Washington
How Washington’s tag on China’s CATL could affect Tesla
By Michael Martina and Chris Kirkham
(Reuters) – Washington’s addition of CATL to a list of firms it says work with China’s military could put Tesla founder Elon Musk in a tight spot, challenging how he balances his role in the Trump administration with his ties to China.
CATL, the world’s largest battery maker, is a major supplier of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries to Tesla for its Shanghai factory, the U.S. automaker’s largest. Tesla has been exporting these cars equipped with CATL batteries to other markets such as Europe and Canada.
Lawmakers have decried some of CATL’s battery storage projects across the United States, arguing they represent potential security threats. The U.S. market accounted for 4% and 35% of CATL’s electric vehicle (EV) and electric storage systems (ESS) batteries, respectively, in 2023, according to Citi estimates.
The U.S. Department of Defense on Monday designated CATL and other Chinese companies including tech giant Tencent Holdings as linked to China’s military. While the designation does not involve any restrictions on CATL’s business, it can be a blow to the reputations of affected companies and serves as a stark warning to U.S. entities about the risks of doing business with them. It could also add pressure on the U.S. Treasury Department to sanction the companies.
Tesla and CATL are working on an agreement to license CATL technology for battery production in Nevada. A person familiar with the matter said that the deal is expected to launch in 2025.
CATL is also set to supply battery cells and packs to Tesla’s Shanghai plant for Megapack, its energy storage product, people familiar with the matter said. The two are also in talks over how CATL can increase its supplies as the Megapack business grows.
Tesla and Musk did not respond to requests for comment.
No near-term impact is expected for Tesla, but Seth Goldstein, a Morningstar analyst, said “being potentially excluded from military contracts may give everyone considering a partnership with CATL a pause.”
Last February, under pressure from lawmakers, U.S. utility company Duke Energy said it would decommission energy-storage batteries produced by CATL at one of the nation’s largest Marine Corps bases and will phase out CATL products at its civilian projects.
Goldstein added he expects Tesla to continue its partnerships with CATL because of the importance of the company’s relationships with the Chinese government. Upending those ties “could potentially be worse than any political ramifications in the U.S.,” he said.
Washington
Trump honors National Guard members shot in Washington – WTOP News
WASHINGTON (AP) — Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, who survived a gunshot wound to the head while patrolling with…
WASHINGTON (AP) — Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, who survived a gunshot wound to the head while patrolling with the National Guard in Washington last year, was presented the Purple Heart medal during Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday.
Trump honored Wolfe and his colleague, U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom during his speech, before pausing so Gen. James Seward, head of the West Virginia National Guard, could pin the medal on Wolfe’s civilian suit.
“With God’s help, Andrew has battled back from the edge of death—and we’re talking about the edge—on his way to a miraculous recovery,” Trump said.
“Nice to see you,” he added, looking up at Wolfe in the gallery.
Trump recalled his mother’s determination that he would recover, even as others doubted it would be possible to survive his severe injuries. She buried her head in her son’s chest as the president spoke.
Wolfe and Beckstrom, members of the West Virginia National Guard, were shot in an ambush on Nov. 26 while deployed to Washington as part of Trump’s executive order to battle what he said was rampant crime. Beckstrom died on Thanksgiving Day.
Trump also spoke directly to Beckstrom’s parents in the gallery.
“Your daughter was a true American patriot and she will be greatly missed,” Trump told Evalea and Gary Beckstrom.
The tributes prompted several minutes of bipartisan applause.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who was wounded in the attack, has been charged in connection with the shooting. He has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody. Authorities say he drove across the country from his home in Washington state to execute the attack.
Lakanwal, 29, entered the United States in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, officials said. The Biden administration program evacuated and resettled tens of thousands of Afghans after the U.S. withdrawal from the country.
Trump, who halted asylum decisions in response to the shooting, said during his speech that the gunman “shouldn’t have been in our country.”
Copyright
© 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
Washington
Washington University officials issue all-clear after reports of armed person on campus
Washington University issued an all-clear alert Tuesday morning after police completed a search of the Danforth campus.
The university said normal activity on campus could resume and there was no threat.
The university had issued reports of an armed person on the Danforth campus earlier in the morning. University officials asked students to shelter in place while police searched the area around Brookings Hall.
The first alert, issued at 9:18 a.m., read “WashU Alert: Armed person on Danforth Campus. Run, Hide, or Fight. If hiding, lock or barricade yourself in a room until further notice. If off campus, stay away. Updates at emergency.washu.edu.”
A second alert, issued minutes later, said police were on the scene near Brookings Hall and other buildings on the Danforth campus.
This story has been updated.
Washington
‘Eye-opening’: Ursula shocked at nearly half of ICE arrests in Washington have no criminal history
After federal data revealed that nearly 2,000 people were taken into ICE custody in Washington between the start of President Trump’s second term and October 2025, The Seattle Times found that 47% of those who were taken into custody had no criminal convictions or pending charges.
KIRO hosts Ursula Reutin and Spike O’Neill were appalled at the findings due to the Trump administration’s promise to target the most violent offenders, but now individuals without a criminal history are being arrested.
“It’s just like promises kept, promises made, promises broken, from the Trump administration,” Spike said. “Nobody campaigned on clearing out the Home Depot workforce or the kitchen staff here, there, and everywhere. That’s not what people campaigned on. They campaigned on the worst of the worst. We all, I think, support the removal of the worst of the worst. But you mentioned 47% in Washington have no criminal record.”
Ursula noted that a small percentage of the 2,000 ICE arrests made in Washington had a criminal with a violent crime, while a vast majority had nothing worse than a traffic violation.
“When we break it down, we’re talking about a very, very tiny percentage, 13%, being violent crimes,” Ursula said. “If you have a violent crime, you should be deported, period. But we’re talking about, again, some kind of traffic infraction. It’s eye-opening when you see what was promised, and what is actually happening.”
Watch the full discussion in the video above.
Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.
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