Trump to discuss

trade in China

BEIJING — President Donald Trump is set to land in Beijing on Wednesday for a state visit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Trump told reporters that trade will be the main focus of their discussions. The Trump administration hopes to establish a “Board of Trade” with China to address differences and prevent further trade conflicts.

Trump also plans to discuss Taiwan and an $11 billion weapons package. He expressed optimism about future relations with China.

Food and Drug

director resigns

WASHINGTON — Marty Makary is resigning as President Donald Trump’s Food and Drug Administration chief. The surgeon and health researcher’s tenure had drawn complaints from pharmaceutical executives, anti-abortion activists and other Trump allies.

The President said Tuesday that Makary “was having some difficulty” but “he’s going to go on and he’s going to do well.” Makary came to prominence as an outspoken critic of public health measures during the COVID pandemic. At the FDA, Makary failed to win the staff’s confidence after mass layoffs, leadership changes and a series of controversies involving vaccines, drugs and electronic cigarettes.

Trump wins, loses

on redistricting

President Donald Trump’s efforts to reshape U.S. House districts have seen mixed outcomes. South Carolina senators defied his push Tuesday, while Missouri’s top court upheld a new map backed by Trump that could benefit Republicans in the midterm elections.

The national redistricting battle has been raging for 10 months. But it became more intense after the U.S. Supreme Court recently weakened the federal Voting Rights Act.

The ruling has led Republicans in states such as Louisiana, Tennessee and Alabama to push for new districts. South Carolina senators expressed concerns that redistricting could backfire, resulting in losses to Democrats.

The Associated Press