Greetings, TicToc readers! Friday's almost over. Here's what's happening: But first...  Trump ups the ante on illegal migrantsPresident Trump threatened to impose a 5% tariff on all Mexican imports unless Mexico "substantially stops" the flow of undocumented immigrants into the U.S. The move confounded just about everyone in the political arena with some saying he "weaponized" tariffs, traditionally seen as a last resort, to achieve policies that have nothing to do with economics or trade. More: - The proposed tariffs would rise 5% each month, to a 25% cap.
- Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said his foreign minister was en route to Washington to talk Trump out of the move.
- Bipartisan senators reminded Trump that tariffs would harm the U.S. economy and chances of passing a North American trade deal.
- Trump reportedly sees the tariffs as financing for his promised border wall, his signature campaign pledge.
Headlines from around the worldEight super-spellers were crowned co-champions of the Scripps National Spelling Bee after 20 rounds of ten-dollar words. Missouri's last abortion clinic can stay open for now, a judge ruled, allowing the St. Louis Planned Parenthood to keep offering the procedure. South Africa for the first time ever has a gender-balanced cabinet after President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed more female ministers. Illinois lawmakers voted to legalize recreational marijuana, becoming the 11th U.S. state to do so. Hungarian authorities said rapid Danube River currents are hindering search and rescue efforts for 21 missing South Korean tourists. Data of the dayGet ready to pay more for Mexican avocados. That's the word from producers and sellers south of the border in the wake of Trump's tariff threat and a particularly difficult time for the avocado market.  Lean back and watchYou don't see this every day. Sen. Ted Cruz backed AOC's call to ban lobbying by former members of Congress. Anita Hill urged grads to push #MeToo forward. Sexual assault deniers "have friends in high places," but you must "never give up your voice." The best place to find a job is Massachusetts. Washington and Colorado also top the ranks of the best U.S. states for work-life balance. This'll only take a minuteAre you on WhatsApp? Give us one minute a day and we'll send you all the top stories and why they matter. It's more than just headlines. It's context, analysis and commentary to give you the bigger picture.
Sign up today.  Don't miss thisStunning. Italy's Mount Etna, Europe's tallest volcano, lit up the night sky when it erupted, spewing giant plumes of ash. Moving and shaking. AOC returned to Queens and stepped behind the bar to promote a national living wage for restaurant workers. Revolutionary. An air taxi startup developed a prototype for a hydrogen-powered hovercraft that could tackle gridlock and pollution.  Before you goThe origins of Trump Baby. Laugh all you want at the giant balloon of the president in a diaper, but the man behind the oft political-rally headliner wanted to prove a point. "It was born as a kind of precision-guided weapon to pierce that ego and make him see how we see him," he said.  Thanks for reading! Watch your inbox for our next newsletter tomorrow. Until then, share TicToc Tonight with your friends.
-Andrew Mach | 
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