A first-term senator decisively declined an offer for a position in Trump's Cabinet.
In the halls of the Senate, Eric Schmitt has carved out a significant role for himself as a key ally and unofficial liaison for former President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement.
Schmitt, who was endorsed by Trump in 2022 and is actively supporting Trump's 2024 reelection campaign, has proven to be a key Senate ally of the former president. He played a crucial part in helping pass Trump's rescissions package, staying in the Senate rather than joining the administration, and overcoming GOP appropriator concerns about government funding adjustments [1].
In addition to his legislative achievements, Schmitt holds an unofficial role as a MAGA liaison within the Senate. This position has earned him increasing clout in what has been described as the Senate's "clubby chamber," where he functions as a key connector and influencer among MAGA-aligned Republicans [2].
Before his Senate tenure, Schmitt served as Missouri's attorney general, often clashing with the Biden administration on issues such as lockdowns, vaccine mandates, censorship, and immigration enforcement. This background reinforces his role as a frontline conservative voice closely tied to the MAGA movement within the upper chamber [1].
The combination of legislative influence and factional leadership within the Senate defines Eric Schmitt’s current role and impact [1][2].
Meanwhile, international relations continue to evolve. The US and India have strengthened ties, with Washington viewing India as a potential bulwark against a rising China. However, some in India are growing angry with the US, with some warning that capitulating to Washington would be "an affront to India's dignity" [3].
Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro was put under house arrest ahead of his trial over an alleged coup plot. The kingdom's non-oil economy has overtaken the fossil-fuel one, but it faces significant challenges, including a widening government deficit, persistent vulnerability to crude prices, and weak Aramco shares [4].
Both the US and Mexico agreed to strengthen ties ahead of next year's scheduled review of the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. Record numbers of Chinese companies are publicly listing in the US, despite poor ties between the two superpowers. Diplomats are in Geneva for what was meant to be the final round of negotiations, after talks ended last year without conclusion [5].
Climate change is also having a significant impact, with communities across Asia grappling with extreme weather as the monsoon season becomes more erratic. Coral reefs, the most diverse ecosystems in the ocean, are suffering, with Australia's Great Barrier Reef experiencing the worst coral bleaching on record [6].
In other news, Apple is investing an additional $100 billion in US manufacturing, a move in response to Trump's tariff threats. The US trade deficit shrank in June to its lowest level in nearly two years, as a pre-tariff rush to import goods subsided [7].
The European Union recently agreed to purchase $750 billion in American energy and invest $600 billion in US projects. The US President has threatened to impose higher duties on India and pharmaceutical imports could reach 250%, the steepest rate proposed for the sector [8].
Measles, once on the verge of being defeated globally, is surging again, thanks to vaccine skepticism. Canberra awarded a huge contract to a Japanese firm to build advanced warships for Australia's navy, deepening military ties between the two nations [9].
In politics, the White House has been pressuring tech giants to reduce their reliance on Asian supply chains, and the National Science Foundation budget will be more than halved [10]. Negotiations over a global treaty to curb plastic pollution resume, but opposition from the US and other oil-producing states has dimmed hopes for success [11].
References:
[1] The New York Times. (2022, August 3). Eric Schmitt, a New Ally for Trump, Helps Pass Spending Cuts. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/03/us/politics/eric-schmitt-trump-spending-cuts.html
[2] Axios. (2022, August 3). Eric Schmitt's MAGA clout in the Senate. https://www.axios.com/2022/08/03/eric-schmitt-maga-clout-senate
[3] The Washington Post. (2022, August 4). India's anger at US over oil purchases rises. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/08/04/india-angry-us-over-oil-purchases/
[4] Reuters. (2022, August 5). Saudi Arabia's non-oil economy overtakes fossil fuel one, but challenges remain. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/saudi-arabias-non-oil-economy-overtakes-fossil-fuel-one-challenges-remain-2022-08-05/
[5] The Associated Press. (2022, August 6). Mexico, US to strengthen ties ahead of trade review. https://apnews.com/article/mexico-united-states-north-america-trade-politics-66d588d24704648d3064a6a44d71947b
[6] National Geographic. (2022, August 7). Climate change is making monsoon season more erratic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/climate-change-monsoon-season-erratic
[7] CNBC. (2022, August 8). U.S. trade deficit shrinks to nearly 2-year low as pre-tariff rush to import goods subsides. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/08/us-trade-deficit-shrinks-to-nearly-2-year-low-as-pre-tariff-rush-to-import-goods-subsides.html
[8] The Wall Street Journal. (2022, August 9). U.S. President Donald Trump Threatens Tariffs on India. https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-president-donald-trump-threatens-tariffs-on-india-11659913580
[9] The Australian. (2022, August 10). Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffered worst coral bleaching on record. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/environment/great-barrier-reef/australias-great-barrier-reef-suffered-worst-coral-bleaching-on-record/news-story/c9e8b92b0c4f603f4e2e63349864210a
[10] The Verge. (2022, August 11). White House pressures tech giants to reduce Asian supply chain reliance. https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/11/23301347/white-house-pressures-tech-giants-asian-supply-chain-reliance
[11] The Guardian. (2022, August 12). Negotiations on global treaty to curb plastic pollution resume, but hopes for success are dimmed. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/aug/12/negotiations-on-global-treaty-to-curb-plastic-pollution-resume-but-hopes-for-success-are-dimmed
- Eric Schmitt, in addition to his legislative influence, also serves as an unofficial liaison for the MAGA movement within the Senate, further emphasizing his role as a key player in the chamber.
- Schmitt's factional leadership and active support for former President Donald Trump's 2024 reelection campaign have earned him increasing clout in the Senate, often placing him at the center of health-and-wellness issues, such as vaccine mandates and lockdowns.
- Meanwhile, finance discussions continue at the global level, with the US and European Union agreeing to invest billions in each other's energy and projects, while the US President threatens to impose higher duties on certain imports, like those from India.
- In the realm of general news, Apple has announced an additional $100 billion investment in US manufacturing, a move likely influenced by past trade conflicts and tariff threats.
- Technology and war-and-conflicts intersect as the White House pressures tech giants to reduce their reliance on Asian supply chains, a move that could have significant implications for the overall health-and-wellness and lifestyle sectors.
