The Punchbowl News: Amazon tariffs and the White House press secretary’s response to the Trump administration’s announcement on import taxes in the U.S.
Punchbowl News, a new-ish DC publication which has an excellent record of political scoops but hasn’t done much tech reporting, published a single-sourced rumor that Amazon would soon begin showing tariffs next to prices.
The press secretary for the White House said she had just spoken to the president about Amazon’s announcement.
“The team that runs our ultra low cost Amazon Haul store considered the idea of listing import charges on certain products,” Tim Doyle said in a statement. This is not going to happen, it was never approved.
The tariffs imposed by the Trump administration have companies and economic experts warning of a possible increase in prices for American consumers.
“Consumers should try to buy products made in the U.S.”, said Leavitt after reading a Punchbowl article. “It’s another reason why we are onshoring critical supply chains here at home, to shore up our own critical supply chain and boost our own manufacturing here.”
The Washington Post as a Freedom Fighter: A Viewpoint on Bezos’ Implications for Economic and Political Integrity in the U.S.
He was seen as supportive of Trump. Bezos was at the inauguration ceremony and donated to the fund. The management of the Washington Post didn’t endorse a presidential candidate last year for the first time in 36 years. As NPR reported at the time, the announcement came after the newspaper’s editorial page editor had approved an endorsement for Trump’s rival, Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.
“We are going to be writing every day in support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets. We’ll cover other topics too of course, but viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others […] I am of America and for America, and proud to be so. Our country was not made by being typical. And a big part of America’s success has been freedom in the economic realm and everywhere else. Freedom drives creativity, invention and prosperity because it is ethical and practical.
The tariffs designed to crush small businesses across the country are not free markets since the basic definition is that the market is required to set prices. The Post has to be in full attack mode here since threatening your baby for displaying price information is not a “free markets” thing.
What of retribution, you might ask? Is it appropriate for Jeff to act in the best interests of his shareholders when he is about to be king? Jeff wrote a letter to his readers, detailing how his wealth affects the editorial decisions of the Post.
My wealth and business interests can either be a bulwark against intimidation or a web of conflicting interests. The balance can only be tipped by my own principles. I assure you that my views here are, in fact, principled, and I believe my track record as owner of The Post since 2013 backs this up. I think you can make your own decisions, but I challenge you to look for one instance in those 11 years where I’ve prevailed upon anyone in favor of my own interests. It hasn’t happened.”