significantly popular. But theres a difference between what the public supports and the mandate Trump claims.Where Americans back Trump Earlier this month, the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, Marist College, and the public opinion and market research firm Ipsos (in partnership with the New York Times) conducted polling to gauge Americans feelings about a range of Trumps proposed actions or positions. The results are clear, if not that helpful in giving Trump a mandate: Americans are pretty much split evenly on most issues. But they back Trumps side in at least three areas: pursuing an isolationist foreign policy, being less accommodating of transgender people, and pursuing a restrictionist immigration policy.For example: Six in 10 Americans think we should pay less attention to problems overseas and concentrate on problems here at home, according to the Ipsos poll. And majorities think the federal government is spending too much money on aid to both Israel (53 percent) and Ukraine (51 percent).The views on both countries are reversals from earlier in 2024, when Ipsos polling found slight majorities supported continued military aid to both.On gender identity and trans rights, majorities also side with Trump. The highly politicized issue of transgender female athletes competing in womens sports, for example, isnt necessarily a top of mind concern for many Americans, but about 80 percent in the Ipsos poll think this should not be allowed. And, about seven in 10 Americans say that doctors should not be allowed to prescribe puberty-blocking drugs or hormone therapy to anyone under the age of 18, including nearly all Republican respondents, and most Democrats.Opinions on immigration policy are a different beastPublic polls over the last two years capture a much more muddled picture on Trumps plans for immigration and border enforcement. They show an overall sense of antipathy for the status quo: Americans are angry at the influx of legal and illegal immigrants over the course of the Biden presidency, afraid about the state of security at the southern border, and willing to turn away from a welcoming approach to migration.But when asked more specific questions, Americans become more critical. The AP-NORC poll and the Ipsos poll both show an overwhelming majority of respondents support some kind of legal immigration, meaning the public believes theres some value in welcoming outsiders. About 30 percent of respondents, primarily Republicans, think the US legal immigration should be reduced a lot or a little, while 24 percent think the government should increase legal immigration. That breakdown mirrors some of the tensions inside the Trump alliance, as some in the pro-business wing, like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy argued with anti-immigration Trump acolytes in late December. When it comes to illegal immigration, opinions are also nuanced. Some 55 percent of Americans in the Ipsos poll, including a third of Democrats, support deporting all immigrants who are here illegally. A plurality 43 percent in the AP-NORC poll say the same thing. That support increases significantly when specifically suggesting the deportation of those who have criminal records or those who crossed the southern border during the post-pandemic surge: 87 percent support the former, while 63 percent support the latter in the Ipsos pollAnd yet that support changes when you ask about exceptions: 63 percent of Americans strongly or somewhat support protecting DACA recipients those immigrants who were children when they entered the US illegally.This complexity doesnt come across in the way Trump and his supporters talk about mass deportations and raids. They speak, and will likely act, as if theres overwhelming support for removing every undocumented immigrant. But whats been pretty constant over the last few years is that Americans have warmed up to the idea of mass deportations in theory. To see them actually play out, however, will likely change that opinion.What the public doesnt seem to wantAnd then theres the stuff the American public isnt really excited about: tariffs, prosecuting political opponents, pardoning January 6, 2021, rioters, and trying to get rid of birthright citizenship.The Ipsos poll captures something relevant to the executive order Trump is signing that seeks to overturn the 14th Amendments guarantee of birthright citizenship that anyone born on US soil is American to the children of undocumented immigrants. A solid 55 percent of the country rejects this.Theres also a mandate against Trumps plans for political retribution: Nearly three-quarters of Americans reject the idea that Trump should use the government to investigate his political opponents, while a separate AP-NORC poll shows that just two in 10 Americans support his proposed pardoning of people who participated in the January 6 Capitol attack. Six in 10 oppose those pardons.And finally, Americans are not excited for either broad or targeted tariffs that Trump has said he wants to enact. The AP-NORC polling shows almost half of US adults somewhat or strongly oppose new tariffs on all foreign goods. A slight majority also opposes more scaled back tariffs that specifically target China and Mexico, per the Ipsos survey.It might just seem like semantics to argue that the numbers for support of Trump support arent so cut and dry. But the nuance here matters: The next few months are likely to be packed with attempts by the new administration to push for big changes under the guise of having a mandate. A closer look, though, reveals what policy shifts the public might actually support and which it might not.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:
    0 Commentarios ·0 Acciones ·143 Views