Hello and welcome to Background Briefing, available 24-7 at background briefing.

I'm Ian Masters, and today we'll look into a number of stories and issues in the news.

We'll begin with Trump's tariff spree issued on August 1st that is blatantly political rather

than economically motivated, along with the bad jobs report that could augur a downturn for the economy,

which has Trump blaming the messenger, the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics,

who he fired after previously praising her.

Joining us is Matt Gold, a professor of law at Fordham University, where he teaches international

trade law.

He frequently consults with U.S. business on the renegotiation of NAFTA and other U.S. trade

agreements and has been consulted

by the White House National Security Council staff, State Department and members of Congress

on issues at the intersection of trade and national security. He previously held an appointment

with the Executive Office of the President as a Deputy Assistant of U.S. Trade Representative

for North America.

Then, with Trump accusing President Obama of treason and calling President Biden scum,

we will examine attempts by the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard,

to rewrite history according to her boss's dictates with evidence that turns out to be based

on forgeries by Russian intelligence.

Joining us is Scott Horton, a former lecturer at Columbia Law School and a contributing editor

in Harper's In Legal Affairs and National Security.

He serves on the American branch of the International Law Association and has represented a variety of journals and whistleblowers in cases involving national security.

Then finally we will speak with Charles Derber, a professor of sociology at Boston College, a lifelong social justice activist.

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