DV Journal

Since resuming office, President Trump has not for one minute parted from his promise to leverage tariffs to ignite a new “golden age.” At times, he seems to be working continually to stimulate major trading partners into arrangements that make America great again. However, anyone attempting to follow the bouncing tariff proposals may get dizzy. What is the president trying to do, and why does it seem so hard to make final decisions?

To whatever degree the tariffs are about controlling access to America’s economy and securing something in return, a fluid situation will result. Trump’s expensive bargaining chip may also require him to navigate a strange political alliance — one that frequently forms when the government puts its thumb on the scale of business matters.

In February, Trump announced 25 percent tariffs on all goods from Mexico and Canada and a 10 percent added tariff on China. Days later, after outcries, the tariffs were delayed and coverage modified. More recently, we were told that tariffs would be expanded to more nations — perhaps all nations — with each border tax charged equal to what they charge America.

A “sauce for goose is good for the gander” approach might spur agreements to bring down tariffs, which could be positive. However, there are more questions to consider before drawing that happy conclusion.

Is this primarily an effort to leverage trade partners to reduce the entry of fentanyl and other illegal drugs? To protect U.S. industries from low-cost foreign competition? To re-industrialize America? To garner revenues that help balance the budget? All this and more?

These things matter, but let’s consider another possibility: The tariff movement is mainly about Trump, a modern colossus who stands empowered and athwart U.S. entry points. One who, rattling the keys to the world’s largest legally safe consumer market, uses tariffs as a lever to change how the world works. Perhaps tariffs are, in a sense, tribute.

Economic theory can reveal a lot about political behavior, including how a president enjoys enough support to wield a policy that, all things equal, costs Americans quite a bit of money.

In the case of federal regulations like these, my 1983 Bootlegger-Baptist theory of regulation has been called on by regulatory scholars to explain features of the NAFTA trade deal and the Clean Air Act; OSHA safety standards, interstate trucking regulation, and the Pure Food and Drug Act; regulation of genetically modified organisms; gambling legislation; blood donation; the 1990s tobacco settlement; and pending AI regulation.

The theory gets its name from regulating the Sunday sale of alcohol in American states and cities. This tends to occur when two distinct groups join the cause: Bootleggers (who enjoy a day without legal competition) and traditional Baptists (who have argued that consuming alcohol is immoral). Both favor Sunday closing laws but for decidedly different reasons.

Time and again, when a regulation is proposed, one group takes some moral high ground. The other — maybe bootleggers, legal businesses better positioned to navigate a new regulation than their competitors, or industries protected by tariffs — laughs all the way to the bank.

Meanwhile, politicians can appeal to moral sympathies with a sincere smile while caring for well-heeled bootleggers.

In today’s tariff conversation, “Baptists” may make strong and sympathetic moral arguments about reducing drug deaths, improving federal revenues, and generating a more level international playing field. Each point is richly supported by public interest groups.

The obvious candidates for the “bootlegger” camp are the industries tariffs protect. Tariffs reduce their competition and enhance their profits. Others might include wealthy taxpayers who see their future bills lightened by an alternative form of government revenue. Some bootleggers might even put on Baptist clothing, perhaps sincerely, as they call for higher tariffs — but the profit motive remains.

Finally, there’s Trump, the politician-broker who, as gatekeeper, gains tribute — call it political currency — from both groups. The president may believe tariffs are a moral imperative and see himself playing a major Baptist role. Like countless politicians before him, he is also the chief enabler of the bootlegger.

To secure a position that is not in the immediate best interests of U.S. consumers, Trump can lean on an invisible network of bootleggers and Baptists.

Trump appointee David Metcalf has been sworn in as interim United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The White House has nominated Metcalf to a four year term. His appointment must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

Metcalf most recently worked as Amazon’s corporate counsel for government and regulatory litigation.

Metcalf previously served as an assistant U.S. Attorney for this office and the District of Maryland, where he also served as deputy chief of appeals. There, he won an award for his prosecution of organized crime. He also served as a senior DOJ official and senior counsel to the United States Deputy Attorney General and United States Attorney General.

Before his DOJ career,  Metcalf was an associate at Covington and Burling LLP and clerked for Judge Albert Diaz of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Metcalf is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and Princeton University.

“I’m pleased to once again serve the people of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania,” Metcalf said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues here to uphold the rule of law and prosecute criminals who threaten our communities.”

Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) said via X, “While we have an agreed-upon process with the White House for assessing and recommending U.S. Attorney candidates, the administration informed us earlier this week of its desire to accelerate this process for the Eastern District and nominate David Metcalf to serve as U.S. Attorney. Although I do not know Mr. Metcalf, I look forward to meeting with him and exploring his qualifications for this important role.”

McCormick had previously announced commissions to make recommendations for the U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshal appointments. Applications were due by the end of March. However, President Donald Trump didn’t wait for that process to play out and announced his appointment of Metcalf. Usually, a state’s U.S. senators are consulted and give the president their recommendation for a U.S. Attorney.

Last month, Trump made headlines when he fired all the U.S. Attorneys appointed by President Biden. The dismissal of U.S. attorneys after a change in administration is typical, particularly when there is a change of party as well.

Metcalf replaces Biden appointee Jacqueline Romero, who resigned after Trump was elected.

The appointment of a Republican U.S. Attorney has more significance in southeastern Pennsylvania than other places.

State Rep. Craig Williams (R-Delaware/Chester) has proposed a bill establishing a Gun Violence Task Force (GVTF) that would get the U.S. Attorney — as well as the state attorney general and other state and local agencies — involved in the fight against gun crime. It’s a response in part to the policies of progressive District Attorney Larry Krasner.

“Between 2018 and 2024, more than 12,000 people were shot in Philadelphia, with nearly 2,500 of those shootings proving fatal,” Williams said in a statement. “We must bring the full weight of law enforcement to combat this crisis. This legislation creates a multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force with direct prosecutorial authority to remove violent felons from our streets.”

When President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday banning biological males from girls sports, he was surrounded by future and former female athletes who cheered his actions.

But the response from elected officials in Pennsylvania was far more mixed.

The order directs federal agencies like the Justice and Education Departments to withhold federal tax dollars from institutions that violate Title IX which prohibits sex-based discrimination in the allocation of federal funds.

That includes discriminating against women by allowing biological males to play on their teams.

“My administration will not stand by and watch men beat and batter female athletes. We’re just not going to let it happen,” Trump said. “With this executive order, the war on women’s sports is over.”

Wednesday was National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

Tiffany Justice, co-founder of Moms for Liberty, was thrilled to be at the White House ceremony Wednesday to witness the president signing the executive order.

“It was really great,” said Justice. “We brought moms from all over the country with their daughters, who are athletes. It was just great to see the president surrounded by children. He truly is an amazing president for our children.”

The issue is “something that I became aware of when I was on the school board [in Florida] and then in the past four years,” said Justice. “I traveled around the country hearing so many stories from moms and dads who are so concerned about their girls playing on sports teams with boys, about gender confusion being introduced to the children in the classroom. So it was a great opportunity to be part of something really historic.”

“The president said he didn’t believe that he had to say that men should play on girls’ sports teams,” said Justice. “He doesn’t believe he had to even say that, right? It’s common sense. But now is the time to speak the truth and Donald Trump is a commonsense president.”

“We are putting every school receiving taxpayer dollars on notice: If you let men take over women’s sports teams or invade your locker rooms, you will be investigated for violations of Title IX and risk your federal funding,” Trump said.

The order said all federal funds “would be rescinded from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities.”

Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) supported the president’s action. “I will always fight to protect the integrity of women’s sports and defend the hard-fought gains for women under Title IX. President Trump’s executive order is just commonsense.”

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Delaware) said on X, “Great to meet with @WomensSportsFdn to discuss how to forge a path forward in this administration so we can create equal opportunities and foster safer environments for girls and women to play sports.”

But she did not respond when asked to comment specifically about Trump’s order. Congresswomen Madeleine Dean (D-Montgomery) and Chrissy Houlahan did not respond to requests to comment. Nor did Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks).

In the past, these Delaware Valley Democrats didn’t hesitate to express their support for males who identify as females being allowed to compete in girls sports. But polls have shifted.

A new poll from the left-leaning New York Times found 79 percent of Americans support the Trump policy. That includes 67 percent of Democrats. The same poll also found that, while voters put the economy, health care, and immigration at the top of their priorities, they believe the Democratic Party’s priorities are abortion, LGBT issues, and climate change.

Jamie Walker, a Bucks County parent, said, “I am so happy one of President Trump’s first priorities is to protect girls’ sports. Many women voted in this election because they wanted their daughters to have the same rights they had growing up and President Trump made that happen. He keeps his promises.”

Guy Ciarrocchi, a Chester County dad, longtime girls’ softball coach, and Republican commentator, said, “Women’s sports are a treasure—an opportunity for young girls to become extraordinary athletes, teammates and leaders. It’s a gift for those who play, and a gift those of us blessed to coach them. This gift should never be threatened due to political games—and never, ever be taken away.”

DVJournal asked Justice about codifying the executive order into a law passed by Congress, since another president could come along and change it.

“We’ll look to Congress to now pass a law,” said Justice, who spoke with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.). Mace believes Congress will enact the necessary legislation.

Trump said he wants the policy to apply to the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

“President Trump said he’s going to work with [Secretary of State] Marco Rubio to ensure the IOC [International Olympic Committee] does not allow men to compete against women in America during the Olympics,” said Justice. “It’s incredible that we’re able to make the changes here in our own country that are going to affect the rest of the world.”

Noting the Biden Justice Department had taken “unprecedented action” in its raid on Mar-a-Lago, former FBI agent and current Bucks County Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick urged citizens and his congressional colleagues to “weigh the weight of their words.”

In an appearance on CBS’s “Face the Nation” Sunday, Fitzpatrick said he has been contacted by the FBI and warned that “my life has been put in danger recently” in the backlash to the DOJ’s seizure of documents from the home of former President Donald Trump.

“It was an unprecedented action which needs to be supported by unprecedented justification…this has never happened before in our county’s history,” said Fitzpatrick. “Was there unprecedented justification? That remains an open question, and we know exactly where to look and that was the affidavit of probable cause and that document remains under seal.

“Because we don’t have that information I encourage all my colleagues on the left and the right to reserve judgment and not get ahead of themselves because we do not know what that document may contain. It’s going to answer a lot of questions,” he said.

The Bucks County Republican urged calm, telling host Margaret Brennan he is concerned about threats of violence to his former colleagues after the names of the FBI agents who searched former Trump’s Florida home were revealed.

“Everybody needs to call for calm across the board. And everybody needs to respect our law enforcement whether it be local, state or federal,” said Fitzpatrick. “I’m very concerned for the safety of our law enforcement officers.”

“I myself have been notified by the bureau that my life was put in danger recently by some of these same people, and violence is never the answer to anything,” he said.

Asked about the rhetoric of some Republicans in the wake of the DOJ’s actions, Fitzpatrick said the problem is bipartisan.

“It’s all my colleagues, and we’ve seen disrespect across the political spectrum, which I’ve mentioned with local law enforcement, the Supreme Court, and federal law enforcement. None of it is okay. None of it,” he said.

Fitzpatrick mentioned the 2017 attack on the Republican Congress members at a baseball practice by a Bernie Sanders supporter, the recent threats to U.S. Supreme Court members after Roe v. Wade was overturned, as well as threats to law enforcement during the riots of 2020.

Fitzpatrick has been offering measured responses to the Mar-a-Lago raid since the news first broke. “As the only FBI agent in Congress, I’ve been getting many inquiries regarding tonight’s reported enforcement action at Mar-a-Lago,” Fitzpatrick said in a statement last Monday. “I will get to the bottom of this, will follow the facts wherever they lead and will report with unimpeachable integrity. I will get to the truth.”

His Democratic opponent, government and public service sector consultant Ashley Ehasz, says that is not enough.

“So now, all of a sudden, he wants to ‘get to the truth,’ after he voted against the Jan. 6th Committee and voted against impeaching Trump twice? As a combat veteran, I was deeply disturbed by Trump’s narrative that the election was ‘stolen,’ but this former FBI agent helped cast doubt on the election results by sending a letter to the Governor alleging election fraud when it was clear the results were sound,” Ehasz said.

Asked by CBS’s Brennan about the receipt showing Trump had classified and top secret and above in boxes in his home, Fitzpatrick said, “Nobody is claiming, certainly I’m not, that it’s okay to have classified information outside of a SCIF (Secure Compartmented Information Facility). I know that better than anybody, given my former profession and current committee assignment.

“But the problem is the administration is disputing a lot of what’s being publicly reported, so the affidavit will answer that question. It will be able to tell us who is providing this information. Is it the prior administration or the current administration? We need to get that clarified.”

Brennan asked whether it would be appropriate to release it now, during an active investigation.

“I would say at the very least, Margaret, for the public consumption, they can certainly bring it into the SCIF to bring it to our house intelligence committee members,” he said. “We, after all, do have oversight over the entire intelligence apparatus. So that’s what’s puzzling to us.”

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Just four days before the primary, President Donald Trump announced his pick for Pennsylvania governor: Sen. Doug Mastriano.

Mastriano (R-Franklin) is already ahead by 10 points in the latest Trafalgar Group poll from last Monday.

“There is no one in Pennsylvania who has done more, or fought harder, for Election Integrity than State Senator Doug Mastriano,” Trump wrote. “He has revealed the Deceit, Corruption, and outright Theft of the 2020 Presidential Election, and will do something about it.”

“I’m honored to receive the endorsement from President Trump, today,” Mastriano said. “But the honor is not for me. It’s for the millions of hard-working Pennsylvanians who want their individual liberties restored, power returned to the people, and for their elected leaders to fulfill the America First — and Pennsylvania First — agenda.

“Our grassroots supporters across Pennsylvania know that Donald Trump and I will always have their backs. We are all committed to ending the era of party bosses, dark money interest groups, and flawed elections. It’s time for Pennsylvanians to unite, with the support of President Trump, and focus on defeating Josh Shapiro so we can revive our economy, achieve energy independence, lower taxes, restore law and order, and reform our failing education system,” Mastriano said.

Mastriano, 58, a conservative firebrand who served for 30 years in the Army and retired as a colonel, also holds a doctorate history and four master’s degrees.

In recent days, the Republican Party establishment has put out the call to unite around former Congressman Lou Barletta, who is also running for governor.  State Sen. Jake Corman dropped out of the race and endorsed Barletta on Thursday, as did former Gov. Mark Schweiker and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum.

Barletta issued this statement after Trump endorsed Mastriano:  “Throughout this campaign I have proved that I’m the best Republican to unite the Republican Party and defeat Josh Shapiro, and I will continue unifying our grassroots conservatives towards our shared goal. I will continue making the case to the people that I am the only candidate who can unite the party and bring victory in November. I look forward to having President Trump’s endorsement Wednesday morning.”

In the same vein, a spokeswoman for GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill McSwain, said, “Bill McSwain is a conservative outsider and U.S. Marine with a lifelong history of public service. He is the only candidate who can beat Josh Shapiro, and the clear choice for voters who want to see a Republican victory in November.”

McSwain, a former U.S. Attorney, received a stinging un-endorsement from Trump a few weeks ago over his lack of investigation into irregularities that Trump believes cost him the 2020 election. McSwain blamed his boss, U.S. Attorney Bill Barr. However, in his capacity as a state senator, Mastriano has called for a Pennsylvania audit and traveled to Arizona to observe what officials did there.

Party regulars fear that Mastriano will not be able to win in the fall against Democrat Josh Shapiro, and indeed, the Shapiro campaign has been running commercials touting Mastriano.

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Former President Donald Trump gave his endorsement to Dr. Mehmet Oz in the Pennsylvania Senate race on Saturday. Oz is one of several candidates running in the Republican primary. The campaigns and supporting political action committees are flooding the state with television, radio and internet ads.

Meanwhile, an EagleView survey came out of the field Saturday afternoon, just hours before Trump endorsed Oz.

That survey of 502 likely Republican primary voters showed Dave McCormick in the lead, with 18.1 percent, followed by Oz at 11 percent. Carla Sands came in at third with 9.2 percent, with Kathy Barnette was fourth at 8.8 percent.

Jeff Bartos finished with 5.8 percent and Sean Gale and George Bochetto were both below 1.5 percent, rounding out the seven-person field. But the poll showed that more than 45 percent of Republicans remain undecided in the race.

“Our GOP poll can serve as a benchmark in the Senate primary, coming as it did just prior to Trump’s endorsement of Dr. Oz,” said Christopher Nicholas, veteran Republican political consultant and president of Eagle Consulting Group. “Despite Oz’s big endorsement, this Senate race still seems like it’s only in the 4th or 5th inning, though it could cause GOP voters to give Oz another look.”

However, many Delaware Valley Republicans had expressed discontent with Trump before the 2020 election and voted for President Joe Biden. Do they agree with Trump’s endorsement now?

The opinions of area Republicans who spoke to the Delaware Valley Journal were mixed, although those who were already leaning toward Oz’s main opponent, former hedge fund CEO David McCormick, were not swayed to support the celebrity doctor.

“I still see McCormick winning,” said Radnor resident Austin Hepburn. “Trump can’t make Oz electable. The endorsement is almost at cross purposes. The people who like Oz are not necessarily Trump’s base. The people who are loyal to Trump understand he has his faults, particularly when it comes to making judgments about people.”

Fred Dascenzo of Newtown agreed with Hepburn.

“I think it’s a mistake,” said Dascenzo. “I don’t believe Dr. Oz is a real conservative. I think, actually, Dave McCormick is a better fit and would have better synergy.”

“The Donald errs when he bases advice on Nielsen ratings instead of constitutional conservatism,” said Philadelphia oncologist Dr. Robert Sklaroff. “The flip-flop on whether Oz would relinquish Turkish citizenship reflects a desperate effort to achieve historical revisionism. Recalling Trump’s premature endorsement of Sean Parnell, it’s hoped the third time will be the charm.”

But Republicans in Oz’s camp see this as a feather in his cap and another reason to back him.

“I went to see Dr. Oz and I liked him. I support Trump and I believe if he believes in Dr. Oz there’s a reason,” said D. J. McGinley, a Skippack resident. Oz is “pro-life, pro-gun and Second Amendment, against the vaccine mandate. I do believe Dr. Oz believes in the American people in the health of everyone. He has been talking about this even before he thought he had to get involved in politics. It’s time for a change. We need to talk about getting healthy and fit as being Americans. And stop the endorsement enforcing people to get vaccinated. Trump deserves his rightful position. I support him. I know there’s controversy with Dr. Oz. However, he’s a heart doctor and if it takes a doctor to stop the madness, I will endorse him. He’s putting his own job on the line.”

Maryann Brown of Warminster agreed.

“I agree with Trump,” she said. “Dr. Oz is smart and tough and he will not let us down! The TV ads for Oz make him the one for the job! My friends and I all voted for Trump and we will vote for Oz. Dr. Oz has a house in Bucks County and he is local.”

Elliott Tessler, a Philadelphia resident, said Trump’s endorsement will help Oz, although he is among the large contingent of undecided voters at the moment.

“The people he’s endorsed have had success,” said Tessler. “Oz was very supportive of Trump. Pennsylvania is ready for change. I’m looking forward to Republican success at the end of the year.”

Wayne resident Leslie Morgan was surprised by Trump’s move.

But, she said Pennsylvania Republicans are “lucky we have such a deep bench” and several “great candidates.” She likes both Oz and McCormick, as well as Montgomery county developer Jeff Bartos, and former ambassador Carla Sands.

“We have a great chance to win the Senate race,” said Morgan. “Dr. Oz is a very telegenic guy. He puts you at ease. I love the idea of a nonpolitician and a doctor who is a solutions-driven candidate.”

She believes bread and butter issues will carry the day with voters.

“People should ask themselves, are they better off today than under the prior administration,” said Morgan. “When we look at our household incomes, we’re paying more for gas and food. Which side of the table do you want to be on? Those that want to create energy independence and increases or those that want more regulation and reliance of foreign oil? Low-interest rates and oil are the mother’s milk of the economy. And Pennsylvania is losing jobs and young workers. We’re the third oldest (in demographics) state.”

“We need leadership and real solutions,” Morgan said.

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The Democrat-controlled congressional committee investigating the January 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol has subpoenaed a Pennsylvania state senator to testify.

Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Franklin), who is running for governor, attended the rally for former President Donald Trump, but he did not participate in the riot or enter the Capitol building.

“Based on publicly available information and information produced to the Select Committee, we believe that you have documents and information that are relevant to the Select Committee’s investigation. For example, we understand that you have knowledge of and participated in a plan to arrange for an alternate slate of electors to be presented to the President of the Senate on January 6, 2021, and we understand that you spoke with former President Trump about your post-election activities,” the letter to Mastriano from committee Chairman Rep. Bernie G. Thompson (D-Miss.) said.

”Based on your public statements, we understand that you were present during the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, and that you witnessed ‘agitators…getting in the face of the police’ and ‘agitators…start pushing the police up the [Capitol] steps,'” the letter said.

The subpoena is unlikely to hurt Mastriano’s chances in the GOP primary, political observers agree. But it could prove a liability in the general election if he were to be the Republican nominee. A recent poll of primary voters showed Mastriano within 4 points of frontrunner Lou Barletta, a former congressman.

“I think it is too soon to tell whether this is going to become an issue for the Mastriano campaign,” said Berwood Yost, director of the Floyd Institute for Public Policy at Franklin & Marshall College. “I think it could help him with his core supporters generally and with those in the Republican Party who align with former President Trump if he chooses to defy the subpoena, which could be a benefit in the primary campaign. Complying with the subpoena could hurt him with those same voters. However this works out for the primary, I could see this as being harmful to a general election race.”

Mastriano was first elected to the state Senate in May 2019.

Mastriano could not immediately be reached for comment regarding the committee’s demand that he testify.

He is on record questioning the integrity of 2020 election. Mastriano also traveled to Arizona to observe the forensic audit there, before calling for a similar audit to be performed in Pennsylvania.

However, after running afoul of the Senate leadership, Mastriano was stripped of the job of overseeing the audit, replaced by Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee Chairman Sen. Chris Dush (R-Jefferson). Mastriano has continued to push for election integrity in the commonwealth, including his opposition to changes made to Act 77, which allows no-excuse mail-in ballots.

The audit remains tied up in court because of a lawsuit brought by Attorney General Josh Shapiro. Shapiro, a Democrat, is also running for governor.

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