Trump Says the U.S. Will Buy Russian Diesel to Ease Prices Before the Midterms

NPR reports that Trump says the U.S. will obtain diesel from Russia, relaxing years of U.S. pressure on Moscow in order to combat prices ahead of the midterms. Trump said he struck the deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call, according to the same report. That framing is doing more work than a trade headline usually does: the stated purpose is domestic — prices — and the stated cost is a loosening of pressure on Moscow, which is a policy shift, not just a purchase.