The Affogato: The Art of War Meets the Art of the Deal
Plus, Day 8 of Where in the World Is John Zmirak?
When leaders come to the table to talk, amazing things happen.
Made in the U.S.A. and China
Yesterday on Truth Social, President Donald Trump announced he’d struck a tentative truce with China to ease the ongoing trade war, following marathon negotiations in London that concluded near midnight on Tuesday.
The agreement, which is still pending formal approval from Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, stipulates that China will supply critical rare earth minerals and magnets — vital for U.S. aerospace, electric vehicles, and defense industries — after cutting exports by half over the past year. In return, the U.S. will maintain 55% tariffs on Chinese imports, while China keeps its 10% tariffs on U.S. goods. Those rates were reduced from highs of 145% and 125%, respectively, as part of an agreement struck last month.
The deal also allows Chinese students to continue accessing U.S. universities — reversing recent threats from the Trump administration to revoke visas for those linked to the Chinese Communist Party. It may also include the U.S. providing aerospace parts and semiconductor technology to China. The talks, which began Monday in London and included Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, aimed to rebuild trust after negotiations stalled and Trump accused China of violating prior trade terms.
.@PressSec on the China trade negotiations: “What the President heard, he liked. China has agreed to open their markets to the United States separately of this deal… The President is reviewing the details of that with his trade team now.” pic.twitter.com/LguuyFSvXU
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 11, 2025
There is some urgency here: a 90-day reprieve on the tariffs is set to expire on July 9. If nothing happens, the record-high tariffs could be restored According to CBS News, Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Li Chenggang confirmed the framework “in principle,” but Beijing’s state media offered no specifics, and Xi’s approval remains unconfirmed. The negotiations followed heightened tensions, including a call between Trump and Xi focused solely on trade and U.S. threats on Chinese student visas.
It’s all about “The Art of the Deal.”
ABC Boots Moran
Terry Moran, a 28-year veteran at ABC News, was let go by the network on Tuesday after posting a now-deleted X message early Sunday morning labeling Trump and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller as “world-class haters.”
The network said its contract was set to expire this Friday, but also that his recent post “was a clear violation of ABC News policies.”
BREAKING: Terry Moran is out at ABC News, according to CNN’s Brian Stelter.
ABC News, the same outlet that rigged the debate against Trump before the 2024 election, accused Moran of not being “fair.”
“We are at the end of our agreement with Terry Moran and based on his recent… pic.twitter.com/keO36usa7N
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 10, 2025
This is just the latest drama for the network: Last December, Trump won a $15 million defamation case against ABC because George Stephanopoulos wrongfully said Trump had been found “liable for rape” in the E. Jean Carroll civil case. In fact, the jury actually found him to be liable for sexual abuse, which is very different under New York law than rape. No wonder a 2024 Gallup poll found a record-low 36% of Americans expressed having “not very much” confidence in the media.
How much longer do you think legacy media outlets will last before people rely solely on social media for their news?
Saving Lives at Kroger
Last week, Megan Alt saved not one, but two lives during her shift at a Kroger pharmacy in Dayton, Ohio. Alt was helping a customer at the store’s drive-thru window when she noticed he was convulsing, prompting her to grab an EpiPen and call 911. Later that day, a security guard alerted Alt to an unconscious person in the store’s restroom; she once again leapt into action, administering Narcan to the individual before once again calling for emergency services.
We join Kroger and Cedarville University in congratulating OPA member Megan Alt on her quick thinking and decisive action that helped two people
“Local pharmacist saves two lives in one day” https://t.co/5SSb4Is0vW
— Ohio Pharmacists (@OhioPharmacists) June 11, 2025
Kroger praised Alt’s actions saying, “We’re so proud of Megan for taking extraordinary measures to care for her patients when they needed it most.”
Next time you pick up a prescription from your local pharmacy, give them a “thank you” on Megan’s behalf — you never know if they’ll have to save your life one day.
Where in the World Is John Zmirak?
The Affogato summer series game: Where in the World is John Zmirak?
According to Google translate (not the most reliable, but easily available) the art piece is named Imdat Avci, which might translate to, “Distress Hunter.” If you know, you get a bonus point!
Don’t forget, the person with the most correct (or close to correct) submissions will get a free gift from us at the end of the month.
Do you think you know which country John is in? Send your guesses to us at [email protected] or visit our Facebook page.
Along The Stream…
Later this morning, Wanda Alger reminds us that “Platform Ministry Is Not the Standard for Leaders in the Church!”
At the end of the day, Raymond Ibrahim will share “How Islam Erased Christianity from the Holy Land.”
Gayle McQueary is The Stream’s social media specialist. She has a background in production and is a scary judge of what it takes to fill in for John Zmirak.