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STEVE FORBES: Europe’s attacks on US tech firms must stop. We have just the way to do it

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As President Donald Trump grapples with our trade relationships around the world, one longstanding issue has emerged: Europe’s unfair, anticompetitive trade policies governing tech and telecom. America’s innovators and job creators have been treated unfairly for far too long. 

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer recently announced two new Section 301 investigations related to forced labor and manufacturing. Rumblings in Washington, alongside warnings from senior administration officials, indicate that the Trump administration might soon launch a Section 301 investigation into Europe’s discriminatory digital policies. Such a probe is long overdue and should be welcomed. 

But a fair, balanced and transparent digital partnership with our European friends is not a given. Here’s why. Over the next several weeks, Europe will undoubtedly attempt to forestall any potential investigation by pulling the United States into an endless, futile negotiation in which they promise to fix every problem, but in reality simply run out the clock on addressing the issues.

The administration would be wise to avoid getting dragged into such a pointless endeavor that will tie it up in years of bureaucracy and result in an imaginary, never-concluded deal.

US NEEDS TO BREAK CHINA’S SUPPLY CHAIN CHOKEHOLD TO WIN THE TECH RACE

We’ve seen this movie before. During the Obama years, the United States entered negotiations with Europe for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The process ran for three long years without ever producing a final agreement, absorbing time and attention but doing little to address imbalances or alter the underlying trajectory of the trade relationship.

The stakes are far too high for a repeat feature. The most consequential distortion in the transatlantic relationship is unfolding in the regulatory treatment of digital services and platforms. Here, the terms of competition are increasingly being set by a European agenda that is unmistakably protectionist. This unfair arrangement cannot continue, and it’s high time we got to the bottom of it. 

Europe has spent years building a digital regulatory regime that places unique burdens on American technology companies. What it presents as neutral governance to promote so-called European “digital sovereignty” has, in practice, concentrated restrictions on a small group of U.S.-based platforms while leaving domestic competitors largely untouched. And as digital innovation becomes more central to economic and national security, that targeted enforcement has only intensified in scope and scale.

NOT JUST TARIFFS: FOREIGN NATIONS PROFITED OFF OF US — NOW TRUMP IS STRIKING BACK

Europe has already directed roughly $5 billion in data-privacy penalties at American companies, often in the name of “fair competition” or “consumer protection.” At the same, it forces firms like Apple, Google, Amazon, Meta and Microsoft to delay product launches, strip out features, or offer watered-down versions of their services under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), Digital Services Act (DSA) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Comparable scrutiny of non-U.S. competitors has been far less evident.

More recently, that posture has turned even more aggressive. European authorities raided the Paris offices of X in February, following months of investigations and a €120 million fine imposed without any detailed basis for the charge until a U.S. House Committee subpoenaed the decision.

Now European officials are rewriting their proposed Digital Networks Act (DNA) to insert new “network usage fees” that would fall almost entirely on U.S. firms. This, despite a prior commitment in a recent joint U.S.-EU trade framework to avoid such fees. Slipping them into the DNA framework amounts to a deliberate breach of that agreement.

This is not exactly the record of a neutral regulator or a reliable trade ally. Nor is there much indication that Europe intends to ease its push to reshape the digital marketplace through protectionist policies that deliberately single out the United States.

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A Section 301 investigation is needed into these practices, to address discriminatory digital regulation. It would allow the United States to formally assess European practices and provide it with important leverage should the United States wish to enter negotiations after completing the process. 

In the meantime, Europe should abandon its campaign and support a fair playing field. Although European nations complain about a lack of “digital sovereignty” and U.S. dominance, the truth is American firms are, in fact, dependent on European energy systems and connectivity for their data center infrastructure. The wiser play for Europe would be to continue maximizing excellence in these areas, complementing the strengths of the United States through fair competition.

There may be a time and place for further negotiations. But for now, the United States must establish the magnitude of the problem, which can only come through a 301 investigation. Europe cannot be allowed to stall while expanding its regulatory reach, and exporting its discriminatory model to other countries, including right here in the Western Hemisphere.

President Trump and his trade team must not enter into what would be an ill-fated, fruitless discussion with the Europeans. Bluntly put, entering into talks now would be a trap. A Section 301 investigation into European digital protectionism is a necessity. 

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Carville tells Dems to quietly prepare power grab with DC, Puerto Rico statehood and Supreme Court packing

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Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville suggested on Thursday that Democrats should quietly prepare to launch a variety of structural changes to ensure a political advantage once they regain power.

Carville and co-host Al Hunt of the “Politics War Room” podcast took questions from listeners on an episode released Thursday. One asked that if Democrats return to power in 2029, whether they should “flood the zone with a corrective implementation policy using their majority to simultaneously enact a myriad of structural changes to save our democracy and preserve our rights?”

“I’ve got some thoughts about what the Democrats should do [when] they return to power in 2029,” Hunt replied. “But, you know, I haven’t thought it through thoroughly, yet. I’m really focused on what they should do when they win the House and maybe the Senate in 2027, and that’s to hold Trump as accountable as they possibly can.”

Carville, however, offered a more aggressive plan of action, saying, “If the Democrats win the presidency and both houses of Congress, I think on day one, they should make Puerto Rico [and] D.C. a state, and they should expand the Supreme Court to 13. F— it. Eat our dust.”

CARVILLE PREDICTS TRUMP WON’T BE PRESIDENT NEXT YEAR, THREATENS DEMOCRATIC RETRIBUTION

Statehood for Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico are believed to overwhelmingly favor Democrats, likely giving them four more Senate seats. This move, along with expanding the Supreme Court, would likely be viewed by Republicans as a power grab in the pursuit of ensuring a party’s political dominance.

“They’ve done everything they could,” Carville continued. “They held up the 2000 election. They stole it. They’ve stolen Supreme Court seats. They’ve gerrymandered everything that you can.”

In order to make these changes happen, Carville advises Democrats not to publicly advertise them. 

“Don’t run on it. Don’t talk about it. Just do it,” he said. 

He then complained about how low-populated states are able to elect too many senators. 

JAMES CARVILLE URGES DEMOCRATS TO CONSIDER EXPANDING SUPREME COURT IF THEY REGAIN POWER

Carville has made bombastic predictions before, such as believing before the election that Trump, having returned to the White House, would jail journalists and commentators like himself.

But after the first few months of Trump’s presidency, Trump’s once seemingly unbreakable coalition has shattered as some of his most prominent backers have accused him of betraying key campaign promises. With experts predicting defeat for Republicans in the midterm elections, Carville thinks the already stymied president will resign from the presidency afterward.

He has also predicted that political and legal retribution will not only target Trump, but his family, their spouses, and his allies.

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WWE women’s champ Jade Cargill on why she has the edge over Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 42

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Jade Cargill has been a constant presence in the WrestleMania spotlight since she joined WWE in 2023.

Cargill teamed with Naomi and Bianca Belair at WrestleMania 40 to defeat Dakota Kai, Asuka and Kairi Sane. Cargill pinned Kai for the win in that match. At WrestleMania 41, Cargill made history being a part of the first non-stipulation women’s singles match at the event. She defeated Naomi after their friendship fracture.

She is back in the spotlight once more – this time as the WWE women’s champion.

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Cargill won the title at Saturday Night’s Main Event in November, defeating Tiffany Stratton. On Night 2 of WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, she will defend the championship against women’s Elimination Chamber winner Rhea Ripley.

She expressed to Fox News Digital in an interview before her match on Sunday night that she has the edge going in.

“I mean, I’m me. I’m Jade Cargill. I’m the champ. I’m stronger. I’m bigger,” she said. “I mean, she’s been here before, right? Several times. So have I. I’ve had matches against Naomi. Naomi is spectacular in her own right. She was our champion. The only reason why she dropped the title was because she was pregnant. So, it’s not like I haven’t gone up against champions who have graced major events and who have been spectacular in their own right.

“I’ve done this before. I mean, I’m me, that’s all I have to say. The only way to go is up. She’s been up. It’s time to go down. I just don’t see it ending right now. I’m 2-0. I’m red hot. I just formed a group with Michin and B-Fab. Who’s going to stop us?”

Cargill wouldn’t say whether Michin and B-Fab will be by her side at her WrestleMania match but stressed that she found allies in them as Ripley turned her attention away from “Monday Night Raw” and onto “Friday Night Smackdown.”

WWE CHAMP JADE CARGILL VERY HOPEFUL TO MEET ‘STONE COLD’ STEVE AUSTIN AT HALL OF FAME CEREMONY

She suggested to Fox News Digital the three were allies of convenience rather than a full-fledged stable.

“We’re more of allies. We’re not a group, we’re more of allies. They had their issues with her. I came in with my issues. Like, who are you to come to SmackDown? And I look at our locker room and I’m like, ‘This girl came from Raw to SmackDown and she thinks she’s going to run things and you guys are gonna let …’ Because I played by the rules for too long. I was trying to adjust. It was a year of adjustments – all these things. I was trying to do things the right way when all along, that little voice in me was telling me, ‘No, you know the right way, and the right way is left. Don’t go right. Don’t listen. It’s gonna get you nowhere. You’re going to be going in circles for years.’ And that’s what I was doing.

“So, we all came together and we figured out … Well, they came to me and it was more so, like, ‘You know what? You were right. It shouldn’t be like this. We should band together and get this person who is an outsider, let’s get her out.’ She doesn’t even deserve to be on SmackDown. And that’s why we became allies. We both have a common enemy. And so, we were like, let’s get rid of this girl. Let’s be done. And that was smart.”

Cargill said getting to this point had been a lot of “trial and error” since she joined WWE.

She made her debut at the 2024 Royal Rumble and made her mark on SmackDown by helping out Naomi and Belair. She and Belair became two-time tag team champions in that span and in 2025, she won the Queen of the Ring tournament.

“It’s been a trial-and-error run. It’s also been a trial of adjustments because I was used to being one way,” Cargill told Fox News Digital. “I came in as a babyface while naturally I’m a heel. I want people to hate me. I love the motivation behind it. And then going from being all about myself and into a tag team, that was an adjustment as well.

“It was a lot of elements that I had to change about myself and about my character and growing and learning to be selfless and learning to be a good guy and to care. … So, it was years of trial and error and just adjustments.”

Cargill’s reign has surpassed 165 days and will look to continue her dominance through WrestleMania 42 this weekend.

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Starmer and Macron accused of ‘playing at being relevant’ with Strait of Hormuz plan

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As British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron convene a summit Friday on the future of the Strait of Hormuz, the two leaders are pushing a European-led plan to reopen the vital shipping lane after the war, without U.S. leadership.

The proposal envisions a post-conflict naval mission made up of Britain, France and other “non-belligerent” countries that would deploy only after fighting ends. Unlike President Donald Trump’s current strategy of blockading Iranian ports with U.S. naval power, the Anglo-French initiative is intended to be separate from the warring parties and focused on restoring commercial shipping.

A senior European official insisted the initiative is not meant to go around Washington, telling Fox News Digital that Paris began discussing a future maritime mission “from day one” of the conflict and is now formalizing those plans jointly with London.

NATO CHIEF SIGNALS ALLIES MAY ACT ON HORMUZ, WARNS OF ‘UNHEALTHY CODEPENDENCE’ ON US

Macron and Starmer are expected to host a summit to advance what both governments describe as a “coordinated, independent, multinational plan” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz once the fighting ends.

“France and the United Kingdom will also host a conference in Paris this Friday, bringing together by video conference non-belligerent countries ready to contribute, alongside us, to a multilateral and purely defensive mission aimed at restoring freedom of navigation in the strait when security conditions allow,” Macron wrote on X.

Starmer similarly described the effort as a “coordinated, independent, multinational plan to safeguard international shipping when the conflict ends,” saying Britain had already convened more than 40 nations around the initiative, Reuters reported. Washington was not part of those earlier talks.

The European senior official said the proposed force would be “strictly defensive” and would only deploy after active fighting and bombardment have ended, with the goal of restoring normal shipping rather than enforcing a wartime corridor.

“What we want in the end is no blockade, no toll, no nothing that blocks the fluidity of what is going through the Strait of Hormuz,” the official told Fox News Digital, while stressing that Iran remains “the first problem.”

The official also rejected suggestions that Paris and London are trying to sideline the Trump administration, saying the U.S. has been kept informed and that there is extensive coordination with Washington even if the emerging mission is currently limited to “non-belligerent” countries.

WATCH: EX-NATO CHIEF DRAWS RED LINE AS TRUMP FUMES ALLIANCE ABANDONED US DURING IRAN WAR

“We’re coordinating a lot with them,” the official said, adding that the goal is to create a framework that can operate once the conflict is over.

Macron has repeatedly emphasized that France’s envisioned mission would be “strictly defensive” and ruled out escorting ships while “bombings” are ongoing. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said “several dozen countries” already had participated in preparatory discussions led by military chiefs of staff, and that any future mission would also require coordination with Gulf coastal states, according to Reuters.

The Anglo-French initiative comes as Trump has taken a far more aggressive approach, ordering the U.S. Navy to blockade Iranian ports and continue operations aimed at securing the strategic waterway after ceasefire talks between the U.S. and Iran collapsed in Pakistan.

Critics argue that without American military power, the European proposal risks being largely symbolic.

PAKISTANI GENERAL SAYS IRAN DIPLOMACY STILL ‘ALIVE, DESPITE US BLOCKADE, FAILED TALKS

Britain and France are overstating what they can realistically achieve, The Henry Jackson Society analyst Barak Seener said. 

“Britain and France are playing at being relevant as so-called ‘Middle Powers’ in international affairs,” Seener told Fox News Digital.

“Keir Starmer’s assertion ‘We’re not getting dragged into the war’ disguises the embarrassing fact that the Royal Navy is facing a hollowed out crisis, causing the initiative to be ‘strictly defensive’,” he said.

“France’s navy is also facing structural and budgetary pressures that strain its ability to conduct high-tempo operations.”

“It is laughable that a European coalition of ‘non-belligerent’ countries that are only willing to engage once hostilities have ended can even speak of protecting its shipping lanes,” Seener added.

“Ultimately, the U.S.’s deployment of hard power, consisting of carrier strike groups and fighter aircraft to blockade Iranian ports and clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz, can protect shipping lanes.”

The U.K. government and the White House did not reply to Fox News Digital’s request for comment before publication.

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